By Ulviyya Shahin

The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) has emerged as a pivotal infrastructure project, linking the energy-rich Caspian Sea region to key markets in Europe. Since its inception, TAP has been instrumental in establishing a direct route for natural gas from the Southern Gas Corridor to Italy, Central Europe, and the Balkans. This strategic connection was emphasized by Marija Savova, Commercial Director of TAP AG, during her address at the Flame 2024 Conference in Amsterdam, as reported by Azernews.

Savova highlighted TAP's significant contributions since the commencement of its operations at the end of 2020. Notably, the gas transported through TAP accounted for a substantial portion of total gas imports in Italy and Greece in 2023, demonstrating the pipeline's crucial role in meeting energy demand in these markets.

Looking ahead, Savova emphasized the potential for TAP's expansion to double its capacity in stages. This expansion plan is envisioned to address challenges related to the security of gas supply while also aligning with the European Union's ambitious decarbonization targets. By facilitating the transportation of hydrogen and other renewable gases from countries along the Southern Gas Corridor to Europe, TAP could further contribute to the continent's transition towards cleaner energy sources.

Azerbaijan's entry into the European gas market on December 31, 2020, marked a significant milestone in the region's energy landscape. Under the agreement between Azerbaijan and the EU, Azerbaijani gas exports are expected to reach a minimum of 20 billion cubic meters annually by 2027.

In line with these developments, the first stage of expansion for TAP is scheduled for completion by the end of 2025. This expansion will enable TAP to accept an additional 1.2 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas, further enhancing energy flows to key destinations. Italy and Albania are poised to benefit significantly from this expanded capacity, with Italy set to receive 1 billion cubic meters and Albania receiving another 200 million cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas starting from 2026.

The ongoing expansion and operations of TAP underscore its crucial role in shaping Europe's energy landscape, fostering regional cooperation, and driving sustainable energy transitions in line with global climate objectives.

Azerbaijan plays a pivotal role in the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project, contributing significantly to its success and providing various benefits to both Azerbaijan and the wider region:

Energy Export Diversification: Azerbaijan's participation in the TAP project enables the country to diversify its energy export routes and markets. By connecting Azerbaijani gas fields to European consumers via TAP, Azerbaijan reduces its dependence on traditional export routes and expands its reach into lucrative European markets.

Economic Benefits: The TAP project generates substantial economic benefits for Azerbaijan. It creates employment opportunities during the construction phase and generates revenue through transit fees and gas sales. Additionally, increased gas exports contribute to Azerbaijan's GDP growth and overall economic development.

Strategic Importance: TAP enhances Azerbaijan's strategic importance as a reliable energy supplier in the European market. By providing a direct and secure route for Azerbaijani gas to reach Europe, TAP strengthens Azerbaijan's position as a key player in the global energy landscape and enhances its geopolitical influence.

Infrastructure Development: Participation in the TAP project necessitates the development of essential energy infrastructure within Azerbaijan. This includes the construction and expansion of gas extraction, processing, and transportation facilities, which not only support the TAP project but also contribute to the overall modernization of Azerbaijan's energy infrastructure.

International Cooperation: The TAP project fosters international cooperation and partnerships between Azerbaijan and European countries involved in the project. Collaborating on such a large-scale energy infrastructure project strengthens diplomatic ties, promotes regional stability, and enhances Azerbaijan's reputation as a reliable partner in the international energy market.

Contribution to Energy Security: By diversifying Europe's energy supply sources, TAP enhances energy security for both Azerbaijan and European countries. Azerbaijan's participation in TAP helps to stabilize energy markets, reduce supply vulnerabilities, and mitigate geopolitical risks associated with reliance on a single energy supplier or transit route.

Azerbaijan's involvement in the TAP project brings significant economic, strategic, and diplomatic benefits. It positions Azerbaijan as a key player in the European energy market, strengthens its ties with European partners, and contributes to regional stability and prosperity.
A 35-year-old man has been charged with Grievous bodily harm after he was allegedly involved in a fight outside a Dawesville service station that turned deadly in the early hours of Friday morning.

The victim, a man in his 30s, was found unresponsive by police and paramedics at around 3.40am at the service station on Bailey Boulevard.

Police are investigating. Credit: Peter de Kruijff

The man was taken to Peel Health Campus by ambulance, but he later died.

On Friday, police said the victim had been involved in an altercation with a man who was assisting them with their inquiries.
WA Police have released CCTV footage of a cyclist they believe could be linked to two separate indecent behaviour incidents, including one where a man exposed himself to an 11-year-old girl.

The first incident took place in Canning Vale on April 14 sometime between 5pm and 6.30pm.

Police say a man riding a bike approached an 11-year-old boy on Waterperry Drive and engaged him in an inappropriate conversation of a sexual nature.

The boy went home and disclosed the incident to his family, a police spokesperson said.
If a business does not take cash, it cannot charge a card surcharge (as this would just be a new price for the item). Loading Why are you paying card surcharges more often? The RBAs Consumer Payments Survey found consumers paid a surcharge on 7 per cent of transactions in 2022, up from 4 per cent in 2019. In 2022, the median surcharge per transaction was 50. Anecdotally, it seems more businesses are now placing surcharges on all card payments, while they were previously only common on credit cards and other payment types which attracted higher processing fees.

Paul Zahra, CEO of the Australian Retailers Association, said surcharges for debit and credit cards were needed for small businesses to remain sustainable. Many retailers who were previously comfortably able to absorb these transaction costs are now not able to do so due to rapidly rising costs across the board, from rising rents, labour, utilities, insurances, and materials, he said. Individual transaction surcharges may be small, but they add up significantly for a retail business particularly those with high-volume transactions. Steve Worthington, a financial services commentator and professor at Swinburne University, said businesses would always set prices to cover their cost, and an increase in card payments meant processing fees may now be material to their bottom line. If you take a $5 takeaway coffee, that price has been costed to include electricity, water, staff wages, and now most people are paying for that with card, he explained. Worthington said customers were probably noticing these surcharges at small and medium-sized businesses, as larger chains could negotiate package deals with their banks. Small and medium-sized businesses are also more likely to use independent card reader systems, like Square, which charge higher fees.

Loading Are universal card surcharges legal? Consumers are used to paying a surcharge for credit payments, but businesses now commonly charge one surcharge to cover all types of payments. In this situation, the ACCC advises businesses should charge the lowest processing cost. But sometimes the businesss payment provider charges a flat fee for debit and credit cards, and, regardless, keeping track of several different payment costs can be cumbersome: this masthead found virtually no universal surcharges at small businesses were within the 0.5 per cent to 1 per cent processing cost for debit cards, estimated by the RBA. Associate Professor Andrew Grant, a behavioural finance researcher at the University of Sydney, said consumers understood businesses were likely charging more than what the lowest cost of payment is, but were willing to pay to avoid the inconvenience of paying cash amid dwindling ATM numbers.

With many different payment options costing various amounts, and unclear costs to merchants, it probably makes more sense, from the business and consumers perspective, to charge a flat card fee, even though this is not what the ACCC states, he said, noting the evolving payment technology marketplace made the space hard to regulate. While consumers might not particularly like paying a surcharge, he said the small amount meant it was difficult for someone to view an individual transaction as unreasonable. Consumers can easily round 20 cents down to zero, he said. Are surcharges stopping Australia from going cash-free? Earlier this month, management of the privately owned Hamilton Island announced it would no longer take cash payments at its outlets.

The decision, which the islands management said was more efficient and reduced the risk of theft, prompted a backlash from cash advocates, who say they should be allowed to use any legal tender and are concerned about creeping surcharges on card payments. Macquarie Bank announced last year that it would transition to totally cashless branches by the end of this year, and ANZ, Commonwealth Bank and NAB have all recently opened a limited number of cashless locations. However, previous moves towards card-only payments have been poorly received. Woolworths backed down on a decision to make some inner-city supermarkets cashless in 2021 amid concerns about accessibility. Worthington said there were signs that consumers may be fed up with surcharges, pointing to a slight increase in the amount of money being withdrawn from ATMs in the RBAs February figures (although it still declined significantly since the start of 2020). This could be for a whole variety of reasons, but I would contend that we all got used to using cards during the pandemic, and we didnt pay attention to what the transaction value was, we just tapped and went. Now I think people are taking notice of that extra fee, he said.
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.
After years of regular tiffs over trade followed by reconciliation, Europe has lost patience with China, said Ivana Karaskova, a Czech researcher at the Association for International Affairs, an independent research group in Prague, who until last month served as an adviser to the European Commission on China. China still has steadfast friends in the EU, notably Hungary, she added, in the multidimensional chess game between the worlds two largest economies after the US. But Europe, Karaskova said, has moved from a position of total denial in some quarters over the danger posed by Chinese espionage and influence operations to take a less naive view, and wants to defend European interests vis-a-vis China. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. Credit: AP Accusations last week that China was using spies to burrow into and influence the democratic process in Germany and Britain caused particular alarm, as they suggested a push to expand beyond already well-known, business-related subterfuge into covert political meddling, something previously seen as a largely Russian specialty. But, according to China experts, those accusations and the flurry of charges indicated not so much that Beijing was ramping up espionage but that European countries had stepped up their response.

Countries have been forced to get real, said Martin Thorley, a British China expert and the author of All That Glistens, a forthcoming book detailing how what London trumpeted a decade ago as a golden era of Sino-British friendship during the prime ministership of David Cameron made it easy for China to suborn politicians and businesspeople. The golden era has been widely mocked as a golden error. Cameron, who is now Britains foreign secretary, has in recent months become an outspoken critic of China. A lot of the facts changed, he said during a visit to Washington in December, declaring that China had become an epoch-defining challenge. His change of heart mirrors a wider shift across much of Europe in attitudes to a rising superpower that long counted on European countries, particularly Germany, to push back against what it denounces as anti-China hype emanating from Washington. Germanys security service has been warning publicly about the risk of trusting China since 2022, when, shortly after Russia started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the head of its domestic intelligence agency, Thomas Haldenwang, told parliament, Russia is the storm, China is climate change.

The agency, known by its German acronym, BfV, said in an unusual public warning last year, In recent years, Chinas state and party leadership has significantly stepped up its efforts to obtain high-quality political information and to influence decision-making processes abroad. Germanys political leadership, however, has until this week been far more equivocal. Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently made a state visit to China, Germanys biggest trading partner, to discuss trade and market access. But its interior minister, Nancy Faeser, has now given a blunt assessment of Chinas activities. We are aware of the considerable danger posed by Chinese espionage to business, industry and science, she said. We are looking very closely at these risks and threats and have issued clear warnings and raised awareness so that protective measures are increased everywhere. Chinas Foreign Ministry responded by dismissing the accusations as a groundless slander and smear against China, demanding that Germany stop malicious hype and halt anti-China political dramas. Mareike Ohlberg, a China expert and a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund in Berlin, said that for a long time China was spared big public warnings. Now, she said, German authorities are more willing to call things out, or no longer have the patience not to call things out.

Three of the four people arrested in Germany, a husband and wife and one other man, appear to have been involved in economic espionage using a company called Innovative Dragon to pass on sensitive information about German marine propulsion systems  of great value to a superpower interested in building up its navy. They also used the company to buy a high-powered, dual-use laser, which they exported to China without permission. Loading The fourth person, in what prosecutors called an especially severe case, was Jian Guo, a Chinese-German man who has been accused of working for Chinas Ministry of State Security. His regular job was as an assistant to Maximilian Krah, a member of the European Parliament for the far-right party Alternative for Germany  a rising political force friendly to China and Russia  and its top candidate for elections in June. Since then, the public prosecutor in Dresden has begun a pre-investigation into how much Krah knew of his employees ties to China. On Wednesday, his party decided to keep supporting Krahs bid for reelection to the European Parliament but disinvited him from campaign stops. Thorley said the spying cases had sounded the alarm over Chinese activities but were only a small part of efforts by China to gain influence and information. More important than traditional espionage, he said, is Chinas use of a latent network of people who do not work directly for the Ministry of State Security but who, for commercial and other reasons, are vulnerable to pressure from the Chinese Communist Party and its myriad offshoots.

This has been bad for a while and has been left far too long, he said. The two men accused of espionage in London  Christopher Cash, 29, and Christopher Berry, 32  were arrested in March 2023 but released on bail and were not named publicly until they were charged. Cash was a parliamentary researcher with links to the governing Conservative Party and a former director of the China Research Group, a body that often takes a hardline view on China and hosts podcasts with critics of Chinese interference. His former colleagues include Alicia Kearns, a member of the governing Conservative Party who heads parliaments influential Foreign Affairs Committee, and her predecessor in that role, Tom Tugendhat, who is now the security minister. In a statement this week, Londons Metropolitan Police said Cash and Berry were charged with violating the Official Secrets Act and had provided information intended to be, directly or indirectly, useful to an enemy. It added: The foreign state to which the above charges relate is China.
He was previously banned from various prominent social media platforms for expressing misogynistic views and for hate speech. Both Tates are dual British-US citizens.

Tate, 37, who has amassed 9.1 million followers on the social media platform X, 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 Bucharest Tribunal ruled that prosecutors case file against Tate, 37, met the legal criteria for a trial. The case has been discussed for months in the preliminary chamber stages, a process in which the defendants can challenge prosecutors evidence and case file.

Bucharest: A court in Romanias capital has ruled that a trial can start in the case of divisive influencer Andrew Tate, who is charged with human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.

Andrew Tate has repeatedly claimed that prosecutors in Romania have no evidence against him and that there is a political conspiracy to silence him.

The court did not set a date for the trial to begin. Tates spokesperson, Mateea Petrescu, said the ruling has been appealed.

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.

Ioan Gliga, another lawyer for the Tates, said : 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. Although they did not receive the necessary attention in the preliminary hearing, we are confident that the appeal court judge panel will support us.

After the Tates and the two women were arrested, the DIICOT anti-organised crime agency said in a statement that it had identified six victims in the human trafficking case who were subjected to acts of physical violence and mental coercion and were sexually exploited by members of the alleged crime group. The agency said victims were lured with pretences of love, and later intimidated, placed under surveillance and subjected to other control tactics while being coerced into engaging in pornographic acts for substantial financial gain.
TikTok might soon be banned from use in the U.S. by President Donald Trump. (Photo: Reuters / Dado Ruvic)

As TikTok prepares to challenge the recently passed law that could potentially ban the app in the United States, Congress has already laid the groundwork for its defense against the anticipated court battle. In a rare 17-minute scripted conversation on the Senate floor, Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) outlined the national security risks associated with the app, a move designed to preemptively counter TikTok's expected First Amendment challenge.

The tactic employed by Cantwell and Warner highlights the uncertainties surrounding the TikTok law, which demands that the app be sold by its Beijing-based owner, ByteDance, or face a ban from the U.S. market. TikTok has denounced the law as unconstitutional and has vowed to mount a swift and aggressive legal challenge on free speech grounds.

Legal experts suggest that the speed with which the law was pushed through Congress could bolster TikTok's case, particularly if a court determines that lawmakers failed to adequately consider the implications for free speech. Anupam Chander, a Georgetown University professor specializing in international tech regulation, cautioned that the legislative record on the TikTok law may be insufficient to justify "such a significant and unprecedented state intrusion on free expression."

The bill, which was added to a complex foreign aid package last week, never underwent a Senate hearing with public testimony. In the House, where a version of the bill originally passed in March, it had an unusually brief public hearing and markup, lasting less than an hour in total.

Cantwell, who had previously raised constitutional concerns about the March version of the bill, proposed the scripted floor remarks with Warner to ensure that their concerns would be on record for potential court cases. The colloquy emphasized that the law was intended as a national security policy rather than a punitive measure against a specific company.

"Congress is not acting to punish ByteDance, TikTok or any other individual company," Cantwell stated, adding that the goal was to "prevent foreign adversaries from conducting espionage, surveillance, maligned operations, harming vulnerable Americans, our servicemen and women, and our U.S. government personnel."

Despite these efforts, legal experts remain divided on the effectiveness of the floor remarks and record in bolstering the law's chances in court. Kate Ruane, director for the Center for Democracy and Technology's Free Expression Project, suggested that "it's not as good as having built a strong congressional record based on public evidence that this is absolutely necessary."

Meanwhile, ByteDance has refuted reports that it is considering selling TikTok, with a message posted on its Chinese social media service, Toutiao, stating that such reports are "untrue" and that the company has no plans to sell the app. This stance sets the stage for a clash between the technology companies and U.S. lawmakers over the future of the video app, which has raised concerns over ByteDance's ties to China and the potential sharing of U.S. user data with the Chinese government.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew has vowed to fight the new law in the courts, asserting that "the facts and the Constitution are on our side" and expressing confidence that the company will "prevail again," referencing the successful blocking of Montana's attempt to ban the app in November by a federal judge.

As the legal battle over TikTok's future in the United States unfolds, the outcome remains uncertain. While some experts believe that the government has not publicly proven the national security threats posed by the app, others argue that the broad bipartisan support for the legislation demonstrates the mounting evidence that can no longer be ignored.
Prince Harry has several non-working royal jobs, apart from his charity, Archewell. (Photo: Jeremy Selwyn/Pool via REUTERS)

Prince Harry has come under fire for his decision to wear an assortment of British Army medals while presenting the prestigious "Soldier of the Year" award to US combat medic Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks from his Montecito mansion via Zoom. The Duke of Sussex, who served in the UK armed forces for 10 years, including two tours in Afghanistan, pinned four medals to his chest: an Afghanistan campaign medal and three Jubilee medals presented to him by the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Critics on social media were quick to label the Jubilee medals as "participation medals" and questioned the choice of having Harry present the award to an American soldier. One person complained, "We didn't have an American Veteran who could do this?!" while another claimed the medals looked "ridiculous" and called the decision "embarrassing."

However, some defenders pointed out that one of the medals was presented to Harry for his service in Afghanistan, while others were quick to note that Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks had participated in the Invictus Games in 2016, an international sporting event for wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women founded by Prince Harry. "I remember her from the Invictus Games in 2016! Very special that he presented the award to her after all these years," one social media user commented.

Royal observers also noted the absence of the Coronation medal, given to Harry and others who were involved in King Charles' formal ascension to the throne last May, from the prince's lapels. Experts believe this absence could be a deliberate snub to his father, with royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams telling Newsweek, "The Sussexes do nothing by chance and this clearly emphasises or is intended to emphasise his distance from the royal family."

Fitzwilliams added, speaking 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.

The medals worn by Harry during the presentation match those he chose to wear while attending the Coronation, where he was not allowed to attend the festivities in military dress after stepping back from royal duties, a privilege reserved for working members of the family.

In the video, Harry paid tribute to Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks, whom he described as a "friend" and a "beacon of inspiration," as he congratulated her on the prize. Marks, a four-time Invictus Games gold medalist and five-time Paralympic medalist, suffered bilateral hip injuries while deployed in Iraq in 2010 after joining the military at just 17 years old.

Harry praised Marks for her courage, resilience, and determination, stating that she "epitomises the courage, resilience and determination represented across our service community." He also commended her for overcoming numerous obstacles and turning her pain into purpose, inspiring and assisting others in their mental and physical journey into sport.

The 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. The choice of medals worn by the Duke of Sussex has sparked a debate among critics and defenders, with some questioning the appropriateness of wearing British Army medals while presenting an award to an American soldier, while others recognize the significance of Harry's military service and his connection to Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks through the Invictus Games.
State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada

Zip Code


remaining of

Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading.
Twenty-eight years ago I was honored to be invited to serve as a member of the election committee in the Walker County sheriff campaign for a nice young law enforcement officer named Steve Wilson. I accepted the invitation at his encouragement and that of retiring Walker County Sheriff Al Millard, who had endorsed Steve as his successor. Steve was elected.

Since his first election as Walker County sheriff, I have had many opportunities to observe Sheriff Wilson's leadership in law enforcement and in his community involvement. He faces each challenge calmly and with a positive attitude. He is a valued leader and team player. The Walker County Chamber of Commerce recognized Steve's contributions to the county by honoring him as the 2004 Walker County Citizen of the Year.

During the 2002 Tri-State Crematory scandal, Walker County, Ga. was the primary focus of the news media - local, state, national and international. Sheriff Wilson fielded questions from all media, very professionally and with dignity and respect for the victims and surviving relatives. He made Walker County proud in his representation of this history-making event.

Sheriff Wilson has served on the Blood Assurance North Georgia Advisory Board since its inception, some 20-plus years ago. Under his leadership, he and his team in the Walker County Sheriff's office have recruited donors for seven annual "Battle of the Badges Blood Drives." This volunteer service has provided blood donations that have saved thousands of lives.

Following a life-threatening medical diagnosis, Sheriff Wilson's church, Oakwood Baptist in Chickamauga, held in his honor one of the largest blood drives ever held for an individual in Walker County. This was a tribute to a person held in such high esteem as he.

Sheriff Wilson dedicates much personal time to fundraising for the Stocking Full of Love program to benefit Walker County's underprivileged children. He is passionate in his desire that no child goes without toys at Christmas.

Steve Wilson has a proven track record of accomplishments in his 27 years of service as Walker County's sheriff; and I ask you to join me in re-electing him by voting May 21: Steve Wilson for Walker County Sheriff 2024.

Doris White

Member of the Re-Election Committee for Steve Wilson for Walker County Sheriff 2024
Cody Sims, CRPC, AAMS, AWMA, a financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC in Chattanooga, has earned the Ameriprise Client Experience Award for 2023.

Mr. Sims was honored with this award because his ability to consistently deliver "personalized, goal-based advice and exceptional client service." Award recipients earned an overall client satisfaction rating equal to or greater than 4.9 out of 5.0 and maintained stellar business results. The award represents a group of Ameriprise advisors recognized as leaders for their commitment to making a difference in the lives of their clients, said officials.

As a financial advisor, Mr. Sims provides financial advice that is anchored in an understanding of client needs and expectations and is delivered in one-on-one relationships with his clients.

For more information, please contact Ashley Christopher, office manager, at 648-2900 or visit the Ameriprise office at 412 Georgia Ave., Suite 210.
A couple of days ago I saw a post on a local neighborhood app basically saying Soooo, what does this mean with a screenshot of the notice below.

For those out of town, this week our firefighters battled a fire at a scrap metal yard for hours. Smoke filled the area over a large part of downtown, and residents were warned to limit their exposure to toxins that could be in the air from the fire.

So back to the questionWhat does this meanheres what it means to me:

It means a huge group of firefighters and first responders were exposed to toxins from this industrial fire incident.

It means that group of responders will need to make sure they take steps to decontaminate their gear, clothing, skin to limit health risks.

It means that even with those decontamination procedures in place, those procedures only decrease a small amount of their exposure and they are still at significant risk for future health risks like cancer.

It means that this notification gives the general public a small glimpse of what these first responders encounter daily. It may not be an industrial fire every day. It could be a car fire, a wreck, a chemical spill, a medical response.

If you received this notification this week, please consider reaching out to Mayor Tim Kellys office to thank him for his support of Chattanooga Fire Department efforts to improve exposure training and protocolsbut go one step further.

Chattanooga needs to do better to provide presumptive illness coverage for an expanded list of cancers for our firefighters. The Chattanooga Fire Fighters Association, Local 820 has worked with State leaders to get some cancers covered as presumptive illness, but there is still so much to do. As with any program with a cost associated, the list of cancers covered state-wide was limited to about five. Under those currently covered, my late husband Chad Crisps cancer (esophageal) is still not covered.

Chattanooga friendslets use this week as a reminder to demand better for our first responders.

Leah Crisp

Widow of CFD Senior Fire Fighter Chad Crisp
Several months ago, after a young, prominent local businessman was horribly executed on the streets of downtown Chattanooga by a career criminal on video and in front of witnesses, I wrote to Chattanoogan.com asking when Mayor Kelly and Police Chief Murphy were going to be held responsible for increasing levels of violent crime in our otherwise wonderful city. Other than an announcement about joint policing with the Hamilton County Sheriffs Department, I am aware of no other response or reports concerning the effectiveness of this cooperative effort. To this day, violent crime appears to persist on an unabated basis. Repetitive shootings and other forms of violence continue at levels consistent with blue Northeastern and Midwestern cities.

In the last month, these articles have appeared on this website:

1) March 30, 2024: East Brainerd Youth Group Says Shooting Was Intense and Terrifying;

2) March 31, 2024: Teen Shot While Sitting Outside Home On Citico Avenue;

3) April 11, 2024: Man Shot in Altercation at Gas Station on Tunnel Boulevard;

4) April 12, 2024: Man Dies After Being Shot at Skatepark Near Finley Stadium;

5) April 15, 2024: Two Arrested For Robbery at Brainerd High School;

6) April 17, 2024: Man, 27, Shot And Killed On Windsor Street;

7) April 17, 2024: Sherrifs Deputy Injured When Dragged By Suspects Car;

8) April 19, 2024: Pair Arrested After Police Caught In Crossfire;

9) April 20, 2024: 14-Year-Old Hit As Shots Are Fired Into Crowded Vehicle on Shallowford Road; and,

10) April 26, 2024: Man, 27, Shot On Eastgate Loop In Apparent Targeted Incident

Our liberal Mayor Kelly and his sidekick Chief Murphy endanger Chattanoogans with their policies, especially our neighbors living in less advantaged areas of the city (the very voters Kelly and Murphy pander to and count upon for support). In fact, they seem smug and indifferent to concerns about crime - otherwise they would do more to prevent it. Everyone, no matter who he or she is, what he or she has, or where he or she lives, deserves to live in safety.

Simply put, Kelly and Murphy are failing - theyre performing public safety malpractice. The enormity of their dereliction puts them in a class with liberal leaders in Memphis, Chicago, Detroit and St. Louis. It is not the time to make excuses for what so obviously has not worked. It is time to make our city safer by cracking down on crime rather than trying to change behavior through community policing, which clearly has not been effective. Our rate of violent crime is a whopping 208 percent above the national average. Property crimes are 167 percent higher than comparable cities. Please do not trust me. Verify these numbers at the AreaVibes website. View detailed crime rates in Chattanooga as well as a Chattanooga crime density heat map.

Having lived in Chattanooga for over 50 years, it's sad to see our leaders misguided policies harm my beloved home town. I ask again: when are Kelly and Murphy going to take responsibility for their failures? When will Chattanoogas citizens, especially those most affected by violent crime, rise up and demand a change?

Morgan Smith

* * *

Morgan Smith for Mayor in 2025.

Ralph Miller

* * *

Why don't you two get together, brain storm and come with your own solutions? Be specific what it is you actually want the mayor and police chief to do.





I. Allow police to jack up anyone, everyone who "doesn't look like they belong" in a certain area or place? Including military serving the country, home on leave to visit family? That's already happened with disastrous results.





II. Having neighbor spying on neighbor, making false claims against their neighbor/s? That, too, has already happened with disastrous results.





III. Report anything/anyone someone perceive as a suspicion to call police? Example: A student, taking it upon him/herself to check on a neighbor's dogs after school each day to make sure the dog hasn't turned over their water bowl, and has enough dog food set out? - since the neighbor they were helping worked odd-2nd shift+ hours? of course, police responded with aggression?

A. You do know, without a clear description of what is/isn't a suspicion, to some people everything and everyone who looks different, anything outside their concept of "normal," is a suspicion?





Or is it that you two just want to use every opportunity, even exploiting a death, to attack anyone you consider left of center? Or a liberal? Because as I recall is correct, and for anyone who claims they've lived here/there/anywhere for 50 years....bad things happened, crimes happened no matter if the mayor was liberal (aka Democrat) or conservative (aka Republican).





A Republican mayor was in office when a young man murdered both his prominent parents in the area. And that wasn't the only familicide to take place throughout the years. If you two really are serious, you wouldn't be exploiting a tragedy and making it all about your personal politics. Which just goes to show, you're both hypocrites to the max.





Red state, blue state, green state, yellow state. "My state is better than your state." You two sound like something out of a Dr. Seuss children's book. No matter the state. Crime is taking place. Red states are just on a move to draw people in, and often downplay and hide their crimes. Like the story of Cain and Abel. But the eyes of "God" were watching. Remember?





Brenda Washington

* * *

Once again, we find ourselves in the midst of political discussions. The Ashley Furniture Politicians are at it again. Chattanooga is not in the ballpark of the places you mentioned (pun unintended), seems to be a recurring topic for conservative arguments. Lets dive into the policies responsible for the surge in crime rates, particularly homicides. What specific changes did the police chief implement that contributed to this concerning trend? Personally, I engage with the community weekly and have encountered Ms. Murphy and Mayor Kelly. Remarkably enough, Ive yet to meet either of you two, despite my work spanning lower-, middle-, and upper-class areas.

Its worth noting that Chattanooga has consistently exceeded the murder rate since at least 1999, according to FBI statistics. Interestingly, this trend has persisted across mayoral terms, whether Republican, Independent, or Democratic. Rather than a political issue, the critical areas demanding attention include education, domestic violence law reform, gangs, firearms law reform, and poverty. Lets keep the conversation open. Below, Ive included some questions and relevant statistics for your consideration.

Years and homicide rates

2017 17.34

2001 16.57

2014 15.48

2002 15.14

1999 14.74

2005 14.7

2016 14.62

2011 14.19

2015 13.15

2003 12.13



Questions:

What policies did Chief Murphy or Mayor Kelly draft to cause crime?

What policies would you draft to lower crime?

What do you think causes all of these issues?

Why have you not run yet in the 50 years you have been a prominent Chattanoogan?

Where do I donate to your campaign?

As my mother always says, If you are not a part of the solution, you are part of the problem. Which one are you. Be blessed.

Christopher Cooper

* * *

Well said, Brenda. I hope you will continue to point out the lies and inaccuracies of the Trumpers.





I say Trumpers since nearly every letter addressing something on the national level praises Trump or is hateful of Democrats with no support of their normally narrow-minded opinions. They choose to espouse their lack of knowledge on a subject, merely parroting what has been force-fed to them by "their" media.





Republicans I know who are not Trumpers usually just express their disappointment of the Democrats, justifiably supporting their opinions or disappointments with reasonable examples or changes that could be made.





These Republicans do so without the hate or divisive rhetoric.





Of course, though, your admonishments of Morgan Smith and Ralph Miller will be passed off by the Trumpers as admonishments from just another angry liberal. And a woman.





I had a reply to Ralph Miller's letter "The Norm" prepared. Then, I read Morgan Smith's letter.





Miller took the theft of Rep. Schiff's luggage to again harangue about Schiff's being the sole basis of all crime in the U.S. Of course, since it was California, Miller also had to use Nancy Pelosi and her husband's attack as fodder to justify his hatred for any and all things Democrat.





Yet each had no criticism of Republican blockage of meaningful gun reform.





At least Smith got right what Miller did not: that local government has the most control over local crime. But Smith's letter exhibited his disdain too for any and all things liberal.





Joe Warren

* * *

Once again we've lowered ourselves to acting like reality TV show "stars" by using politician measuring and name calling to confront a serious problem. While we're fighting among ourselves with a lack of civility and maturity, dividing our country more and more, our enemies, foreign and domestic, are laughing at us while they slowly take over.

Good work, guys.

Dana Lingerfelt
David Robert Bobby Ray was born in McMinnville, Tn., in February 1945, the year the Axis Powers of Germany, Italy, and Japan were approaching the end of their World War II reigns of terror.

He graduated from McMinnville City High School in 1963 and was awarded a University of Tennessee Alumni Scholarship, attending UT until 1966. He also completed an associate of arts degree from Cumberland University.

Ray, 21, enlisted in the U.S. Navy in March 1966, four months after the first major combat engagement between the U.S. and the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) at la Drang. He reported to the Naval Training Center, San Diego, California, and was certified through the Naval Hospital Corps School as a hospital corpsman. He served on the hospital ship USS Haven.

In May 1968, as the NVA launched phase two of its Tet Offensive, Ray requested a tour of duty with the Fleet Marine Force and became a FMF corpsman before being sent to Vietnam in July. He was assigned to Battery D, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced), located at An Hoa, South Vietnam.

Early in the morning of March 19, 1969, Fire Support Base Phu Loc 6, adjacent to the command post of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, was attacked by what was estimated to be a battalion-strength NVA force. Under heavy fire, Ray, who was the senior corpsman for Battery D, moved fearlessly from parapet to parapet in order to render medical aid to wounded Marines.

After being seriously wounded, he refused medical assistance from the other Battery D corpsman so he could continue rendering aid to our Marines under fire. After killing one NVA soldier and wounding another, Ray was out of ammunition. His final heroic action was covering a wounded Marine with his own body in order to protect him from an NVA grenade that landed near them. The grenade blast killed Bobby Ray, but the Marine lived.

Ray and eleven Battery D Marines, in addition to another Navy corpsman and two Marines from the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines command post, were killed that day.

For his valorous actions, Hospital Corpsman Second Class Bobby Ray was awarded the Medal of Honor.

His citation notes in part: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty Although seriously wounded himself  while he was bandaging and attempting to comfort another wounded marine, HC2c. Ray was forced to battle two enemy soldiers who attacked his position, personally killing one and wounding the other. Rapidly losing his strength as a result of his severe wounds, he nonetheless managed to move through the hail of enemy fire to other casualties. Once again, he was faced with the intense fire of oncoming enemy troops and, despite the grave personal danger and insurmountable odds, succeeded in treating the wounded and holding off the enemy until he ran out of ammunition, at which time he sustained fatal wounds. HC2c. Rays final act of heroism was [throwing] himself upon a wounded marine, thus saving the mans life when an enemy grenade exploded nearby. By his determined and persevering actions, courageous spirit, and selfless devotion to the welfare of his marine comrades, HC2c. Ray served to inspire the men of Battery D to heroic efforts in defeating the enemy.

He is memorialized by the ship, USS David R. Ray, part of the reserve fleet in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. He is permanently recognized among other Medal of Honor recipients on the Tennessee Wall of Valor at the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center.

HM2 David Robert Ray: Your example of valor  a humble American Patriot defending Liberty for all above and beyond the call of duty, and in disregard for the peril to your own life  is eternal. Greater love has no one than this, to lay down ones life for his friends. (John 15:13)

Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis

Pro Deo et Libertate  1776

Join us in daily prayer for our Patriots in uniform  Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen  standing in harms way in defense of American Liberty, and for Veterans, First Responders, and their families.

Please consider a tax-deductible gift to support our hometown National Medal of Honor Sustaining Fund. Make a check payable to NMoH Sustaining Fund and mail to: Patriot Foundation Trust, PO Box 407, Chattanooga, TN 37401-0407. Visit the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center at Aquarium Plaza. (https://www.MOHHC.org)
On the surface, a relationship may appear picture-perfect. You might think that youve found the one, only to later stumble upon some deeply buried secrets that shatter the rosy image.

In a video posted to TikTok, ex-reality TV star Stephanie Matto (@stephaniematto) shared how she had unknowingly dated a married man who spoiled her with lavish shopping trips and expensive vacations. When she discovered the truth, she was greatly distressed.

She met him at her place of employment when he came in with a bunch of his coworkers. She was drawn to him instantly, even though he wasnt really her type. That night, he tipped her a lot of money. Afterward, he asked her if he could take her out on a date sometime.

She agreed to exchange phone numbers with him just because he had tipped her so generously. She didnt actually expect to hear from him again. However, a week later, he texted her and was persistent about taking her out. She was feeling a little apprehensive about it, so they settled on a lunch date.

The lunch date took place at a nice steakhouse, and it happened to turn into a whole shopping event because he wanted to take her on a shopping spree at some luxury stores. Eventually, things between them developed into a sugar relationship. He spent a lot of money on her and would even pay her to hang out with him.

The strange part was that there was never any physical contact between them except for some hand-holding or the occasional kiss on the cheek. As they spent more and more time together, Stephanie found herself growing more attracted to him.

A year into the relationship, he flew her out to New York City with him, booked her a five-star luxury hotel, and invited her entire family to stay with them. When the trip ended and she returned home, things took a really weird turn. He started acting flaky and stopped consistently answering her text messages.

Finally, she asked him out to lunch because she wanted to figure out what was going on between them. He confessed that he had been getting chronic headaches and had gone to a neurologist who told him that he had a lesion in his brain. He planned to travel to the Philippines for three to four weeks to see some doctors because he had connections there.

For three to four weeks, she did not hear from him at all. She convinced herself that there was bad cell service in the Philippines. She even checked the obituaries every day to make sure the worst hadnt happened.

Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
Home News 3 Christians ambushed, killed by suspected herdsmen in Nigeria

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 last Saturday killed a Christian in Otukpo Countys Entepka village, after killing two others two days earlier on 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.

Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe

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.

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.

This article was originally published by Christian Daily International and Morning Star News.
Home News Christian teen film 'Identity Crisis' explores faith, identity in social media-driven world

In a culture where social media and societal pressures shape a young person's identity more than biblical truths, the new film "Identity Crisis" explores deeper questions of self-worth, faith and divine creation.

The film, directed by Shari Rigby ("October Baby") and starring Finn Roberts, Maria Canals-Barrera, Scout Lepore, Sophia Lepore and Laura Leigh Turner, follows Madison Montgomery, a brilliant but introverted science student who accidentally creates a clone of herself, causing her world to turn upside down. However, she soon learns that her clone can help her break out of her shell and embrace a different side of her personality.

Canals-Barrera, known for her role as Theresa Russo on the Disney series Wizards of Waverly Place, plays Dr. Angela Harris, a faith-informed scientist who helps her students navigate the concept of identity and its relationship with divine creation.

Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe

"One of the things I appreciated about this film is that Dr. Harris logically explains how science complements faith," the actress told The Christian Post. "She is comfortable asking questions and guiding her students toward the truth without compromise or fear. It was refreshing to play a character who isn't afraid to explore the big questions."

A mother herself, Canals-Barrera noted that with the rise of social media, the pressure to conform to unrealistic standards and follow trends, some problematic, is growing.

"I've seen what social media can do, especially to young people still finding their way. It can make you feel like you're not good enough or not living the life you're supposed to live. 'Identity Crisis' encourages young people to define themselves based on their faith and not be swayed by the ever-changing trends," she said.

Though a family-friendly film, "Identity Crisis" tackles the themes of loneliness and depression, issues that many young people face today. A 2023 Gallup study found that the percentage of U.S. adults who report having been diagnosed with depression at some point in their lifetime has reached 29%, nearly 10 percentage points higher than in 2015.

"There's a scene in the film where I tell Madison, the lead character, about the simplicity of letting God love us," Canals-Barrera said. "It sounds so simple, but it's hard for many to understand that kind of unconditional love, especially if they've faced pain or rejection. I hope young people take away the message that they are not alone and that seeking the truth is always worth it."

"Identity Crisis" doesn't shy away from discussing the ethical implications of scientific advancements, especially in cloning and genetic engineering.

Canals-Barrera's character raises essential questions about playing God and the consequences of tampering with human genetics. Her performance in the film earned her a nomination at the Christian International Festival, highlighting the impact of "Identity Crisis."

"Perfection is subjective, and trying to achieve it can lead to dangerous consequences. The movie explores these ethical questions and reminds us that we are not the authors of right and wrong," she said.

"It's a topical issue, and the movie addresses it in a fun and entertaining way without overcomplicating things. It resonates with viewers because it speaks to their experiences and concerns."

The actress emphasized the importance of seeking the truth, both scientifically and spiritually, in a society increasingly devoid of moral absolutes.

"The beauty of 'Identity Crisis' is that it encourages us to ask the big questions and have the courage to seek answers, even if they're uncomfortable. It's a message that I believe will resonate with audiences of all ages," she said.

Rigby, who starred in "Overcomer" and leads the ministry The Women in My World, previously told CP how, after entering Hollywood as a young woman, she soon developed a passion for helping women find their identity and purpose in Christ.

"At first, I came here going, 'Oh, my gosh, I'm going to be a huge movie star. It's all about movies, I'm going to be a movie star, I'm going to have massive success,'" she recalled. "I had this whole vision of what it was going to look like. All of a sudden, God was like, 'No, you're here for my women. Like, get it in your head, I'm a God of relationship. Go back to your Bible and start looking at when I give my disciples their instructions. I didn't tell them to go out and get famous and get rich and do those things. I told them to go out and serve my people and tell them that the Kingdom is at hand.'

"That was a point in time where not only was I hoping to pour into women, but they were also pouring into me. So we started to really go through the study of identity and whose we are and who God is and who He says He is and the promises of Him and identifying with how we are built."

"Identity Crisis" is one of several recent faith-based films tackling the ethics of scientific advances. "Someone Like You," the latest film from Karen Kingsbury, delves into sensitive topics such as IVF and embryo adoption.

The author told CP she wants to foster a conversation about the broader societal and ethical considerations surrounding IVF practices, advocating for a more regulated approach to the creation of embryos.

"Science has raised questions that only God can answer," Kingsbury told CP. "We're in that place; we're living in it, and it gets more so that way all the time.
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.

Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe

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 Parachurch head leaves Church of England because it 'no longer affirms biblical orthodoxy'

Rico Tice, a well-known Evangelical leader and former Church of England clergyman, has left the denomination in reaction to what he perceives as its growing departure from biblical values, especially concerning same-sex marriage and repentance.

Tice, best known for co-writing the evangelism course Christianity Explored and co-founder of Christianity Explored Ministries, cited the denomination's recent decision to allow priests to bless same-sex couples and its lack of substantive response to concerns laid out by him and five other leaders of CofE-connected parachurch organizations last October.

In an interview with Evangelicals Now, Tice, the former senior minister at All Souls, Langham Place in London, explained that he now worships at the International Presbyterian Church (IPC) in Ealing, London.

Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe

"Last October, I was one of six Evangelical leaders of parachurch organizations with connections to the Church of England who wrote to [Archbishop of Canterbury] Justin Welby and all the bishops explaining our deep 'heaviness of heart, soul and mind' about the church's onward trajectory toward affirming same-sex marriage, specifically the new Prayers of Love and Faith," he said.

"We called upon the archbishop to resist the influence of cultural values when they are in opposition to those of the Bible. We did this because it was harming our ability to work with orthodox people from other denominations  how could they trust us? We received no substantive response from him, and that was a key moment in my decision to leave."

CofE's "Prayers of Love and Faith" are new guidelines enacted last December that allow priests to bless same-sex couples but don't require them to do so, a measure opposed by many Evangelicals within the Church of England amid a growing divide within the Anglican community regarding same-sex marriage and biblical orthodoxy.

Tice said the move to the International Presbyterian Church in Ealing, London, was motivated by a desire to maintain alignment with his values. He has had a longstanding relationship with the church's minister, Paul Levy.

He said the congregation's emphasis on eldership, Reformed theology and the Westminster Confession appealed to him. Tice still retains his permission to preach, which allows him to speak in CofE congregations.

"But I think it vital that I demonstrated clear separation from a church that no longer affirms biblical orthodoxy, especially with regard to preaching repentance," he said.

Tice's role at the International Presbyterian Church includes evangelism and training on evangelism techniques like Christianity Explored, Hope Explored and The Word One to One. But he sees himself as an ordinary member of the congregation, attending services with his family and engaging in fellowship with other church members.

Tice expressed disappointment and sadness, describing the situation in the CofE as "utterly heartbreaking."

"In retrospect, I was naive about our current culture in the Church of England because I never thought I would see such a clear, pervasive denial of the Christian's need to repent of each and every sin they commit," he said.

Tice remains connected to the Anglican community, expressing a commitment to the Global South model of world Anglicanism, saying he considers himself "a cradle-to-grave Anglican."

"But the sad fact is that the Church of England has left Anglicanism," he said.

He advised Evangelicals considering leaving the CofE to support orthodox clergy and local Christian structures and unite those who share similar values.

By a vote of 24 to 11 last December, CofE bishops affirmed their previous decision to approve the final texts of "Prayers of Love and Faith" for use in regular public worship or private prayer.

The texts were also published with pastoral guidance explaining how they can be used, and the House of Bishops also claimed that it would consider a pastoral provision to protect the consciences of those who wish to use the prayers and those who do not.

Leading up to the approval, many within the Anglican community voiced their disapproval of the proposal.

In April 2023, over 1,300 conservative Anglicans from over 52 countries gathered in Kigali, Rwanda, and issued a statement calling for a "resetting" of the worldwide Anglican Communion after the Church of England voted to approve the blessing of same-sex couples.

"Since the Lord does not bless same-sex unions, it is pastorally deceptive and blasphemous to craft prayers that invoke blessing in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit," the statement known as the "Kigali Commitment" reads.

"Public statements by the Archbishop of Canterbury and other leaders of the Church of England in support of same-sex blessings are a betrayal of their ordination and consecration vows to banish error and to uphold and defend the truth taught in Scripture."

In July 2023, 27 Evangelical leaders, including Pastor Nicky Gumbel, the developer of the internationally popular Alpha evangelistic course, sent a letter to the College of Bishops contending that it would be unlawful for the bishops to commend the blessings. They called for the CofE General Synod to be given an opportunity to vote on Prayers of Love and Faith under Canon B2, requiring a two-thirds majority in each of the Synod's three houses.
Home News Pastor blames San Francisco gov't after parishioner stabbed during Mass Stabbing at Sts. Peter and Paul Church marks second in less than month

The pastor of a Roman Catholic church in San Francisco placed partial blame for a parishioner's recent stabbing on the local government, which he said has allowed crime and mental illness to run rampant in the city.

Marko Asaulyuk, 25, was arrested and charged with attempted murder and eight counts of assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly stabbing a Catholic parent in front of the parish school associated with the historic Saints Peter & Paul Church in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood last Sunday, according to local ABC7.

The stabbing marks the second stabbing at the church in less than a month, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe

San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone was reportedly confirming parish students during a noon Mass when Asaulyuk wandered into the church, walking up and down the aisle with a bottle of wine while being disruptive.

Father Tho Bui, who pastors Sts. Peter and Paul Church, told the Catholic News Agency that parishioners and parents escorted the man out of the church after telling him to leave, but that an ensuing "scuffle" outside led to one father being stabbed in the leg.

Asaulyuk, who was reportedly homeless, told someone outside the church that "Jesus is not real" and began an altercation that resulted in the stabbing.

Asaulyuk was subsequently arrested with the help of witnesses, and the victim taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to local KRON. A church worker told the outlet it concerns them that the man was armed while inside the church around children, but that they are going to "pray and see what happens."

Bui was relieved that Asaulyuk was arrested and jailed without bail for what he called a "sad" and "disturbing" incident, but expressed frustration regarding the level of crime that is allowed to happen in San Francisco.

"Very likely, by getting him off the streets, our parishioners and dads prevented something even worse from happening," he told CNA. "But this is just the latest in an unending series of incidents caused by our city governments tolerance of crime and mentally ill people on the streets."

The pastor went on to note that the lawlessness afflicting the Democrat-run city is not confined to their church, which he said is more vulnerable because they believe God calls them to be open daily.

"Its not specific to Sts. Peter and Paul," Bui said regarding the city's crime spree. "We saw in the news just this past week that the nurses at SF General [Hospital] and the librarians at our public libraries are demanding more protection from exactly the kind of incidents we had on Sunday."

"Like SF General and the public libraries, we are open every single day. The mission of Jesus Christ requires it! While both our school and club can, and do, fulfill their missions while having gates and doors locked, the Church cannot," he added.

Violent crime in San Francisco rose about 3% from 2022 to 2023, increasing from 5,309 incidents in 2022 to 5,479 in 2023. The number is lower than the previous year, when the rate of violent crime increased 8% in 2022 compared to 2021.
Home News Pastor who holds Guinness World Record for longest tenure dies

A pastor who set a Guinness World Record for his remarkable 72-year tenure at a church in Texas has died at age 94.

The late Rev. Dr. Doris Nathaniel Benford Sr. was known for his lengthy service at the Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church in Texas City and his passionate dedication to his congregation.

"It is with saddened hearts that we announce the homegoing of our beloved pastor, father, grandfather and so many other wonderful things to us. Rev. D. N. Benford, Sr. has transitioned to be with the Lord," the church announced on Facebook April 15. "He has fought a long hard fight for the Lord, and He has called him home to be with Him!"

Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe

The church held a homegoing service for Benford on Saturday morning.

Benford was honored by the Guinness Book of World Records in October 2022 for "Longest tenure as pastor of the same church." When the record was verified, Benford held the position for 72 years and 61 days.

Benford began preaching at the Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church at age 20 in 1950 and never left the pulpit for over 70 years.

Benford began his preaching journey at 14, delivering his first sermon on Dec. 25, 1944.

"In 1947, Rev. D.N. Benford was visiting a friend in Texas City, Texas, by the name of Rev. FM Johnson. Rev. Johnson was scheduled to preach at Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church (as a guest pastor) but he was sick. Rev. Johnson asked Rev. Benford if he would preach in his place," the Guinness website states. "After Rev. Benford preached, Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church was pleased and told Rev. Benford that if they were ever in need of a pastor, they would contact him, because they were impressed by his teaching/preaching."

"By 1950, Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church was in search of a pastor for their church," the website reads. "They search for Rev. Benford, Sr. and when they found him, they asked if he would come and preach for Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church again and he did that on the 3rd Sunday in June of 1950. On August 27, 1950, they reached out to Rev. Benford again and this time the membership voted him as the new pastor of Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church of Texas City, Texas."

On Easter Sunday 2024, Benford delivered his final sermon in the church's sanctuary, according to Fox26.

"It's just unbelievable," his daughter Mokysha Benford was quoted as saying. "He's lived a beautiful life."

During his extensive ministry, Benford made a significant impact on the community. He is known for his outreach efforts and his work with the church's youth.

"He was known at times for putting the megaphones on his van, telling the community to go vote," daughter Yolanda Proctor told Fox26.

He was also actively involved in helping the needy, providing food and clothing, and organizing events for families.

Benford would often drive the church bus to take families and children on field trips and vacations. With the church, his family traveled as far as Detroit and California on these trips.

Benford's children remember him as a role model who instilled strong values. His son Thomas Benford, a graduate of Rice University and Harvard Business School, credited his father and mother for providing a solid foundation for a productive life.

In tribute to his legacy, the church's leadership said his chair in the pulpit will remain covered for 30 days.
Home News UMC moves closer to allowing regions pick own stance on LGBT marriage, ordination

The United Methodist Church General Conference has advanced a measure meant to allow different regions of the global denomination to determine their own standards on LGBT issues.

At the Thursday plenary session of the General Conference, delegates voted 586-164 in favor of a petition for an amendment to the UMCs constitution allowing for regionalization. The petition will now be sent to the annual conferences for possible ratification.

The amendment will need to gain at least two-thirds support from the annual conference clergy and lay voters to be added to the UMC constitution, reports UM News.

Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe

At present, the UMC Book of Discipline, the denomination's rulebook, prohibits the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of noncelibate homosexuals.

These rules have largely remained in the Book of Discipline because of delegates from Africa and elsewhere abroad who tend to be more theologically conservative than their American peers.

If regionalization is ratified, it could effectively pave the way for American churches to have their own Book of Discipline apart from African churches and thus amend it to allow for same-sex marriage and noncelibate homosexual clergy.

Rob Renfroe, publisher of Good News Magazine, participating at the General Conference, expressed his concern about the proposal in a statement emailed to The Christian Post.

It is presented as a way to empower the church in each region of the world to do ministry in their particular context by adapting the Book of Discipline to their cultural settings. The real motive is to allow the church in the US to change the definition of marriage and to ordain practicing gay persons, stated Renfroe.

In the future, if Africa stays in the UMC, delegates from outside the US will far outnumber delegates from the West very soon. So, to keep Africa from determining the sexual ethics of the entire UMC, this legislation will marginalize the Africans and other traditionalists from around the world so that they have no say in defining marriage, sexual morality, etc., for the entire church.

Christine Schneider, a reserve delegate from the Switzerland-France-North Africa Conference and member of the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters, which submitted the proposal, spoke in favor of the measure during the plenary session discussion.

This is the result of excellent collaboration by people from all walks and parts of our connection, said Schneider, adding she was full of hope and also excited about the measure.

The Rev. Jonathan Ulanday, a delegate from the Philippines who was involved in crafting the Christmas Covenant, a measure calling for regionalization, also voiced support.

What we are trying to do is to place our Lord Jesus Christ at the center of the table and all of us will exist in equity sharing the gifts so the United Methodist Church will grow and flourish in different contexts in different parts of the world, Ulanday said, as reported by UM News.

The General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, began on Tuesday and will conclude May 3.

Over the past few decades, there has been a fierce debate within the UMC over whether to change its Book of Discipline rules on LGBT issues like marriage and ordination, mainly in response to changing social norms in the United States.

Although efforts by delegates at General Conference to change these parts of the Book of Discipline have consistently failed, many theological liberals have refused to follow or enforce them.

In 2019, at a special session of General Conference, delegates voted to amend the Book of Discipline by adding Paragraph 2553, a temporary measure that provides a disaffiliation procedure for congregations seeking to leave the UMC over the debate.

According to UM News, from 2019 to 2023, more than 7,500 congregations left the denomination via Paragraph 2553, with most joining The Global Methodist Church, a conservative theological alternative to the UMC.

Also, on Thursday, delegates voted to approve Petition 21103, which gives the Eurasian Episcopal Area, which has four annual conferences, autonomy, and the ability to disaffiliate from the denomination.
Home Opinion American universities are a mess, but we cant give up on them

Anyone paying attention can see that American universities have become a clown show. But, the pundits and politicians calling to abandon the universities and the humanities to the wolves have it wrong.

A few months ago, the president of Harvard University  with the single most restrictive speech code in the country  failed to determine whether calling for the genocide of Jews constituted bullying or harassment under the same restrictive policies that led to the ousting of Carole Hooven. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression has continually rated Harvard as one of the worst universities in the country for free speech, and last year the university came in dead last.

But, suddenly, when the question of antisemitism arose, free speech became sacrosanct to the same people who trampled on it without remorse for decades.

Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe

This week, the problem became even more obvious as elite universities across the country have failed to wrangle blatantly antisemitic and disruptive demonstrations. At Yale, a Jewish student was stabbed in the eye. At Columbia, students chanted We are Hamas, and a Jewish professor claimed his ID was deactivated, removing his access to campus.

Meanwhile, skyrocketing student loan debts have led thousands of Americans to wonder whether the whole concept of university was wrong from the start. Gen Z increasingly opts for trade school, and Americans across the political spectrumbut especially conservativeshave lost faith in higher education. The liberal arts and the humanities have become easy targets of castigation in favor of a narrow and purely monetary view of return on investment.

But a Conservative or Christian retreat from higher education is the worst possible outcome. In fact, in the long view of history, it is the least conservative option on the table. What we need now more than ever is an honest return to the Great Story, the meaning-making disciplines that remind us of the best that has been thought and said. And if Christians dont take the lead, the Marxists and materialists will.

From the days of Plato and Aristotle until the 20th century, education in the West has emphasized the artes liberales  the arts befitting a free person. It did not focus on learning a particular skill to sell in the marketplace but on becoming the sort of person capable of functioning in a free society. Axiomatic to this pedagogy is the knowledge that education forms more than it informs  it shapes and habituates a child into a certain way of thinking, knowing, and engaging with the world around her. It shapes the affections in a particular direction, either toward or away from values and virtues.

The ideological Left understands this, which is why it has steadily captured the education system. They understand that the story you tell children, steadily day after day from the time they are in preschool until the day they graduate college, shapes them forever. And they understand that the universities affect not just the students in them but the broader society in which they exist in incalculable ways.

Some of the most prescient thinking on this topic came from the Lebanese diplomat and educator Charles Malik. As an outsider, he saw the metastasizing threats in American universities long before they received widespread attention.

In his book A Christian Critique of the University, he says: From the Christian point of view, the problem we are raising is second only to the commission laid upon the church  the university, as we have demonstrated, dominates the world. Can anything be more important (except Jesus Christ and His Church) than the fact that our children spend between 15 and 20 years of the most formative period of their lives either directly or indirectly under the formal influence of the university, and they and we spend the whole of our lives under its informal influence?

He rightly points out that the best efforts of parents and pastors can do little in the teeth of an educational establishment rooted in secular materialism or Marxism. Even if a child never steps foot in a public school, she will forever be under the informal influence of the university  it is the incubator for future leaders and the trial room for fringe ideologies that become mainstream a decade later.

Higher education is not, historically, about vocational training  it is about becoming a certain sort of person who can function in a free society. And the sorts of people our universities are currently designed to produce are aligning themselves with terrorist groups and calling for the downfall of the United States.

But the Great Story can help solve that problem if we remember how to tell it. The humanities illustrate what Malik called the Grecco-Roman-Judeo-Christian cumulative tradition  a story that starts in Jerusalem, Rome, and Athens and provides the bedrock for democracy and human rights. It answers essential questions like What is fundamentally wrong with the world? And what ought I to do to set it right? These questions demand answers  and currently, the Marxists and Critical Theorists are telling the better story. The problem: systemic injustice, imperialism, religion. The solution? Tearing down the structures of oppression: Capitalism, free speech, the family, the Church.

Thats why Malik was bold enough to say, Save the university and you save Western civilization and therewith the world.

If Christians and lovers of Western Civilization dont come back to the universities to tell the Great Story, their enemies will. And what we witnessed this week at Columbia, Yale, and Berkley will be only the beginning.
Home Opinion 'God Bless the USA Bible: Good idea or bad?

It is 2024. That means it is a leap year. It also means in the United States we are going to have a presidential election on the first Tuesday in November. Consequently, we can expect the unexpected, the unusual, the abnormal, and the bizarre to occur on a regular, but unscheduled and unpredictable basis.

The latest example of this presidential election year phenomenon is the appearance of Presidential Candidate Donald Trump touting Lee Greenwoods God Bless the USA Bible, which includes the Bible bound together with the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the lyrics to the chorus of Greenwoods God Bless the USA.

I consider myself to be a grateful and patriotic American. I am profoundly grateful that in the providence of my Heavenly Father, I was born in America to loving parents. My father participated in a dozen sea battles in the U.S. Navy during World War II by the time he was 24 years old, defending those freedoms.

Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe

It was made very clear to me in my family of origin that we as Americans had been extraordinarily blessed and that average rank-and-file Americans enjoyed more liberty than citizens of any other country. Yes, as I became a teenager in the late 1950s it became apparent to me that African Americans and Hispanics did not have the same freedoms I enjoyed and that needed to change.

That is one of the many reasons I am so very grateful for the ministry of the late, great Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his leadership of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s.

I also believe God, in His mercy, granted an extraordinary outburst of genius to flourish along the eastern seaboard of what was to become the United States in the last half of the eighteenth century, producing the United States of America and her attendant founding documentsthe Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

However, and it is a big HOWEVER, the inspiration granted by the founding fathers was totally different in kind and degree of authority than Gods inspiration of Holy Scripture. Our founding fathers understood this. After all, they wrote an amendment process into the Constitution itself so their governing documents could be altered upon new insight. And the country has exercised that option 27 times, the first 10 in one stroke with the Bill of Rights.

In contrast, there is no amendment process for Holy Scripture. God revealed Himself to us in the Old and New Testaments and He has preauthenticated it to us. God explained to us in the Bible that the writers of Holy Scripture were uniquely and divinely inspired to write what God intended for them to write. God in His providence utilized various methods in communicating His revelation to us. In some instances God dictated directly what was to be written down (Ex. 20:1-2; Is.1:10, 3:16; Jer. 1:6-9, 2:1-2). At other times, He spoke through prophecies and visions.

However, a huge majority of Scripture is God using the personalities and life experiences of the writers so that they ended up writing precisely what God intended for them to write (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21). The emphasis in the Christian doctrine of divine inspiration is on the results.

The great Christian theologian B.B. Warfield perhaps explained it best. In the early 20th century some more liberal theologians began to question the nature of divine inspiration of Holy Scripture. They began to say, Well, the Bibles inspiration is like a stained glass window. Gods inspiration is the light and it shines through the stained glass panels that refract and distort the light. Our job is to try to discern the light that is God from the humanity of the authors who distort and alter the light by their humanity just as the stained glass window distorts sunlight.

Warfield replied, You are wrong. God not only is the lightHe designed the stained glass window design just as He wanted it to be. Consequently, standing on this side of the stained glass window, we see exactly what God intended us to see.

So you have Johannine, Petrine, and Pauline Greek styles and syntax in the New Testament, but each of them conveyed exactly what God had intended for each of them to write. The Bible is truth without mixture of error for its matter.

So I believe it is not a good idea to bind Holy Scripture together with any other documents including the Declaration, Constitution, etc. It will only confuse people by either elevating our founding documents to a level of authority they do not deserve, or they will tempt people to view the Holy Scripture as less than fully sacred.
Home Opinion Is it true that we cant 'legislate morality?

Perhaps it is symptomatic of these sorry times to turn a misunderstanding of an already trite slogan into an entire political philosophy; that is to say, to make the justice system decidedly unjust. This slogan is supposed to draw attention to the Christian idea that morality is internal and therefore invisible. Only the spirit of a man knows the thoughts within him, says the evangelist, and therefore the law cannot judge such things. True enough, but no sane person ever suggested this truth limits the civil law to nonexistence and anarchy, if such a thing could even exist.



Laws and courts exist to govern mans outward behavior towards the maintenance of as good a civil society as possible in this fallen world. Christianity exists to endow men with the Holy Spirit and His sanctifying work on our invisible souls. And never the twain shall meet, or so we are told by the sloganeers.

I never quite became a libertarian, though the logic applies beautifully to economic questions. My hang-up began when I noticed libertarians constantly making the same argument that Id often heard many atheists make: morality can be based on human flourishing. As per usual, the Christians made the most sophisticated case. In reality, they said, morality is based on God. But in a society that must suffer the input of non-believers, we cannot base the civil law on God, so we must find a secular basis for the law. And so, they would borrow the atheist argument that morality and the law on top of it can all be grounded in a secular utilitarian principle. I never quite understood whether they believed this was actually true or a useful fiction that must be tolerated due to some political principle, which itself was either obscure or at least certainly not coming from Christianity.

Political structures must be based on political realities, that is power relations. The flaws in political systems almost always have to do with a misalignment between formal and informal power structures. The real power must be formalized, or the real powers will always subvert the invented powers, leading to instability. The concept of power itself is a tricky thing. In principle, no human being holds any special power or authority over any other. All of us have real power only over our own thoughts, bodies, feelings, associations, etc. In the absence of any higher power, we might be tempted to think that individuals are the highest power in existence, and therefore the civil law must be formalized around individual autonomy. And so, the now obscure foundations of classical liberalism have been wrecked and replaced by the only true power of the individual over himself with all the attendant consequences.

Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe

The irony of our current mess lies in the supposed defenders of classical liberalism seeing no difference between that and totalitarian libertarianism. Classical liberalism, they say, was always the elevation of the people above the government, rather than the medieval arrangement in the other direction. This is only partly correct. This adjustment was made, but at least the American Founders never intended to remove other, higher powers from the equation. They assumed those higher powers would remain in place as they were in their own time, and the lack of formal structures enshrining what they assumed was no detriment. We have learned otherwise. Over time, what formal structures they did have referencing the higher powers have been removed one by one until nothing remains, even informally, of the original arrangement.

Things have gotten so bad that today Christian apologists will argue vociferously in the context of their discipline that morality can only be based on God. This is so revered a concept that it constitutes one of the major arguments for the very existence of God: The moral argument. Yet often I see these same people arguing that the law cannot be based on God. How is it then that the law, a system of rationalized and applied morality, can have nothing to do with God if God is the basis of morality? How is it then we cannot see the enemies of God taking direct aim at the justice system, replacing attorneys general with theologians of a new morality, intent on enforcing in practice what they cannot pass into law or harmonize with our existing justice system?



Faced with this type of threat, is our response really going to be that after all, you cant legislate morality?

True morality cannot be legislated, but behavior can be. Whats more, we cannot help but legislate behavior, and only a truly committed dullard would claim that behavior has no connection to morality at all. If we legislated behavior without any basis in morality, that legislation would be by definition unjust. For a truly just society, we must legislate behavior on the basis of true morality, our laws echoing the real power structure beginning with God alone.

Christians, of course, know all this, but when it comes to the dirty business of politics, we wash our hands of the whole lot, content to watch in condemnation as the society around us, bereft of divine influence by our own reticence, devolves into chaos, nonsense, and horror. And we are shocked and surprised when the horror invades our own homes, as though we somehow thought our moral foundations in God would insulate us completely from the fallenness of the world. The phrase Holier than thou, comes to mind. A passive aggressive self-righteousness insisting simultaneously that the world must not be allowed to experience the benefits of Christian morality and also must be judged for its consequent self-destruction looks quite foolish when its chickens come home to roost and its students come home with top surgery.



And so, an evangelical church forever insisting on personal evangelism as the highest pursuit of the fervent, faithful Christian and the key to growing the church finds itself presiding over a declining Christianity, blaming everything and everyone but itself unless of course, the blame lies with an insufficient commitment to evangelism.

Perhaps the time has come for such self-righteousness to recognize its own vulnerabilities and think that maybe, perhaps, another suitable goal for the Christian church might be to bring formal power structures in line with the real power structure. No divine right of kings is necessary, for the Bible itself declares the spirit of our age: Then the sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole Heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One (Dan 7:27, NASB). As subtle an adjustment as it may seem from God > Church > Government > People to God > Church > People > Government, it is surely not as drastic an adjustment as removing God and Church from the equation entirely to leave only People > Government! Yet that is what we have done. And we wonder why God and Church recede from relevance. God forgive us.
Candace Owens converts to Catholicism

(CP) A prominent conservative political commentator has announced that she has joined the Catholic Church, vowing to provide more details about what led to her conversion in the future.

Candace Owens, a conservative political commentator who formerly worked for The Daily Wire, took to X on Monday to announce that "Recently, I made the decision to go home." While she did not explicitly elaborate on what she meant in her post, images accompanying her announcement show Owens standing next to a Catholic priest at a Catholic Church.

"There is of course so much more that went into this decision and that I plan to share in the future," Owens added. "But for now, praise be to God for His gentle, but relentless guiding of my heart toward Truth."

Owens shared the Bible passage Isaiah 41:10: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." She concluded her post by proclaiming, "I do not fear," adding, "Christ is king," accompanied by a symbol of the cross.

Many practicing Catholics left comments on Owens' post welcoming her into the Catholic Church. Pro-life activist Abby Johnson posted a response stating, "Welcome home, Candace."

Owens did not specify when the pictures were taken, although it's possible they were captured during the Easter Vigil Mass the evening before Easter Sunday, which is one of the most common occasions where new Catholics are baptized into the Church. The picture was definitely taken after March 9, when Owens responded to a question asking if she was Catholic by replying, "Almost there," accompanied by a symbol of the cross.

Catholic News World reported that the pictures featured in her post documented the internet personality standing next to Fr. Julian Large at the Brompton Oratory, described by the outlet as a "Latin mass community" in London, United Kingdom. The publication also noted that Owens is married to "a Catholic British activist and entrepreneur named George Farmer" who previously identified as a Reformed Evangelical Protestant.

Owens' social media post revealing her conversion to Catholicism comes a month after her employment with The Daily Wire ended amid a months-long clash with Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro due to a disagreement between the two over Israel's actions following the Oct. 7 terror attacks carried out by the terror organization Hamas. As many as 1,163 people, including 31 Americans, were slaughtered that day, and around 240 people were taken hostage into Gaza.

Some of Owens' critics derided as antisemitic her claim that Israel has committed "genocide" against Palestinians following the attacks.

While her conversion to Catholicism marks a new development in her spiritual journey, Owens has frequently discussed her Christian faith since entering the public arena in 2017. During a 2018 speech at Liberty University, she detailed how she strayed from her Christian roots, embraced alcoholism and suffered from anorexia after experiencing a childhood defined by poverty, abuse and racial threats from classmates that prompted the FBI to open an investigation.

Owens also suggested that the audience had an obligation to participate in the "culture war" engulfing the United States: "I believe in you. You can do it without government handouts. You can do it based off of good ideas. You can do it based off of hard work. You can do it with Jesus Christ."

"At the moment that you believe in yourself, at the moment that you get back to your center, that you align yourself ... with God, the universe will open itself up to you. It certainly did for me," she said.

More recently, Owens has warned that the term "Christian nationalism" has been used in a "sinister" way as part of an effort to put Christianity in the "same vein as white supremacy." She characterized the increased use of the term in popular culture as a new "attempt to divide and brainwash Christians, which is something that has gone on for decades."

 The Christian Post
Rico Tice leaves Church of England over same-sex blessings

Respected evangelist Rico Tice has left the Church of England over its decision to introduce blessings for same-sex couples.

Tice, who co-created the Christianity Explored course, told Evangelicals Now that he left after failing to receive a satisfactory answer from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, about the concerns of evangelicals towards the Prayers of Love and Faith.

"We called upon the archbishop to resist the influence of cultural values when they are in opposition to those of the Bible, and did this because it was harming our ability to work with orthodox people from other denominations  how could they trust us? We received no substantive response from him, and that was a key moment in my decision to leave," he said.

Tice is a leading evangelical voice and spent many years as associate minister at All Souls Church, Langham Place, in London, the church of the late evangelist John Stott. He now worships at the International Presbyterian Church (IPC), Ealing.

He has retained his permission to preach so that he can continue to speak in Church of England churches but said it was "vital" that he demonstrate a "clear separation from a church that no longer affirms Biblical orthodoxy, especially with regard to preaching repentance".

Asked whether he might ever rejoin the Church of England, he suggested there would be no thought of returning so long as the CofE remains on its current course.

"In one sense I have never left, for I consider myself a cradle-to-grave Anglican and I remain deeply committed to the Global South model of world Anglicanism. But the sad fact is that the Church of England has left Anglicanism," he said.

"For me the present situation is utterly heartbreaking. In retrospect I was naive about our current culture in the Church of England, because I never thought I would see such a clear, pervasive denial of the Christian's need to repent of each and every sin they commit."

More on this topic:

The future for evangelicals in the Church of England

Prayers of Love and Faith and the dilemma facing the House of Bishops

Bishops' Prayers of Love and Faith lead lost souls further from Christ
The Office of the Independent Police Review Director has commended Thunder Bay Police Chief Darcy Fleury, left, and the reconstituted police services board for progress in building community trust following the departure and arrest of former chief Sylvie Hauth, right. Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler disagrees and wants the police service disbanded.
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- The Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple in Cleveland Heights hosted a special Passover Shabbat service Friday evening, inviting other church congregations that are part of the Interfaith Group Against Hate (IGAH) to come learn more about the Jewish faith during a particularly hard wartime Passover.

Passover is the Jewish festival remembering the Isrealites Exodus from Egypt more than 3,000 years ago. Its a celebration of freedom with family and friends that lasts seven, and sometimes eight, days.
Activist Commentary: Jana is a very experienced activist investor founded in 2001 by Barry Rosenstein. The firm made its name taking deeply researched activist positions with well-conceived plans for long term value. Rosenstein called his activist strategy "V cubed." The three "Vs" were" (i) Value: buying at the right price; (ii) Votes: knowing whether you have the votes before commencing a proxy fight; and (iii) Variety of ways to win: having more than one strategy to enhance value and exit an investment. Since 2008, the firm has gradually shifted from that strategy to one which we characterize as the three "Ss" (i) Stock price  buying at the right price; (ii) Strategic activism  sale of company or spinoff of a business; and (iii) Star advisors/nominees  aligning with top industry executives to advise them and take board seats if necessary.

Wolfspeed is the world's leading producer of silicon carbide, or SiC, and a manufacturer of silicon carbide applications. SiC is an extremely difficult and expensive substrate to manufacture: It requires growing epitaxial layers, baking at up to 4,532 degrees Fahrenheit, and then using ion implantation. This gives Wolfspeed a competitive advantage as the market leader. As a first mover, the company enjoys domination of the global market for SiC, having produced on the order of 90% of the material to ever exist. Due to the increased demand for their materials products and power devices in EVs, motor drives, power supplies, solar and transportation applications, the company sold its LED business in 2021 and its radio frequency business in 2023 to, in part, fund an increase in manufacturing capacity of SiC and vertically integrated manufacturing. The company has announced and is in the process of ramping up two major manufacturing facilities simultaneously in Siler City, N.C. and Marcy, N.Y. The John Palmour Manufacturing Center for Silicon Carbide in North Carolina is a facility dedicated to the production of SiC wafers. The company's Mohawk Valley project in New York will produce advanced SiC devices like metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors, or MOSFETs, which are widely used in electronics and power applications.

Over the past one-, three-, five- and 10-year periods, Wolfspeed has had a negative total shareholder return and has vastly underperformed its peers. The company doesn't have a demand problem. In fact, demand is quite robust, and the company has a substantial moat in SiC. For example, in 2023, Renesas made a customer deposit of $2 billion to Wolfspeed in order to secure a 10-year supply agreement for SiC wafers. Further, from a current base of nearly $1 billion, the company's expansion plan supports a $20 billion market opportunity by 2030. Even in the event of an EV slowdown, Wolfspeed is such a small part of the market, that it could easily reach capacity on its facilities.

What Wolfspeed really has is a supply and ambition problem. The rollout of its two new facilities have been plagued by delays, and the company still only projects 20% utilization for the Mohawk Valley plant by the end of fiscal 2024. Even more concerning for investors has been the fact that the company announced in early 2023 plans to construct the world's largest and most advanced SiC device manufacturing facility in Germany. Expansion is a great idea for a company that is executing well and reaching capacity. Wolfspeed is doing neither right now, and announcing further expansion plans before proving that it can execute scares the market as evidenced by the stock's performance. Jana would like to see Wolfspeed do the following: (i) prioritize execution at Mohawk Valley and Siler City, (ii) earn an acceptable return on capital, (iii) set realistic targets and (iv) outline a clear plan for capital expenditures to assure that the company will not need to pursue any additional dilutive capital raises. If the company can create a credible forward-looking plan to earning an acceptable return on capital and set realistic targets, then the market will begin to regain confidence and the stock should rebound from its current depressed levels.

Jana also recommends that the board commences a review of strategic alternatives, including a possible sale of the company. However, with a stock price teetering at about $25 per share  it was trading as high as $70 per share in July 2023  a sale of the company at an acceptable premium is highly unlikely here. The more likely outcome is for management to fix the problems with the company and potentially pursue a future sale or look for an investment from a strategic investor that might be willing to invest at a high multiple to shore up supply. Jana notes that Denso and Mitsubishi Electric recently made a minority investment in Coherent at a multiple of 10 times revenue. Wolfspeed presently trades at less than six times revenue.

This is similar to the issues Jana identified at Freshpet when the firm invested there: supply shortages and difficulty rolling out its U.S. manufacturing operations. At Freshpet, Jana also made operational and capital allocation recommendations in addition to reviewing a sale of the company. Jana ultimately received board representation and a sale never happened as the operational fixes worked. Freshpet's stock closed at $106.36 on Friday, up from $45.37 in September 2022. As is customary for Jana, at Freshpet, the investor launched its activist campaign with a team of experienced industry executives ready to be board nominees, if necessary. Here, there has been no such mention of a "Jana Dream Team," but it is a little too early for that. The director nomination window does not open until June 25 and closes on July 25, at which time we will have more clarity on which road this campaign will take.

Ken Squire is the founder and president of 13D Monitor, an institutional research service on shareholder activism, and the founder and portfolio manager of the 13D Activist Fund, a mutual fund that invests in a portfolio of activist 13D investments.
There's still plenty of big tech-related stocks to buy ahead of earnings, Morgan Stanley said recently. The firm said investors should buy the weakness in stocks like Nvidia and Apple before the companies deliver their quarterly results. CNBC Pro combed through Morgan Stanley research to find stocks the firm likes as earnings season continues. The stocks include: Dell, Nvidia , Keysight Technologies , Apple and Fortinet. Nvidia The firm said it's standing by shares of the AI chipmaker ahead of earnings in late May. Analyst Joseph Moore sees a slew of positive catalysts that could drive share gains in the months ahead. "NVDA continues to see strong spending trends in AI, with upward revisions in demand from some of the newer customers such as Tesla and various sovereigns," the firm wrote. Moore said his checks show demand remains high for the company's graphic processing units also known as GPUs. Nvidia's data center business is also firing on all cylinders, he added. "We expect a beat to consensus for the April quarter and strong guidance, setting the stage for another series of positive EPS revisions," he went on to say. Shares are up a whopping 77% this year, but the firm said it still sees plenty of upside. Keysight Technologies The electronic test equipment and software company is another standout, according to the firm. "Within the T & M [test & measurement] space, we believe KEYS is best positioned to capitalize on the AI / ML tailwind given exposures across the various layers of networks including physical, protocol, and application," analyst Meta Marshall wrote. Keysight is well positioned for share gains with a diverse portfolio attractive to investors, she said. "The company has [the] broadest set of customers across semi, componentry, traditional networking and hyperscalers, which combined with their depth of portfolio, should make them a share gainer in AI, " she wrote. Meanwhile, shares of the company are down around 7% this year with plenty room to run, the firm said. "We remain [overweight] KEYS as we believe valuation today fails to credit double-digit earnings growth story and defensive end-market exposures," Marshall said. Keysight is scheduled to report its results in May. Fortinet Fortinet is scheduled to report earnings on May 2 and Morgan Stanley continues to pound the table for the stock. Analyst Hamza Fodderwala said he's getting more bullish on the cybersecurity company after attending a recent user conference. "Net, we see upside to Q1 estimates and remain confident in 2H topline acceleration," he wrote. In addition, the firm's survey checks indicate demand remains steady. "Our partner conversations indicated more stability in overall demand after a turbulent 2H'23," he noted. Fodderwala also says Fortinet has "regulatory tailwinds" and that the need to secure critical infrastructure means bookings remain "strong." "Nearing the trough, poised to accelerate in 2H," he said succinctly. Fortinet shares are up nearly 10% this year. Dell "The strength of AI server orders, backlog, pipeline, and expanding CSP/enterprise [cloud service provider] customer base show DELL's AI story is early days and gaining momentum. ... Guidance suggests margins will be pressured Y/Y, but we believe mgmt's rev/EPS outlook is conservative; our FY25 EPS is 3% above the high-end of the guide. Further momentum in the AI server narrative, PCs inflecting to growth and S & P 500 inclusion remain key upcoming catalysts." Apple "We believe Apple will slightly beat Mar Q ests, but guide to June Q revs/implied EPS 4-7% below Street. At $165, this appears priced in but in today's volatile market, it's a tricky setup. That said, with Apple's biggest WWDC ever on June 10th, we'd buy post-earnings weakness. Remain OW; $210 PT." Fortinet "Nearing the Trough, Poised to Accelerate in 2H. ... Net, we see upside to Q1 estimates and remain confident in 2H topline acceleration. ... Our partner conversations indicated more stability in overall demand after a turbulent 2H'23. ... With growing regulatory tailwinds around securing critical infrastructure, demand for Fortinet OT [operational technology] security ( > 10% of bookings) remains strong." Nvidia "NVDA continues to see strong spending trends in AI, with upward revisions in demand from some of the newer customers such as Tesla and various sovereigns. ... We expect a beat to consensus for the April quarter and strong guidance, setting the stage for another series of positive EPS revisions. ... We believe that NVIDIA should trade at a premium given its higher probability of upward revisions in the near term." Keysight Technologies "Within the T & M space, we believe KEYS is best positioned to capitalize on the AI / ML tailwind given exposures across various layers of networks including physical, protocol, and application. ... The company has broadest set of customers across semi, componentry, traditional networking & hyperscalers, which combined with their depth of portfolio, should make them a share gainer in AI. ... We remain OW KEYS as we believe valuation today fails to credit double-digit earnings growth story & defensive end-market exposures."
How did you pay for a major expense or investment? Share your story with us for a chance to be featured in a future article. Rob Scores and his wife, Julianne, had long had Puerto Rico on their dream vacation list. So when an opportunity to go there with their friends came up in February, they jumped at the chance. However, because the trip was an impulse, they had to get creative to be able to cover the $5,000 it would cost. Although Scores says they would have taken the trip regardless, they wanted extra cash on hand to be able to get the most out of their trip  and avoid going into debt. Their solution: Sell items they no longer needed. "There were some things we had to do to come up with the money for it and part of it was selling some jewelry [Julianne] found when she was going through a jewelry box," Scores tells CNBC Make It. Here's how they were able to make their dream vacation a reality.

Finding hidden treasure right in their home

The Austin, Texas-based couple lives well on a joint six-figure income. Julianne lost her full-time tech job in 2023, which made money a bit tighter, but they still feel comfortable managing their typical expenses, including some credit card debt and payments on a truck, Scores says. Julianne has been taking on freelance gigs while looking for full-time work. Julianne also sold a house she owned in New York last year. She previously rented the home to a friend, Scores says. When the friend wanted to move out, Julianne decided she didn't want to be a long-distance landlord and selling the home would be the best move. The profit helped bolster the couple's savings, allowed them to complete a bathroom renovation on their home in Austin and even let them consider going on vacation. They were able to save by splitting the cost of their Airbnb and rental car with their friends, but because Julianne works from home and Scores mainly travels within the contiguous U.S. for work, the couple wanted to experience the best of this new destination. The contents of an old jewelry box helped ensure the trip wouldn't break the bank. "[Julianne] doesn't tell me the budget, she tells me to start looking at stuff and she'll let me know if it's a go or no-go," Scores says. "She says she found some jewelry that didn't mean much to her or was from an ex and she was like, 'I don't know what to do with it.'" The couple decided to try to sell the jewelry  some necklaces and earrings  Julianne has had since she was a teen, Scores says. After perusing reviews on Google, they decided to try their luck with TheAlloyMarket.com. To their surprise, the jewelry scored the couple $729 they could put toward their Puerto Rico trip.

'You want to do something, you figure it out'
Demonstrators attend a rally asking Rep. Kean to "Stop MAGA Cuts! Protect Social Security!" on Feb. 24, 2023 in Bridgewater, New Jersey. Dave Kotinsky | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images

'Why hasn't Congress voted?'

In 1983, when the last major Social Security reforms were enacted, there were no benefit enhancements, Larson argued. Among the changes put in place at that time was a gradual increase in the retirement age, taxes on benefit income and reduced benefits for public employees with pensions. For years, Larson has championed a bill  Social Security 2100  that aims to increase benefits for all beneficiaries by lifting the payroll tax cap for taxpayers earning over $400,000. Today, annual earnings of up to $168,600 are subject to a 6.2% payroll tax toward Social Security paid by both workers and employers. Larson's plan also calls for closing loopholes that allow wealthy taxpayers to avoid paying Social Security taxes on other income. Larson said the public is well aware that Social Security benefits are theirs and they've paid for them. Yet the same question comes up again and again: "Why hasn't Congress voted?"

Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., speaks during an event to introduce legislation called the Social Security 2100 Act. which would increase increase benefits and strengthen the fund, on Capitol Hill on Jan. 30, 2019. Mark Wilson | Getty Images News | Getty Images

The latest version of Larson's bill has 184 Democratic co-sponsors yet has never been brought to the House floor for a vote. Another bill, the Social Security Fairness Act, has even broader support, with 318 co-sponsors from both sides of the aisle, yet that also has yet to be put up for a vote. That proposal tackles just two changes also included in Larson's bill  repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset rules that limit Social Security benefit income for individuals who receive other benefits like pensions from a state or local government.

Retirement age may be pushed higher

Meanwhile, the Republican Study Committee's budget, comprising proposals from 192 Republican House members, has suggested changes to Social Security, like raising the retirement age, as it seeks to cut federal spending across the board. Democrats have called out the more than $1.5 trillion in cuts to Social Security that the Republicans' proposal may entail. By raising the retirement age for everyone 59 and younger, Budget Committee Democrats estimate that 257 million people would have to work longer.

The Republican budget proposal has prompted fears that the party could move to enact those changes through a closed-door commission, Nancy Altman, president of advocacy organization Social Security Works, testified before the House Ways and Means Committee last week. In response, Rep. Drew Ferguson, R-Georgia, who serves as chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security, said the committee would not be voting on the Republican budget proposal. "I have said many times that the only way that this gets solved is in a bipartisan open forum," said Ferguson during the hearing.

Path to bipartisan compromise uncertain

But how a bipartisan effort should proceed is up for debate. Larson hopes to bring his Social Security 2100 proposal to the House floor for a vote, betting that some Republicans may come around and back making benefits more generous. The extra money sent to the nation's seniors would be spent in their districts, he argued. Moreover, the tax increases would require wealthy individuals to pay what every other working American is already contributing to Social Security, he said.

watch now

During last week's hearing, Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, said that while he respects Larson's passion, he still expects it will be necessary for lawmakers to agree on some combination of tax increases and benefit cuts that will affect future beneficiaries. Experts including Charles Blahous, senior research strategist at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, agreed. "The size of the shortfall now is so huge, and so far beyond anything that lawmakers have successfully closed before, the notion that either party can ram through its preferred solution is fanciful," Blahous said. Benefits are regularly increased, Blahous argues, through changes to the initial benefit formula and cost-of-living adjustments.
The Slavyansk oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar region has been forced to suspend some operations after being damaged in a Ukrainian drone attack, the state TASS news agency cited an executive overseeing the plant as saying on Saturday.

On the back foot on the battlefield in some places, Ukraine has been systematically targeting Russian energy infrastructure facilities  despite U.S. requests for it not to do so  in an attempt to disrupt Russia's economy and, therefore, its ability to fund its war effort.

A Ukrainian intelligence source told Reuters that Ukraine had attacked the Ilsky and Slavyansk oil refineries in Russia's Krasnodar region with drones early on Saturday, causing fires at the facilities.

The same source said Ukrainian drones had also targeted the Kushchevsk military airfield in the same region overnight.

Russia's Defence Ministry said its air defense units had destroyed 66 Ukrainian drones over the territory of the Krasnodar region and two more over the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

"The work of the (Slavyansk) plant has been partially suspended. Exactly 10 UAVs (drones) flew directly into the plant, there was a strong fire. There may be hidden damage," Eduard Trudnev, the security director at Slavyansk ECO Group, which operates the plant, was cited as saying by TASS.

Earlier on Saturday, Roman Siniagovskyi, a local government official in Slavyansk, said on his official Telegram channel that the refinery's storage tank facilities had not been damaged but that a distillation tower had been hit.

He said a fire caused by the attack had been put out and nobody had been injured.
Bob Bakish, then president and chief executive officer of Viacom Inc., speaks during the Mobile World Congress Americas event in Los Angeles, California, U.S., on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019.

Paramount Global's board is preparing to fire Chief Executive Officer Bob Bakish as soon as Monday morning, according to people familiar with the matter.

Paramount Global reports its quarterly earnings Monday. Bakish won't be on the call, the people said.

The board is expected to lean on company division heads in lieu of a CEO while it negotiates a possible merger with Skydance Media. Paramount Global has set up a special committee to explore the deal. The companies are in exclusive talks to pursue a deal until May 3, though that window could be extended.

Bakish has lost the trust of Paramount Global controlling shareholder Shari Redstone, according to people familiar with her thinking. Redstone wanted to make a move to oust Bakish before Paramount Global's carriage negotiation with Charter Communications, which is pivotal for setting a value for the company in its merger talks with Skydance, the people said.

A spokesperson for Paramount Global declined to comment.

Paramount and Skydance have been making headway on a final deal, under which Bakish would leave Paramount, CNBC reported Thursday. Skydance intends to name its CEO David Ellison to helm Paramount, according to people familiar with the matter.

In private, Bakish has dissented against the merger, claiming that it could dilute common shareholders, according to people familiar with the matter.

Under the deal terms, almost 50% of the merged company would be owned by Skydance and its private equity partners, CNBC reported April 5. Common shareholders would own the remainder of the company, which would continue to trade publicly.
You know John Oliver is serious when hes using the word daddy to describe someone who isnt Adam Driver.

The host of Last Week Tonight is not known for holding his tongue, even when talking about his corporate overlords. When Warner Bros., which, of course, owns Olivers home network HBO, merged with Discovery in 2022, Oliver laid into his new boss boss boss David Zaslav for his series of unpopular decisions that included shelving completed projects like Batgirl to recoup some of the costs in tax relief. In one of the multiple viral segments Oliver performed on Last Week Tonight amidst the massively discussed and often criticized merger, Oliver snarked of HBOs famous slogan, HBO Max: Its not TV. Its a series of tax write-offs to appease Wall Street.

Don't Miss

Today, Oliver finds HBO to be only a relatively stable environment compared to other companies under Zaslavs control, though Oliver continues to feel comfortable going after the mismanagement of mega corporations. Yesterday, Oliver sat down with The Hollywood Reporter to talk about how Last Week Tonight somehow survived such turnover long enough to turn ten years old tomorrow, and he discussed his own experiences living through the Warner Bros.' 2016 merger with AT&T just to be hit with the Discovery one in 2022. If HBO had their way, wed have to wait another three days to hear his take on the state of the company.

When Oliver's interviewer described the series of mergers and acquisitions that HBO has survived since the start of Last Week Tonight as 30 Rock-esque, Oliver joked, Thats always used in a good way, right? Oliver summarized of his show's experience with their corporate owners as having three different business daddies in 10 years, saying that, despite Last Week Tonight celebrating its tenth birthday tomorrow, the chaotic business life of HBO is another reason why its not really been 10 years of complete normal stability.

Advertisement

Said Oliver of his home channel's many acquisitions, Its always the same lie before any takeover is about to happen: I think this is going to be really good. Thats what you hear, and that is never, ever the case. But feel free to keep believing that for as long as you can! Still, Oliver considers himself and his HBO colleagues lucky, saying, HBO has largely been able to not feel the worst effects of it. Thats the hugely fortunate side of getting to work for them. Long may that continue because I dont want to have anything to do with any of these corporate parents as they blow in and out of our lives.

And, just like any child, Oliver has been doing his absolute best to give his corporate parents cardiac events with the kinds of segments he does on Last Week Tonight  for instance, when he interviewed NSA leaker and whistleblower Edward Snowden in just his second year at HBO. And, when it came to discussing the risks involved in such an interview with his corporate bosses, Oliver said, You dont know how happy HBO is going to be that weve gone and not told them.
John Cleese is a busy guy these days. In addition to appearing in an awkward Australian comedy roast, feuding with fellow Monty Python members on social media and canceling his own cancel culture show, he still somehow found the time to adapt his classic TV comedy Fawlty Towers, weaving together three episodes of the series for a new London stage show.

Ostensibly to promote the production (which initially debuted in Australia), Cleese recently penned a lengthy article for the U.K.s Daily Telegraph in which, oddly, Cleese goes out of his way to defend the character of Basil Fawlty.

Don't Miss

Cleese describes how the original series was about a small-c conservative who dislikes change, and is endlessly frustrated by an evolving culture. Its true, the whole joke of Fawlty Towers is that Basil is a prudish, boot-licking colonial dinosaur; a pitiful toady for the type of traditional English society that was very much in the rearview by 1975.

Cleese then goes on to describe how, at the time, everywhere you looked, revolution was afoot, from multiculturalism to feminism, and the England Basil lives in is no longer the country it was. Which, again, is the joke. But then Cleese continues, I sometimes feel this about England, too. When I look at our country today I yearn for a return to what seemed to be a happier, friendlier, calmer, more ironic culture. I remember an England where everyone was extremely polite, when people were doing their best, and when life seemed relatively simple.

Advertisement

It probably goes without saying that the polite England that Cleese is yearning for here may not have been so simple and happy for everybody. Cleese is flat-out admitting that Basil felt threatened by womens rights and racial equality, and then tries to argue that he had a point? And what does Cleese find so disagreeable about modern society? The proliferation of call centres and trans women being allowed to compete in female sports.

Cleese says that Basil would be bewildered by the world today. Ummm, thats a good thing? This is a guy who was also bewildered by unmarried couples sharing a hotel room and the existence of a Black physician!

Advertisement

Cleese coming to the conclusion that Basils bigoted qualities are actually pretty relatable, now that the star is in the transphobic octogenarian assclown phase of his career, may seem surprising to some fans. Kind of like if Anthony Hopkins were to sample human flesh and publicly proclaim that Hannibal Lecter was really just a misunderstood gourmet. But this actually makes total sense for Cleese.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Remember, Cleese was not the only star of Fawlty Towers. It was written by Cleese and his then-wife Connie Booth, who also played Basils employee Polly, the character that Cleese now calls the shows voice of sanity. By the way, Cleese didnt even bother to inform Booth about his ill-conceived Fawlty Towers reboot.

Booth once revealed that Cleese and Basil were very much intertwined, telling an interviewer, Johns, sort of, so much Basil, parts of him  and of his father.  It was familiar to both of us.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Meanwhile, comedian Tim Brooke-Taylor noted that the show managed to combine Johns failings into the character (of Basil), crediting Booth who knew John better than anybody else. Brooke-Taylor even recalled that Cleese would treat Italian waiters just like Manuel, the frequently-abused Spanish server, and he was really seething when they got something wrong.

An additional wrinkle to all this is that, during the writing of Fawlty Towers, Cleese and Booth were in the process of splitting up, which may explain why Basil came to embody so many negative aspects of Cleeses personality. We were able to get out a lot of our frustrations with each other through those characters, Booth later admitted. It was kind of like therapy.

Advertisement

So its not that John Cleese is becoming Basil Fawlty, so much as he was always Basil Fawlty  even if he didnt fully realize it until now.

You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter (if it still exists by the time youre reading this).
Williams asked Chris Columbus if he could play Rubeus Hagrid and Remus Lupin, only to be disqualified by this very British rule

Despite his desire to play the jovial gamekeeper and groundskeeper Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter film series, comedy legend Robin Williams wasnt even offered an audition by the films makers  it was the biggest miscarriage of justice since they took Hagrids wand.

Anyone who has had the pleasure of watching Williams enchanting improvisation in Aladdin knows that Mork and magic are a match made in the wizarding worlds equivalent of heaven. The stand-up sensations evolution into beloved childrens entertainer was even smoother than Harry Potter writer J.K. Rowlings transition from adored kids book writer to abhorred transphobe. And, as luck would have it, Williams, like many millions of readers across the globe, was a massive fan of the magical book series upon their initial release in the late 1990s  so, when it came time for director Chris Columbus to cast the first Harry Potter film adaptation, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (or Philosophers Stone for those snooty Brits), Williams made a couple calls inquiring about the possibility of playing a few of his favorite characters.

However, as Williams was disappointed to learn, he was automatically excluded from the casting pool for the roles of both Hagrid and Williams second choice, Remus Lupin, because the producers decided that, as a rule, they would never consider an American actor for their series.

Don't Miss

At least its not because Rowling was triggered by Mrs. Doubtfire.

There were a couple of parts I would have wanted to play, but there was a ban on American actors, Williams lamented to The New York Post around the time of the premiere of the first Harry Potter film in 2001. Years later, Janet Hirshenson, the casting director for Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone, confirmed that Williams had made inquiries about the positions but was turned down on account of his nationality. However, Hirshenson insisted that the no Americans rule wasnt just some excuse made by Columbus to let the star down easy. Once he said no to Robin, he wasnt going to say yes to anybody else, thats for sure, Hirshenson told The Huffington Post in 2020.

Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2021, Columbus talked to Total Film about the rejection he had to deliver to Williams and the justifications for the yankee ban, saying that the idea was to maintain a degree of authenticity, and an American actors unconvincing British accent could ruin the magic of the movies. It was very difficult for me to say Its all British. Theres nothing I can do, Columbus said of his conversation with Williams.

To a certain extent, its understandable that a blanket ban on bad accents would be necessary to make the movies a hit in their home country, but, I mean, come on  were on our second straight British Spider-Man, and you dont see any Americans complaining about Tom Hollands occasionally shaky elocution.

Advertisement

With all due respect to Robbie Coltrane and David Thewlis, who played Hagrid and Lupin respectively, Williams would have killed in either role with his humor and his pathos, and its hard to believe that the film series wouldnt have been elevated by his inclusion.

Unfortunately, the sad reality of Hogwarts is that there are no muggles (i.e., Americans) allowed.
Azerbaijan is ready to start supplying oil products to Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyz Energy Minister Taalaibek Ibraev told Kyrgyz media, Azernews reports.

According to him, Azerbaijan is one of the top oil exporters. The Junda oil refinery, which would consume more than 1 million tons of petroleum per year, will also be operational in Kyrgyzstan soon.

"In this regard, concerns about oil supply to Kyrgyzstan were raised with SOCAR management. They, for their part, are willing to collaborate. We are currently working on logistics issues," the minister emphasized.

To note, a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the energy sector was signed between the Ministry of Energy of Kyrgyzstan and the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan on April 24.

Additionally, during the signing, it was noted that the parties seek to develop cooperation in the following areas: joint research and development of oil fields in the territories of both countries; trade in oil and oil products; and cooperation in the fields of renewable energy and hydropower.
A juvenile was arrested on Thursday and charged with making a terroristic threat after allegedly sending a threatening email to the New Lebanon Central School District.
French air traffic control called a one-day nationwide strike for Thursday, designed to force the cancellation of at least 70 per cent of flights over France. Nothing unusual in that: such strikes are as common in France as bank holiday rain in Britain.

In the event the strike was called off when France's equivalent of the Civil Aviation Authority made a last-minute increased pay offer  too late to avoid widespread disruption, with about 50 per cent of flights still grounded.

The air traffic control unions showed their gratitude by calling another, longer strike over a holiday weekend in May over other proposed changes to their working conditions.

The French state's habit of buying its way out of repeated industrial strife is only one of many reasons why President Macron is finding it hard to get a grip on public spending. Last year, France's budget deficit was 5.5 per cent, much higher than the Eurozone average, when it had been expected to fall below 5 per cent.

The High Council of Public Finances, France's equivalent of the Office for Budget Responsibility, doesn't see the deficit getting much below 4 per cent before 2027. The International Monetary Fund thinks it will still be 4 per cent in 2029.

President Macron is finding it hard to get a grip on France's public spending. He promised major economic reform and renewal but nothing has really changed

So a decade during which France will have failed to comply with Eurozone rules, which limit deficits to 3 per cent. Not a good look for a president who thinks of himself as the model European leader.

French government debt is set to continue to soar for the foreseeable future. Debt as a percentage of GDP was under 100 per cent before the pandemic struck but is now almost 111 per cent.

The IMF projects it to rise to 115 per cent before the end of the decade, which is where it was at the height of the pandemic.

No wonder international credit agencies are talking aloud about downgrading France's credit rating.

There is no mystery why French deficits remain stubbornly high and its debt is ballooning: it is governed by a spendthrift state. French public spending as a share of GDP is the highest in Europe.

'For 50 years, France has not had balanced budgets,' says Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire. 'Public spending is seen as the answer to every problem, when it is not.'

Quite so. But after seven years of Macron, who promised major economic reform and renewal, nothing has really changed. When he came to power, state spending as a share of GDP was 57.5 per cent. Last year it was 57.3 per cent. So no difference that matters. It is worth pausing to take in the enormity of these figures.

The French state accounts for almost 60 per cent of the French economy. This is not widely realised. It's pretty much at the outer limit for any country that also thinks of itself as a functioning market economy.

It's far higher than anywhere else in Europe, including the big spending social democracies of Scandinavia. It's almost 12 percentage points higher than the current share of public spending in the UK  and we're at our highest level since the 1970s.

Even the highest tax burden in Europe  which France has (the highest of any member of the OECD club of rich countries, in fact)  cannot cover the French state's tab. Hence endless borrowing, big budget deficits for as far as the eye can see and a massive national debt.

Of course, state spending has its benefits. French infrastructure, from roads to railways to nuclear power, is generally far superior to ours and the country has the highest 'social protection' (welfare and pensions) in Europe. But it all comes at a cost.

A protester holds a placard which reads 'Macron declared war on the people' during a demonstration as part of nationwide strikes in Paris last April

State spending is paid for not just by taxes and borrowing but through massive social charges on employment, paid by business. They can add over 50 per cent to a company's wage bill. So, naturally, companies do what they can to avoid hiring too many people, which keeps French unemployment elevated.

Macron promised to cut the jobless numbers and made some early progress. But the unemployment rate is still 7.4 per cent, far higher than Britain's, and double that among the young.

The social cost can be seen in the sprawling inner suburbs surrounding France's cities, increasingly populated by migrants, where young and old languish without hope of a job.

France might have the highest social protection in Europe but that hasn't stopped huge tracts of urban squalor developing. Those who think the answer to Britain's social ills is more welfare spending may care to ponder on this.

Then there's the massive cost of servicing the debt. It's currently 57 billion (49 billion) a year, twice what it was three years ago, and is projected to rise to 87billion by 2027  more than France spends on defence or national education.

In many ways France is to economics what the bumble bee is to aviation. Just as the bee shouldn't really be able to fly, so the French economy, with its eye-watering tax and spend, shouldn't really function.

That it does is testament to its big businesses: world-beating companies which somehow overcome a system stacked against them with levels of productivity far superior to their British counterparts.

LVMH, for example, is the biggest luxury goods company in the world and the biggest company in Europe. Last year, it exported  in value  more than all of France's agricultural sector combined.

But even French big business struggles to compete these days. Nor is it hiring. Indeed it needs to shed labour to stay competitive.

More importantly, not enough new upstarts and insurgents are being created. The famous quote assigned to former U.S. President George W. Bush  that the problem with France is that it doesn't have a word for entrepreneur  is probably apocryphal. But dynamic small businesses are not prospering in France these days.

Perhaps the biggest causality of France's predilection for tax and spend is economic growth.

Herein lies a salutary warning for Britain. The French economy has largely stagnated since the pandemic, growing more slowly than Spain, Italy or even Greece. Only Germany has done worse but it has huge structural issues of its own.

Last year France grew by less than 1 per cent. It is forecast to do at least as badly this year. This low growth is hitting tax revenues, so Macron is having to implement some austerity of his own, with 10 billion (8.6 billion) of emergency spending cuts in February and perhaps twice that next year. Up to 50 billion (43 billion) might have to be cut by 2027.

All over Europe, but particularly from France, the message is the same: high tax and public spending burdens are a drag on growth. When the state gets too big and the tax to pay for it too high, growth suffers.

By the end of last year, the GDP of the Eurozone was only 0.1 per cent bigger than at the end of 2022. Lower tax, smaller state America was 3 per cent bigger. Lower growth means less tax revenue, forcing governments who've maxed out their credit cards to cut spending as more borrowing ceases to be an option.

Britain's tax and spend is already at record levels. Our economy has also largely stagnated since the pandemic and is only now showing signs of flickering back into life. We'll still be lucky to see growth of 1 per cent this year, barely better than France.

It is a curious, even perverse fact that, ever since Brexit, in terms of tax and spend we've become much more like a mainstream European economy, with the lacklustre growth that goes with the territory. Yet it is as certain as night follows day that Labour, on track to form the next government, will tax and spend even more.

It talks in vague generalities about unleashing economic growth but in reality its insatiable appetite for more spending (and the higher taxes which inevitably follow) will make faster growth all the harder to achieve, as all the evidence from continental Europe illustrates.

The 'Europeanisation' of Britain started, ironically, under the Brexit Tories. But it will gain momentum under Labour, perhaps unstoppable momentum, because another lesson from Europe is that once you become hooked on tax and spend, it becomes well nigh impossible to reverse, as Macron is discovering.

As not just France but most of Europe contemplates the consequences of perennial low growth, there is talk in European capitals of yet another lost decade in store for the continent.

Who would have thought, after that Brexit referendum in 2016, that Britain would likely be part of it.
Don't let the doomsters tell you any different: Brexit Britain is emerging as a force to be reckoned with.

The IMF forecast the UK economy will grow faster than France, Germany, Italy, and Japan in the years ahead.

And new UN figures show the UK was the world's fourth largest exporter in 2022, selling goods and services around the globe  from emerging markets such as Kenya and Algeria, to the US and China.

There's more good news. As well as being the fourth largest exporter, in 2022 we were the biggest exporter of insurance and pension services and telecommunications services  beating the US, India, China, Japan and our neighbours in the EU.

And since 2010, the UK has had the highest manufacturing productivity growth in the G7.

Esther McVey, 56, was appointed as Minister without Portfolio in the Cabinet Office on November 13, 2023

Almost 60 per cent of our exports go to countries outside of the EU, with billions of pounds worth of British goods and services heading to the United States, to the Middle East and to India  among other places (stock image)

The sector accounts for around 40 per cent of our exports and is spreading prosperity right across the country. With eight in ten manufacturing jobs based outside London and the South East. This is levelling up in action.

Almost 60 per cent of our exports go to countries outside of the EU, with billions of pounds worth of British goods and services heading to the United States, to the Middle East and to India  among other places.

This week the Government celebrated this Great British exporting success with its 'Made in the UK, Sold to The World' Awards.

Ten companies across the UK have been given the award which recognises the enterprising exporter's spirit our businesses have throughout the country.

These Awards have been organised by the Government's GREAT Campaign  which promotes British businesses internationally and in so doing helps grow UK business abroad and generate hundreds of millions for our economy.

As the Institute for Exports' director general and a judge at this year's awards, Marco Forgione, said the sheer calibre of British businesses entering this year was incredibly high. It is a testament to the talent and innovation pulsing through our economy.

Companies like Autoflame Engineering in Kent  one of many family-owned British businesses  that help manufacturers reduce their fuel and maintenance costs through any one of their 46 different patents.

And since 2010, the UK has had the highest manufacturing productivity growth in the G7. Pictured: The G7 meet in Cornwall in 2021

Or PG Paper from Greenock, Scotland, exporting paper and packaging products from its global mill partners to more than 60 countries. And Northern Ireland's Ciga Healthcare, whose Rapid Diagnostic Tests are distributed to over 80 countries worldwide, and they are sold in massive global retailers like Walmart and Walgreens.

SMEs make up 99.9 per cent of all registered companies in the UK and with the Government's new online portal we're helping them to become exporters if they are not already and to export to more countries if they are already exporting.

This new online portal provides potential exporters with useful guidance on what rules they need to follow  if any and offers a step-by-step guide on exporting.

I personally know how difficult it can be to run a business, as I used to run one myself. In fact, my business  Making It (UK) Ltd  provided training for other small and medium enterprises, as well as offering start-up spaces for new businesses. I knew the challenges small businesses face.

Now, as a Cabinet Office Minister, I know this Government is absolutely behind them and when it comes to global trade, Britain means business.

These Government GREAT Awards showcase and recognise the depth and breadth of British expertise. We have world leaders in agriculture, education technology, construction, engineering and more.

I'm a firm believer that you get the very best out of our small businesses by releasing their huge potential and reducing the barriers and red tape they face.

Through this Government's actions and campaigns, we are not only supporting our thriving small businesses, we are opening up new markets for them across the world.
Many years ago, I made Harriet Harman laugh. We were on a BBC Question Time panel in Cambridge, discussing the piteous state of the nation's trains. And I asked: 'What is the point of the Labour Party if it cannot renationalise the railways?'

It still seems to me to be a good question. For last week's Labour document, designed to look like the return of British Rail, is in fact nothing of the sort. It is a lame acceptance that John Major's weird privatisation scheme has utterly failed. As each rail franchise collapses back into the arms of the state, it will remain under government control. But the idiotic, dogma-driven structure of the railways will remain unfixed.

As Labour's own document lamely admits, the carriages and locomotives on which passengers must travel will stay in the hands of rolling stock companies, because 'with ten current rolling stock companies owning and leasing trains and carriages worth billions, it would not be responsible for the next Labour Government to take on the cost of renationalising rolling stock'. In other words, they can't afford to do it.

So-called 'open access' will also continue. This allows extra operators to cram trains on to crowded tracks, running in between the normal services. This is presumably to make it look as if competition has returned to the railways for the first time since about 1914, as if anyone cared.

Labour's plan to 'bring back British Rail' is in fact nothing of the sort but a lame acceptance that John Major's privatisation scheme has failed, writes PETER HITCHENS

Keir Starmer's scheme is unlikely to fix the many issues with Britain's railways including padded out timetables and ceaseless rows between operators in signalling centres

Labour's railway renationalisation proposals will bring 16 rail operators back under public control but could cost over 3billion to lease the rolling stock

I also experience, almost daily, painfully expensive new trains capable of 150mph made to sit for long minutes at stations because the timetable has been padded to ensure that they do not become late

I remember an expert transport journalist, a colleague of mine back in the 1990s, coming back from the public hearings about such schemes and banging his head gently on his desk for some minutes before he began to write his reports. He was endlessly astonished at the total failure of those involved to understand how trains actually worked.

As for the rest, we shall see. The break-up of British Railways 30 years ago, like the equally dogmatic break-up of our nuclear power industry, scattered skills and knowledge accumulated over many decades to the winds, broke up and sent down the drain vast amounts of experience, and frittered away long decades of investment.

Remember the terrible Hatfield train crash of October 2000, which killed four and injured 70. There is little doubt that this was a direct consequence of privatisation and the resulting loss of experience.

Heaven knows who will address the multiple stupidities of the privatised system, devised to pretend that market forces can replace common sense and good rational working discipline.

Look at some of them: drivers training only on the tracks used by one privatised company, and so unable to work on other lines when their own is closed for major engineering works; connections not held, stranding dozens of passengers on bare platforms at windy junctions, so that the train they would have travelled on can arrive on time  but empty.

'We had to take all the passengers off the train so that it could arrive on time' is not quite as ludicrous as the famous Vietnam war excuse: 'We had to destroy the village in order to save it.'

But it is in the same class of idiocy. Such operating rules long ago lost all touch with the main purpose of railways. I am not sure the old standards can be assembled again even by a much more heartfelt return to the past than Labour's.

I also experience, almost daily, painfully expensive new trains capable of 150mph made to sit for long minutes at stations because the timetable has been padded to ensure that they do not become late and so incur fines.

Other features of this Railway Wonderland of Privatised Madness include ceaseless rows in signalling centres between companies demanding priority for their trains and large bureaucracies set up to attribute blame for delays.

I am not sure that Labour, with its plans for yet more elaborate and rapid compensation for such delays, have quite got the point. We passengers would much rather have punctual, clean and safe trains than any number of compensation handouts. We would also quite like it if fares could be at reasonable levels.

British visitors to Northern Ireland are often astounded by the low price of rail tickets there. John Major somehow forgot to privatise them. Since the province's trains have recently undergone quite a few welcome improvements in trains and track, it must surely be possible to run a good nationalised rail system without punitive fares.

Privatisation fanatics will still tell you that the dawn of private rail was followed by a huge increase in passengers. So it was, but this was not caused by privatisation. The change happened to coincide with an accelerating rise in house prices which led many to start commuting far longer distances in the crowded South East, where the roads were already crammed. I was one of these myself, and I did so even before British Rail was killed off.

I have never met anyone who decided to travel by train instead of by car because the train was operated by a private franchise.

There are other myths about the alleged awfulness of British Rail. It had its failings but I would cheerfully have them back. BR catering, for instance, was really quite good, with real cooked breakfasts still available on many trains and rather cheerful buffet cars on many more, now mostly vanished.

Labour has admitted that rolling stock will continue to remain in private ownership due to the high costs of buying it back

Despite its failings, I would happily have British Rail back with its cooked breakfasts and cheerful buffet cars

But under Labour's plans we are unlikely to go back to having actual staff on trains, cushioned seats and less security announcements

The bleak trolleys on my own line, regularly immobilised by overcrowding, are a melancholy remnant of the lost joys of eating and drinking on trains. But in May 2021, announcing plans not deeply different from Labour's, the Tory Transport Secretary Grant Shapps was still going on about the supposedly ghastly BR food, saying: 'We won't be going back to the days of British Rail with terrible sandwiches and all the rest of it' (it was not Mr Shapps's only mention of the supposed sandwich crisis of the old days).

Nor, alas, will we be going back to the days when we travelled on trains rather than 'services', when we were 'passengers', not 'customers', when there were actual staff on trains, keeping the disorder in check late at night, when the seats were cushioned instead of being as hard as ironing-boards and when we were not incessantly lectured about security, about taking all our belongings with us, about taking care when we got off, and about seeing it, saying it, and sorting it.

I liked it when there was one kind of ticket, which was cheap, rather than 250, many of which are wildly expensive. Personally, and I know this is heresy, I relished the freedom to open doors and even windows myself. Also, why do the train companies ceaselessly pretend that trains are aircraft, in the worst possible way? You can't get on them any more until the gates are opened at the last minute. The seats are crammed against each other, often lined up with windowless bulkheads, and the sociable old compartments are gone.

As for the lavatories, I am of course glad at the better facilities for the disabled but not so pleased at the way these ultra-modern affairs tend to go out of order and lock themselves, and at washbasins apparently designed to spray their users with water and then pour it on to the floor. I could go on.

Contrary to many false myths and stories about British Rail, it was killed off just as it was beginning to succeed

But the sandwich slander, and all that goes with it, is symbolic of a deeper problem revealed in a fine recent history of BR by the transport expert Christian Wolmar. Attitudes to BR are distorted by myths and false memories. BR was created in a moment of great national poverty in 1948. It was dragged together from the devastated ruins of the wartime railways, pounded to pieces by endless war traffic and badly damaged by bombing. It was killed off in 1994 just when it was starting to succeed. In its short life, BR had taken huge steps to serve the nation, endured painful manpower and track cuts (mostly mistaken and foolish), and brought in modern and efficient management.

Its reward was to be subjected to a foredoomed, politically-driven break-up, unique in the world, which introduced chaos in the name of competition.

The John Major scheme ended up costing the British taxpayer far more each year than the old BR. Most of the private operators, who milked it in good times, cleared off as soon as the going got tough.

As for the ludicrous claims that privatisation increased traffic, a well-run railway would have expanded far more, opening new lines and stations, running longer and more frequent trains.

But the real problem of our railways does not stem from nationalisation, a system that has worked well in many countries. A Transport Department wholly in love with motorways, cars and lorries will not let the railways compete fairly with roads.

Government pressure has, for many decades, forced the railways to choke off extra business by raising fares, while billions are spent instead on expanding the highway network (which then immediately clogs up, see the M25), and officialdom pretends that this is not a subsidy to drivers and road hauliers.

If we want a good railway, we must demand one from all parties and not be bamboozled with silly talk about mythical stale BR sandwiches.
At the end of the day, there's nothing quite as comfortable as taking off your shoes inside the comfort of your own home... but could this basic practice be harmful?

Unfortunately, as good as it feels to kick off your footwear once you step through the door, it's actually beneficial to have a pair of house shoes handy.

Whether you're flat footed or dealing with a major arch, these are the house shoes you should consider according to podiatrists - and why you shouldn't go barefoot daily, especially if you're dealing with any kind of foot pain.

New York-based Dr. Jacqueline Sutera, a podiatrist who works with the footwear brand Vionic, told DailyMail.com that she recommends that people don't walk barefoot because 'using a slipper or recovery slide at home is better for your feet.'

New York-based podiatrist Dr. Jacqueline Sutera told DailyMail.com she recommends people don't walk barefoot because 'using a slipper or recovery slide at home is better for your feet'

'Walking barefoot, especially on hard surfaces, can lead to foot pain, inflammation and injury,' Dr. Sutera warned, recommending the above Vionic shoes

She advised avoiding flat shoes and looking for house shoes with 'cushioning, arch support and shock absorption'

Dr. Sutera said slippers like the ones above 'prevent and treat common foot complaints like plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, strained ligaments, and ball of foot pain'

'Walking barefoot, especially on hard surfaces, can lead to foot pain, inflammation and injury,' Dr. Sutera warned.

She advised avoiding flat shoes and instead investing in a pair of house shoes with 'cushioning, arch support and shock absorption' to help 'prevent and treat common foot complaints like plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, strained ligaments, and ball of foot pain.'

'Poor foot health can lead to inability to walk well and can affect mobility, which in some severe cases becomes chronic and irreversible,' Dr. Sutera forewarned.

For folks with high arches, Dr. Sutera suggested softer insoles and specifically Rejuvenate, Vionic's recovery sandal made with cushioning to specifically work for people with foot pain, as well as the brand's mule slipper and supportive slipper.

Even when it's reaching the summer months and getting hotter, don't ditch your slippers.

Instead of opting for flimsy sandals around the house, try shoes with a cushioned insole with arch support and a wide toe box.

Many podiatrists agree that if you're suffering from any type of foot pain, it's best to invest in comfortable, supportive at-home styles.

Dr. Jacqueline Donovan is a board-certified podiatrist specializing in orthopedic trauma in Beachwood, Ohio, who is often featured on the popular Ohio Foot Docs TikTok page where the doctors share helpful information.

Dr. Jacqueline Donovan is a board-certified podiatrist specializing in orthopedic trauma in Beachwood, Ohio, who is often featured on the popular Ohio Foot Docs TikTok

Dr. Donovan said wearing house slippers isn't always necessary if you don't have any foot pain, although they are 'if you are diabetic or have neuropathy'

If someone has high arches, the expert said they 'typically result in forefoot pain and therefore a more shock absorption slipper to pad the ball of the foot is beneficial'

Dr. Donovan said wearing house slippers isn't always necessary if you don't have any foot pain, although 'if you are diabetic or have neuropathy they are a strong preference to protect your feet from foreign bodies, like glass or sharp objects.'

If someone has high arches, Dr. Donovan said they 'typically result in forefoot pain and therefore a more shock absorption slipper to pad the ball of the foot is beneficial.'

Those who are flat footed should opt for a 'moderately firm arch support to prevent overpronation,' which is when the way someone walks causes strain on the arches and causes the foot to flatten.

If someone is dealing with foot pain, Dr. Donovan recommended a supportive house slipper, preferably with a back.

'Lamo has some great slipper options, and a lot of our patients with Plantar Fasciitis really like Oofos for wearing around the house,' she counseled.

The expert said it is important to make sure your house shoes fit well and have a back 'to ensure the foot is not moving around and causing friction' and 'make sure the toe box is big enough, and there is enough arch support to prevent plantar fasciitis.'

Next time you think about slipping off your shoes, make sure to slip into footwear that's even more comfortable.
A woman has divided opinion online after sharing a video of herself using 'dimple makers,' as part of a bizarre beauty trend.

The video by Dutch TikToker Preety, which was posted under the handle @xpreetyy, has already been seen by more than one million people and racked up over 600 comments.

In the clip, she's seen taking the cherry-shaped contraptions out of her mouth, with the text: 'Taking out my dimple makers together' on the screen.

Pulling a face as if she was in pain, she added: 'I was being dramatic, it doesnt hurt' in the caption.

However, the unusual device has sparked debate in the comments, with viewers questioning if it's 'really a thing' and saying it makes them 'sad'.

The video by Dutch TikToker Preety, which was posted under the handle @xpreetyy, has already been seen by more than one million people and racked up over 600 comments

The devices, which previously went viral last year, are cherry-shaped, tweezer-like devices with two small balls on the end of wires.

They're placed on both sides of the face where one ball will squeeze from the inside of the cheek and one will squeeze from the outside.

The goal is to pinch between the inner and outer cheeks to create a dent, in the hopes of achieving the cute, indented look of dimples that some are lucky enough to be born with.

But not everyone online feels that a device like this is needed in the beauty industry.

One user penned: 'Can't imagine being this insecure about my looks,' with a second insisting: 'You can't make dimples'.

Other unimpressed people added: 'That's kinda sad,' 'How stupid' and 'Nothing's real anymore'.

'They look too close, I thought they were further on the cheeks,' commented another.

Meanwhile, someone else wrote: 'As someone who has a dimple, I'm in stitches laughing'.

Others quipped: 'I remember being so insecure about my dimples when I was younger, I even tried to make a dimple remover' and 'I don't get it, you are so beautiful'.

Someone else chimed in with: 'Guess nothing is real anymore these days,' with others adding: 'Just why' and 'I wish women would just leave their faces alone its so sad to see'.

People who have dimples naturally also didn't understand the hype, with one penning: 'Take my dimples I don't want them'.

While this video has caused the trend to resurface, it was previously all over social media in 2023.

But the effects of the devices are temporary and could cause lasting damage to the face.

Dr Ari Hoschander, a board-certified plastic surgeon based in New York, told DailyMail.com last year that using dimple makers comes with a 'risk of skin necrosis and subsequent scarring.'

Skin necrosis, or death of tissue, can occur from trauma, such as having your cheeks pinched for a prolonged period.

But not everyone online feels that a device like this is needed in the beauty industry

Boston-based Dr Samuel Lin, an associate professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School, also told DailyMail.com: 'Any device that is compressing the skin in a way has a potential to cause scarring, chronic pain and may not last.

'Ultimately, there is no long-term data regarding how well this works. Any non-FDA approved medical device may have risks that have not been completely studied.'

Additionally, experts are claiming there has been a huge surge in requests for 'dimpleplasty' procedures in America, which see patients forking out up to $1,500 in return for having dimples surgically added to their face in a bid to look more youthful.

Guilford, Connecticut-based plastic surgeon told FEMAIL that over the last six months to a year he had noticed 'more inquiries asking to add this to their facial rejuvenation procedures, and increased demand for this procedure alone.'

He credits 'celebrities and images in the media' with the rise of dimpleplasty, and said many people come in with photos of stars, most frequently Brad Pitt, Harry Styles, Jennifer Garner, Mario Lopez, and Ariana Grande.
A woman has candidly lifted the lid on her very turbulent upbringing that saw her complete her first drug deal aged four after her schizophrenic father taught the then preschooler how to wield a knife.

J. Dana Trent, now based in Raleigh, North Carolina, spoke to DailyMail.com about her terrifying childhood after publishing a memoir titled Between Two Trailers earlier this week.

The 43-year-old, who works as a full-time community college professor, wrote about how she had helped her 'schizophrenic drug-lord father chop, drop, and traffic kilos in kiddie carnival-ride carcasses across flyover country' from a very young age.

She has since elaborated further on some of her earliest experiences before revealing how they have shaped her, adding: 'I have to do the hard work of trauma recovery every day.'

J. Dana Trent, now based in Raleigh, North Carolina, spoke to DailyMail.com about her terrifying childhood after publishing a memoir titled Between Two Trailers earlier this week

Speaking exclusively with DailyMail.com, Dana began by unpacking how her parents' own childhoods were fraught with trauma - with her father being physically abused and her mother suffering emotional torment.

'My father was the oldest of three boys. His parents whipped the eldest two and doted over the baby and so there was always a lot of tension in his household [among] the three brothers,' she said.

'As a result of the daily beatings, my father ended up being a wild child. The violence that happened in his home... he ended up transferring it elsewhere by running street gangs in the small town of Dana, Indiana, with a population of 600.

'So my father grew up in knife fights and brutal playground brawls and throwing knives at school and it wasn't really until ninth grade that his parents realized that he needed help.

'It was probably the time of a schizophrenic break for him but in 1950-something there weren't the resources to treat schizophrenia like we have today.'

She continued: 'His father sent him to Culver Military Academy where he killed a colonel's horse - further evidence that he was very unwell. He ended up getting kicked out that summer....

'His upbringing was evidence of his mental unwellness but so often it manifested as this quasi-cult leader, gang leader, larger-than-life entertainer who always was magnetic and garnered a group of very devoted friends and followers.

'While he was unwell, he was also very charismatic.'

The 43-year-old wrote about how she had helped her 'schizophrenic drug-lord father chop, drop, and traffic kilos in kiddie carnival-ride carcasses across flyover country'

Speaking exclusively with DailyMail.com, Dana (pictured with her mom) began by unpacking how her parents' own childhoods were fraught with trauma

But Dana's mother had a rather different start in life.

'Her upbringing was the opposite. She was the baby of five and she grew up on a very calm 1950s tobacco farm in rural North Carolina,' Dana shared.

'My parents were similar in that they were both country kiddos but in her family she was doted upon. Her father always ensured that she had a fresh seasonal wardrobe from the most expensive dress shops.

'She was a beauty queen. She won her hometown beauty pageant when she was 16 and so she was very gaunt and gorgeous and had lovely bone structure and skin.

'The interesting thing about her was - even though her mottos were "pretty is as pretty does" and "a smile to all she greets, a charm to make each memory sweet" - which gives you this idea of this beautiful porcelain doll - at home her father was mentally unwell.

'He had bipolar, he ran an illegal slot machine business and while he didn't beat his children the last thing he ever said to my mother was "bye baby, I love you." And then he locked himself in the family's black-and-white tile bathroom and shot himself with his favorite revolver.'

Discussing her parents as a duo, Dana shared: 'You can see the similar trauma between these two larger-than-life characters even though one was violently beaten at home and the other was subject to this emotional and psychological torment of this suicide.'

The couple met when they were both working at a psychiatric unit.

She has since elaborated further on some of her earliest experiences before revealing how they have shaped her, adding: 'I have to do the hard work of trauma recovery every day'

Dana admitted that her parents 'were the kind of folks who got wild airs of ideas,' adding: 'My mother was in her late 30s at the time and my father was adamant that he wanted a daughter but they were having trouble conceiving'

'They met on a locked inpatient ward in 1977 in Cincinnati, Ohio, and they were on what they called "the other side of the keys,"' their daughter dished.

'They always told stories about their patients and working on that ward when they met. They would always grab keys from their pockets and jingle them and say to me "the only difference between us and them is who has got the keys."

'What they meant by that is that although when they met they were locking patients in, they knew that at any given time they could be the ones being locked in.

'For them there was always this fine line between well and unwell. When they met on that locked ward, even their patients said, "This is a terrible idea for the two of you to get together romantically."

'One patient said to them, "This is bound to end in combustion." It was very evident I think to other people that a relationship that begins in a psych ward is bound to end in madness. And it did.'

Dana's mother had a son - called Lee - from a previous relationship who seemed to have endured his own unstable bond with his mom.

'My brother had a really intense relationship with my mother because after her father committed suicide she was never well again,' she said.

'She had her own suicide attempts. The most serious of which was almost completed when Lee was five years old and she went away to do three months as an inpatient when he was in kindergarten.

'He had always known her as unwell.'

Dana's father's temperament grew increasingly unstable as he continued to battle paranoia about being caught

Despite having built a life for herself, Dana revealed that it had not always been easy and recovery was a 'continuous struggle'

Lee had escaped the situation when he was 18 after moving from Cincinnati to Durham, North Carolina, to attend Duke University.

Dana explained that from then on 'the contact he had with her was one out of every three phone calls was about her borrowing money from him.'

'The roles were flipped,' she elaborated. 'He became the parent and she was the child.

'That was true when I came along too... I cannot tell you how many times he leant them money for housing and food - just so that we weren't homeless and completely hungry.'

Dana admitted that her parents 'were the kind of folks who got wild airs of ideas,' adding: 'My mother was in her late 30s at the time and my father was adamant that he wanted a daughter but they were having trouble conceiving.

Despite some of the brutal realities of her upbringing, Dana shared that there were some moments of affection

'They quit their jobs on the psych ward and moved to Los Angeles, California, to worship at the feet of TV preacher Dr Robert Schuller. And sure enough I was born in what was called then a geriatric pregnancy because she was 41.'

It was her father, who was six years younger than her mom, who first introduced her to the drug trade at just four years old after the family moved into a trailer.

'My earliest memories of that trailer are of the skunky smell of marijuana and the dull shine of razor blades scattered across the scratched kitchen counter,' she wrote.

Her memoir revealed how her father was usually 'too busy to bother with her before she could walk' as she recalled: 'He used duct tape to fasten my hands to my baby bottle filled with chocolate milk.'

But this all changed when she became useful to the business.

Speaking to DailyMail.com, Dana divulged: 'I got expelled from preschool and I came home to the trailer that day and my father said "well I might as well train you up hustling."'

She was taught how to chop weed and wield a knife during 'explosive' outbursts - as well as being told to slather her arms 'with palmfuls of petroleum jelly' which would help evade an enemies grip, punches or weapons.

'I was not aware that it was unique situation. I just wanted to please my parents. I think that is true for a lot of little kiddos - so many of us at our heart want to do right by our parents and be the children that our parents want us to be,' Dana has since shared.

'I just wanted to be my father's daughter. I would do anything he said and that explosive tendency of the knife fights and the Vaseline notion is something I carried with me my entire life. It would bubble up in different ways.'

Beyond helping her father divide up drugs, Dana, who grew up eating 'ketchup sandwiches until her mouth broke out in ulcers,' also spent time caring for her mother who rarely left the bedroom of the trailer.

'I wanted to be the emotional support animal that both of my parents needed. My father was manic and my mother was depressed all the time,' she said.

'I spent my days running the length of that trailer from the kitchen counter cutting up drugs to the back of the trailer where my mother was holed up in bed guarding the drugs.

I spent my days running the length of that trailer from the kitchen counter cutting up drugs to the back of the trailer where my mother was holed up in bed guarding the drugs. J. Dana Trent

'I was that little butler running back and forth to anticipate and attend to both of their needs.'

Despite some of the brutal realities of her upbringing, Dana shared that there were some moments of affection.

'My parents' tenderness for each other often came when they were doing drugs at the kitchen counter at night listening to 1980s synthesizer jazz.

'They would chain smoke joints and recall those inpatient psych ward days in Cincinnati with such fondness and affection about when they met.

'For them, the bond was over those drugs. Because those drugs were the only thing that helped them feel human. That's when I saw their tenderness for each other.'

Dana's father took her along to her first drug drop aged four where she was instructed to act as a look out and carried a knife in case the deal went wrong.

But the exchange went off without a hitch and Dana shared in her memoir how she had been left disappointed not to have been called into action.

Elaborating further on the notion, she told DailyMail.com: 'I think it was this overwhelming urge to be needed and to anticipate and meet the need.

'I learned that early in my household because my parents were really unable to care for me and so I took on the role of parent caring for them.

'So if my father needed me to be strong and tough and wield my knife but I wasn't able to do it or I wasn't able to be of service to him, my confidence and my self-esteem just went down the toilet because I wasn't useful.

'My mother's favorite thing to say to me growing up was "make yourself useful, young lady" and I heard that at least 10 times a day.

'And so when I wasn't useful I was so sad and restless and angry sometimes too.'

Dana eventually moved out to go to college but admitted: 'I never broke away totally from my parents'

Dana has now been married to her husband for 14 years as she added: 'We don't have children and I think it was because that ship has sailed'

Dana's father's temperament grew increasingly unstable as he continued to battle paranoia about being caught.

He stopped using the front door altogether - and instead 'sawed a manhole in the kitchen floor' - as well as stripping a mattress to 'its coil bones to stave off federal bugs.'

Asked about how it felt to live in such an environment, she said: 'It was terrifying because he had taught me to explode in the face of danger - that was my training when I was four - but when he was having these psychotic breaks I would freeze.

'I just melted away and wanted to disappear. It was so scary.'

Dana explained how the father she had known at aged four compared to the father she saw aged seven was marked with stark contrast.

'When I was aged four, he was stoic and confident, training me up to fight and stab people and be on the look out and move these drugs.

Dana's book Between Two Trailers: A Memoir is currently available to buy

'But by age seven, he had cut a hole in the trailer floor and made it a trapdoor and he would hide in the cornfields across the street overnight in a three-piece suit with $10,000 strapped to his chest with duct tape.

'The father that I had known in how he wanted to train me up in order that I would be protected had no sense of my protection when he was in those psychotic episodes.'

She candidly continued: 'I think the amalgamation of his schizophrenia and drugs use got muddier the older he got because by the time I was born he had done so many decades of hard drugs and he had a drug grand jury indictment - a huge deal in the US - for drug distribution.

'So by then it was hard to know which of the competing factors of the schizophrenia and the brain's damage from hardcore drug use was winning out in those moments. It was probably the perfect storm.'

Dana was still in contact with her grandparents but insisted that they were not aware of the full situation going on behind closed doors.

'They knew that my father was a hardcore drug user and always had been. They knew he was schizophrenic but our family mantra was "you can't fix crazy,"' she said.

'That's what I heard growing up that no one - not a kingpin, not a cop, not a shrink, not a family member - wants crazy on their hands.

'My grandparents did a really good job of taking care of me but also being careful not to trigger my dad because the truth was always triggering to both of my parents.

'They had to walk a very fine line so that they would have access to me to be able to care for me....'

She dished: 'We also trafficked the drugs under the pretense of a kiddie ride business so no one really knew.

'Everyone thought that my father was the regional manager of Carnival Captivations in charge of decorating and dolling up bland Kmart entrances with these hydraulic ponies that were actually a front for shuffling drugs and money.'

Dana eventually moved out to go to college but admitted: 'I never broke away totally from my parents.

'In college and in graduate school I was always still that midfielder going back and forth trying to appease both of them and be both of their daughters.

'I will say that my mother's daughter probably won out in the end because when we moved to North Carolina she did everything she could to expunge my Indiana record.

'Between her changing my accent - she wiped that clean - she changed my name, expunged this Indiana past - and that made me tethered to her.

'But I was never really untethered from my father because when I would go home and have these wonderful Indiana summers with my grandparents and my two cousins - who are really my best friends and like my sisters - he would fall right back into that grittiness training.

I sat at the besides of over 200 patients and helped them transition from life to death in one year. I literally saw 200 people die, which is the greatest gift of my life. J. Dana Trent on her time working at a local hospital after divinity school

'He would say "I'm going to take you to the pool hall and teach you how to hustle. I'm going to train you up to be a pool shark."

'It was still that push-pull between the two of them my entire life when they were living who wanted two very different daughters.'

Dana graduated from divinity school and went on to complete a post-graduate school residency in chaplaincy at a local hospital where she worked with dying patients.

'I sat at the besides of over 200 patients and helped them transition from life to death in one year. I literally saw 200 people die, which is the greatest gift of my life.

'You're being invited into this really liminal space with people - this sacred time and so I learned a lot in that year.

'But then after that year I was completely exhausted so I didn't continue chaplaincy.

'I got a desk job as a secretary and hated it because I feel like I'm the kind of person - and this speaks to my trauma - that has to be up and moving around and moving my body in order to be at peace.

'After I quit that desk job, I immediately began teaching and I have been a teacher now for 13 years and it is the perfect balance for me.'

Both of Dana's parents have both now sadly passed away.

She explained: 'My dad passed unexpectedly, suddenly, a month before I got married which was so incredibly sad.

'I had actually written him a letter six months before I got married at my mother's urging uninviting him to my wedding and that was the last thing I ever said to him. It was so heartbreaking.

'He died presumably of a heart attack but certainly I think the drugs had caught up to him. But I envisioned that he would never die. I thought of him as Peter Pan.

'I thought that we would get to the wedding and that we would reconcile and we didn't. And that is the biggest regret of my life.'

Speaking of her mother's death, Dana candidly shared: 'On the flip side, my mother had exactly what she wanted, which was a very good and peaceful death with me by her side.

'I had been trained in end of life care as a chaplain at the divinity school and she knew I had that training and so when she got a terminal diagnosis of diverticulosis with a perforated intestine she opted not to have surgery.

'She lived two more weeks and then I was there for her very last breath in her hospice bed.'

She added: 'I think death affords us a different kind of relationship with our parents than we can have in life.'

Despite having built a life for herself, Dana revealed that it has not always been easy and recovery is a 'continuous struggle.'

'All of this healing and recovery and functioning sneaks up on you over time.

'If you can plant the seeds to some healing, it takes a long time for it to actually work.

'For me, every morning I am up at 5am building what I call my "self help scaffolding" just so I can feel human at 6am.

'It still takes me so much self care and psychological work in the morning for me to feel human and adequate and feel like I can move around the world and function.'

She said that her routine includes deep breathing, meditation and journaling.

'Deep breathing is the best and free tool that all of us can use in working through our trauma. Meditation can be kind of scary to people but taking a deep breath? We can all do that,' she said.

'I have also journaled every day of my life since sixth grade. That's like 32 years.'

Elsewhere, Dana added: 'I'm a religious person so I also read some religious and spirituality books. I also like listening to YouTube inspirational videos - the cheesiest ones.'

Discussing further how her childhood's long-term impact on her life, she explained: 'My father taught me to walk through the world with closed fists - ready to fight. My mother taught me to walk through the world with open palms - ready to beg for everything.

'I have had to learn to walk through the world with my prayer palms - just being peaceful with the past and my experiences.

'The gift of their mental illnesses is that they taught me to be comfortable in chaos and crisis.

'My parents also taught me empathy for what they called "beat down dogs" - they always sided with anyone who the world has subjugated and rejected and oppressed.

'So I often walk through the world with those prayer palms looking to be a helper for who is being oppressed and subjugated. And that turns up in my work as a teacher as an encourager.'

Dana reflected: 'Our first childhood experiences do not leave us. Anything that happens from aged zero to 17 in the categories of abuse, neglect and violence stays with us in our bodies and brains.

'And so I have to be super attuned to my food addiction, which is something I struggle with, my love addiction, my body focus, repetitive behaviors like hair pulling.

'It is the balance of walking through the world with empathy and prayer palms and also knowing each morning I have to practice this self care and do the hard work of trauma recovery every day.'

Dana has now been married to her husband for 14 years and added: 'We don't have children and I think it was because that ship has sailed.

'I think for me I wasn't confident I would be a good parent of my own biological children or adopted children because I hadn't yet sorted through my stuff.

'I felt so strongly that I didn't want to pass on my maladaptive coping and patterns to biological or adopted children until I got healthier.

'And by the time I got healthier I thought, "you know what I'm very at peace with my nieces and nephews and all the students that I teach, I don't need to be a parent."

'So that is just the way it worked out for us.'

Dana's book Between Two Trailers: A Memoir is currently available to buy.
The death of a stunning American socialite who was brutally murdered on the day her divorce was due to be settled rocked the community - but it would years before her killer would be identified.

Lita McClinton, 35, was shot dead on the doorstep of her home in Atlanta, Georgia, after receiving a delivery of a dozen long-stemmed pink roses at her doorstep in January 1987.

It would later transpire that she was killed by hitman Phillip Anthony Harwood who was hired for a $25,000 fee.

The mastermind behind the sordid scheme would later prove to be Lita's millionaire husband James Vincent Sullivan - and his motivations were shocking.

Now, a new true crime book is now set to lift the lid on the most sordid aspects of the case, bringing Lita's brutal death back into the public eye, 45 years after she was murdered.

Lita McClinton, 35, was shot dead on the doorstep of her home in Atlanta, Georgia, after receiving a delivery of a dozen long-stemmed pink roses at her doorstep in January 1987

The mastermind behind the sordid scheme would later prove to be Lita's millionaire husband James Vincent Sullivan - and his motivations were shocking

Journalist and author Deb Miller Landau will examine every aspect of the case in her debut book, A Devil Went Down to Georgia: Race, Power, Privilege, and the Murder of Lita McClinton, in which she explores the bitter decline of the socialite's marriage - and her husband's shock decision to take her life.

Lita was the daughter of Georgia state representative JoAnn McClinton and former US Department of Transportation official Emory McClinton.

She was brought up in the upper-class echelons of African-American society which meant a stream of gala events and exclusive clubs.

The former debutante was just 25 years old when she first met James, who was 10 years her senior, at an upscale boutique in Atlanta in 1976.

Her mother, Jo Ann, previously told an episode of Power, Privilege & Justice: 'She thought Jim was a very charming, very thoughtful, very affable person.'

James, originally from Boston, had made his fortune from inheriting a liquor distribution company from his uncle which he then sold.

But he struggled with his new millionaire lifestyle.

It was Lita who was able to completely transform Jim's appearance - restyling his hair, overhauling his wardrobe and ditching his glasses in favor of contact lenses.

The pair enjoyed a year-long courtship before tying the knot in a small ceremony in 1976 in what would be the start of a 10-year marriage.

It was Lita who was able to completely transform Jim's appearance - restyling his hair, overhauling his wardrobe and ditching his glasses in favor of contact lenses

It would later transpire that she was killed by hitman Phillip Anthony Harwood (pictured in court with the box of flowers) who was hired for a $25,000 fee

In 1982, James had fallen in love with Palm Beach, Florida, and began shopping for homes before purchasing a sprawling 17,000-square-foot $4 million mansion just a few blocks from Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago.

It became a symbol of James' nouveau riche aspirations and he thought it would help cement him within the social circles he had longed to be in - but it did not.

According to attorney David Boone, who spoke on the aforementioned documentary, he said: 'Jim finds out that being a white man, married to a black woman did not work for the Palm Beach social scene.'

And he soon began blaming Lita for all his problems and decided she was the reason that he was not being accepted.

It did not take long for James to start driving a wedge between him and his wife as he tried to edge her out of his life - with affairs and increasingly cruelty.

'He'd grown into a terrifying bully, and she could hardly remember those early days when he, a handsome white man a decade older than her, had shown up with his quirky Boston accent and swept her off her feet,' author Deb revealed in a piece for Newsweek.

Lita eventually packed up her bags and moved back to Atlanta as she decided she was finally ready to be rid of him.

'At the time, her family had hoped the flame would burn out; Lita's parents knew what their daughter would be up against as the black half of an interracial couple in the South,' Deb shared.

'Not to mention, they never liked Jim... he was brash and obnoxious, disrespectful of Southern norms.'

In 1985, she settled into a $400,000 townhouse and filed for divorce in which she demanded half of the estate including the Palm Beach mansion.

But things took a tragic turn on January 16, 1987.

Lita's parents (pictured) were unrelenting in their attempts to seek justice for their eldest daughter with questions that went unanswered for years

A court hearing had been scheduled for 2pm that day during which a judge was set to rule over whether the former couple's prenuptial agreement was binding.

However, at 8am that day, the doorbell rang to entice Lita to the front entrance.

She approached the door wrapped in her pink silk housecoat and opened it to see a 'delivery man.'

Tragically, just seconds after greeting the six-foot stranger, he shoved a box of roses that he had been holding into her arms and pushed her into the foyer.

He pulled a gun from his coat pocket and fired twice - with one of the bullets proving to be fatal for Lita - before the perpetrator slipped away.

Lita's husband was immediately put under the spotlight, but he maintained that he had a solid alibi in Florida for the time of her murder.

Disappointingly for her family, the case went cold for more than a decade.

Lita's parents were unrelenting in their attempts to seek justice for their eldest daughter with questions that went unanswered for years.

During that time, a 1992 federal indictment against James was thrown out for lack of evidence and a 1994 civil judgment for wrongful death was initially overturned on appeal - though it was ultimately reinstated.

It was not until 1998 that investigators landed a big break in the case.

A woman came forward claiming to be the girlfriend of truck driver Phillip Anthony Harwood, who had previously moved furniture for James.

She reported being with Harwood when the scorned husband had handed over a cash bundle of $25,000.

It quickly became apparent that James had ordered Lita's murder in a bid to protect his finances and property assets amid the divorce.

Harwood was arrested in 1998 and pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in 2003.

Meanwhile, an arrest warrant was also issued for James, but he fled the country. He was not taken into custody until 2002 after being arrested in Thailand.

Harwood initially agreed to testify at James' murder trial but, on the stand, claimed he was innocent - as James' defense argued the case had been built on 'circumstantial evidence.'

Nonetheless, jurors disagreed and convicted James of murder - along with a series of other charges - in March 2006. The decision was upheld by the state's supreme court in 2008.

He was sentenced to life without parole.

Harwood was sentenced to 20 years in prison before being released in March 2018.
A man who was dubbed the 'living Nostradamus' has claimed his forecasts are frequently misunderstood as he predicts the world will see technology blackouts this year due to the use of Electromagnetic Pulse technology.

Athos Salome, 36, who is a trained parapsychologist from Brazil, is often referred to as a psychic due to the accuracy of his insights and predictions, after previously foreseeing the coronavirus pandemic, Elon Musk buying Twitter and even Queen Elizabeth's death.

Speaking exclusively to FEMAIL he has now warned that advancements in warfare, such as Electromagnetic Pulse technology (EMP) could have devastating effects on the world.

Salome, who predicted 'three days of darkness' in 2024, said his forecast was 'misunderstood' when it was previously linked to a coronal mass ejection (large expulsions of plasma and magnetic field from the Sun's corona).

He explained that this blackout alludes, not to an occurrence, but rather to trials involving EMP technology and escalating tensions between Israel and Iran potentially paving the way for large scale conflict akin, to a Third World War.

Athos Salome, 36, who is a trained parapsychologist from Brazil, who was dubbed the 'living Nostradamus' reveals his forecasts are frequently misunderstood and warned about the use of Electromagnetic Pulse technology in conflict

EMP, a specialised tool designed to destroy information systems, is a weapon that can render electronic devices useless, without harming people or buildings.

Typically triggered by explosions at altitudes EMP interacts with the Earth's magnetic fields to create pulses that can disrupt and damage electronic equipment and infrastructures.

During the Cold War both the USA and the Soviet Union viewed EMP as a tool for disabling enemy infrastructure without causing harm directly.

In 1962, the US detonated a 1.4 megaton nuclear warhead, in an experiment known as Starfish Prime, high in the atmosphere 400 kilometres (250 miles) above the Pacific Ocean.

The explosion  the worlds most powerful high altitude nuclear test  created an EMP strong enough to disrupt global radio communications, which led to the failure of the UKs first satellite, Ariel-1, and it even blow out streetlights on the ground in Hawaii.

In today's world, devices exist that are capable of replicating EMP effects, increasing the threat in modern technological dependent scenarios.

Non-nuclear localised EMP devices do exist, and work by releasing a burst of energy in the radiofrequency or microwave spectrum, which can overload and damage electronic components and systems. But these are only effective on a small scale, disrupting a small city.

However the significance of EMP remains substantial as it has the potential to destabilise defense and communication systems.

EMP, a specialised tool designed to destroy information systems, is a weapon that can render electronic devices useless, without harming people or buildings (stock image)

What are the three types of EMP? E1: This component is the form of EMP generated by fluctuations in electric and magnetic fields; it poses a significant risk to modern electronic circuits due to its rapid nature (nanoseconds). E2: Resembling lightning pulses but less intense, than E1 this component can usually be managed with lightning protection measures. This lasting element is similar, to a storm. Can last from a few seconds to several minutes causing currents in large electrical power lines and possibly harming devices such, as transformers. E3: A slower and lower-amplitude (but still damaging) waveform. Advertisement

Salome shared his perspective on the role of artificial intelligence in conflicts, such as the one between Israel and Iran, highlighting its potential to revolutionise strategies and warfare tactics.

The parapsychologist foresees a moment in 2024 when both countries may adopt AI technologies for defense and offensive purposes.

He said: 'AI again emerges as a factor possibly serving as both a peacekeeping tool and an instigator of fresh confrontations.

'Advanced nations, including the United States have been quietly advancing EMP technologies for security purposes.

'The US has been exploring EMP capabilities since Operation Prime tests in the 1960s aiming to use this technology to neutralize threats with minimal physical damage. Similarly Russia and China are investing in EMP technologies as tools to disrupt infrastructures of potential foes.

'Even North Korea despite its limitations is showing interest, in EMP technology as part of their preemptive strike tactics.

'This shift, in adoption signifies a growing trend where EMP is not merely viewed as a weapon. As an essential element of upcoming military endeavors having the potential to disrupt critical systems significantly and swiftly.'

With the help of military history and technology expert Dr William Forstchen, MailOnline previously delved into the chilling potential of such a strike, exploring the unprecedented havoc it could wreak in Britain.

What are the immediate and long-term effects of an EMP strike?

The immediate effect would devastate electrical infrastructure. Water and energy supplies would be knocked out immediately, and any heating system short of burning firewood is no longer available.

Cars, computers, phones, transport, banking... everything that uses electrical components or relies on electronic systems to operate ceases to function.

Unless you're living completely unsupported in the wilderness, this essentially takes away your access to water, heat and food - three elements of the base level of Maslow's hierarchy of needs - and would essentially trigger a societal collapse as a result.

The long-term effects of an EMP strike are therefore a dramatic reduction in population.

Over weeks and months, most of the people living in cities would die of thirst or starvation - or be killed in panic and violence, and anyone who requires regular medical treatment would have no chance of survival.

Access to what little food and water supplies remain would of course be controlled either by the government and the military, or the most effective and violent armed gangs.

In the US, Department of Energy studies estimate it could take up to 5 years to get just 20 per cent of the grid back online, by which point modern society would have all but collapsed.

Is there any way to defend against an EMP attack?

An EMP strike is a line-of-sight event, and because the weapon is detonated hundreds of miles above the Earth, the target area is massive.

There is no real way we can protect ourselves against an EMP blast because of the way in which it is deployed. Unlike the UK, the United States has an ICBM nuclear missile defence system - there are dozens of missiles on standby ready to intercept a nuclear missile and blow it up in space before it re-enters the atmosphere and hits the Earth.

But an EMP strike relies on the author detonating the nuclear missile hundreds of miles above the atmosphere - the missile can be triggered within 15-20 minutes of launch, making it essentially impossible to intercept in time.

On the ground we have very limited capacity to protect the grid against an EMP strike but it would require a major industrial upgrade. Many components that underpin US and UK grid systems are decades old.

Replacement parts would be required, but most of these are engineered abroad and we don't have an emergency stockpile.

Authorities would need to embark on a massive upgrade programme that would involve designing and constructing key electrical grid components, such as transformers and substations, to withstand the effects of an EMP.

This can be achieved through shielding and surge protection - but this would still only have a limited effect.
Prince Harry has been criticised for his 'embarrassing' decision to wear UK 'participation' medals while handing out an award to a top-performing American soldier.

The Duke of Sussex, 39, 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.

Royal observers were quick to point out that absent from the prince's lapels was the Coronation medal given to him and others who were involved in King Charles' formal ascension to the throne last May.

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.

However, critics on social media have now criticised Harry's decision to wear the medals at all, dubbing them 'participation medals' and asking: 'Out of everyone in the world they chose Harry?!'

Prince Harry wore a series of medals to present a US combat medic with a Soldier of the Year Award via video message

Another person complained: 'We didn't have an American Veteran who could do this?'

But some were quick to point out that the person being honoured - Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks - participated in the Invictus Games in 2016. This is an international sporting event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women founded by Prince Harry.

A social media user said: 'I remember her from the Invictus Games in 2016! Very special that he presented the award to her after all these years.'

Despite this, Prince Harry was criticised for his decision to wear British Army medals.

One person said this decision was 'embarrassing', claiming the medals looked 'ridiculous'.

Another claimed: 'The participation medals are a sad cry for "looook at meeeeeeeee"'.

Others defended the Duke of Sussex, pointing out one of the medals was presented to him for his service in Afghanistan. The others marked the late Queen's jubilees.

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

The medals appear to be the same ones he wore to his father King Charles III's coronation in May last year

The absence of the Coronation 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.

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.

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.

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

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

'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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.'
Hundreds of dapper cyclists took to the roads in their finest vintage wear and most stylish attire as the annual Tweed Run returned to London today.

Organised by creative lifestyle company Bourne & Hollingsworth, the event, which started in 2009, draws large crowds around tourist hotspots in the city every year.

Riders adopt a vintage style for the day, with many riding antique bikes such as the penny farthing, some with wicker baskets attached to hold their snacks for the cycle.

The 12-mile route saw cyclists in extravagant outfits travel from Clerkenwell to South Kensington, passing the Houses of Parliament, the National History Museum and Buckingham Palace.

The lengthy bike ride also includes a few pit stops on the way, with participants stopping at the half way point for a picnic and ending with a traditional British 'knees-up'.

Hundreds of dapper cyclists took to the roads in their finest vintage wear and most stylish attire as the annual Tweed Run returned to London today

Organised by creative lifestyle company Bourne & Hollingsworth, the event, which started in 2009, draws large crowds around tourist hotspots each year

Riders adopt a vintage style for the day, with many riding antique bikes such as the penny farthing, some with wicker baskets attached to hold their snacks for the cycle

The 12-mile route saw cyclists in extravagant outfits travel from Clerkenwell to South Kensington, passing the Houses of Parliament, the National History Museum and Buckingham Palace

And at the end of the course, prizes are awarded for: best dressed man, best dressed woman, best vintage bicycle, best dressed bicycle, best moustache and best head gear.

What distinguishes this bike ride from others is the fashionable tweed outfits donned by participants and this year was not short of stylish clothing.

One cyclist appeared to be head and shoulders above fellow participants as he rode a penny-farthing while dressed in bright orange knee-high socks and a tweed blazer and trousers.

A cyclist riding beside him sported a green check blazer with matching trousers, as well as mustard-coloured shoes.

The lengthy bike ride also includes a few pit stops on the way, with participants stopping at the half way point for a picnic and ending with a traditional British 'knees-up'

And at the end of the course, prizes are awarded for: best dressed man, best dressed woman, best vintage bicycle, best dressed bicycle, best moustache and best head gear

What distinguishes this bike ride from others is the fashionable tweed outfits donned by participants and this year was not short of stylish clothing

One cyclist appeared to be head and shoulders above fellow participants as he rode a penny-farthing while dressed in bright orange knee-high socks and a tweed blazer and trousers

These cyclists provided a pop of colour to their outfits, with bright red trousers

Some participants even opted to wear matching tweed cloaks for the outing

This fashionable woman rode a bike with a wicker basket, and stopped for a brief break

Others decided to capture the moment in a selfie as they enjoyed the day out in London

Flat caps were a common sight on the streets of London as the Tweed Run travelled through

This man decided to wear a very bright pair of yellow socks for the occasion

A group stopped by the side of the road at one point to check a bike was in working order

This woman had a Ukrainian flag and a bunch of flowers in the basket of her bike today

One woman seemed happy to pose for photos ahead of the event as she showed off her beige beret, which featured a feather, as well as a beige poncho and brown trousers.

One woman provided a pop of colour with a red outfit, featuring a bright hat, coat, tights and gloves.

Participants will also be treated to tea and lunch during the ride, which usually ends with "a bit of a jolly knees-up", according to organisers.

Others decorated their bicycles with the Union Flag, which they matched with a red beret

The vintage styles were varied, with some opting for a simple tweed suit
Ken Hom speaks to Weekend Magazine about a new tribute by Saturday Kitchen

When Ken Hom's Chinese Cookery first aired on BBC2 back in 1984, the series turned the Chinese-American presenter, author, chef and restaurateur into a household name.

Now fans are in for a treat when Saturday Kitchen celebrates Ken's 40-year career.

On the show Taiwanese chef Ching-He Huang, who co-presented BBC's Exploring China: A Culinary Adventure with Ken in 2012, two-Michelin-starred Andrew Wong and Hakkasan's Tong Chee Hwee will serve a feast for Ken, now 74.

'I'm very honoured Saturday Kitchen is doing this,' says Ken, who splits his time between France and Thailand.

'I first went on it in 2002, and every time I never know what to expect. I've filmed for the show from my tiny flat in Paris, and did a Chinese New Year programme on Zoom live from Bangkok during Covid.'

Ken Hom is pictured cooking in the kitchen for his television series 'Ken Hom's Chinese Cookery' in 1984

Saturday Kitchen are due to celebrate Ken's 40 year career. Above: Ken Hom is pictured in 2022

Born in Arizona and raised in Chicago, Ken learnt about food working in his uncle Paul's restaurant from the age of 11.

He was teaching cookery in California and Hong Kong when a meeting at a party with Indian cookery legend Madhur Jaffrey changed his life.

'The BBC had been searching for a presenter for a Chinese cookery series for two years,' says Ken.

'Madhur suggested me and I was invited to audition. I agreed to do it although it didn't pay a lot compared to what I was getting in the States. But I thought, 'It will be an experience, and I get to live in the UK for two months and film in Hong Kong.'

The show aired in October that year and a book was also released. 'I remember going to a book signing with 600 people queuing outside.

'I asked the BBC rep, 'Who are they waiting for?' He replied, 'They're waiting for you.' I said, 'You're joking!'

In the 40 years since, he's made more series including Hot Wok and has cooked for many famous names, including Tina Turner at his home in the south of France. 'When she said in her raspy, sexy voice, 'That's delicious, darling,' I almost fell over,' he laughs.

Ken also works for charities Action Against Hunger and Prostate Cancer UK, which he recovered from in 2010.

But he won't be doing a lot for his 75th birthday in May. 'It's another year,' he says. 'If I get to 100 I'll celebrate. But for the Chinese, 75's just the start.'
Rachael Murphy was 30 years old when an ominous email from the Australian immigration department upended her life.

'You failed the chest X-ray. Immigration wants you to go and see a specialist,' read the blunt email, dated May 2022.

The marketing executive was scared - not for her health, but because she feared she might not be able to stay in Australia.

Born and bred in the UK, the young woman had moved Down Under in 2015, fallen in love, and planned to stay.

She had completed the routine health checks which are part of the application process without second thought. After all, she was young and healthy.

Rachael Murphy was 30 years old when an ominous email from the Australian immigration department upended her life

Rachael was born and raised in the UK but moved to Sydney in 2015, and began the process of applying for permanent residency - the first step toward citizenship - in 2022

In reality, she was simply overlooking the symptoms of the disease which threatened to derail her life and dreams.

'I was more focused on what that meant for the visa than my health,' Rachael told FEMAIL.

'I had no idea what it could be. I'd waited so long to apply for residency - I didn't want anything to get in the way.'

Rachael eventually saw several doctors and was diagnosed with Stage 2A Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a rare cancer of the lymphatic system.

Looking back, she realised she had overlooked vital clues that she had the disease: unexplained fatigue, a cough and loss of appetite.

'I remember my chest was bad - but I have asthma and it fluctuates. I thought it would sort itself out,' she said.

'I was also really tired, much more than usual. I honestly thought I was just having a lot of long days and needed some iron tablets or to eat better.

'Another common symptom is loss of appetite, and looking back, I wasn't eating much at the time. But I'm not a big eater in general, so I didn't pick up on that either.'

Before the diagnosis, Rachael revealed she was plagued by uncertainty.

'I was supposed to go home to the UK a few weeks after I received the email from immigration,' she said.

'I had to call my parents and tell them I wasn't coming back because I failed my chest X-ray.'

Hodgkin's lymphoma: What is it and what are the symptoms? Hodgkin's lymphoma, sometimes called Hodgkin's disease, is a type of lymphoma - a general term for cancer of the lymphatic system (the various lymph glands around the body). Hodgkin's lymphoma is a rare cancer. It is estimated that more than 700 people were diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma cancer in 2022. The average age at diagnosis is 45 years old. Signs and symptoms: painless swelling in the neck, armpit or groin

excessive sweating, especially at night

unexplained fatigue

itching

shortness of breath

unexplained cough

fever

unexplained weight loss There is currently no screening for Hodgkin lymphoma available in Australia. There are no proven measures to prevent lymphoma; however, people with an HIV infection or Epstein-Barr virus have an increased risk of contracting lymphoma. Source: Cancer Council Advertisement

Rachael said she didn't want to believe she had cancer first because she was only 30

Rachael's doctor was immediately concerned and sent her for a CT scan.

'My GP was very upfront about me not being able to fly anywhere. I think he suspected it was cancer,' he said.

'He told me I needed to make my health a priority and forget about everything else until it was sorted.'

That was when Rachael realised she was facing something serious.

'I got a biopsy and had a lymph node removed. After that, I got a PET scan and I was officially diagnosed.'

However, the words 'Hodgkin's lymphoma' kept coming up ever since the CT scan and the doctors said they were only testing her to confirm what they suspected.

Rachael said she didn't want to believe it at first because she was only 30 and healthy on all accounts.

'It was only after I looked the disease up online did I realise I had a lot of the symptoms.

'But it was still a big shock because I don't have a history of cancer in my family, and I never expected it would happen to me at 30. It was so overwhelming and daunting.'

Rachael made the difficult decision of getting treated in Australia away from her family

Rachael made the difficult decision of getting treated in Australia away from her family.

'Before anything, I went through a round of IVF and froze my eggs. Chemotherapy affects your fertility and I couldn't imagine not having children in the future.

'After that, I went through 15 weeks of chemo and radiation.'

Rachael revealed that chemo was hard on her body during the first round and she ended up in the emergency room twice, including a five-night in-patient stay.

'I couldn't eat, I had terrible nausea, and a burning sensation in my mouth. I felt like my saliva was acidic and on fire.'

Because her reaction to the chemotherapy was unusual, her haematologist administered a white blood cell injection to manage her symptoms and she was able to carry on with a somewhat normal routine.

While her body didn't cope well initially, the rest of her treatment went relatively smoothly.

Rachael's partner Mick was her rock throughout the ordeal. She said she would not have made it through the treatment without him and her supportive friends

Rachael would go on walks with Mick every time her mind went into overdrive - even in the middle of the night

Rachael's partner Mick was her rock throughout the ordeal. She said she would not have made it through the treatment without him and her supportive friends.

'I'm not usually an anxious person, but I went through a lot after I was diagnosed. I had frequent panic attacks.

'All my hair fell out. I never realised what a big part of my identity it was. I found it difficult to leave the house if I didn't have my wig on.

'I'd look in a mirror and wouldn't recognise myself at all.'

Still, Rachael did everything she could to preserve a sense of normalcy. She got her eyebrows tattooed on and came up with a ritual to ground her whenever she felt overwhelmed.

She would go on walks with Mick every time her mind went into overdrive - even in the middle of the night. She was also prescribed anti-anxiety medication.

Almost four months after she started chemotherapy, Rachael went for another PET scan to see if treatment had worked.

Her doctors were happy with the results and revealed there were no traces of cancer on the scans.

Rachael had to go back for blood tests every three months during her first year - and was officially declared to be in remission.

Rachael had to go back for blood tests every three months during her first year - and was officially declared to be in remission in January 2024

Despite that, her anxiety often rears its head in unexpected times.

'Sometimes I started to worry the cancer was back. A lot of little things used to plant a seed of doubt in my head.

'I'm very grateful that Hodgkin's lymphoma is one of the most curable cancers. My doctor recently told me that it was 90 per cent likely the cancer would never come back - and I just have to sit with that number sometimes. It's unbelievable.'

Rachael is sharing her story as the face of Australian Cancer Research Foundation's 2km a Day in May challenge, raising money for cancer research.

She said it's important to raise awareness about the illness and support organisations that support cancer research.

The ACRF helped with the initial funding for Professor Ian Frazer and virologist Jian Zhou who went on to invent the cervical cancer vaccine.
Vapers are being struck down with a pesky cough  and doctors say it sounds different to that of a smoker.

One London-based GP said has treated e-cigarette addicts who've developed a 'dry' or 'wheezy' rasp. She believes the cheap gadgets, which are packed full of a liquid containing nicotine and other chemicals, are to blame.

A smoker's cough, meanwhile, tends to be 'phlegmy', rather than dry.

E-cig advice pages warn of the 'common phenomenon', saying it's particularly problematic for new vapers who've just switched from cigarettes.

Experts think it could be a sign that the body's healing from years of tobacco abuse.

Quitting smoking and opting for a vape instead is said to expose you to less cancer causing toxins reducing your risk of lung disease, heart disease and stroke

Tobacco destroys tiny hair-like structures in the airways called cilia, designed to keep dirt and mucus out of the lungs.

When these are killed off, irritants can settle in the lungs and mucus builds up. This is what triggers the 'smoker's cough', with their body attempting to clear the airways.

Once someone gives up smoking, cilia regrow and help to move the mucus out. This can also result in a cough that can last for months.

Professor Lion Shahab, co-director of University College London's Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group, told MailOnline: 'Developing a cough is a normal response to stopping smoking as the cilia in the lungs recover and become functional again.

'So, if a smoker switches to vaping, something similar may be going on.'

Prominent e-cigarette researcher Professor Peter Hajek, of Queen Mary University London, said the tickly 'vaper's cough' usually fades after a few weeks of use.

One trial, published in the respected New England Journal of Medicine in 2019, even found cigarette addicts given vapes as a stop-smoking tool were coughing less a year later, compared to participants handed nicotine replacement gums, patches or sprays.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Dr Hana Patel, a GP in London, said there is 'no clear evidence' that the coughs are directly caused by vaping because the gadgets  sold for as little as 5  haven't been around long enough to confirm the link.

She told MailOnline: 'They can cause side effects such as throat and mouth irritation, headaches, cough and feeling sick.

'These tend to reduce over time with continued use.

'We don't know yet what effects they might have in the long-term.'

Dr Patel stressed that vapes should only be used to help you stop smoking, or to stop you going back to tobacco.

Dr Nirusa Kumaran, another NHS GP based in London, added: 'Vaping can be a useful adjunct if you are stopping smoking.

'But it's not something I recommend taking up without a history of smoking. Without knowing the purity of the vape you could be introducing harmful toxins into your airways.'

GPs say some people come in with a 'dry' or 'wheezy' cough after vaping. The vapes are sold in a variety of flavours and colours and because they contain nicotine they are addictive

As of February, a total of 1,009 reactions to vapes have been recorded by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Here are the 10 most common reports

E-cigs allow people to inhale nicotine in a vapour  which is produced by heating a liquid, which typically contains propylene glycol, glycerine, flavourings, and other chemicals.

Unlike traditional cigarettes, vapes do not contain tobacco, nor do they produce tar or carbon  two of the most dangerous elements.

NHS chiefs insist vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking.

But evidence is quickly piling up to show the gadgets pose their own dangers, with multiple studies raising the alarm about vaping's potential risks. One academic paper last month even sparked fears that e-cigs could lead to cancer.

Doctors have expressed fear there could be a wave of lung disease, dental issues and even cancer in the coming decades in people who took up the habit at a young age.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Last year, MailOnline revealed e-cigarettes have been linked to five deaths in Britain, although none are proven.

The data was obtained via the UK watchdog the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency's (MHRA) Yellow Card scheme, which allows members of the public and medics to submit suspected adverse events.

Under the same database, it can be revealed that more than 100 complaints of a cough have also been logged.

Dozens of children have been hospitalised by the gadgets, including some as young as four.

Health charities described the findings as 'deeply worrying' as they urged non-smokers not to take up vaping and called on ministers to crack down on unscrupulous sellers.

Ministers have announced they will ban e-cigarette packaging and flavours that are attractive to kids in a bit to stop them developing a habit.

Rishi Sunak has previously said it is 'ridiculous' that vapes are promoted to children and he does not want his young daughters 'seduced by these things'.
It may be tempting to take the lift, but choosing the stairs really can help you live longer, research suggests.

Scientists wanted to investigate whether climbing stairs, as a form of physical activity, could play a role in reducing the risks of cardiovascular disease and early death.

They conducted a large analysis involving nine previous studies and nearly 500,000 people aged between 35 and 84.

Studies were included regardless of the number of flights of stairs and the speed of climbing, while the study population included both healthy participants and those with a previous history of heart attack or heart disease.

Analysis revealed that compared with not climbing stairs, stair climbing was linked to a 24 per cent reduced risk of dying from any cause and a 39 per cent lower risk of cardiovascular disease including heart attack, heart failure and stroke over 14 years.

Taking the stairs really can help you live longer, according to a new study examining step climbing as exercise

The study suggests that even taking the stairs as an alternative to taking the lift can help promote good cardiovascular health

The researchers wrote: As sedentary behaviours and associated health risks become increasingly prevalent, there is a growing imperative to explore accessible and practical strategies to mitigate cardiovascular risk.

These findings highlight the importance of promoting everyday activities, even within the workplace and home, to foster healthier lifestyles.

Data suggests more than one in four adults worldwide do not meet the recommended levels of physical activity.

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: The clues to why young people are aging faster than they should - are you at risk? Advertisement

Dr Sophie Paddock, from the University of East Anglia, said: If you have the choice of taking the stairs or the lift, go for the stairs as it will help your heart.

Even brief bursts of physical activity have beneficial health impacts, and short bouts of stair climbing should be an achievable target to integrate into daily routines.

Based on these results, we would encourage people to incorporate stair climbing into their day-to-day lives.

Our study suggested that the more stairs climbed, the greater the benefits - but this needs to be confirmed. So, whether at work, home, or elsewhere, take the stairs. The findings were presented at the European Society of Cardiologys Preventive Cardiology conference in Athens, Greece.

A previous study found that simple exercises such as climbing the stairs can provide significant heart and muscle benefits.

Researchers from McMaster University in Canada found tackling the stairs was beneficial whether a person walked or ran up.

The findings of separate research suggest that a stairs test is an easy way to check heart health.

Experts said a doctor should be consulted if it takes you more than one-and-a-half minutes to ascend four flights of stairs.
Lynn Barber

Theres a great moment in the Barbie film where Margot Robbie blurts out, Do you guys ever think about dying? and everyone is shocked. But I can assure you that oldies like me (Im 79) think about dying the whole time and talk about it too.

In fact, its our absolute favourite topic of conversation. But we can only talk about it among ourselves  its disastrous to talk about it in front of the young because they get upset. They think it means were depressed and start recommending antidepressants, or saying, Oh, dont worry, youll never die!, which just shows how stupid they are.

But actually, some of my most invigorating and cheerful conversations have been with fellow oldies about dying.

Funerals or, better, memorial services are our great social events. It must be a decade or more since I went to a wedding, and I was never that keen on weddings anyway, whereas now I go to several funerals a year. They are a chance to catch up with old friends and lay bets on whose funeral well be attending next.

Its as if were all crammed into the departure lounge, waiting to see wholl be next through the exit door: Oh, I didnt think it would be her, she always seemed so fit. Which of course is often said with a certain glee when someone who wore a Fitbit, didnt drink, didnt smoke and talked about their vitamin supplements makes it out of the exit before old reprobates like me.

Naturally we oldies are all in favour of assisted dying  some of us would make it mandatory. The only question is at what age? My parents lived to 92 and I have absolutely no desire to emulate them; by the time they died they had no surviving friends.

Until this year I would have said 80 was the best time to go, but that now seems a bit imminent. Make it 85, so I have time to de-clutter the house, as Im always promising the daughters I will do. A life insurance actuary once told me that after 90 your chances of dying in the next year dont noticeably increase. You could die at 92 or 102, whos counting?

I remember when I was working at the Sunday Express in the 1980s being sent to interview a famous medium called Doris Stokes. She asked if I wanted to be put in touch with someone on the other side. I looked blank and asked, Other side of what? She said, One who has passed on.

My daughters ask if I have any special wishes for my funeral and I reply 'No because I won't be there'

Oh, you mean dead! I exclaimed, but she flinched at the word. I meant someone you loved who has passed on. I racked my brains but, honestly, couldnt think of any. Parents? Still alive. Grandparents? she pressed. Well, yes, but actually both my grandfathers died before I was born and I didnt like either of my grandmothers.

Could you put me in touch with my childhood dog, Zulu? No, she said, she didnt do dogs. So, somewhat reluctantly, I agreed to take a message from my maternal grandmother who, Doris reported, said she was watching over me from the other side, in other words spying, as usual. Poor Doris obviously found me a disappointment.

To think I was then in my late 30s and still hadnt lost anyone I cared about. Death was not on my radar. But then, in my 40s, a couple of acquaintances and then a very dear friend died of Aids, and death began to move closer. I still didnt worry about it but I could see it was a possibility.

And in my 50s things really sped up. Two friends died of cancer, another of alcoholism, one of a heart attack. My husband David and I used to spend every New Year in Venice with a gang of friends and pose for group shots on the balcony. Looking at those pictures now, its like Ten Green Bottles  one fewer of us every year.

My husband died in 2003 when he was only 59. He developed a disease called myelofibrosis and was given a bone-marrow transplant but died in the course of it, so I was widowed before I was 60.

His father and both my parents were still alive and I thought it was unfair that I had to listen to complaints from three nonagenarians while newly widowed myself. But it taught me an important lesson about death: it is completely random. You cant expect it or plan for it; it just comes.

About five years ago my Twitter feed started featuring ads for funeral insurance and I wondered if they knew something I didnt, but evidently not. In any case, how mad would you have to be to spend good money on paying for your own funeral? My daughters ask occasionally whether I have any special wishes for my funeral and I say, No, because I wont be there.

Its not death we worry about but dying, and the big question is always: how long will it take? You used to hear of people dropping dead of a sudden massive heart attack, but that seldom seems to happen any more. We all envy the late Queen dying in her bed of old age but perhaps you have to be the Queen to be allowed to do that.

Otherwise its all hospitals and medical interventions which I dont fancy at all. Why does it have to be so difficult to die? Why cant doctors just hand you a death pill when they make the terminal diagnosis and say, Take it when you feel ready. Why do we have to ask anyones permission to die?

Nowadays death is the last taboo. Were not supposed to talk about it. We very rarely even see it  except on the news. In Ireland, in the past, when Granny died, her body was laid out on the kitchen table and all the family, friends, neighbours, even children gathered round, so death was quite a familiar sight. Not now. This is crazy, isnt it?

I think we should all be more accepting of death, and talk about it more, not treat it as some embarrassing unmentionable.

After all, it will happen to us all. In fact, it is dead common.

Michael Odell

I think Barbie was right to raise the question of mortality while on the dancefloor. These days, its while throwing shapes to, say, Abbas Dancing Queen at a wedding reception or birthday party that I most often think, Christ, my knees! Im dying here! Ive just turned 60 so joint ache is definitely an early intimation that none of this is for ever.

Im getting plenty of other nudges from the Grim Reaper, too. Like every time, approaching Birmingham New Street station, I pass the huge HS2 building site and inwardly say, Ill probably just about see that finished. Whereas whenever I hear Elon Musk banging on about his proposed colonisation of Mars, I think, Hmm.

I should see the first crewed flight take off in 2029. But the actual sustainable colony planned for 2050? I wont be around for that one unless I eat a lot more salad.

I accept that large infrastructure projects are a funny way to measure life but I distinctly remember, as a late-20-something, watching grimy-faced English and French workmen on the news, blinking away the dirt and shaking hands.

The two sides had just met digging the Channel Tunnel and I thought: I cant wait to try that! Now I sense the world, rightly, is being shaped for younger generations.

Sometimes, sitting on the bench outside my local Waitrose, I think, What will I leave behind? Only because the bench is dedicated to a local who, it says, loved nothing more than to sit here and enjoy the view.

The view is of a zebra crossing. Is that a life well lived? And what message would I leave to the world? My favourite is still comic author Spike Milligans idea for a headstone:

I told you I was ill.

Still, I hope Barbie didnt get too bent out of shape at the thought of one day going to landfill. Contemplating death isnt a bad thing. A mortal reminder can work like a good G&T; its an early evening sharpener to prime one for the fun that remains. Because, in lifetime terms, I am definitely getting into the last evening. One can either slope off early to bed or forget that niggling knee and hit the disco one last time.

Mary Killen

When I was roughly four, a voice called up the stairs of our house in Northern Ireland, to ask had I cleaned my teeth. Yes, I lied. The voice (of a babysitter) called back:

Did you know that wee girls who tell lies will go to hell and roast on a spit for all eternity?

The babysitter had been indoctrinated by fire-and-brimstone church sermons of the era, but I could never ask my parents if she was right. That would have meant admitting Id told a lie. Moreover, if she were right, then it would upset my parents to think of my going to hell. And so I cringed in vague terror for years.

As the decades rolled on I stopped believing in hell  and heaven, for that matter. I half-heartedly believed in reincarnation for a bit but have always been too busy to think these things through so put them on the back burner.

I never want to give or think about my age because Im very suggestible. Being faced with the cold fact will make me think, Hang on, if Im that age, isnt it about time I died? For the same reason I dont dwell on my death.

My friend Anne, 89, says that the palms of her hands have become dry. This is what happens to apes, she observes. Their hands eventually lose the ability to grip branches so they will fall off the tree and die. Its natures way.

Im aware that nature will want me to be dead too one day. But whats the point of thinking about it? I cant know what will happen to my soul and therefore cant plan ahead.

What happens when youre dead?

I asked the late birth guru Betty Parsons.

It was clear to those who met Betty that she had a hotline to the people upstairs. We can only perceive what we have the faculties to perceive, answered Betty calmly. But whatever it is, I know it will be benign.

David Aaronovitch

Readers may remember those spurious studies that used to claim men think about sex a ridiculous number of times a day. And I always used to wonder how they made their calculations. Was it like one of those hearing tests where you sit in a booth and press a button every time you think you detect a squeak?

Now 69, I would find it easier to answer the question How often do you think about death? because a truthful response would be, I practically never dont think about it.

Looking back, was there a moment when death overtook sex? Was it 25 years ago, when my father died? Or 12 years ago, when I very nearly bought the farm myself after a minor operation went horribly wrong? I lay in a hospital bed for a week after coming out of ICU aware of a sort of darkness that had collected in my peripheral vision. Its never quite gone away.

The Grim Reaper always finds a way these days of inserting himself into my consciousness. Last Thursday I got together with three old friends for dinner in a swish restaurant. The first glass of wine was poured and Oliver pulled out a document and asked us, Would you mind witnessing this? Its my will.

Recently YouTubes algorithm god decided to cheer me up by recommending a US channel called In Memoriam, which  year by year  recalls the deaths of 30 or so famous people and the causes of their demise. I woke up several hours later having watched a dozen of its videos, transfixed by the fact that most of them died younger than I am now.

But then I can turn anything into death.

I was playing with my adored two-year-old first grandchild the other day and suddenly there it was, the fugitive thought: Will she remember me when Im gone?

Julie Burchill

Sometime in my 40s I discovered on the internet that my name featured on a list of people in the public eye who would soon likely buy the farm, go west, join the church triumphant  in short, die. I cant say I was bothered.

As it was run by fellow (lesser) hacks, I presumed that it was partly wishful thinking. And I was doing masses of cocaine in those days, from the age of 25 to 55, when I gave it up literally overnight, so it seemed fair comment.

Now Im 64, Id actually be more surprised if I featured on such a roll call; Im nearly ten years off the marching powder and, for my age, fighting fit. But again, I wouldnt be a bit upset. Because as I get older, my fear of death, never huge in the first place, just a normal amount of trepidation, has lessened. Now, when I think about dying, I simply imagine the biggest embrace that ever existed.

Ive experienced the deaths of the people I loved most in various ways. My son, by suicide, at 29. My father, at 70, dying slowly from the terrible disease of mesothelioma over decades; my mother, also at 70, dying of a heart attack in my arms. The same thought came to my mind about all three: they werent ready to go; they had so much more they wanted to do. But I am  and I dont.

I imagine the biggest embrace that ever existed

Sorrow is sometimes an inappropriate response to death; when a life has been lived completely honestly, completely successfully or just completely, the correct response to deaths perfect punctuation mark is a celebration. Ive had the time of my life; it would be weak, needy and greedy to be reluctant to leave the party.

And anyway, the afterparty will be even better.

Quirky routes to the afterlife

Philippines

The Igorot tribe places bodies in coffins nailed to cliffs, believing the deceased need to be as close as possible to their ancestral spirits.

South Korea

Ashes are turned into bonhyan (beads) that are displayed in their family home, so they stay close to loved ones in their next life.

Madagascar

The Merina tribe has a ritual called famadihana, or turning of the bones. Every five years, the deceased are removed from their burial crypt and wrapped in fresh cloth while family members talk to the body and update them about worldly events.

Tibet

Buddhists embrace jhator, or sky burials. Bodies are cut into pieces and left on a mountain for vultures to eat. When they fly off, it is believed they carry the persons soul to paradise.

Phillipines

Bodies of the Tinguian people are placed sitting in a chair for around three weeks wearing their best clothes, sometimes with a lit cigarette between their lips, so they can continue enjoying worldly pleasures in the afterlife.

Artwork: Ellie Allen-Eslor

ALAMY, ISTOCKPHOTO, HARRY BORDEN, AP/WARNER BROS,
Yang Guo Fu Malatang is a chain of Chinese-hotpot restaurants with over 6,000 branches across Asia, Australia and North America. But despite its immense size, YGF retains something of a cultish reputation, each new opening greeted with social-media hysteria, a thousand tremulous TikTok videos and queues that spill way out of the door.

Which makes the arrival of its first UK outlet, in London  without fuss, fanfare or a whisper of PR  all the more intriguing.

Sure, its Hammersmith Broadway location is hardly the most salubrious. But then YGF predominantly a franchise business  is all about consistency and speed of service meaning that, with a few local idiosyncrasies, youre slurping the same bowl of spicy soup from Bellevue to Brisbane, Hong Kong to Hangzhou.

Who cares if the view is a little drab, the room sparsely utilitarian, the music sickly-soppy Chinese pop, and the lighting more suited to a morgue? It makes me love it all the more.

At Yang Guo Fu Malatang, says Tom, You take a bowl and pick your ingredients from its version of a Harvester salad bar

And while it has similarities to traditional Sichuan hotpot (the spicy ma la, or numbing and hot broth), you dont gather around the communal pot, dipping in various bits and body parts, rather take a bowl and pick your ingredients from its version of a Harvester salad bar.

The beef broth is very good: slightly sweet with a creamy depth

The choice is vast, as much about texture as it is flavour: slippery, sweet potato vermicelli (there are ten different varieties of noodle) and kelp, soft tofu puffs, the cartilaginous crunch of wood ear mushroom and delicate fronds of tripe. Bouncy fishballs and meatballs come in every hue and size.

You then choose your broth (beef, from mild to extra-spicy; veggie tomato or dry spice) and are charged by the weight of your ingredients. Five minutes later and your bowl, seething red and steaming hot, is placed before you. Add extra chilli, soy, vinegar or mashed garlic to taste.

The beef broth is very good indeed, made from slow-simmered beef and pork bones, slightly sweet, with a creamy depth not dissimilar to a proper tonkotsu ramen broth.

And while the extra-spicy packs a decent punch, it doesnt entirely decimate the tastebuds  a brow-beader rather than edible Armageddon. YGF may not be a place to linger, but its a fine place to eat. Get there before the TikTok hordes descend.

Rating:

About 18 per head. Yang Guo Fu Malatang, 8 Hammersmith Broadway, London W6
Pearson's boss was given a bloody nose yesterday as shareholders protested over fat cat pay.

In another bruising setback for the FTSE 100 education publisher, 30 per cent of investors voted against the company's remuneration policy.

It was the fourth year in row that shareholders have rebelled over pay in the boardroom.

Omar Abbosh, a former Microsoft high-flyer who started in January, could earn as much as 8.5m a year as his 1m salary is topped up with bonuses and other awards.

He was also handed a 13m golden hello when he took over from Andy Bird.

Protest: Omar Abbosh could earn as much as 8.5m a year as his 1m salary is topped up with bonuses and other awards

A Pearson spokesman said after the vote yesterday that the business was committed to building a pay policy that allowed it to 'stay competitive in the global talent market'.

It comes amid debate over whether British chief executives are underpaid compared to their American counterparts.
In the autumn of 1994, the US designer Tom Ford arrived at the embattled Italian fashion house of Gucci.

He produced elegant and sexy collections that transformed the company's image from frumpy to funky, a makeover chronicled in the House Of Gucci movie.

In the spring of 2024, Gucci  now the key division in the 35 billion French luxury conglomerate Kering  again needs a saviour to arrest a slump in profits and sales.

But there is talk that a predator rather than rescuer could emerge. Gucci is one of two brands most coveted by Bernard Arnault, boss of LVMH, the 350 billion Tiffany and Dior empire. The other is the jeweller Cartier, a division of the Swiss conglomerate Richemont.

A year ago Arnault was trying to buy Richemont. Could he now be eying Kering, whose shares have tumbled by 20 per cent over the past year, due to Gucci's woes?

There is speculation too that Gucci's troubles could unseat Kering boss Francois-Henri Pinault, husband of actress Salma Hayek. The Pinault dynasty owns 42 per of Kering and 59 per cent of the voting rights through their vehicle Groupe Artemis, whose holdings also include auctioneer Christie's.

Gaga for Gucci: Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani in the 2021 film House Of Gucci. Now the label is in trouble again

Nevertheless, some are asking whether Pinault should cede control to his deputy and Yves St Laurent boss Francesca Bellettini.

Swetha Ramachandran of the unrelated Artemis fund managers sums up the debate in the 300 billion-a-year personal luxury goods sector: 'The question for Kering is whether this cut is the deepest.'

JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley have cut their share price targets for Kering, which now expects a 40 to 45 per cent fall in first-half profit. This is worse than first predicted and bad news for investors, including Scottish Mortgage, the UK's biggest investment trust, which this weekend was tight lipped about Gucci's latest upset.

But analysts at Barclays and elsewhere still rate Kering a buy, suggesting bid activity could develop in an industry becoming more polarised as the high growth of the post-lockdown era slows.

The sector is split between the clamour for timeless and very expensive 'investment' accessories, such as Birkin bags from Hermes  whose first quarter sales leapt by 17 per cent year-on-year  and much lower levels of lust for fashionable items among the aspirational but not actually rich shoppers that Gucci was courting.

Deeply discounted clothing lines created by former Gucci designer Alessandro Michele are now on sale through an outlet store.

Armelle Poulou, Kering's chief financial officer, says 'Gucci is not in the sweet spot for positioning'  being neither high-end nor affordable enough. But she argues: 'This context can change rapidly.'

Ramachandran says Gucci is trying to elevate its brand by charging higher prices. But she says the 40 to 50 per cent growth that Gucci enjoyed with Michele's flamboyant aesthetic may not be rapidly equalled by spending on the 'quiet luxe' creations of his replacement Sabato de Sarno.

Much depends on the return of the Chinese, who make up 35 per cent of buyers of high-end clothing, jewellery and watches.

At 62, Pinault will be hoping that time is on his side. Others will be wondering who could play him in a sequel to the House Of Gucci.
Kathryn Tattum: All they told me when I rang up is there is a backlog. The system is so overwhelmed no one is taking responsibility

Savers who fell foul of the state pension top-ups system have accused the Government of encouraging them to make unnecessary payments, then failing to help find and refund their cash.

Untold sums of top-ups cash could be sitting in Government coffers, instead of being repaid to people who are still in the dark about what has happened to their money.

Kathryn Tattum, pictured right, is among those who followed official advice to check with Government staff first, before she handed over around 3,300 in May last year in the belief it would boost her state pension.

The retired local government officer only discovered she had been misinformed after appealing to This is Money to help find her missing money nearly a year later.

'I did make sure. I checked with them first,' she told us. 'I spoke to two or three people at the Department for Work and Pensions and at no time did they say don't send money.

'All they told me when I rang up is there is a backlog. The system is so overwhelmed no one is taking responsibility.'

Sylvia Popplestone paid 5,700 last October after a four-month wait for a letter from the DWP that confirmed this amount would increase her state pension.

After This is Money intervened and covered the case of her missing state pension top-ups in January, she was subsequently told she had overpaid by 4,600 - but the backlog for refunds was nine weeks.

Why are people complaining about state pension top-up chaos?

Frustrated savers have complained of state pension top-ups chaos for the past year, and today we cover FOUR cases in total of lost cash and staff giving wrong information or unable to help.

The Government has promised a new online service that will allow people to check if buying top-ups will boost their state pension and to make payments.

Despite its assurances this should be ready by early April, it has been delayed and there is no start date yet.

Why do some top-ups NOT improve the state pension? An overhaul in April 2016 replaced the old two-tier system with a flat-rate state pension, which is now worth 221.20 a week if you qualify for the full amount. As a result of the revamp, some people have already maxed out any possible benefits from the old basic rate state pension, and will only find it worth buying top-ups - officially known as Class 3 contributions - for years following the changeover. However, it depends on your personal National Insurance record, whether you were contracted out of the second state pension at any point, and other individual factors. A special concession allows you to fill up or buy extra state pension qualifying years going back to 2006/07, rather than just the typical six years. The Government itself and other money experts warn you should check with the DWP before handing over your cash. Read our guide to buying state pension top-ups, and see below for more information.

Buying top-ups can give a generous boost to retirement income if you buy the correct years on your record.

The system was overwhelmed early last year when a rush of buyers jammed phonelines ahead of a crunch deadline to buy top-ups going back to 2006, rather than the usual six years

That ultimately forced the Government to extend it twice, now to April 2025.

The scheme, run jointly by HMRC and the DWP, is confusing and it is easy to make innocent errors, or ring up the wrong department because you don't know which one handles each stage of the purchase, or at what point it might have gone awry.

The process currently involves contacting the DWP, which checks and tells you which years are worth topping up; obtaining a reference number from HMRC before making a purchase; HMRC taking the payment for extra contributions and then updating National Insurance records; then the DWP recalculating state pension forecasts or payments.

Buying top-ups is expected to be simpler and easier once the new online service begins, but it is unclear if the subsequent updating of NI records and state pension payments will also be streamlined.

There is also a pile of 'unallocated' cash to be dealt with, where payments have not been processed for unknown reasons, or refunds are owed.

Former Pensions Minister and This is Money retirement columnist Steve Webb says: 'State pension top-ups are a complicated business and it can easily happen that voluntary contributions turn out to add nothing to your pension.

'But no-one in Whitehall seems to think it is their job to make sure you get your money back. HMRC will say they have correctly updated your NI record. And DWP will say that they have correctly checked for any improved state pension.

'But the poor taxpayer is left in the dark unless they chase things up. We need a system where, if DWP decide no state pension increase is due, they make sure the voluntary contributions are refunded. They cannot just sit on the money.'

Webb, who is now a partner at LCP, adds: 'In other cases, contributions have been made but sit in some sort of suspense account, not even getting as far as being added to the correct NI record.

'Once again, it doesnt seem to be anyones job to go through these unallocated contributions and either do something with them or pay them back.

We need a system where, if DWP decide no state pension increase is due, they make sure the voluntary contributions are refunded. They cannot just sit on the money Steve Webb, former Pensions Minister

'We urgently need to put the contributor at the heart of this process so that either they get an enhanced pension or their money back, instead of being left in limbo.'

Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions spokesperson, Wendy Chamberlain, says: 'It is completely unacceptable that DWP staff are giving out the wrong advice and causing people to pay thousands of pounds and then go through the additional stress of requesting refunds.

'It beggars belief that the Government tells people to call for guidance which it turns out is completely unreliable.'

'This really adds insult to injury for people who have already gone through long waiting periods, and often seen their money disappear into a system without trace.

'We urgently need the introduction of receipts so that people have a clear paper trail of where their money is; and a complete review of the Future Pension Centre and the advice it is providing. Promising an online system in due course is no comfort if the DWP cant be trusted to function at even a basic level.'

Former Pensions Minister Ros Altmann, a longtime pensions campaigner who now sits in the House of Lords, says of the cases we highlight today: 'I feel very sorry for all those people who have paid money in good faith, have been given incorrect information, have to spend hours trying to retrieve the money they paid unnecessarily and have to wait so long for their correct state pension payments to arrive or records to be updated.'

She adds: 'This is yet another worrying example of how the ludicrous complexity of our state pension system  both under the old rules and under the new rules  is costing many members of the public significant time to try to sort out their entitlements, enormous extra cost to the DWP and HMRC in administration and significant anxiety when those who call up are given the wrong information and cannot sort this out without the intervention of This is Money.

Waiting for state pension top-ups to be sorted? What to do If you are experiencing delays, you can write to us - details are below. But we are urging everyone affected to contact their MP too and ask them to help. MPs should contact HMRC or DWP or both on your behalf, and hopefully get your problem sorted. Involving MPs will also raise awareness at Westminster about state pension top-up failures. If you are an expat, you can contact the MP in the last constituency you lived in and still request help. Find your MP here. This is Money's pensions columnist Steve Webb, a former MP and Pensions Minister, gives tips on contacting MPs here. Contacting This is Money about top-up delays: Email us the details at pensionquestions@thisismoney.co.uk Please put STATE PENSION TOP UPS in the subject line.

'How the system was ever allowed to become so complicated is an important question, and one that politicians need to learn from for the future.'

A Government spokesperson says: 'A new online service to allow most people to see if making voluntary contributions would increase their state pension, and make payments, will be launched soon.

'More information will be released in due course.

'Over the last year, hundreds of thousands of people have contacted us about voluntary contributions, with the vast majority of payments resulting in records being updated within days.

'Complex cases requiring specialist caseworkers can take longer to resolve - but were making good progress on reducing wait times.'

Read more on what the Government says about buying top-ups and getting refunds below.

'All they told me when I rang up is there is a backlog'

Kathryn Tattum contacted the DWP and HMRC several times last year, before and after she made a 3,300 top-up payment in May, but wasn't warned it would not increase her state pension.

The 68-year-old from Greater Manchester kept a record of first names of staff she spoke to and dates of three occasions when she phoned either DWP or HMRC.

'They said go ahead and we will send you a link and a reference number. At no point did anyone say you got the wrong advice,' she told us.

I still can't understand how I was initially told that I could purchase extra NI years... only to discover it wasn't going to improve my state pension

That includes in August, when she started trying to trace where her money had gone. Mrs Tattum says no staff member told her they would look into it, so opportunities to find out what had happened and get her a refund earlier were missed.

After she turned to This is Money, the Government told us HMRC had updated her NI record in May and DWP was automatically informed.

However, the crucial information that these contributions would not improve Mrs Tattum's state pension and she needed to apply for a refund was never given to her until we flagged her case last month, and helped her get the money back.

She told us: 'I still can't understand how I was initially told that I could purchase extra NI years, then how it took you to get involved for someone to look into it, only to discover it wasn't going to improve my state pension. The money could have been earning interest elsewhere.'

Paul and Sylvia Popplestone: She paid 5,700 on the basis of a letter from DWP, but belatedly discovered she was owed a 4,600 refund

'Scale of the ineptitude and inefficiency at the DWP and HMRC is just mind-boggling'

Sylvia Popplestone and her husband Paul, pictured above, tried from June to October in 2023 to get information from the DWP about which years to buy to boost her state pension.

The 66-year-old retired campsite worker only made a purchase after receiving a letter from the DWP, which said she should pay 5,700.

We covered the experiences of the couple, who live in France, in a story in January when Mr Popplestone said the state pension top-ups system was in 'total chaos' and 'clearly broken'.

After its publication, Mrs Popplestone received a letter from HMRC saying she was eligible for a refund of around 4,600 because the DWP had now advised she should have paid Class 2 contributions, which are for self-employed people.

She applied to get her money back at the start of March, and when her husband tried to chase it up on the phone he was told refunds are currently taking nine weeks to process.

However, she has now received the refund after This is Money took up her case again with HMRC and the DWP.

Mr and Mrs Popplestone feel she is owed some redress for the long delays, misinformation given to her, and the unnecessary payment which could have been earning 4.25 per cent interest in their savings account.

He told us: 'We now feel that it is just not right that people are losing out in such a way for errors and inefficient handling committed by the DWP and HMRC.

'And equally, that by "just letting it ride", we are somehow complicit in letting them get away with people losing out and not providing the DWP/HMRC with any incentive to sort things out for others.

'I have to say that this really goes against the grain for us as we are not at all people who seek compensation in general as we understand that genuine errors occur.

'But the scale of the ineptitude and inefficiency at the DWP and HMRC is just mind-boggling and the disingenuous replies they provide only serve to create the impression that they would prefer to claim that there is no problem, which just demonstrates a total lack of sincerity with respect to them genuinely trying to fix the problems.'

'HMRC had my money for just over six months'

Simon Richardson, 71, paid 1,650 for state pension top-ups in October 2023, but only after calling HMRC to check if he could fill gaps in his National Insurance record.

He was told by a staff member he could buy two years of contributions to qualify for a full state pension.

However, when This is Money flagged his case, it turned out that his NI record was updated after the payment, and the DWP had been automatically informed - but neither department alerted him this would not improve his state pension.

Mr Richardson, a retired civil servant who lives in Cornwall, says: 'The initial HMRC adviser had sight of my NI record and could have informed me at that point that I had paid the maximum number of NI years contributions and therefore there was no benefit in me purchasing additional years.'

HMRC had my money, I hope they invested it wisely. Perhaps any money earned would help fund an upgraded help desk?

He adds: 'HMRC had my money for just over six months. I hope they invested it wisely. Perhaps any money earned would help fund an upgraded help desk?

'I think that, without your help, I would have still been waiting for HMRC to update DWP and then DWP to tell me the additional NI years purchased had made no difference to my pension, and then HMRC to write to me...and so on!'

Mr Richardson has now received a refund.

'I got no receipt for my top-up money'

Diana Robinson (name changed) paid around 1,400 for state pension top-ups in February 2023, but then her money appeared to vanish.

The 62-year-old retired clerical worker from Liverpool asked us for help, saying: 'I got no receipt for this money nor has it been posted to my account yet. I know they are in a bit of a mess and I know my case isn't urgent but I would like to have a receipt.'

This is Money says state pension top-ups are in dire need of an overhaul by DWP and HMRC This is Money has made calls to action to fix chaos in top-ups system. 1) Create one state pension top-ups department, under one boss, that deals with the entire top-ups process from start to finish, whether online or offline. 2) Find out where the current worst delays are happening, which would be easier if there weren't two departments that can blame each other, and then sort out the bottlenecks. 3) Revamp the call centre operation so people who ring up about top-ups receive help with their problem, by introducing an effective filtering system so all queries are dealt with, while the most serious issues are sent up the line. 4) Do a sweep for the oldest complaints about top-ups, however intractable they might look, and get a trouble-shooting team onto them. > THIS IS MONEY COMMENT: Older people need a competent department to handle state pension issues

When Mrs Robinson initially rang up about buying top-ups last year, she was told there was a six week backlog.

After we raised her case, HMRC found her payment and DWP updated her state pension forecast.

She told us: 'Many thanks, it would not have happened without your help.'

What does the Government say?

The DWP and MRC provided the following information on the state pension top-ups system.

- Voluntary contributions do not always increase your state pension and you should make sure you would benefit before making any payments.

- The Government has extended the deadline to 5 April 2025 to give people more time to fill gaps in their National Insurance record going back to 2006, rather than the usual six-year backdating period.

- The majority of people, including those living abroad who want to pay voluntary contributions for years they were resident in the UK, should be able to use a new online digital service which HMRC and DWP are aiming to introduce once development and testing is complete.

Guidance will be given on GOV.UK on who can use the new digital service and how.

- The service will be launched as soon as possible after the usual update to the National Insurance system at the start of the new tax year, so customers can continuously access the service without interruption.

The Government has told us the NI update was meant to take place by 9 April, with the online service launching soon after this.

- This will allow the service to take into account the April state pension increase for 2024/25, to ensure users see the most up-to-date information on how much extra state pension they could receive by paying to fill gaps in their NI record.

- At the end of January, a digital application process for top-ups covering periods spent living or working abroad was launched, meaning people no longer have to post a CF83 form.

- The Government is continually working to help more people get access to its online services while keeping their information secure. International customers can verify their identity using GOV.UK ID Check app to access this and other services.

- The DWP aims to update state pension records as soon as possible once notified HMRC has allocated a payment to someones National Insurance record.

- Payments requiring manual processing, for example those made by cheque, and more complex cases requiring further checks including postal applications from abroad, can take longer to resolve depending on individual circumstances.

- HMRC has extra staff answering phone calls and dealing with correspondence on voluntary contributions, including requests for refunds, and all contact is dealt with on a case-by-case basis. When someone rings or writes to HMRC, it aims to resolve their query at first contact, but if further investigation is required this is follow on activity and the customer is made aware of this.

- Applications for refunds are processed on a case by case basis, depending on individual circumstances, and HMRC aims to respond to such requests as soon as possible.

- If youre below state pension age, contact the Future Pension Centre to find out if youll benefit from voluntary contributions. If youve reached state pension age, contact the Pension Service.
If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts or actions, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts or actions, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

The comic book artist, best known for X Men: Grand Design, took his own life after allegations the Pennsylvania native tried to groom a 17-year-old girl

Ed Piskor, 41, died on April 1, sharing a 2,497-word farewell on Facebook claiming he was driven to his death by 'internet bullies' and cancel culture

The graphic online words that drove cult comic book creator Ed Piskor to apparently take his own life can be revealed by DailyMail.com.

Award-winning Piskor, 41  who worked for Marvel Comics and enjoyed a massive following for his graphic novels  died on April 1 after publicly posting an apparent suicide note on Facebook condemning internet trolls and cancel culture.

His death came a week after allegations first swept the web that the Pennsylvania native had tried to groom a 17-year-old girl, which saw him lose a $75,000 webcomic deal and have his upcoming art exhibition at Pittsburgh Cultural Trust postponed.

Defiant Piskor denied anything sinister had happened, slammed his internet accusers  and wrote: 'I was murdered by internet bullies. Massive amounts of them.'

Now DailyMail.com can reveal the alleged victims' graphic Instagram posts that drew out another accuser and sparked an online campaign against the cartoonist.

The young woman, a fellow illustrator who says she was groomed by Piskor during Covid, used the screen name 'sydgoblin' to write: 'OK Ed Piskor is a f***ing CREEP he likes little high school girls and slid in my dms when I was 17 years old. I didn't know him and he found me simply by liking one of my pictures.'

Comic book artist Ed Piskor, 41, died on April 1 of an apparent suicide, a week after he was accused of 'grooming' a 17-year-old girl

DailyMail.com can reveal the alleged victims' graphic Instagram posts that drew out another accuser and sparked an online campaign against the cartoonist

Piskor was known for his historical comics, Hip Hop Family Tree, and his work on X-Men: Grand Design

Hours before his family confirmed his passing, Piskor shared an anguished letter on Facebook bidding farewell and blaming Internet bullies for his death (SEE BELOW FOR THE FULL POST)

'Sending me a postcard of myself in school uniform calling me a cute nerdy girl and saying to come out to Pittsburgh and stay with him he'd take me out to lunch to meet other pg cartoonists.

'Overall f***ing weird with no gray area for what he was trying to do over the course of a year (obvious to anyone on this planet).

'Calling me a good girl, and a naughty girl all the time. Sending me unfinished pages of his as a 'secret' and gassing me up constantly basically trying to groom me into whatever the f***.' sydgoblin continued.

She also wrote: 'I don't like f***ing sex pests. I don't like creepy old men who think they have the ability to play around with malliable (sic) girls with no real grasp on the situation because their predator have a successful career in COMICS?!

'If anyone would like to see further evidence of this just dm (direct message) I don't have a problem posting the rest of the screenshots

'I find nothing normal or friendly about a 40-year-old man asking a high school girl about her classes, calling her a good girl/naughty girl etc etc. Asking her to come visit him. Saying we'll be 'partners in crime' and asking if I snitch or not. Like what the f***?'

The woman claimed her words were 'not a 'cancellation' of Ed Piskor. I'm just telling you the truth about this person.

'The truth that a lot of cartoonists are AWARE OF! That Ed Piskor likes YOUNG GIRLS. And he will try to use his 'fame' to get them to facetime him, give him attention, or make them come and stay with him this behavior is disgusting.

'This is me saying what happened in 2020-2021 and if this happened to you you're not alone unfortunately.

'I need a t shirt that says ED PISKOR TRIED TO GROOM ME AND I DIDN'T EVEN GET A FREE COPY OF X MEN GRAND DESIGN. To this day Ed Piskor slides into my dms calling me 'kiddo', further confirming our inappropriate age gap.'

Piskor's family confirmed his death in a Facebook post shared hours after he published his heartbreaking letter but did not reveal how he died

Piskor's obituary is shown above. His distraught younger brother Bobby, 38, reacted to his sibling's death with his own Facebook post blasting internet trolls

Defiant Piskor - pictured with a fan at a comic book convention - denied anything sinister had happened, slammed his internet accusers  and said they had his death on their hands

The comic book artist was known for his work on Marvel's X-Men: Grand Design, and Hip Hop Family Tree

The cartoonist revealed he had lost a $75,000 webcomic deal as a result of the allegations against him. He posted about his 11th solo book back in February

Sydgoblin shared one message she alleged was from him that said, 'Naughty girl! That's my favorite', in a comment on her own work.

The renowned cartoonist, who lived in the Pittsburgh suburb of Homestead, also allegedly wrote: 'I feel like you'd be a good partner in crime. You're not a snitch are you? If we robbed some banks you wouldn't rat me out would you?'

Another accuser followed with her own abuse claims after the first message was posted a week before Piskor died. She accused him of demanding oral sex in exchange for his agent's phone number.

DailyMail.com can also reveal Piskor told his New York agent Bob Mecoy he was going to 'hit the road' after the allegations swept the internet.

One of Piskor's comics, Hip Hop Family Tree: The Omnibus is pictured. The renowned cartoonist lived in the Pittsburgh suburb of Homestead

The pair regularly talked on the phone the week before his death, with the last conversation just two days before he died.

'Ed said, I'm having the car tuned up and I'm going to just travel for a while. I'm going to visit some friends,' Mecoy told DailyMail.com. 'He said he was just going to put his head down and hit the road.

'I said he could visit me in Upstate New York and he told me I might see him in a month or so. What happened between Saturday and Monday I cannot even speculate.

'I had no idea what was about to happen. I wouldn't otherwise have assured him that I would continue to work with him in whatever capacity he needed me to.

'However, he was having a difficult time coping with all the turbulence surrounding him. I did not know how isolated he had allowed himself to become. I just asked that he stay in touch.'

Piskor was also known for his graphic novels such as Hip-Hop Family Tree and also being the co-host of successful YouTube commentary channel Cartoonist Kayfabe with comic book creator Jim Rugg.

His family have not revealed how he died. DailyMail.com reached out to his parents, Ed Sr, 74, and Diane, 64, who asked that their privacy be respected at this tragic time.

Neighbors spoken to by DailyMail.com said they had not seen Piskor at his home in Allegheny County in the days leading to his death. And the local medical examiner's office said the cartoonist did not die in Allegheny.

Piskor began his letter by apologizing for 'being so stupid', but maintaining his innocence

The cartoonist went on to say that he has 'no friends in this life any longer' and is a 'disappointment to everybody who liked me'

In his note, he tells his family to get his will sorted and move into a nice home. 'Make use of what've built up,' he says

'I was murdered by internet bullies,' Piskor wrote. 'Massive amounts of them'

The anguished artist explained he felt ostracized by the claims saying: 'I have no friends in this life any longer. I'm a disappointment to everybody who liked me. I'm a pariah'

As part of his five-page, 2,497-word farewell, the tortured artist gave specific details of what he would be wearing and his car's license plate, in an apparent aid to being found.

Mecoy said he did not know where Piskor was speaking from during their conversations. 'I don't know how he died,' said the agent. 'Equally, I have no idea if he had a gun.'

Piskor's distraught younger brother Bobby, 38, reacted to his sibling's death with his own Facebook post blasting internet trolls.

He said of the words 'I was murdered by internet bullies' that 'I will never be able to get out of my head. These words will forever be cemented all across the internet.'

'The fact is that my brother was murdered by internet bullies. People found the humor to speak about a series of untruths, fictitious excerpts that glorified a certain narrative.

'The words you all wrote, that made you all so very proud, had a lot of meaning to my brother. In his eyes, he let his family down. When it fact; the internet bullies let HIM down. These words hurt. They hurt so many people.'
The Duke of Edinburgh was a larger-than-life character, but even he paled to next to his colourful aunt, Marie.

A relative of Napoleon Bonaparte she was a fascinating character, famed for her all-consuming interest in sex and psychoanalysis, her friendship with Sigmund Freud and her unconventional lifestyle.

She also had a highly effective way of dealing with flashers...

Born Marie Bonaparte in 1882, Marie was the great-granddaughter of Napoleon I's rebellious younger brother Lucien.

Princess Marie Bonaparte, Napoleon's niece was Prince Philip's aunt. She led a colourful and independent life

Lucien Bonaparte younger brother of Napoleon was father of Princess Marie Bonaparte

Prince George of Greece with his wife, Marie Bonaparte. George appears to have had little interest in the opposite sex

A portrait of Prince Philip, son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Princess Alice of Battenburg taken in 1927. Philip would then have been aged five or six

She was fabulously rich thanks to her maternal grandfather Francois Blanc who made his fortune on real-estate development in Monaco, buying 97 percent of the casino in Monte Carlo.

Her wealth made it possible for her to bankroll Prince Philip's family after they were forced to flee from Greece at the end of the Greco-Turkish War in 1922.

(It was Marie who paid for Philip to be educated at The Elms, an American school in Paris. Paradoxically she sent her own children, Prince Peter and Princess Eugenie to the local state-run lycee feeling it was important they should mix with children of all backgrounds.)

In 1907, Marie married Philip's paternal uncle Prince George of Greece.

George has a footnote in history for saving the future Tsar Nicholas II of Russia from assassination during a visit to Otsu, Japan in 1891.

The Tsarevich was attacked by a policeman with a sword who turned out to be a former Samurai with a grudge against westerners. George managed to knock him to the ground using his cane.

George appeared to have little interest in the opposite sex. Indeed, he was passionately in love with his own uncle, Prince Valdemar of Denmark, the youngest brother of Britain's Queen Alexandra (wife of Edward VII)

It was unsurprising, then that George and Marie's marriage was relatively passionless.

The groom never allowed his new wife to kiss him on the lips and after the honeymoon she wrote: 'You took me that night in a short brutal gesture, as if forcing yourself. You said I hate it as much as you do. But we must do it if we want children.'

Marie would seek love elsewhere and, accruing a long list of willing sexual partners, Marie documented them in her unpublished 1918 memoirs 'The Men I Have Loved.'

Marie enjoyed an equally fulfilling life out of bed.

She was a close friend of Sigmund Freud who mentored her interest in psychoanalysis and who once memorably asked her 'what does a women want?' - presumably feeling if anyone would know it would be the princess.

She carried out her own study on frigidity under the pseudonym A. E. Narjani.

Her theory was that the closer the clitoris was to the vagina the more chance a woman had of achieving an orgasm.

To back this up, she personally measured this crucial distance in 243 women.

Satisfied she had discovered the truth, she had her own clitoris surgically shifted a few inches in what she believed to be the right direction. Unfortunately both this and a subsequent operation failed in its ultimate goal.

So focused was she on the benefits of psychoanalysis that when she was once flashed at on the Rue de Boulogne' she handed the baffled perpetrator her card and the offer of a free session on her analyst's couch a gesture that sent him scuttling away.

Marie also had an interest in the criminal mind, describing Jack the Ripper as 'a super-murderer and a super-anarchist.'

In 1934 she published The Life and Works of Edgar Allan Poe: A Psycho-Analytic Interpretation with a foreword by Sigmund Freud.

The princess's writings also give a vivid picture of some of Prince Philip's relatives.

She described his mother, Princess Alice, as 'a beautiful blond, Englishwoman with ample flesh, smiles a lot and doesn't say much as she's deaf.'

She has also left us a fascinating vignette of Queen Alexandra whom she found '63 years old [in 1907], surprisingly young, enamelled skin. Disturbing when youthfulness covers an old skin. She seems kind and friendly, but also insignificance personified.'

Prince George and Marie maintained strong links with the British royal family particularly after Prince Philip joined what George VI referred to as 'the firm.'

They represented the King of Greece at the 1911 Coronation of George V and half a century later stood in for King Paul at the 1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

They were also present in Westminster Abbey to witness the marriage of their niece Princess Marina of Greece to Prince George, Duke of Kent in 1934 and again 13 years later for Philip's marriage to Princess Elizabeth.

Prince Andrew of Greece, fourth son of King George I of Greece (and a nephew of Queen Alexandra) together with his fiancee, Prince Alice of Battenberg. Andrew and Alice were the parents of Prince Philip

Princess Marie Bonaparte and her children Pierre and Eugenie of Greece

Marie Bonaparte with husband Prince George of Greece And Denmark. They are photographed at the Paris opera in 1954

Philip stayed in touch with Marie for the rest of her life and she was present with George when the Greek royal family were reunited at Tatoi, the summer palace near Athens, for a private visit of Elizabeth and Philip in December 1950.

The Queen and Prince Philip enjoyed several dinners with George and Marie, both private and formal.

Marie wrote to one friend: 'Grand dinner at court for Elizabeth and Philip, decorations, tiaras, horror!'

The most unconventional of princesses, remained a maverick to the end.
Ever felt eyes on you whilst venturing for your connecting tube - that's because may have been someone watching.

London is famed for its beautiful skyline where the past meets with the present, with world-famous sky-scrapers and historical buildings sitting in close proximity.

The capital is also renowned for its vast and complicated network of tunnels that lie beneath the surface.

Less widely shared are the various unused and forgotten tunnels as hoards of passengers unknowingly walk by them ever day.

Since 2022, the public were once more allowed to walk these old passages as the London Transport Museum began offering tours of the century, with one TikToker deciding to explore one of the old underpasses that time - and Londoners - forgot.

London's vast and complicated network is well-renowned but its hidden century old tunnel in Shepherd's Bush which allows you to spy on unsuspecting commuters is not (pictured: Shepherd's Bush)

TikToker Dan revealed that Shepherd's Bush boasts grey and dusty tunnels that have remained largely unused for centuries

The content creator revealed these dusty passages allow you to spy on unsuspecting passengers while they go about their daily commute

Venturing into the depths of subterranean London, content creator Dan Thomas decided to take a look at the dusty unused floors of the hidden tunnels in Shepherd's Bush.

Although the cobwebbed tunnels - which were shuttered a hundred years ago in 1924 - are largely useless, Dan revealed you can spy on unknowing passengers through grated gates.

The primary use of these tunnels is now storage, escape routes or to help with construction work on the rails.

The giant industrial metal staircases, dangling cables and dark grey walls are a far cry from the well lit white tiled tunnels commuters travel through today.

Similar to it's unused tunnels, Shepherd's Bush station has a rich history, having opened its doors for the first time all the way back in 1900.

It was part of the Western terminus - a new section of the Central London Railway - which is better known today as the Central Line.

The station was a key part of London transport, connecting the suburbs in the west to the city.

At the time commuters could also travel further west with the same ticket, which meant Shepherd's Bush Station was among the most important hubs for London Transport in the early 20th century.

Equally, the ticket which allowed commuters to travel further west via tram at no extra price paved the way for the Oyster card.

Shepherd's Bush Station was among the most important hubs for London Transport in the early 20th century connecting the western suburbs to the city (pictured: Sherpherd's Bush in 1900)

Shepherd's Bush is not the only location in London with eerie cobweb filled tunnels that have largely been forgotten (pictured: disused tunnel in Down Street - Winston Churchill's former bomb shelter )

The London Transport Museum runs tours around the ghostly tunnels Aldwych, Baker Street and Down Street (pictured: a disused tunnel in Down Street)

Currently, tours of Shepherd's Bush's eerie unused tunnels are not available, however the London Transport Museum is running tours of the forgotten passages in Aldwych, Baker Street and Down Street - which served as bomb shelter for Winston Churchill during World War II.

However, these aren't the only abandoned parts of London Underground network with a rich history.

Brompton Road station was so rarely used by commuters, tube drivers would pass by it entirely.

Knowing if a train would even stop at Brompton Road confused people so much, it inspired a West End play with a run of 174 performances.

The station first opened its doors in 1906, but only three years later authorities started to realise the station was redundant.

But the derelict transport hub, covered in oxblood tiles, is packed with an abundance of history, previously acting as a command centre during the Blitz.

The station was taken over by Winston Churchill's War Office and acted as a base for the Royal Artillery to control anti-aircraft batteries to protect London from air raids.

Brompton Road (pictured) was so rarely used, tube drivers would often skip the stop altogether

Confusion about whether trains would stop at the station was so high, there was even a West End play written about it

The station closed its door the final time in 1934. Since the war, it has been a base for military hopefuls

In 2014 it was bought by Ukrainian developer, Michael Spink from the Ministry of Defence for 53 million. When he purchased the property in 2014, Spink said he hope to refurbish the building into a 'very high quality residential development

During the war, one of the stations lift shafts had rooms built inside it, which eventually acted as a base for the Royal Artillery.

Gun emplacements across London were organised from the station as they attempted to shoot down German aircrafts flying over the city.

It was even rumoured that Hitler's right hand man - Rudolph Hess - was interrogated inside by British authorities.

Among the labyrinth of tunnels, converted bunkers can be found with leftover electrical appliances from the war.

Wartime telephone exchanges have been left as well as a wartime oxygen scrubber, which was present to clean the air in the event of a gas attack.
A party animal weighed down with great big jewels and fabulous furs.

Caught up in a love-triangle with a duchess and her husband, kicked out of Britain, Spain and Italy, she was nearly murdered on her wedding day and ended her days living off royal handouts.

It wasn't all beer and skittles being Queen Ena of Spain.

Born at Balmoral, she was the grand-daughter of Queen Victoria (the daughter of Princess Beatrice) and spent her happy childhood years at Kensington Palace.

Later she'd be remembered as the great-great grandmother of the present King of Spain, Felipe VI - but only after a turbulent life which embraced haemophilia, the Spanish flu pandemic, the Spanish Civil War, and exile.

The children of Princess Beatrice and Prince Henry of Battenberg. Princess Victoria Eugenie, (Ena), the future Queen of Spain is on the left

Princess Beatrice, the youngest child of Queen Victoria, is pictured with her four children. From the left, the are: Ena, Leopold, Maurice (in the sailor suit) and Alexander, 1st Marquis of Carisbrooke

Queen Victoria surrounded by members of the Royal Family at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight including Princess Ena, third from right

Possessed of startling aquamarine eyes, she was 'licentious and very bawdy in her conversation' according to the diarist Chips Channon.

In other words, more than a bit naughty.

But tragedy stalked her footsteps. She inherited the 'royal disease', haemophilia, through her grandmother Victoria, which she was to pass on to her sons once she married.

Nobody took account of that possibility when she was sized up by the 20-year old King Alfonso of Spain when he came to London looking for a bride.

Ena  or Princess Victoria Eugenie as she'd been born  caught his eye and within a short time the couple were engaged.

Later Ena would complain, 'the British hated me because I converted to Catholicism; the Spanish hated me because I wasn't born a Catholic'.

That turned out to be the least of her worries.

On her wedding day in 1906, an anarchist tossed a bomb concealed within a bouquet at the royal carriage as it rode past.

Ena and her new husband were uninjured, but the blood from the fatally-injured mounted escort splashed across her wedding dress, a terrible augury for the future.

Revolution was already in the air in Spain, and much more was waiting around the corner.

A year after the marriage the couple's first child, Alfonso, Prince of Asturias, was born - but almost immediately it was discovered he suffered from haemophilia which meant the inability to stop bleeding from any accidental wound.

The effect on the king was shattering, and in a valiant effort to rectify the situation Ena allowed herself to become almost immediately pregnant - the following year she gave birth to a second son. Alas by his fourth year, this child could neither speak nor hear.

King of Spain, Don Alfonso XIII (1886-1941) and his wife Queen Victoria Eugenia, who was known as Princess Ena of Battenberg at the time of their wedding in 1906

An illustration of the time showing the British Ambassador and officers of the 16th Lancers as they help Queen Ena to alight after the bomb explosion

Ena, Queen of Spain with her children Infanta Maria Cristina and Infante Juan in 1913

There followed five more births  seven children in all in seven years  including one stillbirth, and whatever love the couple once had had long ago evaporated.

The Spanish  who'd never liked their English queen  took her misery lightly. A popular verse at the time went -

One month's pleasure/Eight months pain;

Three months leisure/ And at it again;

Oh what a life/ For the Queen of Spain!

Alfonso took a string of lovers in revenge for her having brought the scourge of haemophilia into the Spanish royal house, and after 15 years of marriage, the couple parted.

They'd been hustled out of the country ahead of the Civil War which brought General Franco to power and had decamped to Rome.

Despite the fact the King had bedded numerous women, it was Ena's relationship with Duchess Rosario Lecera and her husband the Duke which finally caused the breach.

The king angrily accused his wife of having an affair with the duke, to whom she was very close.

But according to Ena's biographer Gerard Noel the duchess was - unknown to the king - in love with Ena as well.

'Ena had no such proclivities,' he writes defensively 'though those of the duchess were well known  a number of governesses and maids had been dismissed from her service in mysterious circumstances over the years.'

But significantly when the king ordered his wife to choose between him and the Duke, Ena replied in the plural  she would not give up the husband OR the wife.

Ena was told to get out of Italy, and she came home to England to take a house near Kensington Palace where her mother, Princess Beatrice, still lived.

Though the war clouds were gathering in Europe, she felt safe there, and took up a hectic social life, a popular guest at many parties. Her wandering days were over.

Then one day late in August 1939 the Foreign Secretary, Anthony Eden, knocked on her door. He'd come to tell her to get out of the country.

He could not guarantee her safety in England should war break out, he said. Technically she was no longer a member of the British royal family  even though her first cousin was the king, George VI.

She must pack her bags and go.

His unspoken reason  she could be a security risk. Nobody knew whether Spain would enter the second world war and, if they did, which side they would be on.

Ena urgently telephoned the king at Buckingham Palace but he did not return her call. Instead he wrote her a note saying 'I hope you will not be away long, and that a visit to Balmoral will still be possible.'

He didn't mean it  and Ena knew it. Her royal cousins had cut her adrift, abandoned her to her fate.

Ena, now Queen of Spain, with her eldest daughter, Infanta Beatriz

She fled to Switzerland where she sat out the war.

Occasionally, Queen Mary would send her money  strictly against wartime currency restrictions  to keep her afloat.

The Queen of Spain vowed, bitterly, never to come 'home' to Britain again.

On her death in 1969 she was buried in Lausanne.
A man who spent 20 years in prison has revealed the most chilling thing he experienced behind bars.

Dwaine Patterson was handed a discretionary life sentence for attempted murder at the age of 20 after shooting two people during a gang war in 2000.

He spent 22 years in prison, seven of which he spent in solitary confinement, where he endured 23 hours each day without any human contact.

Dwaine, who grew up around Clapham Junction in south west London, was also sent to a young offenders institute for five years after cutting a rival gang member's finger off with a knife when he was just 13 years old.

Speaking on the Anything Goes podcast with presenter James English, Dwaine revealed how dangerous it was to be in the canteen in jail.

Dwaine Patterson was handed a discretionary life sentence for attempted murder at the age of 20 after shooting two people during a gang altercation in 2000

Dwaine (pictured far right) spent 22 years in prison, seven of which he spent in solitary confinement, where he endured 23 hours each day without any human contact

Dwaine is pictured bottom right sat next to host James English after appearing on the Anything Goes podcast

He said: 'One of the first things that I identified when I went onto the wing in high security when somebody would come out of the kitchen with a pot in their hands everybody would be moving sideways all would be observing.

'A person would tap me and say "you don't know where that is going".

'Nine times out of ten it is just someone cooking their food but sometimes it could be used as ghee.

'Remember this, in dispersals where you can cook food where you had oil, butter or ghee I think that's some of the worst incidents I have ever seen.

'Where you leave it to bubble up for such a long period of time that it goes black and someone pours it over a person, it's horrific when you hear them scream.'

Dwaine also revealed how once saw a man beaten 'inhumanely' by prison guards to the point where he wet himself.

He explained the man's mother had recently died and he wanted to make a phone call to his family to make sure they were ok.

However, his request was refused by prison officers and he began kicking his cell door in frustration.

According to Dwaine this provoked the prison officers who beat him to the point where it became 'inhumane' and caused the man to wet himself.

Dwaine said he remembered the officers laughing and wiffling their fingers at the man before cutting his clothes off.

'I think one of the worst things that I've actually seen when I was in solitary confinement and I always remember this.

'It was a guy and he's no friend of mine he has racist tendencies but his mother died and so all he wanted to do was phone his family and have that conversation with his family.

'The officer said kick the door again he's getting frustrated because he wanted to make the phone call they wouldn't allow him to and so he kicked it and [the guards] said come on lads let's suit up and they beat him so much.

'It almost became inhuman and he wet himself.'

'They were laughing about it and I remember some of the women officers as well they wiggling their little fingers because he weren't (sic) willing down

'So they were laughing at him and they cut his clothes and so forth.'

Dwain is pictured right in a promotional photo for his clothing brand Primrosehill Clothing

Dwaine spoke earlier in the podcast about how he chopped a person's finger off using a knife at the age of 13.

He said: 'Being so young, cause I was 13, you're not understanding the magnitude of what you've actually done.'

Dwaine explained why he cut the person's finger off, saying: 'It comes down to group's dynamics and not liking the particular group.

'I can't say per se that that young person done anything directly towards me but it's just the whole of who he was connected with I didn't like so I was just making a statement.

'It's bad, it's horrendous and my heart goes out to the young person, he's a grown man now and has a family.'

Dwaine was released from Feltham Young Offenders Institution at the age of 18, but was quickly back behind bars just two years later.

Speaking about the night he shot two people, Dwaine said: 'I got the phone call and I said that these individuals were dealing with illegal activity allegedly.

'My protocol was okay we're going to go and obtain what they have and they can't say nothing about it because they are also involved in what we're involved in

'We had a system in place as well that if you show your gun you use it. There's no point in talking about something and waving it around if you're not going to use it.

'So that's what I basically done. I produced the firearm and I shot them both and I thank God that they survived.'

Dwaine is pictured bottom right next to his mother

Following the incident Dwaine eventually handed himself in to police as 'other innocent people were getting dragged into' the incident.

Dwaine was then handed a discretionary life sentence for attempted murder at South Western Magistrates' Court in 2000.

Dwaine has previously spoken out on another podcast, BEAMLDN, where he described some of the harrowing things he witnessed while he was locked up.

He said he saw someone get 'their throat cut from behind' and saw someone throw hot oil on another man's face.

He said: 'I've seen horrific things. Like someone getting their throat cut from behind or hot oil, that is horrendous.

'When you see the person's face and everything melts off.'
California is well known for its red hot property market - with the average home in the state now valued at more than $1 million.

Yet despite these eye-watering headline property prices, affordable real estate in the Golden State does still exist - if you know where you look.

Indeed, there are nine towns where homes can be snatched up for just $150,000 or less, LA Times reports. The only catch is that you may need to venture a fair way off the beaten track.

Some of the state's cheapest properties lie near the Oregon border in towns such as Dorris, Macdoel, and Tutelake. Each are home to fewer than 1,000 people and set amid agricultural landscapes.

Another example is Trona, a town steeped in history and nestled within the desert, which longtime resident Ann Epperly told LA Times remains a sanctuary for those seeking an escape from city life.

There are nine towns where homes can be snatched up for just $150,000 or less, LA Times reports. The only catch is that you may need to venture a fair way off the beaten track

One example is Trona, a town steeped in history and nestled within the desert, which longtime resident Ann Epperly told LA Times remains a sanctuary for those seeking an escape from city life

Five towns scattered across Southern California, offer similarly low median home values, including: Boron, Yermo, Hinkley, Johannesburg and Trona

'It's gone downhill, but it seems to be coming back a bit,' Epperly, 80, told the LA Times while describing Trona.

She explained how the once-bustling town was built on the mining and the production of borax, an ingredient in glass products like car windshields.

But despite its decline over the years, Trona still holds value for those seeking tranquility and a place away from the urban lifestyle.

And living 'off the beaten path' has its benefits, she told the outlet.

'It's quiet, you don't get the hubbub of so many people' and 'cars running over you,' she added.

However, Epperly highlighted the need for revitalization to support the growth of the town since the decline of Trona as a commercial hub.

'It used to be the hub years ago,' she recalled.

Now, 'it's just a small town with a big plant,' she said, referencing a mineral plant nearby. 'We need some stores here.'

Tourists are also beginning to discover the beauty of these desert landscapes, bringing hope for economic revival (Pictured: gas station in Trona)

For those willing to venture off the beaten path, some of the state's lowest median home values, dipping as low as $114,000, lie near the Oregon border in Dorris, Macdoel, and Tutelake

Towns such as Trona face other challenges - with infrastructure and amenities often lacking, and no essential services for miles.

The closest hospital and Walmart are both 25 miles away. But Epperly said she loves the people of Trona, and the freedom to 'ride horses all over town.'

Despite the challenges, individuals who seek refuge from crowded cityscapes, have led towns like Trona to see a surge in demand.

Tourists are also beginning to discover the beauty of these desert landscapes, bringing hope for economic revival, Epperly said.

'I think LA has found Trona,' she told the Times.

Real estate agent Sonney Berri emphasized the recent uptick in interest, particularly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the challenges, individuals who seek refuge from crowded cityscapes, have led towns like Trona to see a surge in demand (Pictured: Trona Facility, which mines boron products)

Each are home to fewer than 1,000 people and set amid agricultural landscapes. Pictured: houses in Tutelake CA

Trona, a 'desolate area that was very much thriving back in the '50s and '60s,' was littered with abandoned homes after plants closed decades ago,' Berri, 49 told the LA Times.

Now, 'people are fixing them up and making the community better,' he added.

Trona's peak traces back to the early 1900s when it thrived as a company town, bustling with businesses and activities.

Similarly, towns like Hinkley, which inspired the Hollywood blockbuster 'Erin Brockovich,' about a groundwater contamination lawsuit causing disease and death in the area, have also maintained a lower median home price.

Five other towns scattered across Southern California, offer similarly low median home values, including: Boron, Yermo, Hinkley, Johannesburg and Trona.

They are surrounded by desert, and developed during the mining industry.

The towns may require a trip away from the urban bustle of the city, but for those willing to make the trade-offs, they also offer charm and affordability.

The town of Boron is named for the element found in borax.

California alone counts 210 'million-dollar cities' - the highest of any US state and an increase of 12 from last year. Pictured: a San Francisco home on the market for $1.49 million

An LA home for sale for $1.49 million on Zillow

Herlong, an army town named after a World War II-era captain and home to a military storage facility, situated along the border with Nevada, is another town with a low median home value.

This hidden gem may have been often overlooked since its heyday, but it is rich in character and surrounded by beautiful landscapes.

The trend comes as home prices across America - particularly in states like California - continue to surge, pushing homeowners to flee to more affordable towns.

America has a record number of 'million-dollar cities' - where the average house price now exceeds six figures, new data shows.

In total 550 US cities have an average property price of $1 million or above, up by 59 from this time last year.

The data from property portal Zillow lays bare how red-hot America's real estate landscape remains after years of consistent growth.

California alone counts 210 'million-dollar cities' - the highest of any US state and an increase of 12 from last year.

It was followed by New York, New Jersey and Florida which count 66, 49 and 32 respectively.

Affordable real estate in Cali city hotspots is hard to come by - so much so that wealthy citizens are increasingly fleeing inland to a city dubbed 'the armpit' of the golden state

Your browser does not support iframes.

Affordable real estate in Cali city hotspots is hard to come by - so much so that wealthy citizens are increasingly fleeing inland to a city dubbed 'the armpit' of the golden state.

As costly cities like LA and San Francisco are ravaged by crime, homelessness and drug crises, there is no stopping the influx of newcomers looking to escape the 'rat race'.

Home prices have doubled in less than ten years in 68 of the 100 largest cities in the US, a sobering new study shows.

And in some major American cities, the cost of the average property has doubled in as little as five years.

Buyers in Irvine, California - the most expensive housing market in the study - have seen average home prices double from an already steep $750,000 to $1.5 million in just seven years.
A man using a magnet to fish has unearthed crucial new evidence in the 'Craiglist Killing' case nine years after a beloved charity worker couple were murdered.

Elrey 'Bud', 69, and June, 66, Runion had driven 200 miles to buy their dream car when they disappeared in January 2015. Their bodies were later discovered at the side of a country road after they had been robbed and fatally shot.

Earlier this year, an unnamed individual was magnet fishing in a Georgia creek when he unwittingly discovered evidence linked to the murder case.

The fisherman first pulled up a .22-caliber rifle from a creek nearby the crime scene on April 14.

Two days later, he found a bag containing the couple's drivers' licenses and credit cards as well as what authorities believe to be their cellphones.

Elrey 'Bud', 69, and June, 66, Runion had driven 200 miles to buy their dream car when they disappeared in January 2015. Their bodies were later discovered at the side of a country road after they had been robbed and fatally shot

Murder suspect, Ronnie 'Jay' Towns, is set to face trial as soon as August - though no date has been determined, according to District Attorney Tim Vaughn

A man using a magnet to fish has unearthed crucial new evidence in the 'Craiglst Killing' case nine years after a beloved charity worker couple were murdered

Murder suspect, Ronnie 'Jay' Towns, is set to face trial as soon as August - though no date has been determined, according to District Attorney Tim Vaughn.

Vaughn said the newly discovered evidence - that was dragged from Horse Creek in rural Telfair County - should prove vital.

He said the rifle from the creek is the same caliber as the gun that killed the Runions, though investigators are still working to determine if it is the weapon used in the crime.

'It was a good case already,' Vaughn said Tuesday, 'but this makes it an even better case.'

Towns was indicted in the murders of the elderly couple who believed they were meeting him to buy their dream car in 2015. He was 28-years-old at the time.

Towns was arrested on January 26, 2015, and formally charged with multiple counts, including malice murder, felony murder and armed robbery, in Telfair County, Georgia.

According to the indictment, Towns lured the couple to Telfair County by replying to an online ad that Bud had posted seeking a classic car, even though Towns didn't own such a vehicle.

Bud had been looking for someone willing to sell their 1966 Ford Mustang convertible as he had bought the same model after returning from the Vietnam War decades ago.

After receiving a response from a potential seller, the couple from Marietta, north of Atlanta, made the three-hour drive to Telfair County to check out the car. They were last seen on January 22.

According to the indictment, Towns lured the couple (pictured) to Telfair County by replying to an online ad that Bud had posted seeking a classic car, even though Towns didn't own such a vehicle

Kids place flowers at a makeshift memorial outside the home of 69-year-old Elrey 'Bud' Runion and his 66-year-old wife, June, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, in Marietta, Ga

A message reading 'Bud and June' sits power washed in the driveway of the home of 69-year-old Elrey 'Bud' Runion and his 66-year-old wife, June

He then allegedly met the couple and brandished a weapon before he stole their phones, Mr Runion's wallet, his wife's purse and the couple's SUV, the Macon Telegraph reported at the time.

Their SUV was found submerged in a pond near Towns' home several days later, and the couple's bodies were found along a nearby dirt road. They had been shot in their heads.

Telfair County Sheriff Chris Steverson has previously said that robbery appears to be the motive for the killings. He said investigators found no evidence he had the sort of car the couple had been seeking.

Georgia courts threw out Towns' first indictment over problems with how the grand jury was selected  a prolonged legal battle that concluded in 2019.

Towns was indicted for a second time in the killings in 2020, and the case was delayed again by the COVID-19 pandemic. He pleaded not guilty.

Court proceedings have also likely been slowed by prosecutors' decision to seek the death penalty, which requires extra pretrial legal steps.

The items found in the creek also led investigators to obtain warrants to search a Telfair County home where they recovered additional evidence.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation's statement gave no further details.

The retired couple found dead were well known for their charitable efforts all over the South.

Bud and his wife, June, ran a charity called Bud's Bicycles which helped people in need from storm-damaged Alabama towns and impoverished pockets of West Virginia to their hometown in suburban Atlanta.

'He said, 'You can't take money with you when you're gone,'' said the couple's daughter, Brittany Patterson. 'You might as well spend and enjoy it.'

Bud and his wife, June, ran a charity called Bud's Bicycles which helped people in need from storm-damaged Alabama towns and impoverished pockets of West Virginia to their hometown in suburban Atlanta

Georgia courts threw out Towns' first indictment over problems with how the grand jury was selected. He was indicted for a second time in the killings in 2020, and the case was delayed again by the COVID-19 pandemic. He pleaded not guilty

He founded 'Bud's Bicycles,' a charity run loosely out of Mount Paran Church of God in Marietta. Runion met his wife, a teacher, at the church in the 1970s

Years prior, driving through Marietta before Christmas Eve, Runion saw two young girls sorting through a Dumpster, his daughter said. He fixed up two bicycles belonging to his own girls and delivered them as gifts.

It was the beginning of 'Bud's Bicycles,' a charity run loosely out of Mount Paran Church of God in Marietta. Runion met his wife, a teacher, at the church in the 1970s.

Neighbors said the Runions built a shed in their backyard to house the bikes. Their donations eventually expanded to include food, household and school supplies, coats, blankets  even Thanksgiving turkeys.

'Basically, he had a food pantry in the basement of their house,' Patterson said.

Charity came in ways big and small. Patterson remembered as a child going to a doughnut shop with her father on Saturdays.

They would often be joined by a man she did not know, and her father would pay the tab. Later in life she realized the man was homeless.

'If someone lives their life like this and this happens, it really tests your faith,' said their neighbor, Tom Murphy at the time.
James Coates doesn't believe in an afterlife, much as he wishes he did. Nonetheless, five days after his beloved father, Ian, was viciously stabbed to death on his way to work as a caretaker at a Nottingham primary school, James, 38, sent him a message.

'Happy Father's Day, Dad, I hope you're now fishing in peace,' he said to a man whose passion for angling dominated much of his life. So much so, Ian freely gave his time to run an after-school fishing club for deprived youngsters.

James still texts his father, even though his phone is no longer in service.

'It's my way of speaking to him and telling him I miss him,' says James, the middle of Ian's three sons. 'If there was to be an afterlife, I'd hope he'd be doing the things he enjoyed. It's a nice image to have in my head.'

For, in truth, James has been tormented by the most terrible images of his father's dying moments since he became the third victim of Valdo Calocane last summer.

James Coates has been tormented by the most terrible images of his father's dying moments since he became the third victim of Valdo Calocane last summer

Ian Coates, 65, was a school caretaker who was on his way to work when he was killed by Calocane in Nottingham

A 32-year-old paranoid schizophrenic, Calocane's vicious killing spree in Nottingham also claimed the lives of 19-year-old students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar as they walked home in the early hours after a night out.

Earlier this year, all three families came together to express outrage at the CPS decision not to charge Calocane with murder. Instead, his plea of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility was accepted by the prosecution, and he was sentenced to be detained at Ashworth High Security Hospital on Merseyside.

James's anger is directed not just at Calocane but at the way the families were treated after the attack.

The Coateses were left to discover crucial details about Ian's death via social media and were omitted from key meetings, while this week an open letter written by Barnaby's mother articulated the anguish caused by police officers who discussed in graphic detail the injuries suffered by her son and Grace on a WhatsApp group.

Emma Webber wrote: 'When you say 'a couple of students have been proper butchered', did you stop to think about the absolute terror they felt when they were ambushed and repeatedly stabbed by a man who... lay waiting in the shadows for them?

'When you say 'innards out and everything', did you think about the agony they felt and the final thoughts that went through their minds as this vicious individual inflicted wounds so serious they had no chance of surviving?'

'I can't imagine how it must feel to read vile messages like that about your own child,' James says. 'Part of me is glad my dad's injuries aren't mentioned because I don't know how I'd have reacted.'

Last month, Nottinghamshire Police was placed in special measures after His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services said the force needed to improve the way it managed its investigations and 'make sure victims get the support they need'.

Meanwhile, a review by the Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, looking into how the CPS handled the case, concluded prosecutors were right to accept the manslaughter pleas, but highlighted failings in the way it had treated the victims' relatives, particularly the Coateses, who were not invited to three meetings the CPS and prosecutors held with Barney and Grace's families.

Barnaby Webber, 19, also became a victim of Calocane as he walked home in the early hours after a night out

Grace O'Malley-Kumar, 19, was with Barnaby when they were both attacked and killed

'We appreciate there's more public interest in two 19-year-old students than a man of 65,' says James. 'My dad was close to retirement and had lived a full life. Barney and Grace were bright, sporty students with massive futures ahead of them. The thought of them being snatched away still devastates me.

'But it's wrong that our family had significantly less information and contact with the CPS and the police than the other families. I don't really raise my voice or shout, but it makes me angry.'

On June 13 last year, James, woke to hear of 'some sort of event' in the city centre on the breakfast news.

'That's when I first heard there'd been a stabbing round the corner from where I live. I didn't even think it might be my dad. I was walking home at 3pm when I got a message from a relative saying: 'I can't believe what's happened to your dad.'

'I thought it was a scam and that her phone had been hacked . . . I called her after she messaged again, and she was in hysterics saying my dad had been in a car accident and was dead.

'I rang my fiancee, Hannah, and I said, 'I think my dad's dead,' and my legs turned to jelly. I had to hold myself up on a lamp post. I managed to get home where I contacted my mum and brothers.'

They gathered at James's house to make frantic calls. Ian, who'd been divorced from the boys' mother since James was 14, had a partner of more than 20 years, Elaine. Her son called to confirm that Ian had been killed, but knew no more.

'We called the police helpline,' says James. 'We kept saying we were Ian Coates's sons and asking for clarification. They kept telling us they'd give our information to the detectives, but we never got a call until 5.10pm  12 hours after dad was murdered. We'd pieced it together by then from the news and social media.'

During the next two days, James and his brothers tried to get more information.

Elaine was being supported by a family liaison officer but wasn't, James says, 'in any fit state' to answer questions.

'We tried to speak to the officer ourselves, but he just shut us down.

'On TV we were seeing Rishi Sunak and other politicians saying they were happy the families of the victims were getting support from the police, which wasn't true.'

James's brother, Lee, then got a call from police telling them their 'kind-hearted, selfless' father had been stabbed no fewer than seven times, and had 'defensive wounds' on his hands where he'd tried to fend off his attacker. 'That's when I lost it,' recalls James. 'I've never cried so much in my life. Now I knew the extent of it, I could no longer think of him being stabbed and dying peacefully.

Ian with middle son James as a child

James and Hannah on their wedding day with Barnaby's parents, David and Emma Webber

'That's the only time I've cried. Even now when I see pictures of my dad and think about him, I want to feel big emotions. I want to let it all go, but I can't. It's all inside.'

Seven months later, in court, the family learned that Ian was actually stabbed 15 times before Calocane stole his van and used it to mow down, and seriously injure, three other people.

James says all of this with little emotion. He is receiving counselling, but has had only six sessions after having to wait nine months for the therapy to begin.

'The image is so traumatic but, even worse, is the not knowing. I have so many questions,' he says.

'Obviously, my dad was driving to work but how was the van stopped? How did he get my dad's attention? Did he throw himself in front of the van? Did he pretend he was injured and my dad pulled over to help him?'

Calocane was never forced to face these questions at trial, despite all three families being led to believe the attacks were 'a clear case of murder'.

Certainly, arresting officers were convinced, as James says, 'that it was an open and shut case'.

Astonishingly, they failed to carry out a mental health assessment during questioning, nor order toxicology tests to determine whether there were drugs or alcohol in the killer's system.

Six weeks after Calocane's arrest, a psychiatric expert for the defence assessed him and a case of diminished responsibility began to be built. On January 23, the CPS announced it had accepted pleas of manslaughter and three counts of attempted murder.

The day after the killings, the Webbers and O'Malley-Kumars attended a vigil for their children at Nottingham University.

'We weren't invited because, obviously, it was for Grace and Barney, but we wanted to offer our condolences and see if we had an opportunity to speak to the families to say who we were,' says James, a retail store manager.

'There were so many people there, and the last thing we wanted to do was add any more upset. As we were leaving, a journalist who had seen us lay flowers told us there was a vigil in the city centre the next day. We didn't know anything about it.'

Furious that James and his brothers were being ignored by the police, his fiancee, Hannah, threatened to speak to the media.

'The police agreed to give us a family liaison officer,' says James. 'But she was on holiday. They said she'd contact us on the Monday  six days after my dad had been murdered. Until then, everything we were finding out was from the news or Twitter.'

Over the following months James received letter upon letter about the little kindnesses Ian had shown to people in his life. He thought that once Calocane had faced trial, he'd find some peace.

'The day before the pre-trial hearing [on November 28] I got a call from my family liaison officer to inform me they were going to accept a plea for diminished responsibility because of the paranoid schizophrenia.

'She asked if I could explain it to my brothers. I said: 'How can I when I don't understand it myself? Murder is murder.' '

At that point, James was unaware the other families had already met with the CPS and the Coateses hadn't been invited.

'Shortly before Christmas the senior investigating officer and the family liaison officer brought a laptop to my house to show us the CCTV footage of the timeline. They said there was also an audio clip from someone's doorbell about my dad being killed which might be played in court.

'When I asked the officer 'is it bad?', she said: 'Very.'

In the end, the clip wasn't played, and James still hasn't heard it, despite many requests.

'So I'm always going to be thinking: 'How bad?',' he says.

When Calocane was sentenced James didn't understand it.

'The judge was talking about section this and section that, and then he said: 'Take him away.' I had to Google and wait for the media to explain it.

'There's as much a possibility of him being released as there is of him staying there for the rest of his life, which doesn't sit well with me because he killed people.'

It didn't sit well with Grace and Barney's parents either. After the sentencing, all three families stood on the courtroom steps, with the dignity that has defined them all, and spoke of how Calocane had 'got away with murder'.

They are now waiting for the findings of investigations into the handling of the case by Nottinghamshire Mental Health and the police, as well as the results of an appeal into the sentencing.

James says: 'The police forwarded us a four-page letter from Calocane's brother, Elias. Reading it was a smack in the face. They seem to wipe their hands clean of any wrongdoing as a family and blame the Government for lack of funding in mental health.'

Such is the friendship forged between these three grieving families that earlier this month Barney's parents, Emma and Dave, were in Nottingham to see James marry Hannah.

'It was great to see them again and this time in a much more positive setting,' says James. 'It was also good to get to know them as the great people they are, and not just Barney's parents.'

For James, the absence of his own father on the happiest day of his life was tempered by a sense of closeness.

'It was strange to look up and not see Dad there,' he says.

'I'm not a spiritual man, but I imagined if he was somewhere he'd be looking down on me and feeling proud. Just like I hope he'd be proud of me now with the things I'm doing to try to right some wrongs for him.'
Her mother demanded the district foot the $90k-per-year cost of private school

Samantha Frechon had not attended a non-specialized school since she was 8

An autistic teen from Massachusetts who refused to attend public school for eight months suffered a panic attack after a judge ordered her to return to class.

Samantha Frechon, 14, was taken from East Middle School in Braintree to a local hospital on Tuesday. It was only her second day at the public school.

She enrolled earlier this week at the behest of Norfolk County Superior Court Judge Catherine Ham. This transition marked Samantha's first time attending a non-specialized institution since she was eight years old.

After the teen, who has multiple disabilities, was hospitalized, Ham released a modified order that will no longer require her to attend the public middle school.

The judge did not honor a request from Samantha and her mother, Alicja, who had asked for the teen to return to her previous private school at the expense of Braintree Public Schools.

Samantha Frechon, 14 (pictured with her mother Alicja), suffered a panic attack two days in to her return to public school

The Massachusetts teen, who is autistic and has several other disabilities, had not attended a non-specialized school since she was eight years old

Before enrolling at East Middle School (pictured) at the request of Judge Catherine Ham, Samantha had gone eight months without any schooling

However, Ham did order the district to send the student to a cheaper private school geared towards working with disabled students.

Samantha had not attended a single day of school since the start of the academic year prior to enrolling at East Middle.

She previously attended Fusion Academy, a private school in Hingham that bills itself as 'the world's most specialized school,' according to its website.

Braintree footed the cost of Samantha's seventh-grade education under federal special education law, which requires public school districts to cover the costs of private tuition when they fail to meet a student's needs themselves.

Despite excelling academically and socially at Fusion Academy, the district decided not to reenroll her for her eighth-grade year. Rather, she was given only one option - daily tutoring at the town library.

The girl's mother has continually butted heads with the Braintree school district, demanding they help her daughter meet her academic needs.

But in her order, Ham wrote, 'It is clear to the Court that the mother only wants her child to succeed at Fusion, and Fusion only.'

According to the judge, Braintree had argued that Fusion could not meet the demands of Samantha's special education.

Frechon was furious when the district refused to foot the bill for her daughter to return to Fusion Academy, a private school specializing in one-on-one instruction

The district argued Fusion Academy (pictured) was unable to meet her needs, but amid an $8 million budget deficit, the $90k-per-year tuition would have added further financial strain

Frechon argued the district had failed to meet Samantha's 'stay put' rights by refusing to reenroll her at that school or at her previous placement

'The Court does not want the child nor the school to have to face another similar episode, which occurred on Tuesday,' Ham wrote.

Braintree faces an $8 million budget deficit, with cuts likely.

Appearing at a school committee hearing last month, Superintendent James Lee said the district's $75.5 million budget had swelled to nearly $84 million.

To close that pricey gap, the embattled district is considering a number of options ranging from laying off teachers to shuttering some elementary schools entirely.

Samantha's education would only put further financial strain on the district, as tuition at Fusion is roughly $90,000 per year.

Ham held a status conference with the district's lawyers on Thursday afternoon.

During the meeting, an attorney pinned Samanthas struggles on her mother, the family's lawyer and a Boston Globe reporter who followed the teen during her first day.

Frechon previously alleged that the district violated her daughter's 'stay put' rights by refusing to reenroll the teen at Fusion or at her prior placement, the South Shore Educational Collaborative.

Those protections allow a student to stay in their current accommodation while school administrators and parents work through a dispute over a potential change.

Under a modified order, Samantha will receive 'online tutoring and services' from the public school district

Starting next week, she can opt to continue her online tutoring or choose to enroll at the High Road School of Massachusetts (pictured)

'What is happening here is a crime against my family, and it's our country that is failing us,' Frechon wrote in a Facebook post

Under Hams modified order, Samantha will receive 'online tutoring and services' from Braintree Public Schools.

Starting next week, the teen and her mother may choose between virtual tutoring or placement at the High Road School of Massachusetts in East Bridgewater.

On its website, the school describes itself as 'an out-of-district placement for students with a wide range of disabilities who have not found success in the traditional school setting.'

The rate Braintree would be expected to pay for the High Road School is roughly $50,000, nearly half the tuition at Fusion.

Han's order is effective through the end of the school year or until the Bureau for Special Education Appeals issues a decision in Samanthas case. A hearing is scheduled for May.

Amid mounting interest in her daughter's case, Frechon took to Facebook, writing, 'The horror for my family continues.

'Going public exposed us to all those bullies and judgments, but it was also a relief that I don't need to pretend anymore that everything is good. What is happening here is a crime against my family, and it's our country that is failing us.'

In a later post, Frechon clarified that Samantha was the one who ultimately made the decision to publicize her own case.

'I support her decision, and I hope we will open the door for all those kids who are suffering the same abuse,' she wrote.

'I know that it's not just us, and I'm very happy that I can be the voice for all those who are afraid. I am also afraid due to the harassment that comes with it, but the cause is bigger than my fear.'
'Hundreds of thousands' of protesters are expected to take part in a pro-Palestinian march through London today (Saturday), as the Metropolitan Police warn months of protest have caused 'fear and uncertainty' in Jewish communities, and a counter demonstration had been cancelled over safety concerns.

The march, which has been organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), will assemble at Parliament Square from 12pm and set off half-an-hour later on a route ending at Hyde Park, where speeches will be given.

Organisers are anticipating a large turnout for the event, which they say is in response to Israel's 'brutal attack' on Gaza.

A static demonstration organised by pro-Israel group Enough is Enough will take place at the same time in Pall Mall, along the route of the pro-Palestinian march.

Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) was also due to hold a counter demonstration on Saturday from 12pm until 2pm, but was cancelled the day before.

'Hundreds of thousands' of protesters are expected to take part in a pro-Palestinian march through London today (Saturday) amid a warning by the Metropolitan Police that months of protest have caused 'fear and uncertainty' in Jewish communities

Organisers are anticipating a large turnout for the event, which they say is in response to Israel 's 'brutal attack' on Gaza. Pictured: A Palestine Solidarity Campaign march earlier this month

According to the Met, protests like these held since October 7 have cost around 38.4 million and required 44,722 officer shifts, as well as 6,399 officer rest days to be cancelled

The organisation said it cancelled the 'walk together' event - expected to attract thousands of people - after receiving threats and identifying 'hostile actors' who posed a risk to the safety of Jews.

The PSC march will be its 13th national protest since the first was staged on October 9.

According to the Met, protests like these held since October 7 had cost around 38.4 million and required 44,722 officer shifts, as well as 6,399 officer rest days to be cancelled.

Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said the force aimed to police 'without fear or favour', and added that protests in London had 'been a particular cause of fear and uncertainty in Jewish communities'.

He said the events had caused some Jewish people to stay away from central London on protest days, avoid the Tube, hide their identities or otherwise change their behaviour.

Mr Twist added: 'I know there are people who feel the solution is to see these protests banned.

'The bar for such a decision is incredibly high - it requires a risk of serious public disorder of the sort we simply haven't seen either in this period of protest or for several years.'

The now-cancelled Campaign Against Antisemitism event had been arranged after the organisation's founder, Gideon Falter, was threatened with arrest at a pro-Palestinian demonstration earlier this month. During the incident, one officer described Mr Falter, who was wearing a kippah, as 'openly Jewish'

The Metropolitan Police was branded 'beyond appalling' after an officer threatened to arrest Mr Falter for 'breaching the peace' because of his 'openly Jewish' appearance

The Met said each protest will be subject to conditions imposed under the Public Order Act limiting where protesters are allowed to go.

The PSC march must stick to a pre-agreed route via Whitehall, Piccadilly and Park Lane, the force added - as it stressed that areas in the vicinity of the Israeli Embassy, near Hyde Park, were not to be entered.

The smaller Enough is Enough demonstration is restricted to an area in Pall Mall.

Both protests must have concluded by 5pm, the Met said.

The now-cancelled CAA event had been arranged after the organisation's founder, Gideon Falter, was threatened with arrest at a pro-Palestinian demonstration earlier this month

Mr Falter was pulled aside by an officer who said he was 'breaching the peace' because he was 'quite openly Jewish'.

He later accused the Metropolitan Police of failing to address 'the threat of antisemitic violence' and has called for a mass demonstration by Jewish and non-Jewish people to show 'no part of London should be unsafe'.

The Met said it understood the event may be held at a later date.

To date, 415 arrests have been made during the protests - including 193 for antisemitic offences and 15 terrorism arrests, mostly for the alleged support of Hamas, which is a proscribed group in the UK.

Ben Jamal, director of the PSC, said the march was 'fuelled by love for the principle of the dignity and rights of all human beings'.

He added: 'As mass graves of Palestinians are uncovered in Gaza, the call for an immediate ceasefire and for an end to weapons sales to Israel is now supported across the political mainstream and by huge swathes of the British public.

'Those marching know that they are on the right side of history.'
The family who lost three children in a horrific car smash where a drunk and drugged driver mounted a footpath have welcomed their eighth child, who they are calling 'a miracle baby'.

Western Sydney couple Danny and Leila Abdallah gave birth to a healthy girl on April 20, which is their second baby since the horrific accident that claimed the lives of three of their children on February 1, 2020.

Antony, 13, Angelina, 12, Sienna, eight, and their niece Veronique Sakr, 11 were hit by a ute that careened onto a footpath and mowed the children down as they went to buy ice-cream at Oatlands, a north-west suburb of Sydney.

Danny and Leila Abdallah, who lost three children to a drunk and drugged-up driver's horrific car crash, welcomed their eighth child, an as yet-unnamed daughter born on April 20

Astonishingly the devoutly Christian Abdallahs said they forgave the driver responsible, Samuel Davidson, who in jail converted to the family's Maronite Catholicism and has now sent them congratulations on the new birth.

Mr Abdallah says he speaks regularly with Davidson and Davidson's parents, and accepted the congratulations of both parties following the birth of his new daughter, who is yet to be named.

'There are no winners in this, in any tragedy like this, so all we can do is show forgiveness, move forward in the best way we can and try to find joy in the midst of pain,' Mr Abdallah told the Daily Telegraph.

'Samuel's parents gave me a call and said congratulations on the new baby and I said thank you.

'The driver rang me from jail the next day and said congratulations and that he was thinking of us and I told him he and his family are in my prayers.'

Ms Abdallah said the unplanned pregnancy came as a shock and it was two dreams of Antony and Angelina in the same week that alerted her to the 'miracle baby'.

Ms Abadallah presented Selena to Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, who was allegedly stabbed in his church earlier this month

READ MORE: Heavily pregnant Leila Abdallah listens to emotional speech from husband Danny as they are joined by two prime ministers and a premier to unveil memorial to four children killed by drunk driver in Oatlands crash tragedy Advertisement

The Abdallahs gave birth to their seventh child on March 18, 2022, who they named Selena, combining the names of the two sisters she would never know Angelina and Sienna.

The couple said with the new baby they are waiting for the perfect name, which might not be derived from their previous children.

'It's hard when you lose children, you remember them and honour them, but for a living child that can be a lot of pressure to live up to,' Ms Abdallah said.

In a recent Instagram post Ms Abadallah presented Selena to Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel who was allegedly stabbed while delivering a sermon at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in the western Sydney suburb of Wakeley on April 15.

'We are confident that Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel has forgiven his attacker, echoing the message of forgiveness that defines our beliefs,' Ms Abadallah captioned the photo.

'Our heart goes out to him. Let us come together in prayer for Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel.'

Unlike Mr Abdallah who has developed a relationship with Davidson, Ms Abdallah has yet to see him in jail but says she intends to once the family settles again after the newest arrival.

Davidson, who was 29 at the time of the fatal crash, was sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in prison with a minimum of 15 years in 2021.

Mr Abdallah's children Antony, (far left) Angelina, 12, (far right) Sienna, eight, (centre left) and their niece Veronique Sakr, 11, were walking on a footpath to buy ice-cream at Oatlands, in Sydney's west, when they were hit by a car and killed on February 1, 2020

After the birth of Selena Mr Abdallah posted to Instagram that he and his wife had forgiven Davidson 'for the greater good of our living children'.

'Because of our decision we were able to have another child.

'I took my daughter out for dinner on Sunday night and spoke to her about the past 2 years and her new baby sister.

'We can't change what's happened to us, but we can certainly make the right choices to minimise the trauma we have experienced passed down to our children,' he wrote.

'Always remember "raising kids is contagious, they do what you do not what you say".'

Mr Abdallah said those words still applied.

'It's how you pick up and move forward and lead by example so your kids know how to conduct themselves in the midst of the future hardships,' he said.

Mr Abdallah said he and his wife forgave the driver who killed their three children for the sake of their siblings

The Abdallah family set up the i4Give day foundation in 2023, with its mission statement aiming to 'increase community awareness of the power of forgiveness to transform human relationships and to provide resilience toward human flourishing'.

The festival is due to become an annual event filled with amusement rides, live performances, and an outdoor movie showing to cap off the day.
A man has been found shot dead inside a vehicle in a suspected drive-shooting in Melbourne.

Homicide Squad detectives are investigating after the man, 30, was found with a gunshot wound on Bride Avenue at Hampton Park, in Melbourne's south-east, at 12.30am on Saturday morning.

The man from Cranbourne died at the scene despite the aid of emergency services.

Victoria Police said witnesses saw a Ford Ranger utility driving away from the scene.

The same car was later found burnt out in a reserve,

Homicide Squad detectives are investigating after the man, 30, was found with a gunshot wound on Bride Avenue at Hampton Park, in Melbourne 's south-east, at 12.30am on Saturday morning. Pictured, a torched car is seen in Sweeney Reserve at Hampton Park

'It is believed the same vehicle was located at Sweeny Reserve in Berwick just after 2:30am,' police told the ABC.

Neighbours reported hearing four gunshots at the time of the incident, reported the Herald-Sun.

One resident told the publication she had complained to police multiple times about the occupants of a single-storey red brick home on the street.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

Homicide Squad detectives investigate a fatal drive-by shooting in Hampton Park

One resident said she had complained to police multiple times about the occupants of a single-storey red brick home on the street (pictured, homicide detectives collect evidence on Bride Ave, Hampton Park)

More to come
The Venezuelan migrant influencer who has flashed wads of $100 bills and bragged about milking US welfare is now moaning that he can't afford an attorney.

Leonel Moreno, 27, was arrested on March 29 in Columbus, Ohio, after months of taunting Americans on TikTok.

Despite bragging about all the money has made from government welfare programs and begging on the streets, he is suddenly short of cash and can't come up with the money to pay for an attorney, according to The New York Post.

Moreno is currently being held in federal custody at the Geauga County Jail in Ohio after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) found him and arrested him for violating his terms of probation, which he was put on illegally entering the United States.

The immigration judge overseeing Moreno's case has been pushing back hearings while Moreno scrambles to find the cash to pay for legal representation.

Leonel Moreno, 27 (pictured), is moaning that he can't afford an attorney, despite flashing wads of $100 bills and bragging about squatting and begging

He first sparked chaos when he started sharing tips on how to invade vacant homes and live off of the US government on his TikTok account

Posts showed him waving fistfuls of cash claiming to have benefitted from government programs

Moreno was arrested on March 29, about two years after him and his wife Vernonia Torres (pictured) illegally crossed into the US through the southern border in Eagle Pass, Texas in April, 2022

'He's having financial difficulties finding an attorney for his case,' an ICE source told The Post.

Moreno, who gave squatting tips on TikTok, released a 30-minute-long video on from prison in which he whined about how he is being treated in prison and claimed he is 'respectful to people'.

'I came here to the United States because of persecution in my country...But they're doing the same thing to me in the United States-- persecuting me,' Moreno said.

'It's all misinformation in the media about me. They're defaming me, They're misrepresenting me in the news... I am a good father, a good son, a good person, humble, respectful to people who respect me.'

As he spoke in Spanish and hid his face from the camera, Moreno added: 'I miss my entire life - I miss my freedom!'

Moreno's long-awaited arrest came almost two years after he and his wife, Vernonia Torres, illegally crossed into the US through the southern border in Eagle Pass, Texas in April 2022.

Since he was placed in federal prison, Torres has complained that she doesn't know where her husband was taken after being barred from visiting him.

'We don't know where they took him and I can't see him,' she told the Post. 'I can't give you any more information because I don't know much.'

In the recent video of Moreno, he was seen among other prisoners dressed in blue-striped jumpsuits.

During the recording, five inmates looked in his direction and shouted at him as he said: 'What is happening?'

'I am afraid they're going to kill me. They're coming for my life - anyone!'

He said he has been in contact with his wife since being detained, and told the Post to contact her so she could 'charge' the outlet for a 'good interview' with him.

Moreno could also face firearm charges after recent video of him was discovered as he posed with a firearm on his popular Instagram account.

The video has since been flagged to Immigration and Customs Enforcement by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Moreno could also face firearm charges after recent video of him was discovered as he posed with a firearm on his popular Instagram account

Sources told the Post the charges likely relate to violations of the Gun Control Act which prevents parolees from possessing, shipping, transporting or receiving firearms or ammunition.

Any possible further charges would 'escalate' the case against Moreno, former ICE field office director John Fabbricatore told the Post.

'Charges under [Gun Control Act section] 922.g are a serious matter and can result in significant legal consequences for Moreno.

'This should be a warning to any illegal aliens that possessing a firearm unlawfully will result in criminal charges and hopefully lead to a conviction,' Fabbricatore explained.

In the post, Moreno brandished a large firearm in a gun store and asking his followers which weapon they like best.

'Thank God I already have my license,' he said in one post.

He first sparked chaos when he started sharing tips on how to invade vacant homes and live off of the US government on his TikTok account @leitooficial_25, where he had over half a million followers before the account was suspended.

In one of his now-viral videos, he instructed his followers how to 'invade' American homes and invoke squatter's rights, claiming that under US law, 'if a house is not inhabited, we can seize it.'

Some of his other videos show him claiming he is begging for money on the streets with his baby daughter

Some of his other videos showed him claiming that he was begging for money on the streets with his baby daughter.

Other posts showed him waving fistfuls of cash, as he claimed to have benefitted from government programs.

The original account helped officials track Moreno down after he went missing while on the Alternatives to Detention program.
A Jewish student has described how he was pulled aside by Border Force and anti-terror police after he landed in the UK and told them he had been on holiday to Israel.

Former Israeli Defence Force vet Neriya Ashwal, 28, was held for more than an hour by officials after flying into East Midlands airport from Barcelona where he is currently studying, for a short break.

It is the second time in a month that Israelis have been held by border officials and questioned by police after landing in Britain. In March two survivors from the Nova Music Festival were allegedly detained at Manchester airport for two hours.

Former Israeli Defence Force vet Neriya Ashwal (pictured) was pulled aside after he was asked if he had visited Israel recently and when he said he had been to see friends and family last month he was pulled aside for questioning

East Midlands Airport where Israeli student Neriya, 28, was held for more than an hour after arriving from Barcelona. (stock image)

Neriya was pulled aside after he was asked if he had visited Israel recently and when he said he had been to see friends and family last month he was pulled aside for questioning.

Posting on Facebook business studies student Neriya said:' Are you Israelis planning to fly to Britain? Think twice, especially if you are a veteran. You may be delayed in the field.

'So I had a weekend free from studying in Barcelona and Ryanair offered especially cheap flight tickets to the UK.

'Landed at 7am at a sleepy little airport outside Nottingham. Short bus from the plane to the terminal and passport inspection queue. Calm, in the process.

'When my turn comes, a nice policeman asks me the usual questions: where did you come from, why did you come, how long will you stay, etc.

'And then he looks again at the (Israeli) passport and asks: have you been to Israel lately?

Yes. Visiting family and friends 3 weeks ago.

'Hold on a min.' Calling someone, saying that he has an Israeli who has been to Israel recently.

'He nods at the phone, hangs up and asks me to sit and wait on the side. He has the passport.

'Waiting for about 15 minutes. three policemen in uniform arrive, talking to each other, looking in my direction. Still nothing.

In a post on Facebook, Neriya said: 'After another 5 minutes, two people arrive on civilians. They are accompanying me to the interrogation room. 'The senior among them tells me - we are from the unit for the fight against terrorism'

Speaking to Israeli media outlet Walla! Neriya said:'If there is an order or policy by border control to detain and question any Israeli who leaves the military or any Israeli who has recently visited Israel, this is a disturbing phenomenon that should be recognised and addressed'

'After another 5 minutes, two people arrive on civilians. They are accompanying me to the interrogation room.

'The senior among them tells me - we are from the unit for the fight against terrorism. You have nothing to worry about, you are not delayed and you did nothing.

'We just want to have a short conversation. You may go if you choose, but if you choose to go, we will delay you.

'Starting to ask the usual questions: Who am I, where am I from, why did I come, where do I plan to sleep, what exactly do I plan to do.

And then they ask: 'Were you in the army?' Were you a fighter? 'Answers them that I have juvenile diabetes and that I wasn't a fighter but in Intelligence.

'They continue: 'Were you in the field? 'Answer no. And I already understand what they are trying to hear and what not.

'They continue: 'When you were in Israel did you have any role in the army? 'Nope.'

'They're asking for proof of all my weekend plans. return flight ticket, accommodation, bus to London.

'They are trying to be nice and when the eldest leaves the room, the youngest says to me: 'We have no problem with you but because you are from this area we just want to make sure.. There are just others who come here with other intentions, you know. '

'The truth is I want to say that I actually don't know but the last thing I need now is a debate as an investigator with an investigator.

The senior comes back to the room and says that I may go, but they want to check my bag first. Another cop arrives - turns my case completely from end to end. Can't find anything.'

Speaking to Israeli media outlet Walla! Neriya said:'If there is an order or policy by border control to detain and question any Israeli who leaves the military or any Israeli who has recently visited Israel, this is a disturbing phenomenon that should be recognised and addressed.'

'I wasn't afraid but yes I was surprised. I didn't expect the fact that being Israeli and visiting Israel a few weeks ago would raise a red flag that requires questioning.

'I warn others that this is an unpleasant experience and especially because in my estimation, if I had been a fighter who served in Gaza, I suppose the questions would have taken a completely different direction.'

Last month, footage posted on X showed a pair of October 7 survivors being spoken to aggressively by a male Border Force officer. In the video the Border Force officer says: 'Knock the attitude off. We've made the decision that you're coming in, so just let us do the checks we need to do, and keep quiet.

'Look at me. Are you clear with that? Good. We're the bosses not you.'

Footage shows a male Border Force officer (right) speaking in 'aggressive terms' to two Israeli men who had travelled to the UK

The men - said to be brothers - claimed they were detained for two hours, before the same Border Police officer allegedly said 'they had to make sure you are not going to do what you are doing in Gaza over here'.

Following the incident Home Secretary James Cleverley announced on X that the incident is being handled, adding: 'We do not tolerate antisemitism or any form of discrimination.'

When asked the Home Office told MailOnline:'Our Border Force officers will always act with professionalism and do not discriminate against any passenger based on the country they are from or their race.

'Our priority is to deliver a safe and secure border and Border Force will carry out checks that are deemed necessary in order to achieve this.'
A sheriff who has been suspended on full pay for six years over alleged sexual harassment  at a cost of nearly 1million  has been found unfit for office.

Jack Brown, 64, kept his job after a judge ruled a tribunal failed to consider evidence from other alleged victims  so a second tribunal was ordered in February 2022.

It has emerged the fitness for judicial office tribunal, convened by Nicola Sturgeon, had found Brown is unfit for judicial office.

The tribunal said there were 'serious concerns as to the character and integrity' of the Aberdeen sheriff which are 'wholly contrary to the standards of conduct and probity expected' of the judiciary.

The report has been submitted to Holyrood and Humza Yousaf  who received the tribunal's findings on March 28  is now considering Brown's removal from the bench.

Sheriff Jack Brown has been suspended for six years on full pay - costing taxpayers almost 1million as his conduct was investigated

Aberdeen Sheriff Court, where Sheriff Brown sat prior to his suspension as he was investigated for alleged sexual harassment

Tory justice spokesman Russell Findlay said it was 'unfair to all involved, but especially the female complainers, that this saga' had taken six years.

He added: 'Lessons must be learned to improve the handling of future complaints.' Brown was charged in relation to the allegations in January 2019  but prosecutors dropped the case three months later.

He had been suspended on full pay in December 2018 and his salary is 157,705  meaning he has been paid nearly 950,000 for staying at home.

The tribunal said Brown's behaviour towards two women amounted to 'serious improper conduct'. It found that he had acted inappropriately towards a lawyer, known as D, in 2018 and another woman in 2001 or 2002.

D's solicitor told BBC Scotland News: 'She is relieved that this process is finally over.'

An earlier tribunal found that Brown had acted 'entirely inappropriately' towards D. However, it concluded his conduct did not meet the test to justify removing him from office

A judicial review subsequently ruled the original tribunal had proceeded in 'ignorance of the availability of other evidence'.

D said evidence from two other women making similar claims should have been allowed at the tribunal in 2021.

Tory justice spokesman Russell Findlay said the length of the process had been unfair to the complainers who had made allegations against the sheriff

The fresh tribunal heard evidence from the two other women, known as B and C. It established that in 2018 Brown touched D on the cheek and made an inappropriate remark.

It also found that he hugged her inappropriately, and that Brown kissed C on the lips in late 2001 or early 2002, and squeezed her buttocks in 2004.

Tribunal chair Lord Malcolm said: 'In our unanimous view [Brown's] misbehaviour renders him unfit for judicial office.'

A spokesman for the Judicial Office for Scotland said: 'It is clear the sheriff's conduct was completely unacceptable.'
Lira told police that Cutter had been 'harassing' her online for some time

Cutter accused Lira of assaulting her and spreading rumors about her ex-partner

Attorney Leigh Cutter and county judge Melanie Lira faced off during an event

A Texas lawyer butted heads with a county judge in a noisy bar after accusing the other woman of spreading rumors about her ex-boyfriend.

San Antonio police were called to the Mariachi Bar inside Mi Tierra Cafe on Wednesday evening after attorney Leigh Cutter and Bexar County Court 7 Judge Melanie Lira had a heated verbal exchange.

According to police records viewed by DailyMail.com, Cutter accused Lira of assaulting her and 'disseminating rumors regarding her ex-boyfriend' during an alcohol-fueled meetup for legal professionals.

In a video capturing part of the confrontation, Lira tells Cutter, 'I just don't understand where it's coming from.

'I dont even know who your court reporter is,' Cutter says before Lira blocks the camera with her hand and the recording abruptly cuts off.

Attorney Leigh Cutter and Bexar County Court 7 Judge Melanie Lira (left) got into a heated exchange Wednesday night. Cutter accused Lira of assaulting her and spreading rumors about her ex-boyfriend

Lira later told San Antonio police that Cutter had been 'harassing her' on social media for some time

Cutter claimed Lira was 'physically pushing her and verbally menacing her' during the standoff at a local bar

Speaking to KSAT, Cutter claimed Lira 'body checked' her before saying she knew which cases Cutter had in her court.

The lawyer told police Lira 'was physically pushing her and verbally menacing her.' She characterized their exchange as a 'relentless confrontation.'

However, a police officer noted that there was no clear evidence of assault in the footage. A report alleges that both women were intoxicated.

Lira, meanwhile, told police that she and Cutter had a contentious past.

'I spoke with (Lira) who stated (Cutter) has been harassing her on different social media platforms,' an officer wrote in the incident report.

The report names the platforms as Facebook and Instagram, where both women are active.

Lira told police that Cutter had issues with her in the past and 'has made negative comments' about her.

'(Lira) wanted to know what (Cutter's) problem was with her in an attempt to make amends. (Lira) approached (Cutter) and asked her what her issue is with her,' the report reads.

Despite Cutter's claims, a police report notes that there were no clear signs of assault in video footage of the altercation and notes that both women were drunk

Lira told police that she addressed Cutter because she wanted to know 'what (Cutter's) problem was with her,' but Cutter denied making any negative comments

Cutter 'denied any previous negative comments' before placing her hands on Lira's shoulders in a 'condescending way,' Lira told police.

When Lira 'realized she was not going to be able to resolve any differences' with Cutter, 'she walked away to speak with other people at the event,' the report states.

When Lira was speaking with other peoples, she claimed Cutter's assistant began filming her 'for an unknown reason'.

When Lira returned home that night, she was contacted by friends who told her Cutter had accused her of assault in a social media post.

'(Cutter) wrote in the post she was confronted by (Lira) claiming "she sought me out and assaulted me for no reason",' the report reads, noting that Lira felt 'alarmed, annoyed, and embarrassed'.

Lira subsequently filed a harassment complaint with the San Antonio Police Department.

Cutter, meanwhile, is in the process of filing a formal complaint against Lira with the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

The Bexar County Court judge assumed office last January. She was born and raised in San Antonio and is the first born citizen in her family, according to an online biography.

The county judge claimed Cutter then placed her hands on her shoulders in a 'condescending way'. After Lira walked away, one of Cutter's assistants began filming her

According to the police report, the attorney made a social media post accusing Lira of assaulting her

She is in the process of filing a formal complaint against the judge with the State Commission on Judicial Conduct

Lira filed a harassment complaint with the San Antonio Police Department Wednesday night after returning home from the bar

The Bexar County Court judge assumed office last January. She was born and raised in San Antonio and is the first born citizen in her family, according to an online biography.

While completing a graduate theology program at the University of Denver, Lira began working with nonprofits that assisted undocumented immigrants, sparking a passion for legal work.

She graduated law school in 2015 and attained a second master's degree in international relations during her studies.

Cutter is a partner at Cutter and Associates, a firm based in San Antonio.

She studied telecommunications media and German at Texas A&M University before pivoting to a career in law, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Cutter finished law school in 2014 and worked at a handful of local firms before founding her own in 2019. She works in the areas of criminal and family law.
A pub in country NSW has denied refusing entry to a teenager because of his last name.

Footage of the fiery interaction on the steps of the Parkview Hotel in Orange shows a staff member flanked by a large security guard as he asked the group, which included 18-year-old Malakai Ah See, to leave the area.

In the clip shared by his cousin, former boxer Sam Ah See, a woman argued with the staff member who told the group 'we're not allowed anyone in this venue with that last name because of instances we've had'.

The staff member told another man in the group he could email venue managers and explain the situation but could not promise they would be let in.

The woman, who appears to be the one who filmed the interaction, continued to argue with the staff member before he told the group he will call the police if they don't leave.

Malakai Ah See recently moved to the Orange area in rural NSW and was denied entry to the Parkview Hotel which he claimed was because of his last name

The hotel (pictured) has since said the decision not to admit Mr Ah See was because he was with someone else who they had previously had a problem with

Parkview Hotel Management has since said they refused to allow the 18-year-old entry the venue because he was 'in company of a violent person known to liquor accord', reports The Dubbo News.

'Dealing with these situations when alcohol is involved, it is difficult for our staff who always try their best for the community and patrons,' the management said.

'The Parkview is a family pub and safety and duty of care to our patrons is key.'

Mr Ah See has not been banned from the Parkview Hotel and Daily Mail Australia does not accuse him or anyone else in the group of violent behaviour.

One person commenting on the clip shared by his cousin claimed it was 'discrimination' that he was not allowed in the venue as he himself had not done anything.

Malakai told the newspaper he was shocked by the refusal and described it as 'a bit sh***y'.

He had recently moved to the area from Brisbane and said it was only his second visit to the pub but he likely wouldn't be back due to his 'disrespectful' treatment.

'If I had a different last name, I don't think this would have happened.'

He added that he asked the venue for the name of the person he was associated with that prompted the decision to refuse entry but that staff did not respond.
A Pennsylvania man shot and killed his wife after she nagged him about gun safety at their mansion - then murdered his daughter too, police say.

Roger Hanks, 76, of Chester County was arrested at his home on Thursday evening and charged with first-degree murder.

The charges came after police were called to the 200 block of Wiltshire Drive, where Hanks lived with his 75-year-old wife Judith, at around 6:15pm. Their home was a $746,000, four bed and three bathroom single-family house.

After being found in his garage and taken into custody, Hanks admitted that he had shot his wife Judith and daughter, Emily, 37, ABC reported.

Hanks, who says he'd been drinking whiskey and beer earlier in the day, confessed that he had gotten into an argument with Judith while cleaning his gun and told her 'if you keep up this thing is going to go off on you.'

After being found in his garage and taken into custody, Hanks (pictured right) admitted that he had shot his wife Judith (left) and daughter, Emily, 37

When Judith (left) fell to the ground after the gunshot, Emily (right) 'went into a rage.' This caused Hanks to then point the gun at his daughter and it went off again, this time knocking her down

Hanks had allegedly pointed the gun at his wife and told her 'if she did not shut and leave him alone that he was going to 'plug' her,' documents showed

The Hanks' home was a $746,000, four bed and three bathroom single-family house

Hanks confessed that he had gotten into an argument with Judith (pictured) while cleaning his gun and told her 'if you keep up this thing is going to go off on you.'

He then allegedly pointed the gun at his wife and told her 'if she did not shut and leave him alone that he was going to "plug" her,' documents showed.

The 76-year-old pointed the gun at his wife and it went off, Hanks told police.

When Judith fell to the ground after the gunshot, Emily 'went into a rage.'

This caused Hanks to then point the gun at his daughter and it went off again, this time knocking her down.

He aimed the weapon at the chest area of both women, an affidavit revealed.

Hanks went onto to brag to police that he is 'the best of the best' when it comes to shooting firearms and showed off about his frequent participation in competitions for shooting, according to the affidavit.

The Pennsylvania man also told police that he drank two German beers and Irish whiskey earlier during the day of the tragic incident.

Police reported that the gun as well as two spent shell casings were found at the scene.

Emily's Linkedin account reveals that she graduated from the University of Miami and worked as a consulting director for a risk management and governance company in Chicago.

From Judith's social media accounts, it appears that the Hanks were a tight-knit family and that Emily and her mother were particularly close

Judith's most recent Instagram post was a picture of the mother-daughter duo, captioned 'To my favorite daughter. Celebrating you on National Daughters Day'

In other posts, Judith gushed about being a 'lucky mother' and shared sweet pictures of her and Emily on trips to New York City and spending time together with their dogs

From Judith's social media accounts, it appears that the Hanks were a tight-knit family and that Emily and her mother were particularly close.

Judith's most recent Instagram post was a picture of the mother-daughter duo, captioned 'To my favorite daughter. Celebrating you on National Daughters Day.'

In other posts, Judith gushed about being a 'lucky mother' and shared sweet pictures of her and Emily on trips to New York City and spending time together with their dogs.
Two 'fish enthusiasts' are on the hook for an eye-watering fine after twice attempting to smuggle more than 100 live fish into Australia in their suitcases.

Chun Lok Chi and business partner Linh Thi My Chau were caught at Melbourne airport in January 2020 with plastic bags filled with ornamental fish swimming around in water.

The pair were slapped with a $54,000 fine by the Federal Court last week following an investigation by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

The fish were found to be in Chun Lok Chi and Linh Thi My Chau's checked baggage as they tried to enter Australia

They were caught just a month after Mr Chi tried to smuggle live fish into Australia in similar circumstances.

Mr Chi and Ms Chau were described in the judgment as being 'fish enthusiasts' who buy and sell ornamental fish and aquarium equipment on Facebook and Gumtree.

Mr Chi first caught the attention of border officials on December 29, 2019 when his suitcase raised eyebrows after it passed through an X-ray machine.

On further inspection, the suitcase was found to contain four insulated bags, each containing a separate plastic bag filled with water that contained live freshwater fish.

The fish in the plastic bags found in Mr Chi's suitcase included plecos, arowana and snakeheads, and were not declared on his incoming passenger card (IPC).

He was issued with a $420 infringement notice for providing a false or misleading IPC, which he paid.

However, 31 days later Mr Chi again touched down at Melbourne airport on a flight from Hong Kong with live fish in his checked baggage.

One of ornamental fish that was seized by border officials at Melbourne airport from the two smugglers

The pair demonstrated remorse for bringing the fish into Australia but still copped a hefty fine

When he was asked what was in his bag, Mr Chi replied: 'Fish'.

But this time his business partner, Ms Chau, was also found with the contraband.

Asked whether there were any fish in her bag, Ms Chau replied: 'Yes, I have some fish.'

On both occasions the fish were euthanised and stored by the department.

Mr Chi was slapped with a $37,000 fine for two contraventions of section 186(1) and one contravention of section 533(1) of the Biosecurity Act 201, while Ms Chau was ordered to pay $17,000 for the same offences.

Justice Shaun McElwaine said while the 'importations were not sophisticated' he could not accept Mr Chi's actions were 'anything other than well planned'.

'Being caught, the issue of an infringement notice and the destruction of the fish on that occasion was ineffective,' he said in his April 19 ruling.

Mr McElwaine said the pair had co-operated at 'all stages', demonstrated remorse and 'even pleaded guilty' on their first appearance in his courtroom.

It's the first time civil penalties have been issued under the scaled-up Biosecurity Act.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Murray Watt described the judgment as a 'significant milestone' and a deterrent to all travellers.

'Some of the fish that were attempted to be smuggled into our country are considered pest species to Australia and they posed a huge risk to human, animal and plant health,' he said.

'Tough civil penalties apply to those who break the law, and all travellers should be aware that serious breaches of Australia's biosecurity laws may result in civil penalty proceedings being brought against you.

'This is a great example of why we must ensure our biosecurity system has long-term sustainable funding to protect our environment and agricultural sectors from exotic pests and diseases.'
A Columbia student who posted a livestream in which they stated 'Zionists don't deserve to live' has finally been barred from the university campus, four months after making the incendiary comments.

Protester Khymani James, who served as a spokesperson for the pro-Palestinian encampment as a member of Columbia University Apartheid Divest, was banned from stepping foot on the university grounds on Friday and now faces disciplinary action.

James, who uses 'he/she/they' pronouns, said in the video that 'Zionists don't deserve to live' and people should be grateful James wasn't killing them.

They already faced a disciplinary hearing with Columbia bosses earlier in the year in which they were asked to clarify what they meant - yet no action was taken.

No disciplinary action was taken as a result of comments despite James stating they wished to be kicked out so they could go and travel to South America.

Khymani James, who uses he/she/they pronouns, said repeatedly during a January livestream that 'Zionists do not deserve to live' and that the world would be better if they were not in it

James, a senior at the university, has walked back the comments that made in the online video from January after they suddenly received renewed attention.

'What I said was wrong,' James, said in a statement. 'Every member of our community deserves to feel safe without qualification.'

James had been one of the leaders of the Gaza Solidarity Encampment that has overtaken the New York City school's campus, but protest organizers say the comments didn't reflect their values.

The university has not clarified if James has been suspended or permanently expelled.

'Calls of violence and statements targeted at individuals based on their religious, ethnic or national identity are unacceptable and violate university policy,' a school spokesperson said.

Khymani James, a senior at Columbia University, has now been banned from stepping foot on the New York City campus

Khymani James made the comments four months ago and had faced a disciplinary hearing but the university initially took no action

Seems like a nice person! https://t.co/G3odqeb1Uw  Bari Weiss (@bariweiss) April 26, 2024

In a recording of the now four month old 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: 'I don't fight to injure or for there to be a winner or a loser, I fight to kill,' they wrote.

A Columbia employee asked: 'Do you see why that's problematic in any way?'

James responded: 'No.'

James continues to defend the position, that all Zionists 'don't deserve to live,' even laughing at one point during the video.

'These are all the same people,' they said. 'The existence of them and the projects they have built, i.e. Israel, it's all antithetical to peace. It's all antithetical to peace. And so, yes, I feel very comfortable, very comfortable, calling for those people to die.'

Sharing their logic to the university employees, James said: 'I think that taking someone's 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.'

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 let's be very clear here, I'm not saying that I'm 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 don't know when to stop,' they added.

'Zionists don't deserve to live comfortably, let alone Zionists don't deserve to live.

'The same way we are very comfortable accepting Nazis don't deserve to live, fascists don't deserve to live, racists don't deserve to live. Zionists, they shouldn't live in this world,' they said, after calling the meeting both 'institutional violence' and 'a joke.'

'I feel very comfortable, very comfortable, calling for those people to die,' they said just before the stream ends.

James (seen right) with Progressive Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. They have previously said they hope to be in Congress one day

James is seen in an earlier photo from 2020. The university has not clarified if James has been suspended or permanently expelled

Pro-Palestinian demonstration encampment is seen at Columbia University on Friday

The pro-Palestinian demonstration encampment is seen at Columbia University on Friday

'I think students who make comments like that don't belong on campus,' Brian Cohen, the executive director of Columbia/Barnard Hillel, the center for Jewish campus life told the New York Times.

'It's one of the more blatant examples of antisemitism and, just, rhetoric that is inconsistent with the values that we have at Columbia,' added Noa Fay, 23, a first-year student.

'I was mostly very surprised to see that it was just so out in the open.'

On Friday, Columbia students who inspired pro-Palestinian demonstrations across the country said Friday that they reached an impasse with administrators and intend to continue their encampment until their demands are met.

The announcement after two days of exhaustive negotiations came as Columbia's president faced harsh criticism from faculty.

Professors and staff at several other universities across the country have similarly condemned leadership over the use of police against demonstrators, which has led to fierce clashes, injuries and hundreds of arrests.

The tensions add pressure school officials from California to Massachusetts who are scrambling to resolve the protests as May graduation ceremonies near.

As the death toll mounts in the war in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis worsens, protesters at universities across the country are demanding that 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.

Student negotiators representing the Columbia encampment said that after meetings Thursday and Friday, the university had not met their primary demand for divestment, although there was progress on a push for more transparent financial disclosures.

'We will not rest until Columbia divests,' said Jonathan Ben-Menachem, a Jewish fourth-year doctoral student.

Columbia officials had said earlier that talks were showing progress.

'We have our demands; they have theirs,' university spokesperson Ben Chang said, adding that if the talks fail, Columbia will have to consider other options.

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

Meanwhile, Columbia's president, Minouche Shafik, faced a significant - but largely symbolic - rebuke from faculty Friday but retained the support of trustees, who have the power to hire or fire the president.

A report by the university senate's executive committee, which represents faculty, found Shafik and her administration took 'many actions and decisions that have harmed Columbia University.'

Those included calling in police and allowing students to be arrested without consulting faculty, failing to defend the institution in the face of external pressures, misrepresenting and suspending student protest groups and hiring private investigators.

'The faculty have completely lost confidence in President Shafiks ability to lead this organization,' said Ege Yumusak, a philosophy lecturer who is part of a faculty team protecting the encampment.

Following the report, the senate passed a resolution that included a task force to monitor how the administration would make corrective changes going forward.

In response, Chang said in the evening that 'we are committed to an ongoing dialogue and appreciate the Senates constructive engagement in finding a pathway forward.'
She is now filing a lawsuit saying that her First Amendment rights were violated

A model-turned DEI manager who was fired because she posed in front of an Israeli flag emblazoned with swastikas is now suing because her First Amendment rights were 'violated'.

Mashal Sherzad, 29, was fired from her position as the diversity, equity and inclusion manager at the University of Minnesota because of now seemingly deleted pictures that she accidentally uploaded onto her public social media of her posing in front of the controversial flag.

Sherzad, who identified as Muslim, and who is in a relationship with a woman, began her role in October, 2023, and travelled to Barcelona to attend a pro-Palestinian rally just two months later. She shared pictures of herself from the rally - including snaps of her posing in front of the swastika-embezzled Israeli flag.

She was removed from her DEI manager job for the university's School of Public Health on January 16 after the Dean, Melinda Pettigrew, said her employment would create a 'real risk of significant disruption.'

Sherzad has since filed a lawsuit against the school for violating First Amendment right to free speech - along with claims of discrimination.

'I did nothing wrong. They discarded a proud Queer, Muslim, Afghan and SWANA woman,' she has claimed

Mashal Sherzad, a model-turned DEI manager who was fired because she posed in front of an Israeli flag emblazoned with swastikas is now suing because her First Amendment rights were 'violated'

Mashal Sherzad, 29, was fired from her position as the diversity, equity and inclusion manager at the University of Minnesota because of now seemingly deleted pictures that she accidentally uploaded onto her public social media of her posing in front of the controversial Israel/Swastikas flag

Sherzad has since filed a lawsuit against the school for violating First Amendment right to free speech - along with claims of discrimination

Sherzad is seen pictured with her girlfriend Ralena Young, who owns a restaurant and bar in Minnesota

'I did nothing wrong. They discarded a proud Queer, Muslim, Afghan and SWANA woman,' she has claimed.

She has asked to have her job reinstated and is requesting over $75,000 in damages.

The 29-year-old model uses Instagram to share pro-Palestinian content to her 4,000 followers. Her biography section suggests she has worked for famed modeling agency Ford - and Sherzad has shared scores of photos of her striking good looks.

She appears to have modeled herself on Kim Kardashian, with one snap showing a collage of her face next to that of the reality star, who has long denied rumors that her looks are the result of extensive cosmetic surgeries.

Sherzad has posted videos of herself chanting at rallies in support of Palestine, pictures comparing Nazi occupied Poland to Israeli occupied Palestine and plenty of pro-Palestine infographics and protest pics.

She also uses shares an array of glamorous selfies, bikini pics, couples-content with her girlfriend Ralena Young, a restaurateur and glamorous photos from her endless travels.

The activist showed up to a news conference on Friday in a very tight bodycon dress with risque cut-outs to make her case and beg for her job back - explaining that the vandalized flag she posed in front of was 'somebody else's intellectual property'.

At the press conference, Sherzad fought back tears as she explained how the firing has affected her.

'I'm really, really scared for myself for many reasons,' Sherzad told reporters inside the Coffman Memorial Union. 'What happened to me was wrong, legally, factually, emotionally. It was horrifying for me, my family, and my loved ones.'

Sherzad's lawsuit against the university said she 'posted the photographs on her private Instagram account, but unbeknownst to her, they were automatically re-posted on her Facebook account.'

She also uses her social media to share an abundance of selfies, bikini pics and glamorous photos from her endless travels

During Friday's news conference, supporters of Sherzad claimed that people who support Palestinians and speak out against violence against them are being unfairly targeted

'The caption on said post was, 'This is not a conflict. This is not a war. This is genocide',' Sherzad explained.

A university spokesman, Jake Ricker, says the school doesn't typically comment on active lawsuits, according to Star Tribune.

However, in a January letter School of Public Health Dean Melinda Pettigrew told Sherzad she respects employees' rights 'to comment on matters of public concern' but 'your conduct directly undermines your credibility in this role.'

'I find that continuing your employment would create a real risk of significant disruption to School and University activities,' Pettigrew wrote.

'This is particularly true given the current climate around the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, within the University community and around the globe, and the highly inflammatory nature of the image you posted.'

During Friday's news conference, supporters of Sherzad claimed that people who support Palestinians and speak out against violence against them are being unfairly targeted.

The executive director of Minnesota's Council on American-Islamic Relations, Jaylani Hussein, has said: 'The facts of this case are completely unbelievable. It is a dark day for freedom of speech.'

Sherzad vehemently denies any wrongdoing on her part and created a GoFundMe to ask for 'financial resources' amidst the legal battle following her 'wrongful firing,' according to the page.

The activist showed up to a news conference on Friday in a very tight bodycon dress with risque cut-outs to make her case and beg for her job back - explaining that the vandalized flag she posed in front of was 'somebody else's intellectual property'

Sherzad has posted videos of herself chanting at rallies in support of Palestine, pictures comparing Nazi occupied Poland to Israeli occupied Palestine and plenty of pro-Palestine infographics and protest pics

'My name is Mashal. I was pictured at this pro Palestinian demonstration, a peaceful protest, where many from all backgrounds and walks of life came together to express solidarity around the demand for peace and liberation of Palestine. This event occurred in Barcelona, off work time, and on a weekend. December 9, to be exact,' she wrote on the GoFundMe, which has garnered $1300 in donations.

'I was pictured in front of a Jewish man we had been chatting with who was holding a flag of Israel, with two swastikas drawn on either side of the Star Of David. It was not my property. It was not the way I would have expressed my feelings of concern and anger towards what has happened to Palestine and its People,' she further explained.

DailyMail.com has contacted Mashal Sherzad for comment.
However, these tests are being conducted at a facility that is even more hidden

Joerg Arnu has been digging into the mystery surrounding Area 51 since 1999

The owner of a website compiling information about Area 51 believes the military is testing new technology at a covert 'base within a base' in the Nevada desert.

Joerg Arnu has been running dreamlandresort.com since the early days of the Internet. The site was launched in 1999, complete with a forum for equally enthusiastic fans to trade theories about happenings at the Air Force facility.

Some of those who post on the site are former Area 51 staffers - and Arnu's home was recently raided by the Feds, convincing him that at least one user had shared the truth about what happens there.

Area 51 has long been seen as a site where recovered alien technology is tested, with at least one former worker, Bob Lazar, saying they'd seen extraterrestrial aircraft on display.

Skeptics say those incredible claims provide a useful distraction from the very real but extremely-secretive military aircraft that are definitely developed and tested there.

Arnu, a self-branded 'Area 51 research veteran,' is one of roughly 50 people living in Rachel, Nevada, right on the outskirts of the military base.

And with 25 years of research under his belt, Arnu believes the real secrets are now being hidden in a new part of Area 51, which sits north of the existing runways and base buildings.

'They have years and years and decades of experience hiding things,' Arnu told 8 News Now.

Joerg Arnu, the owner of dreamlandresort.com, believes the U.S. military is testing cutting-edge technology out in the Nevada desert

Joerg has been documenting the happenings around Area 51 since 1999 from his home in Rachel, located just on the outskirts of the base

The Air Force facility, located 120 miles outside Las Vegas, has been shrouded in a veil of mystery since its founding nearly seven decades ago

This bizarre-looking early stealth plane, named Tacit Blue, was developed in total secrecy in Area 51 in the early 1980s and only revealed in 1996, years after it had been decommissioned. It serves as a useful example of just how tightly Area 51 bosses keep their secrets to their chests

The United States' new B-21 Stealth Raider was also likely developed at Area 51, and remained completely secret until its unveiling in 2021

'Look at some of the exotic planes, like the Tacit Blue that was developed in total secrecy, was flown in secrecy, then all of a sudden, they put it in a museum and said, "yeah, we had this for a while".'

Arnu was referring to a bizarre duck-bill shaped Northrup jet that was an early stealth prototype, first tested at Area 51 in 1982, decommissioned in 1985 and finally unveiled 11 years later, in 1996.

He said the fact that such a bizarre-looking plane could remain secret for so long gives a hint as to what else is kept far away from the public's eyes at Area 51's ultra-secret enclave.

Area 51, located 120 miles outside Las Vegas, has been shrouded in a veil of secrecy since its founding in 1955, when it was established as part of the Nevada Test and Training Range complex.

Reports of 'unidentified flying objects' soon began to crop up. Those appeared to stem from testing of the U-2 aircraft, which could fly up to 50,000 feet higher than normal airliners at the time.

Since then, Area 51 has continued to serve as the testing ground for other stealth aircrafts like the F-117A, A-12 and Tacit Blue. The military's stunning new B-21 Stealth Raider was also likely developed and tested at Area 51.

The military only acknowledged the base's existence in 2013, when a formerly classified document about the U-2 was obtained by the National Security Archive at George Washington University.

There were efforts to share more information about the facility before then. In the early 2000s, an Area 51 watchdog named Chuck Clark revealed that the military had placed sensors miles outside the base's boundaries, leading to a raid on his home.

And he wasn't the only one, as Arnus properties were swarmed by gun-toting counter-terrorism agents in November 2022.

He was in bed at his home in Rachel when around two dozen agents burst through the door, handcuffed him and led him outside for questioning.

But all the prying came at a price, as Arnu and his girlfriend, Linda Hellow, were targeted in an FBI raid in November 2022

According to a search warrant, Arnu was suspected to be in violation of Title 18 of the United States Code, accused of 'conspiracy' and 'photographing defense installations'

The webmaster believes cutting-edge military technology like drones and unmanned warplanes are being tested at Area 51

'The FBI wants to shut us down with unjustified raids and false accusations. Help us fight for our First Amendment Right!' reads a banner on the website

Over 100 miles away in Las Vegas, girlfriend Linda Hellow was similarly awoken by FBI agents who ordered her to come downstairs at gunpoint.

The agents seized four of Arnus computers, several hard drives, phones, cameras and a drone. They also swiped photos of his late parents and records containing personal information.

Arnu was handed a search warrant reviewed by DailyMail.com, which starts on page 40. The document indicates that Arnu violated Title 18 of the United States Code, accusing him of 'conspiracy' and 'photographing defense installations'.

He later learned that the raid was carried out by a joint team from the FBI and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, a counter intelligence wing that investigates terrorist groups targeting the Air Force.

Nearly two years later, Arnu is unsure whether he will face jail time. However, the government's case against him - whatever it may be - hasn't stopped him from continuing his mission.

The webmaster said he suspects military technology like drones and unmanned warplanes are being tested at Area 51.

'They are flying drones, obviously,' Arnu said. 'The Russians and Chinese work on stuff to jam our drones, we work on stuff to jam their drones. The next step is how do we make drone communications more secure.'

However, the tests are being conducted under even greater secrecy, at a 'base within a base' that is only visible to those with their own satellite.

Arnu is unsure whether he will face jail time, but the raid did not deter him from continuing to dig into the mystery surrounding Area 51

The 'Area 51 research veteran' suspects drone-jamming technology is being tested out in the desert

He says the experiments are being conducted at a highly secure 'base within in a base' north of Groom Lake that is only visible to those with their own satellite

'They have a whole empty valley just north of Groom Lake, and they have the mountain range where they can pretty much play with anything they want,' Arnu explained.

All this information and more can be found at dreamlandresort.com, which has been running ad-free since March 2019.

A flashy banner on the site encourages people to donate to a GoFundMe, reading, 'Freedom of Speech under attack: The FBI wants to shut us down with unjustified raids and false accusations. Help us fight for our First Amendment Right!'

Arnu doesn't intend to abandon his mission soon, and doesn't believe the shadowy agents testing military tech in the desert plan to stop either.

'Its booming out there,' Arnu said. 'Area 51 is not going anywhere.'

Area 51 sits within a huge exclusion zone near Rachel. Sensors have been planted in the ground to warn security of any unauthorized visitors and anyone who crosses the perimeter - which sits many miles from the base itself - faces felony charges.
Political analysts say Joe Biden's handlers will be panicking after the 81-year-old president agreed to debate Donald Trump in the run up to November's presidential election in what appeared to be an unplanned comment.

Speaking during a softball interview with Howard Stern on Friday morning, Biden said he is 'happy' to take the stage to debate his 77-year-old rival.

It quickly led several Republican accounts mocking Biden's decision and that it was beyond his 'handler's control'.

'Crooked Joe Biden says he's 'happy to debate' President Trump. His handlers must be furious,' RNC Research, an account managed by the Republican National Committee tweeted.

Speaking during a softball interview with Howard Stern on Friday morning, Biden said he is 'happy' to take the stage to debate his 77-year-old rival

'Biden weakly answers Howard Stern that he will debate Trump, HA!' Fox News host Jeanine Pirro wrote. 'Guess his aides couldn't stop Biden before he answered.'

The White House and Biden-Harris campaign had danced around questions about the debate for months, never giving a straight answer.

But when asked by Stern, Biden appeared to confirm that he would indeed face off against Trump.

'I don't know if you're going to debate your opponent,' Stern asked.

'I am, somewhere,' Biden said. 'I don't know when. I'm happy to debate him,' he responded.

Trump responded swiftly, saying he was willing to debate 'crooked Joe Biden... ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, ANYPLACE.'

The debates have been a hallmark of every general election presidential campaign since 1976.

Trump posted a lengthy message on Truth Social agreeing to debate Biden whenever he likes

Trump also continued to agree to debate Biden as he left court on Friday

A verbal spar could be a useful opportunity for both Trump and Biden to display stamina. The pair last met in October 2020

Other political commentators enjoyed the idea of Biden's staffers squirming at the idea of any kind of head-to-head which might expose a weakness in Biden.

'"NOOOOO" - Joe Biden Staffers, after hearing Biden tell Howard Stern he will debate Trump,' joked conservative Kevin Dalton.

'Idiot Joe Biden announced on Howard Stern's radio show a willingness to debate Trump! Bring it on!,' civil rights attorney Leo Terrell wrote.

Trump responded in a lengthy posting to his Truth Social account.

'LETTER TO JOE: Dear Joe, now that you've committed to Debate on the now dying Howard Stern Show, no less, let's set it up right now. I'm ready to go anywhere that you are. We could do it in D.C., even pinpoint the White House, or in New York when your Radical Left Fascists are finished with ELECTION INTERFERENCE against your Political Opponent, ME... let's get the Debate going, the American People have the right to know!'

Trump also made a statement after walking out of court in New York City on Friday afternoon.

A number of political commentators surmised the Biden campaign must be feeling anxious after the president agreed to debate Trump in what appears to be an unplanned comment

A podium meant to symbolize former President Donald Trump's desire to debate Biden sits on stage during a rally earlier this month in Pennsylvania

Supporters hold signs as a message is shown on a large video screen saying former President Donald Trump will debate President Joe Biden anytime, anywhere or anyplace

'He can do it anytime he wants including tonight. I'm ready. Here we are. I invited him to the courthouse,' Trump said.

'I just want to say that I've invited Biden to debate,' he said outside the Manhattan criminal court.

'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.

A verbal spar could be a useful opportunity for both Trump and Biden to display stamina.

Biden, in particular, is still dogged by Trump's old 'Sleepy Joe' nickname - and Trump faced online teasing when he appeared to nod off during his criminal trial in New York last week.

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.

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 man!' Biden told Trump at one point during the first debate.

Later on Friday, Trump reacted to Biden's new public willingness to debate by saying 'everyone knows he doesn't really mean it'.

Biden himself had previously been vague, saying in March that whether he debated Trump 'depends on his behavior'.

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.

A dozen news organizations wrote to both Biden and Trump campaigns urging both candidates to participate in the debates.
She explained she'd had a hard day of dealing with murders in the city

Sandra Doorley said she didn't feel like stopping and drove home instead

An arrogant New York District Attorney refused to stop for a cop after she was caught speeding because she 'didn't feel like it' and was stressed from dealing with murders all day.

Monroe County DA Sandra Doorley had a tense interaction with a Webster police officer on Monday after the cop tried to pull her over for driving 55 miles per hour in a 35 miles per hour zone.

Bodycam footage shows the heated exchange - in which Doorley said 'I didn't feel like stopping on Phillips Road at 5:30.' The officer responded 'That's not your choice... you know that.' Doorley quipped back 'I made it my choice.'

According to Doorley, instead of pulling over at the time she decided to call Webster Police Chief Dennis Kohlmeier to say she was not a threat and would talk to the officer back at her house.

As the officer informs her that she made the situation a bigger deal than it needed to be by refusing to pull over, Doorley can be heard responding with 'just write me the traffic ticket.'

Sandra Doorley (pictured), a New York District Attorney, refused to stop for a cop after she was caught speeding because she 'didn't feel like it' and was stressed from dealing with murders all day

Monroe County DA Sandra Doorley had a tense interaction with a Webster police officer on Monday after the cop tried to pull her over for driving 55 miles per hour in a 35 miles per hour zone

Bodycam footage shows the heated exchange - in which Doorley said 'I didn't feel like stopping on Phillips Road at 5:30.'

The officer reminded her that it was no longer just a traffic ticket - and that not complying with an officer's order to stop and pull over is an 'arrestable offense.'

Doorley explained that she didn't see the point in pulling over when she was so close to her driveway. 'I thought it would be easier. I was wrong,' she said.

As she refuses to step outside her garage, she hands the cop the phone to speak with the police chief telling him 'leave me alone, this is ridiculous'.

The officer can be heard telling her: 'What do you want us to do? Not do our job because it is you? You broke another law because of that. You should know better.'

Later in the dramatic bodycam footage, Doorley can be heard complaining that she's had a really bad day 'dealing with murders in the city.'

Doorley released a statement on Thursday in which she admitted she had gone over the speed limit - and again tried to justify her decision, saying the distance was less than half a mile from her neighborhood.

Doorley released a statement on Thursday in which she admitted she had gone over the speed limit

According to Doorley, instead of pulling over at the time she decided to call Webster Police Chief Dennis Kohlmeier to say she was not a threat and would talk to the officer back at her house

'Nobody, including your District Attorney, is above the rule of law, even traffic laws. Anybody who knows me understands without a doubt that I have dedicated my entire 33-year career to the safety of this community,' she said.

'My work to ensure the safety and respect of law enforcement is well proven time and time again.

'I stand by my work and stand by my commitment to the public safety of Monroe County,' Doorley continued.

A spokesperson from the Monroe County District Attorney's Office referred to Doorley's statement in which she accepted responsibility.
Celebrities including Abbie Chatfield are among thousands of protesters who are marching in rallies across the country to demand action on violence against women.

'No More: National Rally Against Gender Based Violence' protests took place in Sydney, Hobart and Adelaide on Saturday afternoon and 12 more are set to go ahead in other capital cities and regional towns on Sunday.

This month alone there has been a wave of women killed allegedly at the hands of men including Molly Ticehurst, 28, Emma Bates, 49, and the appalling Bondi Junction stabbing attack which claimed the lives of five women.

Chatfield, who is a vocal advocate of women's rights, attended the Sydney rally with friends Kath Ebbs and one-half of Peking Duk duo Adam Hyde.

At one point, Hyde put a comforting arm around an emotional Chatfield.

Abbie Chatfield and Adam Hyde were seen at the 'No More' protests in Sydney on Saturday

At one point, Hyde was seen putting a comforting arm around an emotional Chatfield

Chatfield is a vocal supporter of women's rights, among other social causes

Thousands attended the No More march at Sydney's Belmore Park on Saturday (pictured)

12 more protests are set to be held in capitol cities across Australia on Sunday

NSW Premier Chris Minns was seen attending the march with his family

Attendees placed flowers on a memorial for the string of women allegedly murdered

Large crowds of protesters in Sydney arrived at Belmore Park at about 1pm on Saturday afternoon and marched towards Hyde Park.

They held signs reading 'sick of inaction', 'tax the billionaires, fund sexual violence response and prevention', 'how many of us have to die?' and 'it's not all men but it's always men'.

Chatfield shared a series of snaps to her Instagram story of the powerfully-worded posters carried by rally attendees.

'Dear not all men ... Where the bloody hell are you?' one poster read.

'No More: National Rally Against Gender Based Violence' protests took place in Sydney, Hobart and Adelaide on Saturday afternoon and another 12 are set to go ahead in other capital cities and regional towns on Sunday

The event is Sydney (pictured) is one of 17 rallies being held across Australia to protest against gender based violence

The rallies, organised by advocacy group What Were You Wearing also took place in Newcastle and Ballarat

A large crowd has gathered in Sydney to protest against gender based violence

Chatfield, an advocate for women's rights, attended the rally with friends Kath Ebbs and one-half of Peking Duk duo Adam Hyde as the crowd held placards

Other placards demanded concrete government action to counter violence against women

The rallies, organised by advocacy group What Were You Wearing, also took place in Newcastle and Ballarat on Friday.

More are scheduled to take place in Melbourne, Perth, Bendigo, the Sunshine Coast, Geelong, Brisbane, Coffs Harbour, Canberra, Gold Coast, Orange, Wagga Wagga and Cobram on Sunday.

The back-to-back tragedies this month 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.

Her accused killer had been let out on bail two weeks before he allegedly attacked her.

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.
One of the people who were killed after an aircraft crashed at a country airport has been identified as a 'beloved' Melbourne mother.

Kate Callingham, 39, was killed alongside the pilot when the light plane crashed north-east of Victoria's Mount Beauty airport at around 1.40pm on Saturday.

Her family issued a statement on Saturday night confirming the news and describing her as a 'beloved partner, mother, daughter and friend'.

'She was widely respected and beloved for her clear moral compass, adventurous spirit and formidable, level-headed, good sense,' they said.

'Kate was loved for her kindness, easy laughter and always being the most capable person in the room.'

The pilot is yet to be formally identified.

It is believed the pair were flying over Embankment Drive when the aircraft crashed.

'Beloved' Melbourne mum Kate Callingham, 39, was killed alongside the pilot when the light plane crashed north-east of Victoria's Mount Beauty airport at around 1.40pm on Saturday

Two people have died after a light plane crash north-east of Victoria's Mount Beauty airport

Eye-witness Tony said it appeared the light plane was trying to land before it veered into a paddock just before the tarmac.

'I was at the end of the runway where the crash happened,' he told the Herald Sun.

'A light plane looks like it came up short of the runway. They were doing CPR on two people. It potentially flipped upside down on landing... the plane is wrecked.'

The incident was deemed under control at 2.13pm and safe at 3.34pm.

The Country Fire Authority (CFA) received multiple calls about the incident and its crews were able to provide first aid until paramedics arrived on scene.

Police will prepare a report for the Coroner.

The crash occurred at about 1.40pm on Saturday

Previously Mount Beauty Airport saw the tragic death of Matthew Farrell, a pilot that crashed a light aircraft in dense bushland shortly after taking off in September 2022.

An inquest heard other pilots on the ground considered the weather poor at the time of the attempted take-off.

Farrell attained a pilot's licence through an accelerated conversion course from his paragliding accreditation.

Concerns were raised about adequacy of this training at the inquest.
Pro-Palestine students and activists harassed Jacob Rees-Mogg and hurled foul-mouthed abuse at him after speaking at Cardiff University.

Cardiff University's Conservative Society hosted the Tory MP on Friday for a speech.

But shocking footage posted on X/Twitter shows him being escorted by eight security guards to a campus vehicle as students surrounded him shouting shouting 'Tory c**t', 'shame on you' and 'Free Palestine' and waving Palestinian flags.

The students and activists, who were banging drums and shaking tambourines, were calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and shouted 'shame on you'.

Two people even attempted to get closer to the vehicle carrying the North East Somerset MP before being dragged backed back by security staff.

Jacob Rees Mogg was escorted out of the university by campus security and was immediately heckled by a group of students and activists

The students and activists can be seen waving Palestinian flags as Mr Rees-Mogg is escorted to a security vehicle

Students and activists attempt to get close to the vehicle with placards and even attempt to climb on it

Security staff can be seen dragging students and activists off the vehicle to allow it to depart safely

The protest was organised by Welsh Underground Network and Cardiff Communists, who claimed Mr Rees-Mogg was a 'zionist'.

They said: 'Mogg, and his ilk, are never welcome in Wales. No zionist politician should be able to walk our streets in peace, they shouldn't be able to open their mouths without being shouted down.'

Conservative Party Chairman Richard Holden, branded the protesters 'morons' and said: 'How silly of these morons - whatever they think their cause is, they do it a disservice I'm sure will have taken it in his stride but no elected politician should have to put up with this shrill intimidatory idiocy.'

Responding to Mr Holden, the Conservative Association said: 'Quite right. Thank you for sharing and highlighting this important issue. Absolutely disgusting to see this happen after our event this evening.'

In a statement, Rees-Mogg said: 'It was a legitimate and peaceful if noisy protest.

'The Cardiff University security team was exemplary in allowing a lawful protest while keeping everyone safe.

'Universities ought to be bastions of free speech and as both the protesters and I were able to give our views without fear or intimidation the proper traditions of adversarial debate were upheld.'

Footage shows students chanting and banging as Tory Senedd Member Natasha Asghar spoke to Cardiff University's Politics Society last year

Jo Stevens, Labour's shadow Welsh secretary, said: 'Concerned by footage of Jacob Rees-Mogg's treatment by protesters in Cardiff.

'I disagree with him on almost everything, but we cannot accept a culture of intimidation in our politics.

'The right to lawful protest is sacrosanct, but harassment and intimidation is unacceptable.'

The protest was organised by Welsh Underground Network and Cardiff Communists, with the former tweeting afterwards: 'We helped organise a demonstration against this imperialist politician.

'We managed to block the doors, shutting them inside for several (hours).

'Mogg left under a barrage of our anger, anger at his zionism, anger at his cruelty to the working class, anger at his very existence.'

It comes just weeks after Tory Senedd Member Natasha Asghar was confronted by students calling for a ceasefire whilst giving a talk at the university.

Ms Asghar, who said she was also called a 'murderer', voted against a motion in the House of Commons in November which called for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Gaza.

In videos shared on social media, a student standing inside the room questioned her on why she didn't support a pause in hostilities.

The politician could be heard replying: 'If you aim for the moon, you will land amongst the stars, have you heard that saying before? Why can you not aim for peace; a ceasefire will naturally occur.'

In a statement on X/Twitter at the time, Ms Asghar said: 'Whilst I accept people have the right to protest, the scenes which unfolded at Cardiff University last night were totally unacceptable... chanting all sorts of hateful messages including calling me a ''murderer'', ramming doors to try to gain access to the room I was in, and pounding on the walls from start to finish is absolutely uncalled for.

READ MORE: Who are Hamas? Everything you need to know about the Palestinian terror movement that has launched war on Israel Advertisement

'Despite repeated attempts to explain my point of view following last week's vote, and answer their questions, many of the protesters simply would not listen and engage and instead continued disrupting the event because they didn't like my answers.'

She said she felt sorry for the students in the room who had a 'passion for politics,' adding: 'It was an absolute joy to speak to students from the Politics Society, who asked me some fantastic questions, and I have no doubt many of them have bright careers ahead of them in the political arena.'

Ms Asghar is of Pakistani descent and the first ethnic female member of the Senedd.

She hoped to stand for the Conservatives in the London mayoral elections but failed to make the shortlist.

She hosts a Bollywood music show on TV and is the author of the novel Me, Myself And My Arranged Marriage.

Ms Asghar, who said she was also called a 'murderer', voted against a House of Commons motion in November which called for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Gaza

In a statement on X, Ms Asghar complained about being called a 'murderer'

Meanwhile, a pro-Palestine march which organisers claim could attract 'hundreds of thousands' of protesters is to take place in London on Saturday.

However, police said the risk of disorder was not high enough to seek a ban.

The march organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) will assemble at Parliament Square from 12pm and set off half-an-hour later on a route ending at Hyde Park, where speeches will be given.

The group said it expects 'hundreds of thousands of people' to attend the event in response to Israel's 'brutal attack' on Gaza.

A static demonstration organised by pro-Israel group Enough is Enough will take place at the same time in Pall Mall, along the route of the pro-Palestine march.

The PSC march will be its 13th national protest since the first was staged on October 9.

The Metropolitan Police said these kinds of protests since October 7 had cost around 38.4 million and required 44,722 officer shifts as well as 6,399 officer rest days to be cancelled.

People take part in a pro-Palestine march in central London on April 13

The march in London on April 13 was organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said the force aimed to police 'without fear or favour', adding that protests in London had 'been a particular cause of fear and uncertainty in Jewish communities'.

He said the events had caused some Jewish people to stay away from central London on protest days, avoid the Tube, hide their identities or otherwise change their behaviour.

A third demonstration organised by the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) was due to take place on Saturday from 12pm until 2pm but was cancelled the day before.

The organisation said it cancelled the 'walk together' event - expected to attract thousands of people - after receiving threats and identifying 'hostile actors' who posed a risk to the safety of Jews.

Mr Twist added: 'I know there are people who feel the solution is to see these protests banned.

'The bar for such a decision is incredibly high - it requires a risk of serious public disorder of the sort we simply haven't seen either in this period of protest or for several years.

Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist from the Metropolitan Police

'But while we cannot apply for protests to be banned in the current circumstances, we can use powers under the Public Order Act and other legislation to impose conditions on marches and assemblies in an effort to prevent serious disruption, to keep those with opposing views apart and to ensure wider public safety.'

The PSC march must stick to a pre-agreed route via Whitehall, Piccadilly and Park Lane, the force added - as it stressed that areas in the vicinity of the Israeli embassy, near Hyde Park, were not to be entered.

The smaller Enough is Enough demonstration is restricted to an area in Pall Mall.

Both protests must have concluded by 5pm, the Met said.

The now-cancelled CAA event had been arranged after the organisation's founder, Gideon Falter, 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 Met said it understood the event may be held at a later date. The force said 415 arrests had been made during protests - including 193 for antisemitic offences and 15 terrorism arrests, mostly for the alleged support of Hamas, which is a proscribed group in the UK.

Ben Jamal, director of the PSC, said the march was 'fuelled by love for the principle of the dignity and rights of all human beings'.
A man has been arrested after another man died following an alleged assault at an Ampol service station in Western Australia.

Donald Wade Davies, 35, was charged with one count of grievous bodily harm after the incident in Dawesville, about 87km south of Perth, on Friday morning.

Police allege Davies and his 45-year-old alleged victim, who were known to each other, got into a fight in the early hours of the morning.

A man has been arrested after another man died following an alleged assault at an Ampol service station (pictured) in Dawesville, Western Australia on Friday morning

Donald Wade Davies was charged with one count of grievous bodily harm by WA homicide squad detectives after the incident. A WA police vehicle is pictured

Emergency services were called to the service station at the intersection of the Old Coast Road and Bailey Boulevard at around 3.40am, where they found an unresponsive man.

He was rushed to Peel Health Campus by ambulance but was unable to be saved.

Davies, from Wellard in the city's southern suburbs, is scheduled to face Perth Magistrates Court on Saturday.

Police inquiries remain ongoing.
The European Convention on Human Rights must be changed if it is used to block flights to Rwanda, centrist Tories have warned.

Senior MPs Damian Green and Matt Warman have said the government should be ready to reform the court if it steps in to obstruct deportation flights.

It comes as Rishi Sunak's flagship plan to tackle illegal migration finally became law this week as it was passed by the House of Lords.

Mr Green and Mr Warman are part of the One Nation caucas which has previously defended the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) against criticisms from the Right of the Conservative party.

They have also insisted that the Rwanda plan must be carried out in accordance with international law.

The European Convention on Human Rights must be changed if it is used to block flights to Rwanda , centrist Tories have warned (file pic)

Rishi Sunak 's flagship plan to tackle illegal migration finally became law this week as it was passed by the House of Lords

A protester in Parliament Square holds a sign referencing the migrant houses which have been sold off and the Rwanda refugee plan

But now, writing for the Telegraph, the senior Tories said: 'Despite empty noise from the Left, Parliament has delivered on its part of the bargain and passed the Bill.

'Now it is time for the Home Office to step up and do its part too, ensuring officials do all they can to get flights off the ground and deliver on the British people's priorities.

'This should not be prevented by international courts, and if the ECHR chooses to intervene, then the Conservative Government must be ready to take a leading role in reforming and improving the court to ensure it is fit for purpose.'

Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron has also backed calls for the UK to remain part of the treaty - saying leaving the convention is not 'necessary' to prevent small boat crossings.

Speaking to ITV's Peston show this week, he said: 'I don't think it's necessary to leave the ECHR, I don't think that needs to happen to make this policy work.'

On whether he would have pursued the policy while he was prime minister, Lord Cameron added: 'We had a totally different situation because (we) could return people directly to France.

Senior MPs Damian Green (pictured) and Matt Warman have said the government should be ready to reform the court if it steps in to obstruct deportation flights

Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron has also backed calls for the UK to remain part of the treaty - saying leaving the convention is not 'necessary' to prevent small boat crossings

'Now, I'd love that situation to be the case again, that's the most sensible thing.

'People land on a beach in Kent, you take them straight back to France, you therefore break the model of the people smugglers. That's not available at the moment. It's simply not possible.'

Rishi Sunak was previously warned that the Rwanda scheme could breach the convention by a senior judge at the European Court of Human Rights.

The first flight to Rwanda was also cancelled minutes before take-off in June 2022 following a ruling by the court.

Ministers were told by the ECHR that the plane could not leave the UK until British judges had extensively examined the arguments against the controversial immigration scheme.

Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman has argued that the only way to get the Rwanda flights off the ground is to leave the convention.

The Prime Minister has also said that his plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda trumps the UK's 'membership of any foreign court'.

Meanwhile, Home Secretary James Cleverly said the criticism of the Rwanda Bill from the ECHR, which he 'values enormously', is 'out of step'.

Rishi Sunak was previously warned that the Rwanda scheme could breach the convention by a senior judge at the European Court of Human Rights (file pic)

Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman has argued that the only way to get the Rwanda flights off the ground is to leave the convention (file pic)

'There is a real moral hazard in saying to a nation state government that it cannot manage its own borders, it cannot make decisions about who does or does not live in its own country,' he said while speaking at a think-tank in Rome.

'Because that undermines the integrity of the democratic process in which we live.'

The passing of the Rwanda bill this week came after five rounds of Parliamentary 'ping-pong', which saw the proposals batted back and forth between the chambers as MPs repeatedly removed amendments made by peers.

The last remaining tweak had called for an independent monitoring commission to declare the African state safe before Channel migrants could be sent there.

That had been passed by the Lords by 240 to 211, but the elected House deleted it by a margin of 312 to 237. And when peers resumed their sitting, it was clear the fight was over.

Government minister Lord Sharpe wrapped up proceedings by insisting it is 'profoundly moral and patriotic' to defend the country's borders.
Vida, one of the runaway Household Cavalry horses that ran through London covered in blood, has 'sustained a wound that could become fatally infected'.

The grey steed was one of five horses that bucked its rider off and went on a 6 mile rampage across London after being spooked by some building work near Hyde Park Barracks during a routine exercise on Wednesday.

Images of Vida soaked in claret shocked the country and now there are growing fears that the injury sustained is at risk of becoming infected, potentially putting its life at risk.

After being caught Vida, and another runaway named Quaker, underwent surgery for injuries consistent with 'serious lacerations' and have been recovering in Hyde Park Barracks since.

Vida was seen galloping through the city covered in blood in terrifying scenes on Wednesday morning

Images of Vida soaked in claret shocked the country and now there are growing fears that the injury sustained is at risk of becoming infected, potentially putting its life at risk

Vida (white horse) and Trojan (black horse) on their rampage through London after being 'spooked by builders moving rubble' are in a 'serious condition'

Defence Minister James Cartlidge has said that both Vida and Quaker were in a 'serious condition'.

A video shows the five horses running across a road and into parked e-bikes with Vida taking a nasty fall, which is thought to be the incident which caused the injuries.

A military source has warned that it is 'not looking good' for Vida, who has a history of being easily spooked.

Leading equine charity, The Horse Trust, has offered to rescue the horses if they are unable to return to military duty.

Vida (white horse) and Trojan (black horse) bolted and went on a six-mile rampage through central London on Wednesday

The last two horses were finally caught outside the Glamis Estate in Limehouse, east London

Concerning comments from a whistleblower have raised alarms after they said the military horses are not kept in a 'healthy environment'.

They claimed to have seen rats and loose wires near where they are kept and alleged they are often given 'dirty water' to drink.

The source told the Express: 'Those horses are so nervous. They are ready to explode.

'I don't think it's a healthy environment. It doesn't provide what a horse needs.'

An Army spokesman said: '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.'
A female angler has landed the biggest ever fish caught by a woman in Britain weighing more than a Great Dane after she stalked it for two days.

Naomi Turner made a new British record when she caught a whopping 72lb 12oz carp at Holme Fen Fishery in Cambridgeshire.

The huge fish is known as Pashley and is the lake's largest - it is also the biggest to be caught by a woman in Britain.

Naomi had already spent 48 hours fishing in the shallower parts and hadn't had much luck, the Angling Times reported.

Naomi Turner (pictured) made a new British record when she caught a whopping 72lb 12oz carp at Holme Fen Fishery in Cambridgeshire

The huge fish is known as Pashley and is the lake's largest - he is also the biggest to be caught by a woman in Britain

She decided to switch up her tactics and try the deeper waters instead after spotting some fish there.

The female angler's bait was quickly taken in just two hours and she was soon trying to prise her new catch out of the water.

Naomi told Angling Times: 'There was a spot to my left on a small hump surrounded by weed and with minimal bait, I was just hoping to catch one that was venturing through.

'The rods had only been out a couple of hours, when the left hand rod signalled a slow take, as soon as I connected, the fish had other ideas and found itself lodged firming into a large weedbed.'

Naomi had to carefully coerce the fish until she was able to eventually land it in her net.

Making a splash! Naomi didn't think she would catch Pashley 'in a million years'

She described the excitement of landing her surprisingly large catch and added: 'After a few tears of joy, multiple moments of elation and disbelief, I eventually came to terms that this is potentially the largest carp in the country and the largest carp caught by a female angler in the UK too, a session I certainly won't forget.'

Naomi's whopping catch is heavier than the 68lb 1oz previous British mirror carp record however strict rules regarding feeding mean it is not likely to be officially recognised, the Sun reported.

The angler is thrilled with her huge fish and told the Sun: 'I'd wanted to catch Pashley for a while now but never in a million years did I actually think it would happen.

'I am still buzzing and think I will be for a while.'
A man has been charged after a woman and her new partner were allegedly stabbed just moments after they arrived at her mothers home.

The 41-year-old man was charged with two counts of attempted murder after a man and a woman, both 40, were allegedly attacked at a home on Coventry Road in Munno Para at about 6.30pm on Friday night.

It's understood the man was the ex-partner of the woman who had just arrived at her mother's home with her two children and her new partner.

The children, an eight-year-old girl and a three-year-old boy, were unharmed.

A man has been charged after a woman and her new partner were allegedly stabbed just moments after they arrived at her mothers home (pictured, the crime scene on Friday)

The man and woman were rushed to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries with the woman treated for a laceration to her arm and the man for abdominal injuries.

Their alleged attacker has been refused bail and is scheduled to appear in Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Monday.

Neighbours on the usually quiet street said the man was detained by witnesses after he allegedly lunged at the couple with a knife.

One neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, was left shaken by the scene.

'When I came home, all I saw were people pinning someone up against the fence and there were blood stains on the floor,' she told The Advertiser.

'There was a lot of screaming and crying so I raced out and called the cops and the man was held down until the police came and arrested him.'

The 41-year-old man was charged with two counts of attempted murder after a man and a woman, both 40, were allegedly attacked at a home on Coventry Road in Munno Para

SA Police said the people involved are known to each other.

'Police and paramedics responded to Coventry Road, Munno Para about 6.15pm by reports of a violent assault,' a police statement read.

'The suspect was detained at the scene by witnesses and swiftly taken into police custody.

'The investigation is in its early stages; however, police understand the people involved are known to each other and this was not a random incident.'

Police have asked anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.
A gang of 20 accused of stealing almost 300 worth of food in a 'dine and dash' from an Indian restaurant have been tracked down by MailOnline to a local park an hour from the restaurant.

The mass theft at Exeter's Tamarind Bay restaurant left the distraught owners 270 out of pocket.

Manager Saiful Rahman shared CCTV photos of cars and vans used by a group of travellers who gorged themselves on curry, chips and naan bread with chutneys washed down with Cobra beer, Coca Cola and Fanta.

After he posted details on Facebook and contacted the police, the shameless group even contacted Mr Rahman to demand he take it down - but are still yet to pay.

Now MailOnline can reveal the group has set up camp 50 miles away in a public park in Yeovil, Somerset.

A gang of 20 accused of stealing almost 300 worth of food in a 'dine and dash' from an Indian restaurant have been tracked down to a local park where they have set up their caravans

Caravans surrounded by gas canisters, cars and a woodchipper are are in the makeshift camp at a public park in Yeovil

A Land Rover is parked alongside caravans while three men sit on patio furniture. The silver Land Rover was one of the getaway vehicles used in the dine and dash scam

A silver Land Rover, a white Citroen van and a white Ford which Mr Rahman said belonged to the gang were clearly visible in Yew Tree Park, next to caravans, work vans, a wood chipper, kids' bikes and a barbecue while three men sat on patio furniture outside one of the caravans.

One local resident said: 'They arrived earlier this week and don't seem to have a care in the world, clearly they aren't worried about the police catching them. It's just shameless.'

Describing the theft on Tuesday evening at 7pm, Mr Rahman said he had seen many 'dine and dash' incidents in his 17 years running restaurants, but said this one 'takes the biscuit'.He said: 'We have never experienced a mass exodus. It was actually shocking.

'I have experience with travellers and I could tell they were from their vehicles, their accents, the way they spoke and how they acted.

'We served them because we don't discriminate.

'We didn't ask for an upfront payment as from experience this would have caused a fuss with them saying we are discriminating against them when other groups of people aren't asked to.'

He said that one man with his family of four, including two children, suddenly got up saying he was going to buy a birthday cake from the table next to them from the Tesco across the road.

Waiters realised the excuse was part of the scam after they were followed by two other tables in the group.

The Indian restaurant Tamarind Bay in Exeter where the party of 20 ordered curries and naan as well as several bottles of fizzy pop and beers before fleeing, leaving behind a 270 bill

One of the getaway cars used in the dine and dash scam was a silver Land Rover that was tracked down to the traveller site in Somerset and was seen parked among caravans

A white Citroen van used to flee the restaurant after the group refused to pay for their meal. The same van was tracked down to the traveller camp site 50 miles away

The thieves enjoyed a large meal of curries, naans and chips before walking out without settling the 270 bill

The group also got through dozens of drinks including beers and Coca Cola, pictured above

In an attempt to stop the cheapskates from running off without paying, waiters tried to chase them down as they got into their vehicles and drove off towards Exeter city centre.

The families ignored requests for payments, leaving behind a huge mess when they brazenly walked out of the restaurant.

Mr Rahman said he had reported the incident to the police, but was told that as the diners had left it was classed as a 'non emergency'.

He said: 'I couldn't believe the sheer audacity. It seemed very well constructed and we had to clean up the mess they left behind. What happened is a big deal because bars, restaurants and cages are struggling, so I want some justice.'

After it was reported in the media Mr Rahman revealed a member of the group contacted him to demand he remove the post.He said: 'One of them has been in contact, he wants the post down, that means they all know about it.

'The police are on the case; we will have to see what happens.'

A police spokesman said: 'Police are aware of an incident where is it alleged that a group of people left Tamarind Bay restaurant, Exeter, without paying their bill on the evening of Tuesday 23 April.

'Enquiries continue into this matter. Anyone with any information that could assist the police is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 50240097061.'

But Mr Rahman is not alone in his frustration and this incident is just the latest case in an epidemic of dining and dashing.

Last week an Italian restaurant was left empty handed after a family 'dined-and dashed' after racking up a 329 bill.

Staff at the Bella Ciao Italian restaurant in Port Talbot, just west of Swansea, say the family-of-eight left the establishment without paying for their costly meal on Friday evening.

The diners ordered expensive steaks, double desserts and 15 bottles of pop, but started to send back a number of half empty plates, which raised eyebrows among staff members.

Some people have taken matters into their own hands as emboldened thieves refuse to pay for restaurant bills.

In frustration at a suspected serial 'dine-and-dash' couple who have been chased over a string of 'food thefts' at struggling restaurants, their windows were smashed by a masked gang, MailOnline can reveal.
A teenage Israeli hostage said a Hamas gunman told her that he was going to marry her and force her to have his children during her 50-day hostage ordeal.

Noga Weiss, 18, was released after almost two months in captivity. Her father IIlan had been murdered by the terrorists during the October 7 atrocity.

Speaking to Israeli TV's Channel 12, Ms Weiss said: 'He gave me a ring on day 14 and I stayed with him until day 50. He told me, "Everyone will be released, but you will stay here with me and have my children".'

Ms Weiss had to handle the situation with the terrorist calmly despite her constant fear.

Noga Weiss, pictured, told Israeli Channel 12 of her ordeal having spent 50 days in captivity held by Hamas

Ms Weiss and her mother Shiri were freed in a group of 13 Israeli hostages and seven of other nationalities

She said: 'I pretended to laugh so he wouldnt shoot me in the head.'

Ms Weiss said she had believed her mother, Shiri was dead until the terror group brought her into her cell dressed in a Hijab.

She continued: 'One of the Hamas members said he loves me, he wants to marry me and brought my mother to me so she would approve of our marriage. A woman dressed as an Arab entered, and I realised it's my mother.'

According to The Mirror, Ms Weiss said her mother immediately rejected the proposal and began shouting at the gunman.

She added: 'I thought they killed her, I thought I was alone. Suddenly she's alive, and I'm no longer alone.

'People don't understand the feeling of fear. I was 50 days, 24/7, with the thought that they would get tired and come shoot me, or they wouldn't need me in the end. Let's say at night they lock us in the room, so they open the door in the middle of the night and shoot us without us knowing.'

Ms Weiss said she cannot begin to mourn her murdered father until all the remaining hostages are returned to Israel.

Speaking about the intolerable conditions in captivity, she revealed: 'They are there for an indescribable amount of time. At one point, they brought us half a litre of water for two days. It does not make sense. You can't survive like this for 200 days.'

Hamas said on Saturday it was reviewing a new Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, as Egypt intensified efforts to broker a deal to end the months-long war and stave off a possible Israeli ground offensive into the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

READ MORE: Teenage Israeli hostage freed after 50-day ordeal Noga and Shiri Weiss pictured as they were released from the Hamas terrorist group Advertisement

Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya said the Palestinian militant group was evaluating Israel's proposal, and 'upon completion of its study, it will submit its response'.

He gave no details of Israel's offer but said it was in response to a proposal from Hamas two weeks ago.

Negotiations earlier this month centred on a six-week ceasefire proposal and the release of 40 civilian and sick hostages in exchange for freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

Hamas's statement came hours after a high-level Egyptian delegation wrapped up a visit to Israel where it discussed a "new vision" for a prolonged ceasefire in Gaza, according to an Egyptian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

It was not immediately clear whether Israel's latest response to Hamas on a ceasefire was directly related to Friday's visit to Tel Aviv by Egyptian mediators.

The discussions between Egyptian and Israeli officials focused on the first stage of a multi-phase plan that would include 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.

Hamas sparked the war with its attack into southern Israel on October 7, 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.

Since then, 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's air and ground offensive, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, around two-thirds of them children and women.

Israel has reported at least 260 of its soldiers killed since the start of ground operations in Gaza.
Pharmaceutical companies have been accused of bribing NHS doctors to use infected blood products that gave people HIV and hepatitis C in the 1970s and 1980s.

NHS hospitals were offered money to buy blood products from US pharma giants, who were known to have paid high-risk donors for their plasma, the Telegraph has reported.

Around 1,250 people with haemophilia were infected with HIV and another 5,000 contracted hepititis C after they were given the blood-clotting drug Factor VIII.

Now a letter dated from January 1981 reveals that St Thomas' Hospital in London was offered 8,500 (around 41,000 today) in rebates for buying Factor VIII made in the US.

The letter - which has been published in the book The Poison Line by Cara McGoogan - shows that doctors were offered to purchase four million units of Factor VIII produced by Bayer and Baxter Healthcare in return for monetey incentives.

Pharmaceutical companies have been accused of bribing NHS doctors to use infected blood products that gave people HIV and hepatitis C in the 1970s and 1980s (file pic)

NHS hospitals were offered money to buy blood products from US pharma giants, who were known to have paid high-risk donors for their plasma, the Telegraph has reported (stock pic)

Jason Evans, director of the campaign group Factor 8, told the Telegraph: 'Doctors were literally offered cash to use dangerous products.

'In my opinion, on behalf of the pharmaceutical companies, this basically amounts to bribery.'

The haemophilia centre at St Thomas' - run by Dr Geoffrey Savidge - was known to have some of the highest rates of Factor VIII use per patient in the UK, according to Professor Edward Tuddenham.

The leading haematologist and emeritus professor at the Royal Free in London said: 'Dr Savidge was known for years for using American concentrate. He had very well-equipped laboratories.'

Although Dr Savidge died in 2011, an earlier inquiry in 2007, found that 'he used almost exclusively commercial products but he shouldn't have done.'

Around 3,000 people died due to the infected blood scandal in the 1970s and 1980s which has been dubbed the biggest treatment disaster in NHS history.

The haemophilia centre at St Thomas' was known to have some of the highest rates of Factor VIII use per patient in the UK, according to Professor Edward Tuddenham (pictured)

Around 1,250 people with haemophilia were infected with HIV and another 5,000 contracted hepititis C after they were given the blood-clotting drug Factor VIII (file pic)

The Infected Blood Inquiry is expected to produce its final report on the mistakes that led to the deaths on May 20 - with an emphasis placed on the role of big pharma.

Factor VIII was a drug invented in the 1960s to treat haemophilia - a genetic bleeding disorder that prevents people's blood from clotting.

Although it was illegal in the UK to pay people to donate blood, in the US pharmaceutical giants offered high risk donors such as gay men and drug users money for their plasma.

As early as 1974, the UK was advised not to import US blood products as they were more likely to carry hepatitis.

Then a court testimony from 1999, shows that by 1983 Factor VIII manufactured in the US was deemed 'highly likely' to contain HIV.

Nevertheless, doctors continued to believe that the benefits associated with using Factor VIII outweighed the risks.

A spokesperson for Bayer said that the offer of commerical offers associated with the supply of medicines was 'routine practice in the early 1980s and continues today'.

They said they are 'truly sorry' that the 'tragic situation' occurred with a spokesperson for Baxter adding that 'they sympathise with anyone impacted by infected blood in the 1970s and 1980s'.

MailOnline has contacted Baxter and Bayer for further comment.

The allegations that doctors were 'bribed' comes as earlier this month MPs heard that the NHS had 'very serious criminal and ethical issues' to answer over reports that children were 'experimented on' using infected blood products.

Demonstrators outside the Infected Blood inquiry in London last July held placards urging the Government to recognise all victims of the NHS scandal

Cabinet Office minister John Glen said reports on medical trials using infected blood products on children in the 1970s and 1980s demonstrate the 'unimaginable suffering of all those impacted by this dreadful scandal'.

Reports had previously revealed that children as young as three were used as 'guinea pigs' in clinical trials to test wether contaminated blood products were safe to use.

Many of these trials were carried out on children without their parent's knowledge, while a majority of those who took part are now dead.

Dame Diana Johnson, Labour MP for Kingston upon Hull North, said the BBC had produced 'shocking evidence' about children 'being experimented on' without their parents' consent.

She told the Commons: 'These disturbing revelations raise very serious criminal and ethical issues for the NHS and the medical profession - possibly breaches of the 1947 Nuremberg Code.'

The Nuremberg Code outlines ethical research principles for human experimentation, including stressing the importance of consent.
Iraqi TikTok sensation Om Fahad has been shot dead outside her Baghdad home in an apparent assassination, according to Iraqi security officials.

An unidentified attacker shot the popular influencer in her car in the Zayouna district, a security official said, requesting anonymity.

The attacker, who arrived on a motorbike, appeared to have pretended to be making a food delivery before firing upon Fahad, according to another security official.

A second woman was also injured in the attack, according to the Al Hurra news agency.

A 'specialist work team' has since been set up to investigate the circumstances leading to Ms Fahad's death, according to Iraq's Interior Ministry.

The online celebrity had become known for light-hearted TikTok videos of herself dancing to Iraqi music wearing tight-fitting clothes.

She had recently become embroiled in a feud with influencer Dalia Naeem, known as 'Iraqi Barbie' due to her use of plastic surgery, who had reportedly threatened to expose her alleged relationship with security officials, per the BBC.

In February 2023, a court sentenced Fahad, real name Ghufran Sawadi, to six months in jail for sharing 'videos containing indecent speech that undermines modesty and public morality'.

TikTok sensation Om Fahad (pictured in January 2023) was shot dead outside her home Friday

'Iraqi Barbie' Dalia Naeem had recently entered into a spat with Fahad, per the BBC

Om Fahad rose to prominence through her colorful videos on TikTok, often showing her dancing to popular music.

She was jailed last year as the Iraqi government launched a campaign 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.

'This type of content is no less dangerous than organised crime,' the ministry declared in a promotional video that asked the public to help by reporting such content.

'It is one of the causes of the destruction of the Iraqi family and society.'

Several influencers have since been arrested, according to authorities.

Days after Om Fahad's sentencing, another TikTok influencer who goes by the online name of Assal Hossam received an even harsher sentence of two years in prison.

Some of her videos showed her dressed in a tight military uniform.

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.

The Iraqi state bases its campaign on statements 'with vague and elastic terminology, such as public morals and indecent exposure', said Mustafa Saadun, of the Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights.

He warned these are open to 'interpretation' and mean that 'someone who has done nothing wrong risks being arrested'.

In 2018, model and influencer Tara Fares was shot dead by gunmen in Baghdad.

Citing the crackdown on 'indecent content', Amnesty International released a damning report on human rights in Iraq last year, warning authorities continued to attack freedom of expression and bring in new laws to further curb this right.

'Authorities intensified their repression of LGBTI peoples rights. Protection from gender-based violence remained severely limited in central Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq,' the analysis asserted.

In mid-February, the courts announced they had already charged 14 people for publishing 'indecent' or 'immoral' content on socials, and sentenced six to prison terms between six months and two years, according to the organisation.

'Between April and December, an additional 13 people had been charged. The majority were released on bail or after charges against them were dropped, but at least one person was convicted and sentenced to a prison term of three months and 10 days,' Amnesty reported.

Om Fahad (not pictured) had reportedly become embroiled in a row with 'Iraqi Barbie' Dalia Naeem, who last year shared her transformation after 43 cosmetic procedures (pictured)

Neighbouring Iran is also in the grips of a terrifying crackdown on so-called public morality.

Earlier this week it was reported rapper Toomaj Salehi, 33, would be hanged for charges linked to a period of nationwide unrest following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody in 2022

Salehi had shared photos online of himself at protests, and released songs reifying his support for disenfranchised women in Iran.

Following his 2022 arrest, Salehi was sentenced last year to six years and three months in prison for 'corruption on Earth', but avoided a death sentence due to a Supreme Court ruling which sent the case back to a lower court for re-examination.

Iranian 'morality police' have launched sporadic campaigns to verbally or violently arrest and 're-educate' women found in breach of regulations in response to changing dress codes and norms.

Iran has experienced its largest wave of protests in years following the death of student Mahsa Amini in police custody in 2022 after she was detained for improper wearing of a headscarf.
TOKYO, Apr 27 (News On Japan) - Tokyo Metro has come under fire for a poster that has been criticized as racially discriminatory, with a scene depicting a blonde Caucasian passenger carrying a large suitcase while not queuing up properly.

The poster also includes a small English inscription alongside the larger Japanese text, stating, "Please wait in line orderly at the platform."

The depiction has sparked a debate on social media internationally with comments such as, "Targeting white tourists with this advertisement is problematic," "I feel this is targeted racial discrimination," and "The English should be larger; they probably can't read Japanese."

When foreign visitors to Japan were asked for their impressions upon seeing the poster...

A Norwegian commented, "The text is too small for me. The Japanese is large and the English is small, it would be better if the English were larger."

A Dutch individual said, "I don't think this situation discriminates against Caucasians, but I understand why someone would feel that way."

However, there were also those who understood the intent behind the poster.

An American remarked, "Its a good reminder for foreigners who are unaware of the rules. It actually helps. Im heading to Kyoto and will make sure to queue properly for the Shinkansen."

Upon interviewing Tokyo Metro, it was revealed that the poster was created about four years ago and is no longer on display.

Tokyo Metro stated, "We are aware of some posts on social media questioning whether our poster is racially discriminatory, but it was not our intention to single out any race in its creation."

Source: FNN
An investigation has been launched after a man allegedly started 'inappropriate conversations' and exposed himself to children in two separate incidents.

WA Police has released CCTV footage of a man on a bike in relation to incidents that occurred in Perth earlier this month.

On April 14, a man approached a 11-year-old boy in Canning Vale and allegedly 'engaged the child in an inappropriate conversation of a sexual nature'.

The man was described as being fair-skinned, aged between 16 and 20-years-old, and wearing a black Calvin Klein hoodie and black fingerless gloves.

He appeared to have tattoos on his neck and on one of his wrists.

A police investigation has been launched after a man allegedly started 'inappropriate conversations' and exposed himself to children in two separate incidents

On April 20, a man approached an 11-year-old girl in Thornlie and allegedly exposed himself to her and engaged in conversation of a sexual nature.

The man was described as fair-skinned and aged between 17 and 18-years-old.

Both children allegedly told their parents they were approached by a man on a bike.

WA Police are investigating if the two incidents are linked.

'Given the close proximity of the incidents, the similar circumstances and similar description of the male person involved, it is being investigated whether the two incidents are linked,' police said in a statement.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Humza Yousaf has written to the Scottish Parliament's sole Alba Party MSP asking her to talks in a desperate bid to save his political future.

Ash Regan is seen a crucial figure who could save the Scottish First Minister's position when a no confidence vote takes place within days.

The SNP leader dramatically brought the SNP-led Scottish Government's powersharing deal with the Greens to an end on Thursday but now faces a backlash which could cost him his job.

The Greens will back a motion proposed by Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, leaving Mr Yousaf facing a knife-edge vote at Holyrood next week.

But Mr Yousaf hopes to hold separate meetings with each group at Bute House in Edinburgh to discuss how they can 'contribute constructively', while acknowledging that there are 'strong feelings' about the upcoming vote.

Humza Yousaf scrapped the Bute House Agreement despite previously being its biggest cheerleader within the SNP (Pictured in Dundee)

Alba MSP Ash Regan (pictured at Holyrood) is yet to decide how she will vote in the confidence vote next week

It is understood that letters were sent to Alba Party, Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Labour and the Scottish Greens on Friday night.

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 Government's recent dropping of 2030 climate targets and the decision to pause the prescription of new puberty blockers at Scotland's only gender clinic.

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.

Ms Regan has not yet decided how she will vote but if she backed the SNP leader then it would mean a tiebreak amongst MSP's in Holyrood.

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 Tory leader Douglas Ross has a lodged a motion of No Confidence in the Scottish First Minister

In the event of a tiebreak, presiding officer Alison Johnstone, who traditionally does not vote, would be expected to support the status quo and back Mr Yousaf.

Ms Regan had been a fierce critic of some Scottish Government policies, including gender reform, previously quitting her ministerial post over legislative proposals.

She later defected to Alba, led by former SNP first minister Alex Salmond, and is the party's Holyrood leader.

In a letter to Alba members, Ms Regan said she is 'carefully considering' her position ahead of the vote.

She has also written to Mr Yousaf to offer him an 'early opportunity' to discuss three clear priorities - Scottish independence, women's rights and the future of the Grangemouth oil refinery.

Ms Regan suggested in her letter to Alba members that investment in the refinery, which could shut as early as next year and shift to an import and export terminal, could be the price for her support.

The Alba Party has already launched a campaign to protect jobs at the Grangemouth refinery.

She will also urge Mr Yousaf to back proposals for an independence convention on Scottish sovereignty.

Ash Regan defected to the Alba party which is led by former First Minister Alex Salmond (pictured)

Grangemouth oil refinery is to cease operations as soon as 2025 under plans announced by its owner, Petroineos, last year

In a BBC interview on Friday, Ms Regan said she had not spoken to Mr Yousaf since the leadership contest last year. She said she is still considering how to cast her vote.

She said: 'I think that potentially some of the things he said about me when I left to go to a different political party last year probably shows that it's always wise to have that level of professional courtesy to people that you work with.'

In October last year, Mr Yousaf said Ms Regan's defection to Alba was 'no great loss'.

In his letters, Mr Yousaf emphasised that the Scottish Parliament has previous experience of minority administrations which had delivered benefits for 'people, communities and businesses'.

He said: 'Each group within the parliament must contribute constructively, and I believe Scotland's people want to see their political parties work together where and when they can, building consensus for the common good.

'I recognise the strong feelings in relation to the confidence debate our parliament is set to have next week.

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

'Notwithstanding that, I am writing to all Holyrood party groups to ask them to meet me next week, in separate meetings, to discuss their concerns and indeed priorities, in a hopefully constructive spirit.'

The meetings at Bute House would 'discuss matters and establish the scope for common ground', he said.

Speaking today, Mr Yousaf said he hoped to hear from the other Holyrood leaders soon.

It was put to Mr Yousaf that given the lack of support from the Greens, Ms Regan could be crucial to his political survival.

He told Sky News: 'That would be really disappointing if that is the Greens' position.

'As I say, I've reached out to them, they are saying publicly that they're going to support a Conservative motion against - a First Minister, an independence government.

'I think that would be, I think, a poor choice to make. So of course I have written to Ash Regan, as well. I look forward to speaking to her too.'

Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and the greens celebrate the signing of the agreement in August 2021. The deal has now been scrapped by Humza Yousaf

Humza Yousaf's former leadership rival Kate Forbes has urged colleagues to back him in the upcoming votes of no confidence

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, who lodged a motion of no confidence in Mr Yousaf, suggested he is in little mood for compromise.

Mr Ross said: 'The only letter Humza Yousaf should be writing is one offering his resignation.

'He says it's important for the Scottish people, communities and businesses to have effective government as if he's just discovered it, when he is the one who has ignored their priorities and failed to listen to concerns.

'But given how much his views have changed in the last week perhaps I'll go along to Bute House, if there's a possibility I can convince him to support my motion.'

Leaders of the other parties have not yet issued responses to the letters.

Speaking on Friday, Scottish Labour's Anas Sarwar said: 'I am more than happy to engage with people of all parties, but it is clear that Humza Yousaf is out of time.

'He is leading a chaotic and divided political party and an incompetent government that is failing the people of Scotland every single day, and one conversation isn't going to change that.'

Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie has 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 Labour leader Anas Sarwar during First Minster's Questions (FMQ's) at the Scottish Parliament on Thursday

On Saturday, Mr Yousaf's former leadership rival Kate Forbes urged colleagues to back him in the upcoming votes of no confidence.

Ms Forbes, who came second in the race to succeed Nicola Sturgeon last year, said recent events had been 'an embarrassment for every parliamentarian in every party'.

While the result of the confidence 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.

Labour have also lodged a motion 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.
A pro-Palestinian protester holding a banner comparing Israel to the Nazis and a demonstrator who hurled racist abuse at campaigners against anti-Semitism were two people arrested at a huge Gaza march today.

'Hundreds of thousands' marched through the streets of London in a series of protests today, some in support of a ceasefire in Gaza and others to call for an end to anti-Semitism.

An event organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) began at Parliament Square at 12pm, setting off at 12.30pm on a route via Whitehall, Piccadilly and Park Lane and then ending at Hyde Park, where speeches were given.

Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn was spotted among the crowds alongside First Minister of Northern Ireland and Vice President of Sinn Fein Michelle O'Neill.

The two pro-palestine politicians were pictured hugging near a large banner.

A counter protest by pro-Israeli groups against anti-Semitism was also held and overlapped in some places with the route of the pro-Palestinian march.

The Met Police told MailOnline: 'This man was seen on CCTV by officers in our operations room as the protest formed up. Officers on the ground were guided in and he was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence'

The force added that 'officers arrested a man (centre) who shouted a racist remark towards those in the Enough is Enough protest'

'Hundreds of thousands' of pro-Palestinian protesters marched through London today

Police officers detain a person as people take part in a pro-Palestine march on Whitehall in central London

Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn was spotted among the crowds

Mr Corbyn was spotted alongside First Minister of Northern Ireland and Vice President of Sinn Fein Michelle O'Neill

Two pro-palestine politicians were pictured hugging near a large banner

Protesters gather in Parliament Square ahead of the National March for Palestine

Protesters hold placards depicting the faces of Labour politicians Angela Rayner and Sir Keir Starmer

The pro-Palestinian march crossed paths with a counter-demonstration organised by Enough is Enough

Some protesters on the counter-march reported being subject to antisemitic abuse as the marches crossed paths.

Reverend Hayley Ace who was on the Enough is Enough counter-protest, was misidentified as a Jew while wearing a Star of David cap and was told to 'F*** off to Poland', the Campaign Against Antisemitism reported.

Reverend Ace said: 'Obviously Poland is where the Nazis built most of their concentration camps for the extermination of Jews. Comments like those that I received are common on these marches. How can anyone pretend they are peaceful?'

According to CAA, some pro-Palestinian protesters carried placards promoting conspiracies including one that read 'Our media, TV, radio and Government are controlled by Zionists'.

Another poster showed the Statue of Liberty feeding an Israeli baby with blood, invoking the blood libel.

A spokesperson for the charity said: 'We are told by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign that these are peaceful marches where Jews are given a warm welcome, but the reality is that these marches are rife with hatred, exactly as we keep saying.

'Now, even a Christian Reverend has had to experience antisemitic hatred from marchers because she was mistaken for being quite openly Jewish.

'Instead of being effectively policed, much of the incitement and hatred is given a free pass by the Met.

'It is time that they stop gaslighting the public about the nature of these marches. Sir Mark Rowley has the power to bring these marches under control, but he seems to prefer instead to appease the mobs. That is why over 10,000 people have already signed our petition for him to be replaced.'

Bella Wallersteiner, 29, who has Jewish heritage and 30 of whose relatives were murdered in the Holocaust, was at the protest and saw a number of offensive signs.

She said: 'It has become painfully routine, to the extent I've actually become slightly desensitised to it all.

'I'm sick of shouldering responsibility that should fall on the police. It's exhausting to constantly educate people about why these images are harmful.

'I shouldn't have to be the one policing these events!'

She added: '[I] just can't believe we've had six months of anti-Semitism masquerading as solidarity.

'If the Met can't cope, [the] government should take it out of their hands.'

The Met told MailOnline it had arrested the man holding the Nazi sign. A spokesman said: 'This man was seen on CCTV by officers in our operations room as the protest formed up.

'Officers on the ground were guided in and he was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence.'

Bella Wallersteiner, 29, (pictured) who has Jewish heritage and 30 of whose relatives were murdered in the Holocaust, was at the protest and saw a number of offensive signs

Many demonstrators called for a ceasefire in Gaza

Dozens of police officers ensured pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel demonstrators were kept apart

Men and women held banners calling for a ceasefire

Many protesters held signs, including one man who was spotted holding a sign likening Israel to the Nazis

Protesters gather in Parliament Square ahead of the National March for Palestine, 27 Apr 2024

The protest is the 13th organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign since October 9

The group bills itself as 'a community of people working together for peace, equality, and justice and against racism, occupation, and colonisation'

Pro-Palestine supporters gathered to protest in London today

Many carried Palestinian flags as they walked in front of Parliament

A static demonstration organised by Enough is Enough is also scheduled to take place 'at the same time' in Pall Mall, which is on the route of the Palestine march.

The force added that 'officers arrested a man who shouted a racist remark towards those in the Enough is Enough protest'.

Protesters today are campaigning for an end to the hostilities in the Gaza Strip with more than 34,000 Palestinians killed by Israel's ground and air offensive since de facto authority Hamas launched its shock assault on Israel on October 7.

Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) was due to hold a separate counter demonstration from 12pm until 2pm, but cancelled the protest citing safety concerns after police prevented its chief executive Gideon Falter from crossing a road through a pro-Palestinian protest last weekend.

As the Metropolitan Police insist they will 'police without fear or favour', Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist acknowledged a 'particular cause of fear and uncertainty in Jewish communities', with reports of some people avoiding the tube and feeling compelled to hide their identities on demonstration days.

One woman held up a sign that called Israel were 'baby killers'

She said: '[I] just can't believe we've had six months of anti-Semitism masquerading as solidarity'

Ms Wallersteiner added: 'If the Met can't cope, [the] government should take it out of their hands'

Protests and the issues raised within them remain sensitive to groups involved as the war in the southern Levant rages on with no immediate end in sight.

As Hamas today claimed to be studying the latest Israeli counter proposal for a potential ceasefire on Saturday, Palestinians already facing famine fear an impending invasion of the southern city of Rafah.

Much of the population has been displaced to the city in the wake of a sustained offensive through Gaza. The Palestinian Solidarity Campaign has organised protests to call for an end to hostilities since October 9, when Israel announced a 'complete siege' of Gaza, cutting off access to food, water and power.

Hamas remains steadfast that it will retain the hostages taken into Gaza on October 7 until ceasefire terms are agreed, however, with Israeli forces urgently trying to secure their release and the destruction of Hamas among their listed objectives.

Groups concerned about anti-Semitic rhetoric and the appearance of controversial slogans at rallies have met the pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) group was planning a 'walk together' event, also expected to attract thousands of people, but cancelled the event claiming it had received threats and identified 'hostile actors' posing a threat to Jews.

In February, The Community Security Trust (CST) reported a 589 per cent spike in antisemitism in the UK compared to the same period in 2022.

Police standing at barriers as crowds march past holding Palestinian flags and 'Free Palestine' banners and placards

The crowds outside Parliament Square where the march started carrying banners and flags

A range of signs were seen at the march including those bearing the slogan 'From the river to the sea'. Other signs called for a ceasefire while some branded the war a genocide

A woman holding up a sign made out of cardboard that reads 'No more murder in our name' with a Palestinian flag and the star if David

The 4,103 recorded incidents nationwide marked the highest total in a calendar year reported to the organisation, per The Guardian.

The CST said Hamas's attack on Israel on 7 October was a 'trigger event [that] had a seismic effect on antisemitic incident levels in the UK  and the impact was instant'.

Amid rising concerns for safety, The Metropolitan Police said in a statement yesterday that officers would be on duty across central London on Saturday to safeguard the events.

Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist, who is responsible for public order policing, said: 'Our objectives this weekend are to police without fear or favour, to protect the right to protest and to keep the peace.

'All Londoners have a right to have their voices heard, just as they also have a right to go about their lives without fear and without being subject to serious disruption.

'The cumulative impact of almost seven months of protest is felt widely, but it has been a particular cause of fear and uncertainty in Jewish communities.

'While there has been a Jewish presence on many of the PSC marches, there are many more Jewish people who do not travel into the centre of London on protest days, or who avoid the tube, hide their identities or otherwise change their behaviour. It is a reality that should concern us all.

'I know there are people who feel the solution is to see these protests banned. The bar for such a decision is incredibly high  it requires a risk of serious public disorder of the sort we simply haven't seen either in this period of protest or for several years.

Police in front of a barrier where pro-Israeli marchers gathered. They called for the hostages to be released and held signs calling Hamas terrorists

A sea of israeli flags as a line of police officers stand in front keeping the two marches away from each other

A woman draped in an Israeli flag holds a sign calling Hamas terrorists

Pro-Israel protesters marching through London waving flags

'But while we cannot apply for protests to be banned in the current circumstances, we can use powers under the Public Order Act and other legislation to impose conditions on marches and assemblies in an effort to prevent serious disruption, to keep those with opposing views apart and to ensure wider public safety.'

The Met also provided statistics, claiming the main protests had ranged in size from 300,000 at the highest point to around 5-10,000 'in recent months'.

'There have so far been 415 arrests during protests. 193 of these have been for antisemitic offences,' the Met stated.

They said the majority of arrests had been 'in relation to placards, chanting or other expressions of hate speech'.

Arrests were also made for 'more typical public order offences as well as assault, obstruction and other disorder'.

The Met also claimed 15 terrorism arrests had been made at protests 'which is unheard of previously'.

'The majority of these have been on suspicion of support for proscribed organisations, namely Hamas.'

The Met Police said they would police 'without fear or favour' at the protests today

Police attend the protest organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign in London, April 27

Protesters gather in Parliament Square, London, ahead of the protest on Saturday

People gather in Parliament Square ahead of a pro-Palestine march in central London

Placards at the march on Saturday as protestors call for an end to hostilities in the Gaza Strip

Scotland Yard faced questions over its policing of demonstrations last week as the group's head, Gideon Falter, was shown in video footage clashing with an officer.

The video showed a large pro-Palestine demonstration moving through London as Mr Falter sought to cross the road, across the path of the march.

The officer offered Mr Falter a way out of the demonstration, to cross the road, without walking through it.

He stresses that 'that way you will be completely safe just as we promised', and suggests 'I've already seen you deliberately leave the pavement and walk against the march'.

At one point, the officer says: 'You are quite openly Jewish, this is a pro-Palestinian march, I'm not accusing you of anything but I'm worried about the reaction to your presence.'

Mr Falter later wrote in The Times that he had been 'treated like a criminal for being Jewish', with a source telling The Telegraph Rishi Sunak was 'appalled' by the remarks and threat to arrest the journalist for trying to 'push forward' past a police cordon.

Sunak said that he retained trust in commissioner Sir Mark Rowley but said the latter needed to rebuild the 'trust and confidence' of the Jewish community.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, former Scotland Yard chief superintendent Dal Babu agreed that while the 'openly Jewish' comment was 'not acceptable', he felt the officers showed 'great restraint' and questioned the 'accuracy' of the 'narrative' shown in a shortened version of the clip, widely circulated.

Hamas today said it was studying the latest counterproposal regarding a potential ceasefire in Gaza, a day after media reports said a delegation from mediator Egypt arrived in Israel in a bid to jump-start stalled negotiations.

The signs of fresh truce talks came alongside at least three Israeli air strikes during the night in Rafah, southernmost Gaza, according to AFP.

'Today, the Hamas movement received the official Zionist occupation response to the movement's position, which was delivered to the Egyptian and Qatari mediators on April 13,' Khalil al-Hayya, deputy head of Hamas's political arm in Gaza, said in a statement.

'The movement will study this proposal, and upon completion of its study, it will submit its response.'

Smoke billows following Israeli bombardment in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, on March 27

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

Hamas has previously insisted on a permanent ceasefire, something rejected by Israel.

Egypt, Qatar and the United States have been unsuccessfully trying to seal a new truce deal in Gaza ever since a one-week halt to the fighting in November saw 80 Israeli hostages exchanged for 240 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.

A delegation from Egypt arrived in Israel on Friday hoping to revive the truce negotiations, Israeli and Egyptian media reported.

There has been 'noticeable progress in bringing the views of the Egyptian and Israeli delegations closer', said Al-Qahera News, which is linked to Egyptian state intelligence services.

In early April Hamas had said it was studying a proposal, after talks in Cairo, and Al-Qahera reported progress.

Days later Israel and Hamas accused each other of undermining negotiations.
A British explorer and his son have revealed the hilarious moment they attacked by an albatross after they swam to the most remote place on Earth.

Last month, Chris Brown, 62, hit the headlines sharing his incredible quest to Point Nemo - one of the world's eight Poles of Inaccessibility - in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with his son Mika, 30.

Now the father-of-two, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, has gone viral after sharing one of the funnier events from the once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Excited to have reached their destination, Chris and Mika jumped in the water for a relaxing swim - which was soon interrupted.

With the location being so remote they had not expected to run into any marine life or wildlife.

British explorer Chris Brown (pictured showing the exact coordinates of Point Nemo in his Garmin) and his son have revealed the hilarious moment they attacked by an albatross after they swam to the most remote place on Earth

Chris Brown and his son being attacked by an albatross whilst in the most remote place on Earth, Point Nemo in the Pacific Ocean

Point Nemo can be closer to astronauts than anyone on dry land if the ISS is flying overhead, the space station around 370460km above the Earth's surface but Point Nemo is 2,688km from the nearest island.

In a TikTok, that has over 6,000 views and growing, the pair get attacked by a cranky albatross.

Despite their efforts to fight back, the seabird remained undefeated.

'We got attacked at the loneliest place on Earth,' the caption reads.

'When we arrived at Point Nemo, we were eager to get into the ocean and immerse ourselves whilst making history, but what came next took us by surprise.

'A massive albatross swooped down and tried to attack us - with the bird not taking no for an answer!

'Even after trying to bat the big guy away with our hefty camera, he was still trying to attack us!'

Chris explained that the bird had been following their boat, the Hanse Explorer, as they set sail.

Chris celebrates in the water after swimming to Point Nemo - the most remote place on Earth

In a TikTok , that has over 6,000 views and growing, the pair get attacked by a cranky albatross

Albatrosses are a large species of seabird, with wingspans measuring up to a colossal 11 feet.

They have been nicknamed 'nomads of the oceans' and can spend years without ever touching land, and are often seen alone travelling thousands of miles for one journey.

Since reaching Point Nemo, Chris only has two destinations left to complete his goal - the Northern and the Eurasian.

He is the first person ever to document an expedition to the location, which is also known as the spacecraft graveyard as so much space junk is dumped there.

The explorer, who logs his adventures on inaccessibility.net, added: 'It is fantastic to have reached Point Nemo finally after all these years of planning.

'I am really chuffed to have visited six of the eight Poles of Inaccessibility.'
The TV doctor bragged that he could 'get away' exchanging sex for Botox

The 42-year-old sent a barrage of sleazy messages to the patient

A TV doctor who appeared on This Morning has been struck off after plying an OnlyFans model with free Botox in return for sex.

Dr Tijion Esho, who has featured on ITV's hit morning show, BBC's Morning Live and E4's Body Fixers, admitted to an improper relationship with the woman.

He sent her a string of sleazy messages after treating the model, referred to as Patient A in his clinic in Jesmond, Newcastle.

The doctor admitted to having an improper emotional relationship with the woman, but denied it was physical.

But Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) found he had in fact engaged in sexual activity with the woman at his clinic.

Dr Tijion Esho who has featured on ITV's hit morning show, BBC 's Morning Live and E4's Body Fixers sent sleazy messages and rubbed up against one of his patients who was an OnlyFans model

The TV doctor appeared on This Morning with Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield providing medical opinions on cosmetic surgery discussions

The MPTS heard that the 42-year-old sent explicit messages between July 2019 and February 2022.

Esho texted the woman in September 2019: 'What you doing to me lol. Morning Glory. Bloody have me wanting the real thing. That's like every man's dream.'

In November 2019 he posted: 'Why you making me bulge lol. Send more, don't be sorry lol.'

The following month he wrote 'Lol loving the tongue' and 'Ha free mls I'd need the whole booty and more'.

Weeks later he told her: 'My God having you for a night/every night is a dream but if we do it for mls I break the doctors code and I'd be a dead man x lol.' and 'me, you, champagne and nipples'.

He also shockingly boasted that he could 'get away' with giving the woman free Botox in exchange for sex.

The showbiz doctor, who has appeared alongside Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, also told his patient that 'It would be better to see you at the clinic in Newcastle in terms of having sex.' and stroked her hair.

The MPTS panel, sitting in Manchester, also heard that a year earlier, at another consultation, he made similar remarks to Patient A, again rubbed himself against her, and allowed her to perform a sex act on him.

Dr Esho appeared on E4's Body Fixers from 2016 as well as other shows including BBC 's Morning Live

The 42-year-old has now been struck off the medical register after a tribunal found his fitness to work impaired after he exchanged Botox for sex at his Newcastle clinic

The tribunal found Dr Esho's fitness to practise was impaired because of his misconduct.

On Saturday, the MPTS announced it had decided at a private hearing to strike Dr off the medical register.

READ MORE: TV doctor Tijion Esho is found guilty of having sex with patient and giving her Botox for free in exchange and could be struck off Advertisement

Ryan Donoghue, for the General Medical Council, told the hearing in Manchester earlier this month: 'Dr Esho's actions would plainly be considered deplorable by fellow medical practitioners.

'As such, that's further support they amount to serious professional misconduct.'

The tribunal's reasons for imposing the sanction will be released next week.

The panel ruled the conduct of the doctor, also known as Oluwafemi Esho, was sexually motivated but did not find Patient A to be vulnerable because of her profession.

Dr Esho featured on the ITV morning programme to provide his medical opinion and comment on cosmetic surgery discussions.

He was also regularly consulted on Body Fixers for E4, a channel operated by Channel 4, which aired for two seasons in 2016 and 2017, and made appearances on segments of BBC's Morning Live until the summer of 2022.

Dr Esho is the founder of the Esho Clinic, which also has locations in London, Liverpool and Dubai, and has a host of celebrity clients.

This clinic in Newcastle has now shut down but another one has opened in nearby Gosforth.

He issued a statement following the tribunal's findings: 'I am disappointed with the decision handed down today by the MPTS.

My conduct in communicating with Patient A was wrong and foolish. In doing so, I let down many people and I fully accept that this behaviour as a medical professional and doctor was not acceptable.

'However, I repeat categorically that the communications never crossed over into any physical sexual contact.

'Despite today's decision, I remain as committed as ever in ensuring all patients at our clinics, many of whom have shown incredible support over the past few months, continue to receive the highest standards of treatment and care.'
A tenth man who allegedly took part in a riot outside a western Sydney church after the stabbing of a bishop has been charged.

The melee broke out in the suburb of Wakeley, 35km west of Sydney's CBD, after the alleged terror stabbing of 53-year-old Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel on April 15.

Officers attached to Strike Force Dribs conducted a search warrant at a home on Milton Street, Granville on Saturday, in connection to the riot.

A 27-year-old man was arrested at the home and several items alleged to be linked to the incident at Wakeley were seized

The man was taken to Granville Police Station where he was charged with riot and throw missile at police officer at public disorder.

He was refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Sunday.

A tenth man (pictured centre) who allegedly took part in a riot outside a western Sydney church after the stabbing of a bishop has been charged.

READ MORE: Seven alleged members of a 'youth terror cell' are arrested in sweeping raids across Sydney after bishop church stabbing The raids were in response to a stabbing at a Wakeley church on April 15 (pictured) Advertisement

The latest arrest of an alleged rioter follows the arrest of seven young people in counter-terrorism raids, which were also in response to last week's church stabbing.

More than 400 members of a joint counter-terrorism team from state and federal police forces began kicking down doors at 13 homes in Sydney's south-west at about 11.15am on Wednesday.

The attack on Bishop Emmanuel at the Assyrian Christ The Good Shepherd Church, has been declared a religiously motivated terror incident.

Those arrested were 15, 16 and 17 year-olds.

'We will allege that these individuals adhere to a religiously motivated violent extremist ideology,' NSW Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson said.

'These investigations have been progressing since the incident, the investigations including comprehensive surveillance activities and intensive scrutiny of these individuals.'

The counter-terrorism team said those arrested allegedly 'posed an unacceptable risk to the people of New South Wales'.

'Our current, purely investigative, strategies could not adequately ensure public safety,' Commissioner Hudson said.

'As a result, we determined that we needed to escalate our activities and that overt action was required.

'I can assure the community there is no ongoing threat to the community, and the action we have taken today has mitigated any risk of future or further harm.'

Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett emphasised the arrests were not racially or religiously motivated.

'I want to be very clear, we target criminality and not countries. We target radicalisation, not religion,' she said.

'We ask Australians to remain vigilant. I urge people who see or hear something that they feel is not right to contact the National Security Hotline immediately.'

Officers attached to Strike Force Dribs conducted a search warrant at a home on Milton Street, Granville on Saturday, in connection with the riot

A 27-year-old man was arrested at the scene and several items alleged to be linked to the incident at Wakeley were seized

The raids took place in theBankstown, Prestons, Casula, Lurnea, Rydalmere, Greenacre, Strathfield, Chester Hill and Punchbowl, as well as a property in Goulburn, 195km south-west of Sydney.

A 16-year-old boy, who can not be identified for legal reasons, is accused of stabbing Bishop Emmanuel during a livestreamed sermon in front of parishioners.

He was charged with terrorism offences and refused bail.

The use of the term terrorism by police indicates authorities believe the incident was religiously or politically motivated.

Witnesses to the attack on the bishop said the alleged perpetrator used the Islamic phrase 'Allahu Akbar' and allegedly said in Arabic that Bishop Emmanuel had denigrated 'my prophet'.

The man (left) was taken to Granville Police Station where he was charged with riot and throw missile at police officer at public disorder

The stabbing sparked a massive riot outside the church with around 2,000 people chanting 'bring him out' and 'an eye for an eye'.

Police kept the alleged terrorist inside the church during the demonstration, over fears for his safety.

Dozens of police officers were injured and police property damaged in the riot, with some officers and paramedics were forced to take shelter inside the church.

Crime Stoppers NSW 1800 333 000

National Security Hotline 1800 123 400
They were the secret negotiations between Nigel Farage's Brexit Party and shadowy Tory fixer Dougie Smith which sowed the seeds of the disaster facing Rishi Sunak.

It can now be revealed that Mr Smith, who has been accused of plotting with Michael Gove to topple Boris Johnson, led a team of Tory power brokers who tried to bribe Mr Farage into withdrawing before the 2019 election by offering him a knighthood, ten peerages for his Brexit Party members and influence over the Governments policy direction.

Mr Farages response was to text a very rude message to Boris.

Later that day, Boris recorded a video clip making promises over the delivery of Brexit which satisfied Mr Farage sufficiently to withdraw his candidates from all Conservative seats, which had the effect of doubling Boriss majority on polling day.

Dougie Smith and a team of Tory power brokers tried to 'bribe' Nigel Farage into withdrawing before the 2019 election by offering him a knighthood

Now Mr Sunak is reaping the whirlwind from that process: the leaders of Reform UK, the successor organisation to the Brexit Party, say that the fraught negotiations and the failure of the Conservatives to effectively implement Brexit, has poisoned all trust between them and helps to drive a determination to wipe them out at this years general election.

Our experience in 2019 showed us that the Conservative Party cannot be trusted. They are totally devoid of principle and corrupt to the core, Mr Farage told The Mail on Sunday.

They combined the carrot of bribery with the stick of intimidation. They seem to think that is acceptable behaviour.

As the deadline for registering candidates neared in November 2019, Mr Smith met Richard Tice, who now leads Reform, in a nondescript office building south of Westminster Bridge.

A knighthood was dangled for Farage - because he had already said he wouldnt accept a place in the Lords - along with peerages for Mr Tice and selected Brexit MEPs if Mr Farage agreed to a public photo-op on the Tuesday declaring his support for Boris.

When Mr Farages intermediary, Brexit MEP Robert Rowland, relayed the news to him he demanded that the room be cleared.

I was told that no-one had ever heard me shout that loud, Mr Farage said. I sent a very rude message to Boris. He did not respond.

Mr Tice is also understood to have been separately offered the safe Tory seat of Rutland if he supported Boris.

Allies of Mr Johnson stress that the former prime minister knew nothing about the meeting with Mr Smith, the offer of peerages or any other inducements.

One source said that the atmosphere in the meeting with Mr Smith was full of suspicion and mistrust - which turned out to be well-founded. But the source added: Richard was very clear the issue was about policy not preferment. He wanted to see us out of the EU quickly and cleanly - he wasnt interested in baubles.

It is perhaps inevitable that Mr Smith led the attempted shuttle diplomacy.

In her book, The Plot: The Political Assassination of Boris Johnson, former culture secretary Nadine Dorries identified him as a key part of a cabal, which also included Levelling Up Secretary Mr Gove and Mr Johnsons former adviser Dominic Cummings, who plotted to give Boris a large enough majority to deliver Brexit - and then plotted to remove him when he won too big for them to control him.

The leaders of Reform UK say the failures of the Conservatives to implement Brexit has motivated them to wipe out Rishi Sunak's party at the general election

Reform has now closed to within 5 per cent of the Tories and is on course to deny the party dozens of seats.

But this time, a pre-election deal seems unlikely: Mr Tice has described the notion as absolute b******s, with the only negotiations being conducted with individual Tory MPs to discuss their possible defections.

A Reform party source said: The 2019 deal could not be repeated because the trust has gone.

'I mean, there wasnt much trust then - but there is absolutely none now, We agreed to it then because we hated the idea of a "rainbow alliance" Government of Jeremy Corbyns Labour, the SNP and the Liberal Democrats which would frustrate Brexit. But, in classic fashion, Boris let us down.

'Once he had his stonking majority, with our help, he could have gone back to Brussels and renegotiated Theresa Mays deal. But he didnt. And all those candidates we stood down found it hard to take.

A Tory party source said: Dougie was the main player in this process. It was never clear whether Boris knew, or suspected, what was going on, but he knew enough to film that video which gave Farage the room to climb down.'

But it was definitely a time of bribes and threats. There was a lot of tension on the Farage side, because the clock was ticking down to the moment where he had to decide whether to keep all his candidates in place and risk handing the country over to Jeremy Corbyn and a potential swathe of Liberal Democrats winning power because the Brexit Party would have split the Tory vote in the West Country.

Mr Smith has previously been accused of plotting with Michael Gove to topple Boris Johnson

A Reform Party source said that Boriss video clip, in which he promised to deliver Brexit within a year, fulfilled Farages conditions because it met the red line of no regulatory alignment with EU laws.

In response, two days before nominations closed, Mr Farage announced that his party would not stand in the 317 seats won by the Tories in 2017.

He said that he had been satisfied by the signalling of a big shift of position in his approach to Brexit, by pledging not to extend the transition period that would follow the UKs departure from the EU.

Speculation continues to swirl about Mr Farages intentions. Former prime minister Liz Truss, who was a prominent guest at his recent 60th birthday party and is helping to build a Faragiste movement of popular conservatives, the so-called PopCons, denies Westminster rumours that Mr Farage promised her: Im coming back.

But his friends do not rule out a final dramatic bid to win a Commons seat by standing in Clacton, or taking a place in the Lords as part of a post-election deal with a like-minded Tory leader such as Priti Patel or Suella Braverman. Equally, he could take a job in America - he is close friends with Donald Trump - and watch the Tory civil war from afar.

He told the MoS that he will make his final decision after he returns from a ten-day trip he is about to embark on to the US, giving him time to digest Thursdays local election results.

Mr Smith declined to comment.
GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING

A grandmother and cancer patient who was subjected to a horrific assault inside her own home has spoken about the attack for the very first time.

Cancer patient Ninette Simons, 73, is very still bruised from the shocking home invasion by three men who pretended to be police officers when they knocked on the door of her Girrawheenon home, in Perth's north, on the evening of April 16.

But she is now bravely speaking out so she can pleading for help in finding the attackers, none of whom have yet been caught.

'I'm very frightened, I'm not the same person I used to be, I can hardly stand or walk,' she told 9News.

The men who carried out the cowardly assault claimed they were cops, telling Ms Simons' husband Philip they had a warrant to search their house 'for stolen gold'.

Grandmother Ninette Simons (pictured), who was subjected to a horrific assault inside her own home in the Perth suburb of Girrawheen has spoken about the attack for the first time

The men who carried out the cowardly and savage assault said they were cops, telling Ms Simons' husband Philip (pictured) they had a warrant to search their house 'for stolen gold'

READ MORE: One man stabbed and two others assaulted by knife-wielding man in seaside town A man has allegedly been stabbed and two other people - including a man with a young child in his arms - were allegedly assaulted, in the latest of a spate of knife attacks Advertisement

Mr Simons, 76, opened the door to the men at around 7pm and a half hour of terror followed.

'The minute they came inside, one bloke grabbed me,' he said.

'They said, "Get on your knees", threw me on the floor, jumped on my back, grabbed the chord from the amplifier and tied me up on the floor.'

They then started attacking Ms Simons.

'The next minute I was getting punched by the second bloke who had some mask on his face, saying, "Don't scream", and just belting me, which went on for a good half an hour,' she said.

'I said, "What are you doing? Please, you're hurting me. You're going to kill me, I'm 73 years-old, I'm a cancer patient".'

But the heartless thieves did not stop. They tore jewellery from her body and then broke into the couple's safe.

'I was pouring with blood, from my mouth, from my nose and I blacked out - unconscious for a minute or two. I thought I was dying, I don't know how I survived this,' Ms Simons said.

One of the attackers told the couple that 'If you go to the police, we're from the area, we'll be back to finish you.'

The Simons have been too scared to go back to their home of 45 years, which is 14km north of Perth's CBD.

WA police believe it was a specifically targeted attack as the invaders took almost $200,000 worth of jewellery, which was the elderly couple's life savings.

Ms Simons shared an important message in lieu of the attack.

'I just want to plead with the public to help the police catch them, so that we can all feel safe again, please help,' Ms Simons said.

Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000
A small town in Pennsylvania has been ranked as the best place in the US for retirees to live in.

The slower pace away from the hustle and bustle of cities combined with the low cost of living and low crime rate makes Camp Hill a desirable location.

It was ranked top of a list of small towns to retire in by GoBankingRates.com who surveyed communities across the country that have populations between 1,000 and 10,000 residents.

Camp Hill scored 92 on its livability index thanks to its low monthly cost of $3,356 and low crime rate of 9.4 per 1,000 residents.

Meanwhile Delaware was ranked the best state to retire in thanks to its coastline, favorable tax policies and wellness services.

The small town of Camp Hill in Pennsylvania has been ranked as the best place in the US for retirees to live in

The slower pace away from the hustle and bustle of cities combined with the low cost of living and low crime rate makes Camp Hill a desirable location

It was ranked top of a list of small towns to retire in by GoBankingRates.com who surveyed communities across the country that have populations between 1,000 and 10,000 residents

Researchers at GoBankingRates.com looked at average rental and living costs, crime rates and data including amenities, housing availability and transportation to rank towns in America.

Camp Hill managed to come out on top of the list of 44 best small towns to retire in with its affordability and safety.

Around 3,200 households in the area earn a median income of $105,000 and around 15 percent of its population is aged 65 or over.

The small town offers a vibrant shopping scene with lots of small businesses owned by women.

It is also home to the award-winning library Cleve J. Fredricksen Library and a weekday farmer's market which runs from May to October.

While Northville in Michigan was ranked second with a livability score of 86, a monthly cost of living of $3,383 and a crime rate of 6.5 per 1,000 residents.

Camp Hill scored 92 on its livability index thanks to its low monthly cost of $3,356 and low crime rate of 9.4 per 1,000 residents

Around 3,200 households in the area earn a median income of $105,000 and around 15 percent of its population is aged 65 or over

The small town offers a vibrant shopping scene with lots of small businesses owned by women

Fort Mitchell in Kentucky came third and had the same livability score, monthly cost of living of $3,347 and a higher crime rate of 8.7.

It comes as research shows that an increasing number of Americans are not ready for retirement.

Around 27 percent of those aged 59 or older do not have money saved for when they stop working.

Just 10 percent of those between 62 and 70 who are retired are financially stable.
A former ITV News correspondent has shone light on the decision to allow presenter Rageh Omaar to continue presenting the News at Ten after falling 'unwell'.

Rageh Omaar, 56, was presenting on Friday when he appeared to have difficulty reading his lines, leading to widespread concern among viewers that he needed to have been taken off air.

The veteran journalist continued through to the end of the show before signing off, but ITV later redacted its re-run on ITV+1 and confirmed Omaar had become 'unwell while presenting... and is now receiving medical care'.

Angus Walker, an award-winning correspondent formerly with ITV News, took to Twitter/X to suggest in his time with the company protocols were in place for editors to intervene if a presenter fell sick.

'Wishing #RagehOmaar well. On a Fri eve the ITV News newsroom is pretty empty even as News at Ten is on air but there is a duty Editor on call precisely to make any big calls,' he said.

'Ive been asked to step in for a colleague who fell ill just before going live - can and has been done.'

Viewers took to social media to express their concerns about how the ailing newsman was allowed to continue to the end of the show, visibly affected in his presenting.

ITV News confirmed Omaar had fallen 'unwell' and was 'receiving medical care' but did not provide any further details.

Rageh Omaar, 56, the ITV News International Affairs Editor was rounding up the top stories of the day on the News at 10 show when he suddenly becomes incoherent while live on air

Angus Walker, who formerly worked for ITV and now works in PR, shone light on the situation

Omaar was presenting the News at Ten programme on Friday evening when he appeared to struggle to introduce a bulletin.

The International Affairs Editor continued through to the end of the segment, thanking viewers before the credits rolled.

The credits continued for nearly 20 seconds as the camera stayed focused on the presenter.

News at Ten usually runs for 30 minutes from 10pm.

Viewers immediately took to social media to share their concern for Omaar, with one ICU nurse claiming to have contacted ITV News as early at 10:10pm to warn them of possible stroke symptoms.

Investigative Journalist Mark Williams-Thomas wrote: 'It was clear #RagehOmaar was not well last night, thats when you need people in the gallery to step up, go straight to VT .

'It certainly looks like paramedics were called and he was take to hospital. I wish him well and ITV News will now need to review this to ensure welfare issues spotted and dealt with earlier.'

Broadcaster India Willoughby wrote on Twitter/X: 'Hope [Rageh Omaar] is ok - one of my fav newsreaders.

'Worrying to see what happened - but unfair to blame those in the [ITV News] gallery for carrying on.

'Its live tv, maybe only 2 people in the gallery on a Fri eve.

'Sure they will have asked if ok. Get well soon Rageh Omaar'

Fiona Clark, a staff nurse, claimed that she had called the broadcaster at 10:10pm and told them that 'as an ICU nurse who worked in stroke that Rageh Omaar required an emergency ambulance, he was dysphasic, drooped left eye, slurred speech and agitated all FAST symptoms'.

Clark wrote on Twitter/X: 'Unfortunately something I [have] seen regularly as a stroke nurse, absolutely shocked at the lack of urgency to get medical attention.'

'After speaking to other experience[d] stroke nurses he was most definitely a positive FAST call, hoping he is receiving the proper care now.'

FAST is an acronym employed as a test for symptoms of a possible stroke.

Face weakness, Arm weakness and Speech problems indicate Time to call emergency services, per the mnemonic.

'I told them their presenter was unwell, they told me they were aware,' Clark claimed.

'wishing Rageh Omaar a speedy recovery, but was so disappointed in itv news for not taking this poor man off air who was clearly very unwell!' one viewer wrote.

Rosa Zambonini wrote on Twitter/X: 'Sending so much love to Rageh Omaar, it was clear he was very poorly.

'Seeing many people including stroke nurses called ITV immediately and kudos to them for taking action.

'Whatever happened it would awful to watch for his friends and family, sending positive thoughts'

'We are aware that viewers are concerned about Rageh Omaar's wellbeing,' an ITV News spokesperson said last night.

'Rageh became unwell while presenting News at Ten on Friday and is now receiving medical care. He thanks everyone for their well wishes.'

ITV+1 also pulled the programme from its re-runs, as a message on screen said: 'We'll be back soon. We're temporarily unable to bring you our +1 service. We will resume shortly.'

As of Saturday morning, the ITV X website did not display the ITV News at Ten show.

He won numerous awards for his exceptional journalism during his time reporting in the middle east, including a Peabody Award for his work in Sudan

Mr Omaar, a Somali-born British journalist joined ITV News in 2013 and became their International Affairs Editor in 2014

ITV+1 later pulled the programme from its re-runs. A message on screen said: 'We'll be back soon. We're temporarily unable to bring you our +1 service'

Mr Omaar, a Somali-born British journalist rose to global prominence through his work as a foreign correspondent for the BBC during the invasion of Iraq and the fall of Baghdad in 2003.

Mr Omaar is married to Georgiana Rose 'Nina' Montgomery-Cuninghame, the daughter of Sir John Montgomery-Cuninghame of Corsehill, the baronet - an aristocratic title below baron - of Cuninghame of Corsehill.

The couple share three children, Loula, Sami and Zachary and were last known to be living in Chiswick, west London.

One of five children, Mr Omaar was born on July 19, 1967 in Mogadishu, Somalia to mother Sahra and father Abdullahi Omaar, a businessman.

His father was an accountant before setting up several businesses in Somalia. Speaking to the Guardian in 2017, he said he had a contract with Massey Ferguson tractors, introduced Coca-Cola to the country and also started Somalia's first independent newspaper.

The journalist arrived in London UK at the age of six in 1974, where he was educated at the Dragon School, a private prep school in Oxford, before being enrolled in top public school Cheltenham College.

He then went on to study a degree in Modern History at New College, Oxford.

Mr Omaar said that although his father founded a newspaper, he did not want his son to become a journalist as he did see it as a 'serious profession' and said he should study law.

But undeterred, the international journalist started his career in journalism working as a trainee for The Voice newspaper, before getting a job with the BBC, working in Ethiopia in East Africa.

He then came back to London a year later after getting a job as a producer and broadcast journalist for the corporation.

Mr Omaar rose to global prominence through his work as a foreign correspondent for the BBC during the invasion of Iraq and the fall of Baghdad in 2003, and his work was widely syndicated across the US, earning him the moniker 'Scud Stud'.

'Scud Stud': Rageh Omaar reports from Baghdad, Iraq for BBC 10 O'Clock News in March 2003

Mr Omaar pictured with his wife Georgiana Rose 'Nina' Montgomery-Cuninghame (right), the daughter of baronet Sir John Montgomery-Cuninghame of Corsehill at a charity dinner in January 2007

Rageh Omaar with his children and cast attend the party prior to the English National Ballet's press night performance of The Nutcracker at the Coliseum, on December 20, 2005

The name derives from the Soviet-developed Scud ballistic missiles which were frequently used in the Middle East since the 1970s. They were kn

He has won numerous awards for his exceptional work during this time, including a Peabody Award for his reports for the BBC from Sudan and a BAFTA for the BBC's coverage of the invasion of Afghanistan in which he was the only western TV journalist to report from inside Taliban-held Kabul.

There, Omaar was the only western TV journalist to report from inside Taliban-held Kabul. The missiles became known in the West after Iraq fired dozens of them at Israel and Saudi Arabia in 1991 during the Persian Gulf War.

After this he worked at Al Jazeera International from 2006-2010, where he presented the nightly weekday documentary series Witness, serving as a Middle Eastern correspondent for its London Division.

He joined ITV News as a special correspondent and presenter in January 2013, reporting on a broad range of news stories, as well as producing special in-depth reports from all around the UK and abroad.

Mr Omaar was then promoted to International Affairs Editor for ITV News in 2014.

Mr Omaar, who was educated at Oxford University, made his name as the 'Scud Stud' for his widely hailed coverage of the Iraq War as BBC world affairs correspondent.

Mr Omaar is married to Georgiana Rose 'Nina' Montgomery-Cuninghame, the daughter of Sir John Montgomery-Cuninghame of Corsehill, the baronet - an aristocratic title below baron - of Cuninghame of Corsehill.

The couple share three children, Loula, Sami and Zachary and were last known to be living in Chiswick, west London.

One of five children, Mr Omaar was born on July 19, 1967 in Mogadishu, Somalia to mother Sahra and father Abdullahi Omaar, a businessman.

MailOnline contacted ITV News for comment.
A shopping centre full of weekend shoppers has been thrown into chaos after a teenager allegedly ran through with a knife.

It comes two weeks after seven people were killed and 12 more injured during a stabbing attack at Bondi Junction Westfield on April 13.

Police swarmed on Karrinyup Shopping Centre in Perth's north at about 3.45pm on Saturday, following reports a person was armed with a knife.

'There is no ongoing threat to the community,' a spokesperson for WA Police told PerthNow.

A teenager allegedly ran through Karrinyup Shopping Centre in Perth (pictured) with a knife

A teen allegedly brandished a knife and threatened staff while attempting to steal from the Myer.

He then fled the store, terrifying shoppers who allegedly glimpsed him racing past with a knife in hand.

Police arrested the teen on Karrinyup Road soon after, and a knife has since been located and seized.

A 'code brown' alert was reportedly issued, the same alert issued for mass casualty events or disasters.

One shopper told 7News she heard people yelling and became panicked.

'Everything was just normal until we heard a female voice yelling out something along the lines of 'help'. 'Help! Stop him, Stop him!' And then it was a scream of security ... and then we heard her say 'he's got a knife',' she said.

'Of course, shades of the last few weeks just ran through my heart, and I was absolutely scared as anything.'

City of Wanneroo councillor Helen Berry shared a post to her Facebook page alerting her constituents to the alleged incident.

'Hope all those shopping in Myers Karrinyup are safe as police within the last hour have swarmed the Karrinyup Shopping Centre after a juvenile allegedly brandished a knife as he attempted to steal from the Myers store,' she said.
A giant weird pumpkin sculpture could soon grace Hyde Park just yards from Kensington Palace, MailOnline can reveal.

Plans have been submitted for a large polka-dotted artwork called the 'Pumpkin' by the Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama.

The 94-year-old is well known for her art featuring her trademark polka dots, as well as her dark, glittering light infinity rooms that pop up in major cities and subsequently flood Instagram feeds.

Celebrities have flocked to her exhibitions in London, Los Angeles and New York.

The maroon creation with black polka dots, based on a Kabocha or Japanese pumpkin, will measure six feet tall and 5.5 metres in diameter. It will be place from June to November this year if planning permission is granted.

The large polka-dotted artwork called the 'Pumpkin' is created by the Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama (Artist impression)

Kusamas (pictured) pumpkins have taken many forms, colours and shapes and her artwork is admired across the world

The artist has partnered with The Serpentine Gallery and The Royal Parks to bring the creation to London. Kusama's will be the latest presentation in a long-standing series of public presentations in Hyde Park.

The artist has frequently used the form of a pumpkin in her work. She first depicted them in 1946 and it has since been translated into many mediums.

Over the years, Kusama's pumpkins have taken many forms, colours and shapes, while always being covered in her famous pattern of polka dots in various sizes.

The artists relationship to the kabocha stems from her childhood as her family home was surrounded by fields of the squash.

Planning agents for the Serpentine Gallery also explained the artist admires them for 'their everyday quality, hardiness and their unique, frequently humorous forms.'

The sculpture would be located near Kensington Palace in Hyde Park

Plans have been lodged by the Serpentine Gallery to Westminster City Council

She once said: Pumpkins have been a great comfort to me since my childhood. They speak to me of the joy of living.

'They are humble and amusing at the same time, and I have and always will celebrate them in my art.

In planning documents submitted to Westminster City Council, planning agents DP9 Ltd, added: 'Yayoi Kusama is one of the most celebrated artists of our time.

'Over the course of her eight-decade career, she has developed a unique and diverse body of work that, highly personal in nature, connects profoundly with global audiences.

'The sculpture is to be located on flat grassland between the Serpentine gallery and Kensington Palace, and will be positioned in an area towards the south east side of the sculptured Round Pond.'

World famous Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama (pictured in 2017) is one of TIME magazine's 100 most influential people

Kusama's Yellow Pumpkin. It became something of a tourist trademark ever since it was installed on one of the island's piers in 1994

Born in 1929 in central Japan's Nagano prefecture, Kusama suffered from psychological trauma due to feuding between her parents, and was already drawing dots and nets as a child based on her hallucinatory experiences.

After moving to the United States in 1957 at age 28, Kusama became a fixture in the Pop and Minimalism art movements of the 1960s.

During a 16-year stint in New York, she staged 'happenings' at the height of the sexual liberation movement where people stripped naked and had their bodies painted with polka dots on Wall Street or Central Park.

By the time Kusama returned to Japan in 1973, she was burned out and voluntarily checked into a psychiatric ward where she has lived ever since.

It was not until the 1990s that Kusama was 'rediscovered'.

Hong-King art firm, Art Incorporated Ltd said it paid Gulbenkian for the Kusama pumpkin but never received the piece

German socialite Angela Gulbenkian, 39, was jailed for theft

Her commercial success was highlighted when she collaborated with Louis Vuitton in 2012 and she was named the world's most popular artist in 2014 by the Art Newspaper.

She often appears in a wheelchair and sporting her trademark red wig.

Kusama was also named one of TIME magazine's 100 most influential people and is nicknamed 'the queen of polka dots',

One of her most famous installations is the yellow pumpkin in Naoshima, Japan. It became something of a tourist trademark when it was installed on one of the island's piers in 1994.

The artwork was badly damaged after being swept up in a heavy typhoon in August 2021 but was later restored.

German socialite Angela Gulbenkian was jailed in 2021 after pleading guilty to two counts of theft totalling 1,111,484. One of these counts involved the sale of a Kusama artwork.

Southwark Crown Court heard that Gulbenkian pocketed a 982,000 payment for a large polka-dotted artwork but never handed over the item.

Gulbenkian, a member of one of Europe's wealthiest art collecting families, then blew the total funds in just eight months maintaining a 'lavish' lifestyle - including a 218,000 shopping spree, a 25,000 Rolex watch, and hiring a private jet.

Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirrors exhibition curator Mika Yoshitake poses its the Souls of Millions of Light Years Away at the Hirshhorn Museum February 21, 2017 in Washington, DC

Gulbenkian is said to have been introduced to a Hong Kong-based arts company Art Incorporated Limited (AIL) in late 2016 and claimed she was able to procure them a sculpture by Kusama.

In May 2017, after the sale had been agreed, AIL transferred $1.275 million dollars to Gulbenkian's personal bank account. However, the artwork was never delivered.
Daring New Yorkers have begun filming themselves surfing on MTA buses - months after the authority cracked down on subway surfing after the death of a teenager.

Videos circulating on social media show people sitting and at times, jumping on top of buses as the heavy-duty vehicles travel across the city.

In one Instagram video shared by a page named @_thisisnyc_, a man wearing Nike shoes can be seen sitting on the roof of an M15 articulated bus as the vehicle barrels down Second Avenue in Manhattan's Murray Hill neighborhood.

At one point in the video, the daredevil stands up to show viewers the other vehicles around him as the bus continues to travel speedily.

A man wearing Nike shoes can be seen sitting on the roof of an M15 articulated bus as the vehicle barrels down Second Avenue in Manhattan's Murray Hill neighborhood

At one point in the video, the daredevil stands up to show viewers the other vehicles around him as the bus continues to travel speedily

But while the man tried to gain popularity with his risky behavior, viewers have instead criticized his actions.

One Instagram user frustratingly wrote: 'Can we stop encouraging bus/train surfing??

Another demanded a collective change and said: 'We gotta stop reposting these videos cause it encourages this stupidity to continue for clout.'

One user also requested that the page stop encouraging people by posting such videos.

The wrote: 'don't encourage this... it's really dangerous and too many people don't take things like this seriously.'

Another user also asked who would be blamed if something happened to the risk-taker.

'extra dumb now something happens to him. Its the drivers fault?,' the concerned user wrote.

One of the men was seen in a jumping stance and leaping on the roof of the bus while another recorded him as the bus rode

The video was originally posted on an unidentified person's Instagram story and was later re-shared on X by a man named Jonathan Eli

But he isn't the only reckless New Yorker to undertake this stunt. Two other city-dwellers were seen standing and jumping on another MTA bus.

One of the men was seen leaping on the roof of the bus while another recorded him as the bus drove.

The video was originally posted on an unidentified person's Instagram story and was later re-shared on X by a man named Jonathan Eli.

Cases of bus surfing have emerged two months after a 15-year-old teen's mother launched a lawsuit against the city's subway network, along with TikTok and Meta.

Norma Nazario's son Zackery Nazario died while subway surfing on a Brooklyn-bound J train over the Williamsburg Bridge on February 20, 2023.

A low beam struck the teenager in the head, causing him to fall between the subway cars and before he could get away, a train ran over him.

Norma Nazario's son Zackery Nazario died while subway surfing on a Brooklyn-bound J train over the Williamsburg Bridge on February 20, 2023

A year after his death, Norma has filed a lawsuit against the MTA and the social media platforms claiming that the apps 'goaded' her child into the deadly stunt by recommending similar videos

Furthermore, Norma is suing the public transportation company for not locking the subway doors

In February 2024, Norma filed a lawsuit against the MTA and the social media platforms, claiming that the apps 'goaded' her child into the deadly stunt by recommending similar videos.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages from TikTok, Meta and the MTA.

According to Norma, she had found multiple videos of people subway surfing after she started checking his social media accounts.

The distressed mother also claims that Zackery had received an advert for a ski mask, which is commonly used by surfers to hide their identities.

Apart from damages, the lawsuit also demands that tech companies 'change their dangerous recommendations technology,' saying that it provokes others to join in on such life-threatening trends.

Furthermore, Norma is suing the public transportation company for not locking the subway doors.

The MTA has not yet commented on the new bus surfing trend.
ITV News journalist Rageh Omaar thanked viewers for their well wishes today as ITV confirmed he was recovering at home following hospital treatment after falling ill and struggling to speak while presenting the News at Ten on Friday.

'I would like to thank everyone for their kindness and good wishes, especially all the medical staff, all my wonderful colleagues at ITV News, and our viewers who expressed concern,' he said in a brief statement shared this afternoon.

'At the time, I was determined to finish presenting the programme. I am grateful for all the support I've been given.'

'We appreciate viewers of last night's News At Ten were concerned about Rageh Omaar's wellbeing,' read a statement from an ITV News spokesperson shared with the comment.

'Following medical treatment at hospital, he is now recovering at home with his family. We are wishing Rageh a speedy recovery and look forward to him being back on screen when he feels ready.'

Rageh Omaar, 56, was presenting last night when he appeared to have difficulty reading his lines, leading to widespread concern among viewers that he needed to have been taken off air.

The veteran journalist continued through to the end of the show before signing off, but ITV later redacted its re-run on ITV+1 and confirmed Omaar had become 'unwell while presenting... and is now receiving medical care'.

Viewers took to social media to express their concerns about how the ailing newsman was allowed to continue to the end of the show, visibly affected in his presenting.

Angus Walker, an award-winning correspondent formerly with ITV News, took to Twitter / X to suggest in his time with the company protocols were in place for editors to intervene if a presenter fell sick.

'Wishing #RagehOmaar well. On a Fri eve the ITV News newsroom is pretty empty even as News at Ten is on air but there is a duty Editor on call precisely to make any big calls,' he said.

'I've been asked to step in for a colleague who fell ill just before going live - can and has been done.'

ITV News confirmed yesterday Omaar had fallen 'unwell' and was 'receiving medical care' but did not provide any further details.

Rageh Omaar, 56, the ITV News International Affairs Editor was rounding up the top stories of the day on the News at 10 show when he suddenly becomes incoherent while live on air

Angus Walker, who formerly worked for ITV and now works in PR, shone light on the situation

Mr Omaar, a Somali-born British journalist joined ITV News in 2013 and became their International Affairs Editor in 2014

Omaar was presenting the News at Ten programme on Friday evening when he appeared to struggle to introduce a bulletin.

The International Affairs Editor continued through to the end of the segment, thanking viewers before the credits rolled.

The credits continued for nearly 20 seconds as the camera stayed focused on the presenter.

News at Ten usually runs for 30 minutes from 10pm.

Viewers immediately took to social media to share their concern for Omaar, with one ICU nurse claiming to have contacted ITV News as early at 10:10pm to warn them of possible stroke symptoms.

Investigative Journalist Mark Williams-Thomas wrote: 'It was clear #RagehOmaar was not well last night, that's when you need people in the gallery to step up, go straight to VT .

'It certainly looks like paramedics were called and he was take to hospital. I wish him well and ITV News will now need to review this to ensure welfare issues spotted and dealt with earlier.'

Broadcaster India Willoughby wrote on Twitter/X: 'Hope [Rageh Omaar] is ok - one of my fav newsreaders.

'Worrying to see what happened - but unfair to blame those in the [ITV News] gallery for carrying on.

'It's live tv, maybe only 2 people in the gallery on a Fri eve.

'Sure they will have asked if ok. Get well soon Rageh Omaar'

Fiona Clark, a staff nurse, claimed that she had called the broadcaster at 10:10pm and told them that 'as an ICU nurse who worked in stroke that Rageh Omaar required an emergency ambulance, he was dysphasic, drooped left eye, slurred speech and agitated all FAST symptoms'.

Clark wrote on Twitter/X: 'Unfortunately something I [have] seen regularly as a stroke nurse, absolutely shocked at the lack of urgency to get medical attention.'

'After speaking to other experience[d] stroke nurses he was most definitely a positive FAST call, hoping he is receiving the proper care now.'

FAST is an acronym employed as a test for symptoms of a possible stroke.

Face weakness, Arm weakness and Speech problems indicate Time to call emergency services, per the mnemonic.

'I told them their presenter was unwell, they told me they were aware,' Clark claimed.

'wishing Rageh Omaar a speedy recovery, but was so disappointed in itv news for not taking this poor man off air who was clearly very unwell!' one viewer wrote.

Rosa Zambonini wrote on Twitter/X: 'Sending so much love to Rageh Omaar, it was clear he was very poorly.

'Seeing many people including stroke nurses called ITV immediately and kudos to them for taking action.

'Whatever happened it would awful to watch for his friends and family, sending positive thoughts'

'We are aware that viewers are concerned about Rageh Omaar's wellbeing,' an ITV News spokesperson said last night.

'Rageh became unwell while presenting News at Ten on Friday and is now receiving medical care. He thanks everyone for their well wishes.'

ITV+1 also pulled the programme from its re-runs, as a message on screen said: 'We'll be back soon. We're temporarily unable to bring you our +1 service. We will resume shortly.'

As of Saturday morning, the ITV X website did not display the ITV News at Ten show.

He won numerous awards for his exceptional journalism during his time reporting in the middle east, including a Peabody Award for his work in Sudan

ITV+1 later pulled the programme from its re-runs. A message on screen said: 'We'll be back soon. We're temporarily unable to bring you our +1 service'

Mr Omaar, a Somali-born British journalist rose to global prominence through his work as a foreign correspondent for the BBC during the invasion of Iraq and the fall of Baghdad in 2003.

Mr Omaar is married to Georgiana Rose 'Nina' Montgomery-Cuninghame, the daughter of Sir John Montgomery-Cuninghame of Corsehill, the baronet - an aristocratic title below baron - of Cuninghame of Corsehill.

The couple share three children, Loula, Sami and Zachary and were last known to be living in Chiswick, west London.

One of five children, Mr Omaar was born on July 19, 1967 in Mogadishu, Somalia to mother Sahra and father Abdullahi Omaar, a businessman.

His father was an accountant before setting up several businesses in Somalia. Speaking to the Guardian in 2017, he said he had a contract with Massey Ferguson tractors, introduced Coca-Cola to the country and also started Somalia's first independent newspaper.

The journalist arrived in London UK at the age of six in 1974, where he was educated at the Dragon School, a private prep school in Oxford, before being enrolled in top public school Cheltenham College.

He then went on to study a degree in Modern History at New College, Oxford.

Mr Omaar said that although his father founded a newspaper, he did not want his son to become a journalist as he did see it as a 'serious profession' and said he should study law.

But undeterred, the international journalist started his career in journalism working as a trainee for The Voice newspaper, before getting a job with the BBC, working in Ethiopia in East Africa.

He then came back to London a year later after getting a job as a producer and broadcast journalist for the corporation.

Mr Omaar rose to global prominence through his work as a foreign correspondent for the BBC during the invasion of Iraq and the fall of Baghdad in 2003, and his work was widely syndicated across the US, earning him the moniker 'Scud Stud'.

'Scud Stud': Rageh Omaar reports from Baghdad, Iraq for BBC 10 O'Clock News in March 2003

Mr Omaar pictured with his wife Georgiana Rose 'Nina' Montgomery-Cuninghame (right), the daughter of baronet Sir John Montgomery-Cuninghame of Corsehill at a charity dinner in January 2007

Rageh Omaar with his children and cast attend the party prior to the English National Ballet's press night performance of The Nutcracker at the Coliseum, on December 20, 2005

The name derives from the Soviet-developed Scud ballistic missiles which were frequently used in the Middle East since the 1970s. They were kn

He has won numerous awards for his exceptional work during this time, including a Peabody Award for his reports for the BBC from Sudan and a BAFTA for the BBC's coverage of the invasion of Afghanistan in which he was the only western TV journalist to report from inside Taliban-held Kabul.

There, Omaar was the only western TV journalist to report from inside Taliban-held Kabul. The missiles became known in the West after Iraq fired dozens of them at Israel and Saudi Arabia in 1991 during the Persian Gulf War.

After this he worked at Al Jazeera International from 2006-2010, where he presented the nightly weekday documentary series Witness, serving as a Middle Eastern correspondent for its London Division.

He joined ITV News as a special correspondent and presenter in January 2013, reporting on a broad range of news stories, as well as producing special in-depth reports from all around the UK and abroad.

Mr Omaar was then promoted to International Affairs Editor for ITV News in 2014.

Mr Omaar, who was educated at Oxford University, made his name as the 'Scud Stud' for his widely hailed coverage of the Iraq War as BBC world affairs correspondent.

Mr Omaar is married to Georgiana Rose 'Nina' Montgomery-Cuninghame, the daughter of Sir John Montgomery-Cuninghame of Corsehill, the baronet - an aristocratic title below baron - of Cuninghame of Corsehill.

The couple share three children, Loula, Sami and Zachary and were last known to be living in Chiswick, west London.

One of five children, Mr Omaar was born on July 19, 1967 in Mogadishu, Somalia to mother Sahra and father Abdullahi Omaar, a businessman.

MailOnline contacted ITV News for comment.
An Emory University professor has claimed she was arrested at a pro-Palestine protest on campus after she told police officers to stop hitting a student.

Noelle McAfee, who leads the philosophy department at the school in Atlanta, was seen on video being led away in handcuffs on Thursday afternoon.

She claimed she was arrested after intervening in an incident where a young protester was thrown to the ground by officers and being pummeled.

'I was watching them pummel somebody, I said, "no." And they arrested me,' she told 11Alive.

The lecturer added that it is a misconception that she was there to support the Palestinian protest but that she was 'standing up for students and their freedom of expression'.

Emory University professor Noelle McAfee has claimed she was arrested at a pro-Palestine protest on campus after she told police officers to stop hitting a student

Noelle McAfee, who leads the philosophy department at the school in Atlanta, was seen on video being led away in handcuffs on Thursday afternoon

McAfee insisted she was non-confrontational during the ordeal but had to get involved when she saw a student thrown to the ground and being hit by officers.

'The mother in me said "stop, stop",' she said. 'And I made sure to stand four feet away from them, standing still, nonconfrontational.

'One of the cops stood up and got right in front of me and said, "Ma'am, you need to step back, you need to step back."

'And I was watching them pummel somebody, I said, "no." And they arrested me.'

The professor added that the incident seemed to go on forever.

'Punching and rolling and knocking and punching, this child was just - their head was like this, trying to protect themselves. I don't know how long it went on,' she said.

'And when they said, "ma'am you need to step away," no human being is going to step away.'

She was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and a court date will be set for next month.

'Just to even question the police power was a violation. My disorderly conduct was that I stood there,' the professor said.

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

She 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

'I stood on my campus, I stood to prevent somebody being beaten to death, so that was disorderly conduct.'

McAfee said people have thanked her for standing up for Gaza but that they're mistaken and she has 'complicated sets of views about the conflict'.

She added that she was just standing up for the students' right to protest and there was an 'issue of higher education administrators clamping down on free expression and delegitimizing any dissent'.

'I wanted an opportunity for peaceful expression of their views, peaceful dissent. That was my concern.'

The professor claimed it is false to say there were outside agitators at the protest.

'There were perhaps some students here from other universities,' she added.

'But the students I've spoken with who are organizing it are Emory students that I've known for years.

'They said outside agitators, I think the outside agitators were the Atlanta police and the Georgia state troopers. They were the agitators.'

McAfee believes the scenes on Thursday, which included an Emory University lecturer screaming 'I'm a professor' as she was forcefully taken to the ground by cops, could have been avoided.

Fohlin was later booked into DeKalb County jail on charges of disorderly conduct and battery of a police officer

Cops 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

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.

Fohlin was booked into DeKalb County jail on charges of disorderly conduct and battery of a police officer.

McAfee said: 'What's really bad here is the president of the university, or his office, did this.

'The police will do their thing, but the president of the university called them... so the larger issue is not about police, because police will be police, but an administration that called police onto our campus.'

Emory's vice president for public safety claimed the police were called after a few protesters refused to confirm their connection to the university.
A Russian fighter hurled a sack of potatoes at an attack drone to save his life, according to reports.

Astonishing footage shows how the mercenary saw the Ukrainian UAV coming to kill him on the battlefield.

He threw the nearest thing to hand - the potatoes, part of his frontline foot rations - causing the FPV drone to explode in a bright red flash close to him.

There were more cascading explosions but he avoided the direct hit.

Astonishing footage showed the moment a Russian mercenary threw a sack of potatoes at a Ukrainian drone to save his life

The mercenary hurled the bag, the nearest thing to him, at the Ukrainian UAV drone, causing it to explode

The uniformed fighter is seen running away to take cover in nearby trees after the explosion amid thick white smoke.

Reports say the man - named as Private Khamatov - suffered 'minor injuries'.

He is a native of Uzbekistan who signed up to fight for Vladimir Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine, say Telegram channels.

Kremlin propaganda outlet Readovka praised his lack of fear as the drone - loaded with explosives - buzzed him.

It said he 'masterfully downed it - hitting it with a sack of potatoes'.

The fighter wearing uniform is then seen taking cover behind nearby trees following the explosion and thick cloud of smoke

It comes after the revelation that Russian soldiers returning from war have killed and wounded more than 200 people.

The killings were mostly carried out by soldiers who were formerly prison inmates, but were freed in order to bolster numbers on the front line in Ukraine.

But some deaths were the result of men taking the savagery of war back with them into civilian life.
A glamourous model-turned DEI manager who was fired because she posed in front of an Israeli flag emblazoned with swastikas is now suing the University of Minnesota for $75,000 in damages.

Mashal Sherzad, 29, alleges that her First Amendment rights were violated, demanding reinstatement to her job and more than $75,000 in damages.

Sherzad was fired from her position as the diversity, equity and inclusion manager at the school in January after she accidentally uploaded photos of her posing in front of the controversial flag.

During a news conference Friday, Sherzad insisted the flag emblazoned with swastikas belonged to someone else.

'I cannot be responsible for somebody else's intellectual property,' she said, as she fought back tears while explaining how the firing has affected her.

Mashal Sherzad, 29, a glamourous model-turned DEI manager who was fired because she posed in front of an Israeli flag emblazoned with swastikas is now suing the University of Minnesota for $75,000 in damages

Sherzad, 29, alleged her First Amendment rights were 'violated', demanding her job reinstated and more than $75,000 in damages

Sherzad was fired from her position as the diversity, equity and inclusion manager at the school in January after she accidentally uploaded her posing in front of the controversial flag

The activist showed up to the news conference in a tight bodycon dress with risque cut-outs to make her case and beg for her job back.

'I'm really, really scared for myself for many reasons,' Sherzad told reporters inside the Coffman Memorial Union. 'What happened to me was wrong, legally, factually, emotionally. It was horrifying for me, my family, and my loved ones.'

Sherzad's lawsuit against the university said she 'posted the photographs on her private Instagram account, but unbeknownst to her, they were automatically re-posted on her Facebook account.'

The pictures showing her at a December protest in Barcelona, Spain, have since been deleted from her Facebook.

Sherzad, who identified as Muslim, and who is in a relationship with a woman, began her role in October 2023, and travelled to Barcelona to attend the pro-Palestinian rally just two months later.

She shared pictures of herself from the rally - including snaps of her posing in front of the swastika-embezzled Israeli flag.

She was removed from her DEI manager job for the university's School of Public Health on January 16 after the Dean, Melinda Pettigrew, said her employment would create a 'real risk of significant disruption.'

'I did nothing wrong. They discarded a proud Queer, Muslim, Afghan and SWANA woman,' she has claimed.

The 29-year-old model uses Instagram to share pro-Palestinian content to her 4,000 followers. Her biography section suggests she has worked for famed modeling agency Ford - and Sherzad has shared scores of photos of her striking good looks.

She appears to have modeled herself on Kim Kardashian, with one snap showing a collage of her face next to that of the reality star, who has long denied rumors that her looks are the result of extensive cosmetic surgeries.

Sherzad has posted videos of herself chanting at rallies in support of Palestine, pictures comparing Nazi occupied Poland to Israeli occupied Palestine and plenty of pro-Palestine infographics and protest pics.

She also shared an array of glamorous selfies, bikini pics, couples-content with her girlfriend Ralena Young, a restaurateur and glamorous photos from her endless travels.

The activist showed up to the news conference on Friday in a very tight bodycon dress with risque cut-outs to make her case and beg for her job back - explaining that the vandalized flag she posed in front of was 'somebody else's intellectual property'

During Friday's news conference, supporters of Sherzad claimed that people who support Palestinians and speak out against violence against them are being unfairly targeted

The 29-year-old model uses Instagram to share pro-Palestinian content to her 4,000 followers. Her biography section suggests she has worked for famed modeling agency Ford - and Sherzad has shared scores of photos of her striking good looks

Sherzad also shared an array of glamorous selfies, bikini pics, couples-content with her girlfriend Ralena Young, a restaurateur and glamorous photos from her endless travels

'The caption on said post was, "This is not a conflict. This is not a war. This is genocide,"' Sherzad explained.

A university spokesman, Jake Ricker, says the school doesn't typically comment on active lawsuits, according to Star Tribune.

However, in a January letter School of Public Health Dean Melinda Pettigrew told Sherzad she respects employees' rights 'to comment on matters of public concern' but 'your conduct directly undermines your credibility in this role.'

'I find that continuing your employment would create a real risk of significant disruption to School and University activities,' Pettigrew wrote.

'This is particularly true given the current climate around the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, within the University community and around the globe, and the highly inflammatory nature of the image you posted.'

During Friday's news conference, supporters of Sherzad claimed that people who support Palestinians and speak out against violence against them are being unfairly targeted.

The executive director of Minnesota's Council on American-Islamic Relations, Jaylani Hussein, has said: 'The facts of this case are completely unbelievable. It is a dark day for freedom of speech.'

Sherzad vehemently denies any wrongdoing on her part and created a GoFundMe to ask for 'financial resources' amidst the legal battle following her 'wrongful firing,' according to the page.

Sherzad has posted videos of herself chanting at rallies in support of Palestine, pictures comparing Nazi occupied Poland to Israeli occupied Palestine and plenty of pro-Palestine infographics and protest pics

Sherzad is seen pictured with her girlfriend Ralena Young, who owns a restaurant and bar in Minnesota

'My name is Mashal. I was pictured at this pro Palestinian demonstration, a peaceful protest, where many from all backgrounds and walks of life came together to express solidarity around the demand for peace and liberation of Palestine,' she wrote.

'This event occurred in Barcelona, off work time, and on a weekend. December 9, to be exact,' she wrote on the GoFundMe, which has garnered $1,300 in donations.

'I was pictured in front of a Jewish man we had been chatting with who was holding a flag of Israel, with two swastikas drawn on either side of the Star of David.

'It was not my property. It was not the way I would have expressed my feelings of concern and anger towards what has happened to Palestine and its People,' she further explained.

DailyMail.com has contacted Mashal Sherzad for comment.
Rishi Sunak has insisted that migrants going into Ireland proves that his Flagship Rwanda plan is working as a 'deterrent'.

In an interview with Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, which will air in full on Sunday the Prime Minster defended his flagship scheme saying 'people are worried about coming here'.

It comes after deputy Irish premier Micheal Martin said the UK's asylum policy is driving migrants in fear of being deported to Rwanda across the border from Northern Ireland into the Republic.

Mr Sunak said: 'The deterrent is ... already having an impact because people are worried about coming here.'

Rishi Sunak 's flagship plan to tackle illegal migration finally became law this week as it was passed by the House of Lords

The Prime Minster defended his flagship scheme on Sky News (above) saying 'people are worried about coming here'

The European Convention on Human Rights must be changed if it is used to block flights to Rwanda , centrist Tories have warned (file pic)

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 have crossed from Northern Ireland.

READ MORE: European Convention on Human Rights must be changed if it is used to block Rwanda flights, centrist Tories warn Advertisement

In the interview the Prime Minister was challenged over whether the UK is simply exporting the problem.

Mr Sunak said: 'My focus is on the United Kingdom and securing our borders. But what that comment illustrates is a couple of things.

'One, that illegal migration is a global challenge, which is why you're seeing multiple countries talk about doing third country partnerships, looking at novel ways to solve this problem, and I believe will follow where the UK has led.

'But what it also shows, I think, is that the deterrent is, according to your comment, already having an impact because people are worried about coming here and that demonstrates exactly what I'm saying.

'If people come to our country illegally, but know that they won't be able to stay, they're much less likely to come, and that's why the Rwanda scheme is so important.'

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 crossing the English Channel on small boats.

Your browser does not support iframes.

A protester in Parliament Square holds a sign referencing the migrant houses which have been sold off and the Rwanda refugee plan

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.

Downing Street on Friday rebuffed claims the Rwanda plan was already influencing movements into Ireland, saying it was too early to jump to conclusions on its impact.

Mr Martin, who also serves as Ireland's foreign affairs minister, told reporters in Dublin on Friday: 'Clearly, we've had an increase in the numbers coming into Northern Ireland into the Republic.

'And it's fairly obvious that a Rwanda policy, if you're a person in a given situation in the UK and well, then you don't want to go to Rwanda - not that anybody has gone yet, I hasten to add.

'So I think it's a fair comment of mine. There are many other issues - it's not in any way trying to blame anything or anything like that.'

But a No 10 spokeswoman told journalists in Westminster: 'It is too early to jump to specific conclusions about the impact of the Act and treaty in terms of migrant behaviour.

'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.'

Mr Sunak this week acknowledged it could still take 10 to 12 weeks to get flights in the air, in a blow to his earlier target of seeing this take place in the 'spring' of this year.

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.
Caitlyn Jenner has blasted Don Lemon as being 'privileged, wealthy and entitled' after the former CNN host appeared in an awkward Bill Maher interview.

Lemon had appeared alongside Scott Galloway, professor of marketing at the NYU Stern School of Business, on Friday's episode of 'Real Time with Bill Maher.'

Their discussion focused largely on the ongoing college campus protests around the country, and the difference between activists of today from years past.

During the interview, Lemon can be heard saying: 'I'm different than you guys. I'm a black gay man, so I live in uncomfortable spaces all the time.'

Seemingly confused, Maher asks: 'Why? What is going on? What do you mean uncomfortable spaces?'

Don Lemon gets called out by Bill Maher for playing the race card:

Lemon: "I'm different than you guys. I'm a black gay man, so I live in uncomfortable spaces all the time."

Maher: "Uncomfortable spaces?"

Lemon: "I'm often the only person of color in the room."

Maher: "There's pic.twitter.com/UmHfgb2lBM  Eric Abbenante (@EricAbbenante) April 27, 2024

Lemon had appeared alongside Scott Galloway, professor of marketing at the NYU Stern School of Business on Friday's episode of 'Real Time with Bill Maher'

Seemingly confused, Maher asked the former CNN host what he meant by uncomfortable spaces

He replies, 'I am often the only person of color in the room,' to which Maher responds, 'There's only three of us,' to applause from the watching audience.

After footage of the exchange made its way onto social media, Caitlyn Jenner hit back at Lemon.

In a tweet, she wrote, 'Good on you Bill Maher. Don is a privileged, wealthy, (not to mention entitled ie. Demands to X and CNN in alleged contract terms), celebrity. Get over yourself.'

In 2017, Jenner had previously appeared on Lemon's CNN show saying she didn't regret voting for Trump despite his LGBT 'mistakes.'

Earlier this month Lemon tied the knot with longtime fiance Tim Malone in a glitzy New York City ceremony attended by several A-listers.

The ceremony took place half a decade after they got engaged and on the same day as his fiance's birthday.

Alleged sex pest broadcaster Matt Lauer, fired CNN boss Jeff Zucker and accused killer Alec Baldwin were among the illustrious attendees.

After footage of the exchange made its way onto social media, Caitlyn Jenner hit back at Lemon

Lemon, 58, wed Tim Malone, 40, on Saturday at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church earlier this month

Lemon and Malone, who works in real estate, went public with their relationship when they rang in 2018 with an on-air kiss during CNN's live New Year's Eve broadcast.

Lemon, who came out as gay in his 2011 memoir Transparent, told CNN viewers, 'I grew up thinking that I would never be able to be public with my relationships, let alone ever get legally married.

'So for me this is doubly thrilling and just a wee bit terrifying. Guess I have to start thinking about children. Talk about a late bloomer.'

It was previously reported that Don's axing from CNN in April 2023 caused 'arguments' between the lovebirds.

The veteran anchor was sensationally sacked amid a furious controversy over his 'sexist' and 'misogynistic' behavior.

Last month, Lemon had his new X show abruptly canceled by Elon Musk, whose company entered into a deal with the former anchor

Lemon spent 17 years at CNN until he was ousted from the network in April 2023

Last month, Lemon had his new X show abruptly canceled by Elon Musk, whose company entered into a deal with the former anchor.

Musk said he opted against moving forward with the partnership because Lemon's show turned out to be 'basically just CNN, but on social media'.

Lemon slammed the decision as an attack on his free speech, which Musk countered by insisting Lemon is still free to share his show on the platform without censorship, but 'we reserve the right to make decisions about our business partnerships.'

Lemon declined to say what exactly angered Musk, although journalist Kara Swisher claimed that the billionaire took offense to 'questions about his ketamine use.'
The TV doctor is known for appearing on shows such as This Morning and E4's Body Fixers, but before his rise to fame cosmetic surgeon Dr Tijion Esho came from humble beginnings.

Today, it has been announced that Esho will be struck off after having an inappropriate sexual relationship with an Only Fans model and suggesting he could give her free Botox in return for sex.

Before he was caught sending a string of sleazy messages to the model, Esho's entrepreneurial successes as a cosmetic surgeon were celebrated and his work providing facelifts for the rich and famous turned him into a household name.

Esho was born and raised in Edmonton, in north London, by his parents who emigrated to the UK from Nigeria. Speaking to Forbes in 2019, Esho said his upbringing was strict and early on his parents attempted to steer his career towards medicine.

After attending work experience at a local hospital he decided to pursue a career in medicine and was offered a place at the University of Leicester.

Today, it has been announced that Dr Tijion Esho (pictured) will be struck off after suggesting he could give an Only Fans model free Botox in return for sex.

Dr Esho appeared on E4's Body Fixers from 2016 as well as other shows including This Morning

Esho clinic in Newcastle which was the first one he opened after a client nearby asked for him to be based nearby

He discovered a flair for plastic surgery while on a medical placement at a private clinic and started working for a clinic after leaving university.

READ MORE: TV doctor Tijion Esho who appeared on This Morning is struck off for giving free Botox to OnlyFans model in return for sex Advertisement

While working at a clinic, Esho began independently performing cosmetic procedures on clients. At first he found it hard to gain recognition as most surgeons were found through word of mouth.

However, he started gaining recognition off the back of his social media account. At the time it was rare for plastic surgeons to have an online presence but interest grew in his work after he began posting before and after images of his work.

Mainstream fame finally came after a reality tv star posted a picture of Esho's work. Overnight, he gained thousands of followers and suddenly other reality stars, such as Charlotte Crosby, wanted to book him.

Esho Clinic, as his business became known, set up its first physical location in 2013 in the Jesmond area of Newcastle after a client expressed their wishes for him to be based nearby. Since then his business only continued to grow as he set up new clinics in London, Liverpool and even in Dubai.

Treatments offered at the clinics include non-surgical nose jobs and chemical peels.

Around the same time that his clientele list became more famous, Esho became to become a media personality in his own right with appearances on This Morning Channel 4's Body Shockers and even a column in OK! magazine.

Esho also tried to help victims of trauma. In 2019, the Esho Clinic announced it would offer over 100 free treatments annually to victims of trauma, such as those suffering from acid attacks or burns, from basic treatments to full facial reconstruction.

Esho was born and raised in Edmonton, in north London , by his parents who emigrated to the UK from Nigeria . Speaking to Forbes in 2019, Esho said his upbringing was strict and early on his parents attempted to steer his career towards medicine

The TV doctor appeared on This Morning with Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield providing medical opinions on cosmetic surgery discussions

Reality TV star Charlotte Crosby (pictured) was among Esho's early clients

His new business empire started to fall apart in 2022 when allegations first emerged of an improper relationship with a client in Newcastle.

It was uncovered that Esho had sent a string of explicit messages to a client between July 2019 and February 2022. Including boasting that he could 'get away' with giving the woman free Botox in exchange for sex.

The doctor admitted to having an improper emotional relationship with the woman, but denied it was physical.

But Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) found he had in fact engaged in sexual activity with the woman, known as Patient A, at his clinic.

The MPTS heard some other messages he had written to woman which included a text in September 2019 which read: 'What you doing to me lol. Morning Glory. Bloody have me wanting the real thing. That's like every man's dream.'

On Saturday, the MPTS announced it had decided at a private hearing to strike Dr off the medical register.

Ryan Donoghue, for the General Medical Council, told the hearing in Manchester earlier this month: 'Dr Esho's actions would plainly be considered deplorable by fellow medical practitioners.

'As such, that's further support they amount to serious professional misconduct.'

The tribunal's reasons for imposing the sanction will be released next week.
Two of Vladimir Putin's fighters in occupied Ukraine went on a rampage 'killing seven people' with army Kalashnikov rifles after terrified village residents allegedly refused them alcohol, according to reports.

'Drunken' Russian soldiers Alexander Osipov, 34, and Alexander Kaigorodtsev, 37, left a trail of death in two villages in Kherson region, it is alleged.

The troops drove around in a UAZ Patriot military pickup truck demanding alcohol from villagers, and shot them if they refused, according to a report from Telegram channel VChK-OGPU.

'They killed residents and burned their houses if they were refused alcohol,' said the report.

Kaigorodtsev is a convicted murderer who had been recruited into Putin's army.

Two of Vladimir Putin's fighters in occupied Ukraine went on a rampage with army Kalashnikov rifles after terrified village residents refused them alcohol, according to reports. Pictured: Alexander Osipov, 34, who has allegedly confessed to killing four people, though it is believed the number of victims was seven

Alexander Kaigorodtsev, 37, a convicted murderer who had been recruited into Putin's army, is also alleged to have confessed to killing four people

A report from Telegram channel VChK-OGPU said the pair had 'killed residents and burned their houses if they were refused alcohol'. Pictured: One of the homes allegedly set fire to by Osipov and Kaygorodtsev

According to reports, the pair doused the corpses of their victims with fuel in village houses and threw grenades at them to seek to cover up their crime

The pair - now detained - served in the 144th Guards Motor Rifle Division of the Russian Ground Forces.

Despite the bloody massacre, no criminal cases have been opened in villages controlled by Putin's army, reported Astra independent media.

Among the dead in the killing spree was collaborator Lyubov Tymchak, 54, the Russia-appointed head of occupied Abrikosivka village, who had earlier been a Ukrainian official before switching sides to the occupiers.

According to one version, she was slaughtered after she told the men there were no empty village houses they could commandeer for themselves.

Alexei Glinin, 40, reported to be Tymchak's partner and a Russian serviceman, was also killed.

Their bodies were 'disfigured' and their skulls 'split', according to Telegram channel VChK-OGPU, which has linked to Russian law enforcement.

Another resident of Abrikosivka, Sergei Shuvaev, aged 32, was shot dead, as was a Russian serviceman, named Maxim, with their bodies set alight.

In neighbouring Podo-Kalynivka village, pensioner Valentina Starchenko, 65, was also killed, it is alleged.

They doused the corpses of their victims with fuel in village houses and threw grenades at them to seek to cover up their crime, according to reports.

Among the dead in the killing spree was collaborator Lyubov Tymchak, 54, the Russia-appointed head of occupied Abrikosivka village, who had earlier been a Ukrainian official before switching sides to the occupiers

According to one version, Lyubov was slaughtered after she told the men there were no empty village houses they could commandeer for themselves.

Later, two more bodies were found - a man and a woman - whose corpses were burned and disfigured, according to reports.

Osipov, a married man, and Kaigorodtsev reportedly confessed to four murders, but are now suspected of a total of seven killings.

Osipov, pictured in his wedding photo, served in the 144th Guards Motor Rifle Division of the Russian Ground Forces

They were eventually detained 'on the point of unconsciousness' after their killing spree fuelled by bootleg vodka.

At the locations where people were killed, police found shell casings, bullets, and grenade rings, say reports.

Despite this, it is reported no criminal case has been opened by the Russian occupying authorities.

When he was eventually detained, Osipov was said to be 'on the point of unconsciousness'

One law enforcement source apparently claimed: Osipov (pictured) and Kaigorodtsev 'did this, because they were very drunk'

One law enforcement source claimed: 'They did this, because they were very drunk.'

Kaigorodtsev has previous convictions for murder, theft and large-scale drug trafficking.

One report said the case will be investigated by the 126th Military Investigation Department of the Russian Investigative Committee.
The California doctor accused of purposefully driving his Tesla off a 250ft Devil Slide's cliff thought he was protecting his family, a psychologist testified.

Dharmesh Patel, 42, was experiencing a psychotic episode and feared his two kids would be sex trafficked, Dr. Mark Patterson, an expert witness called by Patel's attorney said on Wednesday.

'It was paranoid and kind of delusional thinking that he acted on at the time to protect his family from a worse fate,' Patterson told the court.

'He was concerned that his children were at risk of being kidnapped, possibly for sexual molestation.  There were concerns surrounding the explosion of fentanyl in this country and the war in Ukraine.'

Patel, who remains in Redwood City jail, pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempted murder after his white 2021 Tesla Model Y veered off the Pacific Coast Highway south of San Francisco and plunged from the precipice on January 2, 2023, with his wife, his then-four-year-old son and then-seven-year-old daughter in the car.

Dharmesh Patel, 42, accused of purposefully driving his Tesla off a 250ft Devil Slide's cliff thought he was protecting his family, a psychologist testified

The Pasadena radiologist's children, aged four and seven at the time, and wife Neha Patel, 41, were in the car, and an official said it was an 'absolute miracle' that they made it out alive

Patel was experiencing a psychotic episode and feared his two kids would be sex trafficked, Dr. Mark Patterson, an expert witness called by Patel's attorney said on Wednesday

Patterson was the first witness to be called on Wednesday morning, as reported by San Francisco Chronicle.

He diagnosed Patel with major depressive disorder with a single episode of psychotic features and anxious distress after meeting him a dozen times.

The psychologist said Patel's psychosis peaked in the days before the car crash, adding that he had been hearing footsteps and thought he was followed.

Patterson said he believed the 42-year-old is qualified for treatment under the mental health diversion law, as he said, 'I see him as someone who is very motivated and amenable to treatment.

He stopped having delusions while being held without bail at the San Mateo County jail, Patterson testified, adding, 'he still feels a lot of remorse.'

Patterson's psychosis took center stage at the Wednesday hearing, as the charges against him would be dropped if he is granted diversion and completes two years of treatment.

Dr. James Armontrout, the defense's second witness, diagnosed Patel with 'major depressive disorder with psychotic features that is currently in remission.'

He also said Patel met the requirements for a mental health diversion, which he and his legal team applied in July last year.

The case will be back in court on May 2, where San Mateo County prosecutors are expected to call their witness.

Judge Susan Jakubowski will determine if Patel has a mental illness contributing to the alleged murder, and where he presents a public safety threat by the end of the hearing.

The diversion is part of a new statewide program in California that is focused on preventing defendants with mental illness from being incarcerated.

The illness must be treatable within the duration of the diversion which would be two years in Patel's case since he is facing felony charges.

Neha Patel, the doctor's wife, told investigators after the crash that her husband was depressed and that he had stated his intention to plummet the group.

Neha Patel (pictured) told investigators after the crash that her husband was depressed and that he had stated his intention to plummet the group

Dharmesh Patel (pictured in February 2023) stands in an orange jumpsuit in a San Mateo County courtroom

Court records show Neha, 41, told a California Highway Patrol officer that, 'He's a doctor. He said he was going to drive off the cliff. He purposely drove off.'

Witnesses backed that story up and said that they did not see the car attempt to stop as it flew off the cliffside and down on to a rocky beach.

Patel survived with only minor injuries to his leg and foot while Neha had more serious injuries from the crash.

The couple's seven-year-old child was seriously injured and their four-year-old made it out with just bruises. Both children were released from the hospital within weeks.

The radiologist had initially claimed that he was not guilty and that his Tesla had been experiencing tire issues on the day of the crash.

He said he had stopped three times at gas stations to put air in the tires and that the tire pressure light had turned on just before they went off the cliff.

The wreckage of the Tesla is pictured at the bottom of the cliff

In June last year, the doctor was banned from practicing medicine after being called 'an alarming danger to the public,' by the medical board.

Regulators argued that the ban was necessary because Patel had an 'impairment of cognitive abilities needed to safely practice medicine.'

In a statement issued to the Mercury News, the medical board said Patel could not practice 'under any circumstances' with the case still open.

'The prohibition on practicing medicine will continue until the order is modified by the court or the criminal case against him concludes,' the statement read.

Despite Neha's insistence that her husband intentionally drove their family off a cliff, Patel's defense attorney said that she did not want her husband prosecuted.

The lawyer's statements were rebuffed by Wagstaffe who said that Neha's statements following the crash support the attempted murder charges.

'She said very simply this was not an accident. We do believe the evidence establishes the necessary intent to kill,' Wagstaffe told the San Francisco Chronicle.

An attorney representing Neha said she is expected to address the court next month.
A town centre has been placed in lockdown after a woman reportedly donated a live grenade to a heritage centre by accident, causing the Army bomb squad to rush to the scene.

A witness said a woman had handed items - including the potentially explosive relic from the Second World War - to a site in Darwen, Lancashire.

They told The Sun she had unwittingly walked into the heritage centre and inadvertently handed over a grenade with the pin still in it.

Following the dangerous discovery police evacuated a large area of the town centre and cordoned off neighbouring streets to allow the bomb disposal experts to get to work.

Just after 2pm a large emergency response was in attendance at the incident including police officers, firemen and ambulance crews.

Following the dangerous discovery in Darwen, Lancashire police evacuated a large area of the town centre and cordoned off neighbouring streets to allow the bomb disposal experts to get to work

Just after 2pm a large emergency response was in attendance at the incident including police officers, firemen and ambulance crews

Pictures from the scene show the commotion caused the town's central Market Square to be completely abandoned during a usually busy market day

Pictures from the scene show the commotion caused the town's central Market Square to be completely abandoned during a usually busy market day.

The square was being used for the Crafty Vintage market, held on the last Saturday of every month, with tents and stalls set up - but they had to all be abandoned.

But a woman at a Hen Do across the street in a locked-down pub told The Sun all the men in uniform was 'exciting'.

'What more could a girl ask for all them men in uniform police fire and army and paramedics?'

'Even the bomb squad showed up and gave her a little wave.'

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed bomb disposal experts from Catterick Garrison in Yorkshire were called to help.

A spokesman for the MoD told The Mirror: 'We can confirm an Army Bomb Disposal team was called out to Darwen at the request of Lancashire Police. The item was safely moved to a safe distance and destroyed by demolition.'

Just after 5pm police announced the lockdown had ended and roads were reopened.

While the lockdown was in place, residents took to X/Twitter to share their shock at the unexpected turn of events.

Police put a wide cordon in place, while customers at a pub were told to remain inside

One person said on X: 'Apparently Darwen town centre is in lockdown an unexploded grenade has innocently been handed into the Heritage Centre. The pin was still in had to get Police and bomb disposal to remove it. Police and bomb disposal vehicles all over the town centre.'

Another wrote: 'Only in Darwen could someone innocently take a live hand grenade to a food festival.'

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said earlier: 'We are currently at the scene of an ongoing incident at Market Hall, Darwen. Officers are currently at the scene and a cordon is in place.

'We are asking people to avoid the area for now and we will update you in due course.'
At first glance, Andrii is a typical university student. Aged 21, he has a mop of fair hair, blue eyes and a gentle smile. Unlike most students, however, he has been risking torture and death behind enemy lines, smuggling out secret intelligence to the Ukrainian resistance.

Andrii was born and brought up in Mariupol, the port city that was besieged and then invaded by Russia in the first two months of the war in early 2022.

The brave Ukrainian soldiers who remained in the city's steelworks for weeks under terrifying bombardment came to embody the nation's defiance against overwhelming firepower.

A true patriot, Andrii couldn't sit by while his country collapsed. So, unarmed and with just a smartphone, he began photographing documents, buildings and locations that he felt would be useful for the Ukrainian armed forces.

From August 2022 he became aware of a secure social media channel on which he could send his information to the Ukrainian army, barely 100 miles away with rocket launchers trained on his home city.

Pictured: Russian soldiers at the Mariupol drama theatre which was hit by an airstrike on March 26. Brave citizens such as Andrii are sending photos of documents and buildings to the Ukrainian army

Ukrainian soldier Artem Kariakin. Ukrainians are engaging in various forms of resistance to Russian occupation, from raising Ukrainian flags overnight to sabotaging key infrastructure

Ukrainian soldiers on the front line in the town of Kreminna in the Donetsk region

A crater left by a damaged hospital ward in Kharkiv after being hit by two Russian missiles

He then began locating and photographing enemy barracks and troop movements, along with weapon and ammunition stores.

This vital information was used to kill Russian troops and wipe out enemy equipment using missiles, drones and artillery shells.

Andrii is just one of tens of thousands of brave men and women who have risked their lives in what many abroad call the 'Occupied Territories'  but which Ukrainians prefer to call the 'Temporary Occupied Territories'.

About 20 per cent of Ukraine's land, mostly in the far east of the country, is under Russian control.

Millions of people are forced to live under the iron rule of their occupiers, who keep order through the threat of imprisonment, torture and even execution.

Aged 19 at the time of the invasion and living with his family, Andrii says: 'I wanted to do something, however small, to help the country I love. I did not consider my life was important compared to the bigger picture  I was prepared to die.'

Eventually, however, Russian police and security agencies cottoned on to his spying. Andrii knew he had to flee his home city when he heard Russian security officers were interrogating shoppers over his whereabouts, armed with a picture of him.

Andrii's escape from Mariupol in March last year was just as dangerous.

With all roads to the rest of Ukraine blocked, he had to cross into Russia.

In a nerve-shredding encounter at the border, Andrii was taken to a room where he was strip-searched by Russian guards.

They were looking for tattoos linking him to Ukrainian military units or evidence that he had been using a weapon.

They then questioned him for two hours before eventually releasing him, satisfied with his story that he was a student who needed to visit Russia. He travelled onwards through enemy territory by bus, praying each time it pulled over that no more gun-toting guards would board, asking for an 'Andrii'.

After what felt like an age, he crossed the Russian border into Belarus, and from there to Kyiv.

He was sad to leave his family but relieved to leave behind a city starved of electricity and drinking water, with little food in the shops and few medical supplies.

'Life under Russian control was horrible,' he says. 'There was an information vacuum. The internet was blocked along with Ukrainian and US TV and radio channels.

'We were cut off from the outside world and all we heard was Russian propaganda.'

Today he still works with the resistance but as an administrator in the Dnipro area in the east of the country.

He marshals spies still in Mariupol, feeding their vital intelligence to the armed forces.

'I am still trying to do my bit,' said Andrii, who has also resumed his studies. 'At the time of the invasion I was a quiet home boy, but I am proud of what I have been able to do.'

Tens of thousands of brave men and women in what Ukrainians call 'Temporary Occupied Territories' risk their lives to resist Putin's forces

Millions of people are forced to live under the iron rule of their occupiers, who keep order through the threat of imprisonment, torture and even execution

Behind enemy lines, resistance takes many forms.

Some take part in civil disobedience, a kind of non-violent protest against the occupiers.

Their actions, designed to boost morale, include secretly painting anti-Russian graffiti in public places and tying yellow ribbons  a resistance symbol  far and wide.

Others ensure that blue and yellow Ukrainian flags are regularly hoisted in public places overnight.

Open protests, however, are non-existent because those who took part in them in the early days were arrested and sometimes tortured and killed.

Under the cover of darkness, however, Ukrainians sabotage infrastructure including railways, communications and factories, and some will kill the enemy if the opportunity arises.

The direct action of those doughty fighters, armed with a secretly amassed arsenal of guns, car bombs and other explosives, has seen hundreds of Russians soldiers and collaborators shot or blown up. I have learned that women are also playing a key role in the resistance, including acting as honeytraps to lure Russian soldiers to their deaths.

However, many soldiers are so hungry that poisoned food  rather than the suggestion of sexual favours  is the preferred method of assassination.

In the north-east city of Izium, during the first days of the occupation, two Russian soldiers were killed and 28 hospitalised when locals gave them poisoned cakes a grim irony given that the Kremlin is no stranger to poisoning its enemies.

However, the most valuable weapon that fighters have is intelligence: information that, shared on phones, enables the Ukrainian army to strike from hundreds of miles away.

It should not be forgotten that for some, notably in Crimea and parts of Luhansk and Donetsk, the resistance has been smouldering for a full decade, since Vladimir Putin ordered their illegal annex-ation in 2014.

In Kharkiv in north-east Ukraine, a soldier told me that, as war loomed, several civilians were trained in how to co-ordinate attacks on enemy troops, similar to methods used by the French Resistance in the Second World War.

Small, isolated cells were created so that if an underground member was caught and tortured then he or she could not betray the identities or whereabouts of the wider group.

While the city of Kharkiv was never occupied, the soldier poured his efforts into operating a 50-strong network of spies on WhatsApp, many of them living behind Russian lines. These men and women fed the army crucial intelligence using 'burner phones'  devices that are destroyed after the message is sent so the source cannot be traced  which they had been given in the weeks before the invasion when Russian tanks were massing on the border.

The military in Kharkiv used the intelligence to pound Russian targets, one of which was a huge depot of armoured vehicles 50 miles south of the city.

On one occasion, the social media group was infiltrated by a spy feeding information to the invaders, but the traitor was quickly identified and shot, the soldier told me.

The occupation, according to intelligence sources, has been far more brutal than anyone expected. Torture centres exist openly in many high streets, intended to give a clear and chilling message that anyone discovered helping or even showing sympathy towards Ukraine will be treated viciously.

One source said: 'The Russians are using medieval torture techniques in a modern war  dismemberment and castration  along with more modern techniques including applying electric shocks to men's genitals  they are monsters.'

He added: 'No one expected the occupation to be so harsh.'

Under the yoke of Russian rule, local populations have to tolerate rigged elections, forced mobilisation, repression and intimidation.

Pre-construction mine clearance works underway in Russian-controlled Mariupol

In occupied territories, locals are forced to put up with rigged elections and forced mobilisation and intimidation

Construction workers lay bricks while rebuilding a destroyed district in the city of Mariupol

Those who refuse to apply for Russian passports are deprived of the best homes, healthcare and education for their children, yet still thousands defiantly keep their Ukrainian nationality.

Russia tries to control the internet, communications and all TV and radio channels, having set up at least one station aimed solely at their new Ukrainian civilians.

The channel continually broadcasts sinister warnings about the repercussions for those who collaborate with 'the enemy'.

Intelligence sources in Kyiv have learned that, after the atrocities at Bucha in early 2022, when hundreds of dead bodies of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians were found strewn in the streets, the Kremlin told army and security services that evidence of their barbarity must never again be left for the world to see.

Today its brutality is as common as ever, just more discreet.

One 33-year-old member of the partisan group Atesh (meaning 'Fire' in Ukrainian) told me that she could have left Crimea several times but chose to stay to carry out her valuable work.

'We cannot simply watch from the sidelines as Russia commits terrible crimes on Ukraine: kills, tortures, rapes, destroys entire cities and brings its terrible 'Russian world' to free people,' she said.

Intelligence from Atesh has proved invaluable, not least in inflicting heavy damage on Russia's Black Sea fleet. As a champion of bravery, a collector of gallantry medals and the author of seven books on courage, I have no doubt that once this brutal war is over, more incredible stories of valour will emerge from the rubble.
Londoners have been hit with a 71 per cent increase in Sadiq Khan's 'stealth tax' since the Labour chief became mayor.

People living in the capital are currently paying 471 towards the Mayoral General Precept, which is an additional charge added to council tax bills to 'support the Mayor's activities', according to The Telegraph.

This figure has shot up from an average of 276 since Mr Khan became London Mayor in 2016.

He now reportedly plans to increase it even further by 37 (nine per cent), imposing yet more financial woes onto already cash-strapped families.

It comes just days before more than five million Londoners are set to vote in the upcoming London Mayoral elections on May 2, with Khan seeking a third four year term in office, which would make him the longest ever serving London Mayor.

Londoners have been hit with a 71 per cent increase in Sadiq Khan 's (pictured) 'stealth tax' since the Labour chief became mayor.

People living in the capital are currently paying 471 towards the Mayoral General Precept, which is an additional charge added to council tax bills to 'support the Mayor's activities' (Stock image)

The Mayoral General Precept is a levy that is imposed across a number of combined authority's across the UK including Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Greater Manchester, the Liverpool City Region and London.

In Greater Manchester, the Mayoral General Precept is also used to fund the fire service, which is different to other areas where the fire service is funded by a separate levy.

According to the figures seen by the Telegraph, Londoners are now paying more towards it than any other combined authority.

The Mayoral Precept was introduced in London by the Greater London Authority in 2000 when Ken Livingstone was London Mayor.

Mr Livingstone increased it 152 per cent by the end of his second four year term in 2008, while Boris Johnson lowered the levy by 11 per cent after he was ousted as London Mayor in 2016.

A spokesman for Mr Khan said: 'This election is a close two-horse race between Sadiq, and the hard-right Conservative candidate for mayor who couldn't be more out of touch with our city and its values.

'Susan Hall would cancel free school meals and reverse Sadiq's TfL fares freeze. She is a supporter of Donald Trump, cheered Liz Truss's disastrous mini-budget, and has promoted racist comments by Enoch Powell on social media.'

The Mayoral Precept was introduced in London by the Greater London Authority in 2000 when Ken Livingstone (pictured) was London Mayor

Mr Livingstone increased it 152 per cent by the end of his second four year term in 2008, while Boris Johnson (pictured) lowered the levy by 11 per cent after he was ousted in 2016

It comes as Mr Khan recently urged ministers to end the 'everyday extortion' of unfair service charges for leaseholders.

He demanded legal powers for leaseholders to withhold service charge payments where the justification has not been set out in writing.

He said: 'If leaseholders face large increases in their service charge without it being clearly explained what it's paying for, they should be able to do something about it  including having stronger rights in law.'

Mr Khan also said he wants the Government to use the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill currently going through Parliament to make it easier for leaseholders to take their landlords to court to challenge unreasonable costs.

Leaseholders should also get quicker redress by expanding the remit of the housing ombudsman to investigate service charge hikes, the mayor argued.

Leaseholds are a form of home ownership that gives the householders the right to live in a property for a fixed number of years but can also mean having to pay service charges to the freeholder, who owns the land.

London has 1.4 million leasehold properties, a quarter of all such properties in the country.

The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill has faced criticism for failing to outlaw this housing system branded 'feudal' by Housing Secretary Michael Gove.

While the legislation bans the sale of new leasehold houses, except in exceptional circumstances, it does not ban the sale of new leasehold flats, which make up 70% of properties affected.

Action the Labour London mayor has taken to support leaseholders includes introducing a requirement for 990-year leases as standard for shared ownership homes funded by City Hall.

But he does not have the power regulate existing homes or change current legislation, and so is urging ministers to act, upping the pressure on Mr Gove who has already been accused of heavily diluting the Bill.

Mr Khan said: 'Sky-high service charges can be financially crippling for people living in flats or who are shared owners. At their worst, they amount to the everyday extortion of leaseholders and a shameful abuse of power by landlords and freeholders.

'While many landlords act responsibly, we need stronger rights for leaseholders to act against those who don't, with new powers of redress and the ability to withhold service charges that simply aren't justified.'

He added: 'I'll keep campaigning for the end of our current system of leasehold ownership, and the introduction of commonhold as the new default tenure for flat owners in London and across the country.'

He also described Conservative rival Susan Hall as a 'hard-right Tory candidate who will never stand up to vested interests in the property market'.

A spokesperson for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said: 'Unjustified increases in service charges are completely unacceptable, which is why we are committed to strengthening protection for leaseholders, and are bringing forward reforms through the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill. This will empower them and make it easier to challenge unfair costs.'
Little more than a year after becoming First Minister of Scotland, Humza Yousaf clings desperately to power.

The SNPs opponents at Holyrood scent blood and have launched motions of no confidence in Mr Yousaf and his government.

Meanwhile, senior figures in the First Ministers party are, this weekend, searching for a candidate who might succeed him.

Make no mistake, Mr Yousaf is now a busted political flush.

His inept handling of the removal of the Greens from government has left him with nowhere to turn. Mr Yousaf is a political laughing stock, a leader without a shred of authority or credibility.

First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf clings desperately to power

And so we should expect, sooner rather than later, a new SNP leader.

Speculation surrounds a number of senior party figures.

Theres a suggestion that Westminster leader Stephen Flynn might bid for the job and appoint a deputy to handle First Ministerial duties until he is able to move to Holyrood.

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth and former finance secretary Kate Forbes are also seen as potential candidates.

Perhaps I may be so bold as to offer all who wish to succeed Humza Yousaf a small piece of advice: please stop treating Scots with contempt.

This, Im afraid, is something neither Nicola Sturgeon nor Humza Yousaf could manage.

In the near-decade since the independence referendum, the SNP has utterly failed the people of Scotland.

Despite voters having made their position perfectly clear, Ms Sturgeon was almost pathologically unable to accept reality.

Despite polls showing majority support for the maintenance of the Union, she continued to insist there was a public appetite for a second referendum.

And while Ms Sturgeon treated the majority who did not support her separatist project with contempt, she was equally disdainful of her own supporters.

She took them for fools, repeatedly promising them a referendum she had absolutely no power to deliver.

When Ms Sturgeon said she was stepping down as SNP leader, she conceded that she had become a divisive figure.

Mr Yousaf should have paid close attention to this rare moment of self-examination.

The things that made Ms Sturgeon such a polarising figure were her policy obsessions.

Not only was her monomania on the independence question a huge turn off, but her insistence on pushing ahead with unpopular policies, such as reform of the Gender Recognition Act, set her at odds with many voters.

Ms Sturgeon and her loyal lieutenants dismissed the concerns of feminists who pointed out that reform could undermine the right to establish single-sex spaces, such as refuges.

And they ignored mounting evidence that the prescription of so called puberty blockers to young people was not safe.

So the first tests for Mr Yousaf when he became First Minister last March were not especially challenging.

What he had to do was stop insisting a second referendum was imminent and make clear that, when it came to the health of children and young people, he preferred the advice of medical experts over that of trans-rights ideologues.

Pitifully, Mr Yousaf could not clear these low bars. Not only did he declare his intention to be First Activist, he also pursued a costly (and futile) legal challenge to the decision by Scottish Secretary Alister Jack to block Holyroods flawed reform of the Gender Recognition Act, on the basis it would negatively impact on the UK-wide Equality Act.

In the midst of a cost of living crisis, with voters crying out for improvements to an ailing NHS and action to halt sliding standards in schools, Mr Yousaf preferred to play to the actvist gallery, putting the wishes of a noisy few before the needs of the frustrated majority.

Perhaps the most extraordinary example of his remarkable inability to understand the feelings of voters came when then Health Secretary Michael Matheson was plunged into an expenses scandal last year.

When it emerged Mr Matheson had claimed 11,000 for data run up during a family holiday to Morocco, he first insisted all costs had been incurred while he performed constituency work.

Mr Yousaf accepted this most unlikely story without question. And then continued to defend Mr Matheson as his story fell apart.

Rather than sacking his health secretary, Mr Yousaf sang his praises, even when it became clear he had lied about his expenses claim.

Mr Matheson should never have been allowed to cling on for so long. It was perfectly clear to voters that he should go long before Mr Yousaf reached the same conclusion.

In recent weeks, the First Minister has repeated that feat of defending the indefensible.

When the leading paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass published her review of NHS services for gender-confused young people in England, it made for disturbing reading.

Dr Cass concluded that ideologues had been allowed to influence clinical practice.

She also shattered the lie that puberty blockers are safe and reversible, making clear the science behind their use was wholly inadequate.

That was the point at which serious politicians should have insisted her findings spark complete reform of the way the Scottish NHS treats young people with gender dysphoria.

Instead, Patrick Harvie and other Greens sought to undermine the review, citing criticisms (almost entirely from activist ideologues) as reason to doubt its value.

Rather than slap Mr Harvie down, Mr Yousaf brushed off his shocking remarks.

The Scottish Greens are now revelling in the spotlight. Theres talk of them backing the vote of no confidence in the Government unless Mr Yousaf is replaced by a candidate of whom they approve.

The next SNP leader should have the guts to ignore threats from their partys former partners. The Scottish Greens are firmly on the crank wing of modern politics.

Their opposition to economic growth and support for the medicalisation of confused children marks them out as outsiders whose views may be dismissed.

If Humza Yousafs successor wishes to slow the SNPs slide, they will stop pandering to oddballs and obsessives and start showing the people of Scotland a little respect.
She refused to comment on her relationship with pediatric surgeon Dr. Bettolli



The former wife of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has opened up about the couple's shock split in a candid interview - and revealed what she plans to do next.

In her latest book, penned before their separation, the 48-year-old Sophie Trudeau discussed her battle with an eating disorder while sharing personal anecdotes from her 'imperfect' marriage with Justin.

Since the end of her 18-year marriage with Justin in August 2023, Sophie now immerses herself in a busy schedule that includes promoting her book, hosting yoga sessions, and continuing her advocacy for mental wellness.

Speaking on her split from Justin, she told The Times: 'We don't have to dramatize, end abruptly, break relationships in order to restructure our lives and our minds.

'And something changed, yes, something broke; I am not sure that's how I mean it,' she added, insisting she and Justin remain close as a family despite the separation.

She refused to comment on her relationship with the Ottawa pediatric surgeon whom she appeared to fall in love before her separation was announced.

Sophie Trudeau, the former wife of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, candidly discusses her battle with an eating disorder while sharing personal anecdotes from her 'imperfect' marriage in her latest book

After the end of her 18-year marriage with Justin in August 2023, Sophie now immerses herself in a busy schedule that includes promoting her book, hosting yoga sessions, and continuing her advocacy for mental wellness

Sophie refused to comment on her relationship with the Ottawa pediatric surgeon (pictured) whom she appeared to fall in love before her shock separation from Justin was announced

Sophie now lives not far from her ex-husband while taking care of their three young children - Xavier, 16, Ella-Grace, 15, and Hadrien, 10.

'We are still all hanging out together: we love each other, we spend time together. It's organic  you know, the kids all sleeping together one night, that's fine.

'And I have a little space for me and sometimes the kids come there, and we're just so close to each other that we do it organically. And it feels good, it feels natural. It doesn't feel forced. It feels heartwarming,' she told the Times.

Reports suggested that by the time the Justins' decision to part ways was announced to the world, Sophie had already started a relationship with Ottawa-based pediatric surgeon Dr. Marcos Bettolli.

But in the latest interview, she did not address the rumors, adding that there are no secrets between her and Justin.

'You know, in some ways it's boring for some people because we've always been truthful to each other. We don't hold secrets That's not the dynamic we have.

'And let me be honest: in some ways I'm very proud of how we  not how the world thinks of us  how we navigate this. When we're together and we look at each other, that's what counts.'

'Though we are no longer a couple, I know our shared sense of humor will always help us weather the storms.'

But she did not hesitate to open up about some deeply personal experiences in her new book Closer Together: Knowing Ourselves Loving Each Other, which offers readers with a glimpse into her 18-year-long marriage with Justin.

For example, Sophie shared a form about 'attachment styles' that she filled out prior to the separation.

She ticked the box saying she 'often worries' that her partner will stop loving her and she 'is afraid' of her partner becoming interested in someone else.

She also admitted that she would 'get very quickly attached to a romantic partner' and expressed a desire for her partner to exhibit 'a little jealousy' following a breakup.

Sophie said she now lives a fairly normal life in Ottawa, focusing on yoga, therapy, and meditation while raising her three kids

Sophie now lives not far from her ex-husband while taking care of their three young children - Xavier, 16, Ella-Grace, 15, and Hadrien, 10

When serving as the first lady of Canada, Sophie had some memorable encounters with world leaders, including those who 'have a wicked sense of humor.'

'There's good people out there,' she said.

Speaking of the former first lady Michelle Obama, Sophie said: 'She's funny. She has a great sense of humor and also very deep values that I respect.'

But when asked about her relationship with Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, she was very reserved, saying: 'I know her... but we haven't spent much time together.'

Sophie then turned the conversation over to Meghan's sister-in-law Kate Middleton, revealing that her 'heart just sunk' when she heard about the Princess's cancer diagnosis last month.

Sophie said she now lives a fairly normal life in Ottawa, focusing on yoga, therapy, and meditation while raising her three kids.

She did not hesitate to open up about some deeply personal experiences in her new book Closer Together: Knowing Ourselves Loving Each Other, which offers readers with a glimpse into her 18-year-long marriage with Justin

The vowed to 'remain a close family with deep love and respect for one another and for everything they had built' in their statement announcing the split

'First of all, no life is perfect. People may have a perception of one's life and we have to be very careful about how we think we know public personalities,' she said.

'And I don't see myself as a public personality, just that there's a public aspect to my life. But I'm not raising my kids under the spotlight.

'We go to the park and I'm in my sweatpants, we run errands, and we roll in the grass. And that's my life. Then there is this other little part that's quite unique.'

In February, she was pictured going out for a dinner with Dr. Bettolli and her children. Reports about their relationship have since surfaced.

In a divorce petition filed on April 26, 2023, Dr. Bettolli's ex-wife Ana Remonda claimed that he had 're-partnered with a high-profile individual who attracts significant media attention, and presents significant security considerations'.

The person was not named in the court documents, but The National Post claimed it had been confirmed that Ms. Remonda's allegation refers to 48-year-old Gregoire.

Dr. Bettolli, 48, works at the Childrens Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and also teaches at the University of Ottawas medical school.

He completed his medical studies at the Catholic University of Cordoba, Argentina, according to his biography on the University of Ottawa website.

The doctor moved to Canada in 2004 before becoming the educational leader for the Pediatric Surgery undergraduate program at the university in 2010.

In 2014, he was promoted to Associate Professor and earned his distinction as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada (FRCSC).

His ex-wife Ms. Remonda, who is a stay-at-home mother, reportedly said in her divorce petition that she takes 'no position' on her former partner's personal life.

But Dr. Bettolli reportedly insisted his ex-wife's attitude toward his relationship with Sophie is 'not in the children's best interest' in his reply to the divorce claim.

He is said to have claimed that Ms. Remonda threatened to return to Argentina, where they were both born, if the new relationship was revealed.

Dr. Bettolli and his ex-wife separated in January 2020 after 22 years of marriage.
Police are investigating after death threats were sent to Scotlands top law officer and her family, The Scottish Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Officers were called in after a menacing letter was delivered to the home of Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain, KC, last week.

Its thought to have contained threats towards Ms Bain and members of her family and questioned her impartiality because of her role within the Scottish Government as Scotlands top law officer and legal adviser.

This newspaper understands that at least one member of her family was spoken to as a precaution.

Police Scotland has confirmed that the threats have been taken seriously.

Death threats were sent to Scotlands top law officer Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC

Scotlands most senior prosecutor Dorothy Bain with Justice Minister Angela Constance advises the Scottish Government

Top judge Lord Turnbull, husband of Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC

However, it is not clear if security around Ms Bain has been increased as a result.

A spokesman said: Officers are carrying out inquiries following threats made in the Edinburgh area.

The Crown Office declined to comment last night.

Ms Bain, who began her career as an advocate in 1994, was appointed Lord Advocate in June 2021.

Her role means that, while she is not a member of the Cabinet, she attends Cabinet meetings when she is required to provide legal advice to the Scottish Government.

Her appointment saw her husband, Lord Turnbull  a senior judge  agree not to preside over criminal trials to avoid a conflict of interest.

News of the threat received by the Lord Advocate comes amid increasing concerns for the safety of politicians and their staff.

In 2021, a poll of 67 MPs found a third had received a death threat.

Research also found that 29 per cent of female MSPs have received a threat of sexual violence. No male MSP has reported such a threat being made.

Ms Bains role has been the subject of much debate. The Lord Advocate is head of the prosecution service and also the Scottish Governments top legal adviser.

This has required her involvement in several high-profile cases and decisions.

In 2022, she led a delegation to London made up of lawyers, officials and one of Nicola Sturgeons special advisers, amid the SNPs doomed Supreme Court independence case.

Supreme Court judges unanimously ruled that the SNP government could not go ahead with an independence referendum without Westminster consent.

Ms Bain also faced criticism when it emerged that the Crown Office took a fortnight to allow a police raid on Ms Sturgeons home amid the ongoing probe into SNP finances.

Police Scotland asked to search the former First Ministers house on March 20, 2023. But the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service did not give the green light until April 3  after the SNP leadership contest had ended and Ms Sturgeon had been replaced by Humza Yousaf.

The revelation sparked a call for a judge-led inquiry into the Crown Offices role in the process, which former justice secretary Kenny MacAskill suggested was due to what appears to be political considerations.

At the time, a spokesman for Ms Bain said that she was not politically affiliated to the SNP and she advised and represented clients across a range of issues with unfailing integrity and professionalism.

Ms Bain has since recused herself from decisions involving the inquiry into the SNP.

As well as providing legal advice to the Scottish Government, Ms Bains career has seen her instructed in cases at all levels, including the Court of Session, Court of Criminal Appeal, High Court of Justiciary, United Kingdom Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights.

From 2002 to 2011 she served as an Advocate Depute at the Crown Office.

This culminated in her appointment as the Principal Advocate Depute in 2009, the first woman appointed to the post.

As Principal Advocate Depute, she was Scotlands most senior prosecutor, conducting many high-profile criminal prosecutions.
A New York court ruled this week that he did not receive a fair trial in 2020

His lawyer said that he will be receiving tests and is a 'train wreck health wise'

Harvey Weinstein's lawyer has said that that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City.

Attorney Arthur Aidala said Weinstein was moved to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan after his arrival on Friday into Rikers Island.

Aidala said: 'They examined him and sent him to Bellevue. It seems like he needs a lot of help, physically.

'He's got a lot of problems. He's getting all kinds of tests. He's somewhat of a train wreck health wise.'

The New York Court of Appeals ruled on Thursday that the disgraced movie producer did not receive a fair trial when he was convicted in 2020.

Weinstein, 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. He was handed a further 16 years following his conviction in LA in 2022.

Attorney Arthur Aidala said Weinstein, seen here in 2020, was moved to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan after his arrival on Friday to city jails

Weinstein, pictured with ex-wife Georgina Chapman in happier times, was a titan of the movie industry before allegations of sexual abuse made him the face of the #MeToo movement

Attorney Arthur Aidala said Weinstein was moved to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, seen here, after his arrival on Friday into Rikers Island

The ruling concluded that a trial judge permitted jurors to see and hear too much evidence not directly related to the charges he faced. It also erased his 23-year prison sentence and ordered a retrial.

Prosecutors said they intend to retry him on charges that he forcibly performed oral sex on a TV and film production assistant in 2006 and raped an aspiring actor in 2013.

Weinstein remained in custody after the appeals ruling because he was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 of another rape and was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

For some time, Weinstein has been ailing with a variety of afflictions, including cardiac issues, diabetes, sleep apnea and eye problems.

Aidala said he spoke to Weinstein on Friday afternoon after he was in transit to New York City from an upstate jail less than 24 hours after the appeals ruling, which was released Thursday morning.

He said his client's ailments are physical, adding that mentally he is 'sharp as a tack. Feet are firmly planted on the ground.'

The lawyer said it usually takes state corrections and prisons officials a week or two to arrange to transport a prisoner.

'He was not treated well. They refused to give him even a sip of water, no food, no bathroom break,' Aidala said. 'He's a 72-year-old sickly man.'

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

Aidala said he was told that Bellevue doctors planned to run a lot of tests on Weinstein before he can be returned to the Rikers Island jail complex.

The lawyer said he's scheduled to meet with Weinstein on Monday. He added that he plans to tell a judge when Weinstein goes to court on Wednesday in Manhattan that a retrial should occur after Labor Day.

Frank Dwyer, a spokesperson with the New York City Department of Correction, said only that Weinstein remains in custody at Bellevue.

Thomas Mailey, a spokesperson for the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, said Weinstein was turned over to the citys Department of Correction pursuant to the appeals ruling.

Weinstein had been housed at the Mohawk Correctional Facility, about 100 miles northwest of Albany.

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.

A new trial has been ordered after it was determined Justice James M. Burke, who presided over Weinstein's New York City case in 2020, made a 'crucial' mistake during the initial trial.

In a 4-3 decision, the appellant court determined that the Judge Burke had made an error in allowing women to testify who were not part of the case.

'The news today is not only disheartening, but it's profoundly unjust,' a statement from Silence Breakers, the group behind the #MeToo movement said.

'But this ruling does not diminish the validity of our experiences or our truth; it's merely a setback. The man found guilty continues to serve time in a California prison.

'We continue to stand strong and advocate for that change. We will continue to fight for justice for survivors everywhere.'

Actress Ashley Judd, one of the first to publicly accuse Weinstein, shared her disappointment with the ruling.

Weinstein appears in court at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles in October 2022

Justice James M. Burke, seen in a court sketch in 2020, was blamed for a 'crucial' mistake in Weinstein's New York trial

His legal team is appealing the California conviction. Pictured: Weinstein with Oscar winner Meryl Streep in 2012 before the sordid accusations emerged

'That's really hard for the survivors  We still live in our truth. And we know what happened,' she told the New York Times.

But Weinstein's lawyer hailed the decision as, 'not just a victory for Mr Weinstein, but for every criminal defendant in the state of New York'.

'We compliment the court of appeals for upholding the most basic principles that a criminal defendant should have in a trial,' he told the outlet.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg vowed to do 'everything in our power' to retry the case, adding his office, 'remains steadfast in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault.'

If his second appeal against his Los Angeles is successful, the shamed film boss could walk free.

Defense attorney Mark Werksman who defended Weinstein in the LA case was optimistic about his chances.

This is a great outcome and the right result. We faced the same fundamental unfairness in the Los Angeles case where the judge allowed the jury to hear evidence about four uncharged and unproven allegations of sexual assault, Werksman told DailyMail.com.

His spokesperson Juda Engelmayer told DailyMail.com earlier this week that Weinstein wept 'tears of joy' after hearing it had been overturned.

Weinstein was jailed in New York for the two attacks in 2006 and 2013. He was convicted of third degree rape against Mann and criminal sexual act against Haleyi, but acquitted of first degree rape and two counts of predatory sexual assault.

The court heard Mann was attacked by Weinstein in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013.

Haleyi testified that he forcibly performed oral sex on her in his apartment while she had her period in 2006.

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. It is unclear exactly what the ruling will mean for Weinstein who has a separate 16 year sentence for another rape in Los Angeles

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

The predatory sexual assault charge, which was the most serious, incorporated Sopranos actress Anabella Sciorra's allegation that she was raped by Weinstein in her Manhattan apartment in the mid-1990s.

Sciorra's allegation was too old to be charged on its own because of the statute of limitations, but jurors had to consider it as a basis for charges alleging Weinstein is a sexual predator.

In total, six women took to the stand to give harrowing accounts of alleged abuse.

Costume designer Dawn Dunning, model Tarale Wulff and actress Lauren Marie Young were among those who testified they were enticed into meeting Weinstein for professional reasons and then groped or raped.

Weinstein was given an additional 16 year sentence in Los Angeles following conviction for a rape which took place in 2013.

The victim was attacked by the shamed Miramax boss at a hotel room after a film festival, but only came forward after #MeToo opened the floodgates against him.

Weinstein was acquitted in Los Angeles on charges against Mann who alleged he also raped her in California.

Weinstein's lawyers argued Judge James Burke's rulings in favor of the prosecution turned the trial into '1-800-GET-HARVEY.'

Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra, who was the first accuser to testify in New York, told the jury that the burly Weinstein barged into her Manhattan apartment one winter night in 1993 or 1994 and violently raped her. She is pictured left in court and right in January 1994

The Sopranos actress (above) confronted Weinstein from the witness stand during her testimony, saying that he overpowered and raped her and made other crude overtures that included sending her X-rated chocolates and showing up uninvited in his underwear

Harvey Weinstein accuser Lauren Marie Young leaves Manhattan Criminal Court in 2020. Her testimony was also part of the evidence deemed 'unfair'

Weinstein was sentenced to 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

Harvey Weinstein photographed leaving the First Police Precinct in handcuffs in New York after turning himself in

The movie mogul's accusers have called the appellant court ruling a 'setback'. Pictured: Weinstein with Oprah Winfrey at a post-BAFTA party in 2014 prior to his convictions

But Wigdor Law, which represented eight of Weinstein's accusers including two connected to the New York trial, blasted the appeal court's ruling.

'Today's decision is a major step back in holding those accountable for acts of sexual violence.

'Courts routinely admit evidence of other uncharged acts where they assist juries in understanding issues concerning the intent, modus operandi or scheme of the defendant.

'The jury was instructed on the relevance of this testimony and overturning the verdict is tragic in that it will require the victims to endure yet another trial.'

The ruling was handed down by Judge Jenny Rivera, with Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson and Judges Betsy Barros and Christine Clark concurring.

Judges Madeline Singas, Michael Garcia and Anthony Cannataro dissented, while Judges Shirley Troutman and Caitlin Halligan took no part.

In a scathing dissent, Judge Singas accused the majority judges of 'whitewashing the facts to conform to a he-said/she-said narrative.'

'The majority's determination perpetuates outdated notions of sexual violence and allows predators to escape accountability,' Singas said.

Dunning (L) pictured with Wulff, claimed that Weinstein sexually harassed her and tried to pressure her into having a three-way with him

The allegations against Weinstein first emerged in a 2017 New York Times article which named actress Rose McGowan, pictured on the first day of his New York trial in 2020

McGowan, pictured with Weinstein in 2007, claimed that the Miramax boss raped her in 1997

Weinstein's team is appealing his 2022 Los Angeles rape conviction for which he was sentenced to 16 years

The reversal of his conviction is the second major #MeToo setback in the last two years, after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of a Pennsylvania court decision to throw out Bill Cosby's sexual assault conviction.

Weinstein's conviction stood for more than four years, heralded by activists and advocates as a milestone achievement, but dissected just as quickly by his lawyers and, later, the Court of Appeals when it heard arguments on the matter in February.

New York State of Appeals Chief Judge Janet DiFiore ruled that Weinstein's appeal could proceed in 2022.

At the time, his lawyer Arthur Aidala argued that women who did not form part of the criminal allegations should not have been allowed to take the stand and testify about alleged sex abuse by his client.

He also alleged that one juror did not disclose they'd previously written a book on sexual predators, which he said should have disqualified them from serving.

Weinstein denied the charges against him and insisted that his relations with the women were consensual.

More than 80 women came forward to accuse the Oscar-winning producer of sexual assault and harassment.

The allegations first surfaced publicly in a New York Times story in 2017 detailing decades of alleged abuse.

Actresses Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd were among those who were named in the piece as accusers.

The allegations sparked a sea change in attitudes towards sexual misconduct in the workplace.
The SNPs former Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, has sparked fury in party ranks over an audacious bid to enter the House of Lords, the Mail on Sunday can reveal.

The MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber  who recently dumped his loyal wife of 24 years for his childhood sweetheart  has approached both Labour and the Tories to ask them to nominate him for a peerage, despite the SNPs fierce opposition to the Lords, insiders say.

A number of sources close to Mr Blackford have confirmed that he has privately met Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and the Conservative Secretary of State for Scotland, Alister Jack, in a bid to secure a nomination.

Ian Blackford arrives at an SNP birthday party at Glasgow University Union with new love Kim Lyons last week

The MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber is eyeing a seat in the House of Lords

Mr Blackford  a former banker who once described himself as a simple crofter  has denied having the meetings. However, sources insist that he has.

Now his future as a Nationalist politician is hanging in the balance as he could face losing the whip. He is to stand down as an MP at the next general election.

One source told The Mail on Sunday: Trying to get a peerage is completely at odds with the SNPs stance on the unelected House of Lords. [Westminster leader] Stephen Flynn has stated that no SNP MP will enter the House of Lords under his watch.

Another senior insider, who confirmed Mr Blackfords conversation with Mr Jack and expressed incredulity at his shameless attempts to continue his life in Westminster, added: What Ian Blackford is doing is so wrong. He should lose the whip.

A third source said: He asked Sir Keir Starmer to include him on his honours list, but Sir Keir was incredulous and responded saying, Why would I nominate you instead of a Labour MP?

He is desperate for a peerage despite constantly denying it. He even went to Alister Jack to ask the Tories to list him, but Jack said no chance. It is pretty pathetic.

In January, Mr Blackford reportedly told an event for student journalists that he would not rule out accepting a place in the upper chamber if he was offered one.

The latest controversy surrounding Mr Blackford comes after he was pictured last week grinning with his new partner, Kim Lyons, at the SNPs 90th anniversary celebrations.

He had previously introduced Ms Lyons to MPs during Hogmanay fireworks celebrations on the House of Commons terrace.

In an interview with The Mail on Sunday after we revealed that Mr Blackford, 62, had left his wife Ann, 66, for Ms Lyons, family friends lambasted the high-profile politician for destroying his wifes life and labelled him emotionally bereft.

They told how he cruelly dumped his wife and later confessed that he was seeing another woman  someone he had first met when he was 19.

He spent 300 from the couples joint bank account on sexy lingerie for his new girlfriend and paid to rent a love nest in Cardiff so that he could conduct his affair with Ms Lyons, an avid fan of the Bay City Rollers.

In the interview, an insider said he had also discussed with relatives a bid to get into the upper chamber.

The source said: Household discussions have looked at whether he should go for a position in the House of Lords.

There have also been claims that Mr Blackford is in the process of securing a flat in Glasgows West End for himself and Ms Lyons.

Mr Blackford said last night: The House of Lords is an archaic and undemocratic institution  I wholeheartedly support the SNPs longstanding position.
Uzbekistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) discussed the country's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Azernews reports.

The topic was discussed during a meeting between Laziz Kudratov, Uzbekistan's Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade, and Yasser Abdih, the head of the IMF delegation.



Both sides discussed the IMF's assistance for Uzbekistan's membership in the WTO, as well as the intensification and successful conclusion of discussions with the organization's members.

The parties also reviewed Uzbekistan's economic reforms aimed at liberalizing the market, enhancing trading conditions, and attracting international investment.

Furthermore, the IMF team acknowledged the country's success in achieving long-term economic growth and increasing the volume of foreign investment attracted to important sectors of the economy. In reply, the Uzbek side highlighted work on the implementation of the country's state investment strategy, including the creation of conducive business circumstances, the protection of investors' rights, and other significant areas.

The IMF representatives underscored the fund's readiness to support Uzbekistan in enhancing the institutional framework for trade regulation and developing an investment climate to ensure effective reform implementation and strategic goal achievement.

Meanwhile, the IMF projects that Uzbekistans real gross domestic product (GDP) will amount to 5.2 percent in 2024. Uzbekistan's real GDP rate is predicted to fall by 0.8 percent year over year.
It was used to provide emergency housing for Ukrainians fleeing the horror of war in their homeland.

Now the cruise ship MS Ambition is making an unlikely return to Scotland  to host tourists and performers at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival amid an accommodation crisis sparked by the SNPs new rental licences.

The 25-year-old vessel was hired by the Scottish Government in 2022 to house more than 1,000 Ukrainian refugees and remained docked in Glasgow until last year.

The 700ft ship will return and berth at Leith in August, with the MS Ambition temporarily renamed the Playbill Fringeship after the US theatre magazine which is hiring it for the duration of the event.

We told last week how Edinburghs festivals face an accommodation crisis after the new short-term lets (STL) licensing scheme led to a 90 per cent reduction in rental spots in the city.

Festival performers are being priced out of coming to Edinburgh amid the SNPs new rental licences

The law that came into effect late last year makes it mandatory for all short-term rental properties, from a castle to a spare bedroom, to have complicated and costly licences to legally operate.

Critics said the impending arrival of the ship is another example of the negative impact of the SNPs licences on Scotlands lucrative tourism sector.

Its understood council officials are even assessing whether the ship may require one of the STL licences while berthed in Leith.

Cabins cost 1,250 for seven nights or 179 for an overnight stay, with a suite starting at 3,550. Playbill said it hoped the venture would help the city deal with a drop in the number of festival flats due to the curbs on short-term letting.

It added: We will sponsor exclusive performances for guests of the ship only, bringing acclaimed talent directly from the festival on board.

With three months to go to the Edinburgh Festivals, the city council has so far only issued around 1,200 STL licences, in stark contrast to the 12,000 lets previously estimated to be available.

Fiona Campbell, chief executive of the Association of Scotlands Self-Caterers, said: Edinburgh is facing an all too predictable accommodation crisis for this Festival, and perhaps beyond, unless action is taken.

Despite the addition of a cruise ship, theres a local solution already available  and that is to allow the remaining professional self-catering businesses to continue operating.

Stars such as TV presenter Gail Porter and comedian Jason Manford have recently hit out at the eye-watering cost of staying in Edinburgh during the Festivals as a result of the reduced supply.

MS Ambition during its stay in Glasgow where it housed refugees

The Scottish Mail on Sunday has repeatedly highlighted the issue with concerns first raised two years ago over the impact the licensing law would have on the Festivals, which are worth more than 400 million to Scotlands economy.

Tory MSP Miles Briggs said: Festival-goers and performers provide such a boost to the economy and should not have to rely on accommodation like this ship to stay in the capital.

Humza Yousaf needs to urgently address these issues otherwise more visitors and performers will be forced to go to desperate measures to secure accommodation in the coming months.

The SNPs double whammy of cuts to the housing budget and their flawed STL policy has resulted in a housing emergency in Edinburgh. This month, the local council announced temporary exemptions for some STL licences were being introduced in an attempt to avert the crisis.

Operating without a licence is a criminal offence which carries a penalty of 2,500.

The Scottish Government said the scheme was introduced to ensure all short-term lets are safe. Responsibility for the implementation of the licences falls to each of Scotlands 32 local authorities.

Edinburgh City Council planning convener James Dalgleish said: Its important to strike the right balance between promoting our visitor economy while looking after residents.

We declared a housing emergency last year due to our chronic shortage of affordable homes and the STL control area is already returning unauthorised short-term lets back to their residential use.
Waitrose has written a cheeky message to an overzealous city council after it fenced off a joke wonky advert over fears of 'public safety'.

The retailer erected the squint billboard on Lindore Road, in Wandsworth, south-west London, as a marketing stunt to promote its falling prices.

But safety-conscious Wandsworth Council quickly erected fencing around the billboard after they received a call from a concerned resident that the billboard looked like it was about to fall off.

Now Waitrose's social media team has cheekily wrote a public message to the council on Twitter/X which read: 'Hi - thanks for the swift action but while our prices are falling rapidly, our billboard certainly isn't! #noneedforbollards.'

Waitrose's official Twitter/X account with 340,000 followers seemed to be enjoying the confusion.

In a separate post to the official Specsavers account, Waitrose asked: 'One for you guys?'

Waitrose erected the squint billboard on Lindore Road, in Wandsworth, south-west London, as a marketing stunt to promote its falling prices

Waitrose's social media team cheekily wrote a public message to the council on Twitter/X

But not everyone seemed get the joke, with some social media users criticising Waitrose for the confusing advert.

The wonky billboard gives no clues about its structural integrity and only features a caption reading 'well this is good, new lower prices on hundreds of your favourites', with some pictures of food items either side to an arrow pointing to the advert's wonky bottom corner.

One Twitter user labelled the row over the advert as 'clickbait'.

Another said: 'This is just s***, Waitrose. Do you think people who live in this area want a decrepit looking poster on the wall? Would you like one opposite your house? Why do you have nothing but contempt for your customers?'

A third simply wrote 'idiots'.

While a fourth commented: 'Waitrose fell into the classic trap! They underestimated the stupidity of the British public. Not to mention the stupidity of the local council!'

But the row now appears to be over with the council confirming to the Guardian on Saturday that the barriers had been removed

In a statement, Wandsworth council said: 'We were alerted to this unusual advert by a concerned member of the public and while we could see it might be deliberately set up to look that way, we thought better not take any chances with public safety so put up some barriers to be on the safe side.

'Once we'd spoken to Waitrose and established it was designed to look this way we removed the barriers straight away.'

The row over the advert comes as Waitrose continues to push its cost-cutting campaign.

Earlier this month the supermarket said it will reduce the price of more than 200 'weekly shop' products - making it the fifth time the retailer has announced price cuts since February 2023.

The company, which is owned by the John Lewis Partnership, reportedly invested 130million over the period.

The campaign comes after a MailOnline investigation in July discovered Waitrose had the highest cost for an average basket of goods out of the UK's eight major supermarkets.
A mother in Indiana who believed her daughter would be the 'next Jeffrey Dahmer' showed no emotion as she was sentenced to 30 years in prison for her child's death.

Cheyenne Hill, 34, was found guilty of neglect, which led to 20-month-old Elliaunna Plummer dying on November 26, 2022, by a jury in Lawrence County in February.

Judge John Plummer III sentenced her to 30 years in prison on Tuesday and told the court: 'This is a sad case, very sad.'

Elliaunna was rushed to hospital in 2022 suffering from a brain bleed, broken collarbone and bruises to her head and face.

Her mother was arrested and formally charged in September 2023 as police opened an investigation into her death.

Indiana mother Cheyenne Hill, 34, who believed her daughter would be the 'next Jeffrey Dahmer', showed no emotion as she was sentenced to 30 years in prison for her child's death

She was found guilty of neglect, which led to 20-month-old Elliaunna Plummer dying on November 26, 2022, by a jury in Lawrence County in February

Hill was ordered to serve decades behind bars by Judge Plummer and declared it as justice for Elliaunna.

'This little girl needed someone to advocate for her, speak up for her, and protect her,' he said.

'It was Cheyennes responsibility to do that, and she did not. This is very tragic. This was an emotional case and was hard for everyone. To some extent, there is justice for Elliaunna today.'

Shocking detail about Elliaunna's injuries were first revealed in a probable cause affidavit in August 2023.

'Pictures of [the girl] prior to being transported to Indianapolis revealed a swollen and deformed head and bruising on her forehead and the left and right sides of her face,' a detective wrote.

'Red-brownish marks were observable underneath both eyes.'

The case worker who called the police said two tips were left anonymously with the Department of Child Services about Hill, days before the young girl was taken to hospital.

They reported almost certain child abuse and possible drug use.

'The caller reported [the girl] had had what appeared to be three fingerprint marks on one side of her face and one on the other consistent with what seemed to have been caused by someone grabbing her face and squeezing,' the affidavit continues.

'The caller described [the girls] condition as lethargic, that she would not wake up, appeared half dead, and could barely hold her head up.

Hill was ordered to serve 30 years behind bars by Judge Plummer and declared it as justice for Elliaunna

Shocking detail about Elliaunna's injuries were first revealed in a probable cause affidavit in August 2023

'The caller stated [the girls] mother left for work, leaving [the girl] with the individual she had been living with despite [the girls] condition.'

Prosecutors said Hill was selfish and cared more about smoking weed, getting fast food, keeping her boyfriend and living with him than her daughter.

The court heard horrifying comments from Hill about her daughter including an interview with a representative for a donor network.

She said her daughter was 'not a nice kid' and believed 'something wasn't right with her' and would be the next Jeffrey Dahmer.

A month before Elliaunna died, she sent her boyfriend Cameron Fleming a message which read: '[She] was f****** terrible last night when we came back. I wouldnt stop crying. I wanted to throw her.'

The following week she told him: 'Let me get this a****** to bed.'

Investigators asked Hill why she went to work on the same day her daughter was unconscious in hospital.

Prosecutors do not know who caused the injuries which killed Elliaunna but the jury concluded the neglect had the same effect.

'She did it knowingly,' Chief Deputy Prosecutor Joshua Scherschel said in his closing argument.

'We dont know beyond a reasonable doubt who did the physical act that killed Elli Plummer.

'Unfortunately we do know her mother had a responsibility to care for that child, but she put her in danger to the point of death.'
ITV news bosses tried to get its presenter Rageh Omaar to hand over his bulletin to a stand-in anchor after he became unwell live on air, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

News at Ten viewers were left concerned for the presenter after he began to struggle with his words during an item on weekend leisure time near the end of the programme on Friday.

But Mr Omaar, 56, insisted that he continued and refused to hand over to a replacement host from the London regional news even though after the show he was taken straight to hospital.

An ITV News source told The Mail on Sunday: 'The programme team were trying to replace him when they realised there was a problem.

'They sent the standby presenter to the set to take over but he insisted on remaining on air. No-one could get him out of his chair. He refused to move. Even when he was told he had to go and that the team had called for medical help. Everyone did everything they could to help him. Rageh is a consummate professional.

ITV News at Ten presenter Rageh Omaar insisted on finishing the show after he contracted an illness while on air, despite bosses' pleas to bring in a stand-in anchor

READ MORE: Anger at News at Ten bosses for allowing Rageh Omaar to continue on air when he fell ill and struggled to speak - as intensive care nurse reveals she RANG ITV telling them he should be pulled off air straight away Advertisement

'He was determined to finish what he had started. It was an awful, awful night.'

Mr Omaar, ITV News's International Affairs Editor, was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital where he then spent the night after staff at the broadcaster called paramedics. He was discharged yesterday afternoon and was recovering with his family.

One friend of the newsreader suggested he didn't feel 'unwell' while he was stumbling over his words. Both ITV and Mr Omaar's family were reluctant to give any details of the cause of his on-screen ailment but experts have said the presenter exhibited signs of a mini-stroke, called a transient ischaemic attack (TIA).

It is caused by a temporary disruption in the blood supply to part of the brain caused by a travelling blood clot or the 'furring' of the arteries.

Fiona Clark, a staff nurse, claimed she had called ITV at 10.10pm and told them 'as an ICU nurse who worked in strokes that Rageh Omaar required an emergency ambulance, he was dysphasic, drooped left eye, slurred speech and agitated all Fast symptoms'.

The Fast acronym  which stands for face, arms, speech and time  is a test to quickly identify if someone is having a stroke.

In a statement Mr Omaar thanked the show's viewers, saying: 'I would like to thank everyone for their kindness and good wishes, especially all the medical staff, all my wonderful colleagues at ITV News, and our viewers who expressed concern.

'At the time, I was determined to finish presenting the programme. I am grateful for all the support I've been given.'

But viewers accused ITV News of failing in its duty of care to Mr Omaar  despite not knowing what was happening in the studio.

There were calls on social media for television regulator Ofcom to investigate ITV's treatment of the Somalia-born presenter.

Regulator Ofcom has faced calls to investigate ITV's treatment of the Somalia-born presenter

An ITV News spokesman said last night it appreciated News at Ten viewers were 'concerned about Rageh Omaar's wellbeing'.

They added: 'Following medical treatment at hospital, he is now recovering at home with his family. We are wishing Rageh a speedy recovery and look forward to him being back on screen when he feels ready.'

Father-of-three Mr Omaar, who studied modern history at Oxford, made his name in his role as a foreign correspondent for the BBC during the invasion of Iraq and the fall of Baghdad in 2003.

In September 2006, he moved to Al Jazeera English, where he presented the nightly weekday documentary series and in January 2013 he became a special correspondent and presenter at ITV.

The broadcaster is married to Georgiana Rose Montgomery-Cuninghame, with whom he has three children, Loula, Sami and Zachary.

After the death of the late Queen Elizabeth, Mr Omaar was also chosen by ITV to cover her funeral on September 19, 2022.
Scotland Yard was facing yet more anger from Jewish groups on Saturday after a Holocaust memorial was covered up over fears it would be vandalised by pro-Palestine activists.

Officials in Hyde Park yesterday hid Britain's first public memorial to the six million victims of the Nazi genocide under a blue tarpaulin in a move one Holocaust survivor called 'shameful'.

The monument was then guarded by Metropolitan Police officers to stop it being targeted by pro-Palestine protesters who marched through London in yet another demonstration against the war in Gaza.

Police chiefs have been urged to halt the almost weekly marches through Central London, which critics warn have turned the capital into a 'no-go' area for Jewish people.

Thirteen marches held since the start of the war in October have now cost taxpayers 38.4 million to police.

Scotland Yard was facing yet more anger from Jewish groups on Saturday after a Holocaust memorial was covered up over fears it would be vandalised by pro-Palestine activists

The memorial consists of two boulders lying within a gravel bed, surrounded by a copse of silver birch trees. It is inscribed in both English and Hebrew with the words 'For these I weep. Streams of tears flow from my eyes because of the destruction of my people,' which is a quotation from the Book of Lamentations

'Shameful': Holocaust survivor Noemi Ebenstein, 82, called for tougher action on anti-Semitism after the monument in Hyde Park was covered up as a 'precautionary measure'

'Hundreds of thousands' of pro-Palestinian protesters marched through London today

Police officers detain a person as people take part in a pro-Palestine march on Whitehall in central London

Thirteen marches held since the start of the war in October have now cost taxpayers 38.4 million to police

Holocaust survivor Noemi Ebenstein, 82, said on Saturday the world needs to wake up to the scourge of anti-Semitism following another day of swastikas being waved through London.

On seeing the covered shrine, she said: 'It is shameful. Seeing this, it feels like they are winning.

'Those who are Jew haters, those who are Holocaust deniers, they are winning because we are afraid of them.

'I just wish the Western world would stand up to these people, instead of running away, covering up monuments and being apologetic.'

Stephen Pollard, editor-at-large of the Jewish Chronicle, demanded that police take sterner action to stamp out the marches.

'What is the line that needs to be crossed for people to think it's not OK for these hate marches to continue?' he said.

'This is just totally damning of where we are now.

'It shows the depravity of so much of what's happening in London at the moment that they think it's important that they cover up a Holocaust memorial.'

Tory peer Lord Pickles, the UK's special envoy on post-Holocaust issues, said the sight of the memorial wrapped in plastic sheeting 'sends a terrible message to Jews in London and across the UK'.

Lord Pickles, who has been spearheading moves to get a national Holocaust memorial built next to the Houses of Parliament, said: 'The sight of this precious memorial to the Holocaust being wrapped in plastic sheeting is truly shocking.

'Have we become so cowed and fearful in this country that instead of expecting pro-Palestinian protesters to obey the law, we hide away the memorial to save it from vandalism?'

Tory peer Lord Polak, president of Conservative Friends of Israel, said: 'We have reached a new low.

'For many on the march, it is less about support for a Palestinian state and more about the hatred for the Jewish state and the Jewish people.

'It's time for a rethink by the authorities whether such hatred should be displayed on our streets week after week.'

The outrage comes after Gideon Falter, who leads the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA), was threatened with arrest for appearing 'openly Jewish' at a pro-Palestine march last week.

The outrage comes after Gideon Falter, who leads the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA), was threatened with arrest for appearing 'openly Jewish' at a pro-Palestine march last week

He had planned to lead a counter protest with the CAA yesterday but called it off citing fears for the safety of Jewish participants.

Instead, just a few dozen counter-protesters gathered at Pall Mall where they were protected by rows of police as up to 200,000 pro-Palestinians marched past.

Officers arrested two men, one for holding a placard with a swastika on it and another for an alleged racist remark towards counter-protesters.

Police were also investigating other offensive signs, including one comparing Israelis to the Ku Klux Klan, and another stating that the media and Government are 'controlled by Zionists'.

Officers arrested two men, one for holding a placard with a swastika on it and another for an alleged racist remark towards counter-protesters. The Met Police told MailOnline: 'This man was seen on CCTV by officers in our operations room. Officers on the ground were guided in and he was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence'

Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn was among those holding banners at the front of the pro-Palestine protest.

Nine in ten British Jews say that they would avoid travelling to a city centre if a major anti-Israel demonstration was taking place, according to polling by the CAA.

Jewish Tory MP Andrew Percy called for a halt to the marches and said the sight of the memorial covered up 'makes me sick to the stomach', adding: 'For months now a cry of pain from the Jewish community has gone out each weekend these marches take place.

'Those taking part in them have repeatedly heard how uncomfortable the cries of jihad and the genocidal chants which permeate them make Jews feel.

'Despite this, they continue to turn up week after week, meaning the only thing we can conclude is that those on them either don't care or enjoy that they make Jewish people fearful. Enough is enough.

Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn was spotted among the crowds

'London's streets need to be returned to ALL Londoners.'

The memorial consists of two boulders lying within a gravel bed, surrounded by a copse of silver birch trees.

It is inscribed in both English and Hebrew with the words 'For these I weep. Streams of tears flow from my eyes because of the destruction of my people,' which is a from the Book of Lamentations.

Marie van der Zyl, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews which funded the memorial, said: 'It's appalling that such precautions need to be taken to protect the memorial because of the risk it may now be defaced.'

Fears are also growing that student protests sparked by the war in the Middle East are getting out of control.

Tents have been erected to occupy the University of Warwick while there were huge rallies at University College London in moves that mirror anger across American campuses.

Former US Speaker Nancy Pelosi's speech at the Oxford Union on Thursday was interrupted by protesters and Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg was chased out of Cardiff University on Friday.

Royal Parks said they liaised with the Met over protests and said: 'The Hyde Park Holocaust memorial is routinely covered with tarpaulin during various events as a precautionary measure.'

The Met's Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said before the march: 'Our objectives this weekend are to protect the right to protest and to keep the peace.'

A previous headline on this article said that the memorial had been covered up by the Met Police. In fact, as the article itself makes clear, it was covered up by park authorities.
Rishi Sunak is today celebrating a vote of confidence in his Rwanda migrant plan after European politicians pledged their own copycat schemes.

The Prime Minister has praised foreign parties for 'following our lead' and finally 'recognising a meaningful deterrent is the only way to stop the boats'.

Britain has spent years fighting European bodies for the right to remove illegal migrants.

But now even Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, has backed a policy of deporting people to third countries for asylum processing.

In its manifesto for June's European elections, Ms Von der Leyen's European People's Party (EPP) calls for 'a fundamental change in European asylum law'.

Rishi Sunak is today celebrating a vote of confidence in his Rwanda migrant plan after European politicians pledged their own copycat schemes

Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, has backed a policy of deporting people to third countries for asylum processing

Mr Sunak says: 'If Keir Starmer wants to be seen as a soft touch on securing our borders, he will soon learn the consequences of that'

The EPP grouping, the largest in the European Parliament, has pledged: 'We want to implement the concept of safe third countries. Anyone applying for asylum in the EU could also be transferred to a safe third country and undergo the asylum process there.'

Writing in today's Mail on Sunday, a delighted Mr Sunak says: 'I said when I first became Prime Minister that others would recognise a meaningful deterrent is the only way to stop the boats and now even top parties in the EU are following our lead.'

The Prime Minister, whose Bill allowing illegal migrants to be deported to Rwanda was passed by Parliament last week, has vowed that he will not allow lawyers to use the European Convention on Human Rights to block the plans, saying that they were 'more important' than 'membership of any foreign court'.

Senior Tories have urged him to reform the convention, or leave it altogether, if it is used to block the fights.

Mr Sunak makes his remarks ahead of crucial local elections on Thursday which could determine his fate as leader.

With the party expected to sustain heavy losses, Tory MPs have been debating whether to install a replacement such as Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt through a 'coronation'.

Defeat for the Tory mayors in Teesside and the West Midlands, who are defending large majorities, could trigger a coup.

Morale has been boosted in an under-siege Downing Street by two weeks of more positive news for the Prime Minister.

In his MoS article, Mr Sunak says: 'I want a welfare system that is fair to the taxpayers who have to fund it. I want to stop the boats because it is not right or fair that people can simply arrive on our coast illegally and then get to stay' (pictured: a migrant dinghy in the Channel on Friday)

With the party expected to sustain heavy losses, Tory MPs have been debating whether to install a replacement such as Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt through a 'coronation'

A back-handed endorsement of the policy came last week from Irish Deputy Prime Minister Micheal Martin, who said people 'fearful' of staying in the UK were crossing the border from Northern Ireland to the Republic so they would not be sent to Rwanda

In addition to the Rwanda Bill, Mr Sunak also appeased some of his critics by declaring that defence spending will rise to 2.5 per cent of GDP and announcing a crackdown on welfare claimants.

The burst of activity has led some MPs to speculate that he could call a snap General Election this week, in part to drown out Thursday's results.

In his MoS article, Mr Sunak says: 'I want a welfare system that is fair to the taxpayers who have to fund it.

'I want to stop the boats because it is not right or fair that people can simply arrive on our coast illegally and then get to stay.

'And I want us to have security in an increasingly dangerous world, so I will back our military so we can stand up for our interests, defend our values and deter our enemies.' The Safety of Rwanda Act, which aims to avoid further legal challenges to the policy by declaring Rwanda a safe country, was passed into law on Thursday.

Mr Sunak said: 'We finally overcame the opposition from the Labour party and got our Rwanda Bill through.

'We have been preparing for this moment, so we can immediately start the process of removing people for the first flight.

'But it's not about one flight. Under this government, we are going to permanently remove people to Rwanda with a regular rhythm of multiple flights every month until the boats are stopped and we have truly broken the business model of the criminal gangs who exploit vulnerable people and put their lives at risk.'

After praising the EPP pledge, Mr Sunak says: 'If Britain gains a global reputation for being tough on illegal migration, I am very comfortable with that. It is the right thing for our country.

'If Keir Starmer wants to be seen as a soft touch on securing our borders, he will soon learn the consequences of that.'

Mr Sunak had originally set a target for flights to take off to Rwanda by the spring, but now says this should happen within ten to 12 weeks.

A back-handed endorsement of the policy came last week from Irish Deputy Prime Minister Micheal Martin, who said people 'fearful' of staying in the UK were crossing the border from Northern Ireland to the Republic so they would not be sent to Rwanda.

Last September, Ms Von der Leyen visited a migrant reception centre on the Italian island of Lampedusa, after the country's prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, called for EU help with small boat arrivals, saying Italy was being placed under 'unsustainable pressure'. Ms Von der Leyen acknowledged that the issue was 'a European challenge and needs a European answer'.

If she secures another term as president, she is expected to finalise agreements with neighbouring states in North Africa and the Middle East to slow the influx of incoming migrants.

So far, the EU has signed agreements with Tunisia, Mauritania and Egypt, which are limited to paying the countries to do more to control migration.

In its manifesto pledge, the EPP says: 'We are committed to the fundamental right to asylum, but the EU, together with its member states, must have the right to decide whom and where is it granted.

Mr Sunak had originally set a target for flights to take off to Rwanda by the spring, but now says this should happen within ten to 12 weeks (pictured: migrants near Dunkirk on Friday)

Last September, Ms Von der Leyen visited a migrant reception centre on the Italian island of Lampedusa (pictured)

Italy's prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, called for EU help with small boat arrivals, saying Italy was being placed under 'unsustainable pressure'

'We will conclude agreements with third countries to ensure asylum seekers can also be granted protection in a civilised and safe way. We want to implement the concept of safe third countries.

'Anyone applying for asylum in the EU could also be transferred to a safe third country and undergo the asylum process there.

'In case of a positive outcome, the safe third country will grant protection to the applicant on-site. A comprehensive contractual agreement will be established with the safe third country.'
Bestselling author Dame Jilly Cooper has revealed that she once feared a fellow writer was going to rape her in the back of a taxi.

Dame Jilly, now 87, said she was in her 20s and working for a major London publishing house when the man  who she refused to name  pounced as they returned from lunch and tried to 'tear her clothes off'.

She added: 'He jumped on me and pulled my clothes apart. It was awful. I was terrified. When I got back to the office I was in floods of tears and told my manager that someone had just tried to rape me.'

Dame Jilly, known for her bestselling 'bonkbusters' such as Rivals, Riders and The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous, claimed her boss was initially sympathetic  until she named the man who had sexually assaulted her.

Dame Jilly, now 87, said she was in her 20s and working for a major London publishing house when the man  who she refused to name  pounced as they returned from lunch and tried to 'tear her clothes off'

Jilly Cooper on the Russell Harty Plus show in 1973 at the age of 36

'When he realised it was one of our authors I was ushered out of that office in two seconds,' she told The Daily Telegraph.

When The Mail on Sunday contacted Dame Jilly last night, she played down the incident and again refused to name her attacker, saying: 'I mustn't. It's so long ago. It was an important author. I was very young.

'They didn't try to rape me  they made a massive pass after lunch.'
A 'stop Penny Mordaunt' campaign is under way among Tory MPs amid predictions she could be crowned party leader unopposed if Rishi Sunak is forced out by a local election meltdown this week.

Even MPs loyal to the Prime Minister fear he will be in trouble if the party suffers catastrophic defeats in crucial mayoral and local council polls on Thursday.

They warn that Mr Sunak cannot afford to lose the key North East Red Wall contest, where Tees Valley Tory mayor Lord Houchen is facing a strong Labour challenge.

The scale of potential Tory losses has led some in the party to hail Commons Leader Ms Mordaunt as the only viable 'unity candidate'.

One Red Wall MP claimed Ms Mordaunt  famous for her role in holding the ceremonial Sword of State at last year's coronation of King Charles  was the only potential rival with the 'charisma to move the dial' if the PM went.

The scale of potential Tory losses has led some in the party to hail Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt (pictured in March) as the only viable 'unity candidate'

Even MPs loyal to the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (pictured arriving in Germany on Tuesday) fear he will be in trouble if the party suffers catastrophic defeats in crucial mayoral and local council polls on Thursday

One Red Wall MP claimed Ms Mordaunt  famous for her role in holding the ceremonial Sword of State at last year's coronation of King Charles (pictured)  was the only potential rival with the 'charisma to move the dial' if the PM went

But last night rival MPs warned against her succeeding Mr Sunak  one ex-minister said it would be 'insanity' to replace a 'failing leader with someone whose only apparent contribution to politics was holding a sword at a real coronation'.

Another insisted the party would never agree to the appointment of someone 'as woke as Penny', because of her views on transgender rights.

Others talked up the chances of potential rivals such as ex-Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick.

The Tories are forecast to lose as many as 500 council seats in the elections, and as well as being under pressure in two key mayoral battles including Tees Valley and in the West Midlands, with Tory incumbent Andy Street bidding for his third term.

Many Tories are already bracing themselves for defeat in London, where sitting Labour mayor Sadiq Khan is expected to be re-elected.

There are fears that the results could be so grim that Tory MPs trigger a vote of no confidence in Mr Sunak's leadership.

Others talked up the chances of potential rivals such as ex-Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick (pictured in December)

Many Tories are already bracing themselves for defeat in London, where sitting Labour mayor Sadiq Khan (pictured on Thursday) is expected to be re-elected

Over the weekend there were reports the PM could pre-empt that by announcing a snap General Election tomorrow, although No10 sources played down the idea.

And even many MPs critical of Mr Sunak say the idea of yet another change of leader is absurd, and that voters are weary of 'that particular psycho-drama'.

One serving Cabinet minister told this paper that anyone trying to unseat the PM before the General Election expected this autumn should 'drink their own poison'.

Ms Mordaunt faces claims from fellow Tory MPs that of all the potential leadership contenders, she is the 'most overt'. One MP added: 'She's been meeting everyone trying to persuade them.'

However, friends of the Commons Leader dismissed reports she was manoeuvring for the leadership as nonsense.

One said: 'Penny is focused on what matters  doing her job.'
Ireland has announced plans to send migrants who are sneaking into the country from Northern Ireland back to the UK.

The Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris has asked his Minister for Justice to bring a change in the law that would force asylum seekers coming in to The Republic to return to Britain, according to Irish news site RTE.ie.

The move reportedly came in response to comments made by Rishi Sunak earlier today insisted that migrants going into Ireland proves that his Flagship Rwanda plan is working as a 'deterrent'.

While Mr Harris did not address the remarks directly, a spokesperson for the Taoiseach told RTE.ie that 'he is very clear about the importance of protecting the integrity of the migration system in Ireland'.

Mr Harris has requested proposals be brought to Cabinet next week 'to amend existing law regarding the designation of safe 'third countries' and allowing the return of inadmissible International Protection applicants to the UK'.

The Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris who has announced plans to send migrants who are sneaking into the country from Northern Ireland back to the UK

The move came in response to comments made by Rishi Sunak (pictured) earlier today insisted that migrants going into Ireland proves that his Rwanda plan is working as a deterrent

Migrants react as a French police officer stands by ready to puncture the smuggler's boat with a knife to prevent migrants from embarking in an attempt to cross the English Channel

The spokesmen said the Taoiseach 'does not comment on the migration policies of any other country but he is very clear about the importance of protecting the integrity of the migration system in Ireland'.

READ MORE: European Convention on Human Rights must be changed if it is used to block Rwanda flights, centrist Tories warn Advertisement

'Ireland has a rules-based system that must always be applied firmly and fairly,' the spokesperson said.

'In that context, the Taoiseach has asked the Minister for Justice to bring proposals to Cabinet next week to amend existing law regarding the designation of safe 'third countries' and allowing the return of inadmissible International Protection applicants to the UK.

'This is one of a number of measures we are taking to strengthen our system and ensure that it is strong, effective and agile. Rules and the integrity of our migration system will be to the fore of our actions.'

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee is set to travel to London on Monday to discuss the returns policy with members of Rishi Sunak's government.

Under the UK's 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 have crossed from Northern Ireland.

Ms McEntee earlier this week claimed more than eight in ten asylum seekers in the Republic of Ireland have crossed into the country from Northern Ireland.

Some asylum seekers have reportedly been left sleeping in tents amid a rise in the number of migrants arriving in Ireland coupled with housing crisis.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee is set to travel to London on Monday to discuss the returns policy with members of Rishi Sunak's government

Your browser does not support iframes.

A protester in Parliament Square holds a sign referencing the migrant houses which have been sold off and the Rwanda refugee plan

Irish premier Micheal Martin also claimed the UK's asylum policy is driving migrants in fear of being deported to Rwanda across the border from Northern Ireland into the Republic.

READ MORE: More than eight in ten asylum seekers in the Republic of Ireland cross into the country from Northern Ireland, minister claims

Advertisement

Mr Martin, who also serves as Ireland's foreign affairs minister, told reporters in Dublin on Friday: 'Clearly, we've had an increase in the numbers coming into Northern Ireland into the Republic.

'And it's fairly obvious that a Rwanda policy, if you're a person in a given situation in the UK and well, then you don't want to go to Rwanda - not that anybody has gone yet, I hasten to add.

'So I think it's a fair comment of mine. There are many other issues - it's not in any way trying to blame anything or anything like that.'

In an interview with Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, which will air in full on Sunday the Prime Minster defended his flagship scheme saying 'people are worried about coming here'.

Mr Sunak said: 'My focus is on the United Kingdom and securing our borders. But what that comment illustrates is a couple of things.

'One, that illegal migration is a global challenge, which is why you're seeing multiple countries talk about doing third country partnerships, looking at novel ways to solve this problem, and I believe will follow where the UK has led.

'But what it also shows, I think, is that the deterrent is, according to your comment, already having an impact because people are worried about coming here and that demonstrates exactly what I'm saying.

'If people come to our country illegally, but know that they won't be able to stay, they're much less likely to come, and that's why the Rwanda scheme is so important.'

The Prime Minster defended his flagship scheme on Sky News (above) saying 'people are worried about coming here'

In an interview with Trevor Phillips, which will air in full on Sunday the Prime Minster defended his flagship scheme saying 'people are worried about coming here'

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 crossing the English Channel on small boats.

Downing Street on Friday also rebuffed claims the Rwanda plan was already influencing movements into Ireland, saying it was too early to jump to conclusions on its impact.

But a No 10 spokeswoman told journalists in Westminster: 'It is too early to jump to specific conclusions about the impact of the Act and treaty in terms of migrant behaviour.

'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.'

Mr Sunak this week acknowledged it could still take 10 to 12 weeks to get flights in the air, in a blow to his earlier target of seeing this take place in the 'spring' of this year.

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.
A new row has erupted over Lord Cameron's fashion designer wife Samantha's 'shocking' refusal to make her clothes in Britain.

It threatens to embarrass her husband, who as Foreign Secretary is trying to promote British-made products around the world.

Lady Cameron's fashion brand Cefinn sells floral dresses and smart trouser suits for up to 500.

But in an apparent snub to Britain's garment makers, her clothes are produced in factories in China, India and Portugal.

She first upset UK manufacturers four years ago, saying it's hard to find high-quality factories here. She provoked a second backlash in a recent interview, saying she produces where the fabric comes from, for sustainability reasons.

Lady Cameron's fashion brand Cefinn sells floral dresses and smart trouser suits for up to 500. But in an apparent snub to Britain's garment makers, her clothes are produced in factories in China, India and Portugal

Jenny Holloway (pictured), boss of Fashion Enter, said there was 'fantastic expertise' in Britain and using manufacturers closer to home meant 'reducing your carbon footprint and safeguarding jobs'

Yesterday her remarks were called 'shocking' by Jenny Holloway, one of the top women in UK fashion who owns two factories making 15,000 garments a week for the likes of ASOS and Tesco.

Ms Holloway, boss of Fashion Enter, said there was 'fantastic expertise' in Britain and using manufacturers closer to home meant 'reducing your carbon footprint and safeguarding jobs'.

She added: 'I challenge Samantha and say please come and see us. How can you demean an entire sector of industry? '

Amanda McLaren, whose woollen mill A W Hainsworth is in Pudsey, Yorkshire, dubbed Lady Cameron's remarks 'shameful'. Lord Young, patron of mentoring group Fashion Capital, added: 'I find it astonishing Samantha Cameron says she couldn't find a British manufacturer. She couldn't have looked very hard.'

In her original remarks, Lady Cameron said there was not 'a very established, industrial fashion industry' in Britain, compared with China.

She said: 'I think people would assume that if you audited a factory in the UK it would all be perfect because it's the UK, and if you audited a factory in China then it might not be, but actually that's not necessarily the case.

Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron on a recent trip to Mongolia. Sam Cam threatens to embarrass her husband, who as Foreign Secretary is trying to promote British-made products around the world

'If you are working in a country where there is a lot of manufacturing of fashion, you'll have really high-quality factories, and we just don't have a big enough industry here to have that spread.' Two weeks ago, she doubled down on her stance, telling the Guardian: 'We produce in the region where the fabric comes from, for sustainability reasons. We work with a small number of factories we know. What matters most is that the clothes are beautifully made.'

Cefinn said: 'These were comments made four years ago and do not reflect Samantha's views now.

'She supports UK manufacturing wholeheartedly and Cefinn was part of a recent initiative, in partnership with 10 Downing Street, set up to introduce British fashion and retail businesses to UK-based manufacturers and suppliers.

'She understands how much this can help Cefinn and is always looking to utilise the skills and craftsmanship that the UK supplies.'
It is currently looking for residents with an aim of housing 1,000 people in 760 apartments by 2025

Advertisement

A new kind of residential living in the United States has emerged just outside of Phoenix, Arizona.

In Tempe, 15 miles east of Phoenix and home to Arizona State University (ASU), Culdesac is making its name for itself as 'the first car-free neighborhood built from scratch' in the country.

Its first lot of residents, numbering almost 40, moved in 2023, but eventually Culdesac aims to house 1,000 residents in 760 apartments on its 17-acre plot by next year.

At the time of writing, rental prices start from $1,550 per month, which can get you a 635 sqft studio, and you can lease a fully furnished two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit with 1,019 sqft from $2,641.

A new kind of residential living in the United States has emerged outside of Phoenix, Arizona

In Tempe, 15 miles east of Phoenix, Culdesac is making its name for itself as 'the first car-free neighborhood built from scratch' in the country

Its first lot of residents, numbering almost 40, moved in 2023, but eventually Culdesac aims to house 1,000 residents in 760 apartments

The layout of the Tempe neighborhood. It does having a carpark for visitors

For a 'limited time,' Culdesac is offering six weeks' worth of free rent (worth up to $4,500), a free light rail pass (worth $768) and a free electric bike (worth $999) for new residents, according to its website.

Despite only rentals being available at the moment, there are plans to give people a chance to own a slice of real estate.

Since the move in, online videos have emerged of the new neighborhood with curious viewers tuning in to witness the social experiment.

One of these videos is from Kirsten Dirksen's YouTube channel, where she speaks to some residents who live at Culdesac that is car-free, except for the visitors' carpark.

The idea of the neighborhood is that people can go to the supermarket, for a coffee, workout and take their pet for a run around the dog park without driving. It's built next to the light rail line that takes you to downtown Phoenix.

'We're not creating a different lifestyle here. We're saying some of the best parts of life are being able to meander as part of your day. Like what are the worst parts of your day? Waking up in the morning, feeling like you're in a rush, hopping into your garage, hopping in your car and sitting in traffic,' Culdesac's Erin Boyd tells Dirksen.

'It's like okay, can we remove that and if you remove that what does that time allow? We think that time allows for being outside, getting fresh air, getting exercise, casual interaction with your neighbor, which we know increases happiness, is a very old way of living, that's what people love to do. But the way that we've built cities around the automobile has slowly and slowly taken that away from us.'

Despite only rentals being available at the moment, there are plans to give people a chance to own a slice of real estate

Since the move in, online videos have emerged of the new neighborhood with curious viewers tuning in to witness the social experiment

Despite only rentals being available at the moment, there are plans to give people a chance to own a slice of real estate. Pictured is inside one of the bedrooms

The idea of the neighborhood is that people can go to the supermarket, for a coffee, workout and take their pet for a run around the dog park without driving. Pictured is a living room

It's built next to the light rail line that takes you to downtown Phoenix. Above is another shot of the interior

Culdesac's Erin Boyd said they weren't 'creating a different lifestyle here,' but trying to reduce the worst parts of people's days, such as their daily commute where they're sitting in traffic

Resident Trinity told Exploring Alternatives she moved into the neighborhood on December 1, 2023, and she was having a 'great time so far'

Boyd added that Tempe - which has just over 180,000 residents, according to 2022 US Census data - was becoming 'much more dense' and a lot of industries were coming to the city.

'As a result North Tempe specifically is going to grow by 50 per cent by 2050,' she said.

Resident Kimberly Carson, who works at ASU, lives just three light-rail stops away from the campus in Tempe.

She picked her new home because of its location and said she loved her commute now because she didn't have to sit in her car.

When asked why she got interested in Culdesac, Carson replied: 'It is space designed for people, so it's really organic that you're going to run into somebody, that you're going to meet somebody, like there's people walking down here... there's somebody riding their bike, there's like people going to the grocery store.'

She then takes Dirksen and to some of the retailers who have set up in the neighborhood, including a thrift store, a tea shop that also doubles as a cleaning service, and a bike shop whose owner lives in Culdesac.

Carson said her neighborhood was unlike Phoenix and the rest of Tempe, which had car-centric designs and wasn't meant people to walk around.

Culdesac has also been built with the punishing Tempe heat in mind. According to the Arizona State Climate Office, average summer daytime temperatures are between 105F and 115F.

The area employs what Boyd describes as 'desert responsive urbanism,' where there is no heat-absorbing asphalt to ensure temperatures are cooler in the neighborhood.

The walls of the buildings are white to reflect the heat, inspired by the Barrio Viejo neighborhood in Tuscon, and Greek and Italian villages.

'It reflects the heat and so this is very purposeful the way it's been designed and you can already see the shade, even on a day like today it's even kind of cool because of the amount of shade the buildings create,' Boyd explained.

For a 'limited time,' Culdesac is offering six weeks' worth of free rent (worth up to $4,500), a free light rail pass (worth $768) and a free electric bike (worth $999) for new residents

Culdesac has also been built with the punishing Tempe heat in mind

According to the Arizona State Climate Office, average summer daytime temperatures are between 105F and 115F

The area employs what Boyd describes as 'desert responsive urbanism,' where there is no heat-absorbing asphalt to ensure temperatures are cooler in the neighborhood

Culdesac cofounder and CEO Ryan Johnson told another YouTube channel, Exploring Alternatives, back in March that the company wasn't 'anti-car'

'But in the summer in Arizona, this is very important. We had a Harvard researcher here this summer who had a heat gun and she was on the sidewalk it was 137 degrees on the sidewalk, back here was 90 degrees.'

She continued that the ground was made up of 'permeable materials' like the paths being made out of decomposed granite, which again 'helps absorb some of the heat.'

The plants are ones that will thrive in the desert and don't require a lot of watering, but are also 'part of creating the little microclimate that we have here.'

Other than the light rail and bikes, residents also receive 15 per cent off Lyft rides and carsharing starting at $5/hour with Envoy.

Culdesac cofounder and CEO Ryan Johnson told another YouTube channel, Exploring Alternatives back in March that the company wasn't 'anti-car.'

'If anything we're anti-car dependency, where people need to buy a car and all the costs of that. Cars are so expensive and the average monthly costs for a car are like $800,' he said.

Johnson said he wanted Culdesac to be a 'role model' for how to build walkable neighborhoods.

'We started with the 17-acre rectangle and we said let's show how we can build walkable neighborhoods in the U.S. in the 2020s, and instead of starting with an existing neighborhood and trying to retrofit, we said what would be the best way to make this neighborhood,' he explained.

'This could be a role model for places all over. We don't think it's perfect, but this is much better than the typical type of housing we build.'

Resident Trinity told Exploring Alternatives she moved into the neighborhood on December 1, 2023, and she was having a 'great time so far.'

'It's been amazing. I've met many friends and it's like a little community, a little family,' she said.

'When I first heard car-free, I was like, "Oh my gosh, that's like a big change," since I was used to using my car for a lot of things, but after living here, it's been super easy, especially getting the ebike. I love my ebike, I take it with me to go to class every day... it's so much nicer, especially just traffic in general is awful and just being able to see things that you wouldn't normally with your car is amazing.'
She recently shared the most common pitfalls that new 'cruisers' encounter

A cruise ship worker has revealed the 10 most common mistakes first-time passengers make on board.

Lucy Southerton, 28, from Birmingham, has been working on cruise ships for nine years and regularly shares advice on how passengers and fellow crew members can get the most out of their experience.

In a recent video uploaded to her YouTube channel, Cruising as Crew, where she has amassed more than 67,000 subscribers, she delved into the most common pitfalls that new 'cruisers' often encounter and how to prevent them.

Read on for the expert's full list of do's and don'ts - detailing everything from the importance of timely arrival at departure ports to preventing seasickness and packing efficiently.

Cruise ship worker Lucy Southerton, 28, from Birmingham, has highlighted nine buffet blunders to avoid during your next voyage

1. Treating a cruise like an all-inclusive

Lucy began by revealing that the first mistake she sees newbie cruisers make is 'treating a cruise like an all-inclusive holiday' and therefore not budgeting properly.

She explained: 'If some people have solely done all-inclusive holidays, they make the mistake of thinking a cruise vacation is very similar to that.

'So a lot of people do not budget for extra expenses while they are on board because they have the misconception that most things will be free.'

The cruise ship worker added: 'While part of this is true, and most of your food is included in the buffet and the dining area,' there will be activities and restaurants that cost extra cash.

She admitted that it can 'really ruin people's vacation' when they realise they need extra funds for everything they want to do.

Lucy also reminded viewers of the gratuity bill that first-time cruisers may not be aware of - it's important to set aside a sum to cover this so you're not scrambling for cash at the end of your holiday.

She said: 'With a lot of cruises, you get hit with the gratuity bill at the end, which I have also seen a lot of people not budget for.'

Lucy Southerton, 28, from Birmingham, has been working on cruise ships for nine years and regularly shares advice on how passengers and fellow crew members can get the most out of their experience

2. Missing the ship's departure time

Secondly, a lot of holiday-makers who are new to the world of cruising do not manage their time efficiently enough and have even been left behind after missing the ship's departure time.

Lucy remarked: 'When it does happen it is usually first-time cruisers because they get off at the port, go off and explore by themselves, which is part of the fun - but what they don't allow for is time to get back.'

She gave the example of the Bahamas, which is 'known for having horrendous traffic' so you may not factor in enough time to get a taxi back to the port.

The YouTuber concluded: 'It obviously makes things very difficult for the cruise line and it is just an all-around mess. So, when you're on a cruise, it is very different from a hotel that is going to stay stationary.

'You absolutely have to make it a priority to get back to the ship on time and ask crew members what the traffic is like at each port if you're getting a taxi to a certain destination.'

3. Skipping travel insurance

Lucy's next warning is that 'travel insurance should never be skipped whether you're going on a land holiday or a cruise - but especially on a cruise ship'.

She continued: 'The reason why is, your cruise could be cancelled because of weather changes. You or a family member could get ill, or the flights to the destination where you're joining your cruise ship could be cancelled or delayed.

'Unlike a land holiday, where if your flight is eight hours late and the hotel stays where it is, the cruise ship moves so if your flight is eight hours delayed that's going to mean you'll miss it.

'You absolutely have to get travel insurance as soon as you book the cruise.'

In a recent video uploaded to her YouTube channel, Cruising as Crew, where she has amassed more than 67,000 subscribers, she delved into the most common pitfalls that new 'cruisers' often encounter and how to prevent them

4. Overbooking excursions

Next, the cruise pro warns against getting too 'click happy' when booking excursions.

She recommends booking just three for a one-week cruise, and a maximum of six for a two-week cruise.

Lucy explained: 'Most excursions start at like seven or eight o'clock in the morning, which is fine if you're a morning person, but a lot of people on vacation like to have a bit of a lie in.

'I've definitely seen it where people have booked an excursion for every single day and they're like oh my God I'm knackered, I can't do this, I can't keep up.

'They are incredibly exciting but they drain your energy and everyone vacations differently.

She advised: 'If you're like most people and you want some exciting days but some relaxing days, keep this in mind when you're booking your excursions and don't book one for every single day.'

5. Ignoring safety briefings

Number five on the cruise ship worker's list of common passenger mistakes is ignoring safety briefings.

She confessed: 'I think we can all have the attitude of, it's never going to happen to me, I'm never going to be on a cruise ship that gets in an emergency.

'While I hope to God that is true for you, you just never know.

'As crew members, what we don't want in an emergency is everyone running around panicked because they didn't pay attention in the initial safety briefing so they don't know where their emergency station is.'

The YouTuber pleaded: 'If you take nothing else from it, please just know where you have to go in the event of an emergency.'

Lucy recommends booking just three for a one-week cruise, and a maximum of six for a two-week cruise

6. Not researching the ports

Moving on to her next point, Lucy remarks: 'A mistake I see first-time cruisers make is not researching the ports that their cruise ship is going to go to - and you really want to do this before you book your excursions.

'For example, in Nassau in the Bahamas, there is a straw market right outside the ship. There was an excursion available onboard the cruise ship to take you to the straw market.

'So naturally, people who'd booked this excursion were a little bit p***** off when they got there. You don't want to book an excursion that you could do on your own.'

Instead, the travel fanatic suggested saving excursions for when you're going 'quite a significant distance from the cruise ship'.

Important factors to consider are the currency you'll need, the language spoken, whether it's easy to get around, and if it's considered safe.

7. Not bringing medication

When booking a holiday, the last thing you tend to think about is getting ill and needing medication - but, it could happen and it's better to be prepared.

Lucy said: 'It's always good to just bring a little pharmacy with you. Bring a bandage, bring a plaster, bring some ibuprofen.

'A few little bits and bobs so that if you get a cold or if you feel seasick, you don't have to traipse down to the medical centre and wait for ages to be seen.

She adds that it also means you don't have to buy medication while you're on board, which can be quite costly compared to on land.

8. Not pre-booking activities

Number eight on the Birmingham native's list is the mistake of not pre-booking activities and restaurants.

She told viewers: 'If you research the ship before you get on board and you see a restaurant that you really want to go to, most of these cruise lines now have apps and you can pre-book everything before you even get on the cruise.

'Pre-book it. Even if you end up cancelling your booking, pre-book it, because once it's fully booked that's it.'

She warned: 'Things get fully booked very quickly so you need to make sure you get in there and get what you want'.

Lucy began by revealing that the first mistake she sees newbie cruisers make is 'treating a cruise like an all-inclusive holiday' and therefore not budgeting properly

Lucy warned that 'travel insurance should never be skipped whether you're going on a land holiday or a cruise - but especially on a cruise ship'

9. Not packing essentials in carry-on luggage

Next, something that travellers on their first-ever cruise may not be aware of, is the fact you often don't see your luggage until the evening of your first day.

Lucy recalled: 'When you get on board a cruise ship, you will usually leave your large luggage with the crew members and this will arrive at your cabin later in the day.

'But sometimes this can be much later in the day because the crew members can have between 3,000 and 10,000 pieces of luggage to sort through.

'So, make sure you have your essentials or things you are going to want as soon as you get on board the cruise ship, in your backpack - just so you've got it right there and can get on with your day.'

Items like phone chargers, shower essentials, and clean clothing are common culprits of being left behind in the main luggage.

10. Overlooking your cabin location

Finally, newbie 'cruisers' might not realise the importance of booking the right cabin - and Lucy has offered her advice on getting the best ones with the least chances of seasickness.

She revealed: 'If it's your first cruise, I'm sure sea sickness has crossed your mind. Cabin location is going to play a huge part in this so you want to be in the centre of the ship.

'You don't want to be in the back, you definitely don't want to be in the front because that's where you're going to feel the movement the most.

'So when you book a cabin, you want to make sure it is in the center of the ship. Also, you want to make sure that the cabin you book is surrounded by other cabins.'

Adding: 'The cheaper cabins will have a restaurant above them or a gym above them because it's going to be noisy so cabin location is really important.'
The 21-year-old often jets off on lavish vacations and hung out with Post Malone

She has enjoyed an extremely lavish lifestyle, which she loves to flaunt online

Jane Fonda is used to embracing the spotlight with composure and grace - and it appears she's not the only one in her family who boasts such an important Hollywood skill.

Enter Viva Vadim, the screen legend's stunning 21-year-old granddaughter, who has all the makings of one of the industry's most successful 'nepo babies', boasting an impressive Hollywood heritage that would make even the most talented young stars quiver with envy.

Although she has remained largely private, Viva proved her A-list potential this week when she attended the TIME Earth Awards Gala alongside her grandma Jane, 86, putting on a red carpet display that was so confident, one might have thought she was born for the big time.

Well, in many ways - she was.

Because it is not just Jane who has helped to instill a sense of star power in Viva.

When Jane Fonda attended the TIME Earth Awards Gala in New York on Wednesday, she was joined by her stunning granddaughter Viva Vadim

This isn't the first time that Viva, 21, has reaped in the benefits of being related to one of the biggest actresses on the globe

Viva is the only daughter of Jane's eldest child, filmmaker Vanessa Vadim and her musician ex-husband Matt Arnett. Viva is pictured as a child with her mom and dad

A budding photographer and fierce activist - like her grandmother - Viva enjoys an extremely lavish lifestyle, and is already on course to become Hollywood's next nepo baby

She's often seen jetting across the globe to places like Saint-Tropez (left), Paris, California (right), New Zealand , Africa, and Costa Rica

Viva was born in November 2002, and was raised on a farm in Vermont surrounded by ducks, chickens, and turkeys. She's seen as a kid

Both of her parents have their own very impressive experience in the public eye: her mother, Jane's oldest child Vanessa Vadim, is a filmmaker, and her father is musician Matt Arnett.

A budding photographer and fierce activist - like her grandmother - Viva enjoys an extremely lavish lifestyle, which she loves to flaunt on her Instagram, and is already on course to become Hollywood's next nepo baby.

She's often seen jetting across the globe to places like Saint-Tropez, Paris, California, New Zealand, Africa, and Costa Rica, hanging out with celebrities, and scoring invites to elite star-studded events.

However her childhood was not what you might expect from someone so skilled in stardom.

Viva was born in November 2002, and was raised on a farm in Vermont surrounded by ducks, chickens, and turkeys.

Her mom Vanessa struggled growing up in the 'shadow' of her own famous mother and did her best to give Viva a normal upbringing.

By age 15, however, she was already mingling with stars, as she posted a series of snaps with musician Post Malone on her Instagram back in 2017.

She also previously lived in Africa, where she helped take care of animals like cheetahs, lions, and elephants.

She seems extremely close with both her mom and her dad; back in 2020 on Vanessa's birthday, she gushed, 'Happy birthday mama, you inspire me always.'

And on her dad's big day months later, she wrote, 'It is my pop's birthday. Very lucky to have such a cool dad. Thank you for everything u do.'

When Viva turned 21 last November, her mom said her 'heart was full and proud' in a touching tribute.

'They say having a child is like wearing your heart on the outside of your body,' she captioned a carousel of images of Viva. 'This heart is full and proud. Happy birthday to us.'

Her mom Vanessa struggled growing up in the 'shadow' of her own famous mother and did her best to give Viva a normal upbringing. Vanessa is seen with Jane in 1968

By age 15, however, she was already mingling with stars, as she posted a series of snaps with musician Post Malone on her Instagram back in 2017

She also previously lived in Africa, where she helped take care of animals like cheetahs, lions, and elephants

Viva spends much of her time traveling the world, hiking, or looming, and she often makes tapestries and rugs that she shares online.

She graduated from high school in 2021, and it's unclear what college she's studying at, if any.

Viva spends much of her time traveling the world, hiking, or looming, and she often makes tapestries and rugs that she shares online

It seems her main passion is photography, and she usually uploads the images that she took to her website, VivaVadim.com.

She's also into activism like her grandmother - who has been proudly arrested multiple times while engaging in climate change protests in Washington, D.C. over the last few years.

Viva has attended a slew of protests with her, and back in 2019, Jane revealed that Viva had been arrested while they were 'taking action against climate change' together.

'With my granddaughter Viva Vadim who got arrested with 38 others today,' she wrote on Instagram alongside a shot that showed them smiling together.

Only time will tell if she will enter the film industry like her mother and grandmother.

Viva's mom, Vanessa, 55, is the only child of Jane and her first husband, acclaimed French screenwriter and director Roger Vadim; Jane went on to welcome two more kids from her other relationships.

Vanessa's upbringing was quite the opposite of Viva's. Since her parents divorced when she was only five, she split her time between her mom's lavish mansion in California and her dad's sprawling estate in France as a kid.

She graduated from high school in 2021, and it's unclear what college she's studying at, if any

It seems her main passion is photography, and she usually uploads the images that she took to her website, VivaVadim.com

She's also into activism like her grandmother - who has been proudly arrested multiple times while engaging in climate change protests in Washington, D.C. over the last few years

Viva has attended a slew of protests with her, and back in 2019, Jane revealed that Viva had been arrested while they were 'taking action against climate change' together

Thanks to her booming career, Jane was away a lot, later admitting that one of her biggest 'regrets' in life was 'not having put enough time into mothering.'

She also told People in 2017, 'I tell my kids I'm sorry. I'm thankful that I've gotten better over the 80 years.

'I'm less judgmental. I'm forgiving. It wasn't always true. I've really worked hard to get better as a human being.'

Vanessa attended Brown University and like her mother Jane, she became fiercely passionate about activism at a young age.

According to publication, she spent years helping to build a school in Nicaragua and participated in a slew of protests throughout her time in college.

But in October 1989, when she was a senior at Brown, Vanessa was arrested after she and a friend were caught buying drugs in Manhattan.

The outlet reported that she told police she was purchasing the illicit substance for a 'school project.'

Because her friend was the one who had the drugs and not Vanessa, she was ultimately charged with 'obstructing an arrest, loitering, and disorderly conduct' rather than drug possession.

Her mom Jane quickly showed her support for her daughter, telling the People, 'Vanessa is a good daughter and a serious student of whom I am very proud, and I stand behind her through this.'

She seems extremely close with both her mom and her dad; back in 2020 on Vanessa's birthday, she gushed, 'Happy birthday mama, you inspire me always'

Only time will tell if she will enter the film industry like her mother and grandmother

Viva's mom, Vanessa, 55, is the only child of Jane and her first husband, acclaimed French screenwriter and director Roger Vadim. Jane and Roger are seen with Vanessa in 1968

After graduating from Brown University, Vanessa followed in her mother's footsteps and entered the film industry, becoming a director and filmmaker. She's seen in 2014 with Jane

She spent one night in jail but was released without bail the next morning.

When Roger was asked about Vanessa's arrest, he hinted that Vanessa was struggling with being raised under the shadow of movie star Jane.

Vanessa welcomed a son named Malcolm MacDuffy with an unnamed boyfriend in 1999; she then gave birth to Viva with artist and music producer Matt (seen together) in 2002

'Any problems that Vanessa had were connected with her mother's image,' he said. 'Any child would have trouble growing up in the shadow of such a strong image.

'At college, she joined the drama association but had to give it up. She said, "Ill never be as good as Mom."

'Now shes interested in a career in journalism. She wants to make her own mark.'

After college, however, Vanessa did follow in her mother's footsteps and entered the film industry.

She went on to become a director and filmmaker who has made a few short documentaries. She also founded the production company MayDay Media.

Vanessa welcomed a son named Malcolm MacDuffy with an unnamed boyfriend in 1999; she then gave birth to Viva with artist and music producer Matt in 2002.
We are used to seeing celebs looking clean, polished and flawless.

But, for some A-listers, the thought of showering every day is too much as they believe daily bathing is unnecessary.

While overwashing can cause greasy hair, dry skin, and breakouts, every person's showering routine is different.

For those like Matthew McConaughey, showering three times a day is a necessity, but for many others, such as Michaela Strachan and Jonathan Ross, cleaning is merely a priority in their weekly list of chores.

MailOnline has compiled a list of soap-dodging stars who are not embarrassed to admit that they keep the odd shower or few.

We are used to seeing celebs looking clean, polished and flawless. But, for some A-listers, the thought of showering every day is too much as they believe daily bathing is unnecessary

MailOnline has compiled a list of soap-dodging stars who are not embarrassed to admit that they keep the odd shower or few

Michaela Strachan

Michaela Strachan revealed this month that she only showers twice a week, rarely washes her hands and once ended up with a worm under her skin after eating a sandwich with grubby fingers.

Staying clean: the NHS basics Wash your hands after going to the toilet Wash your genitals and bottom area every day Wash your face every day have a bath Shower at least twice a week Brush your teeth twice a day Source: NHS Advertisement

The TV personality, a household name thanks to presenting roles on Springwatch and The Really Wild Show, relocated to South Africa with partner Nick Chevallier in 2002.

Based in Cape Town, Strachan welcomed son Oliver - her only child with Chevallier, a cameraman and producer - in 2005 and has since adopted a casual attitude towards personal hygiene.

Appearing on Loose Women - filmed at The Eden Project to mark Earth Day - the presenter, 58, admitted her laissez-faire approach to cleanliness came from the need to conserve water while living in South Africa during a drought.

When asked if she considered herself a 'nature girl' because of her rugged surroundings, she said: 'I think, if you've got kids, if they come home really dirty, you know they've had a good day.

'I'm not the sort of mother that looks at a child and thinks, 'Oh get them washed.' It's like no, you've had a great day, you've got down, you've got dirty, brilliant.'

Michaela also admitted she's not fussy about basic hygiene, adding: 'I'm not fastidious about washing hands and things, I think we're way too clean, all of us.

'I went through a country with major, major droughts, and we so we learnt to only have a shower every three days.'

The presenter also recalled an unsavoury hygiene-related incident that left her with a bug under her skin while she filmed with a group of animals.

She said: 'I was doing a lot of work in zoos at the time so I was in cages, and I was with animals, and I didn't wash my hands properly. Then, I ate a sandwich. So, it was from animal faeces that I ended up getting a worm that was under my skin.

'It would itch and then I'd get my partner to take a picture and you could see this sort of worm under the skin.'

Asked if she was 'panicked' by the situation, she added: 'I got quite attached to this man - literally! I ended up giving him a little name, you know, 'William the Worm'.

'So, I had some worm tablets to try and get rid of it [but it] didn't touch it.

Michaela Strachan revealed this month that she only showers twice a week, rarely washes her hands and once ended up with a worm under her skin after eating a sandwich with grubby fingers

The TV personality, a household name thanks to presenting roles on Springwatch and The Really Wild Show, relocated to South Africa with partner Nick Chevallier in 2002

Appearing on Loose Women - filmed at The Eden Project to mark Earth Day - the presenter, 58, admitted her laissez-faire approach to cleanliness came from the need to conserve water while living in South Africa during a drought

Jonathan Ross

Jonathan Ross revealed in March that he and his wife, Jane Goldman, shower less than once a week - because he feels all grooming is a waste of valuable time.

The chat show host, 63, said he and his wife were like a pair of dirty 'hamsters,' and he 'resents' the fact he has to wash regularly.

He said: 'Do you think I give enough of a s**t about anything to bother spending any extra time on grooming whatsoever - I resent the fact that I have to shower.

'I sometimes go at least a week without showering - at least. So does Jane sometimes. We're like a couple of hamsters in their own straw in that bed.'

Speaking on the Parenting Hell Podcast, he said he hadn't showered on the morning of the interview after comedian Josh Widdicombe asked him when he'd last showered.

Jonathan, saying he hadn't done anything to work up a sweat, said: 'It was yesterday. Why bother doing it two days in a row, what's wrong with you? I didn't do any exercise.'

He even confessed he once went two weeks without washing in the Florida heat because he thought he'd been in a swimming pool - but then discovered he still smelled badly.

He added: 'When we were on holiday - we have a place over in Florida - because it's sunny and I'm jumping in and out the swimming pool, I probably didn't shower properly for two weeks.

'And I had a smell under my right armpit, and I thought 'That's bad, I better get rid of that'.

'So I had a shower, it didn't go. Had another one, it didn't go. I'm not making this up. I had to shave the hair off my armpit to get rid of it.

'It was so ingrained. I just did the one. Why would you do two? The other one was still fresh. I favour one, so the right arm was doing all the work.'

However, he did say sometimes if he decides to have a bath he will shower just before, so that he's not sat in filthy water and dead skin.

He said: 'The other extreme though is I sometimes shower before having a bath. That's the Japanese way.'

Explaining why, he added: 'Because you're lying in what's coming off your body, so why would you bathe first and lie in the debris?'

Jonathan Ross revealed in March that he and his wife, Jane Goldman, shower less than once a week - because he feels all grooming is a waste of valuable time

The chat show host, 63, said he and his wife were like a pair of dirty 'hamsters,' and he 'resents' the fact he has to wash regularly

Brad Pitt

Even hunks like Brad Pitt have been exposed for their cleaning habits, as the actor's roommate revealed that he would go days without showering.

Despite his clean-cut image nowadays, the actor, 60, used to go days without showering before he found fame.

His former roommate Jason Priestley, 54, revealed Brad's showering routine during an interview on Live with Kelly and Mark in January, 2024.

The Beverly Hills, 90210 actor told hosts Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos that he, Brad, and their roommate would compete to see who could go the longest without showering.

A game that Jason hailed the champion of as he could go 'a long time without showering'.

He said: 'Yes, yes he was one of my roommates for a brief period of time.

'There were three of us living in a two-bedroom apartment in a really crappy part of LA.'

'Brad wasn't as bad as my other roommate, who was an absolute disaster, but Brad was okay,' he added.

'We used to play this game, all of us, to see who could go the longest without showering.

'I think about it now, I'm like 'Dude, how disgusting! What were you thinking?'

As Kelly questioned Jason more about the filthy game, asking who would go the longest without showering, he admitted: 'Brad, always Brad.

'I don't think he does that anymore, but back then, he could go a long time without showering.'

Even hunks like Brad Pitt have been exposed for their cleaning habits, as the actor's roommate revealed that he would go days without showering

The Beverly Hills, 90210 actor told hosts Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos that he, Brad, and their roommate would compete to see who could go the longest without showering. A game that Jason hailed the champion of as he could go 'a long time without showering' (pictured 1991)

Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher

Some celebs pass down their controversial showering habits to their children.

Mila Kunis and her husband, Ashton Kutcher, admitted in July 2022 that they only bathe their children when they see dirt and avoid using soap on own their bodies.

Ashton, 46, and Mila, 40, admitted they only give daughter Wyatt, six, and son Dimitri, four, a scrub when they look physically grubby.

And even when the youngsters dip in the tub, they hardly ever use soap because they don't want to dry their delicate skin out.

The couple also made it clear they don't like to use soap on their skin, with the actor stating he only ever lathers up his 'armpits and crotch' while Mila was a little more bawdy, saying she washes the essentials like her 'slits and t**s.'

They discussed their family's approach to hygiene on the Armchair Expert podcast, which Dax Shepard and Monica Padman host.

The conversation began when Dax told Monica that she should not be excising the natural oil on her skin by using soap every day.

In response Monica replied: 'I can't believe I am in the minority here of washing my whole body in the shower. Who taught you to not wash?'

The Bad Moms actress then explained that she hardly ever had a shower during her childhood because they didn't have hot water at home.

Mila, who was born in Soviet Ukraine, explained: 'I didn't have hot water growing up as a child, so I didn't shower much anyway.'

She added: 'But when I had children, I also didn't wash them every day. I wasn't that parent that bathed my newborns - ever.'

Ashton added: 'Now, here's the thing: If you can see the dirt on them, clean them. Otherwise, there's no point.'

And the same principle applies to his own hygiene habits.

He explained: 'I wash my armpits and my crotch daily, and nothing else ever. I got a bar of Lever 2000 that delivers every time. Nothing else.'

However, the couple - who tied the knot in 2015 - do like to wash their faces after getting hot and sweaty at the gym.

Ashton said: 'I do have a tendency to throw some water on my face after a workout to get all the salts out.'

Mila added: 'I do wash my face twice a day.'

Mila Kunis and her husband, Ashton Kutcher, admitted in July 2022 that they only bathe their children when they see dirt and avoid using soap on own their bodies (pictured in April 2023)

Ashton, 46, and Mila, 40, admitted they only give daughter Wyatt, six, and son Dimitri, four, a scrub when they look physically grubby (pictured in February 2023)

Kristen Bell

But Mila and Ashton are not the only famous family to encourage their washing routines on to their children.

During a joint interview on The View in August 2021 with her husband, Dax Shepard, 46, Kristen Bell, 41, revealed she likes to 'wait for the stink' before bathing their two children.

The couple share a daughter, Delta, nine, and a son, Lincoln, 11, together.

'We bathed our children every single night prior to bed as the routine, then somehow they just started going to sleep on their own without the routine and by George we had to start saying like, 'Hey, when was the last time you bathed them?'' Dax said.

Kristen said the smell was biology's way of indicating it was time for a clean-up.

'I'm a big fan of waiting for the stink,' Kristen said. 'Once you catch a whiff, that's biology's way of letting you know you need to clean it up.

'There's a red flag. Honestly, it's just bacteria; once you get bacteria, you gotta be like, 'Get in the tub or the shower.'

'So I don't hate what they're are doing. I wait for the stink,' she said.

During a joint interview on The View in August 2021 with her husband, Dax Shepard, 46, Kristen Bell, 41, revealed she likes to 'wait for the stink' before bathing their two children

The couple share a daughter, Delta, nine, and a son, Lincoln, 11, together. 'We bathed our children every single night prior to bed as the routine, then somehow they just started going to sleep on their own without the routine and by George we had to start saying like, 'Hey, when was the last time you bathed them?'' Dax said

Dame Vivienne Westwood

If anyone doubted Dame Vivienne Westwood's eco-warrior credentials, the designer, who sadly passed away on December, 29, 2022 aged 81, made a rather startling confession in 2014.

She revealed that her commitment to the environment meant she did not take a shower every day and even shared dirty bathwater with her husband.

Instead, Dame Vivienne said she simply 'washes her bits' each morning before dashing out of the house.

The rock punk designer made the comments during a campaign video for animal rights group PETA. In the footage, she explains that she has become a vegetarian in protest at how the meat industry is depleting the world's water supplies.

Despite claiming that she can take 'guilt free' long showers because she does not support the meat trade, she said: 'Normally at home I'm not used to the habit of a shower.

'I just wash my bits and rush out in the morning and more often than not get in the bath after Andreas.

She added: 'I'm sorry but whatever you do is helpful. We have to start somewhere.

'I know PETA because I'm a big friend of Pamela Anderson and Chrissie Hynde and they introduced me to it. That's why I wanted to accept the invitation to do something to help stop cruelty to animals.

'This is about how precious water is, it's more important than the gas that the people want to dig up and we're prepared to poison our water for that for example. Eating meat is one of the most environmentally damaging things it's possible to do.

'I'm a person who's got enough money to make choices and this is my choice. We don't need to eat animals, there's too many of us anyway and eating animals is destroying the world.

'I believe that we are an endangered species and we need to think about what we're doing. We're probably killing ourselves through eating meat.'

If anyone doubted Dame Vivienne Westwood's eco-warrior credentials, the designer, who sadly passed away on December, 29, 2022 aged 81, made a rather startling confession in 2014
Aussie hunk Ryan Kwanten gained thousands of devoted fans when he portrayed heartthrob sheriff deputy Jason Stackhouse in True Blood.

But after starring in the hugely popular HBO series, the former Home and Away star, 47, has dropped off the radar and almost entirely wiped his social media presence.

He was last spotted in public 2022, when he enjoyed breakfast in Manly with his family and fiancee Ashley Sisino after jetting in from Los Angeles.

The veteran actor had a boom in his career when he moved to LA following his stint on Home and Away, and landed on HBO's hit series True Blood from 2008 to 2014.

However, he is rarely seen on the mainstream big screen nowadays, despite working more than ever in the film industry.

Australian hunk Ryan Kwanten, 47, (pictured) gained a legion of devoted fans when he portrayed heartthrob sheriff deputy Jason Stackhouse in True Blood

Ryan has made some very interesting moves in his acting career, choosing to 'stand behind first-time filmmakers and independent filmmakers' as often as possible.

In an interview with Cinema Australia in 2022, Ryan said it brings him great joy to help other Australians 'raise their creative baby' and execute their vision.

'There's nothing that appeals to me more than being on set... surrounded by like-minded crazy people,' he said.

'[We're] all working towards this one goal of trying to make art in the middle of all this madness. It's amazing. I love it.'

Since True Blood, Ryan has worked in a slew of movies and television series, with his IMDB showing multiple works being released every year.

The former Home and Away star has since dropped off the map and almost entirely wiped his social media presence

Recently, he teamed up with Australian director Ivan Sen on Mystery Road and Expired, with the latter featuring Hugo Weaving and Jillian Nguyen.

Ryan also starred in Australian sci-fi thriller 2067, directed by Seth Larney, alongside fellow Down Under actor Kodi Smit-McPhee.

Dark characters have frequently attracted Ryan's eye as he picked up roles in several lesser known thrillers and horrors such as Glorious, Sacred Lies, and Creepshow.

Ryan still accepts all-star gigs from time-to-time with Section 8 in 2022 seeing him act alongside the likes of Dermot Mulroney, Dolph Lungren, and Mickey Rourke.

He produced and starred in two seasons of Sony original The Oath alongside Sean Bean, which also featured Curtis '50 cent' Jackson as a producer.

He was last spotted in 2022 by Daily Mail Australia when he enjoyed breakfast in Manly with his family and fiancee Ashley Sisino (right) after jetting in from Los Angeles

Just last year, Ryan starred in The Portrait and Head Count and is currently in production with a movie titled Primitive War.

Despite his apparent non-stop flow of work, Ryan has rarely been spotted in the media or online, choosing to keep much of his work and personal life private.

He told Cinema Australia he has been 'much happier' since turning his back on social media despite once being very active with fans on several platforms.

As of now, he appears to have an X - Twitter - and Instagram page which he is no longer active on, and a Facebook page which only posts trailers for his work.

'I've drifted further away from social media and further into mystery,' he said, adding that he wants fans to 'melt' into his characters rather than him as an actor.

The veteran actor had a boom in his career when he moved to LA following his stint on Home and Away, and landed on HBO 's hit series True Blood from 2008 to 2014

Back in 2020 during an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Australia, Ryan said: 'I'm just a private guy, full stop.

'I try and put all the drama into my life on screen and leave my life outside of it as drama-free as I can.

'I think the more people know about me the less inclined they are to believe the character that I play.

'I want to portray as much truth into that character as I can, so for me the more they know about me the harder I have to work.'

However, he is rarely seen on the mainstream big screen nowadays, despite working more than ever in the film industry

Ryan has yet to release any work this year, and while it's unclear where he currently resides, he has previously said he eventually wants to move back home to Australia.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia in 2015, Ryan hinted he would move back Down Under permanently, saying: 'I think I'll go back home; I've never doubted that.

'Unfortunately, or fortunately, this [LA] is where I have to be for now, but the plan is always to go back home.'

The hunky blonde introduced his fiancee to his home country's charms when the pair made a foray back to Australia in October 2014.

'What does anyone think of Australia? She loves it!' Ryan said of their visit.

'I've drifted further away from social media and further into mystery,' Ryan said of his absence, adding that he wants fans to 'melt' into his characters rather than him as an actor

During their time here, the couple are no doubt living in Balgowlah, an affluent suburb on the Northern beaches, where Ryan was last known to own an apartment.

The ground floor unit was an investment property for Ryan, who bought it in 2017, as he would usually reside in America with his partner Ashley.

The savvy star made his first real-estate purchase over two decades ago when he was 22-years-old and starring as Vinnie Patterson in Home and Away.

In 1999, he purchased a studio apartment in Manly for $162,000; a small sum in comparison to today's prices.
His is one of the most recognisable smiles on the planet  not to mention that defined jawline and striking profile.

So when Tom Cruise's daughter, Suri, stepped out last weekend in New York on her 18th birthday, it was truly surprising to see just how much she looked like her famous father.

Yet while his daughter with actress Katie Holmes celebrated, her A-list father was 3,500 miles away, filming in London.

You might imagine most fathers would endeavour to mark such a landmark date in person with their daughter.

But the last time Cruise was pictured in Suri's company was nearly 12 years ago, in July 2012, when she was just six.

Tom Cruise's daughter Suri, pictured in New York on her 18th birthday, looks strikingly similar to her famous father

The last time Cruise was pictured in Suri's company was nearly 12 years ago, in July 2012, when she was just six as they visited Disney World Florida

It was a tumultuous time: he had just settled his divorce to Holmes and was enjoying a custody visit to Disney World Florida. Suri  dressed as the Little Mermaid  clutched her father's hand.

Many people  some of them Cruise's former friends  claim he hasn't seen his daughter in person since then.

Could this possibly be true?

The question of what sort of relationship Cruise has with Suri  he also has two older children, Bella and Connor, adopted during his marriage to Nicole Kidman  is a riddle wrapped in an enigma and there is no clear answer.

Calls and emails to Amanda Lundberg, his publicist, and to his lawyer, asking whether he has seen Suri, go unanswered.

It's all the more perplexing because Cruise was so effusive about the importance of spending time with his daughter. Just think back to the 22-page portfolio in Vanity Fair in 2006, which pictured Suri for the first time.

'I always said to myself that my children would be able to depend on me, and I would always be there for them and love them,' a proud Cruise told the magazine.

Now, though, that pride seems a world away  and the sweet bond between father and daughter looks to be ancient history.

Last summer a source close to the actor told this newspaper he kept in touch with his daughter via Zoom and phone calls, and denied they were estranged.

Yet others doubt this  and cite Scientology, the controversial religion followed by Cruise, as the possible cause of any schism.

When she was married to Cruise, Holmes received instruction in Scientology, and Suri was to have been raised a Scientologist.

However, after their split, she returned to her Roman Catholic faith and was said to be keen to get Suri away from Scientology.

Fascinatingly, there's some question over whether the divide between Cruise and Suri is down to Holmes being protective of her daughter  or Cruise cutting her off at the behest of his religion.

Indeed, Scientology is infamous for discouraging believers from maintaining relationships with those outside the religion and has been routinely blamed for estranging its devotees from non-believers, some of whom they dub 'Suppressive Persons'.

Former leading Scientologist Karen De La Carriere  once married to the religion's president  tells me she's sure Scientology is at the root of the rift.

Before her parents' divorce, Suri was pictured incessantly, almost always being held by her father. And then, as soon as the split was announced in 2012, that ended

There are questions over whether the divide between Cruise and Suri is down to Katie Holmes being protective of her daughter  or Cruise cutting her off at the behest of Scientology, the controversial religion he follows

She said: 'Katie was deemed a Suppressive Person and Suri, by extension, Potential Trouble Source. Tom cannot engage or connect with his own daughter. In Scientology, it is Scientology first, family priorities come low down in the order.'

Brendan Tighe, who worked in Cruise's security detail and was a Scientologist, told me this week: 'Basically when it comes to Scientology thinking, there is a disconnection policy. When it's applied rigorously, there is no room for emotion.

'So long as Suri sides with her mom, there will be no contact with her dad.'

Mike Rinder, once Scientology's number three, knew Cruise and his family first-hand for years. Since leaving the religion, he has spoken out against it, and recently published an autobiography A Billion Years.

Rinder tells me his own oldest children, who remain believers, will not speak to him because he has left the religion. He says he is sure this is the reason for the apparent breakdown between Cruise and Suri.

'Because Katie took the lead in getting the divorce, springing a 'surprise' on the most well-known Scientologist on Earth, she committed a 'Suppressive Act'. Thus, Tom could not be connected to her,' he says.

Would this not trouble Cruise? Rinder says not, adding: 'Scientologists believe everyone is a spiritual being who lives many lifetimes. The being that is your mother this lifetime could have been your daughter in a previous life  and this diminishes the importance of familial ties.'

Cruise might take issue with this, not least because it all comes from ex-Scientologists who bear animus towards his religion.

A Scientology spokesman did not respond to a request to discuss any specifics of what the situation might be between Suri and Cruise. However, the church has said in the past that it never 'orders' followers to disconnect from anyone, and the practice does not have anything to do with 'former members or people who are critical of the Church'.

Yet it is certain that the happy family future which Cruise pictured for himself, Suri and her older siblings, who remain Scientologists, has not transpired.

Indeed, some say a similar dynamic can be seen after Cruise's divorce from Nicole Kidman  who no longer follows Scientology, and has seen very little of their children, Bella, 31, and Conor, now 29, since then.

Before her parents' divorce, Suri was pictured incessantly, almost always being held by her father. And then, as soon as the split was announced in 2012, that ended. Holmes moved to New York and took pains to keep her child out of the public eye.

The issue of Suri's relationship with her father became explosively public in September 2013, when Cruise took legal action against two magazines which said he had 'abandoned' his daughter.

The lawsuit was settled out of court, and it was clear Cruise angrily resented the allegation. During a deposition, he admitted he had not seen the then six-year-old for 110 days over the previous summer, right after the divorce.

He said he and Suri instead kept in touch by phone, as he was busy with filming: 'I tell wonderful stories... I've gotten pretty good at communicating.'

He added that arrangements with Holmes were complicated.

He said: 'Listen, when there is a divorce... it's more complicated. Things change.

He added: 'Certainly what doesn't change is the love I have for my daughter, and the fact I didn't abandon her emotionally, physically, or otherwise.'

One can only hope he would say the same today.
Chris Pine was spotted making his way around the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Friday.

The 43-year-old actor - who recently made a rare outing with his parents for the Los Angeles premiere of his directorial debut Poolman - donned a tan blazer and matching trousers.

He paired the look with matching loafers and a navy t-shirt as he carried a brown leather bag.

His silver hair was slicked back as he donned a freshly trimmed beard and dark shades.

The Princess Diaries star is said to be attending the White House Correspondents Dinner this weekend.

Chris Pine was spotted making his way around the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Friday

He paired the look with matching loafers and a navy t-shirt as he carried a brown leather bag

The Princess Diaries star is said to be attending the White House Correspondents Dinner this weekend

The White House Correspondents Dinner is set for Saturday and begins at 5 p.m. PT and will be televised on C-SPAN. ABC News Live, CNN and MSNBC.

The event celebrates freedom of the press while supporting college students studying journalism.

Other celebrities in attendance include DaVine Joy Randolph, Rachel Brosnahan, Jon Hamm, Fran Drescher, Andrew McCarthy, Molly Ringwald, and Colin Jost.

The events kickoff tonight with a brief reception honoring writer Aaron Sorkin at the Riggs hotel in Penn Quarter.

The official dinner will be held at the Washington Hilton and will feature opening remarks from President Joe Biden and this year's host Kelly O'Donnell of NBC News.

'Colin Jost knows how to make Saturday nights funny, and I am thrilled Colin will be live from the nations capital as the headline entertainer for this years White House Correspondents Dinner,' ODonnell said back in February of the comedian who is set to preform.

She continued, 'My hope is that we can use this night overall to remind people about why a free press is so vitally important, especially in a campaign year

'I want the night to also reflect on members. I want them to see themselves in the evening. When we gather for these White House Correspondents dinners, theres always a lot of fun, a lot of energy, all of those good things. I wanted to also feel like its about the story of the press corps and why our work matters,' she finished.

The events this year take place amid a surge of pro-Palestinian rallies that have erupted on American college campuses.

Despite the unbalance, Kelly believes that the community must 'celebrate the fact that this work is important, and its necessary for democracy.'

Other celebrities in attendance include DaVine Joy Randolph, Rachel Brosnahan, Jon Hamm, Fran Drescher, Andrew McCarthy, Molly Ringwald, and Colin Jost

The events this year take place amid a surge of pro-Palestinian rallies that have erupted on American college campuses

Robert noted that his son, Chris, 'can go off script and get right back on it' (seen in 2022)

'Chris Pine is currently promoting his latest film comedy mystery film Poolman, which he produced, co-wrote and starred in.

His father, actor Robert Pine - best known for portraying Sgt. Joseph Getraer on the television series CHiPs - gushed over his son's performance at the premiere Wednesday evening.

'He memorizes dialogue. I'm ADD, and it takes me a long time to do,' the All My Children alum, 82, admitted. 'He can go off script and get right back on it when he feels something that's good or right, he can do that. I can't do that.'
Katie Price reportedly failed to attend a court hearing on Friday because she decided to go on holiday with her boyfriend JJ Slater.

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'.

According to The Sun, Katie has now left the UK and was spotted at the airport with Married At First Sight star JJ.

A source said: 'Katie and JJ are on holiday in Cyprus. They were seen at the airport looking very loved-up before jetting off together.'

Katie Price reportedly failed to attend a court hearing on Friday because she decided to go on holiday with her boyfriend JJ Slater

Katie 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

Listen to Katie Price on The Mail's podcast, Straight To The Comments

MailOnline has contacted representatives of Katie Price for comment.

The reality star is now facing the threat of arrest by police after failing to attend a court hearing over her bankruptcy.

The court heard that Katie'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 Katie'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.

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 Katie had been aware of the hearing 'for a considerable period of time' and her evidence 'simply is not good enough'.

A source said: 'Katie and JJ are on holiday in Cyprus. They were seen at the airport looking very loved-up before jetting off together'

Katie was declared bankrupt for a second time after failing to pay over 750,000 in unpaid tax last month

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 Katie 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 owes is made up of unpaid tax from self-assessment on her earnings from between 2020 and 2022

Alex Reid, Katie'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.

Katie 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 Katie 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 Katie 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.'

Katie 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.'

Katie 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.'

Katie 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.'

Katie 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 Katie will be seized.

It comes just weeks after Katie 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.
The Railway Children star Sally Thomsett has claimed a Bargain Hunt auctioneer sold her film keepsakes without asking her first.

The actress, 74, revealed that many of her treasured memories from the hit show such as scripts and fan letters were flogged.

She also admitted that her movie scripts and royal premiere tickets were sold without her knowing.

The collectable items were reportedly sold by Nesbits Antiques Auctions in Southsea, Portsmouth.

The auction house firm is managed by John Cameron, who has appeared on BBC Bargain Hunt and Cash In The Attic.

The Railway Children star Sally Thomsett, 74, has claimed a Bargain Hunt auctioneer had sold her film keepsakes without asking her first

The actress, who played Phyllis in the 1970s show, revealed that many of her treasured memories from the hit show such as TV programme scripts and fan letters, were flogged, according to the Mirror (pictured in the show in 1970)

For just 900, one lot of Sally's belongings were sold on April 17, according to the publication.

Her treasured possessions, which were reportedly sold, included publicity photos of Sally, a personal diary, and scripts from some of her other movies.

Sally, who played Phyllis in the 1970s show alongside Jenny Arguter, told the publication: 'No one attempted to contact me with regards to this sale and I am devastated as it is a large part of my history that cannot be replaced.

'As far as I knew, they were in a suitcase of memorabilia and memories of my career. Obviously, I don't check its contents regularly.'

Sally allegedly threatened to take the auction bid to the police.

The Mirror reported that Nesbits 'utterly refutes' allegations of wrong-doing over the sale.

Nesbits reportedly said the items were from a home owned by one of Sally's ex-husbands, which the seller of the goods bought in 1978.

Mr Cameron said they were 'currently considering the matter with the assistance of legal advisers' given the accusations that have been made.

MailOnline has contacted Nesbits Antiques Auctions for a comment.

She also admitted that her movie scripts and royal premiere tickets were sold without her knowing (pictured in 1976 in The Fun Food Factory)

The collectable items were reportedly sold by Nesbits Antiques Auctions in Southsea, Portsmouth. The auction house firm is managed by John Cameron, who has appeared on BBC Bargain Hunt and Cash In The Attic (pictured in July 2023)

Sally was shot to fame for playing 11-year-old Phyllis in The Railway Children, despite being 20 years old at the time.

A year later, she appeared alongside Dustin Hoffman in the controversial film Straw Dogs, playing a seductive teenager. The same year, 1971, she married for the first time.

She later admitted that she realised she'd made a mistake just six weeks after the wedding to shipping magnate's son Nigel Newman. The pair divorced soon after.

In 1972 Sally was appearing in a Bovril advert when she was spotted by directors Brian Cooke and Johnnie Mortimer, who cast her as dizzy blond Jo ITV sitcom Man About the House.

Throughout the Seventies, she cemented her appeal as a comic sex symbol, spending three years on the hit show alongside Richard O'Sullivan and Paula Wilcox.
Jock Zonfrillo's widow Lauren Fried has shared an emotional message almost a year after the MasterChef Australia judge's sudden death.

The business advisor took to Jock's Instagram page on Friday to share a heart-wrenching video where she discussed her grief and her plans to share Jock's legacy.

Beloved celebrity chef Jock tragically passed away last year and was found dead in a hotel in Carlton, near Melbourne's CBD, on April 30, 2023.

He is survived by his wife Lauren, their two children Alfie, seven, and Isla, three, as well as his two adult daughters Ava and Sophia from his first two marriages.

Just days ahead of the first anniversary of his death, Lauren spoke about 'finding her feet' as a 'solo parent' and how her two kids have adjusted after their tragic loss.

Jock Zonfrillo 's widow Lauren Fried (pictured with Jock) has shared an emotional message almost a year after the MasterChef Australia judge's sudden death

In an emotional video, she shared: 'Next week will be a year since we lost Jock. I have no idea where that time went.

'I really did have plans to get more of his projects out but somewhere between trying to find my feet as a solo parent - and just going through long periods of time where I found it really hard to look at videos and photos of Jock - the plan didn't go to plan.

'Jock's legacy sits in his children and his work, and both have given me a lot of purpose in the last year.

'I've been focusing on the kids and they're going really well, they're thriving actually and found their new normal. I think we created two extraordinary little people there.'

Lauren went on to explain how she plans to share Jock's legacy with his fans, saying she wants to focus on posting previously unseen content of the chef.

The business advisor took to Jock's Instagram page on Friday to share a heart-wrenching video where she discussed her grief and her plans to share Jock's legacy

She went on: 'So now I just want to focus on the work.

'I've got hundreds and hundreds of hours of Jock cooking his favourite recipes explaining what vinegar or oil he used in different things, things he discovered on our travels, fun behind-the-scenes stuff, interviews, and it's a part of my life I want to start sharing with everyone again.

'I'll start posting again as soon as I can. Please try and treat them as normal, if you have any questions about the recipe or method, please just ask, pop it in the comments, and if I can't answer it, I'll get one of his chef mates to.

'The purpose of putting it up is for us to enjoy it, to enjoy Jock, so I hope you do.'

Jock was found dead at the Zagame's House hotel in Carlton, near Melbourne's CBD, at about 2am on April 30 last year.

Beloved celebrity chef Jock tragically passed away last year and was found dead in a hotel in Carlton, near Melbourne's CBD, on April 30, 2023

He is survived by his wife Lauren, their two children Alfie, seven, and Isla, three, (all pictured) as well as his two adult daughters Ava and Sophia from his first two marriage

At the time, Lauren was in Italy with their two children and had phoned Victoria Police to request a welfare check because he stopped answering her calls.

His sudden death was still being investigated in March almost a year after his tragic passing, the Coroner's Court of Victoria confirmed at the time.

Jock's death came just one day before the 2023 season of MasterChef was due to premiere, and it was delayed in arriving on air for a week 'out of respect'.

Network 10 dedicated the fifteenth season to Jock and his family as they aired his scenes posthumously, acknowledging his 'sudden and tragic passing'.

His co-star Andy Allen admitted he nearly didn't return to the show this year following Jock's death, but said he is 'so glad' he decided to push through the grief.

His co-star Andy Allen (right) admitted he nearly didn't return to the show this year following Jock's (left) death, but said he is now 'so glad' he decided to push through the grief

'It was tough. I didn't know if I was going to do it. I'm so glad that I did, I really am, but it was hard,' the judge told The Project panel as the 2024 season of MasterChef launched earlier this month.

'The first scene [of the show] is just me in the kitchen alone, all dark, just me... that got me going good.'

He went on to say everything changed 'once the contestants came in, once the new three judges came in', and he found himself getting 'swept up'.

'It was just business. That whole MasterChef thing, the spirit, the passion, it just sweeps anyone up, and it did the exact same thing to me,' he added.
Heidi Klum and husband Tom Kaulitz took a brief time out from their busy lives to spend time with the two newest members of their family.

On Friday, the hot and heavy couple headed out on a walk with their two German shorthaired pointer pups named Uschi and Jager, which were a gift from Klum to her husband for his 34th birthday this past September.

The family of four were spotted making their way along the suburban streets and sidewalks in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles.

While they took turns holding the leashes of their adorable pooches, it was the Tokio Hotel star who seemed to take the reins during their stroll after enjoying lunch at Joan's On Third on Ventura Blvd.

Both of them kept it casual in the fashion department with Klum wearing a black sweatsuit with what appeared to be black Klog shoes with thick socks.

Haidi Klum, 50, and husband Tom Kaulitz, 34, went on a dog walk with their two German shorthaired pointers after a stop for lunch in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles

Rounding out her overall look, Klum, 50, had her blonde tresses styled long, straight and flowing down over her chest and down past the middle of her back with a center part.

She would eventually take more of a hands on approach with the dogs and take control of one of the leashes for the walk with her husband of five years.

Kaulitz, 34, appeared to have a close bond with the pooches as he guided them along the sidewalk dressed in dark drawstring pants, a light brown t-shirt and white old school Converse sneakers.

The musician also sported a pair of cool sunglasses, and had his dark hair flowing down long past his shoulders with a subtle part in the middle and a full beard and mustache.

During their stroll the pair opted to make a brief pitstop to get a couple of fancy cold coffee drinks, which they documented with a photo on her Instagram Story.

The German-born couple would proceed on with their dog walk until they eventually decided it was time to head back home to their gated mansion in Bel Air.

Klum explained the story behind how she adopted the cute dogs during an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show in January.

'We had just lost our dog, and I had asked him if we were gonna get a new puppy. And he said "I'm not over our dog that passed,"' she continued, 'Obviously I'm not either, but he was away on tour, and I got not only one, but two puppies.

The legendary supermodel stepped out with her husband and their two pooches in a black sweatsuit and matching Klogs with thick socks

The German-born couple decided to name decided to pay homage to their roots and name the German shorthaired pointers Uschi and Jager

The couple made brief pitstop to get a couple of fancy cold coffee drinks during their walk

She then explained her reasoning for getting two puppies instead of just one.

'I just thought it was nice for them that sometimes we have to go to work they have each other and they can play with each other,' she shared.

Klum introduced Uschi and Jager to the world on her Instagram page in September 2023, when she posted a sweet snapshot of Kaulitz cuddling the two pups.

'When he tells you he is not ready for a new puppy and you surprise him with two on his birthday,' Klum captioned the post.

Klum surprised her husband and gifted him with the two German shorthaired pointers -Uschi and Jager - for his 34th birthday in September 2023

Klum, a German-born supermodel, first met Kaulitz, the guitarist for the German band Tokio Hotel, at a birthday party in February 2018.

They confirmed their romance the following month when they were seen making out on the set of America's Got Talent.

The pair would make their red carpet debut in May of that year, and ultimately got married in February 2019 in a secret affair, only to have a more lavish wedding celebration in Italy in August of that same year.

Along with their dogs, Klum is a proud mother of four children: daughter Leni, 19, whose father, Flavio Briatore, dated her mom in 2003, as well as sons Henry, 18, Johan, 17, and daughter Lou, 14, whom she co-arents with ex-husband Seal (born Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel), 61.
Influencer Emma Claiir has revealed she won't ever return to the spotlight again after quitting social media over backlash about a story of her killing two cats as a child.

Emma came under fire in April 2023 when she admitted to killing two cats when she was a child, and quit social media just months later in June amid the furore.

After disappearing from the limelight amid being targeted by trolls, Emma has resurfaced on Instagram in a video shared by make-up artist Laura Kimber.

In the footage, Emma smiled from ear to ear as she showed off her glamorous new look after getting her make-up done at Kimber Artistry's studio in Sydney.

Fans were quick to flock to the comments section to plead with Emma to return to her life as an influencer as they admitted they missed watching her videos.

Influencer Emma Claiir has revealed she won't ever return to the spotlight again after quitting social media over backlash about a story of her killing two cats as a child

However, Emma - who now only has a private Instagram account - dashed fans' hopes as she revealed she won't 'ever' be returning to the spotlight.

Emma said how she is now enjoying living her life privately with her husband Aaron Mugica and their son Jett-Jones.

Responding to one fan, she wrote: 'Awww sorry lovely unfortunately I won't ever be coming back. I'm way too happy and stress free living the private life.'

A whole host of fans sent her supportive messages after her reappearance on Instagram as they told her how much they had missed seeing her content.

They penned: 'I miss seeing that face on my insta feed, so nice to see her looking so happy!!'

'Miss Em and her stories! This looks amazing! Hope Em is doing okay,' added another.

After disappearing from the limelight, Emma has resurfaced on Instagram in a video (pictured) shared by make-up artist Laura Kimber, and fans urged her to return to her life as an influencer

'Was only just thing about Em the other day thinking god I miss seeing her content,' one user commented, while another wrote, 'Awwww Emma you look amazing. Have missed seeing your face.'

Emma drew widespread criticism and was dropped by makeup company MCoBeauty in April last year when she admitted to two incidents of historic animal cruelty.

Just months later in June, Emma announced she would be quitting social media after a series of cruel attacks from 'haters', which left her feeling unsafe and suicidal.

She revealed she had been sent 'death threats' amid the controversy and claimed she was targeted by online trolls in a 'witch hunt'.

'As most of you know I gave birth on the 12.4.23 to the most amazing, precious little boy and he changed my life completely,' she began her very lengthy post.

However, Emma - who now only has a private Instagram account - dashed fans' hopes as she revealed she won't 'ever' be returning to the spotlight

'I was so excited to share my life with you all, share where things were from and just be real with my postpartum journey and experiences with my baby.

'But unfortunately that all became not possible when I shared a story from when I was kid on my podcast. I quickly became cancelled and the death threats started rolling in.

'The story got taken out of proportion and turned into something it never was. People started a witch hunt on me and were doing everything to make sure my life was ruined.

'I lost my job, my mental health was impacted massively and people were just having a laugh about it.

'I realised it was taking me away from my son and making me not present with him so I took a small break.'

Emma told how she is now enjoying living her life privately with her husband Aaron Mugica and their son Jett-Jones

Emma went on to accuse 'haters' of spreading hate and rumours about her life and said she reached 'breaking point' amid the trolling and began to feel 'unsafe'.

She went on: I suddenly began to feel unsafe in my own bubble, I started to feel unsafe in my own home, my anxiety was through the roof when I went out in public, I was constantly feeling violated, the death threats became louder and the lies and rumours also became louder.'

'People were going to all lengths to ruin my life. Messaging my friends with nasty messages, messaging brand and companies that were following me with threats and so much more. People were dehumanising me daily and laughing at my struggles,' she added.

'My mental health finally crumbled. I entered a very dark space that was extremely scary and unfamiliar.

'I was constantly telling myself that the only thing that would make this all go away is if I took my own life.'

Emma came under fire in April 2023 when she admitted to killing two cats when she was a child , and quit social media just months later in June amid the furore

Quitting social media with a lengthy statement in June 2023, Emma revealed she had been sent 'death threats' and claimed she was targeted by online trolls in a 'witch hunt'

The influencer concluded by telling her followers that 'the online space can be horrible, fake and harmful whether you have a following or not, so it's okay, strong and powerful to walk away when needed'.

Emma was dropped by makeup company MCoBeauty in April 2023 after she admitted to two incidents of historic animal cruelty on an episode of her podcast Simply Chaotic.

Three more brands then cut ties with Emma, including vegan make-up company Lust Minerals, which promotes how it does not test its products on animals.

The controversy kicked off when Emma shared a story about accidentally killing two cats as a child when her co-host Kristy Jean asked her to tell a personal secret.

'I killed my cat,' Emma admitted on her podcast at the time. 'I didn't mean to... I was young, I was a child.

Emma was dropped by make-up company MCoBeauty in April 2023 after she admitted to two incidents of historic animal cruelty on an episode of her podcast Simply Chaotic

'I was swinging my cat around. Like, I was thinking it was just a stuffed toy. And I accidentally let go of it.'

Emma clarified the animal died 'from the fright', rather than because of any injuries from being thrown across the room.

After sharing a laugh with her co-host, she added: 'I just want to say, I'm giggling about it now, but this happened years and years and years [ago]. And, like, I was a f**king little child.'

Emma went on to detail how she 'also killed her best friend's cat' by accident.

For confidential support call the Lifeline 24-hour crisis support on 13 11 14
David Koch has revealed he is set to become a grandfather for the ninth time.

The former Sunrise host, 68, revealed the exciting family news during an appearance on The Morning Show on Friday.

He excitedly revealed that his youngest daughter Georgie, who lives in London, is expecting her first child with her husband Alex Merkel.

David, known by his nickname Kochie, said he and his wife Libby are due to fly over to London to be with Georgie for her latest ultrasound scan.

He told hosts Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies: 'Georgie is expecting her first child, she lives in London at the moment.

David Koch is set to become a grandfather again as his daughter Georgie and her husband Alex Merkel (both pictured with David and his wife Libby) are expecting their first child

'Lib and I are off to London to visit her and on Monday  we are going to the ultrasound appointment. She is 24/25 weeks.'

David also gave an insight into his very sweet family tradition as he revealed the item he will be buying for Georgie during his London visit.

He shared: 'We have a family tradition, we buy the first pram for each of the families. '(We're) very excited. It's number nine for us.'

Georgie married her now-husband Alex in a romantic outdoor ceremony in Regent's Park, London, in July 2022.

As well as Georgie, David and Libby also share daughters Brianna and Samantha, and son Alexander, better known as AJ.

The former Sunrise host, 68, revealed the exciting news during an appearance on The Morning Show on Friday, saying he and his wife Libby are set to fly over to London to see Georgie

Georgie's baby will be David's ninth grandchild, as his three eldest children have eight kids between them.

His son AJ welcomed his first child - a daughter called Catalina May - with his wife Carolina in 2021.

The little one was born weeks after Samantha welcomed a daughter called Florence May with her partner Toby. They also share three other children - Lila, Oscar, and Matilda.

David's other daughter Brianna, who lives in Perth, also has three children - Jax, Teddy and Ella - with her partner CJ Jayasinghe.

David met his wife Libby decades ago when they were in their 20s and went on to tie the knot in 1979, and have been happily married ever since.

Georgie's baby will be David's ninth grandchild, as his other three children - Brianna, Samantha and AJ - have eight kids between them (David and Libby are pictured with their grandchildren)

'Lib was a 20-year-old nurse. Our friend Judy decided to have a party, and that's where we met back in 1977,' David told New Idea magazine of their first meeting.

David was the co-host of Channel Seven's breakfast show Sunrise for 21 years until he stepped down from the role in May last year.

He said at the time: 'I have loved every single minute of it and I'm incredibly proud of what we've achieved here over the last 21 years.'

The beloved star told how he was stepping back to enjoy more flexible working hours and spend time with his growing family.
Scarlett Johansson and Rosario Dawson led the stars at Friday night's Creative Artists Agency (CAA) Kickoff Party for the White House Correspondents Dinner.

Held on Saturday, the annual event will be hosted this year by Saturday Night Live star Colin Jost, who has been married to Scarlett since 2020.

Meanwhile Rosario's name has been linked to politics for years through her past romance with US Senator Cory Booker, a Democrat representing New Jersey.

The CAA Kickoff Party took place this Friday at the Washington, DC location of the glamorous New York restaurant La Grande Boucerie.

A formidable array of boldface names could be spotted mingling at the fete, including Scarlett, who cut a snappy figure in a grey trouser suit.

Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost are pictured at a CAA Kickoff Party for The White House Correspondents Dinner with her agent Joe Machota (left) and CAA co-chair Bryan Lourd (right)

Rosario Dawson, whose name has been linked to politics for years through her past romance with US Senator Cory Booker, was also on the guest list

She jazzed up the look with a tangle of necklaces and a set of earrings, amplifying her luminous complexion with naturalistic makeup.

Scarlett and Colin could be spotted gathering together for a group shot with her agent Joe Machota and CAA co-chairman Bryan Lourd.

One day away from his hosting gig, Colin cut a dapper figure in a classic black suit and white shirt, but added a touch of informality by going without a tie.

The Weekend Update performer flashed his signature megawatt smile as he and his wife posed side by side for the photographers.

As Colin made his way around the party, he was able to spend some time mingling with veteran NBC News anchor Andrea Mitchell.

Andrea, decked out in a chic black floral number, also hobnobbed with longtime CNN name Wolf Blitzer and movie mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg.

Meanwhile, Rosario flashed the flesh in a blue peekaboo ensemble that featured cascading tiers of fringe over strips of see-through mesh.

The Rent actress wore her hair in a sleek bob reminiscent of the 1920s, framing her unmistakable features with a gleaming pair of drop earrings.

As Colin made his way around the party, he was able to spend some time mingling with veteran NBC News anchor Andrea Mitchell

Andrea, decked out in a chic black floral number, also hobnobbed with longtime CNN name Wolf Blitzer (right) and movie mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg (left)

Another one of the celebrities to make his way to the CAA fete was none other than Chris Pine, who was nearly unrecognizable behind his luscious grey beard

Chris treated the cameras to his winning grin as he posed for a picture with Douglas Emhoff, the husband of US Vice President Kamala Harris

Longtime Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie could also be spotted among the celebs, decked out in a springtime chic floral frock

Another one of the celebrities to make his way to the CAA fete was none other than Chris Pine, who was nearly unrecognizable behind his luscious grey beard.

The Star Trek heartthrob, who has been sporting a distinguished salt-and-pepper look for over a year now, modeled a deep blue three-piece suit.

He left his top couple of buttons beguilingly undone over his chest and lent the look an extra dash of elan by accessorizing with a watch chain.

Chris treated the cameras to his winning grin as he posed for a picture with Douglas Emhoff, the husband of US Vice President Kamala Harris.

Longtime Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie could also be spotted among the celebs, decked out in a springtime chic floral frock.
Drake is complying with Tupac's estate after he was sent a cease and desist letter for using AI to recreate the late rapper's voice in his Kendrick Lamar diss track, Taylor Made Freestyle.

After taking down the track on his social media accounts on Friday, the rapper, 37, and his team are also reportedly working with Tupac's estate to get the song removed from all other platforms online.

Drake gave no explanation for removing the song from his Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter, account.

According to TMZ, his team and representatives have been in direct contact with the late rap star's estate after receiving the cease and desist demands on Wednesday and have had multiple, productive discussions.

This comes after attorneys for Tupac's estate sent out a letter to Drake for the 'flagrant violation' and for insulting Lamar, who they said was 'a good friend to the Estate' and 'has given nothing but respect to Tupac and his legacy publicly and privately.'

Drake is complying with Tupac's estate after he was sent a cease and desist letter for using AI to recreate the late rapper's voice in his Kendrick Lamar diss track, Taylor Made Freestyle. After taking down the track on his social media accounts on Friday, the rapper, 37, and his team are also reportedly working with Tupac's estate to get the song removed from all other platforms online

His team and representatives have been in direct contact with the late rap star's estate after receiving the cease and desist demands on Wednesday and have had multiple, productive discussions

They also set a 24-hour deadline to remove the song and explain how the soundalike was created, including what recordings were used to recreate Tupac's voice with AI.

The letter added that the estate was 'deeply dismayed and disappointed' by the unauthorized usage as it was 'a blatant abuse of the legacy of one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time.'

Last week, Drake dropped Taylor Made Freestyle, which used artificial intelligence to clone both Tupac and Snoop Dogg's voices in his second diss track against Lamar.

On Wednesday, the late rapper's estate has sent Drake a cease and desist letter seeking the removal of the song, according to Rolling Stone.

Sent by attorney Howard King, the letter gave Drake 24 hours to take the track down or else they would pursue legal action against him.

The letter claimed the estate 'would have never' approved of the AI recreation of Tupac.

Last week, Drake dropped Taylor Made Freestyle, which used artificial intelligence to clone both Tupac and Snoop Dogg 's voices in his second diss track against Lamar

He sparked the outrage of Tupac's estate and was sent a ceast and desist letter for doing so

The letter claimed the estate 'would have never' approved of the AI recreation of Tupac; Tupac pictured in 1996

The song was released by Drake on Friday but was dropped via a video on social media and not on streaming services.

Had it been released on streaming services, it could have garnered royalties.

Despite this, the legal letter noted the track still garnered plenty of publicity and listens.

Further causing infuriation was the fact the song was a diss track against 'good friend to the Estate,' Kendrick Lamar.

'The unauthorized, equally dismaying use of Tupac's voice against Kendrick Lamar, a good friend to the Estate who has given nothing but respect to Tupac and his legacy publicly and privately, compounds the insult,' the letter stated.

'It is hard to believe that [Tupac's record label]'s intellectual property was not scraped to create the fake Tupac AI on the Record,' the letter continues.

King also insists Drake provide an explanation for 'how the sound-alike was created and the persons or company that created it, including all recordings and other data "scraped" or used.'

The letter also noted the song may have violated publicity rights laws, stipulations that 'allow for the protection of a person's likeness,' writes Rolling Stone.

The song was released by Drake on Friday but was dropped via a video on social media, and not on streaming services; Drake pictured 2022

Yet, the outlet notes the laws generally protect against the improper use of someone's likeness and not so much any AI issues.

In making his point that the song violated California's publicity rights law, King stated the track gives the 'false impression that the estate and Tupac promote or endorse the lyrics for the sound-alike.'

Drake's past attempts to stop others from wrongfully using his likeness in the past were also raised in the letter, which included the 2023 song that also used AI to recreate his voice, Heart on My Sleeve.

The letter claimed the estate 'would have never' approved of the AI recreation of Tupac; the late rapper pictured

The song is Drake's second diss track against Lamar and was dropped on Instagram last week.

'Taylor Made Freestyle,' he captioned the post, adding: 'While we wait on you I guess.'

Snoop reacted to the track in humorous fashion on Instagram, stating to the camera: 'They did what? When? How? Are you sure? Y'all have a good night.

'Why everybody calling my phone, blowing me up? What the f**k? What happened? What's going on? I'm going back to bed. Good night.'
Christine Quinn has claimed that estranged husband, Christian Richard, put hidden, quarter-sized cameras inside their L.A. home to keep her 'under surveillance' amid pair's nasty divorce.

The 35-year-old Selling Sunset alumna  who also alleged that the tech founder, 44, is hiding out to avoid her restraining order  made the latest claim in a court documents obtained by People on Friday.

She further alleged that her estranged husband - whom she tied the knot with in 2019 - also hired a security guard to 'surveil and occupy' their $8 million residence.

In the documents, the reality star claimed that she 'discovered numerous Apple AirTags and battery-operated cameras hidden all throughout the residence, including in my personal office.'

'I took photos of these camera devices, which were approximately the size of quarters.'

Christine Quinn, 35, has claimed that estranged husband, Christian Richard, 44, put hidden, quarter-sized cameras inside their L.A. home to keep her 'under surveillance' amid pair's nasty divorce; seen in March in L.A.

The Selling Sunset alumna  who also alleged that the tech founder, 44, is hiding out to avoid her restraining order  made the latest claim in a court documents obtained by People on Friday; seen in March 2023 in L.A.

Christine - who shares son Christian Georges Dumontet, two, with her estranged husband - also stated in the documents that he kept her, 'under surveillance through Apple AirTags without my knowledge or consent.'

Quinn claimed that the software engineer had hired a security guard to both 'surveil and occupy' their Los Angeles home.

She alleged that she was not allowed access into their residence by Christian due to 'refusing to provide my counsel with the gate access code.'

On April 19, the TV personality was finally able to enter and claimed that the security guard had also been living inside the home - which was 'intentionally left in a hazardous, filthy, and unlivable condition.'

'I believe the home was completely trashed so that I would be unable to occupy the residence with my son.'

Quinn claimed that inside, 'There were new pillows at the residence, the shower was wet from having been recently used, and most disturbingly, my underwear had been taken from my drawer and were strewn on top of the bed in the master bedroom.'

Before she was able to gain access to the L.A. home, Christine claimed that the security guard verbally threatened her with 'remarks' such as 'I will be seeing you again' as well as 'I'm not going anywhere.'

She further claimed that he had also been 'observing and stalking' her.

In the documents, the reality star claimed that she 'discovered numerous Apple AirTags and battery-operated cameras hidden all throughout the residence, including in my personal office'; seen in 2021 in L.A.

Christine - who shares son Christian Georges Dumontet, two, with her estranged husband - also stated in the documents that he kept her, 'under surveillance through Apple AirTags without my knowledge or consent'

Last month on March 20, Christian Richard was seen being arrested for assault with a deadly weapon at their L.A. house while wearing a bathrobe.

At the time, LAPD spokesman Jeff Lee told DailyMail.com, 'A victim and a suspect were involved in a domestic dispute when the suspect threw a bag at the victim with a glass bottle inside of it.'

'It missed the victim, but that object struck a child. The suspect was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon.' He was later arrested a second time after violating a restraining order just one day after the initial arrest.

Since the incident, both Christine and Christian have both filed restraining orders against each other.

Also in March, the reality star had her West Hollywood hotel room searched for 'wires and bugs' and claimed that her estranged husband was 'monitoring' her.

Earlier this month, Quinn was granted a temporary restraining order against Christian. Shortly after, he filed for divorce from Christine and cited 'irreconcilable differences.'

While the tech founder asked for sole custody of their two-year-old son, the TV personality requested for full custody of their little boy amid the divorce battle.

Most recently, Christine is hoping to speed up her temporary restraining order request against her estranged husband Christian Richard as he allegedly evades service.

On April 19, the TV personality was finally able to enter and claimed that the security guard had also been living inside the home - which was 'intentionally left in a hazardous, filthy, and unlivable condition'

She further claimed that he had also been 'observing and stalking' her. In documents obtained by Us Weekly, she alleged that the security guard was Christian's attorney, Mr. Villicana; seen in July 2023 in Paris

The star 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.

'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 California. However, that option is unlikely to work in Richard's case due to his alleged lack of communication with his estranged wife.

Last month on March 20, Christian Richard had been arrested for assault with a deadly weapon at their L.A. house while wearing a bathrobe; seen in March 2022 in L.A.

Most recently, Christine is hoping to speed up her temporary restraining order request against her estranged husband Christian Richard as he allegedly evades service; seen in 2021 in Santa Monica

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.

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 wrote in the filing.

'I believe [Christian] could be employing these methods, or even paying the hotel, to conceal his location.'

She alleges in the documents that Richard - who has not publicly responded - is in hiding and has been avoiding service of the order; seen in 2021 in West Hollywood

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.

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.
Melanie Lynskey has made a name for herself as an actress over the years after making her film debut at 17 in Peter Jackson's Heavenly Creatures (1994).

In recent years, she been recognized for her acclaimed performances in such TV roles as Yellowjackets (2021-present), Candy (2022) and The Last Of Us (2023), among others.

And Lynskey recently praised her husband Jason Ritter for 'sacrificing' his own acting career so that hers can continue to flourish in Hollywood.

'The last few years we've had this role of like, whoever's job makes the most sense, whether it's the most exciting career-wise or it's more money, we would prioritize the one that was going to help move the person's career forward,' she told PEOPLE of their supportive dynamic.

According to Lynskey, Ritter has turned down a number of roles since he and the New Zealand native became first-time parents to their daughter, now five, in 2018.

Melanie Lynskey, 46, shared her gratitude for her husband, Jason Ritter's, 44, support of her acting career even when he has had to sacrifice his own; the couple are seen on March 24

Revealing how her husband, who's the son of late Three's Company star John Ritter, gets 'offered stuff all the time,' yet passes on them,

Lynskey said that Ritter, who gets 'offered stuff all the time' yet passes on them, is 'genuinely sacrificing' for their family.

He's also incredibly supportive when she lands a big job.

When she was offered to play Kathleen Coghlan in the post-apocalyptic drama series The Last Of Us, Ritter excitedly told her that she had to do it.

'He was like, "There's no way you're not going to do The Last of Us. You have to do it,"' she recalled. 'So it was months and months and months that he was just being a dad and hanging out with me, and I'm so, so, so grateful to him.

'I think a lot of men don't have that kind of self-esteem and that respect for their partner. I'm grateful that I have someone who does.'

She considers it a 'blessing' to have played the role.

'I just feel so honored to have been part of it,' the actress said of The Last Of Us. 'It was a dream. I just kept thinking at some point something's going to go wrong. Nothing can be this good and this happy and this fun to make.

'Then it was just great beginning to end. And the response was wonderful. I was just like, OK, sometimes things can just be wonderful. That's my lesson as a pessimist.'

The couple first met while co-starring in the dramedy film The Big Ask (2013).

They started dating shortly after and went on to star in two more movies together: We'll Never Have Paris (2014) and The Intervention (2016).

They dated for four years and welcomed a daughter in 2018 before tying the knot in 2020.

The pair are constantly gushing over one another on their respective social media platforms such as Instagram.

'The last few years we've had this role of like, whoever's job makes the most sense, whether it's the most exciting career-wise or it's more money, we would prioritize the one that was going to help move the person's career forward,' she told PEOPLE of their supportive dynamic

Lynskey says Ritter put his own career to the side to support her in taking the role of Kathleen Coghlan in the post-apocalyptic drama series The Last Of Us (2023)

Ritter, 44, constantly gushes about Lynskey on social media, from declaring he loves her 'with my whole heart' on Instagram on Valentine's Day to cheering her on after her Emmy nomination and the finale of Yellowjackets on X (formerly Twitter).

Lynskey, 46, does much of the same, which includes taking to Instagram on Valentine's Day to share a list of the things she's thankful for about her husband such as 'making me laugh out loud every day' and for 'being the best dad our sweet daughter could possibly have; '

She also shared her thanks 'for loving me so fiercely and unconditionally that it's literally changed me as a human being and allowed me to love myself too'; and for 'making fun of me in a way that makes me feel seen and celebrated and also makes me cry laughing.'

Lynskey made her film debut at age 17 in Peter Jackson's Heavenly Creatures (1994), which earne critical acclaim for her portrayal of murderer Pauline Parker.

She also gained recognition for her roles in Ever After (1998), But I'm a Cheerleader (1999), Coyote Ugly (2000), Sweet Home Alabama (2002), Shattered Glass (2003), Flags Of Our Fathers (2006), Away We Go (2011), Up In The Aire (2011), The Informant! (2011), The Perks Of Being A Wallflower (2012) and Don't Look Up (2021).

The couple first met while co-starring in the dramedy film The Big Ask (2013)

The New Zealand native shared a sweet mock photo of the Grant Wood's acclaimed painting American Gothic (1930) in a Valentine's Day 2024 post on Instagram

Lynskey thanked her husband for 'being the best dad our sweet daughter could possibly have' in Valentine's Day Instagram post; Ritter is pictured with their five-year-old daughter

Her starring role as a depressed divorcee in Hello I Must Be Going (2012) proved to be a breakthrough role for Lynskey, resulting in her landing lead role in Happy Christmas (2014), The Intervention (2016) and I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2017).

Her extensive TV career, which has helped her become an more in-demand character actor, includes the CBS hit sitcom Two And A Half Men (2003-2015), Togetherness (2015-2016), Castle Rock (2017), Mrs. America (2020), Candy (202w) and more recently Yellowjackets (2022-present) and The Last Of Us (2023).

For her latest work, Lynsky returns to TV for the historical drama series The Tattooist Of Auschwitz for Peacock (2024).

As for Ritter, he's best know for such television roles as Joan Of Arcadia (2003-2005), Parenthood (2010-2014), Gravity Falls (2012-2016), Another Period (2015-2018), Kevin (Probably) Saves The World (2017-2018), and Raising Dion (2019-2022), as well as films as Swimfan (2002), Freddy vs. Jason (2003), Happy Endings (2005), The Education Of Charlie Banks (2007), W. (2008), The Tale (2018) and Frozen II (2019).
Beyond Paradise viewers were left disappointed after watching the BBC shows season two finale.

The episode, which aired on Friday night, saw DI Humphrey Goodman (played by Kris Marshall) and Martha Lloyd (Sally Bretton) very nearly tie the knot.

However, the much-anticipated wedding didn't end up happening, leaving some fans feeling emotional and disappointed.

One wrote on social media platform X: 'Disappointed that there wasn't a wedding. Just a very poor ending';

'I wanted to see the wedding, the speeches, first dance and vows. I feel beyond betrayed';

Beyond Paradise viewers were left disappointed after watching the BBC shows season two finale

'We may not have had the wedding we hoped for but I still somehow got emotional';

'That was a disappointing end to series 2. Nothing has moved forward since the very first episode;'

'Fairly implausible wedding/no wedding scenario #beyondparadise.'

Following the finale, BBC announced Beyond Paradise will return for a third series and Christmas special.

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.

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.

The episode, which aired on Friday night, saw DI Humphrey Goodman (played by Kris Marshall) and Martha Lloyd (Sally Bretton) very nearly tie the knot

One wrote on social media platform X: 'Disappointed that there wasn't a wedding. Just a very poor ending'

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.'

It comes after Kris Marshall appeared to rule out any crossover with Death In Paradise ahead of a new season of Beyond Paradise.

Beyond Paradise will return for a third series and Christmas special, the BBC has announced

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

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.
Legendary Australian radio and TV personality Graham Webb died in a Gold Coast hospital on Saturday aged 88.

The veteran media personality began his radio career at 2TM Tamworth in 1954 and later hosted a top 40 music program in Sydney alongside John Laws.

He interviewed many globally renowned artists throughout his career, including The Beatles, The Monkees and The Everly Brothers.

In the 1970s, he moved into TV and hosted several popular programs, including Blind Date and Jeopardy.

However, his number one passion was radio and he continued to host music programs across Australia up until 2020.

Legendary Australian radio and TV personality Graham Webb (pictured) died in a Gold Coast hospital on Saturday aged 88

He most recently presented a music discussion program called Webby's Wireless Show on Western Sydney's Vintage FM, from 2013 - 2019.

Even after his poor health meant he could no longer make it to the station in person, he continued to pre-record his programs at home and send them to staff to play.

Vintage FM boss Wayne Wilmington in 2017 painted a picture of Webb as a 'national treasure'.

The veteran media personality began his radio career at 2TM Tamworth in 1954 and later hosted a top 40 music program in Sydney alongside John Laws. He interviewed many globally renowned artists throughout his career, including The Everly Brothers (pictured)

'I absolutely love Webby and what he brings to Vintage FM,' he began.

'Webby is someone that's been around radio for more years than I've been alive. The expertise and knowledge that he brings means it's the perfect partnership.'

Webb was a pioneer in the field and in 2000 helped establish a community radio station in Queensland called Sunshine FM 104.9.

Tragically, his wife Tina died of cancer in 1995.

He is survived by his son Byron.
Katie Holmes looked typically stylish as she enjoyed a leisurely stroll in New York City on Friday.

The Dawson's Creek star, 45, wore eye-catching yellow trousers and a navy top, teamed with black sandals.

She accessorised with oversized sunglasses and carried her belongings in a tote bag while chatting on the phone.

Katie's walk comes just days after her daughter Suri Cruise 's 18th birthday last Thursday. She shares Suri with her ex-husband Tom Cruise , 61.

Tom, who has had 'no part in Suri's life' for 11 years, didn't publicly acknowledge the milestone.

Katie Holmes looked typically stylish as she enjoyed a leisurely stroll in New York City on Friday

The Dawson's Creek star, 45, wore eye-catching yellow trousers and a navy top, teamed with black sandals

He is currently in the UK where he is filming Mission Impossible 8 and on Saturday night attended Victoria Beckham's star-studded 50th birthday party in London.

Now that Suri is legally an adult, she's made a big decision: she wants no relationship with her father ever.

He even busted out a breakdance routine in front of his fellow famous guests including Victoria's former Spice Girls bandmates Mel B, Emma Bunton, Melanie C and Geri Horner.

Tom has been estranged from Suri since 2013, one year after he and Katie divorced.

The last photo of the Top Gun actor out and about with his daughter was a trip to Disneyland in 2012, the year his divorce from Katie was finalised.

She has not spent much time with her world-famous dad in 12 years and that sent a message to her  one she intends to uphold now that she has a choice in the matter.

Turning 18 means she can officially sever all remaining ties with Tom on paper and the Top Gun star will no longer be required to pay child support to Katie, a sum that reportedly amounted to $400,000 a year.

But even the potential of future financial assistance will not lure Suri into pursuing a relationship with her father, the insiders insist.

'Suri will not have any contact with her father, despite being 18, and even if he called, she would not answer,' one source told DailyMail.com. 'He does not exist to Katie or Suri, and his daughter does not want to rely on him for anything.'

Now that Suri is legally an adult, she's made a big decision: she wants no relationship with her father ever

Meanwhile, Tom has been mixing work and play during his extended trip to Europe, even partying the night away with his friends the Beckhams at Victoria's 50th birthday bash on Saturday night

They continued: 'She feels that she has one parent and that is her mother.'

DailyMail.com has contacted Tom's representatives for comment.

Furthermore, having two very famous parents has led Suri to know that she wants to remain a private citizen and not follow in her parents' footsteps, one insider said.

She's currently weighing up her options for the future,' the source reveals. 'But she plans on remaining a private citizen.'

Suri has shown an interest in pursuing a career in fashion, with sources revealing back in March 2023 that she was 'leaning towards' studying the topic at college.

She reportedly focused her application process largely on the New York City area in order to remain close to her mother.
New York, US (PANA) - The President of the General Assembly on Friday called for Member States and stakeholders to address commodity dependence in countries and its effect on the global economy during an informal dialogue on the issue
Helen Mirren has spoken out about her decision to portray Golda Meir, the former Prime Minister of Israel, in the 2023 biopic Golda, amid allegations of 'Jewface'.

The veteran English actress, 78, faced backlash for taking on the role alongside Liev Schreiber and Camille Cottin because she is not Jewish.

Mirren told The Daily Telegraph on Saturday although she understands both points of view she is proud of her work in the biographical drama.

'I think the discussion has to be had and there are arguments on both sides. I've been a Mossad agent [in the 2010 movie The Debt]. You don't get much more Jewish than that!' she said.

Mirren looks virtually unrecognisable playing the late Israeli PM in the movie, donning a grey wig and prosthetic nose to get into character.

Helen Mirren (pictured) has spoken out about her decision to portray Golda Meir, the former Prime Minister of Israel, in the 2023 biopic Golda, amid allegations of 'Jewface'

'I felt like her, honestly. You're laying yourself open to profound criticism. You could blow it terribly' Helen said.

She added she remembers when Meir served as Israel's PM from 1969 - 1974 and drew on her first-hand experience to ensure her performance was authentic.

'It was the first time a woman had led a country. And I was absolutely excited, blown away. It was like a miracle. It was fantastic.

'Playing the role, I had to investigate it and really dive into who Golda was, what the war was, what the implications for Israel were.'

The veteran English actress, 78, faced backlash for taking on the role alongside Liev Schreiber and Camille Cottin because she is not Jewish (pictured in the movie)

Mirren told The Daily Telegraph on Saturday although she understands both points of view she is proud of her work in the biographical drama

The London-born thespian then said she found it easier to portray Meir once she came to terms with the fact she was just providing an interpretation of who she was.

'I can't be as she is. She was best at being her. Of course, she was still alive. I'm an artist and doing a portrait. It's my artistic understanding of this person. I think that relaxed me as well with Golda.'

The movie was released in cinemas in October and Mirren's casting immediately raised eyebrows.

In an interview with Radio Times, she pointed out that it's not the first time she's played a Jew and revealed she is convinced she has Jewish heritage somewhere down the line.

Discussing the controversial casting, she mused: 'The whole issue of casting has exploded out of the water fairly recently.

Mirren looks virtually unrecognisable playing the late Israeli PM Golda Meir (pictured) in the movie, donning a grey wig and prosthetic nose to get into character

'I've had other Jewish roles [in Woman in Gold and The Debt], but not an uber-Jewish role like Golda Meir.

'I did tell [Guy Nattiv, the Israeli Jewish director] that I'm not Jewish, in case he thought I was. I said, "If that's an issue, I'll step away, no problem." But he said, "No, it's not an issue. I want you to play Golda." And off we went.'

The British actress, was born in London to a Russian immigrant father and an English mother, went on to reveal that she thinks she has Jewish ancestry and considered taking a DNA test to check.
Victoria Beckham explained how she gets her full smokey eye and a sun-kissed makeup look as she got ready for her beauty brand's influencer event on Friday.

The fashion designer, who recently celebrated her 50th birthday, gave fans a glimpse of her routine.

Sat in the makeup chair, she looked stunning in a pink one-shouldered dress while getting her hair styled.

Victoria used products from her own brand, Victoria Beckham Beauty, to create her glamours look, with the help of makeup artist Jo Baker.

She explained: 'I have used cocoa gel eyeliner and I've used it to create a full smokey eye and then I've just gone on the inside of my eye with cinnamon.'

Victoria Beckham, 50, explained how she gets her full smokey eye and a sun-kissed makeup look as she got ready for her beauty brand's influencer event on Friday

The fashion designer, who recently celebrated her 50th birthday, gave fans a glimpse of her routine

She continued: 'Then, for my lips tonight I have used both Sway and Twist and number 2 lip definer. I have mixed the three together.

'Jo has also given me some cute little freckles she's used cocoa gel eyeliner and made sure it's really sharp for a sun kissed look.'

The Spice Girl wore a baby pink gown from her AW24 collection that featured a gathered neckline and ruched waist.

To complete her look, her hair was styled into touseled waves and she accessorised with a glitzy bangle.

Victoria celebrated her birthday alongside husband David, their four children, Brooklyn, 25, Romeo, 21, Cruz, 19, and Harper, 12, and a host of famous friends.

On Saturday night, the fashion designer marked her first days as a quinquagenarian by joining her famous family and friends at Oswald's members' club with a party which was heavily documented across social media.

Her carousel of snaps saw her posing with her fellow Spice Girls - comprising Geri Horner, Mel B, Mel C and Emma Bunton - Eva Longoria, Jose Baston, Ken Paves, Gordon and Tana Ramsay, Marc Anthony and Nadia Ferreira.

Key moments such as a Spice Girls reunion and the show-stopping glamour of the evening set tongues wagging.

She explained: 'I have used cocoa gel eyeliner and I've used it to create a full smokey eye and then I've just gone on the inside of my eye with cinnamon'

Victoria's beloved family were her dates for the big night (L-R Cruz, Romeo, Victoria, Harper, Brooklyn and David)

Following the big bash, Victoria declared the evening 'the best night ever' - when she had to be carried out of swanky Mayfair private members' club Oswald's by her husband David at 2:30am.

Her recent foot injury saw the star rely on crutches for her entrance hours earlier, but she had her husband on hand for a piggy back as the night came to a close.

One guest told the Mail: 'It was proper old school take your shoes off and have a dance and there was no way Victoria wasn't going to be joining in.She loves a good boogie and she was not going to let her foot stop that.

'Loads of the women kicked their shoes off to join her. They all danced for hours. There were lots of giggles and lots of outrageous moves but at the end of the night Victoria was worried about how she was going leave. She couldn't walk in her heels because of her broken foot  so David decided he would give her a piggyback  much to the kids' amusement. They thought it was hilarious.'
Katie Price's Mucky Mansion is still surrounded by her huge car collection, just days after she failed to attend a court hearing on Friday because she decided to go on holiday with her boyfriend JJ Slater.

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'.

And despite her money problems, Katie's house appears to still have a large collection of cars in her driveway, including the Volkswagen Beetle she drove when once married to first husband Peter Andre.

According to The Sun, Katie has now left the UK and was spotted at the airport with Married At First Sight star JJ.

Katie Price's Mucky Mansion is still surrounded by her huge car collection, just days after she failed to attend a court hearing on Friday because she decided to go on holiday with her boyfriend JJ Slater

According to The Sun, Katie has now left the UK and was spotted at the airport with Married At First Sight star JJ

A source said: 'Katie and JJ are on holiday in Cyprus. They were seen at the airport looking very loved-up before jetting off together.'

MailOnline has contacted representatives of Katie Price for comment.

The reality star is now facing the threat of arrest by police after failing to attend a court hearing over her bankruptcy .

The court heard that Katie'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 Katie'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.

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.'

Despite her money problems, Katie's house appears to still have a large collection of cars in her driveway, including the original pink Beetle she drove when once married to first husband Peter Andre, which has now been repainted purple

Katie's Volkswagen Beetle was originally pink but she repainted it purple in 2022 when she was reunited with it three years after it was repossessed when she failed to pay the 2.50 Dartford Crossing toll and the associated fine

Katie was seen with her beloved Beetle, which she drove while married to first husband Peter Andre, on her ITV reality show

There was several other cars and caravans outside the building

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'

Katie 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

Mr Connell said Katie 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 Katie 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, Katie'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.

A source said: 'Katie and JJ are on holiday in Cyprus. They were seen at the airport looking very loved-up before jetting off together'

Alex Reid leaving the Rolls Building in central London after attending a bankruptcy hearing for his former partner Katie Price

Katie 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.

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 Katie 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 Katie 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.'

Katie 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.'

Katie 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.'

The amount Katie owes is made up of unpaid tax from self-assessment on her earnings from between 2020 and 2022

Katie 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.'

Katie 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 Katie will be seized.

It comes just weeks after Katie 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.
Sydney Sweeney took her beloved 1969 Ford Bronco convertible out for a spin this week.

The Anyone But You star, 26, looked jubilant as she drove the cherry red vintage SUV.

The Washington native wore a denim jacket and black sunglasses as she piloted the large SUV to the Beverly Hills Hotel for lunch.

The classic car suited the sporty actress  who recently mock-apologized for 'having great t**s'  and her girl-next-door image to a T.

The joyride and business lunch come after the Euphoria star enjoyed a Hawaiian vacation.

Sydney Sweeney took her beloved 1969 Ford Bronco convertible out for a spin this week

The Anyone But You star, 26, looked jubilant as she drove the cherry red vintage vehicle

The Washington native wore a denim jacket and black sunglasses as she piloted the large SUV to the Beverly Hills Hotel for lunch

Sydney recently returned from a getaway to Hawaii with two girlfriends.

The Madame Web actress shared several snaps from her tropical getaway on Instagram.

Sydney zip lined, covered herself in floaties, snapped a pic of herself jumping off of a waterfall and showed off her pert backside in the festive travel pics.

She captioned the post: 'ok gtg back to work now, this has been fun.'

This all comes after film producer Carol Baum spoke out about her dislike of Sydney and called her massively successful rom com Anyone But You 'unwatchable.'

Baum spoke to Janet Maslin, a New York Times film critic, in front of an audience of fans after a screening of the 1988 film Dead Ringers, which she produced.

Seemingly out of nowhere, Baum brought up Sweeney during the panel, saying: 'There's an actress who everybody loves now  Sydney Sweeney.'

Adding: 'I don't get Sydney Sweeney. I was watching on the plane Sydney Sweeney's movie because I wanted to watch it,' referring to Anyone But You.

'I wanted to know who she is and why everybody is talking about her. I watched this unwatchable movie  sorry to people who love this movie  [this] romantic comedy where they hate each other.'

She also said during the producing class she teaches at USC's School of Cinematic Arts: 'Explain this girl to me. She's not pretty, she can't act. Why is she so hot?'

The classic car suited the sporty actress and her girl-next-door image to a tee

The joyride and business lunch come after the Euphoria star enjoyed a Hawaiian vacation

Sydney recently returned from a getaway to Hawaii with two girlfriends

The Madame Web actress shared several snaps from her tropical getaway on Instagram

Sydney zip lined, covered herself in floaties, snapped a pic of herself jumping off of a waterfall and showed off her pert backside in the festive travel pics

She captioned the post: 'ok gtg back to work now, this has been fun'

This all come after film producer Carol Baum spoke out about her dislike of Sydney and called her massively successful rom com Anyone But You 'unwatchable'

Soon after her biting remarks, Sydney's representative gave a statement to the Today show: 'How sad that a woman in the position to share her expertise and experience choose instead to attack another woman.

'If that's what she's learned in her decades in the industry and feels is appropriate to teach to her students, that's shameful.

'To unjustly disparage a fellow female producer speaks volumes about Ms. Baum's character.'

Sydney herself also appeared to brush off the producer's comments in an Instagram post from her holiday, slipping into a sweatshirt boasting the phrase: 'Sorry for having great t**s.'
Victoria Beckham showed her fans that she won't let her broken foot get in the way of gettign back to work.

The fashion designer, who recently celebrated her 50th birthday, shared a clip to Instagram Stories of herself walking with a crutch as she headed to work.

She looked incredible in the clip, wearing a fabulous two-piece tailored suit featuring an oversized blazer with 80s-inspired shoulder pads.

The former Spice Girl paired her trendy blazer with a pair of tailored flared trousers and towering black stilettos.

As she made her way to her dressing room setup with her tripod in her first clip, Victoria gave her fans a glimpse into her everyday working life.

Victoria Beckham showed her fans that she won't let her broken foot get in the way of gettign back to work

The fashion designer, who recently celebrated her 50th birthday , shared a clip to Instagram Stories of herself walking with a crutch as she headed to work

She said: 'Okay, I'm off to work still on one crutch. Got my tripod. Create some content. I mean some people think that there is a big production situation going on.

'Guys it is me, a mirror and my tripod.'

Victoria then shared a second clip of her posing in a white marble bathroom before she left her home to go on more working errands.

The TV personality said: 'So I am just leaving for work. Today we are working on development with the beauty team and I am wearing the suit that I created with Mango.

'It's the same as the one that I wore in Barcelona but in black. It's a great fabric. It doesn't crease. It's really comfortable. It's quite lightweight with the weather changing.

'I love this little back tie detail. It is a great trouser shape, so yeah, I love it. Happy weekend.'

Her clips come just hours after she gave fans a glimpse of her makeup routine as she explained how she gets her full smokey eye and a sun-kissed makeup look while she got ready for her beauty brand's influencer event on Friday.

Sat in the makeup chair, she looked stunning in a pink one-shouldered dress while getting her hair styled.

She looked incredible in the clip, wearing a fabulous two-piece tailored suit featuring an oversized blazer with 80s-inspired shoulder pads

As she made her way to her dressing room setup with her tripod in her first clip, Victoria gave her fans a glimpse into her everyday working life

Victoria then shared a second clip of her posing in a white marble bathroom before she left her home to go on more working errands

Her clips come just hours after she gave fans a glimpse of her makeup routine as she explained how she gets her full smokey eye and a sun-kissed makeup look while she got ready for her beauty brand's influencer event on Friday

The fashion designer, who recently celebrated her 50th birthday, gave fans a glimpse of her routine

Victoria used products from her own brand, Victoria Beckham Beauty, to create her glamours look, with the help of makeup artist Jo Baker.

She explained: 'I have used cocoa gel eyeliner and I've used it to create a full smokey eye and then I've just gone on the inside of my eye with cinnamon.'

She continued: 'Then, for my lips tonight I have used both Sway and Twist and number 2 lip definer. I have mixed the three together.

'Jo has also given me some cute little freckles she's used cocoa gel eyeliner and made sure it's really sharp for a sun kissed look.'

The Spice Girl wore a baby pink gown from her AW24 collection that featured a gathered neckline and ruched waist.

To complete her look, her hair was styled into touseled waves and she accessorised with a glitzy bangle.

Victoria celebrated her birthday alongside husband David, their four children, Brooklyn, 25, Romeo, 21, Cruz, 19, and Harper, 12, and a host of famous friends.

On Saturday night, the fashion designer marked her first days as a quinquagenarian by joining her famous family and friends at Oswald's members' club with a party which was heavily documented across social media.

Her carousel of snaps saw her posing with her fellow Spice Girls - comprising Geri Horner, Mel B, Mel C and Emma Bunton - Eva Longoria, Jose Baston, Ken Paves, Gordon and Tana Ramsay, Marc Anthony and Nadia Ferreira.

Key moments such as a Spice Girls reunion and the show-stopping glamour of the evening set tongues wagging.

She explained: 'I have used cocoa gel eyeliner and I've used it to create a full smokey eye and then I've just gone on the inside of my eye with cinnamon'

Victoria's beloved family were her dates for the big night (L-R Cruz, Romeo, Victoria, Harper, Brooklyn and David)

Following the big bash, Victoria declared the evening 'the best night ever' - when she had to be carried out of swanky Mayfair private members' club Oswald's by her husband David at 2:30am.

Her recent foot injury saw the star rely on crutches for her entrance hours earlier, but she had her husband on hand for a piggy back as the night came to a close.

One guest told the Mail: 'It was proper old school take your shoes off and have a dance and there was no way Victoria wasn't going to be joining in.She loves a good boogie and she was not going to let her foot stop that.

'Loads of the women kicked their shoes off to join her. They all danced for hours. There were lots of giggles and lots of outrageous moves but at the end of the night Victoria was worried about how she was going leave.

'She couldn't walk in her heels because of her broken foot  so David decided he would give her a piggyback  much to the kids' amusement. They thought it was hilarious.'
Binky Felstead looked stunning as she joined Louise Rose to celebrate the opening of J Mclaughlin's pop-up in London on Friday.

The Made In Chelsea star, 33, beamed alongside the TV presenter, 42, for the swanky occasion which was held at Chelsea's lavish Mexican restaurant Ixchel.

Both stars proudly rocked outfits from the US brand, with Binky flashing a glimpse of her flat abs in a mock-neck cream crop top and white wide-leg trousers.

She matched her look with a very chic white blazer jacket.

The actress opted for nude mule-heels and accessorised with a camel suede handbag from Yves Saint Laurent.

Binky Felstead looked stunning as she joined Louise Rose to celebrate the opening of J Mclaughlin's pop-up in London on Friday

The Made In Chelsea favourite, 33, beamed alongside the TV presenter, 42, for the swanky occasion which was held at Chelsea's lavish Mexican restaurant Ixchel

Binky ensured to keep it classy with dainty gold jewellery including hoop earrings and a chain necklace.

Meanwhile fashion expert Louise - who hosted the lavish event - exuded elegance in a navy maxi dress.

The garment featured a ruched bust and embroidered details on the sleeve while also added a tan belt.

The Clothes Show host looked glowing grinning from ear to ear in the lense, finishing off with a pair of conventional brown strappy heels.

The BBC star kept her bling to a minimum just flaunting a dazzling diamond ring, and sporting a clutch bag.

Her glowing appearance comes a few months after Binky revealed that her mother Jane has been hospitalised amid her battle against multiple sclerosis (MS).

The former Made In Chelsea star took to her Instagram Stories to reveal her mum, 71, was a 'little poorly' in hospital.

Both stars proudly rocked outfits from the US brand

Binky flashed a glimpse of her flat abs in a mock-neck cream crop top

She matched her look with a very chic white blazer jacket

The actress opted for nude mule-heels and accessorised with a camel suede handbag from Yves Saint Laurent

Binky ensured to keep it classy with dainty gold jewellery including hoop earrings and gave a further touch with a chain necklace

She opted for a lightning make-up, which enhanced her natural looks

Meanwhile fashion expert Louise - who was also host of the lavish event - exuded elegance in a dark blue maxi dress with embroidered details on the train skirt

The gorgeous item featured a ruched bust and further embroidered details on the short sleeve, while adding a tan belt

The Clothes Show host looked glowing grinning from ear to ear in the lense, finishing off with a pair of conventional brown strappy heels

Louise and Binky appeared in good spirits as they enjoyed the event

She shared a photo of two bouquets of flowers as she paid Jane a visit, writing: ''Seeing @mummyfelstead who's a little poorly in hospital! Hopefully these will cheer her up!'

Binky later took to her grid to share a sweet selfie of herself with her mum beaming from her hospital bed.

Jane looked in high spirits despite being on an IV drip, as she clutched her flowers to her chest and hilariously wore a cardboard kidney bowl on her head as a hat.

Captioning the touching snap, Binky revealed that she had also attempted to smuggle champagne into the ward for Jane, but hadn't been successful.

She wrote: ' Well, mission sneaking champers to Mummy didnt work today  always tomorrow hey @mummyfelstead Love you'.

Jane was diagnosed with MS in 2017 after years of believing she had fibromyalgia following a misdiagnosis from her doctors.

Her glowing appearance comes a few months after Binky revealed that her mother Jane has been hospitalised amid her battle against multiple sclerosis (MS)
Amanda Seyfried looked cozy in a voluminous furry coat while working on the New York City set of the upcoming series Long Bright River on Friday.

The 38-year-old actress appeared to be in high spirits as she interacted with several of the forthcoming project's crew members.

Seyfried  who recently showed off her newest work at the prestigious Berlin Film Festival  layered up in a jet-black fur coat that covered up much of her frame as she worked on the show.

She later changed into a long-sleeve shirt worn underneath what appeared to be a bulletproof vest.

The Academy Awardnominated performer kept her gorgeous blonde hair casual by tying it into a tight bun.

Amanda Seyfried looked cozy in a voluminous furry coat while working on the New York City set of the upcoming series Long Bright River on Friday

Long Bright River is based on Liz Moore's book of the same name, which was published in 2020 and went on to become a New York Times bestseller.

The show will center on a police officer working in a high-crime area of Philadelphia who discovers that she has a personal connection to several murders in her district.

Development on the project was revealed to the public this past January, when Seyfried signed on as its star.

In addition to leading the cast of the upcoming program, the Mank actress will also serve as one of its executive producers.

According to Deadline, both Seyfried and Moore participated in a ride-along with Philadelphia's 26th District Police that month.

The author, as well as executive producer Nikki Toscano, issued a statement to express their enthusiasm about being able to work with the top-billed actress.

'We are thrilled that Amanda Seyfried will lead this series about how those initially perceived as victims can band together to regain their power,' they said.

The pair added that the show 'aims to portray with compassion the lives of those struggling with addiction and the family members who love them.'

Seyfried, 38, layered up in a jet-black fur coat that covered up much of her frame as she worked on the show

The Academy Awardnominated performer kept her gorgeous blonde hair casual by tying it into a tight bun

Seyfried later changed into a long-sleeve shirt worn underneath what appeared to be a bulletproof vest

Development on the project was revealed to the public this past January, when Seyfried signed on as its star

In addition to leading the cast of the upcoming program, the Mank actress will also serve as one of its executive producers

Both Nicholas Pinnock and Ashleigh Cummings were added to the Long Bright River cast in February.

The ensemble will also be rounded out by performers including John Doman, Dash Mihok and Perry Mattfeld.

Production on the series commenced last month in New York City.

So far, a premiere date hasn't been announced for Long Bright River, which will stream on Peacock.
Naomi Campbell's high-profile Fashion For Relief charity has been shut down amid the charity watchdog's probe into claims of financial mismanagement, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

The Charity Commission last night confirmed that it had removed the supermodel's charity from the UK charity register while it continued its investigation into allegations of misconduct.

It follows revelations by this newspaper that official accounts showed that during a 15-month period it spent more than 1.6 million on a glittering gala in Cannes, but gave just 5,000 to good causes.

The watchdog said it was still conducting an inquiry into Fashion For Relief, which Ms Campbell founded in 2005, saying she had been inspired by her friend Nelson Mandela telling her to 'use [her] voice' for good.

The charity claimed to have raised more than 11 million, mostly through glitzy fundraising events held all over the world, including in New York, Mumbai and Moscow.

Naomi Campbell 's high-profile Fashion For Relief charity has been shut down amid the charity watchdog's probe into claims of financial mismanagement, The Mail on Sunday can reveal (pictured: Ms Cambell at London Fashion Week in 2019)

The Charity Commission said it was still conducting an inquiry into Fashion For Relief, which Ms Campbell founded in 2005 (pictured: Ms Campbell at a Fashion For Relief show in Cannes in 2018)

Ms Campbell, 53, would take centre stage at the galas, appearing in showstopping designer gowns, and was honoured by the British Fashion Council for her services to and achievements in the fashion industry in 2019.

But concerns were raised in 2021 about how much money was being passed on to people in need after the Mayor's Fund for London lodged an official complaint, saying that it was owed 50,000 by the charity.

The Mayor's Fund, which helps young Londoners from low-income backgrounds, filed a 'serious incident' report with the Charity Commission, which announced a statutory inquiry in November that year.

Last night, a Charity Commission spokesman told this newspaper that the charity had been removed from the charity register last month. It came after the watchdog appointed two managers to take over Fashion For Relief, which had consistently filed its accounts late.

A friend of Ms Campbell last night said that Fashion For Relief was set up to raise 'awareness' and not just money. They insisted that the supermodel, worth a reported 63 million, had decided to call time on Fashion For Relief before the watchdog inquiry was launched.

A Charity Commission spokesman said: 'We can confirm that the Commission-appointed interim managers of Fashion For Relief applied for its removal from the register of charities on the basis that it no longer operates.

'The removal process is now complete and reflected on the public register. Our statutory inquiry into the charity is ongoing.'

As part of the investigation, Fashion For Relief trustees were restricted from making certain financial transactions in order to 'protect the charity's property'.

A friend of Ms Campbell last night said that Fashion For Relief was set up to raise 'awareness' and not just money (pictured: Ms Campbell at London Fashion Week in 2019)

Ms Campbell, 53, would take centre stage at the galas, appearing in showstopping designer gowns, and was honoured by the British Fashion Council for her services to and achievements in the fashion industry in 2019 (pictured Ms Campbell at The Fashion Awards 2019)

The trustees were Ms Campbell; her key aide, Veronica Chou, who is the heiress to a 2 billion textile fortune; and socialite and lawyer Bianka Hellmich. Ms Chou quit the charity days after the Commission launched its probe in 2021.

A spokesman for the charity said: 'The winding up of Fashion For Relief was a decision made by the trustees three years ago. It was not forcibly closed.

'Fashion For Relief operates in America and will continue to do fundraising initiatives worldwide.'
As the star of hit Amazon drama Fallout, Ella Purnell is wowing viewers as an adventurous young woman full of 'all-American can-do spirit' braving the post-apocalyptic Californian wasteland.

But fans of the sci-fi show have been stunned to discover the actress is not actually from the States  but London's East End.

The 27-year-old displays such a flawless US accent on the series  as she has in previous shows such as the plane-crash drama Yellowjackets  that Americans were convinced she was one of their own.

'People always get surprised that I'm British which is the highest compliment ever,' she told US talk show host Jimmy Fallon earlier this month.

'I was 16 when I did my first American accent for a film and I kept doing it off set. I thought that's what real actors do, and then my co-star must have believed I was actually American.

As the star of hit Amazon drama Fallout, Ella Purnell (pictured, in Fallout) is wowing viewers as an adventurous young woman full of 'all-American can-do spirit' braving the post-apocalyptic Californian wasteland

But fans of the sci-fi show have been stunned to discover the actress is not actually from the States  but London's East End (pictured: Ella in Fallout)

The 27-year-old displays such a flawless US accent on the series  as she has in previous shows such as the plane-crash drama Yellowjackets  that Americans were convinced she was one of their own (pictured: Ella in Yellowjackets)

'Then one day I dropped it. I was tired, I went into my British accent and he didn't believe I was English. He was like 'stop doing this character, you're freaking me out'. By the end I was making him cups of tea, listing the Kings and Queens of England... like, how do I prove it to you?'

READ MORE: Fallout TV series earns heaps of praise from fans just days after its debut on Prime Video... with some demanding Season 2 immediately Advertisement

Ella was actually born in Whitechapel to Suzy, a yoga teacher, and, Simon, a Scottish businessman, and raised in nearby Bethnal Green. Her parents split when she was two and mum subsequently married Jon Squirrell, owner of the exclusive Vault Gym in trendy Shoreditch.

Ella took acting classes from the age of nine at the Sylvia Young Theatre School and she got her big break in 2008, aged 12, when she beat hundreds of other girls for a role in West End musical Oliver!

Acting helped pay for her education at the exclusive 25,000-a-year City of London School for Girls, where she first developed her knack for accents.

'Some of the girls took the p*** out of my accent so I started to talk posher,' she said. 'I learned survival skills pretty quickly.'

All the while her career was going from strength to strength and has included 2010 British film, Never Let Me Go, Disney's Maleficent and Julian Fellowes' ITV period drama Belgravia, in which she played Lady Maria Grey.

But it has not all been plain sailing and Ella has been open about her mental health issues, revealing that she self-harmed at 16.

She said: 'I still have the scars and it's something that I will always regret, but by opening up about my own experiences I can start conversations and make other people feel less guilty.'

All the while her career was going from strength to strength and has included Julian Fellowes' ITV period drama Belgravia, in which she played Lady Maria Grey (pictured)

Helping her cope is musician Max Bennett Kelly (pictured, with Ella, at the Fallout premiere in April), her boyfriend of three years who she describes as 'the best thing that ever happened to me'

'People always get surprised that I'm British which is the highest compliment ever,' she told US talk show host Jimmy Fallon (pictured) earlier this month

Even today, she struggles with anxiety, depression, mood swings and a 'little voice in my head that tells me I'm not good enough'.

Helping her cope is musician Max Bennett Kelly, her boyfriend of three years who she describes as 'the best thing that ever happened to me'.

They live in Los Angeles, where Ella has been since the age of 21  an immersion into American life that should ensure she never loses that vowel-perfect accent.
Gemma Collins and Chloe Sims reunited for a boozy night out on Friday.

The former TOWIE stars didn't seem to have a care in the world as they hit the town to enjoy a lavish dinner and then headed clubbing with another friend.

Gemma shared a clip of her former co-star Chloe in the club as she grinned from ear to ear and strutted their stuff on the dancefloor.

Netflix star Chloe - who has just recently returned from Los Angeles where she was filming - looked stunning in a slinky black sleeveless top.

She boosted a typically full face glamorous make-up with thick eyeliner and accessorised with chunky maxi gold earrings.

Gemma Collins and Chloe Sims reunited for a boozy night out on Friday

The former TOWIE stars didn't seem to have a care in the world as they hit the town to enjoy a lavish dinner and then headed clubbing with another friend

During the video, Gemma also captured the view of the dance floor at Luxx Club from their private area.

The famous members' nightclub is a poopular hotspot for celebrities, where they serve live performances and lap dances - as Chloe showed from her stories.

Earlier in the day, Gemma also shared a gorgeous snap of her posing at dinner table with Chloe and their mutual friend.

The trio looked incredible ahead of their dinner, with Gemma dazzling in a light gold sequinned midi dress, which she paired with a sparkling multi-colour shawl, and Chloe adding a double-breasted black blazer.

Captioning her shot, Gemma seemed to take a dig at some acquaintances who apparently didn't show Chloe much support over her the success of House Of Sims's season two.

'SO PROUD @chloesims ABSOLUTELY SMASHED IT IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE  bit shocked at lack of support from some of our well known associates wish everyone well we all started out together.

'Keep winning cause EVERYONE WATCHING YOU you can defo count your REAL FRIENDS ON ONE HAND.'

The pair celebrated Chloe's return and recent success while in US, as she currently took a break from filming.

Mother-of-one Chloe also gave her 1.2M followers a glimpse into her wild night, as the trio began cheering with a fancy drink.

Gemma shared a clip of Chloe in the club as she grinned from ear to ear and danced to the tune

During the video, Gemma also captured the view of the dance floor at Luxx Club from their private area

Earlier in the day, Gemma also shared a gorgeous snap of her posing at dinner table with Chloe and their mutual friend

The pair celebrated Chloe's return and recent success while in US, as she currently took a break from filming

Mum-of-one Chloe also gave her 1.2M followers a glimpse into her wild night, as the trio began cheering with a fancy drink

Gemma let her hair down as she enjoyed a shot during the pair's night out

Gemma dazzled in a light gold sequinned midi dress

A waiter later on arrived at the girls' table with a tray of shots and a sparkler with Chloe grabbing one for herself and then turning the camera to Gemma.

Last week, Chloe has revealed what the future of her Netflix reality show House Of Sims holds after her huge family feud.

The former TOWIE star, who is currently living in the UK, admitted last week that she hasn't seen her sisters Frankie and Demi for six months since their feisty row on the show.

Chloe, Frankie, 28, Demi, 27, and their brother Charlie, 31, ventured to LA for their reality show, but the big brawl led to them removing all traces of each other off Instagram.

But as an executive producer, Chloe is still determined to make the show work even if they aren't best pals.

Speaking to The Sun, Chloe said: 'We're just about to go into preproduction for series three, when I go back.'

Chloe told the publication Demi and Frankie will 'of course' be going back to filming for the series as well, but added that they 'aren't friends'.

Chloe explained: 'Were not actually at the moment, but we're all apart of House of Sims, so theyll be on it. But what will go down, I don't know.'

The week prior, the reality TV mogul told MailOnline that she's 'deeply hurt' by her family's 'heartbreaking' fallout.

Chloe quit TOWIE after 12 years and relocated from her beloved Brentwood in Essex to Los Angeles after her family's reality series was signed to OnlyFans channel OFTV.

But the 'pressure' of moving overseas and setting up a new life has impacted her close family more than Chloe could have ever imagined, with the TV personality admitting during her darkest days she even threatened to quit Hollywood and fly back home.

Now Chloe has revealed the extent of their feud and how she was 'shocked' by her sister's unforgivable remarks, which has left her feeling tense and isolated.

She said: 'The show was an incredible opportunity but, in a way, it has come with some downfalls. It has caused a big rift with my sisters. We are not on talking terms today.

'We haven't spoken since they left LA and that would have been in October/November time. I have not seen or spoken to them since so filming series three will be awkward.

'To hear some of the things they said to me was really heartbreaking and I genuinely wasn't expecting it... I was shocked to be honest.

'This is not a comfortable subject for me at all They are obviously my little sisters but things that have gone down and things that have been said, I'm not going to repeat them, but things have hurt me deeply.

The former TOWIE star, who is currently living in the UK, admitted last week that she hasn't seen her sisters Frankie and Demi for six months since their feisty row on the show

Chloe, Frankie (L), 28, Demi (R), 27, and their brother Charlie, 31, ventured to LA for their reality show, but the big brawl led to them removing all traces of each other off Instagram

Chloe told the The Sun Demi and Frankie will 'of course' be going back to filming for the series as well, but added that they 'aren't friends'

'I find it very difficult to get over things when it's gone too far so I don't know what the future holds but we're locked into another two seasons, and we have to go ahead with it... in the meantime, I'm on my own... but I do have Charlie.'

The House of Sims season one is now available to watch on streaming giant Netflix as part of a lucrative seven-figure deal for the family, negotiated by Chloe and Charlie.

Series two is currently airing on OFTV and the show has already been recommissioned for season three and four, all of which will star Chloe and her sisters, despite the fact they're no longer on speaking terms.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - A delegation from the High Council of State and the Libyan Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has met its Malaysian counterpart with their discussions focusing on the Malaysian experience in information and communications technology (ICT) and Islamic banking finance
Here's vvv good news for the world's favourite singleton Bridget Jones...

Despite her hundreds of diary entries about being unable to find love, The Mail on Sunday can reveal she will have three suitors desperate to settle down with her in her fourth film, Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy.

Renee Zellweger, 55, has flown into London and will begin filming as Bridget within the next ten days.

She will be in a love tangle with Hugh Grant's Daniel Cleaver, a much younger man named Rockstar, played by One Day heartthrob Leo Woodall, and 12 Years A Slave star Chiwetel Ejiofor's character, PE teacher Mr Walker.

Bridget, now a mother of two, will become smitten with Mr Walker who teaches at her son's school.

Renee Zellweger, 55, has flown into London and will begin filming as Bridget within the next ten days

She will be in a love tangle with Hugh Grant's Daniel Cleaver, a much younger man named Rockstar, played by One Day heartthrob Leo Woodall, and 12 Years A Slave star Chiwetel Ejiofor's character, PE teacher Mr Walker

A film source said: 'Never before has Bridget had so many choices of men. It is going to be brilliant, all three are very different.

'Chiwetel, as the teacher, is the more secure and safe one and of the three certainly the best choice but then you have the hunky Rockstar who Bridget meets on social media.

'He is much, much younger than her but she adores him, though their age gap makes things difficult.

'But will Bridget be able to give up the temptation of Daniel Cleaver, who has been in and out of her life since she was in her 20s?'

Bridget finds herself a widow after human rights lawyer Mark Darcy  played in the first three films by Colin Firth  dies while trying to save a client abroad.

Firth will appear in the new film in flashbacks, as his character dies before the storyline starts.

The Mail on Sunday can also reveal that Bridget will give up her famous bachelorette pad in London's Borough Market in favour of a family home in leafy Hampstead, north London.

There, she ditches her calamitous job with a TV company to struggle on the school run. Comical scenes will show her scrambling to keep up with what other mums in the playground are wearing, as her scattier existence contrasts with theirs.

Bridget will also take a trip to the seaside in what insiders promise will be a 'hilarious and relatable' part of the movie. One said: 'Bridget's fans have grown up with her and this is for them  they will get it.

'It's about seeing Bridget come of age but what we all really want to know is who she will end up with. Will it be Daniel, Rockstar or Mr Walker?'

Bridget finds herself a widow after human rights lawyer Mark Darcy  played in the first three films by Colin Firth (pictured, in Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason)  dies while trying to save a client abroad

Mad About the Boy will again co-star Emma Thompson (pictured, left) as Dr Rawlings, who delivered Bridget's child in the third movie, Bridget Jones's Baby

Bridget will also take a trip to the seaside in what insiders promise will be a 'hilarious and relatable' part of the movie (pictured: Zellweger as Bridget in Bridget Jones's Diary in 2001)

The Mail on Sunday revealed earlier this year that Bridget was making a return, 23 years after the release of the first film.

Mad About the Boy is expected to be out on Valentine's Day next year.

It will again co-star Emma Thompson as Dr Rawlings, who delivered Bridget's child in the third movie, Bridget Jones's Baby.
Zac Efron sported a striking new mustache that completely changed his appearance while making his way out of the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood on Friday evening.

The 36-year-old performer flashed a slight smile as he departed the historic hotel with an opened package in hand.

The Disney Channel alumnus  who recently showed off his ripped physique during a beach trip  wore a jet-black hoodie and a matching pair of jeans, as well as checkered slip-on Vans sneakers that made him blend into the night

Efron also wore a camouflage backpack as he made his way out of the celebrity hotspot.

The performer's outing took place not long after the release of the comedy feature Ricky Stanicky, in which he starred.

Zac Efron sported a striking new mustache that completely changed his appearance while making his way out of the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood on Friday evening

The movie was centered on a group of childhood friends who hire an actor to portray a fictional character they had used as a scapegoat for decades.

In addition to Efron, the feature starred John Cena, Jermaine Fowler and William H. Macy.

Development on the feature was first revealed to the public in 2010, and both James Franco and Jim Carrey were attached to the project at different points in time.

Efron was initially linked to the Peter Farrelly-directed film in September of 2022, and he signed on to star in the movie the following February.

Production on the comedy feature subsequently commenced in Melbourne, Australia.

Ricky Stanicky made its debut on the Amazon Prime Video streaming service this past March and was met with mixed reviews from critics.

Efron spoke about working on the film during an interview with Indiewire and stated that he bonded with Cena over their shared memories of training for wrestling, which the actor took part in while working on The Iron Claw.

'I hadn't talked about that experience with anyone. After spending 10 minutes with John, I realized that probably nobody knows more about what I've just been through in that experience than this guy right here,' he said.

The Disney Channel alum - who recently showed off his ripped physique during a beach trip - wore a jet-black hoodie and a matching pair of jeans, as well as checkered slip-on Vans sneakers

Efron also wore a camouflage backpack as he made his way out of the celebrity hotspot

The performer's outing took place not long after the release of the comedy feature Ricky Stanicky, in which he starred

Efron spoke about working on the film during an interview with Indiewire and stated that he bonded with Cena over their shared memories of training for wrestling, which the actor took part in while working on The Iron Claw; seen in January

The performer also spoke about carefully picking roles in order to challenge himself as an actor.

'I enjoy operating outside of my comfort zone a little bit, so trying new things has always helped facilitate that and makes sure that I'm pushing myself,' he said.

Efron went on to speak highly about working with Farrelly and stated that he was grateful to have been able to collaborate with the filmmaker.

'Pete and his work and all of the actors that he's worked with, all those films really informed my sense of humor. When he gives notes and when he's talking to you, you can hear all your past favorite films [in those notes],' he said.
Sydney Sweeney showcased her sizzling figure while sharing highlights of her fun-filled girls trip on Saturday.

The 26-year-old actress, who was spotted cruising in her classic 1969 Ford Bronco this week, posted photos and video from her vacation in Hawaii with friends Liv Meyer and Kelley McCartney.

'Ok gtg back to work now, this has been fun,' the Euphoria star wrote next to the photo drop.

The trio seemed to have an amazing time exploring the lush island terrain.

The pals bought matching white shirts with 'Hawaii' written on the back with a colorful graphic.

Sydney Sweeney showcased her sizzling figure while sharing highlights of her fun-filled girls trip on Saturday

The 26-year-old actress posted snaps and video from her vacation in Hawaii with friends Liv Meyer and Kelley McCartney

The Anyone But You actress put on a cheeky display for the camera as they gaze out at the sapphire blue ocean and azure sky.

Adventures included suiting up for a zip line.

Sweeney smiled for the camera before taking off on her trip high above the tree tops wearing a long sleeve black body suit and shorts with a red vest and blue protective helmet.

The threesome also traveled to a water fall where they took turns jumping from the forested cliff into the water below.

Sweeney seemed to be holding her nose on the way down before she hit the water.

The Madame Web star donned a black and brown cover up as she enjoyed an outing on a luxury yacht.

The barefoot beauty accessorized with a couple of ankle bracelets made from shells.

She seemed to enjoy goofing around at the pool of her resort.

The friends seemed to enjoy goofing around at the resort.

Meyer allowed the other two to pile swim tubes over her head while carrying a porpoise float in one hand and another innertube in the other.

Meyer, a professional photographer, seemed to use her creative skills to capture a portrait of their footsteps in the sand.

The pals bought matching white shirts with 'Hawaii' written on the back with a colorful graphic. The Anyone But You actress put on a cheeky display for the camera as they gaze out at the sapphire blue ocean and azure sky

Adventures included suiting up for a zip line. Sweeney smiled for the camera before taking off on her trip high above the tree tops wearing a long sleeve black body suit and shorts with a red vest and blue protective helmet

The threesome also traveled to a water fall where they took turns jumping from the forested cliff into the water below. Sweeney seemed to be holding her nose on the way down before she hit the water

The friends enjoyed goofing around by the pool

The Madame Web star donned a black and brown cover up as she enjoyed an outing on a luxury yacht. The barefoot beauty accessorized with a couple of ankle bracelets made from shells

Meyer, a professional photographer, seemed to use her creative skills to capture a portrait of their footsteps in the sand

The Immaculate star glammed up for an outing, wearing a tropically themed multi colored bandeau top and shorts with a matching cover up.

She wore dark sunglasses and natural looking makeup and placed a yellow flower over her right ear as she posed for the camera.

The busy actress has returned to Los Angeles and re-united with her fiance Jonathan Davino.

She has two films currently in post production; the thriller Echo Valley, and Ron Howard's Eden, about a group of friends who turn their back on society and move to the Galapagos Islands.
Louise Redknapp, Denise van Outen, and Kate Thornton enjoyed a wild night out together as they took the streets of Soho in a slew of Instagram snaps on Friday.

The trio shared a slew energetic photos and videos from their raucous evening, including plenty taken during their swanky dinner, before dancing in the London streets together.

Denise, 49, captioned the set of snaps of the trio: '@chottomattesoho with @louiseredknapp @thekatethornton Thanks @kurtzdesar @jordansclare  pair of legends. Followed by a Greek Street take over @lewisshawdesign '

The friends enjoyed dinner at the Japanese-Peruvian spot Chotto Matte, 'Wait a minute' in English, before hitting the clubs of Greek Street.

The women got up close and personal for a couple of selfies, with Kate sporting a toothy grin, Denise a smile, and Louise a slight pout.

Louise Redknapp (far right), Denise van Outen (far left), and Kate Thornton (centre) enjoyed a wild night out together as they took the streets of Soho in a slew of Instagram snaps on Friday

The trio took multiple energetic photos and videos and Denise shared her favourites with her over 700,000 followers

Denise captioned the post: '@chottomattesoho with @louiseredknapp @thekatethornton Thanks @kurtzdesar @jordansclare  pair of legends. Followed by a Greek Street take over @lewisshawdesign '

Kate, who wore a black coat with small white polka dots, wrapped an arm around Denise and both opened their mouths in faux shock.

At a bar, Denise showed off her endless pins while modelling the bar's coasters on her breasts, with the bar mats aptly featuring 'no mobile phones' symbols.

Louise wore a khaki green bomber jacket, a white T-shirt, and a black skirt with shiny knee-high black boots.

Outside, the trio were joined by their music manager mutual friend Lewis Shaw who grinned in grey plaid.

The group were joined by their music manager mutual friend Lewis Shaw who grinned in grey plaid.

Louise has had a busy weekend, having enjoyed a romantic date night with her boyfriend Drew Michael just the night before.

The former Eternal star and the aerospace CEO, 40, splashed out for a visit to 1 Hotel Mayfair.

The outing also comes just days after Denise announced her exciting new partnership with JD Williams.

Denise explained how she hoped to 'empower midlife women' to feel confident in 'expressing their personalities' through their clothing choices.

The women got up close and personal for a couple of selfies, with Kate sporting a toothy grin, Denise a smile, and Louise a slight pout

Kate, who wore a black coat with small white polka dots, wrapped an arm around Denise and both opened their mouths in faux shock

At a bar, Denise flashed some thigh and modelled her tongue-in-cheek jacket which featured 'no mobile phones' symbols

Outside, the trio were joined by their music manager mutual friend Lewis Shaw who grinned in grey plaid
If left untreated, you might need reconstructive surgery for severe infections

Body piercings can lead to major complications and cause a host of problems

Nurses are sounding the alarm about the dangerous risks of dirty body piercings after a healthy teen had to undergo reconstructive surgery because of a severe complication in her pierced ear.

Surgeons in New Jersey were forced to cut and drain a pus-filled wound that had developed on a 17-year-old's ear cartilage after she became resistant to antibiotics doctors had initially given her to fight the infection.

The complication occurred roughly three weeks after she got her piercing, which was performed by an employee at a shopping mall with a piercing gun.

When she finally went to the hospital, the infection had already eaten away a portion of the cartilage in her upper ear.

Sarah Lacy, a registered nurse and the Associate Director of Piercing Research and Innovation at ear piercing firm Rowan, told DailyMail.com she sees complications like this often - and it is usually because of mistakes made by the piercer.

She said: 'There are a lot of things that can go wrong, you know without proper care... You can end up with anything from a minor infection to something as intense as a huge, huge, huge cartilage-type infection.'

And in serious cases, this can lead to the operating table.

Complications are more common when someone has been pierced with an earring gun than when someone has been pierced with a hollow needle

Ms Lacy says these problems can be easily avoided with precautions that too few piercers take - and poorly-trained assistants at chain jewelry stores are often to blame.

But some of the poor outcomes are user error.

Common mistakes people with earrings make are not cleaning them often enough, wearing one that is too short and pressing the back of it too closely to the ear, which can cause irritation and embedding.

Embedding happens when an infection causes the tissue around the earring to swell and 'swallow' it into the ear.

TikTok user hannahbanana81374 shared a video of this disturbing occurrence, writing 'POV: you woke up to find out your ear swallowed your earring.'

Sara Lacy, a registered nurse, now works at Rowan, which is an piercing company that employs nurses to do new earrings

In the video, Hannah shows her visit to the emergency room, where doctors numbed her tissue to extract the earring from inside her ear.

This is the common course of action for an embedded earring, Ms Lacy said.

Doctors usually use forceps to pull the earring out or make a tiny incision to remove it.

Another culprit for earring mishaps is using the wrong piercing technique - more earrings placed by piercing 'guns' get infected than those that get placed with a hollow piercing needle, Ms Lacy said.

The Rutgers doctors who operated on the 17 year-old with the cartilage infection noted that 'cartilage, if pierced at all, should be penetrated with sharp, hollow needles, which will core out the cartilage,' not with a gun.

Using a gun can cause the cartilage to 'crack' and create bleeding that will lead to later complications, they wrote.

Some guns are also reusable- which means the same needle can be used on many people multiple times a day.

This, according to the Association of Professional Piercers, 'put[s] clients in direct contact with the blood and body fluids of previous clients', which is incredibly unsanitary.

People at chain piercing salons or malls are often trained to use a gun quickly, and may be too young to really understand the importance of sterile technique.

Ms Lacy told this website she frequently sees patients who come to her after a botched mall piercing.

Not everyone with a piercing will experience serious complications, but minor infections are common if you wear the wrong kind of earrings or don't care for your new piercing correctly, Ms Lacy said.

She advises not sleeping on your new piercing, stressed the importance of cleaning the area regularly to help avoid infection and warned against using earrings with nickel in them.

Most people who use nickel earrings eventually develop a nickel allergy, Ms Lacy said, which can lead to ear irritation and infection.

But, if despite your best laid plans, your ear gets hot, red or swollen, or you notice discharge coming out of it, you might have an infection.

The 17 year old patient's ear after she had reconstructive surgery, following her severe cartilage infection

If caught early, minor infections are relatively easy to treat.

Using a warm compress and a cleaning solution, which you can buy at most piercing salons, should be enough to treat them.

But if you don't address it early, the infection can progress and may require a visit to the doctor.

Ms Lacy told this website one of her patients came to her after getting a piercing at a tattoo shop.

The pierced area was a big bubble of white pus.

'It was so bad, I felt horrible for this person. So that was somebody where we were able to say, "hey, you need to go get this looked at right now,"' she said.

In the worst cases, earring infections can turn into perichondritis, Ms Lacy said.

This is an infection of the ear cartilage that typically has to be treated in the hospital by getting an antibiotic infusion.

Sometimes it can become extreme enough that people need reconstructive surgery, like the 17-year-old girl who was taken for plastic surgery at Rutgers.

Luckily, within 24 hours of being seen, she began improving, and her ear was saved.

Piercings are incredibly safe when they're done in a sterile environment and taken care of properly, Ms Lacy said.

As long as you do research beforehand about the piercing studio and make sure you're prepared to take care of it afterward, you should be okay, she added.

In her experience, getting a new piercing can be a fun, celebratory event. As someone who has gotten piercings before, she takes special pride in getting to be the piercer now.

Ms Lacy told DailyMail.com: 'It's such a privilege to get to do this. It's a fun service too. And we're just, we're so happy that we get to do it.'
Think twice before you spend any $1 bill in your wallet, as it could fetch thousands of dollars for you.

Currency collectors nationwide are on hunt for some rare dollar bills, willing to pay up to $150,000 for those with a specific printing error.

According to the personal finance blog Wealthynickel, two batches of $1 bills printed in 2014 and 2016 contain this particular error from the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

'It's very rare that the Federal Reserve would mess up an order, and then it reaches circulation,' Chad Hawk, vice president of PMG, a paper money grading company in Florida told Fox.

Scroll down to see how to identify the rare bucks worth thousands

Currency collectors nationwide are on hunt for some rare dollar bills, willing to pay up to $150,000 for those with a specific printing error

According to the personal finance blog Wealthynickel , two batches of $1 bills printed in 2014 and 2016 contain this particular error from the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Only nine of these pairs have been matched, leaving millions of rare $1 bills out there

Typically, every bill in circulation needs a unique serial number to identify it, but the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing had a miscommunication with federal banks.

This resulted in 6.4 million pairs of $1 bills with matching serial numbers being circulated before the mistake was noticed by the Federal Reserve.

While the first batch was issued in New York and the second was issued in Washington, D.C., these bills could now be anywhere in the world.

'In the last two or three years, people started to discover the error. The community, through social media, has been able to connect,' Hawk said.

'And people have been able to pair up their notes in a lot of ways. The last pairing I think I saw sold for about $6,000,' he added.

Only nine of these pairs have been matched, leaving millions of rare $1 bills out there.

According to Wealthynickel, currency collecting companies are willing to pay between $20,000 and $150,000 for a pair from the two batches.

Here's what to look for:

The Series date located near the photograph of George Washington must read 'Series 2013'

The bill must have a 'B' Federal Reserve Seal above the serial number

The serial number must end with a star (*) and fall between B00000001*  B00250000* or B03200001*-B09600000*

While the first batch was issued in New York and the second was issued in Washington D.C., these bills could now be anywhere in the world

If you're fortunate enough to have one of these $1 bills, the next step is to find the other bill with a matching serial number.

According to Hawk, the best approach is to utilize social media.

'The best thing to do is look online, go on social media  and there are actually websites dedicated to this,' he said.

'You can find outlets where people are collecting the data, so you can see if notes are out there already.

'If someone's already reported this number, you might be able to pair up with someone looking for this number. They may be willing to pay a big premium for that,' he said.
NTPC Triumphs at SCOPE Business Quiz Bonanza 2024

NTPC proudly announces its resounding victory at the prestigious SCOPE Business Quiz Bonanza (SBQB) held recently at SCOPE Convention Centre, New Delhi as part of the Public Sector Day celebrations. The NTPC team comprising of K M Prashanth, GM (CC) and Anshuman Srivastava, DGM (CP) emerged as the winner in the grand finale, surpassing stiff competition from other esteemed public sector units. The prizes were distributed by Amarendu Prakash, CMD (SAIL), Atul Sobti, DG, SCOPE, Shri Uttam Lal, Director (HR), NHPC and others senior dignitaries from SCOPE. Shri D K Patel, Director (HR), NTPC congratulated the team members for their excellent performance. More than 100 teams from various Maharatna, Navaratna and Miniratna PSUs participated in the quiz from across the country. After an initial screening round, followed by two semi- final rounds, the grand finale had four teams - one team from NTPC and three teams from SAIL. After four rounds of quizzing, NTPC team emerged as the winner.
Taking cognisance for the first time of a model code conduct violation complaint against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Election Commission has issued notice to BJP national president JP Nadda and sought his response by April 29. The commission has also served a notice to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, asking him to respond to the complaints filed by the BJP against him and the main Opposition party's senior leader Rahul Gandhi regarding their remarks. Both the BJP and the Congress had raised allegations of causing hatred and division based on religion, caste, community, or language.

This is the first time that notices were issued to party presidents for violation of model code of conduct by star campaigners, this election. Notably, this marks a departure from the past, where notices of alleged MCC violations were served directly to the candidate or star campaigner concerned.

Even during the ongoing campaign for the Lok Sabha election 2024, all MCC notices served by the EC have been issued directly to party leaders, including Dilip Ghosh of the BJP, Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala and Supriya Shrinate, and AAP leader Atishi. The EC notices to the two-party presidents did not directly name either Modi, Rahul or Kharge, but the representations received by it were attached to the respective letters and they contained details of allegations against the three leaders.

In the notice sent to Nadda, the EC sought his response by Monday to the complaints filed by the Congress, CPI, CPI (ML) and civil society groups regarding the remarks made by Modi on April 21 in Banswara 21 where he dubbed Muslims as infiltrators and alleged that the party will redistribute country's resources among the community.

These complaints had referred to Modi's allegations that the Congress wanted to redistribute the wealth of the people to Muslims and that the opposition party won't even spare the 'mangalsutra' of women. The speech led to a major political slugfest with the Congress and other opposition parties accusing the prime minister of making false claims and the BJP alleging that the Congress was nursing an agenda of Muslim appeasement at the cost of weaker sections of the society.

Addressing the poll rally, Modi had said: "The Congress manifesto says they will calculate the gold with mothers and sisters, get information about it and then distribute that property. They will distribute it to whom - Manmohan Singh's government had said that Muslims have the first right on the country's assets."

Officials said it is the first time that the panel has taken cognisance of a complaint against any prime minister. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the EC had given a clean chit to Modi on complaints lodged by the opposition parties. Then election commissioner, Ashok Lavasa, gave a dissent note on some of the decisions taken by the EC on complaints against the prime minister.

In its notice, the EC has invoked Section 77 of the Representation of the People Act and held the party presidents responsible, as a first step, to reign in star campaigners. The EC said it has taken a view that while individual star campaigners would continue to remain responsible for speeches made by them, the Commission will address party chiefs "on a case-to-case basis".

Reacting to this, the Congress said the Election Commission is "super, super cautious" when it comes to complaints against Modi.

"Star Campaigners are expected to contribute to a higher quality of discourse by way of providing an all-India perspective, which sometimes gets distorted in the heat of the contests at the local level. Thus, the expectation from Star Campaigners is to provide corrective action or a sort of healing touch, when intensity of local campaign disrupts or inadvertently crosses over such boundaries," wrote Senior Principal Secretary Narendra N. Butolia in the letter to Nadda.

Thus, the expectation from Star Campaigners is to provide corrective action or a sort of healing touch, when intensity of local campaign disrupts or inadvertently crosses over such boundaries. The Star Campaigners are thus expected to utilize this privilege for "propagating the programme of the political parties" and, therefore, their speeches in the campaign space necessarily needs to be judged at a higher threshold of compliance," it added.

The BJP, on the other hand, had written to the EC that Rahul Gandhi levelled malafide and utterly sinister allegations against Modi during a speech in Kottayam, Kerala where he alleged that the prime minister was pushing for one nation, one language, one religion. The BJP said that in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, Gandhi alleged that the prime minister was attacking "our language, history and tradition". It also accused Kharge of violating the model code by claiming that he was not invited to the Ram temple consecration ceremony due to discrimination against SCs and STs.

Model Code of Conduct

The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) of ECI is a set of guidelines issued to regulate political parties and candidates prior to elections. The rules range from issues related to speeches, polling day, polling booths, portfolios, the content of election manifestos, processions, and general conduct, so that free and fair elections are conducted.

"Political parties or candidates can be criticised based only on their work record and no caste and communal sentiments can be used to lure voters. Mosques, Churches, Temples or any other places of worship should not be used for election campaigns"

MCC evolved as part of the ECI's drive to ensure free and fair elections and was the result of a consensus among major political parties. It has no statutory backing which means anybody breaching the MCC can't be proceeded against under any clause of the Code. Everything is voluntary. The EC uses moral sanction or censure for its enforcement"

I urge parties to refrain from personal attacks and foul language. No-go areas in speeches are defined to maintain civility. Let us not cross lines in our rivalry. We have issued an advisory for the political parties, they are encouraged to foster a political discourse that inspires rather than divides," Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, who requested political parties to maintain decorum during campaigning, while announcing General Elections 2024 on March 16, 2024.

CEC also advised political parties against hate speeches, caste or religious appeals, criticism of any aspect of private life, masquerading of advertisements as news and social media posts vilifying or insulting rivals.

Wherever there will be a case of violation against anyone, however renowned the politician may be, we will not sit back. We will take action. Earlier, we used to morally censor but now we will take action," CEC Rajiv Kumar. March 16,2024 while responding to a media query about allegations of bias in dealing with MCC violations.
In a development that has surprised many in the State political circles, eight constituencies in Vidarbha and Marathwada that went to the second phase of Lok Sabha polls on Friday recorded 59.63 per cent polling, which reflected a significant 3.3 per cent drop in the polling percentage witnessed for the same eight seats in 2019 LS. polls.

Apart from a marked 3.33 per cent drop in the polling percentage from the voter turnout of 62. 97 per cent registered in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the polling percentage recorded in Maharashtra on Friday was four percent less than the polling percentage of 64 per cent recorded at the national level. In the second phase of Lok Sabha elections, Buldhana, Akola, Amravati, Wardha, Yavatmal-Washim -- all from Vidarbha, Hingoli, Nanded, and Parbhani - in Marathwada region went to polls on Friday.

By 5 pm on Friday, the eight constituencies 53.51 per cent of the total 1.5 crore voters had exercised their franchise and one expected that the polling percentage might pick up during the last one hour. But, it did not happen. The final polling percentage in eight constituencies showed that a relatively low 59.63 per cent of voters exercised their rights in the second phase of polling. Wardha recorded a maximum 62.65 polling, followed by 60.79 per cent in Hingoli, 60.74 per cent in Amravati and 60.09 per cent in Parbhani. The four other constituencies recorded below 60 per cent polling-Nanded (59.57 per cent), Buldhana (58.45), Akola (58.09) and Yavatmal-Washim (57 per cent).

Unlike in the 2014 and 2019 where there was a Modi wave at the ground level, there was no absolutely no wave in favour or against any political party in any of the eight constituencies. All efforts by political parties of different hues - including the BJP which is struggling to retrain four of the eight seats it had won in 2019 Lok Sabha.

And the Opposition Congress - failed to whip any frenzy or a wave in the run-up to Friday's polls.

Interactions that "The Pioneer" had with a section of voters across the eight LS constituencies revealed that apart from the general lack of enthusiasm among large sections of voters, particularly the middle classes, utter disenchantment among the farmers in the peasant suicide belt, migration of youth to other cities for jobs and unbearable heat conditions contributed to the marked reduction in the polling percentages. Another reason cited for the drop in the polling percentage was the clash of the second polling date with marriages in this region.

"It was an incredibly dull election. Unlike in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls, there was no excitement at all in the election. There was hardly any enthusiasm among the middle classes to participate in the elections. Similarly, there has been migration of unemployed youth to other cities in the state. Most of them did not come back to vote on the polling day. Plus the hot summer conditions with mercury rising up to 43-44 degrees C prevented people from coming out to vote," Nagpur-based journalist and a researcher on agrarian crisis in Vidarbha region Jaideep Hardikar said.

Hardikar, who both as journalist and a core member of the People's Archive of Rural India has travelled in the length and breadth of Vidarbha and written extensively about the farmer suicides and cotton crisis over the years, said that there was a strong undercurrent of resentment among the farmers in the region against the Modi government. "Though many of them stayed away from polling, large sections of farmers who turned up for voting were sure of their choice of candidates to vote for. I am sure when the votes are counted on June 4, the BJP will have to be ready for major electoral reversal," he said, as stuck his neck out on the electoral outcome that awaits the ruling party Vidarbha region.

Dr Sanjeev Narkhade, an ENT specialist based in Khamgaon (Assembly segment that falls in Buldhana Lok Sabha constituency), said: "One of the factors that contributed to the drop in the polling percentage yesterday was the clash of the polling date with the marriages. Similarly, the summer heat with the temperatures rising up to 42 degrees C forced many voters not to venture out of their home to vote. The major contestants have had no connection with the people in Khamgaon where I live. As a result, there was not much enthusiasm to go out and vote".

In the eight Lok Sabha constituencies, the temperature that prevailed on Friday ranged from 40 degrees C to 44 degrees C which made it difficult for the voters to venture out of their homes and stand in queues to vote at any point of the day.

Dr Aniket Waikar, a professor in Parbhani-based agricultural university Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani, said: "In general, the people are not very happy with what is going on in politics. As a result, many of the people were not even interested in going out to vote. Migration of local people to places like Nashik and Pune for jobs also contributed to the reduction in the polling percentage. In addition, the polling date clashed with the marriage dates of the people in this region".

Arvind Ambekar, a senior lawyer from Gangakhed town from Parbhani district, said: "People are thoroughly dissatisfied with the BJP governments in the state and at the Centre. Several of them chose to stay away from polling. Those who voted have gone against the ruling party".

On its part, the BJP - which is fighting in alliance with the Shiv Sena (Shinde) and NCP ( Ajit Pawar), is fighting to retain four of its seats ---Akola, Amravati, Wardha and Nanded.

Of the eight constituencies that went to polls, three constituencies -- Buldhana, Yavatmal-Washim and Hingoli - are witnessing a direct fight between the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, which is taking on the Shiv Sena (UBT). This is the first major elections that the two Shiv Sena outfits are clashing against each other after the the Shiv Sena split that saw senior party leader Shinde rebel against Uddhav Thackeray, walk out of the party along with 40-odd MLAs team up with the Opposition BJP to form Government in Maharashtra in June 2022.
The low voting percentage in the first two phases, particularly in the Hindi heartlands, that saw completion of 191 Lok Sabha constituencies has come as a great cause of worry and concern for political parties and more to the ruling BJP at the Centre and in States of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar where it is in alliance as NDA.

Interestingly, both the ruling BJP as well as the Opposition , or the INDIA Bloc have claimed that a low turnout shall be advantageous to them. The dropping trends of voter turnout have also raised concern over this trend continuing in the remaining phases.

According to EC's voter turnout App, Uttar Pradesh recorded 55.01 per cent voter turnout; Bihar 58.89 per cent; Madhya Pradesh 58.59 per cent and Rajasthan 65.03 per cent.

Assam saw a reduction in voter turnout ranging from eight per cent to 13.9 per cent across constituencies. Bihar's constituencies experienced an 8.23 per cent to 12 per cent fall. Chhattisgarh saw comparatively minor drops, with the smallest being only 0.86 per cent. Similarly, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan noted significant falls in turnout.

Just like the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, voter turnout across the 88 seats in 13 States that went to polls dropped to 64.74 per cent in comparison to the 69.4 per cent in 2019 elections (barring the five delimitated seats in Assam), indicating a broad decline in voter participation and also signalling a shift that could influence the final election results.

The questions arise whether the low voting percentage indicates a shift in voter engagement, highlighting potential changes in the political dynamics as the nation votes. What is the impact of a high or a low turnout on electoral results? A higher voter turnout is considered an indication of change while a low voter turnout of continuity is the general belief? However, there is no clear correlation or trend as the data shows. Top officials say it is difficult to say who will be benefiting from low voting percentage as there is no data to establish which community, caste or class did not vote. Low voting percentage is expected to considerably impact all the political parties.

Some analysts say that there is no single issue strong enough to pull voters out this time and the BJP's core voters may not be stepping out due to complacency or overconfidence on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity and 'Aayega toh Modi hi" after consecration of Ram Temple in Ayodhya , resulting in lower turnouts.

Some analysts say people are not coming out to vote as they assume that Modi is coming to power for the third time. They also argue that Muslim community has come in less number because the INDIA Bloc has failed to put up strongest front against Modi.

Factors like impending heat waves and historical turnout trends suggest India may not surpass the 67 per cent record high seen in 2019, possibly reverting to pre-2019 levels. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has already predicted above normal temperatures in the coming days which signaling a low trend of voting percentage in the rest of the phase.

For instance, the national Capital which is going to polls on May 25 is expected for a low voters' turn out due to heat and long weekend. Given that May 23 (Thursday) is a gazetted holiday for Buddha Purnima and May 26 is a Sunday, officials are concerned that many people might take May 24 (Friday) off to create an extended long weekend. This could lead to a drop in voter turnout as residents may choose to travel out of town.

Data showed less than 50 per cent of voters came to polling booths to cast their votes in six constituencies at Rewa in Madhya Pradesh, Ghaziabad and Mathura in Uttar Pradesh. Rewa recorded 49.43 per cent voter turnout; Ghaziabad 49.74 per cent and Mathura 49.41 percent. Bhagalpur recorded 51.40 per cent voter turnout; Banka 53.90 percent; Aligarh (56.62 percent); Baghpat ( 56.16 per cent); Bulandshahr ( 56.42 per cent) and Khajuraho (56.48 per cent).

The data showed there have been 17 Lok Sabha elections from 1951-52 to 2019. In 16 Lok Sabha elections from 1957 to 2019, the turnout declined six times and increased 10 times. Of these, the incumbent Governments have been repeated eight times and replaced the same number of times. Of the 10 times the turnout has increased, the incumbent has lost 4 times and won 6 times. Hence, the government was repeated 60 per cent of the time. Of the six times the turnout has declined, the incumbent has lost 4 times and won two times.

As per official figures available on Election Commission's voter turnout App, the revised turnout in eight Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra where polls were held a day earlier was 59.63 per cent. It was 62.65 per cent in Wardha, 58.09 per cent in Akola, 60.74 per cent in Amravati, 58.45 per cent in Buldhana, 60.79 in Hingoli, 59.57 per cent in Nanded, 60.09 in Parbhani and 57 per cent in Yavatmal-Washim.

In Assam, an estimated 77.35 per cent of 77.26 lakh voters exercised their franchise in the second phase. Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency recorded the highest voter turnout of 80.56 per cent, followed by 78.41 per cent in Darrang-Udalguri, 75.97 per cent in Silchar (SC), 75.63 per cent in Karimganj and 73.11 per cent in Diphu.
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - The UN human rights office, OHCHR, on Friday raised alarm over the situation in northern Burkina Faso, where at least 220 civilians, including children, were reportedly killed amidst fighting between security forces and armed groups
In the second phase of polling, Uttar Pradesh witnessed a dismal turnout of just 54.85 per cent, the lowest in the country, sparking concerns among senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) regarding the lack of voters' enthusiasm.

A senior BJP leader, who extensively toured various regions including Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and western UP, expressed bewilderment over the noticeable absence of interest among voters. "The enthusiasm is missing this time among the voters, and this has made our work very difficult to ascertain which side the wind is blowing," he stated.

His sentiments were mirrored by a lawmaker from the SP, who emphasised the low polling percentages as indicative of the prevalent disinterest among voters.

Despite vigorous campaign efforts, such as the BJP's slogan "Iss baar 400 paar" (This time, beyond 400) and SP's assertions of sweeping victories by the "INDIA Bloc," both parties find themselves confronted with a stark reality - a palpable absence of enthusiasm among the electorate. Even with the Election Commission distributing 1.66 crore voter slips to households five days before the elections, there seems to be a disconnect. The number of eligible voters in the second phase of LS polls stands at 1.67 crore.

Delving deeper into the issue, the BJP leader highlighted the detrimental impact of this lack of enthusiasm on party workers, noting, "there has to be a reaction to some action. This action is missing. Even the Muslims are silent. We know they will not vote for BJP, but there is no perceptible reaction from the members of the minority community. This has resulted in a lack of interest".

The SP has taken a cautious approach regarding Muslim and minority welfare, with one of its candidates from central UP stating a deliberate avoidance of meetings in Muslim-dominated areas. "This may give a reason to BJP to react and ultimately polarize the election," the candidate explained, echoing concerns raised by BJP lawmakers regarding the silence of Muslims.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav held a meeting today morning showed concern over missing long lines in Muslim dominated areas. Even polling percentage witnessed a decline of around five per cent in Rampur. Statistical evidence further accentuates the gravity of the situation, with UP witnessing a decline in voter turnout compared to previous elections. In the first phase, UP registered a turnout of 61 per cent down from 66 per cent in 2019. The second phase, with a polling percentage of just 54.85 per cent, marks a significant decrease compared to 62.76 per cent in 2019. Notably, Mathura reported a mere 49 per cent polling, a substantial 12 per cent decrease from the previous election's 61.08 per cent. Jal Shakti Minister Swatantra Dev Singh attributed the low turnout to people's satisfaction with the present regime, citing a similar turnout of 50 per cent in 2009 when the Congress retained power.

We are confident that BJP will sweep the elections, but we need to improve the voting percentage," he asserted.
The BJP on Saturday released its 15th list of candidates for the Lok Sabha Elections and fielded former special public prosecutor Ujjwal Deorao Nikam from the Mumbai North Central seat, dropping the sitting MP Poonam Mahajan. Nikam, in his long and illustrious legal career, was associated with many cases including 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts, the Gulshan Kumar murder case, Pramod Mahajan murder case and the 2008 Mumbai attack. He was also the special public prosecutor in the 2013 Mumbai gang rape case. Ujjwal Nikam was awarded the Padma Shri in 2016. Mahajan, the daughter of late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan, was elected from the constituency in 2014 and 2019. She is also a former president of the BJP's youth wing.

Party leaders have claimed that the decision to drop her was based on organisational feedback. Though indications had been there for some time that Mahajan would be dropped, it was the party's search for her replacement that took time, sources said.

Nikam has represented the state in several important and high profile cases including the 1993 Mumbai blasts case, terror attack in Mumbai in 2008. He argued successfully for the state government and got death penalty or life imprisonment for the terrorists. The BJP has decided to bring him into the fray on a tough constituency in Mumbai.

Nikam has played a huge part in ensuring a death penalty for the Mumbai terror attack terrorist Ajmal Kasab and 1993 Mumbai serial blasts terrorist.

He also took part in the murder case of senior BJP leader Pramod Mahajan. After Ajmal Kasab was hanged, Ujjwal Nikam said it was a victory for India and by hanging Kasab, India paid homage to all the policemen and innocent people who lost their lives in the terror attack.

In 2014, Poonam secured victory from the Mumbai North Central seat, triumphing over incumbent MP Priya Dutt, daughter of the late actor and Congress leader Sunil Dutt. Poonam repeated this success in 2019 as well. The State, with its 48 Lok Sabha seats, is the second-largest contributor to the Lower House of Parliament after Uttar Pradesh.

Mumbai North-Central will go to poll on May 20 and the counting of votes will take place on June 4. The Congress has fielded its city unit chief and Dharavi MLA Varsha Gaikwad from Mumbai North Central. Voting in Mumbai is scheduled to be held on May 20 in the fifth phase of the polls.

The BJP also named eight more candidates for the Odisha assembly polls, which will be held alongside the general elections.
Ranchi Police have arrested four people, including two women, who were carrying ganja from Odisha to Banaras from Khadgarha bus stand of the State Capital.

The arrested accused include Sumit Kumar, resident of Keshav Kunj in Ghaziabad district of Uttar Pradesh, Anjana Singhal, resident of Deep Bihar Chhapraul in Gautam Buddha Nagar district, Deep Rai, resident of Sukna in Darjeeling district of Bengal and Sushma, resident of Multani Danda in Paharganj, Central Delhi.

Police have also recovered 43.60 kg of ganja, four mobile phones, Aadhaar card of three accused, Line bus ticket from Dhurwa to Banaras and Rs 1500 cash from the arrested accused.

Ranchi City Superintendent of Police (SP), Rajkumar Mehta gave this information in a press conference. He said that a continuous checking campaign is being conducted for the recovery of narcotics in connection with the Lok Sabha elections.

Meanwhile, on the basis of secret information received by the SSP, a team was formed under the leadership of City DySP. The team raided and arrested two youths and two women with ganja from Khadgarha bus stand premises. Police have received many inputs from the arrested smugglers. Based on the input received, the police are busy taking further action, said Mehta.
The national capital on Friday evening witnessed sudden rain with thunderstorms and gusty winds which led to traffic chaos on several stretches. An electric pole fell on a car parked at Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, ITO. No casualty reported here.

India Meteorological Department (IMD)s Director General Dr Mrutunjay Mohapatra told the pioneer, the sudden weather change witnessed by the people in North west and Central India including Delhi is a result of the western disturbance. Central India will witness rain on Saturday as well. Strong gusty winds of speed between 70 to 80 kmph were also witnessed.

The IMD has predicted cloudy sky in the national capital on Friday for the next one week. The maximum temperature recorded as per the IMD was 40.5 degrees celsius, which is 1 degree celsius above from the normal temperature. The minimum temperature stands at 21.6 degrees celsius, which is 2 degrees celsius lower than the normal.

The IMD predicted the weather of the national capital on Friday as generally cloudy sky with light rain or thunderstorm accompanied with hail.

For Saturday, the meteorological department predicted generally cloudy sky with light rain or drizzle. The city witnessed light to moderate rainfall on Tuesday as well as the result of a cyclonic disturbance.

Further the department has issued a weather warning which states Thunderstorms and Lightning accompanied with gusty winds (speed 30-50 kmph) over Northwest India. Hail at isolated places over Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and East Rajasthan. Heat wave at isolated places over east Uttar Pradesh. Dust Storm at isolated places over west Rajasthan.

In the coming days, the IMD has also predicted strong surface winds during day time in Delhi on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The maximum humidity in the city stands at 66 percent and the minimum recorded is 16 per cent.
Amidst the ongoing farmer protests ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday lauded the significant impact of crop diversification in conserving vital resources. Mann expressed gratitude to Punjab's farmers for embracing crop diversification and shunning PUSA-44 type of paddy, which has resulted in substantial savings of Rs 477 crore in electricity costs and preserved five billion cusecs of groundwater.

Mann, in a video message, underscored his commitment to revitalizing the agricultural sector and ensuring its profitability. He commended the farmers for their cooperation and emphasized the government's efforts in facilitating agricultural activities, including the provision of daytime electricity and efficient preparations in mandis for procurement, lifting, and transportation.

Highlighting the impact of the farmers' decision to shift away from PUSA-44, Mann revealed that the reduced cultivation of this variety resulted in significant savings. By opting for shorter-duration varieties like PR-126 to PR-130, which take only 90 days to mature compared to PUSA-44s 150-plus days, farmers contributed to saving Rs 477 crore in electricity costs and conserving five billion cusecs of groundwater.

Mann reiterated his commitment to the principles of sustainable agriculture, citing the adage pawan guru paani pita (air is the teacher, water is the father) from Sikh teachings. He expressed satisfaction in the farmers response to his advice and pledged to continue making decisions in the best interest of Punjab and its resources.

Ahead of the upcoming paddy season, Mann renewed his plea to farmers to refrain from cultivating PUSA-44, urging them instead to opt for PR-126 to PR-130 and basmati varieties. He emphasized the financial benefits of cultivating basmati rice, which often fetches higher prices than the Minimum Support Price (MSP). Additionally, Mann highlighted the environmental benefits of avoiding PUSA-44, which produces more stubble and contributes to air and water pollution.

Asserting that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government prioritizes the welfare of common people and farmers, Mann assured that all decisions are made with the people's interests in mind. He announced plans to organize more meetings with farmers to address their concerns and solicit their input on agricultural policies.
The Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS) of AIIMS Bhopal celebrated its seventh foundation day on Saturday. During this period a workshop on Pediatric Cardiac Surgery was also organized. Inaugurating the workshop, Professor (Dr) Ajai Singh, Executive Director, AIIMS Bhopal said that teamwork is very important for the treatment of heart related diseases in children.

Keeping this in mind, AIIMS Bhopal is soon going to start the Pediatric Center of Excellence. Where all types of treatments will be available for children. A special team will be formed for this.

The main reason behind the trust of heart patients towards the institute increasing rapidly is the hard work of our team. In the last two years, an increase of 5000 patients has been recorded in OPD for heart diseases. While in the year 2021, around 23 hundred patients had reached OPD, in the year 2023 this figure was recorded beyond 7 thousand. Similarly, the number of heart related surgeries has also increased more than double in 2 years. While 161 cardiac surgeries were performed in the year 2021, this figure crossed 400 in the year 2023.

Well-known cardiac surgeons of the country were present in this workshop, which included Dr. KS Iyer of Fortis Hospital, New Delhi and Dr Nirmal Kumar Gupta of SGPGI, Lucknow. Dr. Iyer said that pediatric cardiac surgery is a very complex procedure. During this time, one has to keep a close eye on the reactions of children along with surgery.

Children's arteries are smaller than adults', which makes surgery extremely complicated. Dr. Nirmal Kumar Gupta discussed the current status of pediatric cardiac surgery in government hospitals. Pediatric cardiac anesthetist Dr. Amita Sharma from Palwal, Haryana also participated in the workshop. She said that anesthesia has an important role in pediatric cardiac surgery. This is as important as what a cardiac surgeon does during surgery. Earlier, Head of (CTVS) Department, Dr. Yogesh Niwariya informed about the progress made by the department during the last 6 years.

During the workshop, experts also explained about the identification of heart related diseases in children, their symptoms and planning for testing. More than 150 participants including doctors and other staff working in various medical colleges and hospitals of Madhya Pradesh participated in the workshop. Such workshops are considered very important for expanding medical facilities and increasing knowledge in the state.
As the warmth of summer beckoned, young adventurers in MHOW eagerly prepared for an exhilarating sailing experience, at the Sailing Camp organised by Army War College at Berchha Watermanship Training Area from April 15 to 25.

Amidst this highly awaited and cherished event, 65 children aged 8-17 embarked on a voyage into the fascinating world of sailing and aquatic fun. The camp provided an opportunity to these young adventurers to immerse themselves in a myriad of watermanship activities, including sailing, kayaking, and paddle boating.

In essence, the Sailing Camp offered more than just an opportunity to learn the art of sailing; it provided a gateway to holistic development, personal growth, and adventurism. The Sailing Camp was a transformative experience that left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of children.
A fire broke out in a room of the Physics Department of Barkatullah University in the morning on Friday. After which the fire was brought under control in about half an hour.

According to people associated with the department, this fire started after a blast in the AC. After which within a few minutes the fire spread throughout the room.

Information about the incident was immediately given to the security in-charge. After which the guards and other departmental people present there extinguished the fire with water.

In this matter, NSUI leader Ravi Parmar has alleged that the cause of the fire in the Physics Department appears to be suspicious, because neither the police nor the fire department was informed about the matter, the fire was also extinguished. It is believed that many important records have been destroyed and it seems that the administration of BU is engaged in concealing facts. An inquiry committee should be formed in this matter, so that the truth can come out. The committee will decide whether the fire has started or was set. On the other hand, Barkatullah management is silent on this matter.

According to the employees working in the department, when the AC was opened around 10:30 in the morning, there was a blast in it, after which the fire immediately spread all around the room.

The security incharge at Anand Fanand called all the guards in the department and the fire could be extinguished in about half an hour with the water available nearby. It is being told that many other employees sit in this room opposite to the Physics HOD's room and many important documents are also kept here. Which are completely burnt. Apart from this, the fridge, AC, cooler and other items have also been burnt here.

He seems to be avoiding talking about this matter. We tried calling Barkatullah University Vice Chancellor SK Jain, Registrar IK Mansoori and department head Sadhna Singh, who did not receive calls. Whereas BUIT Director Neeraj Gaur said that he does not have complete information in this regard, if we talk to the concerned department about the matter, something could be known.
Ruling party in the State Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), on Friday, said that Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued notices to BJP and Prime Ministers name is not included in the notice for making objectionable speeches. JMM said that but instead of sending him a notice, ECI sent a notice in the name of BJP National President. Modi is BJP candidate from Varanasi Lok Sabha seat of Uttar Pradesh and still the notice was not sent to him. Why the Election Commission did this, it is beyond understanding, said the JMM.

Addressing a press meet JMM Spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya said that the notices to two national parties for making objectionable speeches, one of them is Congress and the other party is BJP. The party questioned whether the Election Commission has become toothless.

Bhattacharya further raised the question as to why ECI has not issued any notice on the manner in which BJP leader Giriraj Singh has been giving hate speeches in Bihar and has also given during the current elections. The Supreme Court has given its verdict yesterday regarding EVM and VVPAT. But PM Modi has said that his party will hear this decision again. This shows that the decision of the Supreme Court is being misinterpreted. The Supreme Court has said that the defeated candidate can apply for matching the VVPAT slip with the EVM. Its expenses will have to be borne by the candidate, he added.

He also raised the question that if irregularities are found, will the candidate get his money back? He said that the Supreme Court should give its verdict in this regard also.

The party Spokesperson further said, the Prime Minister also started taking credit for the decision taken by the Supreme Court bench on electoral bonds. The truth is that SBI was asking for more time to provide the records of electoral bonds. He was not given time, there may be a strategy behind this also. At the same time, while addressing BJP candidate from Khunti Arjun Munda, he asked him to tell what work was done on his behalf in Khunti Lok Sabha. Munda should tell which scheme of the Center has come to Khunti apart from the scheme of the State Government, he added. Similarly, while speaking about Lohardaga, he said that here also BJP should tell which scheme of the Center has come.

Bhattacharya said that BJP is not fighting elections on issues and we are fighting elections with substance. Injustice against tribals has increased during the tenure of BJP. Manipur is the biggest example of this. The rights of tribals, Dalits and backward people are being snatched away today. The Constitution is being changed for this. ECI should ban BJP's star campaigners who give hate speeches, he added .

Attacking at the Centre, he said, Mandal Dam was announced to provide water to Bihar. But the Center did nothing like this for Jharkhand. He asked Palamu BJP candidate BD Ram that he should tell what he did for irrigation in Palamu.
The AAP led Delhi Government and particularly Minister (Urban Development) SaurabhBhardwaj have been sitting for more than seven months over the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD)proposal to temporarily enhance financial powers of MCD Commissioner. The proposed hike is from Rs five crore to Rs 50 crores.

Stating this here on Saturday, officials in Lt Governor(LG)V K Saxenas secretariat also said citizens of Delhi are suffering due to this delay. Moreover, the courts have been forced to take up issues of Education, Health and Garbage Disposal in the City.

Giving details, they said Saxena took cognizance of the issue that non-constitution of Standing Committee of the MCD did not allow the MCD commissioner to release funds.

Upon being made aware that much of work at MCD, including the disposal of garbage, at landfill sites, and lack of budget for MCD schools and hospitals, due to the non-constitution of the Committee, the LG invoked Rule 19(5) of ToBR 1993on March six and recalled the file pertaining to delegation of increased financial powers to the Commissioner, pending with Minister (UD) SaurabhBhardwaj since October last year.

However, the Minister instead of sending the file within three days as stipulated by Rule 19(5), irrespective of the hardships being faced by the people of Delhi due to inaction by MCD, chose to sit over the file and continues to do so.

However, upon being asked about the same in the Delhi High Court on Friday, the GNCTD deviously chose to mislead the Court by saying that the file had not been cleared due to Chief Minister being in jail. But the fact remains that the file is still pending with SaurabhBhardwaj since 09.10.2023, and was never sent to the Chief Minister, who was taken into custody only on 21.03.2024, they said.

Despite three reminders being sent to him on 15.03.2024, 28.3.2024 and 02.04.2024, Bhardwaj did not send the file to the LG through the Chief Minister, as the case should have been.Section 202 (C) of DMC Act defines the financial powers of the Commissioner MCD.At present, with the approval of GNCTD& Honble LG, MCD Commissioner has been vested with financial power of Rs 5 crore only. All projects above Rs five crores are essentially to be cleared by Standing Committee.

As Standing Committee is not in existence for the last one and half year, various important projects related to health, sanitation and education are held up, resulting into depriving the benefits of the scheme to school children and public in general.

To deal with this exigency, MCD on 18.09.2023, put up a proposal to UD Department, GNCTD for enhancing powers of MCD Commissioner from Rs. Five crores to Rs. 50 crore on lines of powers of Principal Secretary of GNCTD. This was proposed to be done only till such time that the Standing Committee is constituted, as a temporary measure. This proposal is pending with GNCTD  Minister (UD) for consideration for more than last 6 months.

It will not be out of place to mention here that MCD in present scenario is not able to discharge important civic functions, like distribution of note books, procurement of desks for primary school children, supply of health equipment and medicine for hospitals and health centres.

In addition to these, MCD is finding difficulty in finalising/engaging concessionaire for South, West and Central Zones to deal with day to day collection of municipal solid waste and its transportation to processing facilities.

The work of rate/agency contract for setting up processing facility at Narela- Bawana is also held up due to project costs being more than Rs. 5 cr. The work of bio-mining which has to be completed in time bound manner as per NGT directions have also been affected severely due to non-finalisation of agency for completing the balance work.
Ms Magazine, April 22, 2024

Anselma Ellingwood

In a nationwide womens consultation, Afghan women have expressed dread and anxiety over the potential international recognition of the de facto authorities (DFA), with 67 percent stating it would severely affect their lives.

The consultations and survey on the situation of women in Afghanistan convened 745 Afghan women from across all provinces. The report was put together by U.N. Women, the International Organization for Migration (U.N. Migration), and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

Among the participants, a majority stated that if such international recognition were to occur, it should only be contingent upon the removal of all restrictions in place by the Taliban against Afghan women and girls.

Afghan women have described how the enforcement of the hijab decree has increased harassment towards them and heightened their fears of being arrested and dishonored by being in police custody. It is considered shameful and dishonorable for the woman and her family when she is arrested and placed into custody, sometimes even resulting in suicide or death by her family.

Most women traditionally wear the hijab, but its enforcement is unpredictable and can be harsh, contributing to uncertainty in their daily lives. Instances of harassment are sometimes filmed and posted online, leading to a loss of face, or public humiliation.

Women reported feeling unsafe leaving their home without a mahram, or male guardian. One woman said that police informed her that they sought to erase women from public spaces, step by step. Following the report, UNAMA consulted 28 women in Kabul who had witnessed the DFA forces rounding up women and girls in public and taking them to police stations where they had to call a male family member to pick them up. The male family member then had to pay a fine and sign a document to ensure that the woman would wear the full hijab in the future.

Only 1 percent of women felt they had good or full influence on community decision-making, a sharp decrease from 17 percent in January 2023. Women lack the infrastructure to gather and share their views and experiences or to build community and engage on issues they consider important. Women spoke about the low levels of social trust with 96 percent reporting that most people cannot be trusted, including neighbors, because anybody could be a Taliban informant. This risk leads to women feeling unsafe in their own communities and unable to help their neighbors.

Women also described an intergenerational and gendered impact of the DFA restrictions on shifting attitudes of children. Boys appeared to be internalizing the social and political subordination of their mothers and sisters, while girls perceptions of their future were changing due to the current conditions.

Importantly, women requested that the international community not recognize the Taliban unless restrictions are removed. The Taliban has a current track record on womens rights and cannot be trusted to improve the current situation.

Women voiced profound disappointment with member states that engaged with the DFA, overlooking the severity of an unprecedented womens rights crisis akin to gender apartheid. Women said that the best way to improve their situation was to link international aid to better conditions for women and to open up communication pathways for women to directly address the Taliban.

The voices of Afghan women are clear: Recognition of the DFA must be conditional on the restoration of womens rights and freedoms, signaling to the world that womens dignity is non-negotiable.
A large number of Sikhs, including members of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, joined the BJP here on Saturday.

Citing a host of measures taken by the Government to help the minority community, BJP president J P Nadda on the occasion said if anybody has really worked for the community, it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Nadda also cited central government decisions such as the opening of the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, the FCRA registration for donations to the Golden Temple and the action against accused in the 1984 anti-Sikh riot cases.

He said the BJP highly regarded the contribution and sacrifices of the community for the country and will keep working for its welfare.

In his address, Nadda expressed gratitude to all for joining BJP to strengthen national unity and dedication, saying, "BJP thanks you for joining BJP to strengthen national unity and dedication, and welcomes all of you."

He acknowledged the sacrifices and contributions of Sikhs for the nation, stating, "Sikhs are always ready to give a befitting reply to all attacks on the country."

He emphasized BJP's commitment to maintaining the country's unity and integrity, saying, "BJP is the only party that has worked to maintain the unity and integrity of the country, and your inclusion will further strengthen it."The BJP has been in an overdrive to deepen its bond with Sikhs and is looking to put up a strong fight in the Lok Sabha polls in Punjab, where they are in a majority. A number of well known Sikh politicians from the state have joined the party recently.

BJP leaders Tarun Chugh, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, and Virendra Sachdeva welcomed the Gurudwara Committee members, Jasmeen Singh Noni, Harjeet Singh Papa, Bhupendra Singh Ginny, Ramandeep Singh Thapar, Ramnjot Singh Mehta, Parvinder Singh Lucky and Manjeet Singh Olakh, into the party with party shawls and floral bouquets.

Delhi BJP chief Sachdeva said whenever there has been a crisis in the society or the country, the Sikh community has come forward and worked to save the society.

Conquering the Red Fort was not a big task but defeating the cruel rule of the Mughals and standing up to the Mughals was a big task and its spirit was picked up by the Sikh community and wherever the voice of oppression is raised, the Sikh brothers support them and so Our history is full of glorious stories of Sikh brothers.
The State BJP has intensified campaigning for Lok Sabha elections and Gandey assembly bypoll. State BJP president Babulal Marandi in this connection addressed public meetings at Chatra Lok Sabha seat and Gandey assembly segment.

In Chatra the BJP has fielded local leader Kalicharan Singh against Congress candidate and former minister KN Tripathi, while in Gandey BJP leader Dilip Verma is contesting against JMM heavyweight and former chief minister Hemant Soren wife Kalpana Soren.

Addressing a public meeting at Chatra, Marandi said that said that the INDI Alliance leaders do politics for themselves.

They do politics for the family and money. Thats why many of these people are in jail or out on bail. A few INDI Alliance leaders are convicted, too. These people are roaming around to become the destiny makers of India, he pointed out.

Marandi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said we must make the country a developed India. This will be accomplished when the Prime Minister wins again with an overwhelming majority in 2024, he maintained.

Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri said that the Jharkhand government is anti-tribals and anti-Dalits. Be it the Hemant government or the present government, no work was done to develop these sections during the tenure of both.

On the contrary, atrocities against them have increased, he said.

On the other hand, the Modi government has done a lot of work to develop tribals and Dalits. The budget for the development of tribals has increased significantly. Work has been done to honour Lord Birsa Munda. Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar also got full respect during the tenure of the Modi government while Congress ignored him, he said.

Addressing a public meeting in Chatra after Chatras NDA candidate Kalicharan Singh filed his nomination, Marandi said the INDI coalition leaders are spreading false propaganda.

He urged the electorates to cast their votes to the NDA candidate in the interest of their families and also motivate others to vote for the NDA. No matter how sunny it is, we all should not fail to vote in this great festival of democracy, he said.

Later in the day, Marandi also addressed a rally at Led Hatiya Ground in Gandey, Giridih. Marandi said that at present India is being hailed all over the world and the country will be hailed only when Narendra Modi becomes the Prime Minister again. Prime Minister Modi said that India will be made a developed and prosperous India by 2047. The Prime Minister thinks that every person should get food. They should get better treatment when they fall ill. Prime Minister Modi has resolved to create such an India. If we look at the 10 years of Prime Minister Modi's tenure, it will be clear that till date no Prime Minister has done so much work. Prime Minister Modi also took care of the respect of mothers and sisters. Toilets were built in every house. Gave gas connection. Prime Minister gave residence to the poor to live.

The State President said that before 2014, terrorist attacks used to happen on the country. At that time the central government sometimes went to America and sometimes to UNO. He used to say that there has been a bomb explosion in our place. The whole world laughed at India. When Narendra Modi government was formed in 2014, he said that if even a single terrorist attacks here from outside, we will enter and kill him. When one or two incidents happened in the country, army personnel entered and killed them. After this, people of Indi alliance started asking for proof of this. These people are anti-national. Are anti-development. Have to be careful with these people.

He said that the people of Indi alliance are anti-Jharkhand and anti-development. The fight for a separate state of Jharkhand was going on since the country became independent. Congress remained in power for 50-60 years, but Jharkhand did not create a separate state. Jharkhand bought off those who were agitating for a separate state. Then sent him to jail, but did not create Jharkhand state. After the formation of the Bharatiya Janata Party government, a separate state of Jharkhand was created. Whatever BJP does, it does.
Congress General Secretary and party candidate from Sirsa, Kumari Selja on Friday said that the government is not serious about the problems of farmers, who have become trapped by the portal game.

The "Meri Fasal Mera Byora" portal has become a major source of trouble for farmers, with 10,902 complaints pending over the last 15 days, preventing farmers from selling even their wheat crop in the markets without verification. Instead of claiming to be farmer-friendly, the government should protect their interests and resolve their issues.

In a statement, Selja said that registration on the Meri Fasal Mera Byora portal has been made mandatory for selling crops like mustard and wheat at MSP. During the Rabi season, registrations were made for 6,419,348 acres involving 1,103,095 farmers, of which only 6,319,060 acres were verified. She said that across the state, 50,688 farmers filed complaints regarding incorrect registrations, errors in crop names, discrepancies in area, and lack of verification, of which 10,902 complaints still remain unresolved. Due to these unresolved complaints, farmers are unable to sell their produce in the market. The districts of Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Jhajjar, Palwal, and Mahendragarh have the highest number of pending complaints. Selja said that the government should prioritize addressing these farmers' issues and complaints; otherwise, the farmers are determined to teach the government a lesson in this election.

The Congress leader has written to Haryana Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini, informing him that elderly and widow pension holders are facing significant difficulties due to a change in the IFSC code by Indian Bank, which is causing unnecessary delays in the pension process. This technical issue is making it difficult for these pensioners to receive their pensions, severely affecting their livelihood. She has called for immediate resolution of this issue and the establishment of a permanent procedure to address it.

Congress list of eight candidates in Haryana dominated by Bhupinder Hooda loyalists
Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth today conducted a public relations campaign in various areas of Silli assembly, Navadih, Ghagra Parahatu

Seth said that Narendra Modi has made the five biggest impossible tasks possible during his tenure - Swachhata Abhiyan, Triple Talaq, construction of Ram temple, surgical strike, abolition of Article 370, Narendra Modi has made such five impossible tasks possible which is a symbol of his will power.

Due to the resolution of Prime Minister Modi, the people of the country supported Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and today we see toilets in every village of India, every city, village, street and intersection clean. Removal of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir The people of Jammu and Kashmir were bound by the chains of Article 370 for 70 years. On 5 August 2019, the Modi government freed Kashmir from Article 370 and declared Ladakh a separate union territory.

With this, not only Kashmiri Pandits but every citizen of the state has now started getting the benefit of the beneficial schemes of the central government, from which the people of Kashmir were deprived for many years. Similarly, the construction of Ram Mandir is the result of 5 years of waiting.

Today India talks to Pakistan by looking into its eyes. Surgical strike is a living example of this. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, excellent work has been done in every field from poor welfare to national reconstruction. Modi ji's aim is to take development to the last person of Antyodaya.

Former Rajya Sabha MP Ajay Maru said that we must come out of our homes and vote for the development of the country, it is our right. Under the leadership of the country's successful Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country is constantly moving forward. Today we have become the fifth economy of the world and to make the country the third economy, we all have to make Narendra Modi the Prime Minister for the third time this time.

In today's program, hundreds of people including Dheeraj Mahato, Dileshwar Koyari, Parikshit Mandal, Srishtidhar Mahato, Bindeshwari Devi, Harendra Pramanik, Bhagirath Mahato, Laxmikant Pramanik, Varun Kumar Hazra, Manikchand Mahato were present.
State BJP president and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi addressed a public meeting held at Sosai Ashram in Mandar on Saturday. On this occasion, he said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been working for the development of the country for the last 10 years. The work he has done in these 10 years is in front of everyone. Be it the people of the village, women, poor, labourers or youth. He worked for all sections. He did not leave any section. He worked for the development of all. The Prime Minister of the country Narendra Modi says Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas Sabka Vishwas. This is not just a slogan. He has shown it by doing it.

He said that the Prime Minister wants to make India a developed and prosperous India in the coming days. When he talks about a developed and prosperous India, he talks about providing minimum facilities to all the people. As soon as he became the Prime Minister, he started working in this direction. First, he provided toilets in the houses of the people. After that, he provided the facility of gas connection. He provided electricity to every house. Now people are being given 5 kg of free foodgrains so that the poor do not remain hungry.

PM Modi has also provided housing to the poor. In the last 10 years, more than four crore Pradhan Mantri Awas were provided in the country. The Prime Minister has said that if he becomes PM for the third time, he will provide more than 3 crore Pradhan Mantri Awas.

Marandi said that the JMM, Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal are in power in Jharkhand. All these parties are anti-Jharkhand. They are anti-development. The fight for a separate state of Jharkhand was going on since the country became independent. Jaipal Singh was contesting earlier. The Congress government included Jaipal Singh in its party. Gave him money, but did not give him the state of Jharkhand. Later, Shibu Soren was also given money to save the government and when the CBI investigated, he was sent to Tihar Jail. The Congress party never respected the people of Jharkhand. If the Congress wanted, Jharkhand would have become a separate state long ago. If Jharkhand has become a separate state, it is the contribution of the NDA. Jharkhand became a separate state after Atal Bihari Vajpayee came to power.

Most of the people of Jharkhand were displaced during the rule of the Congress. During the tenure of the Congress, big factories were set up in Jharkhand. Big mines were opened. Due to this, people were also displaced. Congress should answer this. Everyone knows how many people were displaced during the ten-year tenure of the Modi government. Today, those whose political shops are being closed in the country are spreading false propaganda. The answer to this has to be given by pressing the button on the lotus symbol on May 13.

Sameer Oraon has to be made victorious with a huge majority. Marandi said that the work of selling land in Jharkhand by making fake papers was done by goons and brokers. This work was done under the protection of Hemant Soren. Even the army's land was not spared. This is the reason why today Hemant Soren has been arrested and put in jail. We had written a letter to Hemant Soren and talked about investigating this. If he had investigated, he would not have to go to jail today, but he was protecting these goons.
According to the election schedule of Lok Sabha Elections-2024, the nomination papers received in 8 Lok Sabha parliamentary constituencies for the fourth phase were scrutinized on Friday. During scrutiny, nomination papers of 90 candidates were found valid. Nomination papers of a total of 11 candidates were rejected after scrutiny as they were not in accordance with the law.

Chief Electoral Officer Shri Anupam Rajan has informed that in the fourth phase, after scrutiny nomination papers of 9 candidates were found valid in Lok Sabha parliamentary constituency number-21 Dewas (SC), 9 candidates in number-22 Ujjain (SC), 8 candidates in number-23 Mandsaur, 13 candidate in number-24 Ratlam (ST), 8 candidates in number 25 Dhar (ST), 23 candidates in number 26 Indore, 6 candidates in number 27 Khargone (ST) and nominations of 14 candidates were found valid in number 28 Khandwa. After scrutiny on Friday, nominations of two candidates each in Lok Sabha Parliamentary Constituency No. 22 Ujjain (SC), No. 23 Mandsaur, No. 24 Ratlam (ST) and No. 25 Dhar (ST) and 3 candidates in No. 26 Indore were rejected due to not being as per law.

Chief Electoral Officer Shri Rajan said that the affidavits and other information of the candidates who have filed nomination papers can be seen on the website of Election Commission of India, link https://affidavit.eci.gov.in/.
Its official! In a move that has captured the attention of political observers across the nation, Khalistan ideologue Amritpal Singh is all set to foray into the electoral battleground.

Despite being incarcerated at Assams Dibrugarh jail under the stringent National Security Act (NSA), Waris Punjab De head Amritpal will embark on a new journey as his mother Balwinder Kaur on Friday officially declared his candidacy for the Khadoor Sahib constituency  putting an end to the suspense around his candidature. The official announcement regarding Amritpals candidacy from Khadoor Sahib came two days after his counsel Rajdev Singh Khalsa had claimed that his client had expressed a firm intention to contest the Lok Sabha elections. Khalsa, who had met Amritpal in Dibrugarh on Wednesday, affirmed the latters resolve to enter the political arena despite his ongoing legal battles. However, Amritpals mother, who has been participating in

the pakka morcha (a permanent sit-in protest) seeking Amritpal and his associates release at Amritsar, had denied the same. Amritpals decision to contest the impending Lok Sabha elections independently comes as a surprise to many, considering his previous reluctance to enter mainstream politics. However, his mother Balwinder

Kaur revealed that relentless pressure from the community, his followers, coupled with the plight of Sikh inmates and their families, has compelled him to take this bold step. Highlighting the rationale behind Amritpals decision, Balwinder Kaur emphasized his unwavering commitment to promote Sikh values

and address the pressing issues

facing Punjab. She highlighted his dedication to eradicate the drug menace that has plagued the State for years, emphasizing that his candidacy represented a beacon of hope for those affected by addiction. Furthermore, she underscored the need to secure justice

for Sikh inmates who have been unjustly detained, stating

that Amritpals candidacy aimed to bring attention to their cause on an international level. She expressed confidence in his ability to amplify their voices and advocate for their rights both within India and on the global stage.

When I spoke with Amritpal, he initially felt that if he were alone in jail, it wouldn't

matter much. But now, with his associates also unjustly incarcerated, its a completely different situation. That's why he has decided to contest the elections.Amritpal has made the decision to enter politics for the sake of his fellow inmates.

I urge the sangat to stand by Amritpal so that he can serve the community upon his release from jail. We aim to eradicate drugs from Punjab and safeguard the youth. His goal in entering the political arena is solely to promote Sikhism, said Balwinder Kaur. Amritpals mother added that his main objective, behind

contesting polls, was only to give a powerful voice to the wave of religious preaching, to end atrocities under the atrocious NSA, and to bring

Punjabs pain to the international stage. Khadoor Sahib, a constituency with deep-rooted significance in Sikh history and culture, is poised to become the battleground for this high-stakes electoral contest. Traditionally known as

a panthic seat, the constituency holds immense symbolic importance for the Sikh community. Amid swirling speculations over the self-styled preachers political aspirations,

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has been considering extending support to the candidacy of Amritpal Singh, a prominent figure in the pro-Khalistan movement. While SAD has yet to announce its candidate for the Khadoor Sahib constituency, the official confirmation of Amritpal's entry into the electoral arena has heightened anticipation regarding its stance. All attention is now focused on whether SAD will align with Amritpal, whose fervent advocacy for the Khalistan cause resonates with the party's panthic agenda. Back in 1989, amidst the political turbulence, SAD had thrown its weight behind former IPS officer and Khalistan supporters Simranjeet Singh Mann, who was then behind bars. Against all odds, Mann clinched victory with an impressive tally of nearly four lakh votes. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has already declared Cabinet Minister Laljit

Singh Bhullar as its candidate from Khadoor Sahib, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

had nominated former SAD MLA Manjeet Singh Manna Mianwind. As the election campaign gains momentum, all eyes will be on Khadoor Sahib to witness the unfolding dynamics of this politically charged constituency. The contest will not only determine the representation of the people but also serve as a barometer of the prevailing sentiments within Punjab's Sikh community. Notably, on April 23, 2023, the Punjab Police managed to arrest Amritpal Singh ending a 35-day dramatic chase. Amritpal was arrested from Moga districts Rode village  the ancestral village of slain Khalistani militant Sant Jarnail Singh Bindrawale. Revered as Bhindrawale 2.0 by his followers, Amritpal had strategically chosen Rode villages Gurdwara Janam Asthan Sant Khalsa  erected nearly 38 years after Bhindranwale died in Operation Blue Star in 1984  to surrender. It was the same Gurdwara where the ceremony of Amritpals dastarbandi (installation), as the head of Waris Punjab De, was held on September 29, 2022, amidst the slogans of Khalistan Zindabad. Born in 1993 in Jalandhars Jallupur Kheda village, Amritpal initially pursued business ventures in Dubai after completing his high school education. However, upon returning to India, he became associated with the farmer agitation in Delhi and later founded the Waris Punjab De organization. Initially aimed at engaging youth in Sikhism and awakening Punjab, the organization later faced accusations of radicalizing youth.
A one-day Rajbhasha Sammelan held at AIIMS Bhopal on 26 April 2024. Inaugurating the conference, Professor (Dr) Ajai Singh, Executive Director, AIIMS Bhopal said that Hindi is a language which easily assimilates words of any other language. We should feel proud of this.

Even during the freedom struggle, Hindi has made an important contribution in this struggle by acting as a communication language. Books related to medical education have also been made available in Hindi in the library of AIIMS Bhopal. Besides, a separate budget provision has also been made for this.

On this occasion, Harish Singh Chauhan, Assistant Director, Regional Implementation Office, Department of Official Language, Ministry of Home Affairs said that working in the official language is very unique. The policy of the Government of India is also such that we write as we speak.

Vice-Chancellor of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hindi University, Professor (Dr.) Khem Singh Daheria, while discussing the constitutional nature of the official language, said that today Hindi is the most spoken language in the world.

Earlier, the presence was welcomed by Colonel (Dr) Ajit Kumar, Deputy Director (Administration), AIIMS Bhopal. On this occasion, the book Essentials of Dentistry written by Prof. (Dr.) Pankaj Goyal, Head of the Department of Dentistry was also released. This book will be very beneficial for MBBS students.Various lecture sessions were also organized during the day long Official Language Conference. Dr. Neelkamal Kapoor, former head of the Pathology Department of AIIMS Bhopal, gave a lecture on why it is necessary to study medical science in Hindi. While Dr. Vikas Dave, Director of Madhya Pradesh Sahitya Academy, Bhopal, expressed his views on the major challenges and solutions in increasing the use of Hindi in medical institutions.

In the third session, Dr. Abhijit Yadav, Associate Professor of the Department of Anatomy, Hamidia Hospital, Bhopal, discussed the topic of Hindi translation of medical curriculum, major challenges and personal experiences, while Dr. Anjali Potneesh, Assistant Professor at the National Technical Teacher Training and Research Institute, Bhopal, gave a lecture on the role of Unicode Hindi font and various translation tools on computer in increasing the use of Hindi. Apart from representatives of various central offices, faculty members, officers and employees of AIIMS Bhopal also participated in this Official Language Conference. About 170 participants took part in this Official Language Conference.
Embarking on a day filled with spiritual reverence and vibrant campaigning, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accompanied by his family and his newborn daughter Niyamat Kaur Mann, commenced his Friday morning by paying homage at the Golden Temple, Durgiana Mandir, Sri Valmiki Teerath S'than, and Sri Ram Teerath Mandir in Amritsar. Following this spiritually enriching start, Mann transitioned seamlessly into an impressive campaign trail for AAPs Khadoor Sahib candidate Laljit Singh Bhullar in Patti and Jalandhar candidate Pawan Kumar Tinu in Jalandhar.

Manns vibrant campaigning, road shows, and public speeches, garnered attention and support as he addressed the electorate in Patti and Jalandhar, emphasizing the AAP's vision and agenda for the upcoming elections. While the primary purpose of Mann's visit to Amritsar was to lead the AAP's election campaign, his morning visit to the city's sacred sites underscored the significance of spirituality and unity in his personal and political endeavors.

We are commoners like youwe understand your pain well

Jalandhar: Mann, campaigning for AAP candidate Pawan Kumar Tinu in Jalandhar led a road show in various areas of Jalandhar city and appealed to the people to make him win by a huge margin.

Addressing the people during the road show, Mann made a scathing attack on MP Sushil Rinku who left AAP and joined the BJP. AAP made him an MP and gave him national recognition, but due to greed and selfishness, he betrayed the party and the people of Jalandhar, said Mann, appealing to the people of Jalandhar to teach a lesson to those who betrayed Punjab and make sure that he even loses his security deposit.

He said that the AAP is a party of common people. This party gives people from common households a chance to become MPs, MLAs, ministers and the Chief Minister. We are also common people like you. We understand your pain and suffering very well. So make Aam Aadmi Party candidates win. They will become your voice in Parliament and fight for your rights, he said.

On Tinu, Mann said that he did not leave Akali Dal, rather Akali Dal has left him, because when it comes to work, the party used him and when it comes to giving the fruits of hard work, their own uncle, nephew, brother-in-law etc used to eat it. Tinu also came to politics from an ordinary household and made his identity. Make him win with a huge margin, he will raise the voice of the common people of Jalandhar in the Parliament, he said.

Wealthy dynast politicians think your votes are for sale

Tarn Taran: Earlier, Mann, campaigning for Khadoor Sahib candidate Laljit Singh Bhullar in Patti, lambasted all opposition leaders from Narendra Modi to Badal, from Captain to Jakhar.

Addressing a huge public gathering in Patti, Mann said that for the very first time, the people of Punjab have their own government in the state. Earlier, there was only 'raje and rajwade', in direct reference to Capt Amarinder Singh as Raja and the Badals as Rajwade. They looted Punjab, amassed wealth and property and now they call the common people 'malang' and 'material'. They built their dynasties while looting Punjab and its people, that is why the people of Punjab have thrown them out of power, now they are begging people for a chance, he said.

He said that in 2024, Punjab will become a hero, will set an example because all 13 candidates of the AAP will win and represent the state in the Parliament. Traditional parties ruined our childhood, they ruined our youth and they ruined the lives of elderly people. They are even ready to ruin the future of our children and our next generations. But we are going to vote against them. The times have changed. There was a time when they used to come to you with folded hands at the time of election and then abandon you for five years to live their luxurious lives. But now the change is here, new kind of politics is here, he said.

Mann added that they think that your votes are for sale, that they will come to you at the last moment, will offer you a couple of thousands for your vote and win. But we have to get united against them. We have to defeat them and their low thinking.

Mann prayed for Punjabs peace and prosperity; refused to make any political comments

Amritsar: Mann, visiting the religious places of the holy city Amritsar, said that he was blessed with 'Waheguru di Niyamat' last month referring to his newborn daughter, so he is here with his family today to thank God for all his blessings. At the same time, Mann refused to comment on any political matter saying that he was only here to pray for peace and prosperity of Punjab.

He said that he also prayed for the strength to live up to his responsibilities and keep working for 'Rangla Punjab'. It is our fortune that the people of all religions and backgrounds live peacefully in Punjab. We celebrate Gurpurabs, Eids and Navamis together. I prayed for forever communal harmony and unity among Punjabis and their success, he said.
Senior Supreme Court advocate Prashant Bhushan said in Bhopal, 'The companies which have given crores of rupees to BJP through electoral bonds have been involved in corruption in some way or the other. The BJP government can give a clean chit by taking donations from these companies, hence they have filed a petition in the Supreme Court, which has been accepted and hearing is in the next week.

Prashant said in a discussion with the media at Gandhi Bhawan in Bhopal on Saturday, 'I have demanded the court to form an SIT and conduct an investigation. It has been requested to include a team of retired Supreme Court judges, retired CBI and ED officers.

He said, 'The medicines of more than 20 companies like Zydus Cadila (Ahmedabad based company), which manufactures Remdesivir drug, were allowed to run in the country despite being dangerous for the public, because these companies gave money to BJP through electoral bonds. This company is from Gujarat and no action has been taken against it even after reports of making dangerous medicines.

Prashant Bhushan said, 'The maximum part of the money of Rs 16000 crores was given as a bribe. There is also a possibility of misuse of government institutions like CBI, ED. In fact, no action has been initiated against any company through them till now. There is a possibility that CBI, ED and other investigating agencies will be used to put pressure on these companies, hence they do not want the institutions under the Center to investigate the companies.

This press conference was organized by the National Campaign for Right to Information (NCPRI). Social activist Anjali Bhardwaj said, 'Electoral bonds are unconstitutional. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman herself has said that if her government is formed then she will change the Constitution.

She said, '40 percent of the bonds have been given to BJP by the companies which are among the beneficiaries. The direct question arises that if the intentions of the companies were right then why were the bonds given only to BJP? Why were bonds not given to other parties?

Referring to the 2G case, Bhardwaj said, 'The central government has gone to the Supreme Court to change the decision of 2G. When the decision in this matter came, it was revealed that a misappropriation worth lakhs of crores had been done by auctioning the spectrum. Bharti Telecom has been responsible in this matter and this company has given electoral bonds to BJP. Similar situation exists in the case of Megha Enterprises Company also.
Blog Archive: Oct 2024 (65) Sep 2024 (149) Aug 2024 (155) Jul 2024 (155) Jun 2024 (150) May 2024 (153) Apr 2024 (149) Mar 2024 (155) Feb 2024 (145) Jan 2024 (156) Dec 2023 (155) Nov 2023 (150) Oct 2023 (155) Sep 2023 (150) Aug 2023 (155) Jul 2023 (155) Jun 2023 (150) May 2023 (155) Apr 2023 (150) Mar 2023 (155) Feb 2023 (140) Jan 2023 (155) Dec 2022 (156) Nov 2022 (150) Oct 2022 (155) Sep 2022 (150) Aug 2022 (155) Jul 2022 (154) Jun 2022 (150) May 2022 (155) Apr 2022 (150) Mar 2022 (155) Feb 2022 (140) Jan 2022 (156) Dec 2021 (156) Nov 2021 (150) Oct 2021 (155) Sep 2021 (150) Aug 2021 (155) Jul 2021 (155) Jun 2021 (150) May 2021 (155) Apr 2021 (150) Mar 2021 (155) Feb 2021 (140) Jan 2021 (155) Dec 2020 (155) Nov 2020 (150) Oct 2020 (158) Sep 2020 (150) Aug 2020 (130) Jul 2020 (124) Jun 2020 (120) May 2020 (124) Apr 2020 (120) Mar 2020 (124) Feb 2020 (116) Jan 2020 (125) Dec 2019 (126) Nov 2019 (120) Oct 2019 (124) Sep 2019 (120) Aug 2019 (125) Jul 2019 (124) Jun 2019 (120) May 2019 (123) Apr 2019 (121) Mar 2019 (124) Feb 2019 (112) Jan 2019 (125) Dec 2018 (126) Nov 2018 (120) Oct 2018 (124) Sep 2018 (121) Aug 2018 (124) Jul 2018 (125) Jun 2018 (120) May 2018 (124) Apr 2018 (121) Mar 2018 (124) Feb 2018 (112) Jan 2018 (123) Dec 2017 (124) Nov 2017 (124) Oct 2017 (141) Sep 2017 (135) Aug 2017 (138) Jul 2017 (137) Jun 2017 (134) May 2017 (138) Apr 2017 (135) Mar 2017 (139) Feb 2017 (129) Jan 2017 (143) Dec 2016 (135) Nov 2016 (138) Oct 2016 (142) Sep 2016 (128) Aug 2016 (133) Jul 2016 (136) Jun 2016 (138) May 2016 (164) Apr 2016 (311) Mar 2016 (348) Feb 2016 (320) Jan 2016 (348) Dec 2015 (314) Nov 2015 (338) Oct 2015 (363) Sep 2015 (358) Aug 2015 (399) Jul 2015 (374) Jun 2015 (331) May 2015 (337) Apr 2015 (319) Mar 2015 (320) Feb 2015 (271) Jan 2015 (286) Dec 2014 (254) Nov 2014 (238) Oct 2014 (287) Sep 2014 (267) Aug 2014 (259) Jul 2014 (260) Jun 2014 (238) May 2014 (241) Apr 2014 (228) Mar 2014 (240) Feb 2014 (217) Jan 2014 (263) Dec 2013 (226) Nov 2013 (254) Oct 2013 (256) Sep 2013 (252) Aug 2013 (263) Jul 2013 (261) Jun 2013 (251) May 2013 (250) Apr 2013 (221) Mar 2013 (193) Feb 2013 (164) Jan 2013 (157) Dec 2012 (155) Nov 2012 (240) Oct 2012 (526) Sep 2012 (411) Aug 2012 (394) Jul 2012 (284) Jun 2012 (229) May 2012 (213) Apr 2012 (213) Mar 2012 (253) Feb 2012 (269) Jan 2012 (298) Dec 2011 (273) Nov 2011 (219) Oct 2011 (204) Sep 2011 (201) Aug 2011 (236) Jul 2011 (217) Jun 2011 (211) May 2011 (206) Apr 2011 (215) Mar 2011 (215) Feb 2011 (186) Jan 2011 (215) Dec 2010 (107) Nov 2010 (98) Oct 2010 (55)
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday found himself addressing a controversy, apologizing for the allegedly casteist remarks made by Laljit Singh Bhullar, his Cabinet colleague in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government and the partys candidate for the Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha constituency. The incident unfolded earlier this month when Bhullar sparked outrage with comments directed at former Congress MLA Harminder Singh Gill during an election rally in Tarn Taran districts Patti area. His remarks, perceived as derogatory towards certain castes, prompted widespread condemnation.

In response to the criticism, Bhullar had released a video expressing regret to the communities affected by his statements but stopped short of apologizing to Gill. The situation escalated as the opposition parties, including the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), seized upon the controversy, condemning Bhullar's conduct and demanding swift action.

Mann, addressing a campaign rally for Bhullar in Patti, took a firm stance, denouncing the remarks made by his Minister. He emphasized AAPs commitment to inclusive politics, stating, Laljit Singh Bhullar made the wrong remarks in the sway of emotions. AAP does not support such behaviour. We are not into politics of caste and creed. We do not do politics of religion and hate. We do politics of education, hospitals, electricity.

The Chief Minister stressed the need for Bhullar to issue an unconditional apology and reaffirmed the party's dedication to governance based on meritocracy, devoid of discrimination. I called him on the same day and asked him to apologize unconditionally. He went to Harmandir Sahib to seek forgiveness. Being the head, I too apologize for Bhullars conduct, said Mann.

At the same time, Mann asserted, I want to make it clear to Laljit that such behaviour wont be tolerated in future because it is our responsibility to bring society together. Harmandir Sahib has four doors that welcome everyone. I respect all communities.

Appealing to the people of Patti, Mann said that sometimes mistakes happen, little problems and obstacles appear but do not stop, keep moving towards development, our goals are bigger.

He also asked Bhullar to not give irresponsible statements, adding, we are here to do politics of work, we are here to save our democracy and the Constitution, we are here to build schools and hospitals and give jobs to our youth.

Meanwhile, the opposition parties had press their advantage, with SAD lodging a formal complaint with the Punjab Chief Electoral Officer against Bhullar accusing him of violating the model code of conduct and demanded his immediate arrest. Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira went further, calling for Bhullar's dismissal from the Cabinet, labeling him a racist minister.

In his apology video, Bhullar had attempted to contextualize his comments, attributing them to emotional outbursts and personal grievances against Gill. While expressing regret if his remarks had hurt any community members, he maintained they were directed solely at Gill. However, the opposition remained unsatisfied, characterizing Bhullar's apology as insufficient and insincere.
Union Minister and BJP candidate from Guna-Shivpuri Lok Sabha constituency, Jyotiraditya Scindia, while addressing the public meeting in Raishri, Kharai and Rannod villages of Shivpuri assembly constituency, said that the Scindia family has always stood with the people of this area in every happiness and sorrow. And will continue to stand even further. Be it the Corona period or the time of hailstorm, being the head of the Scindia family, he has always been with the people of the area in these times of sorrow and happiness and will remain with them in future also.

Scindia said that he has family relations with the people of the area. He works in this field not with his mind but with his heart and soul. The thinking of the Scindia family is that as the head of the Scindia family, he should work shoulder to shoulder with the people of this area and take this area on the path of development.

He said that recently farmers' crops were damaged due to hailstorm here. Relief amount of more than Rs 6 crore was distributed to the farmers of villages like Raishri, Piprasama, Kakarwaya, Malakhedi, Manpur etc. This is the first time that farmers affected by hailstorm received relief amount within 48 hours.

Apart from the acceptance letter of relief amount, this amount was also transferred to the accounts of the affected farmers. The Scindia family has always been with the people of this area in happiness and sorrow, now on May 7, the people of this area have to come forward and fulfill their duty.

Targeting Congress he said that even after being in power for 65 years, Congress could not do anything. In the last 10 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken the country forward on the path of development. Today 80 crore people are getting free ration. Gas stoves have been given to women through Ujjwala scheme. Farmers are being given Kisan Samman Nidhi. The Samman Kisan Samman Nidhi, which receives Rs 6,000 from the Center and Rs 6,000 from the State, would have gone to the accounts of two twin brothers if the Congress government had not been changed in 2020.

Come forward on May 7 to form a triple engine government

Union Minister Shri Scindia said that on May 7, all people have to come out of their homes and cast as many votes as possible. Not a double engine government but a triple engine i.e. Dr. Mohan Yadav's government in the state and Modi ji's government at the center and to provide the power of triple engine to me as MP, every voter should leave all work behind on 7th May. Have to come out and vote and strengthen my hands. Shri Scindia said that earlier there was no arrangement of electric wires and transformers in the area, but when he became the Energy Minister, he got electric lines and new transformers installed at various places in the area. The work of making this highway from Gwalior to Guna six lane, which was earlier two lane, was done at a cost of Rs 5000 crore.

Union Minister Shri Scindia said that today Shivpuri is connected to the main stream of development. There were only a few trains from Shivpuri railway station, but today there are trains for every corner of the country. There are trains for Indore, Bhopal, Amritsar, Chandigarh and even Mumbai. Big institutions were established in the fields of education and health. Today the medical college is at the district headquarters at a cost of Rs 200 crore. Apart from this, NTPC's engineering college and power sector college have opened in Satanwada, the benefits of which are being availed by local students.
HRDC in collaboration with Rajya Anand Sansthan, an autonomous organization of Anand Department of Madhya Pradesh Government, Bhopal organised a 2 days outbound training programme from April 26 to April 27 on "Alpviram- Self Introspection & Achievement Orientation" at the premises of Rajya Aanada Sansthan, Aanad Vibhag , Government of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal. This 2 days Outbound Training Session is a part of 67 days Common Induction Learning(CIL) M3 Training module of Dakshata 2024 for Engineer/Executives Trainees, which is ongoing since April 17, 2024.

The program was aimed to establish the relevance to strengthen human potential to perform and enhance the productivity at home, society and workplace. Being happy is the first step to anything that we wish to do successfully.

Forty Officials are attending the programme. The programme was inaugurated by Satya Prakash Arya, Director (Rajya Aanada Sansthan) and Swagata S Saxena, HOD (HRDC) BHEL, Bhopal.

Smt. Swagata S Saxena, AGM & HOD (HRDC) BHEL, Bhopal addressed the Engineer Trainees with her wisdom words and said happiness is an essential key factor of human life. One needs to be happy to achieve his personal as well as professional goals.

Satya Prakash Arya, Director (Rajya Aanada Sansthan) welcomed all the delegates and briefed about objectives of the programme and comprehended an overview of Alpviram- Self Introspection & Achievement Orientation. He also thanked and appreciated BHEL management for organizing this training.

Programme Coordinator: Manu Dixit (Rajya Aanada Sansthan) & Umesh Savle (BHEL) coordinated the programme.

Meanwhile, CNC Maintenance Training Program was organized in the Human Resource Department of BHEL, Bhopal in presence of EMX Department Head, J Maitra. At the end, certificates were given to all the participants by BK Singh, General Manager (Human Resources). Twenty participants from all Block Maintenance were present in the program.
Union Home and Cooperation Minister and senior leader of Bharatiya Janata Party, Amit Shah, while addressing huge public meetings organized in Guna and Rajgarh of Madhya Pradesh on Friday, praised the BJP government's commitment towards Uniform Civil Code under the leadership of the illustrious Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Emphasized commitment and strongly condemned the policy of appeasement of a particular section by the Congress. In these programs, Chief Minister Mr. Mohan Yadav, outgoing Guna MP Mr. KP Yadav, Guna Lok Sabha candidate Mr. Jyotiraditya Scindia, Rajgarh Lok Sabha candidate Rodmal Nagar and other officials were present.

Shah said that if the revered Rajmata had not made sacrifices for the foundation of Jan Sangh and BJP, the present day BJP could not have been imagined. One vote each given to our candidates Jyotiraditya Scindia and Rodmal Nagar will make respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi the Prime Minister for the third time. When the public votes for its MP candidate, it expects the party to put its MP forward, but the respected Prime Minister has given Guna as a ready-made ministerial candidate, hence it is your responsibility to make Jyotiraditya Scindia victorious with a huge majority. The people of Guna will get both leaders, KP Yadav and Jyotiraditya Scindia. This election is to make the country the third largest economy, to make 3 crore mothers and sisters Lakhpati Didi, to free people from electricity by installing solar panels on their homes and to build 4 crore new houses under the PM Awas Yojana.

The Union Home and Cooperation Minister took a jibe at the Congress and said that Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge question what Article 370 has to do with the people of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan? The people of Chhattisgarh are ready to sacrifice their lives for Kashmir. The Congress government had retained Article 370 for appeasement, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made Kashmir an integral part of India forever by abolishing Article 370 on August 5 2019.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had said that with the abrogation of Article 370, rivers of blood would flow in Kashmir, but in the last 5 years, leave alone the rivers of blood, no one has had the courage to even throw a stone.

Respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi has eliminated terrorism and Naxalism from this country. During the previous Congress rule, terrorists from Pakistan used to carry out bomb blasts in India every day and the Congress government used to sit silently. During the BJP government, when terrorists from Pakistan made the mistake of carrying out attacks in Pulwama and Uri, within 10 days the Indian Army entered Pakistan's territory and eliminated the terrorists by carrying out surgical strikes and air strikes.

Congress kept talking about removing poverty for four generations but could not remove poverty.

Shah said that under the leadership of the respected Prime Minister, 25 crore people came out of the poverty line in the 10 years of BJP rule. 80 crore people are being given 5 kg free food grains every month. In 10 years, 12 crore toilets were built, houses were built for 4 crore people, electricity was provided to 3 crore people, gas connections were given to 10 crore mothers and tap water was provided to 14 crore people.

During a serious disease like Corona, India was protected by giving free vaccine to 130 crore people. Congress was opposing the vaccine even at that time. The Congress Party kept the issue of Ram Mandir hanging in the balance for years, but respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji got the Ram Mandir constructed and took Lord Shri Ram out of the tent and placed him in the grand Ram Mandir. After living in a tent for 500 years, Lord Shri Ram celebrated his birthday at the grand Ram Temple on April 17, 2024.
Two youths dressed as iconic comic book superheroes, Spiderman and Spider-Woman, were arrested on Friday for performing stunts on a motorcycle in South West Delhi's Dwarka. The Spiderman couple, as police described them, were riding on a bike with no number plate or mirrors. However, while one expects the culprits to be ashamed of flouting the law, the young Spiderman calls the arrest as a bucket list thing.

The "Spiderman" Aditya, aged 20 years old, and his friend "Spider-Woman" Anjali, aged 19 years old, recorded an Instagram reel of themselves riding on the bike while striking a titanic pose, titled "Spiderman Najafgarh Part 5". In the video, "Spider-Woman" walks up to the superhero after exiting the Najafgarh metro station and shakes hands.

Subsequently, she climbs on his bike following which they go riding on the streets of Delhi. As they zoom through, the "Spiderman couple" are seen talking to each other as they strike the iconic titanic pose for the camera. After the reel went viral, the Delhi traffic police took cognisance and arrested the two. The police issued a challan under Motor Vehicle Act.

According to police, a video made rounds on social media showing a person wearing a Spiderman costume and performing stunts on a motorcycle without a number plate and a helmet on the Urban Extension Road-II (UER II) in Delhi.

In the video, the man was later joined by a woman, who was also wearing the Spiderman costume. They were seen riding the motorcycle with the woman sitting pillion.

"Two persons were riding a bike and wearing Spiderman costumes. An inquiry into the matter was conducted and the riders have been booked under different sections of the Motor Vehicle (MV) Act for offences without a helmet, without a mirror, without a licence, dangerous driving and not displaying a number plate etc," a senior police officer said.

Previously, the young man who calls himself as "Najafgarh Spiderman" has taken to the streets of Delhi while donning his superhero attire many times. He is a resident of Najafgarh and runs an Instagram account called Indian Spidey Official, where he posts videos of his stunts. The girl also runs a page called Spideygwen Official.

The boys bio reads "Your Friendly Neighbourhood Indian Spidey" and the account has over 9,000 followers, with the viral video getting about 80,000 likes. A quick scroll through his Instagram page shows the "Indian Spidey" playing badminton, riding a tractor and dancing on trending songs.
AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals wife Sunita Kejriwal will hold roadshows from Saturday to support the Aam Aadmi Party candidates

in the national capital. The campaign is to kick off with a grand roadshow in the East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency where AAP candidate Kuldeep Yadav is contesting from, followed by another in West Delhi from where AAPs Mahabal Mishra is contesting.

Sunita Kejriwal's campaign will extend beyond Delhi to Punjab, Gujarat, and Haryana. In Gujarat, the former IRS is listed as a star campaigner. Senior AAP Leader and Delhi Minister Atishi asserted that BJP's attempt to arrest the AAP chief has backfired and people will vote for AAP and the INDIA alliance nationwide.Immediately after the announcement of Lok Sabha elections, immediately after the imposition of the model code of conduct, the BJP-ruled central government and its political weapon ED arrested the popular Chief Minister of Delhi. He was arrested before the announcement of elections because BJP is afraid of Arvind Kejriwal. The BJP did not want Arvind Kejriwal to enter the electoral fray. That is why he was arrested, she alleged, adding that the gamble by BJP to arrest Kejriwal will not work.

I want to tell 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 Arvind Kejriwal, protesting against the dictatorship of PM Narendra Modi, protesting against this attack on democracy. The people are unanimously saying that they will answer the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal with their votes, she affirmed.

Atishi said that in protest against the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, his wife Sunita Kejriwal will campaign to seek votes for AAP candidates from the people of Delhi, Punjab, Gujarat and Haryana.

She further stated that Kejriwal's wife, who came into the limelight following the arrest of CM in the alleged excise policy linked money laundering scam, will start campaigning from East Delhi on Friday. She will hold a roadshow in East Delhi tomorrow and will seek blessings from the people of East Delhi for Arvind Kejriwal. On Sunday, Sunita Kejriwal will hold a roadshow in the West Delhi Lok Sabha constituency and will seek blessings from the people for Arvind Kejriwal, she said.

I want to tell the BJP that the people of Delhi, Punjab and the entire country are standing with Arvind Kejriwal, are against the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal and will definitely give him their blessings and will definitely vote for the AAP, Atishi concluded.
Two boys allegedly injured a 27 year old Uganda national and disrobed her in South Delhis Chhattarpur Pahari area on Thursday. According to the police, a PCR call was received regarding a lady who was injured on road.

DCP South Ankit Chauhan said, On Thursday at around 12 midnight, a PCR call regarding a lady who was injured on road was received at Police Station Mehrauli. On reaching the spot an Uganda National lady aged 27 Years was found injured at the spot and she was taken to hospital by PCR.

The police have arrested both of them. The accused have been identified as 24 year old Manoj, alias Kinnu, and 26 year old Rinku Kashyap. Manoj worked as a labourer at a Malba loading vehicle of Rinku.

The victim stated, At around 10:45 PM, when I was going from phool Mandi at 100 Feet Road, Chhattarpur Pahari & walking on the footpath, suddenly two boys who had a dog were walking behind her. She was scared of dogs so she tried to get away from the dog. However, the boys grabbed her from behind and dragged her to the other side of the wall.

She revealed that an altercation took place and they robbed her purse containing Rs. 800 in cash and one silver ring. They also tore her clothes and hit her head with a stone before fleeing from the spot, the police said.

She resides in New Delhis Chhatarpur. On her statement, a case under section 394 (Voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery), 354B (Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe) and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of IPC was registered at Mehrauli Police Station.

They both are addicted to drugs and robbed the lady victim.They were found slightly intoxicated when apprehended, the DCP added.
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.

The anti-Dalit Bharatiya Janata Party is once again murdering the Constitution. It is very sad that the way dictatorial government is running in the entire country, Delhi and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. The people of Delhi have also come to know how they want to govern every time through dictatorship, she said.

"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 Phir se Modiji ki sarkaar dekhna chahu su and danced on the premises of 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.

Leader of Opposition in MCD and former Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh called AAP an anti-Dalit and anti-women party. The Aam Aadmi Party itself did not want to hold elections for the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor so that the ongoing differences in their party do not become public. If the AAP wanted to conduct elections for the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor, then they should have completed the entire formalities in a constitutional manner before the announcement of general elections, he said.

He further alleged that the AAP does not want to follow any constitutional process and does not want to do any work as per the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act 1957. He also claimed that similarly the AAP mayor did not allow elections to be held for the posts of Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee.

There is no restriction on the election process of the Standing Committee, yet the Mayor of Aam Aadmi Party has not appointed any presiding officer to complete the election process and because of the Aam Aadmi Party, the elections of the Standing Committee have not been held yet. Due to which the people of Delhi are suffering the consequences, development work has come to a halt in Delhi because of the Aam Aadmi Party, there are heaps of garbage at various places, Singh alleged.

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.

Senior AAP Leader and MCD incharge Durgesh Pathak questioned the BJP and LG's intention. He asked, The BJPs LG should have taken the recommendation from the CM, who has stopped him from taking the recommendation? The CM could have appointed a minister and he would have given the recommendation to the LG. But LG's intentions were already bad. The LG did not send the file of the mayoral election to the minister.

The BJPs LG sent the file to the Chief Secretary through the Secretary of the Urban Development Department and the Chief Secretary sent the file directly to the LG.

The LG did not even try to get the minister's recommendation on the file. It is clear from this that the BJP and LG had already made a complete plan not to conduct the mayoral election.

Because the BJP and LG do not believe in the Constitution of India, they do not believe in the Constitution made by Baba Saheb, the AAP MCD incharge said, adding that the BJP is anti-dalit and anti-woman.

Stating that the PM wants to change the constitution and wants to remove peoples rights. They want to remove the rights of the Dalits, backward communities and the minorities by changing the Constitution. Today, without changing the Constitution, MCD elections in Delhi were stopped only on the basis of bullying, he said.

Senior AAP leader and Delhi Minister Atishi emphasised that BJP and LG revoked the election upon a Dalit individual's ascension to the Mayorship, claiming that it will incite widespread fury among Delhi's populace. She further claimed that the election was cancelled at the BJP's behest.

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 the alleged excise policy linked money laundering scam.
Lashing out at the Congress on Friday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the manifesto of the grand old party was harmful to India, the world's largest democracy.

Addressing the media at his official residence here, the chief minister said that the Bharatiya Janata Party had entered the elections with the issues of development, improved security, and good governance under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government.

"But just before the first phase (of polls), the manifesto of Congress, the most important constituent of the Indi Alliance, was announced and it drew the attention of the entire country. The contents of the manifesto bodes danger for India which is the worlds largest democracy," he said.

"The Congress, in its manifesto, wants to lay the foundation of the countrys division on religious grounds by supporting issues ranging from implementation of Taliban rule to personal law. The BJP will strongly oppose it in any case," he added.

Chief Minister Yogi remarked that everyone had read the statements of Congress advisor Sam Pitroda. During the tenure of the United Progressive Alliance government, reports of the Ranganath Mishra Committee and the Sachar Committee were brought by the Congress. 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 Other Backward Classes, he said.

He further said that by discussing the inheritance tax and plans to conduct an X-ray of properties to seize and redistribute them, the Congress aims to lay the foundation of the countrys division on religious grounds.

Along with this, they are also contemplating to take away half of the inheritance property and reintroduce 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 added.

Naxalism is on the decline in India. If there is any attempt to revive it, we will never accept it. The BJP government has been taking action against corruption from the beginning. However, if anyone tries to loot the property of the common man, we will not allow it to happen, Chief Minister Yogi said.

Attacking the Congress and its allies for endorsing a Taliban-like mentality in the country]s politics, Chief Minister Yogi 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 said that the Congress and its allies were bringing up these issues to draw public attention. The publics attention is constantly being drawn to what is the mentality of Congress and the Indi Alliance. 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.

What Chidambaram was saying about the inheritance tax is exactly what Sam Pitroda is saying. It is necessary to counteract their intentions, otherwise, they can pose a danger to this country, to the common man, and to half the population, Chief Minister Yogi added.

The chief minister said that there was enthusiasm and a positive atmosphere in the country regarding the works of Prime Minister Modi. The country wants to see progress, and Prime Minister Modi has provided a new direction to the country in 10 years, he pointed out.

He said, Development has occurred in every sector. India has emerged as a rapidly growing economy in the world. With a resounding victory on June 4, the Bharatiya Janata Party will once again come to power.
Madhya Pradesh's longest-serving chief minister and BJP stalwart Shivraj Singh Chouhan is likely to play an important role in national politics with Prime Minister Narendra Modi telling an election rally recently that he wanted to "take him to Delhi (Centre)".

Chouhan, who was the chief minister from 2005 to 2023, is contesting the Lok Sabha polls from his stronghold Vidisha, an ancient city incidentally located on the Bhopal-Delhi train route.

The BJP candidate is up against Pratap Bhanu Sharma, a Congressman who won the seat in 1980 and 1984 on the back of the post-Emergency Indira Gandhi juggernaut and later, the sympathy wave caused by her death.

These were the only two occasions when the Congress won the seat since it was created in 1967.

Speaking at a rally in Madhya Pradesh's Harda on April 24, Modi praised Chouhan saying the two had served together in the party organisation and also as chief ministers.

"When Shivraj went to Parliament, I was working together as general secretary of the party. Now I want to take him with me (to Delhi) once again," Modi said at the rally.

Incidentally, Chouhan had reached Vidisha through a Delhi-bound train after the announcement of his candidature.

He led the BJP to a crushing victory in last year's Assembly polls, though the party, in a surprise move, picked Mohan Yadav as his successor.

Fondly called 'mama' (uncle) and 'paon paon wale bhaiya' in his younger days, Chouhan will be contesting his sixth Lok Sabha election from Vidisha, a seat represented by BJP stalwarts like late Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1991) and Sushma Swaraj (2009 and 2014), as well as newspaper publisher Ramnath Goenka (1971).

After his name was announced, Chouhan said the seat was handed over to him by Vajpayee and it was heartening that he was getting an opportunity to represent it again after 20 years.

"The BJP is my mother, who has given me everything," Chouhan had said at the time.

Chouhan, after serving as first-time MLA from his home turf Budhni, was fielded by the BJP in the 1992 LS bypoll necessitated by the resignation of sitting MP Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

As an MP, he represented the seat five times till 2004 when he resigned to become Madhya Pradesh chief minister in 2005.

"The Congress is only contesting as a ritual as it is no challenge for us. We will win even from booths that have traditionally voted for the Congress. Our aim is to increase the margin. Shivraj ji himself is reaching out to every part," state BJP secretary Rajneesh Agrawal, a native of Vidisha Lok Sabha constituency, told PTI.

On the campaign trail, Chouhan, accompanied by wife Sadhana Singh, can be seen interacting with street food vendors while savouring chaat and samosas over a cup of tea. He also makes it a point to meet voters, especially women, who form a large chunk of his support base.

However, Vidisha district Congress president Mohit Raghuvanshi accused Chouhan of ignoring Vidisha parliamentary areas despite being the local MP and former CM, alleging the BJP leader has not fulfilled promises.

"Chouhan, who used to be the main face of the BJP in the state for two decades, has been confined to Vidisha for campaigning due to the strong challenge posed by the Congress. He has been reduced to the status of a local leader," Raghuvanshi told PTI.

He claimed Congress candidate Sharma had set up educational institutions when he was MP for two terms, that too at a time when there was no local area development fund for parliamentarians.

Rasheed Kidwai, senior journalist and political observer, told PTI that the BJP, under pressure from its ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, was "forced" to field Chouhan from the seat.

"It is an open secret that Shivraj's popularity was sought to be checked but the BJP, under pressure from RSS and women voters, decided to field the former chief minister," Kidwai said.

"He is set to win by a huge margin. In fact, if he wins by the biggest margin from the state or nationally, it is likely to become a major talking point and will be compared with margins in Varanasi, Gandhinagar, Lucknow and elsewhere," Kidwai added.

However, it remains to be seen how Chouhan fits into the Modi-Amit Shah set-up, Kidwai asserted.

Vidisha Lok Sabha seat is spread across eight assembly seats in Vidisha, Raisen, Sehore and Dewas districts.

Bhojpur, Sanchi (SC), and Silwani assembly constituencies are in Raisen district, Vidisha and Basoda in Vidisha district, Budhni and Icchawar in Sehore and Khategaon in Dewas.

Seven of these eight assembly segments of Vidisha LS seat are currently held by the BJP with Chouhan representing Budhni.

Swaraj had won the 2009 Lok Sabha polls by a margin of 3.90 lakh votes after the nomination of Congress candidate Rajkumar Patel, a former MLA from Budhni and minister in Digvijaya Singh's cabinet, was rejected on technical grounds.

Vidisha Lok Sabha is 80 per cent rural and dominated by OBCs, including a sizeable chunk from the Dhakad-Kirar community of Chouhan, as well as 35 per cent SCs/STs, according to a local BJP leader.

Of the 19.38 lakh eligible voters in Vidisha, 10.04 lakh are men and 9.34 lakh women.
A group of Azerbaijan Naval Forces' servicemen is currently in Livorno to take part in international seamanship competitions, Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense.

During the visit, Azerbaijani servicemen met with the command of the Italian Naval Academy and the mayor of Livorno.

Furthermore, the Azerbaijani delegation, alongside representatives from other participating countries, took part in the ceremonial parade and the solemn flag handover ceremony that marked the commencement of the competition.


Nominations of actor Babu Mohan, Manda Jagannath rejected in Telangana Former minister and actor P. Babu Mohan and former MP Manda Jagannath are among 267 aspirants whose nominations have been rejected for Lok Sabha elections in Telangana. The election authorities have accepted nominations of 626 candidates in all 17 Lok Sabha constituencies.



A total of 1,488 nominations were filed by 893 aspirants with many filing multiple nomination sets. According to the Election Commission, 1,060 nominations were found valid.



Babu Mohan had filed nomination papers as an independent candidate from Warangal constituency. Though he had submitted names of 10 voters along with his nomination, they had not marked their signatures.



Interestingly, Babu Mohan joined Praja Shanti Party of evangelist K. A. Paul on March 24. Paul announced the appointment of Babu Mohan as the president of Telangana unit of the party and also declared him as the party candidate from Warangal constituency.



After filing his nomination, Babu Mohan revealed that he resigned from Praja Shanti Party the same day.



In February, he resigned from BJP, saying he was being sidelined.



The veteran actor, known for comedy roles in Telugu films, entered politics by joining Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in the 1990s. He was first elected from Andole in 1998 by-elections and retained the seat in 1999.



He served as Minister for Labour in Chandrababu Naidu's Cabinet in the then unified Andhra Pradesh.



In 2014, Babu Mohan joined TRS (now BRS) and was elected to the Telangana Assembly from Andole. He quit BRS in 2018 after he was denied ticket and joined BJP.



The Election Commission rejected the nomination of Manda Jagannath in Nagarkurnool constituency. He had filed his nomination as candidate of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) but failed to submit B form.



He did not get the chance to contest even as independent as the requirement of 10 candidates signing the nomination papers was not met.



Jagannath was elected MP from Nagarkurnool four times. He was elected thrice on TDP ticket and once on Congress ticket.



Nominations of candidates belonging to major parties were accepted in all constituencies.



Certain objections were raised by Congress and BRS on the nomination of BJP candidate G. Nagesh in Adilabad constituency but the returning officer rejected the objections.



Maximum number of nominations (115 filed by 77 candidates) was rejected in Malkajgiri, which is the biggest parliamentary constituency in the country.



Nominations of 25 candidates were rejected in Nalgonda and 20 in Karimnagar.



April 29 is the last date for withdrawal of candidatures while voting will take place on May 13.






TMC writes to ECI complaining about CBI, NSG ops at Sandeshkhali during second phase of polls The Trinamool Congress on Saturday wrote to the Election Commission of India (ECI) opposing the CBI and National Security Guard (NSG) raids at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas District on Friday and expressed apprehensions that the central agencies might have 'planted' weapons at the search site to 'defame it' when the second phase of Lok Sabha polls were underway. In a significant operation at Sandeshkhali on Friday afternoon, the CBI recovered a huge cache of foreign and Indian-make firearms, explosives and crude bombs from the residence of a relative of suspended Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan at Sandeshkhali.



Later, the Commandos of the NSG, too, joined the CBI officials in that search operation.



In its complaint to the ECI, a copy of which is available with IANS, the Trinamool Congress has accused the CBI of carrying out an unscrupulous raid at an empty location in Sandeshkhali, West Bengal, on poll day, to tarnish the image of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) during the ensuing Lok Sabha Elections, 2024.



It has also claimed that while polling for three Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal was underway on Friday afternoon, the CBI officials conducted raids at vacant places in Sandeshkhali.



In the complaint, the ruling party has also raised questions about involving the NSG commandos in the operations.



As per the ruling partys complaint, despite repeated requests seeking the ECIs intervention on the hyper-activity of the central agencies during the polling period, no action or directive has been issued on this count.



Previously, we have brought to your attention the need for urgent guidelines/framework so that central investigating agencies cannot throttle the campaign efforts of various political parties, including AITC, who are opposed to the ruling dispensation at the Centre.



However, despite repeated representations, your office has turned a blind eye, while central probe agencies continue to wreak havoc across the nation, especially during the election period, the communique to the ECI read.



In the letter to the commission, the Trinamool Congress has also accused the BJPs central leadership of regularly targeting the Trinamool Congress leadership.



It is reiterated that in the absence of any representative of the state government, the purported recovery of arms and ammunition is possibly a ploy employed by the BJP in conspiracy with the CBI and the NSG to plant such weapons at the site.



It would not be out of place to revisit that the Honble Supreme Court has time and again held that free and fair elections form an important concomitant of democracy.



In the present situation, the BJP has compromised the sanctity of the ensuing elections by spreading a sense of terror among the electorate, thereby attempting to gain an undue advantage in the ensuing elections, read the communique to ECI.






cleric murdered in a mosque in Ajmer Rajasthan Police have deputed additional forces in the city after a cleric was murdered in a mosque in Ajmer on Saturday, a police officer said. The incident was reported at around 3 a.m. on Saturday, said police officials adding that three masked miscreants committed the crime. At the time of the incident, there were six minors in the mosque who were threatened and asked not to scream.



The minors said that the miscreants warned them of dire consequences if they shouted.



Ramganj police station in-charge Ravindra Khinchi said, Cleric Mohammad Mahir (30) lived in Mohammadi Madina Masjid located in Kanchan Nagar of Ramganj police station of the city. Some children were also living with him. When the children came out screaming at around 3 a.m. in the morning, the neighbours came to know about the murder. Police were informed soon after.



Khinchi said that the three miscreants had entered the room through a road behind the mosque and killed the cleric. They fled through the same route.



The police station in-charge said, The reasons for the murder have not been revealed yet. There is an enclosure behind the mosque, from where two rods have been recovered. Along with this, nearby CCTV footage is being scrutinised. Dog squad team has also been called.



The community members have demanded immediate action from the police seeking the arrest of the accused. Clerics body has been kept in the mortuary of JLN Hospital, Ajmer.




Our Mission

The mission of the Music Programs of South Carolina State University is to provide students with educational and performance experiences that cultivate creativity, develop performance proficiency and enhance intellectual potential in a multifaceted global society.

The SC State Music Program is part of the Department of Visual & Performing Arts and the College of Education, Humanities & Social Sciences. Dr. Rosetta Dingle is the adacemic program coordinator.

Music Industry The Music Program offers a Bachelor of Arts in Music Industry. Learn more Music Education The Music Program offers a Bachelor of Science in Music Education with concentrations in Choral/Piano, PK-12; Choral/Voice, PK-12; and Instrumental, PK-12.

Learn more The Music Program offers a Bachelor of Science in Music Education with concentrations in Choral/Piano, PK-12; Choral/Voice, PK-12; and Instrumental, PK-12.

Potential Music Major Interest Questionnaire

Performing Ensembles

Audition Information

Students pursuing a degree in music are required to complete an audition for acceptance into their desired music specialization area. This audition process is separate from those held for the South Carolina State University choral and instrumental groups. Students must exhibit demonstrated potential for a successful career in Music Education or Music Industry through basic proficiency on their chosen instrument and provide verification of solo or ensemble experience. Additionally, a diagnostic theory entrance examination is given for placement into the proper theory class for transfer students. All majors complete a sophomore examination.



Audition Dates

In person auditions occur during the Spring and Fall semesters as follows:

For Spring Semester

Sept. 1  Dec. 1

For Fall Semester

Feb. 2  April 30

Music auditions may also be completed via Zoom or as a video of social media platforms such as YouTube.

Audition Requirements

All inquiries about SC State Music Programs should be made to:

Dr. Rosetta Dingle

Coordinator of Music Programs

803-536-8886

rdingle@scsu.edu
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!

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 Friday, August 16 to Sunday, August 18.

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.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Electric Picnic (@epfestival)

Melvin Benn Festival Director said: "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."

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! You can find them HERE.
Derry and Strabane is set to make history by having the North's first black mayor, Derry Now can reveal.

Derry Now understands that SDLP councillor Lilian Seenoi-Barr has gained the party's nomination to replace current incumbent Patricia Logue as the city and district's in June.

Cllr Seenoi-Barr was first co-opted to Derry and Strabane District Council in 2021. She was subsequently elected in the 2023 local elections.

Derry Now understands that a selection convention was due to take place on Monday evening. However the meeting has since been cancelled as the party's management committee has opted to nominate Cllr Seenoi-Barr for mayor instead of taking it to a vote among the party's 300 members.

Two other candidates were in the running to become the SDLP's pick for mayor, they were councillors Shauna Cusack and Jason Barr.

In a joint statement to party members, councillors Cusack and Barr expressed concerns over the party's selection process of who was to become the new mayor.

The councillors stated that the result of a "retrospective, informal, online interview held on Monday, which we were told was a matter of procedure for constitutional purposes. At no stage were we advised that this would determine our candidacy".

The also stated that the decision by the party's management committee was "misleading and evasive".

In a joint statement to party members, councillors Cusack and Barr said: "Sadly by now you will have received notification that the selection convention arranged for Monday coming to select a Mayor for Derry City and Strabane District Council has been postponed. Please be advised that this has NOT been postponed but CANCELLED.

"Many of you have been in touch to ask why, as you have already made arrangements to attend and updated your membership accordingly, so you deserve an explanation.

"This has occurred because the management committee/panel have decided earlier this week to reject cllr Shauna Cusack and cllr Jason Barr as candidates, removing us from the process and competition, in order to put only one candidate forward for the post.

We were advised that this was the result of a retrospective, informal, online interview held on Monday, which we were told was a matter of procedure for constitutional purposes.

At no stage were we advised that this would determine our candidacy.

"As an elected rep with an 11-year mandate, popular local profile and strong track record on delivery for the SDLP, alongside a current Deputy Mayor with an excellent portfolio and community platform, never did we imagine we would not have the calibre or criteria to be eligible for the post of Mayor of our city and district, never mind not given the opportunity to present or compete in a democratic selection.

"As you will be aware we had already been nominated and the three candidates details, as well as the date of the selection, circulated to all 300 members by HQ.

We had also been supplied with your emails from HQ and canvassed you all for your support. So this came as much as a shock to us as Im sure it does to you now.

The statement added: I feel it is important that you are aware of the full circumstances surrounding this surprising and abnormal situation as the information from HQ is, in our opinion, quite misleading and evasive.

To avoid any confusion there will be no future date for a selection convention competition but rather one to ratify the single candidate who has now been selected by the management committee.

Both myself and Jason are incredibly disappointed and frustrated that you, as members, will not be given the opportunity to vote for your candidate of choice to be the next SDLP first citizen.

We have, like others, lodged our objections to this highly irregular, unfair and unprecedented process and appealed to the committee to immediately review their decision on the basis of fairness and transparency."

Both councillors say the have appealed to the selected candidate to "stand with us asking for solidarity in our request for a reconsideration and to also demand the vote proceed on Monday the 29th as planned".

The said: Our requests have been met with silence from all concerned. This means that with the tight deadline for action expiring today, there can now be no change in events.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for any engagement and support you have given us, not only during our mandate but especially during this highly flawed process.

We are sorry for any disappointment you may feel. We feel it acutely ourselves. Please be assured that this is not a case of sour grapes but a genuine concern about the lack of democracy in the process.

To be clear no blame can be assigned to our friends on the council group and local elected reps who have been equally dismayed and disappointed. Wishing the best of luck to the future Mayor for the year ahead.

The SDLP has been contacted for comment.
Country

United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
Aontu wants an international city in another part of Ireland as Dublin is overheating, its leader told delegates.

Peadar Toibin, the leader of the party and its only TD, said that Ireland is becoming a lop-sided city state, and that a third of the country is living in commuter hell.

Mr Toibin addressed his party Ard Fheis conference in Maynooth, Co Kildare, on Saturday evening.

He said that most university-type jobs are based in the Dublin area, meaning young people are forced to move away from home to get a job, but some cannot afford to live in the capital and have to commute from 30, 40, 50 miles away.

This is fraying at the very fabric of families. Mothers and fathers are getting to see their children for maybe an hour in the evening to put them to bed, he said on Saturday.

He said his party wants a new international city built in another location in Ireland to address the issue, which could come from an existing town or city being developed.

We want to front load investment and infrastructure into that new city so that it grows to a critical mass and starts to draw down international investment in its own right, Mr Toibin said.

We want to see it grow to a critical mass that it comes a counter balance to Dublin in terms of spatial growth.

Mr Toibin also called for the development of a border innovation zone to pull in infrastructure investment and enterprise funding for border counties.

HE said: The root of this problem is, I believe that the Fianna Fail/Fine Gael/Green government is increasingly a south Dublin government that cannot see beyond the M50.

During his leaders address, Mr Toibin referenced Irelands planned Covid inquiry and the governments handling of nursing homes, as well as immigration and what he called a lack of information being a petri dish for rumour.

He said the island of Ireland should be treated as one unit in terms of migration policy and criticised a small number of extremists who are harvesting growing discontent due to government strategies.

This must be opposed. The colour of a persons skin is of no more significance than the colour of their eyes, he said.

Mr Toibin, a former Sinn Fein TD for Meath West, left the party after he voted against legislation to liberalise Irelands abortion laws in the wake of the Eighth Amendment referendum.

He founded the Aontu party in 2019 which has four councillors on the island of Ireland and is polling at around 4%.

Mr Toibin said that the party fought a David and Goliath battle on the two defeated referenda in March on amending Irelands constitutional wording on care and families.

While the government and opposition parties advocated for Yes in both plebiscites, Aontu pushed for a No-No vote.

He claimed that since then, 400 new members have joined the party, which is just shy of 2,000 members.

Mr Toibin is running in the European elections as a candidate in the Midlands North West constituency.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed, left, and Wu Minglu, secretary general of China Wildlife Conservation Association, attend a signing ceremony in Beijing on April 19 for an agreement to lease giant pandas to the San Francisco Zoo. Liu Zheng/Associated Press Air China planes sit on the tarmac at Beijing Airport. The biggest U.S. airlines and their unions asked the Biden administration to stop approving more flights to the United States by Chinese airlines. Greg Baker/Associated Press

Inside a Chinatown travel agency Tuesday afternoon, owner Shirley Cen wanted Mayor London Breed to explain how she was going to bring Chinese tourists back to San Francisco.

The pandas are coming here, but how to make more people come here? Cen asked.

Breed responded that the pandas, secured by her team during a trip to China this month, probably arent touching down until 2025 and there remained work to be done.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

In the meantime, what we need is more airlines, more flights, Breed said. They need to be more affordable.

Chinese tourists were the largest and fastest-growing visitor group to San Francisco before the pandemic, said Hubertus Funke, executive vice president and chief tourism officer for the San Francisco Travel Association. They spent the most of any group of international visitors to San Francisco in 2019, accounting for $1.2 billion of the $7.7 billion spent.

But Chinese tourism has not bounced back. This month, when the mayor, tourism and airport officials traveled to China, they pitched Chinese airlines on adding direct flights between Chinese cities  such as the megacity of Shenzhen  and San Francisco, with the hope of boosting tourism.

Its a big deal, Breed told the Chronicle in Chinatown on Tuesday. We have seen every other country recovered but not China, which is the bulk of the tourists we rely on here in San Francisco.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Tourism from many countries to San Francisco, including the U.K. and Mexico, has largely bounced back to  and in some cases exceeded  pre-pandemic levels, according to forecasts from December done by Oxford Economics and provided by San Francisco Travel.

Last year, there were 4,000 more Indian tourists visiting San Francisco and San Mateo counties compared with 2019, according to the forecast.

But Chinese tourists are an outlier in that upward recovery. Last year, the number of Chinese tourists to San Francisco and San Mateo counties was just 40% of their 2019 number, 208,000 compared with 518,000 in 2019, according to the forecast. This year an estimated 384,900 Chinese tourists are expected.

A key roadblock, the mayor and city tourism and airport officials say, is that the number of direct flights between San Francisco and China still lags far behind pre-pandemic levels and demand.

The main reason, said Melissa Andretta, San Francisco International Airports director of aviation marketing and development, is that the U.S. and Chinese governments reciprocally set caps on the number of U.S.-China flights allowed by the other countrys carriers.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The U.S. Department of Transportation on March 31 increased the cap to allow 50 weekly direct flights by Chinese airlines to the U.S., which is still far below the pre-pandemic 150-plus weekly flights allowed by each country, according to Reuters.

By the end of this month, there will be 25 weekly flights between San Francisco International Airport and mainland Chinese destinations. Thats half the number of flights between the two places in 2019. The restricted options have made flights more expensive, Funke said.

Many businesses, especially in popular tourist destinations like Chinatown, have been hit hard.

Cen, who owns One Global Travel Agency on Stockton Street, told the Chronicle that her agency has only about half of its pre-pandemic customer volume.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Now theres not many tourists from China, she said in Mandarin. Not enough.

The low number of flights is not for lack of demand, Andretta said. Local demand for travel to China has surged since the country reopened its borders in January 2023 by ending quarantine requirements for inbound travelers, airport data shows.

An average of 776 passengers flew each day from the Bay Area to China via both nonstop and connecting flights in January, compared with 133 in January 2023 and 1,272 in January 2019.

Until the U.S. government increases flight caps between the U.S. and China, Andretta said, airlines are restricted in how often they can fly.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Meanwhile, U.S. airlines and unions asked the Biden administration this month to pause increasing the number of flights Chinese carriers are allowed to operate, Reuters reported, alleging anti-competitive policies.

A spokesperson for the mayor said it is ultimately the federal governments decision whether to add flights between the U.S. and China. We value our federal partnerships and will continue to work in coordination on a number of issues, including the possibility of future flight options, for the advancement of San Francisco, Parisa Safarzadeh told the Chronicle.

The San Francisco airport is focused on attracting Chinese airlines to choose the city over other U.S. destinations if and when they are allowed to add flights, Andretta said.

It plans to offer incentives, namely waiving millions in annual landing fees for the first two years that an airline starts a new nonstop route, as well as a marketing incentive to promote the new route.
Network Ireland Louth held its most recent event, Express Yourself, in the Market House in Dunleer. The event focused on expressing your personality in your fashion and home.

Speakers on the evening were Sheena Elliott, of Style Lounge Edit, and Lana Dullaghan, of Lana Dullaghan Designs. Sheena Elliott talked about her journey from being a hairdresser to her love for fashion, colour, and wanting women to put their best foot forward and feel their best in what they wear, which led her to set up her business.

She advised on coordinating wardrobe items, i.e. having that jacket that goes with different things, and can be dressed up or dressed down, as the need arises. Sheena is a personal stylist for the French Clothing range, Elora, and can show these products in homes, and other chosen venues, and the wide variety of styles is appealing to all women.

Lana Dullaghan describes herself as an interior designer and artist. She spoke about her passion for colour and bringing colour into the home to express the owners personality.

Her presentation of her work was a feast for the senses, from her artwork to photos of finished interior design projects. Lana is about to launch her own Irish Linen table collection of tablecloths, table runners, and table mats.

She gave the Network Ireland Louth members a sneak preview of her range of linens, and she has certainly changed the perception of the Irish Linen tablecloth and created products that will be handed down for generations. This new range launches at the end of April.

Network Ireland Louth is a branch of Network Ireland, a nationwide organisation supporting the professional, and personal, development of women. It provides support, learning and networking opportunities for women in business and enterprise, throughout Ireland, through the branch network.

Network Ireland hold monthly events through their countrywide branches. Awards at branch and national level, and other collaboration opportunities, are just a few of the ways in which Network Ireland provides support.

Network Ireland is a non-profit, voluntary organisation, established in 1983 and now has 17 Branches Nationwide. Membership is made up of a diverse group of women, from budding entrepreneurs to SME owners, professionals, and leaders in Indigenous and multinational organisations, the Public Sector, the Arts, non-profit organisations, and charities.
Community Therapy Ireland, a national membership organisation for community therapeutic service providers, is calling on the state to invest in Dundalk counselling Centre to respond to increasing demand and waiting lists for therapy in the North East Region.

On Tuesday, Community Therapy Ireland hosted an event Buswells Hotel with keynote speakers Deputy Gary Gannon, Fiona Coyle, Mental Health Reform CEO, Sarah Jane Hennelly, Community Therapy Ireland CEO, Elizabeth McGuckin, Community Therapy Ireland Chairperson, and Des Bailey, Service Manager for Kerry Adolescent Counselling Service,

Dundalk Counselling Centre is one of 26 member services who attended this event and were supported by many TD's on the day in their call for investment to meet local demand for therapy.

Community Therapy Ireland services are charities that are contracted by the Government to provide counselling and psychotherapy for children and families to the State.

Together since 2014, Community Therapy Ireland services have provided therapy to 84,136 people and delivered over 626,000 counselling sessions on a low cost or free of charge basis. In 2023, they provided therapy to 6,183 people and delivered 55,300 counselling sessions. Dundalk Counselling Centre responded to over 500 people last year, offering over 6,500 therapeutic sessions.

The event welcome elected representatives from across Ireland, including Deputy Mark Ward (SF), Deputy Paul Donnelly (SF), Deputy Alan Farrell (FG), Deputy Padraig OSullivan (FF), Deputy Michael Healy Rea (Ind), Deputy Cathal Berry (Ind), and Senator Jerry Buttimer (FG).

Keynote speaker Deputy Gary Gannon, who spoke recently of his ADHD diagnosis and the importance of affordable therapy said, Community Therapy  well funded and established throughout our cities, towns, and villages, would be transformative to Irish society.

A recent parliamentary question submitted by Community Therapy Ireland showed a total of 3,808 people were waiting for appointments for HSEs Counselling and Primary care services across Ireland, as of January 31st, 2024. Waiting lists are highest in CHO 8, (Laoise, Offaly, Longford, Westmeath, Louth, Meath) with a total of 808 people on waiting lists.

Sarah Jane Hennelly, Community Therapy Ireland CEO said: Timely access to counselling is vital not just for the person who needs it but also at a clinical level. The earlier therapy can be provided the more likely there is to be a positive outcome in terms of improved client well-being, symptom reduction and reduced psychological distress.

The State alone is not fit to meet the growing demands we are seeing since the pandemic. Its extremely frustrating for our sector. We could do a lot more, but chronic underfunding is limiting our ability to respond.

Centre Manager Liz McGucckin said "The waiting list at the moment for services at Dundalk Counselling Centre are 160 Adults, 164 Child and Adolescent, 13 Families and 28 Couples. We could respond to this in the morning given consistent and sustainable funding".

Sarah Jane continued, We are vital services, but the reality is our members operate with an average annual funding shortfall of 60%. State funding to our services was cut in 2009 by over 40% and its never returned to pre-crash levels. The increase in overhead costs and demand for services is putting us under enormous pressure.

We are offering a solution to the states growing challenges around demand for affordable and accessible therapy. With proper investment and funding security, we can scale up and focus on what we do best  delivering therapy to those who need it, when they need it, regardless of their ability to pay.
Students placed tents on the Stanford University campus to decry Israels war with Gaza. Noah Berger/Special to the Chronicle Pro-Palestinian demonstrators on the Stanford University campus have been warned not to camp overnight. Noah Berger/Special to the Chronicle A demonstrator leaves a pro-Palestinian tent camp at Stanford University. Noah Berger/Special to the Chronicle

As dozens of Stanford students joined a pro-Palestinian protest movement emerging across American universities, administrators on Friday warned demonstrators who set up an encampment that anyone who remains overnight faces discipline and even arrest.

The submission of student names to the (disciplinary) process has begun, interim President Richard Saller and Provost Jenny Martinez wrote in a letter addressed Dear Students.

The letter said the grassy area outside the student union known as White Plaza is intended for free expression  but that overnight camping there isnt allowed.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Students, many of them wearing surgical masks or keffiyeh scarves over their faces, erected about two dozen tents on White Plaza on Thursday evening alongside a table laden with food and festooned with red, green and black Palestinian flags. At least one student wore a Jewish yarmulke, and among the many posters decrying Israels ongoing war in Gaza was a huge banner declaring, Jews say ceasefire now!

A pro-Palestinian demonstrator rests inside a tent on the Stanford University campus. Noah Berger/Special to the Chronicle

The protesters cordoned off the encampment and placed yellow-vested monitors at intervals to ensure that only students could enter the space. With a formal agenda to help pass the hours, the protesters delivered history lessons about Israel and Gaza, featured a jazz ensemble, and scheduled a drum workshop, meditation sessions, Muslim prayers and a film at 9 p.m.  an hour after the deadline to leave.

On Friday night, the 8 p.m. deadline came and went and students continued their demonstration with only one campus police officer nearby.

The idea that Stanford may arrest students is abhorrent, said a protester wearing a keffiyeh around her hair who identified herself only as Adriana. It speaks volumes about this universitys commitment to silencing student voices  and putting their financial interests over Palestinian lives.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Like university students across the country, including at UC Berkeley and Cal Poly Humboldt in Arcata, protesters are demanding that their universities divest from companies doing business in Israel because of ongoing genocide in Palestine at the hands of the Israeli apartheid government, according to the Stanford group Sit In to Stop Genocide.

The proliferation of protests come as Israels war on Gaza and Hamas nears its seventh month. More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 77,000 have been injured as a result of Israeli airstrikes, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. Hamas triggered the war on Oct. 7, when its militants invaded Israel, killed about 1,200 people and took around 250 hostages. About 100 are still missing.

At UC Berkeley, Russell Bates waves a Palestinian flag as a crowd gathers for prayer in front of Sproul Hall. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

Dubbed the Peoples University for Palestine at Stanford, Stanfords encampment resurrects an earlier one that administrators shut down in February after 120 days. And it echoes others springing up on campuses across the country as students express solidarity with more than 100 anti-Israel demonstrators arrested last week at Columbia University after House Republicans grilled President Minouche Shafik and accused her of allowing antisemitism to fester on campus.

Similar appearances before Congress by the presidents of Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania in December ultimately led those campus presidents to resign their posts.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

On Tuesday, UC Berkeley students erected tents atop the steps of the administrative building at Sproul Hall, vowing to remain there until the university divests from any company doing business in Israel, and until the school establishes a Palestinian studies program.

UC Berkeley has resisted calls for divestment from Israel, saying in a statement Friday: While the University affirms the right of our community members to express diverse viewpoints, a boycott of this sort impinges on the academic freedom of our students and faculty and the unfettered exchange of ideas on our campuses.

At Cal Poly Humboldt, the campus has been closed for the remainder of the school year as university officials wrestle with protesters who have occupied Siemens Hall, an administrative building, since Monday. On Friday, officials threatened to arrest protesters unless they left voluntarily before 5 p.m. Some left and some stayed after that deadline passed.

Outside UC Berkeleys Sproul Hall, protesters in tents demand the school disinvest from any company doing business with Israel. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

Those who walk out peacefully by the deadline will not be immediately arrested and will be able to leave campus without being arrested, the university had said earlier in a statement.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

At Stanford, perhaps in an effort to deflect the widespread perception that protesters who oppose the war in Gaza oppose not only Israel but Jews, some of the activists distributed a flyer that said, Love Jews, f Zionism, which refers to the establishment of Israel as a sanctuary state for Jews.

The reestablishment of Stanfords encampment coincides with Admit Week, when visiting parents and prospective students wander around campus asking questions of officials in red vests.

One couple from Texas, who stopped for sandwiches in the Tresidder Memorial Union, declined to be identified but said they have no problem with protesters at Stanford  as long as theyre peaceful.

Students, many wearing surgical masks or keffiyeh scarves over their faces, placed tents on White Plaza at Stanford University to show support for Palestinians in Gaza. Noah Berger/Special to the Chronicle

School officials largely agree  as long as students left White Plaza by 8 p.m., which they did not.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Violations of university policy will not be overlooked, Saller and Martinez warned in their letter, noting that students also risk being suspended.
THE Lord Mayor of Cork councillor Kieran McCarthy recently welcomed practitioners and young people involved in Helium Arts to City Hall  a group he said are very worthy of honouring.

Helium Arts is a childrens charity which aims to improve the wellbeing of children and teenagers living with lifelong physical health conditions by providing free creative workshops which take place in hospitals, online, in person, and within local communities.

Several participants along with their families recently met with the Lord Mayor to speak about the impact of their participation in the Helium Arts programmes in Cork.

'Worthy of honouring'

The charity hosts workshops across various locations across Cork, including Mayfield Arts Centre, the Togher Family Centre, and the Big Blue Cube in Mallow.

The practitioners and participants in the various Helium programmes are very worthy of honouring, the Lord Mayor said.

The confidence and positivity of the children is clear to see. Helium Arts breaks down barriers that many of us take for granted.

It creates opportunities for expression and growth among children and young people who have lifelong physical conditions. It is important that the arts and culture embedded in Irish society does not leave anyone behind.

Challenges

Helene Hugel, CEO and artistic director for Helium Arts, said 13% of children in Ireland live with the challenges of a lifelong health condition.

Research shows that young people living with health conditions face loneliness, stress, anxiety, and can feel defined by their condition.

They experience stigma associated with their condition, social isolation, and loneliness and fewer quality friendships. At Helium Arts, were committed to addressing these challenges year-round. According to a recent independent evaluation of our community program, 100% of parents reported that their child experienced an improved quality of life after participating in Helium Arts workshops.

This is a testament to the positive impact of our work on the lives of these young individuals and their families, she said.

Children and young people interested in participating in a Helium Arts workshop  online, or in person  can find details of events taking place nationwide at https://helium.ie/workshops.


MOST of the 167 cells at Cork Prison are at double capacity, with up to 52 inmates sleeping on the floor during February, Prison Officers Association president Tony Power told delegates at the bodys annual conference in Sligo.

Mr Power disclosed that, on a date in February, there was 352 inmates in the prison, which is regarded as the most modern in the State, up from 287, 12 months previously.

Yesterday, there were 348 inmates in custody at Cork Prison, which was at 118% capacity.

It comes against a backdrop of a surge in the prison population which Mr Power suggested was on the verge of reaching 5,000 inmates, up 25% on the figure from five years ago.

He said the Prison Officers Association had made repeated attempts to highlight the issue but it had fallen on deaf ears.

Despite the promises on real extra spaces made here year on year by successive ministers  nothing happens  nothing, said Mr Power. And this is a disgrace, lets just call it what it is.

In February 2022, during covid, the bed capacity of the Irish Prison Service was 4,471 with 4,182 in custody.

Up to March of this year, the 2022 capacity had increased by a mere 43 to 4,514 while the number in custody had increased by a staggering 763 inmates.

So, we are now being asked to house hundreds of additional prisoners into 43 additional spaces, he said.

Lets look at Cork Prison, the most modern prison in the estate, which now has all but a handful of its 167 cells doubled up.

A year ago, this prison was already overcrowded by modern standards, with a total of 287 prisoners.

But now in 2024 [February], Cork Prison was housing 352 prisoners, with up to 52 prisoners now sleeping on floors.

He said that while the Prison Service had a proven track record in delivering a professional service to prisoners, the good work of the officers was being hindered in an overcrowded system, without adequate access to services.

This was also impacting directly on the potential rehabilitation of prisoners.

Other issues raised at the POA conference were the increasing use of drones to deliver mobile phones and drugs to prisoners, and a hike in the number of attacks on prison officers.

POA general secretary Karl Dalton told his associations delegates that prisons were being flooded with contraband such as phones, drugs, and a variety of weapons.

During 2023, our members seized 1,272 mobile phones, 1,294 drug packs, and 308 weapons, which were being smuggled into our prisons, he said. We have an increasing and concerning trend in regard to the smuggling of contraband, which of course is also tied to intimidation and violence within and outside the prison system.

The use of drones to deliver contraband has also increased since 2019, when the matter was raised at a POA conference.

The number of violent incidents in Irish prisons has more than doubled since 2020, when there were 376 reported incidents, to 891 assaults last year.
A glossy 132-page book was launched on Monday to mark the 125th anniversary of the establishment of Cork County Council, which became a corporate entity on April 22, 1899, as a result of the passing in Westminster the previous year of the Local Government (Ireland) Act.

What existed before then was called the Grand Jury System and their functions, along with certain functions of what were called the Poor Law Boards of Guardians, were taken over by county councils which were to be, in contrast with their predecessors, democratically elected.

Back in those sepia-tinted days, Cork County Council held its meetings in the back portion of the top floor of the Courthouse on Washington St, and this continued until 1968. County Hall  as it was called following a resolution on February 27, 1967  had its grand opening in 1968, and, for many years afterwards, was Irelands tallest building at 67m.

Then, as now, how the council generated income and invested its funds was a cause of concern. In the late 1970s, following the Fianna Fail landslide victory in the 1977 election, domestic property rates were abolished, and this created difficulties for the council.

In 1997, the then government abolished water charges and that increased the pressure further. On the other side of the balance sheet, motor tax has been paid into the Local Government Fund from 1999 and is distributed on a needs and resource basis, while the Local Property Tax introduced in 2013 also generates income for the councils.

Theres an aspiration published in 2013 by the Fine Gael-led coalition Government Action Programme for Local Government which suggests an ambition that locally-raised funds would eventually account for 86% of local government funding. The council is, however, operating on an annual budget of 458m for 2024 and councillors and officials alike are loudly complaining about being short-changed for funds for the upkeep of the countrys largest network of roads, almost 12,000km, to the tune of 273m, excluding approximately 40m for damage caused by Storm Babet flooding, since 2008.

Pictured are Deputy Simon Coveney TD; Valerie O'Sullivan, Chief Executive, Cork County Council; Cllr. Frank O'Flynn, Mayor of the County of Cork; Bishop Fintan Gavin, Bishop of Cork and Ross Diocese and Michael McGrath, Minister for Finance.

The personalities elected to the council and working there over the 125 years have changed considerably. Back in 1899 and for many years afterwards, the council resembled a gentlemans club in terms of elected members and officials. The situation has improved, in the sense that 18 out of 55 of the current elected members are female, while women also occupy many of the authoritys top positions including that of chief executive.

Aerial view of the Lee Fields, Cork in the 1980s. Included are the County Hall and the old open air baths.

As Nicola Radley, a senior council official, remarked at Mondays celebratory event to mark the anniversary, as she introduced council CEO Valerie OSullivan to make some concluding remarks.

Valerie is the formidable first female chief executive of Cork County Council and, imagine, it took only 125 years, she said.
Protesters gather Saturday at the pro-Palestinian encampment in White Plaza at Stanford University in defiance of the schools orders to leave. Manuel Orbegozo/Special to the Chronicle A tent encampment of pro-Palestinian demonstrators remains at White Plaza on the Stanford University campus Saturday despite orders to clear the area Friday night. Zara Irshad/The Chronicle The encampment includes a puppet of Stanford University President Richard Saller with bloody hands. Manuel Orbegozo/Special to the Chronicle Stanford University student Carlos Enrique Ramirez, 20, protests the Israeli-Gaza war Saturday. Zara Irshad/The Chronicle

A tent encampment of pro-Palestinian demonstrators remained on the Stanford University campus over the weekend despite orders to leave the night before.

Administrators had warned students to clear out of White Plaza, a grassy area outside the student union, by 8 p.m. Friday or face discipline, including arrest.

Deputies with the Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office made their way through the encampment of about 20 tents around 7:30 a.m. Saturday, trying to identify those involved. Protesters said they had heard of no arrests Saturday.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

During the night, the university posted a printout of an email at the corner of the encampment warning protesters that they are violating university policy.

An encampment at Stanford University seeks to call attention to Palestinians in Gaza. Manuel Orbegozo/Special to the Chronicle

Its just fear-mongering tactics, Stanford student Carlos Enrique Ramirez said of threats of administrative discipline and further repercussions. I think theres no bite behind the administrations words.

Ramirez, 20, said that while some at the encampment have wandered away, most eventually return, leaving what he estimates to be a hundred students remaining.

We all showed up last night, he said. We listened to music, we had fun, we watched a movie, we made food. We literally broke bread.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The students had created a Peoples University for Palestine at White Memorial Plaza on Thursday, similar to other demonstrations at U.S. universities over the past week to protest Israels attacks on Gaza.

Student protester Yungsu Kim, 21, said the encampment is intended to be a space of joy and liberation. The space was filled with Palestinian dance and music Friday night.

We have these moments of joy to sustain ourselves for the next day, he said.

Although Kim said he doesnt sleep at the encampment, he has been showing up early each morning to support the movement. He was present when police entered the encampment for a welfare check earlier in the day.

A protester sleeps Saturday at the pro-Palestine student encampment at Stanford University. Manuel Orbegozo/Special to the Chronicle

Its terrifying, obviously, Kim said. That only comes to show how steadfast the people who are committed to keeping this Peoples University really are.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Stanford is in the midst of admit weekend, in which hundreds of newly admitted undergraduates visit campus to learn more about the schools offerings. Many protesters say that is even more of a reason to keep up the demonstration.

The role of the Peoples University is to demonstrate that even in the world where Stanford does divest, theres a positive way forward, theres a way forward where the university still exists, where scholarship can still happen and where community can still happen, Kim said. And that it can be done through our power and because we commit to making it happen.

Protesters wearing yellow vests remain posted around the edges of the encampment, monitoring people entering the space. As the sidewalk slowly filled with morning joggers and other students, these vested students rose from their seats and began to pace around the perimeter of the space.

These movements have always been something thats been youth led, and I think in understanding that and in recognizing that, we need to empower the youth and make the youth coming into Stanford feel empowered, Ramirez said.

Students sitting in the encampment chanted Free Palestine and other phrases. Amid a sea of posters and flags lining the encampment were signs reading, Stanford tell admitted students the truth: you fund genocide and Jews say ceasefire now!

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

A tray with shakshuka, a Middle Eastern breakfast dish, cooked by student protesters at dawn at the Stanford campus encampment. Manuel Orbegozo/Special to the Chronicle

Large metal pots and plastic tubs filled with food sat atop the concrete benches of White Plaza as the students slowly spilled out of the tents around 9:20 a.m for breakfast. A handful of protesters made pancakes for the group.

A couple with three young children who said they were visitors to the area donated money to the students and commended them on their perseverance and message.

The encampment drew a small crowd of passersby, some of whom began speaking with protesters about the conflict.

A man who identified himself as Lior said he agrees with the students right to protest but disagrees with their cause.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

At a university of the rank of Stanford, which is the bastion of education, I would expect people to be a lot more educated, he said.

Lior and his girlfriend, who grew up in Palo Alto and requested anonymity, joined in on a conversation between another passing couple and students.

I dont see anything peaceful. Not one mention of the word peace or two state solution or surrender of Hamas,  she said. I think a lot of these things here are blatant lies.

Families of incoming students attending admit weekend stop to look at pro-Palestinian graffiti. Manuel Orbegozo/Special to the Chronicle

A related protest is taking place at Cal Poly Humboldt in Arcata, which closed its campus Friday through the remainder of the school year after the occupation of an academic and administrative building by pro-Palestinian activists. Students continued to occupy buildings Saturday in defiance of the universitys 5 p.m. Friday deadline to leave.

The protests come as Israels war on Gaza and Hamas nears its seventh month. More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 77,000 have been injured as a result of Israeli airstrikes, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. Hamas sparked the war on Oct. 7 when its militants invaded Israel, killed about 1,200 people and took around 250 hostages. About 100 remain missing.
SOCIAL Democrats leader Holly Cairns has sharply criticised the Governments track record in providing dedicated inpatient beds for adults with eating disorders, labelling it an abject failure.

Speaking in the Dail this week, the Cork South-West TD said under plans published in 2018, some 20 new beds were set to be delivered by 2023, but not one has been delivered.

There are currently just three dedicated psychiatric beds for adults with eating disorders who are in need of inpatient treatment.

In other parts of the country, adult patients are admitted to local general adult mental health units.

Ms Cairns believes the Government has failed to grasp the seriousness of eating disorders.

Over the years Ive spoken to women who have been forced to speak publicly about what theyre going through, to set up GoFundMes to get the care they need, she said. Ive spoken to parents at their wits end watching their children quite literally waste away in complete disbelief that theres no support for them.

'Lack of transparency'

Ms Cairns also criticised what she said was a lack of transparency in the funding of treatment for adults with eating disorders.

Sometimes the HSE will pay for private treatment for people, sometimes it wont, she said.

Theres no clarity, no transparency about how those decisions are made.

Ms Cairns said she wished to acknowledge that there has been some progress with regard to care in the community, but added that other sufferers who are past the point of early intervention need urgent inpatient treatment.

Response from Taoiseach

Responding, Taoiseach Simon Harris acknowledged that historically, there has been a lack of publicly funded services for people with eating disorders in Ireland.

Research, the Taoiseach said, shows that the most effective setting for eating disorders is in the community, but added that a small number of people, mainly with restrictive eating disorders, will require inpatient care for stabilisation and for other reasons.

Based on multidisciplinary community teams, the national clinical programme for eating disorders is now being implemented on a phased basis across the country, he said. There are now 11 teams in place, six adult teams and five child and adolescent mental health service teams.

Mr Harris addedthere are currently 20 dedicated eating disorder beds across the four Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) inpatient units.

As of April 23, he said nobody was waiting for access in that area.
AN award-winning Palestinian poet, whose works have been translated into Irish, will speak at this weekends Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign (CPSC) rally in the city centre, before headlining an event at the Triskel Arts Centre.

Marwan Makhoul is an acclaimed poet born to a Palestinian father and a Lebanese mother and grew up in Boquaia, in the upper Galilee region.

Mr Makhoul is visiting Cork to speak at the CPSC rally and to headline a multilingual poetry event called Listen to the Birds at the Triskel Arts Centre this evening as part of the Cork World Book Festival.

The event will be presented in association with IMRAM, the Irish language literary festival, and Poetry Ireland.

Listen to the Birds will feature Mr Makhoul reading his own poetry in Arabic, English versions read by Raphael Cohen, and translations into Irish by poets Eibhlis Carcione, Louis de Paor, and Aine Ui Fhoghlu.

A Palestinian living within the state of Israel, Mr Makhouls poetry deals with the marginalisation of its Arab citizens, and with questions of personal and national identity.

Im a voice that tells people about our identity, and how we have worked to preserve it as Palestinian, Arab, and in connection with our people, said Mr Makhoul.

Mr Makhouls poetry collections include Land of the Sad Passiflora, Where Is My Mom, and A Letter from the Last Man.

Ms Carcione said translating Mr Makhouls poems had been a very fulfilling and moving experience.

Irish has its own unique and powerful words for war, suffering, and love, said Ms Carcione. Each poem brought me on many journeys to find the right words and rhythms in Irish.

Its not just the war that Marwan captures but all of the human condition: love, life, sorrow, happiness, death, and everything in between.

Today's rally is the latest weekly gathering since the first event on October 14.
EIGHT important archaeological heritage projects in Cork are set to receive more than 420,000 from the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage, under the 2024 Community Monuments Fund.

Administered locally by Cork County Council, the fund was established in 2020 to conserve, maintain, protect, and promote local archaeological monuments and historic sites.

Five archaeological sites owned by Cork County Council are encompassed in the announcement, including conservation works at Bandon Town Wall, which will receive 30,000, St Marys Collegiate Church in Youghal, which will receive 100,000, works at Castlefreke Church of Ireland in Rathbarry, which will receive 30,000, conservation works at Kilgullane Church and Graveyard in Fermoy, which will receive 82,396.65, and Templebreedy Graveyard near Crosshaven, which will see improved access and signage to the sum of 29,720.

A further three sites in the county will receive funding, including conservation works at the Castleview Mills Complex near Clonakilty, which will receive 100,000, as well as two conservation management plans for Saint Abbans Ecclesiastical Site, in Baile Bhuirne, which will receive 19,680, and Saint Colmans Cathedral in Cloyne which will receive 30,000.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Councillor Frank OFlynn said: Since it first commenced in 2020, the Community Monuments Fund has supported some excellent projects in County Cork.

Not only does the scheme support the upkeep of the countys precious archaeological heritage, it also encourages local groups to get involved.

Cork County Council chief executive Valerie OSullivan said: This years Community Monuments Fund allocation for eight different projects hints at the depth of archaeological heritage in the county.
THE Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is considering a proposal to establish a full border control post (BCP) in Cork after a business case was submitted by the Port of Cork.

A BCP is a designated entry point to the EU market through which consignments of food, food contact materials, animals, feed and plants that are subject to increased import controls must enter the EU.

Speaking in recent days in the Dail, Fine Gael TD for Cork East David Stanton said the establishment of a permanent fixed BCP situated in Ringaskiddy, which the Port of Cork is seeking, would be good for business, the country and the consumer and would be good for emissions and pollution.

Currently BCPs in Ireland are located in Dublin and Rosslare.

Speaking in response, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Pippa Hackett said that currently, Cork Port is a designated BCP for container shipments of wood and wood products only.

Inspections of these products take place at the Tivoli container terminal near Cork city.

I am advised that it is not possible at present to use this port as an entry point of regulated food products.

I understand, however, that my department has been assessing the feasibility of a limited derogation for certain seasonal low-risk commodities where there is legislative scope to enter outside of a border control post.

A temporary derogation to use Cork Port for the import of melons for the 2024 season has been approved by my department, with communication to stakeholders of the requirements and procedures issued recently, she said.

In relation to longer term measures, Ms Hackett said the Port of Cork has submitted a business case for the building of a border control post that is capable of handling food product.

Consideration, she said, must be given to the costs of the establishment of the potential BCP as well as the longer term running costs.

Further regard must be given to the potential impact on our existing border control posts.

A full border control post would also require close collaboration and co-ordination between my department, Revenue and the HSE.

The issue of whether an additional border control post might be required in the Port of Cork remains under consideration.

Officials from my department continue to analyse the requirements for this facility.
FORMER attorney general and Progressive Democrats leader Michael McDowell is to give the oration on Sunday at a commemoration in North Cork of Ballygiblin-born IRA officer Sean ODonoghue, who was slain by Free State Army soldiers near Cork city following an ambush that happened at the height of the Civil War.

Sean ODonoghue, baptised as John, was born in Gurteenabowl, Mitchelstown, in 1898 to William and Nano ODonoghue and attended Ballygiblin National School in the vicinity.

Sundays commemorative event, which will get underway at 12.30pm near Ballygiblin National School, is organised by a group including former Cork East Fianna Fail TD and junior minister Ned OKeeffe and is intended to be a non-party political event.

The reason Michael McDowell has been invited to speak is that he had family members on both sides in 1922  a relative of his was killed on Ben Bulben in Sligo, while another uncle of his took part on the Free State side in the Civil War, said the former TD.

An interesting part of this was that a Free State officer, who had been a friend of Sean ODonoghue, went to his graveside and cried at the death of his friend.

ODonoghue was an IRA officer during the Civil War and led many successful operations for the Anti-Treaty forces. These incidents included an ambush at Dillons Cross and the capture of a small British army ship carrying ammunition from the recently disbanded Royal Irish Constabulary.

The steamship the Upnor was loading at the ordnance stores on Rocky Island with arms and ammunition from the RIC when ODonoghue and his comrades of the 1st Brigade, 1st Southern Division of the IRA got to hear of it. A well organised and executed operation followed and the ship and arms were seized.

Captain ODonoghue was killed on September 28, 1922 by Free State soldiers after he had been caught following an ambush and taken to a field behind the home of the Delaney family near Dublin Hill in Blackpool.
Cork publican Michael O'Donovan has been confirmed as the president-elect for the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI), a trade association representing 4000 publicans across Ireland.

He is the third generation owner of traditional Irish bar The Castle Inn on South Main Street, which has been run by the O'Donovan family since the 1930's.

Being elected to such a senior role nationally was a big surprise, but a huge honour for me and my family, and for publicans in Cork, he told The Echo.

Mr ODonovan studied at the Shannon College of Hotel Management and did a BComm in University College Galway, then worked for the Jurys Doyle group abroad, he said.

In 2000 I returned home to help my parents in the bar, it was getting busier and busier during the Celtic Tiger time.

Soon after I joined the local Vinters Committee and Ive had several roles over the years, from city secretary to city chair to county secretary to county chair, and Ive represented Cork publicans on the board of management.

Last Wednesday, Mr ODonovan was elected the next president of the Federation, and will start as President Elect at the National Conference in Donegal on May 14, then in 12 months time, at the next conference, hell become president for 2 years.

He looks forward to representing publicans in Cork and Ireland in general over that time, helping them to face ever-increasing cost pressures and keep their doors open.
UPDATES on a number of social and affordable housing projects earmarked for development in Cork have been provided in the Housing for All Q1 2024 Progress Report.

The progress report, published in recent days, said the Government is confident that this years national housing target of 33,450 new homes will be met.

In relation to projects in the pipeline, the report stated that significant delivery of homes on State lands is underway, including at the former St Kevins Hospital and grounds in Shanakiel.

The Land Development Agency (LDA) has plans to build more than 260 housing units, an enterprise centre, and creche facilities at the site, and recently lodged a planning application seeking some amendments which, if permitted, would see two additional units delivered.

The Housing for All progress report said that phase one, which will deliver 97 units, is due to be completed in the first quarter of 2025.

Tenders for the second phase, the report said, are to be issued to the market in the third quarter of this year.

Meanwhile, work is ongoing to progress a proposed residential scheme of 349 units at an ESB-owned site in Wilton.

According to the report, it is envisaged that the lands will transfer to the LDA in the final quarter of this year and that a planning application will also be submitted in that timeframe.

Design work is said to be ongoing in preparation for the submission of a planning application.

The report also provides updates on what are described as longer-term development opportunities on State lands.

Among them is an ambition to develop 4,830-6,500 units on Port of Cork owned lands in Tivoli.

The progress report said the LDA is to commence procurement of technical work to inform the preparation of an infrastructure and development framework in Q2 2024.

It also stated that work is ongoing for housing projects slated for development in the docklands.
The new Frederick Douglass wall mural

A NEW wall mural has been painted on the walls of the courtyard of the Unitarian Church on Princes St. Famed American abolitionist and civil rights leader Frederick Douglass was a champion for human rights, equality, and freedom. Visiting our city in 1845, Frederick delivered several orations, organised by the Cork Anti-Slavery Society and the Cork Ladies Anti-Slavery Society, which were very well attended and widely covered in the press. All Cork heard his message: one of tolerance, anti-prejudice  a cry against the evils of slavery.

Corkonians of all denominations, soon to face the ruination of the Great Hunger, warmly extended the hand of friendship to Douglass and his cause.

In welcoming Frederick Douglass, the people of Cork demonstrated real solidarity with an international injustice.

Douglass captured the true value of meaningful and practical solidarity when he stated in relation to Corks international outreach: We are made to know that there are hearts beating in unison with our own.

The light, life, and warmth

Frederick Douglass made lifelong friendships in Cork, writing to the mayor of Cork, Richard Dowden  also depicted on the mural  he highlighted the bonds of friendship: I shall ever remember my visit with pleasure, and never shall I think of Cork without remembering that yourself and  kind friends  constituted the source from whence flowed much of the light, life, and warmth of humanity which I found in that good city.

As a Corkman, I think the light, life and warmth of humanity to which Douglass refers is evident in our city today.

It is clear in the calendar of events organised in our city. It is manifest in many of the charitable and advocacy organisations who work to make our city a brighter place. The people who work to promote inclusivity and social justice.

A wonderful plaque is mounted on a reclaimed piece of Cork limestone. The plaque, which is a quote from Douglass, reads: We have to do with the past only as we can make it useful to the present and to the future.

This is about the legacy of Frederick Douglass, and those of you in Cork who have taken up his mantle. It is an invitation for all of us to take inspiration from the legacy of Douglass visit, and to make it useful for the city we live in today.

And let the wonderful artistry and craft of Liam Lavery, Eithne Ring, Christian Helleberg, and Jim Fahy serve to remind us all of this. Our thanks to them.

In this regard, I would like to extend a special thanks on behalf of the city to Reverend Mike OSullivan and the Cork Unitarian Church. The church and courtyard are a special place, a place of calm, and a place of welcome to all, right in the heart of our city.

Douglass generations

At the mural launch, I was also delighted to welcome Kenneth B Morris Jr, the great-great-great grandson of Frederick Douglass, Globe Lane Initiative board member, and co-founder and president of Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives. A big welcome also to his daughter, Nicole Morris.

I would like to extend my thanks to Caroline Dunham-Schroeter, Kristen Leary, and the whole Douglass Week team, fresh from a packed schedule in Belfast this year, for their tireless advocacy.

We are delighted to count Douglass Week among our long-term partners, and in 2023, Cork City Council was delighted to engage with the Frederick Douglas Family Initiatives and to meet with the Mayor of Rochester, Malik D Evans, and to lay a wreath on Douglass grave in his chosen home, as part of Lord Mayor-led delegations to the US. The legacy of Frederick Douglass time in Cork was also a key part of the Lord Mayor-led delegation to Washington in 2022.

The mural and its civic values

It is appropriate that the mural is in the courtyard of the Unitarian Church. Not only in view of Douglass association with the site, but also in terms of its values  democracy, reason, tolerance, freedom, the dignity inherent in every human person  these are the ideals Douglass himself espoused. They are indeed civic values, our values.

I would like to thank the artist Zabou, and Kerri, John, and Raff at the Walls Project for this striking piece of art. Zabou notes that her design was inspired by various metaphors: The artwork combines a realistic and confident portrait of Douglass with elements highlighting his achievements and time in Cork (such as Mayor Dowden, the North Star, his book and a map of the USA and Ireland). The vibrant colours of the background were inspired by the Unitarian Church logo.

Realising a project like this involves working with many partners, and I would like to thank June Paskalinan; Dr Naomi Masheti and the Cork Migrant Centre, and John Keohane for his generous support of the project.

I would also like to thank Michelle Carew and Louise Tangney in the Council Arts Office, as the project would not have been possible without the funding of the Creative Ireland Programme, and also acknowledge the support of the Councils Corporate Affairs & International Relations Directorate, and the Community Recognition Fund.

A whole series of people have been working on this project behind the scenes. I also wish to take this opportunity to sincerely thank my fellow members of Cork City Council who have, over the term of this council, tirelessly advocated for a fitting way to commemorate the legacy of Douglass 1845 visit.

At our best, we are a city of welcomes, a safe place for people of all abilities, nationalities, races, genders, sexual orientations, ages, and religions. Our citys motto, Statio Bene Fida Carinis, translates as a a safe harbour for ships. We are also a safe harbour for people. I think Frederick Douglass would have liked that message.

Frederick Douglass orations in Cork were international news, and the most fitting legacy of his historic visit is for Corkonians, like our ancestors in 1845, to continue living in that spirit of light, life, and warmth of humanity. To live in the sense, clearly asserted by Douglass, that our hearts beat in unison  that there is far more which unites us than divides us. This courtyard mural celebrates that vision. Simply put, Frederick Douglass legacy lies in the way we treat each other today. Our hearts beat in unison, our hearts beat in unison.

My sincere thanks to Ciaran Kelleher Byrne, International Relations, Cork City Council, for his help with this column.
A Cork animal welfare group, who came to the rescue of a female dog and seven puppies in recent days, says that they are all now "doing well".

West Cork Animal Welfare Group shared a photo on Facebook of a dog chained to a gate, writing Last night the rescue got a call from someone who came home to find this poor dog chained to the gate and seven little wet and cold puppies with her.

She had jumped through the gate and could have hung herself as she couldn't even get to them.

The dogs were collected by the organisation, and were immediately fed and given a cosy bed.

The organisation reported that the mother dog is skin and bone" but said that they "are all doing well".

She isn't chipped and we have no idea who did this. If we do find out it will be passed to the relevant authorities, the post said.

The organisation has asked the public to donate to support them in caring for the dogs, and other animals they care for.

People can support the organisation by logging on to https://westcorkanimals.com/donate/
THAT They May Face the Rising Sun is the sixth and final book by the acclaimed Irish writer John McGahren.

He is regarded as one of our best writers, and his take on rural life is simultaneously Irish and universal in its themes. McGahren died in 2006, aged 71, leaving behind a powerful legacy.

Amongst Women is perhaps his best-known book outside of literary circles, partly thanks to a 1998 miniseries adaptation. Rising Sun lands in cinemas this week and is about to eclipse its success.

The film has yet to open in cinemas but has already won awards, including Best Film at last weeks IFTAs and Best Irish Film at this years DFCC Awards at the Dublin International Film Festival.

It is directed by West Cork documentarian Pat Collins in his feature film debut. While some of Collinss work is entirely true to documentary style, others, like Songs Of Granite, have elements that feel like they could be in a feature film. It is fair to say Collins has been building towards this moment, and with Rising Sun, he has taken his keen sense of observation from his documentary-making and transplanted it with ease.

The book is loosely based on McGahrens life. He and wife, Annikki, returned to rural Ireland after living in London. Like the book, the film renames the characters, and McGahren and his wife become Joe (Barry Ward) and Kate Ruttledge (Anna Bederke).

Joe is a writer, and Kate is an artist. They have moved into Joes family home. It is the 1980s, and life in rural Ireland is quiet. The couple settle in well. Joe can write in peace and solitude, and Anna can work on her art. The only noise is the sound of the birds outside.

Their home is open to neighbours like Jamesie (Philip Dolan) and Mary Murphy (Ruth McCabe), but more importantly, it is a friendly haven for Patrick (Lalor Roddy), Johnny (Sean McGinley), and Bill (Brendan Conroy), the communitys old bachelors.

They come for a cup of tea, a bite to eat, or a chat. Bill and Patrick do odd jobs and Joe and Kate become the guardians of their neighbours, even Patrick, who can have a sharp tongue.

There is a moment where Patrick and Johnny recite lines from The Playboy Of The Western World. It shows how rural Ireland is steeped in theatre and Irish literature. A reminder, if needed, of the contribution of writers like McGahren.

The seasons change, and the film charts a year in the life of Joe, Kate, and their friends. Very little changes, but nothing stays the same. Life, its joys, and its difficulties fall on this quiet community.

Much like Colm Baireads beautiful Oscar-nominated An Cailin Ciuin, Rising Sun is a quiet film. It is unhurried; there is space for silence and time for things just to be. The two films could almost be bookends of Irish life.

While An Cailin Ciuin focuses on family, Rising Sun is about community and that connection found particularly in rural communities.

The film captures the meaning of meitheal, that old Irish idea of a community coming together, particularly when times are hard.

While the films leads are excellent, there is something truly special about the ensemble actors. McGinley and Conroy are especially good, but Roddy blows them all away with a mercurial performance.

For years, I have thought him one of our finest actors, but he doesnt get the recognition he deserves. Watching him in this is a masterclass; he tips a delicate balance between mischievous and mean.

Collins treats these older characters with so much respect. When I interviewed him, he spoke of the importance of allowing older rural characters to be treated with dignity, and he does this well. We are used to seeing older country fellas played as oddballs or bumpkins, but there is none of that here.

The film is rich in nature. Bird songs often form the soundtrack, and even a field of haystacks lit by the sun looks beautiful.

That They May Face The Rising Sun is a profoundly beautiful film that perfectly captures the essence of rural Ireland. It sees the men and women who make up our rural communities, understands who they are, and embraces the connection they share.

Collins has long been our best documentarian. We can add feature director to that. We have months to go, but Ill say it now: You wont see a better Irish film this year. A five-star beauty.
Williams-Sonoma has been slapped with a record-breaking civil penalty of $3.175 million for violating a 2020 Federal Trade Commission mandate that required the San Francisco company to truthfully disclose where its products are manufactured. Paul Chinn/The Chronicle Dishware is displayed in the window of the Williams-Sonoma store on Chestnut Street in San Francisco in 2019. Paul Chinn/The Chronicle

Williams-Sonoma has been slapped with a record-breaking civil penalty of $3.175 million for violating a 2020 Federal Trade Commission mandate that required the San Francisco company to truthfully disclose where its products are manufactured.

The Department of Justice filed a complaint, spurred by an FTC referral, accusing the home goods manufacturer of falsely labeling numerous products as Made in USA for sale, despite being manufactured in China and other countries.

Williams-Sonoma has agreed to a settlement that includes the civil penalty payment, marking the largest fine ever levied in a Made in USA case.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Williams-Sonoma claimed its products were made in the United States even though they were made in China, said Lina M. Khan, chair of the FTC, in a statement. Williams-Sonomas deception misled consumers and harmed honest American businesses. Todays record-setting civil penalty makes clear that firms committing Made-in-USA fraud will not get a free pass.

In 2020, the FTC sued Williams-Sonoma, alleging that the company falsely advertised several product lines under its Goldtouch, Rejuvenation, Pottery Barn Teen and Pottery Barn Kids brands as being predominantly or entirely made in the USA when they were not.

Following the lawsuit, the company agreed to comply with an FTC order, which demanded the cessation of their deceptive claims and adherence to Made in USA regulations.

The most recent complaint reveals that the FTC found the company was marketing mattress pads under its PBTeen brand as Crafted in America from domestic and imported materials, when they were made in China.

The FTC conducted a follow-up investigation into six other products advertised by the company as Made in USA and found those claims similarly deceptive.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

In addition to the civil penalty, the settlement also mandates that Williams-Sonoma submit annual compliance certifications and imposes several requirements regarding the claims the company makes.
Sophie Wingate, PA Deputy Political Editor

UK prime minister Rishi Sunak said claims the UK government's Rwanda plan is causing an influx of refugees into Ireland show its deterrent effect is working.

The deterrent is  already having an impact because people are worried about coming here, Mr Sunak said.

It comes after Tanaiste Micheal Martin said the UK policy is driving asylum seekers in fear of being deported to Rwanda across the Border from Northern Ireland to the Republic.

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 crossing the Channel on small boats.

The legislation supporting the controversial policy, the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act, cleared its passage through the UK parliament this week and was signed into law on Thursday.

In an interview with Sky News Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, which will air in full on Sunday, Mr Sunak was challenged over whether the UK is simply exporting the problem.

Mr Sunak said: My focus is on the United Kingdom and securing our borders.

But what that comment illustrates is a couple of things.

One, that illegal migration is a global challenge, which is why youre seeing multiple countries talk about doing third country partnerships, looking at novel ways to solve this problem, and I believe will follow where the UK has led.

But what it also shows, I think, is that the deterrent is, according to your comment, already having an impact because people are worried about coming here and that demonstrates exactly what Im saying.

If people come to our country illegally, but know that they wont be able to stay, theyre much less likely to come, and thats why the Rwanda scheme is so important.

Micheal Martin said the Rwanda scheme is causing asylum seekers to cross the Border (Brian Lawless/PA)

Downing Street on Friday rebuffed claims that the Rwanda plan was already influencing movements into Ireland, saying it was too early to jump to conclusions on its impact.

Mr Martin, who also serves as Minister for Foreign Affairs, told reporters in Dublin on Friday: Clearly, weve had an increase in the numbers coming 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.

But a spokesperson for Downing Street told journalists in Westminster: It is too early to jump to specific conclusions about the impact of the Act and treaty in terms of migrant behaviour.

Rishi Sunak said flights to Rwanda could take 10 to 12 weeks to begin, meaning they will not get off the ground until summer (Toby Melville/PA)

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.

Mr Sunak this week acknowledged it could still take 10 to 12 weeks to get flights in the air, in a blow to his earlier target of seeing this take place in the spring of this year.

Earlier this week, the Oireachtas Justice Committee heard suggestions that there has been a rise in the number of refugees crossing the Border, with Minister for Justice Helen McEntee telling the committee that the number was now higher than 80 per cent.
California State University police move in at Cal Poly Humboldt as students occupy the campus Saturday to demand the university divest its holdings of companies doing business with Israel. Justin Maxon/Special to the Chronicle Volunteers work at a medical tent near the university quad at Cal Poly Humboldt. Alexandra Hootnick/Special to the Chronicle After days of being occupied by student protesters, Siemens Hall on Cal Poly Humboldts campus was opened to the public for a window of time Friday. Justin Maxon/Special to the Chronicle Cal Poly Humboldt sociology department chair Anthony Silvaggio and his 4-year-old son, Nico, tour the office of campus President Tom Jackson when it was opened to the public Friday after being occupied by student protesters. Justin Maxon/Special to the Chronicle After days of being occupied by student protesters, Siemens Hall on Cal Poly Humboldts campus was opened to the public for a window of time Friday. Justin Maxon/Special to the Chronicle A student protester fortifies a blockade at Siemens Hall at Cal Poly Humboldt. Justin Maxon/Special to the Chronicle A blockade was put up at Siemens Hall at Cal Poly Humboldt. Justin Maxon/Special to the Chronicle After days of being occupied by student protesters, Siemens Hall on Cal Poly Humboldts campus was opened to the public for a window of time Friday. Justin Maxon/Special to the Chronicle After days of being occupied by student protesters, Siemens Hall on Cal Poly Humboldts campus was opened to the public for a window of time Friday. Justin Maxon/Special to the Chronicle Cal Poly Humboldt students occupy Siemens Hall in support of Palestinians in Gaza. Alexandra Hootnick/Special to the Chronicle Medical supply and food tents are set up to provide for student protesters next to the university quad at Cal Poly Humboldt. Alexandra Hootnick/Special to the Chronicle Barricades surround the university quad at Cal Poly Humboldt. Alexandra Hootnick/Special to the Chronicle Students and instructors listen to speakers at a faculty teach-in Wednesday on the university quad at Cal Poly Humboldt. Alexandra Hootnick/Special to the Chronicle

ARCATA, Humboldt County  Police moved in on pro-Palestinian demonstrators occupying the Cal Poly Humboldt campus over the weekend in defiance of the universitys orders to leave Friday evening, but most protesters remained in place.

The university announced a hard closure of the campus Saturday afternoon, and earth-moving equipment arrived to place roadblocks around entrances. More than a dozen university police officers initially assembled in the area near the protest encampment, but later dispersed elsewhere on campus. By 8 p.m., only a half-dozen officers remained, mostly to ensure cars could get off campus.

Nobody without authorization by University Police is allowed on the campus. Anyone on campus without permission is subject to citation or arrest, the university said in a statement. Students who live on campus in residence halls are presumed to have permission to remain in the limited area of the hall they live in and dining facilities. Until further updates, student residents do not have permission to be in other parts of campus.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Earth movers arrived to place roadblocks around the Cal Poly Humboldt campus Saturday afternoon. Alexandra Hootnick/Special to the Chronicle

A few protesters appeared to disperse when the police moved in, but about 150 remained. Later in the afternoon, about 50 participants from a separate pro-Palestinian march across town joined the group.

Standing at the barricade erected between police and the quad, a student protester said: We will sit, we will link our arms, we will look our heads down  entirely peaceful nonresistance. Like the other students who spoke with the Chronicle, the protester asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation from the university.

Faculty, staff and administration will continue communicating with protesters for a resolution, Cal Poly Humboldts dean of students, Mitch Mitchell, told the Chronicle.

Mitchell and Chrissy Holliday, vice president for enrollment management, sent students an email Saturday afternoon stressing the need for safety.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Please know that Cal Poly Humboldts leadership takes seriously our responsibility to our campus community, particularly our students, during this difficult time, it said. The University supports free speech, however, there are many options to express those views that dont put others in danger, destroy property, and completely disrupt campus.

After days of being occupied by student protesters, Siemens Hall on Cal Poly Humboldts campus was opened to the public for a window of time Friday. Justin Maxon/Special to the Chronicle

The email assured students that administrators are working behind the scenes to end the disruption to campus and that Saturdays hard closure reflected a step toward restoring order. The letter offered resources for students mental health and academic well-being.

Cal Poly Humboldts primary focus is resolving this in a manner that prioritizes the health, safety, and educational success of our students, it said.

On Saturday morning, about 100 tents covered the lawns adjoining Siemens Hall and extended across campus around other nearby buildings. In the quad, about 50 protesters walked around talking or visiting a table piled high with supplies, including first aid. A mutual aid kitchen was set up by Food Not Bombs under a pop-up awning.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Volunteers prepare food for protesters on the quad Saturday at Cal Poly Humboldt. Alexandra Hootnick/Special to the Chronicle

Volunteer Ananda flipped pancakes and accepted food donations from community members.

The community is above-and-beyond generous, she said.

Another student sat at the supplies table using duct tape to reinforce their plastic goggles. They said they have chosen to stay despite threats of suspension and arrest because they believe the occupation is making a difference in Israels war with Hamas. They cited the images that have been circulating online of writing on a tent at a refugee camp in Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians are sheltering: The students give us hope.

I have been stationed at one of the back entrances, just keeping watch and making sure no police come in, the student said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The mood was much lighter by 8 p.m. Saturday, with about 60 people lined up along the campus border singing, playing harmonica and dancing. Several passing motorists honked in support.

Cal Poly Humboldt closed its campus Friday through the remainder of the school year after protesters occupation of Siemens Hall, an academic and administrative building whose walls were sprayed with graffiti condemning Israels attacks on Gaza. The school gave students a deadline of 5 p.m. Friday to leave or face arrest or discipline.

Saturdays email to students said the school is working to facilitate its May 11 commencement as planned.

Cal Poly Humboldt students occupy Siemens Hall, rear left, in support of Palestinians in Gaza. Alexandra Hootnick/Special to the Chronicle

We are doing everything in our power to ensure you have the opportunity to walk across a stage and hear your family and friends cheer as you receive your diploma, the letter said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Small groups of protesters stayed at most entrances of the building overnight, in addition to those spread out across the quad and surrounding areas. Police presence has been minimal on campus since a confrontation between protesters and officers last Monday after students barricaded themselves in a building. However, students and other demonstrators are readying themselves for an anticipated attempt to retake Siemens Hall by police.

Tensions were heightened Friday night by an interview with university President Tom Jackson in the Eureka Times-Standard in which he stated he views members of the occupation as not staying in there for noble causes. Theyre criminals.

A student who has been occupying Siemens Hall since last Monday responded to Jacksons comments.

Signs in front of Siemens Hall at Cal Poly Humboldt decry the war between Israel and Hamas. Alexandra Hootnick/Special to the Chronicle

I would just refer him to our principled and specific demands that we wrote while under the siege he placed us under, the student said.

Arcata City Council Members Stacy Atkins-Salazar and Sarah Schaefer issued a statement Saturday evening supporting the right of students to peacefully express their views and stressing the need for peaceful deescalation and constructive conversation.

As a council, we heard from and worked with community members, including students, to have an open dialogue and create a cease-fire resolution for Arcata, the statement said. This type of dialogue and conversation can bring our community together without violence.

A related protest was taking place at Stanford University, where pro-Palestinian demonstrators remained on campus over the weekend despite orders to clear out by 8 p.m. Friday.
The company is still talking to Google too, so how this shakes out is anyone's guess.

Apple has resumed conversations with OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, to power some AI features coming to iOS 18, according to a new report in Bloomberg. Apple is also building its own large language models to power some iOS 18 features, but its talks with OpenAI are centered around a chatbot/search component, according to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman.

Apple is also reportedly in talks with Google to license Gemini, Googles own AI-powered chatbot, for iOS 18. Bloomberg reports that those talks are still on, and things could still go either way because Apple hasnt made a final decision on which companys technology to use. Its conceivable, Gurman says, that Apple could ultimately end up licensing AI tech from both companies or none of them.

So far, Apple has been notably quiet about its AI efforts even as the rest of Silicon Valley has descended into an AI arms race. But it has dropped enough hints to indicate that its cooking up something. When the company announced its earnings in February, CEO Tim Cook said that Apple is continuing to work and invest in artificial intelligence and is excited to share the details of our ongoing work in that space later this year. It claimed that the brand new M3 MacBook Air that it launched last month was the worlds best consumer laptop for AI, and will reportedly start releasing AI-centric laptops and desktops later this year. And earlier this week, Apple also released a handful of open-source large language models that are designed to run locally on devices rather than in the cloud.

Its still unclear what Apples AI features in iPhones and other devices will look like. Generative AI is still notoriously unreliable and prone to making up answers. Recent AI-powered gadgets like the Humane Ai Pin released to disastrous reviews, while others like the Rabbit R1 have yet to prove themselves valuable.

Well find out more at WWDC on June 10.
Google filed a motion on Friday in a Virginia federal court asking for the Department of Justices antitrust lawsuit against it to be thrown away. The DOJ sued Google in January 2023, accusing the company of monopolizing digital advertising technologies through anticompetitive and exclusionary conduct. Per Bloomberg , Google is now seeking summary judgment to avoid the case going to trial in September as planned.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said at the time the lawsuit was first announced that Google has used anticompetitive, exclusionary, and unlawful conduct to eliminate or severely diminish any threat to its dominance over digital advertising technologies. The lawsuit alleges that Google controls digital advertising tools to such an extent that it pockets on average more than 30 percent of the advertising dollars that flow through its digital advertising technology products, according to a press release from the agency last year.

Google now argues that that the DOJ hasnt shown that the company controls at least 70 percent of the market, which some previous cases have used as the threshold for qualifying as a monopoly, and that the agency made up markets specifically for this case, according to Bloomberg, excluding its major competitors like social media platforms. The company also claims the DOJs case goes beyond the boundaries of antitrust law, Reuters reports.
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.
+++

Nancy Tung, the new head of the local Democratic Party, said Friday she would create a committee to review accusations of sexual assault in San Franciscos political scene in response to new allegations against a once rising political star. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

The new head of the local Democratic Party said Friday she would create a committee to review accusations of sexual assault in San Franciscos political scene in response to new allegations against a once rising political star.

The news comes after the San Francisco Standard on April 16 detailed new allegations against Jon Jacobo, three years after tenants rights activist Sasha Perigo publicly accused him of raping her. Three other women filed police reports against Jacobo in the months after Perigo came forward, according to the Standards reporting.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

It is of paramount importance that our political spaces are also safe spaces, Nancy Tung, who was sworn in as party chair on April 19, said in a statement. As Chair, I am committed to addressing these issues in a survivor-centric way to create a political environment free from sexual assault and harassment.

Jacobo, a progressive who was once seen as a potential candidate for supervisor, was director of community development for the housing nonprofit TODCO until his resignation hours after the story was published.

The statement from Tung said the urgency of the committees creation was due in part to a recent second allegation against a current president of a chartered Democratic club, but did not identify the person.

The report, which questioned the handling of the allegations by police, also spurred Supervisor Hillary Ronen to call for a hearing examining how police respond to sexual assault and harassment allegations.

Tungs decision to assemble the committee is one of her first as the new chair of the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee, the obscure but powerful board governing the local Democratic Party. Tung, a city prosecutor, was part of a slate of moderate Democrats who trounced progressives in the March election, taking control of a board that was previously controlled by progressives.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Officials at the DCCC said in a statement that Tung would chair the new committee, which will include members Emma Heiken, Trevor Chandler, Bilal Mahmood, Lily Ho, Michela Alioto-Pier and Carrie Barnes. All seven members were part of the moderate slate.

Reached by phone, Tung said the committee planned to hold public meetings to bring attention to the issue and solicit stories from survivors before figuring out what steps it could take to formally respond. To respect privacy given the sensitive subject matter, Tung said people would be able to submit comments anonymously to the committee and that portions of the meetings would be held in closed session.

Tung said the committee will consider changing its internal protocols to create enforcement mechanisms to use against people or clubs who break party rules, such as by publicly denouncing an individual who is found to have committed a crime. The committee will not have subpoena power and does not plan on acting as a fact-finding body, she said.

This is an evolving process, Tung said. But once we can get a sense of how big or how serious the problem is, then we can start to fashion some structure and some remedies to go along with that. Its not going to be a quick process.

Perigo said Friday that she had just learned of the committees creation, so she couldnt comment on the details, but added that she believed any response from the citys political community should center survivors.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

For too long, both political factions in San Francisco have enabled abuse in their ranks, she said. I challenge the political community to reach across the aisle to make meaningful change.

John Avalos, a former city supervisor and one of the remaining progressive members on the DCCC, said he supports creating a short-term committee to review internal protocols for addressing allegations of sexual assault within the party. But Avalos said the committee should be made up of members beyond the incoming moderates.

I also believe investigations of sexual assault including the testimony of survivor witnesses should be done independently and confidentially by the proper authority outside of the Democratic Party, Avalos said.

Avalos said the DCCC should then take action based on those findings.

As someone who has been part of these controversies I have ideas on the political culture that Id like to contribute and share if the leadership of the DCCC would have me, he added.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
Tennessee House Republicans passed legislation which will allow select trained teachers and school staff to carry handguns on Tuesday.

The new law comes after pushback from Democrats, students, and gun-reform advocates urging the house to defeat the bill. Once legislation had passed, dozens of protesters chanted from the galleries "Blood on your hands." Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton was reportedly forced to rally state troopers to clear the galleries.

RELATED: Celebrating Melania Trump's 54th Birthday: A Look At Her Top 5 Most Iconic Style Moments

Per USA Today, the House floor turned to chaos in response to the gun bill, which could become law within just a matter of a few weeks.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee can either sign the bill, or allow the bill to become law without his signature. Per the news outlet, Governor Lee has yet to veto a bill.

According to CNN, school faculty or staff members can carry a concealed handgun on school grounds so long as they are able to:

Get an enhanced carry permit

Get written authorization from the superintendent, principal and the chief of the appropriate law enforcement agency

Complete 40 hours of basic training in school policing and 40 hours of Peace Officer's Standards and Training commission-approved training that is specific to school policing each year at the educator's expense

Undergo a psychological exam conducted by a Tennessee-licensed health care provider

Complete a background check

RELATED: Slack CEO Daughter Reported Missing Out Of Marin County: Everything To Know

"Teachers, Principals and School Personnel - As introduced, authorizes a faculty or staff member of a school to carry a concealed handgun on school grounds subject to certain conditions, including obtaining an enhanced handgun carry permit and completing annual training," the bill states.

Under the bill, parents wouldn't necessarily be notified if their child is supervised by an armed teacher or faculty member, which according to the news outlet, is a major point of contention for the bill's opponents.
Scientists led by Max Planck Institute and the Philipps University in Marburg have discovered the first fractal molecule found in nature partly using X-rays at the ESRF. The microbial enzyme spontaneously assembles into a pattern known as the Sierpinski triangle. Their research is published in Nature.

From the jagged coastline to the delicate fern leaf or the romesco broccoli, fractals are mesmerising shapes that defy conventional geometry and are present at the macroscale in our natural world. They possess infinite detail, generated through iterative processes or mathematical equations.

This is a story about fractals, but it doesnt start with fractals. Georg Hochberg, evolutionary biologist at Max-Planck Institut, had never worked in fractals but instead was studying the arrangement of protein subunits that form a functional enzyme complex (called quaternary assembly) to understand in what way -if any- such arrangements contribute to function.

Romesco broccoli is a typical example of fractals in nature at the macroscale.

We picked a microbial enzyme called citrate synthase from the cyanobacterium, which is a very simple system because it always does the same thing, explains Hochberg, corresponding author of the paper. The enzyme, present in most organisms catalyses the first step of the Krebs cycle, a metabolic pathway that most organisms use to break down nutrients such as sugars.

Normally citrate synthases form relatively small and symmetrical assemblies. However, when Hochberg and his colleagues studied this protein using the technique of mass photometry, which weighs molecules with light, they realised that the molecule was unusually big.

They subsequently used Cryo-EM and discovered that it self-assembled into a pattern that resembled a famous fractal form  the Sierpinski triangle. This triangle is a geometric pattern that starts with an equilateral triangle and recursively removes smaller triangles from its centre.

From the Cryo-EM data, they could observe that the molecule could go up to the second level of the Sierpinski triangle, but they couldnt see any further than that due to the limitations of the technique. In addition, when trying to put together the high resolution structure using Artificial Intelligence (AI), they found themselves stuck because AI classifies and finds repeating patterns in the data. And so AI gets really confused by fractals because it finds smaller structures and bigger structures, so the team had to manually assemble the data.

SAXS to see beyond Cryo-EM

In order to overcome the limitations of Cryo-EM, the team turned to Small Angle X-ray Scattering at the ESRFs beamline BM29. This technique doesnt solve the structure, but it tells you about the sizes, so we could show that these assemblies could replicate further in a pattern of continuous growth, at least part of which we strongly suspect they are Sierpinski triangles, says Hochberg. The ESRF was very important because it helped us show that these assemblies can keep growing infinitely, he adds. For Mark Tully, beamline scientist at BM29, the experiment on fractals was a first: I was intrigued when Georg discussed his experiment, having never measured a fractal molecule before. Then when I saw the SAXS patterns of the fractal shapes and how they assembled, I was amazed.

Harmless evolutionary accident

Do these fractals accomplish any function? The very large assemblies we discovered with ESRF would have trouble fitting into a bacterium, so we think they are probably non-physiological, but we initially thought the smaller fractals might have a use, says Hochberg. This was because the scientists found that when the enzyme is assembled into these fractal forms, it cant really catalyze the reaction it needs to catalyze, suggesting fractal assembly might regulate activity. But the scientists could not find any evidence that this regulation was in anyway important to the bacteria. Instead, the fractals may simply be a harmless quirk. In cyanobacteria citrate synthase is only needed during the day when they are photosynthesizing, but the fractals assemble only at night. During the day, the solution conditions in the cytoplasm of this organism are such that these assemblies fall apart, and the enzyme can dissociate into its active form. It is plausible that the fractals could be a kind of harmless evolutionary accident, adds Hochberg.

Hochberg is enthusiastic about the follow-up of this research: Protein engineers have tried making protein Sierpinski fractals and declared them unofficially as unengineerable, but now that we know that this protein broke some rules that we thought were universal for how proteins assemble, theres a question as to what else you might be able to build, what kind of 2D materials you can make if you're allowed to break these rules. This could potentially lead to synthesis of systems that might have interesting material properties.

Reference:

Sendker, F.L., Lo, Y.K., Heimerl, T. et al. Emergence of fractal geometries in the evolution of a metabolic enzyme. Nature (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07287-2

Text by Montserrat Capellas Espuny.
Britney Spears has settled her legal dispute with her father Jamie Spears over her conservatorship.

Britney Spears settles legal dispute with father

Although Britney, 42, was released from her conservatorship - which was established in 2008 by Jamie, 71, to control Britneys financial, professional, personal and medical affairs - in 2021, she had been battling her father over legal costs ever since.

After they reached a settlement, Britney's lawyer Mathew Rosengart told Page Six in a statement: "It has been our honour and privilege to represent, protect, and defend Britney Spears.

"Ms. Spears is and always will be an icon and a brilliant and brave artist of historic and epic proportion. Although the conservatorship was terminated in November, 2021, her wish for freedom is now truly complete. As she desired, her freedom now includes that she will no longer need to attend or be involved with court or entangled with legal proceedings in this matter.

"Britney Spears won when the court suspended her father, and Britney Spears won when her fundamental rights and civil liberties were restored.

"Since obtaining her freedom in late 2021, Britney Spears has achieved remarkable success on several fronts, including her August, 2022 collaboration with Sir Elton John on the smash hit 'Hold Me Closer' (which debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart and became her 24th top-ten single), followed by her landmark book deal with Simon Schuster for her memoir 'The Woman in Me', an immediate NY Times #1 bestseller, which received universal, breathtaking praise and would not have been possible during the conservatorship.

"We repeat our gratification for being in a position to help restore the civil rights and liberties of Britney Spears and the honour and privilege it has been to serve and protect Ms. Spears and obtain her goals in resolving various legal matters pursuant to her thoughtful and wise instruction and requests, which once again are to her credit."

Jamie's attorney Alex Weingarten told PEOPLE that they had "reached a settlement agreement resolving all outstanding disputes".

Weingarten added: "I cannot comment on any specifics as the settlement is confidential. Jamie is thrilled that this is all behind him. He loves his daughter very much and everything he has ever done has been to protect and support her. It is unfortunate that some irresponsible people in Britneys life chose to drag this on for as long as it has."
Paris Hilton says fans worship her as the mother of 21st Century fashion.

Paris Hilton says fans worship her as the mother of 21st Century fashion

The billionaire heiress, 43, became renowned as an IT girl in the early noughties and thinks she is only now getting the credit for her risky outfit choices she reckons have now inspired the worlds most famous designers.

She told Flaunt magazine: When I moved to New York, I didnt have a stylist. I was just very original and ahead of my time with fashion and the way I thought.

Ive always been a risk taker and went by what I felt. Now people come up to me and say, You invented Y2K fashion, you are the blueprint, you are mother!

Paris said she recalled seeing tabloid headlines at the time she was stepping out in outrageous looks including: Look at the way Paris, socialite, is dressing, this is so out there!

She went on about how she now sees top fashion designers apparently using her looks as inspiration: Now I see all the things Id get in trouble for wearing then as huge pieces on runways by the biggest designers.

Now everyones rocking it. I love that people are finally giving me the credit that I deserve.

Paris  who now has 15-month old son Phoenix and five-month-old daughter London, both born via surrogacy, with her 43-year-old entrepreneur husband Carter Reum  also said she loves being hailed as the inventor of selfies.

She said: Being called the inventor and queen of selfies, I love them. I love that Ive been doing it my whole life, before social media and all that started.

I think its an intimate look into someones life  just taking a selfie with my friends, my pets, or just me.

Now its turned into something fun you can do with your fans, or people showing their real lives.

Its also something you control yourself. Its not paparazzi or someone sneaking a photo of you.

For so much of my life, my career was told by other people, who wanted to portray me in the way that they wanted  and no one knew who I truly was or what Id been through, or that I had this armour that I built around myself, which is this character of myself.
Breaking the gender norms is like an everyday activity for this truck driver from Tamil Nadu. Annapoorani Rajkumar's recent accomplishment has not only made headlines but also marked a significant milestone in gender equality. She became the first woman trucker to cross over to Bangladesh via the Petrapole border checkpost, shattering gender stereotypes.



Her 10-day drive covering approximately 1000km was not an easy feat, as she encountered a lot of challenges including the lack of female-friendly facilities and safety concerns at male-dominated rest stops. This also brings into focus on women safety aspects while encountering new challenges with regards to infrastructure improvements in traditionally male-dominated sectors.



The efforts made by organizations like the Land Port Authority of India (LPAI) to collaborate with Annapoorani and facilitate her journey demonstrate a step in the right direction towards inclusivity in the workplace. Kamlesh Saini, who manages the Land Port Authority of India (LPAI) at Petrapole, mentioned that they asked the authorities in Bangladesh to unload the cotton from Annapoorani's truck quickly. Usually, trucks have to wait for a long time, but they made it faster for her. They also gave her a special dormitory with a separate toilet when she came back from Bangladesh.



Annapooranis achievement highlights that by having more women friendly facilities, there will be more women drivers who can explore this road less travelled.
Business leaders have expressed disappointment over the recent decision by the central bank (Bangladesh Bank) to reduce the deferment tenure for loan instalment payments.

This is as per media reports, which underlined, announced earlier this month, the new policy shortens the tenure from six months to three months effective September 30 this year, and further reduces it to just three days from March 31, 2025.

Business leaders are disappointed over Bangladesh Bank's decision to cut loan instalment payment defer tenure from 6 months to 3 months from September 30. They believe this will push up classified loans, jeopardising the ease of doing business, reducing foreign currency earnings, and job opportunities, as it will likely hamper process of opening LCs.

Industrialists fear that this decision will lead to a surge in classified loans, posing threats to the ease of doing business, foreign currency earnings, and job opportunities.

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) even convened a meeting to address these concerns, where it was highlighted that most industrialists may default on loans due to this decision.

Amid ongoing global and domestic economic challenges, businesses are struggling to meet existing repayment schedules even if the FBCCI plans to engage with the central bank governor on this issue, and if needed, seek the PMOs intervention.

While some experts and central bank officials argue that the decision aligns with international standards and will help reduce classified loans, industry insiders remain sceptical. They argue that the current economic situation demands a more business-friendly approach from the central bank.

Concerns have been raised regarding the efficacy of the new policy in reducing classified loans, especially considering the challenges faced by businesses amidst the economic crisis.

Critics suggest that instead of imposing stricter repayment terms, the central bank should focus on addressing the root causes of default loans, such as fraudulent activities.

The reduction in loan deferment tenure comes after special concessions were granted by the Bangladesh Bank in 2020 to alleviate the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, stakeholders now urge for a more nuanced approach that considers the realities of the current economic landscape while balancing the interests of businesses and financial institutions.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DR)
Emerge, a joint venture between Masdar and EDF Group, has signed an agreement to install a 980kWp rooftop solar plant for Dubai Maritime City that will offset 780 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year.

The project is part of a wider energy transition led by DP World, the parent company of Dubai Maritime City, to facilitate the widespread adoption of renewable energy and battery energy storage systems (BESS) within DP Worlds global supply chain.

Situated on the roof of the staff accommodation building and consisting of more than 1,700 solar modules, the plant will be delivered by Emerge as a turnkey solution, including finance, design, procurement, construction, operations, and maintenance of the solar modules for 25 years.

Full turnkey solutions

Michel Abi Saab, Emerge General Manager, said: Our agreement with Dubai Maritime City to install a rooftop solar plant builds on the success we have enjoyed in developing several projects in the UAE since Emerge was formed as an energy services company offering full turnkey solutions at no upfront cost to the client. We are proud to support this project and to significantly contribute to the Dubai Maritime Citys decarbonisation goals.

Ahmed Al Hammadi, Chief Operating Officer of Dubai Maritime City, DP World, said: The deployment of clean energy is a central part of our sustainability strategy to become carbon neutral by 2040 and net zero carbon by 2050. We are excited to partner with innovative companies like Emerge and Masdar to accelerate our transition to renewables and look forward to starting work on this solar plant at Dubai Maritime City.

Emerge, a joint venture between Masdar and EDF Group, was formed in 2021 to develop distributed solar, energy storage, and hybrid solutions for commercial and industrial applications. As an energy services company, Emerge offers clients full turnkey solutions through solar power agreements at no up-front cost to the client.

UAE Energy Strategy 2050 initiative

The project contributes to the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 initiative, which aims to see renewable energy make up 44% of the countrys clean energy mix by 2050. Rooftop solar PV could provide approximately 6% of the UAEs total power generation by 2030, according to a projection by the International Renewable Energy Agency in its REmap 2030 report on renewable energy prospects for the UAE.--TradeArabia News Service
The city has proposed a rent increase at San Franciscos Marina Small Craft Harbor, but boaters say the plan is unfair. Juliana Yamada/Special to the Chronicle

Boaters at San Franciscos Marina Small Craft Harbor could soon face a dramatic increase in the monthly rent they pay to berth their vessels  the result, city officials say, of the recent failure of a plan to expand the harbors west side, which the Board of Supervisors scrapped under pressure from Marina neighborhood residents.

That plan would have permanently relocated about 200 vessels that will be displaced by renovations at Gashouse Cove on the marinas east side, helping retain enough revenue to make the harbor self-sustaining, according to its managers at the city Recreation and Park Department.

But now, a 31% increase in fees paid by the remaining boaters is needed to reach a break-even operating cost, officials say.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

This is basic math  the harbor costs more to run than it makes, Rec and Park spokesperson Tamara Aparton said. We attempted to address this by retaining the number of slips in the harbor; people balked, so now we need to raise rates or cut services.

Owners of small craft boats docked in the West Harbor would be subject to a 31% rent increase under the Recreation and Park Departments plan. Juliana Yamada/Special to the Chronicle

But boat owners argue the proposal is both drastic and unfair  and that if the city properly accounted for all their current fees, there would be no budget shortfall.

Below decks of her 41-foot sailboat at the harbor, Christine Tozzi keeps a waterproof file box containing rent increase letters from Rec and Park.

That box is getting too heavy to lift, because in yearly installments the rent has risen 250%, she said, since 2008, when she bought her boat  with the heaviest letter, notifying her of the new proposed increase of 31.4% over two years, arriving last month.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

If approved, it will bring Tozzis total rent to more than $4,000 per quarter, or $16,000 a year.

Christine Tozzi, shown aboard her 41-foot sailboat at the Marina Small Craft Harbor, is not happy with San Franciscos rent hikes for those who use the slips there. Sam Whiting/The Chronicle

I can find the money for this. I know that boating is an expensive hobby, said Tozzi, 55, who works in human resources. But I could probably charter a boat to take people out on the bay for a lot less money. So this is the tipping point for me.

The Marina Small Craft Harbor has 727 public berths of varying lengths, with rents calculated per foot.

The proposed 31% increase comes after a strident fight sparked by the cleanup of Gashouse Cove. It is being emptied of its boats  which account for half of the marinas vessels  as well as its fueling station in advance of a project by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. to remediate soil contaminated by a power plant that closed a century ago.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Under a relocation plan crafted by PG&E and the Recreation and Park Department, 185 slips and a fuel dock would have been added to the west side of the harbor in front of the Marina Green promenade  an expansion that would have blocked some neighborhood views. After months of passionate protest from the community group Keep the Waterfront Open, the Board of Supervisors in February approved legislation to prevent the relocation, effectively killing the plan.

A Recreation and Park Department spokesperson says the rent increase is necessary because West Harbor costs more to run than it makes. Juliana Yamada/Special to the Chronicle

Harbor fees have a built-in cost-of-living increase of 3% annually. The proposed 31% increase is intended to reach a break-even point that was calculated by the citys Budget and Legislative Analysts Office, at the request of the Board of Supervisors.

In the analysis, it was noted that the fees at the Small Craft Harbor are already the highest among 36 yacht harbors in the Bay Area and among the highest statewide, by a measure of several dollars per foot of linear length per berth. Only San Diego Bay has higher berth fees than San Francisco.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The overall temperament of the boat owners is that they are unhappy, said Chrissy Kaplan, who operates the fuel dock at the East Harbor, which she said will close altogether and be removed under the new plan, putting her out of business after 53 years. The city of San Francisco thinks that people will pay anything to keep their boats here.

Chrissy Kaplan, the operator of Gashouse Cove Marina in San Francisco, faces the closure of her business because of renovations. Sam Whiting/The Chronicle

In their recommendation, passed on a 5-2 vote April 18, Rec and Park commissioners asked supervisors to approve the 31% increase and instructed staff to investigate an additional 20% surcharge for boaters who do not live in San Francisco. Also recommended was an added charge for the larger slips harboring the most expensive boats. The Board of Supervisors Budget & Finance Committee is tentatively scheduled to take up the proposal to increase rents on Wednesday.

The Marina harbor has to be self-supporting, said Kat Anderson, president of the Rec and Park Commission. She noted that an increasing portion of the slips in the East Harbor are empty and cannot be rented until the remediation project is completed, which could take years.

Rec and Park officials noted in February that the harbor will also lose revenue due to the elimination of the fuel dock at Gashouse Cove.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Also contributing to the harbors budget red ink is the ongoing cost of annual dredging, which can run as high as $1 million, as well as storm damage and continuing deterioration of the seawall that runs along the Marina and protects it from the open bay.

The Department will not be putting taxpayer dollars into running a yacht harbor, Aparton said. Our priority is serving kids in equity priority communities.

Maritime activity in the Gashouse Cove Marina as seen from Radhaus beer hall at Fort Mason in San Francisco in 2018. Paul Chinn/The Chronicle 2018

Budget shortfalls are customarily paid out of the general fund, which is supported by property taxes. To propose not using general funds at the harbor chafes the boaters. According to Bruce Stone, president of the SF Marina Harbor Association, boat owners already pay a total of $3 million in slip rentals, plus $620,000 a year for boat ownerships in possessory interest taxes on the use of their slips and property taxes on the value of their boats. The tax is calculated by the Assessors Office, like a residential property tax, Stone said.

To his way of thinking, a 31% rent increase for their slips, plus taxes on the value of that slip and the value of the boat in the slip, amounts to double billing. Stone said the boat owners are already covering the shortfall through the taxes, without getting credit for it. The harbor budget is also assessed for collection of trash at the Marina Green and to maintain the bathrooms, which are public.

We are like the dumping ground for stuff that Rec and Park doesnt feel like paying for, said Stone. It is completely inappropriate to charge the slip holders to clean the public bathrooms and pick up the trash, which mostly comes from tourists and families enjoying the park.

Fisherman Steve Balestrieri, who opposes the rent increase, places a gull sweep to keep birds off of his boat in the West Harbor. Juliana Yamada/Special to the Chronicle

The proposed surcharge for nonresidents might be enough of an incentive for Tozzi to move her Beneteau sailboat to the harbor in Emeryville, which is both cheaper and closer to her home in Oakland.

I dont want to do that. I want to stay here, said Tozzi, who learned to sail by signing up for beginning lessons at the West Harbor. Her quarterly rent is $3,300, scheduled to rise by 15.5% on July 1 and another 16.4% in 2025, according to the proposal. Her property taxes amount to $1,600 a year.

This is the Marina District for a reason, she said. It is the neighborhood that contains the home for boats.

The Marina Small Craft Harbor is a public facility, but it is adjacent to the St. Francis Yacht Club and the Golden Gate Yacht Club  so the stereotype is that all boaters in the Marina are posh types in double-breasted blazers and ascots, slip holders say. But many of the boats are for fishing, and have been passed down through the generations.

Retired firefighter Steve Balestrieri, a third-generation San Francisco fisherman, says hell sell his boat if the rent hike passes. Juliana Yamada/Special to the Chronicle

One of these is a 28-foot cabin cruiser that belongs to Steve Balestrieri, a retired firefighter and third-generation San Francisco fisherman whose grandfather first kept a boat in the West Harbor in the 1950s.

Im being priced out, Balestrieri said after returning from an unproductive day in the South Bay searching for halibut. That harbor is a home to me, and if they go through with these massive increases, I will sell my boat and get out.
Vietnam imported 126.415 million kg of cotton (HS code 5201) from Central and South America during the first quarter of this year. The inbound shipment was valued at $239.043 million, with an average price of $1.89 per kg. Brazil is the largest cotton-producing country in the region. Central and South America contributed more than 52 per cent to Vietnams cotton imports during the period.

According to Fibre2Fashion's market insight tool TexPro, the region accounted for 52.35 per cent of Vietnam's total cotton imports of $456.627 million in the same period. North America and Asia-Pacific were two other major contributors, with a combined share of over 42 per cent of the total import.

In Q1 2024, Vietnam imported 126.415 million kg of cotton from Central and South America. Brazil led as the largest producer in the region, which contributed over 52 per cent of Vietnam's total cotton imports. Overall imports have been decreasing since 2021. Cotton prices have been volatile, slightly decreasing to $1.85 per kg in early 2024.

The country imported 224.836 million kg of cotton in 2023, when the imports were valued at $415.462 million, with an average price of $1.85 per kg. Vietnams cotton imports saw a decrease last year compared to the 304.833 million kg imported in 2022, which had a total value of $607.846 million. The imports have shown a consistent declining trend since 2021 when the trade registered 384.908 million kg ($636.485 million). Previously, Vietnam imported 362.657 million kg ($544.133 million) in 2020 and 234.554 million kg ($380.094 million) in 2019.

As per TexPro, the average price of imported cotton has remained volatile, fluctuating due to changing market conditions and macroeconomic dynamics. The price slightly decreased from $1.99 per kg in 2023 to $1.85 per kg in early 2024. It fell to $1.50 per kg in 2020 from $1.62 per kg in 2019 as COVID-19 impacted economic activities and normal life worldwide. However, it bounced back to $1.65 per kg in 2021 and $1.99 per kg in 2022.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
Katrina Kaif has had a fruitful career in Bollywood. In a recent interview with a leading Hollywood publication, she discussed whether working in the West is a part of her plan as an actress.





Katrina noted that she was offered a role in a Hollywood production but she had to turn it down due to circumstances. However, the actress added that she believes she would be able to secure a Hollywood role in the future. "I do believe it will happen, and I think that will be a whole new leaf in my book, so to speak, and really exciting, she said.

In the same interview, the Tiger 3 actress also discussed finding a balance between her interests and her audience's expectations of her. She noted that she always puts her fans first but now she is also focused on growing in her career and agreeing to roles that give her satisfaction.

Katrina Kaif last starred in Sriram Raghavan's Merry Christmas, alongside Vijay Sethupathi.
LHNVD-105, a universal influenza vaccine, shows strong immunogenicity at low doses in pigs, validating previous studies in rodents

Monoclonal antibodies generated by LHNVD-105 demonstrates the need for targeting multiple different conserved regions on the influenza virus

LHNVD-301, a monoclonal antibody cocktail targeting the heat shock protein, demonstrates strong activity against clinical tuberculosis isolates

Longhorn Vaccines and Diagnostics, a One Health company developing vaccines and diagnostic tools for global public health and zoonosis concerns, presented positive data from three key studies of its infectious disease franchise at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) 2024. ECCMID is taking place online and in-person in Barcelona, Spain from April 27-30, 2024.

Longhorn's vaccine and antibody product candidates focus on rapidly mutating viruses that include influenza, coronavirus, and antimicrobial resistant pathogens. The candidates presented include LHNVD-105, an adjuvanted composite peptide vaccine that targets multiple stages of the viral replication process, and a monoclonal antibody cocktail that targets a protein that may play a significant role in allowing tuberculosis to remain in a latent stage.

Influenza is a prevalent zoonotic respiratory virus, with pigs acting as a middleman for generating new virus strains transferrable to humans, birds, and other swine with pandemic potential. This poses a major public health issue and challenges to the swine industry. The first of two studies on LHNVD-105, Longhorn's universal influenza vaccine, showcased how unconjugated multi-epitope peptides, formulated with AddaVaxTM adjuvant, generated antibodies that were broadly reactive across multiple influenza virus strains when administered to pigs at low doses. Results included:

Pigs immunized with LHNVD-105 generated IgG antibodies that bound to multiple strains of influenza virus 21 days post primary immunization after a single dose.

Pigs receiving low vaccine doses (1 and 5g) generated binding antibodies to influenza viruses equal to or higher than pigs in the high dose groups (50 and 100g).

No adverse reactions to the vaccine were observed.

"We are very excited to present the first data from our universal influenza vaccine in pigs," said Jeff Fischer, President Longhorn Vaccines and Diagnostics. "Pigs are an ideal model for influenza and the results mirrored the significant rodent data that has been previously published."

Seasonal circulation of rapidly evolving influenza strains are potential threats in human populations. For individuals with increased risk of exposure to influenza or immunocompromised, new strains resistant to antiviral therapies pose a life-threatening risk. The second study on LHNVD-105 evaluated the binding and functional capabilities of four different isotype-specific anti-influenza mAbs in mice to determine their candidacy for a cocktail therapy approach to influenza. Results demonstrated:

Anti-influenza mAbs LD9 (IgG1, anti-HA), NB5 (IgG2a, anti-NA), GA4 (IgG1, anti-Matrix), and CG6, (IgG3, anti-Matrix) bound equally well to H3N2, but differentially to other contemporary and pandemic strains.

Anti-HA mAb LD9 and anti-Matrix mAb GA4 (both IgG1) preferentially bound to pandemic H5N1 influenza strain, while anti-Matrix mAb CG6 was more reactive with influenza B.

Anti-NA mAb NB5 and anti-Matrix mAb CG6 both had higher affinities to H3N2 and influenza B, but reacted less well to H1N1 and H5N1.

Neutralizing activity of all four mAbs was demonstrated against H1N1 and H3N2.

"Tuberculosis is one of the most common and deadly diseases in the World. Up to one third of the World's population has been infected with the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis but does not have active disease," said Gerald W. Fischer, MD, CEO of Longhorn Vaccines and Diagnostics. "The heat shock protein may play a significant role in shielding the bacterium from the immune system and allowing it to survive. The data being presented suggests that both our heat shock protein vaccine candidate and monoclonal antibody cocktail could play a significant role in preventing and treating multi-drug resistant tuberculosis infections."

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is a virus that is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics and a key pathogen contributing to antimicrobial resistance worldwide. The third study, conducted by the University of Pretoria, explored Longhorn's monoclonal antibodies for the prevention and treatment of infections caused by MTB and gram-positive bacteria. The study analyzed the binding capabilities of IgG2a (anti- heat shock protein (HSP16.3)) and IgG2b (anti- Peptidoglycan (PGN)) mAbs to clinical MTB isolates. Results found:

Both IgG2a and IgG2b mAbs demonstrated good binding activity to live and ethanol-killed MTB, and to mid-logarithmic and stationary phase MTB.

The mAbs demonstrated good binding to live clinical MTB isolates at concentrations as low as 0.25 g/mL.

For more information about Longhorn, visit www.LHNVD.com.

About Longhorn Vaccines and Diagnostics

Longhorn Vaccines and Diagnostics is a closely held One Health company based in Maryland that is developing broad coverage vaccines and diagnostic tools for worldwide public health concerns and to prevent future pandemics. Since its inception in 2006, Longhorn has focused on developing broad coverage vaccines and diagnostic tools that can impact a pandemic on a global scale and at all socio-economic levels. Since pandemics flow between humans and animals, Longhorn products play a significant role to surveil, diagnose, prevent and treat the next infectious disease.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240427410246/en/

Contacts:

Longhorn Vaccines and Diagnostics LLC

Jeffrey Fischer

Email: jeff@lhnvd.com



Media

Alexis Feinberg ICR Westwicke PR

Email: alexis.feinberg@westwicke.com



Investor Relations

Stephanie Carrington ICR Westwicke IR

Email: stephanie.carrington@westwicke.com
Fashion dupes took off on social media, offering budget-friendly alternatives to pricey items. Now, the concepts gone globetrotting as destination dupes, swapping out popular spots for cheaper, quieter, or more unique alternatives  Antwerp instead of Paris, Pattaya over Bangkok. Think less cost, fewer crowds, and maybe even more charm read more

A man sells miniatures of the Eiffel Tower to tourists in Paris. The French capital is often too crowded because of overtourism and is also expensive. Reuters

Popular tourist destinations that are often on the bucket list of most travellers bring with them a major concern  affordability. The more famous the place is, the more one might end up having to spend. However, the latest travel trend for this year points to a surge in destination duping.

As the term suggests, this is a practice of travelling to off-beat places that fall within the budget while offering an experience somewhat similar to that of tourist hot-spots. The dupes have uncanny similarities with the original destinations and offer unique cultural experiences for travellers.

Advertisement

The trend, which is fuelled by social media, comes as a response to overcrowding and overuse of resources. Places like Athens have restricted the number of visitors, while Venice and Amsterdam are now charging tourist taxes. This presents a golden opportunity for the dupes to bask in the spotlight.

For example: instead of Paris, one can choose Belgiums Antwerp and its historic charm. Avoid Venices crowded gondolas and opt for Ljubljanas scenic canals and swap Santorini for Paros pristine beaches and cliffs. India is not far behind on the trend, with travellers choosing Gokarna over Goa, Zanskar over Gulmarg and Udaipur over Jaipur.

How did this trend surface?

The phenomenon of Fashion Dupes burst onto social media platforms abroad specially TikTok, offering budget-friendly alternatives to high-end products. This same principle swiftly transitioned into the realm of travel, spawning Destination Dupes. These swaps occurred for various reasons, aiming to provide travellers with alternatives that are typically cheaper, less crowded, more accessible, or simply more intriguing.

Tourists stand at the City Palace in Udaipur. Many opt for the city instead of Rajasthans capital Jaipur. File photo/Reuters

Expedia, a prominent US-based travel group, caught wind of this trend by the end of 2023, unveiling a selection of popular dupes in the Asia-Pacific region. Among these were Taipei as a substitute for Seoul, Perth for Sydney, and Pattaya for Bangkok. The revelation was backed by staggering statistics: Searches for Taipei surged by 2,786 per cent over the year, with Pattaya seeing a 24 per cent increase and Perth a 109 per cent rise.

Advertisement

Also read: Venice is charging an entry fee to tourists. But why are residents angry?

Why is this trend catching on?

Nikkei Asia reported four key drivers behind the surge of this trend. First and foremost is the cost factor. While the original destination often skyrockets in price due to its popularity, the dupe typically offers a comparable experience at a fraction of the cost.

Secondly, its all about dodging the crowds, especially during peak seasons.

Then comes accessibility. Dupes are often more conveniently located and easier to reach, catering to travellers looking for hassle-free journeys.

Lastly, theres the allure of novelty. Whether its a unique twist on the original or additional attractions, dupes that offer something fresh make travellers feel like theyre getting the most bang for their buck. When a dupe combines two or more of these factors, people are more inclined to switch gears.

Advertisement

Adding to the four motivations for swapping destinations, a fifth factor is emerging: sustainability. This aspect is gaining traction, particularly among eco-conscious and ethically-minded travellers. The allure lies in opting for alternatives to destinations struggling under the strain of overtourism.

A tourist sunbathes on a beach in Pattaya, which has emerged as an alternative to Bangkok. File photo/Reuters

In 2023, a study conducted by Skyscanner unveiled that a staggering 93 per cent of travellers would entertain the idea of visiting a dupe destination. Approximately 64 per cent of respondents admitted that the potential savings played a pivotal role in their decision-making process.

Skyscanners roster of dupe recommendations included Belfast as an alternative to London, Girona in lieu of Barcelona, Krakow instead of Rome, and Seville as a substitute for Madrid.

Advertisement

Data from the website of travel company EaseMyTrip revealed that travellers making bookings have shifted from destinations like the Maldives to the Seychelles and Lakshadweep, from Thailand to Vietnam and from Dubai to Saudi Arabia. "

Some destinations to avoid

In November last year, this trend received a significant boost with Fodors, a prominent figure in the travel industry, releasing its latest No List. This advisory cautions travellers to steer clear of specific destinations due to issues related to overtourism and its repercussions.

Leading the list are Venice in Italy, Athens in Greece, and Mount Fuji in Japan, all cited for the damages wrought by excessive tourism. Additionally, Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, Californias San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, and Chiles Atacama Desert are included due to environmental degradation concerns. Furthermore, Indias Ganga River, Thailands Koh Samui, and Lake Superior, straddling the US-Canada border, are singled out for water pollution issues.

The Giralda Tower and the cathedral are pictured in Seville, Spain. Skyscanner recommends it as a substitute for Madrid.

This release follows an earlier list from 2022, which flagged 10 other destinations, ranging from Antarctica to Maya Bay and Koh Tao Island in Thailand, to Maui in Hawaii, as places to avoid due to similar concerns.

Advertisement

A few challenges on the way

Countries like Slovenia have even embraced the trend as it contributes to sustainable tourism in the long run. However, while destination dupes offer a more relaxing trip and authentic experiences on a lesser budget, there are some challenges to consider.

Transportation can be a hurdle since these are places that are still underdeveloped for tourism. Similarly, planning might also require more effort, given the limited information that is available about these places.

Given how the trend is exploding on social media, travel experts are confident that destination duping is here to stay. It offers a win-win for travellers seeking the real deal on a budget, while these hidden gems benefit from a more sustainable form of tourism.

With inputs from agencies
Peruvian immigrant Luz Mejia waits for a friend to lend her a car to sleep in in the Bayview neighborhood in San Francisco on Tuesday. Her sons and husband are sleeping at Hamilton House homeless shelter but there's no room for her at the shelter. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

Under a full moon and biting night winds, Luz Mejia waited about an hour on the sidewalk for her bed to arrive. This night it was the back of her friends Camry parked in a driveway in San Franciscos Bayview.



Minutes after her friend parked, Mejia  a recent immigrant from Peru  stepped into the back of the car clutching a pillow, blanket and small bag. After changing her clothes, she laid her head down to sleep.

Meija had been sleeping in the Camry for five days after she said she was shut out of one of San Franciscos largest family shelters. Her two teenage sons and their father have been staying at the Hamilton Families temporary family shelter, but there were only three beds, and Mejia insisted that her husband stay with the children. He came to America months ahead of them, she said, and she didnt want them separated any longer.



There was no room for me, she told the Chronicle with tears streaming down her face.

Peruvian immigrant Luz Mejia begins to sleep in the backseat of her friend's car in the Bayview neighborhood in San Francisco while the rest of her family stays at a homeless shelter that doesn't have room for her. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

For months, politicians and advocates have been sounding the alarm that San Francisco is failing homeless families, with new immigrants particularly vulnerable. Shelters are full. Wait lists for beds are longer. Families are sleeping in their cars, couch surfing or in tents or separate from each other in various group shelters, advocates say.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

San Francisco supervisors are now urging Mayor London Breed to declare a state of emergency for immigrant families to quickly scale up and fund shelter after a tense City Hall hearing this week underscored the holes in the citys aid system.



Breeds office said in a statement that the administration is working to address the rising number of families experiencing homelessness, but did not answer a question about whether it would consider declaring a state of emergency over the issue.



For a long time, we could shelter any family that came through our system relatively quickly. But the waitlist has grown, driven by newcomers, Breeds office said, adding the administration is expanding shelter slots for families and that a plan to address the crisis is in the works.

Peruvian immigrants Walter Baldeon and his sons Sebastian Baldeons, 18 (left) and Gabriel Baldeon, 12 (right) wait for the bus as they head to their homeless shelter in San Francisco on Tuesday. Walter and his son are sleeping at Hamilton House homeless shelter but his wife has been staying outside because there is no room for her at the shelter. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

Homeless department officials say data from other city departments and the San Francisco Unified School District as well as anecdotal evidence points to a surge in the number of immigrant families coming to San Francisco since 2021.

But it remains unclear how many families have arrived recently and how many are homeless because San Franciscos sanctuary city law forbids city agencies from asking families about their immigration status, according to Emily Cohen, spokesperson for the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The number of immigrant students in schools has been rising at the same time as homelessness rises in the district, though its not possible to say how many of the additional homeless students were immigrants.

Peruvian immigrant Walter Baldeon looks out the window as he sits on the bus as he heads to his homeless shelter with his sons in San Francisco on Tuesday. Walter and his son are sleeping at Hamilton House homeless shelter but his wife has been staying outside because there is no room for her at the shelter. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

San Francisco has long struggled to help its homeless families. The city pledged in 2017 to eliminate homelessness among families, but it only got worse.



The 2022 point in time count found 205 homeless families, with 87% in shelter, up from 190 five years earlier. But experts say the numbers are an undercount. One indicator of the crisis is that 375 people are on a waitlist for a shelter at the Buena Vista Horace Mann K-8 school in the Mission, which only has 69 beds that are full most nights and has been since November 2023. Thats in contrast to 2020 when its monthly average occupancy was just 65%.

While its difficult to quantify exactly how many immigrant families are currently homeless or unsheltered in San Francisco, Cohen said their data shows a big surge in family homelessness overall in recent years, and she said about 46% of all homeless families are seeking help in Spanish.

Meanwhile, the San Francisco Immigrant Legal Defense Collaborative says a waitlist for legal representation has expanded dramatically from the typical 100 to 200 individuals to more than 900 individuals in the last year.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Peruvian immigrant Luz Mejia (center) says goodbye to her husband Walter Baldwin (left) and sons Gabriel, 12 (right) and Sebastian, 18, as she makes her way to an English class in San Francisco on Tuesday. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

Meijas experience of homelessness has her questioning her ideas about the American Dream and the possibility of a better life in the U.S. Three other mothers that spoke with the Chronicle say their families are also having trouble finding steady work and shelter. One said she has endured sexual harassment and violence. Another said her children are being bullied in school, traumas on top of the arduous journey to America.

Ive cried all the tears I have to cry, Ive asked for help, Ive implored people, and the system just cant help, Mejia said. Im powerless.

San Francisco tailors some of its services to homeless families, but families often wait longer for scarce resources alongside people who have been unhoused in San Francisco for months or years longer.

When most immigrant families arrive in San Francisco, they are offered hotel vouchers through the citys three access points for homeless families at Civic Center, the Bayview and the Mission.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Peruvian immigrant Sebastian Baldeon, 18, (top, center) does homework before going to sleep at Hamilton House homeless shelter while Bethany Veliz (right), and her father play in the shelter in the Tenderloin neighborhood. There is no room in the shelter for his mother, who has been staying outside. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

The homeless department said it has a total of 13 programs with a maximum capacity of 340 individuals. The department gives out 30 urgent accommodation vouchers for two-week hotel stays, and it offer another eight vouchers for survivors of violence, including families and pregnant persons.



Mejias family is at the Hamilton Families shelter in the Tenderloin, where 60 different families share 27 private rooms and four group rooms. Sebastian Baldeon, Mejias 18-year-old son, sleeps in the bunk area of another unhoused family at Hamilton Families because the shelter is at full capacity after an influx of immigrant newcomer families in recent months, CEO Kyriell Noon told the Chronicle in a statement.



He said they always strive to accommodate every family, and as many families, as possible.



As of today, every bed at our shelter is filled, and we will continue working with our partners at the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing to provide shelter and supportive services to families regardless of immigration status, he said.

But accessing these services has been a challenge for unhoused families, said Faith in Action community organizer Matt Alexander.

He said during a recent advocacy trip to an access point he made, an immigrant family was asked to sit for a 90-minute interview that enables the city to prioritize families based on hardship. But Alexander said the family was told it had not been homeless long enough to receive services and had already exhausted their 14-day hotel stay offer.

They were given Muni tickets instead and told to wait.



Thats all they had for them, Alexander said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Cohen admitted during a recent City Hall hearing that the system is too cumbersome to manage and the department is not equipped to solve all of the problems associated with immigration, such as long-term intergenerational poverty.

Because the city has such few resources for unhoused families, if a very large family comes in, unfortunately  they are likely to wait longer. Staffing shortages, and a lack of Spanish language translators makes navigating the system even more difficult, Cohen added.

We dont have enough to meet the needs of someone whos been in San Francisco their entire life and is experiencing homelessness, let alone someone who recently came to the community and is experiencing homelessness, Cohen said.

San Francisco has so far been spared from the mass arrival of immigrant families and individuals seen in cities like New York, Boston and Sacramento.

But the families who are here are often suffering.

Geraldin Mejias, a Venezuelan immigrant, sits inside a McDonalds with daughter Alvannys Tovar, 1, and son Geremy Tovar, 8, in San Francisco on Friday. The family sleeps at a shelter inside a local public school, but must leave by 7 a.m. Loren Elliott/Special to the Chronicle

Venezuelan immigrant Geraldin Mejias, a volunteer for Faith in Action, and her family have been sleeping inside Buena Vista Horace Mann school every night for six months, shortly after arriving in San Francisco.

She, her husband, 8-year-old son and 15-month old daughter endured a horrible two-month migration from the dense jungles of the Darien Gap up through Mexico on the roof of the La Bestia migrant train to America. She said a Texas border agent told her San Francisco would welcome them with open arms and offer resources. The reality has been very different.

Sometimes I walk around in the street after leaving and cry thinking about where I brought my children, Mejias said. I thought there would be opportunity here but no. Were at zero.

What immigrant families are going through appalls Supervisor Hillary Ronen, who is pushing the homelessness department to expedite its plan to add 35 more hotel vouchers for immigrant families.



The department is also bringing on new supportive housing for formerly homeless families and seeking $20 million to pay for up to 5 years of rent subsidies for about 100 families.

Geraldin Mejias, a Venezuelan immigrant, walks from the homeless shelter at Buena Vista Horace Mann School toward a nearby McDonalds with husband Alvaro Tovar, son Geremy Tovar, 8, and daughter Alvannys Tovar, 1. Loren Elliott/Special to the Chronicle

Supervisor Ahsha Safai, who called for this weeks hearing, said as a sanctuary city, San Francisco needs to truly live up to those principles. We have to ensure that the most resource-rich city  and one of the richest on the planet  can step forward and take care of the most vulnerable.

Mejia, who fled Peru, said moving from a hotel to a shelter and now the street has been devastating.



Life isnt easy anywhere, she said. At the shelter I slept on the cold floor. The back of a car isnt so bad. I just want to be able to live my life. And if they dont let you live, you still have to keep living. Fall seven times, get up eight.

A firetruck blaring its sirens sped past as Mejia lowered the hood of her parka, shuffled her head in the pillow and closed her eyes around midnight.

She said she doesnt know how much longer shell be able to sleep curled up in the back of her friends Camry.
I cant breathe These chilling last words by Frank Tyson during a fatal encounter with Canton police officers bring up the memory of George Floyds manslaughter. Tyson too was pinned down by cops before he died. We look at both the incidents, and the persistent issues of racial discrimination and police brutality that plague the US law enforcement read more

53-year-old Frank Tyson repeatedly said "I can't breathe" as the police pinned him to the floor. AP

Ohio police released video of Frank Tyson, a 53-year-old Black man, who died at a local hospital after repeatedly telling officers I cant breathe as they pinned him to the floor of a bar and handcuffed him. The clip brings up chilling memories of the killing of George Floyd. At the epicentre of Tysons death, like that of Floyd, is the United States police system. The focus is once again on racial bias in the US Law Enforcement.

We tell you how Tyson was killed, why it has dredged up painful memories of George Floyds manslaughter, and about the systemic racial bias in the police forces in the US.

Advertisement

I cant breathe, said Frank Tyson

The incident unfolded on April 18. Canton police officers responded to a report of a car crash involving a vehicle that had struck an electrical pole. An eyewitnesses said that the culprit had fled to a nearby bar. Following this lead, the police enter a tavern, where they identify Tyson as the potential driver who had fled the scene.

Body camera footage captured a chaotic confrontation inside the establishment. Officers attempted to apprehend Tyson, who kept shouting, They are trying to kill me. During the scuffle, the policemen manage to wrestle Tyson to the ground and handcuff him. One of them places a knee on his back, dangerously close to his neck, for 30 seconds.

He can be heard repeatedly saying, I cant breathe. I cant get off my neck, as an officer yells Calm down and Youre fine.

Canton, Ohio



Bodycam footage of Frank Tyson pic.twitter.com/RvpE4Meuib  The Daily Sneed (@Tr00peRR) April 26, 2024

As the minutes passed, Tysons voice faded; he became motionless and unresponsive. The officers continue speaking with bar patrons. One of them even said that he always wanted to be in a bar fight.

The body camera footage shows the officers delayed realisation of Tysons critical state. They began CPR and called for medical assistance, but it was too late. Tyson was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.

I cant breathe, George Floyd had said

The cries of I cant breathe are reminiscent of the painful death of George Floyd, whose death under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer became a rallying point for protestors across the US.

Advertisement

On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was detained by police following an accusation of using a counterfeit $20 bill. The encounter quickly escalated, leading to Floyd being pinned down by three officers. Derek Chauvin, one of the officers, placed his knee on Floyds neck for over nine minutes, a position he maintained despite Floyd repeatedly saying I cant breathe and begging him to get off.

I cant breathe became a chant during the protests in the aftermath of George Floyds killing. Reuters

Floyds ordeal was captured by a bystander. The video later went viral and was seen globally. His death not only sparked widespread protests across the United States but also triggered conversations on systemic racism and police brutality. The public outcry led to calls for substantial police reforms and a reevaluation of policing in America, particularly regarding the treatment of Black individuals.

Advertisement

That is a problem the US has long had.

Systemic racism in US law enforcement

The deaths of Tyson, Floyd, and thousands of other Black people, demonstrate a pervasive and deep-rooted issue of systemic racism within US police forces.

In a 2023 report, the United Nations International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in the Context of Law Enforcement found that racism in the US the enduring legacy of slavery and slave trade, and one hundred years of legalised apartheid that followed slaverys abolition continues to exist today in the form of racial profiling, police killings, and many other human rights violations.

The report pointed out that Black individuals in the United States are three times more likely to be killed by police compared to white people, and they face imprisonment at a rate 4.5 times higher than that of whites.

Advertisement

The report expressed profound concern over the treatment of certain individuals, including children of African descent receiving life sentences, pregnant women in jails being chained during childbirth, and Black people in prisons being held in solitary confinement for up to 10 years.

Furthermore, the accountability in cases involving police killings remains shockingly low. Analysis indicates that of the more than 1,000 police killings occurring each year, only about 1 per cent lead to officers being charged.

This lack of accountability perpetuates a cycle of violence and mistrust between law enforcement and the communities they serve, particularly communities of color.

Although police body cameras have caught officers in unjust violence, much of the general public views the problem as anomalous. Despite what many people in low-income communities of colour think about police officers, the broader society has a lot of respect for police and thinks if you just get rid of the bad apples, everything will be fine, Sandra Susan Smith, a professor of criminal justice Harvard Kennedy School, was cited as saying in The Harvard Gazette. The problem, of course, is this is not just an issue of bad apples, Smith noted, pointing to glaring systemic flaws.

Advertisement

The call for systemic change is echoed by civil rights groups and international observers who demand a comprehensive overhaul of policing practices. They advocate for the implementation of rigorous training on bias recognition, the adoption of strict use of force protocols, and the establishment of more effective systems of accountability.

With inputs from agencies
Top US universities, including Columbia, Harvard, and Yale, have billions in endowments. This money is invested in lots of places to maximise returns. The central demand of the protesting students has to do with where the university administrations are channelling these funds read more

Across the United States, university campuses have become epicentres of activism as students erect encampments and organise demonstrations. These protests are particularly intense at prestigious institutions such as Columbia and Harvard.

We explain the demands the protesting students have and whether there is a chance that universities will agree to these tall asks.

Widespread protests in the US

Protests by students in the US have erupted in prestigious universities like Brown, Yale, Harvard, and, most notably, Columbia. The demonstrations are over the war in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian death toll in the city has surpassed the 34,300 mark amid reports that mass graves were uncovered in the coastal enclave.

Advertisement

Students have pitched tents on campuses en masse. They have put up signs and vowed not to move until their demands are met. The protests have also seen students organising sit-ins, teach-ins, and engaging in largely peaceful demonstrations to draw attention to their cause.

The students demand for divestment

The specific demands articulated by the students vary from campus to campus. For instance, some students are calling for their universities to sever academic ties with Israeli institutions. Others want these educational institutions to support broader human rights initiatives, including a ceasefire in Gaza. Elsewhere, they have also called for an end to any retaliation towards students who have expressed their support for Palestinians. Furthermore, they have requested the university administrators to commit to not deploying police or any other law enforcement agencies to disperse student protests.

Students in top US universities like Harvard and Yale are demanding divestment from Israeli companies. AP

However, one central demand across these universities is for the institutions to divest from companies that are either directly linked to Israel or profit from its war in Gaza.

Students have explicitly called for their universities to pull out their investments from companies that either supply military equipment used in the conflict or are involved in other business activities that support Israels war efforts.

Why divestment is a rallying point

For context, universities like Harvard and Columbia boast endowments that run into several billion dollars  Harvards endowment is over $40 billion, and Columbias is around $11 billion. This money is typically invested in a diverse portfolio that includes stocks, bonds, real estate, and private equity. This investment strategy is designed to maximise returns on investment, which in turn support scholarships, faculty salaries, research, and other educational activities.

Advertisement

The University of Michigan, with an endowment of approximately $18 billion, and other large universities, use their endowments similarly, employing professional asset managers to handle these funds. The investments are often spread across a broad array of assets, including indirect investments through funds.

A group of students from MIT have released the names of researchers who receive funding from Israels defence ministry. The students claim that these researchers are working on projects that could contribute to drone navigation and missile protection. According to pro-Palestinian students, MIT has received over $11 million from the defence ministry in the past ten years.

At Yale, student groups are urging divestment from military weapons manufacturers that aid Israels offensive.

Advertisement

Divestment would send a strong message of withdrawing support for Israels actions.

But have such calls for divestment ever been successful?

Historical successes of divestment movements

The concept of divestment as a tool for social change is not new. Historical precedents include the divestment from apartheid-era South Africa in the 1980s, a movement that saw 155 universities cut financial ties with companies doing business in South Africa, according to the Wall Street Journal.

More recently, movements such as the divestment from fossil fuels and private prisons have shown that sustained student activism can lead to substantial policy changes.

Still, the success of the current protests for divestment may not see such great results.

Advertisement

Challenges and opposition to divestment

The path to divestment in the context of the Israel-Palestine conflict is fraught with complexities. Universities investment portfolios are too intricate to allow for rapid divestment from specific companies or sectors.

Moreover, the symbolic nature of divestment from Israel-related investments carries heavy political and ethical implications. Critics, including some faculty and external commentators, have argued that endorsing such a divestment could be perceived as supporting the delegitimisation or even the destruction of the State of Israel, raising concerns about antisemitism.

Previously, divestment protests against fossil fuel companies and apartheid-era South Africa have worked. Image courtesy: The Harvard Crimson

Furthermore, the practical impact of divestment on the targeted companies is likely minimal. University endowments, although hefty amounts, represent but a small fraction of total investment in large public companies. Even complete divestment by several universities would only affect 1-2 per cent stake in most companies. Critics also point out that other investors would likely fill the gap left by universities, negating the impact of divestment actions.

Advertisement

The one area where student protests are having an impact is in raising awareness and sparking a broader conversation about justice and ethical responsibility. Thus, while the immediate financial impact might be limited, the symbolic and educational value of divestment remains a powerful tool in their ongoing advocacy for Palestinian rights and broader peace efforts.

With inputs from agencies
Om Fahad was reportedly killed outside her residence in Baghdad on Friday (26 April) by an unknown gunman. The young TikTok celebrity made headlines last year after she was sentenced to six months in prison by an Iraqi court over indecent videos on social media read more

A young Iraqi social media influencer has been shot dead. As per reports, Om Fahad was killed outside her residence in Baghdad on Friday (26 April).

Fahad gained international limelight last February when a court sentenced her to jail time over indecent videos on social media.

Who was Om Fahad and what do we know about her death?

Who was Om Fahad?

1. Om Fahad, whose real name is Ghufran Sawadi, shot to fame in Iraq through her videos on TikTok. The light-hearted clips showed her dancing to pop music in form-hugging clothes. Her videos on the platform garnered her tens of thousands of followers, as per AFP news agency.

Advertisement

2. A court in Baghdad sent her to six months in prison last year for her social media videos that undermine modesty and public morality. A YouTuber named Hassan Sajamah was also handed a two-year prison term. Both were accused of several videos containing indecent speech that undermines modesty and public morality.

3. The action had come after the Iraqi government launched a government campaign in 2023 to clean up social media content that it said disregarded Iraqi morals and traditions, reported AFP. An interior ministry committee was set up to monitor TikTok, YouTube and other social media platforms for content that it deemed offensive. Authorities say several influencers have been arrested since then.

An Iraqi man shows a post on a social media platform on February 12, 2023 in the capital Baghdad, with a picture of TikTok celebrity Om Fahad. AFP File Photo

4. As per BBC, the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor had express concern over the penal action at the time, saying: Iraqi authorities detention and conviction of several social media content creators on vague charges that do not justify the restriction of natural rights is extremely concerning.

5. On Friday, Fahad was gunned down by an attacker on a motorbike, Iraqi security officials told AFP. She was in her car outside her home in the Zayouna district in Baghdad when the tragic incident took place. A security source told the news agency that the assailant seemed to be pretending to make a food delivery.

Advertisement

6. Confirming the attack, Iraqs interior ministry said in a statement that a woman known on social networking sites had been killed by unknown assailants. A specialised work team has been established to probe her death, BBC reported citing the statement. According to the Al Hurra news agency, another woman was injured in the attack.

7. Fahad was involved in a feud with fellow influencer Dalia Naeem, who had threatened to expose the formers alleged relationship with senior Iraqi officials, as per a BBC report.

8. This is not the first murder of an influencer in Iraq. In 2018, gunmen in Baghdad had killed model and influencer Tara Fares.

Advertisement

9. Iraq, which was invaded by the United States in 2003, saw years of war and sectarian conflict. However, some sense of normalcy has returned to the West Asian country.

10. The conservation nation faces criticism for curtailing the civil liberties of women, sexual minorities and other groups. Speaking to AFP about the crackdown on influencers, Mustafa Saadun, of the Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights, had warned last year that the government was taking the pulse of society before moving on to a more dangerous stage  to hold accountable all those who criticise state institutions and politicians.

11. However, the government had rebuffed these allegations, with the Interior Ministry spokesperson Saad Maan claiming the morality campaign had nothing to do with freedom of expression. We need a structure. These misguided personalities do not represent Iraqis, Iraqi women, or Iraqi society, he had said on the Al-Rachid TV channel last year, as per AFP.

Advertisement

With inputs from agencies
From Priyanka Gandhi saying Indira Gandhi donated gold for the benefit of the nation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing the grand old party of wanting to redistribute wealth, it seems the gloves are well and truly off for the Lok Sabha polls. But whats the truth behind these claims? All this and much, much more in our weekly roundup read more

What does the Congress Nyay Patra actually say? PTI

Its been quite the week. Many of the big headlines this week had a link to the Lok Sabha polls. The election campaign is really heating up.

From Congress Priyanka Gandhi saying Indira Gandhi donated gold for the benefit of the nation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing the grand old party of wanting to redistribute wealth, it seems the gloves are well and truly off. But whats the truth behind these claims?

Advertisement

Meanwhile, the murder of Neha Hiremath, the daughter of Karnataka Congress corporator has triggered a love jihad row in Karnataka.

There was also bad news for those who think that IIT placements are a sure way to a fat pay package and the good life.

And there was much consternation after two of Indias top spice brands, MDH and Everest, came under the eye of authorities abroad.

All this and more in our weekly roundup of explainers on the big news stories that grabbed headlines in the country.

1. Alls fair in love and war  and what is politics if not war by other means?

This week saw harsh words exchanged between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Congress Priyanka Gandhi.

Modi, addressing a rally in Rajasthan, claimed that the mangalsutras of married women would not be safe if the Congress took power again.

Priyanka then hit back at Modi  saying her grandmother Indira donated gold during Indias 1962 war with China.

Priyanka Gandhi claimed her grandmother Indira donated gold during Indias 1962 war with China. AFP

But did that really happen? Is there any truth to Priyankas claim?

2. Modi continued to assail the Congress this week. Citing the Congress poll manifesto, the PM claimed the grand old party would redistribute wealth to infiltrators and those who have more children.

Advertisement

The Congress called the prime ministers comments divisive and malicious and urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to take action against the prime minister.

https://youtu.be/GbbPdyn8vcw

We respect the office he (PM Modi) holds; he is as much our PM as yours or the BJP. The higher the position he holds, the more the obligation he holds to exercise restraint. Unfortunately, the statement he quoted, it is seriously objectionable. We can never expect this from the PM. We would pray to him with folded hands to withdraw these comments and clarify, said Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

But what did Modi say exactly? And what does the Congress Nyay Patra actually state? This article gives you the low down.

Advertisement

3. The disturbing trend of a young woman being killed for rejecting a proposal from a man reared ts ugly head again this week.

The victim, Neha Hirameth, the daughter of Karnataka Congress councillor Niranjan Hiremath, was stabbed to death on the BVB college campus by a former student after allegedly turning down his proposal.

Unfortunately, the tragedy has since taken a political turn with accusations of love jihad being levelled by the BJP and the Congress insisting that the murder merely had a personal angle to it.

But what happened to Neha? What do we know about the case? Is there really a love jihad angle to the matter? And what are the BJP and the Congress saying? This story dissects the entire matter in detail.

Advertisement

4. These days, India is hot, hot, hot.

And police departments across the country are trying every trick to keep their personnel cool.

Jarsh Safety, a Hyderabad-based start-up, has come up with an innovative way to do so  via air-conditioned (AC) helmets. The helmets, which have an in-built AC, weigh 200 grams. They are said to bring down the temperature for the wearer by around 10 to 15 degrees Celsius.

Police departments in India are now using air-conditioned (AC) helmets to help on duty personnel remain cool. ANI

At least 500 such helmets have been distributed to police in Vadodara and trials are on in other cities.

But what else do we know about these helmet ACs? How much do they cost? And are they really feasible? We explain.

Advertisement

5. Think an IIT placement is your ticket to a hefty pay package? Think again.

Those days may be gone  at least for the moment.

A report by _The Times of Indi_a revealed that many students are being offered sub-Rs 10 lakh yearly salaries. Worse, it seems fewer students are being picked up by companies straight off campuses.

So, what happened? Whats gone wrong in some of Indias premier institutions? Heres what experts have to say on the matter.

6. Many would argue Indias spices are among the countrys biggest claims to fame across the world. Now, two of the biggest spice brands are seemingly feeling the heat.

This was after food regulators in Hong Kong and Singapore recalled several MDH and Everest products due to the presence of the chemical ethylene oxide.

The Food Safety and Standards of Authority India (FSSAI), Indias top food regulatory agency, has also stepped up by asking states to conduct quality checks.

But what happened? How have MDH and Everest responded? And what is ethylene oxide? This piece explains the controversy in detail.

7. Ten of thousands of teachers in West Bengal were left shocked this past week. The Calcutta High Court cancelled the appointments of 23,753 teachers and non-teaching staff and ordered them to return their salaries  with interest!

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has described the verdict as illegal, has vowed to appeal the decision.

Calcutta High Court cancelled the illegal recruitment of 23,753 teachers and non-teaching staff. File image

Our government will stand for those who lost their jobs and we will appeal this order before a higher court, Mamata said. We challenge the verdict, as it affects 1.5-2 lakh families. Is it possible to return the salary of eight years in 4 weeks?

But what is the scam? Why did the high court make this decision? And will it have any impact on the polls? Heres everything you need to know.

8. Are you a UK size 10? Or a US size 11? Can you remember your measurements every time you look for new footwear?

Do you even know what that means? Well, soon, you wont have to.

Because shoes for Indians may soon be designed to conform to Bha (short for Bharat)  an Indian sizing system.

https://youtu.be/bvIKtxdmHxU?t=9

But what is Bha? Whats the science behind such a move?

And is there really a need for a system to cater to the Indian populace?

Thats all from India this week. Hope our explainers give you some food for thought. If you want to understand the news better, you can come back for more.
The US has said it will dispatch more Patriot missiles to Kyiv as part of a new $6 billion military aid package. The Patriot is a surface-to-air guided missile system, which the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy says is urgently needed in the war with Russia read more

In this image released by the US Department of Defense, German soldiers assigned to Surface Air and Missile Defense Wing 1, fire the Patriot weapons system at the NATO Missile Firing Installation, in Chania, Greece, on 8 November 2017. AP File Photo

As the war in Ukraine rages on, the United States has announced it will supply more Patriot missiles to Kyiv. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Friday (26 April) that the weapons will be a part of a new $6 billion military aid package.

More artillery ammunitions for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), counter-drone systems and air defence munitions are also a part of the package. However, the US will not dispatch Patriot systems for launching the missiles, as per a BBC report.

Advertisement

The military aid package, which is being funded through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), is reportedly the largest to date.

Its not just Patriots that they [the Ukrainians] need, they need other types of systems and interceptors as well. I would caution us all in terms of making Patriot the silver bullet, Austin said.

This security assistance is a part of the $60 billion aid package signed into law by US President Joe Biden earlier this week.

What are these Patriot missiles? Lets take a closer look.

The Patriot system

The Patriot is a surface-to-air guided missile system capable of targeting aircraft, cruise missiles and shorter-range ballistic missiles.

While it was developed as an anti-aircraft system, the newer variants of the Patriot can strike missiles, loitering munitions, and aircraft.

The MIM-104 Patriot (Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept On Target) missile system is the United States Armys main air and missile defence system.

Manufactured by US defence contractor Raytheon, it has been deployed in the US and allied countries including Germany, Greece, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Poland, Sweden, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Romania, Spain, and Taiwan.

Serviceman patrols in front of the Patriot air defence system during Polish military training on the missile systems at the airport in Warsaw, Poland February 7, 2023. Reuters File Photo

According to the US army, the system consists of a phased array radar, a control station, computers and generators. One Patriot battery needs 90 troops to operate and maintain it.

Advertisement

The batterys truck-mounted launching system has eight launchers that can hold up to four missile interceptors each, reported Associated Press (AP).

The advanced Patriot system has a Patriot missile and uses ground-based radar to survey, track and engage targets.

Besides the missile, the Patriot system launches missiles from the M901 launching station. According to howstuffworks.com, the stations include up to four launch canisters that can hold four different missiles, depending on the type. The launchers are about the size of a tractor-trailer rig. Each gets its power from the electric power plant (EPP) vehicle.

The Patriot system also carries the AN/MPQ-53 phased-array radar with a range of up to 100 km, the capacity to track up to 100 targets, and provide missile guidance data for up to nine missiles.

Advertisement

An interceptor missile for the Patriot system costs about $4 million per round and the launchers can be acquired for $10 million each, AP cited a CSIS report in 2022. Each Patriot battery costs around $1 billion.

Due to its costly nature, it is not feasible to use Patriot to shoot at every target.

History of Patriots in service

The Patriot system was first operated in the 1991 Gulf War to shoot down incoming Iraqi Scud or Al-Hussein Missiles launched at Israel and Saudi Arabia. The US army, which was in charge of the Patriots, claimed an initial success rate of 80 per cent in Saudi Arabia and 50 per cent in Israel. Those claims were scaled back to 70 and 40 per cent.

Advertisement

The US deployed the Patriot missile again in 2003 during its invasion of Iraq. Since then, the Patriot system has been used by several US allies. In 2014, Israel used its Patriot GEM+ missiles to destroy two Hamas drones, two Syrian drones, and a Syrian Su-24.

In the Yemeni Civil War, Saudi Arabia and the UAE used Patriot systems to intercept Houthi rockets, missiles, and drones.

ALSO READ: Americas $95 billion foreign aid bill: Why US keeps funding Ukraines fight

How will the Patriots help Ukraine?

The Patriot system is one of the most widely operated and reliable and proven air missile defence systems out there, Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), had told AP in 2022.

Advertisement

It will help Ukraine bolster its air defences.

Americas announcement comes after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed Patriots early Friday with the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a group of about 50 countries.

He said at least seven Patriot systems are required to protect Ukrainian cities. We urgently need Patriot systems and missiles for them. This is what can and should save lives right now, AP quoted him as saying.

A Patriot battery has a long firing range but can defend only a limited area, say experts. For example, it can protect a part of the city but not the entire city, as per AP.

The US-made Patriot missiles had reached Ukraine last April after Americas initial nod in late 2022.

Germany has also promised to send a Patriot air-defense system to Ukraine. Spain could supply some Patriot missiles but not an entire system.

Even though the systems effectiveness is limited, Ukraine is in much need of extra arms to stall Russias steady gains on the battlefield as its own stocks of ammunition are depleted.

With inputs from agencies
Over the past 24 hours, 31 new incidents of forest fires have been recorded across the state, leading to the destruction of 33.34 hectares of forest land read more

The forest fires raging in Uttarakhand escalated on Friday, with flames encroaching upon the High Court Colony in Nainital and posing a significant threat to residents.

Authorities reported three arrests in Rudraprayag for attempted arson in the forests, underscoring the severity of the situation.

Over the past 24 hours, 31 new incidents of forest fires have been recorded across the state, leading to the destruction of 33.34 hectares of forest land.

Advertisement

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has urged officials to remain vigilant and collaborate across departments to mitigate the fires. While talking to ANI, Dhami said the wild fire is posing a challange for his administration, We are constantly working to collect all necessary resources to douse the fire. Army has already been roped in, he said.

#WATCH | Dehradun: On the Nainital forest fire, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami says, "The forest fires are a challenge for us. This is a big fire. We are working for all the essential needs. We have asked for help from the Army... I am going to conduct a meeting in Haldwani pic.twitter.com/ANVPbSgfGP  ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2024

The fire near Nainitals district headquarters intensified, prompting concerns for the safety of residents in the High Court Colony. Efforts to contain the blaze have mobilised forest department personnel and army forces, with deployment of IAF MI-17 helicopter to aid firefighting.

With a forest fire building up in vicinity of an Air Force Station near Nainital, #IAF activated its aerial fire fighting capability, employing a Mi-17 V5 helicopter for undertaking Bambi Bucket Ops. pic.twitter.com/2wLbTjW5m8  Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) April 27, 2024

Advertisement

Anil Joshi, an area resident and assistant registrar of the High Court, was quoted in a media report highlighting the urgency of controlling the fire, particularly given its proximity to sensitive Indian Army installations near the Pines area.

In response to the escalating situation, the district administration has prohibited boating activities in Naini Lake as a precautionary measure.

Forest officials have deployed significant manpower, including 40 personnel and two forest rangers, to combat the fires. The Kumaon region recorded 26 fire incidents, while the Garhwal region reported five incidents, collectively affecting 33.34 hectares of forest land.

Advertisement

Since November last year, Uttarakhand has witnessed 575 forest fire incidents, resulting in the loss of 689.89 hectares of forest land and significant financial implications.

Meanwhile, in a proactive move to prevent further arson incidents, authorities apprehended three individuals suspected of starting fires in Jakholi and Rudraprayag areas.

One of the arrested individuals, Naresh Bhatt, confessed to igniting fires to promote new grass growth for sheep grazing, underscoring the diverse factors contributing to the forest fire crisis in the region.
West Bengal CM and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee has said the weapons said to be seized in Sandeshkhali could have been planted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) read more

West Bengal CM and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee has expressed skepticism over the claims of CBI on weapons' recovery at Sandeshkhali. (Photo: PTI)

There is no evidence of arms seizure in Sandeshkhali and the weapons claimed to have recovered could have been planted by central agencies, said West Bengal Chief and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee.

Mamatas comment comes a day after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said it had seized arms and ammunition during raids in Sandeshkhali village in West Bengals North 24 Parganas district. The raids were in connection to an attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) personnel in January in the village by a mob allegedly instigated by now-suspended TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh.

Advertisement

Separately, the TMC has filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) that alleges that unscrupulous raids at empty locations were carried out by the CBI on the day of voting to tarnish the image of the TMC, according to India Today.

Voting was being held at Darjeeling, Raiganj, and Balurghat constituencies of Lok Sabha as part of the second phase of the 2024 general elections on Friday as the CBI raided the sites in Sandeshkhali. A bomb squad of the National Security Guards (NSG) and other central paramilitary personnel were also part of the operation.

Watch: After foreign weapons were discovered in CBI's raid, NSG teams are now conducting search operations in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali. A close aide of Shahjahan Sheikh is also under NSG scrutiny. https://t.co/7rauuI1dMP pic.twitter.com/e5CxnAsfK5  IANS (@ians_india) April 26, 2024

Weapons could have been planted, it seems a war is going on: Mamata

Mamata on Saturday said that the weapons said to have been recovered in Sandeshkhali could have been planted by the central investigative agency involved in the raid.

Advertisement

Speaking at a rally in support for TMCs Shatrughan Sinha, Mamata further said that it seems a war is going on and slammed the attention of central agencies on her state, according to PTI.

Mamata said that there was no evidence of arms seizure in Sandeshkhali and that the weapons said to have been recovered might have been brought by officials of the central agency, as per the news agency.

If a firecracker goes off in Bengal, the NIA, CBI, NSG are coming to investigate. It seems that a war is going on. The state police were not informed. It is not known what was found. There was no evidence. The seized items might have been brought by them (CBI) in a car, Mamata was further quoted as saying.

Advertisement

During the Fridays raids, the CBI said it seized a police service revolver and foreign-made firearms.

TMC lodges complaint against CBI, NSG raids with ECI

While Mamata dismissed the CBIs claims in the election rally, her party TMC filed complaints with the Election Commission and alleged that the raids were an attempt to tarnish the image of the party.

In its complaint, the TMC also repeated Mamatas assertion of lack of evidence of the recovery of weapons.

There is no way of knowing with certainty, as to whether these weapons were indeed recovered during the search and seizure procedure or whether they were surreptitiously planted by the CBI/NSG, said the complaint, as per India Today.

Advertisement

The complaint further said that the state police was not informed of the raids even though law and order is a state subject. The TMC also said that, if the CBI felt a bomb squad was required, it could have sought the squad of the state police instead of calling in NSG, the premier anti-terrorism force of the central government.

In this regard, it is stated that though law and order is a domain falling completely within the ambit of the State Government, the CBI did not issue an actionable notice to the State Government and/or the police authorities before carrying out such a raid. Further, the State Police has a fully functional bomb disposal squad which could have assisted the entire operation, if the CBI indeed felt that a bomb squad was required during such a raid, said the TMC in its complaint, as per the report.
The militant attack took place between 12 and 2:15 am when the attackers opened gunfire from a hilltop at the Naranseina village toward the valley region, targeting a central security force post read more

In Manipur, which saw its final phase of polling yesterday, two CRPF personnel were killed while two others were injured in a suspected militant attack in the Bishnupur district on Saturday.

The attack comes just six days before the first anniversary of the violence that broke out between Kuki and Meitei in the northeastern state a year ago.

How did the attack unfold?

The militant attack took place in the dead of night between 12 and 2:15 am when the attackers opened gunfire from a hilltop at the Naranseina village toward the valley region, targeting a central security force post.

Advertisement

The situation quickly escalated after a bomb detonated at an outpost, leaving four security officials severely injured.

The militants fired indiscriminately from hilltops, targetting the camp. It started around 12.30 am and continued till about 2.15 am. The militants also hurled bombs, one of which exploded in the outpost of CRPFs 128 battalion, a senior police officer told PTI.

According to a report by NDTV, the militants used a crude artillery weapon called pumpi gun to launch their assault on the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) camp.

Who were the CRPF personnel?

The two Central Reserve Police Force officials who died in the attack have been identified as sub-inspector N Sarkar and head constable Arup Saini.

Meanwhile, the injured were Inspector Jadav Das and Constable Aftab Das who received splinter wounds.

The CRPF personnel were deployed to provide security to the IRB camp.

The police have said that a massive search operation is currently underway to identify and catch the perpetrators of the attack.

The attacked IRB camp is located 2 km away from the hills which is close to the Upper Canal, an area where central security forces have been deployed since it was designated a sensitive area after a violence broke out in Manipur last year in May.
Following the transplant, 19-year-old Ayesha Rashid thanked the Indian government for issuing her an emergency visa for the heart transplant read more

A Pakistani teenager has got a new lease of life after receiving a heart transplant at a hospital in Chennai.

The 19-year-old, identified as Ayesha Rashid, from Pakistans Karachi had been sick since 2019. She received the heart from a 69-year-old Indian donor from New Delhi, as per PTI.

Ayesha was treated at the MGM Healthcare hospital. Following the transplant, Ayesha thanked the Indian government for issuing her a visa. Her doctors were quoted as saying that she has been discharged following the surgery.

Advertisement

VIDEO | 19-year-old Pakistani girl undergoes successful heart transplant surgery in #Chennai.



"I am feeling fine. I thank (the Indian government) for giving me visa...I got a heart transplant," says Ayesha Rashid, a resident of Karachi, Pakistan.



(Full video available on PTI pic.twitter.com/bAeNTlkN22  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 26, 2024

Dr KR Balakrishnan, the Director of the Institute of Heart and Lung Transplant at MGM Healthcare, said that Ayeshas single-mother could barely arrange the finances.

Her single mother had no money, no resources at all. With great difficulty, they arranged some finance and came here. We had to take care of the patients entire expenses including her hospitalisation, said Balakrishnan.

Balakrishnan further said that the kind of treatment that Ayesha got in Chennai is not available in Pakistan. He further said that such treatment is not available widely outside of North America and Europe and India offers such treatment at a fraction of the cost in the West.

In that country (Pakistan), managing patients with artificial heart pumps is not easy because the equipment required to monitor is not thereOutside of North America and Western Europe, not many countries can do this. The cost incurred here is a tiny fraction of what it would have cost in other countries in the world. Technology in this country is very good, said Balakrishnan to ANI.

Advertisement

#WATCH | Chennai, Tamil Nadu: Dr KR Balakrishnan of MGM Healthcare says, "... In that country (Pakistan), managing patients with artificial heart pumps is not easy because the equipment required to monitor is not there. With great difficulty, she got the Visa and she came here https://t.co/SQPvnNvCA7 pic.twitter.com/XIhSc4jeTA  ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2024

Separately, Ayeshas mother, Sanobar, said they got an emergency visa for the transplant.

As per a report in PTI, Ayesha had been ailing since 2019 when she suffered a cardiac arrest. Considering her condition, her family consulted Balakrishnan and Dr Suresh Rao, Co-Director of MGMs Institute of Heart and Lung Transplant. The medical team advised a heart transplant as her heart pump was leaking. She was also put on Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), a process that involves machines functioning as artificial heart and lungs.

Ayesha received her heart from a man who was declared brain-dead in New Delhi, as per the report, which added that the transplant was carried out free of cost.
The ruling denounced the arbitrary nature of PSBs issuing LOCs to high-profile borrowers such as Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, and Mehul Choksi. It highlighted the need for legal safeguards and due process in such matters, ensuring the protection of fundamental rights for all citizens read more

In a landmark ruling, the Bombay High Court has struck down the powers granted by the Centre to public sector banks (PSBs) to issue lookout circulars (LOCs) against defaulters. The court condemned the practice, stating that PSBs had assumed the roles of both judge and executioner, violating fundamental rights in the process.

The division bench of Justices Gautam Patel and Madhav Jamdar highlighted that the issuance of LOCs by PSBs infringed upon the fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 21, including personal liberty and the right to travel abroad. The courts reasoned ruling, uploaded Thursday, highlighted the unconstitutional nature of executive action that curtailed these rights.

Advertisement

The judgment, which came in response to pleas challenging the constitutional validity of LOCs issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs at the behest of PSBs, invalidated over 100 such circulars.

The ruling denounced the arbitrary nature of PSBs issuing LOCs to high-profile borrowers such as Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, and Mehul Choksi. It highlighted the need for legal safeguards and due process in such matters, ensuring the protection of fundamental rights for all citizens.

The court stressed upon the excessive power wielded by PSBs and the deprivation of citizens rights, calling for adherence to legal procedures in dealing with economic offenders.

Furthermore, the Bombay High Court restricted the Bureau of Immigration from acting on PSB-issued LOCs, providing clarity on the implications of the Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) and the Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEO) Act.
by Laurel Sutherlin





In a global context where tropical rainforests play a critical role in biodiversity conservation and climate regulation, these ecosystems are severely threatened by expanding agribusiness and logging activities. This poses significant risks to the environment, wildlife, and communities dependent on rainforests.





Against the backdrop of escalating climate change impacts, urgent action is needed to prevent the collapse of these vital ecosystems and address the injustices faced by Indigenous and local communities and workers within the agricultural sector.





Rio de Janeiro, Brazil [ Photo: Agustin Diaz Gargiulo/ Unsplash]





The ratification of the UN Global Biodiversity Framework in December 2022 marked a pivotal moment, signaling a collective commitment by 196 countries to reverse the decline in global biodiversity. However, financial institutions have historically failed to address their role in exacerbating the biodiversity crisis.





A 2023 report by Forests and Financea coalition of campaign, grassroots and research organizations that includes TuK Indonesia, Profundo, Amazon Watch, Reporter Brasil, BankTrack, Sahabat Alam Malaysia, Friends of the Earth U.S., and my organization, Rainforest Action Networksheds light on the extensive financial support provided to sectors responsible for tropical deforestation, including beef, palm oil, pulp and paper, rubber, soy, and timber. From January 2016 to September 2023, banks provided at least $307 billion in credit to these operations, states the report, while institutional investors held approximately $38 billion in related shares and bonds.





Despite fluctuations in financial flows, there has been no discernible downward trend in financing forest-risk commodity production. Alarmingly, the analysis of more than 100 financial institutions policies in 2023 revealed grossly inadequate safeguards against deforestation and its associated social and environmental impacts. The average policy score was just 17 percent, according to the report.





Entities like JBS, Cargill, Royal Golden Eagle, and Sinar Mas Group exemplify the egregious behaviors tolerated and enabled by banks and investors.





Demands to Correct a Systemic Issue





The report by Forests and Finance urged governments and financial institutions to adopt and enact five principles:





1. Halt and reverse biodiversity loss





2. Uphold and prioritize the rights of Indigenous peoples, women, and local communities





3. Facilitate a just transition





4. Safeguard ecosystem integrity





5. Harmonize institutional objectives across sectors, issues, and instruments





Immediate action is crucial to combat the climate and biodiversity crises. The report urges financial institutions to align their activities with sustainability goals, enact robust environmental and social policies, and ensure transparency and accountability. By holding the financial sector accountable for its role in enabling social and environmental harm, we can work toward preserving biodiversity and mitigating the impacts of climate change for current and future generations.





Notable Progress





The Forests and Finance report highlights the significant progress of tropical forest countries and key import and financial jurisdictions in promoting sustainable financial practices and combating deforestation. Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia, the United States, and the European Union have all taken notable steps toward integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations into their financial systems.





Brazil stands out for excluding industrial livestock activities from sustainable sovereign bonds and for being the first country to commit to integrating the International Sustainability Standards Boards IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards into its regulatory framework by 2026. Implementing these standards will help bolster Brazilian capital markets by amplifying transparency in sustainability-related risks and opportunities. This, in turn, will ensure that companies attract capital and foster global investments that are aligned to meeting the goals of nature protection and sustainable development.





Another initiative that supports sustainability is the implementation of green taxonomies. These taxonomies are meant to simplify guidelines regarding activities that support decarbonization objectives, including efforts to curtail deforestation and environmental degradation. This can bolster financiers confidence in investing in projects that move the needle toward a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy.









Indonesia introduced its Green Taxonomy in January 2022 to expedite financing for sustainable sectors. Indonesias joint targets under the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) include capping power sector emissions to 290 MT by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050, reported Luthfyana Kartika Larasati and Tiza Mafira of the Climate Policy Initiative, an independent nonprofit research group based in San Francisco, in October 2023.





To achieve these [targets], phasing out coal-fired power plants while accelerating the deployment of renewable energy sources is necessary. As financiers are now reluctant to finance coal, a transition taxonomy defines measurable parameters within which coal investment is allowed in order to facilitate early coal decommissioning, wrote Larasati and Mafira.





Malaysia implemented the Value-based Intermediation Financing and Investment Impact Assessment Framework (VBIAF) in November 2019 and issued the Climate Change and Principle-based Taxonomy in 2021 to guide Islamic financial institutions.





Meanwhile, a March 2024 Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) climate disclosure ruling seems to be a step in the right direction toward the U.S. managing its climate risk, even though the move remains inadequate to effectively protect the worlds forests. On the procurement side, the new EU Deforestation Regulation, expected to take effect on December 30, 2024, provides a potentially powerful new tool for achieving supply chain traceability and transparency.





The European Union also approved new EU Taxonomy criteria in 2023 focusing on biodiversity protection and ecosystem restoration, despite criticism that it judged harmful sectors like forestry and bioenergy to be environmentally sustainable economic activities.





Forest-Risk Credit Trends





The report revealed that at least $307 billion in credit had been directed to forest-risk sectors from 2016 to September 2023. The beef sector dominated South America, while palm oil led in Southeast Asia and rubber in Central and West Africa. Primary beneficiaries included agro-commodity traders and companies with significant environmental and social violations.





While progress has been made, heightened attention and enhanced due diligence procedures are needed to address associated ESG risks and promote sustainable financial practices to combat deforestation and environmental degradation.





Big corporations launched the Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) in June 2021 to guide businesses in reporting nature-related dependencies. However, civil society organizations have repeatedly raised concerns about the task forces development, composition, approach, and potential for greenwashing.





Regional Analysis of Credit Flows





The analysis of regional credit flow and investment trends in forest-risk commodity sectors across South America, Southeast Asia, and Central and West Africa revealed significant financial flows and investments contributing to deforestation and environmental degradation.





In South America, the beef sector dominated forest-risk credit flows, followed by soy, and pulp and paper, with Banco do Brasil emerging as a significant creditor. Infamous beneficiaries included companies like Suzano and Marfrig.





In Southeast Asia, palm oil was the dominant recipient of forest-risk credit, followed by pulp, paper, and rubber. Indonesian banks played a significant role as financiers, with recipients including tycoon-owned conglomerates Sinar Mas Group (SME) and Royal Golden Eagle (RGE). Concerns over governance risks and greenwashing practices persisted despite reductions in primary forest loss.





Central and West Africa saw the rubber sector attracting the majority of forest-risk credit, with Chinese companies emerging as primary financiers. The Chinese Sinochem Group was the largest recipient of the credit, followed by China Forestry Group and Wilmar.





Despite fluctuations in credit flows, challenges remain in corporate structures and accountability. For instance, companies like SMG [and] RGE have established complex corporate structures that mask ownership relations. This poses serious governance risks and facilitates leakage and greenwashing. They have all been linked to egregious social and environmental harms for decades, states the report.









Forest-Risk Investments





Investments in activities likely to damage forests globally amounted to more than $38 billion, with palm oil receiving the most significant share, followed by pulp and paper. Major institutional investors like BlackRock and Vanguard increased their stakes in forest-risk commodity companies, while others maintained or reduced their investments.





In South America, investments were predominantly allocated to the pulp and paper sector, with Suzano being the highest recipient. Southeast Asia saw the most investment in palm oil companies, with Sime Darby Plantations and IOI Group among the leading recipients.





In Central and West Africa, palm oil companies also received the majority of investments, with Sumitomo Forestry and Itochu being prominent recipients.





Forest-Risk Policy Assessments





Forests and Finances assessment methodology evaluated financial institutions adherence to 38 criteria to avoid contributing to deforestation and associated ESG issues.





These criteria are categorized into environmental, social, and governance requirements, covering commitments to zero deforestation, respect for land rights, anti-corruption measures, and more.





Forest-risk policy assessments of more than 100 financial institutions revealed a lack of robust policies, with an average score of only 17 percent. Despite incremental improvements since 2016, vague language, unclear timeframes, and loopholes persisted, leading to continued facilitation of human rights violations and deforestation.





The analysis underscores the urgent need for heightened attention, enhanced due diligence, and more stringent policies to address associated environmental, social, and governance risks. It also highlights the need to promote sustainable financial practices in combating deforestation and ecological degradation in tropical forest regions.





Policies by Sector





Regarding sectoral policies, financial institutions exhibit the most robust policies for palm oil, followed closely by timber, and pulp and paper. However, the average scores for these sectors remain relatively low, indicating room for improvement despite sustained civil society campaigns and certification schemes existence.





The assessment of forest-risk bank policies reveals that, on average, the largest 30 forest-risk banks have higher overall policy scores than the largest forest-risk investors. However, the scores across the board are still low, reflecting minimal policy coverage across ESG criteria.





While some banks like CIMB and BNP Paribas scored relatively higher, others like Banco do Brasil and ICBC had notably low scores, indicating inadequate policies to address harmful activities.





Four Corporations Leading Destruction





The report highlights four corporationsCargill, JBS, Royal Golden Eagle, and Sinar Mas Groupthat continue to receive significant credit and investment from financial institutions despite having egregious environmental and social track records. Cargill, in particular, has received substantial credit for its soy operations in tropical forest regions despite having a legacy of human rights abuses and environmental degradation.





Cargill





Cargills expansion into the Brazilian Amazon and the Cerrado savanna has raised concerns due to decades of deforestation, violations of Indigenous peoples rights, and failures to meet deforestation commitments. Civil society campaigns, such as Burning Legacy, have aimed to hold Cargill accountable for its practices, documenting evidence of human rights abuses and deforestation in its supply chain.





Despite making commitments to ensure zero deforestation by 2020, Cargill has failed to meet its goals and has faced allegations of land grabbing and violations of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) rights.





The report also discusses the implications of the financialization of land and the role of the financial sector in exacerbating soy-driven deforestation through land speculation. It evaluates the policies of banks financing Cargill, revealing low scores and loopholes that weaken their effectiveness in preventing harm in forest-risk sectors.





JBS





The report delves into the multifaceted issues surrounding JBS, the Brazilian meat giant, and its impact on the Amazon rainforest, climate change, and local communities. Financed by major banks from Brazil, the United States, Europe, and Japan, JBS has received substantial credit and investment despite its documented history of harmful business practices. Since 2019, banks have provided more than $718 million in forest-risk beef credit to JBS, while investors held $667 million in bonds and shares as of September 2023.





JBSs operations in the Brazilian Amazon have devastating consequences for forests, biodiversity, and Indigenous and traditional communities. The companys practices include bribery, corruption, price fixing, forced labor and labor abuses, forest destruction, land grabbing, and contribution to climate change. Despite JBSs high-profile pledge to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040, independent research suggests that the company lacks a credible decarbonization plan, leading to allegations of greenwashing.





The exploitation of people and forests in the Amazon is a systemic issue linked to JBS. Between 2008 and 2020, the companys involvement in deforestation extended to approximately 200,000 hectares in its direct supply chain and 1.5 million hectares indirectly. Despite agreements to clean up its supply chain, JBS has failed to ensure its products are free from deforestation and forced labor, as evidenced by ongoing violations.





The assessment of JBS policies reveals concerning scores, indicating inadequate measures to prevent environmental harm and protect human rights. While some banks like Barclays scored relatively higher, others like Bradesco and BTG Pactual had alarmingly low scores, raising questions about their commitment to addressing crucial issues like deforestation and climate change.





The communities affected by these actions are now holding financial institutions supporting companies like JBS responsible for the environmental damage. In April 2024, the Parakana people met with the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) to ask for reparation for the devastation of their territory, including by JBS suppliers. The Brazilian bank holds 20 percent of the shares of JBS and is therefore considered co-responsible for the impacts.









Royal Golden Eagle Group





The report also reveals mounting evidence that the multibillion-dollar Royal Golden Eagle Group (RGE), which says on its website manages a group of world-class companies specializing in resource-based manufacturing, operates numerous shadow companies and complex offshore ownership schemes to hide their destruction of forests across Indonesia. Banks have poured more than $4.5 billion into forest-risk pulp and paper-attributable loans and underwriting services for RGEs operations between 2019 and 2023.





However, none of the financial institutions assessed have adequate policies to mitigate the negative impacts. Scores for RGEs top creditors range from 1 percent to 24 percent, indicating a lack of comprehensive policy coverage regarding forest-risk commodity sectors.





Sinar Mas Group





Sinar Mas Group (SMG), Indonesias largest conglomerate, has attracted substantial financing, receiving more than $20.3 billion in credit since 2019. Its palm oil division alone obtained $3.7 billion, primarily from Indonesian and Malaysian banks, between 2019 and September 2023. Despite this financial backing, SMG faces accusations of human rights abuses, massive greenhouse gas emissions, and large-scale deforestation, mainly through its pulp and paper division, Asia Pulp and Paper (APP).





The destruction of the Rawa Singkil Wildlife Reserve by illegal palm oil plantations linked to SMGs operations poses a significant concern, threatening biodiversity and local communities well-being within the Leuser Ecosystem. Despite documented evidence, SMG and its subsidiaries have failed to address these issues adequately, raising questions about their commitment to sustainability.





The report evaluates the policies of banks and investors financing SMG, revealing a spectrum of approaches. Malaysian banks CIMB and Maybank and Dutch bank Rabobank exhibit more robust policies, scoring highest for the palm oil sector. However, Indonesian banks such as Bank Panin, BRI, and Japanese bank MUFG have notably weaker policies, indicating insufficient measures to address environmental and social risks.





What Governments and Financial Institutions Can Do





The report underscores the urgent need for financial institutions to adopt robust policies and due diligence measures to address environmental and social risks associated with companies like JBS and RGE. Failure to do so perpetuates ecological destruction and human rights abuses and exposes banks and investors to significant financial and reputational risks.





Critically, the report also advocates for governments to step in and mandate financial sector regulation necessary to safeguard society and the ecosystems we depend on, consistent with international public policy goals. This is a problem that ultimately demands stronger, more systemic interventions. These could include, for example, prohibiting the allocation of capital to certain sectors or corporations driving ecosystem destruction and legislating for meaningful sanctions against financial institutions that fail to align their lending and investment accordingly.





This article was produced by Earth | Food | Life, a project of the Independent Media Institute.





Laurel Sutherlin is the senior communications strategist for Rainforest Action Network and a contributor to the Observatory. He is a lifelong environmental and human rights campaigner, naturalist, and outdoor educator with a passion for birds and wild places. Follow him on Twitter: @laurelsutherlin.
The resilience of democracy shines through Bastar as more than 64 per cent of voters defy the shadow of Maoist threat to cast their ballots read more

Despite the shadows of insurgency, each rise in voter turnout illuminates a path where democracy triumphs over fear, underscoring the unwavering spirit of resilience and change in Bastar. Representational image/PTI

Maoism gained traction world over and many revolutionary, insurgent and guerrilla groups from various countries applied it in their own contexts. They openly endorse violent means to overthrow the government and have proved to be one of the biggest internal security challenges. In the case of India, Maoism is propagated by the Naxalite insurgency movement with their bases across the eastern part of India termed as the Red Corridor right from the Chinese border to down south.

Advertisement

Naxalism, a term that reverberates through the corridors of power and the echoes of dissent, stirs a multitude of emotions and convictions, each as varied as the ideological spectrum itself. To the state apparatus, it looms as the spectre of chaos, the greatest menace to the nations stability and progress. Yet, for a cadre of social activists and NGOs with a particular leaning, it embodies a noble struggle against entrenched exploitation and injustice. And amidst the fray, a faction of dogmatic intellectuals of ultra-left leaning perceives it as a righteous war against a parliamentary democracy they deem complicit in perpetuating bourgeois interests.

In the cacophony of competing narratives, the government and its agencies paint Naxalism as the very antithesis of progress, a hindrance to development that robs the masses of their basic needs and rights. Conversely, a chorus of social thinkers finds solace in the insurgencys defiance, viewing it as a bulwark against the rapacious exploitation of rich jungles and hills by multinational juggernauts. Yet, beneath the surface of this ideological battleground lies a poignant truth: the region, its people, and their aspirations suffer amidst a clash of agendas.

Tribal aspirations, once noble and rooted in the earth they tread, now find themselves entangled in a web of ulterior motives spun by left-wing extremists. The professed goal, obscured by the fog of rhetoric and revolution, remains abstract and remote to those whose lives it purportedly seeks to uplift. As the debate rages on, the true victims emerge not as pawns in a geopolitical game, but as souls caught in the crossfire of ideologies, yearning for a semblance of peace and prosperity amidst the tumult of insurgency.

In a glimmer of hope amidst the shadows of insurgency, recent data from the Ministry of Home Affairs reveals a significant decline in Maoist violence, with a 77 per cent decrease since 2010. The number of resultant deaths has also fallen by 90 per cent, from 1,005 in 2010 to 98 in 2022. The government has reduced the number of Naxal-affected districts from over 200 to just 90, with violence now concentrated in 45 districts. Remarkably, only 25 districts account for 90 per cent of all Left-Wing Extremism violence, indicating substantial progress in curbing insurgency.

Advertisement

Union Home Minister Amit Shah last year while speaking at a rally in Chhattisgarh mentioned that the Centre has brought the Left-Wing Extremism in the country under control in the last nine years except for a few areas in Chhattisgarhs Bastar.

Recently in a decisive blow against the looming spectre of Maoist insurgency in Kanker, Chhattisgarh, a meticulously planned joint operation by the Border Security Force (BSF) and the District Reserve Guard (DRG) unfolded with remarkable precision. Riding on the crest of specific intelligence provided by the BSF, the operation unleashed a torrent of success, culminating in the elimination of 29 CPI Maoist cadres, including the formidable top commander, Shankar Rao. As the dust settled, a substantial cache of weapons and ammunition lay testament to the resounding victory achieved.

Advertisement

This triumph reverberated far beyond the confines of Kanker, casting ripples of hope across the tumultuous landscape of Bastar. The impregnable fortress of Abhujmad, a sprawling 4,000-square-mile expanse of forest that had long served as a Maoist stronghold, found itself breached by the relentless determination of the security forces. Led by the indomitable spirit of IGP Sundarraj, the Chhattisgarh police, in collaboration with the BSF, orchestrated a daring maneuver that saw the downfall of two top Naxal commanders and the decimation of the notorious Partapur Area Committee.

The operation, shrouded in secrecy and executed with surgical precision, unfolded amidst the dense foliage of Abhujmad. As gunfire echoed through the canopies, marking the crescendo of a four-hour-long confrontation, the forces emerged victorious. The recovery of lethal weaponry, including Light Machine Guns (LMGs) and AK-47s, underscored the magnitude of the blow dealt to the insurgency.

Advertisement

This resounding success, occurring just days before the upcoming elections, served as a clarion call for the resilience of democracy against the forces of terror. It symbolised a beacon of hope for the beleaguered region, heralding a new dawn of peace and development. With the state governments unwavering support and the resolute dedication of the security forces, the vision of eradicating Naxalism within the next three years seemed within grasp. While the path ahead may be fraught with challenges, the unwavering commitment to the cause stands as a testament to the undying spirit of resilience and determination.

In the heartland of Indias Maoist insurgency lies Bastar, where democracy dances on the edge of a knife. As the nation holds its breath, Bastar becomes the epicentre of a political showdown between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress (INC). Against a backdrop of fear and tension, the resilience of democracy shines through as over 64 per cent of voters defy the shadow of Maoist threat to cast their ballots. Despite the absence of roads, connectivity, and infrastructure, coupled with minimal administration presence in Bastar, and continued Maoists influence in the region, 56 villages of Bastar voted for the first time in Indian history. Through a mix of fear and goodwill, they maintain local support, challenging the very essence of democratic participation.

Advertisement

Defying these challenges, in the recent Lok Sabha elections, Bastar witnessed a surge in voter turnout, defying expectations and underlining the unwavering faith of its people in the democratic process. Despite being marred by Maoist insurgency, the constituency recorded a turnout of around 68 per cent, showcasing a 2 per cent increase from the previous election cycle. Notably, this surge in participation extends to the grassroots level, with residents of 56 villages exercising their voting rights in their own communities for the first time in history. This milestone includes the opening of polling booths in remote regions along the Odisha border and in villages once considered Maoist strongholds like Dantewada, Narayanpur, and Sukma.

The journey of electoral participation mirrors the regions resilience amidst adversity. From a modest 43.33 per cent turnout in 2004, to a significant surge to 66.19 per cent in 2019, each election cycle reveals a growing defiance against Maoist influence. The pivotal moment came in 2014, witnessing a remarkable 12 per cent increase to 59 per cent, marking a seismic shift in Bastars political landscape. Despite the shadows of insurgency, each rise in voter turnout illuminates a path where democracy triumphs over fear, underscoring the unwavering spirit of resilience and change in Bastar.

The Maoist insurgency is an issue of national internal security and the government of India has taken steps to curb the same. Even though security and police forces are under the purview of the state governments under law, the central government has deployed the Special Forces as well as the CRPF to combat Maoism. The Maoist have time and again claimed that the violence unleashed by them is dedicated solely to safeguarding the interest and rights of the tribal population residing in the region of Bastar.The intelligence agencies have cooperated with the state governments in this regard to curb Maoist extremism.

The war against Maoism has witnessed a lot of bloodshed and several lives of the tribal people as well the security forces have been lost. Zero tolerance policy adopted by the security forces towards Maoism backed by the government has taken the lives away of several radicalized tribal youngsters. Caught amidst the crossfire, many incidents involving the death of innocent tribals also have been reported. This collateral damage has been put to good use by Maoists to radicalise the kith and kin of the deceased to pursue their mission.

As images of Bastar flooded social media, showcasing vibrant scenes of balloons and colourful atmospheres enveloping polling booths, a palpable sense of change permeated the air. These snapshots of democracy in action symbolize more than just a political process; they signify a profound transformation taking root in the heart of Bastar. In the midst of hardship and adversity, the resilience of its people shines through, as evidenced by the gradual emergence of progress and development. As a youth of todays India, I stand witness to this journey of change, a testament to the unwavering spirit of resilience and determination that defines our nation.

In Tetam, a village once shrouded in the shadows of neglect, signs of hope now dot the landscape. With the establishment of security garrisons and the laying of paved roads, the seeds of transformation have been sown. Amidst the hardscrabble existence, the arrival of mobile connections, access to electricity, healthcare facilities, and government services signifies a newfound sense of empowerment and opportunity.

The story of Bastar serves as a poignant reminder of our collective resilience and determination. Despite its history of insurgency and neglect, Bastar still shines as a symbol of hope, showcasing the transformative power of progress.

As I reflect on the journey of todays India, I am filled with a profound sense of optimism. Despite the challenges that lie ahead, the spirit of innovation and progress prevails. We are a nation on the rise, fueled by the collective resolve to overcome obstacles and forge a brighter future. In the face of adversity, we stand united, embracing change as a catalyst for growth and prosperity.

I believe in our potential to overcome any obstacle, to chart a course towards a better tomorrow. Our journey may be fraught with challenges, but our determination knows no bounds. With each step forward, we redefine what it means to be Indian, embracing diversity, resilience, and progress as the hallmarks of our identity.

Todays India is not defined by its past, but by its futurea future brimming with promise and opportunity. As we navigate the complexities of a rapidly changing world, let us hold fast to the values that define us: unity, resilience, and progress. Together, we will continue to shape the destiny of our nation, charting a course towards a brighter tomorrow for generations to come. In the face of challenges and skepticism, democracy in India stands resolute, proving that reports of its demise are greatly exaggerated. Despite the odds, the democratic process thrives, empowering citizens to shape their own destiny.

The author is a practicing advocate. She writes articles on womens rights, politics, and law. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Beijing considers the self-governing island of Taiwan to be a breakaway province and remains committed to its reunification with the mainland read more

In the latest military provocation, 22 Chinese aircraft were detected around the island of Taiwan, said the countrys defence ministry on Saturday.

Of these aircraft, 12 entered the Taiwanese airspace, said Taipei.

The Saturdays Chinese incursion comes as the United States and the Philippines are conducting joint military exercises near the western parts of the Philippians. These areas are near the South China Sea and Taiwan where China has become increasingly aggressive in recent years.

Advertisement

Beijing considers the self-governing island of Taiwan to be a breakaway province and remains committed to its reunification with the mainland. It has not ruled out the use of force for the purpose. Since Xi Jinping took over as the leader of China, the aggression towards Taiwan has increased in the form of military exercise simulating an invasion and aerial incursion like the one on Saturday.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Taiwans Ministry of National Defense said the aircraft included Su-30 fighter planes, KJ-500 airborne early warning and control (AEWAC) aircraft, and drones.

in conducting joint combat patrol along with PLAN vessels.#ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and employed appropriate forces to respond.   Ministry of National Defense, ROC(Taiwan)  (@MoNDefense) April 27, 2024

The Saturdays incursion comes just weeks before the inauguration of Lai Ching-te, the winner of the Taiwanese presidential election held in January. Beijing despises him and has declared him as a dangerous separatist. It is expected that Beijing will ramp up its provocations as the swearing-in of Lai nears.

Lai of the Democratic Progressive Party has been the Vice President in the administration of outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen. As Tsai and her DPP have rejected Beijings claim over Taiwan and have moved closer to the United States, Beijings aggression over the past eight years coinciding with the rise of Xis as Chinas absolutist ruler towards Taiwan has consistently increased.

In the run-up to the Taiwanese presidential election in January, Beijing labelled Lai as secessionist, confrontational, and one who will lead the island on an evil path. Beijing openly favoured his rival Hou Yu-ih of Kuomintang (KMT) party. A report later released by Microsoft showed that Beijing deployed deepfakes in the campaign against Lai in order to influence the Taiwanese election.
The proclamation from the POTUS came after he sprang a surprise and gave an interview to celebrity radio show host Howard Stern read more

As the race to the White House intensify, US President Joe Biden said that he is happy to debate former President and Republican de-facto presidential nominee Donald Trump, but he does not know when and where it would happen.

The proclamation from the POTUS came after he sprang a surprise and gave an interview to celebrity radio show host Howard Stern.

I am, somewhere, I dont know when, but I am happy to debate him," Biden told Stern swirling major headlines. Shortly after the interview, the Biden campaign confirmed that the POTUS is willing to face Trump in person.

Advertisement

The interview with Stern on Friday became the latest example of the White House favouring media personalities and non-tradition outlets ahead of the highly intense US Presidential elections.

Trump reacts

In his usual social media rant on TruthSocial, Trump mocked Bidens assertions. 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 business-mogul-turned politician wrote on his social media platform.

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, he added.

Trump also took jabs at Biden by stating that he would be busy with the plethora of court cases hurled against him.

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! he averred.

Advertisement

While Trump did not participate in any of the Republican presidential primary debates, his campaign has repeatedly called on Biden to debate. Trumps team have even suggested adding more debates to the general election schedule.

The time Biden had suicidal thoughts

Much of the interview focused on Bidens long life in politics, as a senator from Delaware from 1973 to 2009, as vice-president to Barack Obama between 2009 and 2017, and as president since 2021.

During the conversation, he also discussed the deaths of his first wife, Neilia Hunter Biden, and young daughter, Naomi, in a car crash in 1972.

He even revealed that he had suicidal thoughts following the tragedy. 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."

Advertisement

I just thought about it, you dont need to be crazy to commit suicide. I thought, Let me just go to the Delaware Memorial [Bridge] and jump," he added.
The aircraft in question was Boeing 767 and the authorities are still looking for the slide read more

Another Boeing aircraft disrupted the flying experience of passengers after a Delta Airlines flight that departed from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City was forced to make an emergency return to the airport.

The flight had to come back to JFK Airport after an emergency slide came apart. The aircraft in question was Boeing 767 and the authorities are still looking for the slide.

After the aircraft had safely landed and proceeded to a gate, it was observed that the emergency slide had separated from the aircraft, a Delta spokesperson said in a statement to NPR.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a separate statement in which they made it clear that Delta Flight 520 returned safely to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York around 8:35 am (local time) on Friday, April 26, after the crew reported a vibration. The FAA will investigate.

The Delta spokesperson also emphasised that the airline is fully supporting retrieval efforts and will fully cooperate in investigations.

The aircraft circled the tri-state area and returned to JFK

In a separate statement, the airline authority noted that the flight crew had observed a flight deck indication related to the right-wing emergency exit slide, as well as a sound from near the right wing.

The Boeing 767-300 was acquired by the Delta airline back in 1990. In the Friday incident, the aircraft was on its way to the Los Angeles International Airport but had to return to JFK about an hour into the flight.

One of the passengers onboard told NPR that there was a loud sound coming from the place which even made it difficult to hear the announcement.

A Delta flight was forced to return to its departure airport. Source: FlightAware

According to the satellite image shared by FlightAware, the aircraft circled the tristate area before it returned to JFK.

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 Delta spokesperson averred.

Advertisement

The airline also noted that the flight crew declared an emergency with air traffic control so that they could receive clearance to return to JFK. The aircraft then landed and proceeded to a gate under its own power.

An old aircraft

It is important to note that an aircraft is generally operable for an average of 30 years before it gets decommissioned. However, the aircraft involved in the Friday incident was 34 years old. According to the FAA, its expiration date was previously set to May 2028.

We will defer to Delta for comment, a Boeing spokesperson said. In June last year, the same flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Utah following on-board technical difficulties.
Pehr Lodhammar, the former United Nations Mine Action Service chief for Iraq, told a news conference that the matter is concerning since most of the debris is laced with unexploded bombs read more

As Gaza continues to face the wrath of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, a top UN official revealed that the war has created a whopping 37m tonnes of debris which would take over a decade to be removed.

Pehr Lodhammar, the former United Nations Mine Action Service chief for Iraq, told a news conference that the matter is concerning since most of the debris is laced with unexploded bombs. He stated that nearly seven months into the war, there was an average of 300kg of rubble in a square metre of land in Gaza.

Advertisement

Based on the current [amount] of debris in Gaza, with 100 trucks we are talking about 14 years of work  to remove it, Lodhammar averred. He insisted that with the war continuing, it would be impossible to estimate exactly how long the clearance project might take at the end.

It is important to note that in the past, Israel has been accused of committing domicide over the intensity of its bombing campaign in Gaza. Lodhammar pointed out that 65 per cent of the buildings in the conflict-stricken coastal enclave were residential, The Guardian reported.

Hence, clearing and rebuilding them will be slow and dangerous work because of the threat from the shells, missiles or other weapons that are burning in these collapsed and damaged buildings.

Hopes for a ceasefire

Lodhammars warning came as an Israel and Egyptian delegation led by the countrys top intelligence official, Abbas Kamel sat down in an attempt to revive the stalled ceasefire talk and the hostage release deal.

The Egyptian authorities are pushing for the ceasefire talks due to the looming Israeli threat of launching a ground assault in Rafah. The border town is currently sheltering more than half of Gazas population and is the only place in Gaza where Israel has yet to send ground troops.

Israel has alleged that since the commencement of the war, four Hamas battalions have taken shelter among civilians in Rafah. Meanwhile, Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi warned that an attack in Rafah would have catastrophic effects not only on Palestinian civilians but on regional peace and security.

Advertisement

Since the start of the war which was triggered by the October 7 massacre, conducted by Hamas in southern Israel, around 34,000 Palestinians have been killed.

There has been growing international pressure for a ceasefire deal as Hamas and Israel continue to be embroiled in the blame game. The international agencies are also calling for swift action as the threat of famine looms in the coastal enclave.
If British troops are deployed, they would drive trucks off landing craft onto the temporary causeway and deliver aid to a secure distribution area onshore. While measures would be taken to safeguard allied forces both offshore and onshore, British personnel could face increased risks of attack from Hamas and other armed groups read more

British military personnel are being considered for deployment on the ground in Gaza to assist in delivering aid through a new sea route, according to sources revealed by the BBC.

The United States has stated that its troops will not land ashore, and instead, a third party will oversee the transportation of aid trucks along a floating causeway to the beach.

The UK is reportedly contemplating assigning British forces to this task when the aid corridor becomes operational next month.

Advertisement

Government insiders have disclosed that no final decision has been made on this matter, and it has not yet been presented to the prime minister for consideration.

Both the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Israeli army have declined to comment on these developments.

The UK has been actively involved in the planning of the sea-borne aid operation. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps reiterated the UKs commitment to coordinating support efforts with the US and other international allies.

If British troops are deployed, they would drive trucks off landing craft onto the temporary causeway and deliver aid to a secure distribution area onshore.

While measures would be taken to safeguard allied forces both offshore and onshore, British personnel could face increased risks of attack from Hamas and other armed groups.

The aid initiative, dubbed the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) operation, aims to supplement existing land-based aid deliveries, which have been insufficient to meet the growing humanitarian needs in Gaza.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have pledged to provide security and logistical support for the JLOTS initiative, including anchoring the floating causeway to the beach.

Advertisement

Despite these developments, concerns remain about the volatile situation in Gaza and the potential risks involved in the aid delivery operation.

The involvement of British troops in the ground operation would mark a significant escalation of international efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid ongoing military operations in the region.
The Burkina Fasos military carried out the killings in retaliation against villagers suspected to be supporting jihadist groups, according to the Human Rights Watch read more

The Burkina Fasos military summarily executed 223 civilians in two villages in February, according to the Human Rights Watch (HRW).

The HRW said that those killed included at least 56 children. The killings appear to be a part of the military campaign in Burkina Faso against civilians accused to be collaborating with the jihadists active in the country.

Burkina Faso is part of the Sahel region of West Africa thats reeling under a jihadist insurgency for over a decade in which regional affiliates of terrorist groups Al Qaeda and ISIS are involved along with regional gangs and bandits. The conflict that also spans the countries of Mali, Niger, and Chad in the region has displaced more than 4 million people, as per reports.

Advertisement

Military killings appear to be in retaliation to jihadist attacks

The Burkina Fasos militarys killings appear to be in retaliation to attacks carried out at the time by jihadist elements active in the country, according to HRW.

On February 24-25, jihadist groups mounted attacks across Burkina Faso. The targets included both military sites such as barracks and bases and on civilian sites such as places of worship. The military killings appear to be in retaliation to these attacks, according to the report.

On February 25, the military attacked the villages of Nondin and Soro in what the HRW described as probable crimes against humanity.

Soldiers killed 44 people, including 20 children, in Nondin village, and 179 people, including 36 children, in the nearby Soro village, of Thiou district in the northern Yatenga province, said HRW in its report based on interviews with 23 people and examination of videos and photographs.

These two incidents of alleged killings are only the latest of such incidents. In April 2023, soldiers were accused of killing around 150 people, burning homes, and looting property in and near the village of Karma in Yatenga province. In December 2023, hundreds of civilians were killed in many villages around the town of Djibo in which the involvement of military was reported by some, according to HRW.

Advertisement

International assistance critical for credible probe

While calling for an investigation into these incidents, the HRW said that international assistance is required for a credible probe.

The HRW further called for the investigation to be supported by the UN and AU.

The massacres in Nondin and Soro villages are just the latest mass killings of civilians by the Burkina Faso military in their counterinsurgency operations. The repeated failure of the Burkinabe authorities to prevent and investigate such atrocities underlines why international assistance is critical to support a credible investigation into possible crimes against humanity, said said Tirana Hassan, Executive Director of HRW.
The National Weather Service says that at least 70 tornadoes were recorded across the country with the most hitting Omaha, a transportation hub in Nebraska read more

Dozens of tornadoes tore through central US late on Friday leading to the collapse of buildings while several homes were razed and at least five people have been left injured in Nebraska and Iowa.

The National Weather Service says that at least 70 tornadoes were recorded across the country with the most hitting Omaha, a transportation hub in Nebraska.

JUST IN: Massive half-mile wide tornado reported in several counties in Nebraska, knocking over a semi-truck.



Western Omaha residents are being told to seek shelter now as the tornado is moving towards Elkhorn.



Multiple toronados have been reported in the Lincoln area with pic.twitter.com/2ZmrgBKAqW  Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 26, 2024

Advertisement

Photos on social media showed ravaged homes and shredded trees. Video showed homes with roofs stripped of shingles, in a rural area near Omaha. Law enforcement was blocking off roads in the area.

Destruction caused by tornadoes

Uprooted trees, knocked-off roofs and levelled homes, people in the central US will require some time to recover from the destruction caused by the tornadoes.

In Omaha, a tornado led to the collapse of an industrial building, injuring at least three people and prompting an emergency response call from authorities.

The sheriffs office said that while the injured people were rushed to the hospital, roughly 70 people were left trapped inside the building.

Less than a mile from my house. #Omaha and #Elkhorn going to need a lot of help with rebuilding. #Nebraska #Tornado pic.twitter.com/T3CMXYXb6p  Michael J Schwabe, MD, MS (@michael22joseph) April 26, 2024

Advertisement

Authorities also received calls about a derailed train in one of Nebraskas villages Waverly.

Hundreds of houses sustained damage in Omaha, mostly in the Elkhorn area in the western part of the city, Omaha police Lt. Neal Bonacci said.

Police and firefighters are now going door-to-door helping people who are trapped.

In one area of Elkhorn, dozens of newly built, large homes were damaged. At least six were wrecked, including one that was leveled, while others had the top half ripped off.

The tornado warning was issued in the Omaha area on Friday afternoon just as children were due to be released from school. Many schools had students shelter in place until the storm passed. Hours later, buses were still transporting students home.

Advertisement

Omaha airstrip shut off

The hard-to-predict tornadoes ripped through Omahas Eppley Airfield, which temporarily closed the facility.

The airport said that while passengers were placed in storm shelters to avoid any untoward incident, authorities say that the terminal was largely unaffected but a number of buildings in the General Aviation area on the east side of airport property sustained damage.

No injuries were reported at the airport but videos on social media show airplanes bearing the brunt of the storm.

: Video of tornado damage at Eppley Airport. pic.twitter.com/3TXhtH2mC8  Omaha + Sarpy WX (@Omaha_SarpyWX) April 26, 2024

Advertisement

The forecast for Saturday was ominous. The Weather Service also issued tornado watches across parts of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. And forecasters warned that large hail and strong wind gusts were possible.

With inputs from agencies
President Muizzu rode to power last year on an India Out promise and with a super majority win in parliamentary polls on April 21, he has further consolidated his position read more

A 4,500-tonne high-tech Chinese spy ship is back in the Maldivian waters, two months after it spent a week docked at different ports in this archipelago nation.

Xiang Yang Hong 03 was docked at the Thilafushi industrial islands harbour on Thursday morning, news portal Adhadhu.com reported on Friday.

However, the government has not disclosed the reason for its return. But the government previously confirmed permission for the ship to dock before its first visit, it said, days after President Mohamed Muizzu, a pro-China leader-led Peoples National Congress won the general election, securing 66 out of the 93-member Peoples Majlis.

Advertisement

President Muizzu rode to power last year on an India Out promise and with a super majority win in parliamentary polls on April 21, he has further consolidated his position.

The ship has now come back after skirting the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Therefore, Xiang Yang Hong 03 has been active inside or near Maldives territory since January, it said.

The ship had earlier docked on February 23 at the same Thilafushi port, about 7.5 km to the west of Male.

The hi-tech ship reached Maldivian waters on February 22 after spending about a month near the boundary of the Maldives EEZ. About six days later, the ship went back to the EEZ boundary.

In February, the Maldivian Foreign Ministry had said the Xiang Yang Hong 3 was here to make a port call, for the rotation of its personnel and replenishment after a diplomatic request was made by the government of China to the government of Maldives.

The vessel would not be conducting any research while in the Maldivian waters, the Foreign Ministry said on January 23.

The Maldives proximity to India, barely 70 nautical miles from the island of Minicoy in Lakshadweep and 300 nautical miles from the mainlands western coast, and its location at the hub of commercial sea lanes running through the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) gives it significant strategic importance.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, local media reports in February provided details about the type of vessel Xiang Yang Hong 03: The 100-metre-long vessel was added to the fleet of Chinas State Oceanic Administration (SOA) in 2016. This is the only 4,500-tonne vessel currently in China. Since 2019, China has also been using the vessel to conduct distant water and deep sea surveys at Chinas Pilot Ocean Laboratory.

The vessel can also be used for studies on salinity, microbial genetic studies, underwater mineral exploration, and underwater life and environmental studies, it said. It has data buoys that can measure ocean currents, waves, and important environmental information. These buoys will provide real-time satellite information to the Chinese government, the report then said.

Advertisement

On Friday, Adhadhu.com quoted Chinas State Oceanic Administration (SOA), which manages the Xiang Yang Hong 03, stating that the ship is the most modern vessel manufactured in the country for marine research. China says it is a comprehensive research vessel, meaning it is equipped for more than one task.

According to China, the boats endurance is 15,000 nautical miles, which means it could travel 15,000 nautical miles nonstop for its work without assistance.

Incidentally, the same Chinese vessel was present near the India-Maldives-Sri Lanka trilateral Dosti-16 exercise that took place in the ocean near Male between February 22 and 25.
The Houthis fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles in the vicinity of MV MAISHA and at the MV Andromeda Star, a UK-owned and Panamanian flagged, Seychelles operated vessel read more

Houthi militants are part of Iran's 'Axis of Resistance'. Reuters (Representational Image)

A ship was damaged when it was targeted twice with multiple missiles off Yemens coast on Friday, in the latest attack on international shipping in the Red Sea to be claimed by Houthi rebels.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations security agency said the attack took place southwest of the Yemeni port of Mokha.

In the first attack, the ship experienced an explosion in close proximity to the vessel which was felt by the crew on board, UKMTO said on social media platform X.

Advertisement

The second attack on the vessel consisted of what is believed to be two missiles, which resulted in damage.

Hours earlier, the British maritime security firm Ambrey also reported an attack off the port of Mokha.

Three missiles were sighted in that incident, Ambrey said.

A Panama-flagged tanker was the closest vessel to these. The tanker was formerly UK-owned (but) the ownership changed in November 2023, according to Ambrey.

Currently, it said, the vessel is registered in Seychelles and was en route from Primorsk, Russia, to Vadinar, India.

Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree later claimed responsibility for the attack in a post on X.

He said Houthi naval forces had targeted a British oil ship (Andromeda Star) in the Red Sea with a number of appropriate naval missiles, and the ship was directly hit.

The US Central Command also confirmed the attack on the Andromeda Star, as well as another vessel, the MV Maisha.

The Houthis, CENTCOM said on X, fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles in the vicinity of MV MAISHA and at the MV Andromeda Star, a UK-owned and Panamanian flagged, Seychelles operated vessel.

MV Andromeda Star reports minor damage, but is continuing its voyage, it added, saying no injuries were reported.

Advertisement

Further military actions

The latest incidents follow a lull in attacks by Yemens Iran-backed Houthis, who have launched dozens of missile and drone strikes targeting shipping since November.

The Houthis have said they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

Despite the drop in attacks in recent weeks, the Houthis said late Wednesday that they are continuing to take further military actions against all hostile targets in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean.

Earlier Friday, US Central Command said that coalition forces had destroyed two drones in Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen after rebels launched a ballistic missile into the Gulf of Aden.

Advertisement

The missile attack launched on Thursday targeted but did not hit, the Liberia-flagged cargo ship MSC DARWIN VI, according to the Joint Maritime Information Center.

The Houthis claimed the strike, alleging the ship was Israeli-owned.

The Houthis, who control much of Yemens Red Sea coast, are part of an axis of resistance made up of Iran allies and proxies targeting Israel over its war against Hamas.

The Houthi attacks have drawn reprisal strikes from the United States and Britain since January, and seen Western naval forces deployed to counter attacks on ships plying the busy commercial routes.
Irans Revolutionary Guards seized the container vessel MSC Aries with a crew of 25 in the Strait of Hormuz on April 13, days after Tehran vowed to retaliate for a suspected Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus. Iran had said it could close the crucial shipping route read more

All the Indian crew members of a Portuguese-flagged ship seized by Iran are set to return to India, Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian has announced.

In a conversation with his Portuguese counterpart Paulo Rangel, Abdollahiah said, The human issue of the freedom of the ships crew is of serious concern to us, and we have announced consular access, freedom and transfer to their ambassadors in Tehran.

Irans Revolutionary Guards seized the container vessel MSC Aries with a crew of 25 in the Strait of Hormuz on April 13, days after Tehran vowed to retaliate for a suspected Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus. Iran had said it could close the crucial shipping route.

Advertisement

One of the 17 crew members has already safely returned to India.

It is important to note here that the Indian Foreign Ministry on Thursday said that there are certain technicalities involved in the return of the remaining 16 Indian crew members.

These 16 people, we had asked consular access for, which we got. Our officers went there and met. They are in constant touch with their families. Their health is good and they have no problems of any kind onboard the ship. As far as their return is concerned, there are certain technicalities involved, there are some contractual obligations, once that is done, it will depend on that when will they return, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

The dates of the repatriation of the 16 Indian crew members have not been announced yet.

Earlier, the Iranian Foreign Minister told External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar that Tehran would allow Indian authorities to meet the crew members.

Along with Indians, the crew of the ship also included people from the Philippines, Pakistan and Russia.

With inputs from agencies
Instead of achieving her desired impact, Maryams stunt backfired drawing sharp criticism on social media and also inviting legal repercussions read more

Maryam Nawaz, holding the position of chief minister of Punjab province in Pakistan, sought to make a grand impression in the very early days of her new role. However, her efforts, unfortunately, missed the mark.

Recently, Maryam, the daughter of former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif, attended a police passing-out parade dressed in a police uniform! While her intentions may have been to make a splash on social media, garner attention and boost her popularity, the move was perceived as an overstep into police protocol rather than an inclusive gesture.

Advertisement

Instead of achieving her desired impact, Maryams stunt backfired, drawing sharp criticism on social media and also inviting legal repercussions. Heres how the internet exploded with anger and jokes:

This is how Moonis Elahi, from Gujrat in Pakistan reacted to the Maryam stunt:

Elahi also retweeted a tweet from Barrister Ambreen Qureshi. And the fun quotient of the tweet  unquestionable!

Tomorrow I want to be a surgeon inshah Allah! pic.twitter.com/ffPPvOeFlD  Barrister Ambreen Qureshi  (@ambreenqureshi) April 25, 2024

Shahbaz Gill, whose tweet was shared by photonews.com.pk minced no words to criticise Maryam. Although he tweeted out in Urdu, heres how Google translates it into English. And it was hilarious!

Corps Commander Lahore Sir, you will not call Baji anywhere now. Do you know, wear the army chiefs uniform and arrive? By the way, it is amazing that our establishment has imposed these people on Pakistan.  this is how Google translated Gills tweet.

Advertisement

                                      pic.twitter.com/IsgRR9fNI6  Dr. Shahbaz GiLL (@SHABAZGIL) April 25, 2024

Investigative crime reporter Ali Imran Abbas immediately dubbed the stunt as drama.

Advertisement

Then we have Rooman Khan, taking the internet on fire with his hilarious reaction! He called Maryam  A Jack Of All Trades!

A police officer, actor and politician. A jack of all trades #MaryamNawaz pic.twitter.com/XZKyaJT7yx  Rooman Khan (@RoomanKhan87) April 25, 2024

Advertisement

Another X user, Surena Sokolov, made fun of Maryam by asking her if she has any idea how to dress up as a princess at Disney Land..?

#MaryamNawaz idea of dressing up as a princess at Disney Land.. pic.twitter.com/ZTwdTw8Kf6  Surena Sokolov (@SukhoiSu_75) April 25, 2024

Many even wondered how Maryam would dress herself if she ever visits a hospital or attends a military function? X does trigger human imaginations, wildly!!

Amid those fun reactions, however, there was also anger that came out.

An angry Nousheen Irfan Khan called Maryam a curse on Pakistan. Ouch! That must have hurt the new Punjab province chief minister of Pakistan!
An Egyptian delegation travelled to Israel on Friday to meet Israeli counterparts and explore ways to restart talks seeking to end the war in Gaza and for Hamas to return all the remaining hostages read more

Hamas received a copy of Israels counterproposal for a ceasefire in Gaza on Saturday and said that it would study it before sending a reply, the groups deputy Gaza chief said in a statement.

Hamas has received today the official response of the Zionist occupation to the proposal presented to the Egyptian and the Qatari mediators on April 13, Khalil Al-Hayya said.

A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas continues to remain in a deadlock as both the warring sides stick to their demands. Earlier this month, the terrorist group pushed for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, a proposal rejected by Israel.

Advertisement

Egyptian delegation visits Israel

Meanwhile, an Egyptian delegation travelled to Israel on Friday to meet Israeli counterparts and explore ways to restart talks seeking to end the war in Gaza and for Hamas to return all the remaining hostages.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Israel had no new proposals to make, although it was willing to consider a limited truce in which 33 hostages would be released by Hamas, instead of the 40 previously under discussion.

There are no current hostage talks between Israel and Hamas, nor is there a new Israeli offer in that regard, the official said. What there is, is an attempt by Egypt to restart the talks with an Egyptian proposal that would entail the release of 33 hostages - women, elderly and infirm.

If Israeli media reports are to be believed, Israeli intelligence officials say Hamas has held 33 female, elderly and sick hostages captive in Gaza out of the total 133 that remain under the terror groups confinement.

While no time period has been fixed to determine how long the truce will last but in case a deal is agreed upon, the pause in fighting would be definitely less than six weeks, the official said.

Citing two Israeli officials, Axios reported that Israeli officials told their Egyptian counterparts on Friday that Israel is ready to give hostage negotiations one last chance to reach a deal with Hamas before moving forward with an invasion of Rafah, the last refuge for around a million Palestinians who fled Israeli forces further north in Gaza earlier in the war.

Advertisement

With inputs from agencies
An unnamed Israeli official said that the talks were very good, focused, held in good spirits and progressed in all parameters" read more

As the ongoing Israel-Hamas war continues to escalate, reports are emerging that Israel has warned Egypt that this is the last chance for a truce agreement before Tel Aviv launches its long-planned ground assault in Rafah.

According to Israeli news site Ynet, the Israeli authorities made these proclamations after the talks between top Israeli officials and a top-level Egyptian delegation sent to discuss the hostage deal with Hamas ended on Friday.

An unnamed Israeli official told Hebrew media that the talks were very good, focused, held in good spirits and progressed in all parameters. The official also mentioned that during the meeting, Egypt seemed willing to pressure Hamas toward reaching a deal and that in the background, there are very serious intentions from Israel to move ahead in Rafah.

Advertisement

This is the last chance before we go into Rafah, the official averred.

What are Israels conditions?

The official confirmed that the Israeli authorities are prepared to settle for the release of fewer than the 40 living hostages, as earlier proposed by Hamas.

However, it will not agree to the release of only 20 hostages  a number reportedly suggested by Hamas in recent meetings. Tel Aviv thinks that the militant group holds 33 living hostages who met the humanitarian designation. This included women, children, men aged over 50 and the sick. Israel is insisting that they all should be freed.

The number of days of the ceasefire will be linked to the number of hostages who will be released. If Hamas does want a humanitarian deal, Israel will not be the obstacle," an Israeli official told Axios before talks with Egypt.

The official also mentioned that Israel was willing to make further concessions like allowing the return of residents to northern Gaza.

The ball is now in Hamas court

Meanwhile, Hamas has received a counterproposal from Israel and stated that it would study the proposal thoroughly before sending a reply.

Hamas has received today the official response of the Zionist occupation to the proposal presented to the Egyptian and the Qatari mediators on April 13, Khalil Al-Hayya, the groups deputy chief said in a statement.

Advertisement

The group also noted that it was open to any ideas or proposals that take into account the needs and rights of our people. However, the group continued to stand on its demand that Israel should end its assault in Gaza.

With inputs from agencies.
The Louvre museum in Paris said its aiming to offer visitors a better experience at viewing the Mona Lisa, the iconic painting by Leonardo da Vinci read more

The Louvre museum in France has said that the Mona Lisa, the worlds most famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci, may get a room of its own.

The museum said such a move is aimed at offering visitors a better experience at viewing the iconic painting, according to AFP.

As of now, the Mona Lisa is displayed inside a bullet-proof glass case at the Louvres Salle des Etats (State Room), the museums biggest hall. It draws thousands of visitors every day. The painting is well-known for the mystery around the identity of the woman in the painting and her enigmatic smile and look.

Advertisement

Laurence des Cars, the President of the Louvre museum in Paris, told the France Inter broadcaster: Its always frustrating when you dont give visitors the best possible reception, and that is the case for the Mona Lisa. A better solution seems necessary to me today.

Des Cars added that the Louvre was in contact with the culture ministry about the potential solutions to the issue. She further said that around 20,000 people come to see the Mona Lisa every day, often braving the crowd to catch the glimpse of the painting and clicking selfies with it.

In the State Room, the Mona Lisa is accompanied by 16th-century Venetian works. The Louvres biggest painting, The Wedding at Cana by Paolo Veronese, also hangs in the same hall, as per AFP.
Earlier this week, the US published its annual report on Country Reports on Human Rights Practices highlighting that North Korea continues to abuse the rights of its citizens as it did last year with little to no change over a year read more

North Korea has accused the US of politicising human rights issues in the Kim Jong Un-led country after Washington published a report saying that the East Asian nation continues to have an abysmal track record of individual freedom.

A spokesperson for North Koreas foreign affairs ministry said, The report has no relation at all with sincerely safeguarding human rights and is merely a basic material needed to rationalize its interference in our state affairs and scheme to overthrow our system.

Advertisement

Earlier this week, the US published its annual report on Country Reports on Human Rights Practices highlighting that North Korea continues to abuse the rights of its citizens as it did last year with little to no change over a year.

The report said that North Korea is exposed to various types of human rights violations including forced repatriations, extrajudicial killings, forced abortion and the worst forms of child labor.

There were numerous reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings, including extrajudicial killings, during the year. There was no indication the government acted to investigate such killings or punish officials involved; instead, such killings appeared to be a feature of authorities system of governance and control, the report commissioned by the US State Department stated.

The North Korean spokesperson cited a special envoy on human rights in the administration of President Joe Biden. The envoy on North Korean human rights issues, Julie Turner, visited Seoul and Tokyo in February to discuss North Korea.

If the US continues to pose military threats and use the human rights issue as a way to invade us, we have to consider making a firm and decisive move to protect our sovereignty and safety, the spokesperson said.

With inputs from agencies
Amid increasing Russian strikes on Ukrainian critical infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged the Western partners to provide more air defence systems to neutralise Russian attacks read more

Russia launched a massive attack on the Ukrainian energy infrastructure on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday, according to Ukrainian officials.

At least four power stations were damaged in the Russian barrage that included up to 34 missiles, officials told AFP news agency.

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has frequently targeted critical Ukrainian infrastructure like the transport system, including the railways, and energy infrastructure. Lately, as Ukraine awaits Western military supplies, Russia has also sought to damage the Ukrainian railway infrastructure so that transporting these supplies to the troops becomes difficult.

Advertisement

Amid increasing Russian strikes, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Ukraines Western partners to provide more air defence systems to neutralise Russian attacks.

One of the biggest attacks in months

Officials described the Friday nights barrage as a massive Russian attack that was one of the biggest in recent months, according to AFP.

As many as 34 missiles were involved in the attack and 21 of them were shot down, said Ukrainian Air Force.

The report said that energy facilities were hit in at least three regions of Ukraine, including Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk in the western part of the country thats hundreds of miles away from the warzones of the eastern part of the country.

Thirty-four Russian missiles overnight. We managed to shoot down some of them. But the world has every opportunity to help (us) shoot down every missile and every drone, said Zelenskyy said in separate post on Telegram.

The report said that the Russian barrage knocked out a significant chunk of production of electricity and triggered power blackouts across the country.

The DTEK power operator said equipment at four of its thermal power plants was severely damaged, according to AFP.

Separately, officials urged people and businesses to limit their electricity consumption and asked them to avoid using appliances that use too much power, such as kettle, irons, and washing machines between 7-10 pm.

Advertisement

Ukraine strikes Russian oil refineries

While Russia targeted the Ukrainian energy infrastructure, Ukraine also launched overnight attacks inside Russia.

A Ukrainian source told AFP that their drones hit two Russian oil refineries in the southern Russias Krasnodar region.

Ukrainian drones struck the atmospheric distillation columns of the Ilsky and Slovyansky refineries. These are key technological facilities, the source told the agency.

The report quoted the Russian government as saying that Ukraine launched one of its largest ever attempted overnight drone attacks on the Krasnodar region on Friday night.

Air defences destroyed and intercepted 66 Ukrainian drones over the territory of the Krasnodar region and two over the Crimean peninsula, the defence ministry was quoted as saying.
Journalist Sergey Mingazov could be imprisoned for 10 years if a Russian court convicts him for spreading fake news about the military read more

Russia has accused a journalist with the Forbes magazine of spreading fake news about the Russian military and has put him under house arrest, according to state media.

The journalist, Sergey Mingazov, works with the Russian edition of the Forbes magazine. The alleged fake news that he spread is related to content he reposted in April 2022.

Mingazov could be imprisoned for 10 years if he is convicted, according to Associated Press.

Russia has been cracking down on press since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Within weeks of President Vladimir Putin announcing the war on Ukraine, dubbed as a special military operation, Russia enacted a new law that blocked Facebook and other major foreign news outlets and made way for 15-year sentences for those convicted of spreading fake news.

Advertisement

Forbes journalists arrest related to post on Bucha massacre

Mingazov has been put under house arrest in the Russian city of Khabarovsk where he was detained on Friday, according to state-run news agency TASS.

Mingazovs arrest is related to a post that he reshared on his Telegram channel in April 2022 about Russian massacre in Ukraines Bucha.

In the initial days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian forces reached the outskirts of Ukrainian capital Kyiv and occupied the region for weeks. One such place was Bucha where Russian atrocities were uncovered after Moscow ordered the forces to withdraw to focus on Ukraines Donbas region in the east. When the Ukrainian soldiers moved into Bucha, they found that more than 400 people were killed by Russians.

Dozens of bodies of men, women and children lay on the streets, in yards and homes, and in mass graves. Some showed signs of torture. Day after day, body collectors found the dead in basements, lying in doorways, deep in the woods. The once comfortable suburb was shocked and silent. More than 400 bodies were found, reported Associated Press.

CNN quoted Mingazovs employer, Forbes Russia, as saying that he will be under house arrest for at least two months as he would await his trial.

The posts about Bucha massacre that Mingazov shared were from BBCs Russian service and Radio Freedom. They were not from Forbes.

Mingazovs lawyer Konstantin Bubon said that he is accused of spreading knowingly false information about the Russian armed forces under the guise of reliable reporting, according to CNN.

Advertisement

During the house arrest, Mingazov is banned from using the internet and there are also restrictions on his communication with people except for family, investigators, lawyers, and medical personnel, said Bubon.

Russian crackdown on media after Ukraine invasion

Following the passage of a new law that clamped down on media freedom, international outlets like the BBC, CNN, CBS, and ABC suspended operations in Russia.

On its part, Russia also restricted access to BBC Russia, Radio Liberty, and Latvia-based Meduza, according to CNN.

The Moscow Times, an English-language Russia-focussed news website, also moved out of Russia and relocated its headquarters to Amsterdam.

In March 2023, Evan Gershkovich of The Wall Street Journal was arrested in Russia on charges of espionage. He has been in jail since.

Advertisement

Last month, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said that six journalists were arrested in Russia.
The opposition parties have formed a coalition against Manesseh Sogavare, the former Prime Minister of Solomon Islands who signed a security pact with China in 2022 read more

The opposition parties in the Solomon Islands have come together against Manesseh Sogavare, the pro-China leader of the country (Photo: AP)

The two major opposition parties in the Soloman Islands have come together to form the government. They have merged in opposition to Manesseh Sogavare, the countrys former pro-China prime minister.

The Solomon Islands is a strategically-located country in the southern Pacific Ocean. Under Sogavare, the country entered into a security agreement with China in 2022 that raised concerns among Australia, New Zealand, and the United States over regional security.

The new coalition has come up after last weeks elections in the Solomon Islands resulted in a hung parliament, according to Reuters. Sogavares OUR party won 15 of the 50 seats and CARE, the principal opposition coalition facing him, won 13.

Advertisement

Following the results that did not have a clear winner, the three-party coalition of CARE merged with the second-largest opposition party United of Peter Kenilorea Jr, as per the report. The new bloc has 20 seats and still needs to secure six more MPs from amongst the independents and micro parties to secure the parliamentary majority.

The CARE coalition comprises Matthew Wales Solomon Islands Democratic Party, U4C party, and Democratic Alliance Party of former Prime Pinister Rick Houenipwela.

Houenipwela told Reuters the bloc has not decided who will its prime ministerial candidate.

Our Group is responding to the cries and wishes of our people to take back Solomon Islands and to bring back confidence in the leadership and the governing of our country, said the coalition in a statement carried by the agency.

The ongoing political developments in the Solomon Islands are being keenly watched by the regional players for potential security ramifications.

The countrys 2022 secretive security pact with China that Sogavare signed had led to concerns at the time that it could allow for a Chinese military presence in the region. He signed another pact the next year in which the two countries agreed to enhance cooperation on law enforcement and security matters, according to Associated Press. As per the pact, China will continue to provide support and help to Solomon Islands as needed in strengthening Solomon Islands police law enforcement capacity.
The bill was introduced by a Democratic Representative from the Bronx, Ritchie Torres and Mike Lawler, a Rockland County Republican read more

As pro-Palestinian protests in US college campuses continue to intensify, two New York congressmen, a Democrat and a Republican, proposed a bill that would compel American universities to accept supervision from an antisemitism monitor.

The bill was introduced by a Democratic Representative from the Bronx, Ritchie Torres and Mike Lawler, a Rockland County Republican, The Times of Israel reported. The legislation was proposed amid the rise in anti-Israel protests which were triggered by student demonstrations at Columbia University.

Advertisement

Interestingly, the lawmakers named the bill the COLUMBIA (College Oversight and Legal Updates Mandating Bias Investigations and Accountability) Act.

What will the bill do?

The bill would allow the federal government to bring an outsider to monitor and oversee how universities that are accused of allowing anti-semitism in the past are dealing with the allegations.

The monitor would be appointed by the Secretary of Education, the terms and conditions of the monitorship would be set by the Secretary, and the expenses of the monitorship would be paid by the particular college or university that has been selected for monitorship, said a release from Torres office.

Failure to comply with the monitorship would result in the loss of federal funds," the statement further reads. Torres who is touted as a progressive, has been an ardent supporter of Tel Aviv in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

As a result of this, he got a heroic welcome from the country when he last visited.

Amid the protests, Torres fellow progressives in the Democratic caucus have criticised what they depict as an overreaction by local, state, and federal governments towards the demonstrations.

Meanwhile, Lawler also has a significant number of Jews residing in his districts and has similarly been outspoken in his defence of Israel.
This conclusion is widely supported within the intelligence community, endorsed by agencies like the Central Intelligence Agency, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the State Departments intelligence unit read more

Recent findings from US intelligence agencies, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, suggest that Russian President Vladimir Putin likely didnt issue orders for the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a prison camp back in February.

Though the assessment acknowledges Putins responsibility for Navalnys death, it speculates that the timing might not have been deliberate on Putins part, as per sources familiar with the matter cited in the report.

This conclusion is widely supported within the intelligence community, endorsed by agencies like the Central Intelligence Agency, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the State Departments intelligence unit.

Advertisement

The Kremlin has consistently denied any state involvement, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissing the Journals report as empty speculation, stressing the lack of substance in the material.

Navalnys mysterious death at an Arctic prison in February not only reignited tensions between Russia and the West, already strained due to the conflict in Ukraine, but also sparked significant unauthorised protests, making it the largest since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

US President Joe Biden and other global leaders have held Putin responsible, citing years of Kremlin targeting against Navalny.

This latest assessment draws upon various sources, including classified intelligence and analysis of public events such as the timing of Navalnys death, which coincided with Putins re-election. Some European intelligence agencies have also been briefed on this updated perspective.

Navalny fell ill during a walk at the remote maximum-security prison camp in the Arctic, where attempts by medical staff to revive him proved futile, according to prison authorities on February 16th.

with inputs from Agencies
Since the early 1990s, South Korea has borne the costs associated with hosting American troops, covering expenses such as local labor, military infrastructure construction, and logistical support. Previous negotiations during Trumps administration resulted in South Korea agreeing to a significant increase in its financial contribution read more

South Korean Anti-Aircraft Gun Wheeled Vehicle System participates in the joint river-crossing exercise conducted for South Korean and US soldiers in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi province, South Korea, 20 March 2024. JEON HEON-KYUN/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

U.S. and South Korean officials have engaged in discussions this week outlining their respective visions for a new agreement concerning the cost-sharing arrangement for maintaining American troops in South Korea.

Chief U.S. negotiator Linda Specht stated that both sides will continue consultations as needed to achieve a fair and equitable outcome under the 12th Special Measures Agreement (SMA).

The appointment of envoys last month marked the initiation of early talks aimed at reaching a new agreement before the potential return of former President Donald Trump in November. Trump, during his presidency, ciriticised South Korea for allegedly benefiting from U.S. military capabilities without adequate financial contribution.

Advertisement

The recent talks in Hawaii, held from Tuesday to Thursday, set the stage for negotiations on the 12th SMA. Specht highlighted the importance of strengthening and sustaining the alliance between the United States and South Korea through ongoing consultations.

While discussions are progressing ahead of schedule, U.S. officials do not view November as a rigid deadline. The presence of over 28,000 American troops in South Korea serves as a crucial deterrent against North Koreas nuclear threat.

Since the early 1990s, South Korea has borne the costs associated with hosting American troops, covering expenses such as local labor, military infrastructure construction, and logistical support. Previous negotiations during Trumps administration resulted in South Korea agreeing to a significant increase in its financial contribution.

Trumps demand for a much higher financial commitment from Seoul led to protracted negotiations, ultimately resulting in a 13.9% increase in South Koreas contribution compared to the previous pact.

According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, from 2016 to 2019, the U.S. Defense Department spent approximately $13.4 billion in South Korea on various military expenditures, while South Korea provided $5.8 billion to support the U.S. troop presence.

With the current agreement set to expire in 2025, negotiations for a successor pact typically take place just before the expiration of the existing agreement.

Advertisement

With inputs from agencies
Google is set to unveil the Pixel 8a smartphone during the upcoming Google I/O event, following the release of press renders; Android Headlines has now shared new renders and promotional images, offering a comprehensive look at what the Pixel 8a has to offer.

Pixel 8a Camera features

Google highlights the Pixel 8as AI-mazing Pixel Camera, featuring Best Take, Audio Magic Eraser, and Night Sight, previously seen on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. Additionally, Google emphasizes Call Assist for call screening, email summaries, and Circle to Search.

Under the hood, the Pixel 8a runs on the Google Tensor G3 processor, with expected fast charging support of up to 27W or 30W, an improvement from the Pixel 7as 18W.

The phone boasts IP67 certification for water and dust resistance, along with a promise of seven years of security updates, setting it apart from the flagship Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.

Additionally, the renders highlighted the Google One VPN, despite its upcoming discontinuation on June 10.

An official promo video shared by @OnLeaks with MySmartPrice further showcases the devices features.

Launch date?

The Pixel 8a is expected to go on sale shortly after the Google I/O event, with May 16 being a potential release date, following the event on May 14 and 15.

The device is likely to be available in Obsidian (black), Mint (green), Porcelain (light beige), and Bay (blue) colors, with matching silicon cases.

Prices are speculated to start at 518 USD (Rs. 43,200 approx.) for the 128GB model, while 256GB could be priced at 579 USD (Rs. 48,290 approx.).

With the unveiling approaching, more details about the Pixel 8a are likely to emerge in the coming days.

Source 1, 2
Apple has reopened discussions with OpenAI regarding using its technology for new iPhone features. These discussions, as reported by Bloombergs Mark Gurman, include possible terms of agreement and integration into iOS 18.

The talks mark a renewed dialogue between the companies after minimal activity earlier this year. No final decision has been made by Apple regarding partnerships, leaving room for agreements with both OpenAI and Google, or even selecting another provider.

Previous reports also stated that the company is in talks with Google regarding licensing their Gemini chatbot.

Generative AI features into iOS 18

The forthcoming iPhone operating system is expected to introduce new features, including those powered by Apples in-house large language model.

Additionally, Apple seeks to incorporate chatbot-like functionalities, potentially akin to OpenAIs ChatGPT or alternatives like Anthropics Claude.

Mark Gurman notes that Apple aims for its features to be seamlessly integrated with better privacy protections than competitors, as this development comes ahead of Apples Worldwide Developers Conference, where new AI software and services will likely be announced.

Last year, Apple CEO Tim Cook expressed interest in OpenAIs ChatGPT but stressed a cautious approach, citing a number of issues that need addressing. He promised new AI features would be introduced thoughtfully to Apple devices.

According to Gurman, partnering with external firms could expedite Apples chatbot endeavors and mitigate risks. Outsourcing generative AI features may reduce platform liabilities.

Further insights into Apples AI strategy are anticipated at WWDC in June, alongside major software previews.

Source
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024.
Alleged Chinese spy 'held key roles' in overseas democracy groups

Guo Jian 'knew the details' of everyone who attended meetings of 2 different organizations, activists say.

By Yitong Wu and Cheryl Tung for RFA Cantonese 2024.04.26 -- 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."

"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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






British officials charge 2 with spying for China

By Evie Steele April 26, 2024

British officials formally charged two men Friday with spying on behalf of China in the latest in a series of European arrests of suspected Chinese intelligence agents.

The two men, Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry, were charged with violations of the Official Secrets Act by "providing prejudicial information to a foreign state, China" between 2021 and February 2023.

Their arrests on Monday occurred at the same time that German authorities arrested three people suspected of spying for China and leaking information on military technology. German authorities separately arrested an assistant to a far-right European Parliament member.

The Chinese Embassy in London said the charges Cash and Berry face are "completely fabricated" and "malicious slander," a part of British "anti-China political manipulation."

Dominic Murphy, who leads the counterterrorism command of London's Metropolitan Police, told The Associated Press the charges are the result of "an extremely complex investigation into what are very serious allegations."

Cash, a parliamentary researcher with the governing Conservative Party, and Berry, an academic, have been granted bail and released after a court appearance in London. They will next appear in court for a preliminary hearing on May 10.

Cash maintains his innocence, while Berry and his lawyers have provided no public statements.

British and EU officials have warned of the threat that Chinese covert activities pose, with Ken McCallum, the head of Britain's domestic intelligence agency, warning in 2022 that China has sought to target and influence British political officials.

Last month, the U.S. and U.K. governments announced new sanctions against hackers with ties to the Chinese government, and both countries accused the hackers of targeting government officials and businesses at the direction of Chinese government leadership.

Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






5-4 ADA Conducts Saber Strike 2024 Fire Support Coordination Exercise

By Capt. Alexander Watkins April 25, 2024

BEMOWO PISKIE TRAINING AREA, Poland -- Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, conducted live-fire exercises with NATO allies as part of Saber Strike 2024.

From April 21 to 22, the 5-4 ADA, alongside the Romanian "Sky Guardians" air defense unit, engaged aerial targets side by side. The fire support coordination exercise, a live-fire exercise, was designed to incorporate direct fire, indirect fire, air defense, and attack aviation, involving multiple NATO Allies and Partners. This exercise developed integrated air and missile defense and provided an opportunity to showcase the U.S. Army's newest air defense platform, the M-SHORAD, with its multiple capabilities to support maneuver forces.

"Our mission during this exercise was to enhance our tactical interoperability while also forging new personal and professional relationships with our NATO Allies," said U.S. Army Capt. Paul Zavislak, Charlie Battery 5-4 commander. "There were many opportunities that tested interoperability during this exercise. But that's why we train this way, as by training together in a tough and realistic environment we improve our capabilities."

In addition to developing integrated air and missile defense with NATO Allies, the exercise provided an opportunity to showcase the U.S. Army's most modern short-range air defense capability. Not only does the M-SHORAD have increased maneuverability compared to previous short-range air defense platforms, but it can also fire Stinger missiles, 30 mm rounds, or 7.62 mm rounds to provide protection and support to ground forces from aerial threats.

"For us, engaging the targets with our Gepard and the M-SHORAD was a new experience. We enjoyed working together with other air defenders," said Romanian Lt. Alexandru, spokesperson for the Romanian air defense.

This was the first time in history that the M-SHORAD and the Romanian Gepard fired together. The Gepard is a German-designed anti-air vehicle that fires multiple 35 mm cannons to engage and destroy aerial threats. A challenge from the live-fire was how to share information and data rapidly and accurately to ensure an accurate understanding of aerial targets.

"It was a challenge at first just because of the language barrier and different platforms, but we worked through it and now have a much better understanding of each other's capabilities and how to best work together to ensure we are hitting the right targets with the right ammunition at the right time," said Zavislak.

Building interoperability didn't stop at the firing line at the range. Soldiers from the Romanian, Spanish, U.S., and Italian armies all shared meals, swapped patches, and exchanged stories about what it's like to serve in their respective armies.

"It was amazing to talk about what life is like as a Romanian air defender with our Romanian Allies. We were able to share our experiences, and we found that although we have different systems, we often face similar challenges, and that brought us closer together," said Zavislak.

Exercising in tough, realistic environments and overcoming challenges together is crucial to building integrated air and missile defense. No one country can do air defense alone; it takes investments, efforts, and training by every NATO nation. The soldiers of Charlie Battery and the Romanian "Sky Guardians" forged friendships that will continue long beyond the conclusion of Saber Strike and DEFENDER 24.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






April 25, 2024

Transcript

Senior Officials Hold a Background Briefing

Senior Administration Official; Senior Military Official; Senior Defense Official

STAFF: Great. All right, everyone. Thank you so much for joining us today. Good afternoon. Again, this is Sabrina Singh, the Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary. I'll be facilitating today's background call.

As a reminder, today's call is on background.

I will call on as many reporters as possible  I know we have many questions  in the time that we have allotted. So we'll  we'll please ask that you keep your follow-ups to a minimum, and please keep your microphones on mute unless you're asking a question.

And with that, I will turn it over to our Senior Administration Official, followed by our Senior Military Official.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: OK, thank you. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is incredibly dire, and the humanitarian community has been working relentlessly to surge assistance through all available means.

The entire population of Gaza, 2.2 million people is facing acute food insecurity, and more than half of the population in northern Gaza is facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity. Nearly 30% of children in northern Gaza are showing signs of severe malnutrition. And in southern Gaza, nearly a quarter of the population is facing this kind of catastrophic food insecurity.

These numbers will increase significantly in the coming months without urgent lifesaving interventions to combat malnutrition among the most vulnerable, particularly young children and their mothers.

We need nutritional therapies, clean water, support for healthcare in addition to food aid to come in and reach mothers and children, in addition to the broader community. And support the measures needed to prevent this malnutrition in the first place.

The IPC has reported that the threat of famine is looming, particularly in northern Gaza. And humanitarian aid workers have been working day and night to surge lifesaving food assistance, nutritional support, and the interventions that I just mentioned into Gaza to address these acute needs and prevent a further deterioration.

Because of this great need, and in particular the looming threat of famine in northern Gaza that the experts have warned us against, this is why USAID is working so closely with the Department of Defense to establish a maritime corridor.

The corridor is intended to be additive and augment, not replace overland delivery of humanitarian aid going into Gaza.

There have been several land routes and crossings that are in the process of being opened and progress has been made. But a lot more needs to be done. And this is why the construction of the maritime corridor and the JLOTS is so critical to get additional assistance in at a time when we need to surge everything in.

So, this is a humanitarian initiative with a humanitarian purpose, in line with humanitarian principles. And this was why we're really pleased, as we have been working for decades with DOD to stand this up. It's critical that humanitarian organizations are able to receive and deliver lifesaving assistance via that corridor in an independent neutral and impartial manner.

USAID will partner with UN organizations to deliver the lifesaving aid once it gets to Gaza through the maritime corridor. And we'll be supporting augmented land route distribution and logistics capacity throughout Gaza.

Work on the maritime corridor is progressing along the expected timeline. This was a complex operation which requires coordination between many partners. And we're very grateful for the work of our partners in this effort.

I'll also say that we're very grateful for the government of Cyprus for providing the support and the starting off point to make this happen.

Throughout Gaza, the safety and security of humanitarian actors is critical to the delivery of assistance, and we continue to advocate for measures that will give humanitarians greater assurance.

We are working to ensure lifesaving assistance reach those civilians in need through all avenues. And we'll continue to do everything we can to save lives and alleviate the suffering of those in greatest needs.

We need Israel to continue to fulfill the commitments that they've made to improve humanitarian assistance in Gaza. We're pleased to see that those commitments are happening and underway, but a lot more needs to be done.

So with that, I will turn it over to our Senior Military Official.

STAFF: I can read you loud and clear. Over to you, Senior Military Official.

[Technical Difficulties]

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: OK. Hey, thanks for bearing with me, everybody.

Directed by the Secretary of Defense, supporting USAID efforts to supply humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza is a top priority for U.S. Central Command. USAID, as you may know, is the lead Federal agency for the delivery of U.S. humanitarian assistance worldwide.

It's been fantastic teaming to support USAID on this effort. For weeks, we've been planning and working side-by-side with the USAID team in Washington, Cyprus, and Israel, planning efforts to increase the flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza.

Just this Tuesday, we joined the United Nations in New York. The exceptional cooperation shouldn't be a surprise. DOD and USAID have worked closely together around the world for decades, as our Senior Administration Official described.

Let me talk broad Central Command efforts in support of humanitarian assistance into Gaza first, then dive deeper on the at-sea delivery portion.

First, on air delivery, CENTCOM is already supporting the delivery of aid to Gaza by facilitating airdrops, many of which are conducted with partners. As of today, the U.S. Air Force has executed more than 25 missions, airdropping more than one million meals into Gaza.

The U.S. airdrops alone have delivered more than 1,000 tons of humanitarian assistance. The delivery effort stems from very strong coordination with and support from the Israeli Defense Force as we engage in very precise collaboration to ensure safety for both air crews, and in particular, safety for people on the ground.

We separate the airdrop delivery and time and space throughout Gaza, and our primary focus with airdrops has been on delivery into north Gaza. This broad effort has also included airdrops from more than a dozen countries, led by Jordan. And cumulatively, these multilateral drops have totaled more than 2,200 tons of aid to date.

Now, let me shift and turn to delivery of humanitarian assistance from the sea. This is a unique mission. Last month, consistent with the President's direction, the Secretary of Defense directed the U.S. Central Command to lead establishment of a temporary pier to deliver humanitarian assistance from the sea into Gaza.

We had ships sailing from the East Coast of the U.S. to execute this mission within 36 hours. On board these ships are important materials to build out the pier. We also planned and expected that it would take until early May to meet initial operating capability.

Earlier today, the at-sea assembly of key pieces of the temporary pier began off the coast of Gaza. We are on track to begin delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza from the sea in early May.

Importantly, this maritime delivery route is complementary and additive to the very vital land and air routes already ongoing.

In terms of capacity, we expect throughput to begin at about 90 trucks a day at initial operating capacity, and then quickly scale up to 150 trucks a day of humanitarian assistance as we achieve a full operating capability.

For some comparison and broader context, over the past two weeks, the daily average of trucks delivered, delivering humanitarian assistance into Gaza was about 220 trucks a day.

Obviously, some days are higher, some days are lower. So, this additional throughput from the sea represents a significant increase of life saving aid. This effort is less about a military operation and aptly described as an effort to provide a shared service on behalf of the international community to increase the flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza with the U.S. military as a logistics enabler.

The establishment of a temporary pier into Gaza and execution of this mission will be done by a predominantly joint force from the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy using a system called JLOTS, Joint Logistics Over-The-Shore. One thousand U.S. soldiers and sailors will support this effort to enable delivery of humanitarian assistance from the Sea to Gaza for further distribution ashore and as coordinated by USAID.

We also have significant partner nation support in the execution of the mission. A key point to emphasize there will be no U.S. military boots on the ground in Gaza, in the execution of this mission.

Now, allow me to just go into some detail and review the concept of execution to give you an idea of how the maritime aid delivery corridor will work from Cyprus to the Sea to the Gaza shore.

First, humanitarian assistance comes into Cyprus via air or sea, where it's screened, palletized and prepared for delivery. We have already begun to see volumes of humanitarian assistance flow into Cyprus for further distribution, and we expect this flow of goodwill to continue. Upon receipt in Cyprus, pallets are then loaded onto commercial vessels that travel about 200 miles from Cyprus to a large floating platform anchored miles off the coast of Gaza.

This floating platform is one component of the JLOTS system and provides a stable workspace to trans-load pallets from the larger commercial vessels onto smaller Army vessels that can reach closer to shore. These smaller vessels are called LSVs or logistics support vessels, which can hold about 15 trucks each, and LCUs, landing craft utility, that can carry about five trucks each.

The LSVs and LCUs then shuttle the humanitarian assistance from the floating platform to a temporary fear  temporary pier fixed to the shore in Gaza. Think of this as a floating causeway. The floating causeway is several hundred meters long and is anchored into the sand on Gaza. Trucks then drive off the LSVs and LCUs down the causeway onto the land and drop off commodities in a very secure area.

These trucks repeat the process over and over in a closed loop and then separately assure a distribution partner. As my colleague has talked about, will pick up pallets for UNRWA distribution in the Gaza. Security protocols are in place to ensure that the transfer of humanitarian assistance is done safely. This is an important point.

I'd also like to add that in order to achieve all of this, we have established two coordination elements, or command and control cells, to enhance coordination among all the parties involved. Both are fully operational today. The first, in Cyprus, is integrated with USAID. They coordinate with the Cypriot government, organizations, multinational partners in the UN. This cell focuses on coordinating collection and inspection to ensure a smooth flow of goods.

The second coordination cell in Israel at Hatzor Air Base near Ashdod, is led by a U.S. three-star general who has been on scene and in country for nearly a month. This cell is a combined coordination effort, U.S. soldiers and sailors sitting side by side with IDF partners, integrated with USAID. We also have partners from WFP (World Food Program), the UN and other NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) who will join in the coming days. This cell will be a primary lever for coordination and transparency for the delivery of humanitarian assistance from the Sea.

Since there are going to be no U.S. boots on the ground in Gaza, we have accounted for all the tasks that a partner would have to perform to execute the mission. As an example, and notably, the Israeli Defense Force will partner to anchor the JLOTS to the beach in Gaza on day one.

A U.S. Army engineering unit has teamed with an Israeli Defense Force engineering unit these past several weeks to train and practice for JLOTS emplacement. They trained on an Israeli beach just up the coast. That Israeli unit will reposition for execution on day one, and the Israeli Defense Force engineering unit is well prepared for this aspect of the mission. Let me shift gears for just a moment and talk about force protection. Importantly, force protection is our number one priority.

We've been working closely with the Israeli Defense Force for weeks on a comprehensive, integrated plan that protects U.S. troops from the land, air and sea. Forces from U.S. European Command and U.S. Naval Forces Europe are also assigned to support the overall effort. The Israeli Defense Force has a brigade, thousands of soldiers, plus Israeli Navy ships and the Israeli Air Force that are dedicated to force protection of this operation specifically.

As you would expect, the U.S. is also bringing significant complementary capability for force protection as a prudent measure. As you can appreciate, I won't be able to talk in any specifics about the force protection measures in place. Today, we assess that the security environment around the area of Gaza is such  we assess that the security environment around the area in Gaza that we have chosen to establish the JLOTS site is sufficient to support execution of the mission.

But importantly, we reassess security every single day. And as he would do in any mission, the commander of U.S. Central Command will make a final determination on moving forward with JLOTS in placement based on the security situation at the time. We do this every single day. We did it just this morning prior to a morning humanitarian assistance airdrop.

Finally, a couple comments. All the ships and people required for the initial execution of this mission are in place today in the eastern Mediterranean. Similarly, all the supporting enablers like communications and logistics support are absolutely on track to support the execution in early May.

Facilitating delivery of international humanitarian aid into Gaza is of course a highly, highly collaborative effort, and we've been working coordinating closely with interagency and international partners as I've described.

I would like to thank the United Kingdom for providing support for the coordination in Cyprus and also providing the ship RFA Cardigan Bay to support this mission. Hundreds of U.S. soldiers and sailors will live and sleep on Cardigan Bay at sea, and this is a requirement because of no U.S. boots on the ground.

We've also enjoyed superb coordination with and are thankful to the government of Cyprus, the Cypriot Chief of Defense, as well as dozens of countries from around the world, many of whom we briefed in Cyprus late last month on our plan to deliver humanitarian assistance from the sea to those in need. More than 40 countries and organizations participated in the briefing. I would like to point out that the effort to deliver humanitarian assistance from the sea is fully supported by the Israeli Defense Force, with whom we have been and will continue to work very closely. From affixing the JLOTS pier to the shore to providing force protection, this effort is fully integrated with the IDF.

I'll leave you with just three thoughts. Big picture. The U.S. military is building up and building a maritime pier to surge global aid. 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.

And with that, I'll pause, and happy to answer any questions.

STAFF: Thank you to our senior military official, our senior administration official. We also have a senior defense official also on the call. I'm going to open up the call to reporters for questions, and I will moderate those. Just a reminder, this call is on background.

So we will get the call started first with Lita Baldor, AP.

Q: Thank you. And thanks very much for doing this.

On security, aid agencies continue to say they are very concerned about security, particularly in the wake of the attack yesterday. Can you address what security concerns you have in the wake of this attack  mortar attack yesterday and the security  the aid agencies' concerns about things like the Israeli Security Forces having, quote-unquote, "remote control guns" that they're worried about because they're not only worried about, obviously, insurgents, but possible violence from the IDF?

And then I have a quick question for the Senior Administration Official. How concerned are you about the security arrangements that you've been briefed on?

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Yes, first, from my side, let me just offer several important points. First, there were no Americans involved or even remotely close to the incident that you're describing. Second, we don't assess that the attack had anything to do with the JLOTS mission or delivery of humanitarian assistance from the sea.

Without getting into the specifics on force protection, I would also add that the defensive umbrella around JLOTS today looks nothing like it's going to look like when we actually execute the mission. It will be far more robust. And then I think, most importantly, we are conducting, as I mentioned, a daily assessment of force protection and security.

And as we would do with any mission, the commander of U.S. Central Command will make a determination on mission execution based on security assessment at the time just prior to operation.

With that, I'll turn it over to my colleague.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Hi. Thanks. Just to add on, you know, it's very clear that it's a very difficult environment for humanitarian workers in Gaza, just given the state of the conflict. You know, we're continuing to, as far as JLOTS is concerned, we're continuing to work closely with CENTCOM and our partners to just make sure that those arrangements are in place. But the broader issue is the safety and security of our partners and just making sure that the deconfliction systems are working well.

So, I'll leave it at that. Thanks.

STAFF: Thank you. Our next question will go to Oren Liebermann, CNN.

Q: Hey, it's actually Natasha Bertrand for CNN.

STAFF: Oh, sorry about that.

Q: No, you're fine. A couple quick points of clarification for the senior military official. The first is who is going to be driving the trucks that are actually going down the causeway and delivering that aid to the secure distribution point? Is that going to be U.S. military or is that going to be contracted out or is it going to be NGOs?

Similarly, you said that commercial vessels are going to be going from Cyprus to the pier. Is it going to be exclusively commercial vessels or is the U.S. military also going to be transporting aid from Cyprus to the pier itself? And then finally, who  are there U.S. destroyers that are going to be providing security in the eastern Mediterranean? I think we have about three in the area right now. Thanks.

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Yeah. In order. So, we have a third party who will be driving the trucks down the pier. Just a point of emphasis, there will be no U.S. military boots on the ground. So, a third party is driving those trucks.

In terms of the Cyprus to pier transportation, that will predominantly, at this point, be civilian vessels. There's no reason, as we look forward, that it could not be military, but right now, we envision it will be civilian. We'd certainly want to maximize the volume of humanitarian assistance going forward, so I wouldn't rule anything out.

And I think you had another piece there I could come back to.

Q: Yes, the destroyers. I think there are about three in the Eastern Med right now. Are they going to also be providing security for this mission?

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Yes, without talking specifics. Obviously, their presence in the Eastern Mediterranean is meaningful and complimentary to the overall effort.

STAFF: Thank you. Our next question will go to Dan Lamothe, Washington Post.

Q: Thank you all for the time today. Wanted to see if we could drill down a bit on concerns about bottlenecks, particularly if some of the assurances don't hold, or if we see attacks on some of the humanitarian workers as aid is delivered, not unlike what we saw with the World Central Kitchen strike or others subsequently. How are you all thinking about that issue and trying to make sure that aid is continually flowing despite evolving situations?

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Why don't I give that to USAID first, and I'll come on the back end on the military side. Or I'll be the lead blocker, and ...

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Sorry, I'm having trouble with mute and unmute, and I lost part of the question. So, yes, please go ahead, and I will pick up from there. Sorry about that.

QUESTION: Yes, no problem. In particular, wanted to get a read on how you all are thinking about the potential for bottlenecks with aid, if you're able to push stuff down on the pier onto the beach, or the beachhead, and because of attacks on humanitarian workers or distribution problems, that leaves things basically sitting on the beach, open ended. What kind of assurances do you have? How are you thinking about that issue?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thank you very much for that question. So, if you're following this pretty closely, you know that, you know, all of the crossings have challenges with aid distribution. And there's a variety of factors that go into it. We definitely need to build up the logistics capacity in Gaza and make sure that there are safe and coordinated routes for the convoys.

So, we do see periodic bottlenecks happen at all of the crossings, and there's a variety of reasons for it. With respect to JLOTS, our UN WFP partners will basically be working on a distribution model with their trusted partners and distribution hubs throughout Gaza.

We'll be working closely with our colleagues at CENTCOM and the node, the operation cell that the Senior Military Official mentioned in Cyprus, to basically make sure that the aid is kind of coming in at the right pace.

And obviously, we'll be doing everything possible to help our partners get it off the beach and into Gaza. But the distribution challenges, you know, remain real. But I think we're making some pretty good progress. And as we get some better logistics capacity into Gaza, I think those will resolve themselves.

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Yes, I'll just pick up and say, Dan, this is exactly why we have the coordination cells in Cyprus and a coordination cell in Israel. The one in Israel in particular is unique. It's side by side with the Israeli Defense Force. It's a unique arrangement, and I think both of these together will help to meter the flow into and out of Cyprus, in the case of the coordination cell in Cyprus, and help meter the flow into and out of the floating pier onto Gaza respectively.

STAFF: Thank you. Our next question will go to Nancy Youssef, Wall Street Journal.

Q: Thank you. I just have a few clarifying questions. Will all the troops be sleeping on the Cardigan Bay, or is that just for some of them? How far will U.S. troops be from the shore?

And you mentioned that a third party was going to be driving the trucks. Is that a defense contractor? And if so, who is it? And who's doing security for them? Thank you.

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Yeah, on the last piece, it's not defense contractor. It will be done by non-American  there will be no Americans involved in it, and we'll  we'll have a chance to identify those countries here, you know, going forward and also let them speak for themselves. Hopefully that answers that part of the question.

Q: That  that is  another nation's forces will be driving the trucks? Is that if I'm understanding you correctly?

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: No, it's not another  it is another nation. We'll be able to identify, you know, that nation or let them speak for themselves here, you know ...

Q: OK. And presumably, that nation then will be providing its own security, is that right?

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: There's a complimentary security those  the security has been baked into our current plan.

And then separately, on  in terms of where is everybody sleeping, yeah, there's  everyone is going to be in one of three places  either at sea or  for the coordination cell in Cyprus, they sleep there; coordination cell in Israel sleeps there. Back at sea, they're either on the Cardigan Bay or we also have a contracted vessel to accommodate everybody.

STAFF: Thank you. Our next question will go to Phil Stewart, Reuters.

Q: Hi there. First, for the Senior Administration Official, does the location of the pier allow for direct access to northern Gaza without any further checkpoints or inspections? You know, will all these inspections take place in Cyprus?

And for the Senior Military Official, a question and a clarification. The question on deconfliction  will U.S. forces respond if they are attacked off-shore? And will the Israelis respond if they're attacked on land? And what's the division of labor there?

And the clarification  you know, how far exactly off the coast of Gaza are U.S. troops right now? Because we were told they're outside of mortar range. Thanks.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Hi. So thanks for that question. Yes, the goods will be inspected in Cyprus, and we do intend for the assistance to reach the north. There are different checkpoints along the way to go up north, and I'll defer this question and further detail to the Senior Military Official  but we are working on different kinds of protocols to basically ease some movements through the checkpoints.

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Yeah, let me just pick up on that...there is a  through our coordination cell in Israel, we have worked on a series of protocols to help support transition through checkpoints, particularly focused on the area in and around the JLOTS emplacement, as a mechanism to ensure that we can quickly move humanitarian assistance onto the beach and out to those who need it.

In terms of the U.S. forces, obviously I'm not going to talk about ROE (rules of engagement). Self-defense is always in effect. There are no U.S. forces ashore, there will be no U.S. forces ashore. So that's a non-issue.

In terms of inspections, all the inspections of the materiel happen back in Cyprus. So these are the  this is a unique and important point. So there'll be no inspection of materiel, and that inspection regiment in Cyprus has already been agreed to by the Cypriot and Israeli governments. So once humanitarian assistance hits the beach and moves forward, we want to be able to quickly keep that moving.

And then finally, on your last point, yeah, as I mentioned, the initial buildup of the floating platform started today. It's well off the coast in a safe position.

Q: Miles away?

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Miles away.

STAFF: Thank you. Our next question will go to Courtney Kube, NBC.

Q: Thank you. Just one more on the truck for the Senior Military Official. I understand that the  whomever it is that's going to be driving them, that nation will provide security, but what about actually  will they also be responsible for checking the trucks before they come on and off the  the U.S. military ships and platforms?

So in other words, will the U.S. military, like, check the trucks to make sure that there's nothing that's been placed on them before they come back to  on, or is it that other host nation or whatever country who's responsible for that?

And then for the Administration Official, we've heard that the UN's going to be involved in this distribution, and I'm curious, is that UNRWA?

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: OK. For  Courtney  so on the trucks, the U.S.  we have a very thorough and detailed inspection regiment to maintain control of the trucks. And just to reiterate, the trucks that are the  delivering humanitarian assistance from the sea simply go off the pier, drop off, and come right back and they stay in that same security loop.

But we have all of the pieces in place to ensure the safety of the truck and the drivers, and you can  I'll let you just imagine what all of the systems could be to ensure that safety. All those pieces are planned to be in place.

STAFF: Our Senior Administration Official, I don't know if you were able to weigh in on that question.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thanks. No, I don't have anything else.

STAFF: OK. All right, great. Thank you. Our next question will go to Jared Szuba, Al-Monitor.

Q: Hi all, thank you for doing this. Just a clarifying bit here. Will the IDF be deployed on the ground in the areas around the port? And has the UN agreed to distribute the aid after it reaches shore?

And I'll have a follow-up.

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Yeah, on the military side, yes, the IDF is deployed on the ground over a fairly wide area to provide force protection in a very integrated way. And as I mentioned, this force protection umbrella is integrated on the land, at sea, and in the air.

Q: And then has the UN agreed to distribute aid after it reaches shore?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Hi, I can jump in on that. Yes, the UN is working with us, and I think as I mentioned earlier, we're working with them to set up a logistics hub for the humanitarian logistics hub on the beachhead, and we'll be distributing to different humanitarian hubs and supporting humanitarian partners to access the assistance.

STAFF: Thank you. We have time for just a few more. Lara Seligman, Politico?

Q: Thanks, Sabrina. Just wondering  just a clarifying question, and I apologize if you did say this already. It was kind of in and out, my connection. But who is it that will be securing the causeway to the beach?

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Sure. It's  the Israeli Defense Force will be securing the causeway to the beach. Over the last several weeks, we had a U.S. engineering  our  U.S. Army engineering unit work alongside an Israeli Defense Force engineering unit and replicate this process on an Israeli beach. That Israeli Defense Force unit then moves into Gaza and conducts the same mission that it practiced for, and they're well positioned to do this and well trained.

Q: Thank you.

STAFF: Thank you. Our next question will go to Konstantin, Military.com.

Q: ... everybody for doing this. I guess this is probably best directed to the Senior Military Official. You know, obviously the Navy publicly announced last week or the week before that one of the ships in this convoy, the (USNS John P.) Bobo, had a fire, had to turn around. And then open-source trackers seemed to show one of the Army vessels, I believe the Wilson Wharf, was waylaid in the Canary Islands for a good portion of  of  of the journey.

So my question is I  you know, are both of these  you know, how much of an impact does both of these ships not being in theater make on the overall operation? And going forward, are there concerns about the material readiness of any of these watercraft as you look to bring this whole operation to full operating capacity? Thanks.

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Yeah, we intentionally and deliberately baked in redundancy into the operation. Those two vessels are redundant in nature and will have zero impact on mission execution. Going forward, we're confident with readiness. We like where we are now and we think we have a good plan to sustain this.

STAFF: Thank you. All right, we're just going to take just a few more here. We'll go to Joseph, Al Arabiya.

Q: Thanks. Two questions, one for the Senior Military Official. What's the timeline for how long these 1,000 U.S. soldiers or sailors are supposed to be deployed?

And just quickly, the Ranking Member on the Senate Armed Services Committee today after the attack called on President Biden to abandon the project immediately before any U.S. troops are injured. So how confident are you in the Israeli military's capabilities or assurances to protect U.S. troops, as well as the aid workers?

And just a second for the Senior Admin Official  have you all found specific partners on the ground willing to help, especially in light of the aid workers that have been killed  targeted and killed by the Israeli military?

And you mentioned malnourished children and a looming famine in Gaza. What kind of food is being sent? And how long do you assess Gazans can survive before getting this food? Thank you.

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Yeah, on your first question, we're prepared to execute this mission for several months, and there'll obviously be a determination of what exactly that looks like.

On the second piece, we have full confidence that the plan we've developed over the last month side-by-side with the Israelis is comprehensive in nature, addresses all the issues, as I mentioned, from the air, on land, and at sea. We have rehearsed a  the sensitive and protective measures on multiple occasions and feel very confident in that.

And on top of all of that, as we do with any mission, we're going to make a very thorough force protection assessment before actual execution. This is our number one priority, the protection of American sailors and  and soldiers.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: So I can jump in on the  the food question. You know, there has been food going into Gaza. You know, there's been flour and different kinds of food. Just really what  what needs to happen to prevent famine and it  you know, this takes time.

So, you know, we'll have to wait and see what the next assessment tells us and the next expert body report tells us, but it really requires a lot of different things. It requires high quality variety of foods that is nutritious, and it requires clean water for children especially because of the link between malnutrition and immune system deficiencies and just vulnerability, disease.

It requires access to healthcare and nutritional supplements and, you know, the  the kinds of ready-to-use therapeutic foods that are necessary to treat children and  and bring them back from famine  or I should say to bring them back from acute malnutrition, and  and that kind of treatment takes a number of weeks.

So there's a lot that goes into it.

STAFF: Thank you. And our last question will go to Jeff Schogol, Task & Purpose.

Q: Thank you. I understand there will be no boots on the ground, but the craft bringing the food to the causeway, how close do they come to shore? Are they within mortar range? And the pier itself, it may be miles off-shore but is that in the ships where people are sleeping? Is that within range of the rockets and missiles that Hamas has? Thank you.

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Yeah, we factored in all of the variables to maximize the force protection, both on the floating platform, which is several miles off-shore, as well as on the  on the temporary pier, which actually affixes to the shore.

No U.S. vessels will touch the shore. That  the pier, as I described, is several hundred meters long. So let me just recreate, you know, the visual for you of a large commercial vessel with humanitarian assistance coming from Cyprus, dropping off humanitarian assistance commodity onto Army LSVs and LCUs at the large floating platform several miles off the coast. Those vessels getting loaded with 15  five to 15 trucks worth of commodity, and then traveling a short distance, several miles, to the actual pier that's affixed to Gaza, and driving right off the  that LSV onto the causeway, all the way down onto the sand, into a  a facility where we  we turn it over to distribution partners. I hope that helps.

Q: So U.S. troops will be several hundred meters from the shore?

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Yes.

STAFF: Thank you all, and thank you to our background briefers today. We very much appreciate your time. Again, this call was on background today, and we will have a transcript later posted on Defense.gov. Thank you again. Out here.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3756746/

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






April 25, 2024

Release

Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With Swedish Minister of Defense Pal Jonson

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III conducted a call with his Swedish counterpart, Minister of Defense Pal Jonson, to discuss continued support to Ukraine and other key security issues.

During the call, Secretary Austin thanked Minister Jonson for Sweden's tremendous military aid to Ukraine. The Secretary highlighted that Sweden's efforts, and its new role as the 32nd member of the NATO Alliance, demonstrate its solid commitment to regional security. The United States and Sweden will continue to work together, alongside international partners, to support Ukraine.

The two also discussed the continued Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, noting our shared objective to achieve security in the region. They agreed that transatlantic collaboration is necessary to ensure regional security going forward.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3756760/

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






April 25, 2024

By Joseph Clark, DOD News

U.S. Begins Construction on Temporary Pier to Deliver Humanitarian Aid to Gaza

U.S. military personnel have begun construction of a temporary pier off the coast of Gaza to deliver critical humanitarian assistance, senior defense and Biden administration officials said today.

Construction of the pier is expected to be completed in early May. Once completed, it will initially facilitate the delivery of an estimated 90 truckloads of international aid into Gaza and scale to up to 150 truckloads once fully operational.

The beginning of construction marks a significant milestone following President Joe Biden's call for the military to conduct the emergency operation during his State of the Union Address last month.

Soldiers from the Army's 7th Transportation Brigade at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, and sailors from Naval Beach Group 1 at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California, were tapped to deploy the Defense Department's Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore capability, or JLOTS.

The first of several watercraft used to construct the pier began the weekslong transit to the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility less than two days after Biden's address.

Officials underscored today that no U.S. boots will be on the ground in Gaza as part of the operation.

The U.S. has coordinated with the Israeli Defense Force to provide force protection for U.S. personnel operating at sea. The U.S. has also coordinated with an IDF engineering unit to receive the pier on the shore in Gaza once the construction at sea is complete.

"The effort to deliver humanitarian assistance from the sea is fully supported by the Israeli Defense Force with whom we have been and will continue to work very closely [with]  from fixing the JLOTS pier to the shore to providing force protection," a senior defense official said. "This effort is fully integrated with the IDF."

The official added that the U.S. is also bringing "significant force protection as a prudent measure" and will continue to closely monitor the security environment to ensure the safety of U.S. forces.

"We assess that the security environment around the area of Gaza that we've chosen to establish the JLOTS site is sufficient to support execution of the mission," the official said. "But importantly, we reassess security every single day. And as he would do in any mission, the commander of U.S. Central Command will make a final determination on moving forward with JLOTS placement based on the security situation at the time."

Delivering the capability involves the complex choreography of logistics support and landing craft vessels that carry the equipment used to construct an approximately 1,800-foot causeway comprised of modular sections linked together, which is known as a Trident Pier.

The units are also constructing a 72-foot wide by 270-foot long roll-on, roll-off discharge facility, which will remain about three miles off Gaza's shore and enable cargo ships to offload aid shipments at sea prior to being transported to shore.

About 1,000 soldiers and sailors are involved in the operation.

DOD is working closely with the U.S. Agency for International Development, which has begun coordinating international assistance. Aid providers have begun staging cargo in Cyprus for delivery via the maritime corridor once the pier is in place.

"Work on the maritime corridor is progressing along the expected timeline," a senior administration official said. "This is a complex operation which requires close coordination with many partners, and we're grateful for the work of our partners in this effort."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






US Army's 5-4 ADAR lights up the sky in DEFENDER 24 NATO Exercise - Saber Strike

By Leara Shumate April 26, 2024

BEMOWO PISKIE TRAINING AREA, POLAND -- In a display of precision and coordination, the 5-4 Air Defense Artillery Regiment (ADAR) and the 2nd Cavalry Regiment participated in a combined arms live-fire exercise (CALFEX) during Saber Strike 2024 at the Bemowo Piskie Training Area, April 8 - 30.

Saber Strike is one of the three sub-exercises that comprise DEFENDER 24, 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. DEFENDER 24 is focused on the strategic deployment of continental, U.S.-based forces, employment of U.S. Army prepositioned stocks, and interoperability with Allies and Partners at exercise locations across 13 European countries. It seeks to deter adversaries, transform operational mission command, build readiness, and strengthen the NATO Alliance.

Saber Strike demonstrated the integration of air defense and maneuver units, showcasing their tactical prowess and serving as a testing ground for the new Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense System (M-SHORAD).

U.S. Army Sgt. Tristan Haigh, a Cavalry Scout assigned to 2CR, explained the importance of air defense in a maneuver setting.

"Integrating air defense into our scout operations really helps with our security because we can have our main focus on the ground while air defense has their eyes in the sky," Haigh said. "It helps us overall with the security and overall success of the mission."

The highlight of the exercise was the deployment of the M-SHORAD, a cutting-edge platform designed to protect maneuvering forces from aerial threats. It represents a significant advancement in providing strategic short-range air defense, enhancing maneuvering capabilities, and supporting maneuver commanders, thereby increasing protection for their operations. This heightened maneuverability strengthens overall short-range defensive capabilities.

U.S. Army Capt. Bryce Land, a key figure in testing and evaluating new defense technologies, emphasized the strategic importance of these exercises.

"The Army Test and Evaluation Command's (ATEC) CG has charged the Operational Test Command (OTC) and the Army Evaluation Command (AEC) with updating the way we test new equipment and systems," Land said. "The M-SHORAD participation at Saber Strike 2024 is allowing us to gain an understanding of what it will take to conduct testing in contact while utilizing operational fielded unit training. This is the first of many operational events that will be used to provide Army leadership valuable data to inform the decision on full rate production."

This year's CALFEX not only refined tactical operations but also fostered international defense cooperation. The rigorous exercise provided real-world conditions to test the effectiveness of the M-SHORAD and its operators. Units participating alongside the 5-4 ADAR included air defense elements from several NATO countries, such as Germany, Italy, Romania, Spain, and several others. The successful integration of multinational forces underscored NATO's collective commitment to defending its member states.

Growth and modernization through new air defense systems like the M-SHORAD not only showcase our dedication to NATO but also provide invaluable opportunities for our leaders and Soldiers to strengthen bonds with our NATO Allies.

As Saber Strike 2024 concludes, the lessons learned and data gathered from the use of the M-SHORAD will influence future deployment strategies and defense procurements, ensuring that NATO forces remain capable of countering sophisticated aerial threats. The ongoing collaboration and training are vital in maintaining the tactical edge necessary for securing peace and stability in the region.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Saber Strike: An Exercise in Foundational Partnership

By Spc. Austin Robertson April 26, 2024

BEMOWO PISKIE TRAINING GROUND, POLAND -- Saber Strike 24, a multilateral NATO exercise spanning nearly one month, demonstrated the capability and interoperability of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment (2CR), V Corps, and NATO Allied forces through increasingly complex training events. The exercise ends as participants and equipment begin the long journey home with more experience, knowledge, and more than a few international patches traded between them.

This iteration of Saber Strike kicked off with a tactical road march from Rose Barracks, Germany, to Bemowo Piskie Training Ground (BPTA), Poland. Preparations on 2CR's end have been underway since last June. Upon arrival at BPTA, 2CR conducted a hand-over-take-over (HOTO) between U.S. Army Col. Robert McChrystal, the commander of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, and Czech Army Brig. Gen. Jan Stepanek, the deputy commander of NATO Multinational Division North-East. Once the HOTO was complete, numerous Allied and partner nations participated in live-fire exercises involving infantry, armor, aerial assets, and artillery.

A key aspect of Saber Strike 24 involved defining the distributed Command and Control (C2) between NATO Allies and partner nations. As the scenario in the exercise developed, each partner nation faced challenges across various domains. The exercise proved to be an essential test of interoperability during multilateral operations. The coordination of these nations supporting one another in a single engagement was one of the specific goals of the exercise. Technological innovations like the Radio Integration Communications Suite (RICS), part of the Mission Partner Kit (MPK), were created to assist with interoperability.

"Technical interoperability enhances readiness and allows us to stay ahead on the battlefield," said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Joshua Chang, a liaison officer with 2CR.

Three applications make up the MPK: the end-to-end encryption service Wickr, the voice interoperability application Instant Connect Enterprise (ICE), and a Tactical Assault Kit (TAK) with variations for operating systems from Apple, Android, and Windows devices. The RICS kit is also included in the MPK.

"We already used the systems on our march here together with 2CR," said German Army Lt. Col. Sebastian Hagen, the commander of the 1st Jager Battalion, 21st Panzer Brigade. "From my point of view, it works pretty well. It is easy to handle, even for German company commanders who have never seen this system before. It took them just hours to operate the systems."

NATO Allies participating in the exercise worked closely together to exercise and hone skills and interoperability. Each Allied and partner nation focused on the overall goal of collective security and functionality, an imperative task for the countries alongside NATO's eastern flank.

"Saber Strike is an important exercise to improve the tactics, techniques, and procedures of all Allied nations," said Italian Army Graduato Scelto Gianluca Ruggiero. The Italian Army was integrated during a multinational live-fire during Saber Strike 24. The live-fire had Spanish, Italian, and German forces all supporting U.S. tanks.

Saber Strike is integral to the Dynamic Employment of Forces to Europe for NATO Deterrence and Enhanced Readiness (DEFENDER) series of training exercises. 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.

"We accomplished several things here during the exercise," McChrystal said. "It really serves as a training highlight for our year. I just want to highlight one thing: the value of this training for our Soldiers and being part of Steadfast Defender, the largest exercise in Europe."

Saber Strike is an imperative example of the dynamic training required for deterrence in the European region. These exercises exemplify NATO's importance and the resounding commitment to collective security and cohesiveness among allied and partner nations.

"I'm pretty impressed how my task force has integrated with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment," said Hagen. "I have the feeling that the commander is treating me like every other officer or lieutenant commander, and that's a good feeling. I am impressed at how easily my company commanders integrated into the system, and how they can work together with allies and partners."

The exercise culminated with a regrouping of forces as NATO Allies worked with 2CR to establish defensive positions in the Suwalki Gap. Members of 2CR's 4th Squadron integrated and trained with Poland's Territorial Defense Forces, sharing tactics, skills, and experiences in the biting cold of the training area.

"I think it's powerful that our Soldiers are integrating with their partners," said U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis Doyle, command sergeant major for 2CR. "We're all eating together, all sharing the same space together, and that right there sends a powerful message that we're all partners and friends."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Moldova: Joint press statement following the third High-Level Political and Security Dialogue with the EU

European External Action Service (EEAS)

26.04.2024

Chisinau, 26/04/2024

EEAS Press Team

The third EU-Republic of Moldova High-Level Political and Security Dialogue was held in Chisinau on 25 April 2024.

The Dialogue reconfirmed the mutual commitment and interest of the parties to continue enhancing their cooperation in the field of common foreign and security policy, in line with the Republic of Moldova's EU candidate status.

Deputy Secretary-General Enrique Mora said: "The third edition of the High-Level Political and Security Dialogue confirms our intense cooperation with Moldova, which the EU intends to elevate to a new strategic level. Today's meeting takes place against the backdrop of Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. The spill-over effects are still present - as shown by repeated violations of Moldova's airspace by Russian missiles and drones. Moldova has responded resolutely to hybrid actions led by Russia and its proxies, displaying remarkable resilience while continuing to advance on its EU path. The EU will continue its comprehensive support to Moldova's resilience, including through the EU Partnership Mission (EUPM)".

Deputy Prime Minister Mihail Popsoi said: "We are advancing security and defence cooperation with the EU. The EU support and assistance is crucial in making Moldova more resilient and able to counter hybrid threats, strengthen cyber security and deal with many other challenges. As a candidate country, Moldova is a committed partner willing also to contribute more to the EU stabilization and crisis management efforts. The biggest challenge remains the Russian aggression against Ukraine and it is a crucial moment for helping our neighbour."

The participants discussed the challenges Moldova is facing due to Russia's hybrid actions, aimed at destabilising the country and steering it away from its reform-oriented and pro-European trajectory. The EU expressed high appreciation for Moldova's resilience and resolve in this context.

Cooperation in the field of security was a central topic of discussion. The EU expressed appreciation for Moldova's increased alignment of EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and discussed Moldova's future contributions to CSDP Missions and Operations. Continuation of the EU's support to Moldova through the European Peace Facility was discussed as well. The Moldovan side expressed its appreciation for the EU's assistance and expertise-sharing in the area of cyber security, hybrid threats and fighting disinformation, including through the valuable contribution of the EUPM.

The participants also discussed the regional security situation, as well as a number of international issues.

The meeting was co-chaired by the Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs / Political Director of the European External Action Service, Mr Enrique Mora, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova, Mr Mihail Popsoi.

The EU-Republic of Moldova High-Level Political and Security Dialogue takes place on an annual basis, with the next meeting scheduled to take place in Brussels in 2025.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






U.S. military, diplomatic leaders in Europe gather to discuss regional security

By U.S. European Command Public Affairs , United States European Command Stuttgart, Germany Apr 26, 2024

U.S. European Command hosted its annual Chiefs of Mission conference at the command's headquarters April 25-26 to discuss unified support to U.S. foreign policy and national security efforts in Europe.

"More than two years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the ramifications for Euro-Atlantic security are clear. Russia is a chronic threat," said U.S. Army General Christopher Cavoli, Commander, U.S. European Command. "In bringing together military and diplomatic leadership, we ensure a comprehensive approach towards supporting our Allies and partners."

Conference attendees included senior leaders from the command's headquarters, component commands and the U.S. Department of State, including U.S. ambassadors and charges d'affaires representing U.S. interests at more than 48 European countries. Panel discussions focused on the Russian threat to global security, U.S. support to advance collective military modernization efforts, and military mobility - the latter of which is a prerequisite to rapidly deploy and sustain operations for deterrence and defense.

"Advancing the peace and security of Europe requires close and continued cooperation throughout the interagency, which provides a unique perspective on our shared challenges," said U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O'Brien. "This opportunity for collaboration underscores our national commitment to bolstering regional stability and deterring potential threats.

Takeaways from the conference are designed to be implemented alongside Allies and partners in Europe, a reflection of U.S. commitment to addressing shared security concerns with like-minded nations.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






EU steps up humanitarian assistance for Palestinians

European Commission

Press release

26 April 2024

Brussels

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.

Quote(s)

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

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Swedish Defence Commission submits final report on military defence: Strengthened defence capability, Sweden as an Ally

Government Offices of Sweden

26 April 2024

On Friday, 26 April 2024, the Swedish Defence Commission submitted its final report on the development of the military defence, Strengthened defence capability, Sweden as an Ally, to Minister for Defence Pal Jonson and Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin.

The Defence Commission states in its final report that the upcoming defence bill will be historic. Since 7 March 2024, Sweden has been a full-fledged member of NATO, which is the most significant change in Swedish security policy in over 200 years. Sweden has entered binding mutual defence guarantees in accordance with Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.

The deteriorating security situation, combined with Sweden's obligations as an Ally, requires an increased ambition for the military defence. The development of military capability must be accelerated and adapted to the requirements that follow as a NATO Ally. Time must be a decisive factor in the political and military decision-making regarding issues such as personnel structure, acquisition of materiel and infrastructure development in the coming years.

The core entity in the development of the military defence is the Swedish Armed Forces' military units.

The Defence Commission agrees with the Armed Forces' analysis of the development of the Swedish defence and supports the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces' military recommendations from November 2023. These recommendations thus form the basis of the proposals submitted by the Defence Commission. The recommendations include an increased focus on air defence and cooperation within NATO's Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD), an increased ability to operate and defend against unmanned vehicles, increased interoperability and full integration with NATO's command system, an increased focus on logistics, including the ability to provide Host Nation Support and serve as a base and advanced staging area for Allied units, increased capacity to operate with military units outside Sweden's borders and sequential growth of several types of military units.

Adding to the recommendations of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the Defence Commission proposes:

prioritisation of two brigades, aiming to have three mechanised brigades and one infantry brigade by 2030;

formation of a Norrland Infantry Regiment in the war-time organisation

an increased conscription level, from the current level of 8 000 to 10 000 in 2030 and 12 000 in 2032, with consideration of a further increased conscription level to 14 000 in 2035;

increased availability of personnel in the Swedish Royal Navy to increase operational capability;

increased air defence capability, in order to counter unmanned aerial vehicles;

additional procurement of essential supplies, such as ammunition including air-to-air and cruise missiles, and spare parts;

new military units for territorial defence, organised as 20 companies and platoons;

more refresher trainings for conscripts to meet the war-time organisation's requirements;

increased funding of voluntary defence organisations; and

expansion of the officer education programme.

The Defence Commission would like to emphasise that the submitted proposals may need to be adjusted depending on the development of Russia's full-scale illegal invasion of Ukraine and the risk of further deterioration of the security situation. In addition, the Riksdag and the Government may need to reconsider the development of the civil and military defence in the light of Sweden's NATO membership, including future capability targets.

The Defence Commissions proposal means that the added funding for the military defence will gradually increase from the year 2025, so that in 2030 it will amount to a total of SEK 52.8 billion, of which SEK 20 billion is made up by the Defence Commissions proposal. For the civil defence, the addition will be at least SEK 15 billion a year from 2028.

To this end, the Defence Commission suggests that the Minister for Defence considers giving the Defence Commission instructions to continue to monitor the development of Sweden's defence and security situation.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Two commanders of Lebanon's Islamic group martyred in Zionist army attack

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Apr 26, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- News sources announced on Friday night that two commanders of the Lebanese Jamaat-e-Islami were martyred in an attack by the Zionist regime.

In this attack, a civilian vehicle was targeted by the Zionist regime army on the Midoun road in southern Lebanon, two commanders of the Fajr forces of the military branch of the Lebanese Jamaat-e-Islami, named Musab and Bilal Khalaf, were martyred.

Al-Mayadeen news channel reported on Friday evening that the Zionist regime targeted a civilian vehicle in the western Bekaa in eastern Lebanon with a drone.

The released images show that this car is completely burnt.

2050

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






30 rockets fired from southern Lebanon to northern occupied Golan

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Apr 26, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Zionist regime announced on Friday night that about 30 rockets were fired from southern Lebanon towards the northern areas of the occupied Golan.

Lebanon's Hezbollah released footage of a combined ambush for an Israeli military convoy near the Roysat al-Alam base in northern occupied Palestine.

The Zionist Army Radio announced that 10 rockets were fired from Lebanon towards the northern settlements of Israel.

The Zionist regime's sources announced that the occupied Golan and the Upper Galilee in the north of occupied Palestine have been the target of a massive missile attack for the third time in the past few minutes.

2050

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Israeli attack on relief team in Gaza leaves eight aid workers martyred: Report

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Apr 26, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- An Israeli strike against the relief team in Gaza has left eight aid workers martyred, media outlets have reported.

The Zionist regime has launched a drone attack on aid workers in western Gaza City, the Palestinian Sama news agency has reported.

Eight people were martyred in the attack on the relief team, which was responsible for providing and distributing humanitarian aid in the City.

Earlier on April 1, seven people working with the United States-based NGO World Central Kitchen (WCK) were killed in the Gaza Strip in what the group's founder chef said was an Israeli air attack.

"This is not only an attack against WCK, this is an attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the most dire of situations where food is being used as a weapon of war," WCK CEO Erin Gore said in a statement. "This is unforgivable."

The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip from the ongoing Israeli attacks has exceeded 34,300 people.

Iranian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Amir Saeed Iravani has recently stressed that the only practical way to restore peace and security to the region is for the UN Security Council to force the rogue Israeli regime to immediately stop the war and genocide in Gaza and establish an immediate and permanent ceasefire and end its destabilizing activities in the region.

7129**9417

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






The Lithuanian and Polish Presidents observed a joint military brigade-level exercise

President of the Republic of Lithuania

April 26, 2024

On Friday morning, President Gitanas Nauseda, together with Polish President Andrzej Duda, observed the international brigade-level tactical exercise Brave Griffin 24-II of Lithuanian and Polish troops.

"The objectives of this exercise are to demonstrate the interoperability and coordination of joint military and defense operations in the Suwaki Corridor, an area of geographic importance for NATO and the whole region," the Head of State said. The Lithuanian and Polish leaders jointly observed the exercise and inspected military equipment.

According to President Gitanas Nauseda, Poland and the Baltic States are in a neighborhood of common threats and therefore share the same threat assessment, and understand that Russia will remain a long-term military threat to the Alliance. "We need to maintain a firm position on strengthening NATO's eastern flank, to work towards the full implementation of NATO's defense plans and the rotational air defense model," the Head of State stressed.

During the bilateral meeting, the Presidents discussed regional defense and security, support for Ukraine and the reinforcement of bilateral relations, as well as overviewed a vast field of defense cooperation and agreed on new common objectives for interoperability.

"I appreciate our efforts in acquiring state-of-the-art weaponry and in building our cyber resilience," President Gitanas Nauseda pointed out. During the meeting with the Polish President, opportunities for expanding and developing defense cooperation in missile artillery (HIMARS) capabilities and the cyber domain were discussed. According to President Gitanas Nauseda, further assessment of the interoperability and cooperation in these areas will be delegated to National Defense Ministers and Chiefs of Defense.

The Lithuanian and Polish leaders also discussed support for Ukraine. Gitanas Nauseda stressed that we must continue to send a common message of our strong commitment to continue to support Ukraine, as well as the importance of assisting Ukraine in moving closer to NATO membership.

The President's Communication Group

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






NATO Secretary General in Berlin: Germany makes major contributions to our shared security

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

26 Apr. 2024

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Friday (26 April 2024), thanking him for Germany's leading role in NATO and its support to Ukraine. "Germany makes major contributions to our shared security," said Mr Stoltenberg.

The Secretary General welcomed that Germany is strengthening its presence in the eastern part of the Alliance by deploying a brigade to Lithuania; its contributions to Baltic Air Policing; and the fact that Germany has committed 12,000 troops to Steadfast Defender, the largest NATO exercise since the Cold War. He further praised the Chancellor's "historic and very important Zeitenwende" for leading to major increases in defence spending. "The fact that Germany now invests 2% of GDP in defence matters for all Allies," he said.

Mr Stoltenberg also pointed to the importance of German leadership on support to Ukraine, noting that Germany is the biggest European contributor of military aid. He thanked Germany for its decision to send a third Patriot system to Ukraine, adding: "I strongly believe that other Allies should follow the example of Germany." The Secretary General welcomed that other Allies have stepped up with new decisions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. "It is our responsibility to turn these contributions into deliveries quickly," he said.

"We must also remain vigilant regarding covert Russian activities across the Alliance," said Mr Stoltenberg. He noted that Germany has arrested individuals accused of espionage and sabotage, and that UK authorities have charged five individuals in connection with hostile state activity to benefit Russia. "NATO Allies stand in full solidarity with Germany and the United Kingdom," he said. He added: "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."

Earlier on Friday, the Secretary General met with parliamentarians from the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Defence Committee of the German Bundestag. On Thursday, the Secretary General received the Eric M. Warburg Award from the Atlantik-Brucke in Berlin. Mr Stoltenberg also visited the 73 Tactical Air Wing at Laage Air Base, where he flew in a German Eurofighter.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Palestinian presidency holds U.S. responsible for possible Rafah attack

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 10:50, April 26, 2024

RAMALLAH, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian presidency said the U.S. administration should be held responsible for any potential Israeli attack on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

"We hold the U.S. administration responsible for Israeli threats and escalations in the Gaza Strip, especially the dangerous talk about an imminent military operation in Rafah, which will lead to massacres, disasters, and the displacement of citizens," Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the official spokesperson for the presidency, said in a statement published by Palestine's official news agency WAFA Thursday.

The U.S. decisions to provide military and financial support, along with resorting to the use of the veto in the United Nations Security Council, make the United States "a partner in the genocide war," he added.

Despite growing global opposition, the Israeli army is preparing to launch a ground campaign in Rafah, which includes a widespread evacuation of the population.

According to Israeli Army Radio, the plan includes evacuating more than a million Palestinians in Rafah to shelters established during the past few months in the southern and central parts of the strip.

The plan has been presented to the United States, and will be implemented in stages, said the radio.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Sunday to intensify military and political pressure on the Hamas movement in the coming days and deliver "more painful strikes" to it to free the hostages in the Gaza Strip.

Rafah has become the last refuge for more than 1.4 million Palestinians after they were displaced from the northern and central parts of the strip amid the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict for more than six months.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Bangladesh denounces U.S. State Department's 2023 human rights report

People's Daily Online

(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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Yemeni armed forces strike British oil tanker, shoot down US MQ-9 drone

Iran Press TV

Friday, 26 April 2024 11:16 PM

The spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces says it has carried out new operations against American and British targets in retaliation for their aggression on the country.

Brigadier General Yahya Saree said on Friday that Yemen's naval forces struck a British oil tanker in the Red Sea with missiles.

Saree also said the military also shot down an American MQ-9 drone in Sa'ada province.

He added that the new operations were also a show of solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, amid the Israeli genocide there.

"The Yemeni Armed Forces salute all the people of Yemen for their faithful response to the call of the fighter leader Sayyed Abdulmalik Badr El-Din Al-Houthi, may Allah protect him, in their unprecedented large-scale interaction in support of our oppressed brothers in the Gaza Strip, affirming support for the Armed Forces in their military operations against the 'Israeli' enemy and against the American-British aggression supporting it in the Red and Arabian Seas and the Indian Ocean," Saree said.

He stressed that the Yemeni armed forces will continue operations in the Red and Arabian Seas as well as the Indian Ocean until the Western-backed Israeli genocide comes to a halt.

Since the start of the brutal campaign in Gaza, the regime has killed more than 34,300 Palestinians and injured over 77,000 others. It has cut off fuel, electricity, food and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.

The Yemeni Armed Forces have been targeting Israeli vessels or those "associated" with the occupying regime in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea since October 7, 2023.

The regime ignited its bloody war machine in the besieged Palestinian territory on that October day in response to Operation Al-Aqsa Storm conducted by the resistance movement Hamas.

The maritime attacks have forced some of the world's biggest shipping and oil companies to suspend transit through one of the world's most important maritime trade routes.

Tankers are instead adding thousands of miles to international shipping routes by sailing around the continent of Africa rather than going through the Suez Canal.

The pro-Palestine maritime campaign has also prompted airstrikes by the US and its allies on Yemen - in violation of the Yemeni sovereignty and international law.

In consequence, Yemen's armed forces have declared US and British vessels as legitimate targets.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.

0108263 License for publishing multimedia online



Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349
MBABANE  The Clinic Group CEO, Doctor Khotso Ramphele, has raised concerns about the low level of autism diagnoses in the country.

Ramphele was making his remarks during the commemoration of the Autism Day, yesterday morning at the Mbabane Clinic. He revealed that even though they do have children in local communities that had been diagnosed with this condition, the numbers were still not at the required level.

Today marks the day where we commemorate and take time to pause and think about autism. This is an international occasion because the whole month of April has been dedicated to raising awareness about this condition, which is becoming very common over the world.

Stage

We do have children in our community who have been diagnosed but at this stage, the level of diagnoses is very low because a lot of people are not aware of it, the doctor said. He pointed out that children with autism were special, because they struggle interacting with other people socially and may also struggle with other things. He said they were also special because they were very intelligent and could contribute significantly to society.

It is important for us to make people aware of their children, who at a young age, prefer to be on their own and do not interact so much with other children. They appear to be compliant and do not cause too much trouble, but those are the children we worry about. We know that part of the childs growth is to interact with other children, along with other members of the family. This whole thing we are doing today is to raise awareness so that we can pick them up early. We know that if we can pick them up early, they can be helped and eventually contribute well to society, the CEO said.

Doctor Charity Newton, a Paediatrician at the Mbabane Clinic, explained that this month was the period when they raise awareness about autism.We dedicated today to raise awareness about autism. Even before symptoms of autism show themselves, we encourage parents to adopt what we call wellness visits.

Symptoms

This is where a doctor assesses the child to check if autism symptoms are showing. When a child has come here for injection, we check if there are signs of autism, she said. Newton also encouraged those that had symptoms of the condition to come to the clinic as a matter of urgency. Experts advise that it is better to diagnose autism early so that the help can be better and quicker. Signs of autism from a child are late communication, slow speech, avoid looking at people, does not play with other children and develops strange habits, she said.

The event, which lasted less than an hour was attended by the Clinic Group employees and the different media houses in the country. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. People with ASD often have problems with social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviours or interests.

People with ASD may also have different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention. Research has shown that autism is mostly common with young children and some of the symptoms include avoiding eye contact, not smiling when you smile at them, getting very upset if they do not like a certain taste, smell or sound, repetitive movements, such as flapping their hands, flicking their fingers or rocking their body.
It could take 14 years to remove debris left by Israel war on Gaza: UN

Iran Press TV

Friday, 26 April 2024 3:07 PM

A United Nations official says Israel's genocidal war on Gaza has left dozens of tons of rubble, including unexploded ordnance, which could take nearly 14 years to remove.

"We estimate 37 million tons of debris, which is approximately 300 kilos of debris per square meter," Pehr Lodhammar, senior officer at the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), said at a briefing in Geneva on Friday.

He said it was impossible to determine the exact number of unexploded ordnance found in Gaza, noting that "We know that typically there is a failure rate of at least 10% of land service ammunition, ammunition that is being fired and fails to function."

"One number I can give you is that an estimation has been done based on the current number of tons of debris in Gaza ... we're talking about 14 years of work with 100 trucks."

He noted that 65% of the buildings that have been destroyed in the narrow, densely populated strip "are residential buildings."

Israel launched the devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

Tel Aviv has also blocked water, food, and electricity to Gaza, plunging the coastal strip into a humanitarian crisis.

Since the start of the offensive, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 34,305 Palestinians and injured 77,293 others.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






April 25: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation

Iran Press TV

Friday, 26 April 2024 8:20 AM

By Press TV Website Staff

Amid Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed nearly 34,400 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 Thursday, April 25, are as follows:

Al-Qassam Brigades' operations on April 25:

(Gaza Strip and West Bank)



Bombed an Israeli military surveillance and espionage site east of Juhr Al-Dik in the central Gaza Strip with mortar shells.



Targeted a group of Israeli troopers near the Bank of Palestine in the city of Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank.



Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades' operations on April 25:

(Gaza Strip and West Bank)



Bombed a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their military vehicles on the "Netzarim" axis with heavy-caliber mortar shells.



Bombed a gathering of Israeli army vehicles with mortar shells east of the city of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.



Targeted the positions of Israeli military vehicles in the "Netzarim" axis with three 80 mm mortar shells.



Engaged in fierce clashes with Israeli forces, who stormed the city of Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank, using machine guns and explosive devices.



Al-Quds Brigades' operations on April 25:

(Gaza Strip)



Targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers on the "Netzarim" axis of advance south of Gaza City with heavy-caliber mortar shells.



Mujahideen Brigades' operations on April 25:

(Gaza Strip)



Bombed the Israeli military headquarters for the Gaza Division in the "Re'im" settlement with a barrage of rockets.



Martyr Omar Al-Qasim Forces' operations on April 25:

(Gaza Strip)



In a joint operation with the Al-Quds Brigades, bombed the settlements of Gaza Envelope with heavy-caliber rocket barrage.



Hezbollah's operations on April 25:

(Lebanon)



Eastern sector:



At around 17:15 local time, the Zibdin barracks in Lebanon's Shebaa were targeted with a volley of missiles.



At around 15:30 local time, Ain Margaliot base was targeted with several drones.



At around 23:10 local time, Israeli soldiers were targeted with guided missiles and artillery near the Ruwaisat al-Alam site in Lebanon's Kfar Shuba.



Western sector:



At around 15:20 local time, Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of the Al-Dhahira site were targeted with missiles.



At around 23:00 local time, Israeli forces at Al-Malikiyah site were targeted with artillery shells.



Yemeni military's operations on April 25:

(Yemen)



Targeted an Israeli ship "MSC DARWIN" in the Gulf of Aden with a number of appropriate missiles and drones, achieving direct hits.



Launched several ballistic and cruise missiles at targets in Umm Al-Rashrash (Eilat) in the occupied Palestinian territories.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Hezbollah strikes Israeli military positions near border with rockets, drones

Iran Press TV

Friday, 26 April 2024 7:56 AM

Fighters from the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement have conducted a series of operations, targeting several Israeli military positions in the northern part of the 1948 occupied territories with various munitions, including explosive-laden combat drones.

Lebanon's al-Mayadeen television news channel reported that the report struck a gathering of Israeli troopers close to the al-Dhairah military site on Thursday afternoon with a salvo of rockets. The projectiles hit the designated targets precisely and left casualties among the forces, the report said.

Later in the day, Hezbollah fighters carried out a drone strike against the Ein Margaliot military base in response to Israeli crimes against civilians in the southern regions of Lebanon.

Hezbollah artillery units also shelled a group of Israeli soldiers as they were entering the al-Malikiyah post.

Moreover, the resistance fighters launched guided missiles, artillery shells and rockets at an Israeli military convoy near Ruwaisat al-Alam outpost on Kfar Shuba Hills. Two armored vehicles were destroyed as a result.

The Israeli military had to create a smoke screen in order to withdraw the casualties.

The Israeli regime has repeatedly attacked southern Lebanon since October 7, when it launched a genocidal war on Gaza that has killed at least 34,305 Palestinians, most of them women and children.

In retaliation, Hezbollah has launched near-daily rocket attacks on Israeli positions.

At least 380 people have been killed on the Lebanese border, including 72 civilians.

Hezbollah has already fought off two Israeli wars against Lebanon in 2000 and 2006. The resistance forced the regime to retreat in both conflicts.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






US troops begin construction of controversial pier off Gaza

Iran Press TV

Friday, 26 April 2024 7:25 AM

The US military has started the construction of a controversial maritime pier off the coast of Gaza, claiming that it seeks to bring aid into the besieged strip.

"I can confirm that US military vessels, to include the USNS Benavidez, have begun to construct the initial stages of the temporary pier and causeway at sea," Pentagon spokesperson Major General Patrick Ryder told reporters on Thursday.

US President Joe Biden ordered the construction of the pier in March. Shortly afterwards, the US deployed naval ships to the Eastern Mediterranean to construct the "floating pier" that will reportedly receive aid from Cyprus, and send it onward to Gaza.

The US announcement came amid mounting pressure on Israel to allow aid into Gaza as the UN and other aid agencies have warned of imminent famine due to Israel's prevention of the land-based delivery of life-saving aid to Gaza.

The deputy UN food chief said on Thursday the northern Gaza Strip is still heading toward a famine.

World Food Program (WFP) Deputy Executive Director Carl Skau called for a greater volume of aid to be allowed into Gaza and appealed for Israel to allow direct access from the southern Ashdod port to the Erez crossing.

The pier is scheduled to become operational in May.

Reuters quoted a senior Biden administration official, who asked not to be named, as saying that aid coming off the corridor will still need to pass through Israeli checkpoints on land, raising questions about possible delays even after aid reaches shore.

That is despite the aid having already been inspected by Israel in Cyprus prior to being shipped to the besieged strip.

According to the official, nearly 1,000 US troops would support the military effort, including in coordination cells in Cyprus and Israel.

The Israeli military said its troops would protect the US troops who are setting up the pier and provide logistics support for it.

Last month, experts said Israel backed the US plan to construct the pier in order to retain control over the aid deliveries and as a way to displace Palestinians from the besieged strip via the Mediterranean Sea, ahead of an expected invasion of the southern town of Rafah, where nearly more than half of Gaza's population of 2.4 have sought shelter from Israeli strikes elsewhere in Gaza.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

Tel Aviv has also blocked water, food, and electricity to Gaza, plunging the coastal strip into a humanitarian crisis.

Since the start of the offensive, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 34,305 Palestinians and injured 77,293 others.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iran urges Security Council to address 'belligerent' Israeli atrocities in Gaza, region

Iran Press TV

Friday, 26 April 2024 5:38 AM

Iran's permanent ambassador to the United Nations has denounced Israel's destabilizing activities in West Asia, urging the UN Security Council to hold the Israeli regime accountable for its atrocities in Gaza and elsewhere.

"Israel's ongoing destabilized and irresponsible actions and atrocities against the nations in the region are a real threat to regional and international peace and security," Amir Saeid Iravani said as he addressed a UN Security Council session in New York on Thursday.

He noted that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to expand and escalate the conflict in the region to stay in power, emphasizing that the members of the Security Council must not allow the body to be held hostage to the ambitions of such a "belligerent regime."

"It is time for the Security Council to shoulder its responsibility and address the real threat to international peace and security. The Security Council must promptly fulfill its duty under Chapter 7 of the Charter in response to Israel's reckless defiance.

"It must take urgent and punitive measures to compel this regime to stop its genocide and massacre against the people of Gaza and uphold its obligations especially fully implement the UNSC resolutions and legally binding orders of the International Court of Justice," the Iranian diplomat pointed out.

Iravani underscored that Iran's retaliatory missile and drone strikes against the occupied territories were in response to the Israeli regime's terrorist attack of April 1 against the Islamic Republic's diplomatic premises in the Syrian capital Damascus.

"Iran's operation was entirely in the exercise of Iran's inherent right to self-defense as outlined in Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations and recognized by international law.

"This concluded action was necessary and proportionate. It was precise and only targeted military objectives, and carried out carefully to minimize the potential for escalation and prevent civilian harm," he stated.

The Iranian UN envoy went on to condemn the tendency of certain Security Council members, including the United States, Britain and France, to once again turn a blind eye to reality and overlook the root causes of the current crisis.

"In hypocritical behavior, these three countries falsely blamed and accused Iran without considering their own failures to uphold their international commitments to peace and security in the region. They made unsuccessful attempts to use lies, manipulate the narrative, spread disinformation, and engage in a destructive blame game.

"All the while, they deliberately disregarded Iran's inherent right to respond to the violation of a fundamental principle of international law: the inviolability of diplomatic representatives and premises. Moreover, they ignored the underlying root causes of the current situation in the region," Iravani stated.

The Iranian UN ambassador finally stated that the Islamic Republic has no intention of engaging in conflict with the US in the region; however, it will use its inherent right to respond proportionately if Washington initiates military operations against Iran, its citizens, or its security and interests.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






The story of one of Buddhism's most revered figures, long missing, explained

The Panchen Lama turned 35 this week. Taken by China 29 years ago, his whereabouts remain a mystery.

By Tenzin Dickyi and Tenzin Pema for RFA Tibetan 2024.04.26 -- The young boy who was abducted as a 6-year-old turned 35 this week.

What he does, where he lives or even if he's still alive isn't 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 Party's 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 Nyima's fate.

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 other's successive reincarnations and serving as the other's 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 Lama's 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.

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 Lama's role

China's appointment of Gyaincain Norbu as Panchen Lama underscores Beijing's 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 China's 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.

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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Calls grow for proof of whereabouts of Tibet's missing Panchen Lama

The US and EU urge China to disclose more about the revered religious figure's fate on his 35th birthday.

By Lobe Socktsang and Tashi Wangchuk for RFA Tibetan 2024.04.26 -- 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, Tibet's second most-senior Buddhist monk, in May 1995.

Shortly after the Dalai Lama's 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.

China's choice

The Panchen Lama's 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.

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 government's 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 Tibet's spiritual and political cause," he said.

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 Lama's 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."

"We are saddened that the PRC [People's 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.

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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Scarborough Shoal was a refuge for Filipino fishermen. Then Chinese boats moved in

For the Philippines, the triangular chain of reefs offers a warning about China's intentions.

By Luna Pham for RFA and BenarNews 2024.04.26 -- 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 area's 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 navy's 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."

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 Beijing's 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 China's ambitions.

This week, the Philippines and the United States began their annual Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) joint military exercise. This year's 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 III's envoy, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

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 Manila's 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 China's successful isolation of the Philippines through the ASEAN regional bloc, Beijing's 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.

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 China's 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.

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.

China's 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 Luzon's Zambales province.

His wife is forced to work in Saudi Arabia to make up for the drop in income from fishing.

Rodrigo Duterte's term as president, from 2016 to 2022, brought some relief, Porones said. Duterte's 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. "That's where we fishermen come to shelter from typhoons, but now it's off limits."

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 China's "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.

Using automatic identification signals transmitted by ships, Powell's 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 China's 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 doesn't 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

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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Vietnam's National Assembly chairman relieved of duties

Vuong Dinh Hue was forced to resign for 'violating party regulations.'

By RFA Staff 2024.04.26 -- Vietnam's ruling party relieved one of the country's 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 party's 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 party's Central Inspection Committee.

Hue has been a member of the party's 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 Hue's 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 An's 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 party's 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.

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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






The Azadi Briefing: Afghans Protest Taliban's Decision To Abolish Pension System

By Abubakar Siddique April 26, 2024

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.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-taliban-pensions- pakistan-balochistan/32921972.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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






MBABANE  A teenager, who was abandoned by the married man who impregnated her and her family, resorted to killing the baby because she had no means to provide for him.

*Nothando (18) said the baby cried constantly due to hunger and she was unable to breastfeed it since she had no breast milk as she had not eaten for a long time and out of pity, she allegedly strangulated him. The teenager narrated that she was in a relationship with her sons father, who is a married man.

She said he impregnated her but refused to take responsibility for the unborn baby and he denied paternity. She said the married man threatened to terminate the relationship every time she told him about the pregnancy. True to his words, he broke up with me when I kept on informing him that I was pregnant. Ever since then and throughout the pregnancy, I suffered depression.

Suicide

I thought of committing abortion but as a born again Christian I restrained myself in order for the child to live.

I retained the pregnancy until I gave birth, even though during the pregnancy I almost suffered a miscarriage due to depression, said Nothando. The teenager pointed out that, things became worse for her when she was expelled from home by her family, when she was due to deliver the baby.

I had no place for accommodation and I spent a day on the streets. I had no food to eat and the stress level rose because of hunger. The baby kept on crying because it was hungry, yet I had no milk in my breasts, as I had not eaten anything for two days. The continuous crying of the baby broke me emotionally such that, out of compassion for the baby and the stress I was going through, I decided to strangulate the baby.

I, therefore, submit that I was not in a good state of mind and did not appreciate what I was doing. It only dawned to me that I had committed a crime after I had been arrested, Nothando said.

Arrested

The offence was committed last year and Nothando was arrested at the beginning of November 2023, by members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) based at Hlatikhulu Police Station. She had been charged with the murder of her baby. The accused appeared at Nhlangano Magistrates Court on November 9, 2023 and was remanded in custody pending her committal to the High Court. She filed an application for bail and was represented by Human Rights Lawyer Thabiso Mavuso of Motsa Mavuso Attorneys.

Nothando informed the court that she was innocent of the charge and would plead not guilty during the trial.

She submitted that there were sufficient grounds warranting the court to release her on bail upon such terms and conditions as it deems fit. She mentioned that the police had informed her that they had completed their investigation.

Nothando submitted that if released on bail, there was no likelihood that she may attempt to evade trial. She undertook to comply with the conditions which the court may attach in admitting her to bail. The accused also told the court that even though she was not yet in possession of the summary of evidence, to which a list of witnesses is attached, she submitted that she would not interfere and or influence with State witnesses. She said there was, therefore, no likelihood that she would interact with them in any manner. She further stated that she would not conceal and/or destroy evidence or even attempt to.

Granted

Nothandos application for bail was heard by Judge John Magagula yesterday. The court granted her bail application and fixed the bail amount at E50 000. She was ordered to pay E5 000 in cash and provide surety for the sum of E45 000. Her bail conditions include that she should surrender her passport to the investigating officer. She was warned that pending finalisation of the matter, she should not apply for a new passport or travel document.

The accused was also strictly warned to report monthly, following her release on bail, at the police station between 8am and 4pm. Another condition was that she should refrain from speaking with or communicating with or otherwise contacting any prosecution witnesses in the matter. In the event she did not know the identities of the witnesses, she was ordered to ascertain same from the investigation office.

Nothando was further warned to remain within the Kingdom of Eswatini pending finalisation of the matter and to also provide the investigating officer with her residential address forthwith upon her release. Some of the conditions were that, she should attend court as and when order to do so and not commit a similar offence while out on bail.

She was advised further that any relaxation or amendment of the above conditions would be authorised by a judge of the High Court. She was told that non-compliance with any of the conditions would result in the cancellation of his bail and the amount paid forfeited to the State.
Israel Has Timeline for Rafah Operation, Will Not Allow Hamas to 'Drag Its Feet' - Reports

Sputnik News

20240426

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - 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.

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.

"Israel told Egypt that it is serious about preparations for the operation in Rafah and that it will not let Hamas drag its feet," one of the Israeli officials was quoted as saying.

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.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






US, France to Send Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carriers to Souda Base in Greece - Reports

Sputnik News

20240426

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - 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.

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.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






US Will Not Sanction IDF Units Despite Human Rights Violations - Reports

Sputnik News

20240426

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - 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.

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."

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






US to Reposition Some Troops From Chad as Part of Cooperation Review - Pentagon

Sputnik News

20240426

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - 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.

"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 N'Djamena, 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.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






US & UK Reduced Naval Presence in Red Sea - Houthi Leader

Sputnik News

20240426

DOHA (Sputnik) - 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.

"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.

"The American and British enemies have failed to ensure the movement of Israel-bound ships despite constant and intensive monitoring. As long as the blockade and aggression against the Gaza Strip continues, operations in the southern Red Sea will continue," al-Houthi said.

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.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary Antony J. Blinken at a Press Availability

US Department of State

Remarks

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Beijing, People's Republic of China

April 26, 2024

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, good evening, everyone. Ten months ago, I traveled to the People's Republic of China at a time of profound tension between our countries with the aim of stabilizing the relationship, reopening and strengthening our high-level channels of communication. Over a series of candid and constructive conversations I had then with President Xi and other senior officials, I made clear our policies and intentions, and identified issues of shared interest where we might work together. Those discussions, which were followed by additional senior-level visits and meetings between our governments, helped lay the foundation for a productive summit between President Biden and President Xi in San Francisco at the end of last year. Our leaders agreed on concrete steps to cooperate on issues that matter to our people and matter to the world and reduce the risk of misunderstanding and miscalculation.

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 for the American people. That's been the focus of my meetings with President Xi, with Director and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, with the Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong, and the Shanhai Party Secretary Chen Jining.

Since the Woodside summit, we have advanced our cooperation on fentanyl and other synthetic drugs - the number-one killer of Americans between the ages of 18 and 45. Specifically, the PRC has issued a public notice to industry, it's taken enforcement action against some companies that produce precursors - those are the chemical ingredients that make up synthetic drugs. And the U.S. and China have set up a joint Counternarcotics Working Group to collaborate on policy making and on law enforcement, and to share technical expertise. Thanks in large part to the working group's efforts, China is providing information to international law enforcement that can be used to track and intercept illicit drugs and their precursors, and our two governments recently agreed to share best practices on closing loopholes in our financial systems that the drug traffickers and other criminal enterprises use to launder money.

So this is important progress, but more needs to be done. In my discussions, I underscored the importance of the PRC taking additional action, in particular by prosecuting those who are selling chemicals and equipment used to make fentanyl, meeting its international commitments to regulate all of the precursors that are controlled by the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and disrupting illicit financing networks.

Since the Woodside meeting between the presidents, we've also resumed direct military-to-military communications at multiple levels - something that I made a top priority for my meetings in Beijing last year. U.S. and PRC defense officials met for two days at the Pentagon in January. Earlier this month, our two countries' air and naval forces held talks aimed at ensuring safer interactions. Last week, Secretary of Defense Austin had his first video call with Minister of Defense Dong Jun. Direct, open, clear lines of communication like these are critical to avoiding miscalculations.

I'm pleased to announce that earlier today, we agreed to hold the first U.S.-PRC 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. We also spoke about ways that we can continue to grow people-to-people ties between our countries, particularly educational exchanges. Our governments have a vested interest in creating open and welcoming conditions for these programs which have long enriched both of our countries.

As you know, I had a chance yesterday to meet with a few dozen American and Chinese students who are learning side by side at the NYU Shanghai program as well as in other joint U.S.-PRC university programs in China. I heard how the experiences deepened their knowledge inside and outside the classroom and forged ties that will last well beyond their shared educational experience. While there are more than 290,000 Chinese students in the United States, there are fewer than 900 Americans studying here in China, and that's a significant drop from a decade ago when we had about 15,000 Americans studying here. President Xi said that he wants to significantly increase the number of Americans studying here in the coming years, and that's something that we support.

We have an interest in this, because if our future leaders - whether it's in government, whether it's in business, civil society, climate, tech, and other fields - if they're going to be able to collaborate, if they want to be able to solve big problems, if they're going to be able to work through our differences, they'll need to know and understand each other, language, culture, history. What I told my PRC counterparts on this visit is if they want to attract more Americans here to China, particularly students, the best way to do that is to create the conditions that allow learning to flourish anywhere - a free and open discussion of ideas, access to a wide range of information, ease of travel, confidence in the safety, security, and privacy of the participants.

Now, 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. 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. 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, a defense industrial base that is churning out rockets, drones, tanks, and other weapons that President Putin is using to invade a sovereign country, to demolish its power grid and other civilian infrastructure, to kill innocent children, women, and men. Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without China's support.

In my meetings with NATO Allies earlier this month and with our G7 partners just last week, I heard that same message: fueling Russia's defense 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. As we've 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.

I also expressed our concern about the PRC's unfair trade practices and the potential consequences of industrial overcapacity to global and U.S. markets, especially in a number of key industries that will drive the 21st century economy, like solar panels, electric vehicles, and the batteries that power them. China alone is producing more than 100 percent of global demand for these products, flooding markets, undermining competition, putting at risk livelihoods and businesses around the world.

Now, this is a movie that we've seen before, and we know how it ends - with American businesses shuttered and American jobs lost. President Biden will not let this happen on his watch. We'll do what's necessary to ensure that American workers can compete on a level playing field. America's actions are not aimed at holding back China's development, nor are we decoupling our economies. As Secretary Yellen said during her recent visit, that would be disastrous for the global economy, including for the United States. We want China's economy to grow. So do the American businesses and investors here, several of whom I had an opportunity to speak to in Shanghai. But the way China grows matters. As I told my counterpart, that means fostering a healthy economic relationship where American workers and firms are treated equally and fairly.

In today's meetings I discussed the PRC's dangerous actions in the South China Sea, including against routine Philippine maintenance operations and maritime operations near the Second Thomas Shoal. Freedom of navigation and commerce in these waterways is not only critical to the Philippines, but to the U.S. and to every other nation in the Indo-Pacific and indeed around the world. That's why so many nations have expressed concern about the PRC's maritime maneuvers.

I made clear that while the U.S. will continue to work to de-escalate tensions, our defense commitments to the Philippines remain ironclad. I reaffirmed the U.S.'s "one China" policy and stressed the critical importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

I raised the cases of American citizens who are wrongfully detained and those who are subject to exit bans. President Biden and I will not rest until they're back with their families where they belong. I also raised concerns about the erosion of Hong Kong's autonomy and democratic institutions as well as transnational repression, ongoing human rights abuses in Xinjiang and Tibet, and a number of individual human rights cases.

We spoke about press freedom and access. I appreciate that the PRC granted short-term visas to a number of the foreign journalists who are here so that they could cover this visit. In my meetings, I encouraged my PRC counterparts to fulfil the commitment that they made in 2021 to provide equal access to our two countries' media organizations. The United States will continue to insist on reciprocity on this issue, just as we do for our businesses, cross-cultural exchanges, and many other areas.

We also discussed a range of regional and global crises where China can play a constructive role. I encouraged China to use its influence to discourage Iran and its proxies from expanding the conflict in the Middle East, and to press Pyongyang to end its dangerous behavior and engage in dialogue. Going forward, we'll continue our high-level discussions on these and other issues.

All of the policies that the United States has pursued over the past three years, at home and around the world, are driven by a singular objective - delivering for the American people, meeting the challenges that they face, creating the opportunities that they seek, building a future where they and their children and their children's children are secure, free, prosperous, and healthy.

That's what has motivated the historic investments that we've made in our competitiveness back home and in reinvigorating our alliances and our partnerships around the world. And that same core objective animated my meetings in China over the past few days and will continue to guide us as we manage a relationship that is so consequential for our two nations and for the entire world.

With that, happy to take some questions.

MR MILLER: The first question goes to Iain Marlow with Bloomberg.

QUESTION: Thank you, Secretary. Good evening. Wang Yi said that the U.S. was taking endless measures to suppress China's economy and warned that growing negative factors could derail the effort by Presidents Biden and Xi to stabilize U.S.-China ties. Do you think the Biden administration's pledge to increase tariff, the threat of new sanctions, and actions like the probe into Chinese shipbuilding could push the U.S. and China back into a period of dangerous volatility?

Separately, did you make any headway in terms of actually getting China to agree to reduce economic support for Russia's defense industry? And if not, is the U.S. ready to move forward with sanctions?

And separately, given North Korea is also sending massive shipments of munitions to Russia, did you bring that up with your Chinese counterpart, and did you get any Chinese cooperation there?

And finally, just on TikTok, did that come up in conversations today, and how do you expect China to respond? Thanks.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Not sure I got all of it, but I'll try, Iain. Thank you.

On the last question, no, TikTok did not come up, so I can answer that one very quickly.

Look, on the economic relationship, let's put this in perspective. We remain - the United States remains - the largest market for Chinese products of any country around the world, and our own trade relationship remains very significant. In fact, China is our third-largest trading partner after out near neighbors Canada and Mexico, and as I heard from American businesses and American investors in Shanghai, there remains a very strong interest in working in this market provided that we have a level playing field and a fair shot. When we do, we do very well.

But when we're looking at the question of tariffs, 301 measures, et cetera, what we're focused on is practices engaged in by China that are unfair and undermine our businesses and our workers. And this question of overcapacity is the one that is front and center. China is responsible for one-third of global production but one-tenth of global demand, so there is a clear mismatch. And when you have products that are produced here and produced in a way that's heavily subsidized, heavily supported in other ways, and that allows those products then to be sold at low prices - and sometimes below-market prices in other countries - pushing businesses from those countries out of business and having potentially devastating effects on communities, on workers, on businesses, that's something that we have to, will, and are standing against.

But the other important thing is it's not just us. This is a concern that I've heard around the world and notably from European partners, and this came up in conversations just a week ago when we had a meeting of the G7. So this is not about containing China; it's not about cutting off trade or investment. Again, as you heard Secretary Yellen say, this is important to us and to many other countries around the world. But we want to ensure that it proceeds fairly and in a way that doesn't have these unfair effects on our industries, on our workers, and on our companies. And again, that's something that's shared across the world.

When it comes to China's support for Russia's defense industrial base, all I can tell you is I was extremely clear about our concerns in some detail, but we'll have to see what actions follow from that. Now, I think China has demonstrated in the past when it comes to Russia and Ukraine that it can take positive action. You'll recall that well over a year ago we had concerns that Russia was considering the possible use of a nuclear weapon, and I believe that China's voice was important in, at least at that time, moving Russia away from that possible course of action. But now it is absolutely critical that the support that it's providing - not in terms of weapons but components for the defense industrial base - again, things like machine tools, microelectronics, where it is overwhelmingly the number-one supplier to Russia. That's having a material effect in Ukraine and against Ukraine, but it's also having a material effect in creating a growing that Russia poses to countries in Europe and something that has captured their attention in a very intense way.

And as I said, TikTok did not come up. Thanks.

MR MILLER: For the next question, Wang Lu with The Paper.

QUESTION: Thank you, Secretary. Wang Lu from The Paper. With the intensive interaction between China and U.S. at various level since the Woodside summit last November, as well as you intensive interactions with Chinese officials and people during your visit, with the U.S. election agenda gradually dominating American politics, there is a need for various party to demonstrate their strong stance on China to secure votes, leading to negative sentiments and action regarding China. So in this context, how can we safeguard and effectively implement the achievements made by both sides during this period, also minimizing the influence of campaign-style rhetoric and fostering more goodwill to stabilize Sino-U.S. relations? Thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you. In my job, I don't do politics. I focus on policies, and that's what I've been doing here at President Biden's instruction, trying to carry forward the agenda and the agreements that were reached between President Biden and President Xi in California at the end of last year. And that's where my focus is and that's where it will remain in the months ahead. And as I said a few moments ago, we've seen important progress on that agenda in the time since the meeting between the two presidents, including on counternarcotics, including on military-to-military ties, communications, including now on the dialogue that we've just announced on artificial intelligence, as well as on people-to-people exchanges and connections between our countries.

Also vitally important, coming out of California meetings, as President Biden made clear, that we continue to communicate clearly about our differences, at the very least to minimize the chance of miscalculation, misunderstandings. And that's also exactly what I did on this visit and will continue to do. And that's simply what's required, which is to continue to advance our interests and our values, which has nothing to do with election cycles and everything to do with what's important to the American people.

MR MILLER: Simon Lewis with Reuters.

QUESTION: Hi, thank you. Mr. Secretary, you mentioned that you think that China can play a more constructive role - can play a constructive role in global crises, particularly talking about the Middle East. You had a conversation with Minister Wang Yi earlier this month around the time of the - when Iran-Israel tensions were really ramping up. I wonder if you have an assessment of the role that China has played and whether it's sufficient in the actions that the Chinese Government has taken so far.

And there are some reports that the Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas had a meeting here in Beijing while you were here. I wonder if that's an area where you would welcome some Chinese involvement.

And while we we're on the Middle East, I think we can't ignore some of the images that have been coming out from back in the U.S. from university campuses. It's quite striking to see students - some of the violence in these protests, but students all across your country are coming out and expressing the outrage at what's happening in Gaza. Are you taking on board those protests? What do you say to young people, young Americans, who see this as a moment when they need to speak out against the government?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks. So first, on the Middle East, I think I've talked to the Foreign Minister Wang Yi at least half a dozen times on this since October 7th, including of course today but also in previous meetings we had, phone conversations, et cetera. And yes, I think this is an area where China can use the relationships it has, the influence it has, to try, for example, to prevent the conflict from escalating, from spreading. And we had a good conversation when tensions were particularly acute follow - preceding and then immediately following Iran's unprecedented attack on Israel 10 days or so ago. And 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 remain in regular touch on this, and that's certainly my intention.

I'm not aware of the meeting you referred to - I think you said between Fatah and Hamas - so nothing to say on that.

In terms of the protests back home, look, again, I'm not - it's not my practice to comment on domestic matters. But look, people have strong, passionate feelings about what's happening in Gaza and the Middle East that I very much understand. And when we see the horrific human suffering and the death of children, women, and men who are caught in this crossfire of Hamas's making, it's gut-wrenching, as I've said before. And we want to do everything we can to bring it to an end. And 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.

Now, as I've also said before, this could be over tomorrow, it could have been over yesterday, it could have been over months ago, if Hamas had put down its weapons, stopped hiding behind civilians, released the hostages, and surrendered. But of course, it has chosen not to do that, and it is also notable that there is silence about Hamas. It's as if it wasn't even part of the story. But as I've also said repeatedly, the way Israel goes about ensuring that October 7th never happens again matters profoundly, and we're working every day to try to minimize damage that's done to innocent people and to make sure that they have the assistance and support that they need.

MR MILLER: And for the final question, Johannes Neudecker with DPA.

QUESTION: Thank you. My question was basically just asked, but I'm 

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Good, thank you.

QUESTION: I'm just - I'm just going to ask another one. You said that you also require countries in Europe to, yeah, kind of join the plans to prevent China from supplying military or dual-use goods to Russia. What do you expect from these countries, and how should they act now?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: It's not what we expect of them. It's their profound concerns about the actions that Chinese enterprises are taking to support Russia's defense industrial base, because this goes not only to the immediate threat posed by Russia and its aggression against Ukraine. It goes to a medium- and long-term threat that many Europeans feel viscerally that Russia potentially poses to them.

And so what I heard in my conversations last week at the G7 meetings, before that at NATO, was a shared concern about this. I had detailed conversations with a number of European leaders about their concerns, including President Macron of France, German counterparts, British, many others - Italian. And I think all of us are looking to China to take steps to curb this action, and we're also, as I said, looking at the actions that we're fully prepared to take if we don't see a change. We have - in the case of the United States, we've already imposed sanctions on more than a hundred Chinese entities, export controls, et cetera. And we're fully prepared to act, take additional measures, and I made that very clear in my meetings today.

Thank you.

MR MILLER: Thank you all.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






"We will continue to stand by Palestine with all means at our disposal"

Presidency Of The Republic Of Turkey

26.04.2024

Addressing the 5th Conference of the League of Parliamentarians for Al-Quds, President Erdogan said: "We should endeavor together to make sure the tragedy of our Gazan brothers and sisters is not put on the back burner. As Turkiye, we will continue to stand by Gaza and Palestine with all means at our disposal."

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a speech at the 5th Conference of the League of Parliamentarians for Al-Quds in Istanbul.

President Erdogan said: "We determinedly continue our efforts with the belief that defending Al-Quds means defending humanity, defending peace, defending respect for different faiths. I extend my gratitude to the League of Parliamentarians for Al-Quds, which lends support to this blessed struggle we have been putting up in the name of humanity and peace. May Allah duly reward your efforts."

"MODERN DAY HITLER AND NAZIS ARE THE MURDERERS WHO HAVE KILLED MORE THAN 15 THOUSAND CHILDREN IN GAZA"

The Palestinian people, whose lands have been occupied stage by stage in the past century, have today been subjected to one of the cruelest oppressions of history, stressed the President, and stated: "I hereby salute once again the Palestinian heroes, who, with their fight, are defending the honor of the entire humanity together with that of Al-Quds'. On my and my nation's behalf, I salute with respect Palestine's brave children who are standing up against the occupying oppressors. I thank all the conscientious people who are displaying solidarity with our Palestinian and Gazan brothers and sisters all across the world. Words are no longer enough to describe what has been going on since October 7. Those, who seek to see modern-day pharaohs, do not need to go far away, they should just look at those, who have mercilessly massacred 35 thousand Palestinians in the past 203 days. Modern day Hitler and Nazis are the murderers who have killed more than 15 thousand children in Gaza. Netanyahu, just like the murderers before him, has gone down in history as the 'Butcher of Gaza' in shame. No matter what he will do, this dark stain stuck on his forehead will never be removed."

President Erdogan continued his remarks as follows: "Whenever we talk like this, some people immediately get annoyed. The Israeli administration, just like every criminal whose crimes are told to their faces, assume they can silence us by accusing us of anti-Semitism. They assume they can cover up the murders they have committed in Gaza with the power of press and lobby in their hands. Let me hereby remind them once again the fact that whatever you do, however you try is futile. You cannot chain Tayyip Erdogan's heart or words. We will by no means bow down to your threats or pressures."

"NO ONE CAN EXPECT US TO REMAIN SILENT TO THE GENOCIDE"

Underscoring that no one can expect Turkiye to remain silent to a genocide while its Palestinian brothers and sisters have been resisting on their own and defending the honor of the entire humanity despite all the impossibilities, President Erdogan said: "Just because Israel and its western supporters want it so, we cannot be one of those, who are casting aspersions on Hamas by calling it a terrorist organization. We cannot label 'Palestinian resisters' as terrorists through the notions of legionnaires and mercenary journalists who serve Israel voluntarily or in exchange for money. We do not care whether they get annoyed, or they get surprised. We will continue to see our brothers and sisters of Hamas, who are defending their homeland against occupiers, as the Kuvaymilliye (National Forces) of Palestine. We will not refrain from voicing this fact boldly on every platform as much as we can through our words. With our voice, words, prayers, humanitarian aid and with all the means in our hands, we will support the Palestinian cause and the noble and dignified resistance our Gazan brothers and sisters have been displaying. I openly expressed our sagacious stance on this issue to Hamas political leadership with whom I met last week. I clearly told them that we share the grief of our brothers and sisters, whose children, grandchildren, or relatives have died a martyr's death during Israel's attacks."

"WE WILL CONTINUE TO ENDEAVOR FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT PALESTINIAN STATE"

President Erdogan continued his remarks as follows: "I explained them that we as the children of a gallant nation, who waged an independence fight against the imperialist powers that had occupied their lands a century ago, stand by them in their rightful cause. Inshallah, we will not back down on this, and will continue to endeavor sincerely in order for an independent, sovereign and geographically-integrated Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East al-Quds as its capital, to be established."

Stressing that no excuse can justify the genocide that has been uninterruptedly going on in Gaza for 203 days, President Erdogan noted: "Whether you approve of the incidents that took place on October 7 is a matter of your perspective. However, by putting it forward as a pretext, you cannot justify the killing of newborn babies in incubators; the dropping of tons of bombs over civilians, the maltreatment of martyrs' bodies; the massacre of people queuing for a loaf of bread; the deliberately targeting of mosques, churches, schools, hospitals; the transformation of Gaza into a burial site with mass graves. In short you cannot justify the non-compliance with even the minimum requirements of the law of war. That a mentality celebrates its child's birthday by killing Gazan infants means it no longer has a tie with basic humanitarian values."

"Before criticizing us, the Israeli administration should confront this atrocity and learn to act with the mindset of a law-abiding state, not of a terrorist organization. Our attitude towards Israeli officials will not change until they do that," warned President Erdogan, and added: "Turkiye is a country that has never committed genocide, engaged in colonialism or touched innocent people even in wartime in any period of its history of more than two thousand years. We have always opened our doors to anyone who has been in trouble regardless of their faith, origin or identity. We have stood by the Jews fleeing from the Inquisition as well as the Jewish scientists escaping the Nazi persecution. From the Caucasus to the Balkans, Africa to Asia, we have rushed to the aid of anyone who has faced oppression. Just as we have embraced our Syrian neighbors throughout the conflicts that broke out 13 years ago, we have also become a safe harbor for the refugees fleeing from Ukraine."

"WE ARE ONE OF THE TOP DONORS OF HUMANITARIAN AID"

Describing Turkiye as one of the top donors of humanitarian aid in proportion to national income, President Erdogan said: "We work to put out the fire without observing self-interests wherever there is a stability or conflict. We sincerely strive for peace, serenity, prosperity and security to prevail in our region. Turkiye ranks first in aid to Gaza. The humanitarian aid supplies we have delivered to Gaza by 13 planes and 9 vessels since October 7 have neared 50 thousand tons in total. We have transferred 900 Gazans and their attendants to Turkiye for treatment."

President Erdogan went onto say: "Besides humanitarian aid, we also give out hot meals to 10 thousand people per day through the Turkish Red Crescent's soup kitchen in Rafah. We ensure the flow of 7 tons of drinking water per day to Gaza to meet the clean drinking water need in Gaza. In terms of commerce, Turkiye is also the only country to impose restrictions on exports to Israel in 54 product groups. Long before the start of the Gaza massacres, we had already ceased the sale of materials that could be employed for military purposes to Israel. We have thus consolidated this position of ours with the decision we took on April 9 for the restriction of exports."

Highlighting an issue that he described as truly saddening, President Erdogan stated: "You know, local elections were held last month in our country. During the election period, we experienced grave injustices and slanders on this issue. Even though the prices we have had to pay to defend the Palestinian cause are well known, some folks, also with the logistical support provided by enemies of Turkiye, have tried to cast a shadow over our country's and nation's strong support for the Palestinian resistance. They have carried out this dirty campaign not because they are incognizant of the essence of the issue but because their ambitions get ahead of their minds and consciences. They even went so far as to cast the aspersion that 'Jet fuel was sold to Israel. Do you have any conscience? Is it possible for Tayyip Erdogan and his friends to take such a step? Many more allegations like this, which are beyond reason, conscience and morality, have been brought to the agenda. What is more alarming is that these baseless allegations have been propagated and used against our country in the international and social media by foreign circles that are annoyed by Turkiye's firm stance. It was really hurtful. We were hurt."

"WE CONTINUE OUR DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS FOR A LASTING CEASEFIRE IN GAZA"

"As of the morning of April 1, it has been seen that this propaganda, which raised question marks even among our brothers and sisters well aware of Turkiye's efforts, is hollow. However, its traces are still visible as Turkey's spotless record in the Palestinian cause has been tainted for the sake of petty political gains. Under the guise of defending the rights of Gazans, they have tried to defame and intimidate our country, the biggest supporter of Palestine. This time around, the same circles are resorting to similar lies regarding the Radar Base in Kurecik, Malatya. They work to exploit this issue, all aspects of which we have already explained repeatedly. The radar base in Kurecik does not have, and cannot have, any relation, connection or affiliation with any state outside of the security of our country and alliance. The Republic of Turkiye would not allow such a thing, nor has it allowed," said President Erdogan, adding: "Politics cannot be conducted through lies, distortions and manipulations. Politics cannot be carried out by slandering one's own state and nation. The basic rule of both the law and the politics is clear: The plaintiff has the burden of proof, otherwise he is a slanderer. If you have any documents or evidences, you shall come out and prove your claims. Unless you do so, take no offence but you cannot avoid being labelled as a slanderer. I invite all the actors in our country, including those operating in the realms of civil society, press or politics, to use a more careful language on the Palestine issue."

Underscoring that no one has the luxury of casting a shadow over Turkiye's exemplary stance on the Palestinian issue just to gain popularity, President Erdogan said: "Without caring about such campaigns, we have been continuing our diplomatic efforts since day one for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza. We have stepped up our talks for the elimination of the discord between the Palestinian government and Palestinian groups with the belief that there is no mercy without unity. We have also intensified our efforts to increase the recognition of the State of Palestine, which is currently recognized by 140 states. I would like to stress our appreciation of the stance taken by the Spanish Government and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez regarding the recognition of Palestine. I also call on the states preparing to recognize the State of Palestine to stand firm in the face of pressures. I would like make it clear that it is both a grave shame and a major injustice that the Palestinian people does not have a state of their own which is a full member of the United Nations."

Noting that this injustice should be remedied immediately, President Erdogan continued his remarks as follows: "A step in this direction was blocked with the U.S. veto at the Security Council last week. With its veto, the U.S. disregarded the will of not only the Palestinian people but also other member states of the Security Council. We do not accept this decision, which further spoils Israel. With the unconditional military and diplomatic support it lends to Israel, the U.S. administration is not contributing to settlement but rather causing the escalation of the problem. This is best evidenced by the fact that the U.S. Senate has approved the $25 billion military aid bill for Israel while 35 thousand people have been brutally massacred in Gaza. Backing Israel instead of acting as a fair mediator does not serve any purpose other than the deepening and spread of the crises in our region. Instead of reiterating the baseless allegations against our country over the 1915 incidents, the U.S. administration should look at Gaza, see Israel's genocide attempts in Gaza, and endeavor to prevent it. We reject Western countries' hypocritical policies in the Palestinian issue that are no longer tolerable to us. The U.S. veto once again proves the validity of our declaration, 'the World is bigger than five'."

"IN THE GAZA CRISIS, WE HAVE SEEN FIRST-HAND THE GLOBAL DOMINANCE OF ZIONISM"

Stressing that the Gaza crisis has laid bare the global dominance of Zionism, particularly in the U.S. and European countries, President Erdogan stated: "This process has revealed how the Zionist network has taken captive economy, trade, media, arts, cinema, thought, and the academic world. We have all witnessed how those who have been lecturing us on democracy, and freedom of thought and assembly for years, have turned out to be fascistic when it comes to Israel and its interests. Such values of the West as democracy, freedom, law, expression, thought, and freedom of press have immediately been forgotten or shelved when it is Israel that is at stake. We, just as the whole world, follow with concern the incidents that have been taking place in American universities over the past week. Those, who camped out in Istanbul during Gezi incidents, do not see Palestinian protests. Scholars, journalists, writers, artists and politicians, who respond to the oppression in Gaza, are lynched, so to speak. International media outlets cannot raise their voice or voice even a single sentence about their over 140 fellow journalists killed in Gaza. It has been understood clearly in the past seven months that how Zionism has created a horrible climate of terror in almost every area, has instilled fear in politicians, as blackmailed them, and has put states under pressure. The United Nations Security Council has failed to influence Israel and prevent the massacres in Gaza."

"WE SHOULD STEP UP OUR EFFORTS TO STOP ISRAEL"

"I regret to say that the 2-billion Islamic world has failed in the Gaza test. It is impossible to maintain the current structure that leaves the fate of the entire humanity to the mercy of five countries. We believe that 'a fairer world is possible.' But we have to work harder together to achieve this. I believe that we will get closer to the goal of a fairer world with the support of you, the parliamentarians who have the love for Al-Quds in their hearts. We should endeavor together to make sure the tragedy of our Gazan brothers and sisters is not put on the back burner. We should step up our efforts to stop Israel and hold all the perpetrators, particularly Netanyahu that is called the butcher, accountable before the law. Our friends are currently carrying out works in collaboration with South Africa. They continue their contacts with the International Court of Justice. For our part, we are following their works. As Turkiye, we will continue to stand by Gaza and Palestine with all means at our disposal."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






No: 72, 26 April 2024, Regarding the Social Media Message Posted by the Israeli Foreign Minister

Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The social media post by the Israeli Foreign Minister targeting President Erdogan is a banal statement that is devoid of any seriousness.

Targeting President Erdogan, who expressed the facts in all their nakedness, in this way is an indication of the state of mind of the Israeli government.

All members of the Israeli government will be brought to justice.

Turkiye will continue to speak out boldly and loudly against Israel's oppression of the Palestinian people.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Royal Navy warship shoots down Houthi missile

HMS Diamond has shot down a missile fired by the Iranian-backed Houthis from Yemen.

26 April 2024

HMS Diamond has shot down a missile fired by the Iranian-backed Houthis from Yemen.

The crew of the Royal Navy warship used her world-class Sea Viper missile system to shoot down the missile, which was targeting a merchant vessel, in the Gulf of Aden yesterday (Wednesday).

HMS Diamond is currently deployed in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to deter Houthi attacks, ensure freedom of navigation, and make international waters safer and more secure for merchant vessels.

This deployment is part of the UK's broader response to Houthi attacks, which has also included intercepting weapon-smuggling to Yemen, imposing sanctions on Houthi members and conducting proportionate and targeted strikes against Houthi military targets.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:

I want to thank the brave crew of HMS Diamond for her vital role in saving innocent lives and protecting international shipping from illegal Houthi attacks.

The UK continues to be at the forefront of the international response to the Iranian-backed Houthis' dangerous attacks on commercial vessels, which have claimed the lives of international mariners.

HMS Diamond has operated in the region since March, having taken over from HMS Richmond. During her deployment, HMS Richmond successfully repelled a Houthi drone attack in the southern Red Sea, shooting down two attack drones using Sea Ceptor missiles.

HMS Diamond previously operated in the region in December and January, maintaining a near constant presence in the 'high threat area' of the Red Sea. The destroyer came under fire in three separate attacks by Houthi rebels, successfully destroying nine drones using her world-class Sea Viper missile system and guns.

The ship is equipped with Sea Viper missiles as well as Phalanx machine guns and 30mm cannons on each side of the ship - close-in weapons. 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 UK remains committed to deterring the Houthis from their indiscriminate attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The Houthis' illegal attacks have claimed the lives of international mariners and continue to harm the global economy and undermine the stability and security of Yemen.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Royal Navy ship joins international effort to build pier for aid delivery into Gaza by sea

RFA Cardigan Bay will support the US military as it builds a new temporary pier to deliver aid directly into Gaza

26 April 2024

Royal Navy support ship RFA Cardigan Bay is sailing from Cyprus to provide support to an international effort to build a temporary pier to allow delivery of humanitarian aid directly from the sea.

US ships and personnel have already begun construction of the temporary floating pier as part of ongoing work to significantly expand the delivery of lifesaving aid into Gaza.

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary landing ship will provide accommodation for hundreds of US sailors and soldiers working to establish the pier. The pier will initially facilitate the delivery of 90 truckloads of international aid into Gaza and scale to up to 150 truckloads once fully operational, according to US estimates.

The multinational maritime corridor initiative will see tens of thousands of tonnes of aid pre-screened in Cyprus and delivered directly to Gaza via the temporary pier being constructed off the coast or via Ashdod Port, which Israel has said it will open.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:

It is critical we establish more routes for vital humanitarian aid to reach the people of Gaza and the UK continues to take a leading role in the delivery of support in coordination with the US and our international allies and partners. The crew of RFA Cardigan Bay are central to the UK's contribution to the multinational plan to greatly expand the flow of aid into Gaza. This will complement the priority of getting more aid in via land routes and Ashdod port in Israel, by enabling tens of thousands of tonnes to be delivered directly from the sea onto the beach.

Specialist British military planning teams have been embedded with the US operational HQ in Tampa, Florida, as well as in Cyprus for several weeks to jointly develop the safest and most effective maritime route.

The UK Hydrographic Office has also shared analysis of the Gazan shore with US planners to develop the pier.

Supporting the Jordanian humanitarian land corridor from Amman into Gaza and in partnership with the World Food Programme, the UK's largest delivery of aid crossed the border on 13 March which saw more than 2,000 tonnes of food aid being distributed on the ground to families in need. Land deliveries will now be scaled up with the opening of the Erez crossing, which the UK wants to see reopened permanently.

The UK government is also doing everything possible to get more aid into Gaza by land and air. We trebled our humanitarian funding to the OPTs last financial year, delivering over 100 million of vital medical, shelter, nutrition and water/sanitation support. In recent weeks, the Royal Air Force has conducted nine airdrops along the coastline of Gaza, most recently on Thursday - safely delivering more than 85 tonnes of food supplies, including water and flour.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






MBABANE  His Majesty King Mswati III has extended the term of office of councils, commissions, Boards and other bodies, until further notice.

They include Kings Advisory Council known as Liqoqo, Ludzidzini Council, Regional Administrators, Land Management Board, Border Restoration Committee, Civil Service Commission, Human Rights Commission and Royal Trustees.

This is contained in a gazette that was issued yesterday, and signed by the Attorney General Sifiso Mashampu Khumalo. The latter further confirmed the gazette through a telephone interview yesterday. He said the term of office for these bodies was effective from April 12 until further notice, as contained in the gazette.

Extended

The term of office for the councils, Boards and commissions had to be extended because it elapsed on April 12 and they would continue to work until further notice, he said. The term of office for these bodies is normally five years and the King, exercising the powers invested in him by the Constitution, appoints them. Section 13 of the Constitution depicts that there shall be the Kings Advisory Council composed and constituted as Liqoqo under Section 231.

Membership

The Liqoqo is an advisory council, whose members are appointed by the Ingwenyama from the membership of bantfwabenkhosi (Emalangeni), tikhulu (chiefs) and persons who have distinguished themselves in the service of the nation. Section 231 (2) stipulates that where necessary, the members of Liqoqo may be appointed by the Indlovukazi as Queen Regent.

Liqoqo traditionally advises iNgwenyama on disputes in connection with the selection of tikhulu (chiefs) boundaries of chiefdoms and any other matter Ingwenyama may assign for their advice in confidence. The council is chaired by former Deputy Prime Minister Paul Dlamini and it has 23 members. In a telephone interview yesterday, Dlamini said he had not seen the gazette and it was news to him that the term of office had been extended.

I havent seen the gazette and I can only share a comment once I have seen it, Im sorry, Dlamini said. The Ludzidzini Council acts as the highest traditional court in the country and its members are also appointed by the King.

Chief Mdlaka Gamedze is the Chairman of the council and its members include former Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Moses Mathendele Dlamini.Members of the council include former Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) Chairman Ncumbi Maziya and former Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Hlobsile Ndlovu.

Appointed

Also extended is the term of regional administrators (RA) who are also appointed by the head of State. Section 83 of the Constitution entails that each region is headed by an administrative official called the regional administrator. The latter is appointed by the King on the advice of the Minister responsible for tinkhundla.

The regional administrator shall convene and preside over meetings of the Regional Council and perform such other functions as may be prescribed. A regional administrator has the status of a deputy minister and has such other benefits and privileges as may be prescribed, reads a provision of the Constitution.

Princess Tsandzile is the Regional Administrator for the Hhohho Region, Chief Gija is at Manzini, and former Speaker in the House of Assembly Themba Msibi is at Lubombo while Peter Mamba is at Shiselweni. Msibi shared that he had seen the gazette circulating in social media and he wanted to confirm it first with the Office of the Attorney General before he could share his comments.

Section 212 of the Constitution depicts that there shall be established a Land Management Board and it shall consist of a chairman and not more than four members appointed by Ingwenyama. The Chairman of the Board is Prince Mguciso. Subsection (2) stipulates that the members of the Board shall be appointed for a period of not more than five years and shall be eligible for re-appointment.

The Board is responsible for the overall management and for the regulation of any right or interest in land, whether urban or rural or vesting in Ingwenyama in trust for the Eswatini nation. In performing its functions the Board shall be accountable to Ingwenyama, reads the provision in the Constitution.

The Border Restoration Committee Border Determination has been pushing its two-decade-old agenda to acquire large sections of land in Mpumalanga and Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa, a claim that has met resistance from the government of that country. The land was taken from Eswatini by the Boers some decades ago. It is under the Chairmanship of Prince David, former University of Eswatini Council Chairman.

The Civil Service Commission, which is chaired by former Teaching Service Commission Chairman Simanga Mamba may, among other things - initiate or cause to be initiated appropriate procedures or processes leading to the selection or short listing of candidates for appointment to public office as catered for in Section 186 of the Constitution.

It may also enquire or cause to be enquired into any grievance or complaint whether or not leading to disciplinary action; exercise appellate functions, with power to vary, in respect of certain decisions by persons or authorities exercising delegated powers.

Delegate

It may also do or cause to be done any act or thing reasonably necessary for the due and prompt execution of any function prescribed in this Constitution or any other law; and delegate upon the chairperson or any of its members any of its functions. Mamba could not be drawn for comment on the extension of the term of office for emabandla as his phone rang unanswered yesterday.

This publication recently revealed that it would cost the taxpayer over E4.7 million a month as payment for members of the different advisory councils salaries and this excludes the various allowances paid to each office bearer, which could raise the figure to E5 million a month. This was contained in a legal notice titled The Prescription of Statutory and Allowances of Emabandla, Commissions and Boards Notice, 2024, which was issued by Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg.

Calculations based on the basic salaries alone, revealed that each month, for the next five years, the taxpayer will fork out E4 791 007 in payment of emabandla salaries. The notice unpacked that the salaries of Liqoqo alone, which has 23 members including its chairman, will cost the taxpayer E1 196 686 on basic salary, excluding allowances.

Salaries

Ludzidzini Council, which has 17 members including the chairperson, will cost the taxpayer E890 062 monthly on salaries and the payment of salaries for the Border Restoration Committee, which has 14 members, will cost the taxpayer E728 233 monthly. The Royal Board of Trustees, which has around seven members will be paid E357 728 a month according to the notice.

The list of emabandla whose term of office has been extended by the King:
Gaza's unexploded ordnance could take 14 years to clear

26 April 2024 - Making Gaza safe again from unexploded bombs could take 14 years, UN demining experts said on Friday.

Pehr Lodhammar, a senior officer from the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), said that the war has left an estimated 37 million tonnes of debris.

He said it was impossible to determine the exact amount of unexploded ordnance in the enclave where formerly heavily built-up and densely populated neighbourhoods have been reduced to rubble, after nearly seven months of intense Israeli bombardment.

Every square metre in Gaza impacted by the conflict contains some 200 kilogrammes of rubble, the veteran UN demining expert told journalists in Geneva.

"All I can say is that at least 10 per cent of the ammunition that is being fired potentially fails to function...with 100 trucks we're talking about 14 years of work with 100 trucks, so that's 14 years to remove with about 750,000 workdays - person workdays - to remove the debris."

Hostage release call to Hamas

The development came as the leaders of 18 nations including the United States called on Thursday for the release of all remaining hostages taken during the Hamas-led terror attacks in southern Israel that killed some 1,250 people.

Israel reportedly believes that more than 130 hostages are still being held in Gaza after the 7 October attacks which prompted the Israeli bombardment that has killed more than 34,350 Palestinians and wounded over 77,360, according to the enclave's health authorities.

Famine threat remains

Meanwhile, UN humanitarians repeated warnings that famine is imminent in the northern Gaza Strip, in a renewed urgent appeal for more aid relief to be allowed into the enclave.

Israel pledged three weeks ago to improve aid access via the Erez Crossing just north of Gaza and Ashdod cargo port, further northwards. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said that a small increase in aid had happened, but not nearly enough in volume - or diversity.

"We're still heading towards a famine, we haven't seen that paradigm shift that's needed to avert a famine, we need more volume, more predictability and a sustained effort to get more diverse assistance into the north," said Carl Skau, WFP Deputy Executive Director.

Amid reports of sustained Israeli strikes on eastern Rafah, Mr. Skau underlined continuing deep concerns that any ground invasion of the enclave's southernmost city risked disrupting already insufficient aid distributions.

And turning to efforts to establish a marine corridor for humanitarian aid, the WFP official insisted that "there is no substitute for land" deliveries into Gaza.

Flotilla appeal

In a related development, top rights experts have appealed to Israel for safe passage for a flotilla of boats carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The "Freedom Flotilla" plans to depart from Turkiye carrying 5,500 tonnes of aid, along with hundreds of international humanitarian observers, en route for the besieged Gaza Strip.

"As the Freedom Flotilla approaches Palestinian territorial waters off Gaza, Israel must adhere to international law, including recent orders from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to ensure unimpeded access for humanitarian aid," said the experts, who include Michael Fakhri, Special Rapporteur on the right to food.

In 2010, the experts noted that Israel intercepted and attacked the Freedom Flotilla's civilian ships in international waters, killing 10 passengers and wounding many others.

At the time, the Freedom Flotilla had attempted to break the Israeli blockade by delivering humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






UNRWA Situation Report #104 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem - All information from 22-24 April 2024, is valid as of 24 April 2024 at 22:30

UNRWA

26 Apr 2024

Key points

The Gaza Strip

On 23 April, Israeli Security Forces (ISF) announced a new evacuation order in parts of Beit Lahiya, in the North Gaza governorate. OCHA estimate that the area is home to at least 18,300 Palestinians before 7 October and includes three schools, including one UNRWA school, and the Indonesian Hospital, which reportedly hosts internally displaced persons (IDPs). Furthermore, ISF operations continue from air, land and sea continue across the Gaza Strip.

On 24 April, UNRWA launched its updated occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) flash appeal. UNRWA is seeking US$ 1.21 billion to address the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and respond to needs in the West Bank as violence increases. The Agency's emergency appeal covers its humanitarian response until the end of 2024. It aims to respond to the most urgent needs of 1.7 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip given the ongoing war, and more than 200,000 Palestine Refugees in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

On 24 April Sigrid Kaag the Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator (SHRC) for Gaza briefed the Security Council. Kaag reiterated that UNRWA is pivotal to providing life-saving humanitarian aid and critical social services to Palestine Refugees. "As such, UNRWA is irreplaceable and indispensable as a humanitarian lifeline and must be allowed to deliver on its mandate." She also noted that further steps are needed to enable sustained flow of humanitarian and commercial goods into Gaza in terms of volume, need and reach.

Since 7 October, according to OCHA more than two thirds of the population of the Gaza Strip have been placed under evacuation orders.

According to the Health Cluster, as of 24 April, Israeli authorities had approved just over half of all medical evacuation requests (5,263 out of 9,817). These limitations span from age restrictions, which have at times prevented essential evacuations of newborn babies, to the requirement for companions to have passports, in a context in which an estimated 30 to 40 per cent of people in Gaza have lost their identification documents during displacement, according to the Protection Cluster. The criteria for selecting patients who may be evacuated remain unclear, with only eight per cent of male patients aged 19 to 60 years approved for evacuation, compared to 74 per cent of women of the same age range.

Between 1 and 24 April, 57 per cent (39 out of 69) of humanitarian aid missions to northern Gaza were facilitated by Israeli authorities, 35 per cent (24) were denied or impeded, seven per cent were cancelled (five) due to logistical constraints, and one remains pending as of the time of reporting. The last time UNRWA was able to deliver food supplies to the area was on 23 January 2024. UNRWA remains critical in both the northern and southern parts of Gaza, with key distributions of food and non-food items including medicines in UNRWA health and distribution centres and emergency shelters.

Commissioner-General of UNRWA on X highlighted that UNRWA Supplies and Dispatch Tracking Dashboard monitored that on 22 April more than 310 trucks of aid entered into the Gaza Strip via Kerem Shalom and Rafah land crossings. This is the highest number of trucks since the war began on 7 October. This increase, whilst welcomed, needs to be sustained, and access to commercial supplies expanded. So far in April the average number of trucks entering the Gaza Strip via Kerem Shalom and Rafah landing crossings is 192 trucks per day, which is still well below the operational capacity of both border crossings and the minimum target of 500 trucks per day.

As of 24 April, the total number of UNRWA colleagues killed since the beginning of hostilities is 180.

As of 24 April, up to 1.7 million* people (over 75 per cent of the population)** have been displaced across the Gaza Strip, the majority multiple times.*** Families are forced to move repeatedly in search of safety. Following intense Israeli bombardments and fighting in Khan Younis and the Middle Area in recent weeks, a significant number of displaced people have moved further south.

*This includes 1 million people living in or near emergency shelters or informal shelters. As of 12 October, approximately 160,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) were recorded in UNRWA shelters in Northern Gaza and Gaza City governorates. UNRWA currently estimates that the population of Northern Gaza and Gaza City governorates is up to 300,000 people. The ability of UNRWA to provide humanitarian support and updated data in these areas has been severely restricted. The ongoing hostilities, evacuation orders issued by ISF, and the constant need for safer locations have resulted in people being displaced multiple times.

**UNRWA reported on 15 January in Situation Report 64 that up to 1.9 million IDPs were either residing in 154 UNRWA shelters or near these shelters. Due to the continued escalation of fighting and evacuation orders, some households have moved away from the shelters where they were initially registered.

*** There are instances where the same IDPs are registered in multiple shelters due to the fluid movement of populations; hereafter, estimates are used for these shelters. UNRWA plans to conduct a more accurate count of IDPs in shelters, including informal shelters, as soon as the security situation allows.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






IKE Carrier Strike Group Arrives in the Eastern Mediterranean

US Navy

26 April 2024

From Courtesy Story

ARABIAN SEA -- The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKECSG) arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean while on a pre-announced Department of Defense deployment, April 26.

The Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107) entered the Eastern Mediterranean after transiting through the Suez Canal, April 26.

CSGs bring to the region additional aviation and surface assets, providing greater flexibility and maritime capability to the U.S. 6th Fleet.

"The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group has delivered exceptional naval power in the U.S. 5th Fleet for the last five months," said Rear Adm. Marc Miguez, commander, CSG-2, IKECSG. "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."

While operating in the U.S. 5th Fleet, the IKECSG conducted operations in the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandeb Strait, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Gulf including Operation Prosperity Guardian and self-defensive strikes into Iranian-backed Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

The strike group is commanded by Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 2 and comprised of flagship Dwight D. Eisenhower, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 with its nine squadrons, USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 22, with the guided-missile destroyers USS Gravely (DDG 107) and USS Mason (DDG 87).

Squadrons of CVW-3 include the "Gunslingers" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 105, the "Fighting Swordsmen" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 32, the "Rampagers" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 83, the "Wildcats" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 131, the "Screwtops" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 123, the "Zappers" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130, the "Dusty Dogs" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 7, the "Swamp Foxes" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74 and the "Rawhides" of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40.

IKECSG units departed their homeports of Norfolk, Virginia, and Mayport, Florida, on Oct. 13 & 14 for a scheduled deployment.

For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability.

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Blinken criticizes protesting students' 'silence' on Hamas

By Patsy Widakuswara April 26, 2024

As student protests against Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza continue at more than three dozen American universities, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the demonstrations were "a hallmark" of American democracy. At the same time, he criticized the students for their "silence" on Hamas.

"It is also notable that there is silence about Hamas. It's as if it wasn't even part of the story," Blinken said to reporters Friday during a visit to Beijing. "But as I've also said repeatedly, the way Israel goes about ensuring that October 7th never happens again matters profoundly."

Speaking in a country where dissent is often harshly suppressed, Blinken said he understood the war invokes "strong, passionate feelings" and voiced support for the students' right to protest.

"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," he said.

Protests have grown in campuses across the country since Columbia University in New York started cracking down on pro-Palestinian protesters occupying a lawn on its campus on April 18. Police interventions have led to hundreds of arrests but have failed to contain the spread of antiwar demonstrations.

"We have students of all backgrounds and of all histories and identities coming out here to stand on the side of justice and to oppose genocide," said Malak Afaneh, who spoke with VOA from the encampment at the University of California-Berkeley. The third-year law student who has Palestinian parents said there has been an "outpouring of community support."

In many universities, Jewish students participated in expressing their anger about U.S. support for Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza and their schools' financial and academic ties to Israel and to weapons manufacturers.

"We have a university that's actively investing money into companies that are helping fuel [the war], kill these innocent people," a Jewish student from Georgetown University told VOA, declining to share her name because of security concerns. "And it's just not something that I morally can - I have never been able to stand by - but especially not now anymore."

Yet some Jewish students have complained of rising antisemitism and have felt unsafe on their own campuses, including Columbia, because of the protests.

Overall, the protests are peaceful, even as some are met with counterprotests from pro-Israel and pro-Zionist students. Demonstrations are broadly protected as free speech under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Antisemitic language

Still, the protests are potentially explosive for university administrators, particularly as some students have been called out for using antisemitic language.

Interpreted differently by its supporters, a chant like, "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," is seen by many Jews and Israelis as a call to dismantle the Jewish state and replace it with a Palestinian state that extends from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.

The demonstrations are also becoming a political headache for President Joe Biden. Student protesters and progressive Democrats who support their cause are important constituencies for Biden ahead of the November presidential election. His reelection bid depends in part to his ability to pacify progressives' anger about his administration's support of Israel, a close U.S. ally.

An added complication for Biden is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's efforts to portray the antiwar sentiment in the U.S. as antisemitic. On Wednesday, Netanyahu called the protests "horrific" and said they must be stopped.

"Antisemitic mobs have taken over leading universities," he said. "They call for the annihilation of Israel. They attack Jewish students. They attack Jewish faculty."

Netanyahu, who is facing protests demanding his resignation at home, said the American demonstrations are "reminiscent of what happened in German universities in the 1930s," drawing parallels to scenes that preceded the Holocaust under Nazi Germany.

Ties are already tense as the Biden administration and Democrats in Congress demand that Israel improve its conduct of the war. In March, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, described the Israeli prime minister as an impediment to peace in the Middle East and called for a new election to replace him. Schumer is the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the U.S.

Republicans decry protests

Netanyahu's criticisms of the protests are echoed by Republican lawmakers who accuse the students of condoning terrorism and supporting Hamas. Republican-led committees in Congress have summoned university administrators to testify, accusing them of allowing campuses to become hotbeds of antisemitism.

On Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson and several other Republican lawmakers visited Columbia University, calling for the resignation of university President Minouche Shafik and decrying the student protests as violent and uncontrollable.

"This is dangerous. This is not the First Amendment, this is not free expression," Johnson said, amid raucous booing and shouts from protesters.

The speaker demanded that Biden call out the country's military reserve force to quell the protests. "There is an appropriate time for the National Guard," he said. "We have to bring order to these campuses."

The White House declined to weigh in, saying decisions to call in National Guard units to break up protests are up to state governors.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Somalia reports food diversion involving US-trained soldiers

By Harun Maruf April 26, 2024

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.

Somalia's 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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russo-Ukraine War - 26 April 2024 - Day 793

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that the advance of Russian forces west of Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast, has accelerated within the past week. Russian Ground Forces (RGF) have created a narrow salient further into Ukrainian territory to enter the town of Ocheretyne, located approximately 15km north of central Avdiivka.

Since RGF took control of Avdiivka in mid-February 2024, the area has remained one of the primary areas of Russian operations. 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 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that on April 26, 79x tactical engagements were reported.

Russian forces launched a total of 1x missile and 67x air strikes, 67x MLRS attacks on the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of the formation of Russian offensive groups were found.

Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia maintains its military presence in the areas of russia bordering Ukraine. Russia continues its sabotage and reconnaissance activities, shelling Ukrainian settlements from the territory of Russia and increases the density of minefields along the state border of Ukraine. The Russian adversary's air strikes targeted the city of Sumy and the vicinities of Volfyne (Sumy oblast), Derhachi, Vysoka Yaruha, Lyptsi, Ohirtseve, and Vodyane (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 20x settlements, including Khrinivka, Yeline, Huta-Studenets'ka, Lubiane, Buchky (Chernihiv oblast), Prohres, Starykove, Bilopillya, and Bilovody (Sumy oblast).

Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian troops repelled 7x attacks in the vicinities of Kyslivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast), and Stel'makhivka (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Pishchane and Hlushkivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, and Stepova Novoselivka (Kharkiv oblast).

Lyman axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 9x attacks in the vicinities of Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast), Terny, and south of Zarichne (Donetsk oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Makiivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Yampolivka, and Tors'ke (Donetsk oblast).

Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian troops repelled 8x attacks in the vicinities of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Vyimka, Spirne, and Ivanivske (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces attempted to improve its tactical position in that area. Also, the Russian adversary launched air strikes in the vicinity of Chasiv Yar (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Hryhorivka, Kalynivka, and Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast).

Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 23x attacks in the vicinities of Arkhanhel's'ke, Keramik, Ocheretyne, Semenivka, Umans'ke, and Kalynove (Donetsk oblast). With the air support, Russian forces attempted to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions in that area. Also, Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Novobakhmutivka and Memryk (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Keramik, Arkhanhel's'ke, and Soloviove (Donetsk oblast).

Novopavlivka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Prechystivka, and Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast). With the air support, Russian forces made 12x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense in that area. The Russian adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of settlements of Paraskoviivka and Kostyantynivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, and Vuhledar (Donetsk oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

Orikhiv axis: with the air support, Russian forces launched 3x attacks on the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the vicinities of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast) and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 20x settlements, including Chervone, Bilohir'ya, and Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came 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. For instance, on April Russian forces launched 3x unsuccessful attacks on the positions of the Ukrainian troops in the vicinity of Krynky (Kherson oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Tomaryne (Kherson oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Tyahynka, Ivanivka, Novotyahynka, Bilozerka, Veletens'ke, Kizomys, and Tokarivka (Kherson oblast).

On April 26, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 11x concentrations of the Russian invaders' troops.

The Ukrainian Missile Forces hit 2x concentration of Russian troops, 1x radar station, 3x air defense systems, 1x electronic warfare station, and 1x materiel supply depot.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Zapad Group of Forces seized more advantageous lines and inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the 3rd Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Borovoye (Kharkov region). In addition, they repelled a counter-attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 408th Separate Rifle Battalion close to Terny (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 20 Ukrainian troops and two pickup trucks. In counter-battery warfare, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery radar station of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were eliminated.

The Yug Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line and defeated the units of the 5th Assault, 41st Mechanised, 79th Air Assault, 46th Airmobile brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Maksimilyanovka, Katerinovka, Paraskoviyevka, Chasov Yar, Stupochki, Konstantinovka, and Krasnogorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

One attack launched by assault groups of the AFU 58th Separate Mechanised Infantry Battalion has been repelled near Nevelskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 430 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, as well as one unmanned aerial vehicle command post.

In counter-battery warfare, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, one 122-mm D-30 gun, one 105-mm U.S.-made M102 howitzer, two Anklav electronic warfare stations, one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery warfare radar station, and four field ammunition depots.

The Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the 59th Motorised Infantry Brigade, 23rd, 115th mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Novoaleksandrovka, Karlovka, Novogorodskoye, and Arkhangelskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, eight counter-attacks launched by the assault groups of the 25th Air Assault, the 68th, 71st jaeger, 142nd Infantry, 24th and 100th mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been repelled near Novokalinovo, Shumy, Berdychi, Semyonovka, Ocheretino, and Netaylovo (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 415 Ukrainian troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, eight armoured personnel carriers, 13 armoured fighting vehicles, and three 122-mm D-30 howitzers.

The Vostok Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted fire damage on the units of the 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade of the AFU and 1st Separate National Guard Brigade of Ukraine near Urozhaynoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses included up to 105 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, and two U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers.

The Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the 117th Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the 121st and 126th territorial defence brigades near Novodanilovka (Zaporozhye region), Respublikanets, and Chervony Mayak (Kherson region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 35 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, a UK-made 155-mm FH-70 howitzer, three U.S.-made 155-mm M777 guns, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, and one U.S.-made 105-mm M102 towed howitzer.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery hit an echelon with Western weapons and military hardware near Udachnoye (Donetsk People's Republic), personnel and equipment of the 67th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU at a railway loading station near Balakleya (Kharkov region), as well as manpower and hardware of the AFU in 112 areas.

Air defence systems shot down 193 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, two Olkha MLRS shells, and three French-made Hammer aerial guided bombs during the day.

In total, 592 airplanes, 270 helicopters, 23,325 unmanned aerial vehicles, 509 anti-aircraft missile systems, 15,856 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,274 MLRS combat vehicles, 9,140 field artillery guns and mortars, and 21,308 special military vehicles have been neutralised since the beginning of the special military operation.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Security Council ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee Amends One Entry on Its Sanctions List

Press Release

Security Council

SC/15682

25 April 2024

On 25 April 2024, the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da'esh), AlQaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities enacted the amendments specified with strikethrough and/or underline in the entry below on its ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List of individuals and entities subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo set out in paragraph 1 of Security Council resolution 2610 (2021), and adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations.

A. Individuals

QDi.431 Name: 1: SANAULLAH 2: GHAFARI 3: na 4: na

Name (original script):   

Title: Dr. Designation: na DOB: a) 28 Oct. 1994 b) 24 May 1990 POB: Mir Bacha Kot District, Kabul Province, Afghanistan Good quality a.k.a.: a) Dr. Shahab al Muhajir b) Shahab Muhajer c) Shahab Mohajir d) Shahab Mahajar e) Shihab al Muhajir f) Shihab Muhajer g) Shihab Mohajir h) Shihab Mahajar Low quality a.k.a.: na Nationality: Afghanistan Passport no: na Afghanistan number: O1503093, issued on 25 Aug. 2016 in Kabul, Afghanistan (expired on 25 Aug. 2021) National identification no: na Address: a) Afghanistan (2021) b) Kunduz, Afghanistan (previous) Listed on: 21 Dec. 2021 (Amended on 25 April 2024) Other information: Leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant - Khorasan (ISIL - K) (QDe.161). Information Technology Expert. Father's name: Abdul Jabbar. Grandfather's name: Abdul Ghaffar. Photo is available for inclusion in the INTERPOL-UN Security Council Special Notice. INTERPOL-UN Security Council Special Notice web link: https://www.interpol.int/en/How-we-work/Notices/View-UN-Notices-Individuals.

The ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List is updated regularly on the basis of relevant information provided by Member States and international and regional organizations. An updated List is accessible on the ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee's website at the following URL: www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267/aq_sanctions_list.

The United Nations Security Council Consolidated List is also updated following all changes made to the ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List. An updated version of the Consolidated List is accessible via the following URL: www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/un-sc-consolidated-list.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Hacker Group Claims It Penetrated Belarusian KGB Network

By RFE/RL's Belarus Service April 26, 2024

A group known as Cyberpartisans claims it has infiltrated the network of Belarus's main security agency and accessed the personnel files of thousands of employees.

Cyberpartisans said on April 26 that the official website of the Belarusian KGB has not been working for more than two months because of its activities.

The group said on Telegram that its hackers penetrated the KGB system in the fall of 2023 and "pumped out all the available information."

As proof that it breached the agency's network, Cyberpartisans posted a list of administrators and the website's database and server logs on Telegram.

Belarusian KGB authorities have not commented on the claim, but the agency's website opened with a page that said the site was "under construction."

Group coordinator Yuliana Shametavets told the Associated Press that the attack was in response to comments by the agency's chief, Ivan Tertel, who accused the group this week of plotting attacks on the country's critical infrastructure, including a nuclear power plant.

"The KGB is carrying out the largest political repressions in the history of the country and must answer for it," said Shametavets, speaking from New York. "We work to save the lives of Belarusians, and not to destroy them, like the repressive Belarusian special services do."

Shametavets said once the group succeeded in hacking the KGB's network it was able to download personal files of more than 8,600 KGB employees.

The action is the second claimed by the group in as many weeks. The Cyberpartisans claimed last week to have hacked into the computers and security systems of the Hrodna Azot plant in the region of Homel, a major state-run producer of nitrogen compounds and fertilizers.

The group claimed that it took control of all internal e-mail accounts of as well as hundreds of computers, servers, the security system, and security cameras in the plant's buildings.

It said it would undo its work in exchange for the release of workers who were arrested during protests against the disputed 2020 presidential election.

Cyberpartisans is a decentralized community of anonymous hackers that first appeared in September 2020.

It has previously hacked into the resources of Belarusian state institutions and law enforcement agencies and publicized classified information in response to state repression against protesters. The group says its activity is part of the struggle against the authoritarian rule of Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

Lukashenka, 69, has tightened his grip on the country since the August 2020 election by arresting -- sometimes violently -- tens of thousands of people. Fearing for their safety, most opposition members have fled the country.

With reporting by AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-cyberattack-kgb- lukashenka-cyberpartisans/32922408.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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






'Just in case' antibiotics widely overused during COVID-19, says UN health agency

26 April 2024 - Antibiotics saw "extensive overuse" globally among hospitalised COVID-19 patients during the pandemic without improving clinical outcomes, while also potentially increasing the already serious and growing threat of antimicrobial resistance from "superbugs", the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.

In an alert, WHO noted that although just eight per cent of hospitalised coronavirus patients also had bacterial infections which can be treated with antibiotics, a staggering three in four were given them on a "just in case" basis.

At no point during the global pandemic did the UN health agency recommend using antibiotics to treat COVID-19, insisted WHO spokesperson Dr. Margaret Harris.

Viral, not bacterial

"The advice was very clear from the start that this was a virus. So, it wasn't that there was any guidance or any recommendation that that clinicians go in this direction, but perhaps because people were dealing with something completely new, they were looking for whatever they thought might be appropriate."

According to the UN health agency, antibiotic use ranged from 33 per cent for patients in the Western Pacific region to 83 per cent in the Eastern Mediterranean and the African regions. Between 2020 and 2022, prescriptions decreased over time in Europe and the Americas, but they increased in Africa.

Last hope

Data compiled by WHO also indicated that most antibiotics were given to critically ill COVID-19 patients, at a global average of 81 per cent. Antibiotic use in mild or moderate infections showed considerable variation across regions, with highest use in Africa, at 79 per cent.

Worryingly, the UN agency found that the most frequently prescribed bacteria-busting antibiotics globally were those with higher potential for antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

"When a patient requires antibiotics, the benefits often outweigh the risks associated with side effects or antibiotic resistance. However, when they are unnecessary, they offer no benefit while posing risks, and their use contributes to the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance," said Dr. Silvia Bertagnolio, WHO unit head for surveillance, evidence and laboratory strengthening division for AMR.

No positive impact

The UN health agency report maintained that antibiotic use "did not improve clinical outcomes for patients with COVID-19".

Instead, their systematic prescription "might create harm for people without bacterial infection, compared to those not receiving antibiotics," WHO said in a statement.

"These data call for improvements in the rational use of antibiotics to minimise unnecessary negative consequences for patients and populations."

The findings were based on data from the WHO Global Clinical Platform for COVID-19, a database of anonymous clinical data from patients hospitalised with the coronavirus. Data came from 450,000 patients in 65 countries from January 2020 to March 2023.

Superbugs

Antimicrobial resistance threatens the prevention and treatment of an ever-increasing range of infections caused by bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses.

It occurs when these bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. As a result, the medicines become ineffective, and infections persist in the body, increasing the risk of spread to others.

Antimicrobials - including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitics - are medicines used to prevent and treat infections in humans, animals and plants. Micro-organisms that develop antimicrobial resistance are sometimes referred to as "superbugs".



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Targeting threats in the wider frontiers

26 April 2024

The ADF's space and cyber capabilities will be bolstered by up to $32 billion in the coming decade under the 2024 Integrated Investment Program.

About $9 billion to $12 billion will go towards the space domain to provide resilient communications, surveillance and reconnaissance, and improved space awareness and control.

The ability to monitor threats to space capabilities will increase through the introduction of a deep-space advanced radar system, for detection, tracking and identification of objects in deep space.

A sovereign-owned Australian Defence satellite communications system will also be introduced, including communications satellites with ground stations and operations centres across Australia.

The ADF's warfighting networks will benefit from $15 billion to $20 billion in the cyber domain, including defensive and offensive capabilities to fight malicious activity.

These will provide greater visibility of threats to infrastructure, increase resilience to cyber attacks and provide new intelligence functions.

Defence and the Australian Signals Directorate, alongside domestic and international partners, will continue to ensure Australian networks remain stable and secure.

Australian Signals Directorate's REDSPICE program funding was prioritised to enhance cyber capabilities.

Investments will also bolster ADF's deployable defensive cyber systems and training to grow the cyber workforce.

About $2.7 billion to $3.7 billion has been allocated towards electronic warfare development and integration.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Undersea robots set to patrol and protect

26 April 2024

Navy is on course to acquire the most advanced undersea autonomous vehicles in the world.

Ghost Shark will provide Navy with a stealthy, long-range autonomous undersea warfare capability that can conduct persistent intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and strike.

It will also enhance Navy's ability to operate with allies and partners.

Jointly developed and funded by a partnership between Defence and Anduril Australia, Ghost Shark will become "mission zero" for the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA).

Head of ASCA Professor Emily Hilder said ASCA missions address Defence's most pressing needs, with a focus on rapidly delivery.

"The co-funded and collaborative contract between Anduril Australia and Defence is a fast and innovative way for Defence to pursue new technology that directly relates to capability needs," she said.

"ASCA wants to hear from Australian companies with solutions to Defence's biggest challenges."

The Ghost Shark Program started in the middle of 2022, with the first prototype being delivered one year early, and the first production variant expected to be delivered by the end of 2025.

It forms part of the Government's investment of up to $7.2 billion for the development and acquisition of subsea warfare capabilities and new autonomous and uncrewed maritime vehicles.

The Government is spending more than $10 billion on autonomous and uncrewed systems, including armed systems, as part of a comprehensive plan to provide the ADF with capabilities it needs to meet strategic circumstances.

Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond said the Ghost Shark would be a crucial tool in protecting Australia.

"This collaboration combines Navy's expertise, ASCA's speed to delivery, Defence's scientific smarts and Anduril Australia's experience in agile innovation," Vice Admiral Hammond said.

"We are a nation girt by sea, and the Ghost Shark is one of the tools we are developing for the Navy to patrol and protect our oceans and our connection to the world."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Guardian a blessing in the skies

By Lieutenant Commander John Thompson

26 April 2024

Australia's watchful 'guardian-from-above', the E-7A Wedgetail, has returned home after providing critical early-warning protection for the military and humanitarian logistic hubs supporting Ukraine.

Around 100 RAAF crew and support personnel operated out of Ramstein Air Base in Germany during the six-month deployment, in response to a request for help from the US.

Wing Commander Darrin Lindsay led the operation and said it was an effective deployment.

"We acted as a back stop - we provided awareness of what was happening, detecting any threats to the military and humanitarian logistics hubs. If we observed anything unusual we would advise those on the ground who could then provide the necessary protection of those hubs," Wing Commander Lindsay said.

On its journey back to Australia the aircraft spent a few days at RAF Base Lossiemouth in Scotland.

The crew was met by the High Commissioner to London, Stephen Smith, and the Head of Australian Defence Staff in London Brigadier Grant Mason.

Mr Smith said the deployment has been an important one for Australia.

"This has been a substantial contribution to the mission in Ukraine - we have successfully demonstrated our ability to provide vital protection of the logistic hubs in support for Ukraine," he said.

The aircraft flew more than 250 hours with missions averaging around five hours each.

Brigadier Grant Mason said the mission was complex.

"The RAAF contingent has done an outstanding job. They have demonstrated a real deterrence effect in protecting these critical logistics hubs.

"The mission has also highlighted the contribution that we can make and have made to our partners in maintaining the rules based global order," Brigadier Mason said.

The Wedgetail is operated by 2 Squadron at RAAF Base Williamtown. It is one of the most advanced airborne early-warning systems in the world.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






China, North Korea denounce Japan's involvement with AUKUS

China says it firmly opposes foreign military alliances targeting it and stoking bloc confrontation.

By RFA Staff 2024.04.26 -- 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 China's 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 China's 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 China's 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.

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 Japan's 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 Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency on Thrusday.

Japan's involvement

"Recognizing Japan's 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.

Japan's 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 Washington's 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.

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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Lithuania expresses strong protest to Belarus over disinformation spread

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2024.04.26

On 26 April, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania summoned Yaroslav Khmyl, chargA d'affaires ad interim of Belarus, and handed him a diplomatic note, expressing a strong protest over the statements made on 25 April 2024 by Belarus' KGB chief Ivan Tertel, about alleged threats to Belarus rising from Lithuania, including alleged strikes of military drones from the territory of Lithuania on objects in the territory of Belarus and other similar, unsubstantiated insinuations. Such statements by representatives of the Belarusian regime have nothing to do with reality.

Lithuania's Foreign Ministry demanded that Belarus's Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately refute the disinformation. It also reiterated that Lithuania would take all possible measures to ensure its security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






How Russian Nuclear Umbrella Shields Belarus From NATO and Minions

Sputnik News

20240426

Ekaterina Blinova

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.

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.

"There is certainly a threat [to Belarus from the West]," Dmitry Stefanovich of the Moscow-based Institute of World Economy and International Relations with the Russian Academy of Sciences told Sputnik. "The military doctrine very clearly states that this threat is multi-faceted. It addresses not only some sort of a potential military confrontation but also attempts [by external players] to launch negative destabilization processes within the country."

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.

"This is a symbol that Russia is fully extending its nuclear umbrella to Belarus," the expert said. "And that an armed conflict in Belarus cannot but involve Russia as a guarantor. [Russia and Belarus] have a single defense contour of the Union State, which is multi-faceted, including the nuclear sphere."

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.

"Active programs for [Belarusian military] rearmament, increased combat readiness, etc., have been launched with the direct participation of Russia," Stefanovich stressed. "That is, several years ago the so-called joint combat training centers were formed. More modern weapons are gradually entering into service."

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 People's 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.

"There is no military threat from Lithuania specifically," the expert said. "However, there are troops of different NATO member states deployed in the country."

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.

"Right now I wouldn't consider this as a real threat. If there were no Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, there could be grounds for concerns. But since they exist and they are to a large extent in Belarusian hands, this means that Belarus is unlikely to face a big blow from NATO. And a small blow, if it is delivered by Lithuania or by the Belarusian oppositionists under the guise of Lithuania, would be easily repelled by the Belarusian Army," the analyst concluded.



A Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary Antony J. Blinken And People's Republic of China Director of the Chinese Communist Party Central Foreign Affairs Commission and Foreign Minister Wang Yi Before Their Meeting

US Department of State

Remarks

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Diaoyutai State Guesthouse

Beijing, People's Republic of China

April 25, 2024



FOREIGN MINISTER WANG: (Via interpreter) Mr. Secretary of State (inaudible) after ten (inaudible) the past few years, the China-U.S. relationship has gone through ups and downs (inaudible) turbulence after the (inaudible) of our two presidents, the giant shift of this relationship has weathered (inaudible) and overcome (inaudible) we managed to return to Bali, arrive at San Francisco, and then the (inaudible) journey from San Francisco.

Overall, the China-U.S. relationship is beginning to stabilize. Across the areas our two sides have increased dialogue, cooperation, and the positive side of the relationship. This is welcomed by our two peoples and the international community. But at the same time, the negative factors in the relationship is still increasing and building, and the relationship is facing all kinds of disruptions. China's legitimate development rights have been unreasonably suppressed and our 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? This is a major question before our two countries and tests our sincerity and ability (inaudible). 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.

China's attitudes is consistent; we always bear in mind the vision of (inaudible) with a shared future for mankind and (inaudible) develop China-U.S. relationship from this global perspective. We have always acted with a sense of responsibility to the people, to the world and to the future.

China's position has been consistent. We always follow the principles laid forth by President Xi Jinping, which is mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and winning cooperation, and are committed to a stable, healthy, and sustainable China-U.S. relationship.

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.

Your visit this time is part of the efforts to implement our presidents' common understandings on maintaining communication, managing differences, advancing cooperation, and strengthening coordination on international affairs. I look forward to an in-depth exchange of views with you today. Thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Mr. Director, thank you for receiving us today and for hosting us here in Beijing. It's good to be back.

We had a good visit to Shanghai just yesterday - good, candid conversations with Party Secretary Chen, with Chinese and American students who are working and learning together, with our business community that is so active here in China.

But in Beijing, the President asked me to travel back to work on moving forward on the agreements that our two presidents reached in San Francisco at the end of last year: resuming cooperation on counternarcotics; restarting our military-to-military conversations; looking together at the future of artificial intelligence - its risks and safety issues; and trying to strengthen our people-to-people connections; but also, critically, managing responsibly our differences.

Moving forward on the agenda that our presidents set requires active diplomacy, and there is no substitute, in our judgment, for face-to-face diplomacy in order to try to move forward, but also to make sure that we're as clear as possible about the areas where we have differences, at the very least to avoid misunderstandings, to avoid miscalculations. 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.

I look forward in these discussions to 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 on China. But I underscore again it's important that we do that - important to demonstrate that we're managing responsibly the most consequential relationship, I think for both of us, in the world. I hope we can make some progress on the issues that our presidents agreed we should cooperate on, but also clarify our differences, our intent, and make very clear to each other where we stand.

So again, thank you for having us here today. I look forward to a very good discussion, as always.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Update: China, US reach five points of consensuses following Wang-Blinken meeting

Global Times

By Chen Qingqing Published: Apr 26, 2024 09:10 AM Updated: Apr 26, 2024 10:51 PM

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday in Beijing. Wang pointed out that although positive interactions in the bilateral relations have been increasing, negative factors in China-US relations continue to build up as China's core interests are challenged, warning that the US should not cross China's red lines on issues related to its sovereignty, security and development interests.

China and the US reached five points of consensuses on Friday following the Wang-Blinken meeting.

Both agreed to continue following the guidance of the heads of state of both countries, striving to stabilize and develop China-US relations. The parties affirm the positive progress made in dialogue and cooperation in various fields between China and the US since the meeting in San Francisco, agreeing to accelerate the implementation of important consensuses reached by the heads of state in San Francisco.

Second, both parties agreed to maintain high-level exchanges and contacts at all levels. They will continue to leverage the restored and newly established consultation mechanisms in diplomatic, economic, financial, and business sectors. They will continue military exchanges and further advance cooperation between China and the US in drug prohibition, climate change, and artificial intelligence.

Third, both parties announce that they will hold the first intergovernmental dialogue on artificial intelligence between China and the US, continue to advance consultations on guiding principles of China-US relations, conduct a new round of consultations on Asia-Pacific affairs and maritime affairs between China and the US, and continue China-US consular consultations. The China-US drug prohibition working group will hold a high-level meeting. The US welcomes Chinese Special Envoy for Climate Change Affairs Liu Zhenmin's visit to the country.

Fourth, both sides will take measures to expand cultural exchanges between the two countries, welcome students from each other's countries, and successfully hold the 14th China-US Tourism High-level Dialogue in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, in May.

Fifth, both parties will continue consultations on international and regional issues of concern, with special envoys from both sides strengthening communication.

Some Chinese experts welcomed the positive comments made by both sides on emphasizing cooperation, effectively managing differences and focusing on the importance of stabilizing bilateral relations, who also hailed the meeting as effective and constructive.

Last November, Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden met in San Francisco, jointly outlining the San Francisco Vision. Under the leadership of the two heads of state, China-US relations have generally stabilized, Wang said.

In the current complex international situation, what are the next steps for China-US relations? A fundamental question needs answering: should China and the US be partners or adversaries? This is the first step toward the stable development of the relationship, Wang told Blinken.

If the US always regards China as its main adversary, China-US relations will only face continuous troubles and problems, Wang said.

Dialogue, cooperation, and positive interactions in various fields have increased, which has been welcomed by both peoples and the international community. However, on the other hand, negative factors in China-US relations continue to rise and accumulate, facing various disruptions and sabotage, with China's legitimate rights to development being unreasonably suppressed and China's core interests continually challenged, the top Chinese diplomat said.

Wang emphasized that whether China-US relations will adhere to the correct path of stability and progress or repeat the cycle of spiraling downward is a significant issue facing both nations, testing their sincerity and capabilities.

It remains to be seen whether both sides will lead in international cooperation to address global issues for mutual and multilateral gains, or oppose and confront each other, even to the point of conflict, leading to losses for all, he noted.

On the Taiwan question, Wang emphasized that it is the first and foremost red line in China-US relations. China demands that the US adhere strictly to the one-China principle and the three US-China joint communiques, not send the wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces in any way.

The US side should fulfill President Biden's commitments of not supporting "Taiwan independence," not supportinga two Chinas or "one China, one Taiwan," not using it as a tool to contain China, and stop arming Taiwan island, and support China's peaceful reunification, Wang said.

The US has implemented numerous measures to suppress China's economic and technological advancement, which is not fair competition but containment and encirclement, not risk reduction but risk creation, Wang told Blinken.

The Chinese diplomat said the US should act on its statements of not seeking to contain China's economic development, not seeking to decouple from China, and having no intention of hindering Chinese technological progress, stop promoting the false narrative of China's overcapacity, lift illegal sanctions on Chinese companies, and cease imposing tariffs that violate WTO rules.

Wang also stressed that China's attitude has been consistent, viewing and developing China-US relations from the perspective of building a community with a shared future for mankind, being responsible to the people, the world, and the future.

China's stance has been consistent, always adhering to the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation proposed by President Xi, committed to promoting a stable, healthy and sustainable development of China-US relations, he continued.

China's demands have been consistent, always advocating for respect for each other's core interests. The US should not interfere in China's internal affairs, suppress China's development, or infringe upon China's sovereignty, security, and development interests, Wang said.

From the Chinese side, Wang further clarified that the constructive outcomes and a positive future for US-China relations hinge on respecting China's core interests. China's respect for US interests and legitimate rights has always been consistent, but US policy toward China has been characterized by a discrepancy between positive rhetoric and problematic actions, Li Haidong, a professor from the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Friday.

"Hence,Wang made it clear in his discussions with Blinken that the US must fully understand China's position on core issues such as the Taiwan question and the rights to China's development," Li said.

During the meeting, Wang stressed that the Asia-Pacific region should not become a battlefield for major powers. He hopes the US will make the right choice, move toward China, achieve benign interactions in the Asia-Pacific, abandon exclusionary practices, refrain from coercing regional countries to take sides, stop deploying land-based intermediate-range missiles, and cease undermining China's strategic security interests and the hard-won peace and stability of the region.

Blinken said during the meeting that the US-China relationship is one of the most important bilateral relationships in the world, and responsibly managing it is a common responsibility of both nations. The US continues to follow a one-China policy, does not support "Taiwan independence," seeks no change in China's system, has no intention of conflict with China, seeks no "decoupling" from China, and does not seek to contain China's development. A successfully developed China is good for the world, according to a readout released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The US senior diplomat is willing to move forward based on the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries in San Francisco, enhance dialogue and communication, effectively manage differences, avoid misunderstandings and misjudgments, and promote stable development of US-China relations.

The two sides also exchanged views on issues such as the Ukraine conflict, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the situations in North Korea and Myanmar.

Both sides agreed that the talks were candid, substantive, and constructive, and agreed to continue following the guidance of their leaders to stabilize and develop US-China relations.

They affirmed the positive progress in dialogue and cooperation in various fields since the San Francisco meeting, agreed to accelerate the implementation of the important consensus reached by the leaders in San Francisco, maintain high-level and various levels of contacts, continue military exchanges and consultations in various fields, further advance US-China cooperation on banning chemical weapons and artificial intelligence, and take measures to expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

"To some extent, this dialogue was a reassurance process, ensuring that both sides mutually align better in handling different issues, guaranteeing an effective relationship with more cooperation and a more positive direction," Li said.

As the US has often made issued verbal assurances in the past but has had many issues in action, this exchange helps the US overcome unfavorable factors and benefit from positive elements, building on a foundation of accumulated consensus and mutual interests to ensure a stable and long-lasting relationship, the expert noted.

It is also evident that both sides have high expectations for a stable, controllable, and constructive China-US relations and the aim of the exchanges was to ensure these expectations are met with actions, as a stable and cooperative bilateral relationship, based on respect for each other's development rights and core interests, nurtures a relationship that serves the common interests and demands of both sides, experts said.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Xi meets Blinken, says China hopes US can view its development in a positive light

Global Times

By Chen Qingqing and Ma Ruiqian Published: Apr 26, 2024 10:04 PM

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday in Beijing. Xi said China is willing to cooperate with the US, but cooperation should be a two-way street.

China is happy to see a confident, open, prosperous and thriving US, and hopes the US can also look at China's development in a positive light, Xi said.

"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 stabilize, improve and move forward," Xi said.

China is willing to cooperate with the US, but cooperation should be a two-way street, Xi noted. "China is not afraid of competition, but competition should be about common progress, not a zero-sum game."

Xi said China is committed to non-alignment, and the US should not form small circles, adding that both sides can have their own friends and partners and should refrain from targeting, opposing or damaging each other.

The diplomatic teams of the two sides also reached five points of consensus on Friday including to maintain high-level exchange and contact at all levels, continue military exchanges and further advance cooperation between China and the US in drug prohibition, climate change, and artificial intelligence.

Some Chinese experts said President Xi's meeting with Blinken can be described as a top-level reception, and the US should realize the inaccuracies, biases, and misconceptions prevalent in America's foreign policy toward China.

This also helps the West to view China more accurately and assists China in gaining a more accurate understanding of US policy toward China and its overall foreign policy, experts said.

For a certain period of time, China has been concerned with the US' approach of "saying nice things while continuing harmful actions," Diao Daming, a professor at the Renmin University of China in Beijing, told the Global Times on Friday.

The US should adhere to its words with actions, ensuring promises lead to results, and not say one thing while doing another, and the trust should be the foundation to protect mutual interests and foster the development of the bilateral relations, Diao said.

During the meeting, Blinken said during his visit, he found that Americans from various sectors in China also hoped to see an improvement in bilateral relations.

The US is not seeking a "new Cold War," does not aim to change China's system, does not seek to contain China's development, and does not intend to oppose China through alliances, nor does it intend to enter into conflict with China, the US diplomat said.

The US adheres to the one-China policy and hopes to maintain communication with China, seriously implement the San Francisco consensus reached between the two leaders, seek further cooperation, avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations, responsibly manage differences, and promote stable development in the bilateral relations, Blinken said during the meeting, according to a readout released by China's Foreign Ministry.

The latest communication can also be described as a process of mutual reassurance, Li Haidong, a professor from the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Friday.

"In the new environment, China and the US need to ensure the establishment of a stable, coordinated, mutually beneficial, equal, and cooperative relationship. Both sides have this willingness, and our actions are very clear, but the US has not kept pace," the expert said.

Therefore, we emphasize that this reassurance process should be pragmatically advanced, enabling China-US relations to withstand various turbulences and endure the impacts of international situations, which is also very important, Li added.

Although the consensus between the two sides on effectively managing their relationship seems to have been largely reached throughout the latest high-level interactions between China and the US, some experts are concerned whether the US can guarantee that it will effectively manage differences and expanding cooperation through action, especially when Biden are currently in the midst of elections.

"If the US is unable to follow the consensus and fulfill its promises, and even further seeks to contain China due to election politics, encircle China, tarnish China's image, and interfere in China's internal affairs, it is very likely to have a negative impact on the future trajectory of China-US relations," Diao said.

The US' negative moves, such as arms sales to Taiwan, the attempted ban of TikTok, and the smear campaign targeting China's human rights and governance in Xinjiang, have been ongoing. Therefore, if the relationship between the two sides is to overcome uncertainty, the main source of uncertainty still lies with the US, Li said.

The overall trend in the bilateral relations this year may also be stable, but there are significant risks. These risks primarily stem from the strong domestic political constraints on the White House in handling issues related to China policy, the expert noted.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on April 26, 2024

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

2024-04-26 22:39



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 other's 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? This is a bottom line for China-US ties to remain steady and grow. 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 communiquAs, and not to send any form of wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" separatists. The US needs to act on President Biden's 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 China's peaceful reunification.a

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 China's economy, decouple or bar China's progress in science and technology. It should honor those words. The US needs to stop hyping up the false narrative "Chinese overcapacity", lift illegal 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 ground-based medium-range missiles, stop harming China's 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 China's system, has no intention to have conflict with China, and does not seek to decouple from China or hold back China's 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 don't have information to share for the moment.

Anadolu Agency: Germany's 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 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 Germany Ambassador being summoned. On March 31, 2022, the Australian Ambassador to China complained that he couldn't 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 China's 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 it's now appropriate for the Chinese authorities to summon the German ambassador and to complain about Germany's legal system in these cases?

Wang Wenbin: I don't think this is a fair comparison.a

About Cheng Lei's case, the Chinese authorities released information on it, which you may refer to. China's 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 Australia's 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.a

As for the so-called "Chinese spy" cases, we've stressed multiples 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 other's 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 China's arrangements and expectations?a

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.a

Argentina is an important emerging market, major developing country, and China's 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 Mondino's 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.a

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 Sosa's 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 Peru's President Dina Boluarte in San Francisco, which provided guidance for the China-Peru relations. This is Foreign Minister GonzAlez-Olaechea's 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. What's China's 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 US's opposition to China's 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 over our normal trade and economic exchanges with Russia, while passing legislation to provide massive aid to Ukraine.a

The root cause of the Ukraine crisis lies in regional security tensions that had 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. China's position on Ukraine has been just and objective. We have actively promoted talks for peace. Shifting the blame on China will not end the crisis, nor will it help those who find themselves in a difficult position on Ukraine.a

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 illegal organization that violates China's Constitution and laws. No country in the world recognizes it.a

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 to the utmost extent, a handful of people close to him, not so-called "high degree of autonomy for Tibet." We hope the 14th Dalai Lama will have a right understanding of the central government's 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.

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 China's comment on this?

Wang Wenbin: Those comments lack factual basis. They're aimed at shifting blame and diverting people's 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 Russia's imports of weapon components and dual-use articles come from the US and other Western countries. Our normal trade with Russia is done aboveboard. It's 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: It's 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. What's China's comment?

Wang Wenbin: We noted the reports and German Foreign Minister Baerbock's 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 world's 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 China's 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 China's 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 China's 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 China's positions many times, which you may refer to.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Blinken meets Xi amid warning of 'downward spiral' in ties

Wrapping up his trip to China, the top US diplomat accused Beijing of interfering in upcoming elections.

By Alex Willemyns for RFA 2024.04.26 -- 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 People's 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 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," he said.

With friends like these

Blinken's trip was marked by a number of key policy differences, most prominently including American complaints about Chinese support for Russia's defense industrial base, and Beijing's 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 China's 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 China's "industrial overcapacity," and also "reiterated our serious concern" about the support for Russia's war in Ukraine.

"Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without China's support," he said, calling China the top supplier of machine tools, microelectronics and nitrocellulose to Russia's defense industry.

"If China does not address this problem, we will," Blinken said. "We've 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."

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 we're 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 Blinken's 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 Blinken's 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 year's talks between Biden and Xi, but that China's "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 Wang's 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.

But then again, Blinken's 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 Blinken's 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.

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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






China Hopes US Will Stop Deploying Mid-Range Missiles in Asia-Pacific Region - Wang Yi

Sputnik News

20240426

BEIJING (Sputnik) - 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.

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.

The planned deployment of a mid-range missile system in the Asia-Pacific would be the first of its kind since the United States and Russia agreed to the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 1987. The INF Treaty previously prohibited the United States and Russia from possessing surface-launched medium-range ballistic and cruise missiles with a range between 500 and 5,500 kilometers.

A Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






US Should Stop Interfering in China's Domestic Affairs - Chinese Foreign Minister

Sputnik News

20240426

BEIJING (Sputnik) - The United States should not interfere in China's domestic affairs or suppress its development, nor should it cross China's "red lines," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Friday at a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

"China's demands are consistent. It always advocates mutual respect for core interests. The United States should not interfere in China's internal affairs, should not suppress China's development, and should not cross Beijing's red lines regarding China's sovereignty, security and development interests," Wang said as quoted by China Central Television (CCTV).

China's legitimate rights to development are being constantly suppressed and its core interests are being challenged, the Chinese Foreign Minister emphasized.

Wang said China-US relations are facing various obstacles.

"China's legitimate rights to development are being unreasonably suppressed, and China's core interests are constantly being challenged," Wang said.

Although the relations between China and the United States have generally stabilized, negative factors continue to grow and accumulate, the Chinese Foreign Minister stressed.

"Under the leadership of the two countries' leaders, China-US relations have generally stabilized, and the two sides have increased dialogue, cooperation and positive aspects in various fields, which is welcomed by the peoples of the two countries and the international community," Wang said.

However, he highlighted, "negative factors in Chinese-American relations continue to grow and accumulate."

A Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary Blinken's Visit to the People's Republic of China

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

April 26, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken traveled to Shanghai and Beijing, the People's Republic of China, for meetings with President Xi Jinping, Director of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Foreign Affairs Commission and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong, and Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining from April 24-26.

The two sides had in-depth, substantive, and constructive discussions on key priorities in the bilateral relationship and on a range of regional and global issues. The Secretary emphasized that the United States will continue to use diplomacy to make progress in areas of difference and areas of cooperation that matter to the American people and the world as part of responsibly managing competition with the PRC.

The Secretary pressed for continued progress in implementing the leaders' Woodside Summit commitments on key issues, including advancing counternarcotics cooperation to disrupt the global flow of synthetic drugs - including fentanyl and their precursor chemicals - into the United States, enhancing military-to-military communication to avoid miscalculation and conflict, and launching talks on managing the risk and safety challenges posed by advanced forms of artificial intelligence.

The two sides also discussed the importance of strengthening ties between the people of the United States and China. The Secretary emphasized the importance of responsible and reciprocal policies to facilitate expanded exchanges between students, scholars, and businesses.

The Secretary addressed the PRC's non-market economic policies and practices that distort trade or threaten our national security and raised concern about the global economic consequences of PRC industrial overcapacity. He advocated for fair treatment and a level playing field for U.S. workers and business. The Secretary reiterated that the United States will continue to take necessary actions to defend our interests and values, and those of our allies and partners, including preventing advanced U.S. technologies from being used to undermine our national security and economy without unduly limiting trade or investment.

The Secretary underscored that it remains a top priority to resolve the cases of American citizens who are wrongfully detained or subject to exit bans in China. He raised concerns about the erosion of Hong Kong's autonomy and democratic institutions and the PRC's human rights violations in Xinjiang and Tibet, as well as transnational repression and individual cases of concern.

The Secretary raised serious concerns with PRC support to Russia's defense industrial base that is enabling Russia to prosecute its war against Ukraine and undermining European and transatlantic security.

The Secretary underscored the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and reiterated there has been no change to the U.S. one China policy, which is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances.

He expressed concerns over destabilizing PRC actions at Second Thomas Shoal, and the importance of upholding the rule of law and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. The Secretary discussed the need to prevent an escalation of the crisis in the Middle East. He underscored the U.S. enduring commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Both sides reaffirmed the importance of maintaining open lines of communication at all times and agreed to continued high-level diplomacy and interactions in the United States and the PRC in the period ahead.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary Antony J. Blinken And People's Republic of China President Xi Jinping Before Their Meeting

US Department of State

Remarks

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Great Hall of the People

Beijing, People's Republic of China

April 26, 2024

PRESIDENT XI: (Via interpreter) Mr. Secretary of State, welcome back to China. This year marked the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. Over the past 45 years, the relationship has gone through (inaudible) and just a number of important inspirations to offer. China and the United States should be partners rather than rivals. The two countries should 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 willing cooperation to be the three overarching principles. They are both lessons learned from the past and the guide for the future. 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 U.S. strengthen dialogue, manage differences, and advance cooperation.

I've said many times before that the planet is big enough to accommodate the common development and respective prosperity of China and the U.S. China is happy to see the confident, open, prosperous, and thriving United States. We hope the U.S. 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.

When President Biden and I met in San Francisco last year, we launched the San Francisco vision that is future oriented. In the last couple of months, the two teams have followed upon our common understandings, maintained communication in various areas, and made some good progress, but there are still issues to be addressed (inaudible) 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.

Please convey my regards to President Biden. So much for my opening remarks.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Mr. President, thank you very much. Thank you for receiving us today. It's very good to be back in Beijing. President Biden asked me to return here to follow up on the important agenda that you both set in San Francisco to seek to deepen areas of cooperation as well as to manage responsibly the differences that we have. And I think we've seen progress in these areas of cooperation, particularly restoring military-to-military communications, on counternarcotics, on thinking together about the future of artificial intelligence, and working to strengthen our people-to-people ties.

We are committed to maintaining and strengthening the lines of communication between us to advance that agenda and, again, to deal responsibly with our differences so that we avoid any miscommunications, any misperceptions, any miscalculations.

I had a very good day yesterday in Shanghai. I had the opportunity to spend time with the Party Secretary Chen as well as to visit with Chinese and American students who were studying together at the NYU Shanghai campus, and to talk to our business community all about ways to deepen the ties between us.

Today I had very extensive and I think very candid and constructive exchanges with Director Wang Yi, where we covered the many bilateral, regional, and global issues that we have to contend with. And I also appreciated the opportunity to see Councilor Wang Xiaohong to look at the cooperation that we're developing on counternarcotics - something that you and President Biden agreed was vital.

In all of these areas, again, we are committed to responsibly managing the relationship. I very much appreciate the opportunity to speak to you today and to carry forward the discussion. Thank you.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary Antony J. Blinken And People's Republic of China Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong Before Their Meeting

US Department of State

Remarks

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Diaoyutai State Guesthouse

Beijing, People's Republic of China

April 26, 2024



MPS MINISTER WANG: (Via interpreter) (In progress) a had a very long discussion. It is the first face-to-face conversation between an official like myself and a State Secretary of the United States, demonstrating the importance that your side attached to our law enforcement cooperation. He also demonstrated the law enforcement cooperation is important part of our bilateral relationship. I am also very delighted to see Ambassador Burns, Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink, and Assistant Secretary Robinson, as well as many other old and new friends.

Last November, our two presidents had a historic summit meeting in San Francisco, and reached a series of important common understandings and deliverables, and opened up a future-oriented San Francisco vision. On April 2nd, President Xi had a phone call with President Joe Biden at the request of the latter. He pointed out to develop our bilateral relationship this year with the emphasis on peace, stability, and credibility. He laid emphasis on strengthening dialogues in a mutually respectful way, managing differences prudently, advancing cooperation in the spirit of mutual benefit.

Together with the three principles of mutual - and mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and willing cooperation, altogether they have laid out the overarching principles for how we should view and handle our bilateral relationship. In order to implement this important common understanding, beginning of this year, I had a video call with Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas, and together with Deputy Assistant Daskal we jointly announced the launch of China-U.S. Counternarcotics Working Group, and I also went to Vienna and had a meeting with Secretary Mayorkas.

We agreed that our law enforcement cooperation should be based on mutual respect, managing differences, and mutually beneficial cooperation, and we advance our cooperation on counternarcotics and law enforcement. We also made positive progress in terms of addressing each other's concerns. Later on, President Xi Jinping will also meet you. Here I would like to exchange ideas with you with regard to our counternarcotics and law enforcement cooperation.

Now I will first of all give the floor to you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, Mr. Minister, thank you very much and appreciate this opportunity today to speak with you and your colleagues. I did, as you said, just have an extensive and I think constructive conversation with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, spent about five and a half hours covering so many of the issues that define our relationship.

But in particular, we focused on following through on the work that our two presidents did when they met in San Francisco as well as in their recent phone call, and that includes trying to enhance areas of cooperation as well as dealing directly with the differences we have.

One of the areas for cooperation that the two presidents identified in San Francisco was on counternarcotics, and we appreciate the work that's been done in the time since then to build that cooperation. There is more that needs to be done to have a sustained impact, and I very much look forward to discussing that with you today as well as other issues between us.

But I think our ability to cooperate in this area, to show results, will have a very positive impact on relations between our countries and the interests of our people, so I look forward to this discussion.

Thank you for having us today.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Blinken warns China over support for Russia's war efforts

By William Gallo April 26, 2024

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed "serious concern" about China's support for Russia's defense industry on Friday, warning Chinese leaders that Washington could impose sanctions over the matter.

Blinken's comments came in Beijing, shortly after he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other senior Chinese leaders during meetings that covered a wide range of disputes between the two powers.

Near the top of Blinken's agenda, U.S. officials said, was China's provision of items such as microchips, machine tools, and other items Russia is using to create weapons for use in its war against Ukraine.

"I told Xi, if China does not address this problem, we will," said Blinken.

For weeks, U.S. officials have hinted at further sanctions meant to deter China's provision of so-called dual-use items to Russia, which Washington says has been crucial to Moscow's war on Ukraine. It is not clear how far Washington will go, however, since cutting off major Chinese banks from the U.S. financial system also could hurt the U.S. and global economy.

At a press conference in Beijing, Blinken did not reveal details about any possible measures, stating only that the United States has already imposed sanctions on more than 100 Chinese entities. "We're fully prepared to act, take additional measures, and I made that very clear in my meetings today," he noted.

China has defended its approach to Russia, saying it is only engaged in normal economic exchanges with a major trading partner. In his public remarks Friday, Xi did not mention the Russia-Ukraine issue. Instead, he focused on the necessity for U.S.-China ties to improve.

"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 said.

Blinken's meeting with Xi had not been previously announced but was widely expected.

U.S.-China relations stabilized last year, after Xi met U.S. President Joe Biden in California. At that summit, the two sides agreed to reopen military-to-military communication and take steps to reduce the flow of fentanyl, a dangerous narcotic responsible for tens of thousands of drug overdoses in the United States each year.

Blinken cited "important progress" on the fentanyl issue, even while insisting China needs to do more, including prosecute those who sell chemicals and equipment used to make fentanyl. Blinken also announced that both sides agreed to hold their first talks related to concerns over artificial intelligence.

Even as communications lines remain open, the United States and China continue to spar over a broad range of issues, including trade policies and territorial disputes.

The Biden administration is concerned about cheap Chinese exports, including heavily subsidized green technology products they say are undercutting U.S. companies.

During a five-and-a-half hour meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday, Blinken raised concerns, including the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, Chinese activities in the disputed South China Sea, and the need to avoid further escalation in the Middle East and on the Korean Peninsula, according to a U.S. readout.

China accuses the United States of inappropriately trying to contain its economic and military power. Following his meeting with Blinken, Wang said China-U.S. ties are "beginning to stabilize" but asserted that negative factors are "increasing and building," warning that the relationship faces "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?" Wang asked. "This is a major question before our two countries."

Big challenges

Analysts say any U.S. decision to impose sanctions over China's provision of dual-use equipment to Russia would face significant challenges.

If the Biden administration were to cut off major Chinese banks' access to the U.S. dollar, the move could disrupt U.S.-China trade, said Ian Chong, an international relations expert at the National University of Singapore.

Instead, the U.S. may decide to put limits on specific transactions or target smaller banks that have a more direct interest in Russia, Chong said.

Another challenge: dual-use items are notoriously difficult to track, since they often appear to be exported for non-military reasons with legitimate business partners.

"Those business partners can then sell those items to third parties, who can then continue selling those items down the chain until we get to the Russian military industrial complex," Chong said.

Some patterns are easier to identify than others.

Last year, China's export to Kyrgyzstan of ball bearings, which among other things can be used in the production of tanks, increased by more than 2,000%, according to Natasha Kuhrt, who specializes in China-Russia ties at King's College London.

"There's no problem in moving anything from Kyrgyzstan to Russia," she added, noting that such transactions appear to be a form of sanctions evasion.

But as the United States ramps up pressure on China, few expect Beijing to make major concessions.

"It may actually make China closer to Russia," said Artyom Lukin, a professor at Russia's Far Eastern Federal University.

While China may be concerned about the economic impact of U.S. sanctions, there are also important psychological factors at play, he said.

"To me, it's very much a question of pride, of China's national pride. It's not only about economic calculations," Lukin added. "And if China submits to U.S. demands now, it will be a major precedent."

However, many analysts note that China has made small concessions related to Russia, apparently because of U.S. and Western pressure.

"Already certain Chinese banks have stopped cooperating with Russian banks for fear of secondary sanctions," Kuhrt said. "So, the U.S. can have an effect in that sense."

But, she added, the broader China-Russia relationship will likely continue to thrive, given the common interests and worldviews of Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"I think we have to really just put away any thought of being able to drive a wedge between the two," she said.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






US Congress seeks to change Hong Kong office's address to Jimmy Lai Way

By Yihua Lee April 27, 2024

Two U.S. congressmen have introduced a bill to rename the street in front of Hong Kong's de facto embassy in Washington as "Jimmy Lai Way" in honor of the jailed media entrepreneur.

The bill would also apply the name change to the mailing address for the office, officially known as the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office.

Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey announced the bill in a statement Thursday, saying he and the bill's co-author, Rep. Tom Suozzi of New York, wanted to honor the "renowned Hong Kong human rights defender who remains unjustly imprisoned by Hong Kong authorities."

Authorities jailed the 76-year-old founder of Hong Kong media group Next Digital, formerly Next Media, in December 2020 after accusing him of fraud.

They also charged him with "conspiracy to collude with foreign countries or external forces to endanger national security" under Hong Kong's National Security Law. The cases are still ongoing, and Lai has been denied bail.

In the statement, Smith, who is chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, called the charges "fabricated" and "politically motivated."

"Jimmy Lai is a man of faith and conviction, someone who fervently believed that Hong Kong's prosperity and vitality were built on the rights promised to its citizens," Smith said. "For peacefully acting on this belief, he is arbitrarily detained."

Since Beijing imposed the tough Hong Kong security law in 2020, U.S. lawmakers from both parties have become increasingly concerned about the Asian financial hub's autonomy and are looking at measures to put pressure on its government.

Beijing says the security law is needed to maintain stability but has used it to arrest, jail and try hundreds of pro-democracy activists, stifling Hong Kong's once vibrant civil society.

In March, Hong Kong lawmakers unanimously and quickly approved their own sweeping national security law known as Basic Law Article 23, strengthening the government's ability to silence dissent.

"We will continue to press for Jimmy Lai's unconditional release and seek ways to raise the diplomatic and reputational costs globally for the Hong Kong government and their Chinese Communist Party masters for their rough dismantling of democratic freedoms and the rule of law in Hong Kong," Smith said in the statement.

Smith, who has long been concerned about human rights in China, nominated Lai and other jailed, well-known Chinese rights defenders Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi, along with Uyghur scholar Ilham Tohti, for the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize in February. U.S. lawmakers called them "advocates for peace and freedom."

"The free world must continue calling attention to the Chinese Communist Party's crimes in Xinjiang, erosion of democracy in Hong Kong, and saber-rattling against Taiwan," Suozzi said in the statement.

"Naming a street in Washington, D.C., after Jimmy Lai, a pro-democracy advocate and journalist standing up for human rights in Hong Kong, will signal to the entire world that the United States stands in solidarity with those who oppose the tyranny and repression of the Chinese government," he added.

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office has locations in three U.S. cities a Washington, New York and San Francisco.

VOA contacted the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office and the Chinese Embassy in Washington for their reaction to the proposed bill. They forwarded VOA's inquiry to the Information Services Department in Hong Kong, which did not receive respond by publication time.

U.S. lawmakers have on several occasions proposed name changes for roads in front of foreign embassies and territories to memorialize and honor rights defenders from those countries who were persecuted by their own governments.

In 2014, a bill was introduced to rename a portion of International Place NW, a street that runs in front of the Chinese Embassy in Washington after Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo. The Chinese writer and government critic died in custody in 2017.

In 2020, U.S. lawmakers proposed renaming the same street "Li Wenliang Plaza" after the doctor who was punished for posting warnings on social media about the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 in Wuhan. He died that same year from the virus.

In 2018, the city government in Washington renamed a section of the avenue in front of the Russian Embassy as "Boris Nemtsov Plaza" in honor of the Russian opposition activist who had been fatally shot in Moscow three years earlier.

In 2022, the street in front of the Saudi Arabian Embassy was renamed "Jamal Khashoggi Way" after the Washington Post columnist was murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul by government agents.

In February, a bipartisan group of U.S. congressmen announced legislation to rename a section of the street near the Russian ambassador's residence as "Alexei Navalny Way" to memorialize the late Russian opposition leader less than two weeks after his sudden death in prison.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Cuba: Political and sectoral dialogues held under the EU-Cuba political dialogue and cooperation agreement

European External Action Service (EEAS)

26.04.2024

EEAS Press Team

Over the past week, the EU and Cuba have held a series of meetings under their Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA).

The PDCA was signed in 2016 and has been applied provisionally since 1 November 2017. It enshrines the EU policy approach of critical but constructive engagement towards Cuba, under which the EU engages constructively with Cuba on a wide range of issues but also clearly and consistently raises issues of concern wherever relevant.

The PDCA provides for regular political dialogues on a range of specific issues agreed between the two sides during its negotiation, including human rights, and also allows for sectoral dialogues to be held in other areas. The fourth cycle of dialogues held under the PDCA began with the Human Rights Dialogue which took place on 24 November 2023 in Havana.

The latest round of meetings, held between 18 and 25 April, comprised two political dialogues (on unilateral coercive measures and on sustainable development), three sectoral dialogues (on agriculture, on environment and climate change, and on energy), as well as the EU-Cuba sub-committee on cooperation.

The Political Dialogue on unilateral coercive measures, which addresses the US embargo on Cuba including its extraterritorial effects, was held at the EEAS premises in Brussels on Wednesday 24 April.

The parties discussed the impact of the US measures on Cuba, on the operations of European companies and on EU citizens. The EU side recalled the unanimous support of EU member states for the annual resolution against the embargo in the UN General Assembly, most recently in November 2023, and briefed on the operation of Regulation 2271/96, designed to mitigate the impact of extraterritorial measures. In addition, the EU side reiterated the importance of Cuba implementing reforms to modernise its economy and to create a favourable climate for trade and investment between the two sides. The EU side also underlined its continued readiness to support such reforms.

As was the case at the Human Rights Dialogue held in Havana in November, the two sides agreed on a number of follow-up actions:

Organise a technical exchange among experts from both parties, as part of the current implementation cycle of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement, on the extraterritorial effects of the "Helms-Burton" Act. Continue jointly exploring possible mechanisms and frameworks that contribute to fostering a favorable environment to boost trade, investment and cooperation between Cuba and the European Union, promote exchanges and protect the legitimate interests of operators on both sides. Maintain fluid exchanges, as necessary, in those multilateral forums in which issues related to this Dialogue are addressed. Hold specific exchanges on innovative approaches and EU-Cuba cooperation actions that may contribute to economic diversification and updating as an element to promote Cuba's development.

The EU delegation was headed by Pelayo Castro, Deputy Managing Director for the Americas of the European External Action Service (EEAS). Rodolfo BenAtez, Director General for Multilateral Affairs and International Law at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, led the Cuban delegation.

The Political Dialogue on Sustainable Development was also held in Brussels, on Thursday 25 April. The parties discussed inter alia sustainable development priorities, progress and challenges in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and possible relevant joint actions. Cuba is an influential and well-connected actor at the UN and it is in the EU's interest to engage on these issues.

Once again, the two sides agreed on a number of follow-up actions:

Promote exchanges between the parties with a view to facilitating the respective realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including through the implementation of Part lV of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) relating to trade and trade cooperation.

In this context, continue to explore jointly, with the possible participation of interested EU member states, options to promote the effective insertion of Cuba in the Global Gateway investment program.

Continue to jointly explore possibilities under EU thematic and regional projects and in cooperation projects promoted by Cuba, to foster joint actions in various areas of sustainable development.

Continue to foster exchanges and cooperation between the EU and Cuba in multilateral fora and in other mechanisms to be agreed by the two sides, on promoting development as well as the achievement of the 2030 Agenda agreed by the United Nations, its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development.

The EU delegation was headed by the EEAS acting Secretary-General for Economic and Global Issues, BelAn MartAnez Carbonell. Director General BenAtez from the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs again led the Cuban delegation.

The Sub-Committee on Cooperation took place on Tuesday 23 April in Brussels. It addressed the state of implementation of the PDCA and the Multiannual Indicative Programme 2021-27 for Cuba; and trade and investment priorities under the Global Gateway Initiative, emphasising the potential in the areas of renewable energy and biotechnology.

The EU delegation was headed by the Director for Latin America and the Caribbean in the European Commission's Directorate-General for International Partnerships, Felix FernAndez Shaw. The Cuban delegation was headed by the Director General of International Cooperation of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment (Mincex), Alba Rosa AlarcAn Fonseca.

As part of this sequence of meetings, sectoral dialogues were also held on environment and climate change (by video-conference on 18 April), on agriculture (by video-conference on 19 April) and on energy (in-person, in Brussels, on 22 April). The respective delegations were led by officials from the relevant Directorate(s)-General(s) of the European Commission, and from the relevant Cuban ministries.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Japanese firm says its part found on North Korean missile is fake: report

It came after a British arms watchdog found Japanese parts used in a missile launched by Russia against Ukraine.

By RFA Staff 2024.04.25 -- A suspected Japanese-made component found in a North Korean missile fired by Russia forces towards Ukraine is likely fake, Japan's 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 Shumbun's 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 Council's 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 Korea's 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, Russia's 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, Russia's 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.

Copyright 1998-2016, 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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Annual hunger crunch: North Koreans scour fields for leftovers

While last year's harvest was better, people still lack enough food.

By Moon Sung Hui, Son Hyemin and Noh Jung Min for RFA Korean 2024.04.26 -- It's 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 province's Unhung county, who like all the sources in this report insisted on anonymity for safety reasons.

"After last year's 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."

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 country's farms produced about 4.82 million tons according to the Rural Development Administration of South Korea. That's higher than most years, it is still well short of the 5.76 million tons of North Korea's 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."

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.

Copyright 1998-2016, 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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Indian Air Force ushers in Digital Transformation with DigiLocker Integration

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 26 APR 2024 6:52PM by PIB Delhi

Indian Air Force (IAF) embarked on a transformative digital journey by integrating with the DigiLocker platform, a flagship initiative under the Digital India programme, here on April 26, 2024. In a ceremonial event held at Air Headquarters, Vayu Bhawan, the IAF and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) signed the momentous Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to leverage DigiLocker's secure and accessible document repository services.

This pioneering integration will 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.

Key Highlights:

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 candidate's academic document verification will be conducted digitally, enhancing transparency and credibility.

The MoU was signed between Air vice Marshal Phillip Thomas, ACAS (PO) l, Indian Air Force, and Shri Akash Tripathi, President & CEO, NeGD, MeitY, marking a collaborative effort towards digital empowerment.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri S Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics & 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 platform.

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.

DK/DK/SMP



(Release ID: 2018959)

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Severe heat wave hits India as phase 2 of polling begins

Iran Press TV

Friday, 26 April 2024 10:17 AM

India is preparing for "severe heatwaves" during its mammoth election, with public health experts cautioning that millions of voters could be in danger and local authorities expressing concerns that voter turnout might be impacted.

Spanning six weeks with roughly a billion eligible voters, the general elections recommenced with its second phase on Friday as people queued outside polling centers in regions affected by a severe heat wave.

Millions of voters will have to endure the scorching heat as they venture out to cast their votes.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a warning on Thursday regarding the likelihood of severe heatwave conditions in certain regions of eastern and northern states of West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, over the upcoming five days.

Certain regions in the states of West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka, which are part of the 13 states and union territories involved in the second phase of India's extensive elections, are predicted to witness temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, while some areas also carry red alert warnings.

Baripada in Odisha recorded a temperature of 43.6 C (110.4 F) while Khammam in Telangana reached 43.4 C (110.1 F) on Thursday, the IMD reported. The department had warned last month of more intense and prolonged heat waves this year due to higher temperatures.

"It's important for me to vote but definitely every day this heat is getting worse and worse," Gandhi Ray, a farmer from eastern Bihar state told CNN. "I work outdoors mostly so I am used to it."

"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 that's not going to stop me," Ray said.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) reassured the public that despite the heat warnings, there were no significant worries about heat waves during Friday's polling. Weather forecasts suggest that the constituencies voting will experience normal conditions.

"With weather conditions predicted to be within normal ranges, voters can cast their votes comfortably. For convenience for voters, meticulous arrangements have been made at all polling stations including facilities, to deal with hot weather conditions," the ECI said in a statement on Thursday.

The time for casting the vote has been extended until 6 PM in several polling stations across the state of Bihar to accommodate voters, according to a statement from the Indian government's Press Information Bureau (PIB).

"Assured Minimum Facilities like water, shed, toilets, ramps, volunteers, wheelchairs, and electricity are in place to ensure that every voter, including 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 statement said.

Out of its largest in the world population of 1.4 billion people, more than 969 million people are eligible to vote during this year's election.

The voter turnout in the initial round of voting last week witnessed a decline of approximately four percentage points compared to the previous election in 2019, settling at 66 percent.

Speculation has arisen in Indian media sources, suggesting that the unusually high temperatures may have played a role in this decrease.

The second phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha, the lower house of the parliament, elections consists of a total of 88 parliamentary constituencies across 13 states and Union Territories.

High temperatures have sparked worry during this election season, with outdoor political gatherings attracting large crowds under the scorching sun.

The severity of the situation was highlighted on Wednesday, as the country's minister of road transport and highways, Nitin Gadkari fainted from the heat while speaking to followers in western Maharashtra state.

Scientific research spanning several years has revealed that climate change is responsible for the lengthening, increased frequency, and heightened intensity of heatwaves.

Polling will conclude on June 1, and the results will be announced on June 4, 2024.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iran, Russia need to boost defense cooperation to improve regional security: Minister

Iran Press TV

Friday, 26 April 2024 6:42 PM

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani says Iran and Russia should promote defense and military cooperation to improve regional security and stability.

Ashtiani made the remarks in a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu on the sidelines of the 21st meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Defense Ministers in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Friday.

He said Tehran and Moscow should oppose unilateralism in global issues.

He thanked Russia for condemning Israel's illegal and unlawful airstrikes against Iran's diplomatic premises in the Syrian capital of Damascus on April 1 and expressing support for Tehran's legitimate response.

"Terrorist attacks in Russia and Iran are the outcome of support of Western countries, especially the United States, for terrorist groups," Ashtiani emphasized.

On April 1, the Israeli regime carried out terrorist airstrikes on the consular section of Iran's embassy in the Syrian capital, which killed two generals of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), 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, dubbed Operation True Promise, inflicted damage on Israeli military bases across the occupied Palestinian territories.

Elsewhere in the conversation, the Iranian defense chief warned that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and some Western countries are taking steps in line with the policy of expansion to the East.

He urged the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states to use the body's capacities to thwart common threats.

For his part, the Russian defense minister slammed Israel's attacks on Iran's diplomatic premises in Damascus and said Tehran's response was in accordance with the legitimate right of self-defense.

Ashtiani and Shoigu also hailed the successful experience of Iran and Russia in the fight against terrorism in the region and called for the expansion of cooperation to counter terrorist threats, separatism and extremism.

The Iranian and Russian defense chiefs emphasized that the developments in the South Caucasus are important to the two countries' interests, noting that the presence of extra-regional powers in this region is detrimental to common interests.

They said that the 3+3 format, which is being implemented in the presence of all the countries of the Caucasus region, is an appropriate framework for solving problems, according to a statement by Iran's Defense Ministry.

The 3+3 format includes three southern Caucasus countries (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia) and three neighboring countries (Russia, Turkey and Iran).

Iran was one of the countries that proposed the formation of a 3+3 group in line with its foreign policy of resolving problems, differences and challenges faced by countries in the region.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iran: US lacks competence to comment on human rights, freedom of expression

Iran Press TV

Friday, 26 April 2024 3:54 PM

American officials do not have the moral competence to make any comment about human rights, rights of women and the freedom of expression, the spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry says.

Nasser Kan'ani made the remarks in a post on his X account on Friday as spiraling protests have spread across universities in the United States to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel's genocidal war has so far killed more than 34,300 people.

Kan'ani posted a video showing US police using violence against a university professor protesting Israel's criminal acts against Palestinians.

"The unfortunate images of the violent behavior of the American police against pro-Palestine university professors protesting the US policy of supporting the criminal Zionist regime has exposed to global judgment the gap between the US administration's slogans and actions," the Iranian spokesperson emphasized.

Pro-Palestinian academic activism has grown significantly across the US since the onset of the US-backed war on Gaza.

At least 34,356 Palestinians, mostly children and women, have been killed and 77,368 people wounded in the war that Israel began on October 7, 2023 following a retaliatory operation by the Palestinian territory's resistance movements.

The brutal military onslaught enjoys unreserved military and intelligence support on the part of the US. Washington has also vetoed several United Nations Security Council resolutions calling for a ceasefire in the war.

American authorities have come down hard on the student protests.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iran, China discuss military cooperation; Beijing backs Tehran's 'legitimate' strikes against Israel

Iran Press TV

Friday, 26 April 2024 2:14 PM

Iran and China's defense chiefs discussed ways to enhance military cooperation, also conferring on regional issues.

Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani met with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun on the sidelines of the 21st meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Defense Ministers in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Friday.

Ashtiani hailed China's stance on the ongoing developments in the region and its condemnation of Israel's terrorist airstrike against Iran's diplomatic premise in the Syrian capital of Damascus earlier this month.

It is necessary for Iran and China to boost cooperation and convergence to solve security issues in the region and across the world, the Iranian defense chief said.

On April 1, the Israeli regime carried out terrorist airstrikes on the consular section of Iran's embassy in the Syrian capital, which killed two generals of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), 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, dubbed Operation True Promise, 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."

China supports Iran's retaliatory airstrikes against Israel: Dong

The Chinese defense minister, for his part, slammed Israel's attack on Iran's diplomatic premises in Syria, which he said violated international law.

China supports Iran's legitimate right to respond to Israel, Dong added.

He invited his Iranian counterpart to take part in a security conference in Beijing and urged for enhanced bilateral cooperation in defense and military arenas.

The Chinese defense chief called for an immediate ceasefire in the war-stricken Gaza Strip and the delivery of humanitarian aid there.

At least 34,356 Palestinians, mostly children and women, have been killed and 77,368 people wounded in the war that Israel began on October 7 following a retaliatory operation by the Palestinian territory's resistance movements.

The brutal military onslaught enjoys unreserved military and political support on the part of the Israeli regime's Western allies, including the United States and France.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






China describes Iran as 'strategic partner' in West Asia

Iran Press TV

Friday, 26 April 2024 9:56 AM

China's special envoy to the Middle East says Iran is a "special partner" of Beijing in West Asia, appreciating Tehran's measures in the region.

Zhai Jun made the remarks on Friday during a meeting with Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Ali Bagheri Kani in Moscow, on the sidelines of the Consultations of Deputy Foreign Ministers/Special Envoys of the BRICS group of emerging economies on the Middle East Affairs.

Zhai condemned the Israeli regime's recent terrorist attack against the Iranian diplomatic premises in Syria and thanked Tehran for its actions in defense of the Palestinians' rights, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported.

China is Iran's largest trade partner. Both countries are subject to different levels of illegal sanctions imposed by the US.

They have enjoyed close ties in recent years, particularly after the United States reinstated sanctions on the Iranian economy in 2018 after unilaterally withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal.

The two countries signed the landmark 25-year partnership agreement in March 2021 in an attempt to strengthen their long-standing economic and political alliance.

The deal was announced during President Xi's visit to Tehran back in 2016. It sets the outlines of China-Iran cooperation in political, cultural, security, defense, regional, and international domains for the next 25 years.

Iran, Russia discuss bilateral ties

Earlier on Friday, Bagheri Knai held talks with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East Mikhail Bogdanov.

The two sides discussed bilateral relations between Tehran and Moscow as well as regional issues.

In an address to the BRICS meeting on Thursday, the Iranian official called on the member states to play a role in putting an immediate stop to Israeli crimes against Palestinians during the regime's genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

He also underlined the need for sending humanitarian aid to Gaza, urging the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the besieged Palestinian territory.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






UN denounces enforcement of mandatory hijab law in Iran

By VOA News April 26, 2024

The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on Friday condemned reports from Iran of increasingly strict enforcement of the state's strict mandatory hijab laws for women and girls, and a report of new draft bill that would impose severe punishments on those found guilty of violating the law.

At a news conference in Geneva, the high commissioner's spokesperson, Jeremy Laurence, said the office had received widespread reports from Iran of uniformed and plainclothes police violently cracking down on women and girls under the hijab laws a as well as men who are supporting them.

He said there have been reports of arrests and harassment of women and girls a many between the ages of 15 and 17.

Laurence said the head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on April 21 the creation of a new body to enforce existing mandatory hijab laws, which is trained to do so "in a more serious manner" in public spaces.

He said hundreds of businesses have been closed for failing to enforce the hijab laws, and surveillance cameras are being used to identify women drivers not complying with the laws. The human rights advocacy group Amnesty International also noted the practice in a report last month.

Laurence also condemned a proposed law that calls for tougher punishments for violation of the mandatory hijab law, including up to 10 years in prison, flogging and fines.

"Corporal punishment constitutes a form of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, and any detention imposed for the exercise of fundamental freedoms is arbitrary under international law," Laurence said.

Through his spokesperson, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker TArk said the proposed law should be shelved and called on the Iranian government to eliminate all forms of gender-based discrimination and violence.

TArk called for revision and repeal of any harmful laws, policies and practices to bring them "in line with international human rights norms and standards."

The human rights office also called for the release of 33-year-old rapper Toomaj Salehi, sentenced to death this week for supporting nationwide protests in 2022 sparked by the death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, arrested for alleged violations of the hijab laws.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Condemning the Attacks on Civilians and Energy Infrastructure in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region

US Department of State

Press Statement

Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

April 26, 2024

The United States strongly condemns today's attack on energy infrastructure in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. We offer condolences to the families of those who were killed, and we wish for the quick recovery of those who were injured. Attacks like this are an affront to Iraq's sovereignty. We encourage the authorities to investigate and bring to justice those who are responsible. The United States will continue to work with the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government in support of Iraqi security, stability, and sovereignty.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Following Iran's attack against Israel - Federal Government strives to promote de-escalation

Germany - Federal Government

Following Iran's unprecedented attack on Israel's national territory, the Federal Government is making every effort to prevent a conflagration in the Middle East. Federal Chancellor Scholz spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on the phone on Sunday. At the European Council meeting, Scholz and his European counterparts initiated new EU sanctions against Iran.

Wednesday, 24 April 2024

At their meeting in Luxembourg on Monday, the EU Foreign Ministers also agreed to generally step up the existing sanctions against Iran, in particular in relation to drones and other flying objects. They instructed the EU Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, to draw up a concrete proposal for the new sanctions initiated by the European Council.

New EU sanctions against Iran

At their European Council meeting in Brussels, the EU Heads of State and Government had already agreed on further restrictive measures against Iran, in particular concerning drones and missiles. They announced at the end of the meeting that the European Union was still firmly resolved to contribute to de-escalation and security in the region. The US and the United Kingdom committed to new sanctions, too. Within the G7 these are also supported and coordinated by Germany.

The Federal Chancellor's phone call with Netanyahu

On Sunday the Federal Chancellor spoke to Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the phone. Scholz highlighted in this conversation that it was still the goal to prevent escalation and a regional conflagration. Netanyahu informed the Federal Chancellor about the situation in the region. Scholz stressed that the Federal Government would continue its close coordination with the G7 partners and within the EU.

De-escalation is the top priority

On the fringes of a conference held on Norderney island off the North Sea coast last week, Federal Chancellor Scholz said: "We are calling on everyone to continue to contribute to de-escalation, which will remain the top priority for the time being." The Federal Chancellor added that Germany would continue to discuss de-escalation with all its friends and allies and pursue joint efforts in this direction.

Iran's attack against Israel was also a key topic discussed at the European Council meeting on Wednesday and Thursday. "The global situation is currently dominated by many wars and conflicts," said Federal Chancellor Scholz at the meeting of the EU Heads of State and Government in Brussels.

Calls for restraint from all parties

Scholz highlighted Germany's solidarity with Israel once again and condemned the Iranian attack on Israel's national territory with hundreds of drones, missiles and cruise missiles. He said that it was a very good thing that Israel had been able to successfully repel the attack, and that he believed that it was important that Israel did not jeopardise this support and success. The participants of the meeting in Brussels had agreed that "all parties should act with restraint to prevent a conflagration," the Federal Chancellor said.

The European Council condemned Iran's attack against Israel clearly and unequivocally, calling on all parties to act with utmost restrained and refrain from doing anything that might exacerbate tensions in the region.

G7 meeting in Capri

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock met with her G7 counterparts in Capri. In their final statement issued on Friday, the Foreign Ministers of the G7, which Germany also belongs to, called on all parties in the region to prevent further escalation, and stressed that the G7 would continue to pursue this goal.

Coordination of the sanctions announced by the US was also discussed during the meeting held on the Italian island of Capri. At the weekend, the G7 previously issued a joint statement in which they sharply criticised Iran's attack and pledged their full support to Israel.

During the night of 14 April, Iran fired cruise missiles directly at Israel from its national territory for the first time. According to Israeli reports, almost all of the hundreds of drones and missiles fired by Iran were repelled. Among the countries supporting Israel in its defence were the USA, the UK and Jordan.

Foreign Minister visits Israel for talks

Foreign Minister Baerbock travelled to Israel for talks on Tuesday to contribute to crisis diplomacy. On this trip she met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Israel Katz and Minister Benjamin Gantz. According to the Foreign Minister, she told her Israeli dialogue partners unequivocally that "our full solidarity lies with Israel" and that Iran's actions would "not remain without consequences".

At the same time, it was essential that "this extremely dangerous situation does not turn into a regional conflagration," said Baerbock at the end of her trip, adding that everybody now had to act prudently and responsibly. This was her seventh visit to Israel since the Islamist terrorist attack on 7 October 2023.

Protection of Jewish facilities has top priority

"The protection of Israeli and Jewish facilities in Germany has top priority," said Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser. Since the terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel on 7 October 2023, the threat to Israel and to Jews had become even clearer than before, said Faeser, which is why protective measures had been stepped up even further.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Myanmar: EU restrictive measures renewed for a further year

European Council / Council of the European Union

Council of the EU

Press release

26 April 2024 14:05

The Council has today prolonged the EU restrictive measures in view of the situation in Myanmar for one year, until 30 April 2025. The decision was taken on the basis of the annual review of the restrictive measures and in view of the continuing grave situation in Myanmar, including actions undermining democracy, as well as serious human rights violations

Restrictive measures currently apply to a total of 103 individuals and 21 entities.

Those listed under the sanctions regime are subject to an asset freeze and the provision of funds or economic resources, directly or indirectly, to them or for their benefit is prohibited. Additionally, a travel ban to the EU applies to the natural persons listed.

Other EU restrictive measures remain in place: the embargo on arms and equipment and export restrictions on equipment for monitoring communications which might be used for internal repression, the export ban on dual-use goods for use by the military and border guard police, and the prohibition of military training and cooperation with the Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw).

EU restrictive measures come in addition to the withholding of EU financial assistance directly going to the government and the freezing of all EU assistance that may be seen as legitimising the junta.

The EU renews its condemnation in the strongest possible terms of the military coup and its aftermath, and remains deeply concerned by the continuing escalation of violence and the evolution towards a protracted conflict in the country.

The repressive actions of the Myanmar military, marked by the use of indiscriminate violence against its own population, stand as a grave violation of basic human rights and a blatant disregard for the principles of justice and humanity.

The EU reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the people of Myanmar in their quest for a free, peaceful and democratic future.

Background

On 22 April 2013, the Council adopted restrictive measures in respect of Myanmar/Burma.

The Council has imposed restrictive measures against those responsible for the military coup staged in Myanmar on 1 February 2021, and the subsequent military and police repression against peaceful demonstrators on 22 March, 19 April and 21 June 2021, 21 February and 8 November 2022, 20 February, 20 July and 11 December 2023.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Myanmar closes border checkpoint amidst conflict

Airstrikes on Friday morning, residents on the border say.

By Pimuk Rakkanam for RFA 2024.04.26 -- 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 Thu's massive profits at the expense of the Karen people."

Edited by Kiana Duncan 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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Myanmar junta attack on hospital kills 4, many injured

Victims were patients and employees under 30, an anti-junta group said.

By RFA Burmese 2024.04.26 -- 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 state's Mindat township, the anti-junta People's 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 People's Administration Team in the region, told RFA. "There are 15 wounded, four dead."

The four dead in the attack on the Vawmm'tu 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 state's 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.

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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Pakistan Rejects the 2023 Country Report on Human Rights Practices issued by the US State Department

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Pakistan categorically rejects the recently released 2023 Country Report on human rights practices issued by the US State Department. The contents of the report are unfair, based on inaccurate information and are completely divorced from the ground reality.



The US State Department's annual exercises of preparing such unsolicited reports lack objectivity and remain inherently flawed in their methodology. These reports use a domestic social lens to judge human rights in other countries in a politically motivated manner.



This year's report is once again conspicuous by its lack of objectivity and politicization of the international human rights agenda. It clearly demonstrates double standards thus undermining the international human rights discourse.



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 and Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir.

Only a politically motivated report can ignore the alarming situation in Gaza, the weaponization of humanitarian assistance and the massacre of over 33,000 civilians. Silence of the United States on the continuing genocide in Gaza runs counter to the stated objectives behind the so-called country reports on human rights.

In line with its constitutional framework and democratic ethos, Pakistan remains steadfast in its commitment to strengthen its own human rights framework, constructively engage to promote international human rights agenda, and uphold fairness and objectivity in the international human rights discourse.

If the US must engage in this exercise, then we expect the US State Department to at least exercise due diligence when conducting assessment of complex issues, demonstrate objectivity, impartiality and responsibility in finalizing such reports. It should demonstrate the requisite moral courage to speak truth about all situations and play a constructive role in supporting international efforts for bringing an end to atrocities in the most urgent hotspots of gross human rights violations.

Islamabad

25 April 2024

68/2024

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Transcript of the Press Briefing by the Spokesperson on Friday, 26 April 2024

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Assalam-o-Alaikum,

Welcome to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi visited Pakistan this week. This was the first visit by an Iranian leader in seven years.



This visit provided an opportunity for the two sides to hold in-depth talks on all aspects of bilateral relations and regional and global developments. There was agreement to expand cooperation in economic, cultural and security domains and to transform the Pakistan-Iran border into a border of peace, friendship and prosperity. In this context, the two sides will promote bilateral trade; fast track negotiations on Free Trade Agreement; develop joint border markets and economic free zones; and promote connectivity including mutually beneficial relationships between the ports of Gwadar and Chabahar.



The two sides also agreed to enhance dialogue and cooperation to confront terrorism, narcotics smuggling, human trafficking, money laundering and abduction. Pakistan and Iran will release each other's prisoners under the existing legal framework.



As expressed in the Joint Statement, Pakistan and Iran have similar views on the situation in Gaza and on Jammu and Kashmir. The leaders highlighted the need for dialogue and peaceful means to resolve the Kashmir dispute, in accordance with international law and the will of the people. On Gaza, both sides expressed support for a just, comprehensive, and durable solution based on the aspirations of the Palestinian people, as well as the return of displaced persons.



Chairman, China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), Luo Zhaohui visited Pakistan from 21-25 April 2024. In Islamabad, he called on the President and the Prime Minister and held meetings with the Minister for Economic Affairs and other senior officials. The two sides agreed to fast-track ongoing projects under China Pakistan Economic Corridor and signed several documents of cooperation.



The discovery of mass graves at two major hospitals in Gaza have shocked the human conscience. Pakistan joins the call by the United Nations for "a clear, transparent and credible investigation" of mass graves and the massacre of men, women and children by the Israeli occupation forces. Pakistan vehemently condemns Israel's barbarianism and its war crimes against the people of Gaza. We underline the urgency of an unconditional ceasefire to protect civilians from further carnage. An independent and impartial investigation must be held to ascertain the facts, fix responsibility and punish the perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.



We urge the international community, especially the backers of Israel, to take urgent measures to bring an end to the war on the people of Gaza, to lift the siege, to protect civilians, facilitate humanitarian assistance and to hold to account the perpetrators of the Gaza genocide.



We are witnessing an alarming surge in provocative statements from Indian leaders, asserting unwarranted claims over Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan rejects these claims. Fueled by hyper-nationalism, this inflammatory rhetoric poses a grave threat to regional peace and stability. We urge Indian politicians to cease their reckless practice of dragging Pakistan into India's populist public discourse for electoral motives.



Historical and legal facts as well as ground realities refute India's baseless claims over Azad Jammu & Kashmir. Despite India's rhetoric and assertions, Jammu and Kashmir remains an internationally recognized disputed territory. The UN Security Council resolutions clearly outline that the final status of Jammu and Kashmir shall be determined by the will of its people through a free and impartial plebiscite under UN auspices. India would be wise to help implement these resolutions instead of harboring delusions of grandeur.



Now a couple of announcements.......

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar will attend the World Economic Forum Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy to be held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 28-29 April 2024. They have received the invitations from HRH Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Professor Klaus Schwab, the Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum. High level participation in the Forum will afford an important opportunity to present Pakistan's priorities specifically in global health architecture, inclusive growth, revitalizing regional collaboration and the need for striking a balance between promoting growth and energy consumption.

On the margins of the main event, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister will hold bilateral meetings with world leaders, heads of international organizations bodies and other leading personalities participating in the event.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will participate in the 15th OIC Summit being held in Banjul, the Gambia on 4-5 May 2024.

The Summit is being convened at a critical time for the Muslim Ummah as the war on the people of Gaza continues unabated. It would be an important occasion for the OIC leaders to deliberate upon the deteriorating situation in Gaza and project a strong, collective and unified stance on the Palestinian question.

At the Summit, the Prime Minister will speak about Pakistan's grave concern on the genocide in Gaza, the right to self determination of the people of Jammu & Kashmir, imperatives of solidarity and unity of the Ummah, rising Islamophobia and terrorism and other contemporary global issues. He will also hold bilateral meetings with leaders of the Islamic world on the margins of the Summit.

The Summit will be preceded by the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) meeting on 2-3 May 2024. Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar will attend the CFM. On the side-lines of the CFM, the Foreign Minister will meet with his counterparts from other OIC countries.

I thank you all.

*

(Azaz Syed, Geo News): What is the status of the Pakistanis who were arrested from the Arabian Sea on 11th January during American Navy Seals operation and has Pakistan demanded consular access for them?

Spokesperson: We are still waiting for consular access.

(Azaz Syed, Geo News): During Iranian President's visit to Pakistan a joint declaration consisting of 28 points was issued in which the matter of Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline issue was not clearly outlined. Was this matter discussed during the visit and America has also issued a statement regarding this matter during the same time period. Please share the details.

(Naveed Siddiqui, Dateline Islamabad): Ma'am, has Pakistan contacted USA regarding waiver on Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline because they have given a statement already that they will oppose this. We can see examples from neighbouring country that they have got waiver for importing oil from Russia or Iran even with the imposed sanctions. So, has Pakistan made any formal contact with USA for the waiver?

(Allah Noor Wazir, Mashriq TV): Ma'am, as Pakistan's economy is not good and if we are not able to fulfill the requirements of the Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline Agreement within the given time, Pakistan will have to pay a fine. Have there been any talks with Iran regarding the waiving off of the fine in case of failure to fulfill the requirements?

(Ali Hussain, Business Recorder): Very specifically on the threats by the US imposing sanctions if we go ahead with the IP gas pipeline project and other co-related issues with Iran?

Spokesperson: First Regarding Mr. Azaz's question. Yes, this topic was discussed and it is reflected in the joint statement. Pakistan and Iran believe that the two countries should enhance cooperation in the energy domain. Pakistan, as you're aware has significant energy needs and we have been exploring various options to expand our energy imports. In this context, Pakistan and Iran have reiterated the importance of cooperation in the energy domain, including trade in electricity, power transmission lines and the IP gas pipeline project. We have noted some statements have been made by the United States. We are also engaged with the United States and discussed the various aspects of Pakistan's energy needs.

(Anas Mallick, Capital TV): I have three questions. First the Iran-Pakistan joint statement mentions the free trade agreement, the FTA. How close are Pakistan and Iran with regards to finalizing the FTA and if you could delve in the contours of this FTA. Number two, the US Human Rights Report. We saw the rejection yesterday. But is this a rejection of the entire report or parts of it because there are contents of the report that also go on to specify how this group called the Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan is an offshoot of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which is operating from the Afghan soil. This is something that the report clearly specifies in context of the Mianwali base attack. So, is this a whole rejection or is this a selective rejection? And lastly, the Minister for Planning and Development Mr. Ahsan Iqbal yesterday said in a public statement that the Prime Minister is due to visit China very shortly, and that the JCC with China will be held very soon on the matters of bilateral cooperation and CPEC. Can you enlighten more on that?

Spokesperson: First regarding the visit of the Prime Minister to China. At this stage, I do not have any dates to share with you. When the dates are finalized and it is time to announce we will surely release it to the media. Secondly, with regards to the Pakistan-Iran Free Trade Agreement, the two countries as you know, have a Preferential Trade Agreement and the two countries have been engaged in discussions on the Free Trade Agreement. There are various aspects that are still under discussion and at this point we are not in a position to announce its contours since the FTA is still under negotiation. Thirdly, regarding the country report, which was released by the United States, Pakistan rejects the premise that a country can prepare such unsolicited reports, which lack objectivity, and which are inherently flawed in their methodology. We believe these reports use a domestic social lens to judge human rights in other countries, in a politically motivated manner. Pakistan's view is that such reports should, if at all, being developed, should be based on clear, objective standards, impartiality, and responsibility. I would therefore, not like to venture into any elements of the report as Pakistan has rejected the country report.

(Javed Hussain, 92 News): Regarding China, President Muslim League (N) Nawaz Sharif is also on a visit to China at the same time when Iran's President was on his visit to Pakistan. Is it a strategic move? Were there any engagements with the communist party?

Spokesperson: As you know the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not comment on the private visits of private individuals. So, we will not be commenting on this visit either.

(Anwar Abbas, Aik News): Ma'am, did Pakistan contact any international law firms or lawyers to challenge the expected US sanctions against Pakistan in case of Iran Pipeline?

Spokesperson: With respect to this question and other questions which were asked earlier, in terms of technical details of the project, the Ministry of Petroleum is the right forum to respond to you queries about implementation of the Iran Pipeline project.

(Zeeshan Yousaf Zai,Dunya TV ): Ma'am, during the visit of Iranian President there were discussions related to smuggling and the smuggling of petroleum products from Iran and recently a letter was written from OCAC that the investment of 6 billion dollars in refinery is in danger. What has been done for its resolution. Can you specify? Because many investors are involved in it. Are you moving towards legalization? Secondly, we are about to enter a deal with IMF and can Iranian President's visit impact the deal. What is foreign office's take on this?

Spokesperson: I think to both these questions, I would not respond because the aspects of smuggling of petroleum or the petroleum refinery project pertain to departments which are the customs department and the Ministry of Petroleum. On IMF, the Ministry of Finance can be contacted. So, I do not have a comment on these questions.

(Khawaja Nayyar Iqbal, Media Today): Indian Prime Minister and his cabinet's members make statements like "Ghus ke Maraingay" and now India's second largest population which is Muslim population are being declared as infiltrators and people responsible for giving birth to more children. What is Pakistan's comment on this situation?

Spokesperson: It is regrettable that vilification of Muslims has become a norm in today's India. We are gravely concerned that verbal and physical attacks against Muslims have witnessed significant increase in recent years. We are also deeply concerned that Muslims in India are being systematically stigmatized and marginalized. The international community must ensure that Indian Muslims are not victimized for having different religious beliefs than the majority population. The efforts to promote anti-Muslim hatred and Islamophobia especially for electoral gains must end.

(Anas Mallick, Capital TV): On the matter of US sanctions on Pakistan's ballistic missile program. Specifically, was there any summon of an American diplomat that was sent because historically, the last such move was done in February 2018 and it was followed up by a summon of the then acting Ambassador. So was this precedent followed this time as well.

Spokesperson: Pakistan has expressed its concerns about this latest move by the United States. And I would like to underline that Pakistan considers such decisions and listings as unfair and based on mere suspicions. No evidence was shared with us. We believe there is politicization of export controls and that discriminatory practices and double standards must be avoided. These double standards and discriminatory practices are undermining the credibility of non-proliferation regimes and the objectives of regional and global peace and security by accentuating military asymmetries.

(Allah Noor Wazir, Mashriq TV): Ma'am, is Afghanistan violating Doha Agreement? Like we saw a video yesterday in which it was being said that we arranged number of people and stayed at the border for the night and then crossed into Pakistan and then conducted our operation. And secondly, brother of Sirajuddin Haqqani, Minister of Interior of Afghanistan, came to Waziristan, Anas Haqqani. Was he granted permission from Pakistan or did he travel at legal visa? If Pakistan permitted him then what was the purpose of him visiting Waziristan?

Spokesperson: First, we do not comment on speculative reporting and social media reports. Secondly, Pakistan and Afghanistan have long-standing relations. And we have several channels of communication to express our concerns about the increasing acts of terrorism by entities and individuals, based in Afghanistan, and which are responsible for terrorist acts inside Pakistan. We urge Afghanistan to take action against them. Similarly, we have also remained engaged in multilateral forums to ensure that Afghanistan fulfills its responsibilities under the Doha agreement.

(Asghar Ali Mubarak, The Daily Mail International): Ma'am, there are talks of trade diplomacy with India and different communities are talking about trade with India. So, is there any back-door diplomacy / trade diplomacy going on?

(Naveed Siddiqui, Dateline Islamabad): Trader community met Prime Minister in Karachi, in which Mr. Arif Habib, who was also on forefront suggested to normalize the trade relations with India especially. It is being said that Mr. Arif Habib could be handed over the task of normalizing trade relations with India. Do you have any update regarding this matter?

Spokesperson: First, we have no information that any private individual being given such a responsibility. Second, there are no back channel talks taking place with regards to normalization of trade between Pakistan and India. Thirdly, as I said in the past, whenever we receive any proposals or requests from various segments of the society, including our business community, we do examine these requests and this a normal practice in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. And at this stage I do not have any information to share with you about a change in Pakistan's position or its policy towards trade with India.

(Ali Hussain, Business Recorder): Again, on the sanctions, what would be the response of Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the repeated threats of US government on the MOUs between the Pakistan and Iran for promotion of trade activities and IP Gas pipeline project that US will impose sanctions on them. What is Ministry of Foreign Affairs response on this specifically?

Spokesperson: First of all, I should underline that Pakistan does not believe in zero-sum relationships. Expansion of our relations with one country should not be considered as coming at the expense of our relationship with another. Pakistan is confident that its relationship with its friends and partners, including the United States, are robust enough to move forward on their own merit, and notwithstanding any other relationships that Pakistan has with other countries in our national interest. Pakistan has trade relations with its neighbour Iran. And we have, as I mentioned earlier, we have a Preferential Trade agreement between Pakistan and Iran. The border regions of Pakistan and Iran benefit from local trade and this trade takes place mostly in barter form. You would recall, there are borders markets, these are sustenance markets to help the local traders. This basically helps the economy of the poor regions along the border of Pakistan and Iran. Lastly, Pakistan and the United States have a robust dialogue and several channels of communication and we would continue to engage with them and explain the importance that Pakistan accords to its relations with its neighbours and the need for this cooperation so as to have the Pakistan-Iran border, as a border of peace, security and prosperity.

(Khawaja Nayyar Iqbal, Media Today): On a large scale, India and European countries are purchasing oil and gas from Russia but when it comes to Pakistan, there arises these talks of sanctions. What is Pakistan's comment on these double standards?

Spokesperson: As I said earlier, Pakistan has energy needs. Pakistan will take decisions on the basis of its national interest in fulfilling its energy requirements, taking into account the international environment, taking into account the UN sanctions, if any, and issues relating to trade with other countries, including in the energy domain.

I Thank you all!



******

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Pakistan rejects U.S. report on human rights practices

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:14, April 26, 2024

ISLAMABAD, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan has "categorically" rejected a report by the U.S. State Department over the alleged 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," the 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, said the statement.

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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Pakistan extends registered Afghan refugees' stay

By Sarah Zaman April 26, 2024

Pakistan's decision earlier this week 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.

However, concerns remain about Pakistan's controversial moves in recent months to expel refugees, which has already seen hundreds of thousands of Afghans forced to return to their economically unstable homeland.

On Monday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's Cabinet approved extending proof of registration cards for Afghan refugees that expired April 1st to June 30, according to an official statement.

The document allows access to health, educational, and banking facilities for Afghan refugees.

According to the statement issued by the Ministry of Information, expulsion of documented refugees will come at a later stage.

"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 United Nations High Commission for Refugees (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 thousand 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 Pakistan's 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 Islamabad's 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.

"Pakistan's '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 percent 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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






After Historic Floods, Some In Southern Russia Now Living In Tents

By RFE/RL's Siberia.Realities April 26, 2024

Over 48 hours on April 17-18, the village of Malye Yarki in Russia's southern Tyumen region was inundated after the Ishim River burst its banks amid widespread flooding that hit several regions of southern Russia and northern Kazakhstan.

Locals of Malye Yarki who reached Russian emergency services by phone as water flowed into their village say they were promised rescue. Instead, several hours later, the flooded residents were pulled to safety by good Samaritans from a neighboring village.

Now around 14 people, including children, live in an open field with supplies brought to them only by their fellow citizens.

Tatyana, a resident of Malye Yarki whose name has been changed, said that when flooding began, residents "all began to gather -- children, parents, pets, and livestock," to await rescue.

But after several hours without any sign of the promised rescue teams, Tatyana said some locals of a neighboring village began to arrive with "fishing waders who were prepared for the situation." By the time the residents of Malye Yarki were taken out of the village "we were were frozen to the bone."

Crucially, Tatyana says, the stranded residents did not make efforts to escape on their own because they were waiting for the promised emergency services to arrive.

"We called the Emergencies Ministry," she claimed. "They said, 'Yes, yes, we will come soon,' but in the end they never arrived. After four hours we were picked up by those residents who were doing things themselves."

Tatyana says a local official also assured the villagers that temporary accommodation would be provided in the nearby village of Peshnevo. But, she said, "when we arrived no one in the administration knew anything about it."

According to the now homeless flood victims of Malye Yarki, residents of neighboring Peshnevo remain their only source of help. The locals brought the flood victims tents, food, and water, and provided them an open field where they could set up camp.

Officials, the Malye Yarki residents say, do not respond to appeals for help.

"We have children and old people here, but the authorities have provided no housing, no food or drinking water," Olga, another member of the village, said.

"The media are claiming that everyone was saved, In fact, almost 20 people evacuated themselves and are now living in the open," she added.

"People from Peshnevo organized themselves and came. It's all thanks to them, they put together tables for us and brought a trailer so that at least the children would not sleep on the ground. We understand that the government is not to blame for a natural disaster, but surely it's responsible for rescuing people and helping them get back on their feet afterward?" Olga asked rhetorically.

"The neighbors can't constantly feed us and bring water, they themselves are running short of supplies," she added.

Aleksandr Moor, the governor of the Tyumen region, announced on his Telegram channel on April 19 that "we need to understand that we are faced with a large-scale flood, this level of water has not been seen since 1947. Now the most important thing is to evacuate people from the dangerous areas. We cannot delay."

Nikolai Ignatov, the head of the local administration of the region hit by floods, was reached by telephone but refused to comment on the issue of the stranded Malye Yarki residents. He hung up when pressed about the issue by a journalist from RFE/RL's Siberia.Realities.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-flood-victims- living-in-field-tyumen/32921998.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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Another Tajik Detained In Russia Connection With Crocus Attack

By RFE/RL's Russian Service April 26, 2024

Russian authorities have reportedly arrested another Tajik national in connection with the March 22 terrorist attack on the Crocus City Hall concert venue near Moscow that left 144 people dead and hundreds more injured.

The RBK news agency cited sources in law enforcement on April 26 as identifying the detained suspect as Jumokhon Qurbonov, who was born in 2003.

Russian authorities have said 11 Tajik citizens and a Kyrgyzstan-born Russian citizen have been arrested in connection with the attack, Russia's worst terrorist attack in two decades. Responsibility was claimed by an offshoot of Islamic State known as Islamic State-Khorasan.

Russian investigators say the assault was carried out by four men, all Tajik nationals. Other detainees are being held for aiding and abetting the attackers.

On April 12, Tajikistan's Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin condemned the treatment of the Tajik suspects amid allegations that the detainees were tortured in custody.

Several Tajik suspects showed signs of abuse when they appeared in court in Moscow following the attack. The four accused gunmen had bruised and swollen faces and showed other signs of having been severely beaten. There were unconfirmed reports that one of them had his ear cut off during his arrest.

Muhriddin also condemned the surge of xenophobia in Russia after the attack, saying that as a result of an "ill-conceived information campaign" a "negative perception is being formed toward citizens of Tajikistan."

The Kremlin has insisted without evidence that Ukraine, with the help of the United States, was responsible for the attack. Both Kyiv and Washington have dismissed the accusation.

The attack was seen as a major failure for Russia's security and intelligence services. The United States has said it gave specific information ahead of time, warning of a possible terrorist attack. Iran also reportedly provided a tip ahead of time.

With reporting by RBK

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/crocus-city-hall-terrorist- attack-arrest-tajik-national-rights/32922016.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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russian Defence Minister meets with Chinese Defence Minister

26.04.2024

Moscow-Beijing military interaction, joint operational and combat training of the servicemen of the two countries make a significant contribution to the maintenance of global and regional stability according to Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.

'Russian-Chinese military cooperation is an important element in enhancing defence capabilities and maintaining global and regional stability. Joint operational and combat training is conducted regularly on the ground, in the sea and in the air, and training and combat missions are successfully practised at varying degrees of complexity,' said Shoigu during a working meeting with Chinese Minister of National Defense Dong Jun on Friday.

The talks took place within the meeting of the Ministers of Defence of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member countries in Astana.

During the meeting, Sergei Shoigu noted that the 'military and political situation in the world is not getting more peaceful'.

'New hotbeds are emerging and old ones of tension are escalating. In fact, it is the result of geopolitical initiatives, the selfish neo-colonial actions of the West.

According to Sergei Shoigu assessment, 'a Russian-Chinese comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction are being regularly developed in a contrast with the general disturbing situation'.

Russia's friendly relations with China, said Sergei Shoigu 'retain high dynamics of development, expand in all directions and are at an unprecedented level'.

The Russian Defence Minister noted that the trust relationships between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are key in strengthening strategic ties.

'We are on track to implement all the agreements reached at the summit level', said the Russian Defence Minister. He noted that the approaches of the two countries 'to the issues of principle of the modern world order and current international problems are the same or close to each other'.

'Russia and China are showing by example a new model of interstate ties. It is based on equitable, trusting dialogue, consideration of mutual underlying interests', stressed the Russian Defence Minister.

Talking to the counterpart, Sergei Shoigu said that he was looking forward to the closest and most successful cooperation.

'I am confident,' said Sergei Shoigu, 'that today's talks will serve to further strengthen the Russia-China strategic partnership in the defence sphere.'

In turn, Chinese Defence Minister Dong-jung said that the interaction between the armed forces of China and Russia plays a stabilising role in world processes.

'In a changing international situation, it is especially important that the relationship between our armed forces maintain high dynamics, meeting the today's tendencies. Our interaction is important for the global strategic stability,' said Dong Jun in talks with Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu in Astana on Friday.

The Minister of National Defense People's Republic of China noted that due to time and location constraints, he would like to discuss 'the most important matters of principle' with his Russian counterpart.

This is the first personal meeting between Shoigu and Dong Jun since the latter was appointed the head of the Chinese military department. On 31 March, their talks were held by videoconference and took place at the initiative of the Chinese side.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Head of Russian Defence Ministry addresses defence ministers meeting of the SCO defence ministers in Astana

26.04.2024

Dear colleagues!

First of all, I would like to thank Kazakhstan for its hospitality, welcome reception, and high level of organisation of today's meeting.

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.

I am confident that this is an important moment in strengthening security in the SCO zone, which will give extra impetus to joint work of the defence departments of the organisation.

We share the assessments made about the current international situation. It remains complex 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.

To achieve its goals, Washington is putting unprecedented pressure on its partners, including by delegating them the role of obedient performers.

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.

Financial, political-diplomatic, and in some cases also forceful methods are widely used as tools of influence.

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.

The Russian Federation is committed to the policy of non-interference in the affairs of other states.

'In addition after the Soviet Union collapsed, 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 taken place since 1999.

The NATO alliance's 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.

'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.

The Russian Federation has always made the maximum of efforts to maintain strategic stability and a balance of forces around the world.

On the contrary, the U.S. has first created, and now purposefully prolong the conflict in Ukraine.

The collective West, demonstrating its allegedly desire for de-escalation, 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.

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.

The continuous strikes by the Armed Forces of Ukraine against the Nuclear Power Plant are extremely disturbing, which may have catastrophic consequences.

The trail of the terrorist act carried out on 22 March at the Crocus City Hall also leads to Ukraine.

It is only a matter of time before all those responsible for these illegal acts and atrocities will be punished'.

The Russian Armed Forces continue to effectively carry out the missions the special military operation. All its objectives will be achieved.

On the basis of the experience gained, we optimise the combat work of Russian troops, develop the country's defence industry, improve the system of military training, and hone skills as part of operational and combat training activities.

It is therefore impossible for any attempt by the West to inflict strategic defeat on us.

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 worldwide.

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.

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 that all those present share the view that it is unacceptable to set the military infrastructure of the United States of America and its allies in the region.

Such intentions must be considered a direct threat to stability in the SCO area.

We must mention the double standards of the West when it comes to the exercise of the vital right to self-defence.

An example of this is Iran's retaliatory operation in response to a blatant attack on an Iranian consulate building in Damascus.

'The result of this kind 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.

As for the Asia-Pacific Region, we also see regular attempts to reformat the regional security system from the ASEAN-centric one to the American-centric one.

This is done by strengthening Washington-based military-political structures such as QUAD, AUKUS, and the Triangle Union.

The 'Taiwan factor' is actively being used to increase pressure on China.

In addition, the return to South-Eastern Asia of radical Islamists from the Middle East and North Africa creates preconditions for the establishment of new hotspots in the medium-term outlook. In the emerging geopolitical conditions, forming a universal continental security architecture in Eurasia becomes an important task of the SCO.

Naturally, with preservation of the UN's central role and commitment to its Charter.

It will be facilitated by the convergence or proximity of the SCO member States' approaches to key international issues and the establishment of a new world order'.

It is necessary to ensure the organisation's resilience to attempts of undermining its cohesion and provoking '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.

It seems logical in this context, to combine the organisation's 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.

Another task is 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.

NNZN N. Military cooperation has a special place in interstate relations in the SCO format.

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.

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.

Sergei Shoigu proposed to invite representatives of other regional groupings, particularly the CSTO and CIS, as well as friendly countries, 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 that the implementation of these proposals will ensure the further development of the SCO and the maintenance of stability in the organisation's area.

In conclusion, I would like to express my confidence that today's meeting of the Ministers of Defence of the SCO member States will contribute to further deepening ties between the defence agencies of the states and strengthening security.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Astana, April 27 (UNI) China-proposed initiatives have brought dividends to the well-being of people worldwide, and have led the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to become a constructive force in safeguarding equity and justice, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun said here Friday.

Today's world is undergoing accelerating changes unseen in a century, Dong noted in a speech during the annual SCO defense ministers' meeting, adding that proceeding from the common interests of mankind, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, the Belt and Road cooperation, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and the Global Civilization Initiative, representing humanity's joint pursuit of a better world.

The region and the SCO were among the first to witness these ideas and initiatives being turned into real projects, said Dong, who led a Chinese delegation to the meeting held in the capital city of Kazakhstan.

The ideas and initiatives have led the SCO to become a community with a shared future featuring mutual assistance and a constructive force in safeguarding equity and justice, Dong said.

The SCO should set an example of solidarity and cooperation amidst increasing instability and disorder in global governance, serve as a promoter of dialogues for peace in the face of complicated and troublesome conflicts and disputes, and become a guardian of common security against the backdrop of intertwined and interconnected security issues, he said.

Advancing Chinese modernization through high-quality development, China will provide more opportunities for countries around the world, he said, adding that China stands ready to work with regional countries to implement the GSI and promote common security through common development.

Regional countries, now at a critical stage of development and revitalization, call for development, aspire to stability, and depend on security, Dong noted.

Stressing the need to uphold solidarity and mutual trust, share weal and woe, and seek common ground while resolving differences, Dong said SCO member states should jointly build an SCO community of security for all that is more stable, resilient, open, inclusive and influential by improving the cooperation mechanism, expanding military cooperation at a higher level, forming a greater anti-terrorism synergy, and promoting more extensive youth exchanges, in a bid to provide a strong guarantee for safeguarding common interests, and make greater contributions to regional and world peace.

During the meeting, heads of defense departments of the SCO member states reviewed the cooperation results achieved since last year's meeting, and expressed their willingness to continuously strengthen strategic communication, push forward practical cooperation, and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.

A joint communique was issued after the meeting.

During his stay in Kazakhstan, Dong met respectively with defense ministers of Pakistan, Iran, Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Belarus. He also held separate talks with defense ministers of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, during which he exchanged views with the two defense ministers on the international and regional situations, state-to-state and military-to-military relations, and issues of common concern.

UNI/XINHUA ARN
Russia Never Threatened NATO, Has No Interests in Attacking Member States - Shoigu

Sputnik News

20240426

ASTANA (Sputnik) - 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.

"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.

The SCO was founded in 2001. India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan are its full members. Afghanistan, Belarus, and Mongolia are observer states; Azerbaijan, Armenia, Egypt, Cambodia, Nepal, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Myanmar, Bahrain, and Kuwait are dialogue partners.

US Plans on Military Infrastructure in Central Asia Threatens SCO Space Stability

The 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.

"I believe that all those present share the opinion that the deployment of military infrastructure in the region by the United States and its allies is unacceptable. Such intentions must be regarded as a direct threat to stability in the SCO space," Shoigu said.

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 Aid

The United States uses the tactics of inciting hotbeds of instability in the world, generating security threats, while simultaneously offers military assistance, Shoigu pointed out.

On Tuesday, the US Senate passed the $95 billion legislation with approximately $61 billion in Ukraine-related funding, $26 billion in Israel-related funding and $8 billion for Indo-Pacific security initiatives in a vote of 79-18. The Biden administration is reportedly readying a $1 billion military aid package for Ukraine sourced from the legislation.

"[The US] uses a technique that has been proven many times a 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 Consequences

Shoigu also touched upon potential catastrophic consequences caused by the ongoing Ukrainian attacks on the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (NPP).

"The ongoing strikes of the Ukrainian armed forces on the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, which could lead to catastrophic consequences, are of particular concern," Shoigu emphasized.

The Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant is located on the left bank of the Dnepr River and is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. It came under the control of Russian forces in early March 2022 and has since been repeatedly shelled by Ukrainian forces, raising international fears of a possible nuclear accident.

A Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






United Nations Has No Added Details on Nord Stream Explosions, Security Council Hears, as Members Underscore Need to Protect Critical Infrastructure

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

9619th Meeting (AM)

SC/15683

26 April 2024

Nineteen months on, the United Nations is not in a position to verify claims or reports made regarding attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea, two senior officials told the Security Council today, as many delegates  while condemning attacks against civilian infrastructure and calling for accountability  cautioned that any politicization or speculation on this case is detrimental to revealing the truth.

Miroslav Jenca, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and Americas, Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, underscored that the UN has no additional details beyond publicly available information about the destruction of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in September 2022 and is not in a position to verify or confirm claims or reports made regarding the incident.

According to investigations conducted by Danish, German and Swedish authorities, leaks in the pipelines were caused by the use of explosives. In February, Danish and Swedish authorities informed the Council about the closure of their respective investigations. While stating that any intentional damage to critical civilian infrastructure should be condemned and investigated, he urged all actors to exercise restraint and await the conclusion of the remaining investigation.

He added: "We strongly encourage Member States to continue cooperation and sharing of information to ensure the security of all international waters  including the Baltic Sea, which is critical for regional commerce, security and stability."

In the same vein, Oguljeren Niyazberdiyeva, Chief of the Office of the Under-Secretary-General, United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, stressed that her Office  "not vested with the mandate to investigate or assess the conduct of States or other actors"  has no additional details regarding the events in question, and is not able to verify claims or reports made regarding the incident.

Meanwhile, Larry C. Johnson, political commentator and expert in the field of counter-terrorism, stated: "It is not only the responsibility, but the sacred duty, of the Security Council to take the lead in bringing about a settlement of the Nord Stream matter by peaceful means." Urging a properly funded, professional investigation into the Nord Stream bombing, he said: "I can say this much with certainty about that operation  it was carried out with the financial and material support of at least one nation State."

In the ensuing discussion, numerous Council members condemned all acts of sabotage targeting critical infrastructure, noting their corrosive consequences on the economy, the environment and navigation. While many also expressed support for Berlin's ongoing investigation into the incident, several expressed scepticism.

"It is as if a crime was committed  a murder  and a year later, the investigative authorities concluded that the victim was murdered," stated the representative of the Russian Federation. Moreover, throughout the investigation, some Western States argued that it was premature to qualify the Nord Stream explosion as a terrorist act. This demonstrates that they have "absolutely no interest in finding out who is responsible for the attack," he asserted.

Similarly, China's delegate pointed out that the Swedish and Danish investigations have established no truth regarding this severe incident that undermined transnational energy infrastructure, with only scant information offered. "One can't help but suspect a hidden agenda behind the opposition to an international investigation," he added.

However, the representative of the United States  stressing that the Russian Federation's claims are "as hollow as they are disingenuous"  said that Moscow expresses concern over the sabotage of critical infrastructure while wreaking havoc against such facilities in Ukraine. The United Kingdom's representative, similarly, called on the Russian Federation to "translate its professed concern for protecting critical infrastructure into action" by immediately ceasing such attacks and ending its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.

Adding to that, the speaker for France recalled that Moscow's recent strikes have destroyed or damaged seven thermal power plants, three combined heat and power plants, two hydroelectric plants and 17 power transformers. "It is clear that Russia is attempting to divert this Council's attention and the attention of the international community," he stressed.

For his part, Slovenia's delegate underscored that critical civilian infrastructure must be protected, regardless of whether it is a hospital in Gaza, a power plant in Ukraine or pipelines in the Baltic Sea. Condemning the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines, he spotlighted recent incidents targeting underwater infrastructure  including the cutting of submarine communication cables in the Red Sea in March and the damage done to the "Balticconnector" gas pipeline in October 2023.

The Council must have facts to fulfil its responsibility, said the representative of Japan, expressing hope that Germany's investigation will be completed as soon as possible. Mozambique's delegate, meanwhile, noted that Danish and Swedish investigations found insufficient grounds to pursue a criminal case. However, "impunity should not be an option for such a blatant breach of international law," he emphasized, stating: "Finding answers for who was behind this grave act of sabotage is paramount."

THREATS TO INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY

Briefings

MIROSLAV JENCA, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and Americas, Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations , said that the destruction of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in September 2022 has sparked widespread speculation that risks further fuelling tensions among Member States. Noting that his briefing is based "solely on information that is publicly available", he underscored that the UN has no additional details regarding the events and is not in a position to verify or confirm claims or reports made regarding the incident. He added that the full extent of its environmental impact, including on marine and local wildlife, is yet to be grasped.

After leaks in the pipelines were reported, the Danish, German and Swedish authorities announced the launch of separate national investigations, he recalled, pointing to their 10 July 2023 joint letter to the Council President (document S/2023/517) indicating that the leaks were caused by the use of explosives. However, the Russian Federation expressed concern over these national investigations and called for "comprehensive and objective proceedings". In February 2024, the Danish and Swedish authorities informed the Council about the closure of their respective investigations. In March 2024, Moscow reiterated its concerns, calling for an international commission to investigate the Nord Stream incidents further.

While stating that any intentional damage to critical civilian infrastructure should be condemned and investigated, he urged all actors to exercise restraint and wait for the conclusion of the remaining investigation. He added: "We strongly encourage Member States to continue cooperation and sharing of information to ensure the security of all international waters  including the Baltic Sea, which is critical for regional commerce, security and stability."

OGULJEREN NIYAZBERDIYEVA, Chief of the Office of the Under-Secretary-General, United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism , said that the territorial defeat of Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh), the reduced presence of Al-Qaida and the decline in terrorism-related fatalities over the last decade "stand as testaments" to the international community's collective counterterrorism efforts. The Security Council's unwavering leadership in these endeavors has been crucial, she stressed, noting that the Office  established in 2017  assists Member States in implementing the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and its successive review resolutions.

The Office, however, is "not vested with the mandate to investigate or assess the conduct of States or other actors", she said, noting that the United Nations Secretariat does not have any additional details of the events in question, and is not able to verify claims or reports made regarding the incident. The Office remains committed to reinvigorating multilateralism and supporting Member States to build a world free from terrorism, guided by the Charter of the United Nations and international law, she added.

LARRY C. JOHNSON, political commentator and expert in the field of counterterrorism, expressed support for the Russian Federation's wish to have the Council conduct an open and comprehensive investigation into the September 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines. "It is not only the responsibility, but the sacred duty, of the Security Council to take the lead in bringing about a settlement of the Nord Stream matter by peaceful means," he said, adding that he would not review the mountain of evidence that implicates the United States in this act of war against the Russian Federation and Germany.

The destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines has inflicted significant economic pain on the people of Germany, he said, emphasizing that it also did not help end the conflict between the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Ukraine's North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) facilitators. Rather, it made matters worse. "It has been 19 months since the pipeline was destroyed, and the NATO countries appear to have adopted the posture of the three wise monkeys - see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil," he said, adding that a properly funded, professional investigation would uncover documents, informants and eyewitnesses that could prove beyond a reasonable doubt who carried out the Nord Stream bombing.

"I can say this much with certainty about that operation  it was carried out with the financial and material support of at least one nation State," he said, stressing that the refusal to conduct a thorough investigation casts a cloud over the Council.

Statements

The representative of the Russian Federation said that the destruction of the Nord Stream gas pipelines  condemned by all Council members  constitutes a direct threat to international peace and security. The use of explosive devices to target pipelines at the bottom of the sea  valued at $17 billion  resulted in both critical damage to Nord Stream and severe environmental and navigational consequences. On national investigations conducted by Germany, Denmark and Sweden, he said that  given their refusal to cooperate with Moscow  "we were sceptical". Instead of supporting Moscow's initiative to establish an independent international commission to investigate the incident under UN auspices, Western Council members disseminated empty letters. Despite recognizing that the pipelines were deliberately destroyed with explosives, they insisted that there were no grounds for continuing investigations.

"It is as if a crime was committed  a murder  and a year later, the investigative authorities concluded that the victim was murdered," he stated. Moreover, he observed that, throughout the investigation, some Western States argued that it was premature to qualify the Nord Stream explosion as a terrorist act. This demonstrates that they have "absolutely no interest in finding out who is responsible for the attack" and "resist all efforts to find the guilty party", he said. He also pointed out that, before the crime was committed, Western politicians called for its commission. Western countries will claim that there is no added value in conducting an international investigation, hoping that the international community will forget about it. However, he asserted: "The international community won't forget, and we certainly won't forget." The Russian Federation will continue to use every means at its disposal to rectify the situation, he said, calling on States to support those efforts.

The representative of Mozambique , welcoming the reports by Denmark and Sweden, noted that, while they indicated that deliberate sabotage occurred, they found insufficient grounds to pursue a criminal case. "Impunity should not be an option for such a blatant breach of international law," he emphasized, warning that it would embolden perpetrators and weaken the foundation of international cooperation. The protection of civilian infrastructure is one of the foundational pillars of international law, he said, asserting: "Finding answers for who was behind this grave act of sabotage is of paramount importance."

The representative of Algeria said that three gas pipelines connect his country and Europe to supply energy, also noting an intention to construct a trans-Saharan gas pipeline between his country and Nigeria. He expressed support for both Germany's ongoing investigation and "any future international effort"  particularly under UN auspices  that could shed light on the attacks. Underlining the need to determine facts and protect cross-border, interdependent energy infrastructure, he pointed out that the strategic importance of these facilities exposes them to growing threats, which, in turn, raises new security concerns. Therefore, strengthening regional and international cooperation is critical, he stressed.

The representative of Guyana condemned the attacks and commended the proactive response by neighbouring Baltic States to investigate the incident. Welcoming that they have kept the UN apprised of progress in their respective investigations, she noted that the probe was discontinued. She said that her country looks forward to receiving the findings of Germany's ongoing investigation, expressing hope that the perpetrators of this illegal act will soon be found and held accountable.

The representative of Slovenia stressed that critical civilian infrastructure must be protected, regardless of whether it is a hospital in Gaza, a power plant in Ukraine or pipelines in the Baltic Sea. Expressing concern over recent damage done to underwater infrastructure  including the cutting of submarine communication cables in the Red Sea in March and the damage done to the "Balticconnector" gas pipeline in October 2023  he condemned the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines in September 2022 and expressed particular concern over its environmental impact. He also noted the conclusion of the Danish and Swedish investigations and welcomed their transparency. "We trust Germany and its investigators to continue investing all efforts into a comprehensive and impartial investigation," he added.

The representative of Japan said that actions jeopardizing crucial infrastructure present a substantial risk, reiterating concern over the Nord Stream incident and its long-term damage to the marine environment. It is the Council's responsibility to address issues of international peace and security, and to fulfil those duties, it must have facts. On that, she noted the conclusion of the Danish and Swedish investigations. "We should not go for speculation without any objective information," she added, expressing hope that Germany's investigation will be completed as soon as possible.

The representative of France , noting that there have been no developments since the last consultation held on 14 March, wondered about the Russian Federation's zeal on this file. "Russia has continued systematically to target Ukrainian infrastructure, inflicting terrible damage," he said, recalling that recent Russian Federation strikes have destroyed or damaged seven thermal power plants, three combined heat and power plants, two hydroelectric plants and 17 power transformers. "It is clear that Russia is attempting to divert this Council's attention and the attention of the international community," he stressed.

The representative of the Republic of Korea , opposing any sabotage or indiscriminate attacks against critical infrastructure that could disrupt energy supply chains, stressed that perpetrators of such acts must be held accountable. In this regard, he supported national investigations by Denmark, Sweden and Germany. Noting that "any politicization or speculation on this case is detrimental to revealing the truth", he voiced concern over accusations made in the absence of concrete evidence.

The representative of the United States said that today's meeting is not about accountability. The Russian Federation has repeatedly called meetings on this topic to spread disinformation and discredit ongoing national investigations, which should be allowed to complete their work. Moscow's claims of its noble intentions to pursue justice and protect critical infrastructure are "as hollow as they are disingenuous", he stressed, pointing out that the Kremlin expresses concern over the sabotage of critical infrastructure while wreaking havoc against such facilities in Ukraine. Further, while the Russian Federation seems interested in fact-finding missions and independent investigations, it routinely denies access to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for investigations in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine. It also vetoes the mandate renewals of independent UN investigation mechanisms, such as that of the Panel of Experts on sanctions against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, he noted.

The representative of China expressed regret that it has been more than 18 months with no conclusion reached. The explosion of the Nord Stream pipelines was a serious incident that undermined transnational energy infrastructure, he said, recalling that China and others have called for an objective, impartial and professional investigation to find out the truth as soon as possible and bring the perpetrators to justice. Regarding the Swedish and Danish investigations, he noted that no truth has been established, with only scant information offered. "One can't help but suspect a hidden agenda behind the opposition to an international investigation," he added.

The representative of Ecuador , noting that the Nord Stream gas pipeline explosion resulted from deliberate sabotage, stated: "A call for maximum caution is not enough." There is no justification for attacks against essential civilian infrastructure, he stressed, adding that this incident threatened Europe's economic and energy security, compromised the security of maritime and air navigation, and posed a severe environmental threat. He expressed hope that Germany's investigation of the incident will come to a prompt conclusion.

The representative of Sierra Leone condemned infrastructure sabotage and noted the conclusion of the Danish and Swedish investigations, which did not assign responsibility. Expressing concern over escalating attacks on critical infrastructure globally, she urged restraint, compliance with international law and an independent, impartial and transparent investigation. "We call for a swift conclusion of the ongoing national investigations relating to the Nord Stream gas pipeline in a manner that will further build trust," she added.

The representative of Switzerland expressed concern over the alleged acts of sabotage against the Nord Stream gas pipelines in September 2022, which led to considerable gas leaks. Condemning all acts of sabotage targeting critical infrastructure, she observed: "Such acts can have corrosive consequences on the supply of gas to the population, on the economy and the environment." She also welcomed the regular provision of information on the investigations carried out by Denmark, Sweden and Germany, adding that her country awaits the conclusion of the latter investigation.

The representative of the United Kingdom said that the best way to establish what happened is for Council members to support Germany's ongoing national investigation. "We do not believe that it is a good use of our time for the Security Council to try to prejudge the outcome of this ongoing investigation, dictate how the investigation is conducted or seek to politicize the issue," he said. The Russian Federation has consistently called Council meetings on this topic and vocally condemned attacks on critical national infrastructure, but that country is simultaneously, deliberately and systematically targeting Ukraine's energy system and attacking its critical infrastructure, he said. Moscow must "translate its professed concern for protecting critical infrastructure into action" by immediately ceasing such attacks and ending its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, he stressed.

The representative of Malta , Council President for April, spoke in his national capacity to insist that, given the absence of new relevant information, there is no need for another Council meeting on this topic. Germany's national investigation is still ongoing, and time is needed to process all the information handed over by Swedish and Danish authorities. For its part, the Council should refrain from any action to impose timelines, undermine national proceedings or prejudge their results. To that end, "introducing further investigations at this time could be counterproductive," he said, stressing that any Council initiative must be rooted in full respect for the ongoing national investigation so as not to risk delegitimizing it.

The representative of the Russian Federation , taking the floor a second time, said that the narrative promoted by Western countries today is unsurprising. Observing that many of their statements linked the conflict in Ukraine to the Nord Stream explosion, he said that this linkage "helps us to get a better understanding of what happened with Nord Stream".

The representative of the United Kingdom countered that his delegation did not link the Nord Stream attack with the conflict in Ukraine. Instead, he merely pointed out that it is hypocritical of Moscow to spend so much time drawing the Council's attention to one act of sabotage on national infrastructure while it is deliberately and systematically attacking Ukraine's.

The representative of the Russian Federation reiterated  for the sake of consistency  that Nord Stream is international infrastructure, and the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings applies.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Forbes Russia journalist detained for criticizing military, lawyer says

By VOA News April 26, 2024

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 journalist's 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.

Russia's Washington embassy did not immediately reply to VOA's 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 Journal's 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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






UNICEF commends the Government of Tajikistan on the repatriation of 47 children and women from Syria

UNICEF

Statement by Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia

26 April 2024

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan/GENEVA, 26 April 2024 -- "UNICEF welcomes the repatriation of 32 children and 15 women from Syria on 25 April.

"UNICEF commends the Government of Tajikistan for fulfilling its commitments under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and facilitating the reintegration of children and their mothers with their families and communities.

"UNICEF works with countries including Tajikistan to support the reintegration of children back to their countries of origin, aligned with their citizenship.

"UNICEF supports the Government of Tajikistan in ensuring family-based care, individualised needs assessments and case management, mental health and psychosocial support, educational support, access to employment opportunities, and other services to help children's recovery and development. The support to children and families returning from conflict areas is critical in ensuring their successful reintegration back into communities."

#####



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Lawmaker proposes changing authority to demarcate prohibited waters

ROC Central News Agency

04/26/2024 08:10 PM

Taipei, April 26 (CNA) A lawmaker has proposed a legal amendment to transfer authority to demarcate prohibited and restricted waters off Taiwan proper and Taiwan-controlled outlying islands from the defense ministry to the Ocean Affairs Council (OAC), arguing that it would augment law enforcement in those areas.

Legislator Chen Yeong-kang () of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) crafted the draft legislation, which has not been sponsored, and held a public hearing on Friday.

In a written explanation accompanying the bill, Chen highlighted the fatal capsize of an unlicensed and unregistered Chinese speedboat in prohibited waters off the Kinmen Islands in February .

In the wake of the capsizing incident, China's Taiwan Affairs Office publicly rejected the legality of Taiwan-controlled prohibited and restricted waters off the Kinmen Islands.

Kinmen and China's Xiamen are separated by a distance of less than 10 kilometers.

Chen said that under the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, the Ministry of National Defense is mandated to declare the scope of prohibited and restricted waters.

However, it is the Coast Guard Administration (CGA), a subordinate agency of the OAC, that is designated as the competent authority and tasked with patrolling and law enforcement in those areas, he added.

Since the purpose of delineating prohibited and restricted waters is to maintain order on the sea, not national defense, that task should be undertaken by the CGA, Chen argued.

Alexander Huang (), an associate professor at Tamkang University's Graduate Institute of International Affairs and Strategic Studies, said that transferring the task from a military agency to a law enforcement agency would not only signal that Taiwan has sovereignty over the overlapping waters but also de-escalate tensions.

However, Liang Wen-chieh (), deputy head of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, said the proposed amendment "would not make much difference."

Liang added that the prohibited and restricted waters have been enforced for more than three decades based on a tacit understanding between Taiwan and China, and that it is inappropriate to seek the other side's validation through negotiations over the scope of the Taiwan-controlled waters due to unforeseen incidents.

The capsize of the Chinese boat on Feb. 14 was the result of a high-speed chase by Taiwan's Coast Guard and resulted in the death of two Chinese crew members.

Beijing criticized Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) "brutal" handling of the incident and on Feb. 19, the Chinese coast guard boarded the Taiwanese Sunrise cruise ship.

In the month following the incident, Chinese coast guard vessels frequently entered Kinmen's prohibited waters, claiming to be "legally" patrolling, but were expelled by vessels dispatched by its Taiwanese counterpart.

(By Sean Lin)

Enditem/AW

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






KMT caucus whip heads to Beijing to discuss cross-strait ties

ROC Central News Agency

04/26/2024 06:24 PM

Taipei, April 26 (CNA) Kuomintang (KMT) legislative caucus whip Fu Kun-chi () led a delegation of 17 KMT lawmakers to Beijing on Friday for a three-day visit, aiming to foster peace and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait.

The trip represents the voice of the Taiwanese public and the largest party in the Legislature, Fu said before departing from Taoyuan International Airport.

"The peace-thawing journey aims to restore the interrupted cross-strait relations of the past eight years. Peace is needed across the Taiwan Strait," Fu added.

In addition to easing cross-strait tensions, the visit seeks to enhance two-way tourism and facilitate the export of Taiwanese agricultural and fishery products to China, he said.

The delegation will also seek opportunities to revitalize economy of Hualien, which was struck by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake earlier this month, Fu said.

The delegation includes KMT legislators Jessica Chen (), Wang Hung-wei (), Chen Hsueh-shen () and Lo Ming-tsai ().

According to China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO), the lawmakers will visit a factory of Xiaomi Auto, a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Beijing, and a driverless vehicle demonstration park on Saturday.

Sources in Beijing said the delegation is scheduled to attend a meeting on Saturday with Chinese officials, potentially including TAO Director Song Tao () or Wang Huning (), chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

On Sunday, the delegation is slated to participate in activities held by the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China, and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, sources said.

The delegation will hold discussions with Taiwanese youth and Taiwanese business representatives later that day, they said.

The trip, ahead of President-elect Lai Ching-te's () inauguration on May 20, is being closely watched, with spokespeople for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) warning the delegation "not to step on the red lines of democracy and national security," with particular reference to the provisions of the Anti-Infiltration Act.

Activities of concern include negotiations with China and discussions relating to Taiwan's legislative agenda and law amendments, the DPP said.

The DPP also called on the Chinese authorities to conduct exchanges with Taiwan's democratically elected and legitimate government instead of "engaging in private negotiations with the opposition party under political preconditions."

(By Wen Kuei-hsiang, Yeh Chen and Lee Hsin-Yin)

Enditem/AW

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






How to achieve national reunification is a matter for the Chinese people on the two sides of the Taiwan Straits: Wang Yi

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Apr 26, 2024 08:23 PM

The Taiwan question is entirely China's internal affairs, and how to achieve national reunification is a matter for the Chinese people on the two sides of the Taiwan Straits, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a written interview with Qatar-based news channel Al Jazeera on Thursday.

Addressing a question on the Taiwan question given US continued arms sales to the island, Wang responded that Taiwan has been an inseparable part of China since ancient times. We will strive for peaceful reunification with the utmost effort and greatest sincerity. In the meantime, our bottom line is also clear: we will absolutely not allow anyone to separate Taiwan from China in any way.

At present, the cross-Straits situation is stable on the whole. But it faces serious challenges as well. The biggest challenge comes from "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and external disruptions. China will not sit on its hands with external disruptions, he stressed.

During the interview, Wang also made important explanations regarding the Gaza conflict, the Red Sea crisis, the Ukraine crisis and China-US relations.

Regarding the Gaza conflict, Wang stated that the protracted conflict in Gaza has become a humanitarian catastrophe that should not have happened, which has gone far beyond the bottom line of modern civilization. The international community must act now.

First, what is currently urgent is to achieve a cease-fire as early as possible, and this is the overriding priority. Second, unimpeded humanitarian assistance must be ensured at all times, and this is the pressing moral obligation. Third, further spillover of the conflict must be forestalled, and this is the practical necessity for preventing the situation from spinning out of control. Fourth, historical injustice to the Palestinian people must be redressed timely, and this is the right way to address the root of the conflict in Gaza, Wang pointed out.

In response to concerns over the rising tensions in the Red Sea and China's deployment of several hundred servicemen in an escort fleet for cargo ships, Wang stated that it must be noted that the ongoing escort mission by the Chinese navy is not related to the Red Sea situation. Maneuvers are being carried out in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia as authorized by the UN Security Council to deter pirates and conduct humanitarian operations.

When asked about how will China mediate in peaceful negotiations to resolve the Ukraine crisis, Wang said it is imperative to remain committed to political settlement. Conflicts and wars do not end on the battlefield but at the table.

It is imperative to uphold objectivity and impartiality. All sides should play their due part, and build up mutual trust to create conditions for ending hostility and starting peace talks. More importantly, no one should form factions or provoke bloc confrontation, Wang emphasized.

With the US presidential election approaching, Wang stated that the China-US relationship bears on the wellbeing of the Chinese and American peoples and the future of humanity and the world.

China is sincere in improving its relations with the US. Meanwhile, the US still sticks to its misperception of China, and presses ahead with its misguided policy to contain China, he noted.

Whoever is elected, the Chinese and American peoples will still need to engage in exchanges and cooperation, and the two major countries must find the right way to get along with each other. The China-US relationship cannot go back to its past. But it should, and can fully, have a bright future, Wang said.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan Apr. 26, 2024

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2024/04/26

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1. Dateis

6 to 6 a.m. (UTC+8) Thursday to Friday, Apr. 25-26

2. PLA activitiesis

6 PLAN vessels around Taiwan were detected by 6 a.m.(UTC+8) today. R.O.C. Armed Forces have monitored the situation and tasked Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond these activities.

3.Illustration of flight path is not provided due to no PLA aircraft crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait or entering Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ during this timeframe.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Blinken Tells Wang Yi That US Not Supporting Taiwan Independence - China Foreign Ministry

Sputnik News

20240426

BEIJING (Sputnik) - 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.

"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.

Taiwan has been governed independently of mainland China since 1949. Beijing views the island as its province, while Taiwan a a territory with its own elected government a maintains that it is an autonomous country but stops short of declaring independence. Beijing opposes any official contact of foreign states with Taipei and considers Chinese sovereignty over the island indisputable.

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.

The legislation includes $2 billion in foreign military financing for Taiwan and other partners in the region to counter China. The bill also features $3.3 billion to develop submarine infrastructure, including investments in dry dock construction. The bill includes $1.9 billion to replenish defense articles and services provided to Taiwan and other regional partners as well.

A Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






David Cameron's Very Central Asian Week: More Than Just A Jaunt?

By Chris Rickleton April 26, 2024

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.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/cameron- central-asian-week-/32922391.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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Chennai, Apr 27 (UNI) Accusing the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre of deceiving the State

on grant of funds towards Cyclone and flood relief, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M.K.Stalin on Saturday said there was no funds and no justice from the Centre.

Responding to the Centre allocating Rs 276 crore towards Cyclone and flood relief to the State,

Mr Stalin, in a social media post said, the State had sought a relief of Rs 37,907 crore.

The State government has spent Rs 2,477 crore from the State Disaster Relief Fund to provide immediate succour to the people and take up rehabilitation measures in the Cyclone and flood affected areas.

But the BJP-led Government at the Centre has announced a meagre Rs 276 crore as relief that too after Tamil Nadu moved the Supreme Court", he said.

"There is no fund, no justice for Tamil Nadu from the Centre and the people are watching the each and every act of the BJP regime, which has been deceiving the State", he added.

The state was hit by Cyclone in Chennai and three neighbouring districts in the first week of December last year and later the southern districts were hit by

unprecedented rains.

Mr Stalin had sought a relief of Rs 37,907 crore from the Centre and also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally at New Delhi and also submitted a memorandum to him.

This was followed by a MPs delegation from the State meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking release of Central funds sought by the State for relief.

But by merely granting Rs 276 crore, Tamil Nadu has neither received (adequate) funds nor justice from the Centre, Mr Stalin added.

UNI GV 2010
Minister Blair announces additional military assistance for Ukraine at the 21st meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group

National Defence

News release

April 26, 2024 - Toronto, Ontario - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Today, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, participated in the 21st Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting, hosted by United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. The meeting was held virtually on the two-year anniversary of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and brought together representatives from more than 50 countries.

At today's meeting, Minister Blair announced that Canada is donating $3 million to Ukraine for the production of drones by Ukraine's domestic defence industry. This marks the first time that Canada is contributing directly to the production of military drones in Ukraine, and this donation will be made in collaboration with the United Kingdom.

Minister Blair also confirmed that Canada is providing an additional contribution of approximately $13 million to Czechia's initiative to procure and deliver large-calibre ammunition for Ukraine. This contribution comes in addition to last month's announcement of $40 million and brings Canada's total contribution to the Czech initiative to over $53 million.

In addition, Minister Blair noted that Canada's donation of drones from Teledyne FLIR in Waterloo, Ontario, announced in February 2024, will grow by an additional 100 drones - bringing our total contribution of SkyRanger drones to 900. Delivery of these drones will begin in May.

These donations are funded by the $500 million military assistance package that Prime Minister Trudeau announced in Kyiv on June 12, 2023.[DM1] [AV2]

Minister Blair also provided updates on the delivery of other donations:

The first 10 of 50 Armoured Combat Support Vehicles that Canada will donate to Ukraine will be delivered to Europe this summer. Ukrainians will be trained on the vehicles in the summer, and the vehicles will move to Ukraine in the fall. These vehicles are built by Canadian workers at General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada in London, Ontario.

The 10 Multirole Boats from Zodiac Hurricane Technologies committed in January are set to be delivered this July, including the provision of commercially contracted training for Ukrainian operators, as well as trailers and spare parts; and

As announced earlier this year, Canada has been contributing to Ukraine's F-16 fighter capability by providing training since February 2024. Canada is providing civilian instructors, planes, and support staff contracted from Montreal-based Top Aces Inc. to support pilot and maintenance personnel training[AV3] [SW4] for Ukraine's incoming F-16 fleet, under the auspices of the Air Force Capability Coalition. In addition, Canada is providing language training to 14 Ukrainian air force members at the Canadian Forces language school in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec.

Canada's military assistance to Ukraine demonstrates our ongoing commitment to providing Ukrainians with the military aid that they need in their fight against Russia's illegal and unjustifiable war. As indicated in the Agreement on security cooperation between Canada and Ukraine, Canada will continue to support Ukraine for the long-term.

Quotes

"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." - The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence

Quick facts
Human Rights Commissioner calls for stronger support for Ukraine

Council of Europe

Commissioner for Human Rights

Kyiv

26 April 2024

The new Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty, carried out a visit to Kyiv, Ukraine from 23-25 April. This was his first visit to a member state since taking up his post on 1 April. With the current human rights landscape in Europe being dominated by Russia's war against Ukraine, the visit was an opportunity for the Commissioner to gain a deeper understanding of the human rights situation. Through dialogue with the authorities and other partners, he identified areas where he can help to advance the protection of human rights in the country.

Commissioner O'Flaherty paid particular attention to the human rights situation of Ukrainian children, including those transferred to Russia and Belarus, those residing in areas of Ukraine temporarily occupied by Russia, as well as those living in government-controlled territory. While stressing the importance of continuing efforts to ensure the return of the children transferred to Russia and Belarus, the Commissioner also underlined the need not to forget the children in the temporarily occupied territories. The Commissioner particularly welcomed the authorities' high-level commitment to avoid the future institutionalisation of children. He also welcomed the attention given by the Ukrainian authorities to the development of a more child-friendly juvenile justice system and to increasing protection of victims and witnesses' rights in the context of criminal process more generally.

The scale of continuing serious violations of human rights of the people living in territories of Ukraine under Russian occupation is of great concern to the Commissioner. He stressed that "we must never lose sight of the human rights of the people of Crimea, including the Crimean Tatars", and expressed his appreciation for the work carried out by the Ukrainian authorities in developing a human rights-centred approach to the eventual de-occupation of the peninsula. He deplored the reported violations of the freedoms of thought, conscience and religion in the temporarily occupied territories. The Commissioner's attention was also drawn to reports of serious human rights abuses, including torture, committed against Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians detained in the Russian Federation.

Recognising the immense challenges, scarce resources and difficult choices facing the Ukrainian authorities, Commissioner O'Flaherty noted the urgent need for increased investment in rebuilding Ukraine's infrastructure destroyed by Russian attacks. "There are some things that cannot wait until the war is over. For instance, ensuring that every Ukrainian child can go to school, in dignity and safety, is one such immediate concern. The international community should urgently step up its efforts to help Ukraine make the full enjoyment of the right to education by every child in Ukraine a reality," the Commissioner added.

The existence of a vibrant civil society in Ukraine, representing a diversity of ideas and unique skills, was a source of inspiration for Commissioner O'Flaherty. "The expertise of Ukraine's civil society is one of its most valuable resources. Civil society actors should be consulted in all public decision-making processes relevant to human rights throughout Ukraine, including on laws and public policies that affect the human rights of people in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine".

The Commissioner also welcomed the establishment of the Council of Europe's Register of Damage for Ukraine. "The Register, which serves as a record of claims for compensation for the damage, loss, and injury caused by Russia's aggression, is an essential element of any reparations and restorative justice efforts. Whatever design is agreed upon in the work towards the establishment of a future compensation mechanism, it is clear to me that one of the goals of this endeavour must be to provide redress to the very people victimised by the Russian aggression."

"The existential threat facing Ukraine today is at the same time the supreme challenge for the entire values-based human rights system on our continent," the Commissioner concluded. "As Ukraine rises to this challenge, I intend to play my part by offering my voice as well as the advice and expertise of my Office for the benefit of the victims of Russia's aggression".

During his visit, the Commissioner met with the Deputy Prime Minister - Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, Iryna Vereshchuk; the Minister of Justice, Denis Malyuska; the Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Tamila Tasheva; the Advisor - Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights, Daria Herasymchuk; and the Prosecutor-General, Andriy Kostin. Before the visit, in Strasbourg, the Commissioner met with the Speaker of the Parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk. In Kyiv, he met online with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, and representatives of his office at the Child Rights Protection Centre. He had meetings with representatives of civil society and international organisations. In Bucha, he paid respect to the victims of Russia's aggression, and in Gostomel he visited a school destroyed as a result of Russia's attack in 2022.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






April 26, 2024

Speech

Remarks by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III at the Opening of the 21st Ukraine Defense Contact Group (As Delivered)

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin

Well hello, everybody.

I know that many of us remember meeting for the first time at Ramstein two years ago today for what would become this Contact Group.

We've reached a real milestone today. And I'm honored that we've got a message to mark it from President Zelenskyy.

Then we'll move into the day's agenda.

Ladies and gentlemen, let me turn it over to the President of Ukraine.

[Pause for President Zelenskyy's remarks.]

On behalf of the entire Contact Group, I want to thank President Zelenskyy for his inspiring remarks.

Now, I know that everyone here shares President Zelenskyy's sense of urgency.

So once again, thanks for joining us for this 21st meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. And thanks to our partners in Ukraine. Minister Umerov and General Syrskyi, it's good to see you all again.

Two years ago today, many of us gathered at Ramstein Air Base for the very first meeting of what became this Contact Group. And in my opening remarks that day, I said that we were "going to keep moving heaven and earth" to meet Ukraine's security needs.

For two years, that's exactly what we've done.

And even at this moment of challenge, that should be a source of great pride for us all.

This extraordinary coalition of nations of goodwill has held together throughout two years of Putin's flagrant aggression, and his contempt for human rights and human decency.

And over these two years, we've been inspired by the courage of Ukraine's troops.

Just a month before our first meeting at Ramstein, Ukraine had won the Battle of Kyiv. And Ukraine was uncovering the mass atrocities committed by Putin's forces. The world recoiled at Russia's crimes in Bucha, Mariupol, and elsewhere. And Ukraine's forces steeled themselves for the fight ahead.

And since then, Ukraine's troops have retaken the city of Kherson and parts of the Kharkiv region. They've taken back large swathes of the Ukrainian territory that Russia grabbed since its unprovoked invasion in 2022.

And they've pushed Russia's fleet to the furthest, eastern corner of the Black Sea. That's let Ukraine nearly return to pre-war levels of grain exports.

For 793 days now, the Ukrainian people have stood tall against the Kremlin's aggression.

As I said at Ramstein two years ago: "My Ukrainian friends: we know the burden that all of you carry. And you should know that all of us have your back."

We still do. And we won't back down.

This week, the United States Congress passed and the President signed into law a package that includes $60.8 billion in additional funding related to Ukraine.

Putin's aggression against Ukraine is a security problem for us all. And we must continue to tackle it together.

Two years later, I'm not just proud.

I'm determined.

Now, Putin thought that he would just roll over Ukraine. He thought that Ukraine wasn't a real country. He thought that Ukrainians wouldn't fight for their democracy. And he thought that the world would just stand by.

Putin was wrong. On every point.

He didn't count on Ukraine's resolve. And he didn't count on us. All of us.

Over the past two years, some 50 countries from across the globe have gathered for ministerial-level meetings to coordinate our urgent military assistance. And the results have changed the course of history.

Over the past two years, the members of this Contact Group have committed more than 70 mid- to long range air-defense systems, along with thousands of missiles.

We've provided more than 3,000 armored vehicles, including more than 800 main battle tanks.

We've given Ukraine tens of thousands of anti-tank missiles.

This year, more than a squadron of donated F-16s will start to arrive in Ukraine, along with pilots and maintainers trained by members of this Contact Group.

And this Contact Group continues to step up to meet Ukraine's most urgent needs.

Just look at the Czech Republic's extraordinary initiative to procure thousands of artillery shells from third countries. And the U.K. has announced its largest single package of equipment ever, worth approximately $620 million. Or consider Germany's bold announcement that it will donate another Patriot system to Ukraine.

And today, I'm pleased to share that United States will provide a through Presidential Drawdown Authorityaanother $1 billion worth of assistance, including more ammunition for HIMARS, 155-millimeter ammunition, air-defense interceptors, and armored vehicles.

These are all testaments to our shared commitment to Ukraine's success on the battlefield.

And through the Contact Group's capability coalitions, we now have the nimble, flexible structure to adapt to new challenges a and to build up the future force that Ukraine needs for its long-term security.

But we take nothing for granted. And we know that Putin is ruthless and relentless.

Russia is launching increasingly fierce attacks on Ukraine's critical infrastructure, including targeting its power plants. And more and more Ukrainian civilians are dying.

So we're going to have a special focus today on boosting Ukraine's air defenses.

Ukraine is in dire need of more air-defense systems. And it urgently needs more interceptors. That's going to be a huge priority for us all today.

Ukraine also needs more artillery and armor to defend its citizens and reclaim its stolen territory.

And we're going to do everything that we can to help them.

Ladies and gentlemen, Ukraine's struggle for freedom matters to us all.

If Ukraine fell under Putin's boot, Europe would fall under Putin's shadow.

So we remain determined to deter Russia from any further aggression a including against our NATO allies.

If Putin got his way in Ukraine, his fellow autocrats would draw a dangerous lesson. And the whole world would become more chaotic and insecure if would-be aggressors believe that they can rewrite borders by force, and make people live in fear.

So as I said two years ago in Ramstein, we will continue "to help strengthen the arsenal of Ukrainian democracy."

And that's exactly what we're going to do today.

Thanks for being here. And thanks for everything that you have done for our shared security over the past two years.

And we'll now pause while our friends in the media depart.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/3757347/

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Ukraine: 9th Human Rights Dialogue takes place in Kyiv

European External Action Service (EEAS)

26.04.2024

EEAS Press Team

Yesterday in Kyiv, the European Union and Ukraine held the ninth Human Rights Dialogue. Both parties remain committed to continuing their annual dialogue, despite the ongoing full-scale armed aggression by Russia against Ukraine and will continue their active efforts to prevent and address any human rights violations, including in the temporarily occupied and in the liberated territories of Ukraine.

The parties recalled the historical decisions of the European Council to grant Ukraine candidate status in June 2022 and to open accession negotiations in December 2023 and acknowledged that guaranteeing human rights is an essential element of the Copenhagen criteria.

The parties discussed violations of international human rights and humanitarian law violations by Russian Federation in the context of Russia's full-scale invasion and war of aggression. Those include inhumane treatment of prisoners of war, arbitrary deprivation of life and detention, enforced disappearances, torture and ill-treatment, deportation of civilians (including children) to Russia and Belarus from the territories occupied by Russia, conflict related sexual violence, and discrimination and persecution of Indigenous peoples.

The parties paid special attention to the impacts of Russia's war of aggression on the rights to health, work, education, water and sanitation, and adequate housing. Discussions focused on the massive destruction, losses and damages to infrastructure directly affecting the provision of basic services related to the enjoyment of human rights. They stressed the importance of international support to an inclusive reconstruction and recovery of Ukraine.

Both sides expressed concerns regarding the deterioration of the situation in the temporarily occupied areas by Russia. In particular, the parties discussed forced disappearances and torture, restrictions on civic and political rights, especially forcing Ukrainian citizens to change citizenship and/or obtain a Russian passport, restrictions on the freedom of expression, freedom of the media, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion or belief, forced conscription, as well as restrictions on access for international and non-governmental organisations.

During the dialogue, the EU and Ukraine expressed their commitment to ensuring full accountability for international crimes committed in the context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, including through the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression. There were also exchanges on some specific points such as support to the investigations of the International Criminal Court and aligning international cooperation in the investigation and prosecution processes, victim-centered and trauma sensitive responses, the establishment of a registry of damages and of a compensation mechanism. In this context, the EU reiterated the importance of the ratification by Ukraine of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Furthermore, discussions also revolved around policy developments in human rights, with a focus on the 2023 enlargement report recommendations. The EU welcomed Ukraine's efforts in fulfilling accession criteria, notably the stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights, notwithstanding the ongoing war. Specific areas of discussion included law enforcement reform, prevention of torture and ill-treatment, labour rights, freedoms of expression, association and assembly, the elections and electoral framework, rights of persons with disabilities and persons belonging to ethnic, linguistic, religious, and national minorities, gender equality and the rights of the child. The EU encouraged Ukraine to adopt legislation to address hate crimes and assure equality of rights of LGBTI persons and to undertake further steps to align legislation and policy with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities. Ukraine was encouraged to continue reforming the child protection system in order to align with EU acquis. In addition, the parties agree on the need to ensure the individual safety of journalists and their ability to exercise their right to freedom of expression including under martial law.

The dialogue was marked by an atmosphere of cooperation and a common aspiration for progressive and decisive steps in the field of human rights.

The next meeting of the human rights dialogue between Ukraine and the EU is expected to take place in 2025.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Donations from Norway to Ukraine for around NOK 1 billion

Government of Norway

News story | Date: 26/04/2024

'The war in Ukraine continues with high intensity. Norway has provided critical material to Ukraine to support them in their fight against Russia. We and our allies are clear about our long-term support for Ukraine. Ukraine can count on Norway's steadfast support,' says Defence Minister BjArn Arild Gram.

Over the last months, Norway has donated military materials valued at approximately NOK 1 billion from the Norwegian Armed Forces to Ukraine.

The support includes artillery shells, anti-tank weapons, minesweepers and support for the maintenance of tanks. Among the donations were 5,000 M72 anti-tank missiles and crucial artillery shells, useful in the M109 tanks previously donated by Norway. The value of the donations also includes replacements.

This winter's limited scope of donated artillery shells was a critical interim support until deliveries from the Czech initiative commences. Norway's contribution there includes up to NOK 1.6 billion.

Norway contributes with training and donates deminers to Ukraine

'To operate safely and effectively, the Ukrainian defence forces need to clear large areas of mines. Norway participates in the training of Ukrainian demining soldiers in Lithuania. The training is a collaboration between the Nordic countries. This winter, we have also donated three deminers on Leopard 1 tank chassis', says Defence Minister Gram.

Norway provides NOK 150 million for the maintenance of donated Leopard tanks in Poland

Norway previously donated eight Leopard 2 A4 tanks and support vehicles to Ukraine.

'Given the need for support, repair, and maintenance of donated materials, Norway will provide up to NOK 150 million for the maintenance of Leopard 2 A4 tanks at a maintenance center in Poland,' states the Defence Minister.

Norwegian military support moving forward

The Norwegian military support for Ukraine is part of a broad international effort among allies and partner countries. Norwegian military support will continue to be organized along four main tracks:

Donations from the defense sector

Donations of materiel procured from the defense industry

Training and education of Ukrainian personnel

Contributions through international mechanisms and cooperation

Through the Nansen Programme, in 2023, Norway provided Ukraine with military support totalling approximately 10 billion kroner. This includes donations from the defence sector and industry, contributions to international funds, mechanisms, and the training of Ukrainian personnel. For 2024, the government has already made several significant decisions regarding military support and remains in continuous dialogue with allies and partners on measures to meet Ukraine's high-priority military needs.

Norway's support reflects the needs of Ukraine, with donations including air defence systems, artillery ammunition, mine clearance equipment, and tanks. Additionally, Norway plays a significant role in training Ukrainian personnel, through initiatives like the Home Guard's professional education in Norway, instructor support for basic soldier training in Operation Interflex in the UK, and support for the training of Ukrainian personnel in Denmark in relation to the donation of F-16 fighter jets. Norway has also provided training to Ukrainian soldiers on systems such as M109 artillery, Hellfire missiles, NASAMS air defence, and artillery radars.

Norway, together with the UK, leads the maritime capability coalition aimed at developing the Ukrainian navy. As part of this effort, Norway will assist in training Ukrainian naval personnel.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






U.S. Announces $6 Billion Aid Package Including Patriot Air-Defense Missiles

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service April 26, 2024

The United States will provide Ukraine with Patriot missiles for its air-defense systems as part of a massive $6 billion additional aid package, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on April 26 after a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

The missiles will be used to replenish previously supplied Patriot air-defense systems, Austin said in the announcement, which came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on the countries in the contact group to provide additional defense systems to create an air shield against further Russian missile attacks.

In addition to Patriot missiles the $6 billion package includes more munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, (NASAMS) and additional equipment to integrate Western air-defense launchers, missiles, and radars into Ukraine's existing weaponry.

Zelenskiy raised Ukraine's need for U.S.-made Patriots air-defense systems earlier on April 26 during a virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, also known as the Ramstein Format.

Austin said in his opening comments to the meeting that everyone in the contact group shares Zelenskiy's sense of urgency and he announced $1 billion worth of assistance to Ukraine, including HIMARS, 155-millimeter ammunition, air-defense interceptors, and armored vehicles.

Zelenskiy told the group earlier that Ukraine urgently needs to build its air defense to save lives.

Zelenskiy said this year alone 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."

At least seven Patriot systems are needed to protect Ukrainian cities, he added.

At a Pentagon press conference following the meeting, Austin said the U.S. was working with allies to locate additional Patriot systems but did not commit to sending more U.S. versions. He said he has been speaking one-on-one with a number of his European counterparts in recent days about this issue.

"It's not just Patriots that they need. They need other types of systems and interceptors as well," Austin said. "I would caution us all in terms of making Patriot the silver bullet."

The contact group meeting comes just days after U.S. President Joe Biden signed a long-delayed $61 billion military aid package for Ukraine. The United States has already announced that $1 billion in artillery, air defenses, and other hardware would soon be heading to the battlefield.

Austin said that since the Ukraine Defense Contact Group was founded two years ago members have provided Ukraine with more than 70 medium- and long-range air-defense systems and thousands of missiles.

The group also sent more than 3,000 armored vehicles, including more than 800 main battle tanks, Austin said.

Despite all the aid delivered, Zelenskiy said Russia "managed to seize the initiative on the battlefield" in the six months it took for Congress to pass the large U.S. aid package. But he said it is not too late to stabilize the front and "move toward achieving our Ukrainian goals in the war."

The flow of weaponry could improve Kyiv's chances of averting a major Russian breakthrough in the east, military analysts say. But it is unclear how much pressure Kyiv can apply after months of rationing artillery as its stocks ran low. Kyiv also faces a shortage of troops on the battlefield.

With reporting by Reuters and AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-ramstein-meeting- military-support-russia/32921421.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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Ukrainian Minister Released On Bail After Corruption Accusations

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service April 26, 2024

Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Mykola Solskiy was released from custody on April 26 after posting bail following his arrest earlier in the day over accusations that he had illegally acquired land worth about 291 million hryvnyas ($7 million).

Ukraine's anti-corruption court ordered that Solskiy be taken into custody following an investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU).

The anti-corruption judge ruled that Solskiy be placed in custody until June 24 and set bail at 75 million hryvnyas ($1.9 million), although the prosecutor had recommended a much higher bail -- 200 million hryvnyas ($5 million).

A press statement issued by the Agriculture Ministry later on April 26 said a bail of 75.7 million hryvnyas had been paid for the release of Solskiy, who "continues to exercise the powers of agriculture minister of Ukraine."

It did not say who paid the bail.

Solskiy, 44, is the first member of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's government to be officially accused of corruption.

After he was named as a suspect in the multimillion-dollar graft investigation, Solskiy offered to resign on April 25 in a handwritten letter, which Ukrainian parliament speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk published on Facebook.

Solskiy's offer will be considered at an upcoming session of parliament, Stefanchuk said.

Solskiy, who was appointed minister in March 2022, has denied the accusations, saying the case concerns a dispute in 2017-18 between state-owned enterprises and private individuals, particularly soldiers, over land that was given to these people "in accordance with the law."

He promised to fully cooperate with the investigation.

NABU said earlier this week that Solskiy, an ex-head of parliament's Agriculture Committee, was involved in a plot that resulted in him taking possession of state land worth 291 million hryvnyas and that he was also attempting to acquire more land worth 190 million hryvnyas ($4.8 million).

NABU said that Solskiy was the coordinator of the scheme, which involved three other people, including two employees of the state cadastral office.

The Agriculture Ministry has overseen Kyiv's efforts to continue to export grain and other produce despite Russian attempts to block Black Sea export routes.

Zelenskiy last year dismissed Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov after a series of corruption scandals involving his ministry and the procurement of supplies for Ukrainian troops fighting Russia in the east of the country.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-agriculture-minister- solskiy-corruption-allegations-custody/32921494.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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






US Military Leaders Decline to Comment on Reports Kiev Moved Abrams Tanks From Frontlines

Sputnik News

20240426

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - 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.

"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.

A Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






New US $6Bln Aid for Ukraine Includes Munitions for NASAMS, Patriot, HIMARS

Sputnik News

20240426

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States' newly announced $6 billion security package for Ukraine includes additional munitions for NASAMS, Patriot, and HIMARS systems, the Pentagon said Friday in a release.

"The capabilities in this announcement include ... additional munitions for Patriot air defense systems; additional munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS); additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS)," the Pentagon said in a release.

It also includes equipment to integrate Western air defense launchers, missiles, and radars with Ukraine's air defense systems; counter-UAS equipment and systems; munitions for laser-guided rocket systems; multi-mission and counter-artillery radars; 155mm and 152mm artillery rounds; and precision aerial munitions.

In addition, the US will provide Switchblade and Puma Unmanned Aerial Systems; components to support Ukrainian production of UAS and other capabilities; small arms and additional small arms ammunition; and ancillary items and support for training, maintenance, and sustainment activities.

Earlier on Friday, United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirmed previous media reports that the US will provide a new $6 billion military aid package for Ukraine.

"I am also pleased to announce today an additional commitment of $6 billion through our Ukraine security assistance initiative that will allow us to procure new capabilities for Ukraine from US industry," Austin said in a press conference, noting that this was the largest security package for Kiev to date.

A Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






US Cluster Munition Coalition Slams US Decision to Transfer New Batch of Munitions to Ukraine

Sputnik News

20240426

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - 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.

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 US Cluster Munition Coalition (USCMC) is appalled by President Biden's decision to again transfer internationally prohibited cluster munitions to Ukraine ... The US Cluster Munition Coalition condemns this transfer decision due to the devastating and long-term humanitarian consequences of cluster munitions," the coalition said in a statement released on Thursday.

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.

Western countries have provided hundreds of billions of dollars worth of aid to Ukraine since the start of Russia's special military operationin February 2022. Aid shipments began in 2022 with artillery munitions and training and have escalated to include tanks, advanced air-defense systems, missiles and cluster munitions.

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.

A Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters march in Italy 13 Oct 2024 | 10:53 AM Rome, Oct 13 (UNI) Several thousand people joined a march for Palestine in the center of the Italian capital of Rome on Saturday, a week after a similar demonstration spiraled into clashes with police, media reports said. see more..

US forces in Middle East strike IS camps in Syria 13 Oct 2024 | 9:55 AM Washington, Oct 13 (UNI) US forces stationed in the Middle East have struck camps of the Islamic State terrorist group in Syria, designed to undermine the militants' ability to plan and carry out new attacks against the United States and its allies, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Saturday. see more..

U S: SpaceX gets the nod for Starship Super Heavy flight test Sunday 13 Oct 2024 | 9:28 AM Wash, Oct 13 (UNI) The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted SpaceX approval to launch its fifth flight test of the Starship Super Heavy booster on Sunday, an FAA spokesperson said in a statement to Sputnik on Saturday. see more..

Terrorist leader killed in Mali, says army 13 Oct 2024 | 8:45 AM Bamako, Oct 13 (UNI) Al-Iza Ould Yahia, a notorious terrorist leader, was killed along with several of his associates by the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) in an operation on Oct. 6 in Ber, northern Mali, the Malian army said on Saturday. see more..
Ukraine's Military Casualties in Donetsk Area Reach Up to 430 - MoD

Sputnik News

20240426

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Ukrainian armed forces have suffered up to 430 military casualties near several settlements of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) in the past 24 hours, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) said on Friday.

According to the ministry, Russia's 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.

Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr repelled eight Ukrainian counterattacks, while the enemy lost up to 415 servicemen in clashes, the MoD added.

A Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






We urge Russia to translate its apparent concern for critical infrastructure into action by ceasing attacks in Ukraine: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Statement by UK Political Coordinator Fergus Eckersley at the UN Security Council meeting on threats to international peace and security.

26 April 2024

Thank you, Mr President, and thank you to our briefers. I can be quick because we have had this debate many times in the Chamber before. As we have said several times, the UK unequivocally condemns acts of sabotage on critical national infrastructure, and we take the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines extremely seriously.

I would like to make three quick points about how the Council can best address this.

First, we continue to believe that the best way to establish what happened and who was responsible is for Council members to support Germany's ongoing national investigation.

We recognise that this investigation will take time due to its complexity, and we have every confidence that it is being conducted with impartiality, integrity, transparency and in line with the rule of law.

We do not believe that it is a good use of our time for the Security Council to try to prejudge the outcome of this ongoing investigation, dictate how the investigation is conducted or seek to politicise the issue. And we should avoid engaging in baseless and unhelpful speculation.

Second, I would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to all those involved in the national investigations conducted by Denmark and Sweden. We welcome the updates sent to the Council in February outlining their findings and we respect the decision to conclude their investigations.

And third, we note that Russia has consistently called Council meetings on this and vocally condemned attacks on critical national infrastructure. Yet Russia is, at the same time, deliberately and systematically targeting Ukraine's energy system and attacking its critical infrastructure.

Just this month as one example, Russia launched 82 missiles and drones destroying the Trypilska Thermal Power Plant. Trypilska was one of Ukraine's largest power-generating facilities and a critical energy asset for the Kyiv, Cherkasy and Zhytomyr oblasts.

So, we urge Russia to translate its apparent concern for protecting critical infrastructure into action by immediately ceasing such attacks and ending its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.

Thank you.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Our Warriors Know How to Win, But They Need Your Sufficient and Timely Support - Address of the President to the Participants of the Ramstein Format Meeting

President of Ukraine

26 April 2024 - 19:47

Secretary Austin,

I thank you for your leadership in this Ramstein format,

Distinguished ministers and generals,

General Brown,

Dear friends,

I am pleased to greet you and to say that Ramstein has indeed become a global event. 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. And it is worth reminding. Predatory regimes like Russia's 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. 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. Many people worldwide would still believe that Russian missiles cannot be shot down. Many people would still be convinced that the Russian army is capable of crushing anyone's independence. Many would grovel in front of Putin and not even try to defend their sovereignty if it were not for this example of ours - an example of courage that works and that must work completely.

Dear friends!

Please do not forget what you are deciding. This is not just about the arms supply - you are deciding the fate of the world that will either live by rules that we all recognize or depend only on the mercy of those whose violence is brutal.

At what point is the war now, after two years of Ramstein? The answer is clear: everything still depends only on our interaction - on how quickly we act and whether our 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 now not only stabilize the front, but also move forward, achieving our Ukrainian goals in the war. Each of you understands what will be most effective.

First: long range weapons. No part of the occupied territory of Ukraine should remain safe for the occupier. And I thank every leader whose solutions are already working hard on the front lines - Storm Shadow, SCALPs and ATACMS. The range should be sufficient. Second: air shield. This year, Russian jets have already used more than nine thousand guided aerial bombs against Ukraine. And 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 missiles for them. This is what can and should save lives right now. At least seven Patriots are necessary for our cities to be safe. You have these systems, and they truly can change the situation now - change it for the better. As well as accelerating the transition to F-16. Our counter-terrorism cooperation must be more effective than Russia's cooperation with the regimes in Iran and North Korea. Third: artillery. Many of those present at "Ramstein" were soldiers, and you can imagine what our soldiers feel when they simply have nothing to respond to enemy fire. The one-to-ten ratio of artillery in our country to that of the Russian army inspires Putin to fight on. He believes that he will walk through the ruins and he will try to launch his counteroffensive. We must disrupt it. Our soldiers need artillery - enough 155 calibers to stop Russian assaults and conduct our own active operations. I thank every country that really effectively helps with this.

And one more. Please pay maximum attention to the production of weapons - both in your countries and in our joint projects with you and in Ukraine. Now in Ukraine, we have the potential for the production of drones in particular, which significantly exceeds our financial capabilities. Same with electronic warfare systems. Likewise in many areas in your countries. We need to fill our defense capacities with real orders. And we are currently forming new brigades to strengthen our positions. They need support just like the brigades already operating at the front. Our team participating in "Ramstein" will present all the details. Even the best soldiers cannot change the war without a sufficient number of weapons. And I am proud of Ukrainian soldiers. Each of you knows the strength and capabilities of our soldiers. They know how to win. They must win. But Ukrainian defenders need your sufficient and timely support - exactly what you would need to win if you were soldiers in this war.

Thank you for your attention!

I am grateful for your support! And I would especially like to thank the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. We appreciate that it was on your personal initiative that exactly two years ago, the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine, anti-war coalition, was created, which united efforts and rallied more than 50 countries of the world. Ukraine is grateful to you for your dedication, for the tireless work of your team and all of the partners for the saved lives of our citizens. Thank you!

 NNN!

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Security Situation in the Exclusion Zone and Slavutych: The President Held a Meeting

President of Ukraine

26 April 2024 - 18:49

During his working visit to Slavutych, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting on the security situation and prospects for the development of the city and the exclusion zone.

The Interior Minister, Ihor Klymenko, and the Commander of the National Guard of Ukraine, Oleksandr Pivnenko, reported on the defense and protection measures for the Chornobyl NPP and Slavutych, and on the construction of fortifications.

The Head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, Serhiy Deyneko, informed about the state border protection near the Chornobyl nuclear power plant and the city.

The Head of the Main Directorate of the Security Service of Ukraine in Kyiv and Kyiv region, Artem Bondarenko, spoke about the counterintelligence activities in the region.

The mayor of Slavutych, Yuriy Fomichev, drew attention to the logistical problem: because of the destroyed bridge crossings and the inability to use old railroad connections, Chornobyl NPP personnel have to spend up to six hours getting to work.

The Head of State tasked Oleksandr Kubrakov, Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine - Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development, to address the issue of direct train connection between Slavutych and Kyiv, without a stopover in Chernihiv.

The Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, Ruslan Strilets, briefed on the implementation of the government-approved exclusion zone development strategy. It is aimed, in particular, at developing wind and solar energy. Ruslan Strilets noted that agreements have already been reached with a German company and a British one to implement these projects.

He added that the Chornobyl NPP lost UAH 3 billion due to the occupation by the Russian invaders. The state is now actively engaging donors for assistance. 19 countries have already contributed to the special fund, and the total contribution amount has reached EUR 14 million and will increase by the end of the year. The funds will be used to improve equipment and working conditions and to purchase the necessary machinery.

The parties also discussed the arrangement of school shelters and the development and support for business.

In addition, the President assigned the Minister of Health Viktor Liashko to elaborate a strategy for the local hospital development given the new circumstances and to improve the material and technical base of the institution accordingly.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






US defense secretary announces $6 billion aid package for Ukraine

By Carla Babb April 26, 2024

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 Ukraine's 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 America's 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 Ukraine's 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 Zelenskyy's 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 what's 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 Friday's 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 [People's 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 5A 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.

VOA's Penelope Poulou contributed to this report. Some information came from Reuters, The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






London, England, April 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

StakingFarm, a leading crypto staking platform, is set to redefine the crypto investment landscape by offering some of the highest Annual Percentage Yields (APY) in the industry. This strategic move aims to attract both new and experienced investors seeking substantial returns on their staked assets.

"We are excited to offer our users unparalleled APY yields, positioning StakingFarm as a top choice for crypto staking," said Klajdi Toci, CEO of StakingFarm. "Our focus on delivering value through competitive returns is a key component of our mission to lead the staking platform market."

Exceptional Staking Opportunities with High APY

StakingFarm's new staking packages are designed to provide investors with some of the best APY rates available, giving them a competitive edge in the world of crypto staking. The platform's innovative approach to staking allows users to benefit from lucrative returns while enjoying a secure and user-friendly experience.

Key Features of StakingFarm's Staking Packages:

Top APY Yields: With the highest rates in the industry, StakingFarm's packages are crafted to maximize returns, offering substantial growth potential for staked cryptocurrencies.

Wide Range of Cryptocurrencies: StakingFarm supports staking in various popular and emerging cryptocurrencies, allowing investors to diversify their holdings and reduce risk.

Flexible Staking Terms: The platform offers a variety of staking terms to suit different investment goals, from short-term gains to longer-term growth strategies.

Commitment to Security and User Experience

StakingFarm's commitment to security and user experience is reflected in its robust platform infrastructure and customer support. The platform uses advanced security measures, including encryption, two-factor authentication, and real-time monitoring, to ensure the safety of users' assets.

"Our platform's security is designed to provide peace of mind, allowing our users to focus on maximizing their returns," Toci explained. "We take security seriously, ensuring that our staking platform is a trusted space for all investors."

Expanding Services and Global ReachStakingFarm's new staking packages are part of a broader initiative to expand its services and reach a global audience. With a multilingual support team and a user-friendly interface, StakingFarm is making crypto staking accessible to investors from different regions and backgrounds.

"We're committed to growing with our users, continuously enhancing our platform to meet the evolving demands of the crypto market," said Toci. "As we offer the highest APY yields, we aim to become the go-to platform for crypto staking worldwide."

Invitation to Experience High APY Yields with StakingFarm

Investors interested in taking advantage of StakingFarm's high APY yields are encouraged to explore the platform's latest staking packages. With its attractive returns, secure platform, and dedicated support, StakingFarm is the ideal choice for anyone looking to generate significant passive income through crypto staking.

"Join StakingFarm today and experience the highest APY yields in crypto staking," concluded Toci. "We are confident that our platform will exceed your expectations and help you achieve your financial goals."

ETH Trial Plan: Ideal for beginners, this plan requires a minimal $50 investment and delivers daily rewards of $1.00, with no referral obligations.

Solana Plan: With a $100 investment, this 2-day staking opportunity in Solana generates $2.00 daily, plus a $5 referral bonus.

Polygon Plan: This 7-day staking option involves a $700 investment, rewarding users with $7.00 daily and a $35 referral bonus.

Cardano Plan: A 15-day commitment with a $1,500 investment, providing daily rewards of $16.50 and a $75 referral bonus.

Axelar Plan: Engage in a 15-day staking experience with a $3,000 investment, accruing $36.00 daily alongside a $150 referral bonus.

Ethereum Plan: The flagship 30-day plan involves a $6,000 investment and offers substantial daily earnings of $78.00 with a $300 referral bonus





About StakingFarm

StakingFarm is a leading crypto staking platform known for offering some of the highest APY yields in the industry. With a strong focus on security, user satisfaction, and innovation, StakingFarm provides a range of staking packages designed to maximize returns for its users. Under the guidance of CEO Klajdi Toci, StakingFarm is committed to creating a reliable and profitable environment for investors seeking to capitalize on the benefits of crypto staking.

For more information, visit StakingFarm's website and start your staking journey today.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Name: Klajdi Toci

Position: CEO

Email: info@stakingfarm.com

Website: www.stakingfarm.com





Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency & securities.
MONTREAL, April 26, 2024 - Osisko Development Corp. (NYSE: ODV, TSXV: ODV) ("Osisko Development" or the "Company") announces the filing of a technical report (the "Technical Report") for the updated mineral resource estimate ("MRE") on its 100%-owned underground Trixie deposit (the "2024 Trixie MRE"), within the Company's wider Tintic Project ("Tintic" or the "Tintic Project"), located in the historic East Tintic Mining District in central Utah, U.S.A. Highlights from the previously-announced 2024 Trixie MRE disclosed in the Company's news release dated March 15, 2024 are presented below, and are consistent with the Technical Report.



The Technical Report, titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report, Mineral Resource Estimate for the Trixie Deposit, Tintic Project, Utah, United States of America" and dated April 25, 2024 (with an effective date of March 14, 2024), was prepared for the Company by independent representatives of Micon International Limited in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). Reference should be made to the full text of the Technical Report, which is available electronically on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and on EDGAR (www.sec.gov) under Osisko Development's issuer profile and on the Company's website at https://osiskodev.com/tintic-project.

2024 TRIXIE MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE

Table 1: 2024 Trixie MRE (all zones) - March 14, 2024

Classification Tonnes

(000's) Au Grade

(g/t) Contained Gold

(000's oz) Ag Grade

(g/t) Contained Silver

(000's oz) Measured 120 27.36 105 61.73 238 Indicated 125 11.17 45 59.89 240 Measured and Indicated 245 19.11 150 60.80 478 Inferred 202 7.80 51 48.55 315

Notes (applicable to Tables 1, 2, and 3)

Effective date of the 2024 Trixie MRE is March 14, 2024. Each of Mr. William Lewis, P.Geo., of Micon International Limited and Alan J. San Martin, MAusIMM(CP), of Micon International Limited (i) has reviewed and validated the 2024 Trixie MRE, (ii) is considered to be independent of the Company for purposes of Section 1.5 of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), and (iii) is a "qualified person" within the meaning of NI 43-101. The mineral resources were estimated using the Canadian Institute of Mining ("CIM"), Metallurgy and Petroleum's "CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves" adopted by the CIM council. Mineral resources are reported when they are within potentially mineable shapes derived from a stope optimizer algorithm, assuming an underground longhole stoping mining method with stopes of 6.1 m x 6.1 m x minimum 1.5 m dimensions. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Geologic modelling was completed by Osisko Development modeling geologist Jody Laing, P.Geo, using Leapfrog Geo software. The 2024 Trixie MRE was completed by Osisko Development chief resource geologist, Daniel Downton, P.Geo using Datamine Studio RM 2.0 software. William Lewis and Alan J. San Martin of Micon International Limited independently reviewed and validated the mineral resource model. The estimate is reported for an underground mining scenario and with USD assumptions. The cut-off grade of 4.32 g/t Au was calculated using a gold price of US$1,750/oz, a CAD:USD exchange rate of 1.30; total mining, processing and G&A costs of US$168.04/imperial ton; a refining cost of US$2.65/ounce; a combined royalty of 4.50%; and an average metallurgical gold recovery of 80%. The stope optimizer algorithm evaluated the resources based on a gold equivalent grade which incorporates the silver grade estimate and assumes a silver price of US$23/oz and metallurgical silver recovery of 45%. The 2024 Trixie MRE is comprised of six zones within the greater Trixie area: T2, T3, T4, Wild Cat, 40 Fault and 75-85. Average bulk density values in the mineralized domains were assigned to the T2 (2.955 T/m3), T3 (2.638 T/m3), T4(2.618 T/m3), Wild Cat, and 40 Fault (2.621 T/m3), and 75-85 (2.617 T/m3) domains. Inverse Distance Squared interpolation method was used with a parent block size of 1.2 m x 2.4 m x 2.4 m. The 2024 Trixie MRE results are presented in-situ. Calculations used metric units (metres, tonnes, g/t). The number of tonnes is rounded to the nearest thousand. Any discrepancies in the totals are due to rounding effects. Neither the Company nor Micon International Limited is aware of any known environmental, permitting, legal, title-related, taxation, socio-political, marketing or other relevant issue that could materially affect the mineral resource estimate other than disclosed in this news release. Technical information in this news release differs from similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. See below under "Cautionary Statement to U.S. Investors".





Table 2: 2024 Trixie MRE Separated by Domain - March 14, 2024

Domain Category Tonnes Grade

(Au g/t) Contained

Gold (oz) Grade

(Ag g/t) Contained

Silver (oz) T2 Measured 22,678 106.27 77,484 115.99 84,572 Indicated 11,939 23.19 8,902 51.07 19,602 M+I 34,617 77.62 86,387 93.60 104,173 Inferred 1,996 9.82 630 61.38 3,938 T3 Measured 2,385 9.46 725 75.34 5,776 Indicated 970 5.47 171 57.32 1,787 M+I 3,355 8.30 896 70.13 7,564 Inferred 139 6.27 28 63.14 282 T4 + Wild Cat + 40 FLT Measured 94,784 8.93 27,227 48.41 147,520 Indicated 51,827 6.48 10,795 37.59 62,637 M+I 146,611 8.07 38,023 44.58 210,156 Inferred 104,676 6.57 22,127 38.57 129,792 75-85 Measured - - - Indicated 60,008 12.93 24,943 80.95 156,185 M+I 60,008 12.93 24,943 80.95 156,185 Inferred 94,793 9.12 27,784 59.28 180,666 Total Measured 119,847 27.36 105,437 61.73 237,868 Indicated 124,743 11.17 44,811 59.89 240,211 M+I 244,590 19.11 150,248 60.80 478,078 Inferred 201,603 7.80 50,569 48.55 314,678

Refer to notes described under Table 1, which are also applicable to Table 2 in their entirety.





Table 3: Trixie MRE Cut-Off Grade ("COG") Sensitivity (Base Case in Bold) - March 14, 2024

Classification Tonnes COG Grade

(Au g/t) Contained

Gold (oz) Grade

(Ag g/t) Contained

Silver (oz) Measured + Indicated 366,130 2.50 13.79 162,348 50.18 590,666 324,251 3.00 15.23 158,722 53.31 555,740 291,005 3.50 16.64 155,716 56.19 525,681 261,219 4.00 18.14 152,350 58.95 495,091 244,590 4.32 19.11 150,248 60.80 478,078 237,143 4.50 19.58 149,266 61.52 469,058 217,327 5.00 20.99 146,677 64.07 447,646 198,538 5.50 22.55 143,909 66.19 422,504 182,842 6.00 24.01 141,164 68.57 403,074 165,955 6.50 25.81 137,734 71.39 380,902 152,986 7.00 27.55 135,503 74.34 365,663 Inferred 438,189 2.50 5.26 74,056 34.46 485,528 342,880 3.00 5.99 66,034 38.38 423,112 279,722 3.50 6.65 59,767 41.84 376,306 224,039 4.00 7.42 53,438 46.31 333,578 201,603 4.32 7.80 50,569 48.55 314,678 190,002 4.50 8.02 49,009 49.90 304,803 163,894 5.00 8.60 45,313 53.08 279,718 141,728 5.50 9.16 41,742 55.92 254,818 123,472 6.00 9.71 38,532 58.70 233,028 106,080 6.50 10.35 35,291 60.43 206,087 91,725 7.00 10.99 32,397 61.91 182,579

Note: Micon International Limited's "qualified person" (for purposes of NI 43-101) has reviewed the COG used in the sensitivity analysis relating to the 2024 Trixie MRE and is of the opinion that the individual cut-off grades used in the sensitivity analysis meet the test of reasonable prospects of economic extraction. The numbers in bold represent the current 2024 Trixie MRE.





Table 4: Trixie MRE Cut-off Grade Calculation Breakdown

PARAMETERS VALUES Mining Cost ($/ST) $ 74.33 G&A ($/ST) $ 52.71 Heap Leach ($/ST) $41.00 Total Refining Cost/ OZ $2.65 Gold Price $ 1,750 Royalty (Combination) 4.50% Heap Leach Au Recovery 80.0% Cut-off Grade (COG) 4.32





Qualified Persons

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Maggie Layman, P.Geo., Vice President, Exploration of Osisko Development, and a "qualified person" within the meaning of NI 43-101 ("QP").

The independent QPs for the 2024 Trixie MRE, within the meaning of NI 43-101, are William Lewis, P.Geo. and Alan J. San Martin MAusIMM(CP) of Micon International Limited. Each QP is independent of Osisko Development within the meaning of NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the content in this news release.

Quality Assurance (QA) - Quality Control (QC)

All drill core and exploration samples are dispatched to ALS Geochemistry or SGS Canada for offsite sample preparation and analysis. Both labs are ISO/IEC 17025 certified, and ALS Geochemistry is also ISO 9001 certified. Samples are assigned a unique sample ID. All geological and sampling information is entered into a Datamine Fusion database. Core is sawn in half and half is sampled. Certified standards and blanks are inserted into all sample dispatches. Samples are collected by Old Dominion Transportation and dispatched to SGS Canada's laboratory in Burnaby, British Columbia or ALS Geochemistry's laboratories in Elko, Nevada or Twin Falls, Idaho. Sample submission forms accompany the samples, and digital copies are emailed to the destination lab.

Core sample preparation is completed by ALS Geochemistry or SGS Canada, including drying, crushing, and pulverizing of samples. Analytical assays include gold by 30-gram fire assay with AAS finish, and gold overlimits by fire assay with gravimetric finish. Screen metallic analyses are performed on selected samples. Multielement analysis (including silver) is by four-acid digest with ICP-AES/ICP-MS finish. The pulps are returned to Osisko Development and coarse rejects are disposed after 90 days. Assays are reported to Osisko Development and then loaded into Datamine Fusion. Quality Assurance-Quality Control samples are checked, and assays are merged with sample information for future reporting.

Underground face samples are collected by Company geologists from each of the active mining faces, with samples transported by the geologists from Trixie to the on-site Company laboratory located at the Burgin administrative complex. Underground samples are dried, crushed to <10 mm and a 250 g split is taken. The split is pulverized, and a 30 g Fire Assay with gravimetric finish is completed to determine gold and silver grades, reported in oz/short ton and g/t.

The Company's Burgin laboratory is not a certified analytical laboratory, but the facility is managed by a qualified laboratory manager with annual auditing by technical staff. The laboratory has been independently audited by Qualitica Consulting and Micon International Limited's QP with recommendations implemented. Inter-laboratory check assays using ALS Geochemistry as a third-party independent analysis of samples is routinely carried out as part of ongoing QA/QC work. Certified OREAS QC standards and blanks are inserted at regular intervals in the sample stream to monitor laboratory performance.

True width is estimated to be approximately 0.5 m - 3 m (1.6 - 10 ft) for all fissure veins and discrete structures (T2, T3, 75-85, Wildcat and 40 Fault) and the T4 zone is modelled at an average width of 90 m (300 ft) and encompasses disseminated mineralization and discontinuous veins ranging from several cm to 1 m (3 ft).

ABOUT OSISKO DEVELOPMENT CORP.

Osisko Development Corp. is a North American gold development company focused on past-producing mining camps located in mining friendly jurisdictions with district scale potential. The Company's objective is to become an intermediate gold producer by advancing its 100%-owned Cariboo Gold Project, located in central B.C., Canada, the Tintic Project in the historic East Tintic mining district in Utah, U.S.A., and the San Antonio Gold Project in Sonora, Mexico. In addition to considerable brownfield exploration potential of these properties, that benefit from significant historical mining data, existing infrastructure and access to skilled labour, the Company's project pipeline is complemented by other prospective exploration properties. The Company's strategy is to develop attractive, long-life, socially and environmentally sustainable mining assets, while minimizing exposure to development risk and growing mineral resources.

For further information, visit our website at www.osiskodev.com or contact:

Sean Roosen Philip Rabenok Chairman and CEO Director, Investor Relations Email: sroosen@osiskodev.com Email: prabenok@osiskodev.com Tel: +1-514-940-0685 Tel: +1-437-423-3644





CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

Cautionary Statement Regarding Estimates of Mineral Resources

This news release uses the terms measured, indicated and inferred mineral resources as a relative measure of the level of confidence in the resource estimate. Readers are cautioned that mineral resources are not mineral reserves and that the economic viability of resources that are not mineral reserves has not been demonstrated. The mineral resource estimate disclosed in this news release may be materially affected by geology, environmental, permitting, legal, title, socio-political, marketing or other relevant issues. The mineral resource estimate is classified in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum's "CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves" incorporated by reference into NI 43-101. Under NI 43-101, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies or economic studies except for preliminary economic assessments. Readers are cautioned not to assume that further work on the stated resources will lead to mineral reserves that can be mined economically.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Test Mining Without Feasibility Study

The Company cautions that its prior decision to commence small-scale underground mining activities and batch vat leaching at the Trixie test mine was made without the benefit of a feasibility study, or reported mineral resources or mineral reserves, demonstrating economic and technical viability, and, as a result there may be increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of material or the cost of such recovery. The Company cautions that historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure. Small scale test-mining at Trixie was suspended in December 2022, resumed in the second quarter of 2023, and suspended once again in December 2023. If and when small-scale test-mining recommences at Trixie, there is no guarantee that production will continue as anticipated or at all or that anticipated production costs will be achieved. The failure to continue production may have a material adverse impact on the Company's ability to generate revenue and cash flow to fund operations. Failure to achieve the anticipated production costs may have a material adverse impact on the Company's cash flow and potential profitability. In continuing operations at Trixie after closing, the Company has not based its decision to continue such operations on a feasibility study, or reported mineral resources or mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability.

Cautionary Statement to U.S. Investors

The Company is subject to the reporting requirements of the applicable Canadian securities laws and as a result reports information regarding mineral properties, mineralization and estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources, including the information in its technical reports, financial statements, MD&A and this news release, in accordance with Canadian reporting requirements, which are governed by NI 43-101. As such, such information concerning mineral properties, mineralization and estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources, including the information in its technical reports, financial statements, MD&A and this news release, is not comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained in this news release may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation (together, "forward-looking statements"). These forward-looking statements, by their nature, require Osisko Development to make certain assumptions and necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. Words such as "may", "will", "would", "could", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "continue", or the negative or comparable terminology, as well as terms usually used in the future and the conditional, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Information contained in forward-looking statements is based upon certain material assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making a forecast or projection, including the assumptions, qualifications and limitations relating to the significance of the high-priority target drilling; the utility of modern exploration techniques; the potential for parallel high-grade gold fissure zones; the potential of Tintic to host a copper-gold porphyry center; the significance of regional exploration potential; the results of the 2024 Trixie MRE; the capital resources available to Osisko Development; the ability of the Company to execute its planned activities; the ability of the Company to obtain future financing and the terms of such financing; management's perceptions of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments; the utility and significance of historic data, including the significance of the district hosting past producing mines; future mining activities; unique mineralization at Trixie; the potential of high-grade gold mineralization on Trixie; the potential for unknown mineralized structures to extend existing zones of mineralization; category conversion; the timing and status of permitting; the results (if any) of further exploration work to define and expand mineral resources; the ability of exploration work (including drilling and chip sample assays, and face sampling methodologies) to accurately predict mineralization; the ability to generate additional drill targets; the ability of management to understand the geology and potential of the Company's properties; the ability of the Company to expand mineral resources beyond current mineral resource estimates; the ability of the Company to complete its exploration objectives for its projects in 2024 in the timing contemplated (if at all); the ongoing advancement of the deposits on the Company's properties; the deposit remaining open for expansion at depth and down plunge; the ability to realize upon any mineralization in a manner that is economic; the ability to adapt to changes in gold prices, estimates of costs, estimates of planned exploration and development expenditures; the ability of the Company to obtain further capital on reasonable terms; assay results presented in this news release; the profitability (if at all) of the Company's operations; the Company being a well-positioned gold development company in Canada, USA and Mexico; sustainability and environmental impacts of operations at the Company's properties; as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances, and any other information herein that is not a historical fact may be "forward looking information". Material assumptions also include, management's perceptions of historical trends, the ability of exploration (including drilling and chip sample assays, and face sampling) to accurately predict mineralization, budget constraints and access to capital on terms acceptable to the Company, current conditions and expected future developments, regulatory framework remaining defined and understood, results of further exploration work to define or expand any mineral resources, as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. Osisko Development considers its assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, but cautions the reader that their assumptions regarding future events, many of which are beyond the control of Osisko Development, may ultimately prove to be incorrect since they are subject to risks and uncertainties that affect Osisko Development and its business. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, risks relating to capital market conditions and the Company's ability to access capital on terms acceptable to the Company for the contemplated exploration and development at the Company's properties; the ability to continue current operations and exploration; regulatory framework and presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; the ability of exploration activities (including drill and chip sampling, and face sampling results) to accurately predict mineralization; errors in management's geological modelling; the ability to expand operations or complete further exploration activities, including drilling and chip sample assays and face sampling; the timing and ability of the Company to obtain required approvals and permits; the results of exploration activities; risks relating to exploration, development and mining activities; the global economic climate; metal and commodity prices; fluctuations in the currency markets; dilution; environmental risks; and community, non-governmental and governmental actions and the impact of stakeholder actions. Readers are urged to consult the disclosure provided under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2023 as well as the financial statements and MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2023, which have been filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under Osisko Development's issuer profile and on the SEC's EDGAR website (www.sec.gov), for further information regarding the risks and other factors applicable to the exploration results. Although the Company's believes the expectations conveyed by the forward-looking statements are reasonable based on information available as of the date hereof, no assurances can be given as to future results, levels of activity and achievements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by law. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance and there can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.
Emergency response time to roughly one-third of the islands population got just a little bit quicker with two brand new pumper trucks added to the Guam Fire Departments fleet of emergency vehicles.

The new trucks were welcomed at a commissioning ceremony on Friday at Adelup. One will be assigned to the Yona Fire Station while the other will operate out of the Dededo Fire Station.

Acting Fire Chief Joey San Nicolas said that the trucks were funded by a Department of Interiors Office of Insular Affairs grant of about $1 million.

What you see before you is years and years, hours and hours of hard work, going as back as far as 2019 ... followed by going through COVID-19, which extended the lead time for the manufacture of fire trucks all across the nation to as much as three years, which is what we have here, he said. The timing could not have been any better.

GFD responded to about 27,000 emergency calls last year across all types of emergencies such as grass and structure fires, drowning victims, vehicle accidents, hazardous material discoveries and all types of emergency medical calls.

These fire trucks, which demonstrates $1 million of investment, brings all of those capabilities plus more to every single one of our scenes, said San Nicolas. They bring people, they bring a pumper ... and over $300 to $500,000 worth of equipment with it and thats not even touching on the skills, knowledge and capabilities of our firefighters. They are huge assets to the island.

The last time GFD had new fire trucks was in 2016, said San Nicolas, when three new trucks went into operation.

In a best-case scenario, a fire truck will last between 20 and 25 years. And although GFD employs its own staff to handle vehicle maintenance, included in the bid specifications was a five-year service contract. And even for truck issues beyond those five years, Morrico will continue to service these trucks.

Dededo Vice Mayor Peter Benavente said that the trucks are sorely needed in his village, home to about 45,000 residents.

Station 4 welcomes Engine 4, he said, and the village cant wait till a No. 12 engine sits inside Dededos other firehouse.

CapabilitiesEach of the new trucks are hybrid builds that took two years to complete. Freightliner builds the engine, cab, chassis and drive train, then turns it over to Rosenbauer, who builds all the firefighter tools such as water pump, reservoir tools and specialty compartments for equipment.





Each truck has an 80-gallon gas tank and a 500-gallon water reservoir. Upon arrival at the scene, each truck can handle four discharge outlets and when hooked to a fire hydrant, the truck can pump out 1,500 gallons of water per minute.
At the U.S. Department of Agriculture headquarters on Feb. 15 in Washington, D.C., University of Guam students Charlene Badajos and Jamilee Cruz were among several students asked to stand during a speech by Secretary of Agriculture Thomas J. Vilsack.

During his remarks at the release of the 2022 Census of Agriculture, he cited data that the average age of farmers in the country has been rising, now at 58 years old, and shared how USDA is investing heavily in the next generation of agriculture professionals.

That investment is coming through USDAs NextGen program which is supporting $252 million worth of projects at Land-Grant institutions to build awareness about career opportunities in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences, a release from UOG states.

The University of Guam received one of 33 NextGen grants and launched its project, COMPASS, in 2023, the release states.

Badajos and Cruz, both agriculture majors at UOG, are focusing their degrees on nutrition/food science and tropical agriculture production, respectively.

The COMPASS program connected them with internships and the opportunity to attend USDAs 100th Annual Agricultural Outlook Forum, the departments largest annual gathering.

Travelling with COMPASS co-director Rachel Jolley, Badajos and Cruz met with and heard from top USDA directors, including Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small and Undersecretary for Research, Education, and Economics Chavonda Jacobs-Young, and National Institute of Food and Agriculture Director Manjit Misra, the release states.

These administrators shared their career paths and discussed ways that students could get experience in USDA in a variety of career paths.

It was inspiring to learn about the hardships many of the USDA leaders endured in their educational career since their determination ultimately led them to where they are today, Badajos said in a release.

The NextGen students also toured the National Agricultural Research Center and the National Agricultural Library in Beltsville, Md., learning about research instruments, library research tools, and potential career opportunities with USDA.

For Cruz, who is originally from Palau, it was her first time travelling outside of the region.

She said the trip expanded her curiosity and increased her confidence in agriculture as her major and career path to serve her community.

The leaders who sat in their seats in front of us did not know they would end up working in the USDA, Cruz said in a release. Sanah Baig, deputy undersecretary for research, education, and economics, shared that you must be your authentic self to enjoy your career and succeed. I feel that I belong in agriculture more than any major.
Guam and other territories are exempt for now from new federal rules requiring overtime pay and raising the minimum salary for salaried or white-collar employees, an exemption for the island that Guam-based employer groups have asked the U.S. Department of Labor to consider.

Across the nation, millions of salaried workers will qualify for expanded overtime protections under a final rule that the US DOL released on Tuesday.

The new US DOL rule, which exempts Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Islands, raises the salary threshold under which salaried employees are eligible for overtime in two stages.

Effective July 1, 2024, the threshold will increase to the equivalent of an annual salary of $43,888, or $844 a week.

It will increase to $58,656, or $1,128 a week, on Jan. 1, 2025.

Federal overtime protections require that certain salaried employees, usually office and administrative workers, dont have to get paid time-and-a-half for working over 40 hours a week if they get paid at least a certain amount.

The current threshold in the states is $35,568 a year, or $684 per week.

On Guam, it is just $23,660 annually.

With exemptions for territories for now, the threshold per US DOL rule increases to $43,888 and then to $58,656.

US DOL said it is not finalizing in this rule its proposal to apply the standard salary level to the U.S. territories subject to the federal minimum wage and to update the special salary levels for American Samoa and the motion picture industry.

So-called white collar employees cover executive, administrative, professional, outside sales and computer employees.

Local employer organizations such as the Society of Human Resources Guam Chapter, the Employers Council, and the Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association had lobbied against including Guam employees.

Guam employers will be forced to make drastic staffing changes in order to stay in business, SHRM Guam president Yolanda Padrones and president-elect attorney Vincent Camacho wrote to US DOL in November.

SHRM at that time also said over 60% of surveyed employers indicated they would take to laying off employees, delay hiring, or delay promotions if the federal government mandates that salaried, white-collar employees making under $55,068 (the existing threshold) get overtime.

On Saturday, SHRM Guam Chapter spokesman attorney Mike Pangelinan provided more insight on the exemption that Guam got.

Im sure it comes as a huge relief, and perhaps also as a surprise, to employers on Guam that USDOLs latest increase in the overtime salary threshold to $844 per week ($43,888 annually) does not apply to Guam or the other territories. The new rule does not change the special salary level in the territories which remains at $455 per week ($23,660 annually), Pangelinan said.

Pangelinan said the strong testimony provided to USDOL during the rule-making comment period by organizations within Guams business community like SHRM, the Guam Employers Council, and GHRA, which highlighted Guams unique economic challenges due, among other things, to our geographic distance from the rest of the U.S., clearly had an impact on USDOLs decision not to apply the new rule to the territories.

But the impact of the final rule may not be final.

Pangelinan said during the rule-making comment period, there was a heavy push from labor organizations across the country for the US DOL to adopt a uniform salary level nationally by making this latest increase applicable to all states and territories.

Considering the pressure being put on USDOL by mainland organizations to treat the territories the same as the states, I would not be surprised if USDOL proposes an increase in the special salary level for Guam and the other territories to something in the range of $600-$700 per week ($35,000-$37,000 annually)  the level previously applicable in the states  by later this year or sometime next year, Pangelinan said.

GHRA President Mary Rhodes said the organization will continue to advocate for its members on the issue.

GHRA will continue to lobby for the exemption that was previously afforded in the first passage and recommend a phased-in, tiered approach considering Guams limited labor pool and composition for all industries," she said.

According to the US DOL announcement, the final rule updates and revises the regulations issued under section 13(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act implementing the exemption from minimum wage and overtime pay requirements for executive, administrative, and professional (EAP) employees.

Revisions include increases to the standard salary level and the highly compensated employee total annual compensation threshold, and a mechanism that provides for the timely and efficient updating of these earnings thresholds to reflect current earnings data," it said.

According to US DOL, to fall within the so-called EAP or executive, administrative and professional exemption, an employee generally must meet three tests:

Be paid a salary, meaning that they are paid a predetermined and fixed amount that is not subject to reduction because of variations in the quality or quantity of work performed; Be paid at least a specified weekly salary level; and Primarily perform executive, administrative, or professional duties, as provided in the Departments regulations.

The final rule also provides for future updates of these levels every three years to reflect current earnings data, US DOL said.
Its Friday, April 26, at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and the good people of the fairgrounds are dressed to the nines. At Jazz Fest, of course, that by and large means practically and in brightly colored prints.

Mia Roozen and Jeff Maher of Seattle took opposing approaches with their prints at New Orleans Jazz Fest 2024. The couple is most looking forward to seeing Jon Batiste perform.Emily Topping

Scarlett "The Bean Queen" Hazard is seen creating one of her signature watermelon necklaces, which she sells to friends and family. Hazard is wearing her favorite watermelon dress, which she dons each year for her birthday at Jazz Fest.Emily Topping

From left, Amy Hubbell, Tawanda Carter and Roxanne Simmerly strut their handmade outfits, as part of the Pussyfooters dance krewe.Emily Topping

Tony and Tracey Dileonardo, of the Bay Area of San Francisco, are celebrating their 29th anniversary at Jazz Fest.Emily Topping

Meredith Grossman created this handmade outfit in honor of her favorite performers, The Killers.Emily Topping

Louis Harrison and Yassie Harrison match in "Let the Good Times Roll" T-shirts. Louis Harrison was inducted into the Mardi Gras Indians Hall of Fame.Emily Topping

Leo Camelford rocks matching watermelon button-ups with his family in the lawn of the Festival Stage.Emily Topping

It's doubtful that anyone is better dressed at New Orleans Jazz Fest than Mardi Gras Indians Spyboy J and Thee Storm.Emily Topping

Jacob and Meagan DeMattio show off their custom-designed shirts, featuring photos of each other and their son.Emily Topping

Catt Harris matches the yellow of Colombian-American artist Basqo Bim's exhibit at the Expedia Cultural Exchange Pavilion.Emily Topping

Kara Shalett, of New Orleans, went for a simple and adorable look outside the Festival Stage.Emily Topping

Margaret Fitzpatrick and Isabel Gibson match in white dresses and cowboy hats.Emily Topping

Matching bucket hats are a must for this New York family: In the top row, from left, Jack Holden, Sharon Holden and Rebecca Berger. In the bottom row: Jacob Cooper, Zach Cooper, Evan Berger, and baby Dani Berger.Emily Topping

Sneakers and cowboy boots seem to be the official shoes at Jazz Fest.Emily Topping

Hats are a must in the sweltering heat of the fairgrounds at New Orleans Jazz Fest.Emily Topping

dcsdc
A Florida man seeking outpatient treatment for a persistent and severe headache soon found himself in the hospitals intensive care unit after learning that his chronic migraines were caused by a dangerous tapeworm in his brain.

The parasite is believed to have originated from the consumption of undercooked bacon.

Newsweek first reported the story on Thursday, confirming that the 52-year-old man was discharged from the hospital after receiving successful treatments for the life-threatening condition.

According to the American Journal of Case Reports, the man, whose name was not released, had a past medical history of migraine headaches, type 2 diabetes and obesity.

When questioned, he said he hadnt traveled to any high risk countries. In fact, he said his only recent travel was on a cruise to the Bahamas, two years earlier.

He also denied eating raw food or street food  but he did admit to a habit of eating lightly cooked, non-crispy bacon for most of his life.

He noted that his migraines had become more severe over the past four months and were now occurring almost weekly.

After conducting a series of tests, doctors confirmed their suspicion of neurocysticercosis, a parasitic infection of the central nervous system that arises when the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium, triggers the formation of cysts in the brain.

Humans can become infected by ingesting cysts found in infected pork or feces.

In a comment to Newsweek, one of the doctors involved in the case, Orlando Healths internal medicine residency program director, Mario Madruga, said Taenia solium is not common in the United States, adding: It is more common in Mexico, Central America and South America. States that have frequent travelers from these areas are more likely to have cases with this infection.

Dr. Stephen Badolato, a physician based in Brevard County, Florida, wasnt involved in this particular case, but said the pork tape worm, Taenia solium, can survive many years in their hosts nervous system before causing symptoms.

In April, the New York Post reported that a woman from New York had attempted suicide after suffering from seizures for more than a decade  until doctors performed a CT scan and found pork tapeworm larval cysts lodged in her brain.

Neurocysticercosis is one of the leading causes of seizures worldwide, not here, but we will probably be seeing a lot more cases of it with the recent huge influx of immigrants we have had from Mexico, Central and South America, where its endemic, Badolato said. It looks like its time for U.S. physicians to brush up a little on their tropical medicine and knowledge of infectious diseases from Latin America.




Haiti - Textile : Taiwan supports the Garment Technology Training Center





The Embassy of Taiwan (Republic of China) has renewed its support for the Garment Technology Training Center (CFTV) at the Caracol Industrial Park (PIC).



Following the signing of an agreement this week by Richard Wenn-Jiann KU

Ambassador of Taiwan (Republic of China) and Wilhelm Lemke, President of the Association of Industries of Haiti (ADIH), the second phase of the CFTV support program was launched.



This support will guarantee the continuation of the training of future cohorts of learners, who, after completing their course, will have a certificate in Sewing, Quality Inspection, IT, etc...



Ambassador KU reiterated Taiwan's commitment to supporting numerous initiatives in Haiti and thus continuing to "sow seeds of hope".



At the same time, this April 25 marks the 68th anniversary of dynamic bilateral cooperation between Haiti and Taiwan. ADIH took the opportunity to express the hope that this partnership will continue to prosper and inspire future generations.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





The Peace University Hospital threatens to close

Faced with a fuel shortage for several weeks, the Peace University Hospital (HUP) has been threatening to close its doors. Dr. Junior Fontilus, Executive Director of the Hospital, calls on the authorities to come to the aid of the HUP which has received a significant number of gunshot wounds in recent days.



The UN puts pressure on

Thursday, April 25, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres calls on the new authorities in Haiti "to accelerate the full implementation of the Transitional Governance provisions" and to quickly deploy the multinational security mission to help cope to the "disastrous" situation "The Secretary General calls on all Member States to ensure that the Multinational Security Support Mission (MMSS) receives the financial and logistical support it needs to succeed," declared the spokesperson for the UN, Stephane Dujarric.



Good news

Over the past three weeks, more than 100 humanitarian aid containers have been collected from Caribbean Port Services.



The humanitarian crisis worse than in 2010

The humanitarian crisis currently prevailing in Haiti is worse than that caused by the 2010 earthquake, warns Carl Skau, Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Program (WFP) who recently visited Haiti. He calls for a comprehensive response to the current crisis in Haiti.



Local reactions to the installation of the CPT

former deputy Cholzer Chancy:

"I welcome the installation of the CPT and wish them success. I hope that they will choose a prime minister and quickly put in place the transitional government to be able to: resolve the security problem, reform the constitution, relieve the poverty of the people, hold general elections in 2017. the country in 2025," former President of the Chamber of Deputies Cholzer Chancy



Fmr. Sec. of State Frantz Exantus :

"I welcome the installation of the Presidential Council. I hope that he will work quickly to appoint a PM to form an inclusive Government because the major projects can no longer wait: security, appeasement, constitutional reform, elections among others," Frantz Exantus, Former Sec. of State for Communication.



Me Renan Hedouville of the OPC :

The Citizen Protector Me Renan Hedouville of the Office of Citizen Protection (OPC) applauds the installation of members of the presidential transition council whose main mission is to ensure the governance of the State under the "political agreement for a peaceful and orderly transition" by the stakeholders and to resolve the socio-political crisis that Haiti is experiencing. The citizen protector, Renan Hedouville, recommends to the Presidential Council the effective establishment of a truth and justice commission in accordance with the content of the CP basic document.



NOTICE Santiago : Haitian Consulate closed

The Consulate General of Haiti in Santiago in the Dominican Republic informs the Haitian Community in particular and the public in general, that on the occasion of the celebration of Labor Day, the mission will be closed Monday April 29, 2024 and services will resume on Tuesday April 30, 2024.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















We're a family of eight living in Georgia where Andrew's a professor at GSU and Nancy is a PhD student at UGA. You can read more about us here
A COUPLE from Henley have become the faces of a national cancer charity.

Graham and Eva Rickett, who run print shop Henley Scan, took part in a photoshoot for Pancreatic Cancer UK, which supports people affected by the disease.

Mr Rickett was diagnosed in October 2022 and underwent surgery to remove a tumour as well as having 18 chemotherapy treatment sessions.

Mrs Rickett said it was an honour to be part of the charitys awareness campaign and she hoped it would be effective.

Half of pancreatic cancer patients die in the first three months and 70 per cent in the first year.

Mrs Rickett said: We have now passed 19 months since Grahams surgery and once you hit two years, the statistics improve a lot.

He wont be in remission until five years but things are looking fantastic. Graham is very blessed and has very few side effects.

She admitted suffering from scanxiety, explaining: After a scan, you get told its all fine then you have another scan and wait for the results. We know that if the results are not good, our lives will change again.

The first 18 to 24 months are critical. If any of the cancer is not killed during chemo it could come back.

The couple used to run their business from a shop in Reading Road but decided to move it to their home in Kings Road in August.

Mrs Rickett said: We now have a better work-life balance as we can plan our customers a bit more.

The other day we went to Oxford. If we still had a shop, we would have had to have staff in and there would have been additional costs.

She said there should be more research into pancreatic cancer and more awareness was needed.

Mrs Rickett said: I believe that it gets only three per cent of the Cancer Research UK money but its now one of the most common cancer killers.

Last year, when Graham was going through the chemo, I saw something online about Pancreatic Cancer UK looking for people for a focus group.

We were part of something with people from all over the country who had had pancreatic cancer  some had had the surgery Graham had. There were also relatives of people who had lost people to pancreatic cancer.

The charity was trying to understand what information was needed out there and how it could make the public more aware.

We did that and didnt hear anything more and then they came back to us and said: We need some filming done, who would be up to do that?.

We werent chosen, which was fine, then six weeks ago, they said: Would you be prepared to be part of the awareness campaign?

This included photos on social media and billboards. We joked that Graham would like to be on the back of a bus.

The couple went to a photoshoot in London where the photographers took a range of images, one of which now features on the home page of the charitys website. A few fun photos were given to the couple for their personal use.

Mrs Rickett said: We had a lovely day that was only slightly marred by the fact that a couple of people photographed before us had lost loved ones.

We had a great time with the makeup artist and producer. Our briefing included Graham deep in thought, being tender and intimate and one feeling positive.

We had instructions to look sad and concerned. My biggest problem was I wasnt allowed to wear anything colourful or too many patterns.

It was really lovely. I suppose they picked us because we talk about it quite easily.

Of course, it was a little bit strange to see the photos of us. We were joking because of the job we do that they could have touched up some of the wrinkles.

For us to be part of it is an honour. Graham and I would really like to be part of education for the future as well.

The couple have recently returned from the Churchill Hospital in Oxford, where Mr Rickett underwent his seven-hour operation, to attend the first Oxford pancreatic and liver wellbeing event, sponsored by Macmillan Cancer Support.

Mr Rickett met the surgeon who did his operation.

He said: It was nice to see him again and be able to express my thanks for what he did. He did a brilliant job as I have virtually no side effects and it was such a big operation. Im so grateful.

For more information or to make a donation, visit

www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk
JAC 12th Result: Jharkhand Academic Council will announce the JAC 12th Result 2024 will be releasing on tomorrow (April 30) at 11 AM. The Jharkhand Board Class 12th results when announced will be available on the official website of JAC at jacresults.com and jac.jharkhand.gov.in. The results for Class 12 all streams- Science, Commerce and Arts will also be available on other official websites- jac.nic.in and jharresults.nic.in. ...Read More

The Jharkhand board Class 12 exams commenced with the vocational subject paper on February 6 and concluded with the political science paper on February 26, 2024. The Intermediate exam took place in the second shift  from 2 pm to 5:20 pm. (From 2 pm to 3:35 pm for OMR and from 3:40 to 5:20 pm for booklets.)

Around 4 lakh candidates have appeared for Class 12 board examination across the state. Follow the blog for latest updates on results, direct link and more.
A years worth of rain in 24 hours submerged Dubai, a city in the desert proud of its modern gloss, in 142mm inches of water on April 16.

The impact clogged roads, flooded homes, and social media ran rife with videos of a Dubai Air plane attempting a landing at the Dubai International Airport. The monthly average for April for the city is only about 8mm.

The airport, the worlds busiest for international travel and a hub for the long-haul carrier Emirates, received closed to 127mm of rain  about 76mm is its normal for an entire year.

According to authorities Oman received around 230mm (9 inches) of rain between Sunday and Wednesday. The average rainfall in the capital, Muscat is about 100mm (4 inches) per year. Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia also witnessed rains.

Ahead of the flooding, the countrys disaster management authority on April 15 said in a post on X: In preparation to the upcoming weather conditions in the country, NCEMA urges the esteemed public to comply with instructions and guidance issued by official authorities to safeguard lives and properties.

A day after the flooding, the NCM issued another statement saying that cloud seeding efforts were conducted near the city on Sunday and Monday, but not on Tuesday  the day of the torrential rain which the state-run WAM news agency called a historic weather event that surpassed anything documented since the start of data collection in 1949.

The statement followed a flurry of posts on social media attributing the record rain to cloud seeding  the process of manipulation of existing clouds to induce rain.

In the days since, scientists have categorically rejected these claims and attributed the excess rain to the good old climate change. A rapid analysis of the extreme weather event has led scientists to conclude that given the size of the storm system, the intensity of the rainfall would have been same regardless of the cloud seeding efforts.

So, what is cloud seeding?

Clouds are made up of tiny water droplets or ice crystals that form when water vapor in the atmosphere cools and condenses around a tiny particle of dust or salt floating in the atmosphere. Without these particles, known as condensation or ice nuclei, raindrops or snowflakes cannot form and precipitation will not occur.

Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique that improves a clouds ability to produce rain or snow by introducing tiny ice nuclei (like silver iodide) into certain types of subfreezing clouds. These nuclei provide a base for snowflakes to form. After cloud seeding takes place, the newly formed snowflakes quickly grow and fall from the clouds back to the surface of the Earth, increasing snowpack and streamflow, the Desert Research Institute (DRI) says.

More simply: Cloud seeding involves adding tiny particles (like silver iodide) into a cloud to give moisture something to attach to and form droplets. These droplets merge and become heavy enough to fall as rain.

On its website, DRI explains the process such: When storm systems move through a cloud seeding project area, a solution containing a small amount of silver iodide is burned from ground-based generators or released from aircraft. Upon reaching the cloud, the silver iodide acts as an ice forming nuclei to aid in the production of snowflakes.

To be sure, silver iodide is a naturally occurring substance, and is not known to be harmful to humans or wildlife.

The technology has existed for some decades, and its use was always expected to rise.

A brief bibliography of Cloud Seeding published by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in June 1990 said, Many experts believe cloud seeding activities so widespread in the 1960s and 1970s will return to vogue if water shortages continue to grow.

In the UAE, cloud seeding has been a part of the countrys efforts to solve water shortages since 1990s. In 2017, the government provided $15 million for nine different rain-enhancement projects.

The effectiveness of these projects is yet to be established.

But climate change fueled the floods.

A rapid analysis of the circumstances of the floods by the World Weather Attribution group said the heat pumped into the atmosphere by humans made the record rainfall 10-40% heavier. Last years El Nino weather phenomenon also drove the intense storms.

The higher ocean temperatures added more moisture to the atmosphere, making heavy rainfall more likely.

The scientists also concluded that cloud seeding did not have "significant influence" on the flooding.

Given the size of the storm system, massive rainfall would have happened regardless of whether cloudseeding had been carried out, the researchers said in a statement on Thursday. Warming caused by burning fossil fuels is the most likely explanation for the increasing rainfall, the statement said.

The researchers combined historical observations with climate models to investigate if climate change is driving the increase in rainfall. Most of the models analysed did not show a strong influence of global warming on heavy one-day rainfall events in the region. But again the scattered and sparse rainfall limits the researchers confidence in these results, the statement said.

This is a hyper-arid area which has made this study a bit more difficult from a statistical, observational point of view than most other studies on heavy rainfall, said Friedrike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College Londons Grantham Institute - Climate Change and the Environment.

Mansour Almazroui from the Center of Excellence for Climate Change Research, King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabias Jeddah, said rainfall in the region is rare. In 2009, the Saudi Arabian region received an extreme rain of 74 mm in 2011. Around 111 mm of rainfall was recorded. In 2022, around 159 mm was recorded. This year it is 254.8 mm [in UAEs Khatm Al Shakla in Al Ain] in less than 24 hours.

A warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture. At 1.2C of global warming, the atmosphere can hold about 8.4% more moisture. Changing circulation patterns driven by global warming can increase rainfall in particular regions. There are no other known explanations for the increasing rainfall in the Arabian Peninsula, the researchers said.

Cloud seeding was reported to not have been implemented in the context of this event, and additionally even in case of implementation has no influence on the amount of atmospheric moisture available, which was the main anomalous variable preceding the precipitation event. Hence, we can conclude that cloud seeding had no significant influence in the event.

Another problem that may have fueled the crisis in Dubai was its unpreparedness for such heavy rainfall. UAE, like most nations in the arid, desert region of the Arabian Peninsula, does not receive a lot of rain except in the cooler winter months. The country is unprepared to handle the amount of rain it witnessed as roads and other areas lack drainage given the lack of regular rainfall, causing flooding.

Tannu Jain, HT's deputy chief content producer, picks a piece of climate news from around the globe and analyses its impact using connected reports, research and expert speak
Seeing a society in celebration mode is a wonderful way to get to know it better. Whatever we believe reaches its most social expression in our festivals, with their often-intriguing mix of religious, cultural, ritualistic and joyous practices. April, in that sense, is party month across Asia.

In India, it is the month of a range of harvest festivals that also mark the start of a new year. In Punjab, this is Vaisakhi, a Sikh festival traditionally celebrated with processions performing the nagar kirtan or collective singing of shabads or hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib. April holds the first day of the Malayali new year, when people in Kerala observe Vishu. In Maharashtra, it is marked as Gudi Padwa and in Assam, as Bohag Bihu.

For thousands of years, people in these regions have prayed, sung hymns, feasted and made sacrifices to the gods, in thanks for a plentiful harvest, and as a plea for good fortune in the years to come.

Travel east and the festivities continue. In Thailand, Songkran derives from the Sanskrit Samkranti, literally astrological passage. As a new year dawns here, people celebrate by throwing water at each other, in revelry that likely began as a cleansing ritual.

In Cambodia, Chaul Chnam Thmey (literally, Happy New Year) is marked at the end of the harvest season. Over three days (usually starting on April 13 or 14), people dress up, dance and play games; offer food to the poor, pray to their ancestors, and bathe holy statues in purification rituals.

In Laos, Pi Mai (or New Year) is also a three-day festival. On day one, considered the last day of the old year, houses are cleaned, village streets swept, and flowers and water prepared for the festivities. The second day is a day of rest, called the day of no year. The third day marks the start of the new, with rituals, prayers and celebration.

In end-April, Golden Week begins in Japan (April 29 to May 5). This string of national holidays kicks off with Showa Day, the birth anniversary of the former emperor Hirohito (1901-89). His reign is considered a Golden Age for Japan; his nickname Showa is Japanese for Enlightened Peace.

Constitution Day follows, on May 3, followed by Greenery Day and Childrens Day, on May 4 and 5 respectively. That last was originally named Boys Day. A cloth carp (the fish symbolises strength and success, because of its size and longevity) would be hung outside homes, with warrior dolls in helmets and armour tucked into them. The fish was then offered rice cakes wrapped in oak leaves (kashiwa mochi), in a prayer for male children, for the family lineage to continue, and for descendants to prosper.

The renaming of that festival is a happy turn of events. Whats something that has changed in how you celebrate a new year? Write in; Id love to know.

(Adam Jacot de Boinod is the author of The Meaning of Tingo)
Former President Donald Trump frequently talked of "things like" executing his enemies when he was in the White House, former Attorney General Bill Bar noted in a heated CNN interview Friday night.

Barr was responding to an incident in 2020 when former White House communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin said Trump told her and Barr that an unknown White House leaker should be executed.

"I actually don't remember him saying 'executing,' but I wouldn't dispute it," Barr told CNN news host Kaitlin Collins. "The president would lose his temper and say things like that."

Barr added: "I doubt he would've actually carried it out," adding that by the end of the day such a threat "wouldn't be carried out and you could talk sense into him."

A stunned Collins emphasized that an unexecuted order doesn't eliminate the threat.

The former president's behavior is particularly relevant since Trump's attorneys have argued before the Supreme Court that Trump should be protected by absolute immunity during his presidency  both past and future.

Asked by Justice Sonia Sotomayor during the hearing earlier this week if such a scenario meant that Trump could then order a military assassination of a rival, Trump's attorny John Sauer responded: "It would depend on the hypothetical. What we can see that could well be an official act."

Despite Trump's threats about execution, Barr nevertheless told Collins that he sees President Joe Biden as a greater "threat to democracy"  though he also emphasized he doesn't believe either man should be president.

Collins pointed out that Trump attempted to "subvert the peaceful transfer of power" by overturning the presidential election. Barr conceded that was "shameful," but didn't change his opinion.

Barr has repeatedly bashed Trump in interviews almost since he stepped down as Trump's attorney general  but suddeny endorsed him for the presidency earlier this week.

Trump rewarded Barr after the endorsement by mocking him in a post on Truth Social as "weak, slow-moving, lethargic, gutless, and lazy."

Trump added: "Based on the fact that I greatly appreciate his wholehearted Endorsement, I am removing the word 'Lethargic' from my statement."
Former President Donald Trump often left pages of documents scattered over the floor of his White House office when he left for the evening, his valet testified before a grand jury, according to a newly obtained court filing.

The pages, which likely often contained sensitive intelligence information, were later collected by members of the White House Office of Records Management, according to the testimony in the filing obtained by New York Times reporter Alan Feuer.

"What I recalll is that everytime he would leave for the evening, they would come up, and they would collect all the papers that he threw on the floor," Trump's valet Walt Nauta told the grand jury.

Sources previously told the Washington Post that Trump also ripped up documents or his own notes and put them in a pocket or tossed them in a waste basket. He also flushed them down the toilet at the White House, Axios reported.

The practice was "relentless," and "widespread and indiscriminate," the Post reported

Trump not only tore up records later demanded by the House select committee probing the Jan. 6 insurrection, he also ripped up countless other letters, memos, articles, briefings and schedules  in violation of the Presidential Records Act, according to the Post.

Aides would sometimes retrieve shredded papers and tape them back together because they were public records. Others were forever lost to "burn bags."

"We had no rules" in the White House, Former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a CNN interview after the reports. "We followed no rules."

Just in: Walt Nauta, Trump's valet, recalls in his grand jury testimony that officials in the White House Office of Records Management would pick up "all the papers" Trump "threw on the floor" each "time he would leave for the evening." pic.twitter.com/hW1aOfgTy3  Alan Feuer (@alanfeuer) April 27, 2024

Trump's treatment of federal documents at the White House reveals what appears to be a lackadaisical attitude about the importance and security sensitivity of some of the papers.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to a 37-count indictment related to his removal of classified documents from the White House at the end of his term to Mar-a-Lago. He kept them in his personal office at Mar-a-Lago, a storage area near a pool accessible to all members of the club and their guests, stacked up in a bathroom and on a stage in an event room, according to federal investigators.

A date for Trump's trial in the case has not yet been set as Special Prosecutor Jack Smith and Trump's legal team spar in court over various challenges over evidence and rules of law.
Reeling from weeks of pro-Palestinian campus protests, New York's Columbia University has barred a student leader of the movement who said "Zionists don't deserve to live" in a video in January, according to a report.

The Ivy League school said student Khymani James had been banned from campus, but did not specify whether he had been suspended or permanently expelled, the New York Times reported.

In a posting Friday night on X James said his comments about Zionists were "wrong"

"Every member of our community deserves to feel safe without qualification," he wrote in the posting. "I misspoke in the heat of the moment, for which I apologize."

In a statement issued Friday evening, school officials said an "individual whose videos have surfaced in recent days is now banned from campus." The university did not identify James.

The statement added that "chants, signs, taunts, and social media posts from our own students that mock and threaten to 'kill' Jewish people are totally unacceptable, and Columbia students who are involved in such incidents will be held accountable."

The video of James making the comments resurfaced on social media Thursday.

James, a member of Columbia University Apartheid Divest, made the remarks at a disciplinary hearing over his comments on social media about fighting a Zionist, according to the Times.

"I don't fight to injure or for there to be a winner or a loser, I fight to kill," he said.

At the hearing, an administrator asked Jones: "Do you see why that is problematic in any way?"

"No," James reportedly responded.

He also compared Zionists to white supremacists and Nazis.

"These are all the same people," said James, a junior at the university. "The existence of them and the projects they have built, i.e. Israel, it's all antithetical to peace. It's all antithetical to peace. And so, yes, I feel very comfortable, very comfortable, calling for those people to die."

James said on I that he wished he had couched his comments in different language.

"Zionism is an ideology that necessitates the genocide of the Palestinian people. I oppose that in the strongest terms," he wrote.
Columbia University President Nemat Minouche Shafik has faced backlash from students, faculty, outside commentators and now the Columbia University Senate for summoning New York police to dismantle a tent encampment set up on campus by protesters against Israel's war in Gaza.

The policy-making Senate  consisting of faculty, students and some administrators  on Friday criticized the handling of a pro-Palestinian protest at the prestigious school, and voted to create a task force to investigate the university's leadership and actions.

Following a two-hour meeting, the Senate passed a resolution stating that Shafik's administration had undermined academic freedom and neglected the privacy and due process rights of students and faculty members by involving law enforcement and shutting down the protest, Reuters reported.

"The decision ... has raised serious concerns about the administration's respect for shared governance and transparency in the university decision-making process," it said.

In the past week, over 100 individuals were arrested on Columbia's campus as police removed tents from the main lawn of the school's Manhattan campus.

However, that didn't stop the protesters from returning and setting up tents again, limiting Columbia's options for dismantling them.

Subsequently, hundreds of protesters have been arrested at schools spanning from California to Boston as students established similar camps, calling for their schools to divest from companies involved with Israel's military. More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks launched in response to a Hamas assault in early October that killed 1,200 Israelis and the taking of hundreds of hostages.
More than eight decades after his death, the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini continues to be a divisive force in Italy as thousands of towns and cities seek to revoke his honorary citizenship, according to a report.

The bulk of Italy's 8,000 municipalities made Mussolini, who with Nazi Germany's Adolf Hitler constituted the "axis of evil" during World War II, an honorary citizen under decree by his fascist regime, the Guardian reported.

Some towns, like Naples and Matera, reversed course in 1944, but the movement stagnated for years until the National Association of Italian Partisans (ANPI), an anti-fascist group, addressed the issue and brought it to the forefront again in recent years.

"Many municipalities are unaware of Mussolini's presence among their honorary citizens due to lost archives during the war," Natalia Marino, a member of the ANPI's national committee, told the Guardian. "Some face opposition from political parties reluctant to revoke the honor, while others are hindered by laws preventing cancellation."

Some towns, like Adria, revoked Mussolini's honorary citizenship in 2021 and bestowed the honor instead on Giacomo Matteotti, a politician killed during Mussolini's reign.

Others  including Nonantola, in Modena, Bovezzo, in Brescia, and Troina, in Sicily, along with dozens more  simply revoked Mussolini's citizenship.

"Many of these towns had granted honorary citizenship to the partisans who had fought against fascism and were buried in their local cemeteries," said Marino. "The fact that Mussolini was listed as an honorary citizen in the same towns was a disgrace."

But other towns and cities found that local laws prevented them from removing the honorary citizenship designation from the deceased.

To dodge the restriction, one city, Ustica, passed a law revoking honorary citizenship after death for all  an action that also swept up Walt Disney, astronaut Malcolm Scott Carpenter and French oceanographer Jacques-Yves Costeau.

In other municipalities, the decision turned contentious.

Edith Bruck, a Hungarian poet and Auschwitz survivor, refused the honor in Anzio in 2021 because Mussolini was among those honored.

The dictator known as "Il Duce" still had "many followers in [that] territory and ... also in Europe itself, which has a poor memory," she said.

Candido De Angelis, the mayor at the time who was supported by a number of conservative parties, said he was "disappointed" by her decision.

"History must be respected, not only for Mussolini," De Angelis said.

"If someone in Anzio granted honorary citizenship to Mussolini a century ago, it didn't seem appropriate or useful to revisit this issue. It's just a political game that serves no purpose," he insisted, the Giuardian reported.

"Also, because as far as I'm concerned, fascism no longer exists. The historical judgment on fascism has been made and it is a completely negative judgment," De Angelis added.
Due to the ongoing occupation of at least two buildings, the California State Polytechnic University's Humboldt campus will be closed and transitioned to a remote format for the remainder of the semester, the school said in a statement Friday.

"Campus is now closed through May 10, and work and academic instruction will be remote as individuals continue to occupy Siemens Hall and Nelson Hall East," read the statement.

Protesters have attempted "several times to break into multiple locked buildings with the intention of either locking themselves in, vandalizing, or stealing equipment," the statement added.

Demonstrators were given until 5 p.m. Friday to leave with a guarantee of no immediate arrest, reported CNN.

The students involved in the protest have characterized their demonstration as a gesture of solidarity with Palestinians. The protesters are demanding the university sever all ties with Israel, including the study abroad program at an Israeli university, and calling for the university to issue an official call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The group, "Occupy Cal Poly Humboldt," released a statement of their own Friday via social media pushing back on the administration's narrative.

The University of Southern California in Los Angeles has cancelled its main commencement ceremony next month due to pro-Palestinian protests, and Columbia University students fear the same might happen there.
At least three women were infected with HIV during a procedure known as a "vampire facial" at an unlicensed spa in New Mexico in the first cases of the virus being transmitted during a cosmetic injection, according to reports.

The findings were announced in a report released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In the first case a female client of the spa was evaluated in 2018 after testing positive for HIV.

The woman, between 40 and 50 years old, said she hadn't injected drugs, did not have any recent blood transfusions and had no sexual contact other than with her current sexual partner.

But she did note that she had received a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) microneedling procedure earlier at a spa in New Mexico.

A "vampire facial" involves "drawing a client's blood, separating the blood into its components of plasma and cells, and using single-use disposable or multiuse sterile equipment to inject the PRP into the face for cosmetic purposes," the CDC said.

The procedure is used to rejuvenate skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and acne scars.

Two other women who received facials at the spa also later contracted HIV.

The spa, identified as the VIP Spa in Albuquerque, was shut down in the fall of 2018 after it was discovered it was lacking proper licenses and inspections found unsafe infection control practices, the Washington Post reported.

The former owner, Maria de Lourdes Ramos De Ruiz, 62, is serving a 3-year prison sentence after pleading guilty in 2022 to five counts of practicing medicine without a license, the newspaper reported.
The social activist who coined the term "Me Too" amid sexual assaults and harassment said the overturning of Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction in New York is not a setback to the movement she founded but a call they are "prepared to answer."

"This is not a blow to the movement," Tarana Burke, who founded the "Me Too" movement in 2016, told BBC News. "It is a clarion call and we are prepared to answer that call."

The New York Court of Appeals ruled earlier this week that Weinstein's conviction should be overturned because the judge allowed prosecutors to call a witness whose accusations were not part of the case.

Weinstein remains jailed because of a separate rape conviction in 2022 in Los Angeles, and will have to face new trial.

Burke said she's concerned about Weinstein's victims.

"We are devastated for the survivors who are connected to this case and the survivors who had found some solace and catharsis in the original verdict" concerning Weinstein, she told the BBC.

"Many people, many survivors and those who love and support the survivors probably thought that original verdict meant that there was going to be a change, that it marked a change and marked a difference in how this justice system was going to move and operate," she said.

But, Burke added, the court's decision "means that we [still] have a movement."

"Ten years ago, we could not get a man like Harvey Weinstein into a courtroom," she told the Associated Press of how the movement changed the culture.

"The movement will persist, driven by the truth of our testimonies  and changes to our systems and culture will follow," Burke continued.
Rep. Adam Schiff's luggage was stolen from his car parked in a San Francisco garage earlier this week, forcing the California lawmaker to attend a fundraiser dressed in shirt sleeves and an insulated vest, according to reports.

"Yes, they took my bags," the California Democrat told the San Francisco Chronicle on Thursday.

Without his luggage, the Democrat headed to the fundraising dinner in the clothes he was wearing, while everyone else wore suit jackets and ties.

Schiff, who is running to fill the vacancy left by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, also headed to a dinner to thank San Francisco lawyer Joe Cotchett for backing his campaign, KRON reported.

He posted a photo himself on social media in his casual attire.

"Just had an incredible meal at Fang Restaurant in SF, and met Peter and Kathy Fang, the father-and-daughter team behind this amazing experience!," he said on X. "This family has been in the restaurant business since 1988. Can confirm they make a killer vegetable dumpling."

Steve Garvey, the former Los Angeles Dodger star who's running against Schiff, took the opportunity to blast Democratic policies.

"Crime doesn't discriminate," he told Fox News on Saturday.

"I'm sorry it happened to my opponent or to anyone," Garvey said. "But it happens on the streets of San Francisco and New York and Los Angeles. It's a failure of career politicians, especially on the left."

Vehicle property thefts are down in San Francisco by about 50% from this time last year, KRON reported, citing data from the San Francisco Police Department.
Convicted 72-year-old rapist Harvey Weinstein was rushed to a Manhattan hospital for a battery of tests Saturday after he was admitted to Rikers Island prison ahead of a planned court appearance.

The former Hollywood mogul was taken to Bellevue Hospital after he was first checked out by prison doctors, Weinstein's attorney, Arthur Aidala, told the Associated Press.

Weinstein "needs a lot of help, physically," Aidala added, but he didn't detail his client's ailments.

"He's got a lot of problems," Aidala said. "He's getting all kinds of tests. He's somewhat of a train wreck health-wise."

AP reported that Weinstein sufferes from cardiac issues, eye problems and diabetes.

A spokesperson with the New York City Department of Correction confirmed that Weinstein was in custody at Bellevue.

In a startling 4-3 decision on Thursday, the New York Court of Appeals overturned Weinstein's rape conviction in a landmark 2020 MeToo trial, ruling that the judge had made improper rulings, including allowing women to testify about allegations that weren't part of the case.

The court nullified Weinstein's 23-year prison sentence in that case and ordered a retrial.

Weinstein is scheduled to appear in Manhattan Criminal Court on Wednesday afternoon concerning the case.

Although the conviction was overturned, Weinstein remains in prison because of another rape conviction in 2022 in Los Angeles.

Weinstein has filed a notice to appeal that verdict as well.
Wait!

Before you go

Please sign up for our Evening Digest and Breaking Newsletters

Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request.

* I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
MCLA Gallery 51 Introduces Senior Art Project

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) presents its 2024 senior art project showcasing the work of students Skylah Zayas, Hailey Rolon, and Matt Flanagan.

"Synthesis: Sluts, Beasts, and Synths" is an inquiry into themes of love, imaginative beasts, and post-punk/industrial music, according to a press release.

The exhibition is open for viewing until May 11 at Gallery 51, located at 51 Main St. in North Adams.

Zayas' project explores themes of love and sexuality using reclaimed wooden pallets fashioned into a bed. The fabric upholstery and bedding incorporate quotes gathered from participants' relationship experiences.

"This sculpture/installation reflects emotion and experiences of modern hook-up culture from not only myself, but my peers," Zayas said. "My artwork strongly utilizes the opinions and voices in my surrounding community."

Rolon creates life-sized dream-like beasts using paper mache, clay, and drawings. She sees her work as an extension of herself, expressing the physicality of her lived experiences.

Flanagan combines his interpretations of post-punk and industrial music with art historical inquiry. His work merges music and art through experimental compositions using metal scraps and found materials.

"We are all combining our external influences with our own ideas, in uncomfortable or shocking ways," he said. "The shock factor in my project is through my materials - rusty, sharp, and bizarre metal scraps."

Under the guidance of MCLA art professors and Gallery 51 staff, alongside guest artists, the students create professional statements, resumes, and other documents necessary for entering the art world. In addition to the exhibit, students will deliver artist talks at MCLA's Undergraduate Research Conference.
James McGrath of Pittsfield's Parks Department leads the city's recognition of Arbor Day. A plaque honoring the late Bob Presutti was installed next to an elm planted in tribute at the library. McGrath, RSVP Director Lisa Torrey and Mayor Peter Marchetti 'plant' the American elm in Presutti's name. McGrath tells the crowd about Presutti's interest not just in trees but the safety of Parks Department crew. Torrey talks about Presutti's other passion: RSVP. He contributed more than 10,600 hours to RSVP. PreviousNext

Pittsfield Celebrates Robert 'Bob' Presutti on Arbor Day



Bob Presutti, right, is presented the Hebert Award in 2017 for his volunteer efforts at Springside Park. He died in 2023 at age 88.

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  A tree has been planted next to the Berkshire Athenaeum in honor of local "giant" Robert Presutti.



Officials celebrated Arbor Day on Friday by installing a commemorative plaque next to the American elm sapling. This is a tree that James McGrath, the city's park program manager, said Presutti would have been particularly proud of.



"Today is a day where we yes, celebrate trees, but today is also a day where here in the city we intentionally try to acknowledge the good work of folks in our community who spend their time and their efforts and their talents to make Pittsfield a more beautiful place," he said to a crowd of about 20 people.



"Today we are honoring a longtime community volunteer named Bob Presutti. I'm sure a lot of you here know Bob and know his contributions to the city, not only when it comes to trees and parks but also to the Retired Senior Volunteer Program."



The longtime volunteer passed away last year at the age of 88. He contributed more than 10,600 hours to RSVP and had great impacts on the Parks Department over the years from sharing his knowledge and talents to ensuring that workers were safe when working on trees.



"This morning I went through my emails to see how many emails Bob Presutti sent me since the year 2001 when I started with the city. Bob Presutti sent me 14,000 emails and nearly every single one of those was about trees," McGrath said, prompting laughter and smiles from attendees.



One thread struck him as particularly important because it showed Presutti's empathy when it comes to the safety of city workers while caring for trees.



"There were multiple emails from Bob about the need to get the Parks Department maintenance guys into a program learning about chainsaw safety and learning about ladder safety. He was really into making certain that our city workers were well cared for and had all of the instruction that they needed and in fact, he even offered his own time and services after he became certified to teach our city workers," McGrath said.



"And in fact, we were here this morning with folks from the DPS unit planting this tree they were talking about Bob and how Bob would have planted this tree so his legacy resonates. Bob was absolutely a giant in our city."



RSVP Director Lisa Torrey said she knew Presutti from her previous role in the Office of Veterans Services. She recalled first meeting him and hearing about the city's trees, commending him for being "like an encyclopedia" while being passionate and sincere about those topics.
We keep our menu simple and let the dough and other high-quality ingredients speak for themselves
Pittsfield Resident Victim of Alleged Murder in Greenfield

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  A man found dismembered in a barrel in Greenfield on Monday has been identified as Pittsfield resident.

The Northwestern District Attorney's Office identified victim as Christopher Hairston, 35, and subsequently arrested a suspect, Taaniel Herberger-Brown, 42, at Albany (N.Y.) International Airport on Tuesday.

The Daily Hampshire Gazette reported that Herberger-Brown told investigators he planned on visiting his mother outside the country.

Herberger-Brown was detained overnight, and the State Police obtained an arrest warrant on a single count of murder on Tuesday morning, the Greenfield Police Department said in a press release

According to a report written by State Police Trooper Blakeley Pottinger, the body was discovered after Greenfield police received reports of a foul odor emitting from the apartment along with a black hatchet to the left of the barrel, the Greenfield Recorder reported.

Investigators discovered Hairston's hand and part of a human torso at Herberger-Browns former apartment, located at 92 Chapman St, the news outlet said.

According to the Daily Hampshire Gazette , Herberger-Brown originally told investigators that he had not been to the apartment in months because he had been in and out of hospitals.

The news outlet reported that Herberger-Brown allegedly changed his story, claiming that he had gotten into a physical altercation with the victim towards the end of which the victim's "heart stopped,"

Herberger-Brown allegedly claimed that the victim broke into his apartment, and he believed the victim was on drugs.

This is not the first time Herberger-Brown, a Navy veteran, has had run-ins with the law.

Greenfield Recorder reported that in 2008, Herberger-Brown was arrested on kidnapping and assault charges in Northampton, faced assault and battery charges in 2018 when he lived in Sunderland, disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace charges in 2019, and faced misdemeanor breaking and entering charges in 2020.

The news outlet reported that a term of his probation for the 2020 incident, he was ordered to take medication and continue mental health treatment.

The Daily Hampshire Gazette reported that Herberger-Browns neighbor Kayleigh Miller described the suspect as "a super nice and super polite guy who would often lend a hand around the community, babysitting for some of his other neighbors."

The official cause of death is yet to be determined. The case is still under investigation by the state police detective unit, the state crime scene service section, and the Greenfield Police Department.

Hairston, a drummer, graduated from Taconic High School in 2007 and Berkshire Community College in 2020

He had not posted on his social media accounts for about year but his Facebook page is filled with friends expressing their sorrow. They describe him as an "extraordinary musician" and kind man who had a tough life.

It is yet to be determined when Herberger-Brown will return to Massachusetts for the arraignment on the murder charge. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the official cause of death.
A recent study by Lenovo has revealed a notable divide between CEOs and CIOs concerning the strategic deployment and scaling of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within companies. This issue emerges amidst the rapid AI adoption in ASEAN markets, including the Philippines, where AI has been growing at a compound annual growth rate of about 40%.

Driven by a fear of falling behind competitors, many executives are aggressively pursuing AI integration, resulting in plans to increase AI spending by 45% in 2024 compared to the previous year. CIOs, however, are grappling with more immediate operational challenges such as cybersecurity, talent retention which are further complicated with emerging technologies like Generative AI (GenAI). With limited budgets and a risk-sensitive outlook, 9% of CIOs even view AI initiatives as a potential distraction.

Lenovo's comprehensive survey involved 900 IT and business decision-makers and was particularly focused on the impact of GenAI. The study provides critical insights as to why there are differing outlooks within the C-suite regarding the technologys potential and challenges. Some of the key insights from the study include:

Surge in AI Investment: Companies are significantly increasing their AI budgets, with a 45% rise in spending, indicating a rush to capitalize on AI technologies.

Companies are significantly increasing their AI budgets, with a 45% rise in spending, indicating a rush to capitalize on AI technologies. Mixed perceptions about AI's potential: While 46% of CIOs believe in AI's transformative impact, their enthusiasm is tempered by practical considerations of deployment and effectiveness.

While 46% of CIOs believe in AI's transformative impact, their enthusiasm is tempered by practical considerations of deployment and effectiveness. CIOs reserved stance on GenAI: Despite the excitement around GenAI, it ranks only fourth on the technology priority list for CIOs, who remain cautious about its current stage of maturity and integration challenges.

Despite the excitement around GenAI, it ranks only fourth on the technology priority list for CIOs, who remain cautious about its current stage of maturity and integration challenges. Preference for secured cloud environments: A significant 69% of CIOs prefer hosting AI workloads in non-public cloud environments, indicating a strategic preference for controlled, secure computing spaces.

A significant 69% of CIOs prefer hosting AI workloads in non-public cloud environments, indicating a strategic preference for controlled, secure computing spaces. Challenges in securing AI talents: About 45% of CIOs report difficulties in hiring for AI-related roles, which is crucial for driving AI innovation and implementation.

We recognize the challenges that come with adopting AI as much as we also acknowledge the immense potential it can bring to our business and people, says Michael Ngan, General Manager of Lenovo Philippines. As the landscape of AI rapidly evolves, it's imperative for organizations to navigate the complexities with a unified vision, he shared.

Lenovos solid infrastructure solutions, together with a vast network of independent software vendors (ISVs), guarantee seamless and adaptable AI implementations suitable for companies of varying sizes. Moreover, through Lenovos AI Innovators Program, a collaboration with leading software partners, Lenovo delivers tailor-made, ready-to-implement AI solutions that span the entirety of customer operations.

Last year, the global service provider unveiled its comprehensive vision AI for All at the 9th Global Tech World Event in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit www.lenovo.com/ph/en/.
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 companys 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 companys 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.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Jilly Cooper has shared a memory of nearly being raped by a fellow author in her early career.

The British writer, known for her romance novels such as Riders, Rivals and Mount!, expressed her feelings towards movements such as MeToo in a new interview with The Telegraph.

Speaking to interviewer Celia Walden, Cooper, 87, noted that it is seriously awful for women  terrifying  to be jumped on by a man.

She then recounted an experience from her time working for a book publisher in her twenties.

I was taken out to lunch by a man and on the way back in a cab he jumped on me and pulled my clothes apart. It was awful. I was terrified, Cooper explained.

After taking a breath, she continued: When I got back to the office I was in floods of tears and told my manager that someone had just tried to rape me.

Cooper then noted that her manager tried to soothe her with a cup of tea while insisting that she reveal the offenders identity so that they could report it to authorities.

However, the concern seemingly ended when she named her assaulter. But then, when I told him the mans name and he realised it was one of our authors I was ushered out of that office in two seconds. So yes I think [MeToo] has been good in many respects.

Jilly Cooper in 2019 ( PA )

Over the years, Cooper has expressed a range of opinions towards the MeToo movement, which campaigns against sexual abuse and rape culture. Though it was established by activist Tarana Burke in 2006, the movement went viral in 2017 after several women accused disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment and rape.

Previously, Cooper has claimed that MeToo diminished men , and in the Telegraph interview, published on Saturday (27 April), spoke of her fear that these days, if you put a hand on a womans shoulder, youre about to rape her.

She continued: But what I find the saddest thing of all, is that now some gentle pass you made 30 years ago could come back at you, and then your career will go, your marriage will go: everything will go.
Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Get our The Life Cinematic email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Anyone whos ever been close to an unfortunately placed mirror in a steamy moment will know that sex rarely looks good. But you would think Hollywood might be able to work its magic and make it look sensational. Actors are hot. Smooth editing should mean no awkward position reshuffles. Cinematographers make lighting soft and flattering.

But sadly, thats not always the case. The script can always still let you down (think of J-Lo saying Gobble gobble as she seduces Ben Affleck in Gigli), and so can the props why cant we unsee Heather Graham and Joseph Fiennes getting all twisted up in silk ropes for Killing Me Softly?

There have been many, many more offenders through the years, with audiences suffering through everything from cliched dialogue to ecstatic yelps of pleasure. So heres a ranking of the sex scenes that will make you want to leave the room, and not just because your parents are sitting next to you on the sofa.

20. Eternals (2021)

This film was supposed to be Marvels first big step into meditative arthouse cinema, with Oscar-winner Chloe Zhao at the helm. Instead, viewers were put through three hours of confounding backstories about obscure characters  and didnt get a huge amount of action. To top it off, it featured the MCUs first-ever sex scene, which could/should have been a momentous moment but instead amounted to not much more than a clumsy fumble around in the dark between Richard Madden and Gemma Chan, showing that their superpowers did not assist them in the bedroom. Greg Evans

19. Killing Me Softly (2002)

There are few things less titillating than Graham and Fiennes getting tangled in a selection of silk ropes. All made more excruciating by Grahams whispered voiceover: I gave up all control, I loved it. Fifty Shades of Grey, eat your heart out. Ellie Harrison

18. Body of Evidence (1993)

One of the most infamous sex scenes of all time is Madonna and Willem Dafoes experimentation with hot wax in Body of Evidence. My way, murmurs the Queen of Pop, straddling Dafoe and pouring molten wax and champagne over his body before proceeding to lick it up. Its not a Mary Berry recipe, we can tell you that much. EH

17. Avatar (2009)

open image in gallery The dreadlock-interlocking display in Avatar didnt help things ( 20th Century Film )

A couple of towering blue humanoids having sex doesnt exactly scream erotica  and James Camerons attempts to mix it up further by having a strange dreadlock-interlocking display certainly didnt help. EH

16. If These Walls Could Talk 2 (2000)

If these walls could talk they would say please stop having sex to Dido. They would also have something to say about the endless gooey shots of hands drifting over skin, pulling at hair and disappearing under sheets. Its so soppy, Im surprised Ellen DeGeneres and Sharon Stone dont drip off the bed and onto the floor. Annie Lord

15. The Room (2003)

The Room is widely known as one of the worst films ever made  and its sex scene between Tommy Wiseau and Juliette Danielle is a big, unignorable contributing factor. Why does he appear to be thrusting directly into her belly button? Why? EH

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free

14. Basic Instinct 2 (2006)

This much-maligned sequel begins with Stan Collymore and Stone speeding at 100mph through Canary Wharf. The two moan and giggle as she fumbles around for his gearstick, that is until they crash the car and he dies. Not quite the happy ending he was hoping for. AL

13. Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)

open image in gallery The sex in Fifty Shades of Grey feels misguided at best ( Rex Features )

There are lots of shades of bad in the sex scenes of this S&M franchise. But the worst has to be when Christian ties her up, blindfolds her with his shirt and then runs down an ice cube all over her body. What misguided womens magazine did he get this advice from? AL

12. Millers Girl (2024)

Age-gap controversy aside (Martin Freeman portrayed a 49-year-old and Jenna Ortega an 18-year-old), there were plenty of other reasons why the sex scene in this movie was all off. Ortega plays precocious book-lover Cairo Sweet who spends her days reading old-school smut by Henry Miller. When the inevitable intimate scene approaches, her teacher, played by Freeman, asks her to read the book to him while they have sex. Painfully cringey. Maira Butt

11. Bad Teacher (2011)

Its tough to name the thing thats most wrong with the dry-humping scene in Bad Teacher. Is it the grunting? The chafing of denim? Justin Timberlakes gyrating hips? Justin Timberlakes face on climax? Justin Timberlakes wet jeans? Please just make it stop. If not for Cameron Diaz then for all of us. EH

10. Showgirls (1995)

A lot of things arent really OK about Showgirls, but the filmmakers really outdid themselves with Elizabeth Berkley and Kyle MacLachlans special splish splash in the pool. The combination of thrashing, bubbling water, fountain fondling and ecstatic yelping is the stuff of nightmares. EH

9. Wet Hot American Summer (2001)

Bradley Cooper and Michael Ian Blacks sex faces are so over-exaggerated that they look like emojis. Its difficult to understand how the campers are reaching these heights of pleasure given that theres about a foot of air between their crotches. More lukewarm American summer than hot and wet. AL

8. Damage (1992)

You shouldnt have sex with your sons fiance. But you definitely shouldnt if you end up making it look this bad. Jeremy Irons pounces on Juliette Binoche like a hulking bear before pulling her along the carpet (think of the burns). No wonder she said she didnt enjoy having his dangly bits touching her. AL

7. Watchmen (2009)

Leonard Cohens Hallelujah is a great song, but its certainly not sexy. Watchmens widely ridiculed sex scene sees Malin Akerman unzipping a latex chest piece to the lyrics: Now Ive heard there was a secret chord, that David played, and it pleased the Lord. Unfortunately, no one will be pleased by this display. AL

6. What Women Want (2000)

What a lot of women dont want is a sex scene with Mel Gibson. What women want even less is to watch a scene with so many cliches: a man talking to his penis in the bathroom. A light that turns on when you clap. A woman that wails so loud you cant tell if shes been run over by a truck or is mid-orgasm. AL

5. Saltburn (2023)

open image in gallery Theres something gravely wrong with Barrry Keoghans sex scenes in Saltburn ( AP )

Saltburn had already created a shocking moment with that bathtub scene. But it was when it went the extra mile, and had Barry Keoghans Oliver humping the grave of his friend Felix (Jacob Elordi), that it lost its creative way. The scene was so cringey and OTT, and just felt like a cheap way to make us clutch our pearls. MB

4. Maps to the Stars (2014)

Julianne Moore literally asks Robert Pattinson: Do you want to f*** my holes? And, dear reader, it turns out that he does want to. He wants to very much. So they have very stressful-looking sex in a car on the side of the road. And then somehow it gets even worse  she disembarks from the vehicle and wipes his semen off her leg with a scarf. EH

3. Gone Girl (2014)

This is horribly bad, but not because its a bad scene. More because you have to watch Rosamund Pikes crazed killer slit the throat of a guy while theyre still getting it on. And then you have to watch the blood from his throat soak her red. And then you have to watch her continue to gyrate for another couple of seconds before she calls it a day. AL

2. Howard the Duck (1986)

Cross-species coitus is, admittedly, a tricky concept to make sexy  something the traumatised viewers of Howard the Duck discovered when Lea Thompson canoodled with her so incredibly soft and cuddly feathered friend. Help! EH

1. Gigli (2003)

Name a more iconic movie line than Its turkey time! Gobble, gobble  well wait. They are the bonkers words uttered by Jennifer Lopezs Gigli character, a lesbian assassin who apparently finds herself unable to resist the masculine allure of wait for it Ben Affleck. The line is an invitation for oral sex and, well, youll have to watch the film to find out if he accepts. EH
Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Get our The Life Cinematic email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Melanie Lynskey has said that her husband, fellow actor Jason Ritter, is genuinely sacrificing his acting career so that hers can flourish.

Hes the most supportive person in the world, Lynskey told People in a new interview. The last few years weve had this role of like, whoevers job makes the most sense, whether its the most exciting career-wise or its more money, we would prioritise the one that was going to help move the persons career forward.

Lynskey, 46, said that while Ritter, 44, whom shes been married to since 2020, is getting offered stuff all the time, hes turned down several roles because hers were bigger.

Its like genuinely sacrificing, she said. In fact, she revealed that it was Ritter who pushed her to take the guest starring role in HBOs The Last of Us, the streamers highly acclaimed video game adaptation.

He was like, Theres no way youre not going to do The Last of Us. You have to do it, Lynskey said. So it was months and months and months that he was just being a dad and hanging out with me, and Im so, so, so grateful to him. I think a lot of men dont have that kind of self-esteem and that respect for their partner. Im grateful that I have someone who does.

The pair welcomed their five-year-old daughter in December 2018.

Lynskey was previously married to actor Jimmi Simpson from 2007 to 2014.

open image in gallery Jason Ritter and Melanie Lynskey ( Getty Images for GLAAD )

Ritter has appeared alongside Lynskey in two of her projects: The Last of Us, where he played an uncredited zombie-like clicker, and Candy, Hulus Jessica Biel-led minidrama about real-life killer Candy Montgomery, in which he portrayed a police officer.

He was expected to join Lynskey for season two of Showtimes survival thriller Yellowjackets. His cameo, however, did not make the final cut. ET confirmed last May that Ritter will eventually appear in the show, which has been renewed for a third season.

It was not my idea. It was not his idea, Lynskey previously told ET of his cameo. [Co-creator and showrunner] Ashley [Lyle], in fact, came to him and said, would you want to do this particular thing, and he was really excited.

Jason is the greatest human being, Lynskey gushed. I love our daughter. I love the show. Like, everythings coming together in a way that feels very  I feel so fortunate.

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free

She next stars in the The Tattooist of Auschwitz, based on Heather Morriss 2017 novel of the same name.

The six-episode series premieres on 2 May on Sky Atlantic in the UK and on Peacock in the US.
Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Ryan Reynolds has paid tribute to longtime Marvel production designer Ray Chan, who has died at 56.

Chan was known for his work as an art director in the production department for Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame and the forthcoming Deadpool & Wolverine.

He was born in Manchester in 1967, and died near on Tuesday (23 April) near his home in Wales.

On X/Twitter, Deadpool star Reynolds wrote: RIP Ray Chan. Words are pretty inadequate in comparison to this loss.

Theres an incomparable reservoir of skill, tender grit and talent no longer with us. As Production Designer, he was as important a creative force on Deadpool & Wolverine as the writers, director and stars.

I dont pretend to know every chapter of Rays heart, but I know its unusual to encounter someone with that level of artistry, who simultaneously moved through the world with such an indelible humanity.

The titular characters in the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine (  2024 20th Century Studios /  and  2024 MARVEL. )

He built entire worlds from scratch - and did so in the most collaborative and inclusive ways. Ray was peerless. And just awesome to be around. Hell be missed by everyone  but especially, by the people inhabiting his most important world: his family.

The last time I saw Ray was exactly two weeks ago. One of last things I said to him was that he makes magic and theres nobody on earth like him. Generally, he and I gave each other a lot of good natured shit. So... of all the final things you could say to someone you adore, thats a little scrap of consolation Ill hang onto forever.

Chan was also remembered by Marvel, which said in a statement: The entire Marvel Studios team is incredibly saddened by the loss of Ray Chan, longtime Marvel filmmaker and friend, who passed away this week.

Ray was an incredible production designer who helped imagine and design the Marvel Cinematic Universe. From Xandar to the Sanctum Sanctorum, Ray brought distinct, lived-in worlds to the screen, spanning the far reaches of space to a Louisiana fishing boat. He was also a wonderful friend and colleague who will be dearly missed by everyone who had the privilege of working with him.

Chan first joined Marvel Studios to work on Thor: The Dark World as Supervising Art Director and went on to be Supervising Art Director on many more Marvel films, including Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Doctor Strange, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame.

He was also an Art Director on Spider-Man: Far From Home, as well as Production Designer on The Falcon and The Winter Soldier and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

Chan is survived by his wife Lindsay and his children Caspar and Sebastian.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

ITV News presenter Rageh Omaar has spoken out for the first time after falling ill during the Friday night broadcast of News at Ten.

Omaar, 56, was presenting the ITV1 news programme on Friday (26 April) when he appeared to have difficulty reading the autocue.

Following the broadcast, ITV confirmed that the newscaster was receiving medical care.

On Saturday afternoon (27 April), a spokesperson for the network shared an update expressing that Omaar is now recovering at home following hospital treatment.

We appreciate viewers of last nights News At Ten were concerned about Rageh Omaars wellbeing, the statement begins.

Following medical treatment at hospital, he is now recovering at home with his family.

We are wishing Rageh a speedy recovery and look forward to him being back on screen when he feels ready.

open image in gallery ITV News presenter Rageh Omaar (Ian West/PA) ( PA Wire )

In a statement also shared by ITV News, Omaar thanked all who supported him during the difficult ordeal.

I would like to thank everyone for their kindness and good wishes, especially all the medical staff, all my wonderful colleagues at ITV News, and our viewers who expressed concern, the newscaster said.

At the time, I was determined to finish presenting the programme. I am grateful for all the support Ive been given.

The nature of Omaars illness during the broadcast remains unknown.

ITV pulled the show from its scheduled re-runs on ITV+1, with a message instead telling viewers that ITV was temporarily unable to bring you our +1 service.

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free

We will resume shortly, it read.

open image in gallery Rageh Omaar on ITV News ( ITV / screengrab )

Soon after the broadcast, ITV News acknowledged viewers worries with a statement.

We are aware that viewers are concerned about Rageh Omaars wellbeing, a spokesperson said.

Rageh became unwell while presenting News at Ten on Friday and is now receiving medical care. He thanks everyone for their well wishes.

Many social media users have shared their support for Omaar, with several admonishing others for resharing footage of the live broadcast.

People need to stop sharing the videos of Rageh Omaar and learn some basic decency and respect, reads one comment on X/Twitter.

Omaar has worked on ITV News since 2013, beginning his tenure as a special correspondent and presenter. He has also served as deputy newscaster of News at Ten since 2015.

Prior to his roles at ITV, the Somali-born newsreader was a world affairs correspondent at the BBC, and a news presenter at Al Jazeera.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

The Simpsons co-executive producer Tim Long has said he is sorry if some fans are upset by the death of long-running character Larry the Barfly.

Larry Dalrymple was killed off during Sundays (21 April) episode Cremains of the Day. He died as he lived, on a stool at Moes Tavern.

Long, who has worked on The Simpsons since season 10 in 1999, explained the decision in an email seen by Variety.

Im sorry if some fans are upset, but we really wanted to use Larrys death as a way to show that even the most peripheral people in our lives have dignity and worth, and that we really shouldnt take anyone for granted, wrote Long.

To paraphrase Shakespeare, nothing became Larrys life like the way he left it: drunk, lonely, and with a butt full of sapphires.

To me, its sort of fitting that some fans are taking Larrys demise as hard as Homer and his friends do. Its just a measure of how much the show still means to people. I mean, nobody would have been upset if the Flintstones had killed off the Great Gazoo. If anything, they would have been thrilled.

open image in gallery Barney Gumble and Larry the barfly in the Simpsons episode Duffless. This still sees Larry drawn twice in an animation error ( Fox/Disney )

Long added: The episode is about a lot of things, but mostly its about the fear of death. Simpsons characters have always had unusually rich emotional lives, and this episode is really about their anxiety over what comes next (and I dont mean Krapopolis).

Krapopolis is a Dan Harmon-created animation that airs after The Simpsons on Fox.

Long concluded: What I think is bittersweet about this episode is that it took Larrys death to make Homer and his friends appreciate him  and each other.

Again, were sorry if anyone is upset about Larrys demise  we certainly didnt kill the character off lightly. But I also have to point out that Larry was never really one of the shows breakout stars. I dont remember any kids wearing a Larry t-shirt, or doing a Larry the drunk lonely barfly dance. It would have been cool if they had.

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free

Larry the Barfly appeared in the very first Simpsons episode, the 1989 Christmas special Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire.

He rarely spoke but when he did he was voiced by Harry Shearer, who also provides the voices for several major Simpsons characters including Mr Burns, Ned Flanders, and Waylon Smithers.

Other Simpsons characters to have been killed off over the years include Barts teacher Edna Krabappel, who was written out of the show following the death of her voice actor Marcia Wallace in 2013.
Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Does your skin feel dry and dehydrated, or your hair more brittle and damaged than usual? It is possible that hard water is to blame.

Hard water has a high mineral content that can negatively impact both your hair and skin, and is more dangerous for people with particularly sensitive skin, as hard water can exacerbate existing issues like irritation, itching, or redness, says Krasnaya.

The majority of the south and east of England has hard water, so theres a chance it could be impacting you without you even realising.

According to electric water conditioner ScaleGuard the following cities have the hardest water in the country:

Bath, Bristol, Guildford, Hemel Hempstead, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Reading, Slough, Swindon, Walton-on-Thames.

Dermatologist Dr Yulia Krasnaya from Evolution Aesthetics Clinic explains that hard water can leave several signs on your skin, indicating potential damage. One common sign is dryness or tightness after washing, as hard water can strip away natural oils, leaving the skin feeling parched.

You may notice a dull or lacklustre complexion, as mineral deposits from hard water can build up on the skins surface, hindering its natural radiance.

Aside from your skin and hair, there is another way to tell if you have hard water in your home. Another indication is the presence of residue or soap scum, especially noticeable in areas like the sink or bathtub, which can signal hard waters effect on the skin and surfaces, says Krasnaya.

open image in gallery Hard water can cause your hair to become dry and brittle (Alamy/PA)

Although it isnt particularly dangerous for your health, prolonged exposure to hard water may also contribute to a compromised skin barrier, making it more susceptible to environmental stressors and moisture loss, explains Krasnaya. So it pays to know just how to deal with the fall out  and how to make your hair and skin healthy again.

Anabel Kingsley, consultant trichologist and brand president at Philip Kingsley, explains that hard water minerals can build up on the hair shaft, and so living in or travelling to a hard water area can impact how your strands look, feel and behave.

Many people notice their hair is dryer when they shampoo with hard water, that it frizzes more easily, lacks shine and that not as much lather is created. It can also affect the colour of your hair, especially if you have highlighted or bleached strands, she explains. If you have noticed any of these characteristics in your hair, its likely hard water is the culprit.

However, if you have experienced any of these symptoms in your hair and skin, there are several steps you can take to combat the damage and improve your hair and skin health.

Install a shower filter

Installing a shower filter is one of the simplest ways to minimise the impacts of hard water on both hair and skin. Prevention is always preferable to a cure, and this will help to filter the irritants out of the water you shower in.

Kingsley recommends a shower filter if you find your hair is dry, dull, less manageable and lacklustre when shampooing with hard water. Krasnaya also notes that incorporating a water softener or installing a shower filter can significantly reduce the mineral content in hard water, making it gentler on the skin.

Use a pre-shampoo conditioning treatment

Kingsley also recommends you use a conditioning treatment one to two times a week. This plumps the hair shaft with moisture and seals the outer cuticle, creating shine and improving manageability.

Use a gentle cleanser

Using a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser can help minimise stripping of natural oils while effectively removing impurities, says Krasnaya. Using anything that is too harsh for your skin will only cause further irritation and discomfort, and make the symptoms of hard water damage far worse.

Apply a smoothing oil or serum

To combat frizz, apply a lightweight smoothing oil or serum before styling, suggests Kingsley. Oils can also help to protect against heat and minimise flyaways, so theyre worth adding to your haircare routine even if youre not directly looking to fight against frizziness.

Consider swapping your usual conditioner out for a richer one

If your hair is crying out for moisture due to hard water, a simple swap to a more heavy-duty conditioner could do the trick. To allow your conditioner to work at its best, towel dry your hair after shampooing and apply the conditioner to damp hair.

Invest in hydrating skincare

Hydrating skincare products containing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides or niacinamide can help replenish moisture and strengthen the skin barrier, combating dryness and sensitivity caused by hard water, says Krasnaya.

Products Five products to help with hard water damage Hello Klean Shower Filter, 65 Philip Kingsley Vitamin C Jelly Detoxifying Hair & Scalp Treatment, 30 Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Therapies Sicilian Lemon & Bergamot, 24 Weleda Skin Food, 14.95 Sanctuary Spa Signature Natural Oils Whipped Souffle Body Cream, 13, Boots

Use a detoxifying hair and scalp treatment

I love our Vitamin C Jelly, which removes hard water mineral deposits on your hair, says Kingsley. If your hair needs some real TLC, this might be the most effective solution for you.

Before you switch up your whole haircare routine, be sure to check what your hair type actually requires. Theres no need to change your shampoo  stick to one formulated for your hair texture, says Kingsley.

Although it is tricky to totally get rid of all hard water damage in your hair and skin without relocating to an area with soft water (not a realistic change for most of us), making small changes in your daily routine can help to make any symptoms less noticeable and more manageable day-to-day.
Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Harry Jowsey, a former contestant on the Netflix series Too Hot to Handle, has revealed his skin cancer diagnosis while urging fans to wear sunscreen.

The Australian TV personality first appeared on screens in 2020 on season one of the raunchy competition show, on which castmates must remain abstinent to earn a cash prize.

In a TikTok video posted on Friday (26 April), Jowsey, 26, spoke directly to the camera about his health, and captioned the post: Please wear sunscreen.

There isnt really an easy way to say this, but last week I went to a dermatologist to get me skin checked and they found some skin cancer on me, he began.

Im going to be all good, everythings going to be OK. I just wanted to make this post to let you know that summers going to be around the corner. Please wear sunscreen.

Jowsey also advocated for viewers to regularly check their skin for any signs of mole and freckle changes.

"If youre a freckly little frog like me, go get a mole map and get your body checked, because you never know," he said.

"Ive had this on my shoulder for like a year or two, I had no idea. I just want to save and protect one of you guys out there.

So go get your skin checked, wear your sunscreen and a be a little bit more responsible because thats what Ive got to do now, and its very scary.

Jowsey did not share the type of skin cancer hed been diagnosed with, nor any information on the treatment hell receive. The Independent has reached out to his representatives for further comment.

open image in gallery Harry Jowsey ( Getty Images for CELSIUS Energy )

The LA-based podcast host also appeared on last years season of Dancing With the Stars.

Skin cancer rates in the UK are on the rise, with around 16,700 new cases per year. According to cancer research statistics, it is now the fifth most common cancer in the country and the cause of around 2,600 deaths annually.

Advice on how to be aware of skin cancer involves keeping track of the size, shape, colour and texture of moles.
A coroner has blasted the inhumane and indefensible treatment of a prisoner who took his own life after serving 17 years for a 23-month jail term.

Scott Rider, 45, who was one of Britains longest-serving inmates, was given an indefinite sentence in 2005 but ended up never being released.

The controversial Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences  in which offenders were handed minimum jail terms but no maximum  were scrapped in 2012 amid human rights concerns, but not for those already sentenced, leaving thousands languishing in jail for years beyond their original prison terms.

In light of Mr Riders death, senior coroner Tom Osborne issued a stark warning to the government, calling for a review of all those affected by IPPs.

On any consideration of the circumstances of Mr Riders death, one has to conclude that his treatment was inhumane and indefensible, and that if action is not taken to review all prisoners sentenced to IPP, then there is a risk of further deaths occurring, he said.

Mr Riders heartbroken sister is calling for the government to act to save the lives of others trapped under the inhumane jail terms. At least 90 IPP prisoners have died by suicide.

Her concerns were echoed by MPs, campaigners and prison experts, who urged justice minister Alex Chalk to reconsider reviewing all IPP sentences.

Lord David Blunkett told The Independent the policy, brought in when he was home secretary under Tony Blair, turned out to be a disaster and said Mr Riders case was incredibly serious.

The tragic case comes as:

Prison leaders joined calls for all IPP inmates to have their sentences reviewed, with president of the Prison Governors Association, Tom Wheatley, branding them a blot on our legal system

Chair of the justice committee, Sir Bob Neill, who believes the sentences are an affront to basic decency and fairness, renewed calls for resentencing, warning: More delay will lead to more deaths

Life peer Baroness Claire Fox said the tragedy demonstrates how this egregious sentence is a matter of life and death  as new figures showed rates of self-harm among IPP prisoners soared by 26 per cent last year

Lord Blunkett, who has led calls for reform, said plans to improve progression and shorten licence periods were welcome but insisted theres still a long way to go

A coroner has issued a Prevention of Future Deaths Notice following the death of IPP prisoner Scott Rider ( Michelle Mahon )

When Mr Rider died in his cell at the high-security HMP Woodhill in June 2022, he had served more than 15 years longer than his original 23-month tariff for grievous bodily harm and had given up all hope of release.

In a scathing Prevention of Future Deaths Report sent to the minister for prisons, Edward Argar, following a three-day inquest, the coroner warned there is a risk of further lives being lost if action is not taken.

Mr Osborne, the senior coroner for Milton Keynes, said Mr Rider was one of many IPP prisoners struggling to progress and that at the time of his death he had served 17-and-a-half years and given up all hope of release.

The intervention was welcomed by Mr Riders sister Michelle Mahon, 55, from Durham, who hopes his tragic death will inspire reform.

It will mean my brothers death wasnt in vain, she told The Independent.

The latest figures show that of 2,796 IPP inmates currently incarcerated, 1,180 have never been released and 708 have served more than 10 years longer than their minimum tariff.

Michelle Mahon has called for action to help IPP prisoners after her brother Scott Rider died after serving 17 years for a 23-month tariff ( Michelle Mahon )

The mother-of-four had lost contact with her brother 22 years earlier but was devasted to learn of his death after prison officers knocked on her fathers door with the news.

She said Mr Rider, the youngest of four siblings, had struggled with their parents separation and fell into drug use at the age of 14, eventually committing offences to feed his habit.

He was first jailed in 2000 for robbing his own father, and again in 2003, but was said to have cleaned up his life and was hoping to start a family when he was handed an IPP for assaulting a colleague with a hammer following a disagreement in 2005  the same year the sentences were introduced by New Labour.

Despite their estrangement, Ms Mahon told The Independent how she spiralled after learning of her brothers death, adding: When I started reading into these IPP sentences I just couldnt believe it.

I am not condoning what Scott did  I fully understand he did wrong and deserved to be punished  but I dont think he deserved to be in prison for 17 years for a 23-month sentence.

In the wake of his death, she has agonisingly reviewed 1,200 pages of his prison records which showed that he had moved prisons 30 times, made a previous attempt on his life and made comments saying: I feel like I am never going to get out of here.

Mr Rider at his sisters wedding in 1990. He died in prison in 2022 after serving 17 years for a 23-month tariff ( Michelle Mahon )

In a statement read to members of the jury at his inquest, Ms Mahon said Mr Rider, originally from Bradford, had been a loving and caring uncle to her daughter.

She said: Until he got heavily involved in the drug scene, he was a very polite, loving and caring young kid. He was a cheeky young chap and loved spending time with his dad, going around car showrooms and taking cars out on test drives.

Under an IPP sentence, prisoners can only be released after serving their minimum tariff if they prove to a parole board they are not a risk to the public. However Mr Rider struggled to engage with prison staff and at the time of his death he had been self-isolating for more than 200 days.

Ms Mahon added: Had Scott just been given a standard sentence he would have long since been out of custody and possibly have rebuilt his life, [and] maybe even have a family of his own.

Mr Riders story comes as the government tabled three amendments to the Victims and Prisoners Bill to help enhance the progression, release and licence termination of IPP prisoners. However, the government has so far rejected justice committee recommendations for a resentencing exercise.

Chair Sir Bob Neill, a senior Tory, said the committee has repeatedly warned leaders that the jail term does lasting damage to prisoners mental health.

The coroner is right, all IPP sentences should be reviewed and, although the government has taken some steps to improve the parole process for such prisoners, Scott Riders death demonstrates starkly why this is not enough, he told The Independent.

All IPP prisoners should be resentenced to determinate terms. IPP sentences are a stain on our justice system and an affront to basic decency and fairness. More delay will lead to more deaths.

The Prison Governors Association also backed the coroners call for a review, with president Tom Wheatley adding: It cant be right for people to spend so many years in prison for what in some cases were minor crimes committed during adolescence.

Lord Blunkett, who is working with a group of cross-party peers on IPP reforms, said that while they have made some progress, he fears resentencing is unlikely to happen in an election year.

He added: Theres still a long way to go and the provision for prisoners who have never been released is the most worrying thing of all because of course that affects their mental health.

Baroness Claire Fox, who believes leaders are running scared in case a released prisoner commits further crimes, added: As Mr Riders case shows, this egregious sentence is a matter of life and death.

No government can escape this. They will have to resentence IPP prisoners. Somebody will have to do it  and they should before more lives are lost.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: We have reduced the number of unreleased IPP prisoners by three-quarters since we scrapped the sentence in 2012, but retrospectively changing sentences poses a risk to public safety because offenders who the Parole Board have deemed unsafe for release, many of whom have committed serious violent or sexual offences, would leave prison without probation supervision and support.

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.
Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Thousands of pro-Palestine demonstrators have marched through London to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

The march, organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), set off from Parliament Square shortly before 1pm on Saturday and passed through Whitehall before ending at Hyde Park.

A counter-protest by pro-Israel Enough is Enough also went ahead at Pall Mall with police officers and barriers separating the two groups.

Just minutes before the march began in Parliament Square, a man was arrested for holding a placard showing a swastika, the Metropolitan Police said.

The march came after Jewish campaign group Campaign Against Antisemitism said they were cancelling a planned Walk Together demonstration over safety concerns.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign set off from Parliament Sqaure shortly before 1pm on Saturday ( Jeff Moore/PA )

Throughout the march, chants of stop bombing Gaza, stop bombing children were sung by demonstrators, some of whom held placards saying hands off Gaza colonisers.

Protesters appeared to walk past the pro-Israel counter demonstration peacefully - where Israeli and British flags could be seen next to banners saying Hamas are terrorists.

On Friday, the Campaign Against Antisemitism cancelled an event where people would have walked where they please after claiming it had received numerous threats from hostile actors intended to show up to meeting locations.

A spokesperson said: The risk to the safety of those who wished to walk openly as Jews in London as part of this initiative has therefore become too great.

It urged concrete measures on how the pro-Palestine marches are policed - citing concerns over antisemitic chants, placards, the glorification of terrorism and violence.

Three Jewish men who belong to the Neturei Karta sect holding placards reading Judaism condemns the state of Israel ( Jeff Moore/PA )

But the Mets assistant commissioner Matt Twist said pro-Palestinian protests had never reached the threshold where there was a risk of serious public disorder and said it would police the events without fear or favour.

The CAA announced its Walk Together plan after its chief executive, Gideon Falter, was prevented from crossing a road near a pro-Palestinian protest by a police officer last week because he was openly Jewish.

Footage showed a tense, lengthy stand-off between police and Mr Falter as one Met officer described his presence as antagonising.

The campaigner then spoke to another officer who said if he remained in the area, he would be arrested. However, different footage appeared to show Mr Falter trying to walk in the opposite direction of the crowd - not just through it as he claimed.

After the incident, Mr Falter was critical of the Met and said there were no-go zones for Jews, while Scotland Yard apologised twice for the officers choice of words.

Jewish campaign group Campaign Against Antisemitism cancelled a planned Walk Together demonstration on Saturday over safety concerns ( Jeff Moore/PA )

The Met Police said 450 arrests have been made since the pro-Palestinian marches began, with 193 of those being for antisemitic offences, the majority involving placards, chanting or expressions of hate speech.

There have also been 15 terrorism-related arrests, primarily on suspicion of supporting proscribed organisations, notably Hamas.

The cost of policing the protests - which first began in November last year - stands at approximately 38.5m, according to police.

Saturdays demonstration was the 13th national protest organised by the PSC since its first protest on 9 October, in addition to a number of local protests.

The main protests have ranged in size from 300,000 at the highest point, to around 5-10,000 in recent months, police said.
Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

It has taken James, a 24-year-old refugee from South Sudan, over four years to get to Dunkirk in northern France  where he is hoping to get on a small boat to the UK.

His home country was stricken by a civil war that forced him to give up his place to study engineering at university and flee for his life. As he travelled along one of the most dangerous migration routes in the world, he fixated on his dream of being able to continue his studies in the UK.

This week Rishi Sunak finally passed his flagship Rwanda bill, which he says will deter people like James from coming to Britain. The deaths of five people, including a seven-year-old girl, have brought home yet again how dangerous the Channel crossing can be. But despite this, James is not deterred.

Speaking to The Independent from a makeshift aid distribution site near the Dunkirk encampments, he said: I will go to the UK if I get my chance. I am hoping to go back to school and I dream of living a good life. If you have a dream of doing something, there is a constant pressure to achieve it. I spent 14 years in school; I went to primary school and secondary school and I want to make the most of my education.

I had a place to study engineering at university, but I had to give it up because of the war and flee. I am frustrated about the Rwanda plan. Rwanda is a very close country to South Sudan. If I wanted to go there I would have gone there much easier, but I know that it will not be a safe country for me. Life is all about the choices you make, where you want to be, and if I wanted to be in Rwanda, I would be there.

James, 24, hopes of being able to continue his education in the UK ( The Independent )

Thinking about the Rwanda plan puts us under a lot of pressure, but so does the pressure of my dream of achieving something. In this life, you are put on this earth to do good things, to be a good human being, and to leave a legacy behind. I pray that this Rwanda plan does not happen. If I go I know I will not be happy for the rest of my life.

The risk of the Channel crossing, which has claimed 14 lives already this year, is nothing compared to the risks James has already faced. His worst experience on his journey so far was when a van he was travelling in broke down in the middle of the Libyan desert.

There were 25 of us including the driver. In the end 20 people died of dehydration. You cannot walk across the desert when that situation happens, you dont know where to go. You can only stay there and hope that someone will pass on the way. After five days some people arrived and they rescued those of us that were left. I managed to survive, he said.

Migrants board a smuggler's boat on the beach at Gravelines, near Dunkirk, ( Getty )

Migrants in the makeshift camps at Dunkirk are under constant pressure from the French police, both where they sleep and when they get to the beaches to attempt the Channel crossing.

Many say that the police aggression shows them that they cannot build a life in France and that they must get to the UK.

Some who The Independent spoke to at an aid distribution site in northern France had spent some years living in Germany or Belgium before having their asylum claims rejected. They say they were given the choice of leaving or being deported back to their home country, and so they chose to try to come to the UK.

I have tried to come to the UK legally but there is no way

Others are doubtful the UKs plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda will really happen, such as 24-year-old Ahmad Nadeem Ebadi, who fled Afghanistan with his wife after the Taliban takeover.

The majority of Nadeems family are living in the UK after they were evacuated during Operation Pitting, the UK governments effort to fly people out of Afghanistan before Kabul fell to the Taliban in August 2021.

His father is a dual British citizen, having lived in England after he fled there as a refugee when the Taliban took over Afghanistan in the 1990s. He was called forward to Kabul airport during the evacuation and was able to take some of his children with him, but Nadeem and his wife were not able to get into the airport.

Nadeem, 24, is trying to reach his family in the UK who were evacuated by the British ( The Independent )

I didnt get a chance to go on the plane. I have tried so many ways to come legally but there is no way, he said.

He has been living in Dunkirk for a month and is hoping his wife will be able to get a room in a local womens shelter. Reflecting on the threat of being deported to Rwanda if they managed to get to the UK, he said: I really dont know if it is true. I really hope to go to the UK. If it costs my life I dont care about that. We left everything in Afghanistan. The Taliban are in Panjshir and we left everything there.

He and his wife have already tried to get on a boat across the Channel three times but he does not have any money to pay a people smuggler to guarantee a place on the dinghy. We have walked seven to eight hours at night to reach the Channel, but the police stop us each time. There are usually around 50-60 people trying to get on the boat. There are maybe six police in two cars and they had a drone camera.

My wife was beside me as we walked but it was very hard for her, she fell down many times. The situation is very hard for us, I cannot stay like this.

I can understand why UK wants to deport migrants to Rwanda

Lamsa Kuku, a 17-year-old from South Sudan, said the UK was his final destination on a harrowing journey, which included three months in detention in Libya. He understood why Rishi Sunak might want to deport asylum seekers, saying: I think migrants are so many in the UK that they want to send them back to Rwanda.

Charities give out blankets, groundsheets and tents to refugees who live in the woods round Dunkirk ( The Independent )

The UK is a smaller island and France is very big. Thats maybe why they decided they want to deport back the people. Or maybe it is politics. But I know I dont want to stay here, I want to go there.

He had left South Sudan as a child refugee in 2020 and had no possessions with him apart from the clothes he was wearing. We are living under a tree, always there is rain, and always we try to reach the UK. I dont have any money to pay anyone to help me. I have stayed here one month but I dont know what will happen then; Im not going forward and Im not going backward. I stay in the middle. I have nothing here. I am moving around place to place, as the police move us. I come here [to the distribution site] to get food and eat and then Im going to another place.

A committed Christian, he had been telling people about Jesus at the Dunkirk camp, and he had a strong belief that he had come to northern France by Gods will. He has guided me these four years, he said, as he contemplated the risk of dying in the Channel.

We are fleeing war. They should not send us to Rwanda

Mohammad, 27, who is from neighbouring Sudan, was incredulous as he thought about the possibility that the UK government could send him back to a country so close to the one he had fled from.

If they send me to Rwanda, it will be a big problem, he said. Maybe our view of the UK will be changed. For me I cant imagine it. Maybe the people who have no reason to leave their countries, they could send them to Rwanda, but not us  people who have fled war.

If they send me to Rwanda, I will imagine that there are no good people in the world. I escaped from war, I have arrived in Europe, and then they send me back again. I could not believe it.

Rahmeen Mohammad, 22, came to France from Turkey by lorry ( The Independent )

Ill take the chance because Rwanda is better than Iran

Rahmeen Mohammad, 22, who is from Iran, said he wanted to get to the UK because his life was in danger back home. I organised a demonstration for freedom and thats why they know me and why my life is in danger. I came from Turkey to France by lorry and I was given a sleeping tablet, which I took, so Im not sure how long the journey was.

When asked if the Rwanda bill would put him off going to the UK, he said: I have to go because I need a safe place. And I think Rwanda is better than Iran.

One Afghan refugee, who did not want to give his name, wanted to tell The Independent about the life that had been ripped away from him when the Taliban took over. I had a good life in my country. I like my country, I did not leave it easily. I have to go to the UK because France is not accepting us.

I was working for human rights organisations and they became a target for the Taliban. Me and these people around us, we dont have anywhere else to go. Not everyone here is illiterate. They are good people, who had good lives. We just want to work and have a safe and peaceful life, like anyone would want for themselves.
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A top Tory MP has defected to the Labour Party after claiming the Conservatives have become a nationalist party of the right.

Dr Dan Poulter, the MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, who also works part-time as a mental health doctor in the NHS, said he would not stand at the next election but would join Labour until the vote, required to be before January 2025.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer welcomed Dr Poulter to the party, describing his defection as a fantastic boost to their attempts to unseat the Conservatives.

Its fantastic to welcome Dr Dan Poulter MP to todays changed Labour Party, Sir Keir wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Its time to end the Conservative chaos, turn the page, and get Britains future back. Im really pleased that Dan has decided to join us on this journey.

A Conservative Party spokesman said that Dr Poulters defection would be disappointing for his constituents.

In an interview with the BBC, Dr Poulter said he could no longer look his NHS colleagues in the eye and remain a Conservative as the party was not focused on public services.

The difficulty for the Conservative Party is that the party I was elected into valued public services, he said. It had a compassionate view about supporting the more disadvantaged in society.

I think the Conservative Party today is a very different place.

He said his experiences over more than 20 night shifts over the last year in an overstretched A&E department had been truly life changing, adding that those experiences had persuaded him to defect.

NHS A&E departments are suffering huge waiting times, according to the latest NHS data ( PA )

According to the latest NHS data, more than a quarter of all admissions to A&E in March 2024 had to wait more than four hours before being admitted, transferred or discharged, despite the target of 95 per cent of patients waiting less than four hours.

Dr Poulter said he believes Labour is the only party committed to investing in improving the NHS.

While he will not stand as a Labour MP for the upcoming general election, he says he hopes to assume a role advising the party on its policies on mental health while focusing more on his NHS work.

The One Nation Tory, from the left of the party, becomes the first Conservative MP to defect to the Labour Party since Christian Wakeford crossed the floor in 2022.

High-level discussions between Dr Poulter and senior Labour figures have been ongoing for months, according to The Observer, regarding the timings and organisation of his defection, as well as what advisory roles he could take on.

It is understood that Dr Poulter had been frustrated by the lack of interest of consecutive prime ministers in his views on NHS reform since David Camerons premiership, during which there was a strong interest in the NHS.

Dr Poulter was first elected to parliament in 2010 and served as a health minister under now-Lord Cameron from 2012 to 2015.

It is another blow to Rishi Sunak ahead of next weeks council and mayoral elections, in which the Conservatives are predicted to lose up to half of their remaining local authority seats.

Heavy losses at these elections could leave Mr Sunak at risk of a possible pre-election leadership challenge.

It has been reported that a group of Conservative MPs have crafted a 100 days to save Britain plot to replace Mr Sunak with Penny Mordaunt, the current Leader of the Commons, in a desperate last ditch attempt to reverse the partys fortunes ahead of the upcoming general election.

One Tory rebel told The Telegraph that they are facing an extinction-level event, while one veteran ToryMP described the situation facing the Conservatives as akin to looking down the barrel of a gun.

Its for colleagues to decide if they want to go down with the sinking ship, the rebel added.

The 100 days strategy, reportedly backed by senior figures from both the moderate and right of the party, would focus on quick wins and manifesto promises. A general election would then be held following a wave of policy announcements.

Dr Poulter said he acknowledged the difficulty of the job facing Mr Sunak and that he had no personal vendetta against him.

Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt faced questions from opposition MPs on rumours of a potential change of Tory leadership (Stefan Rousseau/PA) ( PA Wire )

But he praised Sir Keir for reforming the Labour Party since taking over from Jeremy Corbyn after the last general election loss to the Tories.

Dr Poulter said the Labour Party had a clear focus on public service, lauding its commitment to preventative care, child health and the social causes of poor health.

One of the things I really like about Labour Party policy on the NHS is the focus on the social determinants of poor health and actually recognising that tackling poverty, poor housing, all those issues, particularly giving children from poorer backgrounds better chances and focusing on child health, he told The Observer.

That is something Labour understands that the Conservatives really dont  and that, for me, is something that makes the Labour Party the party that can be trusted with delivering the reforms that are needed to get the NHS back on its feet.

Ellie Reeves MP, Labours deputy national campaign coordinator, said she was absolutely delighted to welcome Dr Poulter to the Labour Party.

She was pictured with Dr Poulter on Saturday morning as he signed his Labour membership form.

This morning I was absolutely delighted to welcome Dr Dan Poulter to Labour, she wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Dan knows that a Labour government led by Keir Starmer will focus on preventative care, child health and the social causes of poor health.
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Rishi Sunak has pounced on claims that migrants are heading to Ireland from the UK over fears of being sent to Rwanda as evidence that his deportation plan is working  despite no flights having taken off.

Deputy Irish premier Micheal Martin claimed on Friday there had been a rise in migrants crossing the border from Northern Ireland into the Republic over fears of being sent on a one-way flight to the east African nation under Mr Sunak's flagship policy.

The prime minister responded on Saturday claiming that this was evidence that the deterrent effect of the Rwanda plan was already having an impact. This is despite not a single flight having left for Rwanda since the plan was proposed more than two years ago.

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. But Mr Sunak acknowledged it could still take 10 to 12 weeks to get flights in the air, in a blow to his earlier target of the spring of this year.

In an interview with Sky Newss Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, which will air in full on Sunday, the prime minister was challenged over whether the UK is simply exporting the problem.

Mr Sunak said: My focus is on the United Kingdom and securing our borders. But what [Mr Martins] comment illustrates is a couple of things.

One, that illegal migration is a global challenge, which is why youre seeing multiple countries talk about doing third-country partnerships, looking at novel ways to solve this problem, and I believe will follow where the UK has led.

But what it also shows, I think, is that the deterrent is, according to your comment, already having an impact, because people are worried about coming here and that demonstrates exactly what Im saying.

If people come to our country illegally, but know that they wont be able to stay, theyre much less likely to come, and thats why the Rwanda scheme is so important.

Migrants wave to a smuggler's boat in an attempt to cross the English Channel, on the beach of Gravelines, near Dunkirk ( AFP via Getty Images )

It comes after Mr Martin told the Telegraph the Rwanda policy was already affecting Ireland because people were fearful of staying in Britain.

He said asylum seekers were hoping to get sanctuary here and within the European Union, as opposed to the potential of being deported to Rwanda.

The border between Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK, and the Republic of Ireland, a European Union member, is the only land border between the UK and the EU since Britain left the bloc.

Ministers plan to send asylum seekers coming to the UK on flights to Rwanda, with the aim of deterring others from crossing the English Channel on small boats.

Downing Street on Friday rebuffed claims the plan was already influencing movements into Ireland, saying it was too early to jump to conclusions on its impact.

A No 10 spokesperson 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.

Mr Martin, who also serves as Irelands foreign affairs minister, told reporters in Dublin that there was a clear  increase in numbers and suggested the Rwanda policy was a fairly obvious cause.

Irish ministers suggested earlier this week 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 that more than 80 per cent of migrants in Ireland had entered from the UK.
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Humza Yousaf has not ruled out a Holyrood election after writing to the leaders of Scotland's political parties to seek "common ground" ahead of a crucial no confidence vote.

It comes as the Alba Party, whose sole MSP Ash Regan could hold a vote key to Mr Yousaf's future, were holding an emergency meeting to discuss the way forward.

The first minister is attempting to build bridges with the other political leaders at Holyrood, inviting them to talks at his official residence. He hopes to hold separate meetings with each group at Bute House in Edinburgh to discuss how they can "contribute constructively", while acknowledging that there are "strong feelings" about the upcoming confidence votes.

Mr Yousaf sent letters to the Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Labour, the Scottish Greens, the Scottish Liberal Democrats, and the Alba Party on Friday night.

Mr Yousaf terminated the power-sharing deal between the SNP and Scottish Greens on Thursday, leading to the smaller pro-independence party announcing it would back the motion of no confidence in his leadership.

Mr Yousaf spoke to Sky News on Saturday, saying he hoped to hear from the other Holyrood leaders soon.

It was put to Mr Yousaf that, given the lack of support from the Greens, Ms Regan could be crucial to his political survival.

He said: "That would be really disappointing if that is the Greens' position.

"As I say, I've reached out to them, they are saying publicly that they're going to support a Conservative motion against a First Minister, an independence government.

"I think that would be, I think, a poor choice to make. So, of course, I have written to Ash Regan, as well. I look forward to speaking to her too."

The ruling body of the pro-independence Alba Party, which is led by former first minister Alex Salmond, is holding an emergency meeting over the weekend where Ms Regan will set out "the areas of importance to the people of Scotland that she will seek movement on".

Asked if there might be a Scottish election if he doesn't win the vote, Mr Yousaf replied: "Can't rule it out."

In his letters, Mr Yousaf emphasised that the Scottish Parliament has previous experience of minority administrations that had delivered benefits for "people, communities and businesses".

He said: "I recognise the strong feelings in relation to the confidence debate our parliament is set to have next week.

"Notwithstanding that, I am writing to all Holyrood party groups to ask them to meet me next week, in separate meetings, to discuss their concerns and indeed priorities, in a hopefully constructive spirit."

The meetings at Bute House would "discuss matters and establish the scope for common ground", he said.

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, who lodged a motion of no confidence in Mr Yousaf, suggested he is in little mood for compromise.

Mr Ross said: "The only letter Humza Yousaf should be writing is one offering his resignation.

"He says it's important for the Scottish people, communities and businesses to have effective government as if he's just discovered it, when he is the one who has ignored their priorities and failed to listen to concerns.

"But given how much his views have changed in the last week, perhaps I'll go along to Bute House, if there's a possibility I can convince him to support my motion."

The Scottish Greens said they would respond formally to the First Minister in due course, but otherwise their position is unchanged.

Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie has said it is "pretty clear" Mr Yousaf will not be able to unite Holyrood  urging the SNP to consider finding a replacement for him.

Leaders of the other parties have not yet issued responses to the letters.

Speaking on Friday, Scottish Labour's Anas Sarwar said: "I am more than happy to engage with people of all parties, but it is clear that Humza Yousaf is out of time."

On Saturday, Mr Yousaf's former leadership rival Kate Forbes urged colleagues to back him in the upcoming votes of no confidence.

Ms Forbes, who came second in the race to succeed Nicola Sturgeon last year, said recent events had been "an embarrassment for every parliamentarian in every party".

Amid the tight parliamentary arithmetic at Holyrood, the vote of Alba Party Holyrood leader  and former SNP MSP  Ms Regan could be crucial to Mr Yousaf's political survival.

In a BBC interview on Friday, Ms Regan said she had not spoken to Mr Yousaf since the leadership contest last year. She said she is still considering how to cast her vote.

She said: "I think that potentially some of the things he said about me when I left to go to a different political party last year probably shows that it's always wise to have that level of professional courtesy to people that you work with."

In October last year, Mr Yousaf said Ms Regan's defection to Alba was "no great loss".

PA
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is returning to the Middle East on his seventh diplomatic mission to the region since the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza began more than six months ago, the State Department said Saturday.

Blinken is traveling to Saudi Arabia on Monday, just two days since arriving back in Washington after a trip to China. Blinken will attend a World Economic Forum conference and meet with Arab foreign ministers in Riyadh, the Saudi capital.

An Israeli foreign ministry official says Blinken will visit Israel on Tuesday, a stop not mentioned in the State Department's announcement about Blinken's itinerary.

His latest Mideast trip, on the heels of meetings in China with President Xi Jinping and other high-ranking officials, comes as the war grinds on, with more than 34,000 Palestinians killed, hundreds of thousands displaced and a steadily worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. In the surprise attack by Hamas against Israel on Oct. 7 that triggered the war, about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 people abducted.

U.S.-backed efforts to negotiate a cease-fire in exchange for the release of the hostages have failed. On Saturday, Hamas said it was reviewing a new Israeli proposal for a cease-fire as Egypt stepped up efforts to broker a deal to end the war and avert a possible Israeli ground offensive into the southern Gaza city of Rafah. A Hamas official gave no details of the offer. Negotiations earlier this month centered on a six-week cease-fire plan and the release of 40 civilian and sick hostages in exchange for freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

Since mid-October, Blinken has shuttled between Israel and its most of its Arab and Muslim neighbors, trying to boost aid to civilians in Gaza, prevent the conflict from spreading throughout the region and build support for plans for the reconstruction and governance of postwar Gaza  all while vocally backing Israels right to defend itself.

Israel's offensive in Gaza has heightened political pressure in the U.S., with pro-Palestinian protests springing up at universities and resulting pushback from some who say the demonstrations have veered into antisemitism.

Blinken and other American official have tried to dissuade Israel from mounting a large-scale military operation in Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians have fled to escape the fighting.

He has had limited success. Aid shipments into Gaza have increased but are not at the level to prevent what the United Nations says is looming famine, and Arab nations have agreed to back evolving plans for Gazas future.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Blinken will discuss ongoing efforts to achieve a cease-fire in Gaza that secures the release of hostages and how it is Hamas that is standing between the Palestinian people and a cease-fire. Blinken will stress the importance of keeping the conflict from spreading and discuss efforts to achieve lasting peace and security in the region, including through a pathway to an independent Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel.

Israel is plowing ahead with preparations to attack Rafah, and the conflict has escalated, in particular after a suspected Israeli attack on Iran's consulate in Syria. Iran retaliated with drone, ballistic and cruise missile launches, provoking an apparent Israeli airstrike near a major air base and nuclear site in central Iran.

-

Associated Press writer Julia Frankel in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

One in five retail samples of commercial milk has traces of bird flu, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said this week.

The H5N1 strain of avian flu was first detected in Texas herds in March  and it has since been found in more than three dozen herds in nine states, according to the US Department of Agriculture. The ninth state, Colorado, detected its first known case on Friday.

The agency continues to analyze this information; however, the initial results show about 1 in 5 of the retail samples tested are ... positive ... with a greater proportion of positive results coming from milk in areas with infected herds, the FDA said.

With the rise in bird flu and its presence on six continents, the worst case for livestock is near, according to Maurice Pitesky, a specialist at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine.

[The virus] has demonstrated an ability to move into dairy cows, and while it doesn't cause mortality it causes a decrease in milk production, which has economic impacts, Mr Pitesky told The Independent. This ultimately will affect the ability to produce fluid milk and all the things that are associated with it.

The avian flu uptick in livestock could be devastating for the economy, one expert told The Independent ( Getty Images )

Egg producers are also on high alert after chickens tested positive for the virus in Texas and Michigan. Officials have killed millions of birds. But while the FDA maintains the risk of human infection is still low, if the virus continues to spread, it could also have significant ecological and economic consequences.

Theres a wildlife scenario thats also devastating, Mr Pitesky said. The virus is affecting sea lions and elephant seals and albatross and all these other things that are seeing their populations being devastated.

The only recent human case of H5N1 was in a US dairy worker, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The workers only symptom was eye redness consistent with conjunctivitis, the CDC reported. The worker is only the second known person in the US to test positive for the virus.

More dairy workers could contract the disease if it continues to spread, Mr Pitesky said.

Farmworkers are working in these environments with lots of dairy cows that are affected, he told The Independent. They're the frontline of surveillance and also the frontline of people that are that are potentially most susceptible to getting sick.

Now, dairy cattle moving between states have to be tested for the virus to control the growing outbreak. Every lactating cow must now be tested and receive a negative result before moving across state lines. The herds known to carry the virus are located in Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and South Dakota.

Meanwhile, US lawmakers are urging the Biden administration to take swift action.

Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin, who represents Wisconsin, a significant dairy state, wrote a letter to the USDA on Thursday urging them to allocate further resources to fighting the virus.

It is imperative the agency 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, Ms Baldwin wrote.

Health agencies and experts are emphasising that dairy products are still safe to consume.

To date, the retail milk studies have shown no results that would change our assessment that the commercial milk supply is safe, the FDA said.

To stay safe, the FDA says consumers should drink pasteurised milk, as the process eliminates pathogens to a level that does not pose a risk to human health.

This is the millionth reason to drink pasteurized milk, Mr Pitesky told The Independent. I'd be very concerned for folks that drink raw milk, I think that's a real risk.

Michael Hansen, senior scientist with Consumer Reports, said there is no individual risk to consumers who drink pasteurised milk  but that this outbreak does pose a public health concern.

Where there is an issue is with public health, Dr Hansen told The Inependent. Should public health people be concerned? Absolutely. Because a worst case scenario is so bad  and that's what public health does.

So something can be a public health concern, but from the individual level, they don't necessarily have to freak out about it, Dr Hansen continued.

The symptoms of bird flu in humans range from no symptoms to severe symptoms, according to the CDC. These can include fever, fatigue, and difficulty breathing. Less common symptoms include diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, or seizures, the CDC said. Human-to-human transmission is also rare.

Patients outside of the US have died from the virus, the CDC reports.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Columbia Universitys senate has called for an investigation into president Minouche Shafik and members of her administration, amid the ongoing protests on campus over the Israel-Gaza war.

The sentate voted on Friday to approve the resolution, and accused the administration of violating established protocols, undermining academic freedom, and breaching the due process rights of both students and professors, according to the senates Resolution Adressing Current Events, seen by The Independent.

Ms Shafik has faced heavy criticism for her decision to allow the New York Police Department (NYPD) to disperse protesters on the campus, resulting in the arrest of more than 100 students.

The resolution was based partly on a damaging report by the senate executive committee, which accused Ms Shafiks administration of engaging in many actions and decisions that have harmed the institution. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 62-14, with three abstentions.

The resolution also calls for establishing a senate task force to investigate university decision-making in future.

Part of the resolution stated: We unreservedly condemn external interference in the internal affairs of Columbia University that undermines the traditions of academic freedom and shared governance.

Minouche Shafik, president of Columbia University, has faced heavy criticism since allowing police onto campus to disperse student protesters ( AP )

Dr Jeanine DArmiento, Chair of the University Senate Executive Committee, said: Columbia University is an institution of teaching, research, and learning. We are not a corporate entity, a media outlet, or an arm of any political party.

We have a structure of shared governance, with the University Senate the third branch of University governance, functioning in a democratic fashion alongside the President and the Board of Trustees, as set out in the University Statutes, she said, in a statement shared with The Indpendent following Fridays senate meeting.

As with any democracy with its structures and institutions, there are moments of challenge, even crisis, but these structures and institutions survive, adapt, and, ultimately, prosper because we work together for the greater good of all members of our community.

We recognize the external challenges but we are united in our purpose of charting a course forward and identifying productive ways by which we can reunite our community.

She continued: Our goal today first and foremost was to tell our students that we support you. We want the administration to turn around and realize they are running a university. Our message to students is also that, like you, we care about what will happen once the media depart our campus: we are going to keep pushing and pushing until the administration gets it right.

During a visit to Columbia on Wednesday, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson called for Shafik to resign

Finally, we wanted to show our students the value of collective decision-making, where all parties are heard and the group comes to consensus through conversation.

A statement from Columbia University later acknowledged the vote but said that the administration and the Senate shared the same goal of restoring calm to campus so everyone can pursue their educational activities.

We are committed to an ongoing dialogue and appreciate the Senates constructive engagement in finding a pathway forward, the statement read.

Despite the strong passing of the resolution to investigate Ms Shafik and the administration, the Columbia senate does not have the power to remove the president. However, per The New YorkTimes, some expressed on Friday that the outcome could further erode the relationship between Ms Shafik and the Columbia community.

It is the latest blow to the beleagured president, who has already undergone a grilling by Republican lawmakers in Congress about antisemitism on college campuses. Despite striking a more conciliatory tone before the House Education and Workforce Committee than the presidents of Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania, Ms Shafik was later hit by a motion of censure from Columbias chapter of the American Association of University Professors.

The AAUP responded angrily to Ms Shafiks congressional testimony, accusing her of capitulating to demands from lawmakers who they said made slanderous assaults on faculty and students, and later submitted a motion of censure against her.

Georgia state officials detain a protester at Emory University ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

On Monday, Republicans in New Yorks delegation to the US House wrote a letter urging Ms Shafik to resign, saying she had failed to provide a safe learning environment in recent days as anarchy has engulfed the campus.

During a visit to Columbia on Wednesday, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson called for Shafik to resign if she cannot bring order to this chaos. Mr Johnson was loudly booed during his address.

The original Columbia encampments where set up in protest after students asked 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.

Just less than two weeks since the NYPD clashed with protesters at Columbia, the protests have sparked an international movement. On Friday, police in Paris worked to oust protesters who occupied the Sciences Po campus in the French capital.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Chad Daybells former wife and their children were aware of the Doomsday cult authors light and dark rating scale, which he used on multiple people close to him prior to their untimely deaths.

Vincent Kaaiakamanu, an officer with the Madison County Sheriffs Office, testified at Mr Daybells death penalty trial in Boise, Idaho this week how the defendant would label people either light or dark, based on how much he believed a person had been taken over by evil.

The court saw a message sent by either Mr Daybell or his then-wife Tammy Daybell in a Google chat with their children, that rated one of their 12-year-old students as 4.2 dark. The couple had been teaching a class at church at the time and was referring to one of the participants.

I will enjoy watching his growth to world terror and domination, the message read.

Officer Kaaiakamanu testified that several messages in the chat showed Tammy and the Daybell children knew about the light and dark rating system.

Tammy and Chad Daybell were married in 1990. He is now accused of conspiring with Lori Vallow to kill her ( Facebook )

Another message in the family chat was from Daybells daughter Emma, who expressed she liked a boy they had labelled as dark. A response came from either Daybell or Tammy that said perhaps that boy was influencing her, Officer Kaaiakamanu testified.

Mr Daybell, 55, is charged with murder in the sudden 2019 death of Tammy, as well as the deaths of Lori Vallow Daybells children, Tylee Ryan, 16, and Joshua "JJ" Vallow, seven, whose bodies were found buried on Daybells Rexburg property in June 2020 after being missing for nine months.

The light and dark rating system has come up multiple times in the trial as well as the trial of Lori Vallow that took place in the same Ada County Courtroom a year ago.

The couple, who married just two weeks after Tammy died in her sleep in October 2019, had rated Tammy, Vallows children, and Vallows then-husband Charles Vallow, who was killed by Alex Cox, each as dark before their deaths.

Vallow was convicted of the three murders and sentenced to life in prison. Jurors heard how she, Mr Daybell and her late brother Alex Cox were fuelled, in part, by their bizarre cult beliefs. If convicted, Mr Daybell faces either the death penalty or life in prison.

On Friday, it was revealed in court that Mr Daybells defence attorney John Prior now owns his clients property where the children were buried.

Last year, Lori Vallow was convicted in the three murders and sentenced to life in prison ( AP )

A cross-examination with the states witness, a realtor named Ron Arnold, became heated when Mr Prior asked about the acreage of the land.

So the acreage that youre talking about, do you have any recollection of how much acreage were talking about that surrounds Chads house?

The witness clapped back: You own it! How many acres is it?

Mr Prior called a sidebar, after which Judge Steven Boyce instructed the jurors to disregard Mr Arnolds last statement.

Property records reviewed by Court TV revealed that Mr Prior does own Daybells property and that the deed transfer was made in May 2021  which is the same month he was hired to defend Mr Daybell.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

The former deputy who shot and killed Christian Glass after the 22-year-old called 911 for help after being stuck on a road has been found guilty of reckless endangerment  but the jury was hung on charges of murder and misconduct.

Christians mother, Sally Glass, subtly shook her head in the front row of the courtroom galley as a Colorado judge discharged the 12 jurors who found Andrew Buen, the man who fatally shot her son, guilty of reckless endangerment  but could not come to a decision on the second-degree murder and 1st-degree official misconduct charges against him.

She clasped hands with supporters behind her as she sat stoically next to her husband, Simon, as the court heard the verdict.

Clear Creek County District Attorney Heidi McCollum told reporters outside the court that her office was still deciding whether to retry Buen on the other charges. He is next due in court again on Monday for discussions about sentencing and procedure going forward.

Sally and Simon spoke after the DA, fighting back tears as their lawyer, Siddhartha Rathod, reiterated how Christian will live on ... he will be remembered because other parents will not be in the position that Simon and Sally [were in]. Simon and Sally, through their hard work and through their sacrifice, have saved another family from going through what they have gone through  and that has been their goal from the beginning.

Sally and Simon Glass stand outside the Georgetown courthouse on Friday after the jury found the officer who found the deputy who fatally shot their son guilty of reckless endangerment -- but could not come to a decision on murder and official misconduct charges ( Sheila Flynn )

Through their grief and shock on Friday  Sally said she wasnt prepared for a hung jury, expecting either guilty or not guilty  the couple took time to thank the jurors for hearing their sons case and sitting through hours of painful body camera footage. Christians parents have chosen to never view it.

My heart actually went out to them, Sally said. I mean, as a mother, if I was on that trial, I would have found that so hard ... a couple of the female jury members, they had tears in their eyes  I dont know, maybe sorry that a verdict wasnt reached or sorry that we lost our son.

I dont know, she said, choking up. But it was very sweet, very kind.

Her husband said they were satisfied to see changes already coming to area law enforcement in the wake of Christians killing and their efforts.

Theres a new sheriff; theres a new beginning, he said Friday. Clear Creek County should be pleased to see the change and that theres a different attitude here. So I see that as a positive, even though it might be another few months before we get full justice here.

It was a verdict that came after nearly two years of a painful struggle for justice by the Glass parents, who were determined to not only set the record straight about their sons killing but also fight for changes  in the hopes of saving other families from similar agony. They never expected to be put in this position; from England and New Zealand respectively, theyd always had utter faith in the police  until they were notified in June 2022 about their sons killing.

Their efforts already resulted in apologies and a $19m settlement from Colorado agencies, the largest in state history, which also mandates enhanced crisis response and de-escalation training for law enforcement.

Simon Glass with his son Christian

As they stood outside the courthouse this week, Sally and Simon were 3.5 miles away from the sleepy site on an unpaved mountain road in Silver Plume, a tiny old mining town with little more than a few homes, a coffee shop and a handwritten Kids & Dogs sign greeting visitors off the highway. Christian became stuck there on rocks there late at night on 10 June 2022, calling 911 for help when he couldnt move his vehicle in the deep rural darkness at an elevation of more than 9,000 feet.

During the phone conversation, he appeared to be suffering some type of crisis and not making sense, mentioning things like folkloric figures and possibly following a car. When asked if he had weapons in the vehicle, the amateur geologist responded that he had two knives, a hammer and mallet that could be considered weapons, offering to throw them out of the car. Dispatch sent officers on a motorist assist call.

Buen and his shift partner, Tim Collins, were first to arrive, and bodycam footage shows Christian telling the pair that he is scared  but Buen almost immediately begins ordering him aggressively out of the car. When Christian again offers to throw the knives and items from the vehicle, Buen barks at him not to. For more than an hour, as Clear Creek officers are joined by five other officers from four different agencies, various gentler tactics are made to remove Christian from the agency; he repeatedly makes heart signs with his hands, and much of the bodycam footage shows officers just chatting and milling around.

Christian Glass making heart signs to police on the night he was killed ( CCSO )

The vibe instantly and almost incomprehensibly changes after an hour, however, when Buen  whod earlier obtained permission from his remote supervisor to breach the vehicle  leads an intensified effort to do so. Christian panics and becomes more agitated as officers swarm the vehicle, shouting. He screams and writhes as they deploy bean bag rounds and tasers, breaking the window behind Christian in the drivers seat; he picks up a knife hed repeatedly offered to throw out and thrashes towards the window behind him.

Buen fires five shots into the car and kills him.

Buen was later charged with second-degree murder, reckless endangerment and official misconduct; he pleaded not guilty. His remote supervisor, Sgt Kyle Gould, pleaded to a lesser charge of duty to intervene and his been stripped of his peace officer certification in Colorado. Both were terminated by Clear Creek following the charges.

The six other officers who responded to Christians 911 call have also been charged with duty to intervene.

Jurors began deliberations on Wednesday in Buens trial after hearing more than a week of evidence from prosecutors and defense attorneys. The county courthouse in Georgetown is tiny, adjacent to the sheriffs office and jail -- along with the two-cell two-cell old stone jail dating back to 1883 abutting the street with an historic plaque. All of that is directly across from the district attorneys office in a town known mainly for a tourist train and Guanella Pass; some homes are older than the state itself.

Clear Creek County Sheriffs office ( Sheila Flynn for The Independent )

It was here that jurors heard opening arguments on 12 April, differing prosecution and defense narratives that ultimately led to the same undisputed conclusion: Buen shot Christian dead just over an hour after arriving on scene in response to the 22-year-olds own 911 call.

The prosecution was led by Clear Creek County District Attorney Heidi McCollum, a lawyer with ramrod-straight posture and an academic energy leading a buttoned-up, suited and serious team. The defense was helmed by Carrie Slinkard, a dogged opponent with blunt delivery, who runs a law firm specializing in defending law enforcement.

Keep in mind that, throughout this trial, that Christian Glass was the one who called for help, DA McCollum told jurors in opening. He mistakenly thought that, when he needed assistance, police would do just that.

Instead, she said at the trials start, Buens actions were aggressive, excessive and criminal  and Christian spent the last hour and a half of his life in absolute fear.

For the duration of proceedings, the prosecution argued that Buen, though trained in de-escalation tactics, remained intent upon an unjustified removal of Christian from his vehicle while responding to a motorist assist call. McCollum told jurors that a visibly terrified Christian had complied with Buens orders; when he offered to throw out two knives, a hammer and mallet that were in the car, Buen told him not to.

Witnesses included use-of-force expert Seth Stoughton, who testified prominently in the George Floyd trial, as prosecutors laid out a case that Buen had mishandled and criminally escalated the case by insisting that Christian  who, while initially cooperative, became less responsive  was suffering from some sort of mental health crisis.

Road where Christian Glass got trapped in his car and called police for help ( Sheila Flynn for The Independent )

Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Potts reminded jurors, just before they were sent to deliberate, to consider officer-created jeopardy  a situation in which an officer precipitates the need to use action that causes the injury or death of a person.

The case, he said, involved a super-frightened boy in a car telling them that he didnt want to get out of the car.

One of the first things he said to Deputy Collins when they arrived was, Youre not going to shoot me, are you? Well, you know what? They did, Potts said Wednesday. They shot him. They shot him to death.

He said hes scared, he said he needs other people there ... whether this was drugs mixed with psych issues, whether its a psych issue only, does it really matter? He was in a crisis of some kind. Is this how we expect people in crisis to be treated? To scream and yell at them, to shine flashlight into their face, to stand up against the window ... while hes in the car with his hands above the wheel, terrified?

The defense, instead, accused the prosecution of conducting a shoddy investigation, positing that Christian had been intoxicated and may have been driving dangerously before the call. They referred to confusing statements he made in the 911 call, presenting a theory of a phantom car that could have been involved while arguing that Buen was taking into account public safety  and, then, concerned for the welfare of other officers at the scene.

Body camera footage worn by Colorado officers show law enforcements interaction with Christian Glass, 22, during which his family believes he was suffering a mental health episode ( Glass family lawyers/video screengrab )

While Buen and his shift partner, Tim Collins, arrived first on scene on 10 June, they were soon joined by five other officers from Georgetown, Idaho Springs, Division of Gaming and State Patrol. Other officers tried coaxing and joking with Christian; much of the bodycam footage depics a slow-paced, casual scene.

Only when Buen  who ran that scene, McCollum said in closings  insisted upon breaching the vehicle did Christian panic and the situation escalated in a fast and deadly manner. Officers tased Christian and shot him with bean bag rounds, the window behind the drivers seat breaking. As Christian thrashed and screamed in agony, as Potts said during closings Wednesday, he grabbed the knife hed previously offered to toss from the car.

And as Christian is being attacked in the only place that he felt safe that night, hes sitting in the drivers seat, one of the tasings comes from behind him; he takes the only thing he has in his hand, which is that knife which Mr Buen told him to keep, and he turns around and he reaches out the back window  and he cant bend his arm past the metal or the steel frame of the car, McCollum said in closing arguments. Thats what Mr Buen would like you to think, but [Christian] cant  like any animal in a cage being attacked, trying to protect the only thing it has, its own person, its own physical body, Mr Buen shoots and kills him.

Defense attorney Slinkard, however, reminded jurors that Buen said in his interview in the immediate aftermath  which was shown to the court  that he believed the life of Georgetown Marshal (also called Police Chief) Randy Williams, who was tasing from that back broken window, had been in jeopardy. During closing arguments, she played and replayed for the jury portions of the bodycam footage that she argued proved Christian had made contact with the taser and been within reach of Williams, causing him to jump back.

It wasnt until the knife in Mr Glasss hand went outside that back window as the chief is standing right there that shots are fired, she argued.

Simon and Sally Glass ( Associated Press )

No one but those on scene that night, she argued, could hear, see and smell the conditions on the evening, pointing that none of the other officers had given testimony.

There were explanations, you just didnt hear any of them, because she didnt put any of those witnesses on the witness stand, Slinkard said. You cannot infer that he is guilty of murder because other people made a different decision when they were standing in different places, looking at different things and had different backdrops at the time.

Mr Potts followed her and directly addressed those officers  pointing out key reactions captured in video and audio.

 Mr Buen says, He went for you Williams, right? Potts said Wednesday. Because he didnt know whether he went for him or not.

Then he reminded jurors of the response of Buens shift partner, Collins, in the seconds after the fatal shots were fired.

Oh god, he cried out. What did we just do?!
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A former Colorado paramedic has avoided a prison sentence, instead sentenced on Friday to probation following his criminally negligent homicide conviction in connection with the 2019 death of Elijah McClain  whose heart stopped after he was injected with ketamine during a police stop.

Jeremy Cooper was an Aurora Fire Rescue EMT responding to the scene on 24 August 2019 after a 911 call reporting someone looking sketchy in a ski mask. That person was 32-year-old McClain, later described by a friend as the sweetest, purest person I have ever met, who was walking home from a convenience store after buying an iced tea.

Almost immediately upon the officers arrival, McClain, an unarmed Black man, was violently arrested, placed in a chokehold and later injected with ketamine  after which he went into cardiac arrest, dying days later.

Sheneen McClain, Elijah McClain's mother, in 2023. ( Associated Press )

Coopers sentencing brought to a close a number of trials stretching over seven months, leading to the convictions of a police officer and two paramedics  the latter of which rarely face charges in police proceedings.

Former paramedic Peter Cichuniec was sentenced in March to five years in prison for criminally negligent homicide and second-degree assault. Officer Randy Roedema was sentenced in January to 14 months in jail for criminally negligent homicide and misdemeanor assault.

Former Aurora cop Jason Rosenblatt was found not guilty in October of manslaughter and assault. Officer Nathan Woodyard  who prosecutors argued placed McClain in a chokehold within seconds of his arrival on scene  was found not guilty in November of criminally negligent homicide and manslaughter. He had been suspended from the department until the acquittal and briefly returned to work before resigning two months later in January.

McClains death became a rallying cry in the wake of protests against police brutality sparked by the 2020 killing of George Floyd. Prosecutors initially declined to pursue charges in McClains case after an autopsy did not determine how he died  but Democratic Gov. Jared Polis ordered the investigation reopened following 2020 protests.

The second autopsy said McClain died because he was injected with ketamine after being forcibly restrained.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

The grandmother of missing toddler, Elijah Vue, says she is at a loss to explain what broke inside her daughter before she sent her son away to learn to be a man.

Jodi Baur spoke this week about her really sweet grandson, and daughter Katrina Baurs apparent cold response to his disappearance.

She always said Elijah was her little ray of sunshine, Ms Baur told local TV station WISN12 on Wednesday. Her entire life revolved around those kids. I dont know what broke. I dont know what changed.

Elijah, aged three, vanished on 20 February in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. The child was reported missing from the home of Jesse Vang, a friend of Ms Baur, where he had been sent to live by his mother for disciplinary reasons. The property is more than two hours away from Ms Baurs home in Wisconsin Dells.

Katrina Baur says that she asked Mr Vang, 39, to teach her son to be a man, according to court documents. Mr Vang subsequently told police that he had subjected the three-year-old to lengthy time-outs and threatened him with cold showers if he misbehaved.

On the morning he disappeared, Mr Vang said he went for a nap at 8am and told Elijah to stand at the foot of his bed. When he woke up, the toddler was gone and Mr Vang called police just before 11am.

Jesse Vang and Katrina Baur are both being held on chronic child neglect charges ( Manitowoc County Sheriffs Office )

Searches have continued for weeks for the little boy, with Two Rivers Police Department leading the investigation.

Volunteers, including Elijahs family, have also been looking for him. Searches have included the infamous Averys Salvage Yard just outside of Two Rivers which was part of the Netflix series Making a Murderer.

Elijahs red-and-white blanket was found early in the search, four miles from where he was last seen.

Mr Vang was arrested on 20 February on charges of chronic child neglect. Ms Baur was taken into custody the following day also on child neglect charges and resisting an officer. Both have pleaded not guilty. Mr Vang will appear in court on 28 June, while Ms Baur is set to appear on 30 April.

Jodi Baur last spoke with her daughter on 1 March not long after she was arrested. She said that her daughter appeared to believe her son had just disappeared on his own.

However her daughter has shown little emotion about Elijahs disappearance. She was calm. She was. I think the investigators had called me that night, said she was cold. Whether she was detached or in denial, I dont know, the grandmother said.

Elijah Vue, aged three, disappeared on 20 February from Two Rivers, Wisconsin ( Two Rivers Police Department )

It was the mama bear, the anger, the instinct, the hysteria that was missing that just, it just hit me wrong.

She noted that her daughter had struggled with drug addiction for over 20 years. The grandmother petitioned the court to keep her daughter in jail in early March, claiming she was a flight risk in a written statement.

Watching your kid fall is the hardest thing in the world. You always want whats best, but you cant get it. Its their life. So thats hard, Ms Baur said on Wednesday.

She also spoke about spending time with her daughter and grandson.

Wed take him to the beach. He loved going to the beach. He was just a really sweet kid, Baur said.

Katrina Baurs attorney reportedly met with prosecutors on 26 April to discuss the case. Her lawyer has asked that her bond be lifted as she cannot pay it so that she can be allowed out of jail.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

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.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A January 6 rioter who filmed himself storming the Capitol saying, Lets burn this s*** down and captured the fatal shooting of Ashli Babbitt was sentenced to six years in prison on Friday.

John Earle Sullivan, 29, of Salt Lake City, Utah was convicted of five felonies and two misdemeanours in November for his actions at the Capitol. Federal prosecutors argued he intended to incite violence that day and used footage Sullivan took to support their case.

The videos showed Sullivan and other rioters storming the Capitol building, breaking windows and unlawfully entering it. Throughout the footage, Sullivan can be heard encouraging other rioters to enter the building unlawfully and ignore calls for peaceful protests.

Were taking this s*** to the ground, Sullivan said in a video. Lets f*** this s*** up.

While inside the Capitol, Sullivan told other individuals, We gotta get this s*** burned, Its our house mother f*****, and We are getting this s*** among other things.

Eventually, he made his way to the front of the Speakers Lobby and encouraged the crowd to break the windows. It was there that Babbitt tried to climb through the window and was fatally shot by a Capitol police officer. Sullivan captured some of the more well-known footage of the incident.

A self-purported journalist, Sullivan sold some of the footage he took on January 6 to news outlets for more than $90,000.

Just one week after the January 6 riot, Sullivan was arrested by Federal Bureau of Investigation agents in Salt Lake City.

This past fall he was found guilty of obstructing an official proceeding, obstructing officers during a civil disorder, entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a dangerous weapon, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a dangerous weapon on Capitol grounds or buildings.

He was also found guilty of misdemeanour offences of disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

John Earle Sullivan , a January 6 rioter who was sentenced to six years in prison ( Fox 13 News Utah )

Prosecutors described Sullivan as uniquely antiestablishment with anarchist views. They said he showed up to the Capitol wearing a ballistic vest and gas mask and carrying a knife, intending to cause pure chaos.

Sullivan was previously involved with some Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests and used pro-protest content to build a social media following. He used the persona JaydenX and founded Insurgence USA, a group that participates in protests to fight police brutality.

In July 2020, he organised a protest in Provo, Utah where a motorist was shot. However, BLM activists in Utah distanced themselves from Sullivan, claiming he was not part of their group and cautioned protests to avoid him.

District Court Judge Royce Lamberth sentenced Sullivan to 72 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release and ordered him to pay $2,000 in restitution.

Sullivan is part of the more than 1,300 individuals who have been charged with crimes related to their actions on January 6.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Harvey Weinstein, the former movie mogul and convicted sex offender, has been hospitalised in New York City, according to his lawyer.

Arthur Aidala, an appellate lawyer for Weinstein, told The Associated Press on Saturday that Weinstein was moved to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan after he was transported to the city jails from a prison in upstate New York.

They examined him and sent him to Bellevue. It seems like he needs a lot of help, physically. Hes got a lot of problems. Hes getting all kinds of tests. Hes somewhat of a train wreck health wise, Mr Aidala said.

The news comes just days after a New York appeals court vacated his rape conviction after finding the trial judge made egregious errors by allowing prosecutors to call witnesses whose allegations were not related to the charges at hand.

Weinstein was moved from Mohawk Correction Facility, located approximately 35 miles from Syracuse, to Rikers Island on Friday afternoon after his 23-year prison sentencing was vacated.

The 72-year-old will remain in custody due to his 2022 Los Angeles rape conviction.

Harvey Weinstein, pictured walking into the Manhattan Criminal Court in 2020 ahead of his conviction, still faces a 16-year sentence in California ( AFP via Getty Images )

It is unclear what health issues Mr Aidala was referring to specifically. He told AP that Weinsteins ailments were physical, not mental, adding that his client is sharp as a tack.

Weinsteins lawyers previously said he suffers from sleep apnea, cardiac issues, diabetes and eye problems.

He was not treated well. They refused to give him even a sip of water, no food, no bathroom break, Mr Aidala said. Hes a 72-year-old sickly man.

According to the lawyer, doctors at Bellevue will run tests on Weinstein before he returns to Rikers.

The movie mogul is slated to appear in Manhattan Criminal Court on Wednesday.

It is unclear if Weinstein will be retried in the state. A spokesperson for the Manhattan district attorneys office told The Independent, We will do everything in our power to retry this case, and remain steadfast in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A British tourist is fighting for his life in Tobago after being attacked by a shark.

The man, named by local authorities as 64-year-old Peter Smith from Hertfordshire, was rushed to an intensive care unit after he was attacked by the 8-10ft long bull shark on Friday morning.

The horrific incident happened as Mr Smith was swimming just 30ft from the shore of Turtle Beach along Great Courland Bay on the islands north coast. The man is in a serious condition at Scarborough General Hospital on the island.

The Foreign Office is supporting the mans family.

Government officials have since closed seven beaches and the nearby Buccoo Reef Marine Park to allow for an investigation and neutralise the shark threat, if possible.

Farley Augustine, chief secretary of the Tobagonian government, called on tourists and locals, including fishermen, to stay out of the water.

View more

Out of an abundance of caution, 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, coastguard surveillance, and the Department of Fisheries is combing the area to ensure safety.

Tobago, one of the constituent islands of Trinidad and Tobago, is located in the southern Caribbean, around 74 miles (119km) off the coast of South America.

In the last 20 years, there have been only two recorded shark attacks as far south as Tobago, and neither was within 200 miles of the island itself.

Worldwide, shark attacks are 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.

Bull sharks, which often frequent shallow water and can even venture into the freshwater of river mouths, are known for their aggression.

Along with tiger sharks and great whites, they are one of the three shark species most frequently involved in attacks on humans.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Destructive tornadoes ripped through parts of Nebraska, levelling homes and businesses in the suburbs of Omaha  while millions of people in the central United States warned that more severe weather could be in store.

No less than 25 tornado reports were made in and around Omaha and Lincoln throughout Friday, the National Weather Service (NWS) said in a preliminary report. The city of Omaha issued at least 42 tornado warnings.

Videos and photos showed massive spirals of dark clouds making their way across fields, highways, neighbourhoods and more, causing extensive destruction.

Elkhorn, a town less than 10 miles from Omaha, sustained some of the most severe damage with many homes flattened. Two people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Other areas like Waterloo and Bennington similarly faced severe and expansive destruction.

Three people were injured in Lancaster County after a tornado hit an industrial building causing it to collapse. Authorities told The Associated Press injuries were not life-threatening.

The powerful storms stretched across Iowa too. The town of Minden, which is about 25 miles from Omaha, sustained heavy damage.

One resident of Elkhorn described the fast-moving tornado as a freight train.

We saw it coming from the southwest, and when it got too close for comfort, we headed downstairs quickly. We were in the downstairs bathtub, and it was just like the movie said, it was like a freight train, Jason Sunday told KETV.

And you knew the roof was coming off because that was a loud pop and sucking motion. It was pretty scary.

People are pick through the rubble of a house that was leveled in Elkhorn, Neb., on Saturday, April 27, 2024. ( AP )

In a press conference on Friday, Omaha Fire Department chief Kathy Bossman said that crews would be conducting searches of neighbourhoods.

"We have power outages, we have power lines down, we have gas leaks, we have unstable structures, we have trees that are down," Ms Bossman said.

The fire department also warned people to expect severe weather again on Saturday with the possibility of tornadoes, flooding, damaging winds and hail.

The NWS Weather Prediction Center said current weather patterns in the central US will support a very active weekend of severe storms from the Southern Plains to the Mississippi River. They have issued an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms with possible tornadoes for the Southern and Central Plains.

Tornadoes are the result of unstable weather conditions. When warm humid air near the ground mixes with cooler air above and strong winds push the conditions in different directions, it causes the air current to spin.

A tornado can happen anywhere but are most commonly seen in the Midwest where those weather conditions occur most often. May is the most popular month for tornadoes.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A student protest leader at Columbia University has issued an apology for his comments about murdering Zionists, made in an old video that has resurfaced amid growing pro-Palestine demonstrations across US campuses.

Khymani James, who has served as a spokesperson for the pro-Palestinian encampment as a member of Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), apologised for saying Zionists dont deserve to live in an old video on Instagram shot in January this year.

Mr James had also said in the video: "Be grateful that Im not just going out and murdering Zionists.

Columbia University said they had banned the student leader from campus after he was called for a disciplinary hearing.

In his apology posted on X on Friday, the 20-year-old 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 head of the moment, for which I apologise.

He added: My focus remains on drawing attention to the plight of the Palestinian people, and the ongoing genocide in Gaza. I remain committed to learning and building a better, more just world for all of us.

Mr James went on: What I said was wrong. Every member of our community deserves to feel safe without qualification. I also want people to have more context for my words, which I regret.

He claimed the clip was edited without context by far right agitators who went through months of his social media feed. The student leader said he was being targeted by the online mob because he is visibly queer and Black.

Unfortunately, this is not my first time being targeted by online trolls and harassed by people who use racist and homophobic slurs  "f****t monkey" and worse  in an effort to intimidate student protestors like myself, the student leader said.

Protest organisers have said the leaders comments didnt reflect their values. They also declined to describe the level of involvement Mr James had with the demonstration.

Students protesting the Israel-Hamas war at universities across the US have persevered with their demonstrations despite clashes with police in riot gear.

Several school faculties criticised university presidents who have called in law enforcement to remove protesters.

As Columbia University continues negotiations with those at a pro-Palestinian student encampment on the New York schools campus, the universitys senate passed a resolution on Friday that created a task force to examine the administrations leadership, which last week called in police in an attempt to clear the protest, resulting in scuffles and more than 100 arrests.

Though the university has repeatedly set and then pushed back deadlines for the removal of the encampment, the school sent an email to students on Friday night saying that bringing back police at this time" would be counterproductive, adding that they hope the negotiations show "concrete signs of progress tonight.

Students representing the Columbia encampment, which inspired the wave of protests across the country, said they have reached an impasse with administrators and intend to continue their protest.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has agreed to testify before Congress about his administrations controversial handling of New York nursing homes during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Governor Cuomo will be appearing before our select Subcommittee on the Pandemic on June 11, Rep Brad Wenstrup, the Ohio Republican who chairs the panel, told CNNs Jake Tapper on Friday. This will be a transcribed interview at 10am.

The former Democratic governor will be asked by the panel of lawmakers about his March 2020 advisory, which barred nursing homes in New York from rejecting patients solely on the basis of a COVID-19 diagnosis.

Im trying to learn why he would do something like this, Mr Wenstrup said.

As a doctor who has treated infections, it goes against all medical common sense to take someone who was highly contagious and put them amongst the most vulnerable.

In 2021, an investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James found that the New York State Department of Health undercounted COVID-19 deaths among residents of nursing homes by approximately 50 per cent.

The health department failed to report roughly 4,100 deaths between April 2020 and February 2021, according to a 2022 audit by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

However, Mr Cuomo has insisted that the advisory was consistent with guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CNN reported.

When pressed by Jake Tapper Friday about an alleged cover-up, Mr Wenstrup responded, Well, hes going to have the opportunity to deny that again and take a look at what some of the other people are saying actually took place and whether it was intentional to play those numbers down or whether it was just miscounting.

Last month, Mr Cuomo was sent a subpoena to testify along with a letter in which Mr Wenstrup alleged that the misguided decision effectively admitted thousands of COVID-19 positive patients into nursing homes, causing predictable but deadly consequences for New Yorks most vulnerable.

In this October 2020 photo, families of COVID-19 victims who passed away in New York nursing homes gather in front of the Cobble Hill Heath Center to demand that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo apologize for his response to the coronavirus in nursing homes during the pandemic ( AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File )

The agreement comes roughly nine months after the panel began contacting Mr Cuomo, according to Mr Wenstrup, who said the panel was ignored on many of our requests, there were delays.

Rich Azzopardi, a spokesperson for Mr Cuomo, told CNN, Theres no news here, we agreed to do this months ago.

As part of the agreement, Mr Cuomo will do a transcribed interview instead of a deposition.

Mr Cuomo resigned in 2021 after New York Attorney General Letitia James released a damning report that the former governor had sexually harassed state employees and others outside of government, citing 11 women in the report.

Mr Cuomo has denied the allegations.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Historical comparisons between the mass protests of 1968 and todays student demonstrations in solidarity with Gaza are both imperfect and hard to avoid.

Its been just 10 days since Columbia University students pitched the first tent on the campus lawns, and already the protests have galvanised a generation of college students much in the same way the Vietnam war did 56 years ago  spreading from coast to coast.

It is not just the scale of the protests that have drawn comparisons, but the tactics. That is no accident: the protesters say they studied that generation-defining movement methodically before launching their own.

We were only able to do this because the student organisers went into the archives of 68 and learned from what the older generation wrote about their experiences. A lot of organisers spent time and looked at how they did everything, Majd, a Columbia undergrad who asked for their full name not to be published, told The Independent at the protest camp on Friday.

We completely built this on their legacy, Majd added.

While planning for their encampment, the Columbia protest organisers learned about how the 1968 protesters dealt with security and how they navigated communications. Later, they invited several participants of the historic protests to visit the encampment and speak.

Columbia University professors speak in solidarity with their students right to protest free from arrest at the Columbia University campus in New York ( AP )

Even the idea of a solidarity camp at Columbia was based on the 1968 anti-Vietnam war protests, said Ava Lyon-Sereno, a Columbia student and protester. It really feels like were continuing a tradition.

Student protests over the war in Gaza have been common across college campuses since the war broke out in October, following a surprise Hamas attack that killed 1,200 in Israel. The resulting conflict has killed more than 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.

The Columbia protesters of today may seem tame compared to their historical forebears. During the Vietnam war protests, a dean was briefly taken hostage and five buildings were seized. Then, as today, Columbias president called in police to break up the protests. Around 1,000 officers flooded onto campus, some on horseback, and made 700 arrests.

Despite a media campaign to tarnish the camp as dangerous radicals, the students of Columbia today are hyper-focused and strategic  their primary aim is to convince the university to cut ties with Israeli academic institutions and divest from Israel-linked companies in protest over the war. Organisers hosted de-escalation training and media training for the protesters. There are encampment monitors in yellow clearly-marked jackets to handle the press. The encampment even has a designated nut zone to protect students with allergies.

Students in the 1960s were horrified by the filtered and selective images of Vietnam that appeared on their television screens, while Generation Z now wakes up every morning to videos of death inches from their faces. If Vietnam was Americas first television war, Gaza may be the first time many young Americans have so intensely consumed a live-streamed war. They read headlines and see images every day about the horrors caused by US weapons and are asked to be silent and study.

You know, when I wake up in the morning and see a video of a parent carrying bits of their child in a plastic bag, that should not be normal, that should not be acceptable, said Lyon-Sereno.

Changes in technology have made the protesters mission even harder today than in 1968, too.

Columbia student protesters share what its like sparking a national wave of activism

Its a whole new terrain now, said Aidan Pari, a protester and student at Columbia. We have digital security that we need to look at  people trying to take pictures of peoples faces and dox them online. We have face detection software in the cameras at Columbia and the next morning you wake up and youre suspended.

But we can use what they did in 68 as building blocks, Pari said.

Many of the Columbia students wonder if their movement would have grown so fast if it had not been for the rash decisions of their universitys leaders. When the Columbia administration ordered police to break up the budding protest camp last week, leading to the arrests of more than 100 students, it had the opposite of the intended effect. Gaza solidarity protests have spread like wildfire to dozens of campuses across the country in the past week  at Yale, NYU, Ohio State University, Stanford University, Emory University, and Berkeley, to name a few  leading to a violent crackdown by police and the arrest of hundreds of students. The movement has even spread beyond the borders of the US to Paris, Sydney and Cairo.

Protesters against the Vietnam war at Columbia University in April 1968 ( Getty )

In 1968, too, protests spread across the world  most consequently in Paris, where student protesters linked up with millions of striking workers and threatened to overthrow the government.

The students in Columbia have no such ambition, but this is an election year, and young voters are a crucial part of the coalition that US president Joe Biden needs to win in November.

Majd, a Columbia student, thinks the chances for Biden to win young voters back are slim.

Were in such a difficult situation because you have a genocidal enabler and you have Trump. We dont need to even get into how bad that is going to be, they said.

I feel like this generation  at least people in this camp  understand that we deserve an option that is neither of them.

National Guard soldiers come up against protesters outside the Democratic National Convention in Illinois in 1968 ( Alamy )

The final echo from history looms: As in 68, the Democratic National Convention (DNC) will be held in Chicago. Then, 10,000 protesters descended on the convention to protest, and a violent police crackdown ensured any messages the Democrats were hoping to convey to the public were overshadowed.

Gaza protesters have promised to do the same again.

Well be marching with or without permits. This DNC is the most important one since 1968, also in Chicago, when Vietnam war protesters and the Black liberation movement organised mass demonstrations that were violently repressed Hatem Abudayyeh, national chair of the US Palestinian Community Network recently told The Chicago Tribune.

In the tumult of that year, and perhaps because of it, Richard Nixon was elected president.

Today, as Bidens unconditional support for Israels war in Gaza becomes more unpopular by the second, it is Donald Trump who waits in the wings, hoping to capitalise on the chaos.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

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.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

The jury in Donald Trumps hush money trial heard more testimony on Friday from American Media Inc publisher David Pecker, who dodged attempts by the defence team to try to impeach his credibility.

Mr Trumps former assistant at the Trump Organization also took the stand, mentioning seeing adult film star Stormy Daniels in the lobby of Trump Tower one day, close to the former presidents office.

Jurors also heard from a banker, who laid the groundwork for the creation of the shell company that ultimately sent payments to Ms Daniels  a critical piece of the case.

Mr Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records related to the so-called hush money payments given to the porn star before the 2016 election in exchange for her silence over an alleged affair.

Mr Trump has pleaded not guilty and has denied sleeping with Ms Daniels.

She claims the affair took place in 2006, one year after the criminal defendant married his now-wife Melania. In a twist of irony, on Friday, Mr Trump moaned about missing out on celebrating his wifes birthday due to this criminal proceeding.

Here are the key takeaways from Mr Trumps Friday in criminal court:

Two sides spar over whether Trump deserves title of president

Early in the day on Friday, the two sides briefly sparred over whether or not Mr Trump deserves to go by the title of president during his trial.

The moment came about as Mr Trumps defence attorney Emil Bove repeatedly referred to the defendant as President Trump when speaking about events prior to him taking office.

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass tried to object saying: He wasnt president in June 2016.

In opening statements on Monday, defence attorney Todd Blanche had told the jury that his legal team planned on referring to their client as President Trump because its a title he has earned.

Cohens bid to use paparazzi to improve power play with Trump

Jurors heard about Cohens bid to use paparazzi to try to bolster his power play with Mr Trump.

In the summer of 2016, Cohen asked Mr Pecker for a little help to arrange paparazzi to cover a meeting between him and Mark Cuban, he testified. Cohen was apparently trying to work for the billionaire.

Publishing those photos would put pressure on Trump to treat Cohen differently, Trump attorney Emil Bove asserted.

While Mr Pecker admitted that it could have looked that way, Michael Cohen never said that to me, the former publisher testified.

Trump attorneys try to poke holes in David Pecker testimony

Mr Bove seemed to be trying to cast doubt on the ex-tabloid bosss lengthy testimony, which detailed how the former president and his then-attorney conspired with Mr Pecker to influence the 2016 election.

Despite multiple attempts to impeach Mr Peckers credibility, the former publisher repeatedly affirmed his under-oath descriptions of his meetings with Mr Trump.

At one point on Friday, Mr Bove tried to get Mr Pecker to admit that he either lied on the witness stand or to federal law enforcement about Mr Trump thanking him for his help burying stories of Mr Trumps alleged affairs.

Was that a mistake? Mr Bove asked. Do you believe Trump said that to you as we sit here right now?

Mr Bove then handed Mr Pecker a report from his interview with federal prosecutors and the FBI in 2018, alleging that Mr Peckers prior testimony contradicted his earlier interview.

This is the FBIs interview, is that correct? These are the FBI notes? The FBI notes, some of these here, are wrong. I know what I testified to yesterday, Mr Pecker said.

I know what the truth is, he added. I cant state why its written this way.

McDougal transaction was made to help Trumps election odds

Mr Pecker previously called his relationship with Mr Trump mutually beneficial  using his tabloid empire to identify negative stories about the then-2016 candidate that involved women in an effort to boost Mr Trumps election chances.

However, the former AMI chief testified on Friday that one aspect of the agreement did not benefit him at all: the Karen McDougal story.

AMI had purchased the former Playboy models story alleging a 10-month affair with Mr Trump  while he was married to his now-wife Melania.

An August 2016 contract shown in court revealed that Mr Pecker agreed to give the model monthly columns in Star and Ok magazines  as well as the sole rights to her story about Mr Trump  for $150,000. Mr Pecker said the true purpose of the deal was to give plausible deniability to the plan to buy the rights to a story he never intended to publish.

It was included in the contract basically as a disguise of what the actual purpose of it, Mr Pecker told the court on Friday.

The actual purpose of it was to acquire the lifetime rights  It would be published by American Media. It would not be published by any media source, he said, echoing his testimony from earlier this week.

Mr Pecker repeatedly testified that stories about Mr Trump were big sellers for the National Enquirer. Burying Ms McDougals story was against his own business interest, prosecutors argued.

Had you published a story about a Playboy model having a yearlong sexual affair while he was married  Would that have sold magazines? Mr Joshua Steinglass asked. That would be like, National Enquirer gold.

Mr Pecker agreed.

At the time you entered into that agreement, you had zero intention of publishing that story, Mr Steinglass said. You killed the story because it helped candidate Donald Trump.

Yes, Mr Pecker said.

Stormy Daniels Trump Tower visit revealed

The second witness took the stand on Friday: Rhona Graff, Mr Trumps former personal assistant at the Trump Organization. When asked if it was true that she didnt want to be there, she replied, Correct.

She testified that she saw Ms Daniels in the lobby of the 26th floor of Trump Tower, where Mr Trumps office is located.

Ms Graff assumed that Ms Daniels may have been at the office to discuss a role on Mr Trumps hit show The Celebrity Apprentice.

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.

Third witness takes the stand

Gary Farro, a senior managing director at First Republic Bank, also took the stand.

Mr Farro said, Michael Cohen was assigned to me after a client left in 2015.

He said he believed he was given Cohen for my knowledge and my ability to handle individuals who may be a little challenging.

Michael did a lot of his own business and frankly I didnt find him difficult, he said.

Roughly three weeks before Election Day 2016, Cohen called him to say he wanted to open an LLC.

The LLC is called, Resolution Consultants, the shell company that Cohen used to set up the McDougal wire transfer that Mr Pecker ultimately called off.

As his testimony was wrapping up for the day, Mr Farro testified that Cohen then applied for another LLC, Essential Consultants, which was intended to collect fees for investment consulting for real estate transactions, according to a form.

In reality, that company was later used to pay Stormy Daniels the hush money, which is now at the heart of the criminal case.

Trump challenges Biden to a debate on the courthouse steps

Despite declining to attend any of the GOP primary debates this election cycle, Mr Trump announced on Truth Social that he would be up for debating his Democratic rival President Joe Biden.

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. After groaning about the criminal trial in Manhattan, Mr Trump added, In fact, lets do the Debate at the Courthouse tonight - on National Television, Ill wait around!
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Despite being surrounded by a cadre of lawyers and Secret Service agents, Donald Trump cuts something of a lonely figure sitting in court listening to testimony at his first trial on criminal charges.

When he arrives, behind the pair of agents and leading a pack of attorneys and others in his entourage, he is the first to sit at the defence table. He is briefly alone, staring at nothing in particular, with his hands clasped and his shoulders tight as he leans on the wide table in front of him.

When his attorneys speak privately with the judge or the prosecution, hes left by himself. The screens that capture the courtroom around him  which are also broadcast in an adjoining room for other assembled press  make the room appear massive.

He looks small against the empty space where his attorneys would sit and the reserved but unoccupied seats behind him.

Mr Trump sinks deeper into his red cushioned chair in the courtroom over the course of the day. The shoulders of his suit jacket crumple around him.

His eyes are closed for most of the proceedings, though its unclear whether hes asleep, checked out completely, or trying to focus on the testimony just a few feet away from him. He will frequently tilt his head to the side as if hes turning his ears to hear better.

Trump often looks completely spent by the end of a day in court ( EPA )

By the afternoons, his pale-skinned face will often sink towards the table in front of him. Hes livelier In the morning, chatting with his attorneys or whispering notes to them during testimony. In recent days, he has popped mints from white tins in front of him or pulled them from his right suit jacket pocket.

When the judge adjourns for the day, the former president slowly rises from the defence table, taking in a breath and looking completely spent.

Trump in the courtroom  in stark contrast to the televised Trump who mugs for camera crews outside the doors to dump all over his political rivals and the prosecutors and judges handling the cases against him  has a sunken, tired face. He trudges in and out, scanning the room briefly for the faces he despises, and looks at the ground expressionless.

Curiously, as the second week of proceedings ends, there has been no sign of any members of the Trump family attending in support of the patriarch and former president.

Several loyal aides and advisers have shown their faces  Jason Miller, Alina Habba, Boris Epshteyn, Walt Nauta  but thats about it.

No Donald Trump Jr. No Eric Trump. Lara Trump and Kimberly Guilfoyle are so far MIA. Ivanka and Jared doubtless send their best. Barron has his upcoming graduation to think about. Where is Tiffany?

Don Jr and Eric faithfully attended and testified at the Trump Organization civil fraud trial, though to be fair they were co-defendants. Ivanka Trump also gave dutifully loyal testimony despite removing herself from the case.

The older Trump brothers have been vocal online and on cable news about the trial since long before it began, but are perhaps too busy to attend in person while they choose officials for their fathers potential next administration.

Most glaringly absent  though understandably given the trials focus on infidelity  is Melania Trump.

The former first lady, the third wife of the ex-president, has remained at home in Palm Beach, recently entertaining a Republican LGBT+ group at Mar-a-Lago.

Only a small group of supporters have protested Trumps trial outside the Manhattan Criminal Court ( AFP via Getty Images )

Ms Trump doubtless wants nothing to do with the trial to establish whether hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels and the subsequent alleged falsification of business records were to swing the 2016 election.

She has reportedly called the whole case a disgrace and tantamount to election tampering itself.

Nevertheless, through a quirk of court scheduling and delay tactics from her husbands legal team, the final day of week two of the first of the Trump criminal trials fell on her birthday  a fact referenced by the former president as he headed into court on Friday morning.

Unfortunately for Ms Trump, her big day coincided with the testimony of David Pecker, former published of The National Enquirer, specifically about how he had bought the story of her husbands affair with Playboy playmate Karen McDougal to ensure it was never published.

Soon on Friday, both womens names were trending together on X.

While Mr Trump wished his wife a happy birthday and announced his intention to fly down to Florida in the evening to be with the former first lady (also posting a video to Truth Social celebrating her), the sentiment further underlined that he was alone.

Perhaps more discouragingly for the former president  given that he posted about it several times during this weeks testimony  his supporters didnt show up either.

Mr Trump didnt seem to want to admit that publicly, instead writing online that police barricades and some sort of lockdown around the courthouse in Lower Manhattan prevented thousands of loyal fans from protesting his trial.

Journalists covering the case this week were at pains to stress that there were no such restrictions, the streets were open, and so was the park across from the courthouse. A number of anti-Trump protesters managed to show up and marched with a banner reading: No one is above the law.

Given his low popularity in Manhattan, a dearth of Trump supporters was not totally unexpected.

Anti-Trump protesters outside his first criminal trial on 25 April 2024 ( EPA )

However, the former president enjoys healthy support in parts of the outer boroughs of New York City and beyond in the suburbs of Long Island and parts of New Jersey. One might have expected more would show up than the six or seven seen on Friday morning hawking Trump merchandise.

The former president at one point resorted to calling for protests at courthouses across the country. Those too failed to materialise.

Not even Joe Biden showed up to debate him at the courthouse after proceedings finished on Friday as Mr Trump had demanded following the presidents declaration hed be happy to debate him during an interview in Manhattan that morning.

He resorted to inviting himself to the White House as he left the courtroom.

With the trial expected to last approximately six weeks, we could be almost a third of the way through.

Perhaps some schedules might free up over the next month.

Alex Woodward reports from Manhattan criminal court
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

This week was Donald Trumps second week on criminal trial  the first of courtroom testimony  and it was certainly eventful.

Jurors heard from the prosecutions first witnesses in the case including lengthy testimony from tabloid mogul David Pecker, who outlined the catch and kill scheme at the heart of the hush money case.

The former president faced calls for $10,000 fines over gag order violations over his continued attacks on witnesses.

And Americans heard Mr Trump both fume about the landmark trial and use it as a campaign platform on Truth Social and in the courthouse corridors.

Mr Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election, in order to stop her coming forward with allegations of a 2006 affair.

Here are the key takeaways from the week:

Day one

Prosecutors lay out criminal conspiracy and cover-up

During opening statements on Monday, prosecutors were direct in laying out the heart of the case, with Manhattan Assistant District Attorney

Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo speaks during a hearing ( REUTERS )

telling jurors it was about a criminal conspiracy and a cover-up.

The defendant Donald Trump orchestrated a criminal scheme to corrupt the 2016 presidential election. Then he covered up that criminal conspiracy by lying in his business records, over and over and over again, Mr Colangelo continued.

The prosecutor then laid out the catch-and-kill scheme, arranged between Mr Trumps former attorney Michael Cohen and Mr Pecker to block negative press about Mr Trump.

Mr Colangelo told the jury that while no politician wants bad press, evidence will show this was a planned, coordinated, long-running conspiracy. It was election fraud. Pure and simple, he said.

Defence tries to humanise Trump

In the defences opening statement, lead attorney Todd Blanche tried to humanise Mr Trump  while still vowing to refer to him as President Trump.

This is a title he has earned, Mr Blanche said.

But hes not just the former president, the defence attorney continued. Hes not just Donald Trump that youve seen on TV or read about or seen photos of. Hes also a man, hes a husband, hes a father. And just like me, said Mr Blanche.

Trump arrives at Manhattan criminal court and delivers remarks to the media ( AP )

President Trump is innocent. President Trump did not commit any crimes. The Manhattan District Attorneys office should have never brought this case.

Mr Blanche also tried to discredit the prosecutions star witness in the case, Michael Cohen, stressing his 2018 guilty plea for lying to Congress and that he had been found liable for perjury in the past.

On top of this, Mr Blanche argued that Cohen is obsessed with Mr Trump.

Cohens financial livelihood depends on President Trumps destruction, according to Mr Blanche. He cannot be trusted.

Day two

Potential gag order violations

Judge Juan Merchan held an hour-long hearing around potential gag order violations.

Prosecutors accused Mr Trump of violating the gag order, which bars him from making public statements about potential witnesses, court staff and the families of the judge and DA, on at least 10 different occasions.

Defence attorney Todd Blanche meanwhile argued that Mr Trumps posts were responding to political attacks. However, he failed to provide any example of what Mr Trump was responding to, leading to a scolding from the judge.

You presented nothing, a frustrated Judge Merchan said. Youre losing all credibility, Ill tell you that right now.

The judge also warned Mr Trump directly against intimidating jurors in his courtroom.

The judge has yet to make a ruling on the alleged gag order breaches. Prosecutors suggested imposing a $10,000 fine against Mr Trump and ordering him to remove the offending posts, noting they have not yet asked for jail time.

The threat of penalty hasnt deterred Mr Trump from continuing to rant about the case on Truth Social and to reporters as he enters and exits the courtroom.

A behind-the-scenes look at tabloid journalism

In his testimony, Mr Pecker provided a peek behind the curtain on what was happening at some of his tabloids.

Mr Pecker described a mutually beneficial scheme to keep the National Enquirer jam-packed with stories boosting Mr Trumps 2016 election odds while ensuring negative stories never saw the light of day.

As part of the arrangement, Mr Pecker would notify Cohen of any unflattering stories about the candidate  particularly those involving women. Since Mr Trump was well-known as the most eligible bachelor, dating the most beautiful women, and it was clear based on my past experiences that when someone is running for office like this, it is very common for these women to call up a magazine like the National Enquirer to try and sell their stories, the former publisher testified.

Writing positive stories about Mr Trump and negative stories about his opponents would help him and it would help me, Mr Pecker explained  as it would help him sell his tabloids.

Jurors were shown a number of positive National Enquirer headlines and covers about Mr Trump, like DONALD TRUMP: HEALTHIEST INDIVIDUAL EVER ELECTED! They were also shown negative ones about his 2016 GOP primary opponents, like DONALD TRUMP BLASTS TED CRUZS DAD FOR PHOTO WITH JFK ASSASSIN.

Pecker is questioned by prosecutor Joshua Steinglass ( REUTERS )

Doormans story about a love child

Jurors heard how the scheme was first put into practice after a former Trump World Tower doorman, Dino Sajudin, claimed that the then-2016 candidate had a love child with a maid working at Trump Tower.

Mr Pecker testified that Dylan Howard, then editor-in-chief of the National Enquirer, told him that Dino was in the market for selling a story and so he called Cohen to tell him. Cohen told Mr Pecker it was absolutely not true but that he would look into it, he testified.

I asked Dylan to negotiate a price, negotiate a number, to buy the story and take it off the market, he said.

Mr Pecker told the court they agreed upon $30,000 for the story and Cohen told him that the boss was very pleased, referring to Mr Trump.

I thought it was very important that Dino wouldnt be shopping the story to other media outlets, he told the court.

However, he then revealed his more selfish motivation for the transaction  if he could have verified the story, he would have published it. It would probably be the biggest sale of the National Enquirer since the death of Elvis Presley, Mr Pecker said.

Day three

How Playboy model affair story unfolded

During the third day of testimony, Mr Pecker shed light on how he came across former Playboy model Karen McDougals story  that she had a 10-month affair with Mr Trump in 2006, one year after he had married Melania.

Mr Howard had interviewed Ms McDougal, learning of the alleged affair and how Mr Trump apparently called her a 12 out of 10, Mr Pecker told the court.

Although Mr Howard warned there was no corroborating evidence, Mr Pecker said he believed the story to be true. He testified that he initially offered the former model $10,000 to buy the story but she turned it down.

Mr Howard later told Mr Pecker that ABC was interested in buying Ms McDougals story, but that I knew from my experience that ABC doesnt buy stories.

Mr Howard had concluded that Ms McDougal didnt want the story to be published. She said she didnt want to be the next Monica Lewinsky, Mr Pecker added.

The boss will take care of it

During testimony about buying the rights to these stories, Mr Pecker told the court about his interactions with Mr Trump on the matters  directly linking the criminal defendant to the arrangements.

Cohen had given Mr Pecker the green light to pay the former Playboy model $150,000 for the rights to her story, Mr Pecker told the court.

Dont worry about it. Im your friend. The boss will take care of it, Mr Pecker recalled Cohen telling him, inferring that the boss meant Mr Trump.

Mr Pecker recalled another occasion after he had won the 2016 election, when Mr Trump asked him: Hows our girl? referring to Ms McDougal. Mr Trump also thanked him for handling the McDougal story and the doorman situation, he told the court.

He said the stories would be very embarrassing  to him, his family and the campaign, Mr Pecker testified.

Mr Trump even invited the former tabloid boss to a thank you dinner at the White House to show his gratitude for killing damaging stories, Mr Pecker testified  testimony that shone a light on how the former president used his position in the White House to manage blowback from the scheme.

An unhappy-looking Trump appears in criminal court ( EPA )

Trump was very upset when McDougal affair story leaked

Despite the substantial efforts to block other outlets from getting access to Ms McDougals story, it did eventually become public  and, according to Mr Pecker, this made Mr Trump very upset.

The Wall Street Journal published an article just days before Election Day in 2016, unleashing the blockbuster story.

Mr Pecker recalled Mr Trump phoning him, very upset, saying, How could this happen? I thought you had this under control.

Mr Pecker testified that AMIs deal with Ms McDougal was for the lifetime rights to her story. Mr Pecker recalled then telling 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. He recalled Cohen saying: The boss will be very angry with you.

To this day, the publisher has never been reimbursed, Mr Pecker said on the stand.

Celebrities dragged into the case

During the former AMI chiefs testimony, several celebrities and high-profile figures were dragged into the case, including Rahm Emanuel, Mark Wahlberg and Tiger Woods.

But one person in particular set the stage for Mr Peckers wariness to conceal politically-linked stories: The Terminator star Arnold Schwarzenegger. Mr Pecker said he had struck up an arrangement with the actor to conceal compromising stories about him when he was campaigning to become governor of California  long before the publishers dealings with Mr Trump.

Mr Pecker recalled Schwarzenegger saying: 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 said he agreed to the arrangement.

When the actor announced his gubernatorial bid, a number of women called up the National Enquirer with stories to sell on different relationships, or contacts, or sexual harassment that they felt that Arnold Schwarzenegger did, the former publisher testified. Mr Pecker outlined the agreement: I would call him and advise [Schwarzenegger] of other stories that were out there and I wouldbuy them for a period of time.

This experience made me sensitive about buying any stories in the future. Thats how I became sensitive about this topic, Mr Pecker told the court.

None of the celebrities are accused of any wrongdoing in the case.

First mention of Stormy Daniels

Stormy Daniels name cropped up in Mr Peckers testimony for the first time on Thursday when he told the court that Cohen had come to him asking for his help to get Mr Trump to pay him his bonus.

I understood he was complaining that he had not been repaid, Mr Pecker 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, the former publisher testified.

Stormy Daniels, speaks outside US Federal Court with her lawyer Michael Avenatti in 2018 ( AFP via Getty Images )

So Mr Pecker approached Mr Trump, telling him: 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 recalled Mr Trump saying: I dont know what youre talking about. Michael Cohen has multiple apartments in my buildings.  He owns 15 taxi medallions.

Mr Pecker testified Mr Trump then added: Dont worry about it. Ill take care of it.

Day four

Two sides spar over whether Trump deserves title of president

Early in the day on Friday, the two sides briefly sparred over whether or not Mr Trump deserves to go by the title of president during his trial.

The moment came about as Mr Trumps defence attorney Emil Bove repeatedly referred to the defendant as President Trump when speaking about events prior to him taking office.

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass tried to object saying: He wasnt president in June 2016.

In opening statements on Monday, defence attorney Todd Blanche had told the jury that his legal team planned on referring to their client as President Trump because its a title he has earned.

Trump attorneys try to poke holes in Peckers testimony

During cross-examination, Mr Bove tried to cast doubt on the former tabloid bosss lengthy testimony about the catch and kill scheme.

But despite multiple attempts to impeach Mr Peckers credibility, the former publisher repeatedly affirmed his under-oath descriptions of his meetings with Mr Trump.

At one point on Friday, Mr Bove tried to get Mr Pecker to admit that he either lied on the witness stand or to federal law enforcement about Mr Trump thanking him for his help burying stories of Mr Trumps alleged affairs.

Pecker being questioned on the stand ( AP )

Was that a mistake? Mr Bove asked. Do you believe Trump said that to you as we sit here right now?

Mr Bove then handed Mr Pecker a report from his interview with federal prosecutors and the FBI in 2018, alleging that Mr Peckers prior testimony contradicted his earlier interview.

This is the FBIs interview, is that correct? These are the FBI notes? The FBI notes, some of these here, are wrong. I know what I testified to yesterday, Mr Pecker said.

I know what the truth is, he added. I cant state why its written this way.

Pecker doubles down that McDougal payment was made to help Trumps election odds

Mr Pecker previously called his relationship with Mr Trump mutually beneficial  using his tabloid empire to identify negative stories about the then-2016 candidate in an effort to boost Mr Trumps election chances.

However, the former AMI chief testified on Friday that one aspect of the agreement did not benefit him at all: the Karen McDougal story. That story was killed and the payment made with the sole purpose of helping Mr Trumps election odds, he testified,

Mr Pecker repeatedly testified that stories about Mr Trump were big sellers for the National Enquirer. Burying Ms McDougals story was against his own business interest, prosecutors sought to point out.

Karen McDougal speaking to CNN about Donald Trump ( CNN )

Had you published a story about a Playboy model having a yearlong sexual affair while he was married  Would that have sold magazines? Mr Joshua Steinglass asked. That would be like, National Enquirer gold.

Mr Pecker agreed.

At the time you entered into that agreement, you had zero intention of publishing that story, Mr Steinglass said. You killed the story because it helped candidate Donald Trump.

Yes, Mr Pecker said.

Stormy Daniels Trump Tower visit - and Apprentice plans - revealed

Two new witnesses briefly took the stand on Friday.

The first was Rhona Graff, Mr Trumps former personal assistant at the Trump Organization, who testified that she has a vague recollection of seeing Stormy Daniels at Trump Tower before his 2016 presidential campaign.

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 derogatory comments about immigrants.

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.

Third witness takes the stand

Gary Farro, a banker assigned to Cohen at First Republic Bank, testified that Cohen urgently asked for his help setting up an LLC shell company while negotiating a hush money payment to Ms Daniels in 2016.

That account, Essential Consultants LLC, was used to wire Ms Daniels the $130,000 payment at the heart of the presidents criminal case.

Mr Farro will resume his testimony on Tuesday.

Elsewhere in Trumpworld

Beyond the courtroom, there was a lot of other happenings in Trumpworld this week.

Civil fraud bond deal

On Monday, lawyers for Mr Trump and New York Attorney General Letitia Jamess office reached a deal around the payment of his $175m bond in his civil fraud case, so long as the collateral remains in cash.

The AGs office had previously expressed concerns about the underwriter Knight Specialty Insurance Company.

E Jean Carroll

On Thursday, a federal court upheld the verdict in former Elle columnist E Jean Carrolls $83m defamation case against Mr Trump  rejecting his request for a new trial.

In May 2023, Mr Trump was found liable for sexually abusing Ms Carroll, and earlier this year, a jury determined that Mr Trump had defamed Ms Carroll, awarding her $65m in punitive damages and $18m in compensatory damages.

Supreme Court immunity case

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Thursday in the landmark case involving the former presidents claims of presidential immunity from prosecution.

During oral arguments, the justices appeared poised to allow some, but not absolute, immunity. The case stems from special counsel Jack Smiths federal indictment against Mr Trump, accusing him of engaging in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and stay in the White House.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

US intelligence agencies are said to have concluded that Vladimir Putin probably did not directly order the killing of his most prominent critic Alexei Navalny, who suddenly died in his Arctic prison cell in February.

The death of 47-year-old Mr Navalny, leading light of Russias opposition movement, was announced on 16 February. He had been serving a prison sentence on charges of extremism, which the international community decried as trumped up to try and silence a thorn in the side of the Kremlin. World leaders have lined up to condemn the death, while a number of nations  including the UK and the US  have announced sanctions against those in charge of the prison in which Mr Navalny was held.

Mr Navalnys wife, Yulia Navalnya, has directly accused Putin of ordering Navalnys killing, which came a month before a sham presidential election that handed Putin another term in power  extending his more than two-decade iron grip on Russia.

But, according to The Wall Street Journal, US intelligence services believe Putin most likely did not choose for the killing to be carried out or the date on which it took place.

While the findings by US intelligence agencies did not dispute Putins culpability for his rivals death  given the conditions Mr Navalny was being held in and the constant harassment he had faced  the report said it is believed that he probably did not order it at that moment.

These findings have been accepted within the intelligence community and shared across several wings of intelligence in Washington, including the Central Intelligence Agency, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the State Departments intelligence unit, the WSJ reported, citing people aware of the matter.

Navalny, who was repeatedly targeted by the Kremlin and Russian authorities for years, was moved in December from his former prison in the Vladimir region of central Russia to a special regime penal colony in the Arctic Circle  the highest security level for prisons in Russia.

A Navalny aide, Leonid Volkov, rejected the findings in the WSJ report as naive and ridiculous.

Washingtons assessment was reportedly based on a range of information, including some classified intelligence as well as publicly known facts, such as the timing of Navalnys death and how it overshadowed Russias sham presidential election.

Officials in the Kremlin have rejected allegations of state involvement in Mr Navalnys death. Having not spoken his harshest critics name for years, Putin himself eventually described the death as sad and claimed he was ready to hand the jailed politician over to the West in a prisoner exchange provided Navalny never return to Russia. Observers may be sceptical about Putins words, given how the Kremlin dealt with Mr Navalny over the years.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has responded to the WSJ report, calling the US intelligence findings empty speculation.

"Ive seen the material, I wouldnt say its high-quality material that deserves attention," he said.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A Russian court has placed a journalist from the local edition of US magazine Forbes under house arrest.

Sergei Mingazov was detained earlier on Friday on suspicion of spreading false information about the Russian army, according to the magazine.

Vladimir Torkonyak, an official from the Khabarovsk Regional Court said that the 55-year-old journalist was placed under house arrest for spreading fake news about the Russian army through a two-year-old post on a Telegram channel, reported Russias state-owned RIA news agency.

His lawyer, Konstantin Bubon, said the social media post was about the Russian atrocities in Ukraines Bucha where the invading forces were accused of murdering and massacring civilians before abandoning the city in April 2022.

In short, for reposting a publication about the events in Bucha on a Telegram channel, the lawyer wrote.

He is currently being held 8,000km away from Moscow in southeast Russias Khabarovsk city.

Mr Bubon said the journalists phone and computers were seized by investigative officers who came to search Mr Mingazovs home on Friday morning.

Mr Mingazov is likely to be presented at a local court on Saturday. If convicted on the charges, he will be sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment.

Forbes Russia said the magazines management team had not been able to speak to their journalist .

He is among scores of journalists and activists facing backlash from the Russian authorities.

On Tuesday, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was ordered to be held until at least late June on espionage charges by a Moscow court, which rejected his appeal that sought to end his pretrial detention.

The 32-year-old US citizen was detained in March last year during a reporting trip and has spent over a year behind bars. His arrest was extended until 30 June in a ruling he and his defence lawyers later appealed.

The appeal was heard by a Moscow appellate court on Tuesday and rejected.

US president Joe Biden said Gershkovich is being held by the Russian authorities as a bargaining chip.

Journalism is not a crime, and Evan went to Russia to do his job as a reporter  risking his safety to shine the light of truth on Russias brutal aggression against Ukraine, Mr Biden said in a statement last month, vowing to work to free Gershkovich and other US citizens locked up in Russia.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Russian missiles have pounded power facilities across Ukraine  with Kyiv saying it had launched its own major long-range drone attack into Russia.

The airstrikes by Moscow, carried out with ballistic missiles and cruise missiles fired by Russian strategic bombers based in the Arctic Circle, are the fourth large-scale aerial assault targeting the power system since the last week of March.

The enemy again massively shelled Ukrainian energy facilities, said DTEK, Ukraines largest private electricity company, adding that four of its six thermal power plants had suffered damage overnight.

Rescuers battled to put out fires at several energy facilities in the western regions of Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk, which border NATO members Poland and Romania, officials said.

After strikes on energy facilities in the central Dnipropetrovsk region, water supplies were disrupted in president Volodymyr Zelensky's hometown of Kryvyi Rih, officials said.

Ukrainian air defences brought down 21 of the 34 incoming missiles, the commander of the air force said in a statement. None of the facilities hit was identified by name, a security measure intended to prevent Russia quickly assessing the impact of its strikes.

Elsewhere, in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, which has been heavily bombed in recent weeks, a missile struck a hospital holding 60 patients overnight, injuring a woman and damaging the building, nearby water pipes and power lines, the regional governor said.

For their part, Ukraine attacked the Ilsky and Slavyansk oil refineries in Russias Krasnodar region overnight, a Ukrainian intelligence source told Reuters. The drone strike conducted by the SBU security service caused fires at the facilities, the source said. Russias Kushchevsk military airfield was also attacked in the southern region, the source added.

The Slavyansk oil refinery was forced to suspend some operations after being damaged in the attack, Russian state news agency TASS cited an executive overseeing the plant as saying.

Ukrainian prime minister Denys Shmyhal, left, meets Australian defence minister Richard Marles ( Reuters )

Ukraine has sought to fight back against the aerial onslaught from Russia in recent months using its long-range drones. Kyiv says it is striking at infrastructure to try and disrupt the Russian economy  hence the oil facilities, with Russia being one of the world's biggest exporters  and military airfields.

Earlier this month Russia destroyed one of Ukraine's largest power plants and damaged others in a massive missile and drone attack in its push to target Ukraine's energy facilities. Ukraine has repeatedly appealed to its Western allies for more air defence resources to ward off such attacks. Mr Zelensky issued a new appeal for air defences and weapons deliveries after the latest Russian strikes.

Mr Zelensky said Ukraine needed sufficient quantities of air defence and other weapons to protect its cities and prevail on the front line. Terror should always lose, and anyone who helps us stand against Russian terror is a true defender of life, he said.

Earlier this week, the US passed a major military aid package for Ukraine worth $60bn, finally overcoming political infighting in Congress that had delayed the process for months. All the while, Ukraine has seen its weapon and air defence stocks become depleted.

On Friday, the Pentagon said it would rush Patriot air defence missiles to Ukraine as part of its new military aid package. The US defence secretary Lloyd Austin told a news conference that the US was committing to its largest security assistance package to date and would move immediately to get the supplies to Ukraine.

Understand whats at stake for Ukraine, for Europe, and for the United States, he said. If Putin prevails in Ukraine, Europe would face a security threat it hasnt seen in a lifetime. Russia will not stop in Ukraine.

Its going to take some time to get it in there and distribute. The Ukrainians were able to hold; with this capability, they can do a lot better.

Australian defence minister Richard Marles, who visited Lviv on Saturday, also announced a $100m military aid package including short-range air defence and drones, with air-to-ground precision munitions coming separately.

Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

The government is considering whether to send troops to Gaza to help deliver aid via a new sea route.

The US confirmed on Friday that work on a temporary pier, designed to get more humanitarian aid into Gaza as famine looms, had begun and that operations would start in early May.

Britain is already providing logistical support for construction of the pier, including a Royal Navy ship that will house hundreds of US soldiers and sailors working on the project.

In addition, UK military planners have been embedded at US Central Command in Florida and in Cyprus, where aid will be screened before shipment to Gaza, for several weeks.

Under the planned Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore operation, Israel will reportedly be responsible for anchoring the floating 500m causeway to the beach and will provide security and logistics support.

A senior US military official said there would be no American boots on the ground and another nation would provide the personnel to drive the delivery trucks to the shore. The official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet made public, declined to identify the third party.

Palestinians line up for a meal in Rafah, where half of Gazas population is now sheltering in the face of a feared offensive ( AP )

While he refused to name this partner nation, the BBC reported that British officials are considering whether UK troops will take this role  known as wet boots by military planners  when the aid corridor opens next month. This would involve British troops driving trucks off the landing craft onto the temporary causeway and delivering aid to a secure distribution area onshore in Gaza.

Such a role would increase the risk of being attacked. Just this week, a UN team touring the onshore site was forced to take cover when mortar shells landed nearby, Israeli outlets reported.

Whitehall sources told the BBC that no decision had been made, that a role for British troops may not happen, and the issue had not yet crossed the prime ministers desk. The Ministry of Defence refused to comment on the matter on Saturday.

Hamas sparked the war inside Gaza with a brutal attack on southern Israel on 7 October, in which around 1,200 people were killed, mostly civilians, and another 250 people were taken hostage. Since then, 34,000 Palestinians have been killed, around two-thirds of them children and women, in Israels air and ground offensive, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.

The defence secretary, Grant Shapps, said on Friday that the UK continues to take a leading role in the delivery of support in coordination with the US and other international allies.

Defence secretary Grant Shapps (right) said the crew of RFA Cardigan Bay are central to the UKs contribution to the new aid plan ( PA )

Calling it critical that more routes for vital aid to Gaza are established, he said: The crew of RFA Cardigan Bay are central to the UKs contribution to the multinational plan to greatly expand the flow of aid into Gaza.

This will complement the priority of getting more aid in via land routes and Ashdod port in Israel, by enabling tens of thousands of tonnes to be delivered directly from the sea onto the beach.

The new causeway will initially facilitate the delivery of 90 truckloads of international aid into Gaza and scale to up to 150 truckloads once fully operational, according to US estimates.

Aid shipments to Gaza from Cyprus resumed late on Friday, a Cypriot source said, with a ship carrying food to the besieged Palestinian enclave after a pause following the death of seven aid workers in an Israeli strike at the beginning of the month. The World Central Kitchen NGO paused aid to review its activity in the territory after the early April attack, halting the direct shipments into Gaza from Cyprus.

Elsewhere, negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage-release deal are continuing in the face of a feared Israeli ground invasion of Rafah, the southern city where more than half of Gazas 2.3 million population has sought refuge from Israels invasion and bombardment.

Palestinians inspect demolished buildings after Israeli attacks in Rafah ( Anadolu via Getty )

A senior Hamas official said on Saturday that the group was evaluating a new Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza and upon completion of its study, it will submit its response.

He gave no details of Israels offer but said it was in response to a proposal from Hamas two weeks ago. Negotiations earlier this month centered on a six-week cease-fire proposal and the release of 40 civilian and sick hostages in exchange for freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

Hamass statement came hours after a high-level Egyptian delegation wrapped up a visit to Israel where it discussed a new vision for a prolonged ceasefire in Gaza, an Egyptian official said.
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.
Scotlands first minister Humza Yousaf has refused to rule out an election during an interview on the future of the countrys government today (27 April).

He revealed that hed proposed a meeting with Ash Regan, who could be a key player in whether Mr Yousaf continues in power, as well as the opposition, asking for good faith.

Regan has already written to the first minister setting out her demands in exchange for her support in the vote.

When asked if an election could be on the cards, he responded: Cant rule it out.
Scotlands under-fire first minister has insisted he will not resign, despite facing a vote of no confidence in his leadership.

The Scottish Conservatives have put forward the motion of no confidence in Humza Yousaf, while Labour has submitted a similar motion, saying the party has no confidence in the Scottish government.

I intend absolutely to fight that vote of no confidence and get on with the day job, Mr Yousaf said during a visit to Dundee on Friday 26 April.

He accused the opposition parties of political game playing, and added: Well be getting on with the job, and when the vote comes I fully intend to win.
Reform is long overdue of the law which allows those unhappy with decisions of the Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) to bring a multiplicity of appeals, the Court of Appeal (CoA) has said.

The court made the comments when dismissing the third appeal brought by former National Gallery of Ireland (NGI) attendant David Fox over part of a decision of the DPC rejecting his complaints in relation to access to his data held by his then employer.

Mr Fox worked for the NGI for 20 years before his employment was terminated in November 2011.

In 2014, Mr Fox was awarded 25,000 by an Employment Appeals Tribunal for unfair dismissal.

The tribunal found the NGI was defective in the procedures used or adopted to terminate his employment.

It found compensation was the appropriate remedy because it considered that he himself contributed significantly to his dismissal.

The tribunal had heard the dismissal arose after NGI decided Mr Fox compromised the security of the national collection by a gross breach of protocols and a lack of common sense.

The NGI said he had done so by aiding a former colleague, working for an outside agency, in preparing a submission for the Rights Commissioner Service. The preparation was done by internal email and, NGI claimed, disclosed security sensitive information.

Mr Fox, who was an active trade-union representative, said he was asked by the former colleague, who worked on night security and had been dismissed due to an incident at the NGI, for assistance in preparing for a submission to the Rights Commissioner.

Mr Fox said the former colleagues submission was atrocious and needed to be corrected and tidied up but he did not accept that there was any breach of security or that the emails contained any sensitive information.

Before his own dismissal, Mr Fox had submitted a data request on his personal information to NGI. He was not happy with the response and made a complaint to the DPC.

By 2016, that complaint was reformulated and in 2019 the DPC found in his favour on a number of points but was against him on others.

He brought a Circuit Court appeal in relation to the findings not in his favour.

The Circuit Court found against him and he appealed to the High Court.

The High Court rejected his appeal, saying he had failed to identify any point of law which showed an error by the decision-maker.

He brought a further appeal to the CoA which, yesterday, also dismissed it.

Mr Justice Seamus Noonan, on behalf of the three-judge CoA, said he failed to address a single infirmity in the DPC decision, despite three appeals in which he failed to identify a point of law.

The consequences of this relentless pursuit of spurious appeals are serious for both parties and in particular the appellant himself, who will likely be faced with a potentially ruinous order for the costs of all this unnecessary litigation, he said.

If he is unable to pay those costs, then the taxpayer must do so, he added.

The multiplicity of appeals provided for under the Data Protection acts was previously the subject of comment by the CoA, he said. There was no obvious justification for so many appeals in this instance and the effect is great delay, enormous cost and a significant drain on court resources which is not in the interests of the parties or the public.

Reform is long overdue, he added.
Teenager missed out on meningitis vaccine based on her age at rollout

'I never got to say goodbye': Aoife Johnston's sister Meagan speaks outside court after the teenager's inquest

The family of Aoife Johnston (16) are taking a civil action over her horrible death at University Hospital Limericks overcrowded emergency department, saying they are determined to vindicate her life.

It has emerged Aoife had not been eligible for the highly effective meningitis vaccine because she fell just outside the age-qualifying range when the jab for children was rolled out.

The preventable death of the Co Clare teenager in December 2022 has shocked the public and the healthcare sector, and is the focus of three separate investigations  one of which, under retired chief justice Frank Clarke, remains ongoing.

Such was the gargantuan overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick (UHL)  consistently the most overcrowded emergency department the country  consultant James Gray described it as a death trap.

Dr Gray told the inquest into Aoifes death the emergency department would remain dangerous until extra bed capacity was delivered, and stressed that UHL needed 300 beds to eliminate overcrowding.

Clinical nurse manager Katherine Skelly said that what she saw during December 17 and 18, 2022, in the emergency department had been akin to a war zone.

The Limerick inquest opened on Monday with profuse apologies to the Johnston family from both UHL and the HSE.

Damien Tansey SC, solicitor for the Johnston family, confirmed the civil action as he said Aoifes parents, James and Carol, and her sisters, Meagan and Kate, wanted the circumstances of her death fully outlined before Limerick Coroners Court so that measures would be taken to ensure no other family suffered their nightmare because of hospital overcrowding.

Officials of both the HSE and State Claims Agency attended the four-day inquest before Coroner John McNamara in Kilmallock.

There are civil actions in place, Mr Tansey said. But this is the forum to vindicate Aoifes life and the impact [of her loss] on her heartbroken family.

Aoifes mother Carol pleaded for changes to emergency department resources in the mid-west and she said no other family should endure their nightmare.

This should not happen to another child, Ms Johnston said. Aoife is gone now so all the apologies and everything that they put in place is the rest of our lives, it is not going to change that.

It breaks our hearts  it was a horrible death. She suffered the whole night.

Aoife died at UHLs emergency department on December 19, 2022, after waiting 15 hours and 15 minutes for the antibiotics that would have saved her life.

The Leaving Cert student had contracted meningitis and attended UHL at 5.40pm on December 17, but she was not seen by a doctor for more than 12 hours.

This was despite the fact she had attended a ShannonDoc GP at 4pm and Dr Madlala Mdumiseni diagnosed suspected sepsis. He gave the Johnston family a letter alerting the UHL emergency department to this fact and that Aoife needed urgent medical attention.

Due to the overcrowding in the emergency department, Aoife did not even get a trolley  and was placed in what her parents described as a storeroom off an emergency room corridor.

Mr and Mrs Johnston had to push two chairs together to provide their critically ill daughter with a make-shift bed.

Aoife was screaming in pain and even other patients on trolleys pleaded with medical personnel to help her.

Despite the couple begging for their daughter to receive medical attention, she was not seen by a doctor for over 12 hours.

UHLs emergency department was almost overwhelmed that weekend by a flood of patients, many of whom had suffered falls and fractures as the result of icy weather.

Patient numbers soared to 191, with just one senior house officer dealing with almost 170 patients as two registrars remained in a resuscitation room with 14 patients, despite pleas from nursing staff for one to return to Zone A of the emergency department where patients were on trolleys in front of toilet doors.

UHL was down 21 staff due to illness and weather conditions.

Aoife was not seen by a doctor until 6am and even when that doctor diagnosed the critically ill teenager with meningitis, she was not given antibiotics for a further hour-and-a-quarter.

Just four hours later, Aoife was lapsing into a coma and she died at 3.31pm on December 19.

Consultant microbiologist Patrick Stapleton said Aoife had contracted a Type B meningococcal infection, which is fully treatable with targeted antibiotics once they are given in time.

Dr Stapleton said it was highly likely the outcome would have been different and optimal had Aoife received the medications in time.

Aoifes father James said he repeatedly begged staff on duty on December 17/18 to help his daughter.

I was up and down to the nurses all night pleading with them to help my daughter, he said. Aoife was screaming in agony with pain to her right leg and head. I heard people outside on the trolleys asking the nurses and doctors to help Aoife. At one point a man said: Is someone not going to go into that girl?

Aoifes skin became very blotchy. She also had a mark on her left eye which looked like a birthmark on the corner of her eye.

I brought this to the nurses attention. Aoife was violently vomiting and it was pure green liquid.

I continually begged for help. The response was a brown cup for Aoife to vomit into and on one occasion a rebuke: I am well aware she is sick  but I have 70 other patients to look after.

HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster issued an unequivocal apology to the Johnston family over Aoifes death.

I am conscious that no words of mine will take away their pain, he said.

Both UHL and the HSE had signalled they would not oppose the Johnstons family request for Mr McNamara to return a verdict of death by medical misadventure.

I have noted the verdict and thank the coroner for his careful attention to this tragic case. Over the last four days, we have heard great detail on the events surrounding this unnecessary death, the Mr Gloster said.

I will now take the outcome of the inquest, study the details of the transcripts and, together with the systems analysis report I received in December, add this to the information available when I receive the outcome of the independent review being conducted by retired chief justice Frank Clarke I will consider next steps.

I know we have considerable work to do to ensure that the people of the mid-west, and the staff of UHL, have a service they can feel confident in and proud of, and we are working to that end. The details of this inquest will be very much in our minds as we do so.

However, the inquest was told that such was the profound impact of the circumstances of Aoifes death and the horrific overcrowding in UHL that a number of staff had left the hospital or transferred out of emergency medicine.

Clinical nurse Ms Skelly warned that the overcrowding situation in the emergency department was unsafe for both staff and patients.

I never worked in accident and emergency again after that weekend. It absolutely broke me professionally and personally that that girl (Aoife) died, she said.

Mid-west Hospital Campaign (Clare) co-ordinator Noeleen Moran warned that people across the region feared having to attend UHL given recent revelations about overcrowding, understaffing and lack of bed capacity.

Mr McNamara said the revelations about the circumstances of Aoifes death were very concerning.

There were systemic failures, there were missed opportunities and there were communication breakdowns throughout. She should have been treated in a timely manner.
SPECIALIST gardai rushed to the home of Justice Minister Helen McEntee after bomb threat was made against her, the Sunday Independent can reveal.

Members of the Special Detective Unit (SDU) attended the ministers Meath home on Wednesday night after the threat was issued by phone from a man believed to be in the Cork area.
Skelligs, Blaskets and ancestral home of Great Liberator form tourist trail

Covering 70,000 acres, the newly designated Pairc Naisiunta na Mara is home to a wealth of Kerrys heritage, wildlife and natural beauty.

As Irelands eighth national park, and its first marine national park, plenty of sea life along the west coast of the Kingdom is included, alongside the greenery of the hills and mountains.
The study called for routine screening of all admissions in the regions hospitals. Photo: Stock image

There are concerns over delays in diagnosing people with HIV in the west of Ireland, after a study found a growing number are at an advanced stage of the illness by the time they are aware of it.

The findings are being presented this weekend to the ESCMID Global Congress  which brings together experts in clinical microbiology and infectious diseases  in Barcelona, following a study by a team led by Galway infectious disease consultant Dr Ellen Walsh.

The study calls for the routine screening for HIV of all hospital admissions in the west and also improved access to healthcare for migrant populations.

It pointed out the infectious diseases service in University Hospital Galway provides HIV care for the west of Ireland, which is a less densely populated area with different socioeconomic influences and patterns of migration compared to the east of the country.

It said that while absolute numbers of HIV diagnoses are highest in the east, proportions presenting with advanced HIV infection at diagnosis are greatest outside this region.

Regional differences have not been explored in Ireland up to now and the study looked at cases over 10 years in University Hospital Galway, from January 2013 to November 2023.

The authors said 69 patients were included  49 of whom had presented since 2018.

About 50 of the patients were men. Heterosexual transmission occurred in 53.6pc of cases, while 36.2pc were among men who have sex with men.

The authors found that 75pc of advanced diagnoses before 2018 were in Irish-born people, and this declined to 53.1pc in later years.

The findings show 5.5pc died and 55.1pc required hospitalisation, particularly those of an older age. Those admitted had a prolonged length of stay, with a median of 20.5 days, and 13pc were admitted to intensive care.

They found that 75.4pc had attended a healthcare setting before diagnosis, representing a missed testing opportunity.

The study showed a majority had symptoms common to HIV for between three and 26 months before diagnosis and a number also had Aids-defining conditions.

Commenting on the findings, Dr Walsh said: Figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre show that higher proportions of people outside of the HSE east area are diagnosed with HIV infection at an advanced stage.

Early diagnosis and initiation of treatment is key to reducing the complications of HIV infection.

This research was carried out to identify the number of people receiving a HIV diagnosis at an advanced stage in the west of Ireland in order to improve testing strategies.

We looked at opportunities for patients to request or be offered HIV testing before receiving their diagnosis.

We found that those who were diagnosed with HIV at an advanced stage in primary care settings had better outcomes than those diagnosed in hospital.

More frequent HIV testing should be offered to men who identify as heterosexual and to older age groups; almost 10pc of our study group were over 65 years old.

This research supports the introduction of routine HIV testing in all healthcare settings.
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.
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.
Eilish Hardiman (far left), Paula Kelly and Ike Okafor of Children's Health Ireland arriving for an Oireachtas health committee at Leinster House last September. Picture: Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photos

THE chief executive of Childrens Health Ireland is stepping down from her role as it emerged the Minister for Health made it known he would not approve her appointment for a third term, according to informed sources.

Eilish Hardiman will take up a new role in the childrens hospital group as head of Strategic Programme Director.

Ms Hardiman had been chief executive of the group of childrens hospitals since 2013 and recently concluded a five-year term at the helm of Childrens Health Ireland.

Ms Hardimans departure as CEO was announced by the chairman of the board, Dr Jim Browne, in a memo to staff on Friday.'

The memo said: It is government practice to appoint state-body chief executives on five-year contracts with no more than two contracting periods. Eilsh has come to the end of a 10-year engagement as chief executive but is committed to continuing her public service.

The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly is understood to have informed the CHI board some time ago that he would not approve the renewal of her term as chief executive in the interests of good governance, according to a source. He also was keen to have a change of leadership.

The board will now seek a new CEO through public recruitment while Fiona Murphy will continue as acting CEO.

Ms Hardimans final year as CEO of Childrens Health Ireland has been dogged by controversy over the treatment of children with scoliosis in childrens hospitals.

Investigations are underway into the work of one orthopaedic consultant at Temple Street Childrens hospital, as well as his use of unauthorised springs in children undergoing complex spinal surgeries.

The health regulator, Hiqa, is also examining wider governance issues in Childrens Health Ireland, relating to the controls and oversight of use of medical devices and implants across all childrens hospitals.

The Minister for Health, Mr Donnelly, has also asked the HSE to send in auditors to Childrens Health Ireland to examine how it spent 19m that had been allocated for orthopaedic and spinal surgeries.

Mr Donnelly said at the time that the money was intended to bring down wait lists for childrens spinal surgeries from four months to zero. As we all know, that has not happened, he said at the time.

Ms Hardiman was personally drawn into the spinal surgery controversies after a letter addressed to her and purporting to be from the paediatric orthopaedic surgeon in question, Connor Green was leaked.

CHI said it had no prior knowledge of the implants. However in the letter supposedly sent in 2020 , Mr Green sought Ms Hardimans guidance on the use for surgery of off-label and experimental techniques using devices not designed for this purpose which the families of the children involved had consented to.

Ms Hardiman told an Oireachtas health committee hearing last September that she had no memory of seeing or receiving the letter, and she would never have approved unauthorised device implants.

Eilish Hardiman is quoted in the memo saying: Im delighted to continue my work at CHI as Strategic Programme Director, especially in this next phase which will see the project be fully realised. The important role is one that I will relish.

In a statement this evening, Dr Browne said: The Board is pleased to have retained Eilish's knowledge, experience, and leadership to deliver on important policy and strategic commitments for CHI This development will ensure CHI' s strategy for child healthcare is delivered while respecting Government practice on state body chief executives tenure.
Gardai at the scene of the attack at Newtownmountkennedy in Wicklow. Photo: Steve Humphreys

The pace of processing deportations of unsuccessful asylum applicants has remained static, despite a big increase in arrivals seeking international protection (IP) here, according to new figures.

Figures released late yesterday show there were 812 cases resolved in 2023 where asylum-seekers were denied permission to remain but had appealed against the decision, leading to a final ruling.

This compared with 813 unsuccessful asylum-seekers facing deportation having their rejected appeal fully decided in 2022.

But the statistics come against a background of increasing numbers coming across the Border with Northern Ireland.

Figures are not yet available for last year, but the number of IP applications in 2022 was 13,650. This was 186pc up on 2019, the most recent normal year, allowing for Covid lockdowns.

Independent TD Michael McNamara, to whom the data was released yesterday by the Department of Justice after a long delay, said the statistics were worrying.

They showed that 861 cases at the beginning of February had not been decided. This was where people had been denied entitlement to stay in Ireland, but were appealing against deportation.

With the cases not being called for adjudication, it seems to me that large numbers have been able to stay in Ireland for a year or more on their pending appeal, said Mr McNamara, who is an MEP candidate in Ireland South in the June European elections.

The department cant tell me how many denial appeals were waiting month by month. They should at least be able to make clear if the backlog is growing.

My anecdotal information is that it is growing very rapidly. But I dont see how they can come to grips with the problem if they dont have the relevant data.

Mr McNamara said the number of cases processed appeared to show there had been no staffing increase in response to the big increase in numbers.

It seems to be clearly demonstrated that the adjudicators on appeal decisions are under-resourced, he said.

Meanwhile, applicants are going into direct provision and we are making millionaires out of the people involved in their upkeep.

It is quite obvious that the State would save a large amount of money by engaging in recruitment of more adjudicators to deal with the glut in cases.

There were 559 resolutions of appeals against denial of leave to remain in 2020. This rose to 604 the following year. The new level of 812 or 813 represents an increase of 45pc since the pandemic.

Nearly 600 asylum-seekers were refused refugee status in January this year, more than double those refused in January 2022, according to separate figures.

Some 953 IP applications were made in January this year, with 62pc (595 applicants) refused leave to remain. This compares with 502 applications in January 2023 and 261 refusals, a ratio of about 50:50 in the right to stay or requirement to leave.

Mr McNamara said: I am slow to accuse the minister and department of ineptitude, but they have been months supplying me with the figures I got today  and they cant answer other questions, which suggests they dont have the information.

Signing off her reply to Mr McNamara yesterday, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said: The EU Asylum and Migration Pact will significantly reform the current approach in Ireland and across the EU by providing a robust legislative framework to address the challenges faced in this area.

It will reduce the time people spend in state-provided accommodation and allow for the return of those not entitled to protection. The overall aim is to speed up processing, so people in need of our protection get it quickly  and those who dont are returned to where they came from quickly and efficiently.

The figures came as Tanaiste Micheal Martin said ministers would consider more assistance for gardai amid growing numbers of violent anti-immigration protests at buildings earmarked for migrants.

Mr Martin promised every support would be given to the force in tackling these protests after three garda cars were damaged and attacked with stones at Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow, on Thursday night.

Four people appeared in court yesterday in relation to the violence.

The Fianna Fail leader said: 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.

Taoiseach Simon Harris also condemned the scenes as reprehensible.

The Department of Integration confirmed it still planned to use the vacant property to house asylum-seekers, adding that it 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 peoples lives and homes.

It said a community engagement team had been set up to speak directly with elected representatives, local authorities, groups and individuals.
Rishi Sunak said claims the Rwanda plan is causing an influx of migrants into Ireland show its deterrent effect is working.

"The deterrent is ... already having an impact because people are worried about coming here," the British Prime Minister said.

It comes after the Tanaiste, Micheal Martin said the UK's asylum policy is driving migrants in fear of being deported to Rwanda across the border from Northern Ireland into the Republic.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - April 27th

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 crossing the English Channel on small boats.

The legislation ensuring the plan is legally sound, the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act, cleared its passage through the British parliament this week and was signed into law on Thursday.

In response to Mr Sunaks comments a spokesperson for the Taoiseach said: The Taoiseach doesnt comment on the migration policies of any other country but he is very clear about the importance of protecting the integrity of the migration system in Ireland.

"Ireland has a rules-based system that must always be applied firmly and fairly. In that context, the Taoiseach has asked the Minister for Justice to bring proposals to Cabinet next week to amend existing law regarding the designation of safe third countries and allowing the return of inadmissible international protection applicants to the UK, the spokesperson said.

This is one of a number of measures we are taking to strengthen our system and ensure that it is strong, effective and agile. Rules and the integrity of our migration system will be to the fore of our actions.

In an interview with Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, which will air in full on Sunday, the UK Prime Minister was challenged over whether the UK is simply exporting the problem.

Mr Sunak said: "My focus is on the United Kingdom and securing our borders.

"But what that comment illustrates is a couple of things.

"One, that illegal migration is a global challenge, which is why you're seeing multiple countries talk about doing third country partnerships, looking at novel ways to solve this problem, and I believe will follow where the UK has led.

"But what it also shows, I think, is that the deterrent is, according to your comment, already having an impact because people are worried about coming here and that demonstrates exactly what I'm saying.

"If people come to our country illegally, but know that they won't be able to stay, they're much less likely to come, and that's why the Rwanda scheme is so important."

Downing Street on Friday rebuffed claims the Rwanda plan was already influencing movements into Ireland, saying it was too early to jump to conclusions on its impact.

Micheal Martin. Photo: Niall Carson/PA

Mr Martin told reporters in Dublin on Friday: "Clearly, we've had an increase in the numbers coming into Northern Ireland into the Republic. And it's fairly obvious that a Rwanda policy, if you're a person in a given situation in the UK and well, then you don't want to go to Rwanda - not that anybody has gone yet, I hasten to add.

"So I think it's a fair comment of mine. There are many other issues - it's not in any way trying to blame anything or anything like that."

But a No 10 spokeswoman told journalists in Westminster: "It is too early to jump to specific conclusions about the impact of the Act and treaty in terms of migrant behaviour.

"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."

Mr Sunak this week acknowledged it could still take 10 to 12 weeks to get flights in the air, in a blow to his earlier target of seeing this take place in the "spring" of this year.

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 said the number was now "higher than 80pc" crossing from Northern Ireland.
Twenty patients, including six over the age of 75, were enduring waits of more than 24 hours to be admitted to a bed in University Hospital Limerick (UHL) yesterday amid the ongoing overcrowding crisis.

It came shortly after the verdict of medical misadventure at an inquest into the death of Aoife Johnston (16) from Shannon who died of sepsis in the hospital after a gruelling wait for treatment at the overwhelmed hospital in December 2022.

Nationally 42 patients were waiting for a bed for more than 24 hours with Limerick accounting for half of these. Overall, 62 patients were on trolleys in the hospital, but another 58 were in "surge" areas  beds taken from elsewhere which should be used for people in need of day procedures.

Meanwhile, there is political pressure on more experienced senior consultants in the hospital to be on duty in the emergency department late into the evening.

Asked to outline the cover arrangements now in place in the emergency department, a spokesman for the hospital said: "University Hospital Limerick has a cohort of 12 emergency medical consultants.

"Of these, typically five to seven consultants are rostered for duty in the emergency department during regular weekday working hours, 8am-5pm.

"After 5pm, there will typically be two consultants on duty up to 8pm, and frequently 10pm for those consultants on the public-only contract.

"A consultant is on call every night and at weekends, supported by additional consultant shifts from 1-6pm on Saturdays and Sundays that have been filled as required over the past number of months.

"Consultants in emergency medicine are supported by 47 approved non-consultant hospital doctors at various grades  an increase of 21 since January of 2023."

Asked if UHL has enough step-down facilities for discharged patients, the spokesman said it has access to inpatient beds in Model 2 hospitals at Nenagh, Ennis and St John's, in addition to rehab and residential care beds in the community.

"We work closely with our community colleagues to ensure timely patient access to rehab facilities in community nursing units, and to ensure these beds are optimised at all times.

"At present, we also access beds in private nursing homes, which provides a level of health and social care therapies and a transition period before discharging patients either to their homes or long-term residential care.

"Plans are also being progressed to utilise the new 50-bed community nursing unit facility in Nenagh as an interim step-down sub-acute facility run by a private provider, pending scheduled completion in early 2025 of the first of two new 96-bed blocks at Limerick hospital.

" Also being progressed is a plan to appoint an external service provider to provide and manage a Community Rehabilitation Unit in County Clare, supporting up to 25 beds.

"Both measures will provide further options to stream patients who require rehab and stepdown care, thus creating further capacity in the acute hospitals in the mid-west.

"UL Hospitals Group consistently meets all the national targets for delayed transfers of care," he added.

Questioned on how many nursing vacancies are in the hospital and how they are impacted by the HSE recruitment embargo, the spokesman referred to a statement by the chief executive of the HSE Bernard Gloster who said he would consider next steps and take account of the findings so far in the Aoife Johnston case when he receives a report from retired Judge Frank Clarke on her care.

Sinn Fein TD for Limerick City, Maurice Quinlivan, said yesterday the government must now outline a clear plan for when and how they will implement in full all recommendations of the coroner following the verdict of medical misadventure at the inquest into the death of Aoife Johnston.
When I reported Id been raped by my best friends husband, I didnt realise he had also been my stalker

Paula Doyle had no idea vile pest messages shed been receiving for years before the rape were from same man

Paula Doyle speaks about why she waived her right to anonymity to name her attacker

Catherine Fegan Sat 27 Apr 2024 at 03:30

Paula Doyles phone was vibrating so incessantly that the detective suggested putting it in another room. The devoted mother of five, who had been raped by her best friends husband just days before, was in the living room of her home in Dublin, giving a detailed and emotional statement about the attack.
The Mens Sheds movement: People say men dont talk once you provide a safe space in which to do it, you cant get them to shut up

Not just fun and relaxing places to meet up with friends, Mens Sheds are tackling isolation and mental health issues in communities throughout Ireland. We checked out the Bray service and spoke to members about its importance

The Mens Sheds movement: People say men dont talk once you provide a safe space in which to do it, you cant get them to shut up

Alex Meehan Sat 27 Apr 2024 at 03:30

Its a chilly Thursday morning but inside Bray Mens Shed, a wood-fired stove is burning, cups of tea are being poured and a welcoming atmosphere does a lot to dispel the cold.
Emmanuel Macron has returned to the scene of one of his early triumphs, soon after his election in 2017, when he argued the EU was too weak, too slow and too ineffective.

This week he was back at the storied Sorbonne University in Paris, to deliver a two-hour speech aimed at reclaiming his title as Mr Europe  and also boost his partys dangerously flagging European Parliament campaign ahead of voting in six weeks time. His messages will have special resonance for Ireland  not least his call for stronger, more integrated European defences as part of a more assertive EU on the global stage.
Mellons in Ringsend celebrates their place in movie history as new plaque unveiled

Colm Heneghan shows off the scones in honour of The Cranberries who filmed outside the shop. Pic: Mark Condren

A Ringsend shop owner, who has had Daniel Day Lewis, Brendan Gleeson, Eric Cantona and the late Dolores ORiordan as customers, said its great to have the memories.

Colm Heneghan, of Mellons on the South Lotts Road, has spent his whole life working in the shop and over the years has enjoyed the company of many celebrity customers.

The local streets have had a number of movies filmed there, including Jim Sheridans In the Name of the Father, with Daniel Day Lewis, and The General, starring Brendan Gleeson.

Scenes for Educating Rita and Into the West were also shot there, while music videos include those from The Cranberries, The Shoos and Boyzone.

Colm Heneghan shows off the scones in honour of The Cranberries who filmed outside the shop. Pic: Mark Condren

A special plaque has now been unveiled celebrating all the pop videos, movies and documentaries filmed in the area down through the years.

To celebrate the special occasion, the shop is even selling limited edition cranberry scones as a nod to the band who shot the video for their hit song, Dreams, outside.

The plaque incorporates all the movies and music videos that have been recorded here over the years, Mr Heneghan told the Irish Independent.

This stretches back from the 1970s to the 2000s. The one that stands out for me is Eric Cantona, because he was such a star.

He recorded the EuroMillions ad when it was launched here. He was just out the front of the shop and crowds were here looking for his autograph, it was great craic.

Wed Cantona, Daniel Day Lewis, Boyzone and Brendan Gleeson as customers. Things have changed so much; the shop is all deli now. There were no mobile phones in the 90s so it was mad.

When the actors and actresses were here, there was just a kettle down the back of the shop and they made their own tea and Maxwell House coffee, thats the way it was. Its great to have the memories now.

Several different films related to the Troubles were filmed in the area due to the unique brickwork on some of the houses that resembled those of Belfast.

Colm Heneghan has 'great memories' of celebrities visiting Mellon's shop. Pic: Mark Condren

It was just mad, wed English soldiers and an armoured car here for In the Name of the Father with Daniel Day Lewis, Mr Heneghan said.

He was knocking around for a couple of weeks here. Wed Dolores ORiordan here too, she recorded around the corner.

You can see, these are two-bedroom terraced houses, if youve ever been in Belfast, the houses were similar. You had that Belfast background for the movies.

My family has been here since the start; the houses were built in 1910. We dont have a lot of memorabilia from the 1910s to 1930s, but to have this plaque on the wall is great.

Time passes by so fast; its just going to be a memory of all that was filmed here. There was an IRA film made here in 1979. I cant remember that, but its great to be able to see what was made here.

Its nice for people to come back and see it, people have been priced out of the area. They cant afford to live here anymore, but I suppose its nice for them to come back and say that they were here, he added.
The prosecution arose out of events at the Bullring in Wexford Town on March 14, 2023.

Judge Cormac Quinn conducted a sentencing hearing in the case of Megan Gilliland. The 23-year-old defendant pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was given an 18 month sentence, the final 12 months suspended.

The address of the accused appeared in court paperwork as Ozanam House, a hostel for homeless people. Her grandmother told the hearing that she could not offer accommodation to her grandchild.

This is Wexford Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Wexford newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details

The prosecution arose out of events at the Bullring in Wexford Town on March 14, 2023. Ms Gilliland and two male acquaintances were involved in a disturbance on the afternoon in question.

The incident led to one of the men receiving a jail sentence, with proceedings pending against the second.

During the disturbance a man called Piotr Czarnecki was assaulted. In court investigating Detective Garda Pat OBrien accepted that the men were more centrally involved in what occurred than the accused.

However, after examining mobile phone videos shot by members of the public, he reported that Ms Gilliland had a bottle in her hand at one stage. She was seen striking downwards with the bottle, though Garda OBrien was unable to say whether or not she connected with Czarnecki.

Shopkeepers were among those who tried to stop the row and she ended up in the premises of John Glover. The accused told him that she had been struck on her head and wrist.

Ms Gilliland was brought to court for the hearing escorted by prison officers. Defending barrister Ross Pratt OBrien explained that she was being detained on other matters in the Dochas Centre.

He stated that his client, mother of a three-year-old child, was in a relationship with one of the two males at the time of the offence last year. She divided her time then between the Ozanam House hostel in Thomas Street and a tent on the beach.

The judge learned that her child was now in the care of the grandmother, who resides in Rosslare.

Ms Gilliland had been unable to raise bail, reported Mr Pratt OBrien, after she was charged with shoplifting offences. The defendant had no previous convictions and counsel said that prison had come as a huge shock to her

She had no contact with her father or her mother, or with her sisters living in the UK.

Judge Quinn wondered whether it was possible that she could reside with the grandmother once released from custody.

The older woman arrived in court and introduced herself as Anne French. She said that she would like to have her granddaughter home with her to raise her daughter. However, she was concerned that Megan had not gone into rehab.

She was also worried that her granddaughter was corresponding from Dochas with someone she described as a drug person.

She cannot stay with me, concluded Ms French. She needs to go into rehab and stay away from people who take drugs.

Judge McCourt recorded the 18-month prison sentence but suspended the final year of the term.

He bound Ms Gilliland to the peace and put her on probation for the year following her release from custody.
The explosion of freight traffic at Rosslare Europort shows no signs of slowing down, as Brittany Ferries have today confirmed their intention to add a third weekly return sailing between the Wexford port and Cherbourg in France.

The company says the move will boost connectivity ahead of the arrival of its rail-ferry service in 2025. Ferroutage will link Bayonne with Cherbourg by rail, carrying trailers for onward transport by ferry.

This is Wexford Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Wexford newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details

Speaking at the announcement, Glenn Carr, Director Commercial Business Units Iarnrod Eireann/ Irish Rail & Port Authority Rosslare Europort said: We are delighted to see our shipping partner Brittany Ferries further increase services at Rosslare Europort.

As we continue to significantly invest in facilities and infrastructure at the port it is great to see additional new services being introduced that further strengthens our links and connectivity between Ireland and France.

Meanwhile, CEO of Brittany Ferries Christophe Mathieu stated the addition of the third weekly rotation would provide an even greater opportunity for freight operators to bypass the UK.

"It is great news for hauliers and logistics companies, he said. It means even more opportunity for freight operators to by-pass the UK entirely, cutting down on bureaucracy and delays that can occur the UK border.

This is the latest chapter in the huge growth of Rosslare Europort since Brexit came into effect. It now operates over 34 services between Rosslare, Bilbao, Cherbourg, Dunkirk and Zeebrugge, in addition to 58 weekly UK services, and Rosslare is now the only port in Europe to have the three largest RoRo brands operating services collectively from one location.

The port is a hive of activity at the moment as its largest ever infrastructure investment is now under construction and will see upgrades to passenger, freight, security, border control, storage and future Offshore Renewable Energy facilities.

Brittany Ferries has massively grown the direct Ireland-France market since 2021 and has reaffirmed its freight and passenger traffic commitment. In two years, freight volumes on France to Ireland routes has grown by 96% from 3,808 in 2021 to 7,734 units last year. Passenger traffic has also been boosted by 412% (a fourfold increase) from 28,584 in 2021 to 146,351 last year.

This new service will leave Cherbourg at 18:20 local time on Monday, arriving at Rosslare at 14:00 on Tuesday. It will then depart Rosslare at 18:00 destined for arrival in Cherbourg on Wednesday at 17:00.

Brittany Ferries has chartered Condors ferry the Commodore Clipper for the service, which will also include additional sailings to and from Portsmouth. The Clipper will be chartered to the company for around half the week: the other half it will continue to be used by Condor to serve the Channel Islands.

In addition to three weekly rotations linking Rosslare with Cherbourg, Brittany Ferries operates two weekly Cork-Roscoff round trips and a bi-weekly service from Rosslare to Bilbao.
The community in Greystones came together for an afternoon of biodiversity activities to celebrate Earth Day, on Monday April 22.

Clean Coasts hosted a family afternoon in Greystones Library and at Greystones South Beach, as part of its annual Clean Coasts Roadshow series. The event was organised with the help of North Wicklow Clean Coasts Group and the Greystones Junior Tidy Towns.

Hosted by Clean Coasts Biodiversity Officer, Liane Costello, the day began with a presentation on biodiversity, with games and activities for the children to partake in. The children learned all about marine biodiversity, the work of Clean Coasts, species they might find on their local beach and the impact of plastic pollution on our marine ecosystems.

After listening to samples of bird sounds, the participants headed to the beach to try and hear the wildlife in action. The children were then given a Biodiversity Bingo card with a species indicator list and a map of the South Beach, with instructions to locate the species on the beach  without touching them  and mark their corresponding location on the map.

Liane explained that a habitat mapping activity like this is great for engaging children in their natural environment while also raising awareness surrounding the biodiversity crisis. And thankfully, the weather held out for the duration of the afternoon which meant all species were located on the beautiful South Beach of Greystones that North Wicklow Clean Coasts group work so hard to protect.

The Clean Coasts Roadshow is a series of informative talks and workshops tailored for coastal communities across Ireland, taking place between January and May each year. This initiative brings together individuals interested in protecting their local beaches, seas, and marine environments.

The Roadshow events cover a range of topics, including biodiversity, dune systems, marine litter, wildlife, sustainable developments, and the work of local groups and organizations. These events also serve as a platform for community groups to discuss practical matters, such as building volunteer capacity, attracting new members, and sharing responsibilities. Additionally, Clean Coasts Development officers explain various funding opportunities at a national and regional level, including the Clean Coasts grant scheme for 2024.

In 2023, Clean Coasts celebrated its 20th anniversary, marking two decades of collaboration with communities to protect Irelands waterways, coastline, seas, ocean, and marine life. The Clean Coasts Roadshow in 2024 is a special opportunity to connect with and appreciate the communities and volunteers who have contributed to Clean Coasts' growth and success.

Clean Coasts is a charity programme, run through the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce, which engages communities in the protection of Irelands beaches, seas and marine life.

Since 2003, Clean Coasts has been working with communities to help protect and care for Irelands waterways, coastline, seas, ocean and marine life.

There are over 2,000 registered Clean Coasts volunteering groups and 40,000 volunteers, including the group founded by Greystones Councillor Lourda Scott in 2021, Clean Coasts North Wicklow.
Wicklow TD Jennifer Whitmore joined the pupils of St Patricks NS, in Curtlestown, Enniskerry for a No Engine Clean Air campaign day of action to highlight climate change and to try and earn the school a Green Flag for Travel & Global Citizenship.

The event, which took place outside the school on Friday, April 19, was organised by St Patricks School Green Committee members. Deputy Whitmore, who has been a strong advocate for environmental issues, expressed her admiration for the school.

I was proud to join with parents, teachers and students today, she said. Todays action sends a strong message to parents and the wider school community about how seriously St Patricks takes childrens health and air quality in the area. They are a credit to their school and the county, she said.

Todays gathering was a positive action for the school community, and people were very receptive. It is wonderful to see children from primary school age being empowered to stand up for their school, fellow students and our environment. I do not doubt that St Patricks will receive their Green Flag for Travel in the coming months, she continued.

It would be fantastic to see initiatives like this across the county. I know that students all over Wicklow are engaged on the issue of climate change and would be wonderful advocates for their local environment, she concluded.
Shirley Ballas has said undergoing biopsy tests to check for breast cancer has been terrifying as she urged others not to miss their health check-ups.

The Strictly Come Dancing judge, 63, announced earlier this week on her Instagram story that she was waiting on biopsy results after having a mammogram.

In an interview in The Sun on Sunday, the ballroom star opened up about the emotional experience and revealed she had another cancer scare while filming the Strictly Christmas special.

Discussing how she has been feeling, she told the newspaper: Im worried Ive worked myself to death. Its been terrifying, to have the needle go in your body to numb it before the biopsy.

I feel very emotional. Im not the same at work at the moment, so Im teaching, but its constantly on my mind.

She explained she underwent her mammogram in a mobile NHS unit in a Sainsburys car park and a few days later she was called to go into Kings College Hospital in south London.

Ballas said she was shocked as she had a breast check with a nurse a few weeks previously which had not shown anything but was told the mammogram scanners can pick up small abnormalities.

The doctor said I dont want to alarm you but we found something and were not sure what it is. We need to do a 3D mammogram, which is a more advanced machine, she recalled.

After that they still werent happy after finding lumpy tissue and asked me to come back and do a biopsy.

Shirley Ballas has talked about a health scare (Yui Mok/PA)

The ballroom star said that waiting for the results has made her a nervous wreck, admitting her biggest fear would be if she died before her 87-year-old mother.

Ballas also revealed she had a cancer scare when filming the Christmas special, saying: I have had continuous issues and even had really strong, painful injections into the cervix on the day of the special.

Fortunately that one came back clear. But I went straight from there to judge the Christmas show on pain medication.

In 2019 she had her breast implants removed after being told by a healthcare professional during a mammogram that they may not always be able to check for cancer behind the implants.

The dancer has a family history of cancer, with her mother suffering from colon cancer in recent years.

In 2021, Ballas also underwent tests after fans spotted a lump under her arm during an online video, which turned out to be clear.

In her Instagram Story, Ballas said she had been motivated to get the tests as Strictly professional Amy Dowden has been encouraging it.

The dancer, 33, was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer last year after finding a lump in her breast the day before going to the Maldives on her honeymoon.

She later had a mastectomy before undergoing chemotherapy, which she has now finished.

Ballas said Dowden had been absolutely lovely to her since she shared her own health update.

The Strictly judge is now urging others to get their mammograms and smear tests, adding: Check your body, check your breasts. It might save your life
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.
Stanley Tucci spent two nights in Dublin earlier week, but it wasnt nearly enough time to explore the capital, he told the Irish Independent.

Eager to get back to London for his daughters sixth birthday party, the actor was on a tight schedule. He managed to squeeze in dinner on Thursday evening, dining with friends in the Dublin 2 restaurant, Library Street, but said he wishes he had more time to spend here.

Tuccis wife, literary agent Felicity Blunt, accompanied him for the flying visit. Sister to actress Emily Blunt, she represents several best-selling authors including Co Wicklow-born writer Claire Keegan.

Tucci says he has read some of Keegans work and is a fan of her novels. I think theyre incredible, I think she is incredible.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - April 27th

He also enjoyed the film adaptation of Keegans book Small Things Like These, which was released earlier this year, with Cillian Murphy taking an acting and producing credits.

I saw the movie that Cillian made which I thought was beautiful, he says.

Claire Keegan, who I am desperate to meet, is just one of the most brilliant writers ever.

Author Claire Keegan. Photo: Getty

Tucci has, for better or worse, been immortalised in pop culture for his roles in films such as The Devil Wears Prada, Easy A and The Hunger Games. The first, in which he starred alongside his sister-in-law, has been a large talking point in the new era of film remakes.

There is no sign of a sequel or the cast coming together to work on another project, but Tucci doesnt seem to mind the chatter.

I don't feel like I'm done talking about it at all, I'm thrilled that people love those movies. I love that they cross generations. You get a construction worker that goes I loved The Devil Wears Prada and youre like what?

I think it's cool that The Hunger Games and Transformers are loved. Those movies are getting older, and it's great that they cross generations.

Tucci, who is based primarily in the UK, has observed a shift in the American movie industry in recent years. More films are being shot internationally, in Europe especially, he says.

Being in the UK is much easier. Things are not shot as much in LA as they used to be; I havent worked there in seven years. The tide has turned towards Europe.

While known for his acting roles, Tucci broke into the social media space during the Covid-19 pandemic, where he would post videos from his home kitchen making cocktails or cooking intricate Italian dishes.

Cooking shows, cookbooks, and a recently released cookware collection soon followed.

Stanley Tucci. Photo: Andres Poveda

Tucci is an anti-influencer, and has no interest in using social media for anything other than fun. The production quality of his content is low, with clips filmed by his wife, the pair laughing like teenagers, further endearing viewers to the couple.

His most recent cooking-at-home video racked up 3.2 million views. While social media has changed the concept of celebrity in many ways, it is still a novelty to get such intimate access to a traditional movie star such as Tucci.

I don't take to [social media] easily, he admits. It is a conscious choice, but at the same time I enjoy it. When used properly, it is a really great thing, but unfortunately there are a lot of people who abuse it in so many different ways.

If you want to tell a short story it's a great way to do that, if it is something that is meaningful to you, but meaningful, not just I want you to pay attention to me.

It connects us, but it also has perverted celebrity a bit too. Is it nice that people feel like they have access to you but at the same time most people are aware that it is inappropriate to do and say certain things.

When people come up and assume that they are going to take a picture with you and they have the camera ready, or they just take the picture of you just standing there like youre in a zoo, thats just weird, he adds.

[Social media] connects us, but at the same time it opens a door that should be closed.

Tucci was in Dublin as global brand ambassador for Tanquerays No Ten gin.
Britain

Woman who murdered her parents and lived with their bodies for four years is jailed for life
Joe Biden must finally put the lives of people on both sides of the Israel-Hamas war ahead of support for any state working against their best interest

Massive military funding would be better spent protecting security and self-determination of both Israeli and Palestinian people

Palestinians sit at the rubble of a residential building destroyed by Israeli strikes in the northern Gaza Strip. Photo: Reuters

Anne-Marie Slaughter Washington Post Sat 27 Apr 2024 at 03:30







The Biden administration must do whatever it can to protect the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank. It must also do whatever it can to protect Israelis. That means both pausing military assistance to the Israeli government until Palestinian civilians in Gaza have sufficient food, water, medicine and shelter to survive the war, and guaranteeing the Israeli people that the United States and its allies will do all they can to protect them from further attack.
Irish soldiers who served in Lebanon: I saw kids in buggies on Grafton Street and thought of the Arab boys and girls who were blown to bits
Livermore, CA (94550)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable.
Photo Courtesy: Ruichen Hu

The UN Secretary-General on Friday launched an initiative focusing on ensuring fairness, sustainability and respect for human rights throughout the entire process of sourcing and using critical minerals needed for the clean energy transition.

The newly established Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals brings together a diverse group of governments, organisations and UN bodies to develop a set of common and voluntary principles to protect environmental and social standards aimed at embedding justice in the energy transition.

A world powered by renewables is a world hungry for critical minerals, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at the launch of the panel.

For developing countries, this new demand presents a big opportunity to create new jobs, diversify economies and dramatically boost revenues, he continued, stressing that this requires effective management.

The race to net zero cannot trample over the poor," he said. "The renewables revolution is happening, but we must make sure that it is done in a way that moves us towards justice.

Mr. Guterres had announced his plan to set up the panel at the COP28 climate summit, held in Dubai in early December. It is expected to provide initial recommendations ahead of the General Assembly's high-level week in September.

Tweet URL

Skyrocketing demand

As the climate emergency worsens, demand is soaring for minerals vital for renewable energy technology, such as solar panels, wind turbines and electric vehicles (EV).

For instance, lithium is required to manufacture high efficiency batteries, electronics and EVs, with demand expected to rise by over 1,500 per cent, according to the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Similar increasing demand is anticipated for nickel, cobalt and copper.

The rising demand could be a big boost for many developing countries, especially in Africa, which boasts over one fifth of the worlds reserves for a dozen metals essential to the energy transition.

Cornerstone of UNs response

Mr. Guterres highlighted that developing countries cannot be relegated to the bottom of the clean energy value chain  merely as suppliers of basic raw materials.

Little wonder that resource-rich developing countries are calling for urgent action to ensure that they, and their communities, benefit from the production and trade of critical minerals and that people and nature are protected, he said.

The UN chief offered the Organizations full support for the new panel.

This work is extremely complex, but the world cannot wait, he said.

Panel membership

The panel is co-chaired by Ambassador Nozipho Joyce Mxakato-Diseko of South Africa and Director-General for Energy Ditte Juul Jrgensen of the European Commission.

Its members include Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe alongside the African Union, European Union, UN and intergovernmental entities and non-governmental organisations.
Photo Courtesy: UNI

At least two CRPF personnel were killed and four others injured in an attack by suspected Kuki militants in Manipur's Naransena area on Saturday, media reports said.

Militants attacked CRPF personnel at 0045 hrs, reportedly firing at a village in Narayansena, under Moirang police station's jurisdiction in Bishnupur District, police told UNI news agency.

The Kuki militants dropped bombs, fired towards B/128 Bn CRPF camp at Narayansena.

The explosion injured four personnel, including Insp/Gd Jadav Das, SI/GD N Sarkar, HC/GD Arup Saini, and CT/GD Aftab Hussain, while SI/GD N Sakar and HC/GD Arup Saini died.

All the injured were rushed to the hospital for treatment.

A combined force rushed into the area and conducted search operations.

Three suspected Kuki militants were rounded up.

Kuki militants have started attacking various villages.

A main bridge on the national highway was blasted earlier, cutting off the state from the rest of the country, and on Friday, heavily armed Kuki militants attacked villagers at various places.
Photo courtesy: Screenshot grab from X video

Mumbai/IBNS: A bus carrying 36 people erupted in flames in the Mumbai-Pune Express in Maharashtra early Saturday morning, media reports said.

All passengers, who were in the luxury bus, escaped unhurt.

The incident occurred at 7:30 am in Maval.

#WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra: A private bus carrying 36 passengers catches fire at Mumbai-Pune expressway near Vadgaon. All the passengers were evacuated in time, and no casualties are reported. pic.twitter.com/Uhcf4IQ27U  ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2024

The bus erupted in flames after its tyre burst followed by a short circuit.

The Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) patrolling team, fire department officials and traffic police rushed to the scene and helped to extinguish the fire.

Traffic was halted for some time.
Photo Courtesy:

At least three Indian women, who were from Gujarat, died in a road accident in the US state of South Carolina, media reports said on Saturday.

Rekhaben Patel, Sangitaben Patel, and Manishaben Patel, all residents of Gujarat's Anand district, died as their SUV careened off the road, hurtling over a bridge in Greenville County, South Carolina, reported NDTV news channel.

The Greenville County Coroners Office told WSPA the crash occurred on Staunton Bridge Road over Interstate 85.

Investigators told the news channel an SUV was headed northbound on I-85 when it crossed all lanes of the interstate, ran up an embankment and went at least 20 feet into the air over the bridge and crashed into trees on the other side of the bridge.

It is obvious they were traveling above the posted speed limit, Chief Deputy Coroner Mike Ellis told WSPA.

The coroners office is investigating with other agencies to ascertain how fast the vehicle was moving.

Chief Deputy Coroner Mike Ellis said the car was found in pieces following the deadly crash.

Very seldom do you see a vehicle that leaves the roadway at such a high rate of speed that it jumps 4-6 lanes of traffic and lands in the trees approximately 20 feet, Ellis said. When you got family, probably related, three deceased it is nothing that you want to ever see.
Photo Courtesy: Screengrab from video

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was injured on Saturday when she slipped and fell inside a helicopter in Durgapur.

The incident occurred after she walked up the movable staircase which was placed before the helicopter and was about to take a seat inside it.

Mamata Banerjee suffered a minor injury and was immediately helped by her security personnel, reported India Today.

She later continued her scheduled trip to Asansol.

She is currently busy campaigning for her party amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

The second phase of the Lok Sabha polls took place on Friday.

India is voting in seven phases to elect a new Lok Sabha.
Photo Courtesy: PIB

Sri Lankan-Tibetan Buddhist Brotherhood Founder President Damenda Porage described Indian PM Narendra Modi a 'great leader' and said the revival of Buddhism took place after he became the Prime Minister of India in 2014.

Porage recalled PM Modi's visit to Sri Lanka in 2017 when he attended the Vesak Day celebrations, which is observed as one of the biggest festivals among Buddhists, reported ANI news agency.

Speaking to ANI, Damenda Porage said, "The Prime Minister of India, PM Modi, is a great leader, I should say. After his appointment as the PM of India, we can see a revival in Buddhism took place. He is so generous not only to India, but to the neighbouring countries. Like, recently, we saw the Buddha's relics travel to Thailand. The Buddhist people of Thailand were overjoyed by this gesture."

"And before that, in his time the holy Buddha relics from India travelled to Mongolia and they travelled to Sri Lanka too. We remember PM Modi came to Sri Lanka in 2017 as the chief guest of the UN Vesak Day. He started his speech with a Buddhist chanting with a verse from the Dhammapada. We have seen him speaking, addressing to Buddhist communities worldwide every time, he selected an appropriate phrase from the Buddhist doctrine," he added.

He praised Modi for referring to Buddhist teachings in his speeches, which according to him is a rare practice among world leaders.

He lauded the Indian government's decision to donate USD 15 million to Sri Lanka to improve Buddhist activities.

"No one in the world, no country in the world has done such a meritorious deed to gift us this amount of grant to improve to promote Buddhism in Sri Lanka. And the Mahasangha of Sri Lanka love him that I know. They respect him. They appreciate him. They appreciate his mission towards Buddhism and they appreciate PM Modi's work to promote Buddhism in India and also helping the Buddhist nations neighbouring India," he added.

In March, the Indian government took initiatives in sending the relics of Lord Buddha and those of his two main disciples, Arahant Sariputta and Maha Moggallana for a 25-day exposition across four cities in Thailand.
Image Credit: Video grab

New Delhi: Gurucharan Singh, who is known for depicting te role of Roshan Singh Sodhi in the popular Indian sitcom 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah,' has been reported missing for five days, media reports said.

The Delhi Police has taken action by registering a kidnapping case following a complaint filed by Singh's father, reported NDTV.

According to the actor's father, his son left Delhi for Mumbai on Monday but did not arrive at his destination, the report said.

The complaint said that his phone has been unreachable since then.

His father said that they filed the police complaint after they were unable to trace him.

Security camera footage from the Palam area showed the 50-year-old actor crossing a road on Monday night.

"His flight was scheduled for 8.30 pm on Monday, but he was seen at a traffic intersection in Palam at around 9.14 pm," officials said, according to NDTV.

The police have stated that they are currently reviewing the CCTV footage and actively investigating the case.
Image Credit: Video grab

Bharuch (Gujarat): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said people should not vote for urban Naxals and stressed that both the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party were "anti-tribals".

Speaking at a rally in Gujarat's Bharuch Lok Sabha constituency, where the AAP has allied with the Congress, he urged voters to support BJP's incumbent MP Mansukh Vasava.

      AAP        . pic.twitter.com/SHUAQiy7id  Amit Shah (Modi Ka Parivar) (@AmitShah) April 27, 2024

Shah urged the people to vote for Manuskh Vasava, asserting that a leader like him is difficult to come by, and added that some urban Naxal would take his place in case he lost the contest.

In Bharuch, part of South Gujarat, BJP's sitting MP Mansukh Vasava is in fielded against AAP's sitting MLA Chaitar Vasava. This constituency holds a considerable population of tribals.

The Congress and AAP have joined hands to exploit people, he said. I have no qualms in stating that the Congress is anti-tribal, and AAP will manipulate tribals after securing their votes, Shah remarked.

He accused the Congress and AAP of spreading rumours that the BJP would amend the Constitution and abolish reservations once it secures 400 Lok Sabha seats.

Shah added that the Congress, being the "expert," and the Arvind Kejriwal-led party, being the "chief," are skilful in peddling falsehoods.

He pointed out that two liarsAAP and Congresshave united under the INDIA bloc in Bharuch, and added that the Narendra Modi government has held power for a decade with a decisive majority and could have altered the Constitution if it wished to do so.

Modi guarantees that he will neither tamper with reservations for Adivasis, Dalits, or OBCs nor allow anyone else to do so, he assured the people.

Shah further alleged that the Congress and AAP are spreading falsehoods about the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC), claiming it would infringe upon the fundamental rights of tribals.

"I've reviewed the UCC bill, and it clearly states that it does not apply to tribals. They (Congress and AAP) are spreading falsehoods. I want to tell the numerous tribals here that Chaitar Vasava (AAP candidate) and his associates are spreading lies. Don't be misled by their words because Modi is a friend of Adivasis," the BJP stalwart said.

He pointed out that the number of Eklavya schools (residential schools for tribals) has increased from 90 under the Congress-led UPA regime to 740 now.

Further, a district mineral fund has been established with a corpus of Rs 75,000 crore to address the water, education, health, and nutritional needs of tribals, Shah noted.

Taking a dig at the Congress regarding the Ram Temple issue, the BJP leader said Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge were invited to the idol consecration of the Ram Temple on January 22, but they did not attend the event as they were more concerned about their vote bank.

Shah asked whether the people of Bharuch would support those who did not participate in the idol consecration of Lord Ram.
Photo Courtesy: India in Russia X page

Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval conducted a series of bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the XII International Meeting of High Ranking Officials Responsible for Security Matters in St. Petersburg, Russia.

His meeting with his Russian counterpart provided an opportunity for both sides to assess the advancements made in bilateral cooperation and deliberate on significant matters of mutual interest.

The wide-ranging bilateral discussion with Celso Amorim, the Chief Advisor to the Brazilian president, covered a range of topics including bilateral, regional, and global matters of mutual concern.

During the luncheon meeting of BRICS NSAs, hosted by the Russian Security Council's Secretary earlier in the day.

NSA Doval emphasized the necessity for enhanced collaboration in combating terrorism and advocated for concrete measures to thwart the cross-border planning, financing, and execution of terrorist activities.

A bilateral discussion was held also with Admiral Moe Aung, of Myanmar.

The conversation encompassed the prevailing situation in Myanmar and India's infrastructure projects funded in the country. Furthermore, both sides addressed recent developments along the India-Myanmar border, delving into matters concerning security, refugees, and ongoing development projects.

India's commitment to using digital technologies for inclusive economic growth was highlighted at a session on information security during the XII International Meeting of High Ranking Officials Responsible for Security Matters. India advocated for international collaboration to establish a framework for information security that is open, stable, secure, reliable, and accessible to all.

The roadmap for such cooperation should encompass several key elements: involvement of all stakeholders ranging from Governments to the Private Sector, Academia, Technical Communities, and Civil Society; nurturing regular institutional dialogues to foster a shared understanding of critical issues; facilitating capacity building among like-minded nations through training, education, awareness programs, and the development of security standards for emerging technologies; and establishing mechanisms for cooperation at both domestic and international levels.

India's resolve to collaborate in countering the misuse of information and communication technologies by terrorists and criminals, as well as combating terror funding, was underlined in unambiguous terms. In this regard, the importance of initiatives such as the UN Convention on cybercrime at the international level was emphasized.

India's unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms resonates deeply with one of the core objectives of BRICS. The BRICS coalition, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has intensified its vigilance against terrorism in recent years. They recognize it as a major threat to global peace and security.

BRICS nations have consistently denounced terrorism in all its manifestations, irrespective of ideology or religion. They advocate for a united global front against terrorism and emphasize the importance of international cooperation. The group supports the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) but acknowledges the lack of consensus on its definition of terrorism.

BRICS established a working group on counter-terrorism and hold annual meetings for National Security Advisors. This allows for joint planning, intelligence sharing, and collaboration on issues like terror financing. They also recognize the role of the internet in recruitment and propaganda, calling for cooperation on information security and countering the misuse of technology.

The BRICS declaration in 2016 included "dismantling terror bases," reflecting India's concerns about cross-border terrorism. They have expressed support for Afghanistan's stability and peace efforts, a region critical to several BRICS members. The grouping has condemned the violence perpetrated by terrorist groups like ISIS, Boko Haram, and Al-Shabab.

As the BRICS build their global influence, they are expected to maintain their strong stance against terrorism. Continued collaboration is crucial to address emerging threats like the use of chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons by terrorists. Finding a balance between internet security and citizen privacy is a challenge the BRICS nations must address.

The BRICS grouping represents a significant portion of the world's population, especially young people. By working together and finding common ground, they can develop effective strategies to combat terrorism and build a more secure future.

India and Russia have a long history of close partnership, lasting more than 50 years, built on mutual support, especially during difficult times. India strongly condemned the brutal terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall in Moscow on March 22 and urged for a unified approach without double standards in combating such atrocities. Earlier this month, the national security advisors of India and Russia met on the sidelines of the 19th annual meeting of the secretaries of security councils of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states in Astana where India expressed unwavering support to the government and people of Russia in confronting the menace of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, emphasizing the imperative of effectively and swiftly addressing the perpetrators of terrorism, including those involved in cross-border terrorist activities.

Terrorism also took center stage at the 19th annual meeting of the secretaries of security councils of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states, held recently in Astana. The participants concurred on the intricate and volatile nature of the current international security environment, where traditional and non-traditional threats are intricately interwoven. The escalating geopolitical risks, combined with the dynamic evolution of terrorism, extremism, and separatism, pose grave dangers to both global and regional peace and stability.

Underlining the imperative of combating terrorism, the SCO pledged to enhance cooperation among member nations in this critical endeavour. The meeting delved into strategic discussions aimed at countering terrorism, extremism, and separatism, while also prioritizing collaborative efforts to address contemporary threats and challenges, including those related to regional security concerns.

During the meeting, India emphasized its commitment to maintaining peace, stability, and security within the SCO region, stressing the importance of a strong stance against terrorism in all its forms, highlighting its detrimental impact on the prosperity and development of SCO member states, reiterating India's long-standing proposal for a comprehensive international treaty on terrorism at the United Nations.

The Indian delegation highlighted India's concept of "Security and Growth for All in the Region" (SAGAR), which promotes cooperation and shared prosperity within the Indo-Pacific region.

After the meeting, a protocol was signed, likely signifying an agreement on a key aspect of SCO cooperation. Additionally, a joint statement in the form of a communique was issued, detailing several initiatives that the SCO member states committed to pursuing.

One particularly notable initiative outlined in the communique is the conception of "One Earth, One Family, One Future." This concept seems to draw inspiration from the ancient Indian philosophy of "VasudhaivaKutumbakam," meaning "the world is one family." This underscores an emphasis on fostering unity and collaboration among SCO member states.

In conclusion, the India-Russia security dialogue underscored collaborative efforts against terrorism and the volatile international security scenario. Indian NSA AjitDoval's engagements emphasized enhanced cooperation in countering cross-border terrorism and leveraging digital technologies for inclusive growth.

The SCO meeting in Astana echoed these sentiments, highlighting the urgent need for joint action in addressing evolving security threats.

The signing of protocols and joint statements reflects tangible progress in SCO collaboration. Initiatives like "One Earth, One Family, One Future" signify unity amidst global challenges. Continued strategic dialogue and cooperation are essential for ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and beyond.

(About the author: Dr. Maheep is an eminent scholar of International Relations and Global Politics. He has been teaching and conducting research in the area of his interests for over a decade)
Escalating violence in Sudans North Darfur state has left dozens dead and people trapped in El Fasher city, which is home to around 800,000 people, many displaced due to fighting.

In a note to correspondents issued on Friday, the UN said there were increasingly alarming reports of a dramatic escalation of tensions.

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 added.

An attack on the city would have devastating consequences for civilians, the statement from the UN Spokespersons Office continued.

This escalation of tensions is in an area already on the brink of famine. The Secretary-General reiterates his call on all parties to refrain from fighting in the El Fasher area.

Overall, around 25 million people, or half Sudans population, require humanitarian aid, with over eight million forced to flee their homes. More than 14,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands wounded.

Around 1.8 million have fled across the countrys borders trying the escape the brutal fighting.

Dozens already killed

In a further alert on Friday over Darfur, UN rights chief Volker Turk cited reports that the rival militaries have launched indiscriminate attacks using mortar shells and rockets fired from fighter jets in residential districts.

Since the RSF began their push into the state capital, El Fasher, at least 43 people have been reportedly killed, including women and children.

Civilians are trapped in the city, the only one in Darfur still in the hands of the Sudanese Armed Forces, and they are afraid of being killed if they attempt to flee, the High Commissioner said.

Mr. Turk noted that the dire situation had been made worse by a severe shortage of essential supplies as delivery trucks are unable to freely transit through Rapid Support Forces-controlled territory.

He said the RSF had burned down villages in western El Fasher, including Durma, Umoshosh, Sarafaya and Ozbani, raising the possibility of further ethnically motivated violence in Darfur, including mass killings.

Last year, fighting and attacks between the ethnic Arab Rizeigat tribe and the ethnic African Masalit people in West Darfur left hundreds of civilians dead or injured and thousands displaced, the High Commissioner noted, as he called for an end to the more than year-long conflict.

Wholly man-made crisis

The UNs head of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, told the Security Council last week that the situation across Sudan is a crisis of epic proportions; it is wholly man-made.

The director of operations at the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, Edem Wosornu, warned the same meeting that the siege by the RSF of El Fasher posed an extreme and immediate danger to civilians there and in other parts of Darfur, where more than nine million are in dire need of assistance.
Representational image (Photo courtesy: Pixabay)

Istanbul: Guinea-Bissau authorities halted the departure of a three-ship flotilla headed towards Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid from Turkey, media reported.

Organisers said that the country's flags were removed from two ships after a surprise inspection conducted by the Guinea-Bissau International Ships Registry just before the planned departure, reported AP.

The checks started shortly before the scheduled departure of the flotilla from Turkey to Gaza.

A statement from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition described the cancellation of the ships' registration as a "blatantly political move."

The organisers alleged that a close co-ordination between Israel and Guinea-Bissau was behind the action.

A large number of Turkish and people from other countries had participated in the cause and they were disappointed by the cancellation.

It is very hard for us because it takes time to procure a flag. Its a procedure that cant be done in a few days.  But were not giving up, organizer and steering committee member Torstein Dahle told The Associated Press.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition consists of Turkish and international organisations, including the IHH and the Mavi Marmara Association from Turkey.

These organisations were also involved in arranging a controversial flotilla in 2010.

On May 31, 2010, Israeli commandos launched a raid on the Mavi Marmara, which was in international waters at the time. The incident escalated into a bloody clash that resulted in the deaths of nine people and left several activists injured. Seven Israeli soldiers were wounded during the altercation, as activists attacked them with clubs, knives, and pipes.
In a move targeting China, the European Parliament has given its final approval to a new regulation enabling the EU to prohibit the sale, import, and export of goods made using forced labour.

Member state authorities and the European Commission will be able to investigate suspicious goods, supply chains, and manufacturers. If a product is deemed to have been made using forced labour, it will no longer be possible to sell it on the EU market (including online) and shipments will be intercepted at the EUs borders.

Investigations

Decisions to investigate will be based on factual and verifiable information that can be received from, for example, international organisations, cooperating authorities and whistle-blowers.

Several risk factors and criteria will be taken into account, including the prevalence of state-imposed forced labour in certain economic sectors and geographic areas.

Consequences for companies using forced labour

Manufacturers of banned goods will have to withdraw their products from the EU single market and donate, recycle or destroy them. Non-compliant companies could be fined.

The goods may be allowed back on the EU single market once the company eliminates forced labour from its supply chains.

Rapporteur for the Internal Market committee, Maria-Manuel Leitao-Marques (S&D, PT) said: Today, worldwide, 28 million people are trapped in the hands of human traffickers and states who force them to work for little or no pay. Europe cannot export its values while importing products made with forced labour. The fact that the EU finally has a law to ban these products is one of the biggest achievements of this mandate, and a victory for progressive forces.

Rapporteur for the International Trade committee, Samira Rafaela (Renew, NL) said: This is a historic day. We have adopted a ground-breaking piece of legislation to combat forced labour worldwide. This regulation fosters EU and international cooperation, shifts power from exploiters to consumers and employees, and offers possibilities for remedy for victims. It also transforms trade policies into a greener and fairer future.

The regulation was adopted with 555 votes in favour, 6 votes against and 45 abstentions. The text now has to get a final formal approval from the EU Council.

It will then be published in the Official Journal. EU countries will have to start applying it in 3 years.
The members of the Baloch National Movement (BNM) recently highlighted the plight of Baloch people by campaigning in Cambridge city of the UK.

The members tried to spread awareness about the Baloch Freedom Movement during their campaign.

"Throughout the campaign, pamphlets detailing the ongoing atrocities in Balochistan were distributed, urging students and citizens alike to stand in solidarity with the Baloch cause," read the BNM website.

BNM said its activists engaged with the community, sharing stories of resilience and highlighting the urgent need for support in the face of Pakistani oppression.

The BNM earlier campaigned in other European cities like London, Leeds, Newcastle, and Manchester.
Photo Courtesy: Michelle Reyes Facebook page

Taking the possibility of flying saucers and the existence of UFOs to a new height, a flight traveller captured a strange object flying over New York.

The incident left experts baffled and even made federal aviation officials to go on a fact-finding mission.

Meet the woman who captured the storage flying object on camera

Michelle Reyes was flying on a commercial airline flight above LaGuardia Airport on March 25 when she captured the video footage of the mysterious flying cylinder from the plane window.

Sharing the video on Faebook, she wrote: " I saw a ufo coming home yesterday! Can anyone help me identify what this is?! Posting the video and a still shot of the object."

Is it a UFO?

Thomas Wertman, the state director of the Mutual UFO Network in Ohio, reviewed the footage for The New York Post and said the dark object was travelling at roughly 2,500 feet and was relatively close to the plane as it prepared for landing.

The objects altitude, shape and location  near a major commercial flight path  appears to rule out that it could be a news helicopter, a drone or a military aircraft, Wertman said.

Drones arent supposed to fly at that altitude, at least legally, he said. If it were something related to [military] defense or law enforcement, you normally wouldnt see it so close to a major flight lane.

That could be a potential hazard, said Wertman, who has spent years studying the skies for evidence of interplanetary visitors.

It does not appear to be a commercial aircraft because I dont see features like wings or a tail, he said.

The plane in which Michelle Reyes was travelling was around 15 minutes away from LaGuardia Airport.

Thomas Wertman said it was probably flying at 230 mph when the video was shot

Ultimately, the footage doesnt appear to be doctored, he said.
Missing Gurucharan Singh, who famously portrayed Roshan Singh Sodhi on the beloved sitcom "Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah" until 2020, has alarmed fans and co-stars alike. As reported by his father, Singh has not been seen or heard from since departing his Delhi home for Mumbai on April 22. The concern for Singh is compounded by revelations from his close friend, Soni, who spoke to Pinkvilla about his recent health struggles. "Gurucharan jis health hasn't been good; he had high blood pressure and had undergone several tests. He wasnt even eating well before he left for Delhi," Soni said.

Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah's Sodhi Missing, Reported Unwell

Despite her attempts to file a missing report in Mumbai, procedural limitations have prevented it since he has not returned to the city.

The father of actor Gurucharan Singh, who featured on the show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah as 'Sodhi', has given a written complaint to the police that his son had left for Mumbai from his residence in Delhi on April 22 and since then he is missing. His father said in the pic.twitter.com/7nNDpykkmp  ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2024

Delhi Police have officially registered the missing person's report and are intensively searching for Singh. "We have registered the complaint and are looking into all possible leads to find Gurucharan Singh," a police spokesperson confirmed.

VIDEO | Delhi: Visuals from outside the rented residence of actor #GurucharanSingh, who has reportedly gone missing.



Gurucharan Singh played the character of Sodhi in TV serial 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah'. The 50-year-old actor's father has filed a missing complaint with pic.twitter.com/D7LZPbAyt0  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 27, 2024

"Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah" has captured the hearts of viewers since its debut in 2008 and continues to be a fixture on Indian television. The show, created by Asit Kumarr Modi, is celebrated for its humorous and affectionate depiction of life in the fictional Gokuldham Co-operative Housing Society, representing a microcosm of Indias diverse culture.

One of the show's main charms is its array of colourful characters. Each character has a distinct personality and brings their own flavour to the storylines, making for an engaging and often hilarious viewing experience. One of the key characters includes:

, played by Gurucharan Singh in the show, a jovial Sikh mechanic who loves to live life to the fullest and is known for his warmth and enthusiasm.

The society also includes a variety of other characters from different parts of India, each contributing to the shows engaging narrative.

The show stands out not only for its humour but also for its ability to weave in social messages into its episodes. From promoting cleanliness and public hygiene to celebrating all festivals with equal zeal, "Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah" promotes unity in diversity, often delivering poignant messages on national integration, friendship, and community living.

Its appeal across all age groups and its ability to blend humour with social values have kept it popular among viewers for many years.

The news of Singh's mysterious disappearance has now sparked a flurry of concern on social media, with fans and friends sharing hopes for his swift and safe return.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
All 20 constituencies in Kerala voted in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 on Friday. The fate of 194 candidates was decided by over 2.75 crore voters in the southern state. While several booths across the state witnessed long queues of voters since morning, a polling station in the Kollam Lok Sabha constituency in southern Kerala had a unique voter.

PTI

Voter dress as woman

78-year-old Rajendra Prasad showed up at his polling booth in Ezhukone on Friday to cast his vote. In a video that has gone viral on social media, the elderly man is heard saying that he voted as a woman.

As per local media reports, this was Prasad's way of protesting against an error on his voter ID card. Apparently, on Prasad's Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC) his gender is wrongly marked as female.

FACEBOOK

If EC says I am a woman...

"I voted as a woman. Like the Supreme Court of India, the Election Commission of India is the apex body and you can't oppose what they say. If the Election Commission says that I am a woman, I am one and that is how it is. That is why I voted in the Lok Sabha Elections as a woman," Prasad is heard saying in the viral video.

How to fix errors in Voters ID card

It should be noted that it is not uncommon to find errors including wrong name, address, date of birth, and more on the voter ID card. But the Election Commission has made it relatively easy to fix these errors by submitting the relevant documents, either online or offline.

ANI

Voting in Kerala

According to the Election Commission, Kerala recorded a voter turnout of 70.21 per cent on Friday, with the Wayanad constituency having the highest electoral participation (72.70 per cent).

PTI

Among the candidates whose fate were decided on Friday include former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, union ministers Rajeev Chandrasekhar and V Muraleedharan, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor actor Suresh Gopi and former Kerala Health Minister K K Shailaja.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Authorities in the US have detected what is being described as the first cases of HIV transmission through cosmetic injection. At least three women in the US state of New Mexico have been infected with HIV while receiving vampire facials at an unlicensed local spa. Authorities also fear that more of the spa's customers could have been infected.

HEALTH PLUS

What is vampire facial

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) facial treatments, or vampire facials are an extremely popular anti-aging treatment that uses a person's own blood to promote collagen production and trigger growth factors. Vampire facials became popular for being inexpensive, minimally invasive, and non-surgical and for their ability to improve the skin's overall appearance while targeting specific issues.

How the HIV infections were found

According to US media reports, the first case of HIV transmission linked to the VIP Spa in Albuquerque was discovered in 2018 in a middle-aged woman. The two other women also underwent vampire facials at the spa in 2018 and the latest case was identified in 2023 during a hospitalisation.

Impact Medical

Following the first case, an investigation by the CDC had found that the spa did not have appropriate licenses to operate and was not using proper safety measures.

They also found unlabeled tubes of blood on a kitchen counter at the spa, as well as in the kitchen refrigerator, next to food and injectables like lidocaine and unwrapped syringes in drawers, on counters and discarded in trash cans.

CDC and health department investigators had estimated that 59 spa clients may have been exposed to HIV.

Spa owner jailed

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 CDC said.

Reuters/Representational image

Investigators said the original source of the HIV contamination at the spa remains unknown.

In 2022, the spas owner pleaded guilty in 2022 to five felony counts of practicing medicine without a license and was sentenced to three-and-a-half-years in prison.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Prachi Nigam's exceptional result in Uttar Pradesh's Class 10 board exams, with a staggering 98.5 percent, drew widespread notice. Rather than being celebrated, she became the target of trolls who mocked her for her facial hair.

This tragic incident highlighted another element of our society's worldview, in which attractiveness frequently overshadows true accomplishments, as evidenced by considerable social media conversation about Nigam's looks rather than her academic excellence.

Bombae of Bombay Shaving Company uses Prachi Nigam for an ad

Prachi Nigam trolled for facial hair after topping UP board in class 12 | Image: X

Now, unexpectedly, a company has decided to join the conversation, not to insult the adolescent, but to offer solidarity while quietly advertising their own product. This decision stunned many, prompting online users to condemn the brand for abusing such a delicate matter.



It all started when 'X' user Gabbar Singh posted a photo of Bombay Shaving Company's newspaper ad promoting their women's face razor, Bombae.

What did the ad feature?

The ad used the topper Prachi Nigam's name, stating, Dear Prachi, they are trolling your hair today, theyll applaud your A.I.R. tomorrow. But it did not end there. However, there was more to it. The note beneath urged her to resist bullying and use their razor.

In their own words, We hope you never get bullied into using your razor.

This covert marketing strategy provoked controversy about whether the business was taking advantage of the circumstance.

How did people on the internet react?

Criticism rapidly followed, with the OP stating, "The kid would like this episode to end as soon as possible." But no! A brand wants to use her name again. Without her permission. Sell their own razors. "Very poor taste!" Another person stated, "Marketing is as cold a business as selling caskets."

The third person said, "That's the world we live in." faux outrage and faux sympathy. For people it's for likes, for brands it's for business," while the fourth joined, "Seriously disgraceful." Check the post here.

Bombay Shaving Company does a full page ad for Prachi, The UP board topper, who was being trolled for facial hair.



Havent seen something this desperate.



This message goes to their own TG, not to the people who bullied her, hey pls remember to buy our razors while you shed a pic.twitter.com/YWBDwgd6LU  Gabbar (@GabbbarSingh) April 27, 2024

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.
Many young Indians want to relocate in foreign nations because they want to improve their standard of living. Many Westerners consider Canada to be their number one travel destination.

However, relocating abroad is not easy, particularly when it comes to surviving the severe Canadian winters.

Who ranted about the reality of life in Canada?

Punjabi content creator whose Instagram username is SuriKeSaath | Image: Instagram

Recently, a Punjabi content creator, whose Instagram username is SuriKeSaath, living in Canada piqued the interest of social media users by discussing the reality of life in The Great White North.



In an Instagram video, he humorously discussed the difficulties of dealing with colds due to cultural differences. His rant resonated not only with other immigrants, but also with his Indian supporters.

Many people were amused by the video, but just a handful expressed sympathy to the producers.

What did the content creator share?

Suri spoke about people's behaviour in Canada | Image: Instagram

He added, "I've arrived in Canada, and the people here spew so much rubbish. When you say hello to someone, their reaction is as if a bomb has suddenly exploded. I am making this video in the car because I am terrified someone will wake up at home. Everyone is living such a phony life. I live like a criminal in my own home. I can not understand why I got here. I'm not exaggerating; just look at the weather. I planned to spend the summer in India and return to Canada when it was warm, but look at the weather here."



"I don't have any winter tires. On the first day, my automobile wouldn't start. I had to jump start it, but I stopped as soon as I got to the freeway. I had to spend $250 (Rs 15,000) to replace the battery. Furthermore, my family back home constantly calling me, asking, 'Go to Canada to save money and send it to India.' What money should I save? Nobody can save here."

How did people on the internet react?

The artist captioned the video, "Canada Ne Apne Rang Dikhane Shuru Karte A. (Canada started showing its true colours)."

In response to the clip, a user said, "Same sensation. I dislike it here; I'm not sure why I came here."

Another user wrote, "Dukh mutual hai." Someone asked, "Ye dukh kab khatam hoga?" (When will the sadness end?" "Don't worry, everything will be fine," a comment said.

Check the rant here.

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.
The recent verdict by the Supreme Court reinforces a fundamental principle of matrimonial law: a husband has no control over his wife's assets called 'streedhan'. The top court said husbands must give it back to their wives, no matter what. Let's look at what happened in the case and what it means for married couples. This landmark decision underscores the importance of recognising and respecting a woman's property rights within the institution of marriage. The case in question exemplifies the court's commitment to upholding the integrity of 'streedhan'the property owned by a womanand ensuring that husbands do not wield undue control over it. Let's look at what happened in the case and what it means for married couples.



What is Streedhan?

'Streedhan' encompasses various gifts, jewelry, cash, and properties that a woman receives from friends or family before, during, and after marriage, including during childbirth and widowhood. These gifts can originate from both her own family and her in-laws' family. The woman holds exclusive rights to these assets, and her husband cannot make a claim to them. It is essential to maintain a detailed list of such items and store them securely. This ensures that in the event of a marital breakdown, the woman is aware of the assets she can rightfully claim as her 'streendhan.'

What Happened?

Bride | Photo: Unsplash

The Supreme Court has reiterated that a husband has no control over his wife's 'stridhan' (woman's property) and, although he may utilize it in times of distress, he is morally obligated to return it to his wife. In a recent case, the court directed a man to pay Rs 25 lakh to a woman for her lost gold. The woman claimed that 89 sovereigns of gold were gifted to her by her family at the time of marriage, and her father also gave a cheque for Rs 2 lakh to her husband after the wedding, reported ET.



However, on the first night of their marriage, the husband took custody of all her jewelry and entrusted it to his mother for safekeeping. The woman alleged that the husband and his mother misappropriated all the jewelry to settle their pre-existing financial obligations. The Family Court ruled in favor of the woman in 2011, holding that the husband and his mother had indeed misappropriated her gold jewelry, entitling her to recover the loss.

However, the Kerala High Court partially overturned this decision, stating that the woman had failed to prove the misappropriation. Dissatisfied with the high court's ruling, the woman appealed to the Supreme Court. A bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta reaffirmed that 'stridhan' property remains the sole property of the wife, and the husband has no legal right or control over it.

What the Supreme Court Said: Protecting Women's Rights

BCCL

"Properties gifted to a woman before marriage, at the time of marriage or at the time of bidding farewell or thereafter are her stridhan properties. It is her absolute property with all rights to dispose at her own pleasure.



"The husband has no control over her stridhan property. He may use it during the time of his distress but nonetheless he has a moral obligation to restore the same or its value to his wife," the bench said, while referring to an earlier judgment on the issue.

The Supreme Court stated that issues concerning marriage are rarely simple or straightforward. Therefore, expecting human reactions to adhere to a mechanical timeline before the sacred bond of marriage is dissolved is unrealistic.

Also Read: Anant Ambani Spotted At Dubai Mall In Rolls Royce Cullinan & 20 Security Cars



"Divorce, majorly, in Indian society is still considered a stigma, and any delay in commencement of legal proceedings is quite understandable because of the attempts made to have the disputes and differences resolved; more so, in a case of the present nature, when the appellant was faced with the imminent prospect of termination of her second marriage.

" Even otherwise, the appellant did not present before the Family Court a time barred claim. Doubting the bona fide of the appellant, on facts and in the circumstances, was thus not called for," the bench said.

The Supreme Court said that the foundation of marriage is built upon the essential mutual trust between spouses, which is inherent in conjugal relationships. Therefore, it is unlikely to assume that the woman did not trust her husband from the very beginning.

"The High Court, thus, failed to draw the right inference from facts which appear to have been fairly established. That apart, we have neither been shown nor do we know of any binding precedent that for a claim of return of stridhan articles or money equivalent thereof to succeed, the wife has to prove the mode and manner of such acquisition.

"It was not a criminal trial where the chain of circumstances had to be complete and conclusively proved, without any missing link. Undisputedly, the appellant had brought to the matrimonial home sufficient quantum of jewellery, which she wore during the marriage and as is evidenced from photographs," the bench said.

The Supreme Court noted that the woman had effectively taken steps to recover the value of 89 sovereigns of gold, which was estimated to be Rs 8.90 lakh in the year 2009.

"Mere upholding of the decree of the Family Court at this distance of time, without anything more, would bring about injustice to her. Bearing in mind the passage of time, the escalation in cost of living, and in the interest of equity and justice, we deem it fit in exercise of power conferred by Article 142 of the Constitution of India to award to the appellant a sum of Rs 25,00,000," the bench said.

Also Read: Here How Much Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah Cast Ea

Note: Details mentioned here are as per the information available.

For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here
Greek Development Minister Kostas Skrekas has expressed optimism about the potential discovery of natural gas reserves southwest of Crete.

Speaking at the 5th Eastern Mediterranean Business Summit of The Economist in New York,

Mr. Skrekas highlighted Greeces commitment to phasing out fossil fuels since 2019, well before the war in Ukraine

While Greece does not yet produce gas, Mr. Skrekas noted that Exxon Mobil is finalising its assessment of data collected over the past two years.

The initial indications make us feel optimistic about what might be found beneath the seabed, he said. However, he added, To be honest, we first need to drill and see if it truly exists. We believe that by the end of 2025, the first exploratory drillings will begin, and then we will know.

If we are so fortunate, then the size of the field  which is estimated to be found  will be sufficient for the energy security not only of Greece but of all of Europe.

The minister acknowledged that time was required, citing similar experiences in Egypt and Cyprus.

He pointed out that one of the future challenges is the gaps in the gas and oil supply chain that contribute to price increases.

The minister referred to upcoming research southwest of Crete to determine if exploitable natural gas deposits exist in the maritime blocks.

   iefimerida.gr
The islanders he meets on his tour of the Aegean "feel they are second- and third-class citizens," SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance Stefanos Kasselakis told Athens 9.84 radio station on Friday.

In brief statements, he said "they feel isolated half the year, they feel that nobody has provided solutions or incentives to support hospitals, they feel

there are regional injustices."

The main opposition leader pointed out that he had toured the border islands of the East Aegean again last year (2023) between the two elections, and that this time his tour took in more islands. The main issue, he underlined, was decentralization.

Asked to comment on the upcoming European elections (June 9), Kasselakis said there was a "trend in society for a positive outcome in elections, but the point is to change the country." Greeks, he said, "should be able to live with dignity, be able to prosper in their own home place, be able to overcome high prices that very much afflict our islands' residents," he added.

"People are suffering, they do not live in the 'paradise' the government likes to speak of. This is underlined by Eurostat, and the Financial Times have said so," Kasselakis said.

   iefimerida.gr
One of the ten suspected criminals apprehended by the Lagos State Police Command for exhuming body parts from cemeteries and killing human beings for rituals, has given details about a foiled attempt.

According to reports, the criminals are specialists in collecting human parts both fresh and dry.

Among the arrested suspects was an 85-year-old traditional ruler in Benin Republic, Yusuf Lawal Muse; the son of a pastor said to be the kingpin, Ademola Akinlosota, 33; an Ifa priest, Sunday Padonu, aka Osetura, 25; his father, Vijamiya Badonu, an idol priest and Osekures father, Dada Trival, 33,

Advertisement

Others are Bale of Akalekumo in Badagry, Hunsu Segun,35; Balogun in Ogboni fraternity, Badagry, Amodu Wahab, aka Alhaji Bororo, 58; Kamolu Aderibigbe, 44; a trade-medical doctor in Ijedfodo and Muyibat Adesina, 49, the herbalist who uses human parts to prepare concoctions for people.

As stated by Vanguard, Muse, is from Diasou in Benin Republic and is married to six women with 21 children.

He reportedly relocated to Ibatefin-Ikpoka in Ogun State and later to Adodo in the same State, where he lived with his wives and children until his arrest.

Muse, while speaking with the platform, revealed that he relocated to Ogun after losing about 14 children in his domain and later married a new wife who gave birth to the son he wanted to kill and use his body parts.

The octogenarian, while speaking on what pushed him to make the move, said, after getting married to his new wife, he wanted to have fun only to discover that she was already pregnant.

His words: I had no other alternative than to accept the child after birth, and I named him Musa. While growing up, he became a torn in my flesh.

He was into a lot of criminal activities, very stubborn, stealing, and even threatening to kill me. The whole thing came to a climax after he learnt that I wrote a will and excluded him. He then openly resorted to threatening to take my life. That was why I engaged people to kill him first and send his head, heart, fingers and hands to me for herbal purposes.

Unfortunately, after I contracted the people, they met with an Idol Priest whom I had planned to do business with in the past who, not only discouraged the people I hired but also leaked the plan to my sons mother. On hearing this, his mother fled to another town with him and we were still discussing the issue when the police arrested me.

I regret what I planned to do to my son. I have now realized that he is my son and he will bear children tomorrow in my name. My greatest worry now is that my people in Benin Republic have heard this ugly story. I am afraid they may dethrone me. I just dont know what next to do than to appeal to God to forgive me.

However, while the traditional ruler was confessing to the team of policemen from Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Special Squad Team 3, led by Toyin Omosebi, it was learned that the leader of the ritualists gang, Akinlosotu, opened up stating that he was the person contracted by the traditional ruler to kill his son.

He reportedly also stated that before then, they were taking dismembered body parts, both dry and fresh, to the traditional ruler after killing their victims.

READ ALSO: Anambra: Eight Fake Private Guards Nabbed, NSCDC Recovers Weapons

He confessed that so far, they killed two victims since November, last year and taken the body parts to both the traditional ruler and other buyers who have all been arrested.

I started by supplying dry corpses exhumed from cemeteries but my clients later coerced me to be supplying fresh body parts.

That was how I graduated from supplying dried body parts from burial grounds to supplying newly murdered fresh body parts of newly murdered to my clients. My clients said dried human parts were no longer in vogue.

My first victim was a desperate job seeker whom I met at Okeho in Ogun state at a drinking joint where he normally relaxed with some bottles of drinks every evening. It was the boy who approached me saying he needed a job in Lagos.

I then called my client, Alhaji Amodu Wahab and told him that I had seen somebody to kill. I took the unsuspecting boy from Okeho to Alhajis office where the boy was accessed and confirmed good for ritual.

While I was on my way, I called an Ifa Priest named Sunday Padonu popularly known as Osetura and informed him of the whole arrangements but on their way, Osetura wasnt picking up his calls anymore. I had to call Baale to inform him but he called Balogun and briefed him that Osetura was not picking up his calls.

Balogun then assures that he has a slaughtering ground where the boy can be killed. We took the boy to Ado Odo, slaughtered him dismembered his body and then took the body parts to Alhaji, he said

He also told police investigators that he was introduced to Osetura, one of the arrested suspects, by Baale and they started chatting online.

Osetura asked me how I used to exhume bodies and I narrated the process to him. We know the hours when security men at the cemeteries stay out and after targeting them, we strike by exhuming the bodies quickly and disappearing from the scene.

So, after this, Osetura assured me that he had a space in his house at Igbo-Ora, Ogun state where he could kill and dismember dead human bodies. He usually carried out divination after we had gotten a victim to know whether the ritual would work or not. Once he confirmed that our victim was okay, we would kill the person and cut his body which would be distributed and sold to clients.

We nearly missed killing our second victim. When he was shot, the bullet missed and caught him in the hand. He did not suspect me when I led him to the enclave. As he was bleeding and crying out, we purposely allowed him to bleed to death after stamping on his stomach and body.

We took the body which was still shaking from that spot to where he was being cut into pieces. I sat on the guys stomach while Osetura brought a knife to cut his head. Others held the victims legs and as Osetura was trying to strangulate him, his fingers mistakenly entered our victims mouth and got stuck. He had to quickly use a knife to slit his throat and that was how he was able to remove his fingers.

I must say that I have not made enough money from this evil deed. I am from a scattered home because my father and mother separated a long time ago and I have not seen my father for a long time. I dropped out of school at the primary level because I could not cope. I ended up being a bricklayer until I started exhuming bodies from cemeteries. Now that I am in the police net, I regret all I have done. I leave my fate in the hands of God with a firm promise to change my ways if given another chance, he added.
The Anambra State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested eight persons for parading as private guards.

It also recovered four pump action guns with 16 live cartridges from them.

Advertisement

Olatunde Maku, the State Commandant

said the suspects were arrested in a recent crackdown on unlicensed private security guards in Awka.

Parading the suspects at the agencys headquarters in Awka, on Friday, he said the NSCDC as the regulatory body of the private security guards, remained committed to checkmating the activities of private security guards operating without approval, especially in the light of the present security challenges.

We are here in continuation of the execution of the NSCDC mandate and we have not left any stone unturned in discharging our responsibilities. The charge given to me by the Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, is to go and deliver on the core mandate of the corps in Anambra State.

These suspects were apprehended following a raid carried out earlier on Thursday, April 25, 2024, by operatives of NSCDC in Awka, Anambra state. The first three suspects, staff of RSS, were arrested at Kwata Junction in Awka.

READ ALSO: Yahaya Bello: Kogi Court Summons EFCCs Chair Over Contempt

Meanwhile, four pump action guns with 16 live cartridges were also recovered from them,  he said.

According to him, preliminary investigation revealed that some of the arrested suspects were impersonating the Anambra Vigilance Group, while others were hired by hotels to provide security services, despite knowing that the outfits were not licensed or registered.

He emphasised that the raid which is still ongoing will help to prevent the proliferation of illegal security outfits and reduce the risk of security breaches and criminal activities.

With this tough stance, the 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.

We are going to flush them out, and every one of their activities is forbidden in the state. I want to put all illegal security outfits on notice to dismantle their operations or face the consequences. Consequently, all the suspects are currently undergoing investigation, after which they will be charged to the competent court of jurisdiction for prosecution, Maku added.


A special squad of police operatives in Delta State, has nabbed eight suspected kidnappers in the Sapele and Ughelli areas of the State.

The squad was constituted by the State Commissioner of Police (CP) Olufemi Abaniwonda, to accelerate the fight against crime in the state

According to the Force statement made available to journalists in Warri on Friday, the special squad led by ASP Julius Robinson, currently stationed in Ughelli, through a high-density operation, had so far successfully arrested six suspected kidnappers, recovered one pump action gun, three Beretta pistols, one revolver pistol, one locally made cut-to-size gun, and also rescued three kidnapped victims.

Advertisement

While working on the credible intelligence received about a syndicate of armed robbers terrorising Ughelli and its environs, Robinson led his team, in a sting operation, stormed Sapele town and arrested the leader of one of the suspected syndicates known as Ibrahim Usman at about 11:30 pm on April 17, 2024, the statement revealed.

READ ALSO: Katsina Police Nab 16 Suspects For Rape, Kidnapping (Pictures)

The statement explained that the following day, the suspect led the policemen to the Itsekiri Road area of Sapele town, where two of his gang members, Joseph Aondohbmba (22), of Gbeji community in the Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, and Collins Ovo, alias Gbegbes (23), from Adeji community in Okpe, Delta State, were nabbed.

The gang leader, Ibrahim Usman, later took the team to his residence on Itsekiri Road, before the Macpherson area of Sapele, where a Beretta pistol hidden under his mattress was recovered.

Meanwhile, Abaniwonda, commended the officers and team members for their relentless efforts in the fight against crime within the Ughelli and Sapele regions.

The CP further assured the public that the achievements would, without doubt, send a clear message to the perpetrators of the crime that they would be caught and mercilessly prosecuted as provided by the laws of the land.
Doris Simeon, a Nigerian actress, has opened out about why she left her profession in Nigeria and moved to the United States.

Simeon, a renowned figure in the Yoruba cinema business in the early 2000s, discussed her relocation with her colleague Kunle Afod.

According to her, she left Nigeria in 2018 to be closer to her child.

Advertisement

As many people know, my child and his father reside in America, and thats one of the reasons I decided to relocate here, she said.

READ MORE: Odumeje Can Heal, His Inability To Speak Correct English Doesnt Make Him Fake  Nkechi Blessing Declares

I left Nigeria in 2018 and I have not returned since then. I miss Nigeria a lot. The things I miss most especially are the roadside food vendors. Things like roasted yam, roasted corn, food that they hawk.

I miss my family and friends and I also miss being on set, especially when I see actors and actresses sharing behind-the-scenes moments on their social media platforms.
The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) President, Emeka Rollas, has said that Junior Popes mother believes her son was murdered.

Recall that the actor, along with four other crew members, died in a boat accident.

The sad event happened as they were commuting by boat for Adanma Lukes upcoming film, The Other Side of Life.

Advertisement

During a recent interview, the AGN president discussed about Junior Popes Cameroonian mother, who feels her son was killed.

Rollas stated that this was the result of misinformation spread on social media.

He said, I was with his mother yesterday, and all the rumors online are making her feel that her son was killed. I had to let her know that I was also supposed to be in the boat.

READ MORE: Veteran Actor Ganiyu Ogunjimi Is Dead

According to Emeka Rollas, CPR was conducted on Junior Pope immediately he was brought out of the water after being under for more than four hours.

Anybody that said they didnt perform CPR on Jnr Pope is a liar. He was brought out dead after spending over 4 hours under the water, he added.
A man identified as Ayowole Adekonipekun, has begged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to help in locating his wife, Corporal Ruth Ayowole, who went missing while on official duty in Abia State.

It was gathered that Adekonipekun told the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday, in Oshogbo that his wife, with service number 068986, was serving with the Anti-Robbery Unit of Osun Police Command.

He added that Ruth and four of her colleagues went missing on February 13 after an ambush during their official assignment to Abia State.

Advertisement

Adekonipekun said that his wife and other officers left Osogbo on February 12 and passed the night at a hotel in Asaba.

READ MORE: Police Arrest Alleged Killer Of Corps Member In Oyo

According to him, he later learnt that they were ambushed between Anambra and Abia states.

Adekonipekun said: I chatted with my wife till around 8:10am on February 13 before they set out for the journey, but two hours later, when I tried to contact her, her number was not reachable.

I later lodged a complaint with the officer in-charge of the Anti-Robbery Unit, and the Commissioner of Police, who informed me that they had sent a follow-up team to verify the state of the missing officers.

It was later we heard that one of the officers named Sodiq, had escaped the ambush and returned to Osogbo, but didnt know what happened to the rest of the team.
Peter and Paul Okoye, known as P-Square, and their brother Jude Okoye have been ordered to pay a promoter N25 million.

The order was issued by the Supreme Court of Nigeria after it settled a case filed against the musicians in favour of Mr Patrick Arueze, who accused the musicians of breach of contract.

According to Vanguard, Arueze invited them to perform in a show in Benin City in 2011, but the trio did not show up, so he filed a lawsuit against them for breach of contract in the Edo State High Court, presided over by Justice Esther Edigin at the time.

Advertisement

The Okoyes application to reverse the judgement, filed on October 3, 2016, was dismissed by the court.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, the artists filed an application for a stay of execution in the Court of Appeal, Benin Division, which was denied, and they later issued a cheque through one of the commercial banks.

However, when the cheque was handed to the bank, the artists asked their attorneys to file a move to block the payment at the Benin Division Court of Appeal, but the motion was dismissed as frivolous.

As the legal proceedings progressed, the Okoyes filed a motion in the Supreme Court attempting to overturn the Court of Appeals decision, which dismissed their motion to suspend the payment of the cheque they issued and joined the bank in the action.

The opposing counsel criticised the result because the bank was not a party in the court of appeals.

Justice Uwani Musa Abba-Aji concurred with Mr. Patrick Aruezes arguments, which were delivered by a team of lawyers led by E. O. Afolabi, SAN, Dr. Samson Osage, Mrs. Nosa Festus Ajayi, and others.

However, the Supreme Court dismissed the applicants application and gave them one million naira in costs.

READ MORE: Veteran Actor Ganiyu Ogunjimi Is Dead

Speaking on the judgment, Afolabi told Vanguard that Arueze got judgment against them and they now sent a cheque but when we wanted to cash they cheque, they went to court to stop it, the court refused, they went to the Court of Appeal which also refused their stay of execution, they went to Supreme Court and the lawyer now joined the bank who is not a party to the suit at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court was not happy and awarded N1m cost against P-Square and their lawyer did not appear.

With this judgment, the applicants are to pay over Twenty five point eight million naira having accumulated since 2014 with 20 percent interest.
A Kogi High Court, has ordered the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, to appear before it on May 13.

Giving the order on Friday, the court asked the EFCC boss to come and show why he should not be sentenced to prison for disobeying its order.

Advertisement

The Presiding Judge, Isa Jamil Abdullahi, gave the order while ruling in the suit No: HCL/68M/2024 and motion No: HCL/190M/2024, brought before him by Yahaya Bello, former Kogi Governor.

Recall that Bello instituted a fundamental rights enforcement suit, asking the court to declare that the incessant harassment, threats of arrest and detention, negative press releases, malicious prosecution of the EFCC, without any formal invitation, is politically motivated and interference with his right to liberty, freedom of movement, and fair hearing.

He also sought an order restraining the respondent by themselves, their agents, servants or privies from continuing to harass, threaten to arrest or detain him.

The State High Court further granted an interim injunction restraining the EFCC from continuing to harass, threaten to arrest, detain, prosecute Bello, his former appointees, and his staff or family members, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive originating motion for the enforcement of his fundamental rights.

Reacting, the EFCC filed an appeal against the interim injunction because the court could not stop the commission from carrying out its statutory responsibility.

The Kogi high court delivered judgment on the substantive motion on notice on April 17 wherein the presiding judge granted an order restraining the EFCC from continuing to harass, threaten to arrest or detain Bello.

The Judge directed the commission to file a charge against Bello before an appropriate court if it had reasons to do so.

The judgment coincided with the recent siege laid on the Abuja residence of Bello by EFCC operatives seeking to arrest him.

The commission had also obtained a warrant of arrest against the former Governor from the Federal High Court in Abuja.

READ ALSO: If You Have Nothing To Contribute To Benue, Shut Up And Dont Destabilize My Govt  Gov Alia Warns Predecessors

The EFCC is seeking to arraign Bello on 19 counts bordering on alleged money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N80.2 billion.

At the scheduled arraignment on April 18, Bello was absent.

At the court session, Abdulwahab Mohammed, counsel to Bello, told Emeka Nwite, the Presiding Judge, that the court lacked jurisdiction to grant the warrant of arrest in the first instance.

He referenced the February 9 interim injunction issued by the Kogi high court, adding that the appeal filed by the EFCC was still pending.

The EFCC however filed a notice to withdraw the appeal, saying that events have overtaken the appeal.

The commission also admitted that the appeal was filed out of the time allowed by law.

In the latest development, Bello approached the court, praying for an order to issue and serve the respondent (EFCC chairman) with form 49 notice to show cause why an order of committal should not be made on him.

Abdullahi, after listening to the arguments of the applicants counsel, the submission and the 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 February 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 an 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 May 13 for the respondents chairman to appear before this court in answer to form 49 ordered to be served on him, the Judge held.
Keep reading by creating a free account or signing in.
The pro-Palestinian protest encampment at the University of Pennsylvania on Friday. Read more

The interim president at the University of Pennsylvania issued a warning Friday night to pro-Palestinian protesters on campus that they must disband their encampment immediately because of alleged legal and university police violations.

The encampment itself violates the Universitys facilities policies, J. Larry Jameson said in a letter to the Penn community.

Advertisement

The harassing and intimidating comments and actions by some of the protesters, which were reported and documented by many in our community, violate Penns open expression guidelines and state and federal law, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. All members of our community deserve to access our facilities without fear of harassment or being subjected to discriminatory comments or threats, Jameson said.

He called vandalism of the statue in front of College Hall with antisemitic graffiti especially reprehensible and said it will be investigated as a hate crime.

By 9:30 p.m., it remained unclear what actions the university would take against occupants of the encampment if it did not come down.

Failure to disband the encampment immediately and to adhere to Penns policies will result in sanctions consistent with our due process procedures as they apply to students, faculty, and staff, Jamesons statement said.

It was a drastic turn of sentiment.

Earlier Friday, Jameson wrote in an email to the university community that administrators would continue to support the rights of our community members to protest peacefully and in keeping with University policy.

He warned, however, that if the protest devolved and words and actions violated Penns policies, and led to campus disruption and a hostile environment, we will not stand by.

The pro-Palestinian encampments at Philadelphia-area campuses had remained peaceful this week as tumult has roiled other schools.

Clashes with police and arrests have erupted at Emory University, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Southern California, where next months main commencement ceremony has been canceled.

Encampments at Swarthmore College and Haverford College, the latest local campus where demonstrators have staked protest tents, were more tranquil.

While students nationwide are protesting similar issues  the war in Gaza, free speech on college campuses, charges of antisemitism, and American support for Israel  school administrations have been dealing with protests in a variety of ways.

Princeton University administrators on Thursday quickly dismantled a small tent city after its creation.

At Brown University, students in the encampment there are being told they face conduct hearings.

And at Columbia University, the hub of the Gaza-linked protest movement, the school initially allowed police to arrest about 100 students, which ignited activism there and on other campuses. Students regrouped and are keeping an encampment going. Administrators remained in prolonged negotiations with protesters as of Friday morning, while police buses were parked nearby and reporters noticed an increase in police and private security posted at campus entrances.

Meanwhile, at the Penn encampment Friday morning, a black-and-white keffiyeh draped the neck of Ben Franklins bronze statue while 60 students from Penn, Temple, and Drexel University emerged from 20 tents into the unusually cold spring day, the start of the groups first official day as occupants of what they call Gaza Solidarity Encampment.

Bananas overflowed from cardboard boxes between mountains of protein bars and bagged chips. The volume of donated foods and supplies has been overwhelming, said camp organizer Emma Herndon, 22, a senior English major at Penn.

She added, Were equipped for a long time.

Herndon said the group has raised more than $13,000, much of which will be sent to humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza.

Herndon said if Penn leaders meet their demands  to disclose the universitys financial holdings, divest from any investments in the war, and provide amnesty for pro-Palestinian students facing discipline over past protests  they would consider breaking down the encampment immediately.

For now, though, students remained focused on building something, rather than tearing it down.

Its hope, says Eliana Atienza, a Penn sophomore from the Philippines, pointing up at Ben Franklins adorned neck.

Outside the city at Haverford College, students were occupying 15 tents outside Founders Hall on Friday morning. Student organizers said the encampment was formed in solidarity with Gaza and in protest of the colleges investments that benefit Israels military campaign.

There has been no action taken against protesters by campus public safety officers, said Tala Qaraq a junior Palestinian student.

However, Qaraq said the college had asked that the large, white sheet banner reading Liberated Zone be removed from blocking a pathway, and that campus security had taken the banner down once already.

Qaraq sees the national protest movement as a moment where her generation  Gen Z  will reconsider voting for politicians who support Israels war in Gaza come November.

Penns interim president faces a known conflict

The encampment at Penn poses a test for Jameson, who replaced former president Liz Magill after she resigned following bipartisan backlash over her congressional committee testimony on antisemitism and a semester marked by near-weekly protests over the conflict and bloodshed in Israel and Gaza.

Penn board chair Ramanan Raghavendran declined to comment Friday on what if any role the board has in deciding how to handle the encampment.

Penns board was involved in controversy that embroiled the university last fall after the Palestine Writes Literary Festival was held on campus in September.

Tensions flared even more after Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel and donors began to withhold their money, calling on Magill and board chair Scott L. Bok to resign.

Both Magill and Bok stepped down in December following Magills testimony.

They will only grow

In an interview Friday, former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey said peaceful protest should be allowed on college campuses but not encampments.

From my experience, the quicker you take these encampments down, the better, said Ramsey, who served as Philadelphias police commissioner from 2008 to 2016 and whose company, 21CP Solutions, recently conducted a safety audit of Temple Universitys campus. They will only grow in size.

Then it becomes more difficult to remove them as time goes on, he said.

Encampments can begin to attract people from outside the university and raise additional safety and sanitary concerns, said Ramsey, who serves as a law enforcement analyst for CNN and has been commenting on the growing campus protests around the nation.

He emphasized that people should be permitted to stand and protest as long as they want. If you want to stand there all night, thats fine, he said.

But protesters dont have the right to sleep there, Ramsey added: Theres nothing First Amendment about that.

Discussing safety on Friday, Jameson acknowledged a safety plan for university police in partnership with local law enforcement to deal with protesters as they arrived on campus.

He added that the encampment may cause fear and anxiety and noted that the university has safety and wellness resources available.

Recounting how recent events unfolded, Jameson said that at the same time protesters began erecting tents Thursday, he was in a campus listening session where faculty, students and staff could comment on the impact of the conflict in the Middle East on Penns campus.

I left inspired by the collective commitment to productive exchange, mutual respect, and care for one another and was gratified to see it on full display, he wrote. These conversations are important and must continue, and you have my commitment that they will.
Julianne Griffin (right) and Emily Bee (left) run Swift Steps, a virtual community for Swifties in different stages of addiction recovery. After founding Swift Steps in January, the Facebook group has over 630 members and meets four times weekly via Zoom. Read more

Julianne Griffin read the first verse of Taylor Swifts song Style to a Zoom room filled with more than a dozen Swifties in varying stages of recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.

Swifties suspect that the lines about long drives that could end in burning flames or paradise are a reference to a post-breakup tryst with Harry Styles. But, as Griffin explained, to her they are also a powerful metaphor for both self-sabotage and the compulsion to use.

Advertisement

Griffin is the founder of Blank Space Recovery, a recovery mentor service that hosts Swift Steps, a virtual support group for Swifties overcoming addiction.

The group  which has blossomed to nearly 640 members on Facebook since it was founded in January  meets virtually four times a week. Griffin uses a mix of Swifts songs, lore, and guest speakers to start conversations about tough topics in recovery, such as overcoming the boredom of a healthy routine or accepting your selfishness. In between, Swifties from across the United States use the Facebook group to discuss Swifts music and solicit support from peers.

Members say the groups non-judgmental nature has made it a cornerstone of their recovery, with the Swift connections rendering it a safe space. Clinicians, meanwhile, view Swift Steps as a strong supplement to traditional 12-step programs, which can sometimes dissuade people from returning with their rigidity and religiosity.

Its brilliant, said Eric Zillmer, a psychologist who worked in hospital recovery units before becoming the director of Drexel Universitys Happiness Lab. People with substance use disorder can feel alone  so to create a platform where people feel comfortable sharing under a cultural phenomenon driven by authenticity is fantastic.

The group also represents its most important guideline: Remember that theres no one way to recover.

Swifts music is innately personal yet customizable. Her songs unleash disparate interpretations that have helped fans through cancer diagnoses, the whiplash of immigrating to America, and miscarriages, among other traumas. These bonds have also made Swifties a reciprocal and powerful fandom, Zillmer explained.

Because Swift has given them so much, Swifties feel called to help each other, making Swiftie-dom a natural breeding ground for support groups.

 READ MORE: Yes, you can study Swiftonomics thanks to a new University of Delaware workshop

Griffin trained to become a certified peer specialist after entering recovery from opiate and benzodiazepine addiction in 2016. She created Swift Steps and tapped her friend Emily Bee to help with community management after tailgating the Eras Tour at Lincoln Financial Field last year.

It didnt come to me that night, but I did think, What if there was a recovery community with the vibe of a Taylor concert, where everyones accepted? Griffin said.

Cindy Shearer, a Swiftie from Grand Rapids, Mich., who has been in recovery from alcoholism since 2022, attends Swift Steps meetings regularly. The group reminds Shearer of how far shes come from the loneliness she felt when she first got sober, since Shearer said many of her friends were heavy drinkers.

I had a lot of FOMO, but I always had Taylor to listen to, which made me feel less lonely, said Shearer. With Swift Steps, knowing that everyone has this obsession with Taylor, theres no judgment factor about anything.

 READ MORE: For every three Taylor Swift attendees, one came just to hang in the parking lot of her Eras Tour in Philly

Swifties: Come as you are

Both Zillmer and Griffin believe Swift Steps is the first recovery community of its kind, but online music fandoms have always been a place where people make sense of stigmas, according to Jessa Lingel, an associate professor of gender studies and communication at the University of Pennsylvania, where she researches digital culture.

Some of the first messages sent on ARPANET  the internets predecessor  were from Grateful Dead fans and people discussing STDs, Lingel said. And Swifts music recently elicited discourse around addiction after she referred to herself as a functioning alcoholic on Fortnight, the opening track on The Tortured Poets Department.

These stigmas can still crop up in recovery communities such as Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous that, while effective at ushering in long-term sobriety, can also be hostile to people who use medically assisted treatment (MAT) or those who want to leave religion out of recovery.

For some people, [12 step] lifts them up. For others it can be isolating, said Zillmer.

 READ MORE: Getting addiction treatment in Philly is difficult and painful, a Jefferson study found

Griffin stopped attending 12-step meetings a year into recovery. I was told I wasnt sober for using MAT, Griffin said. She was placed on the treatment after overdosing on Dec. 13, 2015  Swifts birthday, but also near the 19th anniversary of Griffins fathers fatal overdose.

Both her parents dealt with addiction, Griffin said. She vilified them until she was prescribed opiates for back pain and didnt want to stop taking them. Griffins mother has now been in recovery for eight years, Griffin said, and was Swift Steps first guest speaker.

Shearer said the groups open nature has encouraged her to recommend it to others, including a member of her in-person LifeRing group.

She didnt talk much during [LifeRing] meetings, but as soon as I mentioned that Swift Steps existed, she was so chatty, said Shearer. Its like a gateway. We build this connection over Taylor Swift.  Then we have the harder conversations.

Living by Taylors example

Swift Steps success has as much to do with its come-as-you-are mission as it does Swift herself.

Swift is so culturally irresistible, but also amazingly authentic and so positive. She communicates a message of hope, Zillmer said. Thats not a message the Beatles were playing with.

Swift Steps member Bronte Oldham wishes the group had been around when she became sober in 2022. An accidental Swiftie who got heavily into Swifts music with the release of Midnights, Oldham said the groups focus on fandom gave her a new perspective on addiction.

Liking a celebrity is really lonely, just like addiction. Your family, or boyfriend, or whoever  they dont always understand how you feel, Oldham, who lives in Canada, said while recounting how her mother and boyfriend like to joke that her love of Swift is childish or so college.

Swift Steps, meanwhile, feels like a group of friends hanging out together.

Some of those friends arent necessarily in recovery.

Griffins friend and community manager Bee has never struggled with substance use, but her older sister Lawrie died of an overdose when Bee was 11.

 READ MORE: At Penn, people in recovery are helping more patients with addiction enter treatment

Ive carried a lot of guilt with me, said Bee, who thinks about Lawrie every time she listens to Bigger than the Whole Sky from Midnights. Moderating the group has helped Bee understand what Lawrie went through.

Swift Steps connects me to [my sister], said Bee, who is from Northeast Philly.

Griffin, who works in finance, hopes Swift Steps can become her full-time job. Right now, Griffin sells Etsy merch and offers one-on-one mentorship sessions to offset costs.

Were all living by Taylors example. Shes not scared to be messy, said Griffin In recovery, we have messy paths. We have regrets, and thats OK. We can turn them into something better.
The Philadelphia Inquirer said Friday that a nearly yearlong investigation found that about 25,500 employees, former employees, employees' family members, and subscribers may have had their personal data, including medical and financial information, exposed in the May incident, but there is no evidence hackers have misused the data to commit identity theft or fraud. Read more

About 25,500 Philadelphia Inquirer subscribers, employees, former employees, and employees family members on company benefit plans may have had their personal information exposed in a May cyberattack, Inquirer publisher and chief executive officer Lisa Hughes said Friday.

The company announced in an internal email to employees that outside cybersecurity experts had found no evidence that the data had been misused to commit identity theft or fraud. In an e-mailed response to follow-up questions, Hughes said that Social Security numbers, drivers license numbers, financial account information, and medical information may have been accessed.

Advertisement

The company will send letters to people who may have been impacted with details about what information was compromised and will offer complimentary credit monitoring and identity restoration services.

The update comes at the conclusion of what The Inquirer called a complex, methodical, and lengthy process to investigate the incident.

The investigation was unable to identify the specific individual or individuals who were behind the attack or their motivations, Hughes said. She declined to share what files may have been impacted, citing confidentiality reasons.

Cyberattacks, which have more than doubled in recent years, pose a major threat to businesses, governments, and consumers around the world.

Locally over the past year, the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Courts, the Bucks County Department of Emergency Management, Comcast, and the Borgata in Atlantic City have responded to attacks, some of which severely disrupted operations for days and potentially exposed peoples confidential health and financial information.

The Inquirers cyberattack

The incident at The Inquirer was detected on May 11, 2023, when Cynet, a vendor that manages security, alerted the company of suspicious network activity. By May 13, 2023, some of the Inquirers publishing systems were impacted, and workarounds had to be created to post stories online.

In the days after the incident, Hughes said The Inquirer had discovered anomalous activity on select computer systems and immediately took those systems off-line. The company also notified the FBI.

The Inquirer couldnt print its normal Sunday newspaper, and employees  who are on a hybrid schedule with one mandatory in-office day  werent allowed to access the newsroom for several days. Digital publication was not impacted.

A ransomware group called Cuba, which has hacked other businesses and governments around the globe, later claimed responsibility for the attack, and posted online what it said were stolen Inquirer files containing Inquirer data. A day later, however, Cuba removed the claim from its site on the dark web. Hughes at the time said the company had not seen evidence that any Inquirer information was actually shared. When asked at the time, she did not say whether The Inquirer had paid a ransom in exchange for the claims removal.

In recent years, ransomware attacks have targeted news organizations, including the Los Angeles Times, which was majorly disrupted during a 2018 attack. In these incidents, malicious software locks users out of their system and demands payment to reopen it.

In the months since the Inquirers incident, the company has increased digital security, including by requiring multifactor authentication on its systems.

The Inquirer takes this event and the security of information in its care very seriously, Hughes said. The Inquirer regularly evaluates the evolving risk landscape and implements controls to mitigate those risks.
There were few things Beth Sternliebs Los Angeles doctors could say with certainty about her baffling illness, but this much was clear: Although manageable for years, it had worsened dramatically.

For nearly two decades Sternlieb had been plagued by flu-like episodes that began with a headache and abdominal pain accompanied by fatigue, muscle aches, and diarrhea. Within a day, a spotty red rash blanketed her abdomen.

Advertisement

A yoga and meditation teacher who worked at the University of California at Los Angeless pediatric pain program, Sternlieb had undergone numerous tests that failed to reveal the reason for the unidentified illness that occurred two or three times a year and lasted about five days. In 2004, after 17 years, the illness began occurring more frequently and Sternlieb never fully recovered between episodes. A year later she developed a high fever, chills, and exhaustion that lasted five months and left her bedridden.

The startling and highly unusual cause was finally identified after Sternlieb underwent an operation that ended up curing her.

It was a good thing my abdomen turned red because it caught the attention of my doctors, Sternlieb said recently. Something was really wrong, but no one imagined this.

Bad case of flu

The first episode occurred in December 1987, two weeks after Sternliebs second child was born. I became sicker than I had ever been, said Sternlieb, then 37. It was flu season and that year was a bad flu season, so doctors attributed her illness to influenza.

Six months later the illness recurred, a pattern that prevailed for years.

At first Sternlieb didnt pay much attention to the tiny red dots that covered her abdomen. The rash resembled a sunburn but wasnt itchy or painful. Doctors ultimately decided it was hives, a common skin condition that can occur as an allergic reaction to food or drugs; often its cause is never discovered.

Her primary care doctor referred her to a rheumatologist, a physician who specializes in treating autoimmune diseases, whom she saw for several years. He ordered blood tests, which he said suggested the presence of an unspecified autoimmune disorder in which the body mistakenly attacks itself.

Over the years, Sternlieb noticed that the episodes seemed to occur during periods of stress both good and bad, including traveling, partying, and too little sleep. I thought it must have a psychological component, she said.

She learned to incorporate the bouts into her life, relieved that no one had found anything serious. She hoped doctors would figure out what was wrong so they could treat and eradicate whatever it was.

Travel history

By 2005, Sternliebs equanimity was shattered by a sharp deterioration in her health.

That summer, she became seriously ill and did not recover. Her fever periodically spiked to 104 degrees, and she suffered from drenching night sweats as well as profound weakness and fatigue. She lost 15 pounds and, unable to work, spent most of her time in bed or on the couch. The rash that had been confined to her abdomen spread to her neck and torso. Blood tests showed elevated levels of inflammation and a high white blood cell count.

Sternlieb began seeing a new crop of specialists. An infectious-disease doctor combed through her travel history, which included a trip to India years earlier, ultimately ruling out malaria and other parasitic infections. Doctors considered and discarded a variety of diagnoses including fever of unknown origin, which can be associated with some autoimmune diseases; familial Mediterranean fever, an inherited genetic disorder that causes recurrent fevers and inflammation; as well as HIV and hepatitis.

That left an infection or an allergy as possible causes. The latter seemed unlikely despite recurrent hives, said Raffi Tachdjian, then a fellow in allergy and immunology at UCLA and one of the doctors Sternlieb consulted.

Hives usually last 24 hours and are not like this, which was chronic, he recalled. We needed to look deeper into anything unusual.  It seemed that there was something packing some heat somewhere that was triggering a reaction from Sternliebs immune system.

We see this in sinuses where antibiotics dont reach infected tissue and result in a smoldering infection that becomes virtually impossible to eradicate with medication, he added.

A CT scan ordered by the infectious-disease doctor showed multiple uterine fibroids, common benign tumors that dont require treatment unless they cause problems. The scan showed that one of the fibroids had grown very large and was possibly degenerating (dying) or necrotic (dead), which happens when a tumor loses its blood supply.

A degenerating fibroid can get very big very fast. But doctors were also concerned about the possibility of a rare cancer such as a leiomyosarcoma, which grows in smooth muscles including in uterine tissue. None of her doctors, including her new gynecologist Jessica Schneider, knew whether her long-standing illness and the fibroids were related.

And what explained the hives, which are not associated with fibroids or this cancer?

It didnt seem obvious that a fibroid would cause this, said Schneider, a member of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Group. But it didnt look like a typical fibroid, and I recommended we take it out. Sternlieb, who said she worried she might still be sick after a hysterectomy, agreed.

During the December 2005 operation, Schneider removed eight fibroids. The largest measured a whopping 11 centimeters, the size of a large grapefruit.

Nearly 20 years later Schneider vividly remembers its unique characteristics. Typically a fibroid is a solid ball of muscle, she said. This one was full of pus that spurted explosively when it was touched with a scalpel.

It was crazy, said Schneider, who had never seen anything like it before and hasnt since. She administered antibiotics and took a culture that she sent to the pathology lab for analysis.

Tachdjian remembers that Schneider called him just after she finished surgery to tell him what she had found.

I thought We need to know what the heck grew, Tachdjian said. We were crossing our fingers that surgery would take care of it, whatever it was. But only time would tell.

A nice nest

A few weeks later, the first question was answered. The culture showed an unknown strain of salmonella, a common bacterial infection that is usually caused by contaminated food. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that it causes more than 1.3 million illnesses annually and results in more than 26,000 hospitalizations and 420 deaths. Neither Sternlieb nor her doctors knew how or when she contracted salmonella, which is known to cause hives if it settles in the intestine, Tachdjian said.

In Sternliebs case, the bacteria had burrowed into only one fibroid; the other seven were free of salmonella.

It probably seeded itself in the GI tract and thought Heres a nice nest for me, said Tachdjian, who practices in Santa Monica and is an associate clinical professor of medicine and pediatrics at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine.

But the duration of Sternliebs infection, its location in a uterine fibroid and the recurring hives made the case something of a fascinoma  medical slang for an unusual and unusually interesting case, a status that would be enhanced by the discovery of its source.

I kept asking older doctors if theyd ever seen anything like this, and they said they hadnt, Schneider said. A search of medical journals conducted by Tachdjian turned up nothing similar.

Because salmonella is a reportable disease, California health officials were notified.

Several months after her operation, Sternlieb received a home visit from a public health nurse with startling news: Her infection had been traced not to food but to a reptile.

Turtles are known to harbor salmonella, one reason federal law has long banned the sale of small turtles because of the risk they pose to young children. Other reptiles and amphibians including snakes, frogs, and lizards are also carriers, which is why public health officials stress the importance of handwashing after touching them.

But her family never had a pet reptile, Sternlieb said. Because her symptoms started shortly after giving birth, Sternliebs infectious-disease doctor suspected she might have contracted the infection in the hospital, possibly from a staff member. At times during pregnancy and before delivery, the mothers immune system is suppressed to prevent it from rejecting the fetus.

Another possibility, said Sternlieb, who wracked her brain trying to recall possible reptile exposures from nearly two decades earlier, is that the infection was transmitted by a pet reptile at the nursery school her then-4-year-old son attended. But she added that he never brought a reptile home and that she doesnt remember the school keeping such pets.

Schneider said she began to recover almost immediately after surgery and has never had another episode. Doctors deemed the surgery a cure.

Tachdjian said he suspects she was exposed in the hospital and added that its fortunate she underwent surgery when she did. Had the fibroid ruptured, Sternlieb could have developed sepsis, a potentially fatal infection that results from bacteria coursing through the bloodstream.

In 2010, Tachdjian, Schneider and two other doctors published a report of her case in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology. Their goal, Tachdjian said, was to alert other doctors to consider abdominal hives as a possible sign of a simmering pelvic infection.

You want these reports so the next [doctor] that runs into something like this gets imaging quickly, he said.
Is there ever a right time to lose your virginity? I found myself wondering this as, amongst the many revelations in actress Rebel Wilsons memoir, was the fact that she didnt lose her virginity until she was in her thirties. The revelation caused quite a stir.

Its a long time since virginity was something I thought about but the Wilson story did get me wondering about how we think about virginity nowadays.

When I was growing up, there was still very much a sense of virginity being connected to moral virtue, which I think was a hangover from my mothers generation, whose experience of sex could involve difficult-to-procure contraception, unwanted pregnancies, Magdalene laundries, and the fear of shame brought on families. Not quite what youd call a sex-positive era.

I remember hearing Madonnas song Like A Virgin on the radio and asking my mother what a virgin was. She told me it was a flower and that was the end of the conversation.

In fairness to her, I was very young at the time but I still remember thinking the answer made no sense.

But this was Ireland in the 1980s, where sex and its attendant vocabulary had to be approached sidelong, much like how we approach the viewing of an eclipse  put your protective glasses on and dont whatever you do for Gods sake look at it directly or your retinas (soul) will be burned.

I was always a big music lover and remember being intrigued by the fact that the American rock musician Juliana Hatfield was a virgin in her 20s.

However, the interest in her virginity as reported by male-run music newspapers and magazines always felt weirdly prurient.

The more I thought about it, the more I found I could think of lots of weird and creepy examples of society being obsessed with womens virginity and I didnt have to look too far back into the mists of time to find examples either.

Remember the virginal Britney Spears who was marketed as a wholesome, traditional girl who believed in waiting until marriage to have sex? That image led to a grotesque interest in her sex life along with an actual monetary offer of 7.5m from a businessman in the year 2000 who said he was willing to pay this price to relieve the young Britney of her virginity.

Spears rejected the offer and later revealed in her memoir that she had actually lost her virginity at the age of 14.

Juliana Hatfield later spoke about her choice to wait as an empowering decision. I was proud of the fact that I was still a virgin because it meant that I was a strong, independent female, and no one had pressured me into doing anything I wasnt ready to do yet. I waited until I was damn ready, when I was 26, actually, she told Nylon magazine.

A copy of Rebel Rising by Rebel Wilson, the headline-making memoir.

I was thinking that it would be nice to hear more voices like hers and Wilsons talking about the fact that ones virginity doesnt have to be offloaded by the time youve left college.

Wilson spoke about feeling embarrassed and ashamed of being a virgin at the age of 35 but theres a weird double standard around virginity  lose it too soon and youre considered one of many unsavoury misogynistic terms, lose it too late and youre a pathetic loser.

The downside of this double standard is it puts pressure on people to lose their virginity instead of figuring out what the right time might be for them.

Theres probably never a right time to lose your virginity if you consider that the first time doing anything is probably going to involve a bit of trial and error. I suppose thinking of it in that sense might be a less pressurised way to approach it than expecting it to be a life-changing earth-

shattering experience.

Perhaps it can be a meaningful rite of passage without being the most perfect or the best or the most romantic. Ideally, of course, it would be all of those things but realistically for many people all it is, is their first experience.

We live in a very different sexual environment to the one that I grew up in but I hope things are better for young people nowadays.

I think its great that you can go into any supermarket and buy contraceptives and a plethora of paraphernalia that might go some way to making a persons first sexual experience a positive one.

Virginity, like sexuality, is completely personal and individual. Hopefully, Wilsons revelation about her sex life might give pause for thought around how we respond to peoples virginity status but also might give people the space to decide when the time might be right for them.

Whether youre 14 or 40 when you lose your virginity or whether you remain a virgin for your whole life is nobodys business but your own.

And perhaps if we stopped focusing on it so furiously and attaching so much meaning to the age it needs to happen by, it might become a less pressurised experience for many.
Leo Varadkar on resigning as Taoiseach

Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar spoke about stepping down from his role as Fine Gael party leader and Taoiseach and how a limit to the leadership term is not such a bad idea, citing Americas eight-year limit as an example.

Varadkars resignation came as a shock but he revealed on Friday nights Late Late Show that he "nearly chickened out" the night before he made his announcement.

It was definitely the right decision for me and hopefully the right decision for the country, he added. It was something I was thinking about for a few months but only definitely made the decision in the days beforehand.

He said after 13 years in government, he felt there was a need for a reset, clearing the way for Simon Harris to become Irelands youngest Taoiseach. However, he added he is unsure if he will run in the next general election, saying he will decide after seeing how his party fares in the upcoming local and European elections.

Brian ODriscoll and Michaela Morley on organ donors

In 2011, Brian ODriscoll paid a visit to Temple Street Hospital and met then-six-year-old Michaela Morley, who was undergoing dialysis treatment. A photo of the pair with the Champions Cup trophy after Leinster's European win spread widely and they kept in touch.

Michaela Morley meets Brian O'Driscoll and the Heineken Cup in 2011. File picture: Shane O'Neill / Fennells.

Thirteen years later, they spoke to Patrick Kielty to encourage organ donations.

The big thing is having an organ donor app on your phone or speaking to your loved ones and letting them know you want that. I know I've had that conversation with my wife to make sure if the unthinkable happens you are offering life to other people, ODriscoll said.

Its not a conversation that people want to have but when you realize the difference that it can make to people's lives it's a conversation people should have

Craig Revel Horwood on father's alcoholism

Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood appeared on Fridays Late Late ahead of his stint at Dublins Bord Gais Energy heare for The Wizard of Oz musical, in which he plays the Wicked Witch.

He spoke about first performing in drag as a child and his late fathers reaction to it, saying he used dance to escape the realities of living with an alcoholic.

Thats actually the reason I started dancing. My father was a desperate alcoholic and eventually died of alcoholism, he said, adding that growing up was appalling for him as he couldnt invite any friends to his home and he kept his love of dance under wraps for a long time.

Why Annie Mac turned down an MBE

DJ and writer Annie Mac spoke about her new novel as well as her work in clubs and broadcasting. Living in England for 25 years, she said she feels homesick, particularly since her sons developed English accents.

I never allowed myself to call it home. I knew it was home for my kids. But for me home was always Dublin.

She also confirmed she turned down an MBE for her work in broadcasting. Do I need to explain? she asked, citing archaic language about the British Empire being her main cause for concern.

I don't want to be associated with the British Empire. I did history in school and I know about that.
Ever fantasised about one day completing a Grand Tour of the Mediterranean, sweeping through thousands of years of riveting history, culture, architecture, art, civilisation, and war, but lack the money and time?

Well, head to Malta for a short break instead.

These small islands  an ancient intersection between Europe, Africa and the Middle East  are a potpourri of crossover cultures, identities, and streetscapes, set about sparkling bays, lively squares, medieval forts, and wave-lapped shores.

Maltas got charm aplenty.

Mores to the point, everything works. Its a safe, hassle-free idyll, where both English and the Euro are common currency.

The downsides? Parts are heavily urbanised, it is unlikely to meet the feverish summer holiday expectations of younger families, and you will find cheaper prices elsewhere in southern Europe.

That said, with all its lure and vivacity, it is a deeply atmospheric, romantic destination that is a ripe match for a solo escape or the more discerning couples break.

To unearth a geographical gem

A Mediterranean island measuring a mere 316 sq km, or less than half the wee county of Louth, over half a million inhabitants live on this archipelago with attitude.

Settlement boils down to the two larger islands of Malta and the smaller Gozo.

With Sicily and north Africa as neighbours, Maltas geography is its history.

To marvel at its history

With few natural resources, scarce arable land, and scant freshwater supplies, what Malta offered was a pivotal position within the contested Mediterranean, and one with natural deep water ports to boot.

Settlement sprang from the ancient Sicilians, to be followed by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, and Byzantines.

Then came waves of Arabs (from whom the Maltese language derives), Aragonese, the Knights of St John, the French, and the British bringing up the rear.

The country peacefully gained independence from Britain in 1964, joining the EU in 2004, while its unique history and architecture made it a star as multiple fictional settings in Game of Thrones, including Kings Landing and Westeros.

The streets of Valletta, Malta

To wander Valletta

While the Maltese capital occupies a fortified, chalky peninsula hardly 2km long, there is so much to experience here. Just get there and wander endlessly across this humming enclave, glowing golden in the sunlight, as the harbour waters lap up against its pale limestone walls.

Interior of St John's Cathedral, Valletta, Malta

Dating to the 1570s, the unmissable interior of St Johns Cathedral ( stjohnscocathedral.com, 15) is lined with coloured marble tombstones, frescoes and treasure-filled chapels. Theres even a Caravaggio residing in the oratory!

Two minutes away is the Grandmasters Palace ( heritagemalta.mt, 12), founded by Grand Master of the Knights of Malta, Jean de Valette in 1574 and is today the seat of the office of the president of Malta.

However, almost all the building is accessible; come and marvel at the vast, opulent rooms adorned with collections of art and objects from Maltas fascinating heritage.

To walk with generals

With such a contested land in the heart of the Mediterranean, its little surprise that wars over the centuries tell so much of Maltas past life.

While not glorifying war, the National War Museum ( heritagemalta.mt, 10) in the gargantuan Fort St Elmo is excellently curated, while the building and views alone are worth the entry price.

The Three Cities

To explore the Three Cities

A short boat trip less than 400m south from Valletta (2 each way) lie three similarly ancient, heritage-packed peninsulas known as the Three Cities.

Anchored within an utterly stunning setting, these delightful headlands deserve at least a half day, stopping at Fort St Angelo ( heritagemalta.mt, 10).

Close to the fort is Rolling Geeks ( rolling-geeks.com), a self-drive electric buggy hire business that comes with pre-programmed GPS and audio guide.

The buggies fit up to four adults, and cost 90 for 2.5 hours of zipping around the area.

Mdina, Malta

To meander in medieval Mdina

Mdina is a paradigm of Malta: compact, ancient, loud, lively, and beautiful. A limestone hilltop citadel of baroque architecture, it served as Maltas capital until 1530.

Take time to walk amongst the medieval buildings, imperious towers, winding alleyways, and fortified, castellated walls.

Right outside Mdinas main gateway is Rabat  a charming warren of tight streets and numerous catacombs pulsing with dramatic atmosphere.

Located in the centre of the island, its simple to get here by public bus.

To explore Gozo

The neigbouring island of Gozo is a mere 14km x 7km in size, with 35,000 residents, needing a ferry ride over from Malta island.

The main town of Victoria is a petite, but lovely stroll, including Gozo Cathedral ( visitgozo.com), but the islands 25 neolithic sites are in a different league.

Chief among these is Ggantija Archaeological Park ( heritagemalta.mt, 10).

Older than the pyramids, the two temples making up this Unesco World Heritage site were only revealed (since antiquity) in the 19th century, and sport huge slabs of stone over 5m in length and 50 tonnes in weight.

While there is public transport about Gozo, a quirkier (and pricier) option is a chauffeur-driven tuk tuk, all the way from Thailand ( yippeemalta.com, 75 per day).

St, Joseph's Church, Kalkara

To hang out with saints

Ever since St Paul was shipwrecked here in 60 AD, Christianity has burned like wildfire.

As if film extras in The Omen, crucifixes and Christian statuary are simply everywhere in Malta  you can barely take a leak without some extinct saint beaming down at you beatifically.

As the island was on the frontline of the Christian-Ottoman wars, the symbolism once shared the same sort of territory-marking totems as flags do in Northern Ireland communities today.

To get crafty

In the heart of Valletta is the boutique Captains Cut ( captainscutleather.com), founded and run by Keith Caruana, a retired Maltese Armed Forces Captain, with a weakness for bespoke leather craft, sourced from trusted sustainable tanneries.

There, you can partake in a make-your-own tobacco pouch workshop (95), or belt workshop (150) learning these traditional skills.

Yes, its certainly not cheap, but makes an enjoyable and rewarding afternoon, nonetheless, as Keith is the perfect, affable, and helpful host.

To savour the wine

Ta Betta Wine Estate ( tabetta.com) should be a default stop-off for all wine lovers in Malta (by appointment only).

Situated in four hectares of terraced vineyards close to the heart of the island, they offer first-rate tours of the vineyard and winery, demystifying the mystique and artifice so often associated with wine.

Within a sumptuous decor, the tour is followed by a wine tasting of their excellent produce, served up with platters of cheese, meats, and savouries (from 50 per person).

Seafood in Malta

To feast

Traditional Maltese food is refreshingly rustic, seasonal, and tasty as hell, with lampuki pie (fish pie), rabbit stew, bragioli (beef olives), kapunata (a type of Maltese ratatouille), and sheep and goats cheese being favourites.

In Valletta, 59 Republic is excellent ( fiftyninerepublic.com).

In Gozo, try Ta-rikardu for cheese and wine grazing ( visitgozo.com/directory/tastes-of-gozo/ta-rikardu)

In the Three Cities youll find Don Berto, overlooking the marina with its vibrant Mediterranean flavours ( donberto.com).

The fields by St. John the Baptist Church, Xewkija

Escape notes

Consider when to visit

Be aware that Malta is windy  very windy.

The prevailing northwest wind rarely relents, but it does die down somewhat in summer.

While daytime summer averages rarely exceed 28 Celsius, like elsewhere in Europe, it will be high tourist season.

The island welcomes over 3 million tourists a year  more than 6 times its population.

Get there

Direct flights twice a week from Shannon, Dublin and Belfast.

Malta Air fly Shannon-Malta from approx. 119 return. Ryanair flies Dublin-Malta from approx. 151 return.

Maltas public bus service is very regular, punctual, cost-effective, and easy to negotiate, taking cards or cash.

Ferry from the northern tip of Malta to Gozo - www.gozochannel.com, 4.65 return.

High speed ferry from Valletta to Gozo - www.gozohighspeed.com, 9.50 return (online offer).

Stay there

The 5-star Malta Marriott Hotel & Spa is located by Balluta beach, within the happening St. Julians district (roughly 20 minutes north of Valletta/city centre).

It has spacious, luxurious rooms and superb restaurants, pools and spa facilities.

The views out over the Med are a tonic, while the staff are superb.

Doubles from 211 per night. Visit www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mlamc-malta-marriott-hotel-and-spa/

Tour operators from Ireland to Malta

Sunway Holidays; sunway.ie

Cassidy Travel; cassidytravel.ie

Budget Travel; budgettravel.ie

Jamie Ball was a guest of Malta Tourism Authority.

visitmalta.com
'A long time ago, in a Galaxy far, far away,' six-year-old Nuri Albakri wanted nothing more than to own a Star Wars toy. However, poverty meant that the young Malaysian boy's family and would-be Jedi Knight were unable to grant him this wish.

So the Star Wars super fan used the 'force', and embarked on a journey to build one from scratch.

(Left to right) Tusken Raiders, Caroline Walsh, George Livanos, Ruthann Sheahan and Stormtrooper Sean McGrath in Dunmanway. Picture: David Creedon

Fast forward more than two decades, and in a galaxy closer to home, Nuri now is the proud owner one of Irelands most impressive Star Wars collections, which he has lovingly built, customised and curated over the years. And what began as young Jedi's dream has has now inspired a major two-day event in his town of Dunmanway.

The inaugural Feel the Force festival  set to land in the town over the June bank holiday weekend  will see Dunmanway transformed into a playground for Star Wars fans. It will include workshops, makeovers, film screenings and demonstrations.

A Stars Wars-themed parade will bookend the event which is set to attract people of all ages and from all parts of the country. And each day will include a sensory-friendly hour in a bid to make the festival more inclusive.

Nuri, who is now head chef at the Leap Inn, said he is delighted that locals are feeling the force and have taken his pastime to their hearts in such a spectacular way.

Stormtrooper Sean McGrath checks a motorist's details at a checkpoint in preparation for the Feel the Force Festival in Dunmanway. Picture: David Creedon

The idea for a festival was sparked after Nuri opened his collection to the public with an exhibit that took place at Atkins Hall as part of last years Dunmanway Arts Festival. It included Nuris colourful array of self-made costumes, dioramas and customised toys.

Nuri recalls how his Star Wars journey began after making that first toy.

When I was a child you couldnt buy a Star Wars toy in Malaysia unless you sold an arm or a leg. Even me rolling around the floor in a tantrum wouldnt have changed anything.

My dad wouldnt buy it because he needed the money to buy food for us. From then on I found scraps around the house which I used to build my own toys. I am still doing that today.

"My brother and sister didnt have toys either. If you wanted a toy you had to make it yourself.

Nuri said he would not be the person he is today without these struggles.

All kids have to do today is ask their mum and dad for something and they get it. When I was a child we could be proud of what we made. When you make something thats really good, its better than the feeling any manufactured toy can give you. If I had been handed toys from a shop I wouldnt be the person I am today.

Nuri Albakri: 'When you make something thats really good, its better than the feeling any manufactured toy can give you.' Picture: David Creedon

I was very good at art as a teenager. In the 80s and early 90s everyone had to work and earn money for their families. I knew I wouldnt be able to go to art college because we were a poor family. Everything I learned was self-taught including the toys. I am still learning every day.

"It doesnt matter what kind of work you do. Customising toys or making figurines is making art. You dont have to have a brush and some paint to create art.

"YouTube is my university. I do my own tutorials on YouTube. Before, if we wanted to learn something we had to ask people. Now, all people need to do is check their phones.

He describes the amount of care and attention he gives to his creations.

I bought a storm trooper costume on ebay. Its not like you can just buy them. You have to cut them and put on strapping. You also have to weather them before you wear them. Unless you have money and youre going to buy some 2,500 worth of armour then thats really your only option. I like to work on things instead of just having it handed to me. Even the Tusken Raider helmets were made from head to toe.

Nuri Albakri (left) and his wife Caroline Walsh dressed as Tusken Raiders at their home in Dunmanway. Picture: David Creedon

The 50-year-old says his wife Caroline is his biggest fan and supporter. "Its a lot of money to buy the toys but she encourages me and assures me they are worth the money. She is really supportive.

Nuri said that his proudest moment was being featured in Star Wars magazine. A journalist contacted me after seeing me on Insta and put me in the Star Wars magazine. I never thought the stakes would be so high and the whole world would see me. It is overwhelming to be getting this kind of publicity. Now, the community and chamber of commerce are building this whole festival around me.

Nuri hopes the event will showcase Dunmanway in its best light. Dunmanway Clonakilty Credit Union, Cork County Council, Flux Learning, OM History Consultant and Dunmanway Chamber of Commerce are just some of the organisations that have got behind the event.

Members of the West Cork Tuskens queue for the film Star Wars II - Attack of the Clones outside the Broadway Cinema in Dunmanyway. Picture: David Creedon

Donations collected over the weekend will be gifted to the Dunmanway Hub of Co-Action which provides support and opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities.

This is the first ever festival of its kind in Dunmanway. We try to do everything big. People who live far from Dublin, where many of these events take place, will be able to come here. Its a one-of-a-kind event, especially in a small town. Our plan is to put Dunmanway on the map.

To find out more about the festival visit here.
Attacks on unarmed gardai, growing far-right militancy, and calls to overthrow the Government represents a threat to the security of the State, Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said.

Echoing his warning, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said attacks on gardai are an attack on our democracy and our State.

Garda sources have expressed concern that violence and intimidation could get worse, with one saying dark forces are trying to create division and conflict.

Senior officers were yesterday trying to de-escalate tensions at Trudder House in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow, while ensuring there were enough public order units available if threats for further confrontation transpired.

It is thought public order units from other parts of the country including Cork were being sent to Wicklow and a water cannon truck in Dublin was positioned closer to the border with Wicklow if needed.

On Thursday, uniform gardai had missiles thrown at them, an outhouse was set on fire, and garda vehicles were damaged.

The garda response, recorded by some protestors, was circulated widely online, generating outrage and disinformation within the online far-right community.

AGSI acting general secretary Ronan Clogher said one of their members was injured on Thursday and expressed concern that stand-offs with mobs were becoming more frequent. Picture: Conor McKeown

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) said members are facing increasingly angry mobs who it said are determined to usurp their role as the police force.

Senior gardai have said that high profile far-right agitators are becoming more prominent in the escalating violence and intimidation at anti-immigrant protests.

The Tanaiste said: That threatens our democracy, in my view, and it threatens the way of life. He said there was an increasing level of viciousness and violence and lack of respect for the basic laws of the land.

Mr Martin also said he was very, very concerned about the type of language and the type of militancy that is emerging among some groups.

He said: Government in some quarters are being described as a regime to be overthrown. Were going to have to stand up to that.

The Cabinet will discuss this issue in the coming days and see if more needs to be done, Mr Martin said.

AGSI acting general secretary Ronan Clogher said one of their members was injured on Thursday and expressed concern that the escalating stand-offs were becoming more frequent. He said:

Members are facing increasingly angry mobs determined to usurp our role with smartphones in our face and live streamed on social media.

There are concerns that far-right individuals have circulated photographs online of some gardai there on Thursday as well as other social media posts saying they were at war with the State.

One experienced garda source said: Its clear from what has been happening that dark forces are seeking to create division and conflict with authority.

This is without doubt a significant threat to the State.

Another senior source said gardai were looking beyond today and tomorrow and examining if they were now facing a long-term problem as is seen in much of Europe, and whether there was a need for an overarching Government strategy.
Aontu wants an international city in another part of Ireland as Dublin is overheating, its leader told delegates.

Peadar Toibin, the leader of the party and its only TD, said that Ireland is becoming a lop-sided city state, and that a third of the country is living in commuter hell.

Mr Toibin addressed his party Ard Fheis conference in Maynooth, Co Kildare, on Saturday evening.

He said that most university-type jobs are based in the Dublin area, meaning young people are forced to move away from home to get a job, but some cannot afford to live in the capital and have to commute from 30, 40, 50 miles away.

This is fraying at the very fabric of families. Mothers and fathers are getting to see their children for maybe an hour in the evening to put them to bed, he said on Saturday.

He said his party wants a new international city built in another location in Ireland to address the issue, which could come from an existing town or city being developed.

We want to front load investment and infrastructure into that new city so that it grows to a critical mass and starts to draw down international investment in its own right, Mr Toibin said.

We want to see it grow to a critical mass that it comes a counter balance to Dublin in terms of spatial growth.

Mr Toibin also called for the development of a border innovation zone to pull in infrastructure investment and enterprise funding for border counties.

HE said: The root of this problem is, I believe that the Fianna Fail/Fine Gael/Green government is increasingly a south Dublin government that cannot see beyond the M50.

During his leaders address, Mr Toibin referenced Irelands planned Covid inquiry and the governments handling of nursing homes, as well as immigration and what he called a lack of information being a petri dish for rumour.

He said the island of Ireland should be treated as one unit in terms of migration policy and criticised a small number of extremists who are harvesting growing discontent due to government strategies.

This must be opposed. The colour of a persons skin is of no more significance than the colour of their eyes, he said.

Mr Toibin, a former Sinn Fein TD for Meath West, left the party after he voted against legislation to liberalise Irelands abortion laws in the wake of the Eighth Amendment referendum.

He founded the Aontu party in 2019 which has four councillors on the island of Ireland and is polling at around 4%.

Mr Toibin said that the party fought a David and Goliath battle on the two defeated referenda in March on amending Irelands constitutional wording on care and families.

While the government and opposition parties advocated for Yes in both plebiscites, Aontu pushed for a No-No vote.

He claimed that since then, 400 new members have joined the party, which is just shy of 2,000 members.

Mr Toibin is running in the European elections as a candidate in the Midlands North West constituency.
A Kilworth man who admitted harassing a woman and an escapade of dangerous driving around Fermoy that endangered life broke down in tears in court when he was given a fully suspended jail term.

Judge John Martin imposed a number of jail terms amounting to a total of 12 months in the course of a lengthy judgement at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. However, at the end of the sentencing, he said that he was prepared to suspend all of the sentences. Jonathan Woodside of Killally West, Kilworth, County Cork, suddenly broke down in tears as he stood in the dock.

The man admitted harassment of the woman between August 1 and September 24, 2022. He also pleaded guilty to taking possession of a car without permission at Kilworth on September 24, 2022, followed by two counts of endangerment whereby he caused a risk of death or serious injury by his dangerous driving in the Fermoy area. Jonathan Woodside also pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage and charges related to driving without insurance and other offences under the Road Traffic Act.

Detective Garda David OShea gave evidence of the accused harassing an ex-girlfriend by making 59 unwanted phone calls to her and also attending at her place of work and roaring at her.

Judge Martin said: That is significant harassment. Relationships can end. Keep away from her.

The judge described as horrendous the rampage of driving the accused engage in in Fermoy where he collided with 12 other vehicles and did not come to a stop until he was in a head-on collision with a car driven by an elderly woman.

Gardai were following him with blue lights and siren earlier in his rampage of driving but they desisted, hoping that this would de-escalate the situation.

You disregarded the wellbeing and lives of everyone else in February and you disregarded the wellbeing of (harassment victim) by essentially stalking her, thinking that would win her back, the judge said.

He noted that the accused brought 5,000 compensation to court and that the harassment victim said she wanted nothing to do with this money. Judge Nolan directed that it would be given to Pieta House.

As well as the total sentence of 12 months suspended, the judge disqualified Jonathan Woodside from driving for a period of five years.

Defence barrister Emmet Boyle said the defendant is a university student with no previous convictions and had not come to garda attention since this occasion.
After years spent battling homelessness and adversity, Cian Murtagh never imagined that a simple cup of hot chocolate would save his life.

The 30-year-old, originally from Meath, had been homeless for many years after a childhood spent in State care. Employed in construction in Dublin, he was unable to afford the rent, and finished his days on the building site by going to a bench or doorway to sleep. He moved to Cork last year in the hope of a fresh start, but ended up sleeping rough on the city streets there too.

By the beginning of this year, it had all became too much, and he decided he wanted to die. Cians plan was take his own life by fasting in a location so remote nobody would ever find him.

I stayed healthy for years while sleeping on a bench and I didnt want that anymore. I wanted food, water, and shelter, he said.

Length of life didnt matter to me anymore, I wanted to have quality of life too.

I was waiting for divine inspiration but it never came. I stopped eating and knew I was on the verge of death," Cian said.

I headed for the Galtee Mountains. I wanted to go somewhere hidden so I could have that bit of privacy. I didnt want to be taken to hospital if anything happened to me.

He was spotted on his journey near Kilbehenny in Co Limerick by local woman Maeve OBrien. Cian was carrying just a sleeping bag with him, and Maeve stopped to offer him a lift.

Moss Fitzgerald, Maeve OBrien and Peter ODonoghue pictured outside the Kilbehenny Community Centre. Picture: Chani Anderson

It was the first time in years a motorist had ever stopped for Cian.

There were times when I was wandering all over Ireland and still wasnt offered a lift after five or six hours of hitchhiking, Cian recalls.

I wasnt even thumbing when Maeve drove by, but still she picked me up.

Maeve asked Cian if he was homeless and he told her I have options  keeping secret his wish to die. They chatted and Maeve handed Cian some crackers as he got out of the car. However, the snacks would go untouched.

The rescue

Little did either of them realise at the time that this chance encounter might not only save Cian's life  but change the trajectory of it.

The following day, Maeve saw on social media that the young man she had picked up in her car had been reported as a missing person.

Members of soup run group the Kindness Krew, who often served hot chocolate to Cian on the streets of Cork, had alerted authorities after becoming concerned for his whereabouts.

Maeve OBrien felt an instant warmth from Cian Murtagh the moment she met him, but instinctively knew something was wrong and wanted to help. Picture: Chani Anderson

Cian recalls: I was well known for not eating in Cork but if I had a free hot chocolate I would take it. It was the one thing I allowed myself. Each morning, I would get up and look forward to hot chocolate. When youre starving to death all you think about is food.

Not long after Maeve received a call from one of her neighbours Carmel OGorman to say that the missing man had been spotted in Coopers Wood close to Loughananna in Tipperary.

He was refusing all help. Maeve had heard about Cian's love of hot chocolate and set about making a flask before driving to the woods. She recalls the moment she came across Cian.

At that point he had stopped drinking fluids, Maeve said. He wanted to die. I told him that he was so loved and that we could work this out. Cian wouldnt take the hot chocolate at first. He told me that he had no future and just wanted to slip away. The third time he accepted.

"I asked him what his wish would be in life because I wanted to get him talking about something positive. He told me about his dream of opening a milkshake and burrito bar. He was starving at that stage so could only think about food.

The recovery

After accepting help, Cian spent two weeks recovering in hospital. Kilbehenny locals Carmel and John OGorman as well as Moss Fitzgerald were part of the search party that had found Cian and while he recovered in hospital the group met at Kilbehenny community centre and decided to start a GoFundMe appeal.

The hope was to raise enough funds so they could buy him a house and he would never have to sleep on the streets again.

Cian admits he was sceptical at first. Ive seen enough of the world to be set in my ways, he said. I know what happens to people in these situations. This wasnt an American movie. I highly doubt that anyone is going to care about me.

"However, I saw the genuineness in the Kilbehenny community. Id been in hospital before but I never had anybody come and visit me like they did.

The response

The group never anticipated the overwhelming response Cians story would generate and Maeve said she will never forget the day their offer on a house was accepted.

Carmel and John took Cian in for a while and he stayed with them in their home. In the meantime, we looked at suitable options we would be able to purchase with the money raised from GoFundMe. Eventually, we had an offer of 41,000 accepted on a house in Sligo. It was the closest thing Ive ever had to winning the Lottery.

"We have kept the GoFundMe open as there is huge work to be done in terms of renovating it. Structurally its sound but there is no running water, septic tank or toilet. There is an electricity pole that just needs to be hooked up. Our hope is to raise enough money to get the work done. We would welcome the help of any tradespeople who might be interested in getting involved.

Cian's journey into homelessness began with a double-life working in construction by day and sleeping rough by night on the streets of Dublin.

In the depths of the horrible weather, on Dawson Street I would sleep close to the green Luas line so that I could roll up my sleeping bag the next morning and hop on the Luas for work.

Cian Murtagh with Maeve O'Brien at his home bought by Kilbehenny locals through a GoFundMe campaign. Picture: James Connolly

"When you are homeless you are an object for people to use  whether it is for good or for bad. People will either punch you in the face or give you a sandwich. Its rare you see anything in between.

Viewing accommodation options was difficult for Cian without an address.

Everything is stacked against you when you dont have an address. Its not just the lack of a house that is painful when you are homeless. Its how separated you are from everyone else, from society or your peers in general. Its horrible being on the receiving end when you have never committed a crime in your life. Ive never done any mad stuff. I worked while I was homeless.

"I started work at 7.30am and would be finished at 5.30pm. Any facilities to get your basics like a dinner or a shower operated between 10am and 2pm when I was working. I can remember looking disgusting while going to view a house. I was carrying all this stuff with me that made it blatantly obvious that I was homeless."

Cian says that being in employment often made him a target for some other rough sleepers.

Some thought that I had thousands in my pocket. These people had never worked a day in their lives so believed that anybody who did was minted. There were a lot of attempted assaults and robberies. At one point I saved up 6k which was the most money I had ever saved up in my life. However, it all ran out when I was assaulted and I had to pay for B&Bs and hotels just to be able to heal. I couldnt move with the pain.

Cian Murtagh: 'I was waiting for divine inspiration but it never came. I stopped eating and knew I was on the verge of death.' Picture: James Connolly

His determination saw him head to the UK for a fresh start. However, the high cost of living proved too challenging.

My fear was that I was never going to have a life if I continued on this path. The only idea I had left was to try another country. I went to England where I did some bartending and labouring, but there really wasnt a lot of work there.

All my money went on rent which meant I never had anything left over for food. I can remember asking myself 'Is it worth all this not to get rained on?' Shelter is no good by itself. You need to be able to eat too.

"I knew I had to go back to Ireland but there was nothing that was going to keep me in Dublin. I decided to go to Cork where I could have a fresh start. Five months of rough sleeping in Cork left him with an overwhelming sense of hopelessness, despite a string of kind gestures.

Some days Id wake up to find someone had left boots or a tent next to me. However, all I had was my small black backpack that had become nothing more than a dead weight to me. I often donated it to Caitriona Twomey in Cork Penny Dinners.

Fresh start

The huge support of the community in Kilbehenny, however, means Cian feels his life has finally now turned a corner.

I was shocked by the kindness that was shown to me by the people of Kilbehenny to be honest. You get jaded from so many years of being treated like scum so its mad to have such lovely people come into your life, if a little bewildering at times.

Preparing the new cottage in Sligo has been a labour of love for Cian and his Kilbehenny friends.

At the moment it has three empty floors and one of those floors is dug out. Its not plumbed so I dont have a toilet or shower. My plan is to get a cast iron kettle and a tub out the back that will allow me to stay clean. Ill learn about plumbing but the main thing in the meantime is that I can stay clean and sheltered.

Cian Murtagh with Moss Fitzgerald at Cian's new home in Sligo. Moss said: 'Cian really deserves this.' Picture: James Connolly

Id also love to get an air fryer because I hear they do everything. I need a certified electrician which will cost a lot. The other stuff will be all about time and energy.

"When Im in the house I can visualise myself in about three years' time. I see myself sitting somewhere near the fridge eating dinner or relaxing in one of those reclining chairs. It leaves me with a great feeling.

It marks the beginning of a new chapter for Cian.

The last few years have been like sitting in the waiting room of a doctors surgery. I was just waiting for life to begin. Im staying in a B&B at the moment where Im lucky to have my own ensuite but Im really keen to get into the house.

Moss Fitzgerald, Treasurer of Kilbehenny Community Centre, emphasised how much they value Cians friendship.

For a man who has been homeless all his life this is a big step for him. Cian really deserves this. We have got to really like him since getting to know him. There is something nice about him. Carmel OGorman and Maeve OBrien in particular have been like mothers to him. We would also like to thank everyone who donated to the GoFundMe.

Cian was just one of 13,531 homeless people in Ireland in January of this year. Recent figures from the Department of Housing show that 9,504 adults and 4,027 children were in emergency accommodation in January.

The number represents a sharp rise of over 200 more people in emergency accommodation in just one month, compared to 13,318 the month before.

To donate to Cians home renovation organised by members of the Kilbehenny community visit the GoFundMe page.
From Gaza, a harrowing account of life in the midst of death emerged this week when a baby girl was delivered from the womb of her already deceased mother.

Doctors wrote the words the baby of the martyr Sabreen al-Sakani, on a piece of tape and attached it to the infant before placing her in an incubator.

The little girl, also called Sabreen, was in severe respiratory distress and weighed just 1.4kg when medics delivered her through a C-section.

People rush to landing humanitarian aid packages dropped over the northern Gaza Strip on Tuesday amid the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian territory between Israel and militant group Hamas. Picture: AFP/ Getty Images

They could not save her mother, who was 30 weeks pregnant, when an Israeli attack in Rafah ripped through the family home, killing her husband and their other daughter.

With no prospect of a ceasefire in the immediate term, and Israel determined to launch a ground offensive in the southernmost city of Rafah, 17,000 orphaned children face a precarious future.

Here is the biggest tragedy, said Dr Mohammed Salama, head of the emergency neo-natal unit at Emirati Hospital where she was born.

Even if this child survives, she was born an orphan.

WCNSF  Wounded child, no surviving family  is a bleak new abbreviation coined by hospital staff to identify patients over the past seven months.

Yesterday, after five days it was confirmed baby Sabreen, born to a dead mother, had lost her own battle for survival.

As society collapses across the Palestinian enclave, women and girls are facing bombardment, starvation, violence, coercion, sexual assault, and death.

Women and children always disproportionately bear the brunt of conflict, but it has reached new levels in Gaza where aid agencies warn that law and order has completely broken down.

The disintegration of social structure, combined with the fact that most international observers have been prohibited from entering, is leaving women exposed.

Last month, experts from the UNs Human Rights Council said they had received credible allegations that Palestinian women and girls have been subjected to sexual assault, rape, and naked strip searches while detained by Israeli authorities in both Gaza and the West Bank.

But it is not just IDF soldiers that Palestinian women have to fear, the sheer number of displaced families and orphaned children adds another layer of vulnerability.

With no protection, aid agencies fear the level of domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence has greatly increased since October 7.

A Palestinian baby girl, Sabreen al-Sakani, 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, on Sunday. However, yesterday, after five days it was confirmed baby Sabreen had lost her own battle for survival. Picture: Mohammad Jahjouh/AP

Just like the mass grave uncovered at Nasser Hospital in recent days, it is impossible to know the true horrors currently being inflicted on women and girls who are now incarcerated in this war zone.

Apart altogether from the prospect of death from a bomb or shootings, there are wider issues that arise in conflict situations where womens health, safety, security and bodily integrity are at risk, Tanaiste Micheal Martin said after meeting with UNRWA staff and other aid workers who are among a trickle of people getting into the strip.

They were alerting us to what is a deep concern of theirs, Mr Martin added.

Before her death, Sabreen was among 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza, of which about 180 give birth each day in unimaginable conditions.

Thousands of women in Gaza are risking their lives to give birth, undergoing caesareans and emergency operations without sterilisation, anaesthesia, or painkillers, ActionAids Riham Jafari said.

These women deserve quality healthcare and the right to give birth in a safe place, Jafari added.

Instead, they are being forced to bring their babies into the world amid utterly hellish conditions.

How do you avoid post-birth infections when you are sharing a toilet with up to 400 others?

Where do you source nappies or Calpol when you have moved multiple times at the end of your pregnancy and home is now a tent?

How do you rock your baby to sleep when the thunderous impact of almost constant bombardment booms through the night sky and reverberates under your feet?

As a new mother, how do you stop yourself from plunging into despair at a time that should be the happiest of your life?

Girls between the ages of 10 and 14 make up 12.4% of the population of Gaza.

As every woman knows, it can be an awkward and bewildering age, Palestinian girls on the cusp of womanhood are being forced to use scraps of torn-off tent tarpaulin when they get their first period, risking infection.

On March 17, UNRWA trucks loaded with female dignity kits, containing sanitary pads, underwear, paracetamol, and deodorant were refused permission to enter the enclave by Israeli authorities due to the presence of glycerine in a small tube of cocoa butter hand and body cream.

Although glycerine is on the very long and constantly changing list of dual-use items, the quantity contained in the hand lotion was negligible at just 2%.

But the rejection meant that an additional 21 trucks waiting in Al Arish, close to the Rafah border crossing, were immediately stalled.

Micheal Martin speaks to Lotfy Gheith of the Red Crescent at a humanitarian hub close to the Gaza border. Items including incubators for babies, crutches, and some toys are being rejected with dual use being cited.

UNWRA staff on the ground believe it was a random rejection but it delayed the entry of the kits by one month.

Humanitarian agencies desperately trying to get basic aid and medical supports into Gaza, are repeatedly left grappling as the list of so-called dual-use items alters so often.

The banned list currently includes life-saving equipment like incubators for babies, CT scanners, oxygen masks, fridges to carry medication and water filters, but also contains more baffling items such as chocolate croissants (deemed a luxury) and green sleeping bags (the colour being the issue).

If Israel condemns a certain item, such as the hand cream, the products are taken back off the trucks by aid workers.

But by the time the transport vehicle returns to cross the border the list has changed and yet another non-compliant piece is identified, restarting the entire process all over again.

This can happen multiple times before the truck is eventually cleared to enter.

Inhumanity on a grand scale, was how Tanaiste Micheal Martin described the ongoing refusal of essential and life-saving aid into Gaza after he visited Red Crescent warehouses close to the Rafah border where pallets of aid pile up; the Egyptian desert sand forming a dusty layer on top of UN, Oxfam, and national flag logos pasted on the sides of the donations.

Denial of dignity to menstruating women and girls

The denial of dignity through a lack of access to period products for 690,000 menstruating women and girls is minor compared to the many other threats facing civilians in what has become one of the most dangerous places in the world to be female.

And yet, Gaza will always be home to these women and girls who now are fighting to simply survive.

On Wednesday, a special front page edition of the Irish Examiner featured 10-year-old Lain Shammalan, who I spoke to as she waited with her younger sister Samma, brother Mohammad, and parents on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border.

Lain misses going to school where her favourite subject was English, she misses her aunts and uncles, and above all, the sisters playing Lego in Khan Younis with their cousins.

You could say that we escaped from hell and its still going on in there, her mother Haneen said of their experience of fleeing Gaza.

And yet, the family wishes more than anything to go back.

They have seen and heard too much.

I am scared but at the same time I want to go back, Haneen said.

If anything happens them my life would be worthless but they need to learn that home is home, and home is precious.

Its difficult to see anything but heartbreak, trauma and grief in store for Samma and Lain and for the thousands of other girls trapped in Gaza right now.

Israel, Hamas, and political leaders across the world have the power to bring about an immediate ceasefire, to give the women and girls of Gaza a chance to regain their lives and their future.
The students at an encampment at Columbia University who inspired a wave of pro-Palestinian demonstrations across America dug in for their 10th day yesterday, 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.

The students are calling for universities to separate themselves from any companies that are advancing Israels military efforts in Gaza  and in some cases from Israel itself. Protests on many campuses have been orchestrated by coalitions of student groups. The groups act independently, though students say theyre inspired by peers at other universities.

Officials at Columbia and some other schools have been negotiating with student protesters who have rebuffed police and doubled down. Others have quickly turned to law enforcement to douse demonstrations before they take hold.

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 spokesman 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 schools 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 spokesman 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.

George Washington University students rally on campus on Thursday, April 25. Picture: Jose Luis Magana/AP

Wave of protests

The wave of arrests in Columbia sparked off a wave of protests across America:

The University of Southern California has canceled its main stage graduation ceremony as its campus is roiled by protests. The university already canceled a commencement speech by the schools pro-Palestinian valedictorian, citing safety concerns.

The Los Angeles Police Department said more than 90 people were arrested Wednesday night for alleged trespassing during a protest at the university. One person was arrested for alleged assault with a deadly weapon.

The University of Texas campus was much calmer on Thursday, a day after a demonstration saw police and state troopers in riot gear and on horseback make dozens of arrests and force hundreds of students off the schools main lawn.

University officials pulled back the campus barricades and allowed another demonstration involving students and some faculty on the main square underneath the schools iconic clock tower. The group was also protesting the Wednesday arrests.

While the group was vocal with chants and angry shouts against Israel and campus leadership, the demonstration was far less volatile. No violence erupted as a small group of campus police watched from the steps of the tower building. The gathering lasted about two hours.

University president Jay Hartzell said 26 of the 55 people arrested Wednesday had no affiliation with the university.

About 50 students at George Washington University set up a tent encampment on the schools university yard on Thursday.

The protest at the school grew steadily through the morning, with demonstrators waving Palestinian flags, beating drums, and chanting slogans. Later in the day, a group of Georgetown University students and professors staged their own protest walkout and marched to the George Washington campus to join the protesters there.

The university said peaceful demonstrations were permitted, however people not associated with the university were not allowed to protest on campus and overnight encampments were not allowed on university property. It said the protesters must remove tents and disperse by 7pm.

Trying to stay ahead of protests, Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, locked most gates into its famous Harvard yard ahead of classes Monday and limited access to those with school identification.

The school also posted signs warning against setting up tents or tables on campus without permission. Those efforts didnt stop protesters from setting up a camp with 14 tents Wednesday, which came after a rally against the universitys suspension of the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee.

Protesters at the University of Northern California used furniture, tents, chains, and zip ties to block entrances to an academic and administrative building on Monday. Protesters chanted, We are not afraid of you! before officers in riot gear pushed into them at the buildings entrance.

On Thursday, the university said protesters continued to occupy the two buildings on campus and it was making contingency plans, including possibly keeping campus closed beyond Sunday.

Later in the day, faculty members met with protesters, trying to negotiate a solution.

Boston Police said that 108 people were arrested on Thursday at an encampment at Emerson College.

Police said four officers suffered injuries that werent considered life-threatening.

The school said the alley where some protesters have set up tents is owned by the city, and Boston police have warned of imminent law enforcement action. The college said campus police were offering escort services for students after officials received credible reports of some protesters engaging in targeted harassment and intimidation of Jewish supporters of Israel.

Protesters face off with mounted state troopers at the University of Texas on Wednesday, April 24. Picture: Janner/Austin American-Statesman/AP

At New York University (NYU), an encampment set up by students swelled to hundreds of protesters earlier this week. Police on Wednesday said that 133 protesters had been taken into custody. They said all were released with summonses to appear in court on disorderly conduct charges.

Atlanta police and Georgia state troopers dismantled a camp on Emory Universitys quadrangle. University police had ordered several dozen demonstrators who set up tents early Thursday morning to leave.

A long line of officers surrounded the encampment of about three dozen tents as protesters chanted slogans supporting Palestinians and opposing a public safety training center being built in Atlanta.

The two movements are closely entwined in Atlanta, where there has been years of Stop Cop City activism that has included a fringe of anarchist attacks on property and the killing by state troopers of a protester who was occupying the site.

Emorys vice president for public safety Cheryl Elliott said 28 people were arrested, including 20 members of the university community. Some had already been released.

Northwestern University changed its student code of conduct Thursday morning to bar tents on its suburban Chicago campus as student activists set up an encampment. The students want the university to divest from Israel, among other things.

Protests continued at Yale, though the number of students involved had visibly shrunk since Monday, when 48 people, including 44 students, were arrested and charged with trespassing after camping out for several days on Beinecke Plaza.

The vast majority of those arrested were charged with trespassing.

A few dozen protesters set up tents and occupied a building Thursday at the Fashion Institute of Technology, part of the public State University of New York system. Protesters sat on the floor or milled around, many wearing face masks and keffiyas. Other protesters outside the building held signs and Palestinian flags.

Students at The City College of New York in Harlem set up an encampment. On Thursday evening, a mix of New York police officers and campus security guards confronted protesters. But they were quickly outnumbered by protesters, who locked arms and cut off their path. The officers retreated, drawing cheers from the encampment.

Police with shields and batons shoved into a line of protesters linked arm in arm at Indiana University Bloomington on Thursday afternoon, arresting 33 people. Police made the arrests after an encampment was set up on campus.

Tents began to appear on Michigan State Universitys East Lansing campus early Thursday, with nearly 30 tents set up by late afternoon, and about 100 students gathered near the campus center, engaging in chants.

Eli Folts, an organizer who is junior at the university, said that many of the students have felt comfortable showing their faces partially because of the police response. He said police liaisons have been assigned to interact with the police officers, who have come by the encampment about every hour.

Police arrested one protester and tore down tents at the University of Connecticut on Thursday, after students set up an encampment.

Pro-Palestinian protesters are pushed to the edge of campus at the University of Texas Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Austin, Texas. Picture: Ricardo B Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman/AP

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.
A West Cork collection of 18th-century Irish and oriental artefacts assembled by an investment banker is included in four days of sales with more than 1,800 lots at Sheppards in Durrow next week. Among the lots from West Cork is a set of Japanese woodblock prints from the series Seto inland sea by Hiroshi Yoshida (1876-1950), a pair of 19th-century Meissen parakeets and a pair of 19th-century Meissen plates.

A 17th-century Flemish tapestry, a pair of Chippendale elbow chairs from Malahide Castle, a 17th-century silver chalice from the Tim O'Mahony Collection, Kilkenny, an Irish 18th-century wake table, four 18th-century Chippendale chairs from the estate of Yehudi Menuhin and a long Donegal runner supplied by Robert Kime to Clarence House, home of King Charles and Queen Camilla add considerable interest to this auction.

The Great Irish Interiors sale takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday. Curated jewellery will come under the hammer at Sheppards on Thursday with top brands like Cartier, Boucheron and Dior and the Irish Vernacular sale on Friday offers a c1880 three-wheeled bike, dug-out chairs, hedge chairs and a Penal cross. Viewing for all these sales gets underway in Durrow today.
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and several international officials will be in Riyadh this week for talks aimed at pushing for a peace agreement in Gaza to be held on the sidelines of a World Economic Forum meeting, the WEF's president said on Saturday.

"We do have the key players now in Riyadh and hopefully the discussions can lead into a process towards reconciliation and peace," Brge Brende said at a news conference in Riyadh, adding that Gaza's humanitarian crisis would be on the agenda.
A Moscow court has detained another suspect as an accomplice in the attack by gunmen on a suburban Moscow concert hall that killed 144 people in March, the Moscow City Courts Telegram channel said on Saturday.

Dzhumokhon Kurbonov, a citizen of Tajikistan, is accused of providing the attackers with means of communication and financing.

The judge at Moscows Basmanny District Court ruled that Kurbonov would be kept in custody until May 22 pending investigation and trial.

Russian state news agency RIA Novosti said Kurbonov was reportedly detained on April 11 for 15 days on the administrative charge of petty hooliganism.

Russian National Guard servicemen secure an area at the Crocus City Hall on the western edge of Moscow, Russia, in March (Alexander Avilov/Moscow News Agency via AP)

Independent Russian media outlet Mediazona noted that this is a common practice used by Russian security forces to hold a person in custody while a criminal case is prepared against them.

Twelve defendants have been arrested in the case, including four who allegedly carried out the March 22 attack at the Crocus City Hall concert venue, according to RIA Novosti.

Those four appeared in the same Moscow court at the end of March on terrorism charges and showed signs of severe beatings. One appeared to be barely conscious during the hearing.

The court ordered that the men, all of whom were identified in the media as citizens of Tajikistan, also be held in custody until May 22.

A faction of the so-called Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the massacre in which gunmen shot people who were waiting for a show by a popular rock band and then set the building on fire.

But Russian officials including President Vladimir Putin have persistently claimed, without presenting evidence, that Ukraine and the West had a role in the attack.

Ukraine denies involvement and its officials claim that Moscow is pushing the allegation as a pretext to intensify its fighting in Ukraine.
Yemens Houthi rebels have claimed to have shot down another of the US militarys MQ-9 Reaper drones, airing footage of parts that corresponded to known pieces of the unmanned aircraft.

The Houthis said they shot down the Predator with a surface-to-air missile, part of a renewed series of assaults this week by the rebels after a relative lull in their pressure campaign over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

US Air Force Lt Col Bryon J McGarry, a Defence Department spokesperson, acknowledged to the Associated Press on Saturday that a US Air Force MQ-9 drone crashed in Yemen.

He said an investigation was under way, without elaborating.

The Houthis described the downing as happening on Thursday over their stronghold in the countrys Saada province.

Footage released by the Houthis included what they described as the missile launch targeting the drone, with a man off-camera reciting the Houthis slogan after it was hit: God is the greatest; death to America; death to Israel; curse the Jews; victory to Islam.

The footage included several close-ups on parts of the drone that included the logo of General Atomics, which manufactures the drone, and serial numbers corresponding with known parts made by the company.

Since the Houthis seized the countrys north and its capital of Sanaa in 2014, the US military has lost at least five drones to the rebels counting Thursdays shootdown  in 2017, 2019, 2023 and this year.

Reapers, which cost around 30 million dollars apiece, can fly at altitudes up to 50,000 feet and have an endurance of up to 24 hours before needing to land.

The drone shooting comes as the Houthis launch attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, demanding Israel ends the war in Gaza, which has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians there.

The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking some 250 others hostage.

The Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping, seized one vessel and sank another since November, according to the US Maritime Administration.

Houthi attacks have dropped in recent weeks as the rebels have been targeted by a US-led airstrike campaign in Yemen.

Shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has declined because of the threat.

American officials have speculated that the rebels may be running out of weapons as a result of the US-led campaign against them and after firing drones and missiles steadily in the last months.

However, the rebels have renewed their attacks in the last week.
1371138342::cfb49c8e-2422-11e5-99a3-d7f5c6e8b241

A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more.
By Lauren Lassabe Shepherd, University of New Orleans | 

Interrogations of university leaders spearheaded by conservative congressional representatives. Calls from right-wing senators for troops to intervene in campus demonstrations. Hundreds of student and faculty arrests, with nonviolent dissenters thrown to the ground, tear-gassed and tased.

Weve been here before. In my book Resistance from the Right: Conservatives and the Campus Wars in Modern America, I detail how, throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s, conservative activists led a counterattack against campus antiwar and civil rights demonstrators by demanding action from college presidents and police.

They made a number of familiar claims about student protesters: They were at once coddled elitists, out-of-state agitators and violent communists who sowed discord to destroy America. Conservatives claimed that the protests interfered with the course of university activities and that administrators had a duty to guarantee daily operations paid for by tuition.

Back then, college presidents routinely caved to the demands of conservative legislators, angry taxpayers and other wellsprings of anticommunist outrage against students striking for peace and civil rights.

Today, university leaders are twisting themselves in knots to appease angry donors and legislators. But when Columbia University President Minouche Shafik called in the NYPD to quell protests, she was met with a firm rebuke from the American Association of University Professors.

If the past is any indication, the road ahead wont be any easier for college presidents like Shafik.

Lawfare from the right

Throughout the 1960s, students organized a host of anti-war and civil rights protests, and many conservatives characterized the demonstrators as communist sympathizers.

Students spoke out against American involvement in the Vietnam War, the draft and compulsory ROTC participation. They demanded civil rights protections and racially representative curricula. The intervention of police and the National Guard often escalated what were peaceful protests into violent riots and total campus shutdowns.

11Alive: Over 20 taken into custody at Emory University after explosive protests

From 1968 into the 1970s, conservative lawyers coordinated a national campaign to sue indecisive and gutless college presidents and trustees whose approach to campus demonstrations was, in conservatives estimation, too lenient.

The right-wing organization Young Americans for Freedom hit 32 colleges with lawsuits, including private Ivy League schools like Columbia, Harvard and Princeton, as well as public land-grant universities like Michigan State and the University of Wisconsin.

The legal claim was for breach of contract: that presidents were failing to follow through on their end of the tuition agreement by not keeping campuses open and breaking up the protests. Young Americans for Freedom sought to set legal precedent for students, parents and broadly defined taxpayers to be able to compel private and public institutions to remain open.

Conservative students further demanded that their supposedly communist peers be expelled indefinitely, arrested for trespassing and prosecuted.

Expulsions, of course, carried implications for the draft during these years. A running joke among right-wing activists and politicians was that protesters should be given a McNamara Scholarship to Hanoi, referencing Robert McNamara, the U.S. secretary of defense and an architect of the Vietnam War.

Meanwhile, right-wing activists hounded college leaders with public pressure campaigns by collecting signatures from students and alumni that called on them to put an end to campus demonstrations. Conservatives also urged donors to withhold financial support until administrators subdued protesting students.

Cops on campus

Following the massacre at Kent State in 1970, when the National Guard fired at students, killing four and wounding nine, nearly half of all colleges shut down temporarily amid a wave of nationwide youth outrage. With only a week or two left of the semester, many colleges canceled remaining classes and even some commencement ceremonies.

In response, conservatives launched a new wave of post-Kent State injunctions against those universities to force them back open.

With protests ongoing  and continued calls from the right to crack down on them  many university administrators resorted to calling on the police and the National Guard, working with them to remove student protesters from campus.

In fact, this very moment brought about the birth of the modern campus police force.

Administrators and lawmakers, afraid that local police could not handle the sheer number of student demonstrators, arranged to deputize campus police  who had historically been parking guards and residence hall curfew enforcers  with the authority to make arrests and carry firearms.

State and federal lawmakers attempted to further stifle student dissent with reams of legislation. In 1969, legislators in seven states passed laws to punish student activists who had been arrested during protests through the revocation of financial aid, expulsion and jail sentences.

President Richard Nixon, who had excoriated campus disruptions during his successful White House run in 1968, encouraged college presidents to heed the laws and applauded them for following through with expulsions.

Is antisemitism the new communism?

As the U.S. presidential election approaches, Ill be watching to see how the Trump and Biden campaigns respond to ongoing student protests.

For now, Trump has called the recent protests antisemitic and far worse than the 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville. Biden has similarly condemned the antisemitic protests and those who dont understand whats going on with the Palestinians.

Both are repeating the false framework laid out by GOP Reps. Elise Stefanik and Virginia Foxx, a trap that university administrators have fallen into during House inquiries since Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

There indeed have been antisemitic incidents associated with pro-Palestinian demonstrations on university campuses.

But in these hearings, Stefanik and Foxx have baited four women presidents into affirming the rights politicized framing of the protests as rife with antisemitism, leading the public to believe that isolated incidents are instead representative and rampant.

Like their association of civil rights and peace demonstrators with communism throughout the Cold War, politicians on both sides of the aisle are now broadly hurling claims of antisemitism against anyone protesting Israels war in Gaza, many of whom are Jewish.

The purpose then, as it is now, is to intimidate administrators into a false political choice: Will they protect students right to demonstrate or be seen as acquiescent to antisemitism?

Lauren Lassabe Shepherd, Instructor, School of Education, University of New Orleans

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
( Human Rights Watch )  (Jerusalem)  The Israeli military either took part in or did not protect Palestinians from violent settler attacks in the West Bank that have displaced people from 20 communities and have entirely uprooted at least 7 communities since October 7, 2023, Human Rights Watch said today.

Israeli settlers have assaulted, tortured, and committed sexual violence against Palestinians, stolen their belongings and livestock, threatened to kill them if they did not leave permanently, and destroyed their homes and schools under the cover of the ongoing hostilities in Gaza. Many Palestinians, including entire communities, have fled their homes and lands. The military has not assured displaced residents that it will protect their security or allow them to return, forcing them to live in precarious conditions elsewhere.

Settlers and soldiers have displaced entire Palestinian communities, destroying every home, with the apparent backing of higher Israeli authorities, said Bill Van Esveld, associate childrens rights director at Human Rights Watch. While the attention of the world is focused on Gaza, abuses in the West Bank, fueled by decades of impunity and complacency among Israels allies, are soaring.

Human Rights Watch investigated attacks that forcibly displaced all residents of Khirbet Zanuta and Khirbet al-Ratheem south of Hebron, al-Qanub east of Hebron, and Ein al-Rashash and Wadi al-Seeq, east of Ramallah, in October and November 2023. The evidence shows that armed settlers, with the active participation of army units, repeatedly cut off road access and raided Palestinian communities, detained, assaulted, and tortured residents, chased them out of their homes and off their lands at gunpoint or coerced them to leave with death threats, and blocked them from taking their belongings.

Human Rights Watch spoke to 27 witnesses of the attacks, and viewed videos that residents filmed, showing harassment by men in Israeli military uniforms carrying M16 assault rifles. As of April 16, the Israel Defense Forces did not reply to questions Human Rights Watch sent by email on April 7.

Settler attacks on Palestinians increased in 2023 to their highest level since the UN began recording this data in 2006. This was the case even before the Hamas-led attacks on October 7 that killed about 1,100 people inside Israel.

Following October 7, the Israeli military called up 5,500 settlers who are Israeli army reservists, including some with criminal records of violence against Palestinians, and assigned them to West Bank regional defense battalions. The authorities distributed 7,000 guns to battalion members and others, including civilian security squads established in settlements, according to Haaretz, and Israeli rights groups. Media reported that settlers left leaflets and sent threats on social media to Palestinians after October 7, such as warnings to flee to Jordan or be exterminate[d], and that the day of revenge is coming.

The UN has recorded more than 700 settler attacks between October 7 and April 3, with soldiers in uniform present in nearly half of the attacks. Attacks since October 7 have displaced over 1,200 people, including 600 children, from rural herding communities. At least 17 Palestinians were killed and 400 wounded, while Palestinians have killed 7 settlers in the West Bank since October 7, the UN reported.

On April 12, the body of a 14-year-old Israeli boy was found after he had disappeared from the settlement outpost of Malachei Hashalom. Since then, settlers have attacked at least 17 Palestinian villages and communities in the West Bank, according to OCHA . Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights group, reported that four Palestinians, including a 16-year-old boy, have been killed in these incidents, and that houses and vehicles were set on fire, and livestock killed.

None of those evicted from the five communities investigated have been able to return, Human Rights Watch found. The Israeli military either rejected or did not answer requests to allow residents to return, leaving Palestinians without protection from the same armed settlers and soldiers who threatened to kill them if they returned. One family with seven children, forced to flee on foot from al-Qanub, now lives in a small cinderblock storeroom with no money to pay the rent.

Haqel: In Defense of Human Rights, an Israeli human rights organization, petitioned the Israeli High Court to instruct the army to protect five Palestinian communities from threats of displacement due to settler violence, and to allow Khirbet Zanuta families to return to their lands. The Israeli state attorneys February 20 response claimed that no forced displacement occurred in Khirbet Zanuta, and that Palestinians had left voluntarily due to herding and agricultural problems, according to Haqel. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for May 1.

The displaced residents raised sheep. Some said that Israeli attackers stole vehicles, cash, and household appliances, as well as sheep and fodder that families had bought on credit and now cannot repay. Other families escaped with their flocks but had to build new shelters and have nowhere to graze them.

Settlers have subsequently been grazing their own sheep on the communities lands, according to rights groups. The Israeli rights group BTselem reported that as of mid-March, settlers had taken over 4,000 dunams (about 988 acres) of Palestinian grazing lands since October 7.

Repeated settler attacks, often at night, have caused fear and mental health harm. Children and their parents said children have had nightmares and difficulty concentrating. The attacks destroyed schools in two of the five communities. Most children were unable to go to school for a month or longer after being displaced.

The Israeli police have law-enforcement jurisdiction over settlers, while the army has jurisdiction over Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. After October 7, Israels National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir instructed police not to enforce the law against violent settlers, an Israeli investigative journalist reported. Police denied the report, though Ben-Gvir did not. The vast majority of Palestinian complaints against settlers and the Israeli military do not result in indictments, based on official data compiled by Yesh Din.

After October 7, the National Security Ministry distributed thousands of guns, including to settlers. In December, the Attorney Generals Office stated in the Knesset that they had found the Ministry had unlawfully approved 14,000 firearms permits.

Countries including the United States, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom have licensed exports of weapons, including assault rifles and ammunition, to Israel. The US has approved more than 100 weapons transfers to Israel since October 7, and exported 8,000 military rifles and 43,000 handguns in 2023, before pausing a shipment of 24,000 assault rifles in December over concerns about settler attacks. It is almost a certainty that settlers are using US-made guns, a former US State Department official said.

Since December, the United Kingdom, the United States, and France announced visa policies that barred some violent settlers from entry. The US and UK imposed financial sanctions on a total of eight settlers and two settlement outposts. EU sanctions are still being discussed, due to staunch reluctance by the Czech Republic and Hungary.

Forcible transfer or deportation and the extensive destruction and appropriation of property in occupied territory are war crimes. Israeli authorities systematic oppression of and inhumane acts against Palestinians, including war crimes, committed with the intent to maintain the domination of Jewish Israelis over Palestinians, amount to the crimes against humanity of apartheid and persecution.

Governments should suspend military support to Israel, given the risk of complicity in abuses. They should also review and possibly suspend bilateral agreements, such as the EU-Israel Association Agreement, and ban trade with settlements in the occupied territories. The UK should immediately withdraw the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill, which restricts public bodies in the UK from deciding not to do business with companies operating in illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

The US, the EU, UK, and other countries should take action to ensure accountability for those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including criminal investigations and prosecutions under universal jurisdiction and at the International Criminal Court. This should include those responsible under command responsibility for failures to prevent or punish crimes by those in their chain of command.

In addition, they should consider sanctions on those responsible for ongoing Israeli attacks on Palestinian communities or for the prevention of displaced Palestinians from returning to their lands, until those subject to sanctions end the attacks and ensure the displaced Palestinians can return, Human Rights Watch said.

Palestinian children have seen their families brutalized, and their homes and schools destroyed, and the Israeli authorities are ultimately to blame, Van Esveld said. Senior state officials are fueling or failing to prevent these attacks, and Israels allies are not doing enough to stop that.

Israeli Attacks Investigated

*** Names have been changed for peoples protection.

Al-Qanub

Settler attacks forced the residents of al-Qanub, 10 kilometers east of the town of Sair, near Hebron in the southern West Bank, to flee on the evening of October 9. The community of about 40 people have been unable to return.

From October 7 to 9, ten to twelve settlers in civilian clothes, armed with handguns and assault rifles, piled up stones each day to block the only road to al-Qanub, which links it to the town of Sair, said Salma, a 29-year-old resident who fled with her husband, Salim, and their seven children.

At 4:30 p.m. on October 9, dozens of armed settlers arrived. Some went to [get] the sheep, and nine of them came to us, Salim said. They had guns and knives. Settlers ordered them to leave within an hour or they would be killed, and one man said he would cut our throats, and pointed at us, including our kids.



One of the homes destroyed in al- Qanub, a Palestinian community in the southern West Bank, after all residents fled from armed settlers on October 9, 2023.  2023 Private

Dozens of men, with dogs, stole and led the 200 sheep that Salim and his father owned toward a settlement outpost, Salim said. He and several neighbors ran toward them, but that seemed to trigger [the settlers]. His father feared they would open fire and warned the residents to leave. The men, and women and children fled in different groups: I told my wife to take the kids and run.

Salma carried her 8-month-old boy and walked with her other children through rocky terrain for more than five hours in the dark, until 10 p.m., to reach her parents home, she said.

Salim, 35, his father, 75, and his children were all born in al-Qanub. All our life was there, he said. He is 18,000 shekels (about US$4,800) in debt for sheep fodder that settlers stole, he said. The family is living in a windowless, cinderblock storeroom in a nearby town, with no income to pay the rent.

Settlers from an outpost 400 meters away west of al-Qanub, began harassing residents five years ago, Salim said. It appears the settlers came from the outpost of Pnei Kedem North. Settlers prevented residents from grazing their sheep, and cut the electricity, and three months ago they cut the water. They even took the pipes. In December 2021, settlers set dogs on two brothers in al-Qanub and hit one brother with an all-terrain vehicle, and in February 2022, settlers attacked the brothers father, 76, fracturing two of his fingers and his skull, the rights group BTselem reported.

Wadi al-Seeq

Attacks involving armed settlers in civilian clothes and an Israel Defense Forces unit displaced all 30 families  about 180 people, including 90 children  from Wadi al-Seeq, northeast of Ramallah, on October 12, based on residents and human rights groups accounts, as well as Israeli news reports.

Beginning on October 7, settlers gathered daily at the entrance of the road that leads to the community. At 8 p.m. on October 11, a group of 8 to 10 men in military uniforms, armed with M16s and some wearing masks, arrived in two trucks, said 46-year-old Abu Hasan.

The uniformed men first entered the tents belonging to Abu Nayef and his sons, destroyed and stole the familys belongings, then searched other peoples tents until around 3 a.m., Abu Hasan said.

Later that morning, a prominent local settler, armed and wearing civilian clothes, led a group of armed men wearing military uniforms without name tags who had arrived in civilian cars in blocking an access road, while a military vehicle and two police patrol vehicles were stationed nearby, four residents said.

Four vehicles with soldiers, some of whom residents recognized as settlers from prior attacks, then entered Wadi al-Seeq, residents said. The soldiers took residents phones, car keys, and IDs, hit people, and entered tents where women and children were taking cover, and threw belongings on the ground, said 30-year-old Marwan M.

The attackers said they would shoot residents if they did not leave within an hour. Abu Bashar said: They said, you cant take anything with you, and even the cars were forbidden. About 30 people were wounded in the attack, according to news reports.

Soldiers entered Reem R.s tent, shoved her and her children, and took their phones, she said. One man in uniform kicked me in the back of my neck. They said, Go to the valley, and if you come back, we will kill you. As she was fleeing, Reem saw her 20-year-old son, who has a congenital bone condition and a physical disability, lying on the ground, with a settler stomping on his back, she said. The women and children, including two with physical disabilities, fled to a cave, where they sheltered for eight hours without food or water, or their phones, until around 8 p.m., then walked toward the town of Taybeh, Reem said.



Bruising on one of the men attacked by settlers and active-duty soldiers, in Wadi al-Seeq on October 12, 2023. The man was hospitalized for his injuries.  2023 Private

Meanwhile, soldiers forced Marwan M., Abu Hasan, and a third man, Nadim N., onto the ground, bound them, and hit, kicked, and beat them with their gun butts, they said. Another group of soldiers arrived and left, and a civilian vehicle arrived with men in military uniforms. Soldiers dragged the three men to a sheep pen, blindfolded and stripped them to their underwear, replaced the zip-tie on Abu Hasans wrists with painful metal wire, and for more than two hours, beat and kicked the men in the head and face. Nadim N. was burned with cigarettes. Marwan M. lost consciousness, he said. The attackers posted images of the men online.

They took turns beating us, over and over, with threats like, When you die your wife wont be able to feed your children, Abu Hasan said. One man urinated on him, and another kicked him in the chest, stomach, and genitals. I was screaming in pain. After that he brought a broom handle, jumped on my back, hit me with it and tried to shove it in my anus.

Abu Hasan said the attackers stole three phones and 2,700 shekels (about US$700) in cash from the three men, and other belongings. In the evening, an Israeli military medic arrived with other soldiers. Marwan M. said, they gave me glucose, and apologized. We told them how they stole our cars, phones, money, everything, and insisted that they get our things back, but they didnt respond [to our requests]. He and Abu Hasan were hospitalized.

About five days later, Israeli authorities in two police cars escorted some residents back for two hours to retrieve their belongings, Reem R. said. Her households mattresses, blankets, clothes, electrical equipment, refrigerator, car trailer, 250 chickens, and 35,000 shekels (about US$9,400) worth of sheep fodder that was bought on credit, were missing, she said. Other residents documents, including birth and marriage certificates, were burned or missing, and two cars, water tanks, donkeys, chickens, and 13 sheep had been stolen, Abu Bashar said. Their homes had been destroyed.

Residents said they filed a complaint at the police station in the Binyamin settlement but have heard nothing since. The military asked two men to submit complaints.

The soldiers involved in the attack were part of the militarys Desert Frontier unit, which recruits residents of settlement outposts, including some settlers with criminal records, Haaretz reported. The military dismissed the commander in October in response to reports about the attack, and in December, dismissed five combat soldiers and froze the units operations following additional violent incidents, Haaretz reported. Human Rights Watch is not aware of anyone having been prosecuted in relation to the events.

In December, the Israeli military filed an order barring the settler leader from most of the West Bank, for three months. He appealed the order. The US sanctioned him in March.

Reem R. and her family are sheltering in a tent on the outskirts of Taybeh. Her children were out of school for more than two months. The school in Wadi al-Seeq, which opened in 2017 and had over 100 students in grades 1 through 8, including children from neighboring communities, was destroyed after the attack.

The families were originally displaced during the 1948 war from what is now Israel. Between 2010 and 2023, the Israeli military issued demolition orders for 110 structures in the community, including the school, for lacking building permits, which are almost impossible for Palestinians to obtain.

Settlers began herding sheep on the communitys lands and harassing residents in February 2023. On August 3, settlers beat children and youth with sticks and tried to steal their sheep, residents said. The army arrested three men who prevented the theft and detained 35-year-old Karim K. on charges of assault and resisting arrest, which his uncle said were bogus. He was released in February on bail and a third-party guarantee.

Khirbet al-Ratheem

Between October 14 and 23, the entire community of about 50 people in Khirbet al-Ratheem, in the southern West Bank, was displaced due to attacks by armed men in military uniforms whom community residents recognized as settlers from previous attacks, accompanied by other soldiers whom residents did not recognize.

Settlers began to harass Khirbet al-Ratheem in 2021, destroying crops and raiding homes at night, former residents said.

On October 7, 2023, soldiers arrived and warned the community not to leave their homes or graze their sheep and blocked all the roads. On October 8, settlers attacked the home of 50-year-old Ghassan G., his 44-year-old wife Farah, and their three children under the age of 18; destroyed two water cisterns; and smashed their solar panels with stones.

At 10 p.m. on October 12, five masked, armed men in military uniforms forced three nearby households into Ghassans tent, dragging Ghassans elderly father, who had difficulty walking, and pointing an M16 at his head, Farah said. One man told them, You have 24 hours to leave, [or] we will kill you and take your sheep, Ghassan said. The attackers punctured their water tanks and cut their gas and water pipes. Ghassan called a humanitarian agency and the nearby municipality of al-Samua to help them evacuate but was told it was not possible to coordinate with the Israeli military, he said.

On the night of October 13, masked and armed soldiers, whom a family member identified by their voices as settlers were used to, entered the family home again, threatened them and demanded their phones. The family member, who hid her phone and video camera, showed Human Rights Watch videos of prior settler attacks.

As Ghassans extended family were leaving on October 14, settlers returned and forced them face-down on the ground, beating, kicking, and threatening to kill them, family members said. The family escaped to the town of al-Samua, 15 kilometers away, with 220 sheep, a few solar panels, appliances, and mattresses. A neighbor later filmed a settler bulldozing their home.

Ghassan had to build a sheep shelter on the outskirts of al-Samua, at a cost of 50,000 shekels (about US $13,400), and buy fodder. Previously, the sheep had grazed on 30 dunams (about 7 acres) of land.

The extended family of 76-year-old Abu A. and his wife, Lana, who have five children under the age of 18 along with adult children and their families, lived nearby. On October 8 or 9, men Abu A. recognized as settlers from an outpost of the Asael settlement entered their home and warned them to leave or well cut your throats. His family found the slain body of one of their sheep next to their door, on October 11. At 11 p.m. on October 12 or 13, settlers smashed their solar panels, Abu A. said.

At 9 p.m. on October 16, five masked men, one wearing a military uniform and carrying an M16 assault rifle, arrived at Abu A.s home, shoved me on the ground, and the one in uniform kicked me in my stomach and hit me in the forehead with the butt of his gun. The men punctured a water tank and warned them to leave by October 21 or we will burn you. Lana was hiding inside with her daughter in law and her daughters, including Anan, 8. Anan said she was very scared and hid inside the closet and looked through the keyhole.

Abu A.s son, Iyad, said that on October 20, a group of uniformed Israeli forces detained him and three of his brothers. Some soldiers beat and stomped on them, and warned them to leave, as other soldiers sat on the side, Iyad said.

At noon on October 21, as the family was leaving with their belongings, three soldiers armed with M16s, blindfolded and zip-tied Iyad. Iyad said he was hit on the head with gun butts, taken to an outpost and then to two settlements, and finally to an army base in the Otniel settlement. He was released at 10 p.m. after Israeli police came to the settlement. A photograph taken on October 22 shows Iyads swollen hands and raw marks on his wrists, consistent with zip tie restraints.

Abu A., who has 11 siblings, said his family had owned 600 dunams (about 148 acres) of land in the area, where he was born in 1947. His family are now in al-Samua, but he could not graze his herd, forcing him to sell 100 of his sheep. He had previously sold his six cows after the Israeli military prevented him from accessing their grazing lands. We are in debt, [and] we dont have any income, he said.

Three brothers from another branch of the family were forced to leave by soldiers whom residents recognized as settlers. One of the brothers, 43-year-old Ayman A., said that after October 7, settlers wearing military-uniform pants, driving a bulldozer and two cars, repeatedly threatened him, his wife and their seven children to leave or we will burn you.

On October 23, uniformed soldiers whom Ayman described as settlers, fired their M16s in the air and threw us onto the ground. He and his brothers, Mohammed and Amer, said settlers hit them and stomped on their backs. At around 9 p.m., the brothers and their families fled to al-Samua but had to leave behind their furniture and appliances.

Their wives and children are staying in a relatives home in al-Samua, while the brothers and their older sons are staying close to a shelter they built for their 150 sheep. It cost 8,000 shekels [US $2,100] for a bulldozer to clear the ground, and thousands more in building materials, Ayman said. The sheep, cut off from grazing lands, need 125 kilograms of fodder each day.

Schools in the area switched to online education after October 7 due to the movement restrictions Israel imposed. Only 5 out of 23 schoolchildren in the extended family had devices or phones and were able to attend online classes, a family member said. Some schools reopened in mid-December.

Khirbet Zanuta

Human Rights Watch interviewed members of the extended S. and N. families who fled Khirbet Zanuta, in the southern West Bank, on November 1 due to settler attacks. The entire community of more than 140 people was displaced.

Saleh S., 38, and his wife and four children, ages 5 to 11, said their families had lived in Khirbet Zanuta since our grandparents days. Settlers established a nearby outpost three years ago and repeatedly harassed the community. After October 7, they entered the house, cursing at us, harassing the children, swearing at them. It was every other day, if not in the morning, then at night, Saleh said.

On October 7, settlers bulldozed and blocked the entrance to the road into Khirbet Zanuta from al-Dhahiriya, eight kilometers away, said Salehs sister, Abier, 45. In the following weeks, settlers regularly threw stones at their homes at night, hitting the metal roof. For 10 days we werent able to sleep, said Salehs brother Sami, 53, who lived nearby with his wife and three children, two of them under 18. Settlers smashed Salehs solar panels and windows and destroyed several residents cars.

On October 31, six armed settlers drove all-terrain vehicles to the home of Salehs brother Mahmoud, 42, his wife and three children, ages 2 to 9. They detained and beat him, Mahmoud said. Mahmoud said: They were choking me, I thought they were going to kill me. They hit me with their M16s, all over, [on] my back, my arms. They cursed me and threatened my family, in Arabic and Hebrew. They threw me on the ground. There were cactus spines stuck in me.



A room under construction by families displaced after attacks by settlers and soldiers from Khirbet Zanuta, in the southern West Bank, November 23, 2023.  2023 Bill Van Esveld/Human Rights Watch

Saleh and Mahmoud said that they recognized the leader of the settlers who warned residents to leave their homes after October 7. This man had previously carried an M16 or a handgun and led settlers who cut water pipes, punctured water tanks, and used a drone to terrify the familys sheep, Saleh and Mahmoud said. On November 1, the extended family fled. Sami said settlers armed with M16s threw rocks at us even while we were leaving. We took the solar panels, the sheep, and our [kitchen] cutlery, but had to leave everything else, said his sister, Abier. The family had to let their 100 pigeons go free. They rented three large trucks to help move their 300 sheep, at a cost of around 3,200 shekels (about US$860).

The family paid 60,000 shekels (US$16,000) to build a new sheep shelter, but without access to their lands, including four water cisterns, they cannot afford to keep the flock. The three brothers built rooms to live in, one per family, in a field near al-Dhahiriya. Saleh said, I havent been able to sleep, I havent been able to eat. They forced a Nakba [catastrophe] on us.

Munir and Sara N., both 38, and their nine children lived in another part of Khirbet Zanuta. At 7 a.m., a few days after October 7, settlers in two trucks, armed with assault rifles, accompanied by soldiers, beat six of Munirs neighbors, threatening to shoot them. Settlers smashed the windows of a neighbors Mitsubishi truck and the windows of nearby houses.

Two days later, at 10 p.m., soldiers and settlers returned. One man threw a stun grenade inside the family home, where the children were sleeping, Sara said. Her daughter, Yara, 13, said, The soldiers threw a sound bomb [stun grenade] close to us and I got very scared. The weapons terrify the younger kids, and we were afraid for their lives, Munir said.

At midnight, several days later, eight or nine settlers arrived, accompanied by a military vehicle from which three soldiers descended. Settlers assaulted four families living nearby, beat Munir with the butts of their guns, and warned, You have 24 hours to leave, or well set fire to you. The next day the family rented trucks at a cost of 2,100 shekels (about US$560) to move their livestock, which now shelter in an unfinished building.

After October 7, settlers also repeatedly flew drones over the familys penned-in flock of 250 sheep, causing them to panic and trample one another, killing 10 sheep, Munir said.

Were all in debt, Munir said. If anyone would provide safety and protection for my children from settlers, we would go back [home]. On January 31, rights activists filmed settlers fencing off Khirbet Zanutas lands.

Saras children had gone to school in Khirbet Zanuta before October 7, but afterward, schools shifted to online learning, and we dont have internet devices.

The school had 27 students from kindergarten to 6th grade, an education official said. It was burned in an apparent arson attack on November 20, and filmed on November 21 by a member of Btselem, who posted photos and videos online. The school, built with humanitarian support from the EU, the UK, and other European countries, was later bulldozed.

The schools kindergarten was subsidized and cost parents 150 shekels (about US $40) per year. Nadia, age 4, who had attended the kindergarten, said, I saw it burned [on social media]. All of it. I got sad, and I started yelling. I used to play with doctor tools, kitchen tools, dolls, and Barbies. Nadias family cannot afford the kindergarten where they are displaced, which costs 200 shekels (about US$53) per month.

School officials partnered with civil society groups to offer psycho-social support programs, a weekly health clinic, and purchased hearing aids for one student, the education official said. The students lost so much with the loss of the school, he said.

Ein al-Rashash

All eight families living in Ein al-Rashash fled on October 13 fearing further settler violence, and Bedouin families in the area were also displaced that week due to threats, according to residents and news reports.

The Israeli military has since 2010 issued demolition orders against 73 structures in Ein al-Rashash. Settlers began harassing the community in 2014 after establishing a herding outpost, called Angels of Peace, in a former military base, led by a settler whom residents identified by his first name.

On October 8, the same men appeared in uniform, carrying M16 assault rifles, and blocked the road to the community, said Wesam W., 25. On October 11 and 12, settlers killed six Palestinians in Qusra, about 10 kilometers north of Ein al-Rashash. Fearing a deadly attack, on October 13, the entire community decided to leave, for our safety and dignity, said Wesams brother Omar, 33. Omar, his wife, and six children, walked to the nearby town of Maghayir.

On October 27, two Israeli rights activists drove Omar back to Ein al-Rashash, hoping to recover some belongings. He found that 18 tents, a car trailer, appliances, solar panels, and sheep fodder that cost 150,000 shekels (about US$40,000) were missing, he said. Seven settlers wearing civilian clothes then arrived on foot and hit and kicked them, said Wesam and one of the activists.

Community members said the Israeli police in the Binyamin settlement would not allow them to file a complaint unless they did so in person, but they declined because police had previously detained and interrogated them about false complaints by settlers.

Omars grandparents fled to the West Bank in 1948 as refugees from what is now Israel. The family is now renting a 7-room house in Maghayir, for 35 people. They cannot graze their flock.
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  Prominent foreign policy journalist Colum Lynch has an exclusive at the Devex site, which is devoted to economic development news and has a special relationship to the US Agency for International Development.

Lynch has seen a memo entitled Famine Inevitable, Changes Could Reduce but Not Stop Widespread Civilian Deaths, which was produced by food security experts in US AID and the State Department, and which they sent to Secretary of State Antony Blinken. These US officials gave the memo a subheading that is damning for the Israeli government of PM Benjamin Netanyahu: Israel-imposed administrative challenges are preventing the delivery of food.

So two things are being asserted:

1. Famine in Gaza is now unavoidable and will kill many civilian noncombatants even if more food aid starts getting in now.

2. The responsibility for this starvation of children, women and noncombatant males lies squarely with Israel, which is obstructing food aid deliveries.

That is all you need to know. These experts have never seen a situation so bad.

MSNBC Video: Death by starvation is slow and cruel: famine is projected to take hold of Gaza within weeks

Lynch quotes the memo, sent earlier this month:

Adequate health, nutrition, and water, sanitation, and hygiene  interventions, an immediate cessation of hostilities, and sustained humanitarian access will be required. Absent these conditions, all available evidence indicates rising acute food insecurity, malnutrition, and disease will lead to a rapid increase in non-trauma deaths, particularly among women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.

It continues that the

deterioration of food security and nutrition in Gaza is unprecedented in modern history, exponentially outpacing in six months the long-term declines that led to the only other two famine declarations in the 21st century: Somalia (2011) and South Sudan (2017).

The National Institutes of Health concluded that During 20102012, extreme food insecurity and famine in Somalia were estimated to account for 256,000 deaths. The population of the country was then about 12 million, so that is 2.1% dead of starvation. If Gazas coming famine were only as bad as Somalias wed expect 46,200 dead from starvation alone, more than have been killed by Israeli bombing during the past six months. But the USAID and State Department experts are saying that the Gaza famine is outpacing Somalias. Hence we can expect even more deaths from this cause.

The USAID/ State memo is consistent with what the World Food Program is assessing as of last Wednesday. According to UN News, Gian Carlo Cirri, WFP Director, Geneva office, said at a news conference on Wednesday of Gaza, people are clearly dying of hunger. So this catastrophe is not in the future. It is now.

Cirri said, 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.

He called for massive food deliveries in a very short time. He said,

Weve mentioned the necessity to rebuild livelihoods, to address root causes and so on. But, in the immediate time, like tomorrow, we really need to significantly increase our food supplies. This means rolling out massive and consistent food assistance in conditions that allow humanitarian staff and supplies to move freely and (for) affected people to access safely the assistance.

Food security experts, Cirri remarked, say that We are getting closer by the day to a famine situation. Malnutrition among children is spreading. We estimate 30 per cent of children below the age of two is now acutely malnourished or wasted and 70 per cent of the population in the north is facing catastrophic hunger,

Cirr added There is reasonable evidence that all three famine thresholds  food insecurity, malnutrition, mortality  will be passed in the next six weeks.

Reuters Video: Gaza Strip could reach famine in six weeks, WFP says | REUTERS

Lynch at Devex also has seen a study produced by USAID concluding that Israel is in violation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and is impeding the delivery of US-funded humanitarian aid. It is therefore ineligible for US provision of offensive weaponry.

On February 8, President Joe Biden had issued a national security memo instructing Secretary of State Antony Blinken to seek written assurances from all recipients of such US military weaponry that they are abiding by IHL and not interfering with humanitarian aid shipments. Either the Israeli government has declined to proffer such assurances, or USAID has concluded that they arent worth the paper they are printed on.

The paper concluded that the killing of (at that time) over 32,000 persons by Israel, of which the US government assesses two-thirds or 21,120, were noncombatant women and children, could constitute a violation of International Humanitarian Law. The official death toll reported by the UN, based on Gaza Ministry of Health Statistics, has risen to over 34,000, but this number is widely considered to be a gross under-count, given that thousands of people were killed when Israeli fighter jets targeted their apartment buildings, and their bodies are under rubble, unrecovered. Many likely died a slow, agonizing death, trapped by fallen concrete blocks, thirsting to death. After 3 days without water, renal failure typically sets in. Some observers estimate that the real death toll may be 100,000, or 4.5% of the pre-war population. That is about the percentage of the non-Russian European population killed by Nazi Germany 1933-1945 (17 million out of about 400 million).

Although Israel claims to have killed 10,000 members of the Hamas paramilitary, the Qassam Brigades, and other militant groups, these assertions cannot be verified and seem unlikely to be true. It is likely that many of the 10,000 were elderly or boys or were civilian men with no connection to Hamas, or were civilian Hamas party members rather than Qassam Brigade fighters. International Humanitarian Law does not permit militaries to blow unarmed civilians who do not pose an immediate threat to smithereens from the sky, regardless of their party membership.




Friday, April 26, 2024  A 74-year-old woman has been arrested and charged after she robbed a bank in Ohio at gunpoint.

Ann Mayers, 74, who robbed an Ohio credit union last week, April 19, is a victim of an online scam who may have been trying to solve her financial problems, according to her relatives.

Mayers faces counts of aggravated robbery with a firearm and tampering with evidence in Friday's robbery in Fairfield Township, north of Cincinnati.

The second charge stems from Mayers' decision to toss her clothing out the car window while making her way home after the robbery, according to the complaint.

If convicted, Mayers could face up to 15 years in prison.

She remained jailed Wednesday, April 24, on a $100,000 bond pending an initial court appearance, and court records don't list an attorney for her.

Officers arrested 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 allege she used in the robbery.

Ann Mayers allegedly told investigators with the Fairfield Township Police Department (FTPD) that she was the person who walked into the AurGroup Financial Credit Union Bank and demanded a teller turn over some of the bank's cash while brandishing a gun, according to a copy of the complaint.





Bodycam footage taken at the time of her arrest shows that it only took Mayers a few seconds to allegedly confess, as she immediately tells the arresting officers: "I did whatever youre here for."

The officers then ask Mayers to be more specific, at which time the footage shows her saying: "The robbery."

According to police, Mayers walked away with $500 from her bank heist.

Authorities later learned that 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, The Columbus Dispatch reported Wednesday.

"In that aspect, some may see her as a 'victim,'" Sgt. Brandon McCroskey told the newspaper.

"Unfortunately, Ann chose to victimize 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, McCroskey called Mayers' situation "very sad and unfortunate."

He said she reportedly spoke with family members about robbing banks in the days leading up to the holdup, but they didn't take her comments seriously.

Scams against seniors 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 victim's grandchild to a police officer and tell the victim something terrible happened and that their younger relative needs money.






Friday, April 26, 2024  The government in Gaza have concluded their search of mass graves at a hospital in the south of the strip and said they have uncovered a total of 392 bodies, including some still wearing surgical gowns.

Speaking at a Thursday news conference at Rafah, on April 25, an official from the Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza said workers have identified 165 bodies at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, following the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the area earlier this month.

According to Mohammed Al Mighayyer, they are still examining the remaining 227 bodies to determine their identities.

We found three mass graves, the first in front of the morgue, the second behind the morgue, and the third north of the dialysis building, he added.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said any suggestion that it had buried Palestinian bodies in mass graves was false, and that a grave at the Nasser complex was dug by Palestinians in Gaza some months ago.

The Gaza Civil Defense acknowledged that around 100 bodies were buried in graves at the Nasser hospital before the IDF operation there.

CNN reports that people had buried the bodies of family members who had been killed on the grounds of the hospital as a temporary measure in January but when they returned after the Israeli military withdrew on April 7, they discovered the bodies had been dug up and then placed in at least one collective grave, not all in the initial spots they were buried in.

The Palestinian Civil Defense also showed graphic images on a TV screen at the news conference showing several almost unrecognizable bodies at the complex and bodies of decomposed children.

Al Mighayyer said the Civil Defense witnessed the presence of childrens bodies in the mass graves at the Nasser Medical Complex, which proves crimes of genocide. While the group says it is still examining the bodies, they suspect at least 20 civilians were buried alive in the complex, but it did not explain how it knows this, or offer proof.

Al Mighayyer also claimed there had been cases of executions of patients who had been receiving treatment at the hospital. He said several bodies were found with gunshot wounds to their heads and injuries to their bodies.

Al Mighayyer said at the news conference that the Palestinian Gaza Civil Defense in Gaza discovered torture marks on [some] bodies. CNN cannot independently verify these claims.

" Israeli forces buried several bodies in plastic bags at a depth of three meters, which made them decompose quickly.

"The occupation deliberately concealed evidence of its crimes in the Nasser Complex by changing the plastic shrouds more than once, he claimed. Video recorded by CNN shows bodies wrapped in three different coloured shrouds: white, black and blue.

Amnesty International has also called for an investigation into the mass graves at the two Gaza hospitals.

I'm response, the Israeli Defense Forces, IDF said:

During the IDFs operation in the area of Nasser Hospital, in accordance with the effort to locate hostages and missing persons, corpses buried by Palestinians in the area of Nasser Hospital were examined. The examination was conducted in a careful manner and exclusively in places where intelligence indicated the possible presence of hostages.

The IDF continued: At the end of February, IDF forces conducted a precise and targeted operation against the terrorist organization Hamas in the Nasser Hospital area. During the operation, about 200 terrorists who were in the hospital were apprehended, medicines intended for Israeli hostages were found undelivered and unused, and a great deal of ammunition was confiscated. The activity was done in a targeted manner and without harming the hospital, the patients and the medical staff.




Saturday, April 27, 2024 - Dr. Keith Rigathi, son of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, has taken over ownership of the iconic Treetops Hotel in Nyeri.

The facility has remained non-operational for at least three years, since the COVID pandemic.

Following the acquisition, the hotel is now set for a grand reopening in May.



The scenic hotel, which is located at the foot of the Aberdares, is rich in British history as it witnessed the ascension of Queen Elizabeth II to the throne over seven decades ago.

It earned global recognition on February 6, 1952, after Elizabeth II fell asleep as a princess and woke up as a queen in the hotel, following the death of her father, King George VI. As queen, Elizabeth II made two official visits to the hotel in 1959 and 1983.



The primary hotel, first opened on November 6, 1932, by Eric Sherbrooke Walker, was built on top of the trees of Aberdare National Park as a treehouse, offering guests a close view of the local wildlife.

It was however brought down by Mau Mau fighters after 1954, but later reconstructed 100 metres from the old one.

The site where Queen Elizabeth II's treetop room was located has been enclosed by an electric fence and a fig tree.



The new owner, Dr. Rigathi, says the hotel holds a significant place in Kenya's history, as beneath the facility also lie underground tunnels constructed by Mau Mau fighters that were used to access the hotel.

About 10 kilometres from the hotel is a fig tree that served as a post office during the Mau Mau movement.

The hotel has since been put under renovation and is being upgraded to a world-class facility.

Gachaguas son was mentioned in the Sh 3.7 billion Kemsa mosquito nets scandal.

He is reported to have raked in millions of shillings through the multi-billion scandal.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Saturday, April 27, 2024 - President William Ruto is now on the verge of deploying the Kenya police to troubled Haiti.

In a statement, Ruto acknowledged the swearing-in of the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) after Prime Minister Ariel Henry submitted his formal resignation.

He noted that the latest development in Haiti will help fast-track the deployment of police officers in that country.

The installation of the nine-member Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) marks the first step to forming a new government after months of chaos following gang warfare.

Ruto challenged the Council to expedite the process of establishing a recognized government of the Caribbean nation.

"The swearing-in of the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) today is a crucial step in the political transition of Haiti.

"The TPC has the singular task of moving speedily to re-establish key organs of the State critical to the restoration of law and order and necessary for the ushering of hope to all Haitians as prescribed by the Decree of April 12, 2024," Ruto's statement read in part.

The Head of State assured the Transitional Presidential Council that Kenya stands ready to deploy police officers as agreed during the United Nations Security Council meeting.

In the UN treaty, Ruto agreed to deploy 1,000 police enforces to help restore peace in the violence-wracked Haiti.

He even signed a treaty with Ariel days before he submitted his resignation letter.

The agreement was meant to help his administration evade legal battles that hampered the deployment mission.

This comes even as Ruto has been advised not to deploy the Kenyan troops to Haiti owing to the looming danger that awaits them.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Saturday, April 27, 2024 - The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has slammed Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, over his remarks on police brutality in Kenya.

Mudavadi, who is also the country's foreign affairs cabinet Secretary, made the remarks during the 44th ordinary session of the African Union Executive Council of Foreign Affairs in Addis Ababa.

He was responding to the African Commission on Human and People Rights' concerns about the human rights violations by Kenya's security agents.

"I articulated Kenya's response to an assertion by the African Commission on Human and People's Rights, staunchly defending Kenya's human rights track record and the integrity of our police service," Mudavadi posted on Facebook shortly after defending Kenya's security agents.

But IPOA commissioner, John Waigango, sharply differed with Mudavadi, dismissing it as a typical political statement.

I dont agree with that statement. We need to remove politics from these issues because we have heard Cabinet Secretaries transferring OCSs from stations.

"We dont take the statements seriously. What a politician will say outside there is not exactly what we look at," Waiganjo said.

Human rights agencies put Kenyan police on the spot over deaths and the use of excess force during the 2023 nationwide protests championed by Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition leaders.

Amnesty International indicated that police had killed at least 30 protesters and called on IPOA to ensure the perpetrators of extrajudicial killings are arrested and prosecuted.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Friday, April 26, 2024  West African country, Burkina Faso has suspended the BBC and Voice of America radio networks from broadcasting for airing a rights report accusing the army of attacks on civilians in its battle against jihadists.

International NGO, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thursday that soldiers in Burkina Fasos jihadist-hit north had killed at least 223 villagers, including 56 children, in two revenge attacks on February 25.

The British and US radio stations are the latest international media organisations to be targeted since Captain Ibrahim Traore seized power in the West African country in a September 2022 coup, and also shows how Traore is bent on destroying relations with the West but increasing relations with Russia.

The programmes of these two international radio networks broadcasting from Ouagadougou have been suspended for a period of two weeks, the communications authority (CSC) announced late on Thursday.

It said the decision had been taken because BBC Africa and the VOA had aired and also published a report on their digital platforms accusing the Burkina army of abuses against the civilian population.

The CSC said the report contained hasty and biased declarations without tangible proof against the Burkinabe army.

Burkina Faso 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 2015, around 20,000 people have been killed in Burkina Faso and around two million have been displaced.

VOA said on Friday it had sought reactions to the HRW report from several Burkinabe officials but received no response and intended to continue to fully and fairly cover activities in the country.

The CSC said it had directed internet service providers to suspend access to the sites and other digital platforms of the BBC, VOA and HRW from Burkinabe territory.

The CSC also 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.

The communications authority urged all other media to refrain from carrying the article, warning that any offenders could face sanctions.

Under Traore, the junta distanced Burkina Faso from France, which ruled the country until 1960.

In September, the junta-led government suspended the print and online operations of French media outlet Jeune Afrique in the country after the publication of two articles about tensions within the military.

In June, it had suspended French TV channel LCI for three months.

In March 2023, it also suspended all broadcasts by the France 24 news channel a few months after also suspending Radio France Internationale (RFI). It accused both public media outlets of having relayed jihadist leaders messages.




Saturday, April 27, 2024 - An outspoken Nairobi MCA has supported the ongoing medics strike, saying doctors should be paid more than elected politicians.

Currently, intern doctors are paid Sh 70,000 but they are demanding Sh 206,000 to call off the strike.

However, according to Kileleshwa Ward MCA, Robert Alai, doctors deserve to be paid Sh 300,000 monthly due to what they do for Kenyans.

Alai said it is a shame for the government to pay MCAs more than doctors yet medics have a lot of responsibilities in keeping the Kenyan population healthy.

The lawmaker further stated that it is a shame for the government to treat doctors, engineers, and scientists as ordinary professionals yet they are not.

The intern doctors deserve more than a Ksh 300,000 monthly stipend.

"The Ksh 206,000 request is kind. The problem is that we have people who dont understand national priorities. How do you treat doctors worse than an MCA?

"There is no way a doctor (intern or otherwise) should be earning less than elected politicians.

"I find it insulting that our doctors, engineers, scientists, etc are treated like they are just ordinary professionals.

"They arent, Alai wrote on his Twitter page.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Saturday, April 27, 2024 - Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has bought the iconic Treetops hotel in Nyeri County and named his son as the manager.

Treetops Hotel is famous for hosting the late Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip in 1952.

It is also an important relic of the Mau Mau movement in the Mt Kenya region.

Located about 10 kilometers from the hotel, within Aberdare Forest, is a fig tree that served as a post office for the Mau Mau movement.

Although Gachagua has been lying to Kenyans that it is his son Dr. Keith Rigathi who bought the hotel, every Kenyan knows where the money has come from.

In an interview with journalists, Keith said he bought the hotel because the establishment holds an important part of Kenyas history of its liberation struggle that has yet to be told.

Gachagua is one of the richest men in Kenya but his source of wealth is still a major conversation among Kenyans.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Saturday, April 27, 2024 - Nairobi County Governor, Johnson Sakaja, has praised his leadership style, saying he has been able to transform Nairobi in the last two years he has been in power.

Sakaja was elected the governor of the busy metropolis but he has nothing to show in comparison to the manifesto he promised Nairobians when he was campaigning for the lucrative seat.

However, appearing on NTV on Friday, Sakaja stated that the last two years in office have been full of mixed emotions, but he was grateful to Nairobi residents for electing him.

"I thank the people of Nairobi for the opportunity to lead and serve them.

"The impact I feel; you know, when you see someone's life changing and we're trying our best so that all Nairobi residents can feel and see that it's working," he said.

The county chief stated that his administration has made numerous strides and has been a success for the period he's been in office.

Sakaja further explained that he was given a five-year mandate; hence, everything would fall into place as time went by.

"It's working well for many things. Remember, Nairobi didn't start just yesterday when I became governor. It's working, and there's progress.

"You know, when we campaigned for the job for a five-year term, nobody said there was magic coming and everything would change all at once.

"So there's progress; it's step by step," he said.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Friday, April 26, 2024  The United States will withdraw some troops from Chad, the Pentagon has said, days after Washington agreed to move forces out of neighbouring 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, April 26, 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 Chads May 6 presidential election.

Chads air force chief had ordered the US military this month to halt activities at an air base near the capital NDjamena, 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.

Niger also helps the US and French strategy to combat jihadists in the region.

But Nigers ruling military junta said in March that it was ending a military cooperation agreement with the US, claiming it had been imposed and the US troop presence was illegal.

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

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 were 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.




Saturday, April 27, 2024 - Willy Kibet and his brother Kimutai reportedly beat up his wife Elseba and left her with serious injuries.

The assault incident happened on April 2.

Elseba, who works at the judiciary as a junior clerk, reported the matter to the police and filed a case in court.

The case was handled by Kibets sister Maureen Cherono, a magistrate at Eldoret High Court.

Kibet was released on a cash bail of Sh 15,000 which was paid by his sister.

Kibet and his brother are bragging they are untouchable because their sister is a magistrate.

See photos of Kibets wife who is crying for justice.

























The Kenyan DAILY POST.
I opened my internal medicine practice almost four decades ago to serve a growing urban community. I gravitated toward the underserved geriatric population as they were vulnerable patients and eventually moved into the bygone realm of house calls for home-bound seniors.

This enhanced my learning curve, as house calls are not taught in medical school or residency yet bridge the continuity gap between hospitalization and patients returning home after an acute illness. I spent many hours at our local hospital admitting older patients and managing their care once they were discharged home.

From this perspective, I saw the growing takeover of medical decision-making by doctors, which was then relinquished to hospital administrators.

As an outspoken medical staff member, I was urged to participate in the physician medical executive committee. My peers elected me for five years, and I served as chairman of the department of medicine for three years. I also chaired many hospital committees.

I clung to the hope of working within the hospital system to improve care. This did not happen. Several of my doctor colleagues were continually under siege from the hospital administration for speaking out against aberrant care. Immediately after my election, I became a target with false allegations of corrective action and code of conduct violations.

Questionable policies and procedures developed by the hospital administration raised concern. I reported them multiple times to oversight agencies, resulting in financial and operational sanctions.

Consequently, I was forced to jump through many hoops to remain on staff. For instance, most doctors know one must re-apply for staff privileges, usually every two years. The hospital administration made me re-apply every four months.

The hospital had a financial stranglehold on many doctor groups, with administrative tactics dangling contracts swaying them to vote to enrich profits augmenting administrative salaries, bonuses, and retirement packages.

In line with this, the hospital board of director members were awarded construction work, bank deposits, hospital building real estate leases, and medical office space for doctors appointed to the board. In exchange, the hospital administration also obtained their vote.

Quality health care was only a public relations illusion and was compromised at the hospital.

Functioning under duress made it challenging to work within the system, not only with aggressive and derisive tactics against doctors but with legal issues as well.

A prime example of this came when I was chairperson of the ethics committee.

The hospital administration notified me that the committee would convene for an emergency meeting concerning a critically ill ICU patient.

This 50-year-old gentleman had arrived unconscious, did not have an advance directive for health care, and was intubated.

His family, including his wife and three adult children, was present, as were two lawyers, one from the hospital and the other from the patients HMO. Three physicians and two community members whom I had appointed were also included on the committee. One was a member of the city planning commission, and the other was a local attorney.

Since the patient did not have an advance directive and could not verbally state his wishes, the lawyers contended that by law, the HMO and hospital administration could assume responsibility for making medical decisions.

The family passionately objected, requesting that care be continued, as they were told the hospital intended to pull the plug after a two-week stay as medical care was futile.

The local attorney quickly looked up California law and found that the hospital and HMO attorney were correct. We informed the family that the hospital and HMO could make medical decisions. Their frustrated statement, There oughta be a law! flowed tears.

Other ethics committee members were also disheartened, but before adjournment as chair, I warned the hospital legal team that if the community somehow finds out about this outrageous takeover of medical decision-making, it could negatively reflect on the hospitals health care.

More appalling was the realization the hospital and HMO found a loophole in state law and wanted to use it against their patients and the community.

My wife and I have been senior advocates for decades and even organized a picket of the hospital when they decided to close the transitional care unit, which served as a stepping stone for older adults from acute care to home.

Subsequently, we were elected to a governmental group known as the California Senior Legislature, which helped us submit a proposal to the legislature.

In our research, 46 out of 50 states had hierarchy laws allowing family members to be placed at the top of the list should a patient be admitted to a hospital without an advance directive and could not consciously make medical decisions. California was one of those states that had a loophole.

We worked with state assembly member Mike Gibson from Los Angeles and his staff, presenting live testimony online and in Sacramento to the legislative assembly and senate committees to support our proposal, AB 2338 2022.

It passed unanimously and was signed into law by the governor of California.

It is common to hear about the grief family members experience at the hands of hospital administrators, insurance companies, and other health care roadblocks they face. Removing medical decision-making from doctors and placing it into the hands of profiteering hospital administrators is detrimental to our nations health care.

One hopeful reward doctors can receive serving the public is a monumental effort to take back medical decision-making from hospital administrators. As well, sometimes doctors can be better advocates for their patients and even make a law to close a legal loophole.

Yet, the greatest reward came when the hospital decided to heed the warning and not pull the plug on the 50-year-old unconscious ICU patient.

Eventually, he walked out of the hospital and returned home to his family.

Gene Uzawa Dorio is an internal medicine physician who blogs at SCV Physician Report.
13:00 | Paterson (U.S.), Apr. 27.

The event held at the "MC Hotel" in Montclair on April 24 had the objective of disseminating and highlighting the Ceviche culinary system.





expressed pride due to the recognition granted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Peru's Consul General, Ambassador Patricia Raez, presided over the reception and





"This achievement highlights the exceptional value of the Ceviche culinary system, as well as the traditional knowledge and processes associated with its preparation," she noted.





The diplomat highlighted Peru's international commitment to safeguarding practices and processes linked to the flagship dish, with policies that guarantee its viability and sustainability.





During the event, attendees watched a video that explored the rich history and culinary tradition of Ceviche, enjoying the freshness and unique flavors of this emblematic Peruvian dish.





The activity brought together nearly 100 guests, including local authorities, community members, and diplomatic corps representatives.





Notable attendees included Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh; Vice Mayor Maria del Pilar Rivas; Newark Vice Mayor Ligia de Freitas; Panama's Consul to New Jersey and New York, Elias Levy; and El Salvador's Consul to New Jersey, Ariel Valle
Eminent Afghanistan filmmaker Roya Sadat had quite the journey while filming The Sharp Edge of Peace, which has its world premiere at Hot Docs.

The film follows four women leaders, Fatima Gailani, Fawzia Koofi, Habiba Sarabi and Sharifa Zumati, who risk their lives and receive death threats, as they find a way to sit at the negotiating table with the Taliban to ensure justice for women.

More from Variety

Sadat, whose A Letter to the President was Afghanistans contender in Oscars international category in 2017, was a teenage schoolgirl when the Taliban returned to power for the first time this century, a period she describes as a terrifying nightmare of five dark and hopeless years.

The women of Afghanistan have an unwritten history of struggle. Theres no mention of their names in the pages of political history; this lost history has been standing up for its rights for years. And this time, the presence of four women at the negotiating table with the Taliban was astonishing to me, Sadat said. I saw making this film more than just an artistic endeavor; it was a responsibility. And I know the world needs narratives like this. The world of male-dominated politics astonishes us every day.

The filming process for The Sharp Edge of Peace began in 2020, when Kabul was a dangerous place ahead of the U.S. troops withdrawal and the impending return of the Taliban. Access to government and civil institutions was often restricted or impossible. The presence of the four women protagonists at the negotiation panel heightened their security risks, and filming them presented numerous obstacles. Securing permits and coordinating with the negotiation team brought weeks of uncertainty. And alongside producer Leslie Thomas (The Prosecutors), Sadat and her team reached out to international bodies for assistance, seeking help from government contacts to assert their rights as independent filmmakers.

In 2021, Kabul fell to the Taliban and Sadat, Aziz Deldar, DoP and co-producer of the documentary, who is also her husband, and the films characters were exiled. We were following the characters of the film in exile in America without travel documents and technical and financial resources was a big challenge, Sadat said. Simultaneously with the continuation of these womens stories, our attention was drawn to the resistance of women on the streets of Kabul, which has become a turning point in the history of womens struggles and has illuminated the ambiguous path of peace talks.

The film was finally completed against the odds. This film would not have been made if Leslie Thomas, the producer of the film, and Aziz Deldar my life companion and the brave team who stood together at the height of Kabuls insecurity, were not in this challenging journey, Sadat said.

However, there is no chance for The Sharp Edge of Peace to be exhibited in Afghanistan for the foreseeable future. The Taliban is in control in Afghanistan and they have deprived women of their most basic rights. If gender apartheid were officially recognized in the world, gender apartheid would be taking place in Afghanistan, and in this situation, how could a film that talks about womens resistance be allowed to be shown there? Our film, like ourselves, is in exile, and I am sure that one day it will be screened in Kabuls Ariana Cinema, as well as in Herat, Kabul and Kandahar, when our homeland is free again, Sadat said.

Best of Variety

Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Mainly sunny. High 64F. Winds NNW at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

A few clouds from time to time. Scattered frost possible. Low 32F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
It has taken James, a 24-year-old refugee from South Sudan, over four years to get to Dunkirk in northern France  where he is hoping to get on a small boat to the UK.

His home country was stricken by a civil war that forced him to give up his place to study engineering at university and flee for his life. As he travelled along one of the most dangerous migration routes in the world, he fixated on his dream of being able to continue his studies in the UK.

This week Rishi Sunak finally passed his flagship Rwanda bill, which he says will deter people like James from coming to Britain. The deaths of five people, including a seven-year-old girl, have brought home yet again how dangerous the Channel crossing can be. But despite this, James is not deterred.

Speaking to The Independent from a makeshift aid distribution site near the Dunkirk encampments, he said: I will go to the UK if I get my chance. I am hoping to go back to school and I dream of living a good life. If you have a dream of doing something, there is a constant pressure to achieve it. I spent 14 years in school; I went to primary school and secondary school and I want to make the most of my education.

I had a place to study engineering at university, but I had to give it up because of the war and flee. I am frustrated about the Rwanda plan. Rwanda is a very close country to South Sudan. If I wanted to go there I would have gone there much easier, but I know that it will not be a safe country for me. Life is all about the choices you make, where you want to be, and if I wanted to be in Rwanda, I would be there.

James, 24, hopes of being able to continue his education in the UK (The Independent)

Thinking about the Rwanda plan puts us under a lot of pressure, but so does the pressure of my dream of achieving something. In this life, you are put on this earth to do good things, to be a good human being, and to leave a legacy behind. I pray that this Rwanda plan does not happen. If I go I know I will not be happy for the rest of my life.

The risk of the Channel crossing, which has claimed 14 lives already this year, is nothing compared to the risks James has already faced. His worst experience on his journey so far was when a van he was travelling in broke down in the middle of the Libyan desert.

There were 25 of us including the driver. In the end 20 people died of dehydration. You cannot walk across the desert when that situation happens, you dont know where to go. You can only stay there and hope that someone will pass on the way. After five days some people arrived and they rescued those of us that were left. I managed to survive, he said.

Migrants board a smuggler's boat on the beach at Gravelines, near Dunkirk, (Getty)

Migrants in the makeshift camps at Dunkirk are under constant pressure from the French police, both where they sleep and when they get to the beaches to attempt the Channel crossing.

Many say that the police aggression shows them that they cannot build a life in France and that they must get to the UK.

Some who The Independent spoke to at an aid distribution site in northern France had spent some years living in Germany or Belgium before having their asylum claims rejected. They say they were given the choice of leaving or being deported back to their home country, and so they chose to try to come to the UK.

I have tried to come to the UK legally but there is no way

Others are doubtful the UKs plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda will really happen, such as 24-year-old Ahmad Nadeem Ebadi, who fled Afghanistan with his wife after the Taliban takeover.

The majority of Nadeems family are living in the UK after they were evacuated during Operation Pitting, the UK governments effort to fly people out of Afghanistan before Kabul fell to the Taliban in August 2021.

His father is a dual British citizen, having lived in England after he fled there as a refugee when the Taliban took over Afghanistan in the 1990s. He was called forward to Kabul airport during the evacuation and was able to take some of his children with him, but Nadeem and his wife were not able to get into the airport.

Nadeem, 24, is trying to reach his family in the UK who were evacuated by the British (The Independent)

I didnt get a chance to go on the plane. I have tried so many ways to come legally but there is no way, he said.

He has been living in Dunkirk for a month and is hoping his wife will be able to get a room in a local womens shelter. Reflecting on the threat of being deported to Rwanda if they managed to get to the UK, he said: I really dont know if it is true. I really hope to go to the UK. If it costs my life I dont care about that. We left everything in Afghanistan. The Taliban are in Panjshir and we left everything there.

He and his wife have already tried to get on a boat across the Channel three times but he does not have any money to pay a people smuggler to guarantee a place on the dinghy. We have walked seven to eight hours at night to reach the Channel, but the police stop us each time. There are usually around 50-60 people trying to get on the boat. There are maybe six police in two cars and they had a drone camera.

My wife was beside me as we walked but it was very hard for her, she fell down many times. The situation is very hard for us, I cannot stay like this.

I can understand why UK wants to deport migrants to Rwanda

Lamsa Kuku, a 17-year-old from South Sudan, said the UK was his final destination on a harrowing journey, which included three months in detention in Libya. He understood why Rishi Sunak might want to deport asylum seekers, saying: I think migrants are so many in the UK that they want to send them back to Rwanda.

Charities give out blankets, groundsheets and tents to refugees who live in the woods round Dunkirk (The Independent)

The UK is a smaller island and France is very big. Thats maybe why they decided they want to deport back the people. Or maybe it is politics. But I know I dont want to stay here, I want to go there.

He had left South Sudan as a child refugee in 2020 and had no possessions with him apart from the clothes he was wearing. We are living under a tree, always there is rain, and always we try to reach the UK. I dont have any money to pay anyone to help me. I have stayed here one month but I dont know what will happen then; Im not going forward and Im not going backward. I stay in the middle. I have nothing here. I am moving around place to place, as the police move us. I come here [to the distribution site] to get food and eat and then Im going to another place.

A committed Christian, he had been telling people about Jesus at the Dunkirk camp, and he had a strong belief that he had come to northern France by Gods will. He has guided me these four years, he said, as he contemplated the risk of dying in the Channel.

We are fleeing war. They should not send us to Rwanda

Mohammad, 27, who is from neighbouring Sudan, was incredulous as he thought about the possibility that the UK government could send him back to a country so close to the one he had fled from.

If they send me to Rwanda, it will be a big problem, he said. Maybe our view of the UK will be changed. For me I cant imagine it. Maybe the people who have no reason to leave their countries, they could send them to Rwanda, but not us  people who have fled war.

If they send me to Rwanda, I will imagine that there are no good people in the world. I escaped from war, I have arrived in Europe, and then they send me back again. I could not believe it.

Rahmeen Mohammad, 22, came to France from Turkey by lorry (The Independent)

Ill take the chance because Rwanda is better than Iran

Rahmeen Mohammad, 22, who is from Iran, said he wanted to get to the UK because his life was in danger back home. I organised a demonstration for freedom and thats why they know me and why my life is in danger. I came from Turkey to France by lorry and I was given a sleeping tablet, which I took, so Im not sure how long the journey was.

When asked if the Rwanda bill would put him off going to the UK, he said: I have to go because I need a safe place. And I think Rwanda is better than Iran.

One Afghan refugee, who did not want to give his name, wanted to tell The Independent about the life that had been ripped away from him when the Taliban took over. I had a good life in my country. I like my country, I did not leave it easily. I have to go to the UK because France is not accepting us.

I was working for human rights organisations and they became a target for the Taliban. Me and these people around us, we dont have anywhere else to go. Not everyone here is illiterate. They are good people, who had good lives. We just want to work and have a safe and peaceful life, like anyone would want for themselves.
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.
Joca the Golden Retriever was put on the wrong flight. When owner Joao Fantazzini was reunited, the pooch was found dead.

A man has accused an airline of killing his beloved pet dog after it was put on the wrong flight.

Joao Fantazzini had given the carrier a vets note stating that his golden retriever Joca was fit enough to endure the two-and-a-half-hour journey. But due to a blunder by the airline, his five-year-old pet pooch spent almost eight hours travelling.

Joca was supposed to have been flown from Guarulhos International Airport near Sao Paulo, Brazil, to Sinop. But he was mistakenly placed on a plane bound for Fortaleza. When he landed, the airline sent him back to Guarulhos.

After Joao landed in Sinop, he asked where he needed to go to pick up his pooch, which was supposed to have arrived on a different flight to his own, which didnt permit pets. He was told that Joca would have to be flown back to Guarulhos because hed been sent to the wrong destination.

Joao Fantazzini with his best friend Joca. Source: Jam Press

Pet owner's heartbreaking discovery

Joao chose to fly back to Guarulhos to meet his beloved pooch in person. But when he got there, he found his pet dead inside the airlines dog crate.

I arrived at the airport and a woman, who said she was a manager, approached me," He said. She said that Joca hadnt been well. The vet had certified a two-and-a-half-hour flight for him, but they made an almost-eight-hour flight.

Joca had spent three-and-a-half hours on the flight to Fortaleza. Then hed spent about one-and-a-half hours waiting on the runway for the flight back, which had lasted another 3.5 hours.

According to Joao, Joca was left shut in his crate in 36C heat as he waited for the flight back. He claims the pooch wasnt even given any food. According to his death certificate, Joca died from a cardiopulmonary arrest.

"I think what hurts me the most is knowing that he suffered in there because its not fair for him to have died like this," Joao told local media.

"Sometimes I feel like it was selfish of me. I could have left him here in Sao Paulo, but it was always me and him, always. Whenever I left my flat, he would wait for me all day in front of the door. He was like a son to me."

Airline responds after 'operational error'

The airline, Gol, said in a statement that Joca had been put on the flight to Fortaleza due to an operational error.

Unfortunately, right after the flight landed at Guarulhos Airport from Fortaleza, we were surprised by the animals death," a spokesperson added. The company is providing all necessary support to the owner, and the investigation into the details of the incident is being conducted with top priority by our team.

We sympathise with Jocas owners suffering. We understand his pain and deeply mourn the loss of his beloved pet.

- Jam Press

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
HYBE has responded to Min Hee Jin's claim that she was barred from promoting and debuting NewJeans because of LE SSERAFIM.

One of the hottest topics on the internet right now is the feud between Min Hee Jin, CEO of ADOR, and HYBE Labels. Earlier this week, HYBE announced that Min Hee Jin had a plan to overtake the full management rights of ADOR. Currently, ADOR houses NewJeans, one of the biggest groups under HYBE Labels.

HYBE Labels has since conducted an audit and claimed to have found evidence of this supposed plan. The company requested a shareholder meeting with ADOR's board of directors. Min Hee Jin vehemently denied the claims. Since then, more allegations from both sides have trended online. The ADOR CEO has since held an emergency press conference to discuss the situation.

Keep on reading for all the details.

ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin Claims She Was Prevented From Debuting NewJeans Because of LE SSERAFIM

During the press conference, she claimed that Park Ji Won, HYBE's CEO, requested that she not promote NewJeans until LE SSERAFIM makes their debut.

They claimed that they wanted the public to think LE SSERAFIM was Min Hee Jin's group, as the public was aware she was working under HYBE Labels. Min Hee Jin was against this, as they already recruited the girls for NewJeans and promised the members that they would debut as HYBE's first girl group.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: K-Netz 'Praise' Min Hee Jin's 'Star Quality,' Press Conference T-Shirt & Cap Sold Out

She claims she received boycotts from the company to prevent her from promoting NewJeans. This spurred Min Hee Jin to establish ADOR and debuted NewJeans without any teasers or member reveals.

HYBE Denies Min Hee Jin's Accusations That NewJeans Delayed Debut Was Due To LE SSERAFIM

On April 26, 2025, HYBE Labels responded to the aforementioned allegations.

They claimed that the reason for NewJeans's debut being delayed was due to R&R issues between Source Music and Min Hee Jin. This ultimately led to LE SSERAFIM debuting first.

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'

As the groups debuted consecutively, there was not enough time to promote both groups. To accommodate this, they established a set period for their schedules and promotions. As NewJeans debuted after LE SSERAFIM, HYBE Labels ultimately decided to shorten LE SSERAFIM's debut promotions so that Min Hee Jin could start promoting NewJeans.

They also mentioned Min Hee Jin's claims that Sakura joined Source Music without any warning. HYBE recalled that, even before Sakura officially signed with the company, there were already rumors she would debut in HYBE's new girl group.

CHECK THIS OUT: Min Hee Jin's Lawyers Trend For Appearing 'Stressed' At Press Conference: 'They Look So Done'

Their statement reads,

"Regarding the accusations, we requested Min Hee Jin not promote NewJeans during their debut. The delay in NewJeans' debut was caused by the R&R dispute between you and Source Music; as a result, LE SSERAFIM, which Source Music was planning, made its debut first. We chose specific times for the schedules and promotions of the two groups because there was not enough time to properly promote both of them after their consecutive debuts. Regarding LE SSERAFIM member Sakura, numerous articles have been written regarding her move to HYBE even before she signed a contract with us. In this instance, we were concerned that since people were already aware that Sakura had joined Source Music, information about the line-up of NewJeans would be revealed if we announced that ADOR's debut group was exclusively composed of rookies. We asked you to do that in order to preserve the news value of both groups, and we also shortened our allotted time for promotion [for LE SSERAFIM] in order to begin promoting NewJeans."

What do you think of the situation? Tell us in the comments below!

KpopStarz Owns This

Written by Alexa Lopez
'Street Man Fighter' contestant and JustJerk leader Young J has found himself in another controversy, this time involving his military service.

Young J initially gained fame after appearing on Mnet's "Street Man Fighter" as the leader of JustJerk. However, he is now known for his scandals. In early April, he was accused of impregnating a minor and forcing her into an abortion. He has now been accused of evading his mandatory military service.

Keep on reading for all the details.

JustJerk Young J Accused of Evading Mandatory Military Service

JustJerk Young J is being accused of evading military service. This comes after he was accused of having inappropriate relations with a minor.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: THIS 'Street Man Fighter' Dancer Exposed for Impregnating Minor: 'She Aborted Baby'

According to a report by Ten Asia on April 26, 2024, Young J, born in 1992, has not yet fulfilled his mandatory military service duty.

He is currently 31 years old, born in 1992. In 2011, Young J received a Grade 3 classification due to an ankle joint abnormality during his first military service examination. If the ankle angle measures 18 degrees or more, they are deemed unfit for active duty and are assigned to join the military as a social service worker.

However, it was noted that his ankle rotation angle was between 16 and 17 degrees, which is below the required minimum.

Unable to avoid active duty with a Grade 3 classification, he informed those around him of his enlistment news in 2018 and 2020. Through social media, he mentioned having "last regular dance classes before going to the military" and even expressed gratitude to those who had supported him, but he ultimately did not enlist.

In the latter half of 2020, in August, he underwent psychological testing at a mental health clinic and was diagnosed with conversion disorder and panic disorder. Having not enlisted in the military, he visited hospitals for a month at a time and was prescribed medication during the first quarter of 2021. It was reported that the last time he visited a hospital was in March 2021.

Young J was classified with a Grade 4 due to a mental illness. Because of this, he is awaiting an exemption review in July, as he has not been assigned to serve for nearly three years since the judgment. According to current military law, those classified as Grade 4 after a physical examination are exempt from service if they have not been assigned to serve for more than three years after the judgment.

Young J's lawyer stated to the media outlet, "The situation has not improved," and added, "He has stayed up all night creating choreography and has not taken care of his own body or received mental health treatment."

The dancer drew flak for being unable to enlist in the military, yet actively teaching dance classes and even competing on Mnet's "Street Man Fighter." He was also part of the spin-off series, "Street Dance Girls Fighter."

What do you think of the situation? Tell us in the comments below!

'Street Man FIghter' Young J Accused of Having Inappropriate Relations With a Minor

According to several sources, Young J had inappropriate relations with a minor. The two reportedly met while Young J acted as a mentor on "Street Dance Girls Fighter." The girl auditioned for the program with her crew.

When they started dating, the girl made a private Instagram account to share her photos with Young J. In the account, she claimed she and Young J had sexual intercourse, which led to getting pregnant. He reportedly forced her to get an abortion.

Since nobody saying w/ their chest, I will. YoungJ, the leader of the dance crew JUSTJERK, just got exposed for being a p*dophile. He secretly dated a minor, got her pregnant & she aborted. Several JJ members, including 1s who competed w/ him on SMF, left the crew & dance academy https://t.co/iwi41JCtnL  LunarSkye (@LunarSkye) April 1, 2024

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'Street Man Fighter' Young J Responds to Allegations of Inappropriate Relations With Minor: 'We Are In A...'

Young J has since denied the claims and stated that, though they are in a relationship, they only started dating once the girl was an adult. He also claims he sought permission from the girl's family due to their large age difference. Currently, his family and hers are discussing the possibility of marriage.

KpopStarz Owns This

Written by Alexa Lopez
It's one of Australia's most popular international travel destinations and now it's become even easier to access.

New automatic electronic passport scanners have cut the customs processing time in Bali down to just 15 to 25 seconds. Source: Facebook

Aussies touching down at one the world's top tourist destinations are being greeted by an ultra-futuristic new sight upon arrival, in what travellers are saying is a modern, "no-stress" and "very well designed" feature that other global airports could learn from.

Bali has long been a favourite holiday destination among Australians due to its proximity and is ideal for those on a budget  though that's been disputed in recent times. In a bid to better manage arrivals, local authorities have been gradually rolling out a series of protocols aimed at combining the needs of residents with the hoards of travellers that land on the island every year.

The latest initiative, a set of swanky new electronic passport scanners at Denpasar Airport (I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport) is being met with widespread praise, particularly from Aussies, who say the system has made travel a whole lot easier and much faster since they were installed in March.

The new tax comes as authorities explore new ways to maintain the island amid soaring levels of tourism. Source: Getty

Airport initiative slashes customs time down to 15 seconds, authorities say

The new e-gates work for those with electronic passports, who have pre-purchased their mandatory 30-day visa. They significantly speed up the processing time at customs after disembarking a flight  down to just 15 to 25 seconds in total, authorities say.

All travellers need to do is head online, pay for their tourist visa and tourist tax levy  two separate things  prior to landing, and fill out a customs declaration. Then all the data will automatically sync up to your passport.

Aussie woman says many not yet aware of new protocol

One Australian woman who is currently in Bali spoke to Yahoo News Australia and described how many people are not yet aware of the scanners.

"I saw them at the airport and a guy [an airport official] was looking at people's passports with their visa tickets that you get when you pay on arrival, then sending them to the line beside the gates," Lynn De told Yahoo. "Only saw three people directed to go through them though."

"They put their passport in and went straight through," she continued, adding that she saw many who weren't yet aware of the new scanners. She said she was standing in line with "90 per cent of the passengers on my flight as you can only use these if you pre-purchased your visa."

"Maybe a good reason to pre-purchase," she suggested.

Travellers to Bali will from tomorrow have to fork out a $15 tourist tax, in addition to the $50 visa fee. Source: Getty

Online, people responding to images of the e-gates branded them a "game-changer".

"Pre-purchased my visa and went right through. Passed up lines of people getting a visa. Travelled to three countries and got visas online. Some are a hassle but easier than standing in line after a plane ride," one person said.

"Got to Bali yesterday from New Zealand. Did the visa, tourist tax, and customs declaration online before we arrived. It was super easy getting through customs and e-gates  definitely recommended. Longest part of the whole process is waiting for your bags," said a woman.

"We went through this morning, pre-paid, and out within five minutes," wrote another. "Finally!".

Indonesian nationals holding either electronic or non-electronic passports can use the new auto-gates, of which there are a total of 30 currently in place.

The face recognition technology used by the auto-gate system requires travellers to ensure the scanners can read their entire faces, with hats, masks, and face veils needing to be removed to allow the gate to operate efficiently.

The new move comes after Bali earlier this year introduced the controversial tourist levy in a bid to combat damage to infrastructure due to skyrocketing levels of international travel.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Chandigarh, Apr 27 (PTI) Congress candidate from Chandigarh parliamentary constituency Manish Tewari on Saturday said that unlike the Bharatiya Janata Party, his party believes in mass welfare and not privileges for a select few.

"Public welfare was and will always remain our topmost priority and preference irrespective of what our opponents say about it," Tewari asserted during an interaction with the people while campaigning in the Union Territory.

Also Read | Jai Shri Ram on Exam Paper: UP College Students Clear Exam After Writing Religious Slogan on Answer Sheets, Two Professors of Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University Suspended.

Accompanied by several Congress leaders and workers, including Chandigarh Congress president HS Lucky, Tewari toured various parts of the city and talked to the people about the problems they are facing.

Tewari, the sitting MP from Anandpur Sahib constituency in Punjab, pointed out that the Congress poll manifesto, named 'Nyay Patra,' is a manifesto designed for the masses of the country with its "five commandments for justice."

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: Teen Loses Life Trying To Save 8-Year-Old Brother From Fire in Deoria.

Tewari said that during the last ten years the BJP created a "select and privileged group of crony capitalists," while the Congress guarantees justice to the youth, farmers, women, and workers.

The former Union minister claimed that the unemployment in the county at present is the highest in 45 years.

He also wondered what happened to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's promise of creating 2 crore jobs every year.

"By that count, there should have been twenty crore jobs generated by now," Tewari said.

Instead, he said, the government "failed" to fill 30 lakh vacancies pending across government departments.

The politician, who is a lawyer by profession, said his party will give Rs 1 lakh to one woman per family to bring that family out of poverty.

The Congress has done it in the past with the Food Security Act and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), which revolutionised rural employment, he said.

Tewari claimed that even after last year's victories in Karnataka and Telangana, the Congress fulfilled all its guarantees, directly benefiting the common people and not just a privileged few.

Polling for the lone Chandigarh seat will take place on June 1.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Adelaide woman Patty gave birth to her stillborn son at 19 weeks but a technicality means she's not eligible for financial aid. She wants that rule to change.

A grieving mum still coming to terms with losing her baby says she's being forced to return to work less than two weeks later because of an "unfair" Centrelink rule which prevents her from receiving financial aid.

Patty van Duijn was just over 19 weeks pregnant with her son Mason when, due to complications, she "had no choice" but to terminate the pregnancy earlier this month, only then to experience the "trauma" of giving birth to her stillborn son.

"I'm still going through this whole process of giving birth and holding a baby that's not alive. It's very traumatic and really hard, but now I have to think about going back to work," Patty from Adelaide told Yahoo News Australia.

Grieving mum denied Centrelink payment

The 29-year-old said she'd applied for Centerlink's stillborn baby payment  a one-off lump sum payment of $4,059.17  to help tie her over for some time, she also tried for the parental leave pay. But because she was six days short of the 20-week requirement, she isn't eligible.

According to Centrelink, to be considered stillborn, a baby has to have a gestation period of at least 20 weeks or have weighed at least 400 grams at birth. Mason was just 230 grams when Patty delivered her son and was 19 weeks and one day  this means, by definition, her baby isn't considered a "stillborn".

Patty van Duijn is still grieving the loss of her baby but is forced back to work. Source: Supplied

Mum blasts 'disgusting' decision

Patty, who works in hospitality, said the rule is "absolutely disgusting" and believes it is "unfair" she's experienced the same "trauma" and "grief", but is not able to access the help available for grieving mothers in her position.

"It shouldn't matter how big or small or how long... it's my baby with arms, ten toes, fingers," she said through tears. "I'm just unsure of who made this decision, and if they actually know what people go through, but a week shouldn't be a difference because it's still the experience, the trauma and everything that comes with it".

No leniency on Centrelink 'stillborn' policy

When contacted by Yahoo, Services Australia said the 'stillborn' policy is set by the Department of Social Services. It's understood that Centrelink can not grant leniency based on individual circumstances, such as Patty's. A representative will be in touch with Patty to discuss other options that might be available.

A spokesperson for the Department of Social Services said, "the Australian Government recognises the tragic loss and trauma of miscarriage.

"While a medical professional must certify a stillborn child was delivered for families to receive Stillborn Baby Payment, other supports are available through Services Australia including counselling and support to connect with local services," they continued.

"And depending on an individual's circumstances and employment, they may also be entitled to paid or unpaid leave following a miscarriage."

Grieving mum forced back to work

Patty said that while she tragically experienced the same complication during another pregnancy last year, she didn't expect "something like that would happen twice" and so she and her partner Lee Simpson hadn't planned for it.

Due to her long history of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), the Adelaide woman was losing blood and also water from the amniotic sac holding her baby, meaning the infant was unable to survive. Thankfully, the 29-year-old has the support of Lee, 42, but says they can't survive off his chef's salary alone.

"It's only been a week and a half and now I have to think about going back to work because we can't afford to pay bills and rent if I don't work," she said. Lee is trying his best to offer support while working longer hours to help cover the bills, all while dealing with grief of his own.

She has set up a GoFundMe page to help raise "a little something [to help] us grieve" without having to worry about earning money.

Now, she is calling for the rule to change and for it to consider other mums in her situation. "It's very wrong," she argues. "I want it to be looked into, not for us now, it's too late, but for other people going through this, so they don't have to go through what I am right now."

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Hamirpur (Himachal Pradesh) [India], April 27 (ANI): Launching a scathing attack on the Congress, Union Minister Anurag Thakur alleged that the party's manifesto is influenced by foreign forces and it strives to divide the nation on the basis of caste and region.

Anurag Thakur said, "In the Congress manifesto, along with the hand of the Congress, hands of foreign forces are also visible who want to give your children's property to Muslims, finish the nation's nuclear weapons, divide the nation on the basis of caste and region. The 'Tukde-tukde' gang has surrounded Congress and has hijacked their ideology. You have to decide whether you want to go with Congress' 'Tukde-tukde' gang or Narendra Modi who believes in 'Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat'. You have to decide whether the children's property should remain with them or should it go to Muslims. We gave all rights to Muslims, equally but we did not give it based on religion, we gave it because it was their right."

Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: 26/11 Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam Replaces Poonam Mahajan As BJP Candidate From Mumbai North Central Seat.

He further claimed that the Gandhi family framed laws according to their convenience.

He further said, "When Rajiv Gandhi became the PM, there was a law that 55 per cent of the property would go to the government, but he abolished this law and saved his property. Now, Rahul Gandhi did not get married so he wants to take away your children's property. Gandhi family does whatever suits them."

Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: EC Orders Re-Polling at One Booth in Chamarajanagar LS Segment in Karnataka on April 29.

Earlier, emphasising the need for policy toward wealth redistribution, Chairman of Indian Overseas Congress Sam Pitroda spoke about on the concept of inheritance tax prevailing in America and said these are issued that will need to be discussed.

"In America, there is an inheritance tax. If one has 100 million USD worth of wealth and when he dies he can only transfer 45% to his children, 55% is grabbed by the government. That's an interesting law. It says you in your generation, made wealth and you are leaving now, you must leave your wealth for the public, not all of it, half of it, which to me sounds fair," Pitroda had said.

After the comments snowballed into a controversy Pitroda sought to downplay the issue saying he had only cited inheritance tax in the US as an example.

"Who said 55% will be taken away? Who said something like this should be done in India? Why is BJP and media in panic? I mentioned US inheritance tax in the US only as an example in my normal conversation on TV. Can I not mention facts? I said these are the kind of issues people will have to discuss and debate. This has nothing to do with policy of any party including Congress," Pitroda said in his post on X.

The Congress officially has distanced itself from Pitroda's comments saying that they did not reflect the view of the party at all times. (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 18: AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan has been asked by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to depose again next week in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the Delhi Waqf Board during his chairmanship, officials sources said on Saturday. The MLA has been asked to appear on April 29 and continue with the recording of his statement under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the sources said.

The 50-year-old Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator from the Okhla assembly seat was questioned by the central agency for about 13 hours last week. In a related development, a Delhi court on Saturday granted bail to Khan in this money laundering case for allegedly evading its earlier summons issued to him in the case. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Divya Malhotra granted bail to Khan on a personal bond of Rs 15,000 and one surety of like amount after he appeared before the court. Amanatullah Khan Gets Bail: Delhi Court Grants Bail to AAP MLA in Complaint Case of ED for Not Attending Summons

AAP leader and Delhi Cabinet Minister Atishi had earlier said that the ED case against Khan was "fake" and the party stood by its legislator. The first deposition of Khan on April 18 came after the Supreme Court refused to entertain his anticipatory bail application in this case. The apex court had directed him to join the investigation. Speaking to reporters before entering the ED office that day, Khan had claimed that he followed the rules when he was the chairman of the Waqf Board and did everything after taking the legal opinion and as per the new Act (for the board) that came in 2013. Delhi Waqf Board Scam: AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan Questioned by ED for Over 12 Hours in Money Laundering Case (Watch Video)

The money laundering case against Khan and his alleged associates stems from a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) FIR and three Delhi Police complaints. The ED, which had conducted raids on his premises, has claimed that Khan acquired "huge proceeds of crime" in cash through illegal recruitment of staff in the Delhi Waqf Board and invested those to purchase immovable assets in the name of his associates. The agency had alleged in a statement that "illegal recruitment" of staff took place in the Waqf Board and "illegal personal gains" were made by unfairly leasing the Waqf Board properties during Khan's chairmanship (2018-2022).

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Male [Maldives], April 27 (ANI): Chinese marine research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 3 has returned in Maldivian waters, marking its second visit to the archipelago nation within two months after Pro-China Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu's ruling People's National Congress (PNC) has won the Parliamentary elections, as reported by Adhadhu news on Friday.

It is pertinent to note that Defense Minister Ghassan Maumoon last month told the Maldivian Parliament that the Chinese vessel would not conduct any research despite sailing inside and near Maldivian waters.

Also Read | Iran Says It Has Granted Consular Access to Indian Crew From the Seized Portuguese-Flagged Ship.

"There was no permission given to conduct any research in the Maldives territory. After docking in Male' and buying food, they did a crew change. People who came on an airplane went onboard the boat and those on the boat left via the airplane. That was the permission that was given," , Adhadhu quoted Ghassan as saying on March 25.

The vessel was observed docked at the Thilafushi industrial island's harbour on Thursday morning, although the specific reason for its return remains undisclosed by the government. However, it's worth noting that the government had previously confirmed permission for the ship to dock during its initial visit.

Also Read | Israel-Hamas War: Captor Gave Me Ring, Asked for Marriage and Children, Says Freed Hostage.

Xiang Yang Hong 3 initially arrived on February 22 after spending approximately a month near the boundary of the Maldives' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Following a brief stay of about six days, the ship returned to the EEZ boundary.

Its current reappearance suggests continued activity within or near Maldivian territory since January, with the vessel having skirted the EEZ during its recent movements.

In February, the Foreign Ministry stated that the Chinese vessel's visit was for crew rotation purposes, emphasizing that no research activities would be conducted while in Maldivian waters. Defense Minister Ghassan Maumoon reiterated this stance in March, confirming that permission had only been granted for crew changes and replenishment, without authorization for research activities.

According to China's State Oceanic Administration (SOA), Xiang Yang Hong 3 is hailed as the most advanced research vessel manufactured in the country, boasting capabilities for various marine research tasks. Its endurance of 15,000 nautical miles enables extended nonstop operations, while features such as DP-1 dynamic positioning ensure stability in adverse conditions.

The vessel is equipped with cutting-edge research apparatus, facilitating efficient data collection and analysis. While some equipment is sourced internationally, much of it is proudly manufactured in China.

As the Xiang Yang Hong 3 returns to Maldivian waters, questions persist regarding the nature of its activities and the extent of its involvement in marine research within the region, Adhadhu reported.

Muizzu's ruling People's National Congress (PNC) won 60 seats in the parliamentary elections held on Sunday, Maldives-based Sun Online reported.

Over 200,000 people voted in the parliamentary elections, in which 326 candidates were in the fray for 93 seats in the next parliamentary assembly, including six new seats. Maldives ruling party's candidates contested 90 seats. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Islamabad, Apr 27 (PTI) Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday left for Saudi Arabia to attend the World Economic Forum and also hold bilateral meetings with world leaders.

The World Economic Forum's (WEF) Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy' will be held on April 28 and 29 in Riyadh in the Gulf nation.

Also Read | Iran Says It Has Granted Consular Access to Indian Crew From the Seized Portuguese-Flagged Ship.

During the two-day visit, PM Shehbaz will meet Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman to discuss Riyadh's investment prospects in the country along with the dignitary's Islamabad visit.

Sharif is accompanied by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.

Also Read | US Road Accident: Deadly Crash in South Carolina Kills Three Women; Victims Reportedly From India.

He is also expected to mull over the prospects and details of the new economic package being sought out by Pakistan in his meeting with International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, The News International reported.

The prime minister and the ministers will participate in WEF discussions on issues related to trade and investment measures, new investment frameworks, restructuring of supply chains, sustainable growth, and the energy landscape, it said quoting the Foreign Office statement issued on Saturday.

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.

His trip comes after last month's visit by Saudi Kingdom's Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud, which was followed by the visit of a high-level delegation led by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan earlier this month.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Manila [Philippines], April 27 (ANI): The Philippines Department of National Defence (DND) has completely rejected China's claims of having any internal agreement on the Ayungin Shoal, Philippine News Agency quoted Philippines Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr as saying.

In a statement released on Saturday, Gilberto Teodoro Jr rejected the claims of Chinese officials about two new deals with the Philippines in 2023 to reduce tensions on the disputed territory and called it a part of a "Chinese propaganda effort to steer the Filipino people's attention away from the real issue."

Also Read | US Car Crash: Three Women From India Killed in Accident in South Carolina; Their Gujarat Village Holds Prayer Meeting.

Teodoro said, "The DND is not aware of, nor is it a party to, any internal agreement with China on Ayungin Shoal since President Ferdinand R Marcos, Jr took office." The Ayungin Shoal is a submerged reef in Spratly Islands in the South China Sea (SCS).

Gilberto Teodoro Jr said that Philippines Department of National Defence did not have any contact with any Chinese government officials since last year.

Also Read | Pakistan Shocker: Kidnappers Kill 13-Year-Old Boy Over Non-Payment of Ransom Money, Throws Dead Body in Katcha Area.

He further said, "This is all a part of the Chinese propaganda effort to steer the Filipino people's attention away from the real issue and cause of the tensions in the West Philippine Sea, which is China's obstinate refusal to adhere to UNCLOS, which they are a signatory to."

Notably, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) recognises the Philippine jurisdiction in the SCS. Teodoro said, "We will never enter into any agreement that will compromise our sovereignty and sovereign rights under the UNCLOS, as affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Ruling," according to Philippine News Agency report.

Previously, Philippines National Adviser Eduardo Ano said Beijing must show evidence regarding Philippines' alleged deal with China to keep the status quo in the WPS.

According to House of Representatives Deputy Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II, a gentlemen's agreement between former president Rodrigo R Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping, if any, is "constitutionally void," as it must be enshrined in a treaty and submitted to the Senate for ratification before it can take effect.

On Saturday, the Western Command (Wescom) said that a People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessel was spotted shadowing the flotilla, which was taking part in the maritime exercise (MME) of the 39th Exercise Balikatan.

In a message to reporters, Wescom spokesperson Captain Ariel Joseph Coloma said, "(There is a) a presence of a CN (Chinese) vessel in the vicinity of our BK conducting the MME. We have reported one PLAN vessel with bow number 793 in the vicinity," Philippine News Agency reported.

On Friday, the MME in Palawan waters was led by BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16), with participation from French Navy's FS Vendemiaire (FFH-734), BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602), and USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49), Combined Joint Information Bureau chief Lt Colonel John Paul Salgado said in a statement.

Salgado said, "During the exercise, BRP Ramon Alcaraz directed the participating units with tactical messages, instructing them to approach from her portside at a distance of no less than 80 yards. BRP Davao Del Sur was the first to approach, followed by FS Vendemiaire and USS Harpers Ferry."

He further said that a continuation of cross deck-landing exercise was held and involved BRP Ramon Alcaraz BRP Davao Del Sur, USS Harpers Ferry, and a Philippine Navy AW-109 helicopter (NH-434). The exercise "Balikatan" is aimed at enhancing the participating naval forces interoperability and is scheduled to end on April 29. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington, DC [US], April 27 (ANI): The Uyghur rights leaders called for immediate global action to address the ongoing genocide and crimes done by China against the Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and other Turkic ethnic groups in the East Turkistan region.

This comes after the US State Department released the 2023 Human Rights Report on April 22.

Also Read | Itamar Ben Gvir Car Accident: Israel National Security Minister Sustains Minor Injuries As His Vehicle Overturns After Head-On Collision, Videos of Crash Surface.

"The East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE) is urgently calling for immediate and substantial global action to address the genocide and crimes against humanity being perpetrated by China against Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and other Turkic ethnic groups in East Turkistan," the ETGE said in a statement.

US State Secretary Antony Blinken, as well as a specific section on China in the report, stated that China's atrocities in East Turkistan (which Beijing calls "Xinjiang") constitute an ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity.

Also Read | Bahrain: Missing Thailand Model's Body Discovered in Morgue of Middle Eastern Country One Year After Allegedly Moving in With Lover.

"These atrocities include mass internment, forced labour, and the forced assimilation of nearly one million Turkic children into Chinese state-run facilities," the statement added.

In May 2014, the Chinese government launched a "People's War" on Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples in East Turkistan under the guise of combating "extremism, separatism, and terrorism."

Later, by 2016, "this so-called "People's War" had escalated into a comprehensive campaign of genocide and crimes against humanity due to a lack of international response and condemnation," according to the statement.

Notably, the key aspects of China's campaign of genocide and crimes against humanity include the mass internment of millions of Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and other Turkic peoples in concentration camps, which are increasingly being converted into official prisons; the forced sterilisation of hundreds of thousands of Uyghur and other Turkic women; and the enslavement of millions more through forced labour.

Moreover, other aspects include coerced marriages of Turkic women to Chinese men, widespread destruction of thousands of cultural and religious sites, suppression of religious practices, prohibition of native Turkic languages in education, and forced separation and assimilation of nearly a million Uyghur and other Turkic children in state-run facilities, according to the statement.

Despite acknowledgement and designation of these acts as genocide by the United States and several other national parliaments, including those of the UK, Netherlands, Czech Republic, France, and Belgium, the international community's response has largely been confined to verbal condemnations without the backing of effective policies or interventions.

ETGE Foreign Minister Salih Hudayar said, "The Chinese government and the CCP are employing genocide and crimes against humanity as tools to sustain their colonial occupation of East Turkistan."

The ETGE further urged the international community, especially leading democratic nations and international organisations, to advance beyond mere condemnations.

"It advocates for the implementation of sanctions, diplomatic pressures, and other necessary measures to pressure China to end its ongoing genocide in East Turkistan," the ETGE stated.

ETGE President Mamtimin Ala further expressed disappointment and said, "Despite the detailed documentation of China's ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in East Turkistan, the global response remains grossly inadequate. More than token gestures are needed--decisive actions must be taken to enforce treaty obligations to stop and penalise the atrocities committed by China in Occupied East Turkistan."

Beyond rhetorical commitments, the ETGE called for tangible steps to uphold human rights and end the genocide in East Turkistan.

"Specifically, the ETGE is appealing to the US Senate to pass the Uyghur Policy Act (S.1252) and include the appointment of a Special Coordinator for Uyghur Issues at the US State Department, as the already passed House version (H.R.2766) does," it stated.

Moreover, the ETGE urged the US and other democratic nations to recognise East Turkistan as an occupied country and support its right to external self-determination, thereby addressing the root cause of China's ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Jerusalem, Apr 27 (AP) Yemen's Houthi rebels on Saturday claimed shooting down another of the US military's MQ-9 Reaper drones, airing footage of parts that corresponded to known pieces of the unmanned aircraft.

The Houthis said they shot down the Predator with a surface-to-air missile, part of a renewed series of assaults this week by the rebels after a relative lull in their pressure campaign over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

Also Read | US Car Crash: Three Women From India Killed in Accident in South Carolina; Their Gujarat Village Holds Prayer Meeting.

Officials at the Pentagon, US Central Command and the US Air Force did not immediately return requests for comment Saturday over the Houthi footage. However, CBS News on Friday quoted an anonymous US military official acknowledging a drone had crashed in Yemen.

The Houthis described the downing as happening Thursday over their stronghold in the country's Saada province.

Also Read | Pakistan Shocker: Kidnappers Kill 13-Year-Old Boy Over Non-Payment of Ransom Money, Throws Dead Body in Katcha Area.

Footage released by the Houthis included what they described as the missile launch targeting the drone, with a man off-camera reciting the Houthi's slogan after it was hit: God is the greatest; death to America; death to Israel; curse the Jews; victory to Islam.

The footage included several close-ups on parts of the drone that included the logo of General Atomics, which manufactures the drone, and serial numbers corresponding with known parts made by the company.

Since the Houthis seized the country's north and its capital of Sanaa in 2014, the US military has lost at least five drones to the rebels counting Thursday's shootdown  in 2017, 2019, 2023 and this year.

Reapers, which cost around USD 30 million apiece, can fly at altitudes up to 50,000 feet and have an endurance of up to 24 hours before needing to land.

The drone shootdown comes as the Houthis launch attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, demanding Israel ends the war in Gaza, which has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians there.

The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking some 250 others hostage.

The Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping, seized one vessel and sank another since November, according to the US Maritime Administration.

Houthi attacks have dropped in recent weeks as the rebels have been targeted by a US-led airstrike campaign in Yemen. Shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has declined because of the threat. American officials have speculated that the rebels may be running out of weapons as a result of the US-led campaign against them and after firing drones and missiles steadily in the last months.

However, the rebels have renewed their attacks in the last week. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Khargone, April 27: A 17-year-old girl from Madhya Pradesh's Khargone district immolated herself apparently after she was upset over her father's dependence on alcohol and violent behaviour towards her mother, an official said on Saturday. The teenager died by suicide in Rawat Palasia village on Friday, said Barwah police station in-charge Nirmal Shrivas.

The girl left behind a note saying her father was a habitual drinker and would often beat up her mother. The teenager also accused the police of not taking action despite complaints against her father, the official said, citing the suicide note. Madhya Pradesh Shocker: Man Kills Wife and Two Children With Sword, Later Dies by Suicide in Ujjain.

Shrivas, however, denied the allegation against police. He said the police had acted on complaints against the girl's father and got him to furnish a bond (for good behaviour). Khargone Superintendent of Police Dharmaraj Meena said strict action will be taken against the girl's father. He said police had acted on complaints earlier and arrested him. Madhya Pradesh Shocker: Stopped by Husband From Going to Beauty Parlour, Woman Hangs Self in Indore.

The deceased girl's younger sister also accused their father of drinking heavily and assaulting their mother. She too claimed that the police did not act on multiple complaints. The mother said her husband beats her up after drinking. Their daughter set herself on fire as she was upset by her father's behaviour, she said.
Earthquake in Assam: Quake of Magnitude 4.2 on Richter Scale Jolts Udalguri District, No Casualty Reported

Director Raaj Shaandilyaa Issues Apology For Unauthorised Stree Reference in Rajkummar Rao-Starrer Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video

Baba Siddique Murder Case: NCP Cancels All Party Programmes Scheduled for Today Over Killing of Party Leader

Baba Siddique Murder Case: Accused Were Doing Recce of NCP Leader for Some Time, Says Mumbai Police; Case Registered
Two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, including a sub-inspector, were killed while two others were injured after armed groups attacked a camp of security forces in Manipurs Bishnupur district early on Saturday, the police said.
MINNEAPOLISCarnal Media president and founder Legrand Wolf on Friday announced that the company has acquired European studio Staghomme.

Relaunched Thursday as part of the CarnalPlus.com streaming platform, Staghomme is the first project for the company to be headlined by recently signed exclusive Bastian Karim. In the new scenes under the Staghomme banner, promo materials explain, "Karim guides you through the multifaceted, often unknown, and unspoken world of the European elite. ... Enter Europe's underground where the male body is the currency of control. Mafia. Clergy. Politics. Business. The powerful control and orchestrate in the shadows of Europe. Sex between men is forbidden, authorized exclusively for Europes elite."

Wolf reflected about the original Staghomme, Stag is content that I watched, loved, and was inspired by when I first entered the adult industry. The casting, the filming, the ideas they were pursuing ... I loved all of it. So as we bring Staghomme into our Carnal family of sites, we will be honoring its roots.

Originally launched in 2008, Staghomme was home to content created by the famous Franceso D'Macho featuring a cross section of Europes most famous gay porn stars.

"It's been a decade since the legendary European site Staghomme has produced new stories, and we've been eager to breathe new life into this amazing piece of gay porn history, said Carnal Media CMO Alan Breslaw. Relaunching this studio has been a labor of love, and having international superstar and Carnal exclusive Bastian Karim leading the helm has been nothing short of spectacular. Bastian flexes all his talents leading our Spanish production team, which includes award-winning director Alter Sin. Were excited to bring this to fans around the world.

Joining international star Karim in the new Staghomme line of releases will be with top European names including Sir Peter, Scott Carter, Apolo Adrii and more. Bastin is a three-time Grabbys EU award winner and 2024 GayVN Award nominee.
The Donald Trump hush money trial continued in New York with the cross-examination of prosecution witness David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer and former close friend of the former president, while prosecutors brought in new witnesses.

Pecker's explosive testimony shed some light on Donald Trump's efforts to squash any negative stories about him while he was first running for president in 2016, as well as the former president's deal with Pecker to write positive articles about Trump while also writing negative articles about his opponents, including Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and Hillary Clinton.

During the defense's cross-examination of Pecker, Trump's lawyers tried to discredit his testimony by trying to poke holes in his claim about the deal happening on August 2015. Trump lawyers pointed out that Pecher had been making negative stories about Clinton long before the deal.

According to the Associated Press, it was Trump attorney Emil Bove who questioned Pecker on the stand and he pointed out several inconsistencies in Pecker's testimony, including Pecker testifying that Trump thanked him during a White House visit in 2017 for his help burying two stories. Bove noted that Pecker previously told federal authorities that "Trump did not express any gratitude to him during the meeting."

However, Pecker stuck to his testimony, telling Bove, "I know what the truth is," before acknowledging that he "had not previously sought out stories and worked the company's sources on behalf of a presidential candidate or allowed political fixers close access to internal decision-making."

Pecker noted that the National Enquirer only did this for one candidate, his friend Donald Trump.

READ MORE: Donald Trump's Big Day in Court as Supreme Court Immunity Hearing and Porn Star Hush Money Case Happen at Same Time

Prosecutors Introduce 2 New Witnesses in Donald Trump Hush Money Trial

After Pecker's cross-examination, prosecutors called in their next witness, Donald Trump's former executive assistant who once served as a senior executive at the Trump Organization for decades. Rhona Graff. She was responsible for handling his phone calls and schedule, as well as engaging with those coming and going from meetings.

Under oath, Graff testified that she maintained a list of Trump's contacts and told the jury that the list did indeed include former Playboy model Karen McDougal and adult film actress Stormy Daniels, whom Trump was accused of paying off to hide his affairs with them while running for the presidency in 2016.

According to CBS News, Graff also stated that she had a "vague recollection" of seeing Stormy Daniels in the "reception area of the 26th floor" of Trump Tower.

Michael Cohen's Banker Also Testified During the Donald Trump Hush Money Trial

The second witness prosecutors brought in to testify that day was Gary Farro, who served as Michael Cohen's banker, according to NBC News.

Farro testified that he helped Cohen d set up the home equity line of credit that the then-Trump attorney used to pay Stormy Daniels. However, the day ended and his testimony was soon paused and he will continue his testimony on Tuesday.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Asked Supporters To Protest Hush Money Trial, But Few Showed Up, Now He Is Making Excuses

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: 'Direct evidence': David Pecker testimony links Trump to hush money payment - MSNBC
President Joe Biden has indicated his readiness to participate in debates with his anticipated Republican rival, Donald Trump, in the upcoming autumn season, signaling a departure from earlier uncertainty surrounding the issue.

Biden's definitive statement emerged during an interview with Sirius XM host Howard Stern, where he expressed his readiness to engage in a debate with Trump, though without specifying a timeline, AP News reports.

"I am happy to debate him," Biden stated. "I am somewhere. I don't know when."

In response to Biden's statement, Trump affirmed his readiness for debates but questioned Biden's sincerity.

As Trump concluded his proceedings in a New York court on Friday afternoon, he reiterated his challenge, expressing readiness to debate Joe Biden.

"We're ready. Just tell me where. I will do it at the White House. That would be very comfortable, actually."

During the Republican primary debates this election cycle, Trump did not participate.

Trump's campaign officials swiftly responded, expressing eagerness to arrange the debates.

The former president proposed potential debate dates, coinciding with his campaign schedule and ongoing legal proceedings.

The Commission on Presidential Debates has already disclosed the dates and venues for the three general election debates between the presidential contenders: September 16 in San Marcos, Texas; October 1 in Petersburg, Virginia; and October 9 in Salt Lake City.

The sole vice-presidential debate is scheduled for September 25 in Easton, Pennsylvania.

READ NEXT: Trump Pushes for Earlier and Increased Debates with Joe Biden

Challenges and Criticisms

Conservative voices on social media platforms seized upon Joe Biden's announcement, casting doubt on the sincerity of his commitment and speculating about the influence of his advisors, BBC noted.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump and his campaign have been advocating for additional debates, challenging the authority and impartiality of the Commission on Presidential Debates.

The prospect of a Biden-Trump debate carries echoes of their encounters during the 2020 presidential campaign, marked by heated exchanges and interruptions.

While the details of the upcoming debates remain uncertain, the historical significance of such encounters in shaping public opinion underscores their importance in the electoral process.

Evolution of Debate Dynamics

The dynamics of presidential debates have evolved over the years, from the landmark Nixon-Kennedy debate in 1960 to the contemporary media landscape.

Despite occasional controversies and disruptions, debates have become an integral part of the electoral tradition, offering voters an opportunity to assess candidates' positions and leadership qualities, according to Fox News.

The possibility of engaging in the Biden -Trump debate contemplated, the political landscape brims with anticipation and speculation.

The outcome of these encounters could influence voter perceptions and shape the trajectory of the presidential campaign.

Against the backdrop of evolving media dynamics and partisan tensions, the debates serve as a critical forum for candidates to articulate their visions and engage with voters directly.

READ MORE: Major News Outlets Encourage Joe Biden and Donald Trump to Confirm Participation in Presidential Debate

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Biden says he would be 'happy' to debate Trump - From MSNBC
There was strong agreement in Easton City Council chambers that something needs to be done about the link from Downtown to the D&L Trail.

Ultimately, the city would like to build a pedestrian bridge from Larry Holmes Drive across the Lehigh River to tie-in to the trail at Delaware Canal State Park.

A feasibility study presented Tuesday night to the council puts the cost for that bridge anywhere from $8.4 million to nearly $30 million, and thats without detailed geotechnical studies that could impact the price tag.

The real reason we wanted to look into this issue is if youve ever tried to access the D&L Trail from Downtown ,it is not a very pleasant experience, Easton Public Services Director David Hopkins said during a public hearing hearing on the study. In fact, it makes a lot of people afraid to be on a narrow sidewalk heading down 611.

Short-term suggestions from the studys project manager, Christine Troxell from CDR Maguire Engineering, could help improve the connection to the trail for a fraction of that cost:

The sidewalk along Route 611, also called South Delaware Drive, could be widened.

The Dr. George S. Smith Bridge that carries South Third Street across the Lehigh to St. John Street on South Side could be modified to add a bike lane with a barrier.

A new crosswalk could be added at South Third Street and South Delaware Drive.

New trail signage could be added.

A light standard blocking part of the sidewalk at South Third Street and Larry Holmes Drive could be relocated.

Scott Slingerland, executive director of the Lehigh Valley's Coalition for Appropriate Transportation, addresses Easton City Council on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, during a discussion on the Two Rivers Trailway Access and Feasibility Study.Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com

Better access to the D&L Trail could boost Eastons economy, from restaurants and shopping to overnight stays, according to those gathered for Tuesdays hearing.

The current tie-in, however, is like a gate that is closed from the trail to the Downtown, said Scott Slingerland, executive director of the Lehigh Valley-wide Coalition for Appropriate Transportation. He pointed out the deteriorated chain-link fence that threatens to grab bicycle handlebars of riders trying to access the trail along Route 611, and said he carries zip ties to help fasten sections of the fence back in place.

Jeff Dungate, who lives in Eastons West Ward, leads groups of runners along that stretch of sidewalk.

When youre coming back up this way off the path youve got your back to those cars, and that fence didnt get messed up by bikes, he said. The poles are ripped out, the fence is in disarray and you dont know whats happening in those cars that come screaming around the corner.

Easton launched the feasibility study for the Lehigh River pedestrian bridge in November 2021, with Northampton County and Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grants covering the $67,388 cost. Not only does the D&L Trail run through the area, but the trail paralleling the Delaware and Lehigh rivers and canals is part of the September 11th National Memorial Trail and the Easton areas Two Rivers Trailway.

Troxell, the project engineer, presented several long-term alternatives, including reusing old railroad trestles that Easton and Phillipsburg officials envision turning into an elevated park connecting the two communities across the Delaware River. That poses problems with connecting from the grade of the trestle down to the level of the trail, in addition to co-locating the trail along still-active railroad trestles and tracks that run through the city and across to New Jersey.

A 420-foot span crossing the Lehigh would solve the trail access issues and could be built without piers in the river, which is important to avoid worsening floodplain conditions, she said. Thats where the price tag gets into the tens of millions of dollars, depending on the long-span truss, tied arch or truss design the city may want to pursue.

I guess its going to come down to cost and what the city can afford, as well as what works there, she said.

Jared Mast, executive director of the Greater Easton Development Partnership that runs city attractions like PA Bacon Fest and the Easton Public Market, suggested the cost may not be an insurmountable impediment with state and federal funding. The GEDP purchased land off Washington Street at Lehigh Drive that could be used to tie into the railroad trestles for a park similar to New York Citys The High Line.

We still have optimism that a High Line-type of project is possible, he said Tuesday, saying that project and a new Lehigh River pedestrian bridge could complement each other to boost outdoor recreation and associated economic development in Easton.

Hopkins, the city public services director, said improving the D&L Trail access is on the front burner for the city, and that the city has already applied for grants for the short-term recommendations. The city last fall applied for a $728,475 federal grant to put toward designs and permitting for the new pedestrian bridge envisioned over the Lehigh River.

Mayor Sal Panto Jr. vowed to continue looking for additional funding to make the ideas reality.

I think its really important we do it because the access to the D&L Trail is horrible, he said.

CDR Maguire Engineerings Two Rivers Trailway Access and Feasibility Study is included below, or click here to view it if its not displaying. The presentation is also available via the archived live-stream from Tuesdays city council meeting at easton-pa.com.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
Authorities are trying to find an unidentified male who had sexual contact with a child last fall at Phillipsburgs Walters Park.

The Warren County Prosecutors Office on Friday released a sketch of the man. It was generated through a witness who was present at the time of the September 2023 incident at the park off Sitgreaves and Warren streets, the prosecutors office said in a news release.

The prosecutors office said the child did not know the male, who told the child afterward not to tell anyone about the encounter.

The news release did not give an exact date, the time of day it occurred, the age of the child and other details.

The male is described as between 30-40 years old, standing about 5 feet, 8 inches and weighing 175-200 pounds.

The prosecutors office is asking that anyone with information about the male or the encounter call the offices tip line at 908-835-2002 or Phillipsburg police at 908-475-6643.

Both agencies said in the release that they would like to remind parents and children to be vigilant as warm weather approaches and outdoor activities increase.
The now-former Warren County prosecutor, ousted three weeks ago over a misconduct probe, says his resignation was coerced by New Jerseys attorney general in a preplanned and orchestrated takeover, insisting he is still legally the countys top prosecutor.

That claim comes as a group of defense lawyers is calling for a broader investigation into the Warren County Prosecutors Office, saying it was run like a racketeering enterprise and admonished by courts for withholding evidence in criminal cases under Prosecutor James Pfeiffers watch.

The surprise supersession of Pfeiffers office by Attorney General Matthew Platkin, New Jerseys top law enforcement officer, thrust a behind-the-scenes power struggle over a misconduct inquiry in the states third-smallest county into public view.

The fight pit Pfeiffer, a former state Superior Court judge appointed as Warren Countys top prosecutor in 2019, against the attorney generals Office of Public Integrity and Accountability, or OPIA, which handles government misconduct inquiries.

The ordeal started with whistleblower claims of misused grant funds, but has since broadened into a tangle of explosive and at times contradictory allegations of mismanagement and malfeasance between the prosecutors office and the state agency devoted to rooting out corruption.

A spokesman for Platkin, Michael Symons, said the supersession followed a long-term investigation by the OPIA.

This action was not taken lightly but was necessary to ensure that office operates with professionalism and fosters an environment in which reports of misconduct are taken seriously and reviewed appropriately, he said. We are confident both of these things will be true under the new leadership.

In an e-mail, Pfeiffer said the true story remains the abuse by OPIA in retaliating against me for disagreeing with their legal opinion and not rubber stamping their illegal activities.

State investigators allege misuse of public funds and a potential coverup. The ousted prosecutor counters with claims of cronyism by the attorney general and the OPIA, which has itself faced scrutiny in Trenton for its aggressive prosecution in public corruption cases.

The Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey, meanwhile, says separate instances of abuse of power in criminal matters by Warren County prosecutors show an office badly in need of reform.

Those issues have imperiled several criminal prosecutions, including the indictment of a Pennsylvania man accused of sexually assaulting two children, according to court documents.

Public records, along with interviews and emails from key players, show how an inquiry into alleged misused funds spiraled into a bitter turf fight between a county prosecutor and state investigators that could now alter the course of countless criminal cases.

THE STATE TAKEOVER

Pfeiffer was forced out April 5 when, as he met with Platkin and deputies in Trenton, officials from the OPIA arrived at the prosecutors office in Belvidere. There, deputy county prosecutors were told they would now be under Assistant Attorney General Anthony A. Picione, who until recently was a top official at OPIA.

After receiving inquiries from the news media on the Friday afternoon of the takeover, Platkins office said Pfeiffer was resigning effective immediately but declined to specify why.

An OPIA report, dated April 4, concluded Pfeiffers office misused state grant money meant for fraud investigations to pad its budget, according to a redacted copy obtained by NJ Advance Media days later.

The investigation was launched in 2022 based off tips received by state investigators from whistleblowers in the prosecutors office, the report said.

It took years to complete in part because of a dispute between Pfeiffer and the OPIA over access to his offices emails. Pfeiffer claimed he could not provide access because Warren Countys government, which is separate from the prosecutors office, controlled the servers.

The report contended Pfeiffer should have handed over email access to investigators because as a prosecutor he was answerable to Platkin under state law.

It stopped short of accusing Pfeiffer himself of misusing the funds, but alleged he interfered in the states investigation and retaliated against witnesses.

In letters to Platkins office and to Gov. Phil Murphy, Pfeiffer has since claimed his resignation was coerced and the reports findings were devoid of evidence and lack credibility. The content of those letters was first reported by Politico New Jersey.

Pfeiffers attorney, Arthur Russo, argued that he remains a sitting Constitutional officer and Prosecutor for Warren County.

Reached this week, Pfeiffer also took issue with Platkin installing Picione, a top OPIA official, in his place, saying it showed the office was incentivized to find he engaged in misconduct because Piciones appointment amounted to a raise.

This is a clear conflict of interest, yet they did it, he told NJ Advance Media. True arrogance.

State Sen. Joseph Cryan, D-Union, raised objections over how state prosecutors handled the takeover, saying it was part of a pattern of the attorney general running in and taking over offices without proper procedure.

Cryan, a vocal critic of OPIA, described the Warren County probe as a minimal dispute about the appropriation of money and said that only the governor, not the attorney general, has the power to accept a prosecutors resignation.

Murphys office did not respond to a request for comment.

Symons, the attorney generals spokesman, said the criticism of OPIA was part of a broader trend in which people in powerful positions attack the work of dedicated public servants charged with holding power to account  whether through corruption prosecutions or administrative internal affairs investigations.

We see this on the national stage, and we see it here in New Jersey, he said.

MISUSED FUNDS, WITHHELD EVIDENCE

The OPIA report mainly focused on the alleged misuse of grant money from the state Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor intended to help county prosecutors conduct better fraud investigations.

It cites several secret recordings of Sgt. James Roncoroni, who handled insurance fraud cases, allegedly discussing how the prosecutors office was reimbursed for work on investigations it never actually did.

They dont have to work the hours, he told colleagues on one of the recordings, according to the report. They have to be available the hours. You understand what I mean?

He added that no county has that much insurance fraud that they need two f---ing guys, ok? Two or three guys. They dont. But they take the grant and say to the guy, OK, youre  youre assigned to insurance fraud, but you do other jobs too.

The report also referenced other allegations of misconduct in the office, including claims from whistleblowers that prosecutors had withheld evidence from criminal defendants in an unspecified number of cases.

Matthew Adams, the president of the ACDL-NJ, said prosecutors in Warren County showed a troubling pattern of withholding evidence, drawing admonishment from judges and even mistrials.

In a letter to Platkin this week, Adams flagged an alarming pattern of prosecutorial misconduct, pointing to criminal indictments that were thrown out after a judge found Warren County prosecutors intentionally failed to disclose evidence that could hurt their chances of conviction.

Those cases involved a Pennylvania man, George Sappah, accused of paying his sister, Hope resident Greta Sappah, to arrange for him to sexually abuse two children.

The judge in those cases declared a mistrial after determining an assistant prosecutor, Anthony Robinson, clearly purposely suppressed evidence at trial.

An appeals court later reinstated the charges, but admonished Warren County prosecutors for their behavior, saying the office squandered the time and resources of the court, counsel and jury.

The letter also referenced the prosecution of Phillipsburg Councilman Frank McVey, a political rival of Mayor Todd Tersigni. That case has been tied up in state appeals courts for several years after a judge disqualified the entire Warren County Prosecutors Office over Pfeiffers ties to the mayor, a former client from his days as a criminal defense attorney.

In his letter, Adams said the staggering revelations of misconduct within the Warren County Prosecutors Office impact every matter that was handled by the office in recent years.

Rather than a bona fide law enforcement agency, it appears that the Warren County Prosecutors Office has been, instead, run like a racketeering enterprise, he wrote.

Reached this week, Pfeiffer said Adams letter was factually inaccurate and has no legal basis and argued he properly recused himself in the McVey case.

He insisted the defense attorneys group was conflating the attorney generals investigation into budgetary and personnel issues with the administration of justice by the office.

The OPIA report refers to the allegations of withheld evidence but draws no conclusions, saying only that the claims should be reviewed because they could have implications for pending prosecutions.

Spokespeople for Platkin and Murphy did not answer questions regarding the circumstances of Pfeiffers resignation.

The Attorney General commends and supports the attorneys and investigators who work in this field despite knowing that it will draw baseless and self-serving criticism from powerful people and entities, Platkins spokesman said.

Doing this work takes courage and demonstrates a true commitment to justice in its purest form.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X.
Three teenage girls who allegedly assaulted another teenage girl who required treatment in hospital are to be dealt with in the district court.

The girls, who are now aged 14, 15 and 16, are each accused of assault causing harm at a teenage disco in Laois on June 20, 2022.

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the DPP had directed that the case was not suitable to be dealt with through a youth diversion programme involving a Juvenile Liaison Officer(JLO). He said it is alleged the three girls attacked another girl at the disco.

Sgt Kirby said the injured party suffered a deep laceration to her head as a result of an assault at the youth disco. He said it was  a nasty cut and she was taken to the Midland Regional Hospital for treatment where she underwent an MRI which was normal.

Judge Nicola Andrews viewed the medical report and accepted jurisdiction in the case. She noted the girl had been struck in the head and in the face.

She ordered that disclosure be made to the three solicitors representing the three accused. At a previous sitting, Judge Andrews had excused the three accused from attending court so that they could go to school.

Once the school term is out they have to appear in court, she told the defending solicitors before adjourning the case back to Portlaoise District Court on June 24.
Every bus stop should have a shelter, a meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District was told.

Sinn Fein Cllr Aidan Mullins asked in a motion that Laois County Council arrange for a bus shelter/s to be installed in Portarlington.

To me, for me to even have to put down a notice of motion for a bus shelter, you would think we were living in a third world country. Every bus stop in Ireland should have a bus shelter, he insisted.

Cllr Mullins said bus stops were just a few steel uprights and a bit of canopy and dont need to be costly.

In response to his motion, Senior Executive Engineer, Diarmuid Donohue wrote: Laois County Council is liaising with the NTA regarding the upgrade of bus stops across the county. There are a number of bus stop locations in Portarlington, and the Council will work with the NTA to agree the appropriate treatment at each one.

I think it is a joke that the NTA(National Transport Authority) are taking so long, that they have to be convinced or persuaded to put them in, he continued.

He said it was no wonder people opted to drive instead of waiting in the rain and cold without any shelter.

We have the Green Party and Eamon Ryan trying to convince people to use public transport, and rightly so, but we have to have the facilities in place, he said.

Describing bus shelters as basic infrastructure for the public transport system, Cllr Mullins said madness that a motion had to be put down seeking a shelter.

He noted two new shelters had been put in place in Portlaoise. While welcoming the introduction of new shelters, he questioned the cost although he didnt say how much money had been spent on the shelters.

It cant be that expensive to put up a bus shelter, he said.

They can only cater for four people sitting down and none standing, he claimed.

Fine Gael Cllr PJ McKelly said there are no bus shelters in Portarlington even though the stops are well used.

He described the bus stops in Portlaoise as extravagant and questioned the amount of work that went into them.

He said the wide footpaths in Portarlington would easily facilitate a bus stop without any extras attached.

Fianna Fails Padraig Fleming said bus shelters should be simply made.

They should be everywhere that there is a need, he added.
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.
Tirlan and Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur are celebrating 50 years in partnership by opening applications for their third successive Sustainable Farming Academy.

Twenty farmers are again invited to enrol for the fully-funded year-long University College Cork (UCC) Diploma in Environment, Sustainability and Climate which begins in September.

Announcing the opening of applications for Diploma places, Director of Ingredients at Tirlan, Aoife Murphy, said: As part of our Living Proof sustainability strategy we are committed to supporting Irish farming communities in addressing environmental, economic and social challenges by giving them the knowledge, skills and know-how to farm more sustainably. We are delighted to say there has been significant interest from our farmers in completing the Diploma.

This year marks a significant milestone for Tirlan and Baileys relationship as we celebrate 50 years in partnership this year and we are keen to continue to work closely to ensure we deliver a world-class, sustainable product and service. Tirlan first began supplying our high quality cream for the Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur in 1974 through our facility in Virginia, Co Cavan.

Aisling Gorman, Global Sustainability Marketing Manager, Baileys, said: Were proud Tirlan partners for 50 years and it makes sense that we would work together to upskill farmers in sustainable farming practices, so that together we can drive positive change and shape the future of farming in Ireland. We believe the Sustainable Farming Academy can deliver fundamental changes in farming practices and we are immensely proud to support this initiative and to acknowledge this first class of graduates. Together, we are working for change.

Larry Hannon, Academy graduate and Co Kildare dairy farmer, said: This is a brilliant programme and Im delighted that our Co-op is co-funding it. I signed up because I wanted to challenge myself, even though Ive been farming for over 30 years. It gave me a deeper understanding of what I needed to do on farm to be more environmentally and economically sustainable and how to achieve both.

Ive applied much of what Ive learnt. Were putting in a significant solar project; weve fenced off our watercourses and Ive a greater appreciation of the biodiversity corridor on my farm and how to nurture that. I never thought Id go to college. I juggled the college workload with farming and rearing a family. It was a challenge but it was so worth it.

Rachel Creighton, who farms along with her family on the Kildare-Wicklow border, is one of 20 students studying at UCC at present. The Sustainable Farming Academy is brilliant. I come from a dairy farm. Water quality is a major focus on many farms. Weve really good quality water, and the Academy has helped me focus on protecting that by looking at the projected nutrient flow on the farm and what could happen as a result of a significant rain event.

Looking to the future, were now considering installing a silt tank for yard runoff and planting a riparian margin and/or extra hedgerows in strategic areas on our farm to prevent any potential water contamination.

The highly sought-after Sustainable Farming Academy Diploma is delivered mainly online and is tailored to fit in with each farmers full-time, on-farm responsibilities. It equips Tirlan family farm suppliers with the most relevant and up-to-date knowledge to continue to address sustainability challenges. The Academy is also aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The accredited and fully-funded Diploma is delivered through academic partner UCC. As part of the course, participants are required to submit a number of assignments, all of which are scheduled during quieter times in the farming calendar.

The Diploma also recognises prior learning and modules include Earth Science, Climate Change and Sustainable Development as well as Ecology, Applied Geographical Information Systems, Environmental Protection and Practical Environmental Management. All learning is directly applicable on farm.

The recipients of this years bursary awards of were also marked at the event. Among this years bursary award winners were Joshua Mills from Kilcullen in Kildare, who is currently studying at UCD; Sinead Cusack from Dunmore East in Waterford who is studying at UCC; Daniel Kennedy from Coolgreany, Gorey, Co Wexford who is studying in Dundalk Institute of Technology and Michael Ryan from Ballingarry in Tipperary who is studying at the South East Technological University.

Applications for the Sustainability Farming Academy are now open and the programme begins in September 2024. For further information, log on to www.tirlanfarmlife.com
Many generations of people have memories of Punchestown, whether it was when the schools used to close for a half day or getting taken out of them all together.

That experience of course is all furthered when you come from a racing family. Mark Fahey, a trainer himself, is one of many in his clan with association to horses. His father was a well-known farrier and his uncles Jarlath, Paul and Seamus are all trainers, amongst others in the family too.

Its easy to say that Mark got the gra for it all at home, he said, I used to go around different yards with my Dad riding for different trainers. I rode as an amateur and we had a few homebred horses and that is how that evolved.

The ever-present during this time would of course be Kildares National Hunt spectacle Punchestown and the Faheys, like many, have memories of the festival going back a long way.

We were always there and would have always gone when we were younger. Always at the festival and a few of the smaller meetings too. If someone ever had a runner, we got the day off school to go over and see it. We wouldnt have ever got the full week though, Mark said.

One of Marks first big moments as a jockey came at the Festival and it was one moment in a long line of them with Fahey family ties all over it for the young amateur.

Everything was going great there for a while (as a jockey). I had good success, plenty of good horses. I won the Goffs Land Rover Bumper in Punchestown and I also rode a winner for my uncle Paul in a bumper at the festival, Mark recalled.

That was brilliant. Lots of Memories ended up a great horse for Paul and it was a great day for all of us.

Marks riding career would be cut short after he was thrown from a two year-old on a sand gallop in August of 2015, suffering severe injuries as a result.

He said, I got a fall unfortunately, but thankfully I had the trainer's licence at the time and then I just concentrated more on that.

The Monasterevin man had already notched his first win as a trainer by that stage when Point The Toes crossed the finishing post first in Downpatrick in the summer of 2013.

My grandmother owned that horse so it was brilliant to have a first winner for her, Mark smiled.

I rode a winner on the same mare too. As well as giving me my first winner as a trainer, Point The Toes also gave my brother and my sister their first winners.

Point The Toes would seemingly give so many of the Faheys careers lift-off, now the real work starts of course and the trainer hails a couple of horses in particular for helping to further his young career.

Well Set Up and Edification would have both done very well for me. Edification won a Premier Handicap for me (The Irish Stallion Farms EBF 'Ragusa' Handicap) on the Curragh, Mark said.

Well Set Up won a couple of listed races and Grade 3s. They were some of the ones that have kick-started the early parts of my career.

As it so often did, the Punchestown Festival would again spur on the ambitions of the family and another often credited horse for Mark, Das Mooser, gave him his first taste of Festival victory, out of the saddle, by winning the KFM Hunters Chase. A race also referred to as the Bishopscourt Cup or as Mark referred to it the local farmers race.

It does help. When you get a few winners and put them together it does, especially at the high-profile meetings, if you can get them.

The 2024 festival is fast approaching and the Monasterevin trainer has his plans nearly set for the busy weeks racing.

One or two for the handicaps and I have a horse for the Land Rover Bumper called Sellerna Bay. We think she is nice and we are hoping she gets to run in that on the first day, Mark explained.

The festival for me has been lucky. I would love to have a few more cracks at it, but it is very competitive and that is why the racing is so good. Hopefully we can be more competitive over the next few years.
The Walshs are undeniably one of the leading horse racing families in Ireland and most certainly in Co.Kildare.

In the summer of 1960, aged 10, Ted Walsh moved with his family to Kill from Fermoy in Co. Cork. The change would eventually spawn a prosperous career in racing for young Ted and also started a lifelong love affair with Punchestown racecourse.

It was a Tuesday, Wednesday meeting then and it was a big thing. All the schools were closed, Naas was closed for a half day, and all the banks were closed, Ted recalled.

A man called Peter Lawlor, who had a farm in Naas, had a little mare and I remember going to Punches-

town and watching her when she won a big race that year (1961).

There was a horse belonging to the Newells, he ran both days and won both days. You might win the Bishopscourt Cup and then the Ladies Cup. I was 11 or 12 then and I remember going with my dad. We had a runner, a horse called King Brian, I remember leading him around the ring and that was a big thing at 12 years of age to bring him around the ring at Punchestown.

The Punchestown tradition of Walking Sunday was, and continues to be, alive and well. The walk was the excitement-builder for a huge couple of days of racing action in store as Punchestown welcomed some of the best horses towards the end of a busy season.

All these things stick in your mind. Massive excitement (when it came around each year), like an All-Ireland final. Punches-

town was only once a year and as many people would be out in the in-field as would be out in the stands, Ted explained.

I remember my own father and uncle would come up by pony and trap from Cork. Theyd stop in The Heath in Portlaoise to break the journey up and come on the rest of the way the day after. My mothers brother (Martin Buggy) would cycle up from Gowran (Kilkenny) early on Tuesday, cycle home in the evening, and then cycle back up again on Wednesday.

These formative experiences would play a role in the beginning of what would come to be a thriving career in racing for Ted. In the saddle, as a trainer, and on the big screen.

I was reared in a yard and we had our own runners in Punchestown. I think one of the big days in Punchestown for me was when my Dad trained a horse called No Hill. He won the Punchestown Gold Cup (1976), which was a massive day for us, Ted said.

I rode a fair few winners for my Dad in Punchestown too, so I was reared up in that environment. I was never going to be involved in anything else, only horses. From the time I was 10, there was nothing else in my life.

Teds riding career would involve a long association with Clanes Peter McCreery, who he rode over a 100 winners for, including two Irish Champion hurdles, a Queen Mother Champion Chase in Cheltenham and plenty more at Punchestown.

All my dreams that I grew up hoping for, that I might have failed to achieve as a rider, I achieved as a trainer, with the exception of being second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

If I had that in the bag I would have the whole lot, the whole shabang, but sure look, Ted said.

Teds visit to The Late Late Show during the Tubridy days brought about the mildly controversial (and jovial) topic of his favourite child. There were conflicting views on that topic, but a clearer answer emerges when you ask the man himself about the horses he trained.

Commanche Court was definitely my favourite horse. I had a lot of good horses, Papillon would have been the biggest one career-wise because of winning the (English) National. But Commanche won the Triumph (Hurdle), won the Irish National and (Punchestown) Gold Cup, Ted explained.

I am splitting hairs when picking Commanche Court over Rince Ri and Papillon. Any Second Now, Sea Bass, Rock the Prince I like them all. As one in particular, I would have to say Commanche Court.

Who could blame him as the beloved chestnut gelding won a Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in 1997, as well as the Irish Grand National in 2000 for the Kill trainer.

That was a fantastic year (2000). Everything clicked into place in the space of a month. Papillon won the English National, Commanche (Court) won the Irish National and then came back and won the Punches-

town Gold Cup. All in one incredible month, Ted recalled.

On-board for both of those Grand Nationals wins in the millennium year was Teds son Ruby, who would finish his illustrious career with over 2,700 career wins as a rider.

Yeah it is a huge thing when you have that (Ruby riding the horses). That really makes it (more special) for that to happen. That is another reason Punchestown was great because they were all involved. Katie rode winners there over banks and fences and Ruby did as well. So we were all very much involved in the whole thing. We all retired in Punchestown too. Ruby, Katie and myself all called it a day in Punchestown, Ted said.

It is all brilliant. No different than any other parent, you are always hoping that your children will be happy and do well. They are all happily married and I have lovely grandchildren.

Ted would step away from racing punditry just last year after 40 years of coverage of his beloved sport.

Following a thriving career in all departments, one of the most recognisable faces and voices in Irish racing decided to move on following decades of coverage.

He may have stepped away from on-screen duty, but no doubt excitement is building again in the Walsh household for the Punchestown Festival as it rolls around once again.
Ahead of the European and local elections in June, the Irish Farmers Association has highlighted nine key issues for candidates if they want to win the farming vote.

It is time for the political system to stand up for farming and food production. As farmers, we are proud of what we do and how we do it. Farmers are sick of being over-regulated and underpaid. Enough is enough, he said.



Launching the Manifesto for the European Parliament and local government elections on June 7th, IFA President Francie Gorman said it has identified nine issues using the acronym CORE for the four key European priorities and PLACE for the five top local election issues.



There are hundreds of issues dealt with in our manifesto across all commodities. However, we have distilled the issues down to nine key messages, he said.



The CORE EU issues are: CAP, Over Regulation, Retain the Nitrates Derogation and Environmental fairness.



The PLACE local elections issues are: Planning, Land Tax on Zoned Residential land, Ash dieback on local roads, Connectivity and Environmental inspections by local authorities.



Farmers are frustrated with how they have been treated by the political system in recent years. There has been a complete focus on environmental sustainability, but insufficient consideration for economic and social sustainability, he said.



Candidates who want an understanding of what matters to farmers can find our issues in the manifesto that we have produced. It reflects the discussions that happen at our County Executives, our National Committees and National Council, which is made up of our democratically-elected farmer officers, he said.



IFA will be holding four regional meetings in April and May, which will give farmers the opportunity to hear from the candidates running in the European Parliament elections.



The meeting for the Midlands-North West Constituency will be held in the McWilliam Park Hotel in Claremorris on Thursday, May 2nd and the second meeting for Midlands-North West will be held in the Bloomfield House Hotel, Mullingar on Wednesday, May 8th.
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.

Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.

If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .

Support our mission and join our community now.
The launch of the 2024 Taste Leitrim Sustainable Food Trail took place on Thursday, April 18, with events held in Jinnys Tearooms, Drumshanbo and Glencar teaSHED, Glencar, Co. Leitrim.

Both events were hosted jointly by the Local Enterprise Office, Leitrim County Council, The Food Hub Drumshanbo and Momentum, Leitrim Village, Taste Leitrim Facilitators.

Many food and hospitality businesses from across the county attended the event. Attendees saw and tasted some of the delicious food produced in Leitrim and met some of the many producers who make Taste Leitrim so successful.

For 2024, Taste Leitrim has committed to being one of the first food trails in Ireland to highlight its environmentally sustainable ethos, which is Low Carbon, High Adventure, backed by promotional activities that strive to be ecologically responsible, working to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is also a key feature of the campaign.

Visitors and locals are encouraged to go low carbon while travelling the county through the use of the excellent Local Link Bus services, electric bike trails, electric vehicle charging stations, and more, all of which are highlighted on the 2024 map. There is also a strong focus on picnics and links with Leitrims outdoor recreation spaces.

Joe Lowe, Head of Enterprise at the Local Enterprise Office (LEO), Leitrim, said, The Taste Leitrim Sustainable Food Trail map contains all the information anyone would need to find somewhere to eat in Leitrim, with almost 120 Taste Leitrim locations to choose from.



Pictured: Joe Lowe, Head of Enterprise, Leitrim County Council, Clr Mary Bohan, Leitrim County Council, Laura Magan, Momentum Consulting, Clr Justin Warnock, Cathaoirleach, Leitrim County Council, Georgia Visnyei, Artessa, Justina Gavin, Honestly, Maureen Fee, Osta  Manorhamilton, Jonathan Hay, Glencar teaSHED

Lisa OConnell, Business Advisor, LEO Leitrim, shared details with the attendees on the support available to Leitrim businesses, including Green for Business, which is a free programme, and the Energy Efficiency Grant scheme that helps small businesses take the first step towards becoming more sustainable. She encouraged anyone in business in Leitrim to contact the LEO office for more details.

In Drumshanbo, Pascal Gillard from Jinnys Bakery, who has completed the Green for Business programme, spoke about the many challenges of running a food business in the current climate, and he detailed some of the sustainability initiatives that his business is making to ensure costs can be reduced as much as possible. Support from the Local Enterprise Office can make a significant difference, I would encourage all food and hospitality businesses to definitely connect with them, Pascal said.

Orla Casey from Momentum emphasised that the campaign was inspired by Leitrims long standing sustainability credentials and focus as Irelands slow adventure capital of Ireland.

Leitrim has been to the fore in sustainable and organic farming for decades. Since the launch of Taste Leitrim back in 2016, we have consistently worked as a food community to support each other. That collaborative approach comes naturally to us. The Food Hub is central to that collaboration and their support of Taste Leitrim is instrumental to ensuring that our trade can benefit at no cost to them. That is important at a time when costs are a huge challenge, Orla added.

Also new for Taste Leitrim in 2024 is a collaboration with Carrick Chamber to support the annual Taste of Carrick food event and closer links with our neighbours in Sligo and their SO Sligo Food Trail.

Taste Leitrim is supported under the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Rural Innovation and Development Fund (RIDF).
Pro-Palestinian supporters hold up a sign and flag inside an encampment on the UCLA campus April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. DAMIAN DOVARGANES / AP

Iraqi religious leader Moqtada Sadr on Saturday, April 27, expressed his support for pro-Palestinian encampments at universities in the United States and called for an end to police action against them.

"We call for a halt to the crackdown on voices advocating for peace and freedom," Sadr said in a statement. "The voice of American universities demanding an end to Zionist terrorism is our voice."

Sadr once led a militia fighting American forces following the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein. He retains a devoted following of millions among the country's majority Shiite Muslim population and wields great influence over Iraqi politics.

Read more Subscribers only Columbia University deeply fractured by war in Gaza

Protests and encampments have taken place at campuses across the United States, Israel's largest military supplier. Student protesters say they are expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where the death toll since October 7 is at least 34,388, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory.

In response to the growing protests, police have carried out large-scale arrests across the country, at times using chemical irritants and Tasers to disperse activists.

Read more Subscribers only US campus protests for Gaza turn into electoral trap for Biden

All Iraqi political factions support the Palestinian cause, and like its neighbor Iran, Israel's sworn enemy, Iraq does not recognize the Israeli state.
A FREE quiz night on the history of the European Union (EU) is to take place in Limerick this Tuesday.

Bobby Byrne's pub at O'Connell Avenue in the city is to play host to the event, which is being organised by the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland.

Members of this group will be in Limerick all day, as it launches a national awareness campaign ahead of the European elections due to take place on June 7.

READ MORE: 'I've never seen him cry before': says Keith Earls' wife as he accepts Lifetime Achievement Award

An information stand is to be set up at the junction between O'Connell Street and Thomas Street in the city centre from 10am to 2pm, with information leaflets and promotional items.

Later on the same day, a roundtable discussion will take place at University of Limerick with panelists from UL Centre for European Studies.

The quiz night gets under way at 7pm, and there are 500 in prizes available to be won.

Following the questions, a new four-minute documentary to promote the European elections in June will be premiered in Limerick.

The film is being launched across Europe the day previous.

For more information on the quiz, please telephone 01-6057900.
CLICK NEXT FOR MORE PHOTOS

RETIRING councillor Kevin Sheahan has been described as a beast in local politics and a legend of Fianna Fail.

Limericks longest-serving councillor will step down from the local authority at the election in June.

In honour of his 39 years in politics, a civic reception was held in the Askeaton mans honour.

The Woodlands House Hotel, Adare played host to the event, the first time a local politician has been honoured in this manner.

Council chief executive Dr Pat Daly said: He is what they might say in the British press is a beast of politics. I mean that in the most powerful sense of the word, because Kevin was a big player not alone in council, but in Limerick and Limerick politics. He always brought a passion, an articulate argument to bear on everything he was involved in.

Cllr Sheahan was first elected in 1985, and was returned in 1991, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2019.

It followed a long career as a garda serving across the country.

His constituency colleague, Cllr Adam Teskey, who hosted the civic reception said: There are very few people elected to public office who can say they have provided protection to the founding member of their own party, Eamon de Valera. He was deeply rooted in Fianna Fail from a young age.

The Cathaoirleach of the old County Council twice, Cllr Sheahan became mayor of the new merged authority in 2014.

Cllr Teskey - who described his colleague as his political mentor from the word go - said: It was the right pair of hands, and a safe pair of hands to have on that occasion. To bring the county and city together took a lot of courage and conviction, and needed a person with knowledge and experience. And who better than Kevin Sheahan?

READ MORE: 'I've never seen him cry before': says Keith Earls' wife as he accepts Lifetime Achievement Award

Dr Daly added: His motto is People First. And from the executive side of the house, that is correct. Everything he asked, everything he did, everything he argued for, was for people, for Askeaton, and for the area of Limerick and Ireland. We are losing a major force and a major player in the local political architecture.

Minister of State and senior Fianna Fail TD Niall Collins hailed Cllr Sheahan as a legend in Fianna Fail.

Anyone who can serve 40 years and retain his seat in seven elections which are very competitive, I think its a real testament to how Kevin has applied himself in his own community, how he was valued in his own community and how the community responded to Kevin, Mr Collins said.

He cited the delivery of the Askeaton swimming pool as an example of this.

Dr Daly also pointed to Cllr Sheahans role in bringing a credit union to Askeaton.

Cllr Sheahans last day in politics is June 6 - the anniversary of his election as council chair, and his wedding to Caroline.
FIANNA Fail European election candidate Cynthia Ni Mhurchu has backed calls to install alcohol interlocks on the cars of repeat drink and drug drivers in Limerick.

These are automatic control systems which are designed to prevent people with excess alcohol or drugs in their system from driving.

Before the ignition of a vehicle can be started, they are required to blow into a breathlyser.

The European Transport Safety Council has made the call for the measure to be introduced for people who have been convicted more than once of drink or drug driving.

And its something Ms Ni Mhurchu said she supports.

She pointed to the fact that garda breath tests had fallen by 54% in 2023, something she described as shocking.

READ MORE: Minister takes on role of election director for Limerick mayoral candidate

If you are not testing people, you cannot catch the people who are driving whilst under the influence of drug and drink.

I am calling on the garda commissioner to step up testing immediately in Limerick. At a time when road deaths are out of control, it is really important that we see a garda presence on our roads, said Ms Ni Mhurchu.

In terms of meeting the bill for these measures, she feels the cost should be borne by those convicted of drink or drug driving.

Judges, she argued, should take this into account when it comes to sentencing. Ireland can learn a lot from other EU nations, she added.
Tesla Layoff: Tesla, Inc. is preparing to lay off 693 workers at its Sparks, Nevada location, according to a government filing on April 27. The downsizing effort represents more than 10% of its total workforce around the world and comes in response to declining sales and increased competition within the electric vehicle market, as per Reuters.

Earlier in the week, the company filed the notice with the Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation in compliance with U.S. labor laws, requiring companies with 100 or more employees to provide 60 days' notice before major layoffs or closing a facility, the report added.

The announcement comes after Tesla revealed huge layoffs in Texas and California of up to 6,020 workers. This is part of a greater cost-cutting program amidst the changing dynamics that the electric carmaker is adapting to in the market. As of the latter part of 2023, this very same Tesla company had more than 140,000 people employed worldwide; it is to say that the current layoffs represent a huge percentage of its workers, as per the report.

Tesla Price Cuts In response to plunging sales and rising inventories, Tesla Inc. announced cutting its electric vehicle prices in China and the US starting on April 21. The strategic realignments focus on the two most critical markets of the automaker and come after a disappointing first quarter, Bloomberg reported.

Also Read | US probes Tesla recall of 2 million vehicles over Autopilot, citing concerns

The price cuts came at a time when Tesla is dealing with growing challenges, from the fierce competition in the electric vehicle business. Ideally, the company hopes the move can spur sales and cut down some of the burgeoning inventory levels that are piling up as the market realizes demand at a pace slower than expected.

Tesla Inc. lowered the starting price of its Model Y to $42,990 in the U.S., the lowest entry price for the sport-utility vehicle yet. According to a Bloomberg report, the Austin-based carmaker has also cut prices for its upgraded versions of the Model Y and Model X by $2,000, establishing new record lows.

The cap of pricing moves a tumultuous week for Tesla that began with CEO Elon Musk's announcement of a global workforce reduction of more than 10%, including more than 140,000 employees. Two senior executives also left during the same week.

Making the situation worse for Tesla, the company has now announced a recall of about 3,900 Cybertruck pickups because of a problem with its accelerator pedals, which may dislodge and inadvertently speed up, potentially causing a crash.

On the corporate governance front, Tesla disclosed that it would be resubmitting, to shareholders, a $56 billion compensation package for Musk to allow for a revote; earlier in the year, this was declared void by a Delaware court. This series of events underscores a major period of churn for the electric vehicle manufacturer.
Lok Sabha elections 2024: Nationalist Congress Party-SCP chief Sharad Pawar warned that voting for Prime Minister Narendra Modi back to power for the third term is 'dangerous', claiming that his government will impose dictatorship in India.

Addressing an election rally in Sangola in Maharashtras Solapur on Friday, Pawar said, It is dangerous to vote Prime Minister Narendra Modi back to power. He will impose dictatorship in the country.

The veteran leader claimed foreigners have visited India to "monitor elections" to see if "democracy will survive in India".

Some people had visited our country to monitor the elections. Two days ago, they met me. I asked them Why are you visiting India?. They told me that they had come to see whether democracy would survive in India," he said.

Reiterating his warning against voting for the 'dangerous' Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the Centre, the NCP-SCP chief said, "...this election is not easy. It will be dangerous to give another opportunity to Narendra Modi.

Citing the example of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Pawar said India is already on a dictatorial path adding that anyone who "spoke against Modi" is put behind bars.

The Modi government has put Arvind Kejriwal in jail. Kejriwal has done good work in the education field and health sector. But he was put in jail since he spoke against Modi," he said.

"This shows that Modi is bent on bringing dictatorship in the country.

As he urged people to vote for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), Pawar said not a single local body election has been held in India in the last two and a half years and the BJP government needs to be "stopped in its tracks"
Former special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam will be contesting the Lok Sabha election on a BJP ticket. The Padma Shri awardee had been associated with several high profile cases including the 1993 bombings and the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. Nikam will be facing off against Congress leader Varsha Gaikwad in the Mumbai North Central constituency.

I don't consider politics a fight. Social service can be done through politics. Service to the nation can also be done through politics. I will adopt this new funda. I have received the opportunity to serve the nation, through politics. So, I consider myself fortunate... Nikam said.

Mumbai North-Central will go to poll on May 20.

A notice shared by the saffron party on Saturday also indicated that two time MP Poonam Mahajan will not be contesting the polls from her current constituency  reportedly a decision based on organisational feedback. Mahajan had previously secured a victory from the Mumbai North Central seat in 2014 while contesting against incumbent MP Priya Dutt, daughter of the late actor and Congress leader Sunil Dutt. She had repeated her election success in 2019.

It's a proud moment for all of us that Ujjwal Nikam will raise the voice of his fight against terrorism, in the Parliament now and will work with us towards the PM Modi's vision of eliminating terrorism from its roots. Poonam Mahajan is our sister. Whatever party decides for us and gives the role, we do that with utmost honesty, said Union Minister Piyush Goyal.
WASHINGTONAlexei Navalnys February death in an Arctic penal colony prompted a new wave of sanctions targeting Russias economy, upended delicate negotiations to exchange prisoners between Russia and the West, and left Russias limited opposition in disarray.

Russian President Vladimir Putin might not have planned for it to happen when it did.U.S. intelligence agencies have determined that Putin likely didnt order Navalny to be killed at the notoriously brutal prison camp in February, people familiar with the matter said, a finding that deepens the mystery about the circumstances of his death.

The assessment doesnt dispute Putins culpability for Navalnys death, but rather finds he probably didnt order it at that moment. The finding is broadly accepted within the intelligence community and shared by several agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the State Departments intelligence unit, the people said.

Some European intelligence agencies have been told of the U.S. view. Certain countries remain skeptical that Putin wouldnt have had a direct hand in Navalnys death, according to security officials from several European capitals. In a system as tightly controlled as Putins Russia, it is doubtful that harm could have come to Navalny without the presidents prior awareness, those European officials said.

President Biden and other world leaders have held Putin ultimately at fault based on years of the Kremlins targeting Navalny, including by allegedly attempting to assassinate him in 2020 and sending him to a remote gulag. Make no mistake. Putin is responsible for Navalnys death," Biden said after the world learned of the death.

But the U.S. now believes the timing of his demise wasnt intended by Putin.

Navalnys allies insist that his death was orchestrated by the Kremlin. In a statement, Leonid Volkov, a longtime Navalny ally, rejected the U.S. intelligence communitys assessment as naive.

Those who assert that Putin wasnt aware clearly do not understand anything about how modern day Russia runs," he said. The idea of Putin being not informed and not approving killing Navalny is ridiculous."

Slawomir Debski, director of the Polish Institute of International Affairs, a Warsaw think tank close to Polands presidency, cast doubt on the U.S. intelligence communitys assessment. Navalny was a high-value prisoner, politically, and everybody knew that Putin was personally invested in his fate. The chances for this kind of unintended death are low," he said.

The U.S. assessment is based on a range of information, including some classified intelligence, and an analysis of public facts, including the timing of his death and how it overshadowed Putins re-election, some of the people said.

The people who spoke to The Wall Street Journal wouldnt specify if the U.S. government had assessed how Navalny died, and the exact circumstances of his death might never be fully established. It couldnt be determined whether intelligence agencies had developed alternate explanations for Navalnys death.

Because he was the last opposition figure inside Russia with enough political heft to be seen as a possible leader, his death appeared to mark the culmination of a long-running Kremlin campaign to kill or force into exile any possible alternatives to Putin. Since the invasion of Ukraine, a series of other Russians have died in unusual circumstances on three continents.

Intelligence assessments are often based on a mosaic of fragmentary informational components and frequently rely on a mix of classified details and open-source, or publicly available, streams of data.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which oversees U.S. intelligence agencies, declined to comment on the issue. A representative from the Russian Embassy in Washington didnt respond to a request for comment.

Russias prison service said Feb. 16 that Navalny fell unconscious after a walk at the penal colony where he was serving time. The statement said that medics arrived to revive him, but that they failed and he died.

Just one week before his death, Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had discussed a potential proposal for a prisoner trade that might have freed Navalny, along with Americans being held in Russia. Those include Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and a former U.S. Marine, Paul Whelan, both of whom have been designated as wrongfully detained by the U.S. government, which has said it is working to negotiate their release.

In return, the Kremlin wanted Vadim Krasikov, a Russian intelligence operative convicted in Germany of murdering a Georgian dissident.

The Anti-Corruption Foundation, founded by Navalny, has said he was killed after Putin became aware of that potential prisoner swap and acted to prevent it. The groups head of investigations, Maria Pevchikh, said the foundation had been involved in efforts to win Navalnys freedom.

Putin said in comments in March that he had agreed to the idea of a swap between Navalny and people held in the West days before Navalny died. The Russian leader said the only condition was that he never return to Russia.

The Kremlin has denied state involvement in the death and the previous poisoning of Navalny.

Gershkovich, who was accredited as a foreign correspondent by Russias Foreign Ministry at the time he was detained, has been held for over a year on an FSB allegation that he engaged in espionagean accusation the Journal, the U.S. government and he vehemently deny. On Tuesday, a Moscow court rejected an appeal against his detention, meaning he is expected to remain in prison until at least June 30.

Whelan, a corporate security executive from Novi, Mich., has been held in Russia since late 2018 on espionage charges that he, his family and the U.S. government deny. He was convicted of the charges in 2020 and sentenced to serve 16 years in a penal colony.

Navalny, who was 47 when he died and who had been in jail since 2021, was the vocal face of resistance within Russia to what he and his supporters said was Putins increasingly authoritarian and corrupt rule. He had been serving three prison sentences amounting to more than 30 years on charges he and his supporters said were fabricated.

Navalny was detained after returning to Russia from Germany, where he had recovered from what German doctors said was poisoning with a Soviet-era nerve agent, Novichok. The U.S. government and independent investigators blamed his poisoning on the Kremlin.

His death came months after he had skipped a series of court dates and appeared to have gone missing, only to turn up at a prison colony known as the Polar Wolf, in the remote Arctic region of Yamalo-Nenets, a bitingly cold, highly isolated and difficult area to reach.

In December, he surfaced on social media and flashed his typically acerbic humor, telling his supporters: I am your new Santa Claus."

Bojan Pancevski and Drew Hinshaw contributed to this article.

Write to Aruna Viswanatha at aruna.viswanatha@wsj.com, Dustin Volz at dustin.volz@wsj.com, Warren P. Strobel at Warren.Strobel@wsj.com, Alan Cullison at alan.cullison@wsj.com and Thomas Grove at thomas.grove@wsj.com
Lancaster-based Fulton Bank announced the acceptance of transitioning all deposits and purchasing most assets of the failed Republic First Bank, based in Philadelphia, on April 26, as per an official release. The move comes after the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities closed down Republic First Bank on April 25 and appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as the receiver.

The Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities executed the seizure after Republic Bank ceased funding discussions with a group of investors. The FDIC announced that Fulton Bank, part of Fulton Financial Corp, would assume nearly all the bank's deposits and purchase its assets to "protect depositors."

As of January 31, 2024, Republic Bank reported approximately USD 6 billion in total assets and $4 billion in deposits. The FDIC estimated that the bank's failure will cost its insurance fund about $667 million.

Republic Bank's 32 branches across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York are scheduled to reopen as Fulton Bank branches either on April 27 or April 29, depending on the location, the release further added.

Republic Bank failure not first in US This incident marked yet another significant failure in the US regional banking landscape, following the collapses of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank in March 2023, and First Republic Bank in May of the same year.

Previously, Republic Bank had reached an agreement with an investor group that included notable figures such as veteran businessman George Norcross and high-profile attorney Philip Norcross. However, the arrangement fell through in February, leading the FDIC to resume its efforts to stabilize and sell the troubled bank, as first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

What will happen to Republic Bank users? Depositors of Republic Bank will become depositors of Fulton Bank so customers do not need to change their banking relationship to retain their deposit insurance coverage. Customers of Republic Bank should continue to use their existing branches until they receive notice from Fulton Bank that it has completed systems changes that will allow its branch offices to process their accounts as well, as per the official statement.

Customers with questions about Fulton Bank's acquisition of Republic Bank may call the FDIC toll-free at 1-877-467-0178. The FDIC Call Center will be open this evening until 9 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on 5aturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m. ET; on Monday from 8:00 a.m to 8:00 p.m. ET; and thereafter from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET. Interested parties may also visit the FDIC website, as per the official release.
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), along with other forces, seized drugs worth 300 crore after busting a busts "whole network of clandestine Mephedrone manufacturing labs" in Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Deputy Director General (OEC) Gyaneshwar Singh said in a press release on Saturday that a joint team of the NCB and Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) conducted raids at three suspected locations  Bhinmal in Jalore district of Rajasthan, Osian in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and Gandhinagar in Gujarat.

They recovered 149 kg mephedrone (in powder and liquid form), 50kg Ephedrine and 200 litres Acetone. The agencies also apprehended seven accused persons as of now.

Mephedrone is also known as 4-methylmethcathinone, 4-MMC, and 4-methylephedrone. It is a synthetic stimulant drug of the amphetamine and cathinone classes. The slang names of this drug include drone, M-CAT, White Magic, meow meow and bubble.

The lab where raids were conducted.

"Based on the interrogation of the apprehended persons in Gandhinagar, another site has been identified in Amreli (Gujarat), where raids are in progress. More recoveries are expected," Singh said.

He said the kingpin of this network was identified and will be arrested soon. Efforts are being made to track and identify the source of precursor chemicals as well as the distribution network, national as well as any international linkages, police added.

The raids were conducted after ATS Gujarat Police received information regarding a clandestine Mephedrone manufacturing labs operating from Gujarat and Rajasthan.

To bust these labs, a joint team of ATS Gujarat police and NCB Headquarters Operations unit was constituted. In an operation spanning over three months, intensive technical and ground surveillance was mounted to identify the persons involved in this network as well as locations of clandestine labs, police said in the press release.
Amid the ongoing rhetoric about China's so-called "overcapacity", there is a lack of substantial evidence to support such claims, and it appears that Western countries' concerns are actually rooted in their fear of China's potential to outcompete them in some key industries, officials and experts said.

Labeling China's capacity as excessive is not based on reality and is merely a political discourse that is both hypocritical and shortsighted, representing a resurgence of trade and investment protectionism, they added, and called for a rules-based international trading system promoting equal opportunities and shared benefits for all nations involved.

Automakers in some European countries have long neglected the transition to electric vehicles, said industry experts. By invoking dumping allegations, the automakers sought import restrictions on Chinese EVs. As a result, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen soon launched an investigation into whether to impose punitive tariffs to protect European automakers.

A similar scenario is unfolding in the United States. The White House has been increasingly inclined to use non-market means to dodge normal market competition.

After many years of technological upgrading and accumulation, Chinese enterprises have made continued progress toward the upstream segment of the global industrial and value chains, particularly in sectors such as photovoltaics, lithium-ion batteries and new energy vehicles, giving them a competitive edge in the global market, said Feng Weijiang, deputy director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

The success of those Chinese enterprises has benefited other countries through providing high-quality products at affordable prices. However, rather than embracing the concept of comparative advantage and mutual benefit, Western countries seem determined to use various tactics to undermine China's achievements by hurling accusations and applying negative labels, Feng said.

In the realm of economics, a fundamental principle has withstood the test of time over two centuries  comparative advantage. This principle states that if a country can manufacture goods at a lower cost than another, trade barriers in the form of tariffs should be avoided. Instead, the country should import those goods and, in return, focus on enhancing the efficiency of its own industries.

Noting the fallacy of linking production capacity issues with international trade, Jin Xiandong, head of the office of policy studies at the National Development and Reform Commission, China's top economic regulator, emphasized that a surplus of exports does not necessarily indicate overcapacity.

China's substantial imports of goods such as chips, aircraft, soybeans and crude oil each year cannot be viewed as evidence of overcapacity in the exporting countries. Varying levels of production capacity in different industries are determined by the comparative advantages of each nation, Jin said.

"If we think purely from the perspective of market principles, there is no such thing as overcapacity once there is an imbalance in supply and demand, and the market will motivate enterprises to adjust production and seek technological progress in order to align with market demand," said Huo Jianguo, vice-chairman of the China Society for World Trade Organization Studies.

"It is not a surprise that the US and some developed economies tend to adopt restrictive measures against China in fields in which China starts showing growing competitiveness," he said.

China's success in new green sectors is due to innovation and market competition, not government subsidies, and it aligns with the global need to address climate change, Huo added.

Trade barriers, such as tariffs, can hinder this process by artificially inflating prices and distorting market dynamics. While protectionist measures may offer short-term benefits to certain industries, they often come at the expense of overall economic efficiency and consumer welfare, experts said.

The approach of Western countries to trade can be summarized as follows  advocating for free markets when they have a competitive advantage but resorting to protectionism when they do not, said Xu Hongcai, deputy director of the China Association of Policy Science's Economic Policy Committee, adding that accusations of Chinese "overcapacity" are a typical case of double standards.
Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Virendra Sachdeva said on Saturday the high court "exposed" Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his government during a hearing a day earlier.

On Friday, the Delhi High Court criticised the Arvind Kejriwal-led government and said the Delhi Chief Minister has put personal interest over national interest by not resigning despite his arrest.

The court did not only rebuke but also exposed (Delhi CM) Arvind Kejriwal and his government. The (Delhi) high court made a very serious comment yesterday that he [Kejriwal] is becoming blind for power and corruption...and doing selfish politics, Virendra Sachdeva told PTI.

He added that over 2 lakh of MCD schools are not getting books and uniforms, but "Arvind Kejriwal will not leave the CM seat because he is hungry for power".

On Friday, the Delhi High Court pulled up the city government over the issue of non-supply of books to the children studying in the MCD schools, saying the continuation of Arvind Kejriwal as the chief minister even after his arrest puts political interest over national interest.

The high court had also slammed Saurabh Bharadwaj, the urban development Minister of Delhi, saying he has turned a blind eye to the plight of students. "This is arrogance of power at its highest," the court was quoted by PTI as saying.

The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) for whom Advocate Ashok Agarwal appeared, informing the Court that students studying in MCD School have not been provided with books, notebooks, writing material, uniforms, etc.

Arvind Kejriwal is currently under judicial custody and lodged in Delhi's Tihar Jail in connection with a probe into the alleged scam in Delhi's excise policy. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21.

Several BJP leaders called for the resignation of Arvind Kejriwal post his arrest in connection with the case.

Virendra Sachdeva said, "...If any government employee is caught on any charge, his resignation is taken within 48 hours. Arvind Kejriwal, you are the Chief Minister who runs the government. Shame on you! You should have resigned by now, but the attachment to the chair and the bungalow you built with public money is not allowing you to leave this post.

Kejriwal filed response to ED Arvind Kejriwal filed his response to the Enforcement Directorates affidavit in the Supreme Court on Saturday. He yet again questioned the "mode, manner, and timing of his arrest" just before when the schedule of the Lok Sabha elections was announced and the Model Code of Conduct had come into play.

This speaks volumes about the arbitrariness of the Enforcement Directorate, Kejriwal said in his affidavit.
(Bloomberg) -- Paramount Globals board is considering removing Chief Executive Officer Bob Bakish and putting the film and TV company under a committee of top executives while it evaluates a possible sale, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Three of the companys senior most executives, film chief Brian Robbins, Showtime/MTV head Chris McCarthy and George Cheeks, who leads CBS, would sit on the committee, said the person, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations. Charles Phillips, a board member and former Oracle Corp. president, would be the lead independent director.

Bakish may record a message for the companys earnings call on April 29, but not take questions, the person said.

The committee would operate on an interim basis, according to the Wall Street Journal, which reported on the deliberations earlier Friday. No decision has been made about Bakishs future, and it is possible the board could keep him in place.

The company declined to comment.

Paramount, the parent of CBS, MTV and other media properties, is controlled by its chair, Shari Redstone, meaning Bakishs ouster would require her assent. Redstone and the company are in talks to sell a controlling stake in Paramount to David Ellisons Skydance Media. An exclusive period of discussions with him is expected to end on May 3.

Some board members have been disappointed with Bakishs decisions, according to people with knowledge of the matter. They include rejecting offers for the companys Showtime and BET cable channels, which could have reduced Paramounts exposure to the traditional TV industry and reduced debt.

Paramounts independent directors are weighing a deal under which Skydance would pay over $2 billion for Redstones 77% voting stake in the company. Paramount would then merge with Skydance in a deal that gives Ellison and his backers control over the combined business. Some investors have complained the deal favors Redstone while diluting the ownership stake of other Paramount stockholders.

On a conference call with investors in February, Bakish said, Were always looking for ways to create shareholder value. And to be clear, thats for all shareholders.

Paramount shares have lost about 19% of their value this year as investors have voiced their displeasure with the possible terms of a deal with Ellison. On Friday, Matrix Asset Advisors sent a letter to the board urging members not do a deal with Ellison and consider other options. It was the second letter the investor has written the company this month.

Shares of Paramount fell 2.2% to $11.91 at the close Friday in New York.

Paramount has other potential suitors. Apollo Global Management Inc. and Sony Group Corp. are considering a joint bid for the company.

In a letter to investors in their funds, Ariel Investments co-CEOs John Rogers and Mellody Hobson said they were troubled by the looming departures of four Paramount board members and the companys lack of explanation for their exits. The pair also expressed concern about reports that Ellison would buy the Redstones stake at a premium and then merge his company into Paramount in a way that dilutes other investors.

In our view, it is unacceptable for one controlling shareholder to benefit at the expense of all others, they wrote.

--With assistance from Michelle F. Davis.

(Updates with share trading four paragraphs from the end. The spelling of an Ariel executives first name was corrected in an earlier version of this story.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
(Bloomberg) -- For attendees at payment processing company Stripe Inc.s annual conference this week, it was impossible to miss: A six-foot Renaissance-style Carrara marble statue of a nude man clutching an expired Stripe test credit card, displayed in an expo hall at San Franciscos Moscone Center.

Naturally, people snapped photos of it during lunch. Memes proliferated. And there were questions, such as whether John or Patrick Collison  Stripes co-founder brothers  had posed for the sculpture. (During an onstage question and answer session on Thursday, they said they were not the inspiration.)

In typical Silicon Valley style, the sculpture came from a startup. The creator, Monumental Labs, uses a robotic arm to mill blocks of stone into everything from a clients dog to the (literally and figuratively) cheeky guy at the conference.

Monumental Labs was founded in 2022 by Micah Springut, a tech entrepreneur and marble-carving hobbyist, in hopes of making it orders of magnitude faster and cheaper to produce stone sculptures with the aid of technology rather than carving them by hand. Its one of a handful of companies using a CNC  thats computer numerical control  robot to sculpt marble. The process currently involves programming all the detailed tool moves required to make a given sculpture, which is a time- and human-intensive process the company plans to eventually automate.

The Stripe statue was New York-based Monumental Labs first corporate customer, Springut said. It was such a hit in person and on social media, its triggered a deluge of interest for the company, prompting dozens and dozens of new inquiries, Springut said. I havent even counted them all.

The sculpture took Monumental Labs 10 days of milling with its robot, plus another two weeks of hand finishing completed by three hand-carving staffers. Springut wouldnt say how much Stripe paid for the piece, but he did say a life-sized sculpture can cost anywhere between $32,000 and hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on the type of stone used, the level of complexity of the piece and the desired finish.

He estimated that a similar piece would take two to four years to make by hand and would cost a minimum of $200,000 or perhaps millions. Its so hard to tell because it really doesnt happen anymore, Springut said.

The company closed an financing round of just under $1 million in November, the CEO said. Investors included Mythos Ventures, former Twitch CEO Emmett Shear and Gumroad CEO Sahil Lavingia.

Since its first commission last August  a bust of Abraham Lincoln, modeled on the bronze one by Augustus Saint-Gaudens  Monumental Labs has made dozens of sculptures, Springut said. The company is often asked to fabricate busts or life-sized sculptures of family members and replicas of Greek statues for a clientele including wealthy founders and investors.

So far, Springut said, nobody has commissioned a bust of themselves.

Many of the startups clients are artists looking to get a version of their own work in stone: Monumental Labs fabricated a sculpture for Alexander Reben, an artist known for using artificial intelligence tools who is currently OpenAIs first artist in residence. Rebens sculpture, based on an image generated by artificial intelligence, looks like a giant marble cluster of ears. The company also made a sculpture that looks like a Hermes Birkin bag at the request of artist Barbara Segal, a sculptor and stone carver herself, known for her stone creations that evoke luxury goods. (Segal did the finishing work herself, Springut said.)

Though Monumental Labs robotic carving process currently requires humans to guide it, the company is moving toward automating the work, Springut said, which could mean more sculptures, faster. One of the first steps the company will need to take: building a dataset made up of simulations of the many, many paths a robotic arm might take as it whittles away at a block of marble or limestone.

Currently, the startup offers busts starting at $6,000, life-sized figures starting at $32,000 and larger-than-life statues from $95,000. A sculpture of the family dog, Springut says, runs about $5,000 to $30,000  with higher prices for a particularly large or curly-haired canine.

--With assistance from Hannah Miller.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
In a rare feat at beauty pageants, a 60-year-old lawyer Alejandra Rodriguez created history by winning the Miss Universe Buenos Aires title in Argentina. Rodriguez was contesting the pageant with 34 other contestants aged between 18 to 73 years of age.

Belonging to a small town in Buenos Aires, La Plata, Rodriguez is a lawyer and journalist by profession.

According to a New York Post report, she chose journalism as her profession soon after completing school. However, later in life, she studied law to become a legal advisor for a hospital.

But the real "paradigm shift" happened when she, shattering the stereotypes of the beauty world, won the beauty pageant creating a moment of history.

Also read: Influencers go head-to-head in Miss AI Pageant for $20,000 prize: Know judges and criteria But why is Alejandra Rodriguez's win a historic achievement? For a very long time in the history of 'The Miss Universe' pageants, women only between the age of 18 and 28 were allowed to contest. However, according to a report of the Independent, the Miss Universe Organization in 2023 announced that from 2024, there would be no upper limit for age in these beauty contests. Anyone above the age of 18 were welcome to contest for the Miss Universe pageants.

Also read: Saudi Arabia's Rumy Alqahtani to make historic debut at Miss Universe 2024 pageant 'Not only physical beauty' After marking history, Rodriguez told the media that her win inaugurates a new stage of beauty pageants where women are "not only physical beauty but another set of values". She also said she is thrilled to be representing this "new paradigm in beauty pageants".

I am the first of this generation to start with this.

I think the judges saw my confidence and my passion to represent the women of my generation, she said.

Rodriguez said she is now preparing to represent Buenos Aires in the upcoming national selection for Miss Universe Argentina in May 2024.

I am determined to fight for the crown of Miss Universe Argentina 2024.

And for all of those who wonder how she manages to look youthful at 60, Rodriguez told the New York Post its because of her healthy lifestyle.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during the final day of his three-day visit to China, said that the US observed signs of Chinese attempts to influence and arguably interfere in the forthcoming US presidential elections, despite earlier assurances from Chinese President Xi Jinping to refrain from such actions, CNN reported.

In an interview with CNN on Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken shared his observations about Chinese attempts to influence the upcoming US elections. These comments came after he visited China, where he spent hours discussing various contentious topics with high-level Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping. Key issues addressed during his visit included US technology controls and Beijing's support for Moscow.

Blinken said he reiterated President Joe Biden's message, which he gave to Xi Jinping during their summit in San Francisco last November, to not interfere in the 2024 US presidential elections.

Following this, Xi pledged that China would not 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 said when asked whether China was violating Xi's commitment to Biden so far.

"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 added.

Blinken further noted that there were concerns about China and other countries playing on existing social divisions in the US in influence campaigns, as per the report.

Beijing has consistently stated that it does not interfere in US elections, citing its principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations. However, China, or entities believed to be connected with Beijing, has faced allegations of political interference in other countries, like Canada.

Despite its official stance, these allegations suggest that China's actions might not always align with its publicly stated principles.

Blinken's visit to China, his second in under a year, is part of a series of high-level engagements aimed at mending relations and building on the progress achieved during the Biden-Xi summit late last year. These recent interactions indicate a gradual expansion of previously strained bilateral communications between the two countries.

We are (now) focused on areas where we're working to cooperate, but also we're being very forthright about our differences and that's important if we're going to avoid the competition we're in turning into conflict, Blinken said.
Prominent Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was killed at an Arctic prison camp in February with many laying the blame squarely with Vladimir Putin. US intelligence however suggests that the Russian President did not order the death of the Opposition leader. The Russian government has also denied the allegations with Putin insisting recently that he had been ready to hand the jailed politician over to the West in a prisoner exchange.

World leaders including US President Joe Biden have held Putin responsible for Navalny's death  leading to a a new round of sanctions against the other country. US officials however believe that the timing of his demise wasnt intended by Putin.

A Wall Street Journal report quoting intelligence agencies suggests that the Russian leader did not directly order Navalny's death in February. It is pertinent to note here that the findings do not question his culpability in the Opposition leader's death. Putin had previously been accused of targeting Navalny on several occasions  including an assasination attempt in 2020. The publication quoted officials in the know to add that Putin probably didn't order it at that moment.

ALSO READ: Vladimir Putin has been fighting not just Ukraine, but his own people Several prominent Kremlin opponents have died, been jailed or even forced into exile in recent years. Navalny had been serving a 19-year prison sentence at the time of his death and seemed to be relatively healthy and in good spirits just a day earlier. He had reportedly been been the subject of high-level talks over a potential prisoner swap that could have freed him mere days before his demise.

The Russian prison service said that he had collapsed on February 16 after a walk at the isolated camp. It said that attempts to revive him failed.
(Bloomberg) -- When President Joe Biden returned to the White House after delivering his State of the Union address, 23-year-old TikTok influencer Awa Sanneh joined roaring cheers alongside administration staffers gathered on the mansions back porch.

Biden told the group how important social media content is to reach Gen-Z voters, recalled Sanneh, among dozens of creators invited for a watch party that night.

Just weeks later, Biden signed into law a bill that forces TikToks parent company, Beijing-based ByteDance Ltd., to sell its stake or face a ban in US app stores. That has rattled the social media creators his campaign has taken unprecedented steps to court.

Im pretty critical of him at this moment in time, said Sanneh, who has attended multiple administration briefings and has more than 510,000 followers. If you truly understood the impact, then you would want to keep TikTok.

Bidens embrace of the divest-or-ban bill exemplifies his efforts to contain what administration officials and lawmakers from both parties see as a growing national-security threat from China. Nonetheless, he continues to promote his political message on the platform.

None of the influencers who spoke to Bloomberg News said Biden had lost their vote. However, the new law is likely to turn off younger voters, who've propelled the app to mainstream relevance and are key to Democratic electoral wins. Many are already unenthusiastic about Bidens reelection.

Election after election, young people continue to show us they understand the stakes of this moment, and will vote like their futures depend on it  because they do, said Seth Schuster, a spokesperson for Bidens campaign.

Kenny Walden, who has 167,000 TikTok followers and has attended White House events, posted a video on the platform expressing confusion over Bidens decision to back the bill over privacy and data security concerns.@2rawtooreal2

My thoughts havent changed on the tiktok ban  original sound - 2RawTooReal

Im against it, Joe, said Walden, whose content focuses on encouraging people to vote for Biden. The president is silencing his frontline of defense, he added, referring to creators like him.

Opponents of the bill say it threatens freedom of speech and singles out the social-media platform over others collecting users data.

White House officials maintain their intention isnt to prohibit TikTok from operating, but to force the apps Chinese owner to divest. The 270-day deadline for ByteDance extends beyond November, allowing users to continue posting through the election.

This is about our national security. This is not concerns about Americans using Tiktok, said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Theres certainly time on the books to see how this plays out.

Earlier: TikTok Ban in US Looms as Biden Kicks Off 270-Day Countdown

ByteDance has made clear it has no intention of selling, and a protracted legal battle is likely. At the same time, Donald Trump is already using the prospect of a ban to court younger voters. In a social media post before the bill passed Congress, he blamed Biden for setting a ban in motion. That marked a reversal for Trump, who as president signed an order in 2020 banning the app that was later overturned in court.

Bidens team says its presence on the app is a vital part of a strategy to reach voters in as many arenas as possible. The apps reach is massive: More than 170 million Americans have accounts, the company says, and a third of adults under 30 get their news from it, according to the Pew Research Center.

Earlier: Bidens Campaign to Stay on TikTok Despite Divestment Law

In a first-of-its-kind push for a presidential administration, Bidens aides are in touch daily with social media influencers or their managers. Meanwhile, campaign officials are considering bringing creators into their headquarters, said a person familiar with the deliberations.

The campaigns partnerships with popular creators are all the more important since TikTok prohibits political advertising. Organizing multiple people to push positive content beats Bidens presence alone on the app, according to a person with knowledge of the strategy.

Never miss an episode. Follow the Big Take DC podcast on iHeart, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen. Read the transcript.

The Biden campaign launched a TikTok account during the Super Bowl in February. It has more than 300,000 followers, which pales in comparison to those of the most popular influencers. The campaign is taking at least one known security precaution: Staffers post on the app from one separate device.

Biden officials were already facing a daunting landscape on TikTok, even before he signed the divest-or-ban bill. Negative posts about the 81-year-old president proliferate on the platform, driven by frustration over his handling of the war in Gaza, his age and climate policies.

Its very anti-Biden, Kerry Robertson, a Minneapolis-based influencer who supports Biden, said of TikTok. It always has been.

Even though the algorithm isn't showing me any kind of pro-Biden content or anything like that, whenever I do those videos, I get a lot of Thank you for this,'' she added.

Earlier: Primaries Show Candidates Can Win on TikTok But Lose at the Polls

There is no clear evidence TikToks algorithm has a particular political bent, according to Neta Kligler-Vilenchik, a Hebrew University of Jerusalem associate communication professor. But since its notoriously opaque, it presents a problem for those seeking to understand its growing political influence, said Columbia University associate communications professor Ioana Literat.

Look what's happening on TikTok, Biden said recently at a fundraiser. Its so easy to just flat-out lie and not know whats true, so we got a lot at stake here.

Its difficult to measure the volume of positive or negative sentiment about Biden on TikTok because the company restricts certain data. Users are often siloed in different content universes, where their feeds reflect topics they interact with the most, experts say.

Bidens team is making the calculus that they can persuade disenchanted voters to consider supporting him, in part through online content.

Before Bidens Radio City Music Hall fundraiser in March, which featured comedian Stephen Colbert and former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, some TikTok creators joined a roundtable with campaign staffers about digital strategy, where Biden stopped by to speak with them, one influencer recapped in a video.@claaaarke

seeing biden, obama, clinton queen latifah in one day? high school clarke is screaming ????  Calm (Lofi) - Faneo sound

Finnegan Biden, Biden's granddaughter, also hosted a happy hour for creators at nearby Pebble Bar before the fundraiser.

Similar to the Radio City event, behind-the-scenes visits to the White House are great fodder for social media. 'Look at this  this napkin has the seal of the president on it,' Sanneh said in a video inside a White House bathroom that drew 2.1 million views.@_awasanneh

Dear Awa-Topia (the name is a work in progress- shush): your unwavering support has been the heartbeat of my journey. Your passion fuels my creativity, and your dedication lights up my darkest days. Thank you for being the foundation of this incredible life I get to live. Thank you for supporting this slightly off- putting, wierd, black girl from Texas. Gratitude flows from every corner of my heart to yours.  original sound - Awa

If TikTok goes away, so does a source of influencers revenue. Harry Sisson, a 21-year-old who has joined both official and campaign gatherings, is encouraging his 850,000 TikTok followers to watch videos on his YouTube channel, where he has been posting more because of the potential ban.

There are a lot of creators on TikTok who support them and have done a lot of work for the campaign and the president, Sisson said in an interview. Im overall disappointed.

--With assistance from Alex Barinka.

(Updates with details about opposition to bill in ninth paragraph)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Amid rising tensions in West Asia and fears of the ongoing conflict between the Israeli forces and Hamas spreading to Rafah, which is home to several refugee camps; Israel issued a stern warning, saying that it was giving the ongoing negotiations to secure a hostage deal a 'last chance' before launching a ground offensive in the 'land port' between Gaza and Egypt, the Times of Israel reported.

Discussions between Israeli officials and a high-level Egyptian delegation about the country's feared and anticipated offensive in Rafah and efforts to reach a hostage agreement with Hamas came to an end on Friday.

Israel warned that this was the "last chance" for a truce agreement before Israel launched its long-planned assault, according to the Jewish daily.

The negotiations were "very good, focused, held in good spirits and progressed in all parameters," a senior Israeli official said, the Times of Israel reported.

Israel-based Ynet News quoted an official, who was a part of the discussions with the Egyptian delegation, as saying that "in the background, there are very serious intentions from Israel to move ahead in Rafah", and the Egyptians appeared to be prepared to exert pressure on Hamas to reach a settlement.

The Egyptian delegation is currently in Israel, trying to move forward with long-stalled talks to free hostages and establish a ceasefire in Gaza, as per CNN.

Egypt is worried about the ramifications of a full-scale Israeli offensive in Rafah, near its border, where, in recent months, about a million Palestinians have fled and sought sanctuary.

Disagreements over fundamental objectives have prevented Hamas and Israel from coming to an agreement, even after months of negotiations facilitated by Qatar and Egypt, according to the report.

Earlier, on March 15, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he had approved the military's plan for an operation in Rafah, where most of Gaza's population, fleeing the ongoing conflict, has sought refuge.

"Victory [over Hamas] requires entering Rafah and eliminating the terrorist battalions there. This will happen. There is a date," Netanyahu said in a video statement, later, while not revealing the timing of the planned operation.

The intention to carry out a significant offensive in Rafah has run into strong international resistance, especially from the US. A recent video conference between American and Israeli officials to ward off the possibility of an IDF ground operation in Rafah was reportedly characterised by strained relations and allegations.

Washington voiced doubts over Israel's intentions to conduct operations in the southernmost city of Gaza, according to The Times of Israel.

Netanyahu stated that there could be no victory without an operation in the city.
Ayesha Rashan, a 19-year-old from Pakistan's Karachi underwent a successful heart transplant surgery at Chennai's MGM Healthcare in late January this year.

As per a report by the Times of India, Rashan said, I can breathe easy now.

Rashan, who had suffered a cardiac arrest in 2019 and experienced health issues for months, travelled to India for medical treatment. Senior cardiac surgeon Dr. K R Balakrishnan, who was at Malar Hospital in Adyar, advised that a heart transplant was necessary. Rashan was then placed on Tamil Nadus organ transplant registry while waiting for a suitable donor.

According to doctors, the cost of a heart transplant can be as high as 35 lakh.

To bridge the gap until her heart transplant, doctors fitted Ayesha Rashan with a left ventricular assist device, a surgically implanted mechanical pump that supports the left ventricle in pumping blood. After the procedure, she returned to her home country. However, in 2023, the right side of her heart failed, and she developed an infection, TOI reported.

It was terrible to see my daughter suffer like that. We reached out to the surgeon. We told him we couldn't afford surgery, but he asked us to come to India, said her mother, Sanober Rashan to TOI.
(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.

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.

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. 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.

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 details on executives role starting in sixth paragraph.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Xem them

...

Tin bai cuoi cung

Khong con du lieu e load
(Bloomberg) -- Ukraine sustained a heavy Russian missile barrage overnight aimed at gas infrastructure and other targets, while striking back a Russian oil refinery with drones.

Moscow reported a Ukrainian drone attack on the Slavyansk oil refinery in the Krasnodar region, the first such strike since early this month.

The state-run news agency Tass said the strike caused a fire, which partially suspended refinery operations. The plant was hit by 10 drones, Tass said, citing the refinerys representative. Russias defense ministry said 66 drones were intercepted and downed over the Krasnodar region.

UAVs from the Security Service of Ukraine targeted the Kushchevsk military airfield and the Slavyansk and Ilsky refineries in the Krasnodar region, according to a person with knowledge of the operation who wasnt authorized to speak publicly. Russian officials and media havent referred to the Ilsky facility.

The Slavyansk refinery is capable of processing 4 million tons of oil a year and is one of the closest facilities to war zone in eastern Ukraine. It was previously hit by drones in March along with many other large Russian refineries. Some of the affected facilities are still processing less than before the attacks.

US warned Ukraine that attacks on Russian oil refineries were impacting global energy markets and urged Kyiv to focus on military targets. The most recent drone attack on a Russian oil refinery happened on April 2.

Meanwhile, in Ukraine, some 21 Russian missiles of various types were intercepted overnight out of 34 fired, the Ukrainian air force said on Telegram. Polands army scrambled jets twice when Russian missiles flew close to its border.

Russias defense ministry said in a statement that recent strikes, including the overnight barrage, had targeted energy and defense facilities and railway infrastructure in response to Kyivs attempts to damage Russian energy and industrial facilities.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy renewed his call for additional air-defense systems from Ukraines allies.

The world has all the resources to assist us in intercepting every missile and drone, Zelenskiy said on X, formerly Twitter. All that is required is for the necessary political decisions and agreements to be implemented.

Read more: Russian Forces Advance as Ukraine Awaits Fresh US Weapons

Targets fired at by Kremlin troops included energy facilities in the Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk regions in the west, and the Dnipropetrovsk region in central Ukraine, the national grid operator Ukrenergo said in statement on Facebook.

State-run Naftogaz said gas infrastructure facilities came under attack but that service to clients and to Ukrainian consumers werent interrupted.

Hits on power plants in Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro, Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk put thousands of Ukrainians in the dark, Bridget Brink, the US ambassador to Ukraine, said on X. Other cities were hit as well, including damage to a Kharkiv hospital.

Separately, Der Spiegel magazine reported that Ukraine has asked Germany for an additional 812 Vector surveillance drones, on top of the 212 the government in Berlin has already provided.

The vertical take-off and landing drones are manufactured by Quantum-Systems GmbH, a Munich-based company that opened a second facility in Ukraine this month at a ceremony attended by Germany Economy Minister Robert Habeck.

--With assistance from Iain Rogers.

(Updates with Russian defense ministry in 8th paragraph.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
BEIJINGSecretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Friday as the U.S. urged Beijing to cut back on his nations extensive support for Russias defense industry.

The tone of Washingtons relations with Beijing has improved markedly since a Chinese balloon drifted over the U.S. in early 2023, prompting American allegations about Chinese espionage.

A November summit meeting in California between Xi and President Biden led to the resumption of bilateral military-to-military contacts, fresh efforts to curb the role that Chinese companies play in the global trade in fentanyl and discussions on the risks of artificial intelligence.

But as Blinken engaged in hours of meetings in Beijing on Friday with Xi and other top Chinese officials, there were an array of thorny security and economic issues, including Chinas help in Russias push to revive its arms industry, Chinas military posture in the South China Sea and differences over Taiwan.

U.S. officials say that China has provided Moscow with optics, microelectronics, drone engines and other materials that, while not lethal weaponry, have nonetheless strengthened Russias military industry at a critical stage in the conflict with Ukraine.

In 2023, 90% of Russias microelectronics imports, important for the production of missiles, tanks and aircraft, came from China, U.S. officials say. Beijing, U.S. officials add, has also helped Russia improve its satellite capabilities for use in the war in Ukraine.

Raising the stakes, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that he is planning to go to China in May. That visit will mark Putins first foreign trip since his re-election in March and underscores the priority that the Kremlin places on further expanding its security and economic ties with Beijing.

China has heeded Western calls not to provide arms to Russia, but a brisk trade between the two neighbors in so-called dual-use goods, which have military and nonmilitary applications, has boosted Moscows efforts to rebuild its military industry, which has been constrained by Western sanctions.

President Biden complained about dual-use exports in a call with Xi earlier this month. U.S. officials, meanwhile, have encouraged European nations, which have extensive trade ties with China, to press Beijing on the matter as well.

The Wall Street Journal reported this week that U.S. officials were drafting sanctions that would cut off some Chinese banks from the global financial system if Beijing rebuffed its demands.

Chinese officials have repeatedly complained that the U.S. is seeking to hamper its economic development by limiting its access to advanced chips and going after some of its leading technology companies, such as TikTok owner Bytedance, while selling weapons to Taiwan.

Overall, the China-U.S. relationship is beginning to stabilize," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at the start of his meeting Friday with Blinken. But at the same time, the negative factors in the relationship are still increasing and buildingChinas legitimate development rights have been unreasonably suppressed and our core interests are facing challenges."

Ukraine isnt the only instance in which the U.S. has accused China of protecting Moscows interests. Earlier this week, the U.S. and Japan put forward a United Nations Security Council resolution to try to head off the deployment of a nuclear-armed antisatellite weapon that U.S. officials have accused Russia of developing. That measure reaffirmed the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which bans putting weapons of mass destruction in orbit.

The U.S. criticized China for abstaining on the resolution, which Russia vetoed.

Despite our multiple attempts to forge consensus, China has shown that it would rather defend Russia as its junior partner," Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., said Wednesday.

One area in which incremental progress was expected is counternarcotics. Curbing the global trade in fentanyl, which is the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 49, is a high priority for Biden during this presidential election year.

In the months since Xi and Biden met in California and agreed to restart joint efforts to combat the drug trade, the two countries have convened a series of high-level meetings on the matter, including exploring ways to coordinate law enforcement activities.

We appreciate the work thats been done in the time since then to build that cooperation," Blinken told Chinas Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong during a separate meeting on Friday. There is more that needs to be done to have a sustained impact."

The biggest sticking point is the role of Chinese companies in the production of chemicals used to make fentanyl and other drugs. For years, such chemicals, known as precursors, have been openly sold over the internet, creating a marketplace for drug cartels to connect with their suppliers.

China has been slow to impose limits on such chemicals, a source of frustration for U.S. officials. In March 2022, for example, the U.N. Commission on Narcotic Drugs added three such precursors to a list of internationally scheduled chemicals. Member states were then required to implement corresponding rules at the national level.

Two years later, China still hasnt scheduled the chemicals. China said last year it was in the process" of scheduling three new precursors, but hasnt said when it would be finished.

Write to Michael R. Gordon at michael.gordon@wsj.com and Brian Spegele at Brian.Spegele@wsj.com
All seven Lok Sabha (Parliament) seats in Delhi are set to be contested on May 25, during the sixth phase of the election.

However, voter turnout is expected to be lower than usual, as the voting day coincides with a long weekend. This timing could impact the number of people who turn out to cast their votes.

As reported by Hindustan Times citing senior officials national capital goes to polls on a Saturday has raised "concerns".

Given that May 23 (Thursday) is a gazetted holiday for Buddha Purnima and May 26 is a Sunday, officials are concerned that many people might take May 24 (Friday) off to create an extended long weekend. This could lead to a drop in voter turnout as residents may choose to travel out of town.

Moreover, Delhi's chief electoral officer has declared a paid holiday in the national capital on May 25. According to the order, all eligible employees -- public or private -- who are voters in Delhi are entitled to a paid holiday to exercise their democratic right to vote on the polling day.

It is one of the reasons why we have increased our voter awareness campaigns and are trying to reach out to every possible group. We have reached out to market associations to offer discounts to people who vote and we are also planning a democracy discount at restaurants for polling day, the Delhi election commission official told Hindustan Times on the condition of anonymity.

The severe heatwave and ongoing summer vacation could also lower voter turnout.

Earlier on Friday, the Silicon Valley of India observed the situation, as almost half of Bengaluru's eligible voters did not show up to cast their votes during the Lok Sabha elections 2024, PTI reported. Across Karnataka's 14 constituencies, the Election Commission reported an estimated voter turnout of 69.23 per cent. According to poll officials, thescorching summer heat is said to be one reason people do not turn up at polling booths in the city.

However, the national capital has a history of low voter turnout, often attributed to urban apathy. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the total voter turnout in Delhi was 65.1%, which declined to 60.5% in 2019. The most affluent areas consistently record the lowest voter turnout rates, especially in the New Delhi and South Delhi constituencies.
Congress will hold a meeting of its Central Election Committee (CEC) today to discuss candidates for highly anticipated seats in Uttar Pradesh  Rae Bareli and Amethi.

Leaders of the Uttar Pradesh Congress and the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in charge of UP, Avinash Pandey, have also been called for a meeting today, sources said.

There is a strong buzz that Rahul Gandhi, who contested from Wayanad, will also contest from Amethi seat. Rahul lost the Amethi seat to Union Minister Smriti Irani in 2019. Irani is Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Amethi in the ongoing election too.

Rahul's sister Priyanka Gandhi is also rumored to contest from Rae Bareli, the seat held by her mother Sonia Gandhi. If fielded, Priyanka will be contesting Lok Sabha election for the first time.

Both Amethi and Rae Bareli go to polls in fifth phase on May 20. The Congress has so far fielded 317 candidates across the country.

Rae Bareli has been a Congress bastion since 1960 with both Feroze Gandhi and Indira Gandhi having represented it. Sonia Gandhi has been the MP from the constituency since she won the 2006 by-poll.
A large number of Sikhs, including members of the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee, joined the BJP on Saturday.

Citing a host of measures taken by the government to help the minority community, BJP president J P Nadda on the occasion said if anybody has really worked for the community, it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It is a matter of pride and happiness for us that people of the Sikh community have joined the BJP. BJP is the only party through which we can advance the unity, integrity, and security of the country, Nadda added.

Nadda also cited central government decisions such as the opening of the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, and the FCRA registration for donations to the Golden Temple.

Nadda said, We all have seen the way humanity and humanness were strangled in 1984. PM Modi ji formed SIT on the 1984 riots and today the culprits of those riots are in jail.

He said the BJP highly regarded the contribution and sacrifices of the community for the country and will keep working for its welfare.

The BJP has been in an overdrive to deepen its bond with Sikhs and is looking to put up a strong fight in the Lok Sabha polls in Punjab, where they are in a majority. Some well-known Sikh politicians from the state have joined the party recently.
PHILADELPHIAWithin the first few hours after ChatGPT was released in November 2022, University of Pennsylvania business school professor Ethan Mollick began furiously texting with a colleague about it. He had been obsessed with the technology before, but that night, it became clear it would change everything.

A lifelong eager and early adopter, Mollick immersed himself in the technology. On social media, he shared discoveries made while experimenting with ChatGPT, including findings from his M.B.A. students at Wharton, who use it in his classes. His embrace of large-language models has been so early, and so deep, that he has become a go-to AI expert for policymakers and corporate leaders alike.

Mollick doesnt charge for what amounts to behind-the-scenes consulting work for companies, but he is on Zoom or a plane two to four times a week, meeting with their leaders. He has talked to groups of workers and executives at Google, Meta Platforms, OpenAI and Anthropic. Hes also spoken to leaders at big banks like JP Morgan, a slew of private-equity firms, and the White House.

There is not a single large-scale general purpose technology that does not have upsides and downsides, and part of my message has been that we have agency right now, to call certain things out as being bad," says Mollick, perched on the edge of his seat, his gaze unwavering. And we need to be doing that."

Mollick is a motormouthed, appropriately disheveled academic. His preparation for the photographer meeting us was an $18 haircut at Supercuts. He grew up in Milwaukee and is decidedly not cut from the cloth of Silicon Valley, insisting that he has little in common with people who take cold plunges and want to live forever."

To listen to him speak is like zooming in on a never-ending fractalhis digressions have digressions, everything is three layers deeper than expected, the parts echo the whole and yet, one must agree, are critical to understanding the bigger picture. At some point, 10 or 15 minutes after heading off on a tangent, he will loop back to the original question, recall it with perfect clarity, and continue galloping down the main course of discussion.

I talk this fast even without coffee," says Mollick, taking a sip as we settle ourselves into wingback chairs in a cavernous lounge on the top floor of Huntsman Hall, on Penns campus in Philadelphia, where he teaches courses on entrepreneurship.

Mollick begins spilling ideas immediately, coruscating waves of them, one after another. Microsofts new co-pilot AI is dangerous," he says at one point, because it automates middle management in the worst possible way." Popping open his laptop, he shows off the video-analysis powers of Googles Gemini AI, and explains how similar technology will allow employers a level of surveillance and control over white collar employees that has previously been the lot of blue collar workers at places like Amazon.

Then he shows me what hes built with his early access to Devin, an AI unlike any other commercially available today. Devin is an AI software engineer" with access to the internet, and the ability to use it just like a person would. Whereas todays AIs merely give advice, Devin takes action.

At one point in his experimentation, Mollick instructed Devin to figure out how to create an account on Reddit, then offer to answer coding questions. Not only did the AI manage this feat, but it also spontaneously began demanding $50 to $100 an hour for its work, and writing back to real humans. He took it down before it could fool anyone, but what it says about the future is clear. Soon enough, AIs will be navigating the internet, and eventually our world, with as much autonomy as were willing to give them.

Mollick is generally upbeat about the future of AIa self-described rational optimist." Hes insistent that now is the time for people in every field to engage deeply with it, while they still have the power to shape a nascent general-purpose technology that will someday affect every aspect of our society.

Hes an authority on how AI can be applied to education, but insistent that every field needs people like him, figuring out how AI will be used in ways peculiar to that area.

Minds at play

He doesnt sleep much," says Lilach Mollick, Ethans wife and frequent collaborator. The two have worked together for seven years, partners in research as well as in raising their two children, now teenagers.

Their collaboration began when Lilach quit her string of human-resources jobs at tech startups to become the director of pedagogy at Wharton Interactive, a group that builds games and simulations for use in courses. Their work includes a variety of digital teaching aides, including a six-week computer simulation that walks students through the process of launching a startup.

These days, Ethan will work until 3 a.m.late at night hes super productive," says Lilach. She picks up their collaboration when she rises, at around 5 a.m. On her laptop, shes greeted by a string of Slack messages from Ethan, elaborating on what hes been up to while she was asleep. Its great, because I just know that something interesting in the morning will pop up," she adds.

The two also share a Microsoft Teams account so that they can both work with all the custom AIs theyve created.

I feel like this moment was tailor-made for them," says Claudine Gartenberg, who teaches management at Wharton, becauseIll just say ittheyre nerdy social scientists."

The first time Gartenberg went to their house, Ethan showed her a large, two-dimensional array of LED lights on the wall, and asked her what she thought it was. She had no idea. It turned out to be a live map of the locations of trains on the New York City subway system, updated with data pulled from the MTAs public feed. Their house is filled with all these really bizarre, cool, fun toys," adds Gartenberg.

The unintentional power broker

That manic curiosity and inventiveness, channeled into building things, has been a theme throughout Mollicks long career in and around tech. His first startup, eMeta, launched in 1998 and helped pioneer the paywall. He went on to pursue a Ph.D. at MIT, and in the early 2000s advised AOL on AI at a time when the subject of AI was unpopular even in academia. He also helped Darpa, the advanced research division of the U.S. Department of Defense, adapt first-person shooter games into simulations to help troops prepare for ambushes.

In 2003, he saw the movie Terminator 3" with Marvin Minsky, who founded MITs AI laboratory. After, he quipped to the living legend, I guess you didnt succeed, because no ones come back in time to kill you."

In his time at Wharton, Mollick has focused on how to democratize the kind of education that youd normally have to go to Wharton to receive, by creating teaching materials and simulations that can be distributed on the internetand also at least one tabletop board game.

Long before the debut of ChatGPT, he was tweeting papers and other interesting findings from the broad array of fields his work as an economic sociologist touches on. His newsletter on AI now has more than 140,000 subscribers. He talks to the media a lot.

Lilach, whom Ethan credits as the greatest prompt writer ever," regularly creates elaborate scripts, or prompts, for AIs that the pair share with the companies building themespecially when those prompts dont yield the results they would like.

Big banks like JP Morgan, and a slew of private-equity firms, were among the first to come calling for Mollicks expertise. A handful of major law firms have also requested his help, as generative AI is quickly and profoundly disrupting things like legal discovery.

Before the White House issued its far-reaching executive order on AI, the Presidents Intelligence Advisory Board reached out to ask, basically: what is AI? As a thank-you, Mollick was given Biden signature Hersheys Kisses.

Later, as we walk across campus, we stop at a building belonging to the University of Pennsylvanias school of engineering. Just inside the entrance towers a steampunk monument to the genesis of AIa portion of the ENIAC, the worlds first computer.

Under the dark glower of the machines endless rows of dials and vacuum tubes, I recalled something from earlier in our conversation. Id asked Mollick why a sociologist on the wrong coast became the AI whisperer to those most responsible for building, using, and defining the future of AI.

I dont know," he said, giggling, I guess thats what youre here to find out?"

The answer, I realized, is simple: Every once in a while a surprising new technology comes along, and there are those who, quite unintentionally, happen to have spent their whole lives preparing for it.

Write to Christopher Mims at christopher.mims@wsj.com
The worlds biggest technology companies had a similar message to investors this past week: We need to spend billions of dollars every quarter to develop our artificial-intelligence products.

Those huge spending plans got mixed reactions.

Shares of Microsoft and Google parent Alphabet jumped after the companies suggested the spending was to meet growing demand for their AI products.

That is partially why you see the capital investment in the shape it is," Microsoft financial chief Amy Hood said on the companys earnings call Thursday, because right this minute, we do have demand that exceeds our supply by a bit."

Meta Platforms, meanwhile, saw its stock have its worst day in 18 months after the company raised its capital-expenditure projections for 2024 by as much as $10 billion to cover the costs of building out its AI. Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg warned of years of aggressive spending before seeing a substantial return.

I also expect to see a multiyear investment cycle before we fully scale Meta AI, business AIs, and more, into the profitable services," Zuckerberg said Wednesday.

The different reactions show how investors, one year into the AI boom, are becoming more discerning in how they interpret company spending and want to see a path to profit, said Rishi Jaluria, an analyst with RBC Capital.

There is more scrutiny placed on what a companys AI strategy is," he said. If you dont have a strategy and are spending a lot, then there is going to be concern."

Tech companies are in the midst of an infrastructure build-out not seen since the dot-com days in an expensive race to create products and services that use artificial intelligence. Building to accommodate AI is costly because the new technology requires a lot more computing power, energy and pricey chips.

Microsoft said it is on a path to spend $14 billion a quarter on equipment and property in the midst of its AI buildout, a number that it projected would increase in subsequent quarters. The company also pointed to evidence of some early returns on its investment.

The company said 7 percentage points of the quarterly revenue growth in its Azure cloud computing business came from the use of its AI services. Much of that was likely from the use of OpenAIs products, such as ChatGPT, which is hosted exclusively on Azure. Microsoft also charges for its AI-infused Copilot assistants, including its coding assistant, GitHub Copilot, which the company disclosed has 1.8 million users.

As Hood detailed the companys spending plans, Microsoft shares rose as much as 5% in after-hours trading.

Hood said Microsoft will spend in sync with emerging demand movements. These expenditures over the course of the next year are dependent on demand signals and adoption of our services," she said.

AI is also changing Alphabets cloud, search, YouTube and other services, said Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat. She said the companys capital expenditure of $12 billion in the first quarter was likely to stay at or above that level.

The significant year-over-year growth in capex in recent quarters reflects our confidence in the opportunities offered by AI across our business," Porat said.

Chief Executive Sundar Pichai said he was encouraged by the increase in search usage by people deploying AI tools but offered few details on how the technology is helping the companys financials.

A day after Alphabets earnings report, the companys stock closed at a record high.

Metas message fell flat, as its shares dropped 11% the day after announcing its escalation in spending.

Meta has invested heavily in building a family of large language models. The latest one, Llama 3, was released earlier this month and the company said it performs nearly as well as OpenAIs most advanced tech. But Meta is releasing Llama 3 for free as open-source software. Until the company decides to charge for it, there is nothing to offset the enormous costs of building and running it.

Weve historically seen a lot of volatility in our stock during this phase of our product playbook, where were investing and scaling a new product but arent yet monetizing it," Zuckerberg said, pointing to the companys past investments to develop Reels, Stories and its mobile offering.

Historically, investing to build these new scaled experiences in our apps has been a very good long-term investment for us and for investors who have stuck with us," Zuckerberg said.

Meta is coming off its year of efficiency, in which the company has been cutting costs. Those cuts were made to help pay for its previous bet on the metaverse and led to the companys valuation tripling in 2023. The metaverse has yet to do much for Meta, other than persuade it to change its name, so there is a lot of skepticism if the company can capitalize on this next thing, said RBCs Jaluria.

People get nervous with them and capex," he said.

Historically, Wall Street has been cautious about overheated infrastructure spending in the face of promised future profit. Some observers are comparing the current AI investment cycle to telecom companies exuberant overbuilding of fiber-optic networks more than 20 years ago.

The dot-com boom of the 1990s led to speculation that soaring internet use would require enormous amounts of fiber-optic cables to carry the traffic. Companies such as Tyco International spent billions of dollars laying such cables that ultimately werent needed.

The cost of that overbuilding, plus the dropping price of broadband from oversupply, forced companies such as AboveNet, XO Communications and Global Crossing to seek bankruptcy-court protection. The low prices and excess capacity dogged the telecom industry for more than a decade.

Unlike many companies in the dot-com era, the megacaps behind the current build-out of cloud infrastructure are already profitable," said Lei Qiu, a portfolio manager at AllianceBernstein, in a recent report. Todays profitable AI stalwarts are spending on cloud infrastructure primarily to improve efficiency."

Microsoft and Alphabet said much of the extra AI spending is being offset by cuts in other parts of their companies. They said their profit margins would be only slightly affected thanks to cost management they have done in other parts of the business.

We are very cognizant of the increasing headwind we have from higher depreciation and expenses associated with the higher Capex," Alphabets Porat said.

Write to Tom Dotan at tom.dotan@wsj.com
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai reflected on his 20-year journey at Google on Friday, saying that while a lot has changed since he joined the company as a product manager in 2004, he still gets the same thrill from working at the Mountain View, California-based company.

Sharing his experience in a post on Instagram, Pichai wrote, April 26, 2004 was my first day at Google. A lot has changed since then - technology, the number of people who use our products  my hair. What hasnt changed - the thrill I get from working at this amazing company. 20 years in, Im still feeling lucky."

Sundar Pichai's journey at Google:

As mentioned earlier, 31-year-old Sundar Pichai joined Google in 2004 as a product manager. In the years that followed, the Indian-born executive was involved in a number of key projects for the company, including the development of Google Chrome, Android, Google+, Maps, Search and Ads. He quickly rose to become a close confidant of Google co-founder and then CEO Larry Page, and his talent was rewarded with the position of Google CEO in 2015

In a memo announcing Sundar Pichai's promotion at the time, Larry Page wrote, "Sundar has a tremendous ability to see what's ahead and mobilize teams around the super important stuff. We very much see eye-to-eye when it comes to product, which makes him the perfect fit for this role

Later on, Alphabet CEO Larry Page and President Sergey Bin announced that they are stepping away from the company and Pichai was formally announced as the CEO of Alphabet. In a letter announcing his promotion, Sergey and Brin wrote that Alphabet and Google no longer need two CEOs and a President."

He (Sundar Pichai) will be the executive responsible and accountable for leading Google, and managing Alphabets investment in our portfolio of Other Bets" the duo added.

Sundar Pichai seems to be well compensated for his role as Alphabet and Google CEO earning around $226 million in the year 2022, according to a regulatory filing from last year.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

3.6 Crore Indians visited in a single day choosing us as India's undisputed platform for General Election Results. Explore the latest updates here!
Astrophysicist John Bahcall was one of the founding fathers for the Hubble mission. He tirelessly pushed lawmakers for funding and support, while simultaneously contributing to the scientific design of the project.

Credit : NASAhubble/Instagram
The developers who had been selected to purchase the vacant Idaho Transportation Department campus sued the state over the Legislatures move to unwind the sale through the agencys budget bill.

Attorneys on behalf of Hawkins Companies, the Pacific Companies and FJ Management filed a lawsuit with the State Supreme Court on Thursday arguing that the contentious ITD budget bill and the Department of Administration budgets were unconstitutional because of intent language included that tanked a planned sale of the old ITD headquarters.

The lawsuit argues the bills violate the state constitutional requirement that legislation address only a single subject.

The court documents allege that certain lawmakers sought to kill the sale through the budget bills, which are not supposed to include policy changes. It argues that the agency correctly adhered to the process outlined in Idahos laws for selling surplus property.

Of course, the Idaho Legislature is in the position of authorizing all appropriations and controls agency spending.  This does not, however, mean that the Idaho Legislature may use an appropriations bill to perform a shadow amendment of general law, Clark Wardle LLP partner, and Attorney T. Hethe Clark wrote in the court filing. Instead, all appropriations bills must be consistent with  and cannot amend  general law.

The ITD and administration budgets were the subject of much debate and contention in the final days of the 2024 legislative session, with several lawmakers disagreeing over whether it was appropriate to change course on the planned sale using a budget bill.

House Speaker Mike Moyle had been vocal about his opposition to the sale of the 44-acre campus. Senate President Pro Tem Chuck Winder, who is a former transportation board member, had supported the agencys decision to surplus the property and strongly opposed the effort to disrupt the process.

Those who supported it said that the intent language was meant to ensure the state was better utilizing its funds and assets.

The first version of the $592 million ITD budget passed the House by a single vote and then died in the Senate; all of the opposition was to the included intent language, which said, the authority of the Department of Administration dispose of the state administrative facility and property at 3311 W State Street, Boise, Idaho 83703 is revoked.




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)
MOSCOW  A roundabout for a busy Lewiston intersection and a new computer device for a Colfax hospital were among the innovations presented Friday by University of Idaho engineering students.

UI seniors showed off their capstone projects to the public during UIs annual Engineering Design EXPO at the ICCU Arena.

The solutions they came up with tackled problems far and wide, but some groups addressed issues close to home.

One group was tasked with redesigning the busy Thain Road and 10th Street intersection in Lewiston to reduce car crashes.

Sandra Faulkner joined Wolfgang Beier, Tim Reed and Ethan Von Bargen on the project. Faulkner said this intersection saw a jump in traffic and collisions since the new Lewiston High School was built just northeast of there.

Their goal was to improve overall safety and efficiency. They worked with engineering firm Kittelson & Associates, who are developing solutions for the intersection, Faulkner said.

The students decided that adding roundabouts to that intersection, instead of a traffic signal, would help control the speed of vehicles and reduce the frequency of crashes.

Faulkner said the city of Lewiston is looking to incrementally redesign the Thain corridor during the next 20 years as funding becomes available.

I wouldnt be surprised to see something relatively similar to this in the next 10 years or so, she said.
Aug. 31, 1937  April 23, 2024



Richard Dick Oie passed away peacefully Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Helena, Mont., at the age of 86.

He was born on Aug. 31, 1937, in Granite Falls, Minn., to Adella and Olaf Oie. His childhood family moved around southern Minnesota several times before settling in Echo, Minn., where Dick graduated from Echo High School in 1955. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, which gave him the opportunity to see parts of Europe and to learn the trade of medical technician that served as his lifelong career.

Dick was honorably discharged from the Army in 1958, and from then until 1977, he worked in Minnesota as a lab technician at hospitals in the towns of Crookston, Aiken and finally Bigfork, where he spent 10 years working at Itasca County Hospital. After passing the Minnesota licensing exam to become a Registered Medical Technologist in 1971, he was promoted to Laboratory/X-ray Supervisor at the hospital in Bigfork.

He met his wife, Ruth Lindner, while working with her in Crookston, Minn., and they were married on June 5, 1965. They had three children: Lei, Rick and Katrina. The family lived in Bigfork on 20 acres of land nestled between Mike Lake and Horseshoe Lake until 1977 when Dick accepted a position as Laboratory Supervisor at Syringa Hospital in Grangeville. He remained at the hospital in Grangeville until he retired in 2001 after a more than 40 year career working as a medical technologist.

Dick and Ruth lived in Grangeville until 2016. There, they owned a business together, The Book Shoppe, from 1980 to 2012. He did all the bookkeeping for the business and was the chauffeur when they traveled to book events and gift-buying shows over the years.
Taking over?

I am sorry I missed the appearance of Christ Church leaders in Moscow on April 11, and not because I would have held a sign reading Christ Church isnt welcome here, as at least one audience member did. I would not have.

Reporter Anthony Kuiperss account of the event did raise some troubling questions to me, however.

First, I appreciate Pastor Doug Wilsons assurance that the church seeks no hostile takeover of the community, but intends to gain influence through persuasion, evangelism and being good neighbors. That accurately describes my own neighbors who are members of his or affiliated congregations.

But heres the rub: Were those parishioners who joined Mr. Wilson in flouting the citys mask ordinance during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic for a downtown Psalm sing and a later descent on Tri-State  causing the store to close and lose business for some time  being good neighbors? The ordinance was elected city leaders attempt to protect public health according to the best scientific advice at the time, with the support, I believe, of most community members.

Its one thing to disagree with such an attempt. Its another to flagrantly violate it.

Perhaps Mr. Wilsons actions stemmed from his belief, as stated at the April 11 event, that nonbelievers cannot produce an ethical system that is binding on anyone else. Theres a word for government that relies solely on religious dictates for its binding ethical systems. The word is theocracy.

And to me, thats not welcome here.

Jim Fisher
A Billings man is slated to appear in court next week on allegations of shooting a man dead.

Michael Paul Sims, 53, has been charged in Yellowstone County District Court with one count of deliberate homicide. Prosecutors are accusing Sims of killing 58-year-old Randall Robert Livingston, whose body was found in the cab of a pickup truck late Monday night.

Livingstons death is one of five homicides investigated in and around Billings so far this year, and the second to occur in the past week.

Mondays shooting followed an argument at a local bar, according to charging documents.

Sims and Livingston were allegedly at the 1145 Club on Broadwater Avenue Monday night. Sims was one of several people in the bar who separated Livingston and a woman, court documents said. Surveillance footage later recovered by the Billings Police Department showed Sims and Livingston then exchanging words in the bars parking lot around 10 p.m., just 15 minutes before officers were dispatched to the shooting.

Security footage allegedly recorded both men getting into their own pickup trucks, with Sims driving his Dodge Ram over to Livingstons Chevy Avalanche. They remained next to each other for about three minutes until the Avalanche drove north onto 12th Street West, court documents said, and the Ram followed at a high rate of speed.

Cameras posted at the U.S. Army Reserve Center on 15th Street West captured the moment Livingston was shot. In the seconds prior, he was in the Avalanche headed south on 15th Street West. When his truck came to a stop, the Ram allegedly pulled up along its drivers side. About a minute later, the Ram drove away, according to court documents.

Livingston turned the Avalanche north and made it as far as Wyoming Avenue before the truck stopped. Another driver called police when they saw he was injured. Emergency crews pronounced him dead at the scene. Livingston died of a single gunshot wound, the Gazette previously reported.

On Tuesday, BPD detectives spoke with Sims, who denied shooting Livingston. Sims allegedly told law enforcement he did follow Livingston in his truck after the two had gotten into an argument, but stopped once theyd reached Yellowstone Avenue and 14th Street West. Sims said that as he broke away, he saw a black Ford Mustang start to chase Livingstons truck, according to charging documents. Security footage, along with cellphone data recovered by detectives, allegedly disputed Simss account of that night.

Police arrested Sims as a suspect in the homicide the following day. He is scheduled to make his initial appearance in court on Monday. If convicted of deliberate homicide, he could be sentenced to life in prison.

This past Thursday, BPD confirmed a second homicide in the city, the result of a stabbing days prior. Police have arrested a teenage suspect connected to the death of 17-year-old Bryten Olson. Bryten was stabbed at a home on Monroe Street on April 20, and remained on life support for the next five days.
Police arrested about 100 people at Northeastern University Saturday morning as they broke up a pro-Palestinian protest encampment that formed earlier this week, according to the university and state police.

Students who produced a valid Northeastern ID after being detained were released by police, Renata Nyul, vice president of communications for the university, said in a statement. They will face disciplinary consequences through the university. Those who refused to disclose their affiliation were arrested, Nyul said.

A Massachusetts State Police spokesperson confirmed Saturday morning that about 102 protesters who refused to comply with orders to disperse were arrested and will be charged by NUPD with trespassing and disorderly conduct. Northeastern police broke-up the crowd at the universitys behest, and the department called for back-up from Boston police, state police, and the Suffolk County Sheriffs Department, state police said.

Organized by the unaffiliated student group Huskies for a Free Palestine, the encampment formed Thursday morning at Centennial Common and gathered as many as 200 people at times over the last few days, The Huntington News  the universitys independent student newspaper  reported.

Northeastern University police and other local law enforcement began clearing the unauthorized tent encampment Saturday morning, Nyul said. This started around 5:30 a.m., according to The Huntington News.

Those arrested are being brought to Suffolk County House of Correction to be booked and processed, Dave Procopio, the state police spokesperson, said in an email Saturday morning.

The State Police are committed to protecting the lawful exercise of peoples rights of assembly and free speech in a safe and secure manner, as well as to protecting safety and property all involved parties, the statement reads.

Read more: Emerson officials acknowledge adverse impact of protester arrests on community

Even so, dozens of protesters remained near where the original encampment was formed, chanting at police Saturday morning, footage from the scene showed. They could be heard questioning why police had shown up in riot gear, given the lack of violence at the protest.

Boston police deferred to Northeastern when asked for comment Saturday morning.

The protest and arrests mirror recent events at Emerson College, where more than 100 protesters were arrested Thursday. The student encampments were inspired by a protest at New York Citys Columbia University earlier this month.

Why the encampment was cleared

What began as a student demonstration two days ago was infiltrated by professional organizers with no affiliation to Northeastern. Last night, the use of virulent antisemitic slurs, including Kill the Jews, crossed the line. We cannot tolerate this kind of hate on our campus, Nyul claimed in the statement.

But GBH reporter Tori Bedford responded to the statement on social media Saturday saying she had heard a pro-Israel counter-protester use the phrase referenced by the university as a provocative joke while covering the protest Friday night. Videos of the incident appeared to support her account.

I did hear kill the Jews said by a counter-protester holding an Israeli flag, seemingly as a provocative joke in response to the groups pro-Palestine chants. Not sure if thats the specific incident Northeastern leadership is referring to, she wrote.

Northeastern sophomore Alina Caudle  who has come and gone from the protest over the last several days  told reporters Saturday morning that Northeastern is making up lies about the protesters. The encampment was organized by and mostly made up of students, and many of the protesters are Jewish students and faculty, she said.

Northeastern wanted to do this when nobody was watching, she said. " ... I have friends who were students who were in there and pulled out, dragged out by cops who felt the need to carry them out on all four limbs by their arms and legs.

The protesters have three demands of Northeastern, Caudle said. They want the university to denounce the war in Gaza, disclose information about its endowment and divest funds from defense contractors such as Waltham-based company Raytheon.

We dont want innocent lives to be lost. We dont want children to be killed and buried in mass graves, she said.

So far, there have been no reports of violence at the Northeastern protest, but the protesters have clashed with pro-Israel counter-protesters, according to The Huntington News. The counter-protesters can be seen holding up Israeli flags in videos of the protest.

It is unclear what percentage of the protesters are students, student newspaper reported. Northeastern University police have repeatedly tried to remove people who are not students from the encampment by asking for their university IDs.

What else we know about the protest

The encampment has hosted meals over the past few days, including a Passover Seder, according to The Huntington News. But some controversial pro-Palestinian phrases such as from the river to the sea and globalize the intifada have been heard being chanted by protesters.

Hillel Northeastern  the universitys Jewish student organization  released a statement on the protest Thursday, calling it part of a disturbing and problematic trend both nationally and on our own campus.

Jewish students have the right to learn in a safe environment. No student should feel as though they must hide their full identity to experience our campus environment, or that their basic safety is jeopardized, the organization wrote on Instagram.

The encampment violates Northeasterns student code of conduct, Nyul previously told The Huntington News. But at times, even the universitys professors have attended the protest.

Were here to support peaceful, non-violent assembly of students who are  doing no harm to anybody, history Professor Marty Blatt told the student newspaper. Theyre making a political statement and the statement is very important.

Northeastern Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine, or FSJP, released a statement on Instagram Thursday expressing support for the protest. The group was formed in early April by about 20 faculty and staff, according to The Huntington News.

We urge the administration not to act punitively against Northeastern students for engaging in peaceful protest and to uphold the principles of free expression and debate, the statement reads. We reject any attempts to discipline students or other members of the Northeastern community based on general assertions of discomfort. Particularly within the context of the ongoing genocide, and we adamantly oppose the use of disciplinary proceedings without concrete proof of verifiable facts of discrimination or harassment.

Photos of the protest show protesters wearing keffiyehs  a black and white scarf that has come to symbolize Palestinian nationalism, linking arms and holding signs with slogans such as No $ for Israels crimes, ceasefire now. Videos of the protest show demonstrators chanting Free Palestine, often to music, as well as Hey hey, ho ho, these Zionists have got to go.

I hope to be out here until Northeastern listens to the demands of its students, one Northeastern senior said in a video posted to social media early Friday morning.
The Holden man known as Turtleboy can attend the Karen Read murder trial, a Dedham District Court judge ruled on Friday, The Boston Globe reported.

Aidan Kearney, 42, appeared in Dedham District Court for a pre-trial hearing. Unrelated to the Read trial, he was charged separately with violating a restraining order with his former girlfriend.

During his court appearance, the judge vacated the restraining order whenever Aidan is within 50 yards of any Massachusetts courthouse, Kearneys lawyer, Tim Bradl, told the Globe.

Hes allowed to cover the Read case and every other courthouse and she wont be able to go there and flush him out with the restraining order, Bradl added.

In a post-court live stream on Facebook, Kearney called the ruling a complete victory, though he said the restraining order was amended so he could attend the trial.

I can go to any courthouse in Massachusetts..., he said while he drove his car. They f***ed with the wrong person. What were they thinking?

Kearney turned himself in to Medfield Police on Dec. 26 after the woman sought a restraining order against him for shoving her into a couch, the Telegram & Gazette reported. He was charged with intimidating a witness and assault, with the latter charge later dropped.

On Tuesday, Kearney also appeared in Norfolk County Superior Court in Dedham for pre-trial hearings in two separate cases brought by Special prosecutor Kenneth Mello, a criminal defense lawyer tapped by Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey to investigate allegations of intimidating witnesses in the Read case.

Bradl accused Mello of delay and obfuscation to keep Kearney from covering the Read trial.

Bradl described the charges against Kearney as a destruction of the 1st Amendment due to them being connected to his coverage of the Read case.

Ive never received any direction whatsoever from the district attorneys office in the performance of my duties and my obligations, Mello said. We have never exchanged one piece of information and its intentional that Im keeping distance from the district attorneys office in that regard because I dont want there to be any allegations that were conspiring with each other to move these cases together.
When Michelle Shell Rodriguez sits down at Matsunori Handroll Bar, she isnt just taking video of her sushi for fun. Her videos, which get thousands of views, helps bring in new customers to businesses in Boston.

She spends hours researching local restaurants, capturing video and editing it. Shes grown her account to more than 24,000 followers on TikTok, quickly becoming her full-time job and lifes passion.

But if a TikTok ban comes to the United States, Rodriguez might have to reconsider her entire career as it could hurt her personal and professional lives.

To see the ban possibly really go into effect, that could really hurt my job, she told MassLive.

President Joe Biden signed a bill on Wednesday that includes a provision that would force TikTok to be sold or be banned in the United States, the Associated Press reported.

The provision gives TikToks parent company, Beijing-based, ByteDance, nine months to sell the app with a potential three more months if a sale is in progress, the AP reported. This means theres still a full year before a ban could go into effect.

Rodriguez is a full-time social media content creator for herself and Night Shift Brewing in Everett where Rodriguez was born, raised and still lives.

Despite not having intentions to join TikTok from thoughts of it being so cringy, Rodriguez started her profile at the start of 2020 as a hobby. She was actually supposed to be teaching at the time, but schools were closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

So, Rodriguez started making videos every day of her going out with her friends to different restaurants. One of the first videos she made was of her and her friends going to brunch, which yielded an expected result.

The video exploded overnight and I saw a huge opportunity with TikTok and that no one else was doing, Rodriguez said. There were no Boston foodies and I was just like, I have to take action.

At the time, local businesses were struggling to stay afloat, so Rodriguez found that her viral videos were helping businesses stay open.

I saw an opportunity with TikTok that, not only is this really cool and fun, but its helping a lot of small businesses and not just with my own personal hobby, she said. I think TikTok really matters in this day and age for how successful businesses are run.

The content creator added that her newfound hobby replaced the happiness I used to have with students and children.

ByteDance stated it doesnt have any plan to sell TikTok, the AP reported, but vowed to challenge the new U.S. law stating it is an infringement on the free speech rights of its users.

We believe the facts and the law are clearly on our side, and we will ultimately prevail, the company wrote on X, according to the AP.

For the 170 million Americans who use TikTok, the app is not going to disappear from their phones, the AP wrote. However, if a ban were to pass, the app would disappear from Apple and Googles app stores and would not be downloadable. It would also not be able to be updated, eventually making the app unusable.

Who could suffer the most from a TikTok ban?

For Michelle "Shell" Rodriguez, a social media content creator from Everett, Mass., a potential TikTok ban could me she would have to redirect her entire career.Courtesy of Shell Rod/@latinakitchenbar

If a TikTok ban does go into effect, small businesses may be the organizations that suffer the most.

I think its just gonna really suck for small businesses, Rodriguez said. Its been really nice to see how many people have been happy to find new places through my content.

Joseph Joey Calcavecchia Jr. is a full-time social media content creator from Derry, New Hampshire who goes by handle The Roaming Foodie on Instagram and TikTok. Calcavecchia finds hot spots across New England from Portland to Providence and to Worcester to Boston.

Calcavecchia did not have much success on TikTok at first, but his trajectory took a turn in 2020 when he enlisted the help of another influencer to improve one of his videos.

She helped me edit it and it took off. It got, like, 200,000 views in a night and I had 3,000 new followers, he told MassLive. So then I just tried to emulate those videos and just started going everywhere  and kept getting success.

Calcavecchia recalled the owner of one restaurant telling him that he had a line out the door after Calcavecchia posted his very first video. Through his experience, Calcavecchia has seen videos go viral in more rural areas that are not as saturated with influencers. This often brings more exposure to even smaller businesses, making them a destination.

Posting something random like in Chelmsford, Massachusetts can go wicked viral, and you have all these local people finding out a spot in their own town or you have the people coming from the cities going to check out this spot because it looks so unique and interesting.

Calcavecchia added that if creators lose that capability to bring that level of awareness to these businesses, it will hurt everyone involved.

I feel like you would take away a good portion of my business and people finding me and being able to support all these small businesses, Calcavecchia said. Its definitely a stressful realization that could happen and it just helped so many businesses over the last few years.

How TikTok is different

For Michelle "Shell" Rodriguez, a social media content creator from Everett, Mass., a potential TikTok ban could me she would have to redirect her entire career.Courtesy of Shell Rod/@latinakitchenbar

TikTok videos have an incredible ability to go viral without having to have a previously established fan base, which is appealing to Calcavecchia whose videos average between 5,000 to 15,000, but recently had one video get 50,000 views overnight.

I love the capability of it, he said. It just hits right.

Calcavecchia added that TikTok is also better than other apps, like Instagram, at creating curated algorithms for users.

When you open up TikTok, youre seeing exactly what youre interested in, he said, adding that its the new office room area where you chat.

Rodriguez also said that Night Shifts content gets the most interactions from TikTok, including several videos about robot beer made from Chat GBT. One of these videos, posted in February 2023, has gotten more than 82,000 views to date.

TikTok really can make or break a lot of projects for us, Rodriguez said. While well still have other platforms, the push with TikTok, you cant compete like you cant beat it.

What could be next?

For Michelle "Shell" Rodriguez, a social media content creator from Everett, Mass., a potential TikTok ban could me she would have to redirect her entire career.Courtesy of Shell Rod/@latinakitchenbar

If TikTok does get banned, Night Shift is poised to expand its presence on other social media platforms, namely Threads.

Were actually doing really well on Threads, Rodriguez said. Its definitely not picked up the way TikTok has, but we are growing a community over there with like 100 followers growing every day.

Rodriguez also said that YouTube shorts may become the next big social media platform, and Calcavecchia is considering that as an option despite not having much success with it before.

Hes also thinking about building up his website to include more videos and email subscribers. But even that wont drive the same traffic as TikTok, the content creator thinks.

You can post something on the news or write an article, but depending where it hits and people reading it, youre not going to be selling out like that, Calcavecchia said.

Nobody wants to click on an email and then go to this website and watch a video when you can just open up and see your thing, he said. So those are things Im still working on and thinking about.

If things take a major toll, Calcavecchia is considering branching out from social media by becoming involved in food festivals or developing his own products. Anything to avoid going back to a normal job.

I wouldnt know what to do, he said. Ive done the full-time thing, the 9-5, miserable every time.

Its opened up so many opportunities that I never thought I would be able to have. Whether its partnerships or side income, its been a really fun ride like its just would be so sad to see the app go away, Rodriguez said about TikTok. I would also have to question like, do I have to go back to a regular job if things arent performing the same?

The Associated Press contributed to the reporting of this story.
Nearly 50 law enforcement agencies, fire departments and other public services organizations from around Massachusetts and the country have taken to social media to mourn the death of a Billerica police sergeant who was killed by an excavator at a construction site Friday afternoon.

Authorities initial investigation indicates that Sgt. Ian Taylor, 49, was working a paid detail at a road construction site in Billerica when he was hit shortly before 2 p.m., the Middlesex County District Attorneys Office said previously. He was taken to a local hospital where he later died.

Everyone involved in the incident has been cooperative with authorities investigation, and more information about the incident will be released in coming weeks, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said previously. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating the incident, as are state and local police.

The district attorneys office called Taylors death a tremendous loss for those who loved him and his entire community in a social media post on Friday.

Ian was first and foremost one of the kindest people all of us had the good fortune to know, Billerica Town Manager John Curran wrote in a Facebook post on Friday. He was an exceptionally knowledgeable veteran of the police department that brought a passion to the job that undoubtedly resulted in helping to make peoples lives better and even saving lives.

Read more: Billerica police sergeant killed by excavator at construction site

Taylor worked in law enforcement for 21 years before his death, Billerica Police Chief Roy Frost said previously. He was a graduate of the Boylston Police Academy, according to the academy.

Taylor previously served as part of the Lawrence Police Department from 2003 to 2010  following in the footsteps of his father, Wayne Taylor, who is retired from the department, according to the department. The sergeants younger brother, Det. Zach Taylor, is still part of the department.

Taylor briefly worked for the Wilmington Police Department from 2010 to 2011, according to the department.

Those of us that worked alongside him remember him for his warm smile, a great sense of humor, and a love for the job. Our hearts are broken, the department wrote on Facebook on Friday.

The sergeant began working for the Billerica Police Department in 2011 and served there for 12 years, Chief Frost said. In 2018, the Watertown Fire Department recognized his life-saving efforts during an accident in the town with a Medal of Commendation, according to the department.

As a detective for Billerica police, Taylor spent much of his career assigned to a federal drug task force, according to Frost. FBI Boston and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives Boston Division were among the dozens of law enforcement agencies that mourned Taylors death on social media in the wake of his death.

Taylor was also a lead member of Billericas Substance Awareness and Prevention Team, according to Town Manager Curran. In this role, he would meet with people impacted by drug abuse on a weekly basis, Frost said.

He had an ease about him that enabled him to connect with people of any station. His kindness and warm smile will be missed most of all, Curran wrote.
Northeastern University called in police to disperse demonstrators at a peaceful pro-Palestine student encampment protest Saturday morning, saying in a statement that the use of virulent antisemitic slurs, including Kill the Jews, crossed the line Friday night. But on Saturday, a local reporter claimed she had heard a pro-Israel counter-protester use the phrase referenced by the university as a provocative joke.

Organized by the unaffiliated student group Huskies for a Free Palestine, the encampment formed Thursday morning at Centennial Common and gathered as many as 200 people at times over the last few days, The Huntington News  the universitys independent student newspaper  reported. Police from several departments started breaking up the crowd and arresting demonstrators around 5:30 a.m. Saturday.

About 102 protesters who refused to comply with orders to disperse were arrested and will be charged by trespassing and disorderly conduct by Northeastern University police, Massachusetts State Police said Saturday. Demonstrators who had valid Northeastern IDs were let go and will face disciplinary action through the university, said Renata Nyul, vice president of communications for Northeastern.

Nyul claimed in a statement Saturday that the protest had been infiltrated by professional organizers with no affiliation to Northeastern  a claim which is unverified. But another justification for calling in law enforcement to quell the unauthorized tent encampment was soon questioned by GBH reporter Tori Bedford, who had attended the protest to report on it Friday evening.

I did hear kill the Jews said by a counter-protester holding an Israeli flag, seemingly as a provocative joke in response to the groups pro-Palestine chants. Not sure if thats the specific incident Northeastern leadership is referring to, she wrote in a social media post Saturday morning.

Bedford also posted a video of the incident during which the phrase can clearly be heard. The video does not make it clear who said it, but it does show counter-protesters nearby holding an Israeli flag. Another video of the incident posted to Instagram appears to show a counter-protester uttering the phrase before saying Anybody on board? You just chanted it! during a clash with the demonstrators.

Nyul did not respond to a request for comment on this matter from MassLive on Saturday, but Bedford posted a screenshot of an email response from her on social media. In the email, Nyul states that the fact that the phrase was uttered is not in dispute.

Any suggestion that repulsive antisemitic comments are sometimes acceptable depending on the context is reprehensible, she wrote.

Northeastern Universitys last statement to MassLive, which was sent at 12:45 p.m. Saturday, said that by 11:30 a.m., the quad in Centennial Common was fully secured and all campus operations have returned to normal.

Admissions tours are taking place, our community is enjoying the beautiful Boston weather, and graduating students are posing for photos with their families, the university said. We want to thank NUPD, our Student Life staff, and the universitys external partners for their flawless execution this morning.

Northeastern sophomore Alina Caudle  who has come and gone from the protest over the last several days  previously questioned the universitys statements, telling reporters Saturday morning that Northeastern is making up lies about the protesters. The encampment was organized by and mostly made up of students, and many of the protesters are Jewish students and faculty, she said.

The protesters have three demands of Northeastern, Caudle said. They want the university to denounce the war in Gaza, disclose information about its endowment and divest funds from defense contractors such as Waltham-based company Raytheon.

We dont want innocent lives to be lost. We dont want children to be killed and buried in mass graves, she said.

The encampment violates Northeasterns student code of conduct, Nyul previously told The Huntington News. But at times, even the universitys professors have attended the protest.

Dozens of protesters remained near where the original encampment was formed after it was dispersed Saturday morning, footage from the scene showed. They could be heard questioning why police had shown up in riot gear, given the lack of violence at the protest.

The protest and arrests mirror recent events at Emerson College, where more than 100 protesters were arrested Thursday. The student encampments were inspired by a protest at New York Citys Columbia University earlier this month.
A 14-year-old boy was killed in a shooting in Worcester Friday afternoon, according to police. Officers have arrested a 16-year-old in connection with the incident.

On April 26, officers were dispatched to an address in Worcesters lower Belmont Street neighborhood for a report of a possible shooting victim around 4:15 p.m., police said in a press release. They found the victim inside an apartment with a serious gunshot wound.

Officers tried to save the boy, but he was soon declared dead by paramedics, police said. Around 12:15 a.m. Saturday morning, detectives arrested the 16-year-old in connection with the shooting.

Police are still investigating the shooting. Anyone with information about it is asked to send an anonymous text to 274637 or an anonymous web-based message at worcesterma.gov/police. You can also call the Worcester Police Detective Bureau at (508) 799-8651.

No further information about the shooting has been released.
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.

John Driscoll had promised his wife he wouldnt run again for Congress unless she asked him to. It wasnt that he hadnt been successful in his previous runs.

In 2008, the Helena man pulled a surprising upset in the Democratic primary for Montanas at-large U.S. House seat. Driscoll not only defeated Jim Hunt but did so with only a couple hundred dollars.

Four-term incumbent Republican Rep. Denny Rehberg then defeated Driscoll soundly in the general election, taking 64% of the vote. Rehberg was a well-known commodity, with folksy anecdotes that stuck with voters, like his promise to sleep on his office couch rather than get too comfortable in what these days is known as the D.C. swamp.

Again, this year Driscoll got that campaign itch after attending the Montana Democratic Partys big to-do, the Mansfield Metcalf Dinner. He decided he wanted to run for Montanas Eastern U.S. House District. The problem was, Kathy, his wife, hadnt asked him to.

So, she gets up one morning, I say to her, Hey, in case you asked me to run for office, here's what I would say. And she goes, No, no. She was so (ticked) off at me. She says, Well, where are you going to sleep? And I said well, Ill sleep in my office like Rehberg did. And she says, No. Where are you going to sleep tonight?' 

Kathy Driscoll tells her husband shes voting for Democrat Ming Cabrera. Her husband, a retired Montana National Guard colonel, a three-term state legislator and former speaker of the state House, as well as a twice elected member of the Montana Public Service Commission, hasnt won her vote.

John Driscoll said he is concerned about the state of democracy and the chaos in the U.S. House that has made governing impossible. Montanas eastern district representative, Republican Matt Rosendale, is a part of the problem Driscoll said. Last November, Rosendale joined seven other Republicans in ousting Republican House Speaker Rep. Kevin McCarthy, in a vote that required the hardliners to draw support from the entire Democratic caucus. Most Republicans rallied around McCarthy unsuccessfully.

Rosendale isnt seeking reelection after four years in the House.

I think people like Rosendale, I started calling him Knight No. 2. Knight number one is Rep. Matt Gaetz, Knight No. 3 is Rep. George Santos. Its the Knights of the creepy brotherhood, Driscoll said. Really, what those guys are about, theyre saboteurs. They are sabotaging the constitutional basis for our legislative branch.

Im interested in trying to re-establish that whole normal way of doing business, where you can appropriate for a fiscal year and get ready for the next fiscal year, instead of having continuing resolutions. The last time we had a smooth operation was 12 years ago. I want to get back to that because I see both by their actions, what they say, what theyre doing with whats his face from Ohio, Jordan. Theyre making a joke of it.

Rep. Jim Jordan is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, where he has pursued several impeachment investigations that havent yielded results.

Normal direction from House committee chairmen should center on listening to lawmakers concerns and resolving conflicts before its time to vote on bills, Driscoll said, particularly the bills the comprise the federal budget. The Helena resident said he learned as a leader in the Montana Legislature in the 1970s how to resolve differences and never to force lawmakers to vote a particular way.

One point of disagreement Driscoll has with many Montana Democrats is a need for nuclear power, which Driscoll said would be a preferred alternative to fossil fuels. Montanans, who have lived with nuclear missiles on the northcentral plains for decades, should be better served by nuclear material as an energy source. He also advocates for a nuclear waste storage facility.

My thing is, I prefer a high-level waste repository, well done, much more than having 150 missiles here. I mean, North Dakota and the others can have all they want as long as they stay downwind, Driscoll said.

Driscoll is conducting a low-dollar campaign. He hasnt raised or spent to the $5,000 threshold at which the federal government requires candidates to report finances. His expenses through March amounted to $128.55, including $20 spent on a Democrat hat (blue).

John B Driscoll

Democrat

Age and place of birth: 77, Los Angeles, California

Home: 30 South Davis Street, Helena, MT 59601

Occupation: Retired

Family: Wife, Kathryn, and four children and six grandchildren.

Education: Bachelor's degree Gonzaga University, Spokane; Master's degree Columbia University, New York City; MPA-Harvard University; MBA-University of Montana, Graduate School of Business.

Employment: U.S. Forest Service, forest worker; wildlands firefighter and smokejumper

Military: Commissioned Second Lieutenant, Gonzaga ROTC, entered active duty August, 1970; Served in the 14th MI BN (CONTIC) of 18th Airborne Corps in support of the 3rd SF Group and the 82nd Airborne Division. Honorably Discharged June 1972. First Lieutenant in Montana Army National Guard in November 1973 as XO Troop G, 2nd Squadron, 163rd Armored Cavalry Regiment (Hamilton). Captain, Commanding Company D (M-60 tanks), 1st Squadron, 163rd Armored Cavalry Regiment (Livingston and Billings). Deployed as Senior Armor Captain, assigned to Commander 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, for Return of Forces to Germany, REFORGER. Completed Armor Officers Advanced Course, Fort Knox, KY. Major, Responsible for Operational Security of Montana Army and Air National Guard, trained as Terrorism Counter Action Officer at Fort Leavenworth, KS, deployed on to State Active Duty to coordinate with local law enforcement, border patrol, and Immigration and Naturalization Services for terrorism counter action due to intensifying right wing activities in Montana. Completed US Army Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, KS

Lieutenant Colonel, Responsible for organizing and training the Brigade and Battalion Combat intelligence capability for the new 163rd Separate Armored Brigade (M-1 tanks). Deployed on State Active Duty to maintain control of the Montana State Prison at Deer Lodge. Deployed on State Active Duty with 125 troops to stop North Hills Fire near Helena from burning the town of Nelson, MT. Graduated from US Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA

Colonel, detailed by the Montana National Guard and National Guard Bureau to work as an Action Officer on the Joint Staff in support of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Served in the National Military Command Center during Operation Allied Force and as a Crisis Action Team Deputy Team Chief during Operations Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle. Honorably Discharged from Military Service in May 2002.

Political experience: Elected by the voters of Ravalli County in two primary campaigns and three general election campaigns for the Montana House of Representatives. Montana House of Representatives, House Majority Leader/Speaker; Montana Public Service Commission. Chosen by the Democrat House Majority in 1974 to serve as House Majority Leader in 1975-1976. Chosen by the Democrat House Majority in 1976 to serve as Speaker of the Montana House in 1977-1978. Chose not to run for a fourth term. Elected by the voters of southwestern Montana in three primary campaigns and three general election campaigns to the Montana Public Service Commission. Chose not to run for a fourth term. Ran unsuccessfully in Democrat primaries for the US Senate in 1978, 1988. 2000, 2002 and 2014. Ran successfully in the Democrat Primary for the US House of Representatives in 2008, but lost in the November General Election of 2008. Ran unsuccessfully in the Republican Primary for the US Senate in 2020.

Endorsements: I am my own man (He, His, Him).

Ways voters can contact you:

b.) Address: 30 South Davis Street, Helena, MT 59601

c.) Phone number: 406-437-1526

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.

Priority 1: Resist and defeat any bill that assaults our constitutional democracy.

Priority 2. Work collaboratively to get budgetary processes of Congress back to normal.

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.

1. Lay the groundwork necessary for making compressed agricultural fiber panels made from Montana straw for inclusion with other carbon sequestering building materials like cross-laminated timber and mass timber for the new carbon architecture of our built environment. This effort will amount to more than individual farmers working with their Natural Resource Conservation Service districts to make the business decision of keeping carbon sequestered under the ground or supplying manufacturing facilities. This effort will include siting enough green hydrogen electrolysis facilities around Montana to fuel Class 8 gathering and delivery trucks and hydrogen-electric locomotives transporting product to building sites. Given the general shortage of affordable housing, this effort will need to include long-term leasing of federal lands for large multi-family housing complexes to be leased for limited equity dwelling units near existing communities. Ive been working for more than three years to understand critical aspects of this affordable housing response to climate change.

Issue 2: Lay the groundwork necessary for replacing coal-fired electricity generation with nuclear generated electricity. Rather than kick the high-level waste disposal can down the road as has been done so far in every nation except Finland, I am asking Montanans to open their minds to locating a high-level nuclear waste disposal facility somewhere in Montana, an area 17,000 square miles larger than the country of Finland. We have the earth sciences expertise and may be able to create a facility that will generate income and state revenue. During the 12 years I served as a Montana Public Service Commissioner and as an advisor to the Electric Power Research Institute, I was educated in aspects of the nations electricity grid, alternative means of electricity generation and the problems associated with nuclear power.

Q. A rare earth minerals miner in Montana recently suggested that to sustain a domestic supply of metals essential to all things techsemiconductors, batteries, advanced military equipmentCongress 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 optionstariffs, subsidies, government purchases, federal leasing, and environmental lawsand suggest a policy approach to this challenge.

The most likely rare earth development in Montana will be in the upper Bitterroot Valley around Sheep Creek with which I am familiar. As the development advances or falters, I believe we have to plan as though it will be another Butte, Montana, which was sited in a high mountain valley in one of the most pristine areas of the Northern Rockies.

We have to learn from what happened and what is still happening in Butte and do our best to avoid another Montana place becoming a national sacrifice area. If our nation faces the challenges of climate change, the rare earth development in western Montana could become massive.

I am a fifth-generation Butte person, but as importantly, I served in the Montana Legislature in the early 1970's and actively participated in the Legislative effort to prepare for the massive Fort Union coal development. We had to address a plethora of issues such as water protection, pristine air protection, land reclamation through a drought cycle, funding of schools, libraries, and roads, severance taxation and saving some of the revenue from the resource in a Constitutional Coal Tax Trust Fund.

Important questions similar to all of these will be in play during the rare earth developments. The primary institution for equipping our towns, cities, counties and state for dealing with such a development is the Montana Legislature. Im hopeful that our state legislature will follow the Montana Constitution and create conditions for Montanans to talk to each other about their real world concerns. Having also called the Bitterroot Valley my home for 20 years after living in Butte, Billings and Miles City, Ill be seeking opportunities in Congress I to lay the groundwork for wisely paced development.

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.

Its not yet clear which crops farmers along the lower Yellowstone River will grow now that Sidney Sugars is being auctioned. However, the majority of Montana agriculture happens in Eastern Montana and until recently the leading crops were wheat, hay, barley, sugar beets and legumes. At one time tariffs on trade might be seen as a non-violent tool of conflict between two nations like the United States and China, but that is no longer true because trade balances are a global matter. When China imposes an import tariff on corn and soybeans from the United States, it is likely to decrease demand for U.S. agricultural products, leading to a surplus of those crops on the market. As farmers of those products seek alternative markets they could go after markets previously enjoyed by Montanas wheat exports. The forced increase in competition for these markets will lower prices for Montana wheat exports because of supply and demand.

Q. President Joe Biden has suggested codifying Roe, in other words creating a national right to abortion. Explain your position on this issue.

I would vote for codifying the standards women came to expect during the years that Roe v. Wade was effectively the law of the land. Its not acceptable for members of a Catholic community, like myself, to impose the standards Ive internalized on a woman who is not in that community, or facing a situation I may not understand and will certainly never face. The wonderful women in my life all deserve the personal freedom to make a choice free of government or religious interference.

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?

My experience as a legislator and as a legislative leader places a premium on listening to the arguments of my fellow legislators in conditions created by a competent leadership for open discussion. In my time as a House Majority Leader not one member of our Democrat Caucus was ever forced to support a bill. I was mentored and found that it was better to listen most of the time and some of the time to suggest ways for differing points of view to meet in a dialogue. If Ive changed at all, its from being older and wiser. Its amazing to see the range and number of issues that a group of human beings organized into a legislature can thoroughly address. In my experience there was not the same degree of influence by interest groups through campaign contributions as there is now in our U.S. Congress. Im sure that more patience will be required to study the real reasons for a legislators intransigence.

Q. Would you have certified the electors from all 50 states as a member of Congress in 2021? Explain your decision while identifying any state whose electors you would have rejected.

Ive always been impressed by the diligence applied by state and local election officials and have no reason to believe their counterparts in other states are not as diligent. I find it hypocritical when elected officials claim to not trust the outcome of an election for the President of the United States by votes from the same election system that chose them. I would have had no problem certifying all electors from all states in 2021.
The majority Democrat state House, with help from nearly all of the chambers Republicans, voted overwhelmingly in favor of a $58 billion budget for 2024-25 that pumps more taxpayer money into schools and the MBTA.

The chamber voted 154-3 to approve the fiscal blueprint, shifting debate on spending priorities to the Senate.

House Democrats were united in their support of the bill while there were divisions within the 25-member House Republican caucus, where four members voted against the budget.

The vote came after three days of mostly quiet, behind-the-scenes deliberations where representatives hammered out details of more than a half dozen mega-amendments that added roughly $100 million to the bill.

The Republican leadership in the House voted for the budget, with GOP Reps. Nicholas Boldyga, 3rd Hampden; David DeCoste, 5th Plymouth; Marc Lombardo, 22nd Middlesex, and Alyson Sullivan-Almeida, breaking ranks to vote against it.

The Democrats blueprint included $1.3 billion in investments for transportation and education initiatives funded through the states Millionaires Tax, the 4% surtax levied on state residents who make $1 million or more a year.

In a statement, House Democratic leaders touted the spending plan, which came in $62 million below the budget proposal that Democratic Gov. Maura Healey rolled out in January.

The budget takes a fiscally responsible approach to making meaningful investments in areas of significant need, state House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano, D-3rd Norfolk, said.

The spending plan approved Friday allocates key funding to better support Massachusetts students and families, to increase access to affordable health care, and to provide for a safer and more reliable public transportation system, Mariano continued.

House Ways & Means Committee Chairperson Aaron Michlewitz, D-3rd Suffolk, offered a similar sentiment, noting that it "builds off the successes of the last few years by prioritizing our residents."

Lawmakers gussied up the spending plan with amendments despite flagging state tax revenues and the rising cost of the states emergency shelter system.

On Thursday, lawmakers in the House and Senate, also controlled by Democrats, sent Healey a compromise funding package for the shelter system that imposes new limits on how long both unhoused Massachusetts residents and new migrant arrivals can stay in the system.

In a statement, the conservative Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, which has called on lawmakers to rein in spending, cast a critical eye at the Houses budget for the new fiscal year that starts July 1.

The document successfully mugs the taxpayers of their hard-earned money, and keeps them on the hook to fund new priorities, the groups spokesperson, Paul D. Craney said, adding that the Houses budget has nothing to show in the way of spending restraint or fiscal responsibility.
BOSTON  The top Japanese pitching free agent of last winter may have been Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but in truth, the Red Sox probably had a better chance of landing lefty Shota Imanaga.

The Red Sox were said to be aggressive in their pursuit of Imanaga and met with him via Zoom. According to the Boston Globe, they offered a two-year $26 million deal with an additional two vesting options. The Chicago Cubs trumped that offer, giving Imanaga a four-year $53 million contract. The Red Sox proposal actually featured more guaranteed money for the first two years, but the Cubs willingness to go to four guaranteed years sealed the deal.
BOSTON  Masataka Yoshida is back in the Red Sox lineup Saturday after not starting five straight games. He has pinch hit just twice since last being in the starting lineup last Saturday.

The Red Sox and Cubs will play the second game of their three-game series at 4:10 p.m. Chicago won the first game 7-1 here at Fenway Park on Friday.

Rafael Devers will return to third base for the first time since April 16 when he left in the eighth inning because of a bone bruise in his left knee. Devers missed five straight games before returning as the DH on Wednesday. He started in the DH spot each of the past three games but is physically ready to play in the field Saturday.

Fanatics Sportsbook 10X$100 BONUS BET BET MATCH BONUS CLAIM OFFER Must be 21+. GAMBLING PROBLEM? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, KY ,MD, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV); (888) 789-7777 or ccpg.org (CT); 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA); (800) 327-5050 or gamblinghelpline.org (MA), mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1800gambler.net (WV)

The Red Sox started Tyler Heineman at DH on Sunday, then had Tyler ONeill in the DH spot Tuesday when he returned from the 7-day IL (concussion).

Cora has insisted that Yoshida is still the everyday DH despite his lack of playing time. He said Yoshida has sat simply because of the Red Sox wanting to ease ONeill and Devers back from their injuries in the DH spot.

Cora said Yoshida  who is batting only .233  has handled the situation excellent.

Like a pro, man, Cora said Friday. Hes great. He understands. We talk on a daily basis. This is not like I send the lineup out and I dont talk to the players. Were in constant communication. And he understands that when Tyler came back, he needed to DH. And with Raffy obviously he understands that.

Red Sox lineup

1. Jarren Duran CF

2. Rafael Devers 3B

3. Tyler ONeill LF

4. Wilyer Abreu RF

5. Connor Wong C

6. Masataka Yoshida DH

7. Enmanuel Valdez 2B

8. Bobby Dalbec 1B

9. Ceddanne Rafaela SS

Starting pitchers: RHP Ben Brown (0-0, 3.72 ERA) vs. RHP Josh Winckowski (1-1, 4.20 ERA)

Start time: 4:10 p.m. EST

TV channel: NESN (Channel finder: Comcast Xfinity, Verizon Fios, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, DIRECTV, Dish, AT&T U verse, fuboTV and Sling)

Live stream: NESN 360; fuboTV (free trial); or Sling; or DirecTV Stream
BOSTON  Manager Alex Cora said after the Red Sox 7-1 loss to the Cubs on Friday that Rafael Devers is ready to play third base Saturday.

It will be Devers first game in the field since April 16 when he left in the eighth inning because of a bone bruise in his left knee. Devers missed five straight games before returning as the DH on Wednesday. He has started in the DH spot each of the past three games, including Friday when he went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts.

Cora also confirmed that Masataka Yoshida will return to the DH role with Devers heading back to third base. Yoshida has not started a game since Saturday.

The Red Sox started Tyler Heineman at DH on Sunday, then had Tyler ONeill in the DH spot Tuesday when he returned from the 7-day IL (concussion).

Cora has insisted that Yoshida is still the everyday DH despite his lack of playing time. He said Yoshida has sat simply because of the Red Sox wanting to ease ONeill and Devers back from their injuries in the DH spot.

Cora said Yoshida  who is batting only .233  has handled the situation excellent.

Like a pro, man, Cora said. Hes great. He understands. We talk on a daily basis. This is not like I send the lineup out and I dont talk to the players. Were in constant communication. And he understands that when Tyler came back, he needed to DH. And with Raffy obviously he understands that.
SPRINGFIELD  U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren acknowledged Friday the protests erupting on college campuses, while also calling for cease fire, return of hostages, humanitarian aid and negotiations to a two-state solution are solutions in Gaza.

Im deeply, deeply grateful to live in a country where people can make their voices heard. And they can say so out loud. Thats part of the core of our democracy, said Warren, a Democrat now running for her third term.
April is Alcohol Awareness Month. Misuse of alcohol is nothing new. The goal of this month is to increase awareness of the damages it does to individuals, families, health and society.

Alcohol affects one at every stage of life regardless of age or gender. Graduation and prom time is an opportunity to try to save precious lives. Providing education and support to youth has been found beneficial in preventing alcohol and drug use disorders. Without these interventions, families and friends may be attending a funeral rather than a graduation. If thats not a sobering thought, it should be.

George Koob, Ph.D., director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, stated, Even teens who would not normally be tempted to drink alcohol may be drawn in by certain social situations, so dont assume they have all the facts they need to resist peer pressure. Parents and trusted adults can play a meaningful role in shaping youths attitudes toward drinking.

Close to 200,000 Americans die each year from excessive alcohol use. Four thousand are under the age of 21. In Massachusetts, 3,050 die yearly due to alcohol. Alcohol use is associated with violence, sexual risk behaviors, alcohol poisoning, injuries, motor vehicle collisions, cancer, liver disease, hypertension, alcohol use disorders and more. We spend billions of dollars a year in this country on productivity, criminal justice and healthcare related to alcohol.

In Massachusetts 19% of adults and 11% of youth binge drink. Binge drinking is defined as consuming five or more drinks for men and four or more drinks for women on an occasion. Heavy drinking is defined as 15 or more drinks a week for men and eight or more for women. It goes without saying that there are many other factors involved in unhealthy use of alcohol than this definition. Any alcohol use by pregnant women or youth under 21 is considered heavy drinking and unacceptable.

Massachusetts Community Prevention Services Task Force guides the government on alleviating the burden of alcohol abuse in our state. The focus on decreasing abuse of alcohol includes regulating retail licensing. Increased access is associated with increased use. Raising alcohol taxes is associated with hopes of decreasing consumption, as well as providing revenue to fund the damages caused by alcohol. Laws are in place to hold alcohol retailers liable for harm to intoxicated or underage customers. Enhanced enforcement of laws prohibiting sales to minors is important.

Youths brains do not develop fully until they are in their 20s. Drinking alcohol during adolescence can damage areas of the brain that control decision-making, self-control, memory and learning. Drinking before age 21 is more likely to lead to addiction. Warning signs of alcohol use include many behavioral changes, some associated with puberty changes. You know your child best. If you have any concerns, address it. These behavior changes include mood changes, sleeping or eating more or less, decrease interest in school, friends and activities, school work lagging, new and unknown friends, money or objects missing, anger and more.

Children whose parents talk to them about the risks of alcohol and other drugs are much less likely to use them. Middle school students and high school students are clearly at different stages of development. Preventative tips for middle school children include: know who your child is with and what they are doing, know your childs friends, support them in choosing friends wisely, assure adult supervision and open communication with friends parents. It is important to spend time with your child even as they want to spend less time with you and more time with their friends. Set clear and reasonable ground rules and consequences. Reward what they do well. Be aware of your words and actions and its effects on your children. Research suggests sharing any of your own past misuse of drugs and alcohol may undercut the message you are trying to deliver. Focus on your child.

A few differences for high school children include a greater challenge to authority by this age group. Open communication with them can explain the importance of their well-being, health and future. Alcohol will get in the way of their goals and dreams. Support their steps toward earning trust. Reward good choices. Know the who, what, where and when as they head out the door.

Offer them a ride or option of staying put if they have been drinking. Holding a drivers license increases a teens liability with alcohol use. We have all seen the tragedies of friends killing friends after a night out of fun. The consequences and grief caused by these accidents are avoidable and devastating. Create a driving contract that states no alcohol, ever, when driving. And for youth of all ages, empower them to never get in a car if they think the driver has been drinking.

Educate yourself and your child. Keep them safe. If you believe your child is at risk, speak to a health professional, school social worker, guidance counselor or substance abuse counselor. The Massachusetts Substance Abuse Hotline is 800-327-5050.

Children are our most precious and vulnerable members of society. They are deserving of love, care and protection.  unknown.

Take care of yourself and someone else.

Juanita Carnes is a Westfield resident and a nurse practitioner with 38 years of experience in a hospital emergency department and urgent care facilities. She served 30 years on the Westfield Board of Health.
WESTFIELD  The automotive technology shop at Westfield Technical Academy had a big day on April 25, when Jeff Sarat of Sarat Ford in Agawam and Erin Powers, of the Ford Motor Companys Automotive Career Exploration program, donated a 2024 Ford Mustang GT convertible, valued at $54,705. Auto tech students and the student Motorsports Club applauded as the Mustang was driven into the shop.

Automotive tech instructor Dustin Raney it will make a big difference for WTA to have a new car to teach students modern diagnostics and sensors.
From April 30th to May 4th and May 15th to 17th, Farasis Energy will showcase its standard electric motorcycle batteries 7432/7455, SPS (Super Pouch Solution) power battery solutions, high-performance NCM pouch batteries, and other exhibits at Asiabike Jakarta 2024, the first professtional two-wheeler exhibition in Southeast Asia, and the largest comprehensive automotive and motorcycle exhibition in Southeast Asia, INAPA 2024/INABIKE 2024,at the Jakarta International Expo(JIEXPO), Indonesia. During the exhibition, strategic cooperation agreements will be signed with customers to accelerate Farasis Energys expansion into Southeast Asia.

Farasis Energys standard electric motorcycle batteries 7432/7455 integrate seven key advantages of high energy density, lightweight design, powerful performance, long endurance, safety and reliability, high-temperature resilience, and upgradability with same-size battery cells, effectively addressing the demands of Southeast Asian consumers for extended range, efficient charging, durability, and reliability.

Farasis Energys SPS (Super Pouch Solution) is a cutting-edge battery solution that combines long range, fast charging, enhanced safety, lightweight design, cost efficiency, and seamless upgrades to solid-state batteries. On April 23rd, the RADAR Horizon, the new model under Geelys high-end new energy outdoors lifestyle vehicle brand, officially launched, equipped with Farasis Energys SPS power battery, marking the first mass production of SPS technology.

Currently, Farasis Energy has cooperated with leading Battery Swapping operators and motorcycle OEMs in Southeast Asia, such as Indonesia and Thailand, demonstrating excellent battery performance through comprehensive testing. In the future, Farasis Energy will deepen its cooperation with NEVs and electric motorcycles, battery swapping and other industries in Southeast Asia , aiming to rapidly advancing the electrification process of Southeast Asian NEVs and motorcycles, promoting green and low-carbon transportation.

Farasis Energy (688567.SH) is a global leader in pouch power batteries, specializing in research, development, production, and sales of power battery systems for new energy vehicles and energy storage. The company is committed to providing leading-edge and green solutions for global new energy applications. As a global leader in new energy innovative technologies, it launched the worlds first sodium-ion power battery for EV customers and achieved eVTOL end-customer delivery in the world. and pioneered the electric two-wheeler battery industry in China. From 2017 to 2023, it ranked NO.1 in Chinas installed capacity of lithium-ion pouch batteries for seven consecutive years. In 2023, it ranked among the top three globally for pouch battery installed capacity.
Human values are needed to make the transition to Artificial Intelligence (AI) more inclusive and less disruptive for everyone, says His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence in the UAE. He states that creative approaches to innovation and technology development are crucial to our continued economic growth and societal success.

Speaking at the  Machines Can See  global summit 2024, held at Dubais Museum of the Future on Wednesday, HH Sheikh Nahyan highlighted the need to ensure the preservation of humanity while continuing innovation toward a future that is safe, fulfilling, prosperous, and tolerant for all.

 We must always be concerned for the welfare of all human beings and be willing to take action to see that everyone has a positive future and a high quality of life. We witness that concern acted upon daily here in the UAE, which looks forward to a future where successful economies around the globe are human economies that incorporate human values and needs into how growth and progress are achieved. Under the UAEs wise leadership, the nation acts on the conviction that tolerance and human fraternity must shape technological innovation,  he said.

HH Sheikh Nahyan hailed the  Machines Can See  summit as an initiative that explicitly incorporates the values of tolerance and coexistence into every aspect of AI.

One of the most prominent summits for A), Machine Learning (ML), and Computer Vision (CV), the  Machines Can See  event brought leading subject experts from around the world. The event was organised in collaboration with the UAEs Ministry of Artificial Intelligence.

The annual summit explored trends in generative AI, computer vision, investment, and education in line with the UAEs strategy to position Dubai as the worlds AI capital.

 The exponential growth of applied Generative AI over the past 18 months drives innovations, creating new markets, new industries, and even a new society. The collective quest to achieve these breakthroughs will improve the quality of life for us all, and it is both exciting and inspiring. However, we must remain aware of our works ethical and moral dimensions as innovations affect the economy and society with unforeseen and unintended consequences when implementing new technology,  Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan remarked.

Further talking about the impact of AI on society and the quality of life, the Minister said that it reminded the ethical and moral dimension that demands our attention and concern.  Our ability as humans to achieve the benefits of AI and machine learning while avoiding potential pitfalls will require consideration and support in at least three areas, including assessment of the human desirability of the design choices, regulations to ensure responsible adoption and application, and global cooperation to address both the opportunities and challenges embedded in the technology. 

According to him, tolerance and shared human values are the key to effectively addressing all three of these requirements and to helping realise AIs economic and social benefits.

 We regularly review and refine the laws and regulations needed to ensure that technology does not outpace our ability to manage it. We collaborate with others around the world for a future of peace and prosperity for all. We are committed to keeping the UAE a model environment for innovators, enabling them to succeed. We promote research and continued dialogue about the relationship between human values and technology and how to ensure those values are preserved,  he concluded.

H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications office, said,

 The UAE is advancing towards its visionary goal of becoming a global leader in AI by 2031 with a strategic focus on fostering groundbreaking advancements and unlocking a plethora of transformative opportunities across economic, educational, and societal realms. This will catalyse unprecedented growth for its citizens, governmental entities, and businesses. The nation aims to significantly expand its economic footprint on the global stage, positioning itself as a formidable force in key domains of strategic importance by harnessing the power of AI-driven solutions. 

The event also witnessed the announcement of the results of the Generative Interior Design Challenge. 32 teams participated in this challenge from across the world. Team DECEM secured first place, winning USD 7,000 followed by team STABLEDESIGN and team XENONSTACK, securing second and third places respectively.

Commenting on the success of the summit, Mr. Alexander Khanin, CEO and Founder of Polynome Events FZE, the official organiser of  Machines Can See  said,

 We are proud to present a diverse scientific and business agenda at the Summit, hosting renowned researchers delving into the cutting-edge developments shaping the future of AI, while exploring practical applications of AI across various industries and streamlining business operations to enhance urban living. 

Professor Timothy Baldwin, Provost and Professor of Natural Language Processing at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, said,

The Machines Can See event offered a broad platform to discuss key aspects of AI and its potential impact on society. As the worlds first university specializing in AI research, MBZUAIs faculty shared latest research findings and new innovations in a range of areas, in particular, foundation models for multimodal applications. It was also useful to engage with our international peers on key discussions regarding the importance of fostering AI talent to support ambitious government and business goals.

The summit also revealed winners of the Generative Interior Design Challenge, organized ahead of the event, participated by 32 teams from around the world.

Team DECEM emerged as the first place winner with a cash prize of USD 7,000. Team STABLEDESIGN and team XENONSTACK secured second and third places with cash prizes of USD 5000 and USD 3000, respectively. The winners also received special prizes from NVIDIA.

Leading innovative companies, including NVIDIA, the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), AI71, Core42, Intema, Dubai Business Events (DBE), Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), Century Financial, and Emirates, supported the summit.
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.
COLUMBIA FALLS  Waste in place looks like the preferred solution to a toxic waste stockpile at the former Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. millsite, although many local residents remain skeptical.

About 200 of them attended two evenings of question-and-answer sessions hosted by U.S. EPA, Montana Department of Environmental Quality and private contractors involved in cleaning the federal Superfund project. Still more came for one-on-one inquiries during two afternoon open houses in Columbia Falls Hub meeting room.

At issue is what to do with a 200-acre landfill of buried potliners  the leftover residue of the aluminum smelting process. The material can produce toxic and explosive clouds of cyanide and fluoride gas if exposed to air. Theres also concern about groundwater moving through the deposit and spreading the toxins farther into the surrounding environment, including the Flathead River.

CFAC, as it was commonly known, produced aluminum for half a century before closing in 2009. It made the EPA national priority list for Superfund action in 2015. Current owner Glencore AG bought it in 1999. Earlier this year, Glencore announced a potential sale of 2,400 acres of the millsite to Ruis Construction for commercial and residential development. However, the sale should not affect the EPAs ability to complete remediation.

EPA Remedial Project Manager Matt Dorrington told the audience the agency leans toward building a 100-foot-deep slurry wall of clay-treated fill around the potliner deposits, which would keep the toxins from moving around and groundwater from getting in. A cap on the top would keep rain and snow from seeping in.

When were done, that site is off-limits forever, Dorrington said. Regular water testing both inside and outside the containment area would check if toxins were getting through the wall, which would trigger repairs or other additional remedies.

However, the slurry wall would not extend underneath the potliner deposit, which sits on a layer of gravelly glacial till. Engineers assured the design of the barrier would prevent groundwater from sucking up into the deposit, and testing would give alerts if that confidence was mistaken.

Many speakers at the open houses expressed doubts about the plan. While the millsite sits on a bench about 100 feet above the Flathead River, lots of groundwater and surface water flows across the property from the north to the river  right past the potliner dump.

Their bigger concern was the long and growing list of human health and environmental risks posed by the existence of the toxins. Several speakers talked of Columbia Falls high rates of cancer  which are getting reviewed in a state Department of Health and Human Services analysis due within a month  as reason why they wanted the aluminum mills remains removed from their lives.

And while testing over the past 15 years has confirmed the suspected major toxins such as cyanide and arsenic, new federal standards for PFAS forever chemicals were not considered in the earlier analyses. There was also suspicion over the choice of the Superfund boundary around the millsite, because it limited the legal potential of claims for toxic damage found outside its lines.

Theres mistrust with Glencore and their consultants over their information about the potential ongoing and future chemical risks to the environment, said Peter Metcalf, a Columbia Falls resident and co-founder of Coalition for a Clean CFAC. What weve been calling for from the EPA is for greater engagement with the public. Theres a lot more work to be done for the community to understand this option is the right one.

Metcalf said he was encouraged by the EPAs approval of grants allowing local residents to hire an independent engineer to review the agency and contractor plans.

Dorrington said the off-site disposal option failed for several reasons. First, excavating would double the size of the contaminated area from 200 acres to 400 and still only get about 80% of the toxic material. Exposing that material to air could be extremely hazardous to the workers, and would require extensive detoxification and packaging before it could be hauled away. And it would mean transporting about 1.2 million cubic yards of hazardous waste to a facility in Oregon capable of storing it  a 500-mile distance to the closest available repository.

That transport by truck or train would have its own risks of spills and community disruption, although speakers noted Columbia Falls has a history of logging trucks and railroad cars full of hazards moving through town.

Many speakers focused on the relative cost of the slurry wall vs. off-site disposal. EPA estimates calculated the wall containment would cost about $58 million, while removal would range between $624 million and $1.4 billion.

Dorrington acknowledged that was a significant difference, but added cost was one of seven factors in the analysis and not the driving one. Instead, the final Record of Decision by law must accept the option that best protects human and environmental health and is cost-effective.

That ROD was expected to be released last December. Dorrington said a new date hasnt been determined.

Were at least three to four years out if we signed the ROD today, Dorrington said. I know thats frustrating.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, April 26, 2024

Siding against the broadband industry, a federal appellate court on Friday reinstated a New York law requiring carriers to offer service for no more than $15 a month to some low-income households.

In a 2-1 decision, a panel of the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals rejected industry groups' contention that the Trump-era Federal Communications Commission prohibited states from regulating broadband in 2018, when it repealed net neutrality rules that were passed during the Obama administration.

Instead, the panel ruled that the Republican-led FCC stripped itself -- not states -- of authority to regulate rates when it revoked the prior rules.



A federal agency cannot exclude states from regulating in an area where the agency itself lacks regulatory authority, Circuit Judge Alison Nathan wrote in an opinion joined by Sarah Merriam.

advertisement advertisement

Broadband carriers are weighing next steps, an industry spokesperson said Friday.

The ruling comes in a dispute dating to May 2021, when a coalition of broadband lobbying groups challenged New York's Affordable Broadband Act, a then-new law that required carriers to charge no more than $15 a month for broadband service to low-income households.

The organizations (including CTIA -- The Wireless Association, ACA Connects--America's Communications Association, US Telecom -- The Broadband Association and NTCA -- the Rural Broadband Association) claimed that only the federal government can regulate the broadband industry.

They specifically argued that New York's law conflicted with the FCC's 2018 repeal of the Obama-era net neutrality rules. As part of that deregulatory move, the FCC reclassified broadband from a common carrier service, governed by Title II of the Communications Act, service to an information service, subject to Title I. (On Thursday, the FCC voted to reinstate the Obama-era rules; that move, which hasn't yet taken effect, is likely to be challenged in court by broadband providers.)

U.S. District Court Judge Denis Hurley in Central Islip, New York -- an appointee of President George H. W. Bush -- agreed with the lobbying groups and blocked New York's law. He ruled that the FCC prevented states from regulating broadband prices by reclassifying broadband as an information service.

Attorney General Letitia James appealed that ruling to the 2nd Circuit, arguing that the federal Communications Act doesn't prevent states from passing their own consumer protection laws.

Advocacy groups including Public Knowledge and the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society backed the appeal.

Those organizations said in a friend-of-the-court brief that the FCC chose to relinquish almost all authority over broadband when it repealed the Obama-era net neutrality order.

Declining authority is not the same as crafting a regime of deregulation designed to exclude other actors, they wrote.

Nathan noted in her opinion that some of the same organizations that challenged New York's law also vociferously lobbied the FCC to classify broadband internet as a Title I service in order to prevent the FCC from having the authority to regulate them.

The plaintiffs now ask us to save them from the foreseeable legal consequences of their own strategic decisions. We cannot, she wrote.

Circuit Judge Richard Sullivan dissented from the decision.

The lobbying groups that sued said in a joint statement that they are disappointed by the ruling.

It not only discourages the needed investment in our nations infrastructure, but also potentially risks the sustainability of broadband operations in many areas, the groups stated.

But consumer advocates cheered the decision.

Net neutrality proponent Barbara van Schewick, a Stanford law professor and director of the Center for Internet and Society, stated Friday that the appellate ruling clearly establishes states ability to protect their constituents against misbehavior by the internet service providers they pay to get online when the FCC says it has no authority.
by Barbara Lippert , Columnist, April 26, 2024

One week into Trumps hush money trial, who could have predicted that retail giant Walmart played such an important part in the former Presidents reported payoff to porn star Stormy Daniels?

Its a long and winding story, and the prosecution has taken its sweet time in questioning its prime witness, David Pecker, the Tabloid King and former chief executive of AMI, the company that owns the National Enquirer.

The testimony centers on Peckers long-time friendship (although it sounds more like an adoration-ship) with the Apprentice host and the pact that Pecker made with him in August of 2015, as Trump was announcing his 2016 Presidential run.

In it, he promised to be Trumps eyes and ears, to catch and kill (pay for and suppress) problematic stories that could hurt his candidacy, and at the same time to run negative stories about his political challengers, particularly the Clintons.

advertisement advertisement

But speaking of sullying, at a time when we seem to be living in an alternative fact universe, and were desperate for truth, Peckers testimony has trampled all over the idea of journalism.

Of course, as a sleazy tabloid, the Enquirer has never been a beacon of unimpeachable reporting. Comedian Andy Borowitz joked about that with the headline, Millions Cancel Subscriptions to National Enquirer After Learning Its Stories May Not be True.

But for a brief time, it was known for breaking legitimate stories. And the way Pecker put himself in Trumps pocket went way beyond the dicey line that the tabloid had been known to cross.

Importantly, Pecker himself was never a journalist. He came up on the accounting side of publishing. Perhaps being a numbers guy who specialized in cost-cutting and cover sales data helped him loosen all ties to standard reporting practices.

Slowly, prosecutors have established a timeline starting with the first and second stories that the Enquirer killed on behalf of Peckers mentor. The first story, about a Trump love child (which Pecker said he knew wasnt true) was buried by paying $30,000 to Dino Sajudin, a doorman at one of Trumps buildings who had called that story into a tip line.

The second involved buying off former Playboy playmate Karen McDougal, who reportedly had had an almost year-long affair with Trump (while Melania was pregnant) and had announced that she was ready to talk. The Enquirer gave her $150,000 for a year-long contract to write a monthly column on health and fitness (which would be ghost-written by staffers) to keep her quiet. She never wrote anything, of course. But Pecker said he had an election law attorney check the contract, and said it was kosher.

This was all, as the cliche goes, setting the table. The heart of the trial is the hush money Trump paid to Stormy Daniels, which he claimed was a payment to his lawyer, Michael Cohen. Thus, Trump is charged with 34 counts of the crime of falsifying business records to cover up the Daniels payment as part of an effort to influence the election.

After the release of the Access Hollywood tape (in which Trump spoke to Billy Bush on a bus about his penchant for p----y grabbing) weeks before the election, Cohen and Trump were in a panic to suppress Stormy Daniels story of her own sexual go with the Mar-a-Lago man.

At this point, however, Pecker balked at the possibility of a payoff.

When Trumps lawyer Emil Bove cross-examined him, he asked, You did not consider Stormy Danielss story to be part of any agreement you had in August 2015?  He added, You wanted nothing to do with it.

Thats right, Pecker answered. 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.

Earlier, he had said that he was angry about never getting paid back for the previous amounts he had already ponied up. Im not a bank! he told the jury.

But what also came out was that Pecker was nervous about potential campaign finance contribution violations, alluding to previous troubles the National Enquirer had when helping the former California governor Arnold Terminator Schwarzenegger bury stories from women coming forward.

Pecker also said that AMIs chief counsel warned him he wanted no payment from Trump on the books.

Then I saw an interview with Lachlan Cartwright, who was the Enquirers executive editor at the time. He said that Peckers decision to avoid that payoff was largely based on not pissing off Walmart.

The tab has very few advertisers or subscribers; chain stores account for roughly three-quarters of all sales. Walmart is the largest grocery retailer in the U.S., and 23% of the Enquirers newsstand sales come from the Benton, Arkansas-based giant.

There are no formal rules for the level of explicitness or vulgarity that Walmart will tolerate on its selling floor, but Pecker knew where his bread was buttered.

So, in using Walmart as the morality police, Pecker determined that having a photo and the words porn star on a cover would be massively offensive to its shoppers.

But a headline saying that Hillary will be Dead in Six Months! is just fine.

Attention, shoppers: in the end, the single entity that came between Pecker and the friend he loved was Walmart.

Ironically, if the giant retailer ever drops its distribution of the Enquirer, it will be because tabloids in general are dying out, no longer selling.

With his agreement, Pecker destroyed his own legacy, and will be known for destroying what was left of the National Enquirer.

Will his testimony play a part in Trumps conviction?

Were many weeks away from knowing.

But let it be remembered that Pecker made Walmart his siren song.
  Trusted Source

The importance of communicating to the public during a pandemic, and the personal risk it can lead to



Go to source Trusted Source



Community involvement has played a vital role in combatting #COVID-19 in African nations, particularly in addressing vaccine hesitancy. #infectiousdisease #Ebola

Navigating Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in Public Health Communication

Advertisement

Advertisement

The importance of communicating to the public during a pandemic, and the personal risk it can lead to - (https://www.escmid.org/fileadmin/escmid/media/pdf/press_releases/2024/2024-q2/Press_release_Importance_of_communicating__20240426.pdf)

Amid Ebola, COVID-19, Zika , and other public health crises, effective communication of public health messages is vital for disease control, trust maintenance, and compliance with health measures. Dr. Benjamin Djoudalbaye from Africa CDC will address challenges and lessons learned from communication strategies across the African continent at this year's ESCMID Global Congress in Barcelona, Spain (27-30 April) ().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 themInformation 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 Africas population has access to the internet. This can lead to misinformation and rumors' 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, says Dr Djoudalbaye. Developing and applying well-thought-out public health communication strategies requires not only taking into account Africas 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.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 behaviors across the continent. This means that more people can now be reached with messaging about interrupting infection chains and refuting rumors' 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 organizations to ensure that information is accurate, culturally sensitive, and easily accessible to all.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 globalized time, but verified information is the most effective prevention against the disease of panic.Source-Eurekalert
What's the matter?

The new IT rules mandates all major social media platforms to keep record of chats and, if needed, provide the government with the information about the origin of a particular chat or video.
The Marlins announced a pair of roster moves, as right-hander Kyle Tyler has been designated for assignment. This creates roster space for Kent Emanuel, as the southpaws contract was selected from Triple-A.

Emanuel was DFAed himself in early April and then outrighted off Miamis 40-man roster. Because he had previously been outrighted in his career, Emanuel had the right to reject the Marlins outright assignment and opt into free agency, though he instead chose to remain in the organization. That decision has now led to Emanuel getting another call to the majors, even if it might be a short-term move to get a fresh arm into the Marlins bullpen.

In his one previous appearance this season, Emanuel allowed four runs over three relief innings in Miamis 10-2 loss to the Angels on April 3. This marked Emanuels first Major League action since he debuted with 10 games with the Astros in 2021, and he spent 2022-23 pitching in the Phillies and Pirates farm systems before signing a minor league deal with the Marlins back in February.

Working as both a starter and a reliever throughout his pro career, Emanuels swingman experience adds some depth to an injury-plagued Marlins pitching staff. Jesus Luzardo was just placed on the 15-day injured list yesterday, leaving Miami scrambling for an extra arm on short notice in order to cover Luzardos scheduled start. Andrew Maldonado got the start in his MLB debut and pitched three scoreless innings, and he was one of six pitchers who combined for the bullpen game in Fridays 3-1 loss to the Nationals.

Tyler covered two of those innings on Friday, allowing one earned run over 21 pitches. That outing marked Tylers first appearance since his own contract was selected from Triple-A last week, and his first MLB game since 2022 when Tyler pitched for the Padres. All told, Tyler has a 2.45 ERA over 18 1/3 career innings in the Show, though with seven walks and only nine strikeouts allowed in that small sample size.

Because Tyler has also been outrighted before, hed have the ability to select free agency if he clears DFA waivers and the Marlins tried to outright him off the 40-man roster. Given the revolving-door nature of Miamis bullpen, it could be that both Tyler, Emanuel, and other Marlins pitchers with outrights on their resume could be more prone to remaining with the team due to the greater opportunity available for more big league playing time. The struggling Marlins look like they could be rotating arms through the pitching staff all year long, so a pitcher might prefer this semi-regular workload on the minor league shuttle rather than start from scratch with another organization. Tyler in particular might prefer sticking with one team given his history of rapid-fire waiver claims.
The Twins signed veteran reliever Nick Wittgren to a minor league deal. The contract was announced by their Double-A team in Wichita, where the righty will begin his time in the organization.

That Wittgren is headed to Double-A suggests hes not on the radar for an MLB call in the near future. He has plenty of big league experience, though, having tallied 329 1/3 innings over eight seasons. The 32-year-old righty was in the majors as recently as last year, throwing 29 innings of 4.97 ERA ball for the Royals. It was the third straight season in which his ERA hovered around 5.00.

Going back to the start of 2021, Wittgren carries a 5.24 earned run average in 120 1/3 frames. He was a solid middle relief option for Miami and Cleveland in the three preceding seasons, though. Between 2018-20, he fanned nearly a quarter of batters faced while working to a 2.97 ERA in 112 appearances. Wittgrens strikeout rate has plummeted in the last couple years, but he throws plenty of strikes and hasnt required an injured list stay since 2018.

The bullpen has been a strength despite Minnesotas pedestrian 11-13 start. Their relievers entered play Friday ranked fourth in MLB with a 2.60 ERA. Twins relievers have punched out 30% of opposing hitters, the highest rate in the majors. The group should only improve in the coming weeks as they welcome back two high-leverage arms from injury. Star closer Jhoan Duran (oblique strain) and offseason pickup Justin Topa (knee tendinitis) have been on the IL all season. Theyre each on minor league rehab stints and could return before the end of the month.
MIDLAND, MI  At downtown Midlands WhichCraft Taproom, customers have several beverages to choose from, and all of them are Michigan-made.

WhichCraft Taproom, located at 124 Ashman St., opened for business in September 2013. Wife-and-husband team, Sharon and Richard Caldwell, set out to create a place for Michigan-based beer, wine, cider, mead and liquor to be served.
ANN ARBOR, MI  Patients at C.S. Mott Childrens Hospital received a fun surprise on Friday, April 26, during an annual Superhero Day.

Three window washers, dressed as Batman, Thor, and Superman cleaned windows together at the hospital to kickoff the event.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Former congressman Peter Meijer has dropped out of the Republican primary race for Michigans open U.S. Senate seat, saying the fundamentals of the race have changed significantly since he launched his campaign in November.

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, he said in a statement.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Grand Rapids Fire Department rescue personnel rappeled down City Hall as a part of a rope rescue training course on Friday, April 26.

Michigan Urban Search and Rescue provided instruction for the exercise. The non-profit organization has provided technical rescue field training to first responders since 1991.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Hyundai is looking to put a crimp in thefts of its vehicles by offering a three-day Grand Rapids auto clinic for installing updated anti-theft software.

Thefts of Hyundai and Kia vehicles surged in recent years because of social media-inspired challenges where people showed how to start the cars without a key and with relative ease.
JACKSON COUNTY, MI  Mary Nichols wanted to offer more variety on the menu when she and her husband Kurt opened The Bar next door to their Marinos Pizza restaurant.

Which is why the menu at The Bar features a range of burgers, wraps, salads and grilled sandwiches. People can still order pizza, but Nichols wanted to make sure they had more choices, she said.

Related: Marinos Pizza & More, which is celebrating 25 years in business, serves top-shelf ingredients, owner says

We try to hit what everybody wants, Nichols said.

Since opening in January in the former Key Largo Lounge near Jackson, Nichols said she and chef Max Gauss have created the menu, which is still being adjusted. But so far, burgers have been popular with patrons.

Burger patties are slow cooked, and the beef is purchased locally, Nichols said. People can choose from toppings that include a choice of cheese, mustard, ketchup, pickles, onions, relish, lettuce, tomato, olives and jalapenos, she said, adding they can add almost anything.

If you want to ask us for something different, well do it, Nichols said.

The Reuben also has been a big seller, and includes sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and Thousand Island dressing. Customers can also get a turkey Reuben, which is topped with coleslaw.

Thats been equally as popular, Nichols said, of the turkey Reuben. Its a little lighter.

Items are being added to the menu all the time, she said. People can expect to find a pork sandwich with bacon jam, Coney dogs and some specialty pizzas, only featured in The Bar added in the future, Nichols said.

The Bar also features a full bar and six beers on tap.

Key Largo closed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Marinos saw the potential to use the empty space for catering and private events, which had been lacking since it sold its Parnall Road location to Blackman Township in 2023.

Related: A Marinos Pizza location is closing in Jackson County, but the building wont be vacant

However, after seeing a demand from people for a bar, Nichols and her husband decided to reopen it under a simple name  The Bar.

Some people call it Key Largo, some people call it The Bar, Nichols said. I said, I dont really care what you call it as long as you come in.

Nichols, her husband and their kids, Jenny and Maverick, renovated the space with new flooring, seating and bathrooms. While it looks different than the former Key Largo Lounge, people can still find the old mirror the back of the bar, she said.

The Bar, 1896 Horton Road, is open 3 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. More information can be found on its Facebook page.

Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter.
MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI  A 29-year-old man was seriously injured in an off-road vehicle (ORV) crash in Muskegon County on Friday, April 26.

Sheriffs deputies were dispatched around noon Friday to a crash between an ORV and a vehicle, in the area of Louisa Road and Forest Road in Blue Lake Township, according to a news release from the Muskegon County Sheriffs Office.
ANN ARBOR, MI Chelsea held their prom at Michigan Stadium on Friday, April 26.

Over 400 students gathered at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. The Masquerade themed prom featured a look at the Michigan locker room and field for the attendees.

Click here to see all 84 photos from Chelseas 2024 prom or scroll through the gallery above.

You must be a subscriber to view the photo gallery. Subscribers click the Get photo link to download high-resolution images right to their device for free as part of their subscription. To subscribe, click this link.

To see all of MLives prom coverage, click this link.
Lulus Pub at the Downtown Bazaar closed Friday after the New York State Liquor Authority denied its permanent tavern liquor license, according to owner Joseph Joy.

Lulus Pub opened in June in the Downtown Bazaar (617 Main St.), a business incubator food hall run by the nonprofit WEDI (Westminster Economic Development Initiative). Joy has since been serving beer and wine using a temporary liquor license, for which he reapplied monthly, while he has been awaiting approval of his permanent tavern liquor license.

Lulu's Pub opens at Downtown Bazaar The Downtown Bazaar has food from around the world, and now it also has international beer, wine and cider to go with it.

On Thursday, he received a letter through his attorney from the State Liquor Authority that asked him to withdraw and refile his liquor license application because of the Downtown Bazaars layout. Lulus Pub shares the cafeteria-style space with five restaurant kiosks and is the only one that serves alcohol and has a liquor license.

A tavern liquor license, usually appropriate for restaurants that dont serve full meals, requires that the bar isnt directly accessible from any other businesses, according to the State Liquor Authority. Joy has used stanchion rope dividers to separate his bar from the other restaurants and create boundaries denoting where alcohol can and cant be consumed within the space.

But in order to share interior access, as it is set up at the Downtown Bazaar, a bar must have a different kind of license called a restaurant liquor license.

The State Liquor Authority said it received a withdrawal request with the understanding that Lulus Pub would resubmit its application for a license type that qualifies within the confines of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.

The SLA looks forward to working with the applicant and their representative to file for a licensable premises they can get up and running quickly, Patrick Garrett, public information specialist for the New York State Liquor Authority, said in a statement.

A restaurant industry veteran, Joy left a steady job to open Lulus Pub last year to help build foot traffic and support the incubation spaces.

I have a 13-year-old daughter. I have a life, and now everything is just thrown into turmoil because all the money and time Ive invested over the last year in the Downtown Bazaar and Lulus Pub is all for nothing, Joy said.

Joy is appealing the decision with the State Liquor Authority and asking for support from government representatives and the public.

Without the pub itself helping drive in traffic ... theres going to be a gap, Joy said. To have WEDI and the Downtown Bazaar in the heart of the Theater District, where we have people from out of town come and theatergoers, it just shows a vibrant part of Buffalo you dont see every day, and it just hurts the whole community.

The Downtown Bazaar is home to five restaurants selling a variety of authentic international cuisine, from Ethiopian to Burmese food, supported by WEDI in the hopes that theyll become independent restaurants one day.
Hes controversial. He has a famous last name. His candidacy may determine whos the next U.S. president.

And on Saturday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was at Koteckis Grandview Grove in West Seneca to speak at an event sponsored by the Constitutional Coalition of New York State. More than 300 people attended the $50-per-seat event, listening to the independent presidential candidate lecture about vaccines, environmental protection, Constitutional rights, and health and politics.

After a brief story about his first trip to Buffalo when he was 10, Kennedy launched into a 40-minute speech about the countrys national debt, involvement in wars and his priority of ending the chronic disease epidemic.

None of the presidential candidates are going to talk about this and none of them are going to do anything about it, Kennedy said.

Kennedy also focused plenty on his criticism on the countrys response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the trust-the-experts approach to vaccinations, arguing that merely trusting the experts is not how democracy works.

If you dont think the government is lying to you, youre not paying attention, said Kennedy.

Kennedy, the son of former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, is a polarizing figure in the U.S. presidential race. Hes an environmental lawyer who has been criticized for his views on vaccines as well as pushing what some deem conspiracy theories. Still, his famous name and his appeal among voters disenchanted with President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump means he could play the role of spoiler in determining which of the two candidates emerges victorious this November.

Kennedys campaign is racing to get his name on the ballot in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, something that wont be easy as an independent candidate.

Kennedy has reportedly officially qualified for ballot access in three states  Utah, Michigan and Hawaii  and his campaign has claimed it has enough signatures to get him on the ballot in several other states.

New York is among the more difficult states to get on the ballot as an independent candidate, requiring a minimum of 45,000 signatures during a narrow six-week window that ends May 28.

In an interview with The Buffalo News this week, Kennedy said his campaign has volunteers working in almost every county in New York State to collect signatures. In the campaigns first week of gathering signatures, Kennedy said they were able to collect 10,000.

Were going to shoot for about 80,000, Kennedy said.

Campaign volunteers were busy gathering signatures at Saturdays event, as attendees drank coffee and munched on doughnut holes while waiting for Kennedy to arrive.

Niagara Falls resident Patrick Posey, dressed in a tie-dye Kennedy shirt, grabbed a good seat in the fourth row. Posey, who is interested in access to better food, air and water, said he is drawn to Kennedys environmental views and admires his past work helping to clean up the Hudson River.

If Kennedy is on the ballot in New York come November, Posey plans to vote for him.

I like his ideas, and I like how hes trying to maybe be less polarizing, Posey said. He seems to be the best of both parties.

Kennedys controversial views

Kennedy has had no shortage of views that have generated controversy, perhaps none more so than his stance on vaccines.

In an interview with The News, Kennedy claimed his views on vaccines have been distorted in the media.

If people want to get vaccinated, they ought to be able to, and we ought to have good science  safety science and efficacy science  on every vaccine, and we ought to be open and transparent about it, said Kennedy, adding that we should all have informed choice.

But a deep examination by the Associated Press in July, which reviewed campaign finance filings and Kennedys public statements, found that the anti-vaccine movement lies at the heart of his campaign. Kennedy also leads Childrens Health Defense, a nonprofit group mostly known for its anti-vaccine views and claims.

Further, a three-part series by FactCheck.org, a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, found Kennedy has opposed vaccines since at least 2005, around the time he penned an article in Rolling Stone and Salon that peddled the since debunked idea that certain vaccine ingredients cause autism.

And in 2021, a year into the Covid-19 pandemic, the Center for Countering Digital Hate put Kennedy on its Disinformation Dozen, described as 12 anti-vaxxers who played major roles in spreading misinformation about Covid vaccines.

Dr. Thomas Russo, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases in the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, called the Covid-19 vaccines a critically important public health tool, imperfect at preventing infection but effective at decreasing the likelihood that a person will get severely ill from the virus.

Individuals that have disseminated misinformation about it have really been detrimental to the health and well-being of people in this country, Russo said. And its sort of sad and frustrating, because many Covid bad outcomes are preventable through vaccination.

What hes running on

When asked by The News about the issues hes running on, Kennedy did not mention vaccines in his three-minute answer.

Instead, he homed in on economic issues such as affordability and specifically the unavailability of housing for an entire generation of kids.

He said the younger population will be a generation of renters if the housing crisis continues, and he called that scenario a disaster for America. He argued homeowners are more ingrained in their communities, likely to care deeply about schools, hospitals and other local institutions. Homeowners, he said, also build equity, which he said is important for those who have an entrepreneurial impulse that they want to pursue.

The central promise of the American dream when I was growing up was that if you worked hard, and you played by the rules, you could finance a home, you could take a summer vacation, you could put something aside for your retirement and raise your family on a single job, Kennedy said.

He said younger generations such as millennials  those born between 1981 and 1996  no longer believe that promise applies to them, and theyre losing faith in our country.

Kennedy said he also wants to unravel the countrys addiction to forever wars, end the chronic disease epidemic for Americans and focus on good food and regenerative agriculture, rather than processed foods.

Kennedy is a former senior attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council and had built a reputation for efforts to clean up waterways.

But on April 19, the National Resources Defense Council Action Fund called on Kennedy to drop out of the presidential race.

Joe Biden is the real environmental candidate in this race, said Manish Bapna, the action funds president and CEO.

Could Kennedy determine the winner?

Shawn Donahue, an assistant professor of political science at UB, said Kennedys views dont fit in one particular basket.

I think he has some views that are more liberal and some views that are more conservative, more aligned with Trump, Donahue said.

That means Kennedy is a hard candidate to figure out, making it difficult to know whether he will take more voters away from Trump or Biden.

National polls have come to different conclusions.

A recent NBC News poll, with a margin of error of plus-minus 3.1 percentage points, showed Biden with a 2-point advantage over Trump, at 39% to 37%. In that poll, which includes five named candidates, Kennedy got 13% of the vote, while other third-party candidates Jill Stein and Cornel West received 3% and 2%, respectively.

In the head-to-head matchup, that poll found Trump led Biden by 2 percentage points, 46% to 44%.

Other earlier polls, however, have shown Kennedy chipping into Biden, likely off the strength of his famous name.

Donahue said thats likely a primary reason why more than a dozen members of the Kennedy family endorsed Biden at a campaign stop April 18 in Philadelphia.

When asked about those endorsements by The News, Kennedy said there are 105 members of his family and several of them are working on his campaign.

Were a big Irish family, Kennedy said. Theres rarely any issues on which we all agree.

Donahue also noted that many Americans have a negative view of Biden and Trump. A Gallup poll released in January found Biden was viewed favorably by 41% of U.S. adults, versus 42% for Trump.

That creates an opening for a candidate such as Kennedy to lure some votes.

But its difficult to know which voters hell get.

As Kennedy put it: I draw voters from across the spectrum.

Former Erie County Comptroller Stefan Mychajliw, a Trump supporter and Republican politician, was outside Kennedys event in West Seneca, handing out flyers supporting Trump and criticizing RFKs left-wing agenda.

In a statement Saturday, Erie County Democratic Party chairman Jeremy Zellner said Kennedy "is the flip side of the Trump coin and differs very little from the MAGA extremism that now defines the American Right."

A long-planned event

Nancie Orticelli, president of the Constitutional Coalition of New York State, said her organization started planning Saturdays event before Kennedy announced his presidential campaign last year.

Orticelli described her organization as pretty much nonpartisan, even though we do subscribe to a lot of conservative ideologies based on the Constitution. Zellner has previously called the Constitutional Coalition a far-right extremist group.

One of the coalitions biggest priorities is what Orticelli called medical freedom, particularly as it pertains to vaccines.

Were not saying vaccines are bad, said Orticelli, a West Seneca resident. Were saying that people should have a choice, whether or not to inject themselves with something that they may not trust fully.

The Constitutional Coalition became more involved in that topic in 2019 when New York State decided to no longer allow religious exemptions from mandated vaccinations for children attending school.

She made clear, however, that Saturdays event was not an endorsement of Kennedy.

In fact, she noted, most coalition members and followers are probably voting for President Trump.
A popular Iraqi social media star has been shot dead outside her home in Baghdad, officials said.

The TikTok influencer Om Fahad, real name Ghufran Sawadi, was shot inside her car by unknown assailants on Friday, Iraqs interior ministry said in a statement. It described Ms Sawadi as being known on social networking sites.

She was shot dead in Baghdads eastern Zayne neighbourhood by a gunman on a motorbike, according to footage of the attack shared by private Iraqi news outlet Al Sharqiya.

A specialised work team has been set up to probe the circumstances leading to her death, the interior ministry said.

The attacker appeared to have been pretending to make a food delivery to the victim, according to an Iraqi security source, reported the AFP news agency.

Another woman was also injured in the attack, reported the US-owned Al Hurra news agency.

The influencer was known for sharing videos of herself dancing and wearing tight-fitting clothes. She danced to Iraqi pop music and made light-hearted videos, becoming an instant hit and engaging tens of thousands of followers.

But her videos upset some portions of Iraqs conservative, Muslim-majority society. In February last year she was sentenced to six months in prison for sharing videos containing indecent speech that undermines modesty and public morality.

Her sentencing came a month after the countrys interior ministry formed a committee to investigate reports of what it called indecent posts and set up a website for public complaints. The site received tens of thousands of reports.

The ministry said it would clean up social media content it found to have breached Iraqs morals and traditions.

A month later, judicial authorities announced the courts had charged 14 people for posting content labelled indecent or immoral; six were sentenced to prison time.

Among those targeted were Ms Sawadi and other people who posted videos of music, comedy skits and sarcastic social commentary. Some showed dance moves deemed provocative, used obscene language or raised sensitive social issues such as gender relations.
A tourist has been fined 900 for getting too close to a walrus in Norway.

Members of the public alerted the local authorities in the Norwegian Arctic archipelago of Svalbard after they saw a man going onto an ice floe to approach the animal. It is thought he was trying to get a photo of the animal.

The tourist from Poland is seen standing too close to the walrus (The Governor of Svalbard)

Under local law, it is illegal to cause unnecessary disturbance to wildlife in Svalberg, which lies halfway between the northern coast of mainland Norway and the North Pole.

The Svalbard Environment Act protects against disturbing polar bears, seals, whales, reindeer and arctic foxes, as well as walruses.

The man, believed to be from Poland, was taken to the governors office after the incident and fined 12,500 Norwegian Kroner, roughly equivalent to 900.

The governor encourages everyone to keep a good distance from walruses so that they are not disturbed and so that no danger to people occurs, the governors office said in a statement.

Police prosecutor Magnus Rindal Fredriksen said the incident happened very close to Longyearbyen, at the bottom of the fjord. He said the tourist had arrived in the area on the same day.

Walruses in Svalbard became protected in 1952 after heavy commercial exploitation over the previous three centuries had reduced the local population to just a few hundred.

Since the measures were introduced, the population of walruses has grown steadily but it remains on the Norwegian National Red List.

The Norwegian government has announced tougher regulations over concerns with the impact of tourism and climate change due to come into place next year. They include a ban on getting within 150 metres of a walrus. Other measures include a cap on cruise ships and designated landing sites.

Svalbard is popular with tourists during spring and summer as the sun doesnt set at night in the high Arctic during what is known as midnight sun.
Tourist fined for getting too close to Walrus in Norway

A tourist visiting the Norwegian Arctic archipelago of Svalbard has been fined the equivalent of 900 for getting too close to a walrus to take a picture.

Members of the public alerted local authorities when they saw him going onto an ice floe and disturb the mammal.

The law in Svalbard stipulates people must not conduct themselves in a way which causes unnecessary disturbance of wildlife.

The incident happened near Longyearbyen, the worlds northernmost settlement, home to polar bears, seals, whales, reindeer and arctic foxes.

The tourist was subsequently brought to the governors office, where he accepted the fine.

Authorities encouraged everyone to keep a good distance from walruses.

Police prosecutor Magnus Rindal Fredriksen told the BBC that parts of the incident were observed by several of the governors employees.

Mr Rindal Fredriksen adding that the tourist, who is a Polish citizen, had arrived in the area on the same day.

He said: Why did he do it? He was after a good picture.

Despite decades of protection, the number of walruses in the region is still low.

They remain on the Norwegian National Red List, which identifies species at risk of going extinct.

Because of concerns over the impact of tourism and climate change, the Norwegian government has announced tougher regulations, coming into place next year, that include a ban on getting within 150 metres of a walrus.

Other measures include a cap on cruise ships and designated landing sites.
FILE PHOTO: A logo is pictured outside the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva

GENEVA (Reuters) - Countries in the World Trade Organization are resuming stalled negotiations on fixing its dispute settlement system by the end of this year, a document showed on Friday, after they overcame difficulties in choosing a chief negotiator.

The talks aim to replace and reform the trade watchdog's appeals bench, which has been mothballed since 2019 because of opposition to judge appointments by the United States, which cited overreach. This has left more than 30 trade disputes unresolved.

Ambassador Usha Dwarka-Canabady from Mauritius, a career diplomat, was announced as chief negotiator this month after at least three other ambassadors turned the role down, trade sources said.

The previous facilitator, Marco Molina from Guatemala, was abruptly dismissed by his government in February despite widespread praise for his approach which, unlike other WTO talks, sought to reduce haggling by encouraging co-authorship of new rules.

In an email sent to countries, Dwarka-Canabady has called WTO delegates in for consultations at the WTO's Geneva headquarters next week to "identify priority issues for future discussions".

The U.S. delegate welcomed her appointment.

"While we recognize that considerable work remains and that achieving fundamental dispute settlement reform will not be easy, United States remains committed to continuing an interest-based approach to the discussions," the U.S. delegate told a WTO meeting on Friday.

(Reporting by Emma Farge, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
Chirag Daruwalla is an astrologer with more than 18 years of experience advising clients on career, health, finance, business, money, and love marriage related queries, and on all kinds of life and work problems. Visit chiragdaruwalla.com, call/Whatsapp +91 8141566266 or email info@chiragdaruwalla.com
Abhishek Sahu covers HR and Education (Careers) at Moneycontrol. He can be reached at Abhishek.Sahu@nw18.com and @Abhishek44sahu.
You are already a Moneycontrol Pro user.

OK
Christin Mathew Philip is an Assistant editor at moneycontrol.com. Based in Bengaluru, he writes on mobility, infrastructure and start-ups. He is a Ramnath Goenka excellence in journalism awardee. You can find him on Twitter here: twitter.com/ChristinMP_
Follow us on:

80% BJP supporters, but only 20% casting votes, says Tejasvi Surya in appeal to voters
Follow us on:

Bengaluru Lok Sabha Elections 2024: EC rules out reports of alleged non-activation of ballot unit after WhatsApp audio goes viral
Follow us on:

BJP to launch campaign in Chandigarh to expose Tewari's 'failures' as MP
Follow us on:

Election wrap: YSRCP releases Lok Sabha poll manifesto, Kharge on candidates for Amethi, Rae Bareli, and more
Follow us on:

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Why Amritpal Singh can contest elections while Arvind Kejriwal cannot vote
Follow us on:

Lok Sabha Elections: Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita holds debut campaign, says nobody can 'break' Delhi CM
Follow us on:

Make Modi PM for third time to end terrorism and Naxalism: Shah
Follow us on:

'Shehzada', quota quotes, and LIC tagline: Modi of 2013 is back after 10 years
Follow us on:

Amethi, Raebareli in focus as Congress set to finalise candidates for Lok Sabha elections today
OTHERS

OTHERS

Follow us on:

My Account

or

or

Hello, Login

All

Kim Kardashian joins US Vice President Kamala Harris in White House to discuss criminal justice reform
Follow us on:

Priyanka Chopra congratulates cousin Mannara Chopra as she gets GQ's Most Influential Young Indians honour
OTHERS

OTHERS

Follow us on:

My Account

or

or

Hello, Login

All

India, Chinese Taipei ask WTO body to delay ruling on ICT import duties dispute till July 26
Yash Sadhak Shrivastava is an aspiring voice in the Journalistic forefront with experience in covering financial markets & geopolitics.
OTHERS

OTHERS

Follow us on:

My Account

or

or

Hello, Login

All

Daily Voice: This CIO advises picking midcap ideas from these 7 high growth segments
Follow us on:

Having your cake and eating it too
Follow us on:

Indefinite shutdown of businesses begins in Nagaland in protest against extortion
Now the joke is you cannot become a CEO in America if you are not Indian: US Ambassador Garcetti
Follow us on:

Remarks on ADR by Justice Dutta: 'Shockingly Unjustified' says Prashant Bhushan; 'Reflects poorly on ADR' says TV Mohandas Pai
Smith joins NCF as the affiliated fund development coordinator for Northeast Nebraska, where she will work with volunteer leaders to build community awareness, conduct fundraising efforts and increase community impact through grantmaking and resident engagement.

Smith most recently served as the director of economic development and housing for Albion Economic Development Corporation in Albion. Her work there, combined with her experience as a director of faith formation for Families in Faith Catholic Parishes and as an assistant for the University of Nebraska Extension in Seward County, prepared her for the relationship-building and guidance role she will occupy for NCF affiliated funds in northeast Nebraska.
Follow us on:

No evidence of arms seizure in Sandeshkhali, recovered items might be brought by CBI: Mamata Banerjee
Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day
Best cities to find a job in the US
Follow us on:

China launches first of the 8 Hangor-class submarine built for Pakistan
Follow us on:

Indian man jailed in UK for 16 years for attempted murder of ex-girlfriend
Kamryn Jaeger of Columbus has been accepted into Peru State Colleges Rural Health Opportunities Program. The RHOP Program is offered to students who come from a rural background and have a strong desire to pursue a career in the field of healthcare.

Jaeger, a senior at Columbus High School, will major in nursing.

RHOP is a cooperative program between Peru State and the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The program's purpose is to recruit and educate students from rural communities who plan to return to rural areas to practice. Students accepted into the highly selective program will receive a full tuition waiver from Peru State. Those who meet all RHOP program requirements and complete their pre-professional curriculum will be accepted to the UNMC to continue their studies.

The RHOP program at Peru State College began in 2012. Wayne State College and Chadron State College also have cooperative programs with UNMC in RHOP. Peru State, Wayne State, and Chadron State are all part of the Nebraska State College System.
Lexus Hill and Lindy Schmidt have been selected to attend the 2024 American Legion Auxiliary Cornhusker Girls State Program which will take place June 2-8, 2024, on the campus of the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.

Lexus and Lindy are sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary Post #322 of Monroe. They will have the opportunity to study local, county, and state government processes in a nonpartisan political learning experience. Delegates receive special instruction in parliamentary procedure and organize themselves into two mythical political parties. They then campaign, hold rallies, debate, and ultimately vote to elect city, county, and state officials.

Once elected to office, delegates are sworn in and perform their prescribed duties. Citizens not elected to office are given appointments and will attend meetings with the offices of their elected or appointed counterparts in actual state, county, and city government. Two outstanding citizens known as senators are selected at each of the sessions held across the country to represent their state at the National Girls and Boys State event held in Washington, D.C. in July.

Lexus attends Columbus High School and is the daughter of Byron and Melissa Hill of Columbus. Lindy attends Twin River School and is the daughter of Andy and Stephanie Schmidt of rural Monroe.
THE United States of America (US) has accused the Zimbabwean government of lacking the political will to put behind bars human rights abusers after failing to identify, investigate, or prosecute officials who may have committed human rights abuses.

This comes after the country was earlier this year ranked among the worlds worst performers in terms of human freedom by the Human Freedom Index.

In their Zimbabwe 2023 Human Rights Report, the Joe Biden administration said significant human rights issues included credible reports of arbitrary or unlawful killings, extrajudicial killings, cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by the government and harsh and life-threatening prison conditions.

The government did not take credible steps to identify, investigate, or prosecute officials who may have committed human rights abuses. There were credible reports of human rights abuses by criminal gangs in the artisanal and small-scale mining sector. Authorities did not systematically investigate or prosecute such abuses, reads the report.

There were several reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings, including extrajudicial killings, during the year. On September 15, Persuade Mandara was reportedly killed in Mashonaland Central province by [the] Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).

According to the Human Rights NGO Forum, officers investigating his connection with a grain theft case broke into Mandaras home, assaulted him with burning logs that were being used for cooking, and fired gunshots.

The US said throughout last year security forces used excessive force to apprehend, detain and interrogate criminal suspects.

Police and military officers used excessive force and violent means to disperse peaceful demonstrations and to disrupt informal trading. Security forces often acted in the interest of the ruling party.

On January 14, members of the ZRP assaulted Kudzai Kadzere, a member of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), in Budiriro while he was responding to a call for legal assistance by a group of opposition supporters. ZLHR stated police officers used truncheons and fists to assault Kadzere, leading to injuries including a fractured hand, reads the report.

The report said prison conditions were harsh and life threatening due to overcrowding, food shortages, lack of water, lice infestations, shortage of blankets in the cold season, physical mistreatment of prisoners and lack of access to personal hygiene products, as well as inadequate sanitary conditions and medical care.

The Constitution and law prohibited arbitrary arrest and detention, although other sections of the law effectively weakened these prohibitions. The governments enforcement of security laws often conflicted with the constitution. Security forces arbitrarily arrested and detained persons, particularly political and civil society activists, labour leaders, street vendors and journalists perceived as opposing the government, the report reads.

The government regularly used arbitrary arrest and detention as tools of intimidation and harassment, especially against opposition party members, political activists, civil society members, journalists, attorneys and ordinary citizens asserting their rights.

The US added: The constitution protected property rights, but the government frequently violated this right. On January 7, media reported two ruling party Zimbabwe African National Union-Popular Front (Zanu-PF) activists seized a sugar plantation belonging to a white commercial farmer in Mwenezi, Masvingo province, leaving the owners and scores of workers and their children homeless.

The Biden administration described the August 2023 harmonised elections as not be fair and free of abuses and irregularities.

The night of August 23, the ZRP conducted raids at two local observation-related centres, leading to the arrest of 35 members of the Election Resource Centre and Zimbabwe Election Support Network for allegedly planning to illegally announce election results. The ZRP also confiscated computers and laptops and visited the homes of two local observers, the US noted.

Both Information minister Jenfan Muswere and his secretary Nick Mangwana could not be reached for comment as they were not picking up calls by the time of going to print.

Zanu PF information director Farai Marapira demanded the US to substantiate its allegations.

Accusations and observations unsubstantiated by verified facts serve to expose the speaker not the spoken of. The US needs to lose agendarism [sic] and vindictive engagement with governments that refuse to cower before it. We are undeterred in our mission to serve our people and the Presidents doors remain open to genuine impartial overtures for engagement. In the absence of that, as Zanu PF we march on unfazed, unbothered and more resolute, Marapira said. NewsDay.

Breaking News via Email

Related Zimbabwe Latest News
A Ghana newspaper, Daily Guide, revealed a decade ago that over 1 700 pastors and men of God from different parts of Africa have approached the seemingly most powerful sangoma in Ghana for powers to perform miracles.

So authoritative is the much-dreaded fetish Priest Nana Kwaku Bonsam of Ghana that he openly and publicly dares any of his critics to challenge him in a battle of supernatural powers.

Nana Kwaku Bonsam has got his shrine at Sa-Peiman, a village on the outskirts of Nsawam in the eastern region of Ghana.

His god is called Kofi-Kofi, and is the one who provides him with supernatural powers that are desperately needed by different pastors from all walks of life.

The Ghanaian newspaper reported that after visiting Nana Kwaku Bonsam, hundreds of top-of-the-range cars were seen parked at his shrine as various prominent businesspeople and celebrated church founders gathered to secure his services.

The rule is that one could only enter the shrine barefooted and without a phone or a wrist watch.

The fetish priest is by no means a poor man, as anyone who enters his shrine for consultation pays an amount of about US$5 000 which excludes the cost of the rituals.

As part of his rituals, the priest hangs a cat alive and slaughters several fowls, a white dove, pigeons and goats and then spills the blood on his god.

The inner shrine is packed with several other gods and also has many cartons of talcum powder, bibles, razor-sharp machetes hung around the room, a rifle, golden rings, money, padlocks, calabashes and many other items which are veiled.

Narrating in an interview how powerful he is, the much-dreaded man boasted of his capabilities.

Im a fetish priest; a powerful one of course, and I use my powers to heal the sick, help people who want to travel abroad, help traders get better sales, protect people from fraudsters, disempower witches and wizards or help people who have one problem or the other.

I am well-known for the wonders I perform in this country so I receive people from all parts of the country and even people from other countries, he said.

The self-styled sangoma was quoted in an interview with Ghanas Daily Guide as having said he once produced miracle money before a highly-respected traditional chief.

I produced money, a gold watch, handkerchief and other things there and that was so wonderful before the chief of Techiman. At the palace, I was able to plant cocoa seeds and they germinated on that same day; I planted a mango seed and it germinated the same day and I killed a house-fly, resurrected it and made it fly round for all to see, he said.

Still on miracle money, Nana Kwaku Bonsam said when he started performing his miracles, anything that he touched turned into money.

Anything I touched turned into money and I even stood on a fresh egg, which did not break, he said.

The sangoma confirmed that indeed there are pastors who have, and still approach him seeking powers to start prominent churches and perform miracles.

Yes it is true. I give powers to perform miracles to a lot of pastors. Currently I have over 1 700 and something pastors; I might need to look into my register for the figure.

When they come to me I give golden rings to some of them after taking them through a ritual bath. I give them the ring and a Bible and the power I want them to get is what I put in the ring.

I give some the power to heal, others to see into the future and or the past, or do anything I want them to do. It helps their churches get more members who always want to see signs and wonders, he revealed.

Asked if he would expose the false pastors who acquired powers from him to perform miracles, the sangoma said: I am only against those false pastors who have come to me for powers and yet are not keeping their mouths shut but rather making provocative statements against me.

I am also against those who have gone for powers from other shrines yet preach against us and do not abide by our rules.

Nana Kwaku Bonsam further showcased his talent of unbelievable miracles: I can produce money from nowhere. I can plant a palm tree and make it grow that same day. I can pull the edge of a sharpened cutlass on my throat without it cutting me. And I can heal a lot of sicknesses, he said.

The fetish priest attacked flamboyant pastors who enrich themselves at the expense of their followers.

Some of them are using the church for fashion parade. Listen to how they preach in their churches and how they mention the names of their church members who have Aids.

Why are they riding in a lot of cars when their church members are hungry? The Bible itself says we should all bring our belongings, sell and share with the poor and needy.

Was that not why Jesus beat up the gamblers in the temple? Some pastors today are virtually being worshipped by their church members, when Jesus himself was a humble person, he said.

He said if he wanted he could do like any other false pastor who disguises using the bible

I was born Stephen Osei Mensah. I was not born a fetish priest. I was attending church when I got possessed and if I wanted to do what others (false prophets) are doing I would have attached my fetish to my Bible and called myself Reverend Stephen Osei Mensah, he said.

Several Ghanaian pastors and bishops have previously challenged Nana Kwaku Bonsam, but they all couldnt take the risk.

According to Bishop Obinim, founder of International Gods Way Church, if any pastor dare doubts the anointing God has given him, the person should meet him and he will call thunder from Heaven to strike him. Nana Kwaku Bonsam came forward and took up the challenge and Bishop Obinim reportedly gave excuses resulting in the spiritual wrestling failing to take place.

Prophet Nicholas Osei alias Kumchacha also challenged the renowned fetish priest for a spiritual battle after arranging to meet at Tema-based Adom FMs premises in Ghana. However, a mammoth crowd that besieged the premises to witness the grand spiritual showdown got disappointed after Prophet Kumchacha made second thoughts at the last minute and failed to turn up.

Several Zimbabweans have been to Ghana and other West African countries. Some of them returned back home and became so powerful in their line of industry. Daily Guide.

Breaking News via Email

Related Zimbabwe Latest News
Yves here. This post somewhat buries its lede by starting first with nation-level biodiversity initiatives, particularly to protect rainforests. It then presents a list of four big bad actors in deforestation. Most are likely to be new names to NC readers.

By Laurel Sutherlin, the senior communications strategist for Rainforest Action Network and a contributor to the Observatory. He is a lifelong environmental and human rights campaigner, naturalist, and outdoor educator passionate about birds and wild places. Follow him on Twitter @laurelsutherlin. Produced by Earth | Food | Life , a project of the Independent Media Institute

In a global context where tropical rainforests play a critical role in biodiversity conservation and climate regulation, these ecosystems are severely threatened by expanding agribusiness and logging activities. This poses significant risks to the environment, wildlife, and communities dependent on rainforests.

Against the backdrop of escalating climate change impacts, urgent action is needed to prevent the collapse of these vital ecosystems and address the injustices faced by Indigenous and local communities and workers within the agricultural sector.

The ratification of the UN Global Biodiversity Framework in December 2022 marked a pivotal moment, signaling a collective commitment by 196 countries to reverse the decline in global biodiversity. However, financial institutions have historically failed to address their role in exacerbating the biodiversity crisis.

A 2023 report by Forests and Financea coalition of campaign, grassroots and research organizations that includes TuK Indonesia, Profundo, Amazon Watch, Reporter Brasil, BankTrack, Sahabat Alam Malaysia, Friends of the Earth U.S., and my organization, Rainforest Action Networksheds light on the extensive financial support provided to sectors responsible for tropical deforestation, including beef, palm oil, pulp and paper, rubber, soy, and timber. From January 2016 to September 2023, banks provided at least $307 billion in credit to these operations, states the report, while institutional investors held approximately $38 billion in related shares and bonds.

Despite fluctuations in financial flows, there has been no discernible downward trend in financing forest-risk commodity production. Alarmingly, the analysis of more than 100 financial institutions policies in 2023 revealed grossly inadequate safeguards against deforestation and its associated social and environmental impacts. The average policy score was just 17 percent, according to the report.

Entities like JBS, Cargill, Royal Golden Eagle, and Sinar Mas Group exemplify the egregious behaviors tolerated and enabled by banks and investors.

Demands to Correct a Systemic Issue

The report by Forests and Finance urged governments and financial institutions to adopt and enact five principles:

Halt and reverse biodiversity loss Uphold and prioritize the rights of Indigenous peoples, women, and local communities Facilitate a just transition Safeguard ecosystem integrity Harmonize institutional objectives across sectors, issues, and instruments

Immediate action is crucial to combat the climate and biodiversity crises. The report urges financial institutions to align their activities with sustainability goals, enact robust environmental and social policies, and ensure transparency and accountability. By holding the financial sector accountable for its role in enabling social and environmental harm, we can work toward preserving biodiversity and mitigating the impacts of climate change for current and future generations.

Notable Progress

The Forests and Finance report highlights the significant progress of tropical forest countries and key import and financial jurisdictions in promoting sustainable financial practices and combating deforestation. Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia, the United States, and the European Union have all taken notable steps toward integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations into their financial systems.

Brazil stands out for excluding industrial livestock activities from sustainable sovereign bonds and for being the first country to commit to integrating the International Sustainability Standards Boards IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards into its regulatory framework by 2026. Implementing these standards will help bolster Brazilian capital markets by amplifying transparency in sustainability-related risks and opportunities. This, in turn, will ensure that companies attract capital and foster global investments that are aligned to meeting the goals of nature protection and sustainable development.

Another initiative that supports sustainability is the implementation of green taxonomies. These taxonomies are meant to simplify guidelines regarding activities that support decarbonization objectives, including efforts to curtail deforestation and environmental degradation. This can bolster financiers confidence in investing in projects that move the needle toward a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy.

Indonesia introduced its Green Taxonomy in January 2022 to expedite financing for sustainable sectors. Indonesias joint targets under the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) include capping power sector emissions to 290 MT by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050, reportedLuthfyana Kartika Larasati and Tiza Mafira of the Climate Policy Initiative, an independent nonprofit research group based in San Francisco, in October 2023.

To achieve these [targets], phasing out coal-fired power plants while accelerating the deployment of renewable energy sources is necessary. As financiers are now reluctant to finance coal, a transition taxonomy defines measurable parameters within which coal investment is allowed in order to facilitate early coal decommissioning, wrote Larasati and Mafira.

Malaysia implemented the Value-based Intermediation Financing and Investment Impact Assessment Framework (VBIAF) in November 2019 and issued the Climate Change and Principle-based Taxonomy in 2021 to guide Islamic financial institutions.

Meanwhile, a March 2024 Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) climate disclosure rulingseems to be a step in the right direction toward the U.S. managing its climate risk, even though the move remains inadequate to effectively protect the worlds forests. On the procurement side, the new EU Deforestation Regulation, expected to take effect on December 30, 2024, provides a potentially powerful new tool for achieving supply chain traceability and transparency.

The European Union also approved new EU Taxonomy criteria in 2023 focusing on biodiversity protection and ecosystem restoration, despite criticism that it judged harmful sectors like forestry and bioenergy to be environmentally sustainable economic activities.

Forest-Risk Credit Trends

The report revealed that at least $307 billion in credit had been directed to forest-risk sectors from 2016 to September 2023. The beef sector dominated South America, while palm oil led in Southeast Asia and rubber in Central and West Africa. Primary beneficiaries included agro-commodity traders and companies with significant environmental and social violations.

While progress has been made, heightened attention and enhanced due diligence procedures are needed to address associated ESG risks and promote sustainable financial practices to combat deforestation and environmental degradation.

Big corporations launched the Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) in June 2021 to guide businesses in reporting nature-related dependencies. However, civil society organizations have repeatedly raised concerns about the task forces development, composition, approach, and potential for greenwashing.

Regional Analysis of Credit Flows

The analysis of regional credit flow and investment trends in forest-risk commodity sectors across South America, Southeast Asia, and Central and West Africa revealed significant financial flows and investments contributing to deforestation and environmental degradation.

In South America, the beef sector dominated forest-risk credit flows, followed by soy, and pulp and paper, with Banco do Brasil emerging as a significant creditor. Infamous beneficiaries included companies like Suzano and Marfrig.

In Southeast Asia, palm oil was the dominant recipient of forest-risk credit, followed by pulp, paper, and rubber. Indonesian banks played a significant role as financiers, with recipients including tycoon-owned conglomerates Sinar Mas Group (SME) and Royal Golden Eagle (RGE). Concerns over governance risks and greenwashing practices persisted despite reductions in primary forest loss.

Central and West Africa saw the rubber sector attracting the majority of forest-risk credit, with Chinese companies emerging as primary financiers. The Chinese Sinochem Group was the largest recipient of the credit, followed by China Forestry Group and Wilmar.

Despite fluctuations in credit flows, challenges remain in corporate structures and accountability. For instance, companies like SMG [and] RGE have established complex corporate structures that mask ownership relations. This poses serious governance risks and facilitates leakage and greenwashing. They have all been linked to egregious social and environmental harms for decades, states the report.

Forest-Risk Investments

Investments in activities likely to damage forests globally amounted to more than $38 billion, with palm oil receiving the most significant share, followed by pulp and paper. Major institutional investors like BlackRock and Vanguard increased their stakes in forest-risk commodity companies, while others maintained or reduced their investments.

In South America, investments were predominantly allocated to the pulp and paper sector, with Suzano being the highest recipient. Southeast Asia saw the most investment in palm oil companies, with Sime Darby Plantations and IOI Group among the leading recipients.

In Central and West Africa, palm oil companies also received the majority of investments, with Sumitomo Forestry and Itochu being prominent recipients.

Forest-Risk Policy Assessments

Forests and Finances assessment methodology evaluated financial institutions adherence to 38 criteria to avoid contributing to deforestation and associated ESG issues.

These criteria are categorized into environmental, social, and governance requirements, covering commitments to zero deforestation, respect for land rights, anti-corruption measures, and more.

Forest-risk policy assessments of more than 100 financial institutions revealed a lack of robust policies, with an average score of only 17 percent. Despite incremental improvements since 2016, vague language, unclear timeframes, and loopholes persisted, leading to continued facilitation of human rights violations and deforestation.

The analysis underscores the urgent need for heightened attention, enhanced due diligence, and more stringent policies to address associated environmental, social, and governance risks. It also highlights the need to promote sustainable financial practices in combating deforestation and ecological degradation in tropical forest regions.

Policies by Sector

Regarding sectoral policies, financial institutions exhibit the most robust policies for palm oil, followed closely by timber, and pulp and paper. However, the average scores for these sectors remain relatively low, indicating room for improvement despite sustained civil society campaigns and certification schemes existence.

The assessment of forest-risk bank policies reveals that, on average, the largest 30 forest-risk banks have higher overall policy scores than the largest forest-risk investors. However, the scores across the board are still low, reflecting minimal policy coverage across ESG criteria.

While some banks like CIMB and BNP Paribas scored relatively higher, others like Banco do Brasil and ICBC had notably low scores, indicating inadequate policies to address harmful activities.

Four Corporations Leading Destruction

The report highlights four corporationsCargill, JBS, Royal Golden Eagle, and Sinar Mas Groupthat continue to receive significant credit and investment from financial institutions despite having egregious environmental and social track records. Cargill, in particular, has received substantial credit for its soy operations in tropical forest regions despite having a legacy of human rights abuses and environmental degradation.

Cargill

Cargills expansion into the Brazilian Amazon and the Cerrado savanna has raised concerns due to decades of deforestation, violations of Indigenous peoples rights, and failures to meet deforestation commitments. Civil society campaigns, such as Burning Legacy, have aimed to hold Cargill accountable for its practices, documenting evidence of human rights abuses and deforestation in its supply chain.

Despite making commitments to ensure zero deforestation by 2020, Cargill has failed to meet its goals and has faced allegations of land grabbing and violations of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) rights.

The report also discusses the implications of the financialization of land and the role of the financial sector in exacerbating soy-driven deforestation through land speculation. It evaluates the policies of banks financing Cargill, revealing low scores and loopholes that weaken their effectiveness in preventing harm in forest-risk sectors.

JBS

The report delves into the multifaceted issues surrounding JBS, the Brazilian meat giant, and its impact on the Amazon rainforest, climate change, and local communities. Financed by major banks from Brazil, the United States, Europe, and Japan, JBS has received substantial credit and investment despite its documented history of harmful business practices. Since 2019, banks have provided more than $718 million in forest-risk beef credit to JBS, while investors held $667 million in bonds and shares as of September 2023.

JBSs operations in the Brazilian Amazon have devastating consequences for forests, biodiversity, and Indigenous and traditional communities. The companys practices include bribery, corruption, price fixing, forced labor and labor abuses, forest destruction, land grabbing, and contribution to climate change. Despite JBSs high-profile pledge to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040, independent research suggests that the company lacks a credible decarbonization plan, leading to allegations of greenwashing.

The exploitation of people and forests in the Amazon is a systemic issue linked to JBS. Between 2008 and 2020, the companys involvement in deforestation extended to approximately 200,000 hectares in its direct supply chain and 1.5 million hectares indirectly. Despite agreements to clean up its supply chain, JBS has failed to ensure its products are free from deforestation and forced labor, as evidenced by ongoing violations.

The assessment of JBS policies reveals concerning scores, indicating inadequate measures to prevent environmental harm and protect human rights. While some banks like Barclays scored relatively higher, others like Bradesco and BTG Pactual had alarmingly low scores, raising questions about their commitment to addressing crucial issues like deforestation and climate change.

The communities affected by these actions are now holding financial institutions supporting companies like JBS responsible for the environmental damage. In April 2024, the Parakana people met with the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) to ask for reparation for the devastation of their territory, including by JBS suppliers. The Brazilian bank holds 20 percent of the shares of JBS and is therefore considered co-responsible for the impacts.

Royal Golden Eagle Group

The report also reveals mounting evidence that the multibillion-dollar Royal Golden Eagle Group(RGE), which says on its website manages a group of world-class companies specializing in resource-based manufacturing, operates numerous shadow companies and complex offshore ownership schemes to hide their destruction of forests across Indonesia. Banks have poured more than $4.5 billion into forest-risk pulp and paper-attributable loans and underwriting services for RGEs operations between 2019 and 2023.

However, none of the financial institutions assessed have adequate policies to mitigate the negative impacts. Scores for RGEs top creditors range from 1 percent to 24 percent, indicating a lack of comprehensive policy coverage regarding forest-risk commodity sectors.

Sinar Mas Group

Sinar Mas Group (SMG), Indonesias largest conglomerate, has attracted substantial financing, receiving more than $20.3 billion in credit since 2019. Its palm oil division alone obtained $3.7 billion, primarily from Indonesian and Malaysian banks, between 2019 and September 2023. Despite this financial backing, SMG faces accusations of human rights abuses, massive greenhouse gas emissions, and large-scale deforestation, mainly through its pulp and paper division, Asia Pulp and Paper (APP).

The destruction of the Rawa Singkil Wildlife Reserve by illegal palm oil plantations linked to SMGs operations poses a significant concern, threatening biodiversity and local communities well-being within the Leuser Ecosystem. Despite documented evidence, SMG and its subsidiaries have failed to address these issues adequately, raising questions about their commitment to sustainability.

The report evaluates the policies of banks and investors financing SMG, revealing a spectrum of approaches. Malaysian banks CIMB and Maybank and Dutch bank Rabobank exhibit more robust policies, scoring highest for the palm oil sector. However, Indonesian banks such as Bank Panin, BRI, and Japanese bank MUFG have notably weaker policies, indicating insufficient measures to address environmental and social risks.

What Governments and Financial Institutions Can Do

The report underscores the urgent need for financial institutions to adopt robust policies and due diligence measures to address environmental and social risks associated with companies like JBS and RGE. Failure to do so perpetuates ecological destruction and human rights abuses and exposes banks and investors to significant financial and reputational risks.

Critically, the report also advocates for governments to step in and mandate financial sector regulation necessary to safeguard society and the ecosystems we depend on, consistent with international public policy goals. This is a problem that ultimately demands stronger, more systemic interventions. These could include, for example, prohibiting the allocation of capital to certain sectors or corporations driving ecosystem destruction and legislating for meaningful sanctions against financial institutions that fail to align their lending and investment accordingly.
NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana concluded a week-long trip to the United States on Friday (26 April 2024) with a speech at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. He discussed the current security landscape and NATOs agenda for the Washington Summit in July.

In Washington, we will not have just an anniversary Summit. We will take important decisions to strengthen our deterrence and defence, to put our support for Ukraine on a sustainable long-term footing, and to deepen our partnerships with other democracies around the world, Mr Geoana said.

Reflecting on shifts in global security since NATOs Chicago Summit in 2012, the Deputy Secretary General stressed that the picture today is very different  today, our security is under threat. He urged Allies to adapt and avoid making themselves dependent on adversaries for raw materials, technology and energy sources.

Deputy Secretary General Geoana started his visit in Washington DC, where he met with members of the US Senate, including from the Senate NATO Observers Group, as well as with Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, Deputy Under Secretary of Defence Melissa Dalton, and senior officials at the National Security Council. He also met members of the US Commission on the National Defence Strategy and the Rand Corporation.

Throughout his trip, which also took him to Harvard, MIT, and Purdue University, Mr Geoana engaged with students, academics, and innovators  highlighting their importance in meeting emerging security challenges.
The Biden regime is showing America what fascism truly is  The question now is whether they will get us into a nuclear world war before or after creating a hot civil war

As Joe Biden, Democrat politicians, the MSM, and liberals all across the internet screech and claim Donald Trump is a fascist, it is Joe Biden and his puppet masters that have taken actions throughout their time in the White House, that fits the literal definition of fascism.

(Article by Susan Duclos republished from AllNewsPipeline.com)

I have never appreciated the U.S. using it's military and monetary strength to control other nations, rather than minding our own business and taking care of America first, but projecting abject weakness on the foreign stage, while acting like a dictator at home, is even worse, which has been seen in multiple events since Joe Biden first started occupying the White House.

Anyone remember when President Trump told North Korea that our nuclear button was bigger than theirs?

President Donald Trump, reacting to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un saying he had a "nuclear button on his desk" and was ready to use it against the United States, said on Twitter late Tuesday that his own nuclear button "is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!"

The fainting couches were pulled out of storage and the pearl clutching by Democrats was absolutely hysterical, with them convinced Trump was going to start WWIII.

A little over a year later, the headline, from the very same outlet linked above, that were clutching their pearls and telling their readers not to worry, Trump really didn't have a nuclear button on his desk, reported "Trump meets Kim Jong Un, becomes first sitting U.S. president to step into North Korea."

See, Trump knew, when talking to a bully, you have to out-bully them, speak their language, so to speak, and make them think you are just crazy enough to level their country if they threatened yours.

Under Biden, Russia invaded Ukraine, China threatens to invade Taiwan, Iran-backed Hamas and Iran, attacked Israel, and the world is on the edge of WWII.

Biden's foreign policy weakness was shown with the "chaotic" Afghanistan withdrawal, leaving allies behind, along with billions of weapons and equipment for the Taliban, and resulting in 13 U.S. military members being killed. The Taliban took control of Afghanistan almost immediately after that.

The botched Afghanistan withdrawal was in 2021, and the Russia/Ukraine war started in February 2022.

That is what happens when you project weakness, and not strength.

In fact, most of the warnings by Democrats regarding Trump, ended up being realized after Biden took office, as he has done nearly everything they convinced themselves Trump would do.

We'll go over some additional specifics down below, but the first and foremost is the Biden regimes attempts, and in many cases successes, at attempting to bankrupt conservative independent media, using threats against social media companies to shut down conservatives, and funding a company, NewsGuard, that goes after advertisers shown on conservative media websites.

What that has resulted in is having to install additional advertising because only low-paying ads are being allowed on conservative websites, and even that has not made up for the loss of the higher paying ads.

This is why donations, and sharing our work, and commenting, is all that keeps ANP, and other smaller independent media websites, online.

Read more at: AllNewsPipeline.com
Biden terrifyingly grows ranks of government spies

On April 20, Edward Snowden declared, America lost something important today, and hardly anyone heard. The headlines of state-aligned media screech and crow about the nefarious designs of your fellow citizens and the necessity of foreign wars without end, but find few words for a crime against the Constitution.

(Article by Kevin Gosztola republished from TheDissenter.org)

The NSA whistleblower was referring to the United States Senate reauthorizing and expanding surveillance under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

President Joe Biden circulated a memo that cast the Fourth Amendment right to privacy as a "threat to national security." Biden National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Attorney General Merrick Garland called members of Congress to ensure that they voted to give spy agencies renewed power.

Specifically, Patriot Act 2.0, as Representative Zoe Lofgren called it, broadened the definition of service providers and exponentially increased the power that the government has to force numerous business and industries to aid warrantless surveillance.

Senator Ron Wyden strongly opposed the legislation and even introduced an amendment that would have prevented this assault on civil liberties. But the Senate rejected his effort to protect privacy.

The Senate waited until the 11th hour to ram through renewal of warrantless surveillance in the dead of night, Wyden stated. He also added, It is clear from the votes on very popular amendments that senators were unwilling to send this bill back to the House, no matter how common-sense the amendment before them.

Although the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) renewed Section 702 until April 2025, allowing lawmakers plenty of time to appropriately draft and amend legislation, panic was stirred by Biden and the national security state.

Wyden, who has a track record of challenging surveillance, did not mince words. He described the provision that he fought, which was dubbed the Make Everyone A Spy provision, as one of the most dramatic and terrifying expansions of government surveillance authority in history.

It allows the government to force any American who installs, maintains, or repairs anything that transmits or stores communications to spy on the governments behalf. That means anyone with access to a server, a wire, a cable box, a wifi router, or a phone. It would be secret: the Americans receiving the government directives would be bound to silence, and there would be no court oversight.

Forcing More Service Providers To Spy On Customers

The Biden administration applauded the passage of legislation that expanded warrantless surveillance. The President will swiftly sign the bill into law, ensuring that our security professionals can continue to rely on Section 702 to detect grave national security threats and use that understanding to protect the United States, Sullivan stated.

Section 702 used to primarily apply to telecommunications or technology companies. Now, as detailed by Demand Progress, Section 702 may be used to force business landlords, cleaning contractors, delivery personnel, utility providers, etc, to help U.S. security agencies spy without probable cause.

Entities and individuals required to help with surveillance cannot speak about it. Their First Amendment speech rights are curtailed as they violate their customers Fourth Amendment privacy rights.

Also, according to Demand Progress, House Intelligence Committee Chair Mike Turner and House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Jim Himes drafted the expanded surveillance reauthorization without defining terms like any other service provider, access to equipment, or custodian.

Only as a result of opposition did security hawks insert an exemption for coffee shops, hotels, and libraries.

Writing about the impact on journalism for The Nation, longtime national security journalist James Bamford wrote, A requirement could easily be added to Section 702 that compels the need for a warrant as soon as an NSA employee or FBI agent recognizes that the communication involves a journalist conducting an interview, or an attorney engaged in a conversation with a client or source.

In the end, Bamford argued, insight gained from the American journalists interaction with a foreign source may be far more valuable and provide considerably more insight than inhibiting sources to interact with journalists.

The FBI consistently abused the surveillance power it was granted under Section 702 before the authority was reauthorized. It is a certainty that the FBI will abuse this ill-defined authority handed to them by Biden and Congress.

No Justification For Opposing A Warrant

House Speaker Mike Johnson was at one point an opponent of warrantless surveillance under FISA. He claimed that he shifted his position because as Speaker he is privy to confidential briefings that have showed him how critical Section 702 is to national security.

I personally used 702 authorities at NSA, Snowden responded. There is absolutely nothing in any briefing of any level, then or now, that would justify opposition to recognizing the government's obligation to seek a warrant for searches of Americans' communications, which are constitutionally-protected.

And frankly, let's be serious: the NSA and FBI have plainly demonstrated that they're more than comfortable violating the law when they feel it binds too tightly. 278,000 times just for one auth: 702. Millions and millions of times under others for [President Barack] Obama. And on a literally innumerable scale under [President George W.] Bushwe couldn't even count it.

So let's not pretend that, in the apocryphal ticking time-bomb scenario of the Hollywood imagination, that a series of agencies which have since their inception been characterized by a criminally casual respect for the Constitution would feel in the slightest way encumbered by something as parochial as the law, Snowden added. After all, the legislation rarely ascribes penalties for federal infractions.

The House Judiciary Committee passed legislationthe Protect Liberty and End Warrantless Surveillance Actat the end of 2023 that would have required a warrant for any U.S. person search. However, through the House Intelligence Committee, U.S. officials thwarted attempts to constrain the national security state.

During a private meeting on reauthorization, WIRED reported that Turner presented an image of Americans protesting the war in Gaza while implying possible ties between the protesters and Hamas, an allegation that was used to illustrate why surveillance reforms [would be] detrimental to national security.

It is highly likely that antiwar or pro-Palestinian protests, particularly on college or university campuses, will be targeted. Biden will probably have no problem with using this expanded spying power against students.

A day after Biden signed the reauthorization bill, White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates accused student demonstrators opposed to Israels assault on Gaza of echoing the rhetoric of terrorist organizations.

Hawkishly Backing The National Security State

Back in 2008, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama campaigned against retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies that helped Bush engage in warrantless wiretapping. He even promised to filibuster the FISA Amendments Act. But Obama voted for the bill when there were 46 different lawsuits pending against the companies and angered many progressives and civil liberties advocates.

Biden, who was Obama's vice president, did not even pretend to support reform, greater accountability, or limits to government surveillance. Fifteen years after Obama flip-flopped, Sullivan, his national security advisor, made it clear that the administration believed that failure to reauthorize Section 702 would be one of the worst intelligence failures of our time.

He additionally urged Congress to reauthorize Section 702 without new and operationally damaging restrictions on reviewing intelligence and with measures that build on proven reforms. That was subtle language, which sent a message to representatives and senators that Biden opposed adding a warrant requirement to protect Americans privacy rights.

Hawkish lawmakers, intelligence officials, and the Biden White House conspired to pass an updated surveillance law that not only avoided meaningful reforms but also expanded the law in a way that U.S. intelligence agencies could only dream about a year or two ago.

For many months, news reports detailed stories of spying abuses and enraged lawmakers. That gave some hope to those in favor of privacy that Congress might rein in government surveillance. Yet the national security state stayed the course. They once again hid the truth from elected officials, accelerated the process, and fear-mongered and spread propaganda to escape accountability.

Read more at: TheDissenter.org
Canadian govt agencies spent CA$9.9 million on social media ads to promote COVID-19 vaccines

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and Health Canada (HC) have collectively invested approximately CA$9.9 million ($7.26 million) in social media advertising to promote Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations since 2020.

The disclosure, which came to light following a demand for transparency from Conservative Party of Canada MP Ted Falk, reveals the large advertising spending of the Canadian government on COVID-19 shots.

According to recently unveiled information, from 2020 to 2024, PHAC and HC allocated about CA$4.6 million ($3.37 million) toward the production costs of advertisements, with the remaining CA$5.3 million ($3.89 million) spent on the actual promotion of COVID-19 vaccines on various social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, Snapchat and Pinterest.

One campaign, titled "Ripple Effect," commanded a budget of CA$1.8 million ($1.32 million). The PHAC argued that the campaign would "remind Canadians about the collective vaccination effort required to see a reduction in restrictions and public health measures."

Campaigns that target young adults received substantial funding ranging from CA$75,000 ($55,000) to CA$564,000 ($413,000), while the promotion of COVID-19 shots to parents with kids received CA$1.5 million ($1.1 million) in funding from PHAC.

Moreover, HC also invested approximately CA$132,000 ($96,700) in collaborating with social media influencers to advocate for COVID-19 vaccinations.

Trudeau government assumed Canadians will continue to take booster shots

All this spending is rooted in the existing contract of the administration of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to purchase new shipments of COVID-19 vaccines even after HC had already thrown away CA$1.59 billion ($1.17 billion) worth of expired vaccines.

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.

"As additional vaccines were authorized for use in Canada, manufacturers increased production capacity and demand from Canadians decreased," Liberal Health Minister Mark Holland explained in a Dec. 6, 2023 note briefing. "Overall wastage increased. Additionally, as new formulations have been authorized for use to address variants of concern, wastage of older formulations has increased.

"The Public Health Agency does not intend to procure additional COVID-19 vaccines once firm contractual deliveries under existing Advance Purchase Agreements are completed at the end of the calendar year 2024 for messenger RiboNucleic Acid vaccines and in 2024 for non-mRNA vaccines," said the note.

A 2023 report from Public Services and Procurement Canada reveals that up to 90.8 million doses of vaccines from Pfizer Canada, Novovax Incorporated and Moderna Inc., until December 31, 2024.

But 52.9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, worth CA$1.59 billion, have been thrown away since Nov. 24, 2023. The Trudeau government still assumes it can use the vaccines for "future use" and expects Canadians to continue to take booster shots. (Related: Canadian government data reveals that most people are avoiding COVID-19 boosters.)

However, government research has revealed that the majority of Canadians are flat-out refusing a COVID-19 booster shot. Data listed on the Canadian government's vaccination coverage dashboard shows that only 14.6 percent of Canadians have received the XBB.1.5 COVID-19 booster shot.

Visit VaccineWars.com for more stories like this.

Watch the video below for more about COVID-19 mask mandate lies.

This video is from the Think About It channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Canadian nurse could lose her license for speaking out against COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

TRUTH HURTS: CDC officials worried about publicity of COVID-19 vaccine studies damaging the publics vaccine confidence.

Top 7 ways COVID-19-VACCINE DAMAGE is being covered up by the vaccine industrial complex.

Canadian doctor Mark Trozzi found guilty of professional misconduct after speaking out against COVID-19 vaccines and mandates.

COVID-19 masks provided NO PROTECTION during pandemic, British government now admits.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com 1

LifeSiteNews.com 2

LifeSiteNews.com 3

Health-Infobase.Canada.ca

Brighteon.com
Failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton claims Trump wants to KILL and IMPRISON his political opponents

Failed Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has claimed that former President Donald Trump wants to "kill" and "imprison" his political opponents

The 76-year-old former first lady made this claim during an appearance on the "Defending Democracy" podcast. Host Marc Elias asked the former secretary of state about her take on the 2024 presidential race. Trump is set to be the Republican Party's nominee, while incumbent President Joe Biden is set to be the Democratic Party's nominee for a second term.

According to Clinton, she believes that the "effective and compassionate" Biden "wants to maintain our democracy." In contrast, she compared Trump to autocrats such as Russian President Vladimir Putin or North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

"Trump was just gaga over Putin because Putin does what Trump would like to do: kill his opposition, imprison his opposition, drive journalists into exile [and] rule without any check or balance. That's what Trump really wants. Those are the people he is modeling himself after, and we've been down this road in our  world history. We sure don't want to go down that again," the former first lady told Elias.

"They say Biden is old, I say you're right. Joe Biden is old. [But] he's also effective, compassionate [and] he cares about people. Trump is old and he has 91 federal criminal indictments against him." (Related: Hillary Clinton: Joe Biden's AGE is a legitimate issue to consider ahead of 2024 presidential elections.)

According to Clinton, Biden "will abide by the results of a fair and free election." This was ostensibly a swipe at Trump, who has been challenging the results of the rigged 2020 election that put Biden into the White House.

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.

Clinton: Biden's age is definitely something to consider

But a spokesperson for the Trump campaign brushed the former first lady's concerns aside, calling her delusional.

"Hillary continues to suffer from Trump Derangement Syndrome and can't seem to accept the results of the 2016 [presidential] election. So she is now trying to tell herself lies, in addition to trying to gaslight the American people into believing her own warped and perverted views," the spokesperson told the Washington Examiner in a statement.

According to the Daily Mail, Clinton repeatedly emphasized that Trump was "old"  and Biden more so. In May, she remarked that the 81-year-old incumbent's age is something to consider ahead of the November 2024 elections.

She made the remarks during the Financial Times Weekend Festival held in Washington, D.C. last May 20. Financial Times (FT) editor Edward Luce asked the former secretary of state about Biden stumbling at the Group of Seven (G-7) Summit in Japan.

"It's a concern for everyone," responded Clinton. "We've had presidents who had fallen before who were a lot younger, and people didn't go into heart palpitations. But his age is an issue, and people have every right to consider it."

The former first lady cited a maxim from Biden: "He has this great saying  and I think he's right  'Don't judge him for running against the Almighty but against the alternative.'"

Nevertheless, Clinton told Luce: "I am of the camp that I think he's determined to run. He has a good record that, three years ago, people would not have predicted would have gotten done. He doesn't get the credit yet for what is happening out in the country in terms of jobs, growth and planning for the future. So, I obviously hope he stays very focused and able to compete in the election because I think he can be re-elected, and that's what we should all hope for."

Visit Clinton.news for more stories about the former first lady and failed presidential candidate.

Watch Hillary Clinton falsely claiming that Trump wants to kill and imprison his political enemies below.

This video is from the Heaven Reigns channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

DOJ special counsel report describes Biden as having "diminished faculties" and "faulty memory"  proving critics right that he is in a state of COGNITIVE DECLINE.

Hillary having on-camera seizures, Biden losing his mind every time he talks, Amy Klobuchar violently shaking: Why do Democrats seem so SICK?

Time to go! Overwhelming majority of Americans deem Biden TOO OLD for a second term, poll finds.

Hillary Clinton admits Joe Biden's age could be an issue in his reelection bid.

Survey: 71% of Americans believe Joe Biden is TOO OLD for a second term.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

WashingtonExaminer.com

FoxNews.com

Brighteon.com
ALIEN INVASION: Hundreds of illegal immigrants enter San Diego after men in masks CUT the border fence

A terrifying video from a San Diego resident has captured hundreds of illegal immigrants crossing into American soil after smugglers cut through the border wall

The video, which was shared by San Diego resident Cory Gautereaux, shows the migrants crossing into San Diego County in southern California on Sunday, April 21. Reports suggest that smugglers wearing black masks cut into the wall to let the migrants into the country.

Many of the migrants seemed to come from China, particularly since San Diego has seen more than double the number of Chinese nationals in the first half of this fiscal year compared to all of 2023.

Most of the Chinese migrants fly into Tijuana before paying cartels up to $35,000 to help them enter the United States. Gautereaux added that he has encountered hundreds of Chinese I.D.s and passports along the border region.

Some reports mentioned that smugglers are moving their operations to California as Texas increases its border security in El Paso and Eagle Pass. (Related: Chinese illegal immigrant arrested for unauthorized entry onto Marine Corps base in California.)

Gautereaux said at least 150 to 200 illegal aliens entered the country through the damaged border fence. The masked men who cut the fence "quickly pushed this large group of people into the United States. Probably 150-200 people, with at least 60 percent [military-aged] males. Pay attention," warned Gautereaux.

The video also shows Border Patrol agents repairing the damaged bollards as Mexican officials stood on the other side of the barrier. It is still unknown if any of the masked men were apprehended by authorities on either side of the border.

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.

Biden administration struggling with illegal immigration

The immigration-related figures are a closely monitored metric during a time of intense political scrutiny over who is entering America and whether the Joe Biden administration is properly managing one of the country's biggest issues.

Republicans, led by former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, have claimed that Biden's policies have encouraged migrants to try and enter the United States.

The Biden administration responded by saying that Republicans failed to work with Democrats to fund an important border security bill. The administration also insisted that what is happening on the southern border is part of a global phenomenon as people flee their war-torn homes to seek refuge in other countries.

In December, Border Patrol reported a total of 249,785 arrests, a record high that increased tensions over immigration issues. By February, the Tucson sector in Arizona was the busiest region for migrant crossings between the ports of entry, followed by San Diego and El Paso, Texas.

A separate group of 42,100 migrants said they used CBP One, an app that allowed them to schedule an appointment to present themselves at an official border crossing point as they seek entry into America.

The app has been a crucial part of the Biden administration's weak attempts to limit chaos at the border by encouraging migrants to wait for an appointment instead of crossing the river or trekking across the desert and looking for Border Patrol agents to turn themselves in.

The administration has also allowed 30,000 people to enter the U.S. from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela every month using the Biden administrations humanitarian parole authority. The migrants must have a financial sponsor in the country and fly into an American airport.

According to the data released this April, 386,000 people from those four countries have been admitted to the country so far under that program. San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond said more than 130,000 illegal aliens have been released onto the streets of San Diego since September, including 2,000 this April.

Visit Migrants.news for more stories like this.

Watch this clip as independent journalists expose the spread of diseases in U.S. migrant shelters.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Illegal immigrant, who was arrested and released twice, murders GA nursing student.

Alderman blasts Chicagos $9K in monthly freebies for each illegal immigrant in the city.

Border walls and strong anti-illegal immigrant policies have seen tremendous SUCCESS in Hungary.

Feds SUE developers of massive Colony Ridge illegal immigrant community in Texas.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

DailyMail.co.uk

Brighteon.com
Iranian president threatens to DESTROY ISRAEL if it tries to attack Iran again

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has threatened to destroy Israel if it tries to attack Iran again.

Raisi, who arrived in Pakistan on Monday, April 22, for a three-day visit aimed at restoring strained relations, addressed the latest tensions between Tehran and Tel Aviv at an event in Punjab on Tuesday, April 23.

"If the Zionist regime once again makes a mistake and attacks the sacred land of Iran, the situation will be different, and it is not clear whether anything will remain of this regime," Raisi said as quoted by the state news agency IRNA.

The latest conflict between the two nations stems from Israel's April 1 airstrike on the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria, that killed seven Iranians, including a senior officer of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' special forces unit the, Quds Force.

Tehran retaliated on April 13 by launching over 300 drones and missiles at multiple targets in Israel.

Israel, unwilling to let matters lie, launched a retaliatory strike on the central Iranian city of Isfahan on Friday, April 19. Iran has brushed aside this strike, claiming that it barely did any damage. Tehran chose to ignore this latest strike while at the same time delivering a promise of swift and serious retaliation should Israel try to make matters worse once again.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has mocked the latest drone attack on Iran, depicting it as small-scale and incorporating primitive hardware. (Related: Iran mocks Israels weak attempt at an attack: "Like toys, not drones.")

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.

Amir-Abdollahian said in an interview that claims by several media outlets that the explosions over Isfahan were an Israeli retaliatory attack were "not accurate."

A New York Times report claims that Israel's original plan for retaliating against Iran's mass drone and missile barrage included a much wider counterstrike on military targets, including several near the capital of Tehran.

The newspaper warned that such a broad and damaging attack "would have been far harder for Iran to overlook," and thus have increased the chances of the current conflict turning into a full-blown war.

Raisi calls America and the West the greatest violators of human rights

Raisi, speaking in Lahore, has criticized America and the collective West as "the greatest violators of human rights, condemning their support for the Israeli "genocide" in Gaza.

Iran and Israel's decades-long shadow war exploded into the open after almost six months of war in the Gaza Strip, where Israel started an unprecedented assault that has killed over 34,000 Palestinians, most of whom are civilians and over half are women and children.

Israel declared war against Hamas after the Oct. 7 attacks by the Gaza-based Palestinian group that claimed the lives of an estimated 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, and took over 250 hostages.

Since the Oct. 7 attack, militant groups in Lebanon and Yemen have also targeted Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Israel has accused these militant groups of being proxy organizations of Iran. Tel Aviv has further noted that Gaza's Hamas leaders also receive significant financial and logistical support from Iran.

Follow WWIII.news for more news about the Israel-Iran conflict.

Watch the video below featuring Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi delivering a message warning that Israel will be wiped out of it strikes Iran again.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related articles:

Iran threatens larger attack if Israel doesnt back off with its aggression.

Simulation shows NUCLEAR HELL would be unleashed in apocalyptic Iran vs. Israel war.

Israel attacks Iranian embassy in Syria to provoke Iran, rope U.S. into WWIII.

Iran strikes Israel as region plunges into escalation cycle that could end in NUCLEAR WAR.

Report: U.S. and U.K. helped shoot down Iranian drones and missiles launched against Israel.

Sources include:

RT.com

NBCNews.com

TimesOfIsrael.com

Brighteon.com
Heres why Israel will lose a shootout with Iran

Irans unprecedented attack on Israeli military sites on April 13-14 signals a tectonic shift in the regional balance of power. While the media remains preoccupied with the number of outdated Iranian drones that were shot down during the onslaught, military analysts are far more focused on the way that Irans ballistic missiles cut through Israels vaunted air defense systems striking sites at the Nevatim and Negev Air Bases.

(Article by Mike Whitney republished from Unz.com)

What the operation proved is that Israels deterrents supremacy is largely a fiction based on overly optimistic assumptions about the performance of their air defense capability. When put to the test, these systems failed to stop many of the larger and more destructive ballistic missiles from hitting their targets. This, in turn, revealed that Israels most heavily-defended and critically-important military sites remain overly-exposed to enemy attack.

More importantly, any future attack will not be announced days in advance nor will Iran attempt to avoid high-value targets or heavy casualties. Instead, they will use their most lethal and state-of-the-art hypersonic missiles to inflict as much death and destruction on Israel as is required to make sure that the Jewish state is unable to lift a hand against Iran in the future. In short, what Irans historic attack on Israel shows is that any future provocation by Israel will be met by an immediate and overwhelming response that will leave Israel battered, bloodied and broken. This is an excerpt from a recent article by former weapons inspector Scott Ritter:

Irans purpose in launching the attack was to establish a deterrence posture designed to put Israel and the United States on notice that any attack against Iran, whether on Iranian soil or on the territory of other nations, would trigger a retaliation which would inflict more damage on the attacker than the attacker could hope to inflict on Iran. To achieve this result, Iran had to prove itself capable of overcoming the ballistic missile defense systems of both Israel and the United States which were deployed in and around Israel at the time of the attack. This Iran was able to accomplish, with at least nine missiles striking two Israeli air bases that fell under the protective umbrella of the Israeli-US missile defense shield. The Iranian deterrence posture has implications that reach far beyond the environs of Israel or the Middle East. By defeating the US-Israeli missile defense shield, Iran exposed the notion of US missile defense supremacy that serves as the heart of US force protection models used when projecting military power on a global scale. The US defensive posture vis-a-vis Russia, China, and North Korea hinges on assumptions made regarding the efficacy of US ballistic missile defense capabilities. By successfully attacking Israeli air bases which had the benefit of the full range of US anti-ballistic missile technology, Iran exposed the vulnerability of the US missile defense shield to modern missile technologies involving maneuverable warheads, decoys, and hypersonic speed. US bases in Europe, the Pacific and the Middle East once thought to be well-protected, have suddenly been revealed to be vulnerable to hostile attack. So, too, are US Navy ships operating at sea. Checkmate, Scott Ritter, Substack

Keep in mind, that the Iranian government has not officially confirmed that it used its most technologically-advanced hypersonic glide vehicles in the assault. Most weapons experts, like Ritter, believe they only used their older, less advanced missiles in order to conceal the dramatic improvements to their stockpile. Even so, Iran was able to put five ballistic missiles on their target at the Nevatim Air Base and another four at the Negev Air Base, arguably two of the most heavily-protected bases in the world today. In short, Iran was able to slip by Israels robust radar and air defense systems and deliver a blow at the heart of the Israeli war machine using second class munitions and technology. Imagine the damage they would inflict if they felt forced to use their unstoppable hypersonic missiles. This is why it is unlikely that Netanyahu will order a direct attack on Iranian territory. The consequences for Israel would be nothing short of catastrophic. Heres more from Ritter:

My understanding is that Iran used 3 types of ballistic missiles. One ballistic missile uses a warhead that separates and then burst-fires a number of decoys that are specifically designed to attract Iron Dome missiles. so, Iron Dome will fire 25 interceptorsMeanwhile smaller more maneuverable warheads burst through those interceptors and hit the Israeli air defense systems and that appears to be the case. So, they are telling the Israelis How we are going to take you out... The next thing we see, is missiles coming in that the warheads separate from the missile body and then there is a booster engine on the warhead that drives it down into the ground blowing away any ability for radar intercept hitting the target. And what this does is clear the space, clear all the air defense. and the final thing is these heavy warheads that come off the heavy missiles that hit the runways and blew the big craters in them. This was a three-layered ballistic missile attack that was specifically designed by the Iranians to destroy Israeli air defense to clear the way to show the Israelis that we can put the big warheads on the target anywhere in Israel we want to. This was successful, and the beauty of this is, they didnt use their best missiles. This was just a single strike-package. Iran can repeat this process all day long and what theyve showed Israel is that This is what we can do. And I guarantee you that their are intelligence officers like me writing reports right now telling Israel, Stop all the nonsense. We cant win this war. Its over, guys. We have no defense here. If Iran wants to come in, we are powerless. Stop it now. The Missiles of April, Scott Ritter, You Tube; 6:30 minute mark

Notice the difference between weapons pro Ritters analysis and the nonsense in the western media. Heres a short blurb from a piece at the Jerusalem Post which captures the flavor of most of the articles published in the MSM since the attack:

Irans weekend drone and missile attack on Israel was an embarrassing failure, the US said, stressing that it highlighted the IDFs defensive prowess as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet weighed reprisal actions. Ive seen reporting that the Iranians meant to fail that this spectacular and embarrassing failure was all by design, US National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby told reporters in Washington on Monday Lets be straight, given the scale of this attack, Irans intent was clearly to cause significant destruction and casualties, Kirby said as he spoke of how a coalition of five armies  Israel, the US, Jordan, France, and Great Britain  repelled over 300 missiles and drone targeting the Jewish state. Irans attack is an embarrassing failure, a success for Israel, says US, Jerusalem Post

If it was Irans intention to cause significant destruction and casualties, then why didnt they bomb downtown Tel Aviv or Haifa? Wouldnt that have made more sense? And why did Iran communicate their plans 72 hours in advance to everyone, including the United States via the Saudis? And, if the attack was such an embarrassing failure, then why is Israel still hesitating to strike back?

The fact is, the Israeli war cabinet has already met four times since the incident and has not yet decided how to respond. Why?

Because Irans deputy foreign minister Ali Bagheri has told Israel in no uncertain terms that if they launch another attack on Iran, they should expect to get hit harder, faster, and with more immediacy. So, the flexibility Israel has enjoyed for the last two decades, of bombing and assassinating its neighbors whenever it gets the urge, is over. Just like Israels long streak of impunity is over. Tehran has thrown down the gauntlet and let it be known that it if Israel crosses its red lines, theres going to be a war.

Indeed, Iran will be better prepared and will do everything in their power to overwhelm the enemy and bring this decades-long confrontation to a swift and decisive end. Well let Ritter have the last word:

The failure of the combined US-Israeli defense systems in the face of a concerted Iranian missile attack exposed the short-comings of the US ballistic missile defense capabilities world-wide This means that the US and NATO forces in Europe are vulnerable to attack from advanced Russian missile technologies which match or exceed those used by Iran to attack Israel. It also means that China would most likely be able to strike and sink US navy ships in the Pacific Ocean in the event of a conflict over Taiwan. And that North Korea could do the same to US ships and forces ashore in the vicinity of Japan and South Korea The global strategic implications of this stunning Iranian accomplishment are game-changing... Checkmate, Scott Ritter, Substack

It would be wise for the Israeli leadership to mull over what Ritter has to say before stumbling blindly into a war they will certainly lose.

Read more at: Unz.com
Dr. Michael Nehls: Both COVID-19 and COVID vaccines are an assault on the HUMAN MIND

According to molecular geneticist Dr. Michael Nehls, both the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pathogen and the vaccine against it are an assault on the human mind

The German scientist shared this sentiment during an interview with Tucker Carlson on the latter's Tucker Carlson Network (TCN). According to Nehls, the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein present in both the virus and the COVID-19 injection "is a bioweapon against the brain." The spike protein, Nehls continued, attacks what he called "the mental immune system"  the part of the brain that makes humanity human.

"So the spike protein essentially attacked humankind, the very basis of humans. If you really want to attack the brain, you have to get the spike protein into the brain. That's the [part] that's really dangerous," he told the former Fox News host.

Nehls also mentioned that he realized the true reason why governments were adamant in pushing the COVID-19 injection to their population while writing his book "The Indoctrinated Brain."

"It's not about health. It's not  even money. It's about conquering the human mind. That is, really, to undermine the human ability to think."

Carlson replied: "If intentional, this would be the most evil thing ever done," something his guest agreed with.

Nehls also pointed out that "people who are not interested in really thinking were the ones who actually took the shots very quickly." True enough, the refusal to think critically came with a heavy price. Many of those injected with the COVID-19 vaccine suffered from serious vaccine damage such as turbo cancers and autoimmune disorders, if not dying suddenly.

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.

Ultimately, the molecular geneticist referenced Klaus Schwab of the World Economic Forum and his espousal of the Great Reset  which coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. "The Great Reset  is not something we would welcome if we were in healthy state mentally," he told Carlson.

Investigative journalist experienced firsthand the mental impact of COVID-19

Investigative journalist and author John Leake also put in his two cents about Nehls' interview on TCN. "Without question, it is the most stunning interview I have ever seen," he wrote on his Substack.

"When I watched the interview with Nehls, I was primed to be perfectly awestruck by his observations and findings. With astonishing clarity, [he] enumerates all of the ways in which our ability to think is being assaulted on a daily basis."

Leake also shared his personal bout with COVID-19 infection and how Nehls' points resonated with him. The author contracted COVID-19 in June 2022, describing his primary symptoms as "a general feeling of malaise that reminded me of a nasty hangover and extreme fatigue."

He then treated it using the McCullough Protocol pioneered by cardiologist Dr. Peter McCullough, and was able to perform his normal activities on the third day  including a long walk. According to Leake, while his COVID-19 infection resembled severe colds he had in the past, it was "utterly unique" in the way that it affected his emotional state. The true crime author had a general feeling of depression and gloomy thoughts, leading him to ask McCullough about his concern.

"I fear it's what we call neuroinflammation," the cardiologist explained. "The spike protein causes an inflammatory immune response that affects the brain, and autopsy studies have even found the spike in the brain."

McCullough continued that this was another problem with the COVID-19 injections, which induce the body to produce excess spike protein for a long period. To make matters worse, people injected with the vaccine  which also contains SARS-CoV-2 spike protein  still got infected by the virus, often repeatedly. This combination of infections and injections exposes the body, including the brain, to the toxic spike protein.

Watch Dr. Michael Nehls explaining how COVID-19 is all about conquering the human mind.

This video is from the PureTrauma357 channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Japan to start charging for mRNA vaccines in April 2024.

mRNA "vaccines" could unleash epidemic of prion brain diseases, doctors warn.

COVID-19 vaccines have created a DEADLY ALLIANCE featuring graphene, mRNA and nanotech.

DIRTY SHOTS: DNA contamination and cancer-causing agent SV40 found in mRNA vaccines.

HIDDEN from public: Study identifies issues with mRNA vaccines "that could have fatal consequences."

Sources include:

Expose-News.com 1

Expose-News.com 2

Brighteon.com
Netanyahu forgets Israel fostered the rise of Hamas

Hamas has again conducted retaliation attacks on Israel over the weekend. In fact, Abu Obaida, the spokesperson of Hamas' military wing Al Qassam Brigades, urged continued attacks in his first video message in more than six weeks on Tuesday, the 200th day of the Israel-Hamas war.

"We will keep attacking the enemy with different techniques as long as the aggression continues on our land, Obaida said. Hamas fighters would "keep coming out to fight the enemy," he added.

Because of this, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared, "The forces of civilization must support Israel in defeating HamasIn fighting Hamas, Israel is not only fighting for its people, it is fighting for every country that stands against barbarism." However, independent journalist Brian McGlinchey reminded the public via his Substack newsletter that Netanyahu's sentiments are quite different from the ones he privately shared in 2019.

He told Likud Party legislators then that anyone who wants to thwart the establishment of a Palestinian state has to support bolstering Hamas and transferring money to Hamas. "Doing so would help prevent the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority (PA) from ruling Gaza and giving Palestinians a relatively moderate, unified voice at the negotiating table," he said during that time. "This is part of our strategy, to isolate the Palestinians in Gaza from the Palestinians in the West Bank." McGlinchey also revealed that decades before Netanyahu's closed-door comment, the Israeli government had already pushed Hamas into its initial prominence, with direct and indirect financial support.

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.

According to a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) official in 2001, Israel's initial promotion of Hamas "was a direct attempt to divide and dilute support for the strong Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) by using a competing religious alternative." Throughout the 1970s, Israel's nemesis was the PLO, a secular and leftist organization, led by Yasser Arafat, who headed the PLO's Fatah faction.

During the 1967 War, also known as the Six-Day War or the 1967 Arab-Israeli War which was fought between Israel and a coalition of Arab states (primarily Egypt, Syria and Jordan) from June 5-10, 1967, Islamist groups began rising in prominence in Gaza as they undertook educational, cultural, social and infrastructure initiatives to make life better for Palestinian refugees there. In 1978, Israeli Brigadier General Yitzhak Segev, who was governor of Gaza and in frequent touch with Hamas' leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, told the Wall Street Journal that he fully grasped Yassin's ultimate aims, which were to replace Israel with an Islamic state as well as the dangers of the Hamas ideology. In the wake of Iran's 1979 revolution that saw a secular, U.S.-backed regime replaced with an Islamic republic, Hamas and other Islamists grew more popular, ambitious and violent.

Despite this development, Israel's financial backing from the West continued, claiming that the support had an additional rationale. That is to gain intelligence and identify the most dangerous of Hamas members. "In the eyes of the Israeli right, the real threat to Israel is not Hamas' violence and terrorism. The danger is a peace agreementand the establishment of a Palestinian state," wrote Meron Rapoport at Tel Aviv-based +972 Magazine.

Hamas isn't the only extremist group the Israeli right has a soft spot for. Under an earlier Netanyahu government, Israel gave medical assistance to wounded al-Qaeda members and sent them back to fight the secular, Iran-aligned government in Syriawhere theyd inevitably abduct, torture and murder civilians too. Former Mossad chief Efraim Halevy said Israels aid was acceptable because "Al Qaeda, to the best of my recollection, has not attacked Israel."

IDF warns Northern Gazans for being in "dangerous combat zones"

Amid the continuing chaos in the Middle East, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has issued a warning to people in parts of the area of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, calling on residents to evacuate. Identifying several blocks from its map of Gaza, the IDF warned: "You are in a dangerous combat zone. The IDF will work with extreme force against terrorist infrastructure and subversive elements in the region."

IDF recommended that residents "head towards the known shelters in Blocks No. 1770, 1766" in the west and south of the city. "The most excused is he who warns," the message ended. It was unclear, though, how many people would receive the warning. (Related: Benjamin Netanyahu sets date for invasion of Rafah amid pressure over mounting civilian casualties.)

Meanwhile, the United Nations has called for an "independent, effective and transparent investigation" into the discovery of mass graves at two Gaza hospital complexes after they were besieged and raided by Israeli troops earlier this year.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said he was horrified by the scenes reported at the Nasser and Al-Shifa complexes. "Given the prevailing climate of impunity, this should include international investigators," Turk said on Tuesday. "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 is a war crime."

Col. Yamen Abu Suleiman, Director of Civil Defense in Khan Younis, alleged that some of the bodies had been found with hands and feet tied, "and there were signs of field executions. We do not know if they were buried alive or executed. Most of the bodies are decomposed." CNN is unable to verify the claims and cannot confirm the causes of death of those whose bodies are being unearthed.

Check out WWIII.news for updates on the still ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

Sources for this article include:

Edition.CNN.com 1

StarkRealities.Substack.com

Edition.CNN.com 2
Op-ed: EUTHANASIA of young, healthy women in the Netherlands a warning to Canada

The euthanasia of young, healthy women in the Netherlands ought to serve as a warning for Canada , according to an op-ed.

Writing for LifeSiteNews, Jonathon Von Maren issued this remark in an April 20 op-ed for the pro-life news outlet. He pointed out that while the Netherlands took 20 years "for their euthanasia regimes to reach this point," that of Canada took "scarcely five years."

"Still, there are a few cautionary lessons Canada can learn from what is unfolding in the Netherlands  especially as the Trudeau government refuses to cancel their plans to expand eligibility for state-sanctioned suicide to those suffering exclusively from mental illness," Von Maren wrote. The pr0-life activist added that "sustained public pushback" only triggered a pause on the planned policy.

Von Maren cited two cases in the Netherlands to bolster his point. The first woman, Jolanda Fun, decided to undergo assisted suicide on April 25. The 34-year-old resident of North Brabant province in the Netherlands opted for euthanasia as her life, despite what her surname says, had been devoid of fun for the longest time.

Fun "was diagnosed with a litany of mental health problems" at age 22. She has since underwent several therapies and has never been able to hold down a job. But when a counselor told her two years ago that euthanasia was an option for her, Fun  who was 32 at the time  decided it was the only door left for her.

Another case was that of Zoraya ter Beek, a resident of the eastern Twente region. The healthy 28-year-old woman decided to die by euthanasia as she suffered from depression and autism. Ter Beek chose assisted suicide "despite having a boyfriend she loves very much, as well as several beloved pets." (Related: Physically healthy 28-year-old Dutch woman with autism and depression given approval to end her life through assisted suicide.)

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.

The woman said she plans to undergo assisted suicide at home. According to Von Maren, ter Beek's decision to choose euthanasia followed a claim by a psychiatrist who told her that "it's never [going to] get any better."

Von Maren: Suicide would become the only "service" the government is capable of providing access to

"I want to step out of life. I've been struggling with this my whole life," Fun defended her decision to undergo assisted suicide. Ter Beek also shared the same sentiment, explaining: "I was always very clear that if it doesn't get better, I can't do this anymore. I don't see it as my soul leaving, but more as myself being freed from life."

"We all know somebody who suffers and struggles like Jolanda. We all know somebody like Zoraya, who struggled with depression and at times feels like giving up," Von Maren continued. "We all know somebody  probably many people very close to us  who will become eligible for a lethal injection should Justin Trudeau remain prime minister long enough to implement his government's planned expansion of Canada's euthanasia regime."

The pro-life activist warned of a "bloodbath" the moment Ottawa "brings in suicide-on-demand." According to him, euthanasia deaths in the country are already over four percent of all recorded deaths annually.

"In Canada, it is incredibly difficult to get help for mental illness  and for many, assisted suicide will become the default option. Euthanasia will become the only thing they are actually eligible for. Suicide would become the only 'service' the government is actually capable of providing access to," Von Maren ultimately remarked.

"In theory, you can get an appointment with a psychiatrist. [But] in practice, only the '[medical assistance in dying] provider' is available to you. We are already seeing this with all kinds of healthcare services, from palliative beds to hospital beds to cancer care  fundamental failures of the system result in desperate, suffering people opting for a lethal injection instead."

Watch this clip from "Timcast IRL" where host Tim Pool and his guests discuss the assisted suicide of Zoraya ter Beek.

This video is from the SecureLife channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Canada now allows people to request medical suicide for AUTISM.

Child murder: Canada mulls rolling out EUTHANASIA for 12-year-old kids.

Survey: Nearly 3 in 10 Canadians believe the poor and homeless should be eligible for assisted suicide.

Insanity: Canadian woman seeking help for suicidal thoughts receives suggestion to commit ASSISTED SUICIDE.

Canada postpones expansion of euthanasia program to mentally ill people, but the Trudeau government promises to kill them eventually.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

Tyla.com

TheSun.co.uk

Brighteon.com
An active weather pattern is threatening parts of the Central United States. According to the latest US weather forecast, the National Weather Service (NWS) warns that the weather system may cause severe thunderstorms that can produce isolated or strong tornadoes, as well as strong winds and large hail. Furthermore, there is a risk of flooding due to heavy rain expected to impact the region.

As the US spring season progresses on its second month, multiple severe storm events have occurred in different parts of the country since March 2024. Some severe weather incidents brought deadly tornadoes, including in the US Gulf Coast states, where multiple people died earlier in April 2024. Now, renewed thunderstorms may bring disruptive and life-threatening risks for millions of people.

Active Weather Pattern

In its recent short-range weather forecast, the NWS' Weather Prediction Center (WPC) at 3:28 a.m. EDT (local time) on Friday, April 26, warns that the active weather pattern will impact most parts of the Great Plains and into the central/northern Mississippi Valley regions. The hazards include localized flash flooding due to heavy rain and thunderstorms in portions of the Plains.

Potential flooding events are also possible for parts of the Mississippi Valley, with very large hail reaching up to 3 inches in diameter expected on Friday evening across western Kansas. Adverse weather conditions may continue during the weekend not only in the Central US but also in its surrounding regions, which also experienced inclement weather over the past week.

The weather pattern may cause disruptions such as power outages and flight delays or cancelations. In addition, potential tornadoes are also possible amid severe thunderstorms. In late March, severe weather spawned a tornado outbreak across the lower Mississippi River Valley of the US, resulting in the deaths of 21 people from an initial death toll of 25, as stated by Governor Tate Reeves.

Also Read: South-central US Weather: Floods May Resurface Due To Severe Weather

Fire Weather Conditions

Aside from the looming stormy weather, the NWS is also forecasting critical fire weather conditions across the southern High Plains, which includes the Texas panhandle. This means that weather and climatic conditions will be favorable to the growth and spread of wildfires across the region. Earlier this year, it can be recalled that Texas experienced its worst wildfire in history, called the Smokehouse Creek Fire.

According to US meteorologists, fire weather is a meteorological term that pertains to relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, soil moisture, and mixing heights. These parameters are used to determine if weather conditions are favorable for fire growth and smoke dispersion, the US Government weather agency explains.

Since the US is currently in its spring season, warm temperatures and dry conditions are likely to contribute to the eruption of fire, whether they are caused by natural factors or human-induced activities. Moreover, the NWS is forecasting the occurrence of elevated to critical fire weather across the southern High Plains this weekend.

Related Article: South-Central US Weather Forecast: Rounds of Heavy Rain to Bring Renewed Flood Risk
Weather experts said that tens of millions could be at risk for tornadoes, strong winds and hail due to severe weather that can strike the central portion of the United States.

The storm can also bring torrential rains that may later result in floods.

Due to the weather condition, the risk to lives and property has increased over portions of the Great Plains and the likelihood of tornadoes is seen to peak over the weekend.

High-Risk Areas

So far, the major metro areas that are very close to or within the high-risk areas due to the storm include Kansas City, Missouri; Omaha, Nebraska; and Des Moines, Iowa.

Meanwhile, another pocket where a moderate risk of severe weather risks extends from northeastern Texas to southeastern Oklahoma and southwestern Arkansas.

The National Weather Service (NWS) said that low pressure over the Central Plains will move northeastward into East-Central Canada by Sunday morning. Further, a second low will develop over the Southern High Plains by Saturday morning and likewise, move northeastward to the Middle Mississippi Valley by Sunday.

Meteorologists said that showers and severe thunderstorms will develop east of the dryline. Therefore, authorities have already issued an Enhanced Risk (level 3/5) of severe thunderstorms over the Middle/Lower Mississippi Valley and Central/Southern Plains through Saturday morning.

They warned that the weather hazards associated with these thunderstorms would include frequent lightning, severe thunderstorm wind gusts, hail, as well as a few tornadoes.

In addition to these weather conditions, there is also an increased threat of tornadoes and hail, which are seen to be greater than two inches over the said region.

Moreover, heavy rain will also be associated with these storms. Therefore, the Weather Prediction Center has decided to raise a Slight Risk (level 2/4) of excessive rainfall over the Middle/Lower Mississippi Valley and Southern Plains on Saturday morning.

The associated heavy rains will create mainly localized areas of flash flooding, with urban areas, roads, small streams, and low-lying areas the most vulnerable. Aside from the torrential rains, heavy snow will develop over the higher elevations of the Central Rockies overnight Friday into Saturday.

Aside from that, the threat of severe thunderstorms will also continue, while the threat of excessive rainfall increases over parts of southeastern Kansas, southwestern Missouri, Oklahoma, and even in northeast-central Texas.

Weather officials have also raised an Enhanced Risk (level 3/5) of severe thunderstorms over the Middle Mississippi Valley and Central/Southern Plains from Saturday going to Sunday morning.

Meteorologists also disclosed that the weather conditions that are linked and connected to these thunderstorms include frequent lightning, severe thunderstorm wind gusts that are deemed to be powerful, strong hail, and a few tornadoes.

Moreover, there is also an increased threat of tornadoes and hail greater than two inches over the region.

Read Also: Texas-Oklahoma Panhandle Weather: Stormy Conditions, Elevated Fire Concerns Likely this Week

Risk Of Flash Floods

Weather experts also warned that the risk that comes with the flash floods should not be ignored by residents in the affected areas.

They said that the flash flood risk that may be felt on Sunday night will extend over a large portion of the central and southern Plains states, including all of the areas situated in Ozark Mountains.

Tourists and travelers who are planning weekend camping trips are encouraged to avoid setting up in flood-prone areas along small streams.

Officials also warned that rushing high water could also block secondary access roads to and from the campsites.

Related Article: NWS Weather Forecast: Isolated Thunderstorms, Strong Wind Gusts to Hit Parts of Colorado, Utah
Experts recently warned that millions of people could have experienced hazardous air quality during the wildfire season in the United States and Canada.

Not As Extreme As 2023

While the 2024 wildfire season is right around the corner, meteorologists said that they are not expecting a record-shattering season, however, the period may still bring air quality risks. They pointed out that it would be unlikely that the wildfire season this 2024 will be as extreme as that of last year.

However, the hazard could be similar to what was experienced by residents across the continent that were hit by these blazes.

Experts said that there are concerns that the air quality could be affected periodically due to the larger wildfires that may strike in most areas.

They noted that the air quality across Canada and the northern US could worsen at times during the summer. This condition will affect people who are staying outside, especially those who are experiencing breathing problems.

To recall, wildfires in the US in 2023 had put on fire a total of 2,693,910 acres of land, which was significantly lower than the historical average of around seven million acres.

Authorities said that this number had depicted the fewest acres burned since 1998, the period when around 1.3 million acres were scorched.

Meanwhile, in Canada, more than 45.7 million acres of land were put on fire amid historic blazes, and this figure was nearly three times higher than the previous record of 17.5 million acres burned in the country in 1995.

So far, it has been predicted that the 2024 US wildfire season would be below average in terms of the number of fires and acres that will be burned and eventually destroyed.

The blazes across the country are predicted to burn between four and six million acres of land in 2024, which is below the historical average of around seven million acres.

The American Lung Association indicated that all of the 131.2 million Americans living in places with failing grades for unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution are at risk of harm to their health in relation to air quality.

Read Also: Air Quality in Great Salt Lake May Turn Hazardous Due to Pollution

High-Risk Groups

However, some groups of individuals are especially vulnerable to illness and death from their exposure to the dangerous air. The number of people in the high-risk groups when it comes to the state of air in 2024 will include those people of color and those individuals experiencing poverty.

Authorities said that about 68.9 million people of color live in counties that received at least one failing grade for ozone and/or particle pollution.

Meanwhile, more than 27.5 million people of color live in counties that received failing grades on all three measures, including some 16.8 million Hispanic or Latino people.

When it comes to people experiencing poverty, some 16 million people with incomes meeting the federal poverty definition live in counties that received an F for at least one pollutant.

On the other hand, more than 5.4 million people in poverty live in counties failing all three measures.

Related Article: WHO Air Quality: Vast Majority Of Countries Fail To Meet Standards
A dolphin in Florida, United States was found infected with avian flu.

Due to this latest development, more research is needed to determine the cause of the marine mammal's infection.

Prevalence Of Avian Flu

Experts have noticed that there has been an explosive expansion when it comes to the geographic distribution and prevalence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) of hemagglutinin (HA) clade 2.3.4.4b viruses among animal populations in America since the year 2021.

This kind of virus has raised concern due to their significant adverse economic impacts on the poultry industry.

This also resulted in widespread mortality among wild bird species in the said continent.

So far, the said virus has also been reported among raptors such as eagles, owls, and vultures. This discovery indicated that predation and scavenging of infected birds are efficient means when it comes to HPAI virus transmission.

Recently, the virus has been responsible for the deaths of sea lions (Otaria flavescents) that are living in Peru and Chile, along with harbor (Phoca vitulina) and gray (Halichoerus grypus) seals residing in New England and Canada.

To recall, a number of unusual mortality events when it comes to seal populations have also been associated with the avian influenza.

Based on previous observations, the harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) appeared to be the most susceptible marine mammal species for developing fatal respiratory disease. However, the reason for this is still undetermined by scientists.

Moreover, marine experts underscored that many of these previous seal influenza-related mortality events, which occurred in the populations of seals in New England, were caused by different influenza subtypes.

The subtypes that affected seals include the A(H7N7) in 1979, A(H4N5) in 1983, A(H4N6) in 1991, A(H3N3) in 1992, and A(H3N8) in 2011.

Read Also: 10 Disturbing Facts About Dolphins You'll Wish You Never Knew!

Cetacean Species

So far, researchers noted that the recent spread of the clade 2.3.4.4b A(H5N1) viruses has been linked to the novel infections of cetacean species around the world including three common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) that are swimming in Peru, Wales, and even in England.

There were also two harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) that are located in Sweden and England and an Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus) found in Canada, both of which were infected by the virus.

At present, the discovery of the infection of HPAI A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b in a common species of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) in Florida was significant.

It is because it was found to have the highest viral load in the brain, which can later result in meningoencephalitis among the marine animals.

The availability of tissues and multiple samples from this animal allowed the marine experts to combine a pathologic and virologic evaluation of the infection.

Scientists have conducted a study to confirm the presence of A(H5N1) virus in dolphin tissues and to biologically characterize the virus.

They also want to determine the phylogenetic relationship between viruses from the dolphin and local wild bird populations.

These scientists noted that the research would help highlight the importance of combining histological lesions with virus isolation in order to better understand HPAI A(H5N1).

Related Article: Global Bird Flu Outbreak: South America a Viable Track of Avian Influenza Virus Towards Antarctica [Update]
Christian Kelly had barely settled into his new position as the head chef at Duners this past October when tragedy struck and the restaurant nestled in the village of Ivy just west of Charlottesville lost its owner.

One of Charlottesvilles most prolific restaurateurs, Wilson Will Richey, died in a car accident on Owensville Road on his way home after closing Duners in the early morning hours of Dec. 12.

Richeys death not only upended the local restaurant industry, which he played a critical role in developing with his company Ten Course Hospitality, but also raised the question: What would become of the five restaurants he owned at the time of his death, including the popular Franco-American eatery Duners?

A day after the accident, Richeys brother and the executor of his estate, Brett Richey, asked Kelly to grab a cup of coffee so the two could discuss business matters. Kelly assumed Brett Richey was looking for him to help manage some of the restaurants operations for the time being.

Instead, he asked Kelly to buy the restaurant outright.

Kelly told The Daily Progress he was initially hesitant to make the commitment given he had recently shed the title of restaurant owner.

After 16 years of running a business and getting it through COVID and blocking out some emotionally hard experiences, I was kind of like, I am still recovering from my last ownership, Kelly said. But, after a day or two, it was clear that this was a great move for my family and for the legacy of Duners. It just made sense.

Lauded as one of the most successful Charlottesville chefs of our time on Simon Davidsons popular food blog Charlottesville 29, Kelly spent the majority of his career as head chef and co-owner of Maya Restaurant, an upscale Southern comfort eatery on West Main Street in Charlottesville proper. He co-founded the restaurant in 2006, but a little over a year ago, he began to consider pursuing a different type of project.

So, last January, he stopped working in the kitchen and, by May, he had sold his shares to his former business partner.

I was just like, Im going to see whats out there, said Kelly. No real plans other than to just create an opportunity to see what else was around.

He spent a brief stint helping get the new Kimpton Forum Hotel at the University of Virginia off the ground, but his interest in Duners was sparked while on a bike ride with a friend who casually mentioned the restaurant had a job opening.

I immediately called up Wilson Richey and set up an interview the next day, said Kelly.

It was only a few months later that Wilson Richeys brother offered the entire business to Kelly and his wife Jennifer, who is currently studying to become a licensed clinical social worker.

Its been a grapple to be grateful for everything, Christian Kelly said. The circumstances that have gotten me here are, I dont want to sound too corny, but its definitely been a spiritual experience. Just putting the energy out there to be like, Hey, Im available.

Given all the changes the restaurant has been through in the past couple of years, he said he is doing very little to change the overall structure of what has become one of the areas longest-lasting culinary enterprises.

Started in 1983 by Sadun Duner Tor, Duners is now a staple in the Charlottesville restaurant scene, known for its weekly rotating menu often featuring various fish entrees, mussels, crab cakes and house-made pasta. Restaurateur Bob Caldwell took over from Tor and made Duners an integral part of the Ivy community, operating the business for 39 years. He retired in the spring of 2022 and handed over the reins to Wilson Richey.

While Wilson Richey had started to implement some of his own ideas before his death, such as expanding the dining area with an outdoor patio, what makes Duners Duners has remained the same for decades.

Bob Caldwell had an amazing sort of foundation laid down here. He really created these systems in which this place runs, said Christian Kelly. Bob did an amazing job of creating systems, creating a family atmosphere for the employees here.

Several staff members have been cooking in the kitchen or waiting tables for so long that theyve been given a nickname: legacy employees. These individuals have maintained the family-oriented atmosphere that Duners is known for, said Christian Kelly. Regular customers are known to dine at Duners as often as two to three times a week.

I dont know that you could intentionally create this, he said. Theres a sort of an energy that is its own. People have tried to open up restaurants in other areas of Ivy with not as much success. Duners is a very special place.

One such legacy employee is pastry chef Linda Steiner, who Christian Kelly refers to as the matriarch of the establishment. Steiner told The Daily Progress shes lost track of the years shes worked at Duners but that it probably falls somewhere between 25 to 27 years. The chef is known for her trademark Chocolate Mousse Dome Cake and ice cream sandwiches.

She said that after all these years the team at Duners is more like a family than a collection of coworkers.

Bob Caldwell used to call it the mystique and the magic, Steiner said. He was reluctant to change anything because it was working. I saw the wisdom in that. You give the customers what they want. They love the coconut cake; Ill make the coconut cake. As long as theyll eat it, Ill make it.

Though Duners is holding on to legacy employees, and menu items, there are a couple new faces as well.

Sous chef Paul Meyers arrived at Duners around the same time as Kelly and is looking to bring his own personal touch to the restaurants offerings. General manager Matt Blaszak is also currently training to become a sommelier and is planning to implement a really beautiful wine program, said Christian Kelly.

In addition to personnel, there are a few structural changes Duners patrons can expect to see in the coming months. The Kellys are looking forward to capitalizing on the porch space Wilson Richey installed as well as installing soundproofing tiles in the main dining room to address its loud vibe. The new owners also plan to make the restaurant available for private parties and wedding rehearsals, not previously offered by prior owners.

The Kellys are focused on preserving the institutions classic elements with a few minor developments, which Christian Kelly affectionately calls a glow up.

What is really important to me is Duners has a vibe, he said. And it is something I do not want to mess up. I really want to embrace what is working and sort of just fall in line with the tempo and the rhythm of this place.

At the end of the day, I want to make the right choices to innovate and to keep it going, he added.

Under the Kellys, Duners is once again a family-owned restaurant.

Its already been a lot of fun, said Kelly. Its brought us closer together, which, after 24 years of marriage, is a great thing. So its sort of like one of the final frontiers. Weve thought about it several times, going into business with each other, and this has been a great opportunity for that.
Madrid Open: Aryna Sabalenka battles past Magda Linette to reach third round

T

he World No.2 and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka produced a stunning comeback victory against Poland's Aryna Sabalenkan her opener at the Madrid Open on Friday.

The World No.2 defeated Poland's Magda Linette 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in a match that lasted for two hours and 9 minutes to book her place in the third round of the tournament.

"I feel like I kind of dropped my level a little bit with this Big Three. I feel like it's the Big Two last month," Sabalenka said referring to No.1 Iga Swiatek and Rybakina as quoted by WTA.

All Sabalenka needed was a little bit of luck to turn things around and resume her winning streak. She might have discovered all of that and more by defeating a well-prepared Linette. The Pole, who was a finalist in Rouen only the week before, exerted tremendous pressure on Sabalenka through a composed match. But Sabalenka, on the brink of self-destruction, managed to turn around.

On a winner of the net cord, Sabalenka won the opening set. Then, in the final game, Lady Luck grinned once more as the two exchanged holdings of the serve. Linette needed two more points to bring the set to a 4-4 draw.

However, Linette gave up the advantage when serving at 3-4 and 30-0. A powerful forehand return at 30-all gave Sabalenka a breakpoint and she converted on a net cord winner and closed out the 2-hour and 9-minute win.

"It's not about being confident. It's about how much you're ready to do to get it. It's about the hard work and to be ready, be ready for the big fights. I feel like confidence is not going to help you in those big matches. It's about staying there and fighting for it," Sabalenka said.

"I will say, I will be there, I will be fighting for every point and if I have an opportunity, I will take it. That's my mentality going into the clay season this year," she added.

Earlier, No.4 Elena Rybakina was all business in her 6-3, 6-4 victory over Italy's Lucia Bronzetti.

 Madrid Open: Aryna Sabalenka battles past Magda Linette to reach third round

 Post your comments

 Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
Simone Ashley to be honored at Monte-Carlo Television Festival

A

ctor Simone Ashley, who is known for her role in period drama 'Bridgerton' is all set to receive this year's International Golden Nymph for Most Promising Talent award from the Monte-Carlo Television Festival, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

She will be presented with the award at the festival's opening ceremony on June 14.

The Monte-Carlo Television Festival takes place in June in the Principality of Monaco at the Grimaldi Forum, under the Honorary Presidency of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco.

Ashley has enjoyed a stratospheric ascent in recent years, thanks to her breakout performance in the renowned British adolescent drama Sex Education.

The actress has been in several high-profile Hollywood films, including a crucial supporting role in Disney's recent live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid and a main role in Amazon MGM Studios' forthcoming film Picture This. Ashley will resume her role as Kate Sharma in Bridgerton's highly anticipated third season, which premieres in May.

"We are extremely proud to have created a special award at our Festival to highlight a new talent on the international stage," Cecile Menoni, executive director of the Monte-Carlo Television Festival, said in a statement. "Simone shot to global fame in Shonda Rhimes' hit show Bridgerton on Netflix and her exceptional screen presence makes her a very worthy winner."

Previous winners of the International Golden Nymph for Most Promising Talent award include Argentine actress Julia de Nunez and French actor Theo Christine, as per The Hollywood Reporter.

 Simone Ashley to be honored at Monte-Carlo Television Festival

 Post your comments

 Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
Discussed China's dangerous actions in South China Sea: Antony Blinken

U

S Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that he discussed China's "dangerous actions" in the South China Sea, including against routine Philippine maintenance operations, and maritime operations near the Second Thomas Shoal, adding that US defence commitments to the Philippines remain "ironclad."

Speaking to reporters in Beijing, he said, "In today's meetings, I discussed the PRC's dangerous actions in the South China Sea, including against routine Philippine maintenance operations, maritime operations near the Second Thomas Shoal."

"Freedom of navigation and commerce in these waterways is not only critical to the Philippines, but to the US and to every other nation in the Indo-Pacific and indeed around the world. That is why so many nations have expressed concern about the PRC maritime maneuvers. I made clear that while the US will continue to work to de-escalate tensions, our defence commitments to the Philippines remain ironclad," he added.

During his meeting with Chinese leaders, Blinken raised concerns about the cases of American citizens, who are wrongfully detained and those who are subject to exit bans. He raised concerns about erosions of Hong Kong's autonomy, democratic institutions and transnational repression, ongoing human rights abuses in Xinjiang and Tibet and individual human rights cases.

Antony Blinken said, "I raised the cases of American citizens who are wrongfully detained and those who are subject to exit bans. President Biden and I will not rest until they are back with their families, where they belong. I also raised concerns about erosions of Hong Kong's autonomy, and democratic institutions as well as transnational repression, ongoing human rights abuses in Xinjiang and Tibet, and a number of individual human rights cases. We spoke about press freedom and access."

"I appreciate that the PRC granted short-term visas to a number of the foreign journalists who are here so that they could cover this visit. In my meetings. I encourage my PRC counterparts to fulfill the commitment that they made in 2021 to provide equal access to our two countries' media organisations. The United States will continue to insist on reciprocity on this issue just as we do for our businesses, cross-cultural exchanges, and many other areas," he added.

He stated, "We also discussed a range of regional and global crises where China can play a constructive role. I encouraged China to use its influence to discourage Iran and its proxies from expanding the conflict in the Middle East and to press Pyongyang to end his dangerous behaviour and engage in dialogue."

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.

Blinken said, "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. 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."

"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 defence industrial base, a defence industrial base that is churning out rockets, drones, tanks, and other weapons that President Putin is using to invade a sovereign country, to demolish its power grid and other civilian infrastructure, to kill innocent children, women, and men. Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without China's support," he added.

Blinken noted that fuelling Russia's defence industrial base threatens Ukrainian as well as European security.

He stated, "In my meetings with NATO Allies earlier this month and with our G7 partners just last week, I heard that same message: fueling Russia's 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. As we've 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," he added.

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. During the meeting, Blinken and Wang Xiaohong reviewed the implementation of commitments made by the two leaders at the Woodside Summit in November 2023, including progress on bilateral cooperation to combat global illicit drug manufacturing and trafficking.

Blinken stressed the need for continued, sustained, and increased progress on counternarcotics cooperation. He also raised concerns regarding China's human rights abuses both within and beyond the borders.

In a statement, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, "Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with PRC State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong. They reviewed implementation of commitments made by the two leaders at the Woodside Summit in November 2023, including progress on bilateral cooperation to combat global illicit drug manufacturing and trafficking."

"The Secretary stressed the need for continued, sustained, and increased progress on counternarcotics cooperation. The Secretary raised a range of concerns regarding PRC human rights issues, both within and beyond the PRC's borders. The two sides reaffirmed the importance of maintaining open channels of communication to responsibly manage competition and to discuss key issues in the relationship," he added.

 Discussed China's dangerous actions in South China Sea: Antony Blinken

 Post your comments

 Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
I probably didn't work for a year: Dermot Mulroney talks of his belied expectations after 'My Best Friend's Wedding'

A

ctor Dermot Mulroney has shared the reason for not getting any role after being part of 'My Best Friend's Wedding', reported People.

He recalled working in an iconic 1997 rom-com alongside Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz and why he didn't get any role for a year after the release of the film.

"I was sitting there ready for the gift with purchase that was supposed to come along with being in a popular movie, and instead, I probably didn't work for a year," Mulroney told the New York Times. "I chalked it up to me being so tiny on the poster, the little guy on the cake. I thought, 'Gosh, you guys, if you'd made me a little bigger, maybe I could have gotten a job.' "

In this film, he played Michael, the childhood best friend of food critic Roberts' Jules. Although Jules has a crush on Michael after many years, he is shown engaged to 20-something billionaire Kimmy (Diaz), and she makes a plan to get him back.

Jules' attempts to disrupt the wedding failed, and the film concludes with Kimmy and Michael blissfully married. However, Jules nearly disrupts the wedding by expressing her love to Michael, leaving her to dance with her friend George (Rupert Everett) during the reception.

Despite receiving fewer opportunities following the '97 hit, Mulroney recently found rom-com success again when he featured as Sydney Sweeney's father in 'Anyone But You' -- and he offered his costar and the film's leading man Glen Powell some advice on how to escape the post-rom-com depression.

"I didn't want him to do what I did, which was minimize how important something is that might feel a little light or a little fluff when you're doing it," Mulroney said of Powell, 35. " 'What these movies mean to people,' I told Glen, 'will last for decades.' It will last until after you're gone in a way that maybe the other cool stuff he's doing won't. It has a different kind of absorption."

The success of My Best Friend's Wedding has followed its stars for years -- rumours of a sequel have circulated since the original came out, and both Mulroney and Roberts, 56, have said they would be onboard.

During an appearance on 'Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen back in December 2023, Roberts was asked by a viewer to pick a movie of hers of which she'd love to make a follow-up.

"That's a really good question and I've never been asked it," Roberts said, before choosing 'My Best Friend's Wedding'.

"There's so many people in it," she said, noting she'd want "to see what they're doing and how Kimmy and Michael's marriage is going..."

After another WWHL viewer asked Roberts who she thought Michael should have chosen, Roberts answered without hesitation: "Well, I mean, of course, Jules. But he married Kimmy," reported People.

 I probably didn't work for a year: Dermot Mulroney talks of his belied expectations after 'My Best Friend's Wedding'

 Post your comments

 Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
Ellen DeGeneres says she hated the way her talk show ended

E

llen DeGeneres recently expressed disappointment over how her talk show 'Ellen' concluded.

During a stop of her recent comedy tour in Los Angeles on Wednesday, DeGeneres joked that she was "kicked out of show business" for being "mean," The Hollywood Reporter reported, citing People.

Her comments referenced the public allegations of a toxic workplace that came out ahead of the talk show's end. She continued in her comedy routine that she became the "most hated person in America," following the countless headlines that came out about her when the story broke.

"The hate went on for a long time, and I would try to avoid looking at the news," she recalled, per People, noting that she used to end her talk show each day by saying, "Be kind to one another." "The 'be kind' girl wasn't kind," she added in her routine. "That was the headline."

By prompting people to be nice to one another, DeGeneres joked that it became a "problem" since people began to think of her as a "one-dimensional character who gave stuff away and danced up steps."

"No ... It's hard to dance when you're crying," she said, adding that she "had a hard time" with everything and "didn't get out" as the scandal was happening. She also noted that she was "in a funk" that started affecting her wife, Portia de Rossi. "She was watching it happen to me ... she went through it with me," she said of de Rossi.

At the time, DeGeneres said she laid low and became "persona non grata" for the second time since she came out as gay in 1997. Since then, however, with the help of her wife, she has started to dance again.

"I'm making jokes about what happened to me, but it was devastating," she said. "It took a long time for me to want to do anything again," noting that she "hated the way the show ended" because she "loved that show so much." She also added that she didn't want her time on the show to be tainted by the public's negative perception of her.

The Emmy-winning host concluded by sharing with the crowd that she was happy to be back onstage and providing some "joy" during "a scary time" to live. "I think that we need more laughter and less drama," she said.

 Ellen DeGeneres says she hated the way her talk show ended

 Post your comments

 Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
Karan Johar to be honoured at Gold House Gala

F

ilmmaker Karan Johar is all set to be honoured at the third annual Gold House Gala in May.

This year's event promises to be a star-studded affair, with luminaries such as Steven Yeun, Lucy Liu, Bang Si-Hyuk, and the iconic Hello Kitty also set to receive accolades alongside Karan.

The update was shared on the official Instagram handle of the Gold House Gala.

This year marks the third annual Gold Gala where top Asian Pacific and multicultural leaders will convene to celebrate the 2024 A100 List, as per Variety.

Gold House will announce the A100 honorees on May. 1. The list highlights the 100 most impactful Asian Pacific changemakers in culture and society over the past year.

This year's theme, A Gold New World, imagines a tomorrow for all, built by all. Luxury brand fashion designer Prabal Gurung will help bring this vision to life as the first-ever Gold Gala Creative Director.

The event will take place at the historic Music Center in downtown Los Angeles on May 11.

 Karan Johar to be honoured at Gold House Gala

 Post your comments

 Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
A team of clinician-scientists and scientists from the University of Nottingham (Malaysia campus), National Cancer Centre 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, 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 Health - Western 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 Programme, showed that almost 1 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 10-15% 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 4 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, scientists and genetic counselors, 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 urbanisation, 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 centres 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 2488 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. 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." Joanne Ngeow, Co-Senior Author, Associate Professor of Genomic Medicine at NTU Singapore's Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine and Head of the Cancer Genetics Service at NCCS

This research is supported by Singapore Ministry of Health's National Medical Research Council (NMRC) under the Clinician Scientist Award - Investigator (MOH-000654).
University of Minnesota Twin Cities researchers have constructed a robot that uses machine learning to fully automate a complicated microinjection process used in genetic research.

In their experiments, the researchers were able to use this automated robot to manipulate the genetics of multicellular organisms, including fruit fly and zebrafish embryos. The technology will save labs time and money while enabling them to more easily conduct new, large-scale genetic experiments that were not possible previously using manual techniques

The research is featured on the cover of the April 2024 issue of GENETICS, a peer-reviewed, open access, scientific journal. The work was co-led by two University of Minnesota mechanical engineering graduate students Andrew Alegria and Amey Joshi. The team is also working to commercialize this technology to make it widely available through the University of Minnesota start-up company, Objective Biotechnology.

Microinjection is a method for introducing cells, genetic material, or other agents directly into embryos, cells, or tissues using a very fine pipette. The researchers have trained the robot to detect embryos that are one-hundredth the size of a grain of rice. After detection, the machine can calculate a path and automate the process of the injections.

This new process is more robust and reproducible than manual injections. With this model, individual laboratories will be able to think of new experiments that you couldn't do without this type of technology." Suhasa Kodandaramaiah, mechanical engineering associate professor and senior author of the study, University of Minnesota

Typically, this type of research requires highly skilled technicians to perform the microinjection, which many laboratories do not have. This new technology could expand the ability to perform large experiments in labs, while reducing time and costs.

"This is very exciting for the world of genetics. Writing and reading DNA have drastically improved in recent years, but having this technology will increase our ability to perform large-scale genetic experiments in a wide range of organisms," said Daryl Gohl, a co-author of the study, the group leader of the University of Minnesota Genomics Center's Innovation Lab and research assistant professor in the Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development.

Not only can this technology be used in genetic experiments, but it can also help to preserve endangered species through cryopreservation, a preservation technique conducted at ultra-low temperatures.

"You can use this robot to inject nanoparticles into cells and tissues that helps in cryopreservation and in the process of rewarming afterwards," Kodandaramaiah explained.

Other team members highlighted other applications for the technology that could have even more impact.

"We hope that this technology could eventually be used for in vitro fertilization, where you could detect those eggs on the microscale level," said Andrew Alegria, co-lead author on the paper and University of Minnesota mechanical engineering graduate research assistant in the Biosensing and Biorobotics Lab.

In addition to Kodandaramaiah, Gohl, Alegria, and Joshi, the team included several researchers from the University of Minnesota's College of Science and Engineering and the University of Minnesota Genomics Center's Innovation Lab. The team recently won the University's "Walleye Tank" life science competition. This life science pitch competition provides education and promotional opportunities for emerging and established medical and life science companies.

This research was completed in collaboration with the Engineering Research Center for Advanced Technologies for the Preservation of Biological Systems (ATP-Bio) and the University of Minnesota Zebrafish Core.

The paper was funded by the National Institute of Health, Minnesota Sea Grant, and the National Science Foundation. Additional support was provided by the University of Minnesota Diversity of Views and Experiences (DOVE) fellowship and Minnesota's Discovery, Research, and Innovation Economy (MnDRIVE) fellowship from the University of Minnesota Informatics Institute (UMII).
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and RUSH University System for Health today announced a partnership to create RUSH MD Anderson Cancer Center. The partnership represents advanced clinical and operational integration in the delivery of cancer care, providing RUSH patients greater access to cancer treatments and research considered among the best in the world.

MD Anderson is one of the nation's leading cancer centers and its team of experts is devoted exclusively to cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. RUSH becomes the seventh partner in MD Anderson's network of hospitals and health care systems collaborating to provide more people greater access to advanced cancer care and clinical trials. RUSH MD Anderson will serve patients in the largest U.S. city by population of all network partners.

Our team at RUSH is incredibly proud of the care that we provide, and we are honored to consistently be recognized among the nation's best. Partnering with MD Anderson and their bold vision to be the premier cancer center in the world tells our patients that they can continue to expect the best possible care from RUSH." Dr. Omar Lateef, President and CEO of RUSH

RUSH MD Anderson patients will benefit from the combined expertise of a multidisciplinary team of surgical, medical and radiation oncologists, nurses and support specialists. Importantly, patients will receive care mirroring the same protocols and treatment plans available at MD Anderson and will have the opportunity to participate in an expanded number of clinical trials, including early Phase I and II trials.

"Partnering with RUSH to create RUSH MD Anderson is a significant moment in our history as we work to accomplish our mission of eliminating cancer and saving more lives," said Dr. Peter WT Pisters, president, MD Anderson. "We are proud to work with a stellar team of clinicians, researchers and leaders at RUSH to advance cancer care in the region and to make more clinical trials available to patients as we set our sights on Making Cancer History together."

All RUSH MD Anderson physicians are specialty trained and board certified and have had their credentials approved by MD Anderson. RUSH MD Anderson providers also will have peer-to-peer access to MD Anderson's specialists and researchers for consultations on best practices and treatment decisions.

RUSH is committed to bringing the right care at the right time; including saving more lives through access to community-wide screening, reducing risk and providing preventive, value-based care. RUSH MD Anderson will create a more comprehensive cancer program through integrated services consistently available across its medical centers and regional locations.

RUSH MD Anderson patients will be able to access care in locations across the city, Chicago suburbs and Northwest Indiana. On RUSH's Chicago campus, cancer care will be provided in the 10-story Joan and Paul Rubschlager Building, designed to optimize patient experience and convenience while creating an uplifting, accessible environment that promotes healing. RUSH MD Anderson locations are:

RUSH University Medical Center in Chicago (Joan and Paul Rubschlager Building)

RUSH Copley Medical Center in Aurora

RUSH Oak Park Hospital

RUSH Copley Healthcare Center in Yorkville

"Our RUSH community includes some of the brightest minds in medicine, scientific research and medical education -; each with an unwavering commitment to the patients we serve," said Dr. Amina Ahmed, director, RUSH MD Anderson Cancer Center. "Our mission, vision, strategy and goals are aligned with MD Anderson's clinical standards of care. We are stronger together and look forward to providing continued comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for all RUSH MD Anderson patients."
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 PMI - called 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 said.

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." Pamela Ling, Director of the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California San Francisco
A new imaging technique developed by engineers at Washington University in St. Louis can give scientists a much closer look at fibril assemblies, stacks of peptides like amyloid beta, most notably associated with Alzheimer's disease.

These cross- fibril assemblies are also useful building blocks within designer biomaterials for medical applications, but their resemblance to their amyloid beta cousins, whose tangles are a symptom of neurodegenerative disease, is concerning. Researchers want to learn how different sequences of these peptides are linked to their varying toxicity and function, for both naturally occurring peptides and their synthetic engineered cousins.

Now, scientists can get a close enough look at fibril assemblies to see there are notable differences in how synthetic peptides stack compared with amyloid beta. These results stem from a fruitful collaboration between lead author Matthew Lew, associate professor in the Preston M. Green Department of Electrical & Systems Engineering, and Jai Rudra, associate professor of biomedical engineering, in WashU's McKelvey School of Engineering.

We engineer microscopes to enable better nanoscale measurements so that the science can move forward." Matthew Lew, associate professor in the Preston M. Green Department of Electrical & Systems Engineering

In a paper published in ACS Nano, Lew and colleagues outline how they used the Nile red chemical probe to light up cross- fibrils. Their technique called single-molecule orientationlocalization microscopy (SMOLM) uses the flashes of light from Nile red to visualize the fiber structures formed by synthetic peptides and by amyloid beta.

The bottom line: these assemblies are much more complicated and heterogenous than anticipated. But that's good news, because it means there's more than one way to safely stack your proteins. With better measurements and images of fibril assemblies, bioengineers can better understand the rules that dictate how protein grammar affects toxicity and biological function, leading to more effective and less toxic therapeutics.

First, scientists need to see the difference between them, something very challenging because of the tiny scale of these assemblies.

"The helical twist of these fibers is impossible to discern using an optical microscope, or even some super-resolution microscopes, because these things are just too small," Lew said.

With high-dimensional imaging technology developed in Lew's lab the past couple years, they are able to see the differences.

A typical fluorescence microscope uses florescent molecules as light bulbs to highlight certain aspects of a biological target. In the case of this work, they used one of those probes, Nile red, as a sensor for what was around it. As Nile red randomly explores its environment and collides with the fibrils, it emits flashes of light that they can measure to determine where the fluorescent probe is and its orientation. From that data, they can piece together the full picture of engineered fibrils that stack very differently from the natural ones like amyloid beta.

Their image of these fibril assemblies made the cover of the ACS Nano and was put together by first author Weiyan Zhou, who color-coded the image based on where the Nile reds were pointing. The resulting image is a blueish, red flowing assembly of peptides that looks like a river valley.

They plan to continue to develop techniques like SMOLM to open new avenues of studying biological structures and processes at the nanoscale.

"We are seeing things you can't see with existing technology," Lew said.
One of the many secrets to bacteria's success is their ability to defend themselves from viruses, called phages, that infect bacteria and use their cellular machinery to make copies of themselves.

Technological advances have enabled recent identification of the proteins involved in these systems, but scientists are still digging deeper into what those proteins do.

In a new study, a team from The Ohio State University has reported on the molecular assembly of one of the most common anti-phage systems  from the family of proteins called Gabija  that is estimated to be used by at least 8.5%, and up to 18%, of all bacteria species on Earth.

Researchers found that one protein appears to have the power to fend off a phage, but when it binds to a partner protein, the resulting complex is highly adept at snipping the genome of an invading phage to render it unable to replicate.

We think the two proteins need to form the complex to play a role in phage prevention, but we also believe one protein alone does have some anti-phage function. The full role of the second protein needs to be further studied." Zhangfei Shen, co-lead author of the study and postdoctoral scholar in biological chemistry and pharmacology at Ohio State's College of Medicine

The findings add to scientific understanding of microorganisms' evolutionary strategies and could one day be translated into biomedical applications, researchers say.

Shen and co-lead author Xiaoyuan Yang, a PhD student, work in the lab of senior author Tianmin Fu, assistant professor of biological chemistry and pharmacology at Ohio State.

The study was published April 16 in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology.

The two proteins that make up this defense system are called Gabija A and Gabija B, or GajA and GajB for short.

Researchers used cryo-electron microscopy to determine the biochemical structures of GajA and GajB individually and of what is called a supramolecular complex, GajAB, created when the two bind to form a cluster consisting of four molecules from each protein.

In experiments using Bacillus cereus bacteria as a model, researchers observed the activity of the complex in the presence of phages to gain insight into how the defense system works.

Though GajA alone showed signs of activity that could disable a phage's DNA, the complex it formed with GajB was much more effective at ensuring phages would not be able take over the bacterial cell.

"That's the mysterious part," Yang said. "GajA alone is sufficient to cleave the phage nucleus, but it also does form the complex with GajB when we incubate them together. Our hypothesis is that GajA recognizes the phage's genomic sequence, but GajB enhances that recognition and helps to cut the phage DNA."

The large size and elongated configuration of the complex made it difficult to get the full picture of GajB's functional contributions when bound to GajA, Shen said, leaving the team to make some assumptions about protein roles that have yet to be confirmed.

"We only know GajB helps enhance GajA activity, but we don't yet know how it works because we only see about 50% of it on the complex," Shen said.

One of their hypotheses is that GajB may influence the concentration level of an energy source, the nucleotide ATP (adenosine triphosphate), in the cellular environment  specifically, by driving ATP down upon detection of the phage's presence. That would have the dual effect of expanding GajA's phage DNA-disabling activity and stealing energy that a phage would need to start replicating, Yang said.

There is more to learn about bacterial anti-phage defense systems, but this team has already shown that blocking virus replication isn't the only weapon in the bacterial arsenal. In a previous study, Fu, Shen, Yang and colleagues described a different defense strategy: bacteria programming their own death rather than letting phages take over a community.

This work was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.

Additional co-authors are Jiale Xie, Jacelyn Greenwald, Ila Marathe, Qingpeng Lin and Vicki Wysocki of Ohio State, and Wenjun Xie of the University of Florida.
A study in more than 3,000 US counties, with 315 million residents, has suggested that air pollution is linked with stress and depression, putting under-65-year-olds at increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. The research is presented today at ESC Preventive Cardiology 2024, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

Our study indicates that the air we breathe affects our mental well-being, which in turn impacts heart health." Dr. Shady Abohashem, study lead author of Harvard Medical School, Boston, US

According to the World Health Organization, air pollution is estimated to have caused 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide in 2019. Mental illness has also been linked with premature death. This study examined whether air pollution and poor mental health are interrelated and have a joint impact on death from cardiovascular disease.

The study focused on particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, also referred to as fine particles or PM2.5. They come from vehicle exhaust fumes, power plant combustion, and burning wood, and present the highest health risk. To conduct the study, county-level data on annual PM2.5 levels were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).4 PM2.5 exposure was categorized as high or low according to World Health Organization (WHO) standards. The researchers gathered data on the average number of days (age-standardised) that county residents experienced mental health issues-;including stress, depression, and emotional problems-;from the CDC. Each county was then categorized into three groups based on these numbers. Counties in the top third reported the most days of poor mental health (PMH).4 Age-adjusted premature cardiovascular mortality rates (under 65 years of age) per county, were obtained from the CDC. County characteristics were sourced from the County Health Rankings project.

The study included 3,047 US counties, representing 315,720,938 residents (with over 207 million aged 20 to 64 years and 50% females) in 2013. Between 2013 and 2019, some 1,079,656 (0.34%) participants died from cardiovascular disease before the age of 65 years. The researchers analyzed the associations between pollution, mental health, and premature cardiovascular mortality after adjusting for factors that could influence the relationships.

Counties with dirty air (high PM2.5 concentrations) were 10% more likely to report high levels of PMH days compared to counties with clean air (low PM2.5 concentrations). That risk was markedly greater in counties with a high prevalence of minority groups or poverty. The link between PMH and premature cardiovascular mortality was strongest in counties with higher levels (above WHO recommended levels: 10 m2) of air pollution. In these counties, higher levels of PMH were associated with a three-fold increase in premature cardiovascular mortality compared to lower PMH levels. Further, one-third of the pollution-related risk of premature cardiovascular deaths was explained by increased burden of PMH.

Dr. Abohashem said: "Our results reveal a dual threat from air pollution: it not only worsens mental health but also significantly amplifies the risk of heart-related deaths associated with poor mental health. Public health strategies are urgently needed to address both air quality and mental wellbeing in order to preserve cardiovascular health."

The levels of pollution across ESC countries can be viewed in the ESC Atlas of Cardiology:

https://eatlas.escardio.org/Data/Risk-factors/Enviromental-risk-factors/rf_avpmpol-average-annual-population-weighted-pm2-5-ug-m3.
The West Bengal Madhyamik (class 10) result 2024 will be revealed during a press conference on May 2 at 9 AM, according to a statement from the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE). Students who took the Class 10 board examinations in 2024 will be able to view their results starting at 9:45 am. The class 10 exam was taken by almost 8.76 lakh children this year, and the examinations were administered between February 2 and February 12.

After the results are released, candidates can utilise their admit card number and date of birth as a username and password to check the results as well as download the marksheet at the official websites, which are wbbse.wb.gov.in and wbresults.nic.in.

This is for information of all concerned that the results of Madhyamik Pariksha (SE) 2024 will be announced by the President, ad-hoc committee, WBBSE on 2nd May, 2024 at 9 AM through a press conference, according to an official statement issued by the WBBSE.

As per the official announcement, iresults.net, indiaresults.com, and other websites specified in the notification will be hosting the results. Apart from the official websites, the results are also available on mobile apps such as madhyamik results 2024, madhyamik result, and fastresult. All of these applications will be accessible for free download from the Google Play Store.

West Bengal Madhyamik Result 2024: How to download

Once the Madhyamik results are released, students in Class 10 can check them using the processes outlined below.

Step 1: Visit the official website, wbbse.wb.gov.in.

Step 2: Select the results tab, then click the link for the West Bengal Madhyamik results.

Step 3: Enter the right login credentials, such as the date of birth and roll number.

Step 4: Now click the submit button. The WBBSE Madhyamik 2024 results will be presented on the screen.

Step 5: Download the West Bengal Class 10 Result 2024 scorecard at last, then print it out for your records.

West Bengal Madhyamik Result 2024: Passing Criteria

The West Bengal board class 10 exams were graded for 800 marks, and students needed to score 272 marks to pass. Additionally, the board announced that starting at 10 AM, the schools will get the WB Class 10 students marksheets and certificates from the respective board camp offices.

The Madhyamik exams, often called the WBBSE Class 10 board exam, were passed by 86.15 per cent of pupils in 2023. This was a modest reduction from the pass percentage in 2022 when 86.60 per cent of candidates cleared the WB class 10 board exam.

Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website.
In her maiden roadshow, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals wife Sunita Kejriwal on Saturday said her husband is a lion and nobody can break him and make him bow down.

Through the sunroof of a car, Sunita Kejriwal greeted voters in the Kondli area of East Delhi constituency with folded hands as she garnered support for partys candidate Kuldeep Kumar.

People lined the street, shops, and balconies of their houses and responded by waving back at her.

She called her husband Bharat Ma ka Lal who has been sent to jail for opening schools and mohalla clinics, and providing free electricity to the people of Delhi.

She raised the slogan Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se as the crowd joined her repeating the slogan that is mainstay of AAPs Lok Sabha poll campaign in Delhi.

The chief minister is currently lodged in Tihar jail in connection with a money-laundering case.

We will vote to remove dictatorship and save democracy, Sunita Kejriwal said. Your CM is a sher, nobody can break him or make him bow down. As Sunita Kejriwals carcade winded through narrow lanes, a large number of AAP supporters, carrying the Delhi CMs cut-outs, waved the partys signature blue and yellow flags, and raised slogans like Jail ke tale tutengey, Kejriwal chhutengey.

The rally witnessed a heavy deployment of security personnel and the use of drones.

The local leaders from the AAPs alliance partner Congress also attended the roadshow with their supporters.

Sunita alleged that her husband, who took 50 units of insulin before his arrest on March 21, was deprived of the crucial medicine in the jail.

His insulin was stopped after he went to jail and his sugar level reached to 300 (mg/dl). This may affect his kidney and liver. Do they want to kill Kejriwal, she said without naming anyone.

I know you love Kejriwal a lot that is what offends them. What is his offence? He made power free, opened schools for your children, made bus ride free for women, opened Mohalla Clinics and now he will provide Rs 1,000 to women. That is why they arrested him, she said.

Sunita said that Kejriwal was imprisoned even though no charge was proven in any court against him.

Now they have developed a system which will be used to keep him in jail till investigation and the case are over. This is plain hooliganism and dictatorship. Will they keep him in jail for 10 years if the probe goes on for 10 years, she asked.

She asserted that her husband will not break under the pressure.

He is a true son of Bharat Maa. As a daughter of Bharat Maa, I appeal you to save the country. The country is headed towards dictatorship, she said.

A local resident, Vimla Devi, said the arrest of the Delhi CM just before the elections was does not bode well for the country.

I feel that the INDIA alliance will sweep the Lok Sabha polls. The chief minister has provided a lot of facilities to the people of Delhi. People will surely vote for his party, she said.

With Arvind Kejriwal behind the bars, his wife will continue to spearhead the AAPs poll campaign and hold roadshows, according to party leaders. She is slated to hold another in West Delhi Lok Sabha constituency on Sunday.

She will also campaign for AAP candidates in South Delhi and New Delhi constituencies as well as in Gujarat, Haryana and Punjab, the party leaders said.

Explore Live updates on the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 News . Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
Aam Aadmi Party national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has refuted allegations levelled by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Supreme Court saying that the EDs reply leaves no manner of doubt that the agency has acted in a most high-handed manner in a gross affront to the due process of law. EDs claims are bogus, based on blatant falsehoods and have no ground, he said. The present case is a classic case of how the ruling party-led central government has misused the central agency, Enforcement Directorate, and its wide powers under PMLA to crush its biggest political opponent Aam Aadmi Party and its leaders, said the CM.

In his rejoinder to the Supreme Court, Arvind Kejriwal highlighted that his arrest by the ED relied solely on the statements of four accused turned witnesses with direct links to and benefits from the BJP. For instance, Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, who received an NDA Lok Sabha ticket, gave a statement to facilitate the bail of his son, Raghav Reddy. Another approver, P Sarath Reddy, sent 60 crore to the BJPs account through electoral bonds to secure his own bail. A third person, Satya Vijay Naik, who fought the 2022 Goa assembly elections on an AAP ticket, is closely associated with Goa CM Pramod Sawant and fought on BJP ticket in 2012 and 2017. Another accused turned approver was a close aide of former BJP CM, Manohar Parrikar. Thus, all 4 incriminating statements are from persons closely linked to the BJP.

Arvind Kejriwals rejoinder before the Supreme Court reads, A cumulative reading of the EDs stand in its reply would expose the bogey and blatant falsehood in the conduct of its proceedings. The record would reveal that each and every summons that have been issued to Shri Arvind Kejriwal have been duly responded. In the instant case, the ED has not only been opaque and dictatorial in its approach but also guilty of suggestio falsi (suggesting falsehood) & suppressio veri (suppressing truth).

The reply states that the entire basis of Arvind Kejriwals arrest rests upon certain statements which are in the nature of self-incriminating confessions by alleged accomplices who have been given immunity by way of pardon, etc. These alleged incriminating evidences are therefore obtained under an arrangement without any corroborative evidence. AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwals arrest constitutes an unprecedented assault on the tenets of democracy based on free and fair elections and federalism both of which form significant constituents of the basic structure of the Constitution. The ED abused its power of arrest in the middle of the general election and while relying on the same material as was in possession months before its arrest. In such circumstances, the case of Arvind Kejriwal is peculiar and grave and warrants urgent intervention of this court to protect the life and liberty of an individual.

Refuting the EDs claims of statements relied upon in the grounds of arrest, Arvind Kejriwals rejoinder reads, The statements ED is heavily relying on are not of the approvers but that of co-accused persons who were made to give statements prior to such grant of pardon. As per Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddys (MSR) own statement under Section 50 PMLA dated 24.03.2023- on 03.03.2021, MSR sought an appointment from CM Office, Delhi saying that he was a member of Parliament and wanted to be a pay courtesy call on Delhi Chief Minister. He sought an immediate meeting and was given the time for 16.03.2021. On 16.03.2021 he came to the CM office at 4:30 PM, he was issued a pass and was escorted respectfully to the CM Office. In this meeting, MSR requested for a piece of land to set up a charitable trust for his family in Delhi. The Chief Minister informed him that land did not come under the jurisdiction of the elected government of Delhi and was within the jurisdiction of LG of Delhi. Therefore, the Chief Minister will not be able to allot the land to him. However, MSR could write a letter to the Chief Minister and the Chief Minister would forward the same to the office of LG.

On 16.09.2022, MSRs house was raided by ED and in his statement dated 16.09.2022, MSR did not allege anything against Shri Arvind Kejriwal. This statement is put in the list of un-relied upon documents and is not produced before either the court or accused persons. Subsequently his son Raghav Magunta was arrested by ED on 11.02.2023. On 24.03.2023, MSR again gave a statement under Section 50 of the PMLA wherein he confirmed that in his meeting with the Chief Minister on 16.03.2023, he sought land for his charitable trust. Five months down the line due to his sons continued incarceration, father broke down, and could not accept his sons continued incarceration. Therefore, in order to secure no objection from ED for his sons bail, on 16.07.2023 and 17.07.2023, MSR gave a statement on the asking of the ED seeking to implicate Shri Arvind Kejriwal herein contradicting his earlier statement. One day after MSRs statement dated 17.07.2023, on 18.07.2023, his son Raghav Magunta was granted interim bail on health grounds with no-objections from ED. On 03.10.2023, MSRs son Raghav Magunta was granted pardon, the rejoinder states.

Arvind Kejriwals rejoinder further reads, Belated and contradictory statement of MSR is nothing but a statement given on coercion and pressure exerted by the ED. The said subsequent statement is also made in exchange of his and his sons liberty. Hence, it is clear that EDs only objective to taking action against MSR and his son was to pressurize and coerce them to falsely implicate Shri Arvind Kejriwal. Till the time a statement against the Chief Minister was not made, ED kept taking their statements while also objecting to the bail of Raghav Magunta. However, as soon as a statement implicating Shri Arvind Kejriwal was made, MSRs son was released on bail. This is nothing but a fabrication of evidence and extorting statements by abuse of powers granted under Section 19, 50 and 45 of the PMLA. That MSR has now joined TDP and is contesting the present Lok Sabha elections on its ticket. The TDP is in alliance with BJP for the present general elections and is a part of NDA.

On 16.09.2022, P. Sarath Chandra Reddy was raided by the ED and his statement was recorded. No allegations against Shri Arvind Kejriwal were made. However, the ED concealed this statement from the court and accused persons. On 26.10.2022 and 09.11.2022, Sarath Reddys statements were again recorded, with no allegations against Kejriwal. Despite this, he was arrested on 10.11.2022. After failing to secure bail, Sarath Reddy implicated Shri Arvind Kejriwal in statements dated 25.04.2023 and 29.04.2023. He was granted bail on 08.05.2023 for medical reasons and pardoned on 29.05.2023. Out of 13 statements by PSR, only two implicated Shri Arvind Kejriwal, fabricated by the ED, the petition mentioned. It is now clearly established from data on electoral bonds that Sarath Chandra Reddys companies donated a total of Rs 60 crore to the BJP, Rs 55 crore of which was donated after his arrest on 10.11.2022.

Arvind Kejriwals rejoinder mentions that the ED has referred to certain statements of certain persons engaged in election campaign-related activities of AAP in Goa. That none of such statements or the details of the said persons or the content of what they have stated is relied upon or even mentioned in the grounds of arrest of Arvind Kejriwal. Hence it is implicit and apparent that none of such statements are of any importance or relevance and certainly not of such sterling nature so as to justify an arrest of the sitting Chief Minister of GNCTD. The grounds of arrest mention that one candidate of AAP for the Goa elections has received expenses in cash from an AAP volunteer in Goa. That such a statement does not in any manner without any specific details or any specific allegations make out a case against the national convener of a national political party. The AAP candidate in question happens to be one Satya Vijay Naik who is closely associated with Goa CM Pramod Sawant and had earlier fought the 2012 and 2017 Goa elections on a BJP ticket.

There is no detail, no correlation, no involvement of Shri Arvind Kejriwal shown to have existed for commission of 37 offences under Section 3 on the basis of such statement. No proof of even any cash payment was given. There exists no proof or material demonstrating that the AAP received funds or advanced kickbacks from the South group, let alone utilising them in the Goa election campaign. Not a single rupee was traced back to the AAP, and the allegations put forth in this regard are devoid of any tangible evidence, rendering them vague, baseless without any corroboration. There is no link whatsoever established by ED to claim that an amount of 45 Crores was transferred by South group as advanced kickback which was then utilized by AAP in Goa elections, the rejoinder reads.

Few self-serving statements of hawala dealers about alleged cash transfer without any corroboration or link with the facts of the present case does not establish any case under the PMLA to justify the arrest of Shri Arvind Kejriwal in the middle of the general elections 2024. There is absolutely no evidence that an amount of 45 crore which allegedly came from South Group was utilized by AAP in Goa election. There is no statement or evidence to prove the same. Moreover, ED has randomly and vaguely without any specific link of cash payments with the scheduled offences- referred to certain cash payments made in Goa. That such an allegation is on the face of it liable to be rejected as it does not constitute any offence under Section 3 PMLA, it reads.

The CM stated that the ground of arrest alleges that Arvind Kejriwal generated proceeds of crime to the tune of 45 crore. There is no material to show the involvement in the process or activity related to POC  be it one of concealment, possession, acquisition, use of proceeds of crime as much as projecting it as untainted property or claiming it to be so. There is no proof that the party received any funds from South Group which is then utilised in Goa. The ED in its counter affidavit filed before the High Court has already admitted that Arvind Kejriwal was not involved in handling the transfer of any amounts. The same specific ground on the same material  in relation to the said proceeds of crime amounting to 45 crore was raised by Manish Sisodia also and the same was also rejected by the Supreme Court in its judgment while holding that there is no specific allegation of involvement of Manish Sisodia in the transfer of 45 crore, likewise there is no specific allegation or act which is being alleged by ED against Arvind Kejriwal and therefore, there is no offence which is made out under Section 3 PMLA.

It mentions that despite the fact that Arvind Kejriwal had himself made the submissions before the court, he was ready and willing to cooperate with the Investigating Agency and has no objection if the custody remand is extended further, as the earlier order of remand along with the action of arrest had already been challenged before the High Court of Delhi. Under no circumstances could an inference be drawn that Arvind Kejriwal had abandoned his rights whereas, on the contrary, Arvind Kejriwal had challenged the illegal action of arrest and mechanical order of remand before the High Court without any lapse of time.

Arvind Kejriwals rejoinder highlights that while claiming its supremacy and absolute touch me not attitude in the field of purported investigations, what the ED forgets is that it has never claimed that the summons were issued to an accused who did not obey. It also forgets that Section 19 does not validate an arrest merely on account of alleged non-cooperation. What is the alleged non-cooperation, has never been spelt out by the ED. What was the requirement in not calling Arvind Kejriwal either through an authorised agent or seeking information or documents from him in writing or through a virtual mode and insisting on his presence physically in person?

The ED has categorically stated in their reply filed in these proceedings, that Shri Arvind Kejriwal is not named as an accused in the ECIR; nor is he named as an accused in the scheduled offence registered by the CBI, which is the foundation of the proceedings in the ECIR. The power to arrest in the present case is a glaring abuse of the due process of law as well as the procedure established. EDs approach completely negates the basic tenets and foundation principles of criminal jurisprudence i.e. fair investigation, fair trial and rule of law, the rejoinder mentions.

Refuting the EDs claims of large-scale destruction of evidence, Arvind Kejriwals rejoinder reads, There is not even a single averment alleging the destruction of evidence of any kind by Shri Arvind Kejriwal and hence the said ground is devoid of any merit. Moreover, the Respondent being devoid of any cogent reason, is now raising frivolous and fictitious grounds for justifying the illegal arrest of the Shri Arvind Kejriwal.

The rejoinder emphasises that the EDs claims that it is well within its rights to negate all basic foundational principles of the criminal justice system including fair investigation, fair trial, rule of law, and duty of prosecutor to lay before the court all evidence in search of one objective i.e. truth, to be all redundant and a dead letter. The blatant high-handedness, arbitrariness and the dictatorial approach of ED in violating the life and liberty of an individual without following the due process of law. The record reveals that to every summons, Arvind Kejriwal has given a comprehensive reply and raised pertinent issues which have not been responded to and ED has maintained an eerie silence.

The ED illegally picked up a sitting Chief Minister and the National Convenor of one of the 6 national Opposition parties in India on 21.03.2024, that is, 5 days after the General Elections were called and the Model Code of Conduct was put in place. Shri Arvind Kejriwals political party is in direct opposition to the ruling political party at the Centre in the on-going General Elections and voting has already commenced from 17.04.2024. During an election cycle when political activity is at its highest, Shri Arvind Kejriwals illegal arrest has caused grave prejudice to Shri Arvind Kejriwals political party, and will provide the ruling party at the Centre an unjust upper hand in the on-going elections. A level playing field- which is a pre-requisite for free and fair elections- has clearly been compromised with the illegal arrest of Shri Arvind Kejriwal, the rejoinder mentions.

Refuting EDs cherry-picking of statements of approvers, the rejoinder reads, It is the investigating officers discretion as to what statement to rely on and what not to reply on and the Respondent goes on to term the investigating officer as the Master of the Brief. That such a statement on behalf of the ED is nothing short of being blatant display of abuse of power and that the same are not conceivable in the eyes of law. It is a settled law by this Honble Court that it is the investigating officers duty to unearth the truth but not to prosecute the accused person by cherry-picking a few statements here and there. That the IO cannot cherry-pick the statements or the material that has been collected during the investigation. This approach would clearly reveal that ED proceeds on the basis that it has a right to conceal documents which are in the favour of the accused from the court and the accused. This negates the very principle of fair trial and fair investigation.

The rejoinder says that this approach would make the investigating officer the final arbiter of truth and arrest individuals in such draconian law having grave adverse effects on personal liberty. This approach also prevents the court from exercising its power of judicial review and suggests that courts should be mute spectators to such blatant and grave violations of personal liberty by following procedures unknown to law being violative of Article 21 of the Constitution of India. EDs approach is a blatant display of tyranny and gives an insight into how it abuses the draconian provisions of PMLA with blatant violations of (a) Right of life and liberty; (b). Principles of fair trial and fair investigation; (c) Due process of law and (d) Rule of law. None of said statements even remotely indicate the involvement of Arvind Kejriwal in any activities related to the commission of predicate offences under Sec. 3 PMLA whether it be concealment, possession, acquisition, or utilisation of proceeds of crime. No offence is made out under PMLA on the basis of such evidence to arrest a sitting Chief Minister.

Explore Live updates on the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 News . Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
Lok Sabha Election 2024 LIVE: The Bharatiya Janata Partys campaign for the Lok Sabha polls in Goa intensified with Prime Minister Narendra Modis address at a public rally at Sancoale on Saturday (April 27). The coastal state will go to the polls on May 7, in the third phase of Lok Sabha elections. As per Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, BJPs vote count and lead in both the Lok Sabha seats in the state will increase after Prime Minister Narendra Modis meeting.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister, while addressing an election rally in Kolhapur, slammed the Oppositions anti-national agendas and appeasement politics. Exuding confidence over BJP-NDAs win in the Lok Sabha polls, he said that after the second phase voting  in football terminology  they are leading 2-0.

ALSO READ: Lok Sabha Elections: 60.96% Voter Turnout Recorded in Phase 2 Polling; Tripura Leads with 78.53%

Latest Updates on Lok Sabha Election 2024 LIVE

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi stirred controversy with his Raja, Maharajas remark on Saturday. BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya shared his comments video on X and said that Rahul should immediately apologise to the Rajput community.

Following the Congress partys Central Election Committees meeting, general secretary KC Venugopal said, Within one or two days, everything will be clear.

Congress filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Union Minister Anurag Thakur, saying that he violated the poll code. Earlier in the day, Thakur had alleged the presence of a foreign hand in the grand old partys manifesto. The BJP leader also reiterated an accusation earlier advanced by PM Modi. He said the opposition plans on distributing peoples wealth to Muslims.

The BJP is working towards making Goa a major centre for international conferences. Our government is working a lot on Goas infrastructure, PM Modi said.

He noted that his government has made a separate ministry and budget for the fisheries sector. It ensures that we can transform the lives of fishermen and people living in the coastal areas. We provided Kisan Credit cards to fishermenNow we have decided to increase the insurance for the fishermen, the PM added.

PM Modi, at the Goa rally, reiterated that the last ten years is just a trailer, adding that I need to achieve a lot and develop the country.

He said that the NDA has an approach of satisfaction, not appeasement. The saturation approach, the PM said, means Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, the benefit of all welfare schemes without any discrimination. He said that Goa is a perfect example of this approach.

Addressing a mega rally in Goa, PM Modi said, This election of 2024 is an election between two streams. One stream is of NDA which is working for the aspirations of the people of the country. Its a stream which is working with an approach of saturation, adding that on the other hand, the other stream is of INDI Alliance which works for its own interests and families.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a public rally in Kolhapur, took the reference of the city being a football hub and said, If I speak to you in Football terminology, yesterday after the completion of the second phase, BJP-NDA is leading 2-0.

PM Modi slammed the opposition and said that they are using anti-national agendas and appeasement, adding that now Congress partys agenda is to reinstate Article 370 in Kashmir.

The BJP, in its 15th list for the general elections, fielded Ujjwal Deorao Nikam from the Mumbai North Central constituency. Nikam, a fine prosecutor and renowned name in the Bombay Legal Circle, also played a key role in the hanging of Ajmal Kasab in the 26/11 terror case.

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya slammed the Congress government in Karnataka, saying that they turned a blind eye to the woes of the farmers and did nothing for drought relief. The Congress continues to live in self glorification mode, while doing nothing for drought relief from the states exchequer over last 6 months.Traditionally, knowing fully well that the process of assessing claims takes its due time, State Govts have spent from their  Tejasvi Surya ( ) (@Tejasvi_Surya) April 27, 2024

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi chief Prakash Ambedkar on Saturday said that after the Lok Sabha elections, there will be no Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, while speaking on party nominees for Amethi, Rae Bareli seats in Uttar Pradesh said, wait for few more days.

Several people from the Sikh community in Delhi joined the BJP party in the presence of party National General Secretary Tarun Chugh, party leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa, and BJP President Virendraa Sachdeva.

#WATCH | Several people from the Sikh community in Delhi joined the BJP party in the presence of party National General Secretary Tarun Chugh, party leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa, and BJP President Virendraa Sachdeva. pic.twitter.com/aq4RVK8gQk ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2024

While addressing a public meeting in Varanasi, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi called gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari a martyr and said that he was killed by giving poison while in judicial custody.

Union Minister and BJP candidate from Amethi Smriti Irani attended a public rally in Uttar Pradeshs Amethi and said, It has been said to us that after Wayanads voting, the Congress candidate will arrive here, but first he will visit Ram temple. They rejected the invitation to the Ram temple consecration ceremony, now they will go to the temple as they think that this might get them votes, which means now they will go to betray god as well.

On AAP cadres staging Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se campaign, party candidate from East Delhi Lok Sabha seat Kuldeep Kumar said, CM Arvind Kejriwal who worked to provide the best school, and free- electricity to Delhiites has been trapped in a frivolous case by BJPFrom today onwards Sunita Kejriwals roadshow will begin; she is going to seek support and blessings from the Delhi people to fight against this government.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals wife Sunita Kejriwal will spearhead AAPs Lok Sabha campaign in the national capital and other states, starting with her maiden roadshow on Saturday in support of partys East Delhi candidate Kuldeep Kumar.

The Jammu parliamentary constituency, where 22 candidates are in the fray, saw peaceful polling and recorded nearly 72 per cent voter turnout on Friday in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

The sources said Congress is likely to discuss the candidates for the Lok Sabha seats of Amethi and Raebareli, previously held by Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, respectively. The Congress has so far announced candidates for 317 Lok Sabha seats.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is also set to hold a roadshow in Gujarats Vadodara on Saturday. The roadshow will take place from Runmukteshwar Mahadev mandir to Market Char Rasta in the city.

Explore Live updates on the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 News . Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
As phase 2 of the Lok Sabha Election concluded successfully, the Election Commission of India on Saturday issued clarification regarding reports of alleged ballot error in a polling booth in Bengalurus Shantinagar constituency in Karnataka.

The ECI has ruled out any ballot error and stated that such reports circulating on social media are false and baseless. The poll body stated, Reports of alleged non-activation of a ballot unit by a polling official in a polling booth in Shantinagar in Bengaluru, circulating on social media & WhatsApp as an audio message are incorrect & baseless. The correct position has been outlined below by DEO, after due enquiry.

The clarification came after the the District Electoral Officer, BBMP had received an audio complaint that the ballot button was not activated in the control unit during the time of casting the vote in Shantinagar.

Reports of alleged non-activation of a ballot unit by a polling official in a polling booth in Shantinagar in Bengaluru, circulating on social media & WhatsApp as an audio message are incorrect & baseless. The correct position has been outlined below by DEO, after due enquiry : https://t.co/knZHlh6YZd Spokesperson ECI (@SpokespersonECI) April 27, 2024

However, the Sector Magistrate immediately reached the polling station to report the issue upon receiving the complaint and found that the total entries in register 17A and the Control Unit were perfectly tallied. This indicated that no such case of non-activation of the BALLOT button occurred at the said polling station.

The same has been confirmed by the Assistant Returning Officer concerned. Hence, the narration in the said audio recording is far from the truth, baseless, the DEO added.

In a separate incident, a 26-year-old man allegedly damaged an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) by hitting it with an iron object when he came to cast his vote at a polling booth at Rampuri in Maharashtras Nanded district on Friday, a police official said.

The police detained the man, who told them that he wanted a pro-farmer and pro-labourer government, he said.

Lok Sabha Election 2024: Phase 2 Ended With Over 63% Voter Turnout

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 Pradeshs Mathura, Rajasthans Banswara and Maharashtras 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.

Explore Live updates on the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 News . Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
The 26th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Region Ten Community Services Board is sharing more information on this resource highlighting the importance of these prevention efforts.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is an initiative in the United States aimed at providing a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs while also educating the public about the potential for abuse of medications.

The event is typically organized by the Drug Enforcement Administration in collaboration with various local law enforcement agencies, community organizations and pharmacies. It provides an opportunity for individuals to safely dispose of unused or expired medications, reducing the risk of diversion, misuse and environmental contamination. This is particularly important since pharmaceuticals that are improperly disposed of can pollute water systems and unintentionally expose communities to the chemicals in medications. Studies have found that medicines flushed down the drain can contaminate lakes and streams, which can hurt fish and other aquatic wildlife and end up in drinking water.

Prescription Drug Take Back Days also help with suicide prevention and awareness. According to the National Institutes of Health, the most prevalent methods of suicide attempts are through pharmacological drugs, with females being more likely to use pharmacological drugs as the method for attempts. The study also found that men are more likely to use violent methods of suicides that result in completion, as opposed to women, who are more likely to utilize prescription medications as their means of suicide.

This Saturday, the Charlottesville Police Department will be collecting items at Kroger on 1159 Emmet St. in Charlottesville from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center Pharmacy at the University of Virginia at 1240 Lee St. will also be collecting items as well and is willing to accept items any time of year, not just on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Additional Charlottesville pharmacies who collect items year-round include the following:

Top Notch Pharmacy at 943 Preston Ave., (434) 995-5595.

UVa Health Pharmacy Ivy Road at 2280 Ivy Road, Room 1110, (434) 243-3080.

UVa Pharmacy at 1240 Lee St., Room 1407, (434) 243-9670.

UVa Pharmacy Pantops, at 590 Peter Jefferson Parkway, Ste. 175, Room 172, (434) 297-8840.

And Walmart Pharmacy at 975 Hilton Heights Road, (804) 973-1819.

Region Ten offers medication prescription drug deactivation bags that are available at any time by filling out the online form on Region Tens website: https://regionten.org/blog/do-your-part/.

Vital Signs This column, which promotes community health, is sponsored by Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital, Region Ten Community Services Board, Blue Ridge Health District and the University of Virginia Health System.

Region Ten also provides free medication lock boxes and trigger or cable locks to assist individuals and families in securing these items. These items may be requested by filling out the Safety Devices Request form: https://regionten.org/blog/do-your-part/.

If you or someone you care about is thinking about suicide, please consider reaching out to one of the many local or national resources for support.

Local resources:

Region Ten Emergency Services, (434) 972-1800.

Regional Crisis Call Center, (434) 230-9704.

Lock & Talk Virginia, lockandtalk.org/lock.

Suicide Prevention Awareness & Resource Council, sparchope.org.

National resources:

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 988.

988 Lifeline Chat, https://988lifeline.org/chat/.

Trevor Project Text Line, 678-678.

Veterans Text Line, 838-255.
Two of the Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh  Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar  went to polls on Friday, recording the worst turnout since 2014  below 55%. The two seats, also falling in the national capital region, are considered important in Indias electoral politics since they came into existence in 2008.

While in Ghaziabad, the turnout was just 49.65%, in Gautam Buddha Nagar it was a little better at 53%, data from the Election Commission of India as of early Saturday shows. The voter turnout for the two seats was never at par with the national average, but this time it was exceptionally low when compared to the last two poll numbers. The average voter turnout for India in 2014 was 66.44%, which improved to 67.40% in 2019.

Dip in attendance

Both the seats have reported a drop in turnout over the years. In 2014, the voter turnout in Ghaziabad was close to 57% which came down to close to 56% in 2019. For Gautam Buddha Nagar, in both 2014 and 2019, the turnout was about 60%, with a marginal difference.

Both Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar Lok Sabha seats have five assemblies each. The turnout this time across these assemblies was the lowest in the last 10 years, the numbers analysed by News18 show. In the 2014 and 2019 general elections, the two Lok Sabha seats were bagged by the BJP, and in the last state elections, the 10 assemblies falling under the two constituencies also voted for the saffron party.

The two seats came into existence in 2008 after delimitation.

In the last three Lok Sabha elections since 2009, the Ghaziabad Lok Sabha seat has voted only for BJP  Rajnath Singh in 2009 and General VK Singh in 2014 and 2019.

In the polling done on Friday, the battle was between BJPs incumbent MLA Atul Garg, and Congress leader Dolly Sharma, who was also backed by the Samajwadi Party. A total of 14 candidates were in the fray, including the Bahujan Samaj Partys Thakur Nandkishor Pundhir.

In Gautam Buddha Nagar, also formed in 2009, BJPs Mahesh Sharma has been elected twice  in 2014 and 2019. Before that, in 2009, BSPs Surendra Singh Nagar was elected from the seat.

While the BJP has renominated Sharma, the SP has fielded Mahendra Singh Nagar, also backed by the Congress. The seat had 15 candidates in the fray, including BSPs Rajendra Singh Solanki.

While the voter turnout has dropped across the constituency, the urban section reported the lowest voter participation. In Noida, the urban belt of Gautam Buddha Nagar, for every 100 voters, only 47 turned up  with the turnout at 47%. In Ghaziabad, the urban areas are Sahibabad (42.57%) and Ghaziabad (47.86%).

The rural section of the two seats reported better turnout  Dholana (in Ghaziabad) almost touching 60%. Similarly, Khurja was also close to 60% while Sikandrabad reported a 60% turnout.

Urban apathy and weekend polling

The Election Commission has been battling with urban apathy for a very long time and every now and then the issue has been raised.

In March 2023, while announcing the dates for the Karnataka assembly polls, the commission had said that polling on midweek bars the urban working class from clubbing the voting holiday with regular offs and takes away the option of a long weekend. The polling in the state was done on Wednesday.

Speaking to the media, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said that had the polling been scheduled for a Monday or a Friday, people would have clubbed it with the weekend. If it were a Tuesday or a Thursday, it would still be possible to turn it into a mini holiday and people would have left town.

Now, the polling is on Wednesday and, for that, they have to take two leaves at leastThis is what we have done in Karnataka. I am sure people will not sleep in and step out to vote, Kumar had said.

But this time, in the two phases of Lok Sabha polls held so far, the polling was done on Friday and both times, the voter turnout was lower than in 2019, except for a few seats.

While polling on Friday may not be the biggest contributing factor to low voter turnout, it may play a critical role, especially in the urban working class  a major population of both Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar.

Five phases of polling are still left before the counting of votes on June 4. Of these five, two phases will be conducted on Mondays and two on Saturdays. One of the phases will be conducted on Tuesday.

Explore Live updates on the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 News . Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
It was August 15, 2013. It was clear that Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi was going to be the National Democratic Alliances prime ministerial candidate. In June of that year, he was made the Bharatiya Janata Partys campaign committee chairman, putting an end to speculation. He too started positioning himself accordingly. Soon after the then prime minister, Manmohan Singh, delivered his address from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Modi was ready with a counter-address at Lalan College in Gujarats Bhuj.

Pakistan, nepotism, and institutionalised corruption dominated his 52-minute-long speech. It used to be bhai-bhatija (brother-nephew) then it became mama-bhanja (uncle-nephew) and now it is the saas, bahu aur damad (mother-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law) episodes running on the TV serial titled corruption in India, said Modi, in a no-holds-barred attack on the Congress, something India was getting used to in the run-up to the general elections due next year.

Ever since then up until the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, India saw a political discourse that was aggressive, shunning any niceties, and unapologetic about taking names. Narendra Modi became its main protagonist. The monologue was turned interesting when Modi asked questions to the crowd and they responded. He asked all BJP spokespersons at a closed-door media workshop to do their homework and appear aggressive.

India was getting used to Modis way and has ever since been comfortable with it. But over the years, a fierce leader ready to create a new order gave way to a keen statesman who had to launch new schemes and take them to saturation level in a time-bound manner while making Indias international standing enviable. While he continued to give high-decibel election speeches in rallies, many often felt the fizz was missing that only a disruptor could bring with him.

Hence, saas, bahu aur damad gave way to a softer parivarvaad. In April 2014, then BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi called Robert Vadra a baazigar (conjurer) in a Gurugram rally. Is there any youth in Gurgaon who can say that he does not have any money now but in three months he can accumulate Rs 50 crore? Is there any baazigar like that? Shehzada, the country wants to know Who is this baazigar who has acquired farmers land forcibly and earned Rs 50 crore in three months? What is your relationship with this baazigar?' Modi said at the rally.

Over time, baazigar morphed into a more acceptable damaad. Even Shehzada became Congress ke ek neta in 2020 though he continued to take intermittent digs at Rahul Gandhi through different names like tubelight.

At a rally in October 2012, Modi called Dr Mamohan Singh, who was known for staying silent on crucial issues, Maun (mum) Mohan Singh. Referring to a speech the then PM made in Una, Modi said: Aaaj ki sabse badi khabar hai ki Maun Mohan Singh ne apna maun tod diya (Todays biggest news is that Maun-Mohan Singh broke his silence). In 2013, at a BJP national council meeting in Delhi, Modi called Dr Singh a night watchman. But notwithstanding Modis recent jibe over a 2009 comment of Singh, the PM has ever since stayed away from using such adjectives against the senior congress leader. This February, Modi called Singh a shining example of what an MP should be.

But as India thought the Modi of 2013-14 was history, he made a comeback a decade later. Shehzada is back again in his vocabulary. Criticising the Congress on the inheritance tax issue, Modi remarked, Shehzadas X-ray machine will scan for mangalsutras. Almost as a precursor, this February while criticising Rahul Gandhis nashedi remarks that created a row, Modi called him Yuvraj.

The Modi of 2013 was someone who would use popular terms and taglines out of his pocket, a trend that stopped long ago. While ending the BJPs attack on the Congress over inheritance tax, Modi used the tagline of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) that says Zindagi ke saath bhi, zindagi ke baad bhi.

Today, driven by the greed for power once again, these people want to reintroduce the same law. After accumulating limitless wealth for generations without taxes on their families, now they want to impose taxes on your inheritance. Thats why the country is saying Congress ki loot, zindagi ke saath bhi, zindagi ke baad bhi, Modi remarked in a rally in Uttar Pradeshs Aonla.

Modis active outreach to Pasmanda Muslims back home or visiting Al-Hakim Mosque in Egypts Cairo made many of his core constituents confident that he wouldnt make any remarks that can play to this gallery. But dismantling that notion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday in a rally in Rajasthans Banswara spoke about infiltrators who would take Indias wealth if the Congress gained power. Referring to a 2006 statement of Dr Manmohan Singh, a short video of which was circulated on social media by the BJP, Modi remarked that the then PM said that Muslims have the first right to the wealth of the nation. This means they will distribute this wealth to those who have more children, to infiltrators.

He didnt stop there. On Tuesday, in another rally in Rajasthan  this time in the Tonk-Sawai Madhopur Lok Sabha constituency  the Prime Minister was back in his element attacking the Congress. He claimed that the Congress has often tried to give reservations to a particular community by reducing the quota for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes, and that it did not care about the Constitution. PM Modi used the term khaas jamaat to loud claps.

Its a seven-phase election and he is just getting started.

Explore Live updates on the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 News . Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
The Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha seat, which saw polling on April 26 in the second round of the seven-phase general elections, is witnessing a tight fight between Congresss incumbent MP DK Suresh and Bharatiya Janata Partys candidate CN Manjunath, a renowned cardiologist. This battle, say voters, is not just between the Congress and BJP but also the DK brothers versus Narendra Modi. The counting of votes from all the phases will take place on June 4.

My vote has been for the persons who bring change in Kanakapura and the Bengaluru Rural seat. The people and the land here are parched; the issue is also about how this seat can be developed as an extension of Bengaluru city, which is just 80 km away. I have voted for development this time, said Savitri, a young college student who cast her vote for the first time.

Another voter, Venkatesh Gowda, who is 72 years old, felt that this election has been different as people are getting older to choose between two strong candidates.

I feel that people have voted for the person who will bring water, connectivity, and infrastructure to Bengaluru Rural. The Centre can make all the difference, and we are in favour of that, said Gowda.

Chandramma, another septuagenarian, confidently said that she voted in favour of all the women of Karnataka. We are more empowered today, and my vote is in favour of the women who are economically strong today, she said.

This seat has been a Congress stronghold since 2013 and is seeing a battle between two influential Vokkaliga families. While it had seen hectic campaigning and is also the fortress of Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar and his brother DK Suresh, observers wonder how effective the Congress guarantees have been and whether they would give the party the much-needed push in this seat as well across the state. The BJP, however, is banking on the Modi wave to sail through apart from Dr Manjunaths body of work as a cardiac surgeon. Manjunath is also the son-in-law of former Prime Minister and JDS supremo HD Deve Gowda.

DK Shivakumar, who cast his vote in Dodda Alahalli in Kanakapura, which falls in the Bengaluru Rural seat, said that the Congresss guarantees will win the hearts and minds of voters, and they would favour them over ten years of the BJPs rule that has not delivered on promises.

When asked about union home minister Amit Shahs scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi asking him whether the Wayanad MP wanted to implement Sharia law across India and that his party manifesto also promised to retain religious personal laws, Shivakumar responded that the BJP in its term did not implement anything and now is targeting the Congress.

They dont talk about development. What about price rise? Let them come up with a solution for this and then make such comments, he said in an exclusive interview with News18.

When asked about PM Modis Hindutva pitch and the comment that the Congress will snatch mangalsutras of mothers and sisters, Shivakumar called it unfortunate.

I feel sorry for people like the PM of India speaking like this. Priyanka Gandhi has replied well. Thats all I can say, he told News18.

He also hit back at BJP ally and Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy for alleging that the Congress was practising cash for votes and QR code cards with money loaded were being distributed to voters. Kumaraswamy has distributed money in Mandya, Bengaluru Rural. He has done it, not us. We have given our guarantee card and BJP also has given its golden card, he said.

DK Suresh also targeted the BJP at the Centre for having started a rhetoric on Hindutva at a time when people demand development.

Isnt it sad that they are speaking of being Hindus to save it, arent we all Hindus, dont we follow the same customs and traditions? What is so special about them (BJP), Suresh said in an exclusive interview with News18. Confident of his win, Suresh believes that his work in the constituency as an MP for two terms will help him retain it once again.

The BJP which had bagged all the Bengaluru seats in 2019, except Rural, is eyeing a win this time and a sweep of all the city seats. Bengaluru Rural has around 70% Vokkaligas, 10% Lingayats, and 15% Muslims. In 2009, post-delimitation, the Bangalore Rural seat was netted by HD Kumaraswamy. However, DK Suresh won a bypoll in 2013 and retained the seat in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

In a move to boost voter engagement and raise awareness for forest conservation, the Kanakapura Forest Department introduced a special theme polling booth in Kanakapura.

The booth gave people an immersive experience of being amid nature while casting their votes.

Mahadev S, the municipal commissioner of Kanakapura, said it was aimed at bringing awareness while trying to boost voter turnout. We should value our environment and address issues like climate change, forest, and water conservation while also asking people to exercise their franchise, he said. The initiative also saw voters being gifted saplings and educational displays on forest conservation inside the polling station.

Explore Live updates on the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 News . Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
As the ongoing general election moves towards its third phase on May 7, Maharashtras ruling Mahayuti alliance is yet to resolve the issue of the Mumbai South Lok Sabha seat. The tug of war continues between allies Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party, each claiming the seat.

Earlier, this constituency would see a tussle between the BJP and Congress. However, for the past 10 years, the undivided Shiv Sena has won this seat against the Congress. So, this time, the Shiv Sena faction led by Eknath Shinde, is staking a claim. But the BJP, with its target of 400 paar, is unwilling to compromise.

Both parties have two potential candidates each, and they have begun meeting their local workers and supporters independently. The Shiv Senas newly inducted Rajya Sabha member Milind Deora and South Mumbai MLA Yamini Jadhav are interested in contesting this election. The BJPs two heavyweights, cabinet minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha and state assembly speaker Rahul Narvekar, have also expressed interest, said sources.

The Shiv Sena and BJP both believe that the agenda of Hindutva will resonate in this constituency. So the two parties are positioning themselves as champions of Hindutva. Observers say it would be of great interest to see who will secure this seat and how the Hindutva agenda will sway the voters of South Mumbai to support Mahayuti.

The opposition alliance Maha Vikas Aghadis candidate Arvind Sawant though began his campaign in the constituency a month ago. Shiv Sena (Ushhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Aaditya Thackeray had announced Sawants candidacy before the MVAs talks were finalised, leading to the exit of Congress leader and former area MP Milind Deora from the party. He later joined Eknath Shindes Shiv Sena.

Campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections has intensified in South Mumbai, a constituency crucial for both alliances. The constituency holds significant political importance in Maharashtra, being home to businessmen, government officials, and the headquarters of various government agencies, banks, the state government secretariat, and the legislative assembly.

Despite the Mahayutis belief that only the agenda of Hindutva will work, observers say there is a sizable pocket of Muslim votes that may play a crucial role. Many previously elected members from this constituency have been appointed ministers at the Centre, including Murli Deora, Jayawantiben Mehta, Milind Deora, and Arvind Sawant.

It will, however, be tough for chief minister Eknath Shinde to choose one candidate from the two potential contenders. Milind Deora, who recently joined the party and was rewarded with a Rajya Sabha seat, has a strong influence and personal connection with Marathi and Muslim voters, as this seat has a family legacy. Yamini Jadhav also enjoys a strong rapport with Muslim voters of Mazgaon and Byculla, along with hardcore Shiv Sena supporters of South Mumbai. However, voters are aware of the reasons why Yamini Jadhav and her husband Yashwant Jadhav joined the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, say observers, which may work against her. Additionally, Milind joining Shindes camp has not been received well by the Muslim community in South Mumbai.

Sources within the Mahayuti also indicate that this is why the BJP is staking its claim on the seat, with leaders Rahul Narvekar and Mangal Prabhat Lodha both holding significant sway in the constituency and currently occupying crucial offices in the state government. It will be interesting to see how quickly the Mahayuti decides its candidate and attempts to catch up with the opposition in campaigning.

Explore Live updates on the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 News . Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
Amid the ongoing Lok Sabha Election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made a strategic move to field senior lawyer Ujjwal Deorao Nikam as their candidate for the Mumbai North Central constituency, replacing Poonam Mahajan.

Nikam, a renowned public prosecutor, will represent the BJP against Congresss city unit chief and Dharavi MLA Varsha Gaikwad.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal supported the partys decision to nominate Nikam, stating that it is a proud moment for the BJP to choose someone who will speak out against terrorism and work in alignment with PM Modis vision of eradicating it from its roots.

As for Mahajans position, party leaders claimed that the decision to drop her was based on organisational feedback after several poll surveys showed a negative rating.

As Nikam replaces BJPs previous candidate Poonam Mahajan, who won the seat for the party in 2014 and 2019, defeating Congresss Priya Dutt, heres a brief account of his career and contribution.

Who is Ujjwal Deorao Nikam?

Born in Maharashtras Jalgaon, Nikam, is a special public prosecutor, with over 30 years of illustrious legal career.

Nikam started his journey as a district prosecutor and worked his way up to handle several high-profile cases, including the 1993 Bombay bombings, the Gulshan Kumar murder case, the Pramod Mahajan murder case, and the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

Nikam has been a vocal advocate for victims of heinous crimes, including the 2013 Mumbai gang rape case and the 2016 Kopardi rape and murder case.

In his 30 years of legal career, Nikam set an impressive track record of securing 628 life imprisonment sentences and 37 death penalties.

Nikam argued on behalf of the state during the 26/11 Mumbai attack trial. At the time, he faced heavy criticism for planting a story about Ajmal Kasab, the convict in the 26/11 Mumbai attack trial, that he asked for mutton Biryani in jail. Later, he confessed about the same stating that he wanted to break an emotional wave that was being created in favour of the terrorist.

The BJP candidate was awarded the Padma Shri by the government of India in 2016.

Explore Live updates on the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 News . Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
A private bus carrying 36 passengers caught fire near Vadgaon area at Mumbai-Pune expressway on Saturday. All the passengers, however, were soon evacuated in time and no casualties were reported.

Several visuals of the incident show the bus completely engulfed in fire with thick plumes of smoke emanating out of it.

#WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra: A private bus carrying 36 passengers catches fire at Mumbai-Pune expressway near Vadgaon. All the passengers were evacuated in time, and no casualties are reported. pic.twitter.com/Uhcf4IQ27U ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2024

The incident ocurred at around 7:30 am near Adhe village in Maval while the bus was going from from Mumbai to Pune.

As per sources quoted by NDTV, the fire erupted due to a tyre burst and was followed by short circuit. The bus drivers prompt action ensured safe evacuation of all passengers and helped them have a narrow escape from death.

The fire was soon extinguished by the patrolling team of Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB), fire department officials and Vadgaon Maval traffic police.

Despite several efforts of the fire department personnel, the bus was completely burnt due to intensity of the fire.

Traffic on the expressway was halted for some time in order to carry out the firefighting efforts and to ensure the safety of the people around.

Explore Live updates on the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 News . Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
World War I is considered to be one of the deadliest global conflicts involving countries like Germany, France, Russia, Italy, Japan and many other central powers and allied forces at that time. This war resulted in an estimated death of nine million soldiers while triple the amount were wounded. India did not participate in this but Indians did. At that time India was under British rule. England deployed British Indian Army soldiers during the World War. It is estimated that nearly 74,000 Indian soldiers died during the First World War. Soldiers from the Virudhunagar district also participated in this battle. To pay tribute to their sacrifices, the British authorities have erected a slab remembering their contribution at Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace at Virudhunagar district in Madurai region, Tamil Nadu.

There is a rectangular marble inscription that the British erected in the Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace on the southern Ratha road adjacent to the Andal temple in present-day Virudhunagar districts Srivilliputtur area. It is titled Srivilliputtur and at the bottom, it is mentioned that 52 people from this village took part in the war from 1914-1919, of which eight people died.

From this village, 52 men went to the great war 1914-1919 of these 8 gave up their lives inscribed on the slab. It is done to honour the soldiers.

Apart from this, the British have also commemorated the war by constructing the triumphal arch known as India Gate in New Delhi. The world was pushed into the war after Austria declared war on Belgrade, exactly a month after the heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian empire, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were assassinated by Bosnian Serb student Gavrilo Princip. Later, Germany declared war on Russia followed by the British declaring war against them.

Millions of soldiers perished, and the economies of the participants were in tatters before the war ended in 1918, two days after Germanys ruler Kaiser Wilhelm II was forced to renounce the throne on November 9.

Explore Live updates on the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 News . Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday sustained injuries after she suffered a fall as she lost her balance while boarding a helicopter in Durgapur.

VIDEO | West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee got injured as she lost her balance while boarding a helicopter in Durgapur.(Full video available on PTI Videos  https://t.co/dv5TRARJn4) pic.twitter.com/PNhqeSkgqE  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 27, 2024

After walking up the mobile stairs placed in front of the chopper, Banerjee was about to take a seat inside it when the incident occurred. The helicopter was waiting for the Chief Minister to board so that it could take off.

Reportedly, Banerjee suffered a minor injury and was immediately assisted by her security personnel. Later, the TMC supremo continued with her scheduled trip to Asansol.

In May, Banerjee was hospitalised after she fell near her home in Kolkata and injured herself. There were visuals that showed blood streaming down her face from a deep cut on her forehead.

The Bengal Chief Minister was later admitted to the state-run SSKM hospital.

In June 2023, Mamata Banerjee suffered a leg injury when her helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing at Sevoke airbase near Siliguri due to bad weather. She sustained ligament wounds to her left knee and left hip joint.

The CM fell inside the helicopter after losing her balance while she was trying to sit. She is fine, a senior officer, who was accompanying Banerjee, told PTI.

Following the incident, she flew to Kulti and addressed a rally in support of TMCs Asansol candidate Shatrughan Sinha.

Explore Live updates on the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 News . Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
Two CRPF personnel, including a sub-inspector, were killed on Saturday, while two others were injured in a deadly attack by allegedly Kuki militants at an IRB post in Naransena in Manipurs Bishnupur district.

Manipur police said that the personnel killed in the attack were from CRPFs 128 Battalion deployed in Naransena area. An officer said that the militants fired indiscriminately from hilltops, targeting the camp between midnight and 2:15 am.

According to a PTI report, the deceased have been identified as CRPF sub-inspector N Sarkar and head constable Arup Saini.

The injured were inspector Jadav Das and constable Aftab Das, a senior police officer was quoted. He added that they received splinter wounds. The CRPF personnel were deployed to provide security to the IRBn camp.

A massive search was underway to find the perpetrators of the attack, police said.

(details to follow)

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 Election Commission of India (ECI) has permitted the government to organise various countdown activities all over India in the run-up to the International Day of Yoga on June 21. The Ministry of Ayush sought special permission for this, documents accessed by News18 show.

The ECI, as per its communication to the Ministry of Ayush earlier this month, directed that four points be followed during such activities, including that photographs of any minister or political functionaries should not be displayed during the events in the constituencies where the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is in force because of the ongoing elections.

The poll panel has also directed that no political functionary be invited during such events, and those who are invited or participating must observe all conditions of MCC. If any advertisement is to be issued in this regard, it shall not have the photographs of any Minister or political functionaries in the newspapers having edition or circulation in the constituencies where MCC is in force, said the ECI communique to the ministry.

The Ayush Ministry, in a letter to all secretaries this month, said it has obtained special permission from the ECI to organise countdown activities all over India for building momentum towards the International Day of Yoga.

The International Day of Yoga has been celebrated on June 21 for the last nine years. The Ministry of Ayush is the nodal ministry for the observation of the International Day of Yoga and organises various events to spread awareness about the practice of yoga.

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.
Tension is brewing between Harrisburg teachers and their school district, but it largely stems from an Instagram post created by a teacher outside the district earlier this week.

That teacher alleged Harrisburgs superintendent, Steve Woods, made disparaging comments about Harrisburgs teachers, who are currently negotiating a new contract.

Woods has denied he made such comments.

A Place to Sleep, episode 7: Grants Pass It's a community that openly heckles  and worse  its homeless neighbors, many who have deep roots. And it may have a date with the Supreme Court.

That set the tone for a tense bargaining session on Wednesday, April 24, at the Harrisburg High School library, with members of the teachers union denying anyone on their bargaining team initiated a connection with the Salem-Keizer School District teacher behind the post.

But Woods said he knew for a fact someone in the room had indeed approached the teacher.

For his part, Woods told Mid-Valley Media hes looking into whether any teachers violated the district's policy governing social media use, though he wouldnt say how many teachers were being investigated or whether he himself believed a violation was made.

Representatives of the Harrisburg Education Association couldnt be reached for comment.

The post in question, created by Salem-Keizer teacher and union member Adam Williams, was a video uploaded to his Instagram account about the state of Harrisburg teachers' negotiations with the small Linn County school district.

According to Oregon Department of Education data, the district had just under 800 students enrolled and nearly 50 teachers last school year, and according to Woods, this year's budget is about $12 million.

Williams' Instagram account contains posts as far back as February, expressing his views related to contract negotiations between educators and the Salem-Keizer School District.

However, in his April 21 post, captioned Harrisburg Teachers Need a Fair Contract! Williams turned his attention to Harrisburg, claiming he had heard from "sources" who alleged Woods told teachers, If you cant afford to work here, leave and that teachers should, budget their own personal wallet better and get rid of those subscriptions.

Williams could not be reached for comment before deadline.

Woods said he learned of Williams' social media post within 24 hours. He denied he said any of those things.

All of that is totally, 100% false, he told Mid-Valley Media over the phone.

While denying the remarks, he acknowledged that at an earlier meeting with Harrisburg teachers he had made an analogy about people having individual budgets like schools, and that the district, like individuals, had to choose how to spend money.

So, my point was, together, lets look at this budget and figure out what things are super important, he said.

He also said he had previously made a point about Harrisburgs four-day school week in relation to discussions about salary scale, and that if teachers wanted to work at a district with a five-day week, they could choose to do that.

Starting salary is a big sticking point in contract talks with the Harrisburg Education Association. The current starting salary, according to Harrisburg teachers' 2021-24 contract, is about $36,000 for someone with a bachelor's degree. The union is pushing for higher wages.

Woods, who said he was disappointed by the social media post, is talking with the districts legal counsel about whether any Harrisburg educators potentially violated the districts policy on social media use, he said.

In a nutshell, that policy says staff, while on and off duty, cant post confidential information about students, staff or district business, and must treat fellow employees, students and the public with respect on online platforms.

According to the policy, staff are also subject to disciplinary action, including dismissal, for using a personal electronic device in any manner that violates those rules.

Woods said he couldnt comment on how many teachers were being investigated or whether he believed a violation was made.

He also said there was a recording of the meeting in question, created by union leadership and that they had access to it.

The fallout from the Instagram post fueled a tense atmosphere demonstrated with raised voices at the start of the latest bargaining meeting on Wednesday at Harrisburg High School, attended by a small group of teachers and community members.

As for actual negotiations, the ball is currently in the district's court, with the teacher's association asking for a new counter proposal.
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in a joint operation on Saturday blew the lid off three factories engaged in manufacturing mephedrone.

While two factories were found in Rajasthan, one near Gandhinagar was also raided.

Officials found large quantities of mephedrone along with a substantial quantity of raw materials. Drugs worth around Rs 300 crore have been seized so far, according to authorities.

Information was received by ATS Gujarat Police from a confidential source regarding clandestine Mephedrone manufacturing labs operating from Gujarat and Rajasthan. To bust these labs, a joint team of ATS Gujarat police and NCB Headquarters Operations unit was constituted. In an operation spanning over 03 months, intensive technical and ground surveillance was mounted to identify the persons involved in this network as well as locations of clandestine labs, Gyaneshwar Singh, Deputy Director General (OEC), said in a press release.

Mephedrone, also known as 4-methylmethcathinone, 4-MMC, and 4-methylephedrone, is a synthetic stimulant drug of the amphetamine and cathinone classes. Slang names include Drone, M-CAT, White Magic, Meow Meow, and Bubble.

Endeavouring on Inter-agency and Intra-zonal synergy on 27/04/2024, around 0400 Hrs. simultaneous raids were conducted by joint teams of ATS Gujarat police and NCB (Hqr operations unit, NCB Jodhpur zone and NCB Ahmedabad Zone) at 03 suspected locations (Bhinmal in Jalore district Rajasthan, Osian in Jodhpur District Rajasthan and Gandhinagar district Gujarat) leading to a total recovery of 149 kg mephedrone (in powder and liquid form), 50kg Ephedrine and 200 litres Acetone and apprehension of 07 accused persons till now. Based on the interrogation of the apprehended persons in Gandhinagar, another site has been identified in Amreli (Gujarat), where raids are in progress. More recoveries are expected, the statement added.

The kingpin of this network has been identified and will be arrested soon, Singh said. Efforts are being made to track and identify the source of precursor chemicals as well as the distribution network, National as well as any International linkages, the statement added.

Explore Live updates on the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 News . Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
The Indian Air Force deployed Mi-17 V5 helicopter for undertaking Bambi Bucket Ops to control the fast-spreading forest fires in Uttarakhands Nainital on Saturday. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami noted that the state government is collaborating with the IAF to stabilise the situation.

With a forest fire building up in vicinity of an Air Force Station near Nainital, #IAF activated its aerial fire fighting capability, employing a Mi-17 V5 helicopter for undertaking Bambi Bucket Ops. pic.twitter.com/2wLbTjW5m8 Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) April 27, 2024

Our government is continuously running a campaign with @IAF_MCC government to control forest fires. Water is being sprayed from helicopters in the forest fire affected areas, the CM said in a post on X.

The forest fires are a challenge for us. This is a big fire. We are working for all the essential needs. We have asked for help from the Army We will try to control the fire as soon as possible, CM Dhami said.

The chief minister also conducted an aerial survey of the damage caused by the forest fires in Nainital on Saturday. He has asked officials to remain on alert and take all measures necessary to prevent the fires by coordinating with all departments.

Taking to X, Dhami said, An aerial survey of the damage caused by forest fire in Nainital area was conducted. We are continuously working to take strict action against the miscreants who set fire to forests and to control forest fire.

                                   pic.twitter.com/xAFhnimUNL Pushkar Singh Dhami (Modi Ka Parivar) (@pushkardhami) April 27, 2024

Forest fires in Uttarakhand became more severe on Friday with flames reaching the High Court Colony in Nainital.

VIDEO | A massive fire broke out in a forest area near the High Court Colony in Nainital, Uttarakhand on Friday.In the last 24 hours, 31 new incidents of forest fire were reported from various parts of the state, destroying 33.34 hectares of forest land. (Full video available pic.twitter.com/5V8ULcike8  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 27, 2024

Notably, the fire  that broke out in the forest near the district headquarters  took a terrifying form, posing a major threat to the residents of the HC colony in the Pines area.

Additionally, in view of the fires, the district administration also banned boating activities in Naini Lake. Nainital Divisional Forest Officer Chandrashekhar Joshi said, We have deployed 40 Manora Range personnel and two forest rangers to extinguish the fire.

IAFs Mi-17 helicopter, in action, took water from the Bhimtal lake for its Bambi Bucket Ops as the Forest Department called for the Defence forces help in dousing the fire.

#WATCH | Nainital: The Uttarakhand government is working to extinguish forest fires in Nainital with the help of the Armys MI 17 helicopters. https://t.co/AKbCmU9jMB pic.twitter.com/dL7EzGBcZC ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) April 27, 2024

Nainital Municipal Corporation Executive Officer Rahul Anand told news agency ANI, We received information of IAF helicopters seeking permission to take water from Nainital to douse the fire. To make arrangements, we closed boating in the lake for the day. Fire is reported in Nainital in many places, including very close to the Air Force Station in the district.

The main purpose of bringing in helicopters to douse the fire was to keep the Air Force Station safe, Anand added.

In the last 24 hours alone, 31 new incidents of forest fires were reported from various parts of the Himalayan state, destroying 33.34 hectares of forest land. Of these, 26 were reported from the states Kumaon region and five occurred in Garhwal region.

Meanwhile, three persons, trying to set fire to the forests, were arrested in Rudraprayag on Friday. They were caught for allegedly starting fire in two separate areas  Jakholi and Rudraprayag.

Sheep herder Naresh Bhatt of Tadiyaal village, Jakholi, was nabbed from the spot while setting a fire in the forest, said Rudraprayags Divisonal Forest Officer Abhimanyu.

During interrogation, Bhatt had said that he started the fire to grow new grass for grazing his sheep.

575 Fire Incidents In 5 Months

As many as 575 incidents of forest fires were reported in Uttarakhand from November 1, 2023 till now, affecting 689.89 hectares of forest area. These incidents costed the state more than Rs 14 lakh.

The district-wise analysis of forest fire frequency showed that Nainital recorded the maximum forest fire incidents during the period between February and April this year. This is approximately five times more than the previous years count, followed by Champawat, Almora, Pauri and Pithoragarh.

(With PTI inputs)

Explore Live updates on the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 News . Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
After a trip to Sydney, Bollywoods Fabulous Wives Maheep Kapoor, Bhavana Pandey, Neelam Soni and Seema Sajdeh recently landed in Singapore. Giving a sneak peek into their exciting outing for an event, Maheep shared a few snapshots and videos. In the first photo, the B-town ladies strike a pose together in their most glamorous avatar. Radiating style and class, the ladies seemingly enjoyed themselves during the memorable journey.

The next two photos feature solo pictures of Maheep  one is casual attire and another from the event. In a few other slides, the Bollywood wives can be seen posing for a selfie and pictures with their friends and colleagues. Additionally, there are pictures of the group attending the event as Neelam Kothari addressed people. Maheep captioned the post, Singapore you were just FABULOUS. Cant wait to come back again. Thank you @jinnynevatia for organising a fantastic event.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Maheep Kapoor (@maheepkapoor)

Before the Singapore trip, the four Bollywood wives were in Sydney, Australia for a meet and greet with their fans. Offering a tantalising peek from the trip, Maheep shared a few pictures with the caption, Fabulous us take on Sydney, AUand it was amazing! The pictures captured the B-town divas posing together on stairs. Additionally, the group also had a blast during their outing to Sydney Harbour Bridge. In a video, Maheep captured moments of her girl gang from inside the car.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Maheep Kapoor (@maheepkapoor)

Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives navigates the personal and professional lives of Neelam Kothari, Maheep Kapoor, Bhavna Pandey and Seema Kiran Sajdeh. The first season of the series premiered on November 27, 2020, on Netflix. Its second season was released on September 2, 2022. The makers announced the third season of the series earlier this year. However, the release date and more details have been kept under wraps.

The upcoming season will see Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, daughter of Neetu Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor making her debut in the industry. Along with her, the series will also introduce Kalyani Saha Chawla, an entrepreneur, and Shalini Passi, a philanthropist and Founder of Mash India.
TV actors Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa recently invited Manoj Bajpayee and Prabhu Desai on their podcast, when the former duo opened up on working long hours on the sets of television shows. Bharti also revealed that, female actors often shoot scenes, while being on IV drips.

During the episode, Haarsh also shared that actors would function on minimum hours of sleep and would stay on sets more than 15 hours of sleep. He said, Ive seen directors and creatives suffer heart attacks and health issues due to sleep deprivation. People would drink tea, smoke, eat only set food, and suffer from acidity, but wouldnt be able to control it.

Bharti added, Ive even seen girls working with drips on daily soaps. They were not allowed to go home as the shot was not telecast by then. Harsh then also revealed how director one cared about their perfect shot on camera and did not care about the actors going through life and death situation.

Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa have been busy working on their podcast. They invite celebrities on the show and discuss their careers and personal lives in a fun and candid manner.

Back in 2017, Bharti Singh married Haarsh Limbachiyaa in a beach wedding and they have been going strong ever since. Together, they have worked and hosted many television shows. They became proud parents to a baby boy on April 3. Back then, Haarsh took to social media and dropped a picture from the couples pregnancy shoot. While Bharti was seen wearing a white gown, Haarsh twinned with her in a white shirt along with a pair of denim pants. Its a BOY, Haarsh wrote.
Govida surprised everyone recently when he attended his niece Arti Singhs wedding in Mumbai. The Bollywood superstar ended his eight-year-long fight with Artis brother Krushna Abhishek and blessed the bride on her special day. Krushnas wife, Kashmera Shah recently opened up about Mama Govinda attending Artis wedding when expressed happiness and revealed what happened after the actor arrived at the wedding.

Kashmera had earlier said that if Govinda attends Artis wedding, she would touch his feet and ask for apology. Now, she has revealed that even though she tried to do it, Govinda did not let her bend down and rather blessed her saying Jeete raho, khush raho.

He was angry with Krushna and me, but not with Arti. I hoped he attended the ceremony for her, and I am glad he did. As luck would have it, I was the only one present at the entrance welcoming the guests when he entered, while Krushna was with Arti on stage. He and I were walking on opposite sides, and it felt surreal, to be honest, Kashmera told E-Times.

Our eyes met; I bowed with a namaste and he smiled back. I walked up to him and straightaway took him to the stage. I bent down to touch his feet, but he didnt let me, just like how elders stop you from bending down and bless you before that. He said, Jeete raho, khush raho. I bent to touch his feet. That is the apology. As a daughter-in-law, I had to do it, the actress continued.

Kashmera further revealed that she introduced her children to Govinda following which the actor blessed them. He hugged them, and that was it for me. We dont have any elder in the family other than him and he is my mama-sasur. I am so happy he blessed my kids, she said.

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, everyone 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.
Television actress Krishna Mukherjee has accused the producer of her show Shubh Shagun of harassment. On Friday, the actress, who rose to fame with her role in Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, took to her Instagram handle and penned down a long note making several serious allegations against the makers of the show.

Krishna opened up about battling depression and blamed the makers of Shubh Shagun for her anxiety. She admitted that she is going through tough times and accused the producer of the show of harassment.

I never had the courage to speak my heart out but today I decided not to hold it back anymore. I am going through tough times and the last one and a half years was not at all easy for me. I was depressed, anxious and cried my heart out when I was alone. It all started when I started doing my last show Shubh Shagun for Dangal TV. That was the worst decision of my life. I never wanted to do it but I listened to others and signed the contract. The production house and the producer @kundan.singh.official has harassed me so many times (sic), she wrote.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Krishna Mukherjee (@krishna_mukherjee786)

The 31-year-old actress further claimed that the makers of the show locked her in a makeup room once when she was unwell and unwilling to shoot. She further accused them of not clearing her dues and alleged that a big amount has not been paid by the production house to her yet.

They even once Locked me in my makeup room bez I was unwell and I decided not to shoot bez they were not paying me for my work plus I was unwell, they were banging my makeup rooms door as if they will break it, when I was changing my clothes. they never cleared my payments to date for 5 months. And its a really big amount. I have been to the production house and Dangal office but they never entertained me. Also was given dhamki many times, she continued.

Krushna argued that she feels unsafe and concluded by saying, I felt unsafe broken and scared throughout. I feel unsafe I asked for help from so many people but nothing. Nobody could do anything about it. People ask me why I am not doing any show. This is the reason. I am Scared what if the same thing happens again?? I need justice (sic).

Soon after Krishna shared the post, several of her industry colleagues rushed to the comments section to extend their support to her. Thats Terrible , lets all get together and serve them right!!!! Youre not alone @krishna_mukherjee786!!! wrote Shraddha Arya. Avinash Mishra also assured Krishna we are all with you. Niti Taylor also added, Its very brave of you to come out and speak! It takes courage more power to you @krishna_mukherjee786 and we got your back.

Among others, Pavitra Punia, Adhvik Mahajan, Rajiv Adatia, Avika Gor, Adish Vaidya and Ridhima Pandit also came out in her support.

DISCLAIMER: This news piece may be triggering. If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata).
In a candid revelation, Priyanka Chopra recalled navigating cultural disparities between herself and husband Nick Jonas, after their marriage. With six years of matrimony under their belt, the couple has found a harmonious equilibrium. Priyanka shared insights into how despite hailing from expansive families, their divergent cultural backgrounds necessitated a learning curve, involving both adaptation and unlearning to strike a balanced dynamic.

In a candid conversation on the Read the Room podcast, Priyanka discusses their mutual appreciation for each others homelands and eagerness to embrace diverse cultural perspectives. She elaborated on their shared journey of blending Indian and American customs, emphasizing the challenges posed by differing cultural norms, He loved everything India, and I grew up in the States, it was literally my second home. So we embraced each others cultures in a big way. But it was the cultural things that were different, the actress quipped.

Priyanka reflected on the contrasting communication styles within her Indian upbringing, characterized by overlapping dialoguean aspect starkly different from the Jonas familys more sequential conversational approach. She articulated the adjustments both she and Nick had to navigate, such as navigating interruptions during conversations, a commonplace occurrence in her familial interactions.

She stated, Before you finish your sentence, I know what you are saying so I am just going to tell you. Thats just how we are culturally. We are just like, lets just go!. We are loud and every one speaks over each other. So for Nick, he had to learn to cut people off, he had to learn to speak over everyone. He is like, aye, I am saying this!. I had to learn how to wait, let someone finish their sentence. Im like, I know what you are saying but Ill wait for you to finish.

Despite spending a substantial portion of her formative years in the US, Priyanka acknowledged that adapting to this change in communication style was a significant transition for her. Meanwhile, Nick, who had limited exposure to Indian customs prior to marrying Priyanka, has since made multiple visits to India. Recently, he spent several weeks in the country, partaking in the festive celebrations of Holi alongside Priyanka and her extended family.

In 2018, Priyanka and Nick exchanged vows. Their family joy expanded with the arrival of their daughter, Malti Marie Chopra Jonas, in 2022.

Priyanka Chopra moved to the USA in 2012 after the release of songs like In My City and Exotic. Now, more than a decade later, she has bagged multiple impressive projects such as Baywatch, The Matrix Resurrections and high-budget shows like Quantico and Citadel. She was last seen in the romantic drama Love Again alongside Sam Heughan and Celine Dion. Her next lead film is the action comedy Head of State, which also has Idris Elba and John Cena in the main roles.

In India, Priyanka Chopra celebrates the success of films produced by her production house, Purple Pebble Pictures, which she established in 2015. The production houses documentary To Kill a Tiger, released in 2022, earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film. Additionally, the Marathi film Paani received the prestigious National Film Award for Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation in 2019.
Directed by K Kiranraj, 777 Charlie, starring Rakshit Shetty, was a big success in 2022, receiving an overwhelming response from audiences and celebrities alike. The film portrays the heartwarming story of lonely factory worker Dharma and his pup companion, Charlie. Besides garnering a lot of love from fans, the film also won the Best Kannada Film Award at the prestigious 69th National Film Awards. Unarguably remaining a special film for so many reasons, 777 Charlie is now gearing up for a global release.

After winning several hearts in India, the story of Dharma and Charlie will now reach the Japanese audience in the coming days. According to a Pinkvilla report, 777 Charlie will be released across theatres in Japan on June 28, 2024. The film will be dubbed in Japanese.

While a formal announcement is yet to be made from the makers end, social media posts suggest the latest development. If true, this will mark another milestone for the South Indian film industry. Earlier, Prashanth Neels KGF films and Rishab Shettys Kantara were also released in Japan, and they received a lot of love from the audiences there.

The story of 777 Charlie

A Kannada-language film, 777 Charlie, features Rakshit Shetty and the dog Charlie in the lead roles alongside others like Sangeetha Sringeri, Raj B Shetty, Danish Sait, and others.

The story follows how Dharma comes across an abused puppy and goes through a major transformation in his life, changing his life for the better. Their emotional and gut-wrenching tale touched hearts across the country, leaving viewers teary-eyed.

The film was released in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi. 777 Charlie (Hindi version) recently started streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

Whats on the work front for Rakshit Shetty?

The Kannada actor will be next seen in the film Richard Anthony, all set to play the titular role. The film will serve both as a prequel and a sequel to his 2014 directorial debut film, Ulidavaru Kandanthe.

Recently, the film completed 10 years of release, and fans were eagerly expecting an update on the upcoming sequel. Marking the 10th anniversary of his film, the actor-director wrote, I admit that the special day deserved a bigger announcement as Richard Anthony is in the pipeline. But I am saving it for another day, for the day which is on the horizon is much bigger and even more special. Love you all.

Presently, the film is expected to be released later this year or early 2025.
Earlier today, Ranbir Kapoor was seen at the Mumbai Airport, jetting off to Surat in Gujarat. When the actor finally arrived in Surat and exited the airport, he was met with fans who wanted to take selfies with him. Ranbir obliged them and even accepted a sweet painting one fan gifted him. He also thanked the paparazzi as they welcomed him to Surat.

The actor opted for a black kurta and pyjama for his airport look. Reportedly, Ranbir is in Surat to inaugurate a jewellery showroom. Ranbirs arrival video has gone viral across social media. Check out the video here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Instant Bollywood (@instantbollywood)

Meanwhile, Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi have finally started shooting for their much-awaited movie, Ramayana. On Saturday, pictures of the two actors from the sets of Nitesh Tiwaris film were leaked online. In the photos exclusively accessed by Zoom, Ranbir and Sai were seen in their Ram and Sita avatars respectively.

In the leaked photos, Ranbir wore a maroon dhoti and added a dupatta of the same colour on one of his shoulders. He also sported a long golden neckline. He looked charming in long hair and also kept a subtle smile on his face. On the other hand, Sai wore a purple saree and accessorised her look with heavy traditional jewellery. The pictures also made it clear that Ranbir and Sai are currently shooting for pre-vanvasa sequences.

Previously, it was reported that Ranbir underwent a strict schedule to prepare himself for the role of Ram. He reduced carbohydrate intake and heightened cardio exercises, including running and bodyweight training. A source cited by India Today claimed that the actor intended to slim down rather than maintaining a muscular build, especially shedding weight from his face and torso, areas he had bulked up for his role in Animal.

It should be noted that this is not the first time that pictures from Nitesh Tiwaris Ramayana sets have been leaked online. Earlier this month, Zoom obtained some pictures from the sets of the film which featured Lara Dutta and Arun Govil in their respective characters. Govil, popularly known for playing the role of Ram in Ramanand Sagars Ramayana, will be stepping into the shoes of King Dashrath in the movie. On the other hand, Lara Dutta will be seen as Kaikeyi.

Besides Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi, Ramayana is also likely to star Yash as Ravana, whereas Sunny Deol has reportedly been locked in for the role of Hanuman. Bobby Deol and Vijay Sethupathi are also reportedly in talks for the roles of Kumbhakarna and Vibhashana respectively.

Reportedly, makers are planning to release Ramayana on Diwali 2025. However, there is no official confirmation regarding this as of now.
Shekhar Sumans recent comparison of Sanjay Leela Bhansali with perfectionists who are always short-tempered was met with a strong reaction from his Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazar co-star Sharmin Segal Mehta, who happens to be Bhansalis niece. And now, Richa Chadha, who plays a pivotal role in the historical drama series, shares her thoughts on the makers demeanour towards his actors. In an exclusive chat with News18 Showsha, she defends him and says, Calling someone temperamental is a subjective opinion. You could call me temperamental. I could be on my period and actually be temperamental, physically.

According to her, actors make for the most privileged group of people on a set and for them to be complaining about Bhansali being a hard taskmaster isnt fair. Actors are really coddled. On a massive show, sometimes they might not want to give a long shot and want their body doubles to give cues to other actors. They themselves might not want to give cues, step in hot water and do a take 99 times. But these are the things that are asked of an actor irrespective of whether theyre ill or its pouring, she points out.

Chadha believes that a director like Bhansali telling his actors to do their job diligently isnt wrong and that it shouldnt make him a difficult person. Come hell or high water, weve to deliver because theres a bunch of 200-400 people waiting for us on an already constructed set with the lighting team already prepped up. Im not saying that one needs to be inhuman in terms of treating an actor. But this is literally our job. I dont understand why people say these things, states the actor, who is soon going to embrace motherhood.

Talking about how actors who everyone is quite soft on should stop complaining, she adds, Im also an actor and a producer now too and I think Ive quite a privileged job. We arent the first or the last ones to leave a set. Whenever we stand, someone comes and offers us a chair to sit on and water to drink. Were constantly asked, Are you feeling okay today? Hows your health? Did you sleep and rest well?

Chadha, in fact, recently said that she shares a deep connection as old souls who harbor a profound love and respect for classic art forms with Bhansali. And a director like him whos temperamental for others is someone with very high standards for her. Theres a lot of money riding on him and his projects. I would probably have the same high standards if I was a director. Bhansali sir is the captain of the ship. And at the same time, I find him to be very compassionate about our moods, asserts the Fukrey 3 and Love Sonia actor.

Heeramandi also stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari and Sanjeeda Shaikh. It is set for a release on Netflix on May 1.
Actor Sonu Sood is known for helping people in need and being an active philanthropist. From offering people jobs to ensuring that they reached home during the pandemic, Sonu never shies away from using his influence for others aid. However, Sonu is facing trouble helping out people as they cannot reach out to him. His WhatsApp account hasnt been active for 36 hours now and the actor has appealed to the company to fix this.

Taking to the microblogging site X, previously Twitter, Sonu wrote, @WhatsApp Still my account doesnt work. Time to wake up guys. Its been more than 36 hours. Message me directly on my account asap. Hundreds of needy people must be trying to reach for help. Kindly do your bit. The actor had earlier shared the issue on X and wrote, My number does not work on @WhatsApp. I have been facing this problem many a times. I feel time for you guys to upgrade your services.

Check out his posts here:

@WhatsAppStill my account doesnt work..Time to wake up guys.Its been more than 36 hours.Message me directly on my account asap.Hundreds of needy people must be trying to reach for help.Kindly do your bit . pic.twitter.com/nvtbZKKwpU sonu sood (@SonuSood) April 27, 2024

My number does not work on @WhatsApp.I have been facing this problem many a times.I feel time for you guys to upgrade your services. pic.twitter.com/yi2nWIive6 sonu sood (@SonuSood) April 26, 2024

Sonu also shared screenshots of his WhatsApp account. The description read, This account can no longer use WhatsAppChats are still on this device. Check review status.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Sonu Sood will soon be seen in Fateh. The teaser of the film was released in March this year. The teaser offers a glimpse into the thrilling world of cybercrime, promising an exciting cinematic experience. What stands out is the films tagline, Never Underestimate A Nobody, which truly encapsulates Soods journey as well. However, it will be interesting to see which nobody Sood refers to in his film.

With Fateh, Sonu takes on the quadruple roles of actor, director, writer, and producer. The film has a blend of Indian and Hollywood crew and promises to deliver never-seen-before action sequences. Produced by Sonali Sood, Shakti Sagar Productions, and Zee Studios, the film revolves around the complexities and challenges of cybercrime.

Helmed by Vaibhav Misra, Fateh stars Sonu and Jacqueline in lead roles. The movie also features Vijay Raaz and Shivjyoti Rajput in prominent roles. The plot of the movie revolves around a former gangster named Fateh, who is hired to guard a young woman. In order to keep her safe, Fateh must employ all of his abilities while simultaneously attempting to learn the truth about the nature and causes of the threats the woman faces.
Hours after the missing report of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah fame Gurucharan Singh made headlines, a video is now going viral on social media which shows what the actor did moments before he disappeared. In the CCTV footage, Sodhi is seen crossing a traffic intersection in the Palam area of New Delhi. He is also seen carrying a backpack on his shoulders. Reportedly, police officials have reviewed the CCTV footage and are now investigating the case.

On Friday, it was reported that Gurucharans father filed a missing complaint which read, My son Gurucharan Singh, Age: 50 years, had left at 8:30 am on 22nd April to go to Mumbai. He went to the airport to catch a flight. He didnt reach Mumbai, neither has he returned home and his phone is not reachable. He is mentally stable and we had been searching for him but now he has been missing.

Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah actor Gurucharan Singh Sodhi, was seen crossing a road in CCTV footage from the Palam area on Monday night. His flight was scheduled for 8:30 pm on Monday, but he was seen at a traffic intersection in Palam around 9:14 pm in Delhi. Police stated pic.twitter.com/RnsV8jQ3QI Gagandeep Singh (@Gagan4344) April 27, 2024

Later, News18 Showsha exclusively reported that Gurucharans missing complaint had been filed in the Palam area of New Delhi. We learnt that Police officials are investigating the case and trying to trace the actors call records. Missing complaint was filed around 4 days back in Palam, South Delhi. Based on this, police are investigating the case. No FIR has been filed as of now. All investigation is being done based on the missing complaint, a police source told us.

He (Gurucharan Singh Sodhi) was last spotted near Delhi airport. Police are now trying to get his call records to know who he last spoke to on call or via message, the insider added.

Earlier today, Sodhis close friend Ms Soni also spoke to Pinkvilla when she revealed that the actor was unwell for the last few days and had even undergone a few tests. She also shared that Sodhi wasnt eating properly for the last few days.

Before leaving for Delhi, his blood pressure was high and he had undergone a few tests as well. He wasnt even eating much before he left for Delhi. I really hope and pray that he is fine, and returns back safe and sound, Ms Soni said.

Gurcharan Singh played the role of Roshan Singh Sodhi  a fun-loving man who is always in party mode and never shies away from expressing love for his wife. He was one of the popular characters on the show, and also a founding cast member. Gurcharan, however, left the show in 2013 only to return next year due to public demand. After his exit in 2020, he was replaced by actor Balwinder Singh Suri.
The blood-curdling and brutal murder of Neha Hiremath, a 23-year-old college student in broad daylight on a college campus in Hubballi, Karnataka by Fayaz Khodunaik has sent shock waves through society and shaken the morale of young Hindu women, engendering in them a fear psychosis that hinders their unrestricted mobility and freedom of choice. Should we stop going to college? Should we remain confined to our homes? These are the questions they have been asking society at large.

Niranjan Hiremath, Nehas father and a Congress Councillor of the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC), has claimed: They were forcing her to convert. Since she didnt agree to religious conversion, she was murdered.

This serious allegation compels us to revisit the controversy of love jihad. Is love jihad, the notion that Muslim men lure unsuspecting Hindu girls into an ostensibly romantic relationship with the intent of converting them and forcing them into marriage, a figment of imagination of the Hindu Right as some claim or is it a reality that we are desperately trying to deny in order to appear politically correct  a stance that has the potential to destroy the fabric of our society?

The contention that love jihad is an Islamophobic conspiracy of the Hindu Right would have validity if it did not find resonance in other communities. But other religions too have raised concerns about love jihad.

In 2021, Joseph Kallarangatt, Bishop of the Palai diocese of the Syro-Malabar Church, categorically stated that those who claim that love jihad doesnt exist in Kerala are blind to reality. He went on to remark: Such people, be they politicians or those from social and cultural spaces, media may have their own vested interests. But one thing is clear. We are losing our young women. Its not just love marriages. Its a war strategy to destroy their lives.

A year later, another Christian bishop, Mar Joseph Pamplany, Auxillary Bishop of Thalassery told Manorama Online that the church was concerned about certain mixed marriages. He surmised: In a society as diverse as ours, mixed marriages are natural and it has happened in the past too. But in recent times, unlike in the past, such marriages appear planned in some cases. That is the concern of society and it is our request to the government to take it seriously. As this is a complicated issue, we dont insist on referring to it as love jihad because the word jihad has a spiritual connotation among the Muslim brethren, hence if it hurts them, we dont want to use it.

A report by the Kerala Catholic Bishops Conference (KCBC) Commission for Social Harmony and Vigilance claims that there were approximately 4,000 instances of love jihad between 2005 and 2012. The Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhism, had expressed similar reservations in 2014 with regard to Sikh girls in the UK being trapped into marriage by Pakistani boys. So, objectively speaking, this is not a concern of Hindus alone, Christians and Sikhs too have similar same fears.

A 2018 investigation into this controversy by the NIA resulted in equivocal findings. They did not find any prosecutable evidence. However, the report indicated that while there may have been efforts to facilitate the conversion of either the man or the woman involved, there was no evidence of a larger criminal design.

To find incontrovertible, tangible legal proof of a conspiracy with regard to deep set ills of society is difficult. Love jihad is like patriarchy. Formal instruction in either of these may not be explicit and difficult to pinpoint. This does not mean that it does not exist. A father doesnt sit his sons down and give them a lesson in Patriarchy101. It is the result of years of ingrained learned behaviour  a cultural and religious undertone that subconsciously perpetuates and encourages such nefarious tendencies among certain individuals. The lack of prosecutable evidence in a select group of cases from Kerala cannot be extrapolated to gloss over this omnipresent ill of society or deny its existence.

Love is a beautiful thing which needs to be celebrated but only as long as it is not clouded by factors like race, caste or religion. I have never been able to comprehend why a person in love should change her/his religion to get betrothed. The excuse that some people willingly convert to get married to the person they love is poppycock; traditional and societal pressure inadvertently forces people to do so. If love is really genuine and each individual loves the other for who she or he is, then conversion should not be offered or accepted by any of the parties involved. To subjugate your partner in love to the religious domination of your persuasion dilutes the concept of love and makes it transactional.

The Indian Constitution already has a provision for inter-faith marriages without the need for conversion via the Special Marriage Act of 1954. The Special Marriage Act, 1954 is an act of the Parliament of India enacted to provide a special form of marriage for the people of India and all Indian nationals in foreign countries, irrespective of the religion or faith followed by either party.

Laws like the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Ordinance, 2020 are attempts to disassociate marriage and religion and preserve the sanctity of love. It adds another layer of scrutiny to inter-faith marriages. As per this new law, there is a severe penalty for those indulging in forceful or fraudulent conversions. A person wishing to convert prior to marriage will need permission from the DM before doing so. People in inter-faith relationships with no ulterior motive have little to fear. Concerns that this law will be misused are unfounded. There have been instances where the courts have stepped in to provide relief in cases of genuine inter-faith marriages.

The Left-wing liberal contention that these laws hamper a womans right to choose her partner and freedom of religion is too simplistic. On the contrary, it empowers women by deterring such heinous acts. It enhances their morale and confidence and protects their right to choose.

Neha Hiremath was killed because she chose, I repeat, she chose to reject Fayazs love proposal. Her right to choose a fundamental right of human democracy was not respected. Indian society will be doing a great disservice to Hindu women, in particular (given the increasing number of such instances whereby Hindu women have been brutally murdered by their supposed romantic partners) if it remains in a state of denial and fails to address this burning issue with promptness.

If one doesnt like the word love jihad, call it anything else. But Indian society is duty-bound to acknowledge and address this issue to affect a more egalitarian society. Denial and political correctness will only allow such tendencies to persist with the eventual degeneration of our society. Inaction is a crime against Hindu women.

The writer is a US-based author. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
The massive recovery of arms and ammunition in multiple locations in West Bengals Sandeshkhali on Friday triggered a spat between the Bharatiya Janata Party and Trinamool Congress with the saffron camp alleging the ruling party of facilitating and shielding terrorists in the state.

BJP IT Cell Chief Amit Malviya accused the TMC of defending rapists and creating a safe haven for terrorists adding that the people of Bengal are fed up with Mamata Banerjees government.

No VICTORY PROCESSION gimmick by the TMC in Balurghat, Raiganj and Darjeeling, like they did after first phase.Good that Mamata Banerjee realised these theatrics dont win seats. This is also an admission that after first two phases, TMC is still to open its account. All six  Amit Malviya (  ) (@amitmalviya) April 27, 2024

It has perhaps dawned on the TMC that the people of Bengal are fed up with a Chief Minister, who defends rapists and has turned Bengal into a haven for terrorists and illegal weapons. Bomb-making is the only thriving industry in Bengal, Malviya added.

In contrast, the TMC wrote a letter to the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer denouncing the CBI raids in Sandeshkhali on the day of the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections. The party accused the poll body of turning a blind eye to the actions of central probe agencies, particularly during the election periods.

Questions Raised by TMC

In a letter addressed to the poll body, the TMC raised questions about the need for strict guidelines to central investigating agencies from disrupting the campaign efforts of opposition parties.

They also asked why the state police were not informed of the CBI raid and why the Bengal bomb disposal squad was not used during the probe. The TMC further alleged that the raids were carried out to malign the image of Bengal and its law and order.

The TMC also alleged if there was no way to know whether it was recovered during search or surreptitiously kept there by CBI?

Media was fed news that this house was of TMC supporter were nothing has been proved, it added.

For the unversed, the CBI on Friday seized arms and ammunition, including a police service revolver and foreign-made firearms, during searches at two premises of an associate of now-suspended TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh in West Bengals Sandeshkhali.

The searches were conducted in connection with the January attack on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team by a mob that was allegedly instigated by Sheikh, who was arrested by the West Bengal Police on February 29 in the case.

Explore Live updates on the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 News . Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
Nationalist Congress Party founder and leader of NCPs SP group, Sharad Pawar said that the only reason why some senior leaders like Ajit Pawar and Praful Patel left the party was the pressure from central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

In a grim prediction and warning of sorts, the senior NCP leader, during a campaign trail at Baramati told CNN News18 that the leaders may have to suffer after the elections. He also blamed the Election Commission for handing over the party he had formed to Ajit Pawar, calling it a wrong decision.

Last election we contested Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha in Maharashtra and as usual, voters overwhelmingly supported the NCP, Pawar said.

He added, Symbol and party decisions have been taken by the Election Commission. It is a wrong decision. Since it is subjudice, that is why I am not saying so much. But that decision is also manipulated by the Election Commission.

Some of our colleagues took the decision to join the BJP. Some of them met me and explained the circumstances why they were taking the decision. There are certain agencies like ED and CBI. Certain agencies were used against them with the intention to make them leave our party. Some of our senior leaders were telling us there is no choice. Sharad Pawar added.

I was not in favour of it. Automatically, they have taken a decision to leave us, desert us. Certain number of MLAs, MPs formed a different group with the association of BJP, he said, adding, The question is about whether my nephew or someone who was close to me like Praful Patel or others, practically there was worry among them about certain actions (which will be taken by the central agencies).

Sharad Pawars Makes Big Claim, Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel Left Because of ED, CBI

Emphasising that Ajit Pawar and Praful Patel left because of the pressure of the agencies, Sharad Pawar said, You can see what is the case of Mr Praful Patel. He lives in Mumbai in the Worli area and has a nice house. ED has taken possession of a substantial part of his house and has established its office there. Ultimately some of them took the conscious decision to dissociate from us and accept PM Modi and his leadership. This is because agencies were used against them, he said.

He predicted that those who left him might have to suffer due to agencies action after the elections. I cannot say hurt, but it was a wrong decision taken by some of my family members, he added.

Daughters Supporters Being Threatened, Alleges Sharad Pawar

The NCP (SP) supremo also levelled serious allegations against the Maharashtra government and the Centre claiming that those supporting his daughter and NCP leader Supriya Sule have been receiving threats and notices.

During a poll campaign at Baramati, the senior NCP leader told CNN News18, Lot of people, businessmen, traders, are getting messages from certain sections of the government and some are being threatened for working with Supriya Sule.

He also said that his nephew and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has resorted to openly threatening the electorate, which was not just a gross violation of the Model Code of Conduct, but also a misuse of authority.

Yesterday, I met some people. Some stone-crushers who were working with Supriya Sule, they have been caught by some officers. They have been told to stop or else action will be taken against them. They have some notices sent to them. And their businesses were stopped, he told CNN News18.

When asked about the recent statements of Ajit Pawar in his campaigning speeches, where he was asking people to vote for his party if they wanted funds, Sharad Pawar said, This is a clear-cut misuse of the authority, which we have never seen. Those who are making these types of statements are a part of the government. And thats why, the voters are quite worried. He further said that when voters go to vote, they will think properly and will teach a lesson to those who threaten.

While calling it a clear violation of the code of conduct, he said. If someone says, if you dont do this, you wont get funds. What is the meaning of that? The NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar group) has already filed a complaint with the Election Commission about it.

Explore Live updates on the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 News . Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
The Indian government has warned users about a major security issue concerning the Microsoft Edge web browser this week. The new security bulletin via the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team or CERT-In gives the security warning a high rating.

The security agency claims that the web browser from Microsoft has multiple security vulnerabilities that could allow an attacker to cause denial of service condition, remote code execution and bypass the security of your device and give them access to the data.

Microsoft Edge Browser CERT-In Security Alert: What It Says

The agency has also given the details of the issue and how it could affect the targeted devices. These vulnerabilities exist in Microsoft Edge due to object corruption in V8 and WebAssembly, Use after free V8, Downloads and QUIC and out of bounds read in fonts. A remote attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by sending a specially crafted request on the targeted system, CERT-In mentions in its notes.

Which Microsoft Edge Versions Affected

It also mentions that the security issue is affecting Edge browser stable version prior to 124.0.2478.51. So if you have versions higher than this one, you are protected by the latest Microsoft patch for the update.

As general practice goes with these security risks, the best way to avoid falling prey for such attempts are:

 Never open emails from unknown senders

 Never download any attachments given in an email from unknown people

 Never click on on any link given in the mail from unknown people

The good news is that Microsoft has already issued a security bulletin for this issue, so we suggest you update the Edge browser on your PC and other devices right away. You can go to Microsoft Edge  Help And Feedback  About Microsoft Edge and you will automatically see the latest version installed on the device.
Smartphone keyboard apps are used by billions and some of the popular phone brands face massive security risk because of these apps. We are talking about brands like Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo among others whose keyboard apps can be exploited to reveal the details about your keystrokes on the phones.

For instance, we use phones to book cabs and use online banking which requires passwords and PIN details. When you use these keyboard apps, the keystrokes are registered but not stored anywhere. These apps having the security issue could expose these keystrokes to bad actors.

The details of the latest security lapse comes via the Citizen Lab this week which has discovered the issues in keyboard apps that are also used by popular brands like Samsung and Huawei.

Keyboard Apps Facing Security Risk

 Tencent QQ Pinyin

 Baidu IME

 iFlytek IME

 Samsung keyboard

 Xiaomi phones with Baidu, iFlytek and Sogou keyboard

 Oppo with Baidu and Sogou

 Vivo with Sogou IME

 Honor with Baidu IME

It seems most of these affected keyboard apps are used in China on phones from the given brands but one cannot rule out the possible risks to millions of Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo consumers in the other parts of the world.

The researchers have clearly stated that the major risk posed by the keyboard apps can allow the hackers to decrypt the keystrokes without raising any alarm bells. The good news is that the security issue has been shared by the keyboard app developers given here and it seems that most of them, except for Honor and Tencent app developers have handled the issue as of April 1, 2024.

Citizen Lab strictly advises people using any of these phones to keep their keyboard apps up-to-date and more importantly, they should use keyboard apps that mostly keep your keystroke data on the device and not store on any cloud server.
In Ludhiana, a fresh and exciting business idea has been turning heads for its innovative approach to pet grooming. What makes this business special isnt just the top-notch services it offers, but also its affordability, which makes it accessible to more pet owners in the city. The idea is simple yet effective: instead of pet owners having to go to a traditional grooming salon, the salon comes to them in a van.

This idea caught the attention of @Ajain112, who shared a picture of the cute, pink mobile grooming van named Hum Tum aur Poonch. The fact that the van is equipped with all the necessary tools and equipment for grooming, from shampoos and brushes to clippers and dryers, impressed Akshay. This eliminates the hassle of transportation and provides a more convenient option for busy pet owners. Business ideas with low capital, no need of funding, cash payment, luxury segment, high demand, no need of tech, Akshay commented alongside the picture.

Business ideas with low capital, no need of funding, cash payment, luxury segment, high demand, no need of tech. pic.twitter.com/ZP7ikkbwx5 Akshay (@Ajain112) April 27, 2024

However, not everyone was as enthusiastic about this unique business concept. Many of these started in blore during COVID but I dont see them anymore. Each grooming session is 2 hours, add travel time, etc and it isnt as lucrative and scalable as having a shop where u can groom multiple dogs together, said one person. Not comfortable for large dogs. No parallel service only one an hour (capped revenue). Overheads of fuel, water is high. Margins are low wrt competition, another person added.

A third person remarked, I didnt like the experience, its too cluttery and messy! Only a one timer!

Earlier, a Delhi ice cream parlour truck went viral after an image showed it was equipped with solar panels on top. The image of an ice cream truck with solar panels on top stunned people online. The fact that an ice cream vendor could afford solar panels was a surprising development for many.

For those who are unaware, these panels help keep the ice creams cool. Selling ice cream in summer is a challenging task, especially when demand is at its peak. The glycol freezers used by vendors are heavy and require a large amount of power. This is where solar panels come to the rescue for these vendors.
If youre even remotely familiar with the modelling business, youve undoubtedly heard of Christy, Cindy, Linda, Naomi and Tatjanathe big fivethe OG supermodels. Even today, you may come across names such as Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid and Bella Hadid since these supermodels hold a prominent role in our media and culture. Nevertheless, do we truly recognise every well-known face? Well, the short answer is no. The most famous model in the world is a face that nobody actually knows.

Meet Ariane, the woman nicknamed the Overexposed Model by the internet. Despite being someone who is supposed to be overexposed, her identity remained obscure. You may wonder, therefore, how in the world is she the most famous model? With her as the face behind a thousand ads, she has endorsed everything from jewellery to vacations, music, exercise, and cereal to cameras, job listings, and healthcare treatments.

With the rise of the internet, Ariane became a global star, and every brand wanted her as their face. Ariane is an American fashion model who has been a part of many advertisements all throughout her life.

Despite being one of the most famous models in the world, very little is known about her, not even her full name. A little profile was written about her by Esquire Philippines in 2013, however, she declined to share her last name during the email conversation.

All that is known is that her mother is from China, and her dad is a French-Canadian. She got her big break in modelling in 2005 when she started taking pictures for stock photos and quickly became one of the most popular models of the medium.

Ariane soon became a stock photo model. It is likely that most people who have used stock photos for their projects might have used Arianes face, as her pictures were always available.

Despite being immensely popular, very few people know her name. The model is often seen embracing the unlikely limelight she has received because of social media.

Theres even a whole Tumblr dedicated to sightingson websites, in apps, on billboards, everywhere. On her Instagram page, the model has mentioned in her bio:  Photographer/videographer Im the girl smiling at you in ads all over the world.

Apart from that, it has been found that Ariane also re-shares a lot of these advertisements when people send them to her on social media.

It is no understatement to say that Ariane can be seen everywhere, and it is highly likely that when you spot her, shes smiling back at you from a billboard.
Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google and Alphabet, took to Instagram to celebrate his two decades at Google. He joined Google in 2004 as the head of product management and development. Over the years, he has been credited with leading projects like the creation of Google Chrome and ChromeOS, and the development of applications such as Gmail and Google Maps. He is also held responsible for developing Google Drive. Pichai was appointed the CEO of Google and Alphabet in 2015 by co-founder and former CEO Larry Page. Before being the CEO. he held the position of Product Chief.

On Friday, Pichai shared a photo of balloons that spelt 20, kept with his two Google ID cards. He wrote, April 26, 2004 was my first day at Google. A lot has changed since then  technology, the number of people who use our products  my hair. What hasnt changed  the thrill I get from working at this amazing company. 20 years in, Im still feeling lucky. His post got over one lakh likes in less than a day.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai)

Commenting on it, an Instagram user wrote, I cannot decide on which achievement is greater, 20 years in all the technological improvements youve brought or the fact that you havent gone bald after 20 years in tech. Another person said, Epitome of excellence, I love you my role model.

Amongst the congratulatory messages, many people criticised Pichai for mass lay-offs at Google in recent years that rendered hundreds of people unemployed. Many of the people who were laid off had worked in the company for over a decade. Expressing this sentiment, an Instagram user wrote, Good to know you werent affected by the massive tech layoffs (or how corporations like to say, restructuring) in recent months! Another person asked, And all of A sudden you receive a termination letter, how will you feel? Where will you start from? Again.

Pichai earned a degree in metallurgical engineering from IIT Kharagpur and went on to study material science and engineering at Stanford University where he earned an MS degree. He later secured an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he became a Siebel Scholar and a Palmer Scholar. In 2022, he received the third-highest civilian award the Padma Bhushan in the category of Trade and Industry from the Government of India.
A woman from the USA was not too keen to buy a lottery ticket. It was after her boyfriends insistence, she got a 10 dollar ticket (approximately Rs 800) from the local Weis Markets outlet. She filed her name as Olney Winner after her Maryland locality. The lottery was announced on April 20, Saturday but her winning ticket lay forgotten in her purse. On Monday, she found the ticket when she was rummaging through her purse. She decided to scan it using the Maryland Lottery app and was shocked to know that she has won the top prize worth 50,000 dollars, which is approximately Rs 41 lakh.

She confirmed the ticket numbers multiple times to be sure. While speaking to the Maryland Lottery, she said, I screamed because I couldnt believe it. I shouted so loudly that I thought my neighbours could hear me. I was so happy because you never expect to win. I really just play for fun. The winner said that she aims to invest the money into her business and purchase a new truck. The shop that sold her the winning ticket also got 500 dollars (approximately Rs 41,000) as a bonus from the lottery.

Recently, a 26-year-old person from Michigan won half a million dollars (approximately Rs 4.2 crore). The winner, who like most jackpot winners wants to stay anonymous, decided to buy a lottery ticket after he got a sign from a Hollywood superstar who looks like him. He told the Michigan Lottery website, I was watching a movie and the main character won big on a lottery ticket. The main character was my lookalike, so I took it as a sign to go buy a ticket.

The winner had bought a 5 dollar (Rs 417) ticket from a food mart. He was with his friends when he checked the lottery results and was stunned to know that he won. He excused himself to the washroom and checked the result again. The winner wanted to spend the money on his kids future and go on a vacation. I feel so blessed to win this amount of money, the Michigan Lottery portal quoted him as saying.

The Michigan Lottery started in 1972. In just 2023, Michigan Lottery donated 1.3 billion to the Michigan School Aid Fund. The donation amount comes from a portion of the sale of lottery tickets.
A video of a student leader threatening to cause violence against Zionists has gone viral as US universities face massive disruptions to their curriculum due to sweeping pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel protests.

Hearing unconfirmed reports that Khymani James, the Columbia student protest leader who was exposed for expressing violent intent at Jews, was just expelled. pic.twitter.com/3O3oBRQBsA Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) April 26, 2024

Zionists dont deserve to live. Be grateful that Im not just going out and murdering Zionists, student Khymani James said in a video from January. The video emerged on social media this week.

The remarks were made during a meeting between James and the school officials over a social media post about fighting a Zionist.

I dont fight to injure or for there to be a winner or a loser, I fight to kill, he was recorded saying. He appeared to take back his words after the video was watched by many.

Read my statement below: pic.twitter.com/0u6mwycAYS Khymani James (@KhymaniJames) April 26, 2024

He took to X to say that his comments were wrong. Every member of our community deserves to feel safe without qualification, he further added. He said his previous comments were a response to him being unusually upset after an online mob targeted him for being visibly queer and Black.

He also accused commentators on the right side of the political spectrum for editing the clip without context. He said that the collective protesting in Columbia, who have declared themselves as the leader of the protests at the university in solidarity with Palestine, made clear that my words in January were not acceptable.

I agree with their assessment, (these words) do not represent me, James said.

Calls of violence and statements targeted at individuals based on their religious, ethnic, or national identity are unacceptable and violate university policy, a Columbia spokesperson was quoted as saying by The Hill.

Student protesters say they are expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where the death toll has topped 34,305, according to the Hamas-run territorys health ministry.

More than 200 people protesting the war were arrested Wednesday and early Thursday at universities in Los Angeles, Boston and Austin, Texas, where around 2,000 people gathered again on Thursday.

The spreading protests began at Columbia University, which has remained the epicenter of the student protest movement.
The Iranian government said the crew aboard Portuguese-flagged container ship MSC Aries will be released soon. According to CNN-News18, Iranian FM Amir Abdollahian informed of this development to Portuguese counterpart Paulo Rangel.

The human issue of the freedom of the ships crew is of serious concern to us, and we have announced consular access, freedom and transfer to their ambassadors in Tehran, Abdollahian said. Iran, however, has not announced the dates for their release.

According to CNN-News18, a woman member among the 17 member Indian crew has already returned home.

The external affairs ministry earlier said that there are certain technicalities involved in the return of the remaining 16 Indian crew members.

These 16 people, we had asked consular access for, which we got. Our officers went there and met. They are in constant touch with their families. Their health is good and they have no problems of any kind onboard the ship. As far as their return is concerned, there are certain technicalities involved, there are some contractual obligations, once that is done, when theyll return it will depend on that, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said earlier this week.

Irans Revolutionary Guards raided MSC Aries which was en route to Mumbai near the Strait of Hormuz by helicopter as tensions between Iran and Israel grew following the latters alleged strike on the formers consulate in the Syrian capital of Damascus earlier this month.

MSC Aries is a Portuguese-flagged container ship associated with London-based Zodiac Maritime. Zodiac Maritime is part of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofers Zodiac Group.

The vessel was diverted into Irans territorial waters as a result of violating maritime laws and not answering calls made by Iranian authorities, spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said last week when questioned by reporters.

MSC, which operates the Aries, confirmed Iran had seized the ship and said it was working with the relevant authorities for its safe return and the wellbeing of its 25 crew.
A Freedom Flotilla aimed at delivering aid to Gaza was blocked in Turkey Saturday after being denied use of two of its ships, which organisers blame on Israeli pressure.

The coalition of NGOs and other associations said it was unable to set sail after the West African country of Guinea-Bissau withdrew its flagged vessels.

Sadly, Guinea-Bissau has allowed itself to become complicit in Israels deliberate starvation, illegal siege and genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said.

The Guinea-Bissau International Ships Registry (GBISR), in a blatantly political move, informed the Freedom Flotilla Coalition that it had withdrawn the Guinea Bissau flag from two of the Freedom Flotillas ships, one of which is our cargo ship, already loaded with over 5,000 tons of life-saving aid, their statement said

The group said the Guinea-Bissau authorities made several extraordinary requests for information including destinations, potential additional port calls, cargo manifest, and estimated arrival dates and times.

Normally, national flagging authorities concern themselves only with safety and related standards on vessels bearing their flag, it said, equating it to being asked about destinations when registering a car.

At an Istanbul press conference, about 280 volunteers  activists, lawyers and doctors  who had hoped to join the ships shouted slogans including Flag the flotilla, We will sail and Free Palestine.

Three of the flotillas ships have been docked for a week at the port of Tuzla, south of Istanbul. They had planned to set sail Friday.

Turkish authorities and state media, who are generally keen to boast about the aid they have provided to Palestinian civilians in Gaza having organised 13 humanitarian flights and nine boats, have been silent about the flotilla.

In 2010, a previous Freedom Flotilla set off from the southern Turkish city of Antalya, leading to a deadly episode that soured relations between Turkey and Israel after Israeli military forces attacked one of the ships, the Mavi Marmara, leaving 10 dead and 28 wounded aboard.

UN agencies have warned that maritime deliveries alone cannot deliver sufficient aid to ward off the threat of famine in Gaza and have called on Israel to open up more border crossings for road convoys.

The Gaza war was triggered by Hamas October 7 attack that resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people in southern Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

Israels retaliatory offensive has killed at least 34,388 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territorys health ministry.
Hamas on Saturday said it received Israels official response to its latest ceasefire proposal and will study it before submitting its reply, news agency Reuters said, citing Khalil Al-Hayya, the groups deputy Gaza chief.

Hamas has received today the official response of the Zionist occupation to the proposal presented to the Egyptian and the Qatari mediators on April 13, Khalil Al-Hayya said in a statement from Qatar.

The statement from Hamas comes after Israel said it is giving last chance for a truce agreement before it launches its offensive against Hamas in Rafah in southern Gaza Strip, now home to over a million internally displaced Palestinians, following talks between Israeli officials and a top-level Egyptian delegation.

This is the last chance before we go into Rafah, the official was quoted as saying by news agency Ynet.

Six months into the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, the negotiations remain deadlocked as Hamas sticks to its demand that any agreement must seek to end the war.

Egypt, Qatar and the United States have been unsuccessfully trying to seal a new truce deal in Gaza ever since a one-week halt to the fighting in November saw 80 Israeli hostages exchanged for 240 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.

The war began with the unprecedented Hamas attack on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,170 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Israels retaliatory offensive has killed at least 34,356 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territorys health ministry.

Israel estimates that 129 hostages are still being held by Hamas in Gaza, including 34 the military says are dead.

Israeli officials said that they held very good, focused talks with their Egyptian counterparts and the discussions were held in good spirits and progressed in all parameters, according to a report by the Times of Israel.

The report citing Israeli officials also said that the Egyptian delegation signalled that they are willing to pressure Hamas toward reaching a deal.

Another official told Reuters that Israel had no new proposals to make, although it was willing to consider a limited truce in which 33 hostages would be released by Hamas, instead of the 40 previously under discussion.

The US along with 17 other countries appealed to Hamas to release all of its hostages and start ending the crisis.

(We remain) open to any ideas or proposals that take into account the needs and rights of our people, Hamas said in response to the joint statement while criticising the issuers of the statement for not calling for a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. It has also vowed not to relent to international pressure.

Israeli officials told news outlets there that there are very serious intentions from Israel to move ahead in Rafah.
New York prosecutors said Friday they had returned to Cambodia and Indonesia 30 antiquities that were looted, sold or illegally transferred by networks of American dealers and traffickers.

The antiquities were valued at a total of $3 million, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said.

We are continuing to investigate the wide-ranging trafficking networks that target Southeast Asian antiquities. Today we announced the return of 27 antiquities to the people of Cambodia and 3 antiquities to the people of Indonesia. More here: https://t.co/CySytxy533 Alvin Bragg (@ManhattanDA) April 26, 2024

Bragg said in a statement that he had returned 27 pieces to Phnom Penh and three to Jakarta in two recent repatriation ceremonies, including a bronze of the Hindu deity Shiva (Shiva Triad) looted from Cambodia and a stone bas-relief of two royal figures from the Majapahit empire (13th-16th century) stolen from Indonesia.

Bragg accused art dealers Subhash Kapoor, an Indian-American, and American Nancy Wiener in the illegal trafficking of the antiquities.

Kapoor, accused of running a network trafficking in items stolen in Southeast Asia for sale in his Manhattan gallery, has been the target of a US justice investigation dubbed Hidden Idol for more than a decade.

Arrested in 2011 in Germany, Kapoor was sent back to India where he was tried and sentenced in November 2022 to 13 years in prison.

Responding to a US indictment for conspiracy to traffic in stolen works of art, Kapoor denied the charges.

We are continuing to investigate the wide-ranging trafficking networks that target Southeast Asian antiquities, Bragg said in the statement.

There is clearly still much more work to do.

Wiener, sentenced in 2021 for trafficking in stolen works of art, sought to sell the bronze Shiva but eventually donated the piece to the Denver (Colorado) Museum of Art in 2007.

The antiquity was seized by the New York courts in 2023.

During Braggs tenure, the Antiquities Trafficking Unit has recovered nearly 1,200 items stolen from more than 25 countries and valued at more than $250 million.

New York is a major trafficking hub, and several works have been seized in recent years from museums, including the prestigious Metropolitan Museum of Art, and from collectors.
Yemens Houthis said on Saturday their missiles hit the Andromeda Star oil tanker in the Red Sea, as they continue attacking commercial ships in the area in a show of support for Palestinians fighting Israel in the Gaza war.

US Central Command confirmed that Iran-backed Houthis launched three anti-ship ballistic missiles into the Red Sea from Yemen causing minor damage to the Andromeda Star.

The ships master reported damage to the vessel, British maritime security firm Ambrey said.

A missile landed in the vicinity of a second vessel, the MV Maisha, but it was not damaged, U.S. Central Command said on social media site X.

Houthi spokesman Yahya Sarea said the Panama-flagged Andromeda Star was British owned, but shipping data shows it was recently sold, according to LSEG data and Ambrey.

Its current owner is Seychelles-registered. The tanker is engaged in Russia-linked trade. It was en route from Primorsk, Russia, to Vadinar, India, Ambrey said.

Iran-aligned Houthi militants have launched repeated drone and missile strikes in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait and Gulf of Aden since November, forcing shippers to re-route cargo to longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa and stoking fears the Israel-Hamas war could spread and destabilise the Middle East.

The attack on the Andromeda Star comes after a brief pause in the Houthis campaign that targets ships with ties to Israel, the United States and Britain.

The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier sailed out of the Red Sea via the Suez Canal on Friday after assisting a U.S.-led coalition to protect commercial shipping.

The Houthis on Friday said they downed an American MQ-9 drone in airspace of Yemens Saada province.
Iraqi social media star Ghufran Sawadi, better known as Om Fahad, was shot dead outside her Baghdad home on Friday. An unidentified attacker reportedly shot Om Fahad in her car in the Zayouna district.

The attack was captured on video by a surveillance camera and shared on social media. It shows a gunman, who appeared to have pretended to be making a food delivery, shooting and killing Om Fahad on the spot.

Well-known Iraqi social media influencer Om Fahad, whose real name is Ghufran Sawadi, was shot and killed outside her home in Iraqhttps://t.co/Q3R09bwrQk pic.twitter.com/eTXcOcLZOM Sky News (@SkyNews) April 27, 2024

Iraqs interior ministry has formed a specialised work team to find out the circumstances of the killing of a woman known on social media by unknown assailants.

Who Was Om Fahad?

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 overthrow 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.

(With AFP Inputs)
Pakistan Supreme Court Justice Mansoor Ali Shah said that the judiciary should not have any external interference, saying that it was essential to develop a firewall around the judicial system, Dawn reported.

Shahs remarks come amid the allegations levelled by six judges of the Islamabad High Court, who said that Pakistans spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence, was interfering in the countrys judicial affairs.

Addressing the 5th Asma Jahangir Conference, Justice Shah said, Firewalling is very important. There can be no external interference in our affairs. The judiciary will stand united against any interference that comes into our system and we take it seriously.

He said that if there was no justice, then, then no institution would be able to exist, adding that it would only be better if the justice system worked independently.

The justice system has to be strong, robust and independent for all the other institutions to develop, grow and prosper, he was quoted as saying by Dawn.

WHAT DID THE 6 IHC JUDGES SAY?

The six IHC judges, on March 25, wrote a letter to the Supreme Judicial Council about the intelligence apparatus attempts to pressurise judges through friends and family as well as secret surveillance on them.

The SJC is the highest body authorised to take action against judges of high and supreme courts.

The letter also mentioned an example that the ISIs operatives intimidated two of the judges through friends and relatives for declaring against taking up a political case related to the jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan last year.

It said the six judges had brought such cases in their chiefs knowledge and also met the then Chief Justice of Pakistan to share their concerns regarding efforts of ISI operatives to affect judicial outcomes.

The letter was signed by judges Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Babar Sattar, Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Saman Rafat Imtiaz.

PAK SC TO HEAR MATTER ON APRIL 30

Pakistan Supreme Court on Saturday clubbed ten petitions and applications that seek its intervention in response to the allegations raised by the six IHC judges about intelligence apparatus interfering in judicial affairs, Dawn reported.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, including Justices Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Musarrat Hilali, Athar Minallah and Naeem Akhtar Afghan, will resume hearing the case on April 30, intitiated on the basis of a suo moto.

ALSO READ | Pakistan Judiciary On Edge: Arsenic-Laced Letters To Top Judges Linked To The Dark Underbelly Of ISI

WHAT HAPPENED IN THE CASE TILL NOW?

A day after the six IHC judges sent their letter to the SJC, calls from various quarters demanded for a probe into the matter, amid which Pakistans Chief Justice called for a full court meeting of the top court judges.

On March 28, CJP Isa met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, where they decided to form a single-member commission to hold an inquiry into the allegations levelled by the judges and submit its report in 60 days.

But, allegations of bias and a letter by 300 lawyers prompted the Chief Justice of Pakistan to hear the case in the Supreme Court.

CJP Isa, on April 3, had asserted that any attack on the judicial systems independence wont be tolerated. A seven-member bench to hear the matter after the six judges was formed by the Supreme Court.
The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the US has seen evidence that China has attempted to influence and arguably interfere with the upcoming US elections. He said Xi Jinping earlier committed that he would not do so.

Speaking to US broadcaster CNN, he said that US President Joe Biden repeatedly gave one message to Xi Jinping during their summit in San Francisco last November and that was to not interfere with the 2024 US presidential elections.

He said that Xi Jinping pledged not to do so.

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, Blinken was quoted as saying.

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, Blinken told the broadcaster.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday told top US diplomat Antony Blinken that the worlds 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 Beijings 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.

China has also maintained that it does not interfere in US elections and says that it abides by the principle of non-interference in other countries internal affairs. But now it is not just the US, Canada, the UK as well as Germany are probing Chinese interference in their political processes.

Three people arrested in western Germany this week faced accusations of passing information on maritime technology to China and an assistant to a German member of the European Parliament was detained on the suspicion he was sharing details of proceedings in the assembly with Beijing and spying on Chinese opposition figures in Germany.

(with inputs from AFP)
NewsCenter1 Today Meteorologist/Multimedia Journalist

Originally a Sioux Falls native, Sam came to Rapid City and fell in love with the Black Hills. She decided that she wanted to make western South Dakota her home. Recently, Sam graduated from the School of Mines with an M.S. in Atmospheric Sciences and is very excited to share her love of the weather at NewsCenter1.
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, 49, had faced up to three years in prison after being found guilty in a jury trial last year of criminally negligent homicide, per the AP . He administered a dose of ketamine to McClain, 23, who'd been forcibly restrained after police stopped him as the massage therapist was walking home in a Denver suburb in 2019. The sentencing caps 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 General's Office. He'll also need to complete 100 hours of community service. The sentence begins June 7, per the Denver Post. The other paramedic involved in McClain's death received a more severe punishment after being convicted on an additional charge of felony assault. Judge Mark Warner said evidence showed Cooper didn't purposely give McClain a ketamine overdose, rejecting claims by prosecutors that the paramedic had acted with indifference. Experts say the convictions would have been unheard of before 2020, when George Floyd's 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 AP, in collaboration with Frontline (PBS) and the Howard Centers for Investigative Journalism. McClain's mother told the judge prior to Friday's sentencing that she blamed her son's death on everyone who was present that night, not just those who were convicted. Sheneen McClain said Cooper "did nothing" to help her son after he'd been restrained by policedidn't check his pulse, didn't check his breathing, and didn't ask him how he was doingbefore injecting him with an overdose of ketamine. She later told reporters that she wasn't expecting much from the trials and wasn't surprised Cooper avoided prison time. "The only closure it brings me is that this [expletive] is over," she said after the sentencing, per the Post. "I'm done with that." More here.

(More Elijah McClain stories.)
Last month, Vladimir Putin insisted that he'd OKed a plan to release Alexei Navalny from an Arctic penal colony just before the opposition leader died in February. Now, a new report from the Wall Street Journal suggests the Russian president actually may not have directly ordered Navalny's deathor, at least, "might not have planned for it to happen when it did." That finding has been accepted and shared by multiple US intelligence agencies, including the CIA, the State Department's spy unit, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Sources tell the Journal that the intelligence agencies based their assessment on both classified intel and by looking into already public facts around the case, including the timeline of Navalny's death. None of this is to say that Putin doesn't bear culpability, notes the Journalit's just that the timing was apparently off. The Kremlin has continued to deny both Navalny's death and his earlier poisoning. Bloomberg notes that Navalny's still-murky demise "triggered a fresh round of tensions between Russia and the West at a time relations were fractured by the Ukraine conflict."

Despite the US findings, some security officials in Europe say they're wary of the latest narrative, with the Journal noting that "in a system as tightly controlled as Putin's Russia, it is doubtful that harm could have come to Navalny without the president's prior awareness." Leonid Volkov, a longtime Navalny associate who was attacked and beaten with a hammer last month outside his home in Lithuania, concurs that it doesn't make sense Putin wouldn't have known. "The idea of Putin being not informed and not approving killing Navalny is ridiculous," Volkov says, telling the Journal that those who are pushing that narrative "clearly do not understand anything about how modern-day Russia runs." Navalny's allies say they'll eventually show proof that he was murdered, per Reuters. (More Alexei Navalny stories.)
The UAW and Daimler Truck reached an agreement late Friday night just before their existing contract expired, heading off a strike that the union had threatened to begin at midnight. The deal covers 7,300 members, most of whom work at plants in North Carolina. UAW President Shawn Fain told workers the news on Facebook Live, the Detroit Free Press reports. "We're here tonight to announce a major victory for the members who build Freightliner and Western Star trucks and Thomas Built buses," Fain said. The contracts will go to a ratification vote next, and Daimler issued a statement saying, "We hope to finalize them soon, for the mutual benefit of all parties."
The day of the attack on the US Capitol, John Sullivan led members of the mob into the building and filmed the death of fellow rioter Ashli Babbitt. Later, he posed as a journalist while selling the video footage to news organizations for more than $90,000. For that, Sullivan on Friday received a sentence of six years in federal prison, Politico reports. The judge said the defendant stands alone in the case for exploiting the rioters supporting Donald Trump while not "subscribing to the goals of the protest," per NBC News .

Sullivan, 29, of Utah, had expressed support for the Black Lives Matter and anti-fascism movements, prosecutors said at sentencing. Trump allies then falsely pointed to his presence on Jan. 6 as evidence that anti-Trump agitators were behind the riot. But prosecutors said Sullivan actually was pursing his own anti-government agenda and wanted to "see the government burn" and the certification of Joe Biden's election victory stopped. US District Judge Royce Lamberth called Sullivan a "chaos agent," per Politico, saying that for the defendant, "violence was an end unto itself."

In November, a jury convicted Sullivan of the felony charges of rioting and obstructing Congress' certification of the vote, plus five misdemeanors. Prosecutors said he showed up at the Capitol with a gas mask, tactical vest, megaphone, and knife, per the Washington Post. The jury saw footage in which Sullivan said he was going to make the pro-Trump mob cause destruction. "I brought my megaphone to instigate s---," he said on the video. Sullivan tearfully apologized in court for his conduct, then criticized conditions in the DC jail. He's being held in protective custody after jail officials decided his opposing political views made it too dangerous for Sullivan to be in with other Jan. 6 defendants. (More Capitol riot stories.)
Iraqi authorities on Saturday were investigating the killing of a well-known social media influencer, who was shot by a motorcyclist in front of her home in central Baghdad. Ghufran Mahdi Sawadi, known as Um Fahad, was popular on TikTok and Instagram, where she posted videos of herself dancing to music and was followed by tens of thousands of users. An Iraqi security official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak to the media, said the assailant opened fire as Sawadi parked her Cadillac in front of her house on Friday, killing her, then took her phone and fled, the AP reports.

The slaying took place in Zayoona, the neighborhood where prominent Iraqi researcher and security expert Hisham al-Hashimi was shot to death in 2020. Before the US invasion of 2003, the neighborhood was home to military leaders and considered a prestigious area in Baghdad. In recent years, many militia leaders have taken up residence there. A neighbor of Sawadi's who identified himself only by his nickname, Abu Adam, or "father of Adam," said he came out to the street after hearing two shots, He said he saw "the car's door open and she was lying on the steering wheel." Security forces then arrived, took the body, and sealed off the area, he said.

In Iraq, the role of social media influencers has broadened from promoting beauty products and clothing to government projects and programs, per the AP. Official government invitations classify influencers as key business figures at sports, security, and cultural gatherings. Last year, an Iraqi court sentenced Sawadi to six months in prison for posting several films and videos containing obscene statements and indecent public behavior on social media as part of a push by the Iraqi government to police morals.

(More Iraq stories.)
A 46-year-old man has been charged with murder after a homicide investigation in the Taranaki town of Hawera.

It comes after a man died of serious injuries on Monday.

Now, the 46-year-old is due to appear in the High Court at New Plymouth on May 17.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Yesterday marked the inaugural round of political consultations between Bahrain and the Peoples Republic of China. Chaired by Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, the Political Affairs Undersecretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Deng Li, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, the session delved into avenues to fortify and broaden cooperation between the two nations across various domains including politics, economics, science, culture, and technology, all in the pursuit of mutual benefit.

Dr. Shaikh Abdulla underscored Bahrains dedication to enhancing ties with China, emphasising the importance of collaboration in advancing shared interests.

The discussions encompassed a spectrum of regional and global topics, including efforts towards an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, humanitarian aid delivery, de-escalation of military tensions, and the pursuit of just and comprehensive peace both regionally and globally.

Additionally, the delegates focused on fostering peaceful coexistence among cultures and civilisations. Deng Li reiterated China's commitment to deepening political and economic cooperation with Bahrain, emphasising the potential for such collaboration to bolster regional and international security and peace. He extended his best wishes for continued progress and prosperity to the Kingdom and its people.
TDT | Agencies

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The body of Kaikan Kaennakam, a 31-year-old Thai model, was discovered in a mortuary in Bahrain over a year after she went missing. Her family is demanding an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.

Kaikan, once a thriving model, transitioned to working in a restaurant in the Middle East after facing a decline in job opportunities. Despite the challenges, she remained devoted to supporting her family back in northeast Thailand. Keeping her loved ones informed, she frequently shared updates via social media, revealing that she had formed a relationship and moved in with her Bahraini boyfriend.

In April 2023, Kaikan's online presence abruptly ceased, causing concern among her relatives who were unable to reach her via phone. Despite exhaustive efforts to locate her, including seeking assistance from the Thai embassy in January of the following year and receiving support from the Thai community in Bahrain, Kaikan remained elusive.

Tragically, on April 18, the Thai Embassy in Bahrain conveyed devastating news to Kaikans family: the body of an unidentified Southeast Asian woman had been discovered in the Salmaniya Medical Complex mortuary since the previous year. A tattoo on the womans leg provided a crucial clue, identifying her as the missing Thai worker. The stated cause of death was acute lung and heart failure due to alcohol poisoning.

Suthida Ngernthaworn, Kaikans sister, harbours suspicions regarding the circumstances surrounding Kaikans death. She asserts that photographs of Kaikans body exhibit indications of bruising, prompting her concerns. Additionally, Suthida reveals that before her disappearance, Kaikan had shared images and videos on social media depicting her body adorned with marks and cuts, further fueling suspicion.

Now, the family is grappling with the arduous task of repatriating Kaikan's remains to Thailanda costly endeavour without travel insurance.

The family's demand for a thorough investigation into Kaikan's death underscores the need for clarity and justice in this tragic case. As they mourn the loss of their loved one, they are determined to uncover the truth behind her untimely demise.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Her Excellency Fatima Al Sairafi, Minister of Tourism, convened a meeting with a delegation from the Principality of Monaco to discuss enhancing collaboration in the tourism and hospitality sectors and fostering stronger partnerships.

The aim was to leverage shared experiences and exchange insights to bolster the tourism industry in both nations.

At the beginning of the meeting, HE the Minister provided the delegation with an overview of the Kingdom of Bahrain's tourism strategy for 2022-2026. This strategy is designed to double the tourism sector's contribution to the GDP, diversify the tourism product, and attract a more diverse range of tourists.

Her Excellency also presented the latest statistics and developments in the kingdoms tourism sector, highlighting key attractions and destinations, and outlined the Ministry of Tourism and Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority's efforts in enhancing tourism infrastructure, boosting the number of hotels and hospitality establishments, and enhancing visitor experiences.
AFP | Jerusalem

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

A delegation from mediator Egypt is travelling to Israel yesterday, a source close to the Israeli government told AFP, in what local media said is a bid to reignite stalled hostage-release negotiations.

The effort comes alongside preparations for a military push against Hamas in southern Gazas Rafah, and with spillover from the Gaza war leading to steppedup exchanges of fire over Israels northern border with Lebanon.

Israels army yesterday said missile fire near that border killed an Israeli civilian.

A Hamas official told AFP that any push into Rafah, where much of Gazas population is sheltering, would threaten negotiations.

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.

That truce saw the exchange of 80 Israeli captives in return for 240 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.

Since then, global criticism of the wars toll on Palestinian civilians in Gaza has escalated, as have calls for Hamas there to release their captives.

Famine warning

The source told AFP that Egypts delegation was travelling to Israel for security coordination.

Several Israeli media outlets, citing unnamed officials, said yesterday that the war cabinet discussed a new plan for a truce and hostage release, ahead of the Egyptian delegations visit.

Aid groups warn any Rafah invasion would add to already-catastrophic conditions in Gaza where, according to the World Food Programme, famine is a real and dangerous threat.

Senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad told AFP that Israel will not achieve what it wants in Rafah.

After nearly seven months of war Israel had not achieved its goals, whether eliminating Hamas or returning the captives, he said.

Hamad warned that an invasion will undoubtedly threaten the negotiations and show that Israel is interested in continuing the war.

The official of the Islamist movement spoke by phone from Qatar where a number of senior figures from Hamass political bureau are based.

After mediators failed to secure a truce for Ramadan, which ended early this month, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani said last week that Qatar was reassessing its role.

Opposition to a military operation in Rafah extended to protesting university students in the United States. Stop the invasion!

Hands off Rafah! said a sign among a pro-Palestinian encampment at George Washington University in the US capital.
State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada

Postal Code
HOW TO BETTER CLEAN YOUR WALLS

Dear Readers: Make sure to dust your walls before cleaning them. Wash from the bottom up so that the drips wont make their marks. Clean small areas at a time, then rinse and dry before moving on to another area. -- Heloise

DOES COFFEE STUNT GROWTH?

Dear Heloise: You had a letter about cutting the crusts off of bread and other cooking practices. Growing up, I was told that eating bread crusts would make my hair curly. It never did, but I still love to eat them.

I was also told that if I drank coffee, I wouldnt grow. My parents (being Swedes) were great coffee drinkers, so the coffeepot was always going. As a child, I was given a cup with a bit of coffee, but it was mostly milk or cream. I grew up to be 5 feet, 6 inches tall anyway.

I read your column each day in the Republican-American, which is published in Waterbury, Connecticut. -- Carolyn McDonough, Canaan, Connecticut

SALAD DRESSING SHAKER

Dear Heloise: We like fresh salad dressing made with garlic- and rosemary-infused extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar. I have found that the perfect vessel for this dressing is an emptied spice shaker jar.

Its easy to make just enough for three or four servings, and the jar shakes up very easily. The holed inner liner lets each person spread it around and get out only as much as they want. -- J.M. Michaels, Temple City, California

LAZY SUSAN

Dear Heloise: I cannot take credit for this great idea, but while visiting a friend, I noticed that she had a wonderful lazy Susan in her cupboard. She told me that when she sees a disposed microwave, she takes the round plate and rotator and repurposes them for this purpose. -- J.S., via email

EYEGLASS CLEANER

Dear Heloise: Another Heloise reader suggested hand sanitizer for cleaning eyeglasses, but this is not a good idea. Sanitizer is primarily alcohol-based, and using it long-term isnt good for todays lens coatings. Also, some frames have warnings that specifically discourage alcohol for cleaning. This comes from someone who knows. -- Tad, Retired Optician

CLEANING UNDER THE SINK

Dear Heloise: Years ago, I reached the age where cleaning under the kitchen sink (where my wastebasket is) became difficult. So, I began putting aluminum oven liners under there, and it works like a charm. Once they are too beat up, I just put in a new one!

Im a dedicated reader who has followed your mothers column from Washington, California and now in Texas. -- B.J.D., via email

PET PAL

Dear Heloise: My puppy, Tatum, is 7 months old and enjoys the snow here in Dover, Delaware. She loves everyone and the pets she sees. She loves to give kisses. But here she is catching snowflakes on her tongue. She is my baby. -- Susan Fellows, via email

TatumHeloise

Readers, to see Tatum and our other Pet Pals, go to Heloise.com and click on Pet of the Week.

Do you have a furry friend to share with our readers? Send a photo and a brief description to Heloise@Heloise.com. -- Heloise

SEND A GREAT HINT TO: Heloise@Heloise.com

(c) 2024 by King Features Syndicate Inc.
University of Idaho student Madelynn Gregoire wanted to leave her stamp on Moscow before she graduated this May.

She did so in the form of 10-foot by 10-foot mural serving as an unofficial Moscow welcome sign that greets cars as they enter downtown from the north.

Gregoire was invited by J-U-B Engineers manager David Watkins to paint the mural on the side of the J-U-B building on the west side of Jackson Street at the intersection of Third Street.

Watkins said his staff wanted to bring some art to their downtown building, and perhaps participate in Artwalk in the future. He reached out to Gregoire, who won a student competition two years ago at the UI Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering to paint a mural inside the J-U-B Undergraduate Teaching Laboratory on campus.

Gregoire began working with J-U-B since fall 2023 to finalize the design of this new mural.

Though J-U-B is a regional company, Watkins said they wanted the mural to have a local flavor.

The original thinking was focus on Moscow and Idaho as best we can, Watkins said.

It was Gregoires idea to make the mural look like a vintage postcard with the words Welcome to Moscow.
A man has been charged in the sexual assault of a woman at a residence in Bergen County.

Bylly Xiloj-Aquino, 25, of Fariview, was arrested on Friday and charged with sexual assault and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, the Bergen County Prosecutors Office said in a news release.

The Special Victims Unit of the prosecutors office was contacted about the alleged assault earlier in the day. Following an investigation, detectives alleged that Xiloj-Aquino sexually assaulted the victim at a home in Fairview on Thursday, authorities said.

Prosecutors did not say why Xiloj-Aquino was charged with the two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. A criminal complaint obtained by NJ Advance Media states that a child under his care was present during the alleged assault.

He is being held in Bergen County Jail pending his first court appearance.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
Roland Millard has lived on the Wildwood boardwalk for about 27 years.

In all that time, theres always been plenty of sand to set up an umbrella and foldable chair on the resort towns notoriously wide beach. And the 52-year-old cant recall a storm in the last decade that was strong enough to make him fear the ocean could threaten the boardwalk planks below his second-story apartment.

I actually dont even remember the last noreaster that really did any damage, Millard told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday. Sometimes, my roof leaks.

But if Millard and neighbors across more than 100 properties on Five Mile Island approve, crews could eventually be setting up in front of his home as part of a massive U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project set to establish wide-spanning protections for North Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, Lower Township and the city of Wildwood.

Despite the $40 million project being talked about for nearly a decade  a feasibility study was first completed in 2014  Millard hasnt heard anything from the state yet about what the work will look like.

Id like to see the master plan, Millard said of the design while also touching on concerns he has about access to the beach for his son who has autism. There are still a lot of variables that are unclear.

Millard is not the only one asking questions.

For some  like people in North Wildwood who are running out of beach  the questions are of a different variety. Namely, why the project has not moved forward faster.

Ten years later, construction has not started.

State officials say they expect to award contracts for the project in June 2025 but its unclear when work on the beach would actually start. In the meantime, an emergency fix in North Wildwood was announced by Gov. Phil Murphys office on Thursday, with work set to begin in the next several weeks.

Each pound of sand getting washed back into the Atlantic Ocean during the winter exacerbates conversations about more difficult, often recurring and, what ends up being, ever-expensive beach repairs throughout Jersey Shore towns getting ready for the summer with less or little beach.

The Five Mile Island project makes clear how even more complicated things can get when officials are trying to replenish their beaches with federal help and theres plenty of red tape to boot.

North Wildwood has been having to fend off Mother Nature pretty much on their own for the better part of the last decade, said Steven Hafner, the project manager for Stockton Universitys Coastal Research Centers North Wildwood shoreline studies.

I do know that the current DEP Commissioner was down there and did talk to communities and hes trying to do everything he can to push the federal project forward, Hafner said.

The crux of the problem, various experts agreed, comes down to money and the bevy of stakeholders involved.

A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers map updated March 2024 shows how most of New Jersey's coast has undergone some form of beach replenishment project. The red sliver highlights the outlier: North Wildwood (which has waited at least a decade for a periodic federal replenishment)Image courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Whats the holdup?

Before construction can start on the Five Mile Island project, at least 131 real estate easements need to be obtained by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, according to aid agreement documents acquired by NJ Advance Media via an Open Public Records Act request.

Those easements are for parcels of land and do not always correspond to a single property or a single property owner.

Five Mile Island project area property owners are made up of a mix of townships, private businesses and residents. All need to give rights of access to the state before that work can happen.

Owners include Moreys Piers in Wildwood, The Grand in Lower Township, smaller businesses and some individual homeowners like Millard.

But different property owners have different priorities.

Mostly all those sign-offs still need to be secured, according to the latest state records provided and interviews with local officials and property owners.

The background work of title searches, surveys and appraisal work continues, Larry Hajna, a spokesman for the NJDEP, said Wednesday in a statement. The DEP anticipates receiving the majority of the easements by this fall.

Patrick Rosenello, the mayor of North Wildwood, said the involvement of NJDEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette in the winter of 2022-2023 and his successful efforts to get all four towns signed off on the project jump-started the individual easement acquiring process.

Yet, he highlighted, its still gradually moving ahead.

As far as the Five Mile Island design, property owners and local officials in the project areas said theyve only seen a plan thats 65% complete. Rosenello was told thats to be expected.

For all intents and purposes the 65% plan is very near to what is going to get built outside of any minor changes required for a variety of reasons, he said. However, I do not know the status of any easements required in North Wildwood or any of the other towns.

The North Wildwood beach patrol building (on the right), where a dune breach was recently reported, can be seen in March 2023. City officials worked with the state to build up defenses around the building.Photo courtesy of Ted Kingston

Not so simple

Some believe the Five Mile Island project has been delayed due to the many property owners involved.

I think were the victim of four towns, said Will Morey, president and CEO of Moreys Piers, who has yet to approve about 10 real estate easements. To some extent, if we were one town I think things would have moved along more quickly.

Morey, who runs one of the areas largest employers, said progress has been made amid conversations with the NJDEP about important pier access to his property during the proposed work. He also attributed the previously slow pace of the federal project to North Wildwoods increasingly dire situation.

Years elapsed when the project was simply considered important for the Cape May County shore. Now, its inarguably critical based on an emergency in one of those towns.

Nearly a dozen blocks of North Wildwoods beach are gone at high tide.

Ratcheting up the need even further, in the past two years or so North Wildwood says it has not been able to bring sand over from plentiful beaches of Wildwood nearby like it has in previous years. Harsh storms  fueled by climate change  have also eroded the areas sand-carrying trucks would need to travel near two piers.

All seemed to have ramped up efforts for the Five Mile Island work, officials in North Wildwood said.

Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano said he was concerned for North Wildwood but  echoing officials in Lower Township  shared he had not seen a final new design for the Five Mile Island project. Officials in Wildwood Crest could not be reached for comment.

Troiano said of the Five Mile Island project: I want to see what the design is and, personally, if it didnt happen, it didnt happen.

He added that beaches in Wildwood are a sizable economic force, not only for the city of Wildwood, but Cape May County and the state of New Jersey.

We have all the events on the beach, which are massive ... I dont need a dune going through the middle of it, Troiano said of one concern hes mindful of before reviewing the final project design.

Troiano pointed to New Jerseys largest country music festival, held on the beach in Wildwood each summer. Next month, former President Donald Trump also plans to come to the town for a rally on the beach, expected to accommodate as many as 40,000 people.

A cyclist rides along the boardwalk in Wildwood, NJ, on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. In over a year's time, federal project crews could be near this very section of waterfront setting up beach defenses as part of a massive replenishment project.Jim Lowney | For NJ Advance Media

An Army Corps spokesman rebutted claims the Five Mile Island replenishment timeline was lengthy, based on similar work in the past.

The time to study and build a project is a function of many interrelated steps, said Steve Rochette, a spokesman for the Army Corps Philadelphia District, which coordinates with the state on periodic nourishments.

Rochette said federal engineers completed the feasibility report for the Manasquan Inlet to Barnegat Inlet project  work that also spanned multiple towns  in 2002 and work for that began in 2017. Conversely, a sizable project from Barnegat Inlet to Little Egg Inlet took only about 7 years to go from a finished feasibility study to initial construction.

He also said the Five Mile Island project could cost up to $40 million, but that may be less or more depending on finalized bids.

Regarding how long large federal projects can take, Rochette said: It can vary based on project complexity, federal and non-federal funding availability, support from all of the municipalities in a given project area, real estate considerations, and other factors.

From completing the feasibility report to the start of construction, a project can take between 10 to 20 years on average, Army Corps officials said.

North Wildwood Mayor Rosenello said hes tried to be patient amid a $33 million legal battle with New Jersey and requests for help in the interim.

The city was fined $12.8 million by the state for carrying out beach fixes without NJDEP approval and later countersued over money officials said North Wildwood spent building protective beach barriers over the years.

It was unclear Friday who would be paying for the temporary fix at North Wildwoods beaches, but the mayor said it would not affect the ongoing legal battle. The sand for the project is expected to be dredged from nearby approved borrow areas.

The North Wildwood Emergency Beach Nourishment Dredging project will serve to protect the infrastructure, quality of life, and economy in North Wildwood until the Army Corps of Engineers and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection are able to complete a long-term project, the offices of Murphy and Rosenello said in a joint statement Thursday.

Asked what he thinks should happen as far as the Five Mile Island project moving forward, Rosenello  who paused to consider it was less than five weeks until Memorial Day weekend  answered briefly: It gets built ASAP!
An Essex County pharmacy is closed after a tractor trailer slammed into the building, fire department officials said.

The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy on Route 23 in Cedar Grove was seriously damaged in the Friday morning crash, Fire Department Chief Chris Donlon said. The crash involved two cars in addition to the tractor trailer.

The driver of the tractor trailer was uninjured, and the drivers of both cars were taken to a nearby hospital with non-life threatening injuries, Donlon said.

The truck struck a gas line inside the building, which started leaking gas, Donlon said. Gas was shut off in the area while crews worked to repair the break.

The truck was removed and the building was stabilized but is currently uninhabitable, Donlon said.

In addition to Cedar Grove first responders, firefighters from Newark, Paterson, Hackensack, Hoboken, Montclair, Verona and North Caldwell assisted.

A tractor trailer crashed into the Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy in Cedar Grove on Friday, April 26, 2024.Cedar Grove Fire Department

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KatieKausch.
A Morris County resident and former senior vice president and in-house general counsel at Moodys pleaded guilty Thursday to not filing personal income taxes for four years, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced Friday.

John Goggins, 63, of Chatham pleaded guilty to failing to file personal tax returns from 2018 to 2021. During that period, Goggins earned $54 million in gross income, authorities said.

Mr. Goggins deeply regrets and has accepted full responsibility for his failure to file certain personal income tax returns, a spokesperson for Goggins said Friday afternoon. This is a personal matter that has nothing to do with his work. Mr. Goggins has paid the outstanding taxes, interest, and penalties due in connection with his misdemeanor offenses and looks forward to putting this situation behind him. He has been working with tax professionals to ensure that he remains in full compliance with his tax obligations.
King Charles III will resume his normal duties next week as as he continues treatment for cancer.

Buckingham Palace announced Friday that the 75-year-old monarch and his wife, Queen Camilla, will make their first official royal engagement together Tuesday since King Charles III started undergoing treatment for cancer.

The couple will visit a cancer treatment center where they will meet with the medical staff and patients.

This will be the kings first public engagement since announcing his cancer diagnosis following a procedure to correct a benign enlarged prostate.

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 revealed what type or stage of cancer King Charles III was diagnosed with. However, his doctors have cleared him to return to normal duties as king.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
A street in Middletown in Monmouth County, now has the distinction of being named after two hometown stars  the musician, actor and activist Steven Van Zandt and his brother Billy, an Emmy-nominated television writer.

Middletown Township officials unveiled the green Van Zandt Way sign Friday during an event that ceremonially renamed Wilson Avenue after the pair, who grew up in the town.
An Ocean County man faces several charges after an alleged road rage incident involving a machete and a chase around the parking lot of the Ocean County Mall in Toms River, authorities said.

Police were called to the mall about 6 p.m. Wednesday after a driver said a man in a blue SUV tapped on his window with a machete while both were stopped at a light on Water Street.

The victim drove off and entered the mall parking lot, where he was spotted by the driver with the knife, who gave chase through the mall parking lot, police said in a statement.

Police said the victim called 911 and then drove to the Toms River Police Department.

The driver with the knife drove off on Hooper Avenue and was spotted by police, who were unable to catch up to him. He later crashed his SUV in Brick Township, according to police.

Officers said they located the machete in plain view in the vehicle, and arrested the driver.

Austin Martinez, 29, of Beachwood, was charged with third-degree terroristic threats, two weapons offenses, and multiple traffic violations. Attorney information for Martinez was not listed in online court records.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
By Raymond J. Lesniak

I served in the New Jersey Senate while Jon Bramnick was moving up the Republican leadership ladder from 2003 to 2021. He was Republican Assembly leader from 2012 until being a Senator in 2022. During those years, we worked together -- a Democrat and a Republican -- on behalf of our constituents and the state.

Since Donald Trumps election as President, times have dramatically changed, mostly in the Republican Party, which has come under the control of the former president. Grown Republican men and women cower to his every wish, regardless of how dangerous it is to our country. But not Jon Bramnick.

Ask a Republican officeholder if President Joe Biden won the 2020 election. Many will either say no, or dance around it with their answer. But not Jon Bramnick.

Ask a Republican officeholder if those who stormed the Capitol Building and beat up cops in an attempt to stop the certification of Bidens victory are hostages. Some equate these criminals to the hostages held by Hamas. Many agree with Trump that they should be pardoned for their crimes. But not Jon Bramnick.

Ask a Republican officeholder if they support Trump for President, even if hes convicted of a felony. Even Nikki Haley and New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu will say yes. But not Jon Bramnick.

I like Jon as a person and admire him as a politician, but Im not endorsing him for higher office. Ill cross that bridge when I come to it.

But I fear for our democracy if Republican officials continue to be afraid of disagreeing with The Donald. They should resign and make way for Republicans who have no such fear and will vote their conscience. Thats what elected officials are supposed to do, regardless of party.

Our democracy requires a vibrant two-party system not beholden to any one person, let alone Donald Trump.

Bramnick is alone as a Republican gubernatorial candidate to have repudiated Trump. The other leading contender for the nomination, Jack Ciattarelli, has embraced the MAGA mantle.

This tells you all you need to know about todays Republican National Committee: The person in charge of election integrity for the @GOP was just indicted in Arizona for lack of election integrity.  Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) April 25, 2024

Not all Republicans are so easily cowed, of course. Consider House Speaker Mike Johnson, who many dismissed as a fringe-right religious ideologue: Johnson could have lost his job by putting Ukraine aid up for a vote. Marjorie Taylor Green had vowed to remove Johnson if he took this step, and she only needed two allies to take him out.

Im not singling out Johnson because we agree on supporting Ukraine. Many Republicans in Congress also support Ukraine aid. But risking the most powerful position in Congress -- by repudiating Trumps desire to see Vladimir Putin steamroll Ukraine -- was a singular act of courage.

Republicans are not alone in having officeholders making decisions based on the political winds rather than their conscience. They are joined by many Democrats.

The difference is that the Democratic Party is not controlled by one person.

Too many Republicans have been brainwashed by a deeply flawed and dangerous individual that even Christian evangelicals have embraced as a pious figure delivered by divine providence -- which is cringeworthy, since their MAGA politics often contradict the life and teachings of Jesus himself.

Trump is proving hard to jettison, and many Americans anticipate an existential challenge to our democracy in November. But I dont fear a Trump presidency, per se. I fear a Republican Party that turns its beliefs over to one deranged individual.

Jon Bramnick and Mike Johnson have demonstrated that the GOP can function differently in the future. They only need some willing and courageous colleagues to follow the wisdom of their examples.

Ray Lesniak served 40 years in the New Jersey State Legislature, the second-longest stint in state history, before his retirement from the Senate in 2018.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
A bakery in Cranford that received a nasty hate letter for flying the gay Pride flag in the store window is responding with its own brand of kindness.

The Sweet NFancy Emporium is holding a rainbow-themed bake sale on Sunday, with all proceeds to benefit the Trevor Project, which helps LGBTQ+ youth.

Were going to stand our ground, owner Amanda Girardi said of the stores sweet response to the anonymous hate letter delivered in the mail 10 days ago. Were going to help people.

The letter, typewritten on plain white paper and postmarked April 13, announces a boycott of the store. Whoever wrote it says their objection isnt to the display of the Pride flag, but to the crazy left wingers who hate America.

I have notified all my girlfriends who in turn have decided to boycott your store, the letter says. It is not that we despise the flag...it is just we do not want to be associated with crazy left wingers who hate America. We have decided to take our business elsewhere and have blasted your organization all over social media. The letter is signed Citizens of Cranford.

Sweet N' Fancy Emporium in Cranford will hold a rainbow bake sale on 4/28/24, two weeks after the store received a hate letter for flying the Pride flag. All proceeds going to the Trevor Project to help LGBTQ+ youth.Courtesy of Sweet N' Fancy Emporium

Girardis initial response, after dismay, was to hand the letter over to Cranford police  and to keep the Pride flag hanging in the window. Girardi says she has been running the bake shop for three years and has previously displayed the Pride flag, but this is the first time shes received flak about it.

Girardi said the incident wont change her open-door policy running the business.

Were here to serve everybody, she said. If the person who wrote the letter came in here, I would serve them as well.

The bake sale runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the bakery, located at 1 South Avenue East. There will be rainbow crumb cakes, the house speciality, cookies, pretzels, and Love Wins t-shirts.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.Richard Cowen may be reached at rcowen@njadvancemedia.com.
Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost.

If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below.
A Clarkston man is accused of dealing narcotics after being arrested with hundreds of fentanyl pills.

The Quad Cities Drug Task Force arrested 62-year-old Richard Almeida for allegedly possessing a controlled substance with intent to deliver, according to a news release by the Whitman County Sheriffs Office on Thursday.

Detectives executed a narcotics-related search warrant at a home located on Pound Lane in Clarkston on Thursday afternoon. They found about 700 fentanyl pills and more than an ounce of packaged fentanyl powder, according to the news release.
Sewage was dumped into North Devons rivers and beaches for more than 39,000 hours in 2023, new figures have revealed.

This is a shocking 89 per cent rise in the duration of sewage spills compared to the previous year, highlighting just how badly the sewage scandal has worsened under the Conservative government's watch.

The analysis is based on official data from the Environment Agency, compiled by the House of Commons Library for the Liberal Democrats.

It shows sewage was dumped into North Devons rivers and coastline on 4,120 separate occasions in 2023.

This is a 91 per cent increase in the number of sewage spills, up from 2,158 in 2022.

Last year, sewage was dumped into England's rivers over 460,000 times for a total of over 3.6 million hours in 2023.

Nine in ten constituencies in England saw a rise in the duration of sewage dumping and 90 per cent saw a rise in the number of spills in 2023 compared to the previous year.

The Liberal Democrats have led the way in campaigning against sewage dumping for years.

We are calling for strict measures, including replacing Ofwat with a tougher regulator, a ban on bonuses for water company bosses whose firms have dumped sewage into waterways and the declaration of a national environmental emergency.

It is disgusting that there has been such a sharp rise in South West Water pumping their filthy sewage into our rivers and beaches.

People in North Devon are sick to the back teeth with Conservative MPs voting time and again to allow water companies to get away with this environmental vandalism.

The whole thing stinks.

The Liberal Democrats have led the way for years in campaigning for tougher action to stop this filthy practice.

We want to see a tougher water regulator, an end to bonuses for polluting water company bosses and stronger protections for our local environment.

North Devons rivers and beaches are local treasures and a key driver for tourism and community enjoyment, to help protect these treasures I have pledged full support for the Surfers Against Sewage manifesto aimed at combating pollution in our rivers, lakes and seas.

The recently published Surfers Against Sewage manifesto lays out a comprehensive five-point plan addressing critical aspects of the sewage pollution crisis, including enforcing the law, stopping pollution for profit, prioritising high-risk pollution, transparency and empowering a nature-led approach.
A Yakima man is going to jail for leading law enforcement on a high-speed car chase in the Colfax area.

Whitman County Superior Court Judge Gary Libey sentenced Christopher Cornelius, 33, to a year in prison Friday morning. He was convicted of eluding Whitman County Sheriffs Office deputies earlier this month.

Cornelius was arrested the night of April 12 after being spotted with a reported stolen vehicle, according to court records. Deputies tried to contact him, but he drove away to Washington State Route 26 at speeds up to 90 mph.

Law enforcement members pursued until the car came to a stop on the highway near Dusty. They located methamphetamine and fentanyl, as well as a loaded handgun in the vehicle, according to court records.
The LaPorte County History Museum will host a book launch, cemetery tour and guided tours in May.

Author Sandra Young will appear at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 1 at the museum at 2405 Indiana Ave., Suite. 1, LaPorte.

"After retiring early as Vice President of the Unity Foundation, Sandra L. Young's passion for vintage fashion inspired her to write the 'Divine Vintage' series, set in LaPorte County. She's gathered an impressive collection, wearing pieces onstage through the years of performing in the area theatres," Assistant Director Savannah Jackson said.

Her latest book, "The Ghostly Diva," is set at the museum.

"In the Ghostly Diva, Assistant Museum Director Justine Saunders is enticed by the opportunity to sift through vintage treasures from a recently deceased actress," Jackson said. "When a snowstorm strands her with the woman's surly son and the much-too-real ghost, she's drawn into their emotional tug-of-war. With Justine's beloved museum position in jeopardy, she can't afford the distractions of a rude/broken/fascinating man or his meddling, ghostly mother. Yet she can't resist solving the mystery of his paternity, even as a big city job beckons her to shake up her life in LaPorte."

The museum is free of charge for the book launch and it's $3 for visitors who also want to explore the museum.

The museum also will host a tour of Pine Lake Cemetery on Saturday May 18.

Jackson, LaPorte County Historian Bruce Johnson and Museum Director Danielle Adams will lead tours that will start at noon, 2 and 4 p.m.

"The group will walk you through the scenic cemetery grounds, highlighting the stories of 10 monuments and the people they commemorate," Jackson said.

It's free for current members of the LaPorte County Historical Society and $5 otherwise. Children under 18 years old can tour for free.

To register, email director@laportecountyhistory.org.

The museum also will host guided tours of the museum at 2 p.m. every Saturday.

"Come learn about the fascinating history of LaPorte County in a guided tour at the LaPorte County Historical Society Museum. No registration is necessary," Jackson said. "We hope everyone can visit and learn more about the history of the amazing artifacts that are on display."

For more information, visit laportecountyhistory.org.
PORTAGE  A 31-year-old Hobart man was to leave jail Friday and report directly to a halfway house after pleading guilty to robbing a Portage bank last summer, which he said was the result of a cycle of addiction in which he is seeking help.

Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer accepted David Gant's plea to a felony count of robbery and the terms of the plea agreement, which call for a four-year sentence with three years suspended and to be served on formal probation.

Gant has enough credit time behind bars to be released Friday and move himself over to a local halfway house.

Porter County Deputy Prosecutor Harry Peterson said the deal is fair in that if Gant does not comply with the terms of probation, he faces going to prison for three years.

Defense attorney Mark Chargualaf said Gant has taken it upon himself to complete addiction treatment programs and to go to the halfway house.

"The proof is in his actions," Chargualaf said.

Gant, who was ordered to pay $2,044 in restitution, pleaded guilty to robbing the Horizon Bank in Portage July 24, records show.

Portage police said they had been called out around 2:25 p.m. in response to a panic alarm. They discovered the bank had been robbed by a man who presented the teller with a note demanding money.

"No direct threats were made, and no weapons were displayed or implied during this incident," police said.

The suspect, later identified as Gant, fled the bank with money and was not immediately apprehended.

Gant had quickly been identified as a suspect in the robbery after Portage officers reviewed surveillance video footage and recognized him from a previous incident, Portage police Lt. Rob Maynard said.

His vehicle had been picked up by a license plate recognition system in Portage shortly after the robbery and later by a similar system in Hammond.

Portage police shared what they knew about the robbery with surrounding departments and Hammond officers located Gant's vehicle outside a hotel in their jurisdiction, Maynard said.
VALPARAISO  A 21-year-old Highland man escaped a rape charge from 2021 after prosecutors said Friday they were not able to prove the allegations.

Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer accepted an amended count of criminal confinement with a vehicle from Nathan Langwinski and sentenced him to the agreed terms of three years behind bars to be suspended and served on formal probation.

Langwinski, who has credit for four days behind bars, is to take part in a sex offender evaluation and treatment, Clymer said. He is to continue avoiding the victim in the case during the term of his sentence.

Langwinski, who was 18 at the time of the offense, was accused of raping a woman on Jan. 23, 2021, in Portage who he met on the Snapchat messaging app.

He was charged with rape and two counts of sexual battery after the woman showed up at the Portage Police Department crying with her mother the day after the alleged incident.

She said the pair hung out in Valparaiso and then wound up outside the Bass Pro Shops in Portage where the sexual assault allegedly occurred, police said.

"She stated that she repeatedly told him to stop," according to a charging document.

As she dropped Langwinski off at a gas station, she asked why he assaulted her and he allegedly responded, "I just had urges too. I didn't mean to, I'm sorry."

Defense attorney Mark Gruenhagen told the judge Friday that Langwinski and the woman had consensual sexual contact, but he was at first unwilling to leave her vehicle.

"She did not feel free to leave," Gruenhagen said.

Porter County Deputy Prosecutor Harry Peterson said prosecutors learned later, after interviewing the woman, that they would not be able to prove the rape count as charged.

The confinement charge more accurately fits the evidence, he said.

The victim in the case was not present Friday, despite multiple attempts to reach her, Peterson said.
VALPARAISO  Students from three Porter County high schools were able to get a taste of different areas in the healthcare industry during an event at Ivy Tech Community College on Wednesday.

The Healthcare 360 event, hosted by the Portage Economic Development Corporation, had around 120 students from Portage, Chesterton and Washington Township high schools engage with professionals and Ivy Tech instructors as they learned about different healthcare careers, such as paramedic, nursing assistant, phlebotomist, x-ray technician and physical therapist.

Some of the activities had students practicing CPR and learning how to draw blood or take out surgical staples.

The high schoolers also had a chance to use some of the community college's facilities, such as the simulated nursing labs and simulated surgery room.

Andy Maletta, the executive director for the Portage Economic Development Corporation, said the agency first started the Healthcare 360 event around six years ago after hearing from local businesses, including healthcare providers, about the need for workforce.

"We want workforce in order to attract business, create jobs and create wealth within the community," Maletta said.

At first, the event had students go visit various healthcare providers in the area, but following the coronavirus pandemic, it all now takes place at Ivy Tech Valparaiso.

And while the experience was originally intended for just Portage students, they have now invited other high schools to take part.

Maletta, who also served as president of the Portage Township School Board, said he's proud of his agency hosting the event.

"My heart is with these kids in looking for opportunities for them too," he said.

Ava Johnson, a student at Chesterton, said she found the event and the different activities informative and helpful.

"It's a lot better than I thought it would be," she said.

Johnson has an interest in going into healthcare, and she said would like to specialize in infectious diseases.

"I've just always had a weird, strange fascination with pathogens and how they affect the body," said Johnson.

She encouraged other high schoolers to take part in the event if they got the opportunity to do so.

6 ways to find more money for college when federal student loans aren't enough 6 ways to find more money for college when federal student loans aren't enough
Barnard College will allow most of the 53 students who were arrested and suspended after participating in a pro-Palestinian protest encampment at Columbia University to return to its campus, administrators said in a statement on Friday.

The college said that it had reached resolution with nearly all students who were arrested last week when Columbia asked the police to clear the encampment, a move that set off dozens of solidarity protests at campuses across the country and dozens of additional arrests at schools including Yale University, the University of Southern California and Emerson College.

Of the arrested students at Columbias original encampment, about half were from Barnard, a womens college affiliated with the university that is across the street in Upper Manhattan.

Barnard said suspended students who reached agreements with the college on Friday would have their access to residence halls, dining facilities and classrooms immediately restored. Barnard was still working on agreements with some other students, it said.
Our beloved son, brother, uncle, cousin and friend, Andrew Andy M. Abbott, went to be with his father on Thursday, April 18, 2024.

Andy and his twin sister Beth were born Jan. 22, 1969, in Portland. Ore. He and the family lived at a U.S. Forest Service ranger station outside Portland until he was nearly 6 when they moved to Ketchikan, Alaska, for five years, and then to north central Idaho in 1979. While there were some periods of time that he lived elsewhere, he always returned to Idaho.

His love of learning was lifelong and accompanied by intense focus and persistence. He didnt always want to learn what he was told to learn; he learned what he was interested in and wanted to know, and he learned it to great depth. He was creative and loved to work with his hands. He earned an associate degree from Lewis-Clark State College and then joined the U.S. Navy to continue his quest for knowledge. He completed Engineman A School with the top score of all participants in the course at the Great Lakes Base, Illinois. After a life-altering event while in the Navy, he returned to Idaho and earned a bachelors degree from the University of Idaho.

Andy lived his life on his own terms, always looking forward, focusing on the possibilities of the future. He was gentle, humble, loyal, independent and while he was a private person, he was always ready to aid those in need. He was endlessly forgiving, never bitter and a peacemaker at heart. Time spent with Andy was a gift and an opportunity to see the world through his eyes.
The decision by New Yorks top court on Thursday to overturn the conviction of Harvey Weinstein on sex crime charges raised many thorny legal questions. Perhaps chief among them: Will it bolster his chances of a successful appeal in a similar case in California?

Mr. Weinsteins lawyer in California, Jennifer Bonjean, plans to file that appeal next month, and has said she believes the New York decision helps her chances of winning. In both cases, prosecutors offered witnesses who said they had been assaulted by Mr. Weinstein, the disgraced Hollywood producer, even though their accounts were not tied to criminal charges.

Prosecutors in sexual assault cases sometimes use such witnesses to establish a pattern of behavior, but it can be a risky move because defendants are typically supposed to be judged only on the crimes with which they have been charged.

The tactic was at the heart of the 4-to-3 decision on Thursday by New Yorks Court of Appeals, which concluded that the judge who presided over Mr. Weinsteins case in 2020 had deprived him of a fair trial by allowing those witnesses to testify.
A former sheriffs deputy who fatally shot a 22-year-old man who had called 911 for help in June 2022 was found guilty on Friday of reckless endangerment, though a Colorado jury said it was unable to reach a verdict on charges of murder and official misconduct.

The judge in the case, which drew scrutiny over how the police handle crisis intervention, scheduled a hearing for Monday afternoon to discuss sentencing on the reckless endangerment charge and the jurys inability to reach a verdict on the other two counts after three days of deliberations.

The former deputy, Andrew Buen, was charged in November 2022 with second-degree murder, official misconduct and reckless endangerment in the fatal shooting of Christian Glass, who called the police for help after his S.U.V. got stuck on an embankment on a mountain road near Silver Plume, Colo., about 45 miles west of Denver.

Prosecutors and a lawyer for Mr. Buen did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday.
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.
In a first, a military judge at Guantanamo Bay on Friday crossed into the security zone containing the wartime prison and inspected a former C.I.A. black site facility at the center of a dispute over the taint of torture in the Sept. 11, 2001, case.

It was a noteworthy moment in the arc of the two-decade history of the Guantanamo trials. No war court judge had before made the five-mile trip to look at the detention operations, where the military maintains the only known, still-intact remnant of the network of overseas prisons that the C.I.A. operated from 2002 to 2009.

But Col. Matthew N. McCall, the judge, is edging toward a decision on whether the accused mastermind of the attacks, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, and three co-defendants voluntarily confessed to conspiring in the attacks in their fourth year of detention, under questioning by F.B.I. agents at Guantanamo prison.

And the prison site he visited, called Camp Echo, has played a central but covert role in the case. From 2003 to 2004, the C.I.A. kept five prized prisoners there, near the prison facilities but out of reach of the International Red Cross. It was part of its secret overseas network that hid about 120 high-value detainees in such far-flung sites as Afghanistan, Thailand and Poland.
The pro-Palestinian student encampments protesting the war in Gaza swept across the country this week, and with them, dramatic imagery of arrests and crackdowns from New York to Texas to Southern California.

Soon, the comparison to another protest-filled election year inevitably arose. Is 2024 going to morph into something that feels like 1968?

That year, protests at Columbia University exploded amid a nationwide movement against the Vietnam War, one that involved violent clashes as police moved in on protesters at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago that summer. Democrats, who had been deeply divided over the war, ultimately lost the election to President Nixon.

There are many differences between then and now, and it is much too soon to know whether the campus protests happening now will come to feel like what happened that seismic year. But the bubbling up of protest activity across college campuses half a year before a presidential election has made 2024  a year already knotted by war overseas and deep domestic political division  that much more complicated. Its another question mark in a political season already full of them.
This article is part of our Museums special section about how institutions are striving to offer their visitors more to see, do and feel.

Michigan State University and Yale University are very different types of higher education institutions, but they have at least one thing in common: They have been spending millions of dollars to revamp their museums.

So have New York University. And Princeton. And Penn State. And Utah State University.

At a time when many museums and colleges are grappling with financial challenges as well as their changing role in society, it may seem surprising that universities and donors are willing to shell out lots of money to make their museums showcases.

There is no exact number of how many college museums are being renovated or even how many exist nationwide. The Association of Academic Museums and Galleries is conducting a census to get a more accurate count, but its latest estimate is that there are 659 such museums in the United States. the majority are art museums but include history, natural history, science and anthropology.
This article is part of our Museums special section about how institutions are striving to offer their visitors more to see, do and feel.

Guiding a visitor along the 22-foot-high, 406-foot-long curtain of glass fronting the Cleveland Museum of Natural Historys new exhibit hall, Caitlin Colleary spots a familiar face  one from which three large horns are protruding.

Triceratops is here! Colleary, a paleontologist, exclaims.

Yes, Trudy the Triceratops (as she has been nicknamed by Colleary and her colleagues) arrived a few days early in her new home  all six tons of her, perched on a platform amid tarps and wood scattered around the floor of the new hall, still eight months away from completion.

Trudy  a casting from the American Museum of Natural History in New York  was the first of her prehistoric pals to be moved into this new location in the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. From here, she can stand, with a menacing look, brandishing her distinctive, three-foot-long horns.
In conversations with colleagues, fellow entrepreneurs and even musicians over the past decade, Daniel Ek would often abruptly shift the subject to something that really bugged him: health care. I was like adamant to fix it, Mr. Ek, the Spotify chief, told DealBook. He saw the industry as a bloated and inefficient colossus in need of disrupting.

The problem: Mr. Ek had neither a plan, nor the time or money to do much about it. He was busy taking on Apple, YouTube and Amazon Music in the streaming wars. In his spare time, Mr. Ek pored over medical journals. And he routinely measured his vital statistics with a Fitbit, an Apple Watch or Wii Fit tracker  the more data, the better to see how his body held up against the rigors of running a business. He thought that such tracking might hold some clue to living longer and healthier. I was just toying around with ideas in health care, he added.

That all changed in 2018. Spotify went public, making Mr. Ek a billionaire. It was time to turn his side focus into his next venture, he decided. He knew whom to contact: Hjalmar Nilsonne, a Swedish tech entrepreneur who Mr. Ek had met the year prior at the Brilliant Minds event, an annual gathering Mr. Ek started. Mr. Nilsonne was passionate about upending the status quo, too. At the time, he was focused on climate change and his start-up, Watty, which aimed to strip waste out of the energy grid.

At first, Mr. Nilsonne rebuffed Mr. Eks proposition. But Mr. Ek eventually won him over. (It helped that Watty was running out of money, and it was eventually sold to a German company.) Mr. Ek, a former computer coder, and Mr. Nilsonne, an engineer, zeroed in on building a better diagnostic tool. Their aim: disease prevention, and prolonging life. The company they founded, Neko Health, opened its doors in Stockholm last year, and it is set to open in London, its second market, this summer.
A Boeing 767 plane flown by Delta Air Lines lost an emergency slide on Friday, prompting it to return to New York not long after taking off, officials said.

The flight, Delta Air Lines 520, had left Kennedy International Airport in New York and was headed to Los Angeles when its crew discovered an issue related to the aircrafts right wing emergency exit slide. Crew members also detected an unusual sound near the wing, Delta Air Lines said.

Pilots declared an emergency to air traffic controllers and the flight returned to Kennedy and landed safely, the airline said.

After the plane landed, it became apparent that the aircrafts emergency slide had separated from the plane, Delta Air Lines said. The plane was removed from service and the airline said it would thoroughly evaluate the aircraft.
Since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing more than 1,000 Israelis and capturing more than 200 hostages, Israels response has been swift and brutal. More than 30,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed, a majority of them civilians, according to the local authorities. Most of Gazas infrastructure has been destroyed, and international pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the war, and to avoid a new war with Iran.

In this moment, I wanted to talk to one of Netanyahus most vocal critics inside Israel: Yair Lapid. Lapid is the official leader of the Israeli opposition. Hes a former journalist, TV host and actor who entered Israeli politics over a decade ago, founding a centrist party called Yesh Atid. He briefly became prime minister of Israel in 2022  at the time, The Atlantic deemed him the man who could end the Netanyahu era  and he remains a member of the Knesset. After Oct. 7, he refused to join Netanyahus war cabinet. He has called for new elections to replace the current government. And he has publicly endorsed a two-state solution  something Netanyahu has actively worked against.
Worms found in canned fish imported from China via Singapore. Photo courtesy of Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Service

Malaysian authorities have found parasitic worms in a 16-ton shipment of canned sardines imported from China through Singapore.

The goods were seized earlier this month from a truck that was carrying them into Malaysia without permit from Singapore, according to the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Service, Malay Mail reported.

The Straits Times reported that officers took a statement from the truck driver and let him go.

The worms have been identified as anisakis, which cause the anisakiasis disease in humans.

The disease normally occurs when humans eat raw or undercooked seafood such as fish infected with the parasite. It can cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
If 2023 was the tech industrys year of the A.I. chatbot, 2024 is turning out to be the year of A.I. plumbing. It may not sound as exciting, but tens of billions of dollars are quickly being spent on behind-the-scenes technology for the industrys A.I. boom.

Companies from Amazon to Meta are revamping their data centers to support artificial intelligence. They are investing in huge new facilities, while even places like Saudi Arabia are racing to build supercomputers to handle A.I. Nearly everyone with a foot in tech or giant piles of money, it seems, is jumping into a spending frenzy that some believe could last for years.

Microsoft, Meta, and Googles parent company, Alphabet, disclosed this week that they had spent more than $32 billion combined on data centers and other capital expenses in just the first three months of the year. The companies all said in calls with investors that they had no plans to slow down their A.I. spending.

In the clearest sign of how A.I. has become a story about building a massive technology infrastructure, Meta said on Wednesday that it needed to spend billions more on the chips and data centers for A.I. than it had previously signaled.
Wearing riot helmets and carrying zip ties, Boston police officers moved in one day this week and surrounded a group of pro-Palestinian protesters on a grassy patch of Northeastern Universitys campus. Six police wagons were idling nearby, and an officer had issued a terse warning. Mass arrests looked imminent.

Then, without explanation, the riot police packed up and left.

The sudden end to the standoff produced cheers from the protesters, and confusion for those who had been bracing for chaos. In recent days, police officers have rushed in to break up student encampments at the University of Southern California, Arizona State University, Ohio State University and other colleges. At Emory University in Atlanta, officers used pepper balls and wrestled protesters to the ground, ultimately arresting 28 people.

On quads and lawns from coast to coast, colleges are grappling with a groundswell of student activism over Israels ongoing military campaign in Gaza. Administrators are having to make controversial decisions over whether to call in the police, and are often criticized regardless of the route they take.

They dont seem to have a clear strategy, said Jennie Stephens, a professor at Northeastern who attended the protest there to support the students. I think theres this inclination to kind of control whats happening on campus, but then thats balanced with the optics  or the violence, or the real harm  done to students or faculty or staff or others if there are arrests.
For the first time in years, there is a chance that Harvey Weinstein could walk free.

His New York conviction for sex crimes was overturned on Thursday. Manhattans district attorney says he wants to retry Mr. Weinstein, but that seems, at most, a maybe. The former film producer still has a long sentence to serve in Los Angeles, though next month he is expected to appeal that conviction on grounds similar to those that were successful in New York. His lawyer is the same one who got Bill Cosbys conviction tossed out.

Many of Mr. Weinsteins accusers say they are horrified. Even some of the seven judges who participated in the decision were outraged. The majority  ruling that his trial was unfair because it introduced witnesses separate from the central charges  prevailed by a single vote, 4 to 3. The dissenting judges described that decision as oblivious, naive and endangering decades of progress. They have joined a roiling debate about what the standard of evidence in sex crimes trials should be.

But criminal convictions have never seemed like the ultimate measure of Mr. Weinsteins behavior. Whether he remains a felon or not, he can never be tried for the most overarching offense he is accused of.

That is because, at its core, the Weinstein story  along with its greatest impact  is all about work.
More than 200 protesters were arrested on Saturday at Northeastern University, Arizona State University, Indiana University and Washington University in St. Louis, according to officials, as colleges across the country struggle to quell growing pro-Palestinian demonstrations and encampments on campus.

There have been more than 800 arrests of protesters on U.S. campuses since April 18, when Columbia University had the New York Police Department clear a protest encampment there. In several cases, most of those who were arrested have been released.
It was just 43 days before the 2022 Republican primary in Ohio, and former President Donald J. Trump had yet to throw his weight behind a Senate candidate. J.D. Vance, a political novice competing in a packed field, had a huge problem.

He had publicly called Mr. Trump loathsome and an idiot. Once, he described him as cultural heroin.

Then came an unexpected lifeline. Enough with the lies being told about this guy, Donald Trump Jr., the former presidents son, wrote on Twitter, assuring his followers that Mr. Vance had become a fan of his father. A month later, encouraged by his son, the elder Mr. Trump endorsed Mr. Vance.

Today, Mr. Vance is one of the former presidents most reliable allies and a leader of a band of Republicans pushing Senate Republicans to the right. And his star has only continued to rise: Mr. Vance is on the list of Mr. Trumps possible running mates, according to two people familiar with the discussions.
Donald J. Trump spent the bulk of the past week in a Manhattan courtroom, standing trial as the first American president to face criminal prosecution.

He is accused of falsifying business records to cover up an affair with a porn actress ahead of the 2016 election.

Even though he did not take the stand as opening statements got underway, he took to the cameras to argue his case each day the court was in session.

Heres a fact check.

What Was Said

He puts in an invoice, or whatever, a bill. And they pay it and they call it a legal expense. I got indicted for that. What else would you call it? Actually nobodys been able to say what youre supposed to call it.

 in remarks after the trial on Monday
One of the men, a young Briton known for his hawkish views on China, worked as an aide to a prominent member of the British Parliament. Another, a German citizen of Chinese descent, was an assistant to a member of the European Parliament representing Germanys far right.

While from different countries and seemingly divergent backgrounds and outlooks, both men became ensnared this week in accusations of espionage on behalf of China  and a widening pushback in Europe against malign Chinese influence in politics and commerce.

In all, six people in three separate cases have been charged this week in Europe with spying for China: two in Britain and four in Germany.
Hamas said on Saturday that it was reviewing a new Israeli proposal for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, a move that comes amid efforts to break a deadlock in the talks between the armed group and Israel.

The statement came as anticipation was growing of an Israeli invasion of Rafah, a city in southern Gaza where more than a million people have been displaced. Humanitarian groups have warned that such an offensive would have catastrophic consequences for civilians.

In a statement, Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official, said the group had received an Israeli response to a proposal it delivered to Egyptian and Qatari mediators two weeks ago. Mr. al-Hayya did not provide any details included in the Israeli proposal, but he said Hamas would respond to it after the group finished studying it.

On Friday, a delegation of Egyptian officials visited Israel in an attempt to advance the negotiations between Israel and Hamas, according to an Israeli official familiar with the visit, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to communicate with the media.

In recent weeks, the negotiations aimed at achieving a cease-fire and the release of hostages held in Gaza have stalled amid disputes about an Israeli withdrawal of forces and the length of a halt in the fighting. Hamas has demanded a permanent cease-fire, whereas Israel has expressed openness to a temporary pause.

Another key sticking point is whether Israel will allow displaced Palestinians to return to the north. Hamas officials have said Palestinians should be able to go back en masse, while Israeli officials have said Israel wants to put limits on who can return, where and how.
Under intense international scrutiny, Israel has expedited the flow of aid into Gaza this month, but humanitarian groups say that more is needed as severe hunger grips the enclave, particularly in the devastated north.

Israels efforts  which include opening new aid routes  have been acknowledged in the last week by the Biden administration and international aid officials. More aid trucks appear to be reaching Gaza, especially the north, where experts have warned for weeks that famine is imminent.

The increased levels of aid are a good sign, but it is too early to say that looming famine is no longer a risk, said Arif Husain, the chief economist at the United Nations World Food Program.

This cannot just happen for a day or a week  it has to happen every single day for the foreseeable future, Mr. Husain said, adding that the main need was for more food, water and medicine. If we can do this, then we can ease the pain, we can avert famine.
Where Protesters on U.S. Campuses Have Been Arrested or Detained

Police officers and university administrators have clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters on dozens of college campuses in recent weeks, arresting students, removing encampments and threatening academic consequences. More than 3,100 people have been arrested or detained on campuses across the country.

Campus protests where arrests and detainments have taken place since April 18 Circles sized by number of arrests Ariz.

State 72 Cal Poly Humboldt 60 C.C.N.Y. 173 Columbia 217 Emerson 118 Emory 28 Fordham 15 Indiana

Univ. 57 Ohio

State 38 New Paltz 132 Tulane 26 U.C.L.A. 271 U.C.S.D. 64 U.C.S.C. 124 U.N.C. Chapel Hill 36 Auraria

Campus 40 U. Mass. 130 Univ. of

New Mexico 16 U.S.C. 93 U.T. Austin 136 Virginia

Tech 82 Wash. U. 100 Portland State 37 Ala. Alaska Ariz. Ark. Calif. Colo. Del. Fla. Ga. Hawaii Idaho Ill. Ind. Iowa Kan. Ky. La. Maine Md. Mass. Mich. Minn. Miss. Mo. Mont. Neb. Nev. N.H. N.J. N.M. N.Y. N.C. N.D. Ohio Okla. Ore. Pa. S.C. S.D. Tenn. Texas Utah Vt. Va. Wash. W.Va. Wis. Wyo. Ariz.

State 72 Cal Poly Humboldt 60 C.C.N.Y. 173 Columbia 217 Emerson 118 Emory 28 Fordham 15 Indiana

Univ. 57 Ohio

State 38 New Paltz 132 Tulane 26 U.C.L.A. 271 U.C.S.D. 64 U.C.S.C. 124 U.N.C. Chapel Hill 36 Auraria

Campus 40 U. Mass. 130 Univ. of

New Mexico 16 U.S.C. 93 U.T. Austin 136 Virginia

Tech 82 Wash. U. 100 Portland State 37 Ala. Alaska Ariz. Ark. Calif. Colo. Del. Fla. Ga. Hawaii Idaho Ill. Ind. Iowa Kan. Ky. La. Maine Md. Mass. Mich. Minn. Miss. Mo. Mont. Neb. Nev. N.H. N.J. N.M. N.Y. N.C. N.D. Ohio Okla. Ore. Pa. S.C. S.D. Tenn. Texas Utah Vt. Va. Wash. W.Va. Wis. Wyo.

The fresh wave of student activism against the war in Gaza was sparked by the arrests of at least 108 protesters at Columbia University on April 18, after administrators appeared before Congress and promised a crackdown. Since then, tensions between protesters, universities and the police have risen, prompting law enforcement to take action in some of Americas largest cities.
Vietnam rose one rank to become Singapore's 5th largest aquatic product exporter for the first time last quarter, the Vietnam Trade Office in that country said.

Vietnams aquatic exports to Singapore reached over S$24 million (US$17.64 million) during January - March, gaining a market share of 8.58%.



Statistics from the Singaporean corporate regulatory authority showed that during the time under review, the country imported nearly S$340 million worth of aquatic products from nearly 100 countries and territories, a decrease of 5.67% from the same period in 2023.

It mainly imported shrimp, crab, crustacean, fresh fish, chilled fish, fish fillet, frozen fish, and mollusc.



The top exporters of aquatic products to Singapore during the period were Malaysia with a 13.6% market share, Norway 11.45%, Indonesia 11.13%, China 10.15%, Vietnam 8.58%, and Japan 8.34%.



Counselor Cao Xuan Thang, head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore, said Singapore has continuously expanded and diversified supply sources to ensures food security, but this has also boosted competition among seafood exporters to the country.
The Supreme Court considered several high-profile cases over the past week. Which of the following is not one of the issues it heard arguments about?
Opinion Why Does the U.S. Arm Ukraine With Fanfare and Israel in Secret?

President Biden flanked by Javelin antitank systems in 2022 as he discussed arming Ukraine. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

When the Biden administration ships arms to Ukraine, it pulls out the megaphones. It announces its shipments and hails its own efforts to support the brave Ukrainian people as they defend their country, as Secretary of State Antony Blinken put it last month. The White House emphasizes transparency about aid provided to Ukraine, saying it wants to be clear how that money has been spent.

Its a different story when the destination is Israel. A few details leak in the American or Israeli press, but overall, when sending arms to the Israel Defense Forces, the Biden administration seems to prefer the sound of silence.

Transparency about arms transfers takes on special significance now that President Biden has signed a landmark $95 billion foreign aid package, approved after long delays in the House of Representatives. That package will pay for billions of dollars of arms flowing to Ukraine, Israel and other nations. As soon as the bill became law, the administration issued new announcements about weapons shipments to Ukraine, but not about transfers to Israel.

Press releases about military aid for Ukraine and Israel Since both wars began, the U.S. government has issued at least 126 press statements or updates describing military aid sent to Ukraine and just three describing military aid sent to Israel. 2022 feb. march may april Russian invasion aug. sept. june july 2023 jan. nov. dec. oct. may april march feb. june aug. sept. july 2024 Hamas attack nov. dec. oct. jan. march feb. april April 24 aid package Since both wars began, the U.S. government has issued at least 126 press statements or updates describing military aid sent to Ukraine and just three describing military aid sent to Israel. 2022 aug. june july feb. march may april Russian invasion 2023 jan. sept. nov. dec. march feb. oct. Hamas attack june oct. aug. sept. july may april 2024 nov. dec. jan. feb. march april April 24 aid package Source: U.S. Department of State; U.S. Department of Defense; Internet Archive Note: Multiple press releases have been published on the same day. The update count is based on web snapshots recorded by the Internet Archive.

How do we know what weapons have been shipped?

In the case of Ukraine, its easy. The State Department lists much of the military hardware sent to Ukraine in a fact sheet that has been regularly updated, most recently on Wednesday. But so far, there have been only two news releases from the Defense Department, on Dec. 9 and 29, about the approval of emergency military sales to Israel, plus a fact sheet in October providing a general overview of historical sales.

U.S. government disclosures about military aid to Ukraine and Israel A tally of information about U.S. military aid sent to Ukraine since the Russian attack on Feb. 24, 2022, and aid sent to Israel since Hamass attack on Oct. 7 as reported in fact sheets and news releases by the State and Defense Departments. Information on artillery and rocket systems and associated ammunition sent to  Ukraine Israel

Some information emerges from classified briefings. The Washington Post reported last month that the administration had told Congress that it conducted more than 100 arms transfers to Israel, including an enormous range of missiles, bombs and small arms. The Israeli press has reported that 244 cargo planes and 20 ships have delivered more than 10,000 tons of U.S. military assistance to Israel.

Information on air defense systems and associated ammunition sent to  Ukraine Israel

In fairness, weapons transfers to each country fall under different authorities and involve different reporting requirements. But Josh Paul, who as a State Department official spent 11 years as a director in the office overseeing arms transfers, before resigning in protest over the Gaza war, says it is clear that the State Department treats them differently.

Theres no question the department is providing information to Congress that it is not required to when it comes to Ukraine authorizations, and doing so in an unclassified manner, whereas for Israel it is providing less information, and doing so in classified form, he told us.

The backdrop is that President Biden has faced periodic criticism for not sending more equipment to Ukraine, so its in his interest to have the State Department shine a spotlight on those shipments. The announcements also encourage European allies to send more weapons to Ukraine. Conversely, the Democratic Party is deeply divided by the war in Gaza, with some Democrats in the House and Senate calling on him to send fewer bombs to Israel  and announcements about arms transfers might amplify that debate.

Information on antitank weapons and small arms sent to  Ukraine Israel

I think the administration makes sure that the word gets out to the pro-Israel community that these things have been transferred but doesnt want to inflame the not pro-Israel community, said Daniel C. Kurtzer, a former American ambassador to Israel and Egypt. The word gets out anyway, but its not a headline.

Information on ground maneuver vehicles and associated ammunition sent to  Ukraine Israel

Both Ukraine and Israel depend on American weapons shipments. Ukraine has lost ground to Russian forces in part because it is running low on both troops and munitions. Israel is talking about invading the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, and there is an ever-present risk of war with Hezbollah in Lebanon or with Iran. A major attack by Iranian missiles and drones on Israel this month, after Israel struck an Iranian compound in Syria and killed military commanders, underscored the risk of escalations that could lead to a larger war in the region.

Information on maritime support sent to  Ukraine Israel

Information on air-based weaponry and drones sent to  Ukraine Israel

There is another distinction worth noting. Ukraine is using American weaponry primarily against invading troops. Israel did face a brutal incursion by Hamas on Oct. 7, but since then, it has been using American weaponry in ways that appear to have killed thousands of women and children. Hundreds of aid workers, medical workers and journalists are among the dead in Gaza, and the White House probably is not eager to highlight its role in killings of civilians.

Information on other items sent to  Ukraine Israel

On April 4, during a tense phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden threatened to put conditions on future military assistance if Israel did not work harder to reduce civilian casualties. Still, Biden seems eager to avoid a rupture and to keep the supply of weapons and ammunition flowing. Democratic senators have pressed the administration to use its leverage and to improve reporting to Congress. In response, the administration issued National Security Memorandum 20, which requires a report to Congress by May 8 on whether Israel is adhering to its humanitarian obligations under international law.

We know very little about how American weapons are used once they reach the Israeli military. Are they used in Gaza, and how? Are they flowing to the West Bank? Is there a possibility that they reach battalions that the United States is considering sanctioning because of alleged human rights violations?

Transparency is the lifeblood of democracies. For the same reason that the White House takes care to explain how taxpayer dollars are spent on military support for Ukraine, the administration owes it to Americans to be forthcoming about weapons flown to Israel, even if it finds disclosure to be politically uncomfortable.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com. Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, X and Threads.
How the U.S. Humanitarian Pier in Gaza Will Work

Update (May 16, 2024): The pier has been anchored on Gazas coast, creating a point of entry for aid for the enclave, where the flow of supplies over land has largely halted since Israel began its incursion into Rafah.

A humanitarian pier the U.S. military will bring to the Gaza Strip is currently being assembled and is expected to be ready to receive initial shipments of food and other aid early next month, according to military officials. The effort to deliver aid to the enclave through a maritime corridor, which was announced in March, will involve an elaborate, multistep process.

A thousand American soldiers and sailors will be involved in the pier project, a senior military official said in a Pentagon call with reporters on Thursday. The pier will initially enable the transfer of about 90 truckloads of aid per day, the official said, and will eventually ramp up to 150 truckloads per day at full capacity.

U.S. authorities have said the pier is intended to supplement, not replace, existing aid deliveries over land. U.N. data indicates that land-based deliveries have risen slightly in recent weeks but still fall far short of vast need in the enclave. Dozens of Gazans have died from causes related to malnutrition and dehydration, and the United Nations World Food Program has said half of Gazas population of 2.2 million is starving.

Once aid reaches the shore, relief organizations that will distribute it within Gaza will face familiar dangers and obstacles amid ongoing Israeli bombardment.

1 Aid, primarily food, will be procured from countries around the world.

A majority of the aid will be food collected from several countries and transported to the Larnaca port in Cyprus.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Agency for International Development, which is working closely with the military to coordinate plans for the pier, said some of the items that would come through the maritime corridor would include nutrient-dense food bars, sourced from Dubai; foods intended to treat severe malnutrition in children, sourced from Kenya; and relief supplies, including hygiene kits, sourced from Europe.

Military officials have said other countries and organizations will also contribute food and money.

2 Shipments will be inspected in Cyprus under Israeli oversight.

At the Larnaca port, Israeli representatives will be present as Cypriot authorities inspect items, according to an Israeli official with knowledge of the inspection plans.

The official said the standards for inspection would be the same as those at the land crossings into Gaza. Aid officials have said those inspections are exhaustive and sometimes arbitrary.

World Central Kitchen, a disaster relief nonprofit, has tested the maritime corridor twice before at a smaller scale in March. The loading, scanning and inspection process for those two ships took between two and three days each, according to Juan Camilo Jimenez Garces, a regional manager for the organization. The first ship, a partnership with the Spanish nonprofit Open Arms, carried about 200 tons of aid, while the second carried more than 300 tons.

3 The sea journey will take at least 15 hours.

The roughly 250-mile journey from Cyprus to Gaza normally takes about 15 hours, or a full day of travel, but it could take up to a couple of days depending on the weight of the cargo and the type of vessel. For example, the Open Arms ship, which towed its cargo on a separate platform instead of carrying it onboard, made the journey in about three days.

CYPRUS Larnaca Commercial vessels transporting aid Mediterranean Sea WEST BANK GAZA STRIP ISRAEL EGYPT 25 miles CYPRUS Larnaca Commercial vessels transporting aid LEBANON Mediterranean Sea WEST BANK GAZA STRIP ISRAEL EGYPT 25 miles The New York Times

Ships can also be delayed because of unfavorable weather conditions. That was one factor that held up the second World Central Kitchen ship, Jennifer, for about two weeks at Larnaca after it was scheduled to depart.

4 Aid will be shuttled from a floating platform near Gaza to a pier anchored to land.

Gaza has no international seaport; Israel has for decades prevented the construction of one. Because waters near the shore are too shallow for large vessels to approach the humanitarian pier directly, the United States is also building a floating platform two miles off the coast, where ships carrying aid will first offload their cargo.

Smaller Army vessels, known as L.C.U.s (for landing craft utility) and L.S.V.s (for logistics support vessels), will transport the aid in batches from the platform to the pier.

Ship with aid at the floating platform Aid pallets are loaded on trucks. They are driven onboard L.C.U.s and L.S.V.s, which will shuttle them to the pier. L.C.U. VESSEL Floating platform AID PALLETS TRUCKS LOADED L.C.U. VESSEL brings empty trucks to be loaded with aid L.C.U. VESSEL carrying loaded aid trucks to the pier The distance from the floating platform to the pier is typically two miles. Pier At the pier, loaded aid trucks are driven to Gazas shore. EMPTY TRUCK Mediterranean Sea TRUCK LOADED WITH AID The trucks, driven by a third party, will be closely monitored by the Israeli military as they deposit the aid to the shore. Gaza Strip EMPTY TRUCKS return to the pier Humanitarian partners will pick up aid near the shore to take it into the Gaza Strip. Ship with aid at the floating platform Aid pallets are loaded on trucks. They are driven onboard L.C.U.s and L.S.V.s, which will shuttle them to the pier. L.C.U. VESSEL Floating platform AID PALLETS TRUCKS LOADED L.C.U. VESSEL brings empty trucks to be loaded with aid L.C.U. VESSEL carrying loaded aid trucks to the pier The distance from the floating platform to the pier is typically two miles. Pier At the pier, loaded aid trucks are driven to Gazas shore. EMPTY TRUCK Mediterranean Sea TRUCK LOADED WITH AID The trucks, driven by a third party, will be closely monitored by the Israeli military as they deposit the aid to the shore. Gaza Strip EMPTY TRUCKS return to the pier Humanitarian partners will pick up aid near the shore to take it into the Gaza Strip. Note: Distances are not to scale. The New York Times

At least 14 U.S. ships are involved in the building and operation of the pier, according to a military official  some carrying necessary heavy machinery and equipment. U.S. service members will build the pier at sea, using modular units eight feet wide and 20 or 40 feet long, and a long ferry will drag it to shore. It will then be anchored by Israeli forces on the shore in northern Gaza to ensure there are no U.S. boots on the ground.

Humanitarian aid officials involved in receiving and distributing the aid have pushed to keep their engagement with the Israeli military as limited as possible.

5 Aid will have to be taken into Gaza by truck, but safe distribution remains a challenge.

The World Food Program will help distribute aid inside Gaza after it arrives at the pier, the U.S. Agency for International Development said last week.

Trucks coordinated by aid groups will transport aid from a secure area near the pier to U.N. warehouses, of which there are more than 20 across Gaza, and then eventually to hundreds of community kitchens, shelters, smaller warehouses and other distribution points throughout the region.

A majority of the distribution points are in southern Gaza, where most of the population has been forced to evacuate, but demographers estimate that several hundred thousand people remain in the northern part of the enclave, where famine is imminent.

A small number of routes are available to the distribution trucks, because the Israeli military has limited road access and Israeli airstrikes have turned much of the landscape to rubble. As usual, the convoys will need to coordinate their movements closely with the Israeli military.

Humanitarian road access in Gaza Highly limited crossings Open crossings Prohibited roads Accessible roads

Med. Sea Erez Approximate location of pier and platform Limited entry used by WFP GAZA STRIP Israeli military road serving as alternative route for aid groups ISRAEL Rafah Kerem Shalom 5 miles Mediterranean Sea Erez Approximate location of pier and platform Limited entry used by WFP GAZA STRIP Israeli military road serving as alternative route for aid groups ISRAEL Rafah Kerem Shalom 5 miles Source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Note: Road accessibility based on a map released by OCHA on April 24. The New York Times

Aid officials have emphasized that the most efficient method of delivering aid into Gaza remains through land routes, and they have expressed concern that the pier might deflect attention from efforts to increase the amount of aid delivered over land.

Several previous attempts at delivering aid to Gazans have ended in deadly tragedy. This month, Israel struck a convoy belonging to World Central Kitchen, killing seven of the groups aid workers. Israel has also bombed an aid warehouse on at least one occasion, a strike it said was targeted to kill a Hamas commander.

Aid experts say the hunger crisis in Gaza is human-made, citing the decades-long blockade of the territory by Israel and backed by Egypt, Israels near-complete siege after Oct. 7 and its tight restrictions on aid-truck entry ever since. The U.N. has said that Israels restrictions of aid, destruction of infrastructure and displacement of Gazans may amount to the use of starvation as a war tactic.

Israel has pushed back, and its officials have blamed U.N. aid agencies for failing to distribute aid effectively. They have also said that Hamas, which rules Gaza and has been deemed a terrorist organization, has been systematically seizing aid. David Satterfield, the U.S. special envoy for humanitarian aid, said in February that Israel had not brought forward specific evidence of theft or diversion of U.N.-delivered aid.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis has continued to grow more dire. Many Gazans have died seeking aid, including more than 100 who were killed while trying to get food from an aid convoy, according to Gazan health officials, and more than a dozen who drowned while retrieving airdropped aid that had fallen into the sea.
April 26, 2024 | 03:00 pm PT

Readers argue that eating out is not actually convenient and money-saving as many people would think.

Reader nicknamed Nguoixala, who lives in Germany, shares that every time she visits her hometown in Vietnam, she sees people like to eat out for one reason: cooking for a small number of people is sometimes more expensive than eating out.

"Every time I come back to Saigon to visit, I see people like to eat out. They rarely cook at home and always buy breakfast. In Germany, I either cook daily or prepare simple meals like bread, sausages, or cold cuts for breakfast. For a taste of Vietnamese cuisine, I prefer cooking it myself and even pack lunch for work.

Food costs in Germany are relatively low, except for Vietnamese vegetables in Asian markets. Hence, cultivating Vietnamese vegetables and cooking at home proves to be the most cost-effective and satisfying approach. Delicious, economical, just right for your taste, and clean."

Xuan Thi suggests that while cooking a single meal might appear more expensive than eating out, preparing all daily meals can actually reduce food expenses.

"Planning ahead for all three daily meals - breakfast, lunch, and dinner - can lead to significant savings. My food expenses for a day range from VND80,000 to 110,000 (US$3.20-4.41), which is more economical than not cooking, where breakfast alone can cost around VND45,000 and lunch even more at VND60,000, based on my workplace prices."

Reader susu_thienthangaycanh_1992 shares their experience of saving money by cooking at home, leveraging discounts on goods at convenience stores.

"I buy my own food to cook and find that I save a lot of money compared to buying outside. I often buy vegetables, fruits and some discounted items at convenience stores. They are usually 40% off so they are very cheap. Even though the items are on sale, they are still very 'ok', not damaged items. If I don't buy them, they will just be thrown away, which is very wasteful. Therefore, my food cost per week (three meals a day) is only about VND300,000-400,000 ($16).

One specific example to show that food prepared at home will always be cheaper than outside (if you know how): one day I bought a glass of guava juice for VND20,000, of which 3/4 of the glass was ice. I then went to the supermarket and bought two kilos of guavas for VND23,000 (40% off because I bought it at night), then pressed it to get pure juice and drank it for three days. Without the discount, those guaves would only cost VND40,000, still much cheaper than buying ready-made juice outside. I have money to eat out, but I don't because I find it too expensive."
One year ago, two rival generals sent their armies into battle and set Sudan on a path of death, destruction, and devastation. Today, the fighting continues to rage, noted Ambassador Robert Wood, U.S. Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs at the United Nations:

We have all seen the reports of gang rape and mass murder at the hands of Rapid Support Forces militias. Of women and girls being sold into sexual slavery, and boys forced to be child soldiers; Of snipers indiscriminately targeting civilians, and militias slaughtering entire villages in Darfur. War has turned Sudan into a living hell. Nearly 25 million Sudanese people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance. Three-quarters of them face acute food insecurity.

Ambassador Wood called on both General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan, who leads the countrys Rapid Support Forces, to negotiate in good faith and cease further offensives.

Lets be clear: the two warring generals who together led a military takeover in 2021, upending Sudans democratic transition, are still standing in the way of a better future for the people of Sudan, he said. Today, I say to them: end this senseless war, once and for all. Clearly, further pursuit of outright military victory only adds to an already staggering human cost.

The people of Sudan need more humanitarian assistance, and they need it now, stressed Ambassador Wood:

The people of Sudan are facing a crisis of epic proportions with famine imminent. Yet, humanitarian organizations have not been allowed to deliver much-needed assistance. Unhindered humanitarian access must be allowed, full stop. Humanitarian personnel must not be targeted or harassed as they try to meet critical needs of Sudanese civilians.

The United States is the largest donor of humanitarian aid to the region and has provided more than $1 billion since 2023, including the recent announcement of an additional $100 million to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

Ultimately Sudans civilians should define Sudans path going forward and restore the democratic transition they began and sacrificed for. The U.S. will continue to bring to the worlds attention to the plight of the Sudanese people, and work to hold those responsible to account.
In a newly published directive, Brazil announced a ban on cryptocurrency and credit cards for internet gambling transactions. Join us as we get the full scope of the new regulations that are part of a four-tier rollout over the next couple of months.

As part of a broader move to regulate its iGaming industry, South Americas largest economy, Brazil, has banned using credit cards and cryptocurrency for online gambling. The new rule was published by the Regulatory Policy of the Prizes and Betting Secretariat (SPA) in conjunction with the countrys Ministry of Finance. Published in Brazils Normative Ordinance No 615, the new regulations signify a new dawn in the iGaming industry for the South American giant.

The new set of iGaming industry guidelines comes after the passage of Bill 3626, popularly known as Law 14,790, which received the seal of approval from President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Moreover, these updated directives also mark the launch of a wider four-part regulation rollout.

Enforcing the New Payment Regulations

In addition to credit cards and cryptocurrency, payments transacted as cash, cheques, or slips will also be prohibited. Thus, payouts, wages, and withdrawals will only be processed through electronic transfers between the operators and the players accounts, all of which must be certified by the Central Bank of Brazil.

The rules also indicate that operators will be required not to accept payments from accounts not registered to the specific players using their platforms or from third parties. Additionally, players and operators cannot have intermediary parties in their operations. That said, the Central Bank of Brazil has been allowed to offer transactional accounts to bettors on specific circumstances.

Operators will also be required to implement policies that will relate to the management of liquidity risks. This entails calculating exposure limits and monitoring and mitigating the liquidity risk. It also includes having a contingency plan for additional resources. This will involve the maintenance of substantive financial reserves held in federal public bonds. These reserves must not fall below the R$5 million mark (~$953,597). On top of that, the accounts must also be separated from proprietary accounts, subject to annual renewal by the SPA.

Players to Get Reports of Their Wagering Behaviors

The new laws also require that players receive a detailed analysis of their wagering habits. This will comprise their wagering history over the past 36 months. The report will also consist of the total value of players ongoing wagers and their overall financial standing. The primary purpose of providing players with this data is to enable them to steer their financial position from a gambling perspective.

Additional Regulations Set in Bill 3626

On 21st December 2023, Brazils Chamber of Deputies voted to approve a bill that would form the bedrock of iGaming regulation in the country. For starters, the countrys Senate had removed the iGaming stipulation in the bill. This meant that had the Chamber of Deputies passed the bill as it was, then there would be no iGaming in the country. That said, the bill, in its final form, brought back iGaming, which was in line with President Lulas high tax policies.

Bill 3626 maintained the original 18% tax on gross gaming revenue, which is considered exceptionally high compared to how other European, North American, and Asian jurisdictions tax the activity. Moreover, based on what industry experts say, when extra contributions are finally implemented, the already high tax percentage could shoot up to 31% and 34%. Even more restrictive, the bill also has a clause for levying an additional tax of 30% on prizes over the value of R$2.112 ($427). This specific clause has undoubtedly been received with outrage across the nations gambling industry, mainly because it adds more burden to an already hefty taxation model.

While some feared that the Senates refusal to adopt online casino gaming posed a real risk to the countrys gambling landscape, industry observers were relatively relaxed about it. The government had an initial revenue target of BRL 1.6 billion from taxing the industry. Meanwhile, the prospective removal of online casino gaming would have cost the country BRL 700 million, a substantial sum of taxable income that the regime could not afford to lose.

Brazils target is to hit a zero-deficit target in 2024, spurred by the taxes and license fees collected from its iGaming industry. 36% of the tax will be channeled towards sports, and 28% will be directed towards the countrys tourism sector. Finally, public Safety Initiatives, Education, and Security will receive 14% and 10%, respectively.

The calculation of inspection fees has also been changed. Previously, they were based on the amount of premium paid. However, under the new guidelines, they will be based on Gross Gaming Revenue. Operators must also apply for approval from the Brazilian Ministry of Finance to continue operating in the country. Operators in this South American jurisdiction will also need a Brazilian partner who holds a minimum of 20% of their company.

On top of that, this outlines that local operators must implement the appropriate security measures to protect players as they use their gaming platforms. These security measures include properly executing identification verification processes, potentially including facial recognition.

The Rollout Calendar of the Regulations

The regulations will be rolled out in four stages based on priority. Stage 1 will have a deadline of April 2024, Stage 2s deadline will be May 2024, and Stage 3 will have until the end of June 2024. The final stage, stage four, will have a deadline of July 2024. The first stage, already being rolled out, will involve the publication of technical, payment, and security specifications that all operators must abide by.

The second stage of this regulation will see the SPA publish anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financing policies. The second segment of the regulatory updates also entails publishing rules regarding player rights and compliance with other legal provisions. The third stage of the regulation rollout process will see the SPA publish the technical and security requirements for online gaming. This penultimate stage will also involve advertising regulations.

Finally, the last stage will involve allocating gambling resources to socially responsible causes. With such a strategic approach, especially regarding player protection, the Brazilian betting industry is primed to be one of the worlds biggest iGaming markets. Nonetheless, it remains to be seen how that will shape up in the face of these new regulations.
 Flash

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 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.
Los Angeles: Yemen's Houthis said on Saturday their missiles hit the Andromeda Star oil tanker in the Red Sea, as they continue attacking commercial ships in the area in a show of support for Palestinians fighting Israel in the Gaza war.

US Central Command confirmed that Iran-backed Houthis launched three anti-ship ballistic missiles into the Red Sea from Yemen causing minor damage to the Andromeda Star. The ship's master reported damage to the vessel, British maritime security firm Ambrey said. A missile landed in the vicinity of a second vessel, the MV Maisha, but it was not damaged, US Central Command said on social media site X.

Houthi spokesman Yahya Sarea said the Panama-flagged Andromeda Star was British owned, but shipping data shows it was recently sold, according to LSEG data and Ambrey. Its current owner is Seychelles-registered. The tanker is engaged in Russia-linked trade. It was en route from Primorsk, Russia, to Vadinar, India, Ambrey said.

Iran-aligned Houthi militants have launched repeated drone and missile strikes in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait and Gulf of Aden since November, forcing shippers to re-route cargo to longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa and stoking fears the Israel-Hamas war could spread and destabilise the Middle East. The attack on the Andromeda Star comes after a brief pause in the Houthis' campaign that targets ships with ties to Israel, the United States and Britain.

The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier sailed out of the Red Sea via the Suez Canal on Friday after assisting a US-led coalition to protect commercial shipping. The Houthis on Friday said they downed an American MQ-9 drone in airspace of Yemen's Saada province.
Duluth, Minnesota (OpEdNews) April 27, 2024: I recently read Pope Francis' accessible new book A Good Life: 15 Essential Habits for Living with Hope and Joy, translated from the Italian by Oonagh Stransky (Worth Publishing/ Hachette Book Group, 2024; orig. Italian ed., 2021). In the pope's new 2024 book, he addresses young Catholics.

I reviewed it in my short OEN article "Pope Francis on a Good Catholic Life" (dated April 25, 2024):

Click Here

Now, Rabbi Shai Held (born in 1971; ordination, Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City, 1999; Ph.D., Harvard University, 2010) hopes that his massively researched new 2024 book Judaism Is About Love: Recovering the Heart of Jewish Life (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) "will change your perception of what's possible and required in living a good life" (p. 19).

Rabbi Held is the president and dean of the Hador Institute in New York City. But he and his wife "for more than sixteen years now" (p. 522), Rachel Forster Held, and their three children live in White Plains, New York.

Rabbi Held is also the author of the 2013 book Abraham Joshua Heschel: The Call to Transcendence (Indian University Press).

Now, also in the "Introduction" (pp. 3-19), Rabbi Held says that "Centuries of Christian anti-Judaism have profoundly distorted the way Judaism is seen and understood, even, tragically, by many - probably most - Jews" (p. 3). He also notes that Christian thinkers "created a 'theological discourse about the supersession of a loveless Judaism by a loving Christianity" (p. 4).

"Along the same lines, we are told that whereas the god of the New Testament is a God of love and mercy and grace, the God of what Christians refer to as 'the Old Testament' - that is, the Hebrew Bible - is angry, vindictive, and bloodthirsty. This idea, an enduring legacy of anti-Judaism, tends to be treated as an unquestioned commonplace in our culture" (p. 4).

But Rabbi Held intends to question this "unquestioned commonplace."

In addition, in Rabbi Held's "Introduction" in his massively researched new 2024 book, he includes a subsection titled "Judaism Is Not Christianity" (pp. 13-15). In it, he says, "As religions of love, Judaism and Christianity have much in common. But it's crucial to emphasize: Judaism is not Christianity avant la letter. There are obviously foundational theological disagreements between the two traditions. To encapsulate two thousand years of theological debate in one sentence, Jews reject the idea that God is a trinity and the notion that God became incarnate in a human being: And, living in a thoroughly unredeemed world, Jews insist that the messiah has not yet come. But even where love itself is concerned, there are essential differences between Judaism and Christianity" (pp. 13-14).

Of course, you do not have to interpret the historical Jesus as God become incarnate or as the Messiah to see him as a Jewish prophet - and as a talented storyteller.

Now, in Rabbi Held's "Introduction" in his massively researched new 2024 book, he has another subsection titled "Quoting and Interpreting: What Jews Do" (pp. 16-18). In it, he says, "Traditions do not interpret themselves" (p. 17). Rabbi Held undertakes to interpret the Jewish tradition of thought.

Now, the medieval Rabbi Maimonides (Moses ben Maimon, 1138-1204; also known by the Hebrew acronym as Rambam) famously interpreted the Jewish tradition of thought in The Guide for the Perplexed.

If you are perplexed by the Jewish tradition of thought, perhaps you could see Rabbi Held's carefully nuanced new 2024 book as a new guide for the perplexed today.

Now, here is how Rabbi Held proceeds to question the Jewish tradition of thought in his carefully nuanced new 2024 book Judaism Is About Love:

Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
A Clackamas County judge this week decided to give a hands-on civics lesson to a class of visiting second graders, inviting eight of them to serve as jurors in a hit-and-run trial, swearing them in, allowing them to sit in the jury box and giving them supplies to take notes.

At one point she wondered aloud if they were old enough to know how to write.
Oregon State Police Superintendent Casey Codding was driving south on Interstate 5 in an unmarked SUV when he heard over the police radio that the chase was on for the Amber Alert gunman suspected of fleeing a double murder with his 1-year-old son in tow.

Two state police cars racing behind the suspects car passed Codding on the freeway. Codding activated his interior emergency lights and joined in, becoming the third state police car tracking Elias Huizar along I-5 on Tuesday afternoon.
A Portland steelworker who killed twice, decades apart, and managed to hide both bodies until an old strand of DNA revealed his dark secrets has been sentenced to life in prison.

A jury convicted Christopher Lovrien earlier this month for the murder and dismemberment of a man he met at a bar in 2020.

Lovrien, 57, made numerous outbursts while representing himself in the trial but had nothing to say when Circuit Judge Christopher Ramras sentenced him Friday to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 46 years.

Lovrien said he had been out drinking in February 2020 when he met Kenneth Griffin, a 53-year-old part-time roofer, and invited him over to meet his dogs. In Lovriens gory account, he shot Griffin five times with a crossbow and then chopped his face with an ax in his basement, where he kept dozens of weapons affixed to the walls. Lovrien claimed Griffin had refused to leave.

Lovrien, who lived alone then in Southeast Portland, said he sawed up the body without anyone knowing and stored the remains in crates in his shed. He said he planned to dump the crates in a river but never did.

Griffins mother knew something was amiss immediately and reported her son missing. She died before the case could be concluded, another son, Charles Patton, said during the sentencing.

That was hard to see her so heartbroken, Patton said, calling Lovrien a monster.

Police had arrested Lovrien in May 2020 in another killing after his DNA turned up on old cigarette butts found in 1999 at the home of Mark Dribin, whose body was never found. Dribin was an acquaintance who met Lovrien, then a small-time meth dealer, Lovrien claimed in court. Dribin made an unwelcome advance, leading to the killing, Lovrien said.

Investigators listening in to Lovriens jail calls heard him warning his brother not to go into the shed. Lovriens attorney at the time then provided authorities with a letter granting them permission to search the outbuilding, where authorities found Griffins remains.

Lovrien cut a plea deal in the Dribin case in January, saying at the time he wanted to get it out of the way so he could beat the charges in the Griffin case using a self-defense claim. He was sentenced to 20 years for killing Dribin.

Lovrien cycled through public defense attorneys while in custody and represented himself for most of the April trial in Griffins killing before bringing two of his former attorneys back on in the final days.

At sentencing, Chief Deputy District Attorney Kirsten Snowden produced records showing Lovrien had more than $173,000 in the bank, prompting the judge to impose $63,000 for repayment of court-appointed attorney fees, $4,000 for funeral restitution and $25,000 in victim restitution.

Snowden said she was glad the cases had been resolved, offering closure to the families, and that justice had been served.

Zane Sparling covers breaking news and courts for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at 503-319-7083, zsparling@oregonian.com or @pdxzane.

Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe.
An ersatz landlord who fatally knifed two of his supposed tenants during a bloody basement brawl over the buildings water supply was acquitted Friday of the highest charge against him  but still found guilty in both killings.

Phillip Nelson, 42, faced first-degree murder charges in the deaths of Najaf Nate Hobbs and Cassy Leaton, but a Multnomah County jury of eight women and four men opted for so-called lesser included charges at the end of a third day of deliberations.
Lannette Kali says the first notice that her daughter had been kicked and slapped more than a dozen times in a Roosevelt High School hallway in February was a phone call home  not from the school  but from her daughter who was sitting in the school office with a bag of ice and what turned out to be a traumatic brain injury known as a concussion.

She was like Im not OK. I need to go to the hospital. Come get me, Kali recalled. When we showed up it was significantly past the assault, my daughter was so visibly injured and they hadnt done anything.

Kali said she was startled by what she describes as the response from Portland Public Schools, which says its limited in the information it can share because of federal student privacy law. Kali said in addition to failing to inform her that her daughter had been injured, administrators refused to let her view a six-minute surveillance video taken of the incident, wouldnt tell her the name of the student who attacked her daughter and wouldnt tell her how the district addressed the students behavior to try to prevent it from happening again.

The Portland moms case shines a light on the frustration many parents feel in Portland and across the state and nation when they believe their children have been bullied or assaulted. That frustration starts with the dearth of basic information from school districts to even confirm the details of what happened. But a leading national expert in federal student privacy law said districts often misinterpret the law, sometimes erring on the side of being overly restrictive.

Kali said police also ran into hurdles, with Portland police telling her the district also wouldnt provide the video or the students identity to them. A police spokesperson, however, declined to tell The Oregonian/OregonLive whether the district handed over the video to police.

Kali said its only after she hired a lawyer that the district recently relented on one point  agreeing to provide her a copy of the video after it blurs out the face of the other student. But her attorney, Jacob Johnstun said that might take the district a few more weeks.

District officials declined to answer questions about the case to The Oregonian/OregonLive, citing student privacy law and written notice that Kali has given the district that she might sue. Kali said she enlisted the help of a lawyer because she felt like shed hit a brick wall with the district  one that has blocked her from getting in contact with the students parents or guardians so she can talk things through and address her daughters worries that she could be beaten again. Kali said she and her daughter arent sure of the students name, and they havent been able to find the contact information for the students family.

The thing Im most outraged and concerned about is that in the end, we still dont know who attacked my daughter, Kali said. They (the school administrators) wont tell us who they are so we can chat. We cant have a conversation about compassion. We cant have a conversation about what led to this. We cant have a conversation about whether this person understands their impact and how they hurt people.

School districts reluctance to share information is sometimes based on misunderstandings of the federal student privacy law known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, said LeRoy Rooker, one of the nations top authorities on the act and a former U.S. Department of Educational official who oversaw its implementation.

For instance, Rooker said:

Schools can show parents videos of bullying encounters or the assaults of their children, as long as other students faces are blurred out.

Schools can freely hand over surveillance video to police  without subpoenas  if security cameras were designated as there for law enforcement purposes.

Schools also can share with parents and police the names of students who are believed to have attacked another if a staff member is simply relaying something they witnessed or an administrator is relaying that staff told them thats what they saw.

Its a First Amendment thing, Rooker said.

Portland Public Schools appears to embrace a more restrictive interpretation than Rookers. District spokesperson Valerie Feder said the district doesnt share names of students who allegedly bullied or assaulted others and requires police to file subpoenas for surveillance videos in its schools, in what could be a weeks-long process.

But Feder said the district always shared videos  with other students faces blurred out  with parents who believe their children have been victimized.

Our policy is to let parents view the video, Feder said. And I dont know why that didnt happen in this case for whatever the reason  whether it was a misunderstanding, a miscommunication or the video wasnt ready to be viewed.

Safety concerns

Roosevelt High School is shown in a 2016 file photo.LC- The Oregonian

Kalis case also highlights longstanding concerns about school staffing and safety, especially when educators say bullying and assaults remain at the fore nationwide in the aftermath of the pandemic as students continue to struggle with anxiety and mental health.

In response to a public records request, however, statistics compiled by Portland Public Schools show reported assaults have remained relatively consistent today compared to before the pandemic among the districts 81 schools. About 3,000 have been reported so far this school year. Thats more than 20 assaults per day districtwide.

Nearly four years ago, the district removed police officers stationed at schools, amid calls to defund police during racial justice protests over the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis by police. Last fall, the district boosted its unarmed security staff from about 47 positions to 64 positions. Known as campus safety associates, they have duties that include intervening in assaults or fights. But this spring, the district is considering scaling them back by about eight positions as part of $30 million in budget cuts.

Angela Bonilla, president of the Portland Association of Teachers, said the union has pushed for more training of specialized staff to intervene in student conflicts. But its also important to employ enough staff, including counselors, to monitor students and help struggling students work out their problems non-violently.

This is the issue in our public schools when we dont have appropriate funding and appropriate staffing, Bonilla said. Like when did this conflict start? Who knew about it? Are there enough counselors on staff to have someone that this student can talk to?

The district has been the subject of a spate of recent lawsuits over school safety and claims that it failed to adequately supervise students who went on to hurt others and it failed to intervene when the assaults were in progress. Among the suits:

In fall 2022, the mother of a Grant High student who was beaten months earlier by another student on school surveillance video and in front of a staff member filed a $1.1 million lawsuit . The case is headed to trial in Multnomah County Circuit Court next month.

Last year, the mother of a West Sylvan Middle School student who is Black filed a $9 million lawsuit against the district claiming it failed to supervise students who were allowed to roam the halls during class time in 2023 and allegedly shoved the student to the floor of the hallway, put a knee on his back and announced they were simulating the killing of George Floyd.

Last week, the mother of another West Sylvan Middle School student who is Black filed suit against the district for an unspecified amount after the girl was twice assaulted on school grounds in the span of a month in 2023, including when she was punched in the face and called a racist slur.

Earlier this year, the father of a former Roosevelt High student filed a $980,000 lawsuit claiming the district negligently failed to supervise another student who raped his daughter in a school bathroom during school hours in March 2022. Portland police said they investigated and forwarded the case to the Multnomah County District Attorneys Office, which declined to prosecute for reasons that were unclear. Police said investigative records for the case arent available because it appears they have been expunged.

Video clip offers a glimpse

Kali said she is deeply concerned that Roosevelt High staff didnt immediately intervene to stop the older student from repeatedly striking her daughter. She doesnt know this from the six-minute surveillance video that she said she hasnt been allowed to see yet, but from an 18-second video clip she viewed of the tail end of the incident that someone  it appears another student  posted to Snapchat. Kali said the video disappeared hours later, but she recorded it before it did.

The Oregonian/OregonLive hasnt been able to independently confirm that short video captured the Feb. 23, 2024 incident that Kali describes, but Kali said it is indeed her daughter being beaten that day. The video doesnt show the entire encounter  including what led to it.

The video, titled Just another normal day at (Roose)velt, appears to show Kalis daughter on the floor of the school as an older student kicks her, strikes her with her hand more than a dozen times and jerks her head back and forth while grabbing her hair. Kali said her daughter was unable to get away or defend herself because she was weighed down on the floor by the heavy backpack she was wearing.

Two adults can be seen in the vicinity. One appears to be talking into a walkie talkie and clapping their hands. Another appears to be telling other students to back away. The assault ends when two more adults step into the video frame and one of them pulls the older student off of Kalis daughter.

The video was taken from afar and Kali said her daughter hasnt been able to identify the older student. Kali also wants to know what the schools six-minute surveillance video captured in the moments before the incident ended.

Kali said her daughter, who was wearing noise canceling earbuds because sounds at school can sometimes overwhelm her, was deep in thought in the hallway when the older student walked up to her and said Why are you looking at me sideways? Then, Kali said, her daughter told her the beating began.

Kali said her daughter lost track of time and the number of times she was struck. But after ferrying her daughter to urgent care that day and in a series of appointments after, Kali said the full extent of her daughters injuries became clear: two black eyes, a large swollen mound on her forehead, nausea, ringing in her ears and vision problems that hindered her ability to read or write for about two weeks. The headaches lasted even longer. And in the end, Kali said her daughter was out of school for nine full days and a few half days. She said she ended up failing five of her classes. And even today, two months later, Kali said her daughter can only read for 30 minutes at a time before the lingering effects of her injuries overwhelm her.

Kali said a doctor who saw her daughter on the day of the assault was concerned enough to report it to Portland police, who showed up to take a report at the family home that night.

Kali said police had stayed in touch with her but said they couldnt investigate further without the students name and the video from the district. Portland Police Bureau spokesperson Mike Benner declined to answer specific questions.

We can share that Portland Public Schools (PPS) isnt refusing to cooperate, Benner wrote in an email. They are following state and federal law. Its possible that there is some confusion about what and when a school can release student information to law enforcement, without a subpoena or warrant. PPB works with PPS on a regular basis and they are a great partner in the effort to keep kids safe and hold kids accountable for their actions.

Meanwhile, Kali, who also has a son who graduated from the district, said the family is in a holding pattern, worried the February incident could happen again.

I had no idea while I was sending my kids to school all these years that If they had a crime perpetrated against them at school the school would protect the other person and they would not call me, and they would not be as forthcoming as possible to make people feel safe in their learning environment, Kali said. Im shocked. Im so shocked.

 Aimee Green covers breaking news and the justice system. Reach her at 503-294-5119, agreen@oregonian.com or @o_aimee.

Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com.
For decades, concerns about automobile pollution have focused on what comes out of the tailpipe. Now, researchers and regulators say, we need to pay more attention to toxic emissions from tires as vehicles roll down the road.

At the top of the list of worries is a chemical called 6PPD, which is added to rubber tires to help them last longer. When tires wear on pavement, 6PPD is released. It reacts with ozone to become a different chemical, 6PPD-q, which can be extremely toxic  so much so that it has been linked to repeated fish kills in Washington state.
A federal jury Friday awarded a specialized cardiologist $4 million in damages against Oregon Health and Science University and $50,000 in punitive damages against her former department chief, finding the medical school and her boss discriminated against her because she was an outspoken woman who complained about inadequate patient care.

Dr. Rupa Bala and her lawyers argued at trial that she was subjected to sex-based stereotyping and discrimination because she was assertive and reported substandard care.
Doug Marshall has spent 30 years doing his part with the homeless. He brings some interesting thoughts to a week that featured the U.S. Supreme Court hearing oral arguments about people dealing with homelessness and public safety in Grants Pass, and the Portland City Council once again debating the same.

After moving back to Portland in 1993, Marshall invested 16 years venturing out with Blanket Coverage, which works with the chronically displaced. He and his wife, Carol, also started The Jesus Table, which offered weekly meals and connections for the impoverished at Cedar Mill Bible Church.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Slovakia Nguyen Tuan (left) and Chairman of the Slovak National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee Marian Kery (Photo: VNA)

The Ambassador informed Mr. Marian Kery about bilateral relations and delegation exchange activities between the two countries, including the visit of the Vice Chairman of the Committee on Science, Technology and Environment of the National Assembly in early July 2024. At the same time, he expressed his hope that Slovakia would send delegations to visit Vietnam.

Mr. Marian Kery expressed his interest in Vietnam and said that during July, the Slovak National Assembly will have many meetings with the government and the new President, who will officially take office in June, but he promised to be ready to arrange the relevant agencies of the Slovak National Assembly to receive and work with the delegation of the Vietnam National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment.

The leader of the Slovak National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee hoped that the two sides will continue to share information to promote bilateral relations in the coming time.

At the meeting, Ambassador Tuan also requested the Chairman of the Slovak National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee to work with relevant agencies of Slovakia to consider and create conditions for the Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia to legalize civil status documents issued by the Vietnamese Embassy for use in Slovakia.

On this occasion, he thanked Mr. Marian Kery for actively coordinating and promoting relations between Vietnam and Slovakia in recent times, especially promoting parliamentary cooperation between the two countries./.
The trio of progressive Portland-area Democrats leading the race to succeed U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer in Congress are barely distinguishable from each other when it comes to policy positions.

But each of the candidates say they have a track record and leadership style that best qualify them to replace Blumenauer, an influential lawmaker who climbed to significant influence during his nearly 30 years in the U.S. House. All three are current or former elected officeholders with experience representing parts of Oregons 3rd Congressional District, which stretches from the Willamette River to Hood River.
No Clackamas County Commission chair has won reelection since 2008, leaving the nonpartisan position seesawing between Democrats and Republicans every term since.

This year, incumbent Tootie Smith  an outspoken Republican raised on a farm and steeped in elected politics since her days in the state House two decades ago  hopes to change that.
Portland State University will temporarily hit pause on its philanthropic relationship with aerospace giant Boeing after student activists repeatedly raised concerns about the companys ties to Israel, the universitys president said Friday.

The move by Portland State President Ann Cudd comes one day after pro-Palestinian student activists set up encampments outside of the universitys library to protest Israels actions in the countrys war against Hamas.
Lilongwe, Malawi (PANA) - The World Bank is providing immediate support for millions of Malawians severely affected by the ongoing food security crisis with a release of $57
Relatives of a 74-year-old female facing charges in the armed robbery of an Ohio credit union last week claim she fell victim to an online scam while trying to deal with her financial challenges.

74-Year-Old Woman Arrested for Armed Robbery

Ann Mayers, with no prior criminal record, is accused of aggravated robbery with a firearm and tampering with evidence in the incident in Fairfield Township, near Cincinnati, last Friday.

Currently held on a $100,000 bond, she awaits her initial court appearance without legal representation listed in court records.

Police arrested Mayers at her Hamilton residence shortly after the robbery, seizing a handgun from her car, which they allege was used in the crime.

Investigators are now exploring the possibility that Mayers was indeed deceived by a scam, as suggested by her relatives. They revealed that she had been sending money to an unknown individual, potentially rendering her a victim herself.

However, Sergeant Brandon McCroskey expressed a grim reality, stating that while Mayers may be seen as a victim in one aspect, her decision to commit armed robbery victimized several others at the bank.

McCroskey described the situation as deeply regrettable if Mayers' relatives' accounts prove accurate, highlighting the rising prevalence of scams targeting seniors over the past decade or so.

These scams exploit seniors' familial instincts, often leveraging personal information available online to lend credibility to fraudulent calls.

This narrative underscores the tragic consequences of such schemes, as evidenced by a recent incident in Ohio where an 81-year-old man was charged with murder for fatally shooting an Uber driver.

Believing she was involved in a scam seeking $12,000 in bond money for a relative, the man acted under the misconception that the driver was part of the fraudulent operation, illustrating the devastating impact these scams can have on both victims and unintended targets alike.

Read Also : Alabama Woman Faces Charges Following Cocaine Discovery in Child's Backpack

Police Says Suspect Is Victim of Online Scam

Ann Mayers reportedly entered AurGroup Credit Union on April 19, allegedly demanding money at gunpoint, as detailed by the Fairfield Township Police Department.

Police were alerted to the scene at 1:29 p.m. local time and subsequently shared images of the incident online to aid in the identification of suspects.

The police department stated that Mayers confessed to the crime. While lacking a criminal record, Mayers had allegedly fallen victim to an online scam, losing thousands of dollars and owing money to acquaintances, according to Fairfield Township police Sergeant Brandon McCroskey.

However, the specifics of the scam were not disclosed. McCroskey mentioned that Mayers' sister had suspicions about her involvement in an online scam, although this has not been confirmed by police.

McCroskey recounted that Mayers admitted to taking only $500 from the credit union and had previously discussed robbing a bank with her sister.

Mayers was found in possession of her 2014 silver Hyundai Elantra, which she had driven during the robbery. Evidence, including a loaded handgun, was recovered from her home.

Mayers faces charges of enraged robbery with a firearm and tampering with proof, both first-degree felonies. She was booked into Butler County Jail shortly after 7 p.m. local time on April 19 and remains in detention on $100,000 bail, according to online records.
Alabama lawmakers recently pushed forward a bill that could lead to legal actions against librarians under the state's obscenity regulations if they provide materials deemed "harmful" to minors.

This move reflects a broader trend in Republican-led states, where bills are targeting library content and decision-making processes.

The bill, endorsed by a 72-28 vote in the Alabama House of Representatives, now awaits consideration in the Alabama Senate.

Alabama House Approves Bill Targeting Library Content for Minors

This legislative action comes amidst a significant rise in challenges to books, often focusing on LGBTQ themes, and initiatives across several states to prohibit drag queen story readings.

During the debate, Republican Representative Arnold Mooney, the bill's proponent, emphasized its purpose as safeguarding children, transcending partisan affiliations.

The proposed legislation eliminates the current exemption for public libraries from the state's obscenity regulations. It also broadens the definition of prohibited sexual conduct to encompass any "sexual or gender-oriented conduct" occurring at K-12 public schools or public libraries that exposes minors to individuals dressed provocatively or engaged in lewd activities.

The bill cites, "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, or activities."

The bill outlines a process where a librarian in a public library or K-12 school could be charged with a misdemeanor if they do not remove objectionable material or cease conduct violating obscenity laws within seven days of receiving a formal complaint from the public.

Concerns Raised Over Potential Censorship and First Amendment Rights

The proposed legislation has encountered significant resistance from critics who assert that it poses a risk of censorship and encroaches upon First Amendment liberties.

Opponents contend that the bill's implementation could subject librarians to criminal charges based on the subjective opinions of community members who disagree with their book selections and program choices.

"This process will be manipulated and used to arrest librarians that you don't like, and not because they did anything criminal. It's because you disagree with them," remarked Democratic Representative Chris England of Tuscaloosa during the legislative discussion.

Craig Scott, president of the Alabama Library Association, expressed concern over potential lawsuits and highlighted the existing protocols libraries follow to vet content and address public concerns.

He questioned the need for external interference in professional library management, emphasizing the libraries' commitment to serving diverse community needs.

Library Professionals' Response: Defending Libraries' Role Amid Growing Challenges

Library professionals underscored the importance of libraries as inclusive spaces catering to a wide range of perspectives.

They argued that the proposed legislation could disrupt longstanding practices and lead to undue pressure on librarians to conform to subjective standards of appropriateness.

Republican Representative David Faulkner, a key figure in crafting the bill's revised version, defended its intent as a measure to reinforce accountability without unduly burdening libraries.

He emphasized the limited scope of potential prosecutions and the judiciary's role in interpreting obscenity laws.

In a climate marked by increasing scrutiny of library materials and programming, concerns over free expression and the rights of minors to access diverse perspectives continue to fuel debates nationwide.
Officials are increasingly concerned after a baby dies due to a fentanyl overdose and the suspected overdoses of two other babies within the past week in Washington. These circumstances happened separately, with fentanyl being discovered unsecured in their homes, according to authorities.

13-Month-Old Baby Dies from Fentanyl Overdose

Emergency services answered a call on Wednesday afternoon in Everett, where a 13-month-old baby was discovered not responsive in an apartment.

Despite efforts, the baby died later at a hospital. The accurate explanation and manner of the passing will be identified by the Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office.

Additionally, last Saturday, firefighters were notified of another circumstance requiring an 11-month-old who was discovered unresponsive by their parents in a separate home. The infant was given naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal treatment, and was hospitalized before being released.

On Wednesday morning, firefighters answered a call regarding a 6-month-old baby encountering respiring difficulties. Upon arrival, they found the baby not responsive and gave medical assistance, including Narcan administration. As of Thursday, the baby remained in stable condition at Seattle Children's Hospital.

Authorities have declared that there is no evidence the cases are connected, and they are conducting further investigations regarding these fentanyl overdose incidents. The announcement of further information, including any arrests made, has been withheld due to the continuous nature of the inspections.

Conveying deep concern, a news release from the City of Everett emphasized the increasing issue of fentanyl overdoses involving young kids, mirroring a vast concern about opioid and fentanyl misuse in both the state and the nation.

Fentanyl, a highly potent drug often mixed with other elements like heroin, has been an important factor in the overdose epidemic in the United States. Children are specifically sensitive to its effects, as even the slightest risk to its residue can be deadly.

Data from the Washington State Department of Health indicates a concerning increase in opioid-related deaths among children under 18, with synthetic opioids like fentanyl being predominantly involved.

Nationwide, drug overdose deaths rose slightly in 2022 after previous increases during the COVID-19 pandemic, with provisional data suggesting a further uptick in the following year.

Authorities Investigate Recent Fentanyl Poisoning Cases

The Onondaga County District Attorney has declared that his office is cooperating with law enforcement to inspect the fentanyl poisoning circumstances involving an 11-month-old infant in Syracuse.

Syracuse Police specified that the baby was hospitalized but did not give further details, such as the location of the overdose.

Initially informed of the baby's death, D.A. Bill Fitzpatrick later received an update indicating that the 11-month-old had been revived using the antidote Narcan.

During discussions regarding the death of 11-year-old Ashton Degonzaque, Fitzpatrick referenced the recent drug overdose. Neither law enforcement nor prosecutors have officially confirmed Degonzaque's cause of death pending toxicology results, but the boy's family suspects a drug overdose.

Family members reported that hospital doctors informed them of his body testing positive for cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana.
I find myself thinking of Origen The German Lutheran church celebrates his life on the 27th of April.

Sometimes called the greatest mind of early Christian antiquity, Origen lived between the late second and the middle of the third centuries of our common era. He lived principally in Alexandria. Ordained a priest, he was always a controversial figure. Some of his teachings were condemned even in his lifetime.

Origens theological speculations were complex. The two I find interesting are his views that are, I gather, inadequately captured by the terms reincarnation and universal reconciliation or more simply universalism.

Im less interested in the reincarnation thing. And more in the universalism. But as with Gautama Siddharthas path of awakening, that rebirthing thing is connected with his understanding of universal salvation.

In Origens case it seems that universalism needed to have a place for free will. If I understand it he taught a sequence of something like the same life, perhaps vaguely like the film Groundhog Day, where the soul eventually gets it right. He is said to have taught that even the devil would one day be reconciled to heaven.

Its certainly true that Christian thinking about universalism in any systematic way begins with Origen. Some, like the Orthodox theologian David Bently Hart point out he didnt invent the idea, but rather was the first to attempt that systematic approach to this core teaching.

For a variety of reasons, Origen has not made it into the Orthodox or Catholic calendars as one of the saints. Although he has been counted as such by many. As I noted, the Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland does mark the 27th of April as a saints feast for him.

One could consider this day a festival for Christian Universalism.

Me, I hope this catches on.
As part of its 20th-anniversary celebrations, Opportunity International Savings and Loans Ltd (OISL), one of the leading providers of financial services in the country, has organized forums for its SME and Microloan clients. These events took place on the 2nd and 5th of April in Accra and Kumasi respectively.



Present at the forums were the Chief Executive Officer of the institution, Mr. Kwame Owusu-Boateng, the Chief Risk Officer, Dr. Francis Takyi, the Chief Business Officer, Mr. Francis Owusu Ansah, the Head of Compliance, Mr. Isaac Gyasi, the Head of Marketing, Mr. Richard Anyamesem, the Head of Transformation, Ms. Theophila Esther Larbie, four (4) Area heads from the various sectors of the institution, and other management and staff members of the institution.



In his opening remarks, the CEO of the institution, Mr. Kwame Owusu-Boateng indicated that the purpose of the forums was to thank their clients for being with the institution all these years and also to enable the clients to be part of the 20th Anniversary celebration of the institution. Additionally, he stated that the forums were to facilitate an open dialogue to share insights and to gather feedback from the clients of the institution to improve and provide improved services and products for the customers. He further stated that the forums were also aimed at educating the clients on OISLs loan requirements and processes and also an opportunity to throw more light on OISLs digital platforms and how clients could use them to access services in a more efficient way.



The Chief Risk Officer, Dr. Francis Takyi, used the opportunity to educate the clients on OISLs SME Collateral Requirements, detailing the various types of collaterals needed for the various categories of loans. He elaborated on the Five Cs of Credit (Character, Capital, Capability, Condition, and Collateral) considered during loan assessments.



Mr. Francis Owusu Ansah, the Chief Business Officer of OISL taking his turn during the forums provided insights into OISLs Credit Delivery System and guided the SME and Microloan clients through the basic Loan Requirements, Application process, Turnaround time, post-disbursement protocols and many more.



During the open dialogue sessions, led by Mr. Richard Anyamesem, the Head of Marketing, clients had the opportunity to provide feedback to OISL regarding their products and services. Many of the customers who attended the forums expressed their gratitude to the institution for organizing these unique forums and requested for more of such forums to be organized in the future. They shared their success stories and congratulated OISL on its 20th anniversary. Some clients also took the opportunity to thank OISL for their support during the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly all concerns raised by clients were addressed, resulting in high levels of customer satisfaction.



In his closing remarks, the CEO, Mr. Kwame Owusu-Boateng expressed his gratitude to the clients for their valuable feedback and assured them of OISL's continual commitment to the provision of excellent services. He further assured them that their concerns will also be addressed progressively.



A total number of One Hundred and Fifty (150) clients attended the forums.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, should serve 36 months in prison after pleading guilty to violating laws against money laundering, U.S. prosecutors said in a court filing on Tuesday.



Zhao, who is expected to be sentenced on April 30 in Seattle, stepped down as Binance's chief last November, when he and the exchange admitted to the violations, and the firm agreed to a penalty of $4.32 billion.



"Given the magnitude of Zhao's willful violation of U.S. law and its consequences, an above-guidelines sentence of 36 months is warranted," U.S. prosecutors told the U.S. district court for the western district of Washington.



Federal sentencing guidelines set a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison for Zhao, who had agreed not to appeal against any stretch up to that length. He has been free in the United States on a $175-million bond.



U.S. authorities have said Binance failed to report more than 100,000 suspicious transactions with designated terrorist groups including Hamas, al Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS.



Prosecutors said Binance's platform also supported the sale of child sexual abuse materials and was a recipient of a large portion of ransomware proceeds.



Zhao, commonly known as CZ, agreed to pay $50 million and cease involvement with Binance, which he founded in 2017.



Binance's penalty included a $1.81-billion criminal fine and restitution of $2.51 billion.

Source: Reuters









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
The Tarkwa circuit court has sentenced a 47-year-old man to 10 years imprisonment in hard labour for assaulting his 13year-old daughter after accusing her of having sexual intercourse with men.



The convict, John Ansah, who is the biological father of the victim pleaded guilty to the charges of causing harm, indecent assault, and female genital mutilation.



Police Superintendent, Juliana Essel-Dadzie, earlier told the court presided over by Mrs Hathia Ama Manu that the complainant was a supervisor at the Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL), and resident of Agona Nkwanta, while Ansah, was a charcoal producer.



She said the convict who was a single parent lived with his children including the victim at Kwapong located within the GREL plantation.



The court heard that Ansah had been subjecting the victim to all kinds of abuses with the allegation that she was going after men and was having sexual intercourse with them.



Prosecution said on Sunday, March 24, 2024, at about 20:00 hours Ansah tied the legs and hands of the daughter with a rope at their bamboo house and put two cutlasses into fire and pushed same in the victims vagina in turns, and she sustained severe burns around her vagina and thighs.



Superintendent Essel-Dadzie explained that the victim cried out for help while Ansah was torturing her until she became weak but was left tired up with the rope until the next day when she managed to free herself.



After the act, Ansah became frightened that the victim might sneak from the cottage and expose him, he, therefore, started monitoring her.





Other Trending Stories



The prosecutor said on March 26, 2024, the victim managed to escape from the cottage and was rescued by a witness in the case, who rushed her to the Nsuaem Government Hospital where she was admitted for treatment.



The case was reported at the Nsuaem police station, and a medical form was issued to him on behalf of the victim for endorsement and same was returned to the police.



Superintendent Essel-Dadzie said the complainant later led the police to arrest Ansah and handed him over to the Regional Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) to aid investigations.

Source: Graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
The 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]









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
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









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
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









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
The 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]









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
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









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
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









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Ghanaian Gospel musician, Kofi Sarpong has disclosed that it was never his interest to be popular considering his profession as a police officer.



However, as fate would have it, he stumbled on music when he heeded to persistent pressure from his manager, Kwesi Ernest, at the time to join commercial music.



In a recent interview on Joy Prime, Kofi Sarpong stated that his initial stance not to go into commercial music was because of his passion for the security services.



I declined out rightly and told him, You heard my name as deputy superintendent of police. How could that be possible? And for me, I love the police. If Im working and Im not paid, it would be enough for me. I also wasnt ready to leave the police. But he persevered.



He came to see me one day, and I asked him, Ive seen people holding CDs looking for producers, so why wont you help them? And he told me, 'Papa, Ive seen you from afar. You dont know me, but I know you, and I want the world to see whats in you, so please give me the opportunity. After he left, I had to apply to the Inspector General of Police, and approval came through."



He disclosed how terrified he was after putting in the request and the relief he felt when the IGPs secretary informed him that his request was approved.



I breathed a sigh of relief. I called my manager and told him this was the situation, and he was so happy, jumping all over. A few hours later, I heard a knock on my door, and it was him with someone holding a piano following him, and it was Akwaboah Jnr. I asked why, and he said, Papa, we are starting today.



He revealed that his first song was rehearsed the first day Kwesi Ernest visited his office with Akwaboah Jnr, the writer of the song.

Source: Graphiconline









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
The much awaited grand launch of this years edition of the annual African Caribbean Stars and Music awards (ACMS) USA is scheduled to take place at West Indian Social Club of Hartford Inc. on May 25.



Organised by Big Apple Sounds & Promotion (USA), the awards scheme was instituted to recognise and honour distinguished personalities who have positively contributed to the steady growth of the creative industry on the global market.



The African Caribbean Stars and Music Awards is an award scheme created three years ago primarily to recognize and celebrate impact makers in Africa and the Caribbean.



It will also promote African Caribbean music, arts, and culture to the world, showcase to the world and bring the spotlight to the impact makers in Africa and the Caribbean, and also provide networking opportunities for businesses and individuals to showcase themselves on global platforms.



Beatwaves gathered that the launch which will be used to unveil the nominees list and other activities lined up for the awards ceremony.



Also to be revealed at the launch would be the all new exciting prize packages for this years winners, as well some of the artistes billed to perform at the main event.



Musicians, representatives from the music and copyright industries, journalists, among others are expected to attend the launch which will witness live musical performances from some selected Ghanaian and foreign artistes.

Artistes billed to perform at the launch include King Paluta, Fameye, Morgan Heritage and the Heritage family, Sizzla Kalonji, Jupiter among others.



African Caribbean Stars and Music awards is a perfectly structured event that will fulfill its desire objectives to become annual awards scheme.



The ACMS Awards USA, as always, offers a platform to energise artistes, managers, producers, sound engineers, and other global industry players to step up the quality of what they churn out, so they can earn a place on international platforms.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
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. Mmore than 5,000 items totaling more than $160,000 in value have 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 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.

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 burglars.

The district attorneys office said its believed the suspects staked out homes before hitting them. No home with a dog was targeted, Dowdle said.

Court records indicate several of the stolen items during the burglaries were recovered from vehicles. The massive burglary case continues to be investigated.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
By JAMES POLLARD, NOREEN NASIR and NICK PERRY, The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP)  Students protesting the Israel-Hamas war at universities across U.S., some of whom have clashed with police in riot gear, dug in Saturday and vowed to keep their demonstrations going, while several school faculties condemned university presidents who have called in law enforcement to remove protesters.

As Columbia University continues negotiations with those at a pro-Palestinian student encampment on the New York schools campus, the universitys senate passed a resolution Friday that created a task force to examine the administrations leadership, which last week called in police in an attempt to clear the protest, resulting in scuffles and more than 100 arrests.

Though the university has repeatedly set and then pushed back deadlines for the removal of the encampment, the school sent an email to students Friday night saying that bringing back police at this time would be counterproductive, adding that they hope the negotiations show concrete signs of progress tonight.

As the death toll mounts in the war in Gaza, protesters nationwide are demanding that 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.

The decisions to call in law enforcement, leading to hundreds of arrests nationwide, have prompted school faculty members at universities in California, Georgia and Texas to initiate or pass votes of no confidence in their leadership. They are largely symbolic rebukes, without the power to remove their presidents.

University of Southern California protesters confront University Public Safety officers as tempers get heated during a pro-Palestinian occupation on the University of Southern California campus Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)AP

But the tensions pile pressure on school officials, who are already scrambling to resolve the protests as May graduation ceremonies near.

California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, gave protestors who have barricaded themselves inside a building since Monday until 5 p.m. Friday to leave and not be immediately arrested. The deadline came and went. Only some of the protesters left, others doubled down. After protesters rebuffed police earlier in the week, the campus was closed for the rest of the semester.

In Colorado, police swept through an encampment Friday at Denvers Auraria Campus, which hosts three universities and colleges, arresting around 40 protesters on trespassing charges.

Students representing the Columbia encampment, which inspired the wave of protests across the country, said Friday that they reached an impasse with administrators and intend to continue their protest.

After meetings Thursday and Friday, student negotiators said the university had not met their primary demand for divestment, although there was progress on a push for more transparent financial disclosures.

We will not rest until Columbia divests, said Jonathan Ben-Menachem, a fourth-year doctoral student.

In the letter sent to Columbia students Friday night, the universitys leadership said we support the conversations that are ongoing with student leaders of the encampment.

Also Friday, Columbia student protester Khymani James walked back comments made in an online video in January that recently received new attention. James said in the video that Zionists dont deserve to live and people should be grateful James wasnt killing them.

What I said was wrong, James said in a statement. Every member of our community deserves to feel safe without qualification.

Tents stand at the pro-Palestine protest encampment at the Columbia University campus in New York on Monday, April 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)AP

James, who served as a spokesperson for the pro-Palestinian encampment as a member of Columbia University Apartheid Divest, was banned from campus Friday, according to a Columbia spokesperson.

Protest organizers said James comments didnt reflect their values. They declined to describe James level of involvement with the demonstration.

Police clashed with protesters Thursday at Indiana University, Bloomington, where 34 were arrested; Ohio State University, where about 36 were arrested; and at the University of Connecticut, where one person was arrested.

The University of Southern California canceled its May 10 graduation ceremony Thursday, 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 ceremonies.

Universities where faculty members have initiated or passed votes of no confidence in their presidents include Cal Poly Humboldt, University of Texas at Austin and Emory University.
Dickinson College students want their counterparts at Columbia University, University of Southern California and other schools where Israel-Hamas War protests are happening and students are getting arrested that they stand with them and support them.

Gathered on a grassy knoll on the historic liberal arts college in Carlisle, several dozen students on Friday peacefully sat on blankets, mattresses and a chair for a spontaneous sit-in demonstration that began the evening before. Its organizer Diana Webb said she set up a folding chair by a Free Gaza sign and soon found other students came out to join her.
A Lancaster County man got a shocker in the mail last week: a $34 billion tax bill from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.

Barry Tangert told WGAL News 8 he got a tax refund from the federal government for over $900, but was told he owed the state $34,576,826,561.47, the story said.

Thats more than the state budget of Virginia.
NEW YORK  Columbia University students who inspired pro-Palestinian demonstrations across the country said Friday that they reached an impasse with administrators and intend to continue their encampment until their demands are met.

The announcement after two days of exhaustive negotiations came as Columbias president faced harsh criticism from faculty and puts more pressure on university officials to find a resolution ahead of graduation ceremonies next month  a problem that campuses from California to Massachusetts are facing.

As the death toll mounts in the war in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis worsens, protesters at universities across the country are demanding that 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.

Student negotiators representing the Columbia encampment said that after meetings Thursday and Friday, the university had not met their primary demand for divestment, although there was progress on a push for more transparent financial disclosures.

We will not rest until Columbia divests, said Jonathan Ben-Menachem, a fourth-year doctoral student.

Columbia officials had said earlier that talks were showing progress.

We have our demands; they have theirs, university spokesperson Ben Chang said, adding that if the talks fail, Columbia will have to consider other options.

Meanwhile, Columbias president, Minouche Shafik, faced a significant  but largely symbolic  rebuke from faculty Friday but retained the support of trustees, who have the power to hire or fire the president.

A report by the university senates executive committee, which represents faculty, found Shafik and her administration took many actions and decisions that have harmed Columbia University. Those included calling in police and allowing students to be arrested without consulting faculty, failing to defend the institution in the face of external pressures, misrepresenting and suspending student protest groups and hiring private investigators.

The faculty have completely lost confidence in President Shafiks ability to lead this organization, said Ege Yumusak, a philosophy lecturer who is part of a faculty team protecting the encampment.

Following the report, the senate passed a resolution that included a task force to monitor how the administration would make corrective changes going forward.

In response, Chang said in the evening that we are committed to an ongoing dialogue and appreciate the Senates constructive engagement in finding a pathway forward.

Also Friday, student protester Khymani James walked back comments made in an online video in January that recently received new attention. James said in the video that Zionists dont deserve to live and people should be grateful James wasnt killing them.

What I said was wrong, James said in a statement. Every member of our community deserves to feel safe without qualification.

Protest organizers said the comments didnt reflect their values. They declined to describe James level of involvement with the demonstration.

Across the country at Arizona State University, protesters pitched tents, including some that police dismantled, and at least one person was handcuffed and taken away.

Police clashed with protesters Thursday at Indiana University, Bloomington, where 34 were arrested; Ohio State University, where about 36 were arrested; and at the University of Connecticut, were one person was arrested.

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. The campus was shut down at least through the weekend.

On the other end of the state, the University of Southern California canceled its May 10 graduation ceremony 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 ceremonies.

Elsewhere in New York, 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. Officials said in a statement that those who remained were trespassing on private property and disciplinary actions would be pursued against students involved in the unauthorized demonstrations.

At Emory University in Atlanta, video that circulated widely on social media showed two women who identified themselves as professors being detained, with one of them slammed to the ground by an officer as a second one pushed her chest and face onto a concrete sidewalk.

University President Gregory Fenves said via email that some videos of clashes were shocking and he was horrified that members of our community had to experience and witness such interactions.

Fenves blamed the campus unrest on highly organized, outside protesters who he said arrived in vans, put up tents and took over the quad. But in an earlier statement, school officials said that 20 of the 28 people arrested were members of the university community.

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 and Columbia.
WILLIAMSPORT  The Lycoming County district attorneys office has rejected the call that it be recused from prosecuting the CEO of a Lycoming County firm accused of fatally shooting his brother-in-law inside the business.

First Assistant District Attorney Martin L. Wade did so in a response to the motion Kenneth R. Michaels filed March 31 that claimed District Attorney Thomas A. Marino had personal involvement in the case before he took office in late December.
NORTH WILDWOOD, N.J.  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 states 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 Wildwoods 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 Murphys 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 Murphys 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.
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.

However, attorneys representing New Jersey in a lawsuit brought last June to stop congestion pricing said the announcement might be premature.

Not so fast. We are awaiting a court ruling as early as next month on whether the MTAs unprecedented congestion pricing scheme can go forward, given the obvious deficiencies in the environmental review that was done here and the lack of mitigation provided for New Jerseys environmental justice communities, said attorney Randy Mastro, who argued the states case in U.S. District Court earlier this month.

That is only one of the many pending and anticipated lawsuits challenging this hugely flawed plan, he said. So the jury is still out.

City commuter advocates hailed the announcement as one they have waited years for.

On June 30, barring any last ditch court interference, congestion pricing will become reality, said Riders Alliance Policy & Communications Director Danny Pearlstein. Congestion pricing will be a win-win-win for all New Yorkers, commuters and visitors and bring better public transit, cleaner air, and freer moving traffic. It cannot happen soon enough.

The program still requires final Federal Highway Administration approval.

The FHWA has begun its review and will continue to work with the New York project sponsors as we complete the review, said a spokesperson speaking on background.

The basics

Congestion pricing will charge a toll to enter the Central Business District south of 60th Street in Manhattan.

The base toll is $15 for non-commercial passenger vehicles and small commercial trucks and $22.50 for non-E-ZPass customers from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. That drops 75% to $3.75 during the overnight period.

Trucks and charter buses will pay a toll of $24 or $36 during the peak period, depending on their size and function, and $6 or $9 during the overnight period.

Commuter buses open to the public are exempted, which includes those run by private companies. School buses under contract to the city board of education for transporting students are exempt.

Toll credits

Passenger vehicle drivers using the Hudson or East River tunnels will receive a $5 toll credit toward the congestion fee. No credit is offered for the George Washington Bridge. Toll credits are $2.50 for motorcycles, up to $12 for small trucks and charter buses, and up to $20 for large trucks and tour buses.

No crossing credits will be offered overnight when the toll is reduced by 75% from the peak period toll.

How to pay

Drivers who have an E-ZPass account will be charged similar to any other toll. A bill for $22.50 for non E-ZPass users will be sent to the registered owner of the vehicle. The MTA is encouraging drivers to sign up for E-ZPass and for E-ZPass customer to make sure their account information is up to date, including the license plate and make of vehicle.

During the first 60 days of the program, drivers will only be charged the Congestion Pricing toll. No additional fees, charges, or fines, such as late fees, will be applied. After that late fees and violation fees will be applied.

Are there discounts?

Low income residents of New Jersey and New York can apply for a 50% discount is available for low-income vehicle owners enrolled in the Low-Income Discount Plan. That discount begins after the first 10 trips in a calendar month, and applies to all peak period trips after that.

The discount requires a New York E-ZPass account, income proof and can be applied for on the MTA website.

Who else is exempt?

Qualifying authorized emergency vehicles and qualifying vehicles transporting people with disabilities will be exempt from the congestion pricing toll.

Specialized government vehicles, commuter vans licensed by the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission also are exempt. Commuter, transit, and intercity buses registered in other states must provide state-issued authorization to provide bus services; supporting documentation showing that the buses operate on a schedule and fixed route; and registration for every vehicle on the application, an MTA spokesman said.

What about cabs, Ubers and Lyft

Cabs and For Hire vehicles have to pay, but that per trip cost is passed on the passenger when traveling to, from, within, or through the congestion zone. For both the peak and overnight period, app-based for-hire vehicles are charged $2.50 per trip. Taxis, green cabs, and black cars, are charged $1.25 per trip.

Is this a done deal?

Besides final federal approval of the rate schedule that was approved in late March, there also is the possibility that the start date could be delayed depending on how U.S. District Court Senior Judge Leo M. Gordon rules on lawsuits brought by New Jersey, Bergen County and Fort Lee.

Those suits asked the court to overturn federal approval and order a more comprehensive environmental study be done. Several similar lawsuits are also pending in New York.

Whats the purpose of the fee?

Congestion pricing, which was approved by New York legislature in 2019, is designed to reduce traffic, crashes, air pollution and raise $1 billion annually for MTA subway, bus and commuter rail projects. A projected 80,00 to 110,000 commuters are forecasted to switch from driving to using mass transit, MTA officials said.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @CommutingLarry
Police in Swatara Township, Dauphin County found a body in the Susquehanna River near New Cumberland on Saturday morning, according to a police report.

The body was discovered around 7:25 a.m., the press release said. Swatara Township Police are working with the New Cumberland River Rescue, the Dauphin County Coroners Office and the New Cumberland Borough Police Department in the investigation.
The U.S. Congress has delivered a win in the propaganda war with Russia. By approving aid for Ukraine and authorizing much needed weapons to defend from russias genocidal war, the United States has regained moral clarity.

PA Congressional District 10 has a lot of support for Ukraine, including those of us who know first-hand the horrific atrocities perpetrated by Russian forces; those who traveled to Ukraine during the war, and those who have family members on the frontline. One of the most overlooked facts of this genocidal war is the brutal persecution of Ukrainian Christians by Russian forces.

Over 500 Ukrainian churches and religious sites were damaged by Russian military. One out of three destroyed or looted buildings tallied by Institute for Religious Freedom belong to evangelicals, accused of being American spies.
FILE - This June 12, 2014 file photo shows Dominion Energy's Cove Point LNG Terminal in Lusby, Md. Natural gas overtook coal as the top source of U.S. electric power generation for the first time ever in April of 2015, a milestone that has been in the making for years as the price of gas slides and new regulations make coal more risky for power generators. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File)AP
Students arrive at the Sheraton Harrisburg-Hershey for the 2024 Bishop McDevitt Prom.

Look here for part 2: https://www.pennlive.com/prom/2024/04/the-2024-bishop-mcdevitt-high-school-prom-see-61-more-photos-from-fridays-event-part-2.html
Attendees hold painted rocks during the opening of a new reconciliation garden to honour residential school survivors in Edmonton on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. The lawyer for a residential school survivor leading a class-action defamation lawsuit against the Catholic Church over residential schools says the court action is a last resort. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson.
We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on!

Go to form
Atanas Malinov sits at the table with his head lowered and nearly completely covered by his hoodie. He looks more like a silent assassin than a poker player, and today on Day 3 of the PokerStars France Poker Series Main Event at Sporting Monte-Carlo, he made picking off opponents look easy.

Malinov eliminated the likes of Ankit Ahuja, Andrei Mjagkov, Kin Hang Man, and, finally, Elie Saad on his way to finishing as the chip leader with 21,725,000 as six players return for tomorrows live-streamed final table at 12:30 p.m. local time.

The Bulgarian high roller has EPT cashes dating back to 2015 and finished 17th at EPT Cyprus in October. But hes not the most highly decorated player remaining in the field. That belongs to Guillaume Nolet, who has $1.6 million in live earnings including finishing second in a 10,300 event at EPT Barcelona in 2019. The Canadian ended up in third place with 10,500,000, closely behind start-of-day chip leader Virgile Turchi (10,700,000).

Guillaume Nolet

Day 3 Chip Counts

Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Atanas Malinov Bulgaria 21,725,000 72 2 Virgile Turchi France 10,700,000 36 3 Guillaume Nolet Canada 10,500,000 35 4 Marco Gambini Italy 9,525,000 32 5 Gabi Livshitz Israel 6,050,000 20 6 Remy Murcia France 4,325,000 14

Marco Gambini was at times the story of todays play as he enjoyed a spectacular fall to an extreme short stack, only to rise up to become an overwhelming chip leader. The Italian eventually fell back toward the pack and bagged up 9,525,000. Gabi Livshitz, who has a run to fourth place at the EPT Prague Main Event in 2019 among his $1.5 million in live earnings, is in fifth place with 6,050,000, while Remy Murcia rounds out the final table with 4,325,000.

Day 3 Action

Day 3 began with 31 players remaining out of a starting field of 2,096. Harry Lodge busted in 29th place when he lost a race with ace-jack to Nolets threes, while Robbie Bull won a big flip to eliminate Miroslav Alilovic in 27th place.

Ahuja has shown a remarkable proficiency in these events, including finishing in fifth place out of 7,398 entries at the ESPT Main Event at EPT Barcelona last year, then winning the Eureka Poker Tour Main Event at EPT Cyprus over 2,659 entries in October. However, his run here in Monte Carlo ended in 23rd place when he picked up aces but Malinov turned two pair with queens and nines.

Antonino Venneri was among the top stacks remaining when he jammed for 1,875,000 on the river with jacks and fours, but Turchi had a set of sevens to win the massive pot and bust Venneri in 19th place. Eusebiu Jalba (18th) and Alessandro Merelli (17th) followed to the exit as the field went down to the final two tables.

Virgile Turchi

Then came the fall and rise of Gambini. He ran two tens into Kin Hang Mans kings to drop down to just 310,000, good for three big blinds. After one double up, he was all in for 920,000 with fives against Federico Macoris kings but spiked a two-outer on the river to stay alive yet again.

Malinov, meanwhile, busted Mjagkov in 16th with trip kings, while Jason Wheeler fell in 15th in a blind-versus-blind battle with Murcia. Gambini then opened to 250,000 in middle position and Alisa Sibgatova moved all in for 720,000. Pierre Basile reraised to 1,200,000 in the small blind. Gambini didnt notice Basile had raised and just called Sibgatovas bet. He was forced to put in the extra chips as Basile jammed for 4,000,000 on a nine-high flop. Gambini snap-called with pocket threes, while Basile had two tens and stayed in the lead until a three fell on the river.

Marco Gambini

Gambini had once again hit a two-outer to win the massive pot and knock out both players to take the chip lead with more than 13,000,000. Day 1 chip leader Gil Aboodi fell in 12th after running two tens into Murcias kings, while EPT champion Uri Gilboa was eliminated by Bull in 11th.

Play slowed down considerably near the final table bubble, with tournament officials stopping play at one table because they had played so many more hands than the other. Gambini crossed 20,000,000 when he rivered a full house against Murcias straight, but Turchi then picked up aces to Gambinis sevens to double up to 11,000,000. Finally, Man called Malinovs pre-flop shove with ace-high, but Malinov made trip jacks to eliminate Man in 10th and set up the nine-handed final table.

Gambini led with 16,000,000, followed by Malinov at 15,500,000. Macori was the first out, calling off his short stack with nine-seven against Livshitzs ace-king. The final table then became a war of attrition as the short stacks battled for survival. Murcia doubled off Gambini with aces, while Nolet doubled off Turchi. Nolet then moved all in for 5,000,000 with kings against Gambinis ace-queen and held on to double again.

Livshitz was all in for 2,400,000 with two tens, but Gambini woke up with kings to leave Livshitz at risk of elimination. Livshitz, though, caught a running straight to earn a miracle double up. Saad's set of threes then went down to Malinovs rivered flush as Saad finished in eigthth. Two hands later, Turchi picked up tens in the small blind to eliminate Bull in seventh and bring the night to an end.

Gabi Livshitz

Final Table payouts

Place Player Country Earnings 1 303,190 2 189,220 3 135,160 4 103,970 5 79,980 6 61,520 7 Robbie Bull Scotland 47,330 8 Elie Saad Lebanon 36,410 9 Federico Macori Italy 28,020

The remaining six players are guaranteed 61,520, with the winner tomorrow earning 303,190. The final table will be streamed on a 30-minute delay by PokerStars beginning at 1 p.m. Action begins with 24 minutes remaining on Level 34 with blinds of 150,000-300,000 and a 300,000 big blind ante.

Stay tuned to PokerNews as a champion will be crowned out of this massive field tomorrow.
Newly released exhibits reveal that the lock on the storage room in Mar-a-Lago where Trump kept highly classified documents was just a residential door lock that could be opened with a coat hanger.

The door to the storage room in Mar-a-Lago where Trump stored highly classified docs had a pinhole doorknob that could be unlocked via coathanger, a witness told investigators per newly released exhibits, ABC News senior reporter covering investigations Katherine Faulders reported on Saturday from newly released documents.

 The door to the storage room in Mar-a-Lago where Trump stored highly classified docs had a pinhole doorknob that could be unlocked via coathanger, a witness told investigators per newly released exhibits. pic.twitter.com/zeBl4d8AtF  Katherine Faulders (@KFaulders) April 27, 2024

The crucial part of this testimony is here:

The witness says the lock was like a residential door lock that could only be locked from the inside, but that they would just lock it when you left.

The witness then goes on to explain that youd need a tool stronger than a paper clip to pop it open, which they agreed was like when the investigators children locked themselves in the bathroom.

It seems as if in the summer of 2021 this basic residential bathroom type doorknob might have been replaced with an actual lock.

Donald Trump stands accused in the classified documents case of 37 criminal charges of mishandling sensitive material, hiding records and impeding investigators.

The allegedly stolen classified documents were stored in a bathroom (in the shower and next to the toilet), in a ballroom, and more.

In early May of 2021 the National Archives asks that the ex-president return any records he might have taken upon leaving the White House.

Also in May, Trump reportedly directed employees store some of his boxes of stolen classified documents in a in a highly accessible storage room in Mar-a-Lago, as well as sending some boxes to his Bedminster, New Jersey club.

This is the level of security Donald Trump offers the United States, her allies, our troops, our intelligence assets, and the utter lack of care he shows for the documents he allegedly stole and refused to return.

Its also disconcerting hearing the witness describe how theyd get in and leave this storage room, as it sounds pretty routine.

Donald Trump currently faces 88 criminal charges from four separate criminal cases, including his current New York trial for election interference via falsifying business records, his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, Georgia election interference, and mishandling classified records.

For some unknown reason, the Supreme Court is contemplating whether Trump has immunity for putting the U.S. in harms way and his own party is presenting a united front supporting this man to have access to our top secrets again.

To say that the entire Republican Party is corrupted and untrustworthy with national secrets might be an overstatement, but it also might not be, because they do not seem one bit concerned about this huge threat to our national security. And thats a really big deal.
Cade Klubnik passed for three touchdowns and Phil Mafah added two short touchdown runs as No. 10 Clemson rolled past Wake Forest 49-14 for its fifth straight win. The Tigers turned a couple of interceptions into touchdowns as they started to pull away with a 28-point second quarter. Klubnik threw for 309 yards and Mafah gained 118 yards on 20 carries. Wake Forest dropped its fourth consecutive home game. Quarterback Hank Bachmeier was limited to 126 passing yards with a pair of interceptions and two touchdown tosses before he was replaced midway through the third quarter. Read moreKlubnik and Mafah spark Clemson in a blowout win at Wake Forest
I havent paid a lot of attention to S.C. legislators effort to protect kids from online pornography. It's not that I sympathize with the pornographers' arguments. Of course we ought to make it harder for kids to access porn, and I have no problem with making adults verify their age to access it  much the same way they had to show proof of age to get into a theater showing X-rated movies back when movie theaters were a thing.

Yes, I know, electronic records, with their frequent hacks and forever trails. Frankly, I just dont have a lot of sympathy for pornography patrons. Its absurd to believe thats what the Founding Fathers had in mind when they wrote the First Amendment.

Where are all those originalist justices when you need them?

Still, the bill just felt so much like another one of those ridiculous culture-war battles, and every time I thought maybe I should write about it anyway, something more urgent came up: improving our judicial selection system, merging our duplicative health agencies, the latest efforts to exacerbate the teacher shortage, that big utility bill. Besides, it seems like shooting fish in a barrel to advocate for such a populist bill, one that's so subject to pandering.

But my interest in H.3424 spiked when I read the article by The Post and Couriers Nick Reynolds about the Senate subcommittee debate on it earlier this month. It started like this: The South Carolina Senate is poised to enact a pair of bills requiring users of social media and pornographic websites to verify their age before accessing the content despite concerns from their own attorneys of a likely legal challenge.
PR-Inside.com: 2024-04-27 12:00:56

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 627 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

LONDON, ENGLAND / ACCESSWIRE / April 27, 2024 / Market Investopedia, a leading platform for financial education, announces the launch of its mega webinar series for traders. Under this series, you will get a comprehensive knowledge of forex, cryptocurrencies, commodities, stocks, indices, and other financial markets.This exclusive webinar series starts on May 1, 2024. You can attend the webinars from Monday to Friday at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The research team of Market Investopedia, with years of experience in the financial market, will organise these sessions.During this session, the expert will discuss the complexities of the market. Trading is all about predicting the rise and fall of the financial asset and making a profit from its price fluctuation. However, this is where traders or beginners lack.The asset price is affected by economic, geopolitical, psychological, and many other factors. Fundamental analysis events like top financial news, central bank announcements, and economic data can change the entire market scenario.Meanwhile, technical analysis factors like charts, indicators, and price action tools can provide exclusive alerts that help traders plan their trades. Also, what the majority of people feel about an asset impacts the trading world.And that's what is unique aboutMarket Investopedia' s exclusive webinar series. Here, the expert will combine technical, fundamental, and sentimental analysis to provide traders with valuable market insights. It will help traders frame some actionable strategies and enhance the chances of profit-making in the dynamic market.After a fundamental and technical analysis of popular Currency Pairs, Gold, Bitcoin, Crude oil, US 30, and many other assets, a doubt-resolving session will be organized at the end so attendees can ask all their queries or doubts to the expert.The best part about this exclusive series is you don't need to pay any fees or charges to attend these sessions. The webinar series is started to spread knowledge and build a community of traders worldwide.The experts will also address different problems that traders face in their daily trading lives. The webinar topics include risk management, psychological management, emotional management, leverage trading, investment portfolio diversification, and many more.Participants will also access valuable educational resources like daily research reports, economic calendars, and trading courses. They will also get the chance to build their networks and meet traders with years of experience in the trading world. Further, the expert will provide you with valuable guidance so that you can optimize your trading strategies.The platform's Webinar series is constructive for all sorts of traders. Beginners with little knowledge of the financial market can take advantage of these series to enhance their experience and take a step toward informed trading.The registration process for these trading webinars is quite simple. You can either contact the team from Market Investopeda'sContact Uspage or simply fill out the registration form, which requires basic information like your name, email, contact number, and country.About Market InvestopediaMarket Investopedia is a growing educational platform with years of experience in the financial market. It is an online finance education website to provides training and education in financial markets to fulfil your financial dreams.Trading is among the most prevalent occupations these days. However, with the excellent profit potential, the risk of losing money is also present in the market. Therefore, Market Investopedia provides traders and investors with the weapon of knowledge to win the trading war on the Market Battlefield.Market Investopedia offers highly high-quality trading content, including courses, blogs, webinars, video tutorials, and many other educational resources, to help traders level up their trading game. With these new exclusive webinar series, the platform aims to build a vast network of traders from all around the world.Media ContactOrganization: Market InvestopediaContact Person: Steve JonesWebsite: https://marketinvestopedia.com/ Email: support@ marketinvestopedia.com City: LondonCountry: United KingdomSOURCE: Market Investopedia
Movie Title: Ambivalent

Running Time: 2 hours 12 minutes

Director: Ekene Som Mekwunye

Cast: Gabriel Afolayan, Derby Frankson, Anita O. James, and Mercy Mordom.

What do you do when you do not know what to do?

This existential question lies at the heart of Ambivalent, a captivating film that delves into the complexities of love, loyalty, and marriage.

As many have already opined, Marriage isnt a bed of roses, but what do you do when you find roses in a bed outside your matrimonial home?

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

These are some of the robust premises that this movie attempts to unravel; however, his film ventures into such uncharted territory, yet its commendable efforts fail to leave a lasting mark.

With promising themes and a talented cast, Ambivalent initially promises a compelling exploration of modern relationships. However, as the plot unfolds, it becomes apparent that the execution falls short of expectations.

Despite the actors best efforts, the movie only scratches the surface of its potential, leaving audiences wanting more.

True to its title, Ambivalent leaves viewers uncertain, torn between conflicting emotions and ideas. Whether intentional or not, this ambiguity may be the films most enduring legacy as audiences grapple with the unanswered questions it raises.

Plot

The movie narrates the story of Charlotte Wigwe, a beautiful working woman whose husband, Obinna Wiwge, a tech guru, is barely home. She spends most of her time at home anticipating his return, which he often procrastinates because of the nature of his job. To satisfy her sexual needs, she resorts to the use of sex toys.

Although Obinna tries to soothe her by providing for her needs, in the last four years of their marriage, the couple has barely spent three weeks under the same roof without Obinnas work, truncating their happy moments.

Unfortunately, her work makes her cross paths with her acquaintance from the university, a friend of her then-boyfriend, Ned Willams. Although their friendship started on the foot of a work-based relationship, and one thing led to another, Neds crush and admiration fueled Charlottes emotional needs, something she had not gotten from her absentee husband for the longest time.

Charlotte soon finds herself at a crossroads in her life. Tired of her marriage, she faces a difficult choice: should she continue with her old friend, who has rekindled the passion of love, or remain in her marriage?

Character Analysis

The movie enjoys a moderate and straightforward cast structure since the narrative is simple and concise.

The cast includes Gabriel Afolayan as Obi, Derby Frankson as Charlotte Ngozi, Anita O. James as Shade, Mercy Mordom as Karen, and Aeries Umusu as Ned.

Despite being new to the acting scene, Derby Frankson delivered a compelling performance as Charlotte. Her portrayal captured the emotional complexity of her charactera neglected wife finding love outside her marriage. Her portrayal resonated with the depth required, showcasing her talent and promise in the industry.

Gabriel Afolayans portrayal of Obi was equally impressive. He skillfully depicted the internal conflict of a husband torn between his career and his marriage, delivering an outstanding performance that resonated with audiences. His portrayal reached its pinnacle when his character demonstrated unwavering support and care for his wife during her battle with kidney failure, showcasing the depth of his characters love and commitment.

Anita O. James brought warmth and authenticity to the role of Shade, Charlottes trusted friend and coworker. As the quintessential confidante, Shade was portrayed as deeply attuned to Charlottes life, offering support and guidance whenever needed. Anitas portrayal captured the essence of a loyal and caring friend.

Aeries Umusus portrayal of Ned Williams injected an intriguing layer of complexity into the movie, enriching the narrative with depth and tension. As a charismatic lover entangled in a forbidden affair, Neds character grappled with conflicting emotions, fully aware of the inevitable consequences yet unable to let go. His selfless act of donating a kidney to Charlotte underscored the depth of his feelings, while his clandestine plans to elope with her added an element of suspense and intrigue to the story.

Movie Analysis

The movie Ambivalent sets the stage for a compelling narrative about a woman caught between her commitment to her husband and the temptation of a renewed romance.

However, despite this intriguing premise, the film must catch up in its execution, failing to capitalise on its potential.

While the premise holds promise for a gripping premise, it must maintain coherence and clarity throughout its runtime.

Furthermore, the films pacing could be more balanced. Abrupt transitions between scenes disrupt the flow of the story. Instead, moments intended to evoke tension or introspection feel contrived and predictable, diminishing the impact of pivotal plot points.

Despite the best efforts of the cast, including notable performances by the casts, the films gloomy direction and uneven screenplay hinder their ability to shine. Moments that should evoke shock or intrigue instead elicit confusion and frustration as the movie struggles to find its footing amidst a sea of ambiguity.

The movie had a lot going on, with exciting subplots like the kidney crisis adding intrigue but leaving us wanting more. While its good to focus on the main storyline, the health crisis subplot could have been explored further for added depth.

The director tried to give us insight into the characters lives, such as when Obi suggested visiting his parents, but Charlotte refused due to his mothers pressure to have children. However, some details, like the mysterious phone call from Obis supposed mother, felt underdeveloped and needed more impact.

Despite emphasising dialogue, some conversations lacked weight, failing to convey the intended message effectively. While the movie had potential, it needed to capitalise on its various plot points and character dynamics fully.

However, despite its shortcomings, Ambivalent still offers moments of intrigue and introspection. Through exploring themes such as love, loyalty, and self-discovery, the film invites viewers to reflect on the complexities of human relationships and our choices in pursuing happiness.

Verdict

6/10

AMBIVALENT Trailer 2024 (youtube.com)

The movie is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Videos.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


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.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

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.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


A complication from measles is suspected to have killed at least 19 children in Mubi North Local Government Area of Adamawa.

The Commissioner for Health, Felix Tangwami told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Mubi on Saturday that more than 200 children in the local government area were already infected.

He said the outbreak was reported in Yola on Saturday, leading to a quick mobilisation of medics and drugs to affected communities.

He assured that children with severe infections would be referred to hospitals.

The commissioner said the medical team would move from Mubi to Gombi Local Government Area where another outbreak had been reported.

Mr Tangwami blamed the refusal of parents to immunise their children for the outbreak.

(NAN)

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Akinuli Omolere has emerged as the governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) Party for the Nov. 16 Ondo state governorship polls.

James Vernimbe, the Partys Chairperson of the Primary Election Committee, said this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

He said that the election was monitored by observers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and party supporters in the state.

Total number of delegates at the primary election was 90, total number of accredited delegates, 73, total votes cast 73, total number of valid votes 73, total number of invalid votes Nil, mode of election Option A4.

Akinuli Fred Omolere emerged winner with 45 votes against Adeyemi O. Adetunji, Festus Oke Olusegun and Duke Oyinbeinyefa who scored 16, 7 and 5 votes respectively, he said.

Mr Vernimbe commended the conduct of the other aspirants and their agents and urged them to support the partys candidates to emerge victorious at the guber poll.

He also expressed optimism in the ability of the candidate to triumph at the polls.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

(NAN)

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has approved the automatic employment of 15 persons living with disability, who have undergone formal educational system and obtained degree certificates, NCE, diploma and vocational training certificates.

The governor gave the approval in Maiduguri on Saturday at the Government House when he met with members of the Association of People Living with Disability.

I am delighted to note that despite your disability, you people are not lazy; you decided to pursue your education, and for this, I want to commend you.

I directed the Commissioner of Education to process your application for employment for my approval immediately. Therefore, I want to bring to your kind notice that you should be on the payroll of Borno Government effective 1st May, 2024, he said.

The Governor directed the commissioner of education, Lawan Abba-Wakilbe to review the activities of all the blind schools in Borno in order to train more people with disabilities.

Mr Zulum also ordered the Ministry of Education to work out modalities for introducing the teaching of special education courses at the College of Education in Bama.

I am happy that they have obtained their qualifications in different specialisations. Lets strengthen the College of Education in Bama to start delivering courses on special education, Zulum said.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

Earlier, Muhammed Mustapha, Chairman of the Nigerian Association of the Blind, Borno Branch, thanked Mr Zulum for approving employment for his members.

Mr Mustapha thanked him for prioritising efforts toward uplifting the living standards of such persons in the society.

(NAN)

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The immediate-past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has denied paying $720,000 from the state treasury for his childrens tuition fees.

The chairperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede, on Tuesday, accused Mr Bello of stealing the funds while his administration was coming to an end to pay his childrens education at the American International School, Abuja.

PREMIUM TIMES also reported how the American International School Abuja offered to refund $720,000 paid by Mr Bello for his childrens tuition fees.

The schools letter, which went viral online on Friday, showed that the former governor paid the money in August 2021, in advance for school terms his children had yet to use.

The letter is part of the exhibits the EFCC filed in support of the N80 billion money laundering charges it instituted against Mr Bello after he left office in January.

But, Mr Bello, who left office as governor on 27 January, said his childrens educational pursuit at the American International School Abuja preceded his ascension to the Kogi State Government House in 2016.

Yahaya Bello DID NOT pay the fees of his Children with monies from the Coffers of the Kogi State Government, a statement from Mr Bellos media office on Friday said.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

The statement explained that when the EFCC approached the school to illegally recover the funds legitimately paid by Alhaji Yahaya Bello and other family members, a member of the family challenged the EFCCs unlawful acts.

According to the statement, the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, restrained the school from returning the funds to the EFCC.

His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello did not pay the sum of USD720,000 as alleged by the EFCC Chairman or USD840,000 as is being bandied about on the internet.

EFCC persecuting Mr Bello

On Friday, details of the tuition payments to the American International School Abuja emerged on social media.

A media report also said the school has indicated an interest in returning the disputed funds to the anti-graft agency.

However, Mr Bellos media team said all the documents being released online are in furtherance of EFCCs unrelenting persecution of the former Governor.

The EFCC filed an N80 billion money laundering case against Mr Bello at the Federal High Court in Abuja. But efforts to get the former governor to answer to the charges have been futile.

Mr Bello said Mr Olukoyedes comments regarding the pending suit against him amount to subjudice as parties have since joined issues in the suit.

The statement added that no amount of blackmail by the EFCC would bring Mr Bello before the court through the backdoor.

Read the full statement below:

MEDIA OFFICE OF HIS EXCELLENCY, YAHAYA BELLO

PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES: SETTING THE RECORDS STRAIGHT

NO AMOUNT OF BLACKMAIL WILL MAKE HE YAHAYA BELLO COME THROUGH THE BACKDOOR

On Tuesday, 23rd April 2024, Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, in a conduct which we view as unbecoming of a Legal Practitioner, organised a press conference where he alleged (amongst other outrightly defamatory statements) that His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, withdrew cash from the Kogi State Government Account, sent same to Bureau De Change Operators and then used same to pay the school fees of his children in advance.

According to Olukoyede, the payment was made just about the time the former Governor was to leave office.

Since the said press conference, receipts of payments of the said fees bearing the names of His Excellencys Children and those of other family members, who separately paid their fees, have been flying all over the internet.

While we reserve our rights to seek redress against the said defamatory statements, permit us to briefly state the following for the purpose of setting the records straight:

1. His Excellency, Yahaya Bellos children have attended the American International School, Abuja well before he became Governor and he has paid fees for his children as and when due and without fail.

2. His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello did not pay the sum of USD720,000 as alleged by the EFCC Chairman or USD840,000 as is being bandied about on the internet.

3. The payment of the fees was not effected at about the time his Excellency was to leave office as claimed by Mr. Olukoyede but same commenced in 2021.

3. Alhaji Yahaya Bello DID NOT pay the fees of his Children with monies from the Coffers of the Kogi State Government.

4. When the EFCC approached the American International School Abuja (AISA) to illegally recover funds legitimately paid by Alhaji Yahaya Bello and other family members, a member of the family challenged the EFCCs unlawful acts to recover funds legitimately paid. The FCT High Court, in Suit No. FCT/HC/2574/2023 between: Mr. Ali Bello v. The Incorporated Trustees of American International School, Abuja, held that AISA could not lawfully and unilaterally refund to a third party, including the EFCC, fees paid by the parties to the suit.

The Court subsequently mandated AISA to continue to provide the services it had been paid with respect to the fees.

From the foregoing, it is clear that no money belonging to Alhaji Yahaya Bello or his family members with regard to school fees has been recovered by the EFCC.

5. Now, let it be known that, contrary to misleading narratives by the EFCC, all the documents published online i.e. receipts and letters, that the EFCC has released online, in furtherance of its unrelenting persecution of the former Governor, are documents filed by lawyers in the suit instituted on behalf of Alhaji Yahaya Bello and others who paid fees for their wards under the Advance Fee Payment Agreement with AISA.

Those documents, having been filed by his lawyers, are thus public documents, which shows that his Excellency, Yahaya Bello, has nothing to hide with regard to the payment of advance fees for his children. This unending harassment and persecution, even while in office, were among key reasons he sought to enforce his fundamental human rights.

6. We state that the payment of these fees and the legitimacy thereof is the subject matter of Charge No. FHC/CR/573/2022, filed by the EFCC since 15th December 2022 at the Federal High Court, Abuja. The Charge is pending and the Court has yet to make any finding or convicted anyone in respect of the said sum.

7. It is imperative to remind Mr. Olukoyede, who is a Lawyer, that once parties have submitted a dispute to the Court, they are to shun all actions and statements that may prejudice the hearing of the matter or the mind of the Court.

8. Since the matter is sub judice, we say no more, we await the EFCCs proof of the allegations in Court, which is the only venue where the proof of these allegations matter.

9. We thank Nigerians who have recognised the obvious desperation of the EFCC boss to convict the former Governor by all means in the Court of public opinion rather than in the law court, as personal vendetta, with the connivance of like minds, and not a fight against corruption.

10.We implore others who might have been misled by their shenanigans not to be fooled by mischievous narratives but to

follow the case through until justice is served.

11. Finally, our Principal, Yahaya Bello, doesnt visit law enforcement agencies through the backdoor. He has insisted on following due process in line with the rule of law. No amount of blackmail will intimidate him.

Thank you.

Signed

Ohiare Michael

MEDIA OFFICE,

HE YAHAYA BELLO

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Details of how the American International School Abuja offered to refund $720,000 allegedly paid by a former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, for his childrens tuition fees have emerged.

The schools letter, which went viral online on Friday, showed that the former governor paid the money in August 2021, in advance for school terms his children had yet to use.

The letter is part of the exhibits the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed in support of the N80 billion money laundering charges it instituted against Mr Bello after he left office in January.

The case is before the Federal High Court in Abuja. EFCC has yet to arraign Mr Bello, who has skipped two court sessions and managed to avoid arrest by the commission.

EFCC chairperson Olanipekun Olukoyede, earlier on Tuesday, alleged that Mr Bello made an advance payment of his childrens fees of over $700,000 allegedly taken from the state coffers.

He alleged that Mr Bello converted the money taken from the Kogi State treasury to dollars with which he paid the school fees. He urged the members of the public to approach the Federal High Court to obtain certified copies of records filed by the commission as evidence against the former governor.

On Friday, the letter written by the American International School Abuja the EFCC seeking to refund the money emerged online. The school sent the letter in 2022, apparently during investigative activities focusing on money trails that led the commission to the school.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

Mr Bello has denied the allegation.

Meanwhile, in the letter dated 24 October 2022, the school asked the EFCC to provide banking details for the refund of fees paid for the children of Yahaya Bello.

The letter, addressed to the Lagos zonal Commander of the anti-graft agency by the school, said the sum of $845,852 has been paid in tuition since the 7 September 2021 to date.

Please forward to us an official written request, with the authentic banking details of the EFCC, for the refund of the above-mentioned funds as previously indicated as part of your investigation into the alleged money laundering activities by the Bello family, the letter read in part.

It added: We have calculated the net amount to be transferred and refunded to the State, after deducting the educational services rendered as $760,910.84. (Seven Hundred and Sixty Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ten US Dollars and Eighty Four cents).

No further additional fees are expected in respect of tuition as the students fees have now been settled until they graduate from ASIA.

Greg Hughes, who signed the letter on behalf of the school, disclosed that Ali Bello contacted the school on Friday 13 August 2021 requesting to pay the family school fees in advance until the students graduate from High School.

Ali Bello, a nephew of the former governor, faces N10 billion money laundering charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The EFCC has since declared former governor Bello wanted, with the Nigeria Immigration Service placing the ex-governor on a watchlist.

READ ALSO: Court summons EFCC chair for alleged contempt over moves to arrest Yahaya Bello

How fees were paid

Payment receipts for the transaction between Mr Bello and the American school, filed as exhibits in the case against Mr Bello, surfaced on social media on Friday.

The receipts showed that Mr Bello paid the fees for five of his children in grade level 2 to 8 at the school.

For instance, the sum of $10,510.71 was paid on 9 September 2021, while $19,296 was paid on the same day.

For Mr Bellos third child, $13,744.29 was paid into the American schools bank account on 25 January 2022. Similarly, the former governor paid $21,470 on behalf of the third child at the school.

On 7 September 2021, Mr Bello allegedly paid $17,994, while on 19 October 2022, $21,470 was paid to the American school by the former governor.

The former governors arraignment at the Federal High Court in Abuja has been stalled on two occasions as Mr Bello has refused to appear in court, citing a court judgement barring EFCC from arresting him.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


CUPERTINO, Calif., April 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Claudio Bono, Managing Director for two independent Hotels in Silicon Valley, is thrilled to unveil a groundbreaking platform and an idea that will transform the landscape of the urgent unhoused crisis and social issues. Leveraging his extensive expertise in non-profits, Claudio Bono has developed a US and International patent-pending solution that promises to resolve the unhoused crisis in a matter of weeks.

Finally, a solution to fix the unhoused is here. Will Elected Officials and press reporters please stand up? Post this A real solution to fix the unhoused crisis.

The innovative process directly tackles the challenges faced by cities in California, the United States, and the World by introducing a range of viable solutions that streamline processes, enhance efficiency, provide budget solutions, and deliver unprecedented results. Bono's breakthrough cements his position as an active advocate for the past 10 years with local non-profits. Bono offers a 2-tier precise plan to support and fix this worldwide issue.

"I am thrilled to introduce a viable solution that has been tested and proven to be a win for everyone," said Claudio Bono. Bono is confident that his innovative solution will significantly impact the US and the world, creating new opportunities for communities worldwide and offering a technique that has never been used before. Bono hopes this solution will finally entice Elected Officials and News reporters to reach out so that the solution can go to Governor Gavin Newsom's desk and The White House.

To learn more about this groundbreaking solution, please visit www.Ihaveasolution.me. Twitter X account: @Bonoclaudio, Instagram: @cbinsiliconvalley, TikTok: @CBINSANFRAN, YouTube: @IHAVEASOLUTION, Facebook: @IHAVEASOLUTION.ME, and LinkedIn.

About www.haveasolution.me The platform was originally designed to offer solutions to Elected officials by everyday Americans and provide alternative thinking. One video shared on Claudio Bono's Twitter account has garnered over 1 million views in just a few days.

About Claudio Bono: A seasoned hotelier, Claudio actively contributes his time to non-profit organizations in Cupertino. He is currently Vice President of The Chamber of Commerce, Vice President of the Historical Society, Cupertino Parks & Recreation Commissioner, and a Rotarian. The City of Cupertino awarded Claudio Bono with the popular Crest Award, recognizing his contribution to the Silicon Valley community.

SOURCE Ihaveasolution.me
RADNOR, Pa., April 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP informs investors that the firm has filed a securities fraud class action lawsuit against Doximity, Inc. (NYSE: DOCS) ("Doximity" or the "Company") on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired Doximity common stock between February 9, 2022, and April 1, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action, captioned Kissler v. Doximity, Inc., et al., Case No. 3:24-cv-02281-JST was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

Important Deadline Reminder: Investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Doximity common stock during the Class Period may, no later than June 17, 2024, move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff for the class.

If you suffered Doximity losses, you may CLICK HERE or go to: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/doximity-inc?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=docs&mktm=r

You can also contact attorney Jonathan Naji, Esq. of Kessler Topaz by calling (484) 270-1453 or by email at [email protected].

CANNOT VIEW THIS VIDEO? PLEASE CLICK HERE or go to: https://youtu.be/sbkgMGltWR8

DEFENDANTS' MISCONDUCT

Doximity operates a digital platform that provides connections between, medical information to, and patient scheduling tools for medical professionals. The Class Period begins on February 9, 2022, following the release of Doximity's quarterly financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2022, which ended December 31, 2021, after the market closed the night prior. During the February 8, 2022 quarterly investor earnings call, Defendant Anna Bryson, the Company's Chief Financial Officer, emphasized that "marketers have been able to witness the value of running these digital programs" and that it was this "value that's the main reason we're seeing this sustained demand from our customers and not new [COVID] variants." To this end, Defendant Bryson further assured investors that the Company was "focused on . . . really building a business that can provide years of sustainable growth with high margins."

Throughout the Class Period, Defendants continued to tout the sustainability of the Company's business prospects while also downplaying the importance of customer upsell rates on the Company's financial performance. Notwithstanding Defendants' repeated claims regarding the sustainability of Doximity's growth and profitability, investors began to learn the truth about the Company on August 8, 2023, when, after the market closed, Doximity reported its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2024, which ended June 30, 2023. While the Company exceeded its quarterly revenue and adjusted EBITDA guidance for the first quarter, the Company provided disappointing guidance for the second quarter of fiscal year 2024 and slashed its guidance for the full fiscal year 2024. In conjunction with the disappointing guidance, Doximity announced that it would reduce its workforce by approximately 10%. The Company further noted that the workforce reduction is expected to cost approximately $8 million to $10 million.

In explaining this about-face, Defendant Bryson admitted that the Company's "major upsells have materially underperformed, and we expect this to continue in the near term." Defendant Tangney further explained that Doximity failed to close sales due, in part, to "fewer face-to-face meetings with our clients." On this news, the price of Doximity common stock declined $7.49 per share, or nearly 23%, from a close of $32.79 per share on August 8, 2023, to close at $25.30 per share on August 9, 2023.

Investors learned more about the unsustainability of the Company's revenue growth on April 1, 2024, when Jehoshaphat Research published a report alleging, among other things, that "Doximity's underlying sales . . . are declining at a negative -3-6% rate, but that this decline has been masked through accelerated revenue recognition." On this news, the price of Doximity common stock declined $1.11 per share, or more than 4% over two trading-days, from a close of $26.91 per share on March 28, 2024, to close at $25.80 per share on April 2, 2024.

WHAT CAN I DO?

Doximity investors may, no later than June 17, 2024, move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff for the class, through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP encourages Doximity investors who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CASE OR GO TO: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/doximity-inc?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=docs&mktm=r

WHO CAN BE A LEAD PLAINTIFF?

A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.

ABOUT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLP

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country and around the world. The firm has developed a global reputation for excellence and has recovered billions of dollars for victims of fraud and other corporate misconduct. All of our work is driven by a common goal: to protect investors, consumers, employees and others from fraud, abuse, misconduct and negligence by businesses and fiduciaries.

For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com.

CONTACT

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP

Jonathan Naji, Esq.

280 King of Prussia Road

Radnor, PA 19087

(844) 887-9500 (toll free)

[email protected]

SOURCE Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP
BOGOTA, Colombia, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ecopetrol S.A. (BVC: ECOPETROL; NYSE: EC) announces that the Board of Directors, at its meeting held on April 26, 2024, made the following appointments in property:

1. Felipe Trujillo Lopez as Vice President Commercial and Marketing, effective as of this date. Dr. Trujillo has been in charge of this Vice-Presidency since January 20, 2024. He is an Industrial Engineer from Universidad Javeriana, specialist in Strategic Marketing from CESA and Master in Business Administration from Universidad de los Andes. He has 25 years of experience in commercial and marketing positions, 20 of which have been in Ecopetrol in the areas of marketing, commercialization, evaluation and structuring of new businesses. She has held different positions within Ecopetrol, such as National Commercialization Manager, Petrochemicals and Industrials Manager, New Business Manager, Gas Manager and currently Products and Petrochemicals Manager, area in charge of the commercialization and trading of fuels and petrochemicals and industrials produced by Ecopetrol in its refineries and commercialized in the national and international markets.

2. Victoria Irene Sepulveda Ballesteros as Corporate Vice President of Human Resources, effective as of the date hereof. Dr. Sepulveda has been in charge of this Vice-Presidency since January 19, 2024. She is a lawyer from the Universidad Autonoma de Bucaramanga, with a specialization in Commercial Law from the Universidad Autonoma de Bucaramanga and an MBA candidate from the EAN; with nearly 20 years of experience in administrative and human management positions, having extensive management of human talent and union relations in companies and business groups in the energy sector in Colombia. Previously, she was the Human Resources Manager at Chilco, parent company in Colombia of the Lipigas Group. She has held corporate roles in business groups as Director of Subsidiaries and Human Resources Manager.

3. Maria Cristina Toro Restrepo as Legal Vice President, effective May 7, 2024. She is a lawyer from Universidad de Caldas with specialization in Mining and Energy Law from Universidad Externado de Colombia, specialist in Commercial Law from Universidad de Caldas and specialist in Tax and Customs Legislation from Universidad de Caldas. With 28 years of experience, she has been General Secretary of EPM, Head of the Legal Advisory Office of Metro de Bogota, General Secretary of Metro de Medellin, Manager of Labor Relations Management of EPM, General Secretary and Legal Vice-President of Grupo Energia de Bogota, General Secretary of CHEC and Legal Director of Aguas de Manizales. Member of Women in Connection and of the Advisory Board of the Women and Board Leadership Community of CESA.

Alberto Enrique Consuegra Granger, who had been serving as Chief Operating Officer (COO), will serve until May 10, 2024. Rafael Guzman, current President of Hocol, will be in charge as acting COO as of May 11, 2024 and until the appointment of the new position is made.

Ecopetrol S.A. thanks Alberto for his valuable management during more than seven years in the Ecopetrol Group. His contributions to the achievements were fundamental for the consolidation of the strategy. Ecopetrol S.A. wishes him much success in his new challenges.

Likewise, the Board of Directors made the following appointments in the legal representation:

- David Alfredo Riano Alarcon, Vice President of Low Emissions Solutions, as legal representative and alternate commercial representative in the first line.

- Maria Catalina Escobar Hoyos, Corporate Vice President of Finance and Sustainable Value, as alternate legal and commercial representative in the second line.

- Nicolas Azcuenaga Ramirez, Corporate Vice President of Strategy and New Businesses, as alternate legal and commercial representative in the third line.

Ecopetrol is the largest company in Colombia and one of the main integrated energy companies in the American continent, with more than 18,000 employees. In Colombia, it is responsible for more than 60% of the hydrocarbon production of most transportation, logistics, and hydrocarbon refining systems, and it holds leading positions in the petrochemicals and gas distribution segments. With the acquisition of 51.4% of ISA's shares, the company participates in energy transmission, the management of real-time systems (XM), and the Barranquilla - Cartagena coastal highway concession. At the international level, Ecopetrol has a stake in strategic basins in the American continent, with Drilling and Exploration operations in the United States (Permian basin and the Gulf of Mexico), Brazil, and Mexico, and, through ISA and its subsidiaries, Ecopetrol holds leading positions in the power transmission business in Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Bolivia, road concessions in Chile, and the telecommunications sector. This press release contains business prospect statements, operating and financial result estimates, and statements related to Ecopetrol's growth prospects. These are all projections and, as such, they are based solely on the expectations of the managers regarding the future of the company and their continued access to capital to finance the company's business plan. The realization of said estimates in the future depends on the behavior of market conditions, regulations, competition, and the performance of the Colombian economy and the industry, among other factors, and are consequently subject to change without prior notice.

This release contains statements that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements, whether made in this release or in future filings or press releases, or orally, address matters that involve risks and uncertainties, including in respect of the Company's prospects for growth and its ongoing access to capital to fund the Company's business plan, among others. Consequently, changes in the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements: market prices of oil & gas, our exploration, and production activities, market conditions, applicable regulations, the exchange rate, the Company's competitiveness and the performance of Colombia's economy and industry, to mention a few. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

For more information, please contact:

Head of Capital Markets

Carolina Tovar Aragon

Email: [email protected]

Head of Corporate Communications

Marcela Ulloa

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Ecopetrol S.A.
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 International Paper Company (NYSE: IP), relating to its proposed merger with DS Smith Plc. Under the terms of the agreement, IP shareholders will own 66.3% of the combined company, and DS Smith shareholders will own 33.7% of the combined company.

Click here for more information: https://monteverdelaw.com/case/international-paper-company/. 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
JURUPA VALLEY, Calif., April 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of its service excellence and leadership in wastewater management, the Jurupa Community Services District (JCSD) was honored on the floor of the California Senate. Senator Richard J. Roth led the commendation, highlighting JCSD's recent achievement as the Wastewater Collection System of the Year for the entire state of California by the California Water Environment Association (CWEA).

Video of JCSD at the California State Senate. JCSD awarded CWEA's Collection System of the Year (Medium)

During the session, Senator Roth acknowledged the dedicated efforts of JCSD and its Collections team, several of whom were present, commending their commitment to operational excellence and stewardship. His remarks underscored JCSD's critical role in setting standards for wastewater management and community service. Following his comments, the entire Senate chamber joined in a round of applause, celebrating JCSD's contributions to the state and its residents.

"I have been proud to represent Jurupa Valley and this particular District for almost twelve years," said Senator Roth during his comments in the Senate Chambers. "The statewide award honors the District's exceptional commitment to maintaining its wastewater collection system. The District is not only a model for saving scarce water resources in our state, but also a nationwide leader."

"The recognition by the California Senate is a testament to the commitment of our team who focus on protecting our community and the environment each and every day," said Chris Berch, General Manager of JCSD. "We are honored by this acknowledgment and inspired to continue our promise of excellence in service for Eastvale and Jurupa Valley."

The recognition on the Senate floor marks another milestone for JCSD, reflecting its status as a model of excellence. It underscores JCSD as one of the best public agencies and community service providers in California.

After the Senate's recognition, Assemblymembers Sabrina Cervantes and Bill Essayli each met with JCSD's team in the Capitol to commend them on this great accomplishment.

JCSD's award winning Collections team include Aaron Anderson, Juan Flores, Juan Hernandez, Luis Tapia, Ricky Tejada, Rudy Soria, and Sergio Martinez, with Chander Letulle as Operations Director.

To view JCSD's recognition on the Senate floor, please click here.

Founded in 1956, the Jurupa Community Services District is a public agency providing services and programs to Jurupa Valley and Eastvale. It is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of five elected representatives from both cities. Serving over 130,000 people in a 40-square-mile area, JCSD provides a variety of community services and programs, including water, sewer, streetlights, frontage landscape maintenance, graffiti abatement, and parks and recreation services.Tarzi, Manager of Government & Public Affairs

Contact Info - Arman Tarzi

Manager of Government & Public Affairs

951-685-7434

[email protected]

SOURCE Jurupa Community Services District
LOS ANGELES, April 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Scientology Network's MEET A SCIENTOLOGIST, the weekly series spotlighting the everyday lives of Scientologists from around the world and all walks of life, announces an episode featuring architectural illustrator Ian Espinoza, on April 30, 2024.

MEET A SCIENTOLOGIST airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Scientology Network.

Ian Espinoza is an architectural illustrator whose ability to convey a story through his art has helped projects around the world come to fruition.

Ian Espinoza is a master architectural illustrator who combines the technical precision of architectural renderings with fine arts aesthetics. His unique vision and talent for conveying stories through his illustrations have led to commissions from some of the world's leading architects and developers. In an age of computer-generated images, Ian's hand-drawn illustrations stand apart, helping transform notable building and infrastructure projects from mere concepts on paper into acclaimed landmarks now gracing cities around the globe.

ABOUT IAN ESPINOZA

Born in Hollywood, California, by the age of three, Ian Espinoza had exhibited a love and talent for drawing. Raised early on by a single mother, his life forever changed when she married world-renowned architectural illustrator Carlos Diniz. His new stepfather recognized and encouraged Ian's artistic talents, and under his tutelage, Ian learned the craft of architectural illustration. As an adult, Ian joined Carlos's firm and worked with some of the world's leading architects, Frank Gehry among them. After his stepfather's retirement, Ian launched Ian Espinoza Associates Architectural Illustration, establishing his own reputation with an impressive roster of high-profile projects, including Hollywood & Highland, the San Diego Ballpark and Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

The Scientology Network debuted on March 12, 2018. Since launching, the Scientology Network has been viewed in over 240 countries and territories in 17 languages. Satisfying the curiosity of people about Scientology and Founder L. Ron Hubbard, the network takes viewers across six continents, spotlighting the everyday lives of Scientologists, showing the Church as a global organization, and presenting its social betterment programs that have touched the lives of millions worldwide. The network also showcases documentaries by independent filmmakers who represent a cross section of cultures and faiths, but share a common purpose of uplifting communities. Scientology Network's innovative content has been recognized with more than 125 industry awards, including Tellys, Communitas and Hermes Creative Awards.

Broadcast from Scientology Media Productions, the Church's global media center in Los Angeles, the Scientology Network is available on DIRECTV Channel 320, DIRECTV STREAM, AT&T U-verse and can be streamed at Scientology.tv, on mobile apps and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms.

SOURCE Church of Scientology International
NEW YORK, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces the filing of a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of securities of Global Cord Blood Corporation (NYSE: CO) (OTC: CORBF) between June 4, 2019 and May 3, 2022, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than June 24, 2024.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Global Cord securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Global Cord class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=20009 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than June 24, 2024. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Global Cord employed a capital allocation strategy designed to reserve funds for Global Cord insiders and related parties rather than for the benefit of Global Cord shareholders; (2) Global Cord's decisions to reject multiple going private offers and enter into the Transaction, an agreement to acquire Cellenkos Inc. for over $1 billion (including in Global Cord shares) were nothing more than self-serving and conflicted attempts by defendants to divert company funds to corporate insiders and related parties; (3) defendants had fundamentally misrepresented to investors Global Cord's approach to capital allocation, strategic investments, acquisitions, and related party transactions as a result of the misappropriation by defendant Yuen Kam and his entities of hundreds of millions of dollars from the Company; and (4) as a result, Global Cord's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Global Cord class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=20009 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.
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 California Resources Corporation (NYSE: CRC), relating to its proposed merger with Aera Energy, LLC. Under the terms of the agreement, CRC will issue 21.2 million shares of its common stock to the equity owners of Aera, and refinance Aera's outstanding debt, with CRC shareholders owning approximately 77.1% of the combined company.

Click here for more information: https://monteverdelaw.com/case/california-resources-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
Toro Taxes, renowned as the leading tax franchise for Latinos, proudly announces a strategic partnership with Trez, the pioneering payroll and benefits platform tailored for Latinos in the United States. This groundbreaking collaboration between two Latino-owned companies aims to maximize synergies and impact the US workforce.

SAN FRANCISCO, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The partnership was unveiled internally at the Franchisor's annual convention in Las Vegas, NV in December 2023, eliciting excitement and enthusiasm from the franchisees in attendance.

Partnership and Impact

The alliance between Toro Taxes and Trez marks a significant milestone in the business landscape, positioning both companies as key catalysts for the growth and development of Latino entrepreneurs in the United States. By joining forces with Toro Taxes, the largest Hispanic franchise offering tax preparation and business services to more than 200 franchise locations throughout the US, Trez will serve as the primary platform for onboarding the franchisee's clients onto the payroll platform.

Trez's unique expertise in developing payroll solutions for small Latino businesses perfectly complements Toro Taxes' leadership in tax services, providing the Latino business community with a comprehensive and specialized offering.

Arthur Garcia, Co-Founder of Trez, expressed his excitement about the alliance, stating, "This partnership with Toro Tax aligns with our mission to provide exceptional services to the U.S. Latino business community. Together, we are committed to delivering comprehensive solutions that address our clients' tax and payroll needs."

This announcement signifies the beginning of a significant collaboration, supported by Trez's experience in the industry. This partnership promises to positively transform the Latino business landscape in the United States, empowering entrepreneurs with tailored solutions to thrive in today's economy.

Nick Maldonado, CEO of Toro Taxes shared his sentiment, "Our company remains committed to the mission of empowering our franchisees with the necessary tools and resources that in turn allow them to provide the best possible services to their clients. Partnering with Trez Payroll, allows us to broaden our service offerings and better cater to the evolving needs of our clients as our brand continues to be a trusted name in the community."

About Toro Taxes Franchise

Toro Taxes is the largest Latino franchisor in America and operates in the massive $195 billion tax industry which has shown a steady growth of approximately 6% per year since 2012.

The company focuses on serving the niche Latino market, which represents nearly 19% of the country's population and continues to be the fastest-growing demographic in the USA where their footprint covers over 220 locations across 29 states from coast to coast, with hundreds of additional units planned for development.

About Trez.co

Trez.co, the first US Latino-focused payroll platform, offers specialized solutions for payroll, benefits, and financial services, empowering the Latino business community. Recognized by Techstars, Forbes, Inc, and Stanford GSB, our mission is to equip Latino entrepreneurs and their workforce with the tools for success.

Latino-owned businesses, a key driver of the U.S. economy, contribute significantly with $500 billion in annual sales and millions of jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 78 percent of the new workers entering America's workforce between 2020 and 2030 will be Hispanic. Hispanics own more than 4.5 million businesses and employ over 2.9 million people. Trez.co taps into those growing trends and addresses the unique challenges these entrepreneurs face, enhancing their operational efficiency and growth potential.

Press Contact:

Maria del Mar Lopez

831 219 0919

http://Trez.co

SOURCE Trez.co
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
Jerusalem, April 27 : Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was lightly injured after his car ran a red light on Friday afternoon in the county's central city of Ramla.

Ben-Gvir's black vehicle flipped over in an intersection while another car was smashed in front, Xinhua news agency reported, citing Israeli media and a video circulating online.

Ben-Gvir's office said his daughter and a driver were also in the car, and all three were lightly injured.

The minister is in good condition and conscious but is being taken to the nearby Shamir Medical Center for further treatment, it added.

Israeli media said that one of Ben Gvir's accompanying security vehicles also followed him through the red light but was not hit.

Ben-Gvir had been reportedly leaving the scene of an attack in Ramla. According to Israeli police and rescue services, early on Friday, an Arab assailant stabbed an 18-year-old woman in the city. The woman sustained serious wounds, and the attacker was neutralized.
Washington, April 27 : US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has said the United States is committed to supplying Ukraine with additional Patriot air defence systems, and that in order to do so Washington will have to rely on help from its allies.

Austin made the remarks on Friday during a press conference at the Pentagon, which was held almost concurrently with an announcement from the department that the US is sending a new weapons aid package to Ukraine worth $6 billion. That package, though, included only additional munitions for Patriots that were previously delivered, Xinhua news agency reported.

Austin told reporters at the press conference that "it's left to be seen" how Ukraine would end up receiving more Patriots, which President Volodymyr Zelensky again asked for just a little while ago at a virtual Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, a US-led multilateral mechanism to discuss military support for Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia. The meeting convenes about once a month.

"I think going forward, we'll be able to hopefully work with a number of countries to put together additional Patriot capability," Austin said, seemingly suggesting that additional US versions of the system are not readily available for Kiev.

"It's not just Patriot that they need, they need other types of systems and interceptors as well," Austin said.

At the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, Zelensky said his country needed at least seven Patriots or similar defence batteries to fend off Russian air strikes against Ukrainian cities.

"We urgently need Patriot systems and missiles for them," he said. "This is what can and should save lives right now."

In addition to missiles compatible with the Patriots, the 6-billion-dollar package that the Pentagon announced also included more munitions for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, or NASAMS, and equipment to integrate Western air defence launchers, missiles, and radars with Ukraine's air defence systems.

These capabilities will be provided through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which authorizes President Joe Biden's administration to procure capabilities from US domestic weapons manufacturers as well as foreign partners. Weapons being supplied under the USAI framework takes a longer time to be built, thus an extended period -- probably months or even years -- to get to the hands of Ukrainian soldiers.

On Wednesday, the White House approved $1 billion in weapons and equipment through the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which, unlike the USAI, could realize a much faster delivery because capabilities sent through this route are those in the Department of Defense's storage.

It is thanks to a sweeping foreign aid package which the US Congress passed and Biden signed into law on Wednesday that the United States is able to funnel weapons into Ukraine on such a large scale. Of the legislation's $95 billion, about $61 billion is for funding Ukraine's defence against Russia.
Tel Aviv, April 27 : Israel sees the latest efforts to achieve a ceasefire and a hostage deal in the Gaza war as a "last chance" before the planned attack on the city of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip, according to media reports.

According to a senior Israeli official, the talks between Egyptian and Israeli representatives in Tel Aviv on Friday were "very good" and focused. The Egyptians were apparently prepared to put pressure on the Palestinian militant organization Hamas in order to reach an agreement.

Progress had been made in all areas of the talks, the Times of Israel quoted reports late on Friday evening. Previously, the state-affiliated Egyptian television station Al-Qahira News had also reported considerable progress.

The Israeli official was quoted as saying that Israel would not allow Hamas, in particular its leader in the Gaza Strip, Yahya al-Sinwar, to delay a hostage deal in order to prevent the planned military offensive in Rafah.

The army had mobilised two more reserve brigades a few days ago.

Al-Sinwar is considered to have been the mastermind of the massacre in Israel on October 7 last year, in which around 1,200 Israeli soldiers and civilians were killed and more than 200 people were abducted to Gaza. Israeli forces believe al-Sinwar is hiding in tunnels below Rafah.

"This is the last chance before we go to Rafah," the Times of Israel quoted the unnamed Israeli government official as saying. "It's either an agreement in the future or Rafah."

Israel wants to smash the last remaining Hamas battalions in the town in southern Gaza, which borders Egypt. According to Israeli media, Egypt wants to reach an agreement to avert the assault on Rafah. Egypt is concerned that large numbers of Palestinians could cross the border.

More than a million civilians have fled from the fighting in the rest of the Gaza Strip and sought refuge in Rafah.

According to the Israeli media, the latest talks between Egyptian and Israeli representatives were initially intended to focus on a limited agreement with Hamas, whereby only some female, elderly and sick hostages would be released. Hamas had rejected a US proposal to release 40 such abductees.

According to them, there aren't that many hostages left alive who fall into these categories. Hamas is calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, a demand which Israel's government rejects.

--IANS/DPA

sha/
Washington, April 27 : US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that he renewed calls for China to exert its influence to press North Korea to cease its "dangerous" activities and return to dialogue during his talks with top Chinese officials in Beijing.

Blinken made the remarks on Friday during a press conference after he had separate meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong and other officials in the Chinese capital on the day, Yonhap news agency reported.

Blinken's trip to Shanghai and Beijing from Wednesday to Friday came as Washington has been pushing for its drive to "responsibly" manage the Sino-US relationship despite a hardening rivalry over technological leadership, maritime security, trade and other domains.

"I encouraged China to use its influence to discourage Iran and its proxies from expanding the conflict in the Middle East, and to press Pyongyang to end its dangerous behaviour and engage in dialogue," Blinken said. "Going forward, we will have high-level discussions on these and other issues."

Pyongyang has been ratcheting up tensions with recent menacing weapons tests, including a "super-large" warhead power test for a strategic cruise missile and the launch of an intermediate-range missile tipped with a hypersonic warhead.

Blinken restated America's "enduring" commitment to the "complete" denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula while in Beijing, according to Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the State Department.

During talks with Beijing officials, he also highlighted Washington's "serious" concerns about China's commercial support for Russia's defence industrial base, which Blinken said is "powering Russia's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine".

"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 defence industrial base, a defence industrial base that is churning out rockets, drones, tanks, and other weapons that President Putin is using to invade a sovereign country, to demolish its power grid and other civilian infrastructure, to kill innocent children, women and men," he said.

"Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without China's support," he added.

Moreover, the top US diplomat touched on the issue of China's overcapacity.

"I also expressed our concern about the PRC's unfair trade practices and the potential consequences of industrial overcapacity to global and US markets, especially in a number of key industries that will drive the 21st-century economy, like solar panels, electric vehicles, and the batteries that power them," he said. PRC stands for China's official name, the People's Republic of China.

"China alone is producing more than 100 per cent of global demand for these products, flooding markets, undermining competition, putting at risk livelihoods and businesses around the world."

Blinken also underlined a US focus on taking "necessary" actions to prevent "advanced US technologies from being used to undermine our national security and economy without unduly limiting trade or investment", according to Miller.

But both sides reaffirmed the importance of maintaining open lines of communication "at all times" and agreed to continued high-level diplomacy and interactions going forward, according to Miller.

During his talks with the top US diplomat, the Chinese President said that the US and China should be "partners rather than rivals".

"The two countries should help each other succeed rather than hurt each other, seek common ground and reserve differences rather than engage in vicious competition, and honour words with actions rather than say one thing but do the opposite," Xi said according to a transcript released by the State Department.

Xi underlined his three "overarching principles": mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and willing cooperation.

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

Xi also said that China is happy to see the US being "confident, open, prosperous, and thriving".

"We hope the US can also look at China's development in a positive light," he said. "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."

Blinken reaffirmed the US' commitment to stably manage relations with China.

"We are committed to maintaining and strengthening the lines of communication between us to advance that agenda and, again, to deal responsibly with our differences so that we avoid any miscommunications, any misperceptions, any miscalculations," he said.

Blinken was referring to the agenda for bilateral cooperation that President Joe Biden and Xi set during their high-profile summit in California in November. At the summit, they agreed to restore military-to-military communication and cooperate on counternarcotics among other outcomes.
Gaza, April 27 : Hamas has reportedly announced its openness to any ideas or proposals for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The group said in a statement on Friday that Hamas is "open to any ideas or proposals that take into account the needs and rights of our people", Xinhua news agency reported.

The statement proposed a permanent ceasefire, withdrawal of occupation forces from Gaza, and unconditional or restricted return of displaced persons to their homes in Gaza and North Gaza governorates and across the Strip.

The statement emphasized accompanying measures such as reconstruction, ending the blockade, fulfilling humanitarian needs, and advancing a prisoner exchange agreement, all aligned with the realization of Palestinian national rights and the establishment of an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.

It comes as Israeli public radio reported the arrival of Abbas Kamel, the head of the Egyptian intelligence leading an Egyptian security delegation to Israel as part of talks to resume the exchange deal with Hamas.

Israeli radio reported that Kamel will meet in Tel Aviv with the head of the Mossad, David Barnea, and the head of the National Security Council, Tzahi Hanegbi.

The radio mentioned that the Israeli team managing the negotiations presented new proposals to the "War Cabinet" last night, requiring flexibility from the Israeli side.

According to a source familiar with the negotiations, the current proposal for the hostage deal entails the release of 33 hostages, comprising women, soldiers, adults, and the wounded.

According to the source, the duration of the ceasefire within the agreement will depend on the number of hostages to be released.

An Israeli security official reported significant progress in bridging the viewpoints between the Egyptian and Israeli delegations regarding reaching a ceasefire in the sector.

Qatari and Egyptian mediators, along with the United States, are seeking to reach a deal for a prisoner exchange and a second ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, following the first one that lasted until early December last year.

Israel estimates that there are about 134 Israeli hostages in Gaza, while Hamas announced the killing of 70 of them in Israeli indiscriminate airstrikes.

Israel holds more than 9,000 Palestinian prisoners in its jails, whose conditions have worsened since its war on Gaza began, resulting in deaths among them, according to Palestinian organizations concerned with prisoners.

Meanwhile, Hamas said it followed with interest the statement issued by the White House, signed by 18 countries, which primarily called for the immediate release of hostages in the Gaza Strip.

"We express our regret for the statement not addressing fundamental issues for our people, who suffer under a comprehensive genocide war, and for not emphasizing the necessity of a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of the occupation army from the Gaza Strip."

The statement urged the international community to expose the genocide targeting children and civilians in Gaza, prioritize ending it, and resist Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's destabilizing policies aimed at the region, driven by personal political motives.

Eighteen countries issued a joint statement on Thursday, calling on Hamas to "immediately release" the hostages it holds, stating that doing so "will lead to an immediate and long-term ceasefire in Gaza."

Referring to nations with citizens held captive by Hamas since the attack on Israel last year, these countries stated that releasing the hostages "will facilitate additional humanitarian aid to all parts of Gaza and bring about a lasting cessation of hostilities."

The statement explained that, in addition, residents in Gaza "will be able to return to their homes and lands with prior arrangements to ensure shelter and humanitarian assistance."

The statement added, "Let us end this crisis so that we can all focus our efforts on bringing peace and stability to the region."
Kiev, April 27 : Explosions were heard in several Ukrainian regions late on Friday amid Russian missile attacks, local media outlets reported.

In particular, blasts have rocked Ukraine's central Vinnytsia region and the western Ivano-Frankivsk region, the government-run Ukrinform news agency said.

Several explosions also rattled Ukraine's eastern city of Kharkiv, Xinhua news agency reported, citing Mayor Ihor Terekhov.

The Ukrainian Air Force said on Telegram that Russia launched cruise missiles and aeroballistic missiles at Ukraine during the air strike.

Separately, Ukrainian Telegram channels warned that Russia was likely preparing a new missile attack on Ukraine as a group of Tu-95 strategic bombers had taken off from Olenya airfield in Russia's northwestern Murmansk region.
Mexico City, April 27 : Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has reiterated his request that the US government stop issuing the report evaluating the human rights situation in several countries, considering it a violation of sovereignty.

"It violates the sovereignty of any people, of any country, we are independent," Lopez Obrador told his daily press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City on Friday.

He questioned for the fourth time this week whether the report prepared by the US State Department serves to provide financial support to those countries that perform well in the field of human rights, Xinhua news agency reported.

In the case of Mexico, the US "has not given us a dollar", said Lopez Obrador.

"It's not true that this report has the purpose of seeing who they help and who they don't, they just don't help anyone," he said.

The US report assesses around 200 countries in the world regarding individual, political, civil and labour rights.
Tel Aviv, April 27 : Israel has demanded the release of at least 33 hostages by Hamas to prevent the planned attack on the city of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip.

Sources in the Israeli Defence Ministry told IANS that the demand was put forward by Mossad chief David Barnea before the visiting Egyptian delegation headed by its intelligence chief Major General Abbas Kamel.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has already expressed his country's concern over the planned attack on Rafah to the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during the latter's recent visit to Cairo.

Egypt fears that an attack on the Rafah region would lead to civilian catastrophe as well as a huge refugee exodus to Egypt as Rafah borders the Sinai region of the country.

Israel, citing its internal report, has said that of the 129 Israeli hostages, there are 33 people who fall in the category of aged, women, and ill. According to Israel, many of the 129 hostages are dead.

Israel has also said that it would not allow any time buying tactics by Hamas led by Yahya Sinwar, its military commander and the "mastermind of the October 7, 2023 massacre".

Israeli intelligence has claimed that Sinwar is in Rafah in one of the Hamas tunnels with the Israeli hostages as human shields.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has already deployed its elite Nahal Brigade in Rafah ahead of the planned attack.
New Delhi : A view of a dry bed of the portion in Yamuna river near DND amid the ongoing heatwave, in New Delhi on Tuesday June 28, 2022. (Photo: IANS/Wasim Sarwar). Image Source: IANS News

Chennai, April 27 : With most of the reservoirs in the drought-prone districts of Vellore, Ranipet, Thirupathur and Tiruvannamalai left with only 55 per cent of water, farmers have been advised to shift to crops that require less water.

Sources in the Tamil Nadu water resources department told IANS that the 55 per cent of water that is remaining in the major reservoirs of the region will not be used for agriculture and it will only be used for domestic consumption.

The weather department has already said that the temperature in these districts would touch 44 degrees Celsius in days to come.

At present the temperatures in these districts are anywhere between 38 to 42 degrees Celsius.

Extreme heatwave conditions have led to the drying up of Palar River which is one of the main sources of water in this region.

The Tamil Nadu agriculture department has advised farmers to cultivate crops like maize, ragi, groundnuts, wheat and pulses like green gram and urad as these crops require less water.

These crops, according to the Tamil Nadu agriculture department officials, will also give higher returns to the farmers.

In Tamil Nadu the crops traditionally being cultivated by farmers are sugar cane, paddy and banana which require large quantities of water.

K Ramaswamy, a sugar cane farmer in Tiruppatur, told IANS, "The agriculture department has already asked us to switch from sugar cane and paddy farming to maize, wheat and ragi cultivation as there is extreme shortage of water in the region. We are however yet to decide on this even though the department has informed us of the benefits of switching over to the new crops."

The farmers have also been advised to switch to drip irrigation techniques for water conservation.

IANS

aal/rad
When the nation's attention was focussed on the Balakot air strike, Indian Army in a joint operation with Myanmaerese Army destroyed 10 camps belonging to an insurgent group in Myanmar which had threatened the Kaladan multi-mode transit project. (Fil. Image Source: IANS News

Imphal, April 27 : Two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, including a Sub Inspector, were killed and two others have been injured after armed groups attacked a camp of security forces in Manipur's Bishnupur district early on Saturday, police said.

Imphal, April 27 (IANS) Two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, including a Sub Inspector, were killed and two others have been injured after armed groups attacked a camp of security forces in Manipuras Bishnupur district early on Saturday, police said.

A police official said that a suspected Kuki armed group opened fire and threw bombs towards a Meitei village at Narayansena under Moirang police station and one of the bombs exploded inside the outpost of 128-battalion CRPF at Narayansena, injuring four personnel.

Sub Inspector N. Sarkar and Head Constable Arup Saini succumbed to their injuries later, and Inspector Jadav Das and constable Aftab Hussain with splinter wounds were taken to a nearby hospital.

The official said that additional security forces have been rushed to the areas and a massive search operation is underway to find out the perpetrators of the attack.
New Delhi, April 27 : Foreign e-commerce players like Amazon and Walmart-owned Flipkart are circumventing rules and laws in their relentless pursuit of capturing the Indian market, often resorting to unethical business practices, Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary General, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and a BJP candidate for Lok Sabha, said on Saturday.

Reacting to a TV media report that the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has found alleged irregularities in its probe against e-commerce companies like Amazon and Flipkart and their links with mobile manufacturers, Khandelwal told IANS that this "nexus" between e-commerce giants and mobile companies "undermines the country's broader interests."

Amazon or Flipkart did not immediately comment on the report.

"For years, we have been highlighting the persistent problem of foreign e-commerce companies circumventing rules and laws in their relentless pursuit of capturing the Indian market, often resorting to unethical business practices," said Khandelwal, BJP candidate from Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha constituency in the Capital.

He said that this "intricate web" involves collaboration between e-commerce giants and mobile companies, which undermines the country's broader interests and "threatens the livelihoods of small traders."

In February this year, the retail traders' body had written to the CCI, seeking urgent steps in the Delhi Vyapar Mahasangh case involving the anti-competitive practices of Amazon and Flipkart.

In a letter to the CCI Chairperson Ravneet Kaur, the CAIT said the market regulator "must attach utmost priority to the case and pass final penalty order and direction to Flipkart and Amazon to stop their illegal activities, as the outcome of the case has a serious bearing on the survival of lakhs of retailers and their families."

"These foreign entities have indulged in monopolisation of sales of mobile phones through exclusive launch," the CAIT letter had alleged.

Khandelwal told IANS that it is imperative that decisive action be taken against these companies now.

"Once the general elections are concluded and if elected as an MP, I am committed to advocating for addressing this issue," he added.
Mumbai, April 27 : Santosh Singh, the director of 'Ranneeti: Balakot & Beyond', shared insights about shooting in Serbia, praising it as a supportive location.

The director revealed that the country provided them with fifty tanks for filming without any hesitation.

Singh said in a statement: "This was my second experience shooting in the country, and I must say, I love shooting there. It's a very open and helpful place. For 'Ranneeti: Balakot and Beyond', they gave us fifty tanks for filming, that also, without any hesitation."

"For my earlier series as well, we had stayed there for three months, since it was the time of Covid," he added.

The director said: "We stayed there, shot for one month, and then completed the post-production in two months while staying there. Due to travel restrictions, it wouldnat have been possible to go back. I have always had a good experience shooting and working there."

The series is currently streaming on JioCinema.
Jaipur, April 27 : Rajasthan Police have deputed additional forces in the city after a cleric was murdered in a mosque in Ajmer on Saturday, a police officer said.

The incident was reported at around 3 a.m. on Saturday, said police officials adding that three masked miscreants committed the crime. At the time of the incident, there were six minors in the mosque who were threatened and asked not to scream.

The minors said that the miscreants warned them of dire consequences if they shouted.

Ramganj police station in-charge Ravindra Khinchi said, "Cleric Mohammad Mahir (30) lived in Mohammadi Madina Masjid located in Kanchan Nagar of Ramganj police station of the city. Some children were also living with him. When the children came out screaming at around 3 a.m. in the morning, the neighbours came to know about the murder. Police were informed soon after."

Khinchi said that the three miscreants had entered the room through a road behind the mosque and killed the cleric. They fled through the same route.

The police station in-charge said, "The reasons for the murder have not been revealed yet. There is an enclosure behind the mosque, from where two rods have been recovered. Along with this, nearby CCTV footage is being scrutinised. Dog squad team has also been called."

The community members have demanded immediate action from the police seeking the arrest of the accused. Cleric's body has been kept in the mortuary of JLN Hospital, Ajmer.
Sanaa, April 27 : 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 US 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, Xinhua news agency reported.

"On Thursday, our air defence 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 US 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.
Kolkata, April 27 : The Trinamool Congress on Saturday wrote to the Election Commission of India (ECI) opposing the CBI and National Security Guard (NSG) raids at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas District on Friday and expressed apprehensions that the central agencies might have 'planted' weapons at the search site to 'defame it' when the second phase of Lok Sabha polls were underway.

In a significant operation at Sandeshkhali on Friday afternoon, the CBI recovered a huge cache of foreign and Indian-make firearms, explosives and crude bombs from the residence of a relative of suspended Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan at Sandeshkhali.

Later, the Commandos of the NSG, too, joined the CBI officials in that search operation.

In its complaint to the ECI, a copy of which is available with IANS, the Trinamool Congress has accused the CBI of "carrying out an unscrupulous raid at an empty location in Sandeshkhali, West Bengal, on poll day, to tarnish the image of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) during the ensuing Lok Sabha Elections, 2024."

It has also claimed that while polling for three Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal was underway on Friday afternoon, the CBI officials conducted raids at vacant places in Sandeshkhali.

In the complaint, the ruling party has also raised questions about involving the NSG commandos in the operations.

As per the ruling party's complaint, despite repeated requests seeking the ECI's intervention on the hyper-activity of the central agencies during the polling period, no action or directive has been issued on this count.

"Previously, we have brought to your attention the need for urgent guidelines/framework so that central investigating agencies cannot throttle the campaign efforts of various political parties, including AITC, who are opposed to the ruling dispensation at the Centre.

"However, despite repeated representations, your office has turned a blind eye, while central probe agencies continue to wreak havoc across the nation, especially during the election period," the communique to the ECI read.

In the letter to the commission, the Trinamool Congress has also accused the BJP's central leadership of regularly targeting the Trinamool Congress leadership.

"It is reiterated that in the absence of any representative of the state government, the purported recovery of arms and ammunition is possibly a ploy employed by the BJP in conspiracy with the CBI and the NSG to plant such weapons at the site.

"It would not be out of place to revisit that the Hon'ble Supreme Court has time and again held that free and fair elections form an important concomitant of democracy.

"In the present situation, the BJP has compromised the sanctity of the ensuing elections by spreading a sense of terror among the electorate, thereby attempting to gain an undue advantage in the ensuing elections," read the communique to ECI.
Mumbai, April 27 : Rapper Khanzaadi, who was seen in the 17th season of the controversial reality show 'Bigg Boss', is now gearing up to release her debut album titled 'Jwalamukhi'.

The album is poised to deliver an electrifying blend of beats and fiery lyrics, reflecting Khanzaadi's unapologetic attitude and bold personality.

Drawing inspiration from her personal experiences and the journey she underwent during her stint on Bigg Boss, the album is set to showcase her evolution as both an artiste and an individual.

In addition to featuring Khanzaadi's powerful vocals, the album will also include music videos that highlight her artistic vision and creative flair.

Originally hailing from Assam, Khanzaadi, whose real name is Firoza Khan, first gained recognition as a contestant on the hip-hop show 'Hustle 2.0' on MTV.

She garnered attention with tracks like 'Azaadi', 'No Boundaries', and 'Tarazu'.

Her breakout moment came in 2023 when she participated in 'Bigg Boss 17', where Munawar Faruqui emerged as the winner.
Mumbai, April 27 : A day after he quit the Congress electioneering as Star Campaigner and the Campaign Committee, state Working President M. Arif Naseem Khan said that he is not a rebel and continues to respect the party leadership as always, here on Saturday.

Speaking to the media, Khan said that contrary to speculation, his decision was "not influenced" by any extraneous factors but out of sheer disappointment as the Congress-Maha Vikas Aghadi has not fielded a single Muslim minority candidate for the ongoing Lok Sabha polls in the state.

"I was assured that the city and state units had recommended my name for a Lok Sabha seat, but that has not happened. As the Muslim community's leader in the Congress, I am barged with embarrassing questions for which I have no answers. Hence I have resigned from my responsibilities for the LS polls," said Khan.

He added that he remains with the party and will highlight his grievances before the Congress high command soon in the interest of the minorities who are solidly standing with the party in all the 48 LS seats.

"However, wherever I go, I am being asked 'whether the Congress wants only Muslim votes, but doesn't need any Muslim LS candidates', and I have nothing to say to them," a peeved Khan pointed out.

The state Working President's decision late on Friday sent shockwaves in the Congress-MVA circles, coming a day after the Congress named Mumbai city chief Prof. Varsha Gaikwad as the candidate for Mumbai North Central LS constituency.

"I have no objections against Gaikwad's nomination, she is like my younger sister. I have no complaints vis-a-vis the state and central leaderships which are working all out to oust the BJP in the state and country, nor will I do anything to weaken their efforts," said Khan.

Asserting that he was fully behind the Nehru-Gandhi family, plus Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, he claimed that "I am not a rebel", but raising his voice on a genuine issue concerning the minorities supporting the Congress party.

"In the past, there were many Muslim candidates fielded in Maharashtra and other parts of India This time (2024), the MVA has not nominated a single Muslim in the state though their population here is around 12 per cent (around 1.50 crore) of the total 12 crore people in the state," argued Khan.

In 2014 and 2019, the Congress had nominated a sole candidate, Hidayatulla Barkatulla Patel in Akola, who lost to the Bharatiya Janata Party's Sanjay S. Dhotre on both occasions.

Khan reiterated that in the past he had always worked sincerely for the party in Maharashtra and other states he was assigned, but in protest against the decision ignoring any Muslim candidates in 2024, he had decided to opt out of the Congress' election campaign.
Seoul, April 27 : In another conciliatory gesture, South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo pleaded with medical professors on 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 February 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, reports Yonhap news agency.

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 the 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 would accept them more seriously if they returned to hospitals.

According to the decision, 32 universities will be permitted to increase their admission quotas freely, with the annual increase ranging between 50 per cent and 100 per cent, starting in 2025, a turnaround from the previous decision to add 2,000 more medical school admissions in total.
New Delhi, April 27 : A Delhi court on Saturday granted bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan in connection with the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) complaint over non-compliance of its summons in the Delhi Waqf Board money laundering case.

The judge granted him bail on a bail bond of Rs 15,000 and a surety of the like amount.

Khan appeared before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Divya Malhotra of Rouse Avenue Court upon the summons issued to him by the court.

Last time, the ED had told the court that Khan was issued seven summons by the agency and that it would not withdraw its complaint.

Recently, the ED had questioned the AAP legislator in its office in the national capital for over 13 hours in the case.

Even the Supreme Court had recently refused to entertain his plea seeking anticipatory bail. The top court had voiced its displeasure over the MLA skipping ED summonses.

Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Simon Benjamin, appearing for ED, had last time said that the ED will not withdraw its complaint, unlike the application seeking issuance of a non-bailable warrant against the accused.

"He committed the offence of noncompliance of summons; therefore, this complaint was filed," the SPP had said.

About ED questioning the legislator recently, it is noteworthy that Khan had arrived at the ED office after he was directed by the Supreme Court to join the probe, and he had left the agencyas office post-midnight the next day after over 13 hours of quizzing in the case.

The sources had said that Khan was allowed to leave after questioning, however, he can be summoned again to join the probe.

The probe agency has alleged that Khan, previously a witness, later became an accused in the case by seeking anticipatory bail and evading investigation.

SPP Benjamin had earlier stressed on Khan's pivotal role in the matter, saying that his involvement surpasses that of other accused who have already been apprehended and charged.

The ED had cited Khan's non-cooperation as a hindrance in the conclusion of the investigation.

On March 11, the Delhi High Court refused anticipatory bail to AAP legislator Amanatullah Khan in the case.

The allegation is related to Khan's alleged wrongful appointment as Chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board.

The ED had filed the chargesheet against Zeeshan Haider, his partnership firm Skypower, Javed Imam Siddiqui, Dawood Nasir, and Qausar Imam Siddiqui in the case.

The case pertains to a property worth Rs 36 crore in Okhla being allegedly acquired with illicit funds, purportedly influenced by Khan, who reportedly handed over Rs 8 crore in cash.

During the investigation, the ED considered FIRs filed earlier by the CBI, ACB, and the Delhi Police.

The ED said that the property was bought at Khan's behest and presented with evidence of Rs 27 crore cash transaction.
Kyiv, April 27 : At least four thermal power plants were damaged as Russia again targeted Ukraine with a round of massive airstrikes overnight, the operator said on Saturday.

Of the 32 missiles and cruise missiles launched from the air, the Black Sea and the ground, 21 were intercepted, the Ukrainian Air Force said.

Several people were injured at the damaged energy facilities, operator DTEK said, adding that workers were trying to repair the damage, the company added.

Air raid sirens sounded across the country ahead of the attacks which had mainly targeted power plants, according to the Energy Ministry, Kyiv.

According to the authorities, two power plants were hit in the south-eastern Dnipropetrovsk region, in the country's industrial heartland. Attacks from the western Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk regions were also reported.

Authorities also reported explosions in Kharkiv, the north-eastern city near the Russian border that has been repeatedly the target of attacks in recent weeks.

The grounds of a hospital were hit in the Russian attack, it said, with buildings damaged and windows shattered due to the blast wave from an explosion. One patient was injured in her bed. The authorities also published pictures of the damage.

Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of neighbouring Ukraine more than two years ago, was also targeted in overnight attacks, with the country's air defence saying it had intercepted 66 Ukrainian drones over the Krasnodar region, which lies to the east of the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea.

Moscow illegally annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in 2014.

According to the local authorities, an oil processing plant in Krasnodar was damaged in a fire, but no one was injured.

Two drones were reportedly also shot down above Crimea.

--IANS/DPA

sd/svn
Hyderabad, April 27 : The CPI(M) on Saturday took no decision to withdraw from the contest in Bhongir Lok Sabha constituency but agreed to support the Congress in the remaining 16 constituencies in Telangana.

Telangana Chief Minister, A Revanth Reddy, met state leaders of the CPI(M) with a request to withdraw their candidate from Bhongir constituency and back the Congress for the victory of the INDIA bloc.

However, CPI(M) state Secretary Tammineni Veerabhadram said after the meeting that they had decided to remain in the contest in Bhongir.

Revanth Reddy, who is also President of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC), made certain political proposals in order to get the CPI(M) to withdraw its candidate, however, Veerabhadram said a decision in this regard would be taken after consultation with the central leadership of the party.

Veerabhadram said that in the recent Assembly elections, the Congress had agreed to leave two seats for the CPI(M) but later it did not allot the seats.

Revanth Reddy said that on the direction of the AICC President, he met the leaders of CPI(M) and placed certain proposals before them and requested their support to defeat the BJP.

"There are a couple of issues which will be resolved by evening or tomorrow morning," he said without elaborating.

Revanth Reddy admitted due to some local factors, they have some differences but in the larger interest of the alliance, they agreed to work together.

Julakanti Ranga Reddy, Sitaramulu Veeraiah and other CPI(M) leaders were present in the meeting.

On April 19, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka had met the CPI(M) leaders and held talks with them.

The CPI(M) had announced that it will contest all 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state on its own. It, however, announced a candidate for only the Bhongir seat.

The Marxist party has fielded Mohammed Jahangir from Bhongir seat while the Congress has named Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy as its candidate.

The Congress had made attempts to forge an alliance with Left parties during Assembly polls held in November 2023. It could strike an alliance only with the CPI as the CPM rejected the alliance after the Congress offered just one Assembly seat each for the CPI and the CPM.

The CPI accepted one seat (Kothagudem), contested the election and won while the CPM contested 14 seats on its own but drew a blank.
New Delhi, April 27 : In a significant development, 1,500 members from the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, along with Singh Sabha and other Sikh organisations, joined BJP on Saturday, just weeks ahead of Lok Sabha elections in Delhi and Punjab.

At a grand ceremony held at the party's central office in New Delhi, BJP's National General Secretary Tarun Chugh, National Secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa, and Delhi Pradesh President Virendra Sachdeva conferred party membership to seven members of the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee.

Addressing the event after the joining of Sikh members, BJP National President J. P. Nadda said that it is a matter of "pride and happiness" for BJP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi shares a special bond with the Sikh community, and BJP, along with the Sikh community, will work for the development of Delhi and Punjab.

If someone has worked genuinely for the Sikh community, it is PM Modi, said the BJP National President, adding: "PM Modi has been in charge of Punjab for a long time, and hence he shares a special bond with them."

Nadda claimed that "PM Modi has done many things for the Sikh community which no other Prime Minister could do in 70 years," citing projects such as the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor and the provision of GST relief on langar meals by the Punjab government.

Reflecting on the riots of 1984, Nadda recalled PM Modi's decisive action in forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to address the atrocities of the riots, resulting in the imprisonment of the perpetrators.

He expressed his gratitude for the large-scale support from the Sikh community and said: "The party cares for everyone. Recognising the contributions of the Sikh community, respecting them and including them in the mainstream is only possible in BJP."

Nadda praised the Sikh community's resilience and sacrifices in defending the country against various threats. He emphasised the significance of their integration into the BJP's fold, citing it as a crucial step toward advancing the nation's unity, integrity, and security.

It is worth mentioning that this induction marked a historic moment for the BJP, as for the first time, people in such large numbers joined the party.

Jasmain Singh Noni, Harjeet Singh Pappa, Ramandeep Singh Thapar, Bhupinder Singh Ginni, Ramandeep Singh Mehta, Parvinder Singh Lucky, and Manjeet Singh Aulakh, along with 1,500 other significant personalities associated with the Singh Sabha and other Sikh organisations joined the BJP's fold.

During the event, BJP's National Secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa invoked former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's statement, alleging that "Congress has committed genocide" against Sikhs and asserting that the "Sikh community will never forgive Congress for its actions."

He lauded the efforts of PM Modi in championing Sikh interests, emphasising that the Sikh community is "Modi ka Pariwar."
Patna, April 27 : Upping the ante against the Congress over its "appeasement" politics, Union Minister and BJP's Begusarai candidate on Saturday said that the grand old party has slit the throats of Hindu people and snatched their rights for Muslims.

While interacting with media persons in Begusarai, Giriraj Singh said, "The fight in the INDI alliance is about who has the right on the Muslim vote bank. Congress has slit the throats of Hindu people. Its leaders have snatched the constitutional rights of Hindus."

"I want to ask Congress leaders what they want. Are they planning to start a civil war in the country? Do they want Other Backward Class (OBC) people to take to the streets and create a ruckus?" Singh said.

"When the issue of Karnataka was raised in the country, why did people like Lalu Prasad stay silent on it? Why Tejashwi Yadav is tightlipped on it? Congress should reveal why it has snatched the rights of OBC," he said in connection with reports of the Siddaramaiah government including Muslims in OBCs.

When asked about opposition leaders targeting BJP on the electoral bonds, he said, "Lalu Prasad first took donations from a liquor company and now they are trying to target BJP leaders over electoral bonds. I want to tell them that everything is clear and transparent here."
Gaza, April 27 : A top Hamas official said on Saturday that the Islamist militant group is studying an Israeli counterproposal regarding a potential ceasefire in Gaza, as a ground assault on the city of Rafah looms.

"Hamas will examine this proposal and submit a response," Khalil al-Hayya, the deputy head of the group's political arm in Gaza, said in a statement posted on Telegram.

He said the Israeli side was responding to a proposal Hamas had presented to Egyptian and Qatari mediators on April 13.

Negotiations aimed at releasing hostages held by militants in the Gaza Strip and securing a ceasefire in the devastated Palestinian territory have been deadlocked for months.

But Israel's preparations for a large-scale ground offensive on Rafah - the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip and the territory's last Hamas stronghold - is reportedly putting pressure on the group.

US media outlet Axios reported on Friday, citing two senior Israeli officials, that Israel had warned Egypt that this would be the "last chance" to strike a deal before its Rafah operations begin.

Axios and Israeli media reported that Hamas and Israel are at loggerheads over the scope of the deal, including how many hostages could be released and how long the ceasefire would last. Hamas is demanding a permanent ceasefire, which Israel rejects.

Israel's allies and critics have for months implored Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to call off the invasion of Rafah, fearing mass civilian casualties. More than a million displaced Palestinians from other parts of the Gaza Strip have taken shelter there.

--IANS/DPA

sd/svn
Thiruvananthapuram, April 27 : Since CPI-M veteran leader and Convenor of the Left Democratic Front (LDF), E.P. Jayarajan, is in the dock over his meeting with BJP leader Prakash Javadekar, the Central Congress leadership on Saturday asked Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to explain why he too met the BJP leader.

State Congress President, K.Sudhakaran said it was Chief Minister Vijayan himself, who admitted that he had met Javadekar.

"Vijayan said they (he and Prakash Javadekar) met during a public meeting, we (Congress) wish to ask when and where did that public meeting take place. Did you (media) ever cover any event where both Vijayan and Javadekar took part. Vijayan should explain where and why they met," Sudhakaran added.

In reply to a query about Javadekar's statement that he has met leaders from CPI-M, Congress and the CPI and when asked if he (Sudhakaran) has met him came the reply, "I just do not know if Javadekar is black or white, I have never met him."

"Vijayan knows that he requires the help of the BJP in light of a few cases that he (Vijayan) and his daughter is presently involved in," the State Congress President added.

Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan said last month that he had asked a query if Jayarajan is the Convenor of LDF or the BJP-led NDA.

"Now with Jayarajan's own admission, what I have said is now clear. This clandestine meeting that Jayarajan had with Javadekar was with the knowledge of Vijayan, but now Jayarajan has been turned into a villain. We have been saying for long that there is a secret pact between the CPI-M and BJP and it has now surfaced out in the open," Satheesan added.

"In this issue, the main accused is Vijayan and now it appears Jayarajan has been made the scapegoat," the Opposition leader said and asked CM Vijayan to come clean on the meetings with Javadekar.
Kalaburagi, : April 27 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday stated that the Congress will win many seats in the election held on April 26 for the 14 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state.

Speaking to reporters in Kalaburagi, CM Siddaramaiah stated on Saturday that now that the first phase of elections had ended, he had got reports that the Congress was going to win more seats.

"I had spoken to all candidates and district incharge ministers. Everyone told me that the people have blessed our party," he stated.

CM Siddaramaiah maintained that he believed that the Congress' guarantees have had a favourable impact on the people.

"We are discussing the failures of the central government in the last 10 years and the achievements of our government. The people are responding well and showing spirit," he stated.

"The Constitution is clear about the reservation for backwards. The Constitution has stated that reservation should be given to socially and academically-Backward Classes. But, in violation of this, the central government had brought an amendment and gave 10 per cent of reservation to Economically Weaker Sections. This is against the Constitution written by Babasaheb Ambedkar. In spite of it, the provision was made," CM Siddaramaiah said.

In 1992, the constitution Bench agreed to the recommendation of the Mandal Commission and specified the ceiling with regard to reservation. However, even as there is no ceiling in the Constitution for reservation, 50 per cent ceiling was made to the reservation, he charged.

CM Siddaramaiah further stated that the BJP opposed the reservation to women and Backwards when the report of the Mandal Commission was implemented and provoked students to oppose it.

He said that BJP veteran leader, LK Advani had planned to take out a Rath Yatra over the issue and added that from the beginning, the BJP has been against social justice.

"When Arjun Singh was the Human Resource Minister at the Centre, the reservation in higher education institutions like IIMs and IITs was cleared. When late Rajiv Gandhi was the PM, Amendment to Article 73, 74 was made. By bringing amendment to Article 73, reservation was given to women and Backwards in district, taluk and gram panchayats," CM Siddaramaiah stated.

CM Siddaramaiah added that during the tenure of late PM, PV Narasimha Rao, 33 per cent reservation was provided to women under OBC 2(A) and (B), Backwards were given 27.4 per cent reservation under OBC (A) and 6.6 per cent reservation under OBC (B) and it was then that Muslims were provided 4 per cent of reservation under OBC (A) category.

"Questioning the implementation of reservation for women, Backwards and minorities, then BJP Rajya Sabha member and state Vice President Rama Jois approached the Supreme Court. But, his petition was rejected and the Supreme Court upheld reservation. The reservation to Muslims has been in force for 30 years. When Basavaraj Bommai was the CM heading the BJP government, to hike the reservation for the Vokkaligas and Lingayats, the reservation to Muslims was cancelled.

"Muslims were not given reservation on religious basis, it was given to them as per Article 15 and 16 of the Constitution," he said.

"The BJP is claiming that reservation for Backwards is being given to the Muslims and it is wrong information being given for polarisation," CM Siddaramaiah stated.
New Delhi, April 27 : The 16 remaining Indian crew members on board a cargo ship seized by Iran are set to be released soon, Iran Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian assured his Portuguese counterpart Paulo Rangel in a telephonic conversation on Saturday.

"The humanitarian issue of the release of the ship's crew is of our serious concern and we have announced consular access, release, and extradition to their ambassadors in Tehran," Abdollahian was quoted as saying by the Iranian Foreign Ministry during his discussion with Rangel on MSC Aries - the seized Israeli ship carrying the Portuguese flag.

Last week, Deck Cadet Ann Tessa Joseph, one of the 17 Indian crew members on board the seized vessel, returned home as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who had spoken to Abdollahian on the matter, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guarantee works not just within the country, but also outside.

Joseph, who is from Kerala's Thrissur, reached the Cochin International Airport on April 18.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that it is in constant touch with not just the Iranian authorities, but also the Indian crew and their family members.

On Thursday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the crew's return depends on "some technicalities" and "contractual obligations" that need to be fulfilled first.

"We had requested consular access for the 16 people, which we got. Our officers went there and met them. They have been in continuous contact with their families. They are in good health, and 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," said Jaiswal.

Portugal's new government led by Prime Minister Luis Montenegro had also demanded the immediate release of the ship MSC Aries, trapped in the Strait of Hormuz.

"The release of the crew was also demanded, which must be treated with dignity while the ship remains imprisoned, as the explanations provided so far are not considered consistent," said the Portuguese Foreign Ministry as it summoned the Iranian Ambassador in Lisbon on April 16.
Rajkot, April 27 : Union Minister Parshottam Rupala addressed the Kshatriya community's concerns during a recent BJP event in Jasdan, Rajkot and urged them not to direct their ire against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Union Minister Rupala admitted that he had made an error and stressed upon the community's significant contributions to both the nation and the BJP.

Union Minister Rupala had incurred the wrath of the Kshatriya community by making unsavoury remarks against the Maharajas.

"I apologised for my mistake and did so in front of the community," Rupala explained.

"It's unfair to involve PM Modi in this. He is a leader not just for our country but globally. For 18 hours a day, PM Modi just thinks and works for the country. He considers 140 crore people his family. I accept my mistake but I don't consider it proper if the Kshatriya community goes against the Prime Minister. This is not for politics, victory, or loss in elections but for our nation," the Union minister appealed.

His plea came in the wake of renewed protests from the Kshatriya community, expressing intentions to impact the BJP's performance in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

The Union minister called for a non-political approach to resolving the issue. "This isn't about election outcomes; it's about our society's cohesion," Rupala stated, urging Kshatriya leaders to work towards building bridges of understanding rather than politicising the grievance.

On April 25, Kshatriya community leaders from South Gujarat declared their continued support for the BJP amid protests against Rupala. This announcement came after a meeting with Gujarat BJP chief, CR Patil in Surat.

Meanwhile, PM Modi is set to intensify the BJP's campaign efforts in Gujarat by addressing six election rallies on May 1 and 2 in Deesa, Himmatnagar, Anand, Wadhwan, Junagarh and Jamnagar.

According to BJP sources, the PM will start his campaign in Himmatnagar and Deesa on May 1, followed by Anand, Wadhwan, Jamnagar, and Junagarh the next day. He is also scheduled to arrive in the state capital on May 1 for an overnight stay.
Washington, April 27 : Dozens of tornadoes tore across the US Midwest and flattened entire neighbourhoods, particularly in and around the city of Omaha in the state of Nebraska.

"Numerous houses" in western Douglas County, outside of Omaha, were damaged by a twister that hit on Friday afternoon, Omaha police said in a statement.

Photos and videos showed buildings reduced to rubble. While there have been injuries, authorities have not reported any deaths so far.

"We've been very fortunate with very few injuries," Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer told reporters during a press briefing late Friday. "It seems like our warning systems in the city of Omaha have been very effective."

Thousands of households were left without electricity in the wake of the storms.

In Lancaster County, to the south-west of Omaha, some 70 people were rescued from an industrial building that had collapsed in the storm, according to media reports.

Another tornado reportedly crossed the Missouri River into the neighbouring state of Iowa to the east of Nebraska, where it caused severe damage in the small community of Minden, among others.

At least 60 tornadoes and cyclones have been reported from five different states on Friday, according to CNN.

The National Weather Service said it expects possible more bad weather later on Saturday, including "very large hail, damaging winds, and multiple strong tornadoes."

While tornadoes are common in some parts of the US, experts say the rise of natural disasters, including storms, floods and forest fires, is also due to climate change.

--IANS/DPA

sd/kvd
Jaipur, April 27 : Ravindra Singh Bhati, the Independent MLA from Rajasthan's Sheo who's contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Barmer, gheraoed the SP office in Balotra on Saturday along with thousands of his supporters, alleging irregularities and police highhandedness during the polling held on Friday.

Bhati, who successfully contested the Assembly polls from Sheo as an Independent nominee after being denied a ticket by the BJP last year, is up against Union Minister Kailash Chaudhary of the BJP and the Congress' Umedaram Beniwal in Barmer, where polling was held on Friday.

On Saturday, Bhati and his followers demanded action against the police who 'assaulted' his supporters and the release of those detained on Friday.

Bhati also posted a picture with his supporters who gathered outside the SP office.

aPolice uniform has always been the pride of the people, but this time the same men in uniform acted in a biased manner by arresting innocent people. No action has been taken against the 'irregularities' being reported during polling on Friday. I submitted a list to the police requesting the deployment of additional forces at certain booths, warning them of the irregularities, but to no avail," Bhati said.

The administration and the police were hand-in-glove, flouting the democratic norms by allowing irregularities during elections, Bhati alleged.

Bhati along with his supporters reached the SP office on Pachpadra Road at 1.20 p.m.

Seeing the gathering, a large force of police was deployed in front of the SP office to avoid any untoward incident even as Balotra SP Kundan Kanwaria called Bhati inside the office for talks. His supporters said a decision will be taken on lifting the gherao after the talks are over.
Chennai, April 27 : Father of the 24-year-old youth, who died during weight loss surgery in a private hospital in Chennai, on Saturday urged TN Health Minister Ma Subramanian to speed up the probe into the matter.

After deceased's father Durai Selvanathan met Ma Subramanian and requested him to speed up the probe, the minister called up the state Director of Medical Health and Rural services and directed the official for urgent action in the matter.

Talking to IANS, Ma Subramanian said, "The Health department is already probing the matter, and after the father of the deceased met me, I have called upon the officials and asked them to speed up the probe and to submit a report at the earliest."

The state government had ordered a probe on Thursday and constituted a six-member team under the Directorate of Medical Health and Rural Services after Hemachandran died on Tuesday during the surgery.

Hemachandran (24), a native of Puducherry, had come to a private hospital in Pammal for weight loss surgery.

The family had immediately registered a complaint at the Shankar Nagar Police station alleging medical negligence following which the state government constituted a six-member committee under the supervision of the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services.

Durai, in his petition to the state health minister, said that his son consulted Dr. Peringo and was persuaded by the latter to proceed with the surgery.

Durai said that the doctor demanded Rs 8 lakh for the surgery but the family was hesitant to proceed with the process.

However, as his son was insistent, the family agreed to move forward with the surgery.

He said, "We were not very keen to go ahead with the surgery but the doctor and other medical staff persuaded my son and told him that the doctor was also consulting at Jain hospital in Pammal, Chennnai, and that the surgery could be done at a lesser rate."

Durai said that in March 2024, they consulted Peringo and the surgery was conducted on April 22. During surgery, Hemachandran developed complications and was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit of Jain Hospital.

However, after Hemachandran developed further complications, he was shifted to another hospital where he succumbed to death on April 23.

Durai told the minister that his son died due to the "negligence" of the doctor and prompt action should be taken against the doctor and the hospital.

Tamil Nadu health department officials told IANS that they would take action after a report was obtained from the concerned hospital.
Los Angeles, April 27 : Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, who will be soon in the upcoming cinematic extravaganza 'Deadpool & Wolverine', have honoured the art director Ray Chan following his death at the age of 56.

The co-stars shared their "devastated" reactions to the loss of Chan, whom they worked with on 'Deadpool & Wolverine' in their social media posts, reports 'People' magazine.

Marvel Studios confirmed Chan's death in a statement on April 24.

The late filmmaker was credited for helping "imagine and design the Marvel Cinematic Universe" after joining the studio on 'Thor: Dark World'.

As per 'Variety', Chan was reported to have died on Tuesday in Wales where he resided.

"RIP Ray Chan," Reynolds, 47, began in a tribute statement on X, following the news, "Words are pretty inadequate in comparison to this loss."

"There's an incomparable reservoir of skill, tender grit and talent no longer with us. As production designer, he was as important a creative force on 'Deadpool & Wolverine' as the writers, director and stars," he continued.

"I don't pretend to know every chapter of Ray's heart, but I know it's unusual to encounter someone with that level of artistry, who simultaneously moved through the world with such an indelible humanity."

'People' further says that Reynolds praised Chan for his work in building the Marvel universe, adding that he was "just awesome to be around" and he "will be missed by everyone".

The actor concluded his tribute by recalling his final moments with Chan during reshoots for 'Deadpool & Wolverine' earlier in April.

Jackman, 55, paid tribute to Chan on his Instagram Stories, writing, "There was not a day shooting when I didn't marvel at what he created. He created magic. There was this look in his eyes. The look of a man who loved his craft. I've had the pleasure of working with some of the best in the business. Ray was at the very top."

"We did a bit more shooting two weeks ago, for that I will be forever grateful," he continued.

"It not only gave us the opportunity to fine tune our film but it gave us the bonus of time with Ray. Time for him to finish the job he loves so much. He told a great story. And man -- I am so honoured to have played a role."
Hyderabad, April 27 : In a scathing attack, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President K.T. Rama Rao on Saturday termed Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy a 'pathological liar' who is 'cheating people in a phased manner'.

Hyderabad, April 27 (IANS) In a scathing attack, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President K.T. Rama Rao on Saturday termed Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy a apathological liara who is 'cheating people in a phased manner'.

The BRS leader alleged that after deceiving people in the Assembly elections with fake promises, Revanth Reddy is now moving on to phase two with the Parliamentary elections.

As part of his plan, Revanth Reddy is promising a loan waiver for farmers by August 15, he claimed.

Speaking to mediapersons here, KTR, as the BRS leader is popularly known, said the Chief Minister is resorting to making vows to gods to deceive people once again.

KTR also dismissed Revanth Reddy's challenge on loan waivers, reminding the media of his "history of not keeping his word". He cited instances where Revanth Reddy reportedly promised to quit politics if he lost from Kodangal and during the GHMC elections, but "failed to fulfil his promises".

KTR also dared the Chief Minister to respond to the challenge posed by senior BRS leader Harish Rao regarding fulfilling his promises by August 15. as he questioned whether Revanth Reddy would accomplish in 250 days what he promised to do in 100 days.

KTR also claimed that Revanth Reddy will not fulfil his promise of loan waiver under any circumstances.

The former state minister claimed that fearing defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, including from the seats in his home district, Revanth Reddy avoided his responsibilities by stepping away from his election in-charge post.

KTR also criticised the Congress leaders in the state, labelling them as "petty" and "arrogant".

He claimed that people have realised that they have been deceived by the Congress' poll promises, as he cautioned those who were 'cheated' by the Congress to be vigilant and avoid falling into the same trap again by voting for the party.

KTR further expressed hopes of BRS winning 10-12 seats in the Lok Sabha polls, citing people's 'realisation' of Congress' 'deceitful' nature and the BJP's 'failure' to fulfil major promises since 2014.
Mumbai, April 27 : Ujjwal Nikam -- the high-profile lawyer who has handled several major cases, including that of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks as a Special Public Prosecutor -- is all set to enter the uncharted territory of politics after being named as the BJP's candidate for the Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha seat on Saturday.

Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the senior BJP leadership, Nikam admitted that even though he has no political background, he is confident of starting the new innings on a winning note.

It was the execution of Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab for his role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that earned Nikam widespread recognition and solidified his reputation as a lawyer.

Appearing as a government counsel, the top lawyer recalls that Kasab often used to call him "Badshah" during and after the court hearings.

After the Kolhapur district court ordered the execution of Renuka Shinde and Seema Gavit in a case of kidnapping of children and killing some of them, young boys and girls distributed sugar outside the court, making Nikam popular among the youth.

Nikam, who hails from the Jalgaon district in Maharashtra, has always taken pride in being recognised as a lawyer who took to law as he fell short of just two marks and failed to get admission in a medical course.

As he climbed towards greater success, Nikam began to be recognised as a troubleshooter in handling critical criminal cases.

Throughout his career as an advocate, he has been known in legal circles for making in-depth arguments. In most of the criminal cases he handled, the judgments came in the state government's favour.

An ardent advocate of "strong and independent judiciary", Nikam believes in keeping public's faith in the entire system and calls for transparency in the appointment of judges. He is a firm believer in not appointing retired judges to posts which have "political connections".
Mumbai, April 27 : After Aditi Rao Hydari complained about being stuck in a flight early morning in Mumbai as there was "no ladder nor an airbridge", the airline issued a statement on Saturday evening clarifying that the delay was of "12 minutes".

IANS on Saturday morning had reported that Hydari was "stranded" on the tarmac, albeit briefly, going by her post on her Instagram stories, where she shared a picture of the airport from her flight window, which had just landed.

She had captioned her post: "New lows everyday! No ladder nor an airbridge. While we watch the 12:10 a.m. airport circus. Stranded @vistara #mumbaiairportterminal2."

In its statement, Vistara has said: "We confirm that the deboarding of Vistara flight UK 876 operating from Hyderabad to Mumbai faced a delay of 12 minutes due to an obstruction in aligning the step ladder with our aircraft."

The statement added: "The relevant authorities were immediately informed and corrective measures were taken. We regret the inconvenience caused to our customers due to the same."

On the work front, Hydari will be seen in 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar', a period drama by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, which also stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh and Sharmin Segal.

The web series is scheduled for release on May 1.
New Delhi, April 27 : Following the rebuke by the Delhi High Court on Friday, the office of the Lieutenant Governor has accused the AAP-led Delhi government and Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj of delaying the approval of a proposal to temporarily enhance the financial powers of the MCD Commissioner from Rs 5 crore to Rs 50 crore.

This delay, officials argued, has hampered some crucial projects related to education, health, and sanitation, as the Standing Committee of the Corporation has not been constituted for over a year.

On Friday, the Delhi High Court came down heavily on jailed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Delhi government, along with the Aam Aadmi Party-led Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), for their failure to provide textbooks to over 2 lakh students studying in the MCD schools in the national capital.

"... Even as the city suffers and the courts have been forced to take up issues of education, health, and garbage disposal in the city," the officials said.

The L-G office also said that upon being made aware that much of the work at the MCD, including disposal of garbage at the landfill sites and providing textbooks to the MCD schools, were stalled due to the non-constitution of a Standing Committee and the resultant non-competence of the MCD Commissioner in releasing funds, Delhi L-G V.K. Saxena had on March 6 recalled the file pertaining to the delegation of increased financial powers to the Commissioner, pending with Bhardwaj since October 9, 2023.

Despite repeated reminders, Bhardwaj has allegedly failed to send the file to the L-G.

"However, upon being asked about the same in the Delhi High Court on Friday, the GNCTD deviously chose to mislead the court by saying that the file had not been cleared as the Chief Minister is in jail," the L-G office said, adding that the file is pending with Bhardwaj since October 9, 2023, and was never sent to CM Kejriwal, who was taken into custody only on March 21, 2024.

Moreover, it has been alleged that the delay has led to a backlog of crucial civic functions, including the distribution of textbooks, procurement of desks for schools, and supply of health equipment and medicine to the MCD hospitals and health centres.

The officials claimed that the MCD is facing challenges in finalising contracts for waste collection and processing, as projects exceeding Rs 5 crore require clearance from the Standing Committee. This has resulted in delays in waste management initiatives and compliance with NGT directives.

"In addition to these, the MCD is finding difficulty in finalising/engaging concessionaires for South, West, and Central Zones to deal with day-to-day collection of municipal solid waste and its transportation to the processing facilities.

"The work of rate/agency contract for setting up a processing facility at Narela-Bawana is also held up due to project costs being more than Rs 5 crore. The work of bio-mining which has to be completed in a time-bound manner as per NGT directions has also been affected severely due to non-finalisation of an agency for completing the balance work," the L-G office said.
Chennai, April 27 : The Cyber Crime wing of the Tamil Nadu Police on Saturday warned the people to be cautious about the Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based voice cloning leading to an impersonation scam cheating innocent people.

The ADGP Cyber Crime Wing, Tamil Nadu Police, Sanjay Kumar, in an advisory has asked the people to be cautious about the unsolicited calls received on mobile phones.

The top police officer said that cyber fraudsters are now employing voice cloning to mimic the voices of trusted individuals such as family members over phone calls.

The advisory said that the voices were mimicked using advanced AI technologies.

The calls, according to Tamil Nadu ADGP, under the pretext of an emergency, and by creating a sense of urgency or distress, deceive victims into transferring money quickly into the scamsters' account.

The scamster, according to him, poses as someone the victim knows and trusts, such as a family member or friend.

The scamster is likely to speak in urgent need of financial assistance due to a fabricated emergency or threat.

The top police officer said that the scamster uses various tactics to evoke a sense of urgency and emotional distress in the victim and may employ sobbing or pleading tones, claiming to be in a dire situation that requires immediate help.

"The scamster utilises sophisticated AI software to clone the voice of the person they are impersonating. The scamster use voice sample of the person from social media posts/videos or by just talking to the person over the phone using a wrong number tactic," he added.

This technology allows them to mimic the voice as well as the intonation and emotional nuance of the victim's trusted contact convincingly, he said.

ADGP Kumar added that the scamsters use an AI-generated cloned voice to commit cybercrimes.

He said that after the scamster gains the trust, requests the victim to transfer money immediately to help resolve the crisis.

The fraudsters, according to Cyber Crime Wing Police asks fast and convenient payment methods like the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system to expedite the transaction.

The victim is likely to comply with the demand of the scamster without even verifying the authenticity of the caller or the situation and its legitimacy.

ADGP Kumar in the advisory urged the people to always verify the identity of the person calling, especially if they request urgent financial assistance.

He also asked them to contact a friend/relative through a known and verified number to confirm their identity before taking any action.

He said, "Be wary of unexpected requests for money, especially if they involve urgent situations or emotional manipulation."

--IANS

aal/khz
Chennai, April 27 : A Coimbatore resident on Saturday filed a writ petition in the Madras High Court seeking direction to the Election Commission (EC) to make special arrangements for those whose names were 'deleted' from the electoral list.

The petitioner, R. Suthanthira Kanna, a doctor employed in Australia who filed the writ petition, also wanted the EC to not declare the Coimbatore Parliamentary constituency results until this polling takes place.

In an affidavit filed through his counsel M. Mathan Raj, the petitioner said, he came to India on April 13 especially to cast his vote for the Lok Sabha elections held on April 19.

In the petition, Suthanthira Kanna said that he found that his name and that of his wife had been removed from the electoral rolls, though their daughter's name had been retained.

He immediately lodged a complaint on EC's portal on April 15 and received an acknowledgement, but there was no resolution.

The petitioner added that the names of thousands of people, too, had been rescinded from the electoral rolls and they were also not able to cast their votes on April 19.

The petitioner also listed out the names of 61 people whose names were found to be missing from the electoral list.

In the petition, he also said that it was not proper to deny the rights to cast their votes to thousands of people of Coimbatore.

Tamil Nadu BJP President, K. Annamalai, who was also the party candidate from the Coimbatore Lok Sabha seat, had demanded a repoll in several booths of Coimbatore after names of many persons were missing from the electoral rolls.

Speaking to mediapersons after the elections, Annamalai has said that around one lakh votes were missing from the voter list of Coimbatore Lok Sabha constituency.

The State BJP President had also said that people who traditionally exercise their franchisee for the BJP were denied their right.
New Delhi, April 27 : Former Chhattisgarh Deputy CM and veteran Congress leader T.S. Singh Deo has opened up on why the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) didn't find a place in the Congress manifesto for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, as he slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for making its manifesto a 'person-centric' poll document.

In an exclusive conversation with IANS, Singh Deo said the Congress governments in Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh brought back OPS because of its multiple benefits.

"If OPS doesn't figure in Congress' manifesto for the Parliamentary elections, it doesn't mean we have given up on its benefits," he told IANS.

"The panelists analysing the pros and cons of OPS are renowned economists, including P. Chidambaram, Raghu Ram Rajan, and others. It was decided that OPS will be brought in the central manifesto after due deliberations," he added.

But the current governance structure is not designed to suit the scheme, Singh Deo said, adding that it became untenable to support the OPS and its huge expenses, hence it paved the way for a new pension scheme.

"The pensioners initially felt good but after they saw that the new scheme lacked some of the benefits like pension to the family after five years of pensioner's demise, they raised opposition to it," he said.

On Chhattisgarh going the OPS way, he said it was done after consultations and deliberations.

Singh Deo also slammed the BJP manifesto for 2024 polls, calling it 'disappointing', not just for him, but also for the common people.

"The BJP manifesto has nothing new in it, rather it has become Modi manifesto. It keeps on bragging about 'Modi ki Guarantee' again and again and is deprived of a clear vision for the nation. The party which boasts of being the biggest party in the world has been reduced to a one-man show," Singh Deo said.

He said the country is increasingly moving towards a dictatorial style of governance and this will set a dangerous precedent for the nation.

"The gross misuse of agencies like the ED has forced warring parties to come together and join forces against the BJP," he added.

Comparing the BJP and the Congress manifestos, Singh Deo claimed the BJP's poll promises are on similar lines, while the grand old party has brought a fresh lease of energy by proposing Rs 1 lakh assistance for women.

"A Congress government will ensure that every family gets a minimum income of Rs 1 lakh. The woman member of the household will get Rs 1 lakh financial assistance and this will also mark an important step towards women's empowerment," he said.

He added that the Congress manifesto talks about creating an equitable society where every family will get basic assistance to live and contribute to the country's growth.
Aizawl, April 27 : The Assam Rifles and the Mizoram Police in a joint operation arrested a Myanmar national and recovered 1.206 kg heroin valued at Rs 8.44 crore from his possession, officials said on Saturday.

Assam Rifles sources said that acting on a tip-off, the paramilitary force along with teams from the Special Narcotics Police Station and the CID (Crime) detained the Myanmar national from Tuikual North in Aizawl on Friday night.

After a search, heroin smuggled from Myanmar was recovered from the detainee.

The heroin, concealed in 110 soap cases, and the accused have been handed over to the police for further legal proceedings.

The Assam Rifles guards the 510 km India-Myanmar border along Mizoram where unfenced frontiers have become one of the main routes for smuggling drugs from across the border.
Bengaluru, April 27 : The BJP and the Congress in Karnataka traded barbs against each other on Saturday over the release of Rs 3,454 crore for drought relief to the state by the Central government.

While the BJP thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the move, the Congress expressed its displeasure over the relief amount.

Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra said, "Narendra Modi's government has always lived up to its promises and displayed great responsibility towards the farmers. Despite the Model Code of Conduct in place and the associated restrictions, the BJP government at the Centre sought special permission from the Election Commission for priority release of funds considering the distress of our farmers caused by the unprecedented drought. We are proud of our Prime Minister for standing by the farmers and for the welfare of the state."

"The relief is a tight slap on the face of the Congress government led by Siddaramaiah, who instead of providing immediate relief to the farmers was looking to politicise the issue to score some brownie points at the cost of the farmers who feed us," Vjiayendra added.

Reacting to the development, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah claimed that Rs 3,464 crore drought relief has been released by the Central government on the instructions of the Supreme Court.

"This is not even a quarter of the request submitted by the state government," he said while speaking to reporters in Kalaburagi.

"The state had submitted a memorandum seeking the release of Rs 18,172 crore for drought relief, as per the NDRF guidelines. Crop loss occurred in 48 lakh hectares of land amounting to around Rs 35,000 crore. But Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman lied that the state submitted the memorandum late.

"Later, Nirmala Sitharaman said we did not seek grants for drought relief, but for 'guarantees'. We haven't asked for a single penny for the guarantee schemes and we never will. Both of them clearly lied," he claimed.

"I met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 19, 2023, and brought to his notice the dire drought situation in the state and the plight of the farmers, along with the memorandum seeking Rs 18,172 crore for relief measures. When I met Amit Shah on December 20, he told me that he would call a high-level committee meeting on December 23 and take a decision. For the first time in the history of India, the Supreme Court had to intervene, and as a result, very little relief has been provided after its directive," Siddaramaiah claimed.

Commenting on the issue, the leader of opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R. Ashoka, said, "Let the state government provide double relief to the farmers like the previous BJP government by adding its share to the relief package provided by the Centre."

"It is an open secret that there is no money left with the state government. It delayed in submitting data on drought to the Centre. The Central government has taken measures, and the Congress government has no role to play in it. The money was released following the consent of the Election Commission," the BJP leader argued.
Elon Musk hints at new 'tap to park' feature for Tesla cars. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, April 27 : Reviving the memories of flight MH370 which disappeared from radar years ago, Elon Musk on Saturday said that he has seen no evidence of aliens while responding to a post showing a drone video of the flight.

A user posted the video on X, saying a thing seems to be "flying so close to the plane that it indicates an operation".

MH370 was a Malaysia Airlines flight that disappeared from radar on March 8, 2014.

"This is not a metal sphere, this is a plasma field around the orb. It's like their own gravity well that they're pulling forward," the user wrote.

Responding to this, Musk wrote: "I have seen no evidence of aliens. If I did, I would post about it on X instantly.

"SpaceX has almost 6,000 satellites in orbit and not once have we had to maneuver around aliens," he added.

The MH370 flight was flying from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Beijing, with 227 passengers and 12 crew aboard.

The crew of the Boeing 777-200ER registered as 9M-MRO, last communicated with air traffic control (ATC) around 38 minutes after takeoff when the flight was over the South China Sea.

The aircraft was lost from ATC radar screens minutes later but was tracked by military radar for another hour, deviating westward from its planned flight path, crossing the Malay Peninsula and Andaman Sea.
Imphal, April 27 : Two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, including a sub-inspector, were killed while two others were injured after armed groups attacked a camp of security forces in Manipur's Bishnupur district early on Saturday, the police said.

A police officer said that a suspected Kuki armed group opened fire and hurled bombs at a Meitei village in Narayansena under the Moirang police station, and one of the bombs exploded inside the outpost of 128 Battalion of CRPF, injuring four personnel.

While sub-inspector N. Sarkar (55) and head constable Arup Saini (40) succumbed to their injuries later, inspector Jadav Das and constable Aftab Hussain are undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital.

Sarkar was a resident of Assam's Kokrajhar, while Saini hailed from Bankura district in West Bengal.

The officer said that additional security forces have been rushed to the spot where a search operation is underway to find out the perpetrators.

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, who also holds the Home portfolio, strongly condemned the attack.

"Strongly condemn the assault carried out against the Indian security forces, resulting in the tragic loss of two CRPF personnel in the Naransena area of Bishnupur district. Such actions demonstrate cowardice against the dedicated security personnel who work tirelessly day and night to uphold peace and stability in the state. Their sacrifice will not go in vain," the CM tweeted.

Meanwhile, the tribal organisations in Manipur have criticised the police and the media for blaming Kuki militants for the attack.

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) and the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the two leading tribal bodies in the state, claimed that 'Valley-based insurgent groups' were responsible for the attack.

Saturday's incident took place within three days after a vital bridge on National Highway-2 in Manipur's Kangpokpi district was badly damaged in a powerful IED blast on April 24, disrupting the movement of traffic between Manipur and the rest of the country via Nagaland.
Eye on polls: AIMIM conducting survey on condition of Muslims in Raj. Image Source: IANS News

Hyderabad, April 27 : In a move to reach out to Telugu-speaking voters in Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency, the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has come out with a song in Telugu.

The six-minute song with catchy lyrics and music highlights the achievements of AIMIM and its supremo Asaduddin Owaisi, who is seeking re-election for the fifth consecutive term.

The party on Sunday released the music video, which features footage of Owaisi's visit to his constituency, meetings with people across communities and some of his rare gestures in public appearances like pretending to fly kite, which is the election symbol of AIMIM.

The song highlights how Owaisi is serving the people irrespective of their religion and caste.

There are visuals of Hindus including members of temple management committees in the old city greeting him with shawls during his visits and non-Muslim men and women meeting him at party headquarters Darussalam with their problems.

The lyrics are about how the MP has been fighting for issues of common man in Parliament and outside.

This is the second time that AIMIM has come out with a Telugu song as part of its campaign.

In November last year, the party had released a Telugu song to reach out to Telugu-speaking voters during Telangana Assembly elections.

AIMIM has never lost an election from Hyderabad since 1984, when Asaduddin Owaisi's father Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi was elected for the first time.

Asaduddin Owaisi made his debut in Lok Sabha in 2004 when his father opted out due to ill-health.

This time, the AIMIM chief is locked in what is likely to be a direct fight with K. Madhavi Latha of BJP.

The BRS has fielded Gaddam Srinivas Yadav while Congress has named its Hyderabad district president Sameer Waliullah as its candidate.

Elections to all 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana are scheduled on May 13.

--IANS

ms/pgh
Panaji, April 27 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that the Congress and its allies are spreading negativity for vote-bank politics, as he accused them of trying to promote reservation on religious lines.

Addressing a public meeting at Sancoale in South Goa on Saturday evening, PM Modi said, "The Congress is trying to give reservations based on religion in Karnataka. It is trying to give the shares of STs, SCs, and OBCs to others for its vote-bank politics."

The Prime Minister also said that the feedback and enthusiasm among the people after two phases of polling for the Lok Sabha elections suggest that it is going to be "Phir Ek Baar, Modi Sarkar''.

He said the INDIA bloc's politics is for self-interest and their families, whereas the BJP has an approach of saturation.

"We are going ahead with the approach of saturation. We have provided the benefits of several schemes to the people without any discrimination. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has truly implemented a saturation approach by giving facilities to the people of the state. This is real secularism and social justice. Hundred per cent governance has benefited the poor, farmers, fishermen, and women," the Prime Minister said.

"So many things have happened in the last 10 years. I am here to fulfil your dreams. I try to achieve all my goals. This is just a trailer... I want to take Goa and the country ahead," PM Modi said.

Targeting the Congress, he said the grand old party could never resolve the issues of the fishermen.

"After the BJP came to power, I established a separate ministry for fisheries and a budget for the fishermen. This was done to bring changes in the lives of the fishermen and to increase their income," PM Modi said.

Compared to the past Congress regimes in the state, tourist footfalls have increased manifold in Goa now, the Prime Minister said.

"The e-Visa system has played a vital role in attracting tourists to India," he said.

"During the Covid pandemic, we sent vaccines to Goa first. Political persons may think of bigger states for gains, but I thought of Goa as tourism should flourish here," the Prime Minister said.

Calling the Supreme Court verdict backing the use of EVMs a "tight slap" on the face of the Congress-led Opposition, PM Modi said, "The Opposition tried to instigate people over EVMs. But the Supreme Court has made it clear that voting through EVMs has no problems or issues. Now, the Congress should apologise to the people of the country."

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Union Minister of State for Tourism Shripad Naik, South Goa BJP candidate Pallavi Dempo, and other leaders were present at the rally.

--IANS

sbk/arm
YEVLAKH, Azerbaijan, April 27. COP29 will play a significant role in adjusting Azerbaijan's agricultural and environmental policies to international best practices, technology interchange, and innovation, Azerbaijan's Deputy Agriculture Minister Sarvan Jafarov said, Trend reports.

He made the remark during the meeting titled "Demonstration of New Soil and Resource Protection Technologies Adapted to Climate Change."

"COP 29 will help Azerbaijan adapt its agricultural and environmental policies to international best practices, technical exchange, and innovation. In this direction, the application of novel ideas and instruments will contribute to the sustainability of agriculture, the provision of ecologically friendly food, the well-being of rural communities, as well as environmental protection," he said.

To note, a Republican meeting is being held in Yevlakh on April 27 titled "Demonstration of New Soil and Resource Protection Technologies Adapted to Climate Change."

The main objective of the event is the wide application of moisture-protective technologies and innovative innovations adapting to climate change in the country, environmental protection, and the improvement of knowledge and skills of farmers working in regions suffering from drought in terms of reducing the negative impact of global warming on agriculture, as well as the as well as the exchange of experience gained in this field by large farms and agro-parks.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Bengaluru, April 27 : Deputy Karnataka Chief Minister and state unit Congress president D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday said the party will stage a protest over the release of a meager drought relief amount by the Central government.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, Shivakumar said the protest would be held on Sunday in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the premises of the Vidhana Soudha.

"The battle would continue to get the fair share of drought relief for the state... the legal battle will continue for sure. We are not begging. This is our right, we are asking for it. It is the responsibility of the Centre to release it. The struggle would continue before the people and the state," Shivakumar said.

The Congress leader said that the state has suffered a loss to the tune of Rs 35,000 crore.

"The compensation sought was about Rs 18,000 crore. We had only asked for 50 per cent of the amount suffered as losses. What has now been released will suffice for nothing at all," he said.

Shivakumar also condemned the statement of former CM H.D. Kumaraswamy who said that the Central government has released enough funds for drought relief.

"The relief package of Rs 3,454 has not reached the state yet and BJP leaders are celebrating. Kumaraswamy has become a betrayer to the land... he cannot say that the money released is enough. This is not about his property," he stated.

The state government had declared 223 taluks as drought-hit on September 13, 2023.

Due to drought, crop loss was also reported on lakhs of acres of land across the state.

As per an estimate, the state suffered losses up to Rs 35,000 crore and as per the NDRF guidelines, the state had sought Rs 18,172 crore as relief.

Meanwhile, urging the Siddaramaiah-led state government to "stop doing politics over the release of drought relief", former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai said: "Stop politicising drought."

He told reporters here that the state government has failed to follow certain rules to get the money and wasted time in politicising the issue.
Imphal, April 27 : The Election Commission on Saturday declared as 'void' the Lok Sabha elections held in six polling stations in the Outer Manipur Parliamentary constituency and announced fresh polling in these stations on April 30, officials said.

Polling was held on Friday at 848 polling stations in the remaining 13 of the 28 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.

Manipur Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Pradeep Kumar Jha, quoting the Election Commission order, appealed to the voters to cast their votes in large numbers in these six polling stations on Tuesday.

Election officials said that various disturbances occurred in these six polling stations on Friday, prompting the EC to order fresh polling on Tuesday.

Nearly 82 per cent of around 4.85 lakh voters on Friday exercised their franchise in the remaining part of the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha constituency, spread across eight hilly districts - Ukhrul, Kamjong, Tamenglong, Noney, Senapati, Jiribam, Pherzawl, and Tengnoupal.
Kohima, April 28 : Trade and commercial activities in Nagaland were badly affected on Saturday as markets, shops, and business establishments were shut after the Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CNCCI) called an indefinite shutdown of businesses to protest against the "unabated" extortion by underground groups.

Kohima, April 28 (IANS) Trade and commercial activities in Nagaland were badly affected on Saturday as markets, shops, and business establishments were shut after the Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CNCCI) called an indefinite shutdown of businesses to protest against the "unabated" extortion by underground groups.

The Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) called the shutdown in Dimapur on Friday, affecting trade and commercial activities in the state's commercial capital.

Once again urging the state government to take immediate action to stop "unabated" extortions, pressure, and intimidations by the underground groups, the CNCCI in a statement said that such illegal activities against the business community over extortion cannot be tolerated anymore.

The CNCCI said that the shutdown would continue until the government doesn't take effective, lasting, and satisfactory steps.

State Home Commissioner Vikeyie Kenya said that the state government is aware of the "widespread collection of money in the name of taxes" from traders and businessmen, particularly in Dimapur, by various underground groups.

Expressing his displeasure over the situation, he said that most of the underground groups, reportedly collecting subscriptions in the name of "tax", have signed ceasefire agreements with the Central government.

"We have asked the police and the district administration to take action. Such activities adversely affect the law and order situation and good governance on the part of the state government," Kenya told the media.

The state government has asked the Dimapur police commissioner to increase patrolling in the market areas and to deploy adequate forces in the markets and the adjoining areas as part of the confidence-building measures among the traders.

The DCCI, however, said that such directions were issued by the state government in the past also, but such "unabated" extortion by underground groups did not stop.
New Delhi, April 28 : The Delhi High Court has sought the Central government's reply to a plea to reinstate summer and winter vacations in the calendar of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC).

Justice Subramonium Prasad has issued notice and sought a response from the Central government within three weeks.

Unlike the NCDRC, which operates year-round, certain State and District Commissions observe vacations ranging from 13 to 47 days, including summer, winter, and Dussehra breaks.

The court's notice comes in response to a petition filed by the All India Bar Association of National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission seeking to revert to the pre-Covid calendars for the NCDRC, aligning them with the schedules of the Supreme Court and other tribunals and commissions.

In the interim, the petition requests that no further cases be listed in the commission during June and the last week of December, except for urgent matters at the request of advocates or parties.

The plea is scheduled for the next hearing on May 20.
Thiruvananthapuram, April 27 : Kerala's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sanjay Kaul on Saturday refuted Congress' claims that the Lok Sabha elections were poorly managed in the state.

The state, which went to the polls on Friday, recorded 71.16 per cent voter turnout -- down from the 77.67 per cent recorded in 2019.

Congress General Secretary and the party candidate at Alappuzha K.C.Venugopal on Saturday attributed the decline in voter turnout to "poor" management, saying that the elections were conducted in a "worst-ever" manner and "voters faced troubles due to the poor management of the polling".

"...polling got delayed much beyond the scheduled time and it has now come to our notice that 90 per cent of the booths where the polling got delayed were those where the Congress-led UDF had a clear edge," said Venugopal.

Claiming that pro-Left personnel "hijacked" the entire poll process, he said: "The voters' list was prepared by these staff members and many voters after coming to the polling booths realized that their names are not included in the list. Despite all such negative tactics, the Congress-led UDF will win all the 20 seats."

Reacting to Congress' allegations, Kaul said the entire poll process went smoothly.

"Compared to the previous polls, this time the functioning of the EVMs was excellent. In 95 per cent of the 25,231 booths, polling got over at 6 p.m. and by 8 p.m., polling was completed in 99 per cent of the booths. It was in a few booths at the Vadakara Lok Sabha constituency, where polling continued beyond 8 p.m.," said the CEO.

"The delay occurred because of the arrival of a good number of voters and the poll officials took time to verify their documents. Every voter who arrived at the booth before 6 p.m. was given a coupon and everyone was allowed to vote," he added.

Kaul further said that the deployment of poll officials this time done through a software to avoid any external influence. "Like always, this time too, all the poll officials were given extensive training. Considering the unfavourable climatic conditions and also the political events, the turnout was excellent," he added.
Berlin, April 28 : German police have arrested a Russian citizen in connection with the deaths of two Ukrainian citizens in the small southern German town of Murnau on Saturday evening.

Two men from Ukraine were stabbed to death on the premises of a shopping centre in Murnau in Upper Bavaria on Saturday evening.

Shortly afterwards, police arrested a man who is considered an urgent suspect. He is a 57-year-old Russian. The police were initially unable to say whether the three men knew each other, and the motive for the crime is still unclear.

"We are still at the very beginning of the investigation," said police spokesman Daniel Katz.

The crime took place at around 5:15 p.m. outside a grocery shop in the small town, the spokesman said. The perpetrator initially fled, but the 57-year-old suspect was quickly apprehended. The officers discovered him at his home address near the scene of the crime.

According to the police, the victims were two Ukrainian nationals, aged 23 and 36, who both lived in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. They died from stab wounds - the older of the two directly at the scene of the crime, the younger a short time later in hospital.

The criminal investigation department is investigating the crime as a suspected double murder. The public prosecutor's office applied for the 57-year-old's arrest and he is to be brought before the investigating judge at the district court on Sunday.

--IANS/DPA

sha/
Click Here to go to PublishersWeekly.com
In a Chris Whitaker novel, the decisions people make and traumas they endure early in life define who they become. In 2017s All the Wicked Girls, a model student disappears and her troubled sister risks everything to find her. His 2020 breakthrough We Begin at the End tells the story of a California police chief who once put his best friend behind bars, alongside that of a pair of adult siblings whove been scarred by their upbringing under a self-destructive single mother.

Whitakers new novel, All the Colors of the Dark (Crown, June), follows suit, centering on two young children whose lives are upended when they cross paths with a serial killer. Whitakers work gives credence to the ideaespoused by William Words-

worth and othersthat the child is the father of the man. Like film noir heroes, Whitakers characters are forever trying to outrun their pasts.

It feels sometimes like theres a cloud, or a shadow is cast and youre constantly trying to get out from under it, Whitaker says via Zoom from his home office in Hertfordshire, just outside his native London. I sometimes wonder if the same is true of me. Would I be here now talking to you as an author had things not happened to me? Im not sure.

Whitaker, a boyish 42 in a black T-shirt, has survived his share of trials. When he was 10 years old, after his parents divorced, a new man in his mothers life broke his arm and burned him with a cigarette, sending him into a spiral of sleeplessness and anxiety. The pain lessened with time, but when he was 19, he was stabbed one morning when he refused to hand over his phone to a mugger. And just like that, the pain and trauma of the past returned. As he wrote in a 2020 essay for the Guardian: I stopped sleeping. I stopped eating. I so desperately wanted to shrug it off and move on, but I couldnt work out what was happening to me.

Drug and alcohol use followed. So did suicidal thoughts. There was this bleaknessthis feeling that there is absolutely no way out of this, he says. That Im not going to get better.

It was around this time that Whitaker started writingnot to get published but to regain his sanity. At the library, he found a book about the therapeutic value of putting pen to paper: write down what happened, change the principal players into fictional characters, change the setting to the last place you were happy, and then change the outcome.

That got me through those nights where I felt like I could have done something really stupid or desperate, he says. And then I didnt really think about writing much after that.

But Whitaker had yet another trial to endurethis one of his own making.

When he was in his 20s, he became a stock broker. He was good at it. He drove a nice car and made his bosses rich. Until one day, he made a disastrous trade, lost 1 million, and triedand failedto hide the losses. Instead of calling the police, his bosses agreed to let him work off half the debt.

Once again, the sleepless nights returned. Once again, he turned to drugs and alcohol. And once again, he found solace in writing. Except this time, Whitaker had burned down his life so thoroughly that he needed a new career. He had always liked crime fiction, and he stumbled upon an interview with one of his favorite authors, John Hart, who had left a successful law career to write. Whitaker wondered, why cant I do that?

Success didnt come immediately. His debut novel, Tall Oaks, was published in 2016, followed by All the Wicked Girls. But his third novel, We Begin at the End, was a bestseller and put Whitaker on the map in the United States, which is, coincidentally, where all his novels take place.

And settinghis choice of locales and the skill with which he renders themis an intriguing aspect of Whitakers work. How does an Englishman, who has ventured to the U.S. but a handful of times, crank out work steeped in Americana? And not big-city America; Whitaker captures out-of-the-way regions of the U.S. with eerie vividness through imagination and maniacal research. (Until recently, he worked as an assistant at his local public library and loved every minute of it.) For example, in All the Colors of the Dark, one of the protagonists, Patch, works in a Missouri mine; Whitaker spent a month, maybe two months reading about mines, he says. And thats just for what will ultimately be cut down to a paragraph. I tend to do that for a lot of the book.

For Whitaker, the U.S. is a fully realized state of minda symbol of personal liberty and escape, even in its darker corners. I cant imagine setting a book in London, he says. I dont know if thats just because some of my bad memories are in London and I just cant disconnect from them, but America feels... Theres a freedom to it. I can just create anything I want and any kind of character I want in a way that I dont think I could here.

Whitakers characters, meanwhile, also seek to escape. All the Colors of the Dark follows Patch and Saint, a boy and a girl from small-town Missouri. Patch is abducted by a serial killer who locks him in a dark room with a mysterious young woman whom he falls hopelessly in love with, though she may be a figment of his imagination. Saint rescues him, and Patch grows up to be a roguish man obsessed with finding the girl he left behind. Saint, meanwhile, falls in love with Patch despite the different trajectories of their lives.

All the Colors of the Dark is certainly a crime novel, with echoes of Harts The Last Child and Dennis Lehanes Mystic River (another book that Whitaker adores). But it also pushes beyond genrea quality that Amy Einhorn, Whitakers editor at Crown, has come to appreciate.

Hes doing something where its such a mix of different kinds of books in one, Einhorn said. This book is a mystery. Its technically a serial killer story. Its a love story. Its a coming-of-age story. Hes just not very easily classified. And for books that are about very dark things, theres a real sense of humor, and a tremendous amount of heart.

Today, Whitaker is a successful novelist, married, and has three children, ages 13, 10, and three. It was adversity that got Whitaker to this pointand thats what fuels his work. Transforming his life took pain and effort, but Whitaker now finds himself exactly where he wants to be.

I dont really believe in fate or anything like that, but if everything bad that happened to me was leading me here, it feels like theres a bit of payoff, he says. I get to do something that I love, and that in itself is quite hard to find, isnt it? I think youre lucky if you end up doing something that you love.

Chris Vognar is a freelance culture writer and was the 2009 Nieman Arts and Culture Fellow at Harvard University.
Comic Adventure Novels

Crook Tales for Two

Ellen Byerrum

ASIN B0CQHMXXW4

Author statement: Comedy, mystery, and romance intertwine. Mere days before her first Broadway opening, playwright Esme de LaForet discovers what happens when good deeds go awry: murder, mobsters, reporters, dangerous dames from high and low society, and nerve-wracking opening nights. My inspiration for Crook Tales for Two came in the middle of the night, in the middle of the pandemic and quarantine, from the dark center of my dreams. I heard gunshots and breaking glass, and I found myself hiding in a utility closet in a closed elementary school, complete with the smell of chalk and freshly washed floors, facing a blue-eyed man who burst in with a gun, demanding to know what I was doing in there. When I awakened, I knew, somehow, that it all happened in 1934.

Fins

Gene Helfman

ASIN B0C9KCHNJJ

Author statement: Pirates catch sharks in a marine reserve, lop

off their fins, and discard the sharks for dead. A series of puzzling, apparently related shark attacks follow, suggesting that sentient, compassionate, maternal, and goal-oriented sharks are cooperating to exact more than revenge.

I am an animal behaviorist turned conservation biologist turned novelist, and have authored reference books, peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and popular scientific and magazine articles. I wrote Fins to right a wrong, namely to counter the influence of the hyped, sensationalist, grossly unfair portrayals of sharks in novels and too many sharksploitation movies. Fins is eco-fiction with a conservation message snuck in between the laughs. Consider it a beach read that just might keep you out of the water.

License to Die

Haris Orkin

ISBN 978-1-68513-224-8

Author statement: James Flynn believes hes an expert shot, a black belt in karate, fluent in four languages, and irresistible to women. But thats because hes a patient in

a private Los Angeles psychiatric hospital. Flynn believes his locked ward is the headquarters of Her Majestys Secret Service and that he is a secret agent with a license to kill. Then hes sent to a state mental hospital that houses those convicted of violent criminal behavior and judged not guilty by reason of insanity. He meets mass murderers, serial killers, mad bombers, arsonists, and a fierce and beautiful woman who might be even more dangerous and delusional than he is. I wanted to create a modern Don Quixote and I decided that todays equivalent of a knight errant would be a superhero or someone like James Bond. That idea sparked the creation of James Flynn.

Magnus Opum

Jonathan Gould

ASIN B007QGNO1I

Author statement: Magnus Mandalora never planned to go out into the big, wide world, but fate had other ideas. Before he knows it, Magnus finds himself smack-

bang in the middle of the long-running war between the fair and noble Cherines and the vile and despicable Glurgs. But the more he delves into the history behind this conflict, the more he discovers things are not as they seem. This story is really about me wanting to have fun with the archetypes of classical fantasydiscarding the conventional character types, such as elves and dwarves and wizards, and creating my own unique and distinct world of creatures. I also wanted to dig a bit deeper into the idea of good versus evil. Its not always as clear as we think.

Zombie Turkeys

Andy Zach

ISBN 978-1-5394-6675-8

Author statement: Sam Melvin, an underachieving e-reporter from a small town, changes forever when he meets turkeys that wont stay dead. You can shoot em, chop em, burn emthey come back stronger. The undead plague of poultry spreads uncontrollably, rocking the whole country. As Sam tracks down the zombie turkeys and how to eradicate them, his editor, Lisa Kambacher, nags him to turn his stories and expenses in on time. Lisa snipes at Sam for plebeian writing but uses her intelligence to pursue the lucrative carnivorous turkey story. Throughout the turkey apocalypse, they dare ravaged cities, plow knee-deep in gore and corpses, and upload streams of zombie turkey video news to the world.

Satire

The BharatCal Chronicles: A Geopolitical Satire

K. Kailash

ASIN B0CK3XGC2J

Author statement: The BharatCal Chronicles takes you on a whirlwind journey through the birth, rise, and eventual fall of a nation like no other. When the United States grinds to a halt, a group of ambitious non-resident Indians, backed by Indias political powerhouse, seize the moment to carve out their own sovereign state: BharatCal. The idea for the story of BharatCal came about when I was reading news about two thingsfirst, the logjam in passing the U.S. budget, which threatened to derail the functioning of government agencies, and second, the rise of NRIs or Indians in Silicon Valley to positions of leadership in leading U.S. technology companies. But as Silicon Valley becomes the heart of this new world, power struggles, cultural clashes, and international intrigues ensue.

Saint Richard Parker

Merlin Franco

ASIN B0CLJP5RV9

Author statement: In this satirical reimagining of the Eastern odyssey trope, a Brown man faces colorism and racial prejudice when he travels to Southeast Asia in pursuit of love and enlightenment. In 2012, I boarded Malaysia Airlines

MH 2592, headed to Miri in Malaysian Borneo. I had just quit a coveted position in India for the allure of Sarawak. As I approached my seat, the lady occupying the seat next to mine pinched her nose and got up. Making sure not to touch me, she walked past and requested a seat change from the flight attendant, who wasted no time in obliging. Little did I know that this was just the first of many such experiences awaiting me in Southeast Asia. Saint Richard Parker is a satire inspired by such laugh-worthy experiences. I hope youll also laugh along with the wannabe saint on this odyssey.

Sex and the American Male

Jay Williams

ASIN B00Q0NKBFU

Author statement: Once upon a time,

Zack Hardiman, a typical American male, attempted to find a shirt for jogging that contained absolutely no advertising. This became the first step in his descent into insanity. When he recovered, he slowly began a more extensive trip along the winding road we call American culture. This humorous book parodies everything from advertisements that use sex to sell massive gas-guzzling cars to mindless political parties and juiced-up science fiction conventions. When Douglas Adams died, I wanted to honor him with a sort of Hitchhikers Guide to American Culture. I was also inspired by the crazy mass consumerism that seems to have consumed America (pun intended).

Personal Essays & Humor Compilations

Building a Better Boomer

Neil Offen

ISBN 978-1-08-790860-1

Author statement: Building a Better Boomer is a humor book that offers tongue-in-cheek advice for the generation caught between ChatGPT and Betamax VHS. Theres guidance on how baby boomers can better see, hear, eat, exercise, sleep, retire, and even remember betterand maybe live long enough to see the launch of the iPhone 211 Pro. Ive been a humor columnist for different publications for four decades and on two continents. The book started as a series of columns before I realized there was a common theme.

The Good Humor Man: Tales of Life, Laughter and, for Dessert, Ice Cream

Jerry Zezima

ASIN B0CPW41HB1

Author statement: When the going gets tough, the tough eat ice cream. Thats the theme of The Good Humor Man, in which I write about family foibles and the funny little things of everyday life. Its the kind of stuff that millions of people can relate to. And its a welcome respite from all the bad things going on these days. I write a syndicated humor column for Tribune News Service, which distributes it to 600 newspapers nationwide and abroad. The Good Humor Man is a themed collection of my latest columns. Humor is a tonic for troubled times and a way to celebrate life at any time. I dont believe in cruel or mean-spirited humor. Mine is good-natured and self-deprecating, a kinder and gentler answer to all the negativity and divisiveness in the world.

Mom & Dad Are Dinosaurs!: Humor for No-Tech Parents with High-Tech Kids

Frank Mastropolo

ASIN B0CK3QR2J8

Author statement: Mom & Dad Are Dinosaurs! is told in the voice of a sardonic kid who doggedlyand unsuccessfullytries to teach his parents the facts of tech life in the new century. Gripes about learning new technology are heard in every social setting, online and offespecially in my circles. Rather than write a book full of rants, I thought it might be fun to call out tech illiteracy in the voice of those we turn to when the wi-fi goes out: our children. And why stop at the war with technology? Theres plenty more that upsets me. The changing world has given us cappuccino potato chips, electronic Monopoly, home treadmills, artisanal bread, and robot vacuums. Each of the 25 chapters highlights a new affront to the old guard.

A Paper Orchestra

Michael Jamin

ASIN B0CR8L7S87

Author statement: Ive been a professional TV writer for 28 years. I think people are surprised to learn that I dont write what I want to write. I write what the studios pay me to write. Im not complaining. Screenwriting is a tremendously fun way to make a living, but after a while, I longed to write something just for myself, free from studio notes and constraints. Ive always admired the writing of David Sedaris and was inspired to write my own collection of personal essays. Of all the terrific shows Ive written for, this is the work Im most proud of.

Canine Humor

Maya and Waggers: I Have to Scoop What?

W.T. Kosmos

ASIN B0CMTR6HPC

Author statement: Join Maya, her best friend Lily, and the rescue puppy, Waggers, as they bound through a wacky neighborhood to avoid scooping poop on Uncle Puddin Heads perfect lawn, learning some unexpected life lessons along the way. A hilarious chapter book for ages 8 and up, this book was inspired by my experiences as a parent, an uncle, and a proud dog owner. Ive noticed the heartwarming joys and sometimes hilarious lengths that kids will go to avoid pet care responsibilities, including messier ones. It was also inspired by not-so-dog-friendly neighbors.

Ralph & Murray

Rick Glaze

ISBN 978-1-73729-513-6

Author statement: Ralph & Murray is a humorous autobiographical story set in the late 1950s and narrated by a dog and cat. I wrote this book during the pandemic and took a chance with an unconventional approach of short, snappy chapters. My book was influenced by Tuesdays with Morrie, in terms of its standalone chapters that are tied together by the characters. Humor can be subjective, and as I wrote and laughed my way through each adventure, I wondered if it would seep through to readers. Im gratified that even at this early stage, the response has been very supportive.
Not since the Twilight parties of the mid-2000s have YA readers been energized enough to show up en masse for midnight releases at bookstores. Instead of teens in homemade T-shirts declaring Team Edward or Team Jacob, todays crop of book lovers are largely women and teen girls with Fourth Wing friendship bracelets or dragon-themed temporary tattoos, fans of the impossible-to-ignore publishing juggernaut that is romantasy. This category has generated a level of excitement on par with the dystopian and paranormal romance days more than a decade ago. Its also selling at a staggering volume, leading Circana BookScan to dub 2023 the year of romantasy. Sarah J. Maas, hailed by many as the doyenne of romantasy (and also now considered an adult author), has sold close to 42 million books worldwide, according to Bloomsbury, her publisher, and in the first quarter of 2024, she was the bestselling author in any category. But shes far from alone at the top.

While blockbuster fantasy-romance authors including Cassandra Clare (the Mortal Instruments series), Renee Ahdieh (the Wrath and the Dawn series), and Tahereh Mafi (the Shatter Me series) developed their followings long before the term romantasy was coined, authors such as Rebecca Yarros (Fourth Wing) and Lauren Roberts (Powerless) are at the forefront of the next wave, helping to make it a phenomena that has had transformational effects on the YA market and has further blurred the line between YA and adult titles. Often dismissed for its escapist quality, romantasy has become a category that demands to be taken seriously.

Literary gatekeepers have always been reluctant to grant romance and fantasy legitimacy, probably because folks love trashing what girls and women love reading, says Sabaa Tahir, author of the bestselling Ember in the Ashes series, among the books considered to have helped popularize romantasy when it was published back in 2015. Its nice to see that the success of the genre is sweeping a lot of that nonsense away.

What is romantasy, exactly?

Romantasy has been around for a long time,  says Tiffany Liao, executive editor at Random House Books for Young Readers. Its the term thats new.

By the time the Frankfurt Book Fair took place in 2022, the catchy portmanteau for books combining a romantic plot with fantastical elements had gained purchase. While the term is now widespread, its more of an umbrella, Liao says. Because it is elastic and flexible, everyone has their own definition.

I think the term is appealing because it is a signal to a reader of what they are getting, says Eileen Rothschild, v-p and associate publisher of St. Martins YA imprint Wednesday Books. By last fall, the label had transcended publishing circles and was being used more broadly in the media.

Romantasy narratives regularly feature tropes such as enemies-to-lovers and fated mates, and are distinguished by high stakes. The characters are often in life-or-death situations that create tension between themrivals in a tournament, rulers of different realms, witch and witch hunter, says Alex Aster, author of the Larklight series, adding that choosing a love interest can sometimes decide the fate of the world.

Chloe Gong, author of the These Violent Delights series, says readers love having something to root for, and that often the romance is a B plot. The characters have so many other matters to attend to, like the end of the world or the looming big battle, but every step forward is entwined with a deepening relationship, too.

Romantasy readers simply love love, says Bria Ragin, editor at Joy Revolution, an imprint of Random House Childrens Books. And they want to escape. What better way to do so than with hot vampires, brooding angels, or charming witches?

Increasingly, though, the spice factor of the romantasy is part of the allure. Listen, a lot of characters in these fantasies are hot, says Kendare Blake, author of the Three Dark Crowns series.

BookTok influencers have even popularized the use of a spice meter in the reviews they post, Ragin notes.

The BookTok boost

Much of the credit for the ascendence of romantasy has been attributed to TikTok, where #Romantasy-related posts have clocked more than a billion views. The big sweeping emotions of romantasy are ideally suited to the platform, Liao says, noting that videos of readers with tear-streamed faces sharing their response to a book provide a quick emotional connection and allow readers to share the emotional experience together.

Aster, who has more than a million followers on the platform, says that the BookTok community serves to magnify the effects of word of mouth and has helped to create readers out of nonreaders and persuaded readers of other genres to give romance and fantasy a try.

Ragin says that in addition to observing the success of some of her authors on the platform, she has used it to discover authors. Theres some room to grow in the BookTok community as it relates to featuring and breaking out marginalized authors, she says.

Then, of course, there are the sales. For some authors, BookTok has revived backlist titles, often from many years past. For others, such as Aster, it has resulted in instant bestseller status. Its the platforms ability to build momentum quickly that has been a game changer, according to Liao.

Publishers are watching BookTok for more than just its sales potential. BookTok has been an amazing feedback mechanism for publishers to see firsthand how readers are receiving and reacting to our books, and the language they use to describe favorite tropes, says Katherine Harrison, executive editor of Knopf for Young Readers. I would say that BookTok re-affirmed our hunch about the demand for romantasy, and offered new language to help guide books into the hands of the target reader.

Still, Liao says, overreliance on BookTok is short-sighted. Its very tempting to look at BookTok as a way to determine what readers want. But the job and responsibility of publishers it to analyze and tap into why something is resonating. There will always be diminishing returns when trend chasing and serving up more of the same.

For romantasy authors, the platform can be a mixed bag. My relationship with BookTok is complicated, Gong says. It was a life-changing tool for me when I debuted in November 2020. I owe everything to being in the right place at the right time: while the pandemic shut down most bookstores, my books were still moving online. But she echoes a frequently cited drawback to the platform: I do feel that BookTok at large has a lack of diversity and is actively causing backward movement in lots of strides the industry previously made. If the publishing industry relies too heavily on letting BookTok dictate what should be popular in YA or in romantasy, then the same few books continue to get discovered and allowed to succeed, and thats a shame.

The BookTok effect also draws comparison to empty calories. It can be a lot of noise for a select few individual titles, and many times only for a short period of fameviral one week, forgotten the next, says Laura Crockett, senior agent at Triada US. Can BookTok create lasting influence or long, steady, focused attention on anyone other than Sarah J. Maas or, more recently, Rebecca Yarros? That remains to be seen.

Meanwhile some authorsespecially those with more established careershave eschewed the platform. Im not on it, Blake says. Im sitting this one out, folks.

Romantasy fatigue

As with any trend, romantasy is causing knock-on effects in YA publishing, not all of which are necessarily positive. Agents report being inundated with submissions described as romantasy, though the label doesnt always fit.

Books are being miscategorized as romantasy when its really fantasy-horror, fantasy-adventure, or dark academia that just so happens to have a romance B or C plot, Crockett says. Readers see a female author name on a fantasy cover and mislabel it as YA; readers see a female author name on a YA fantasy and mislabel it as romantasy. This miscategorization and mislabeling, from readers and marketing alike, is constant. She points to category killers of the past for comparison. Imagine if The Hunger Games or Divergent came out todayI have no doubt they would be marketed as romantasy. But they all had a romance plotline second, speculative fantasy or dystopian elements first.

Thats just branding, Harrison says. Any time theres a big hit, the next influx of submissions will name-check the bestseller of the week as a comp title. A true breakout book needs to offer a distinct point of view or a hook we havent seen before.

Gong suggests that because there are so many titles piggybacking on the big romantasy success stories, a sameness is developing in the category. Readers feel that theyve already read a bunch of books just like the latest coming out, she notes.

Crocketts experience supports that assertion. I receive so much romantasy in my inbox, she says. And theyre pretty similar to one another: assassin or princess falls in love with soldier-partner or bodyguard, usually enemies-to-lovers trope, usually one of them is fae, the romance is white and heterosexual. The comps are usually Sarah J. Maas or Fourth Wing.

But some publishers are seeing submissions moving in new directions. I am truly excited to see the diversity of voices in my inbox, because it allows me to learn about different cultural experiences or show the many facets of my own as a Black editor, Ragin says. I often see that debut authors have been inspired by Chloe Gong, Tracy Deonn, and Tahereh Mafi, who deserve their flowers, undoubtedly. Writers, across the subgenres of romance, will always put their own twist on Jane Austen, of course. And Bridgerton has opened the doors for this era of historical romance and historical romantasy.

While romantasy is thriving now, its too soon to count out other YA categories such as contemporary realistic. Romantasy definitely has the wind in its sails at the moment, but I wouldnt point to that as a cause for softening demand in any other category, Harrison says. These things come in waves. Im just as interested in acquiring the next great YA contemporary as the next great romantasy.

Ragin points to the recent success of YA titles such as Dungeons & Drama by Kristy Boyce, Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert, and Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee as indicators that some contemporary romance titles just have the secret sauce to break out.

Ultimately, the success of romantasy is contributing to a rising tide effect, Liao says. People who come to romantasy for the buzziness are new eyeballs we might not have reached otherwise. Once hooked on romantasy, theyre more likely to pick up another genre, such as thrillers.

A happily ever after?

Clearly romantasy isnt going anywhere any time soon. Wendy Loggia, v-p and senior executive editor at Delacorte, predicts the next big thing in romantasy will be subcategory hybrids, potentially including cozy romantasy, angel/vampire romantasy, and dark academia romantasy. Theres only one place romantasy is going, she says. Up, up, up.

Crockett sees publishers finally acquiring the BIPOC and queer romantasies that readers are craving, she says, adding that readers can expect to see more space-based and futuristic settings rather than fae worlds, more paranormal elements, and some near-future and dystopian narratives peeking in. She also notes that the level of spice in romantasy seems to be decreasing, with slow-burn romance on the rise.

I hope that it continues to grow more inclusive, Tahir says, seeing encouragement in such new and forthcoming titles as Saara El-Arifis Faebound, J. Elles House of Marionne, and Jordan Ifuekos The Maid and the Crocodile.

For Ragin, that future is already here. The spectrum of storytelling and worldbuilding is wider than everwith tales inspired by Persian, Mexican, Korean, and other mythologies, she says. Everyone, no matter their race, ethnicity, gender, or sexuality, has an opportunity to see themselves and their experiences authentically represented in main characters, not just supporting ones.

Liao is noticing more palace intrigue, enemies-to-lovers stories, and elemental magic in her submissions, and predicts an uptick in cozy fantasy narratives, as well as stories rooted in more diverse mythologies. She hopes publishers will challenge themselves to think more broadly about romantasy and embrace diverse stories that are also escapist and fun. Anything that boosts readership is a positive, she says. Youre creating more readers, and those readers are going to want more books. Its up to publishers to come up with fresh and exciting ways to engage readers and keep them excited about this genre.

Joanne OSullivan is a journalist, author, and editor in Asheville, N.C.

Read more from our Romantasy feature:

Whos Reading Romantasy?

Agents and editors agree that romantasy has innate appeal for a wide audience.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, April 27. Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) is focused on cooperation with Azerbaijan in the sphere of transportation, SFD Executive Director of the Strategy Sector Dr. Abdullah Al-Sakran told Trend on the sidelines of the Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB) annual meetings in Riyadh.

Azerbaijan is now under the umbrella of the initiative that is about connection between Asia and Europe.

Azerbaijan makes linkage between Asia and Europe and we focus now on transportation sector, he said.

As for the cooperation for development of the Middle Corridor, he said this depends on the requirements of the country.

As per our previous discussions with the Azerbaijani government, we are focused on roads. Our priority is to engage with governments on food security, climate action, water management, digitalization. We welcome any request from the Azerbaijani government in these sectors. If the Azerbaijani government lists its priorities, we are ready to discuss, he said.

Al-Sakran noted that the Fund provides loans to countries under the umbrella of cooperation for development.

Roads are one of the elements of food security. So broadly, cooperation on transportation also covers food security, agriculture, reducing the time of transportation, he explained.

The Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB) is holding its 2024 Annual Meetings and Golden Jubilee in Riyadh from April 27-30, under the Royal Patronage of the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.

The 2024 Annual Meetings are being held under the theme of Cherishing our Past, Charting our Future: Originality, Solidarity and Prosperity, which marks IsDBs 50 years of fostering socio-economic development in its member countries.

Among other topics, the meetings will also feature roundtable on COP29 with participation of Azerbaijani government representatives.

As the premier South-South multilateral development Bank, the 2024 IsDB Group Annual Meetings and Golden Jubilee are expected to attract international and regional attention. The Annual Meetings will feature a series of side events with top-level panelists from government, international and regional organizations, the private sector, academia, and civil society.

Ministers of Economy, Planning, and Finance from IsDB's 57 member countries will participate in the event, along with representatives of international and regional financial institutions, Islamic banks, private sector companies, national and international development finance institutions, international and regional organizations, NGOs, chambers of commerce & Industry, and business councils.
TikTok Boom

TikToks future in the U.S. may be uncertain, but BookTok continues to exert its influence. In 2023, Bloom Bookswhich scored last week with Elsie Silvers Wild Loveacquired six books in Chloe Walshs popular Boys of Tommen YA series, four previously self-published entries plus two additional titles. Bloom released the backlist titles, beginning with Binding 13, from November through March; the first new title, Taming 7, debuts at #3 on our childrens fiction list.

Truth Be Told

Memoirs by two writers who are better known as novelists land on our hardcover nonfiction list.

At #5, Knife is Salman Rushdies forceful and surprisingly good-humored account of the 2022 knife attack that nearly killed him, according to our review. The author chronicles the year following the attack, during which he recovered from liver damage, the removal of part of his small intestine, and the loss of his right eye. Though he writes of being plagued by nightmares and gory memories of the assault, Rushdies wit shines through.

Five spots below, Caleb Carr delivers a lively and moving memoir about his 17-year companionship with a Siberian forest cat named Masha, per our review of My Beloved Monster. Carrs gift for narrative momentum gives shape to the potentially flimsy premise, and he wrings real pathos from this tale of wounded souls finding one another.

Political Position

Ahead of the landmark June 2 presidential election in Mexicofor the first time, the two leading candidates are womenoutgoing president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador lands at #7 on our trade paperback list with Gracias! / Thank You!, a memoir of his six years in office. The Spanish-language book sold best in Los Angeles, where it ranked #3 and where 22% of copies in the U.S. sold.

NEW & NOTABLE

A Calamity of Souls

David Baldacci

#2 Hardcover Fiction, #3 overall

Baldaccis stirring latest finds Black Vietnam veteran Jerome Washington on trial in 1968 Virginia for murdering Leslie and Anne Randolph, his married white employers and two of the most prominent citizens in fiercely segregated Freeman County, per our review. This ranks among the authors best.

An Unfinished Love Story

Doris Kearns Goodwin

#2 Hardcover Nonfiction, #7 overall

Pulitzer winner Goodwin revisits her late husband Richard Goodwins experiences as a speechwriter to presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson and working on the 1968 presidential campaigns of senators Robert F. Kennedy and Eugene McCarthy.
Property details:

Escape the chaos of city life and own your own slice of paradise with this 40-acre recreational acreage just outside of Rawlins, Wyoming. Explore the vast natural beauty of the surrounding area and enjoy the peace and quiet of off-grid living. Located in Wyoming, this property offers a perfect retreat for those looking to get away from it all. Boasting an incredible amount of acreage, this recreational property presents endless possibilities for outdoor activities and experiences. Easy access to...

Price: $ 28,000 Seller State of Residence: Colorado Type: Recreational, Acreage State/Province: Wyoming Location: , Wy

You will be redirected to eBay



When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission.

Nearby Wyoming
Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source!
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 27. The official visit of the Azerbaijani parliamentary delegation headed by Chairman of Azerbaijani Parliament Sahiba Gafarova to Montenegro continues, Trend reports.

Within the framework of the visit, the Azerbaijani delegation visited the monument of the of the Partisan Warrior in nation's Podgorica. A wreath was laid on the monument on behalf of the Chairman of the Azerbaijani Parliament.

This monument, which was erected in 1957, holds the remains of 68 fallen Partisan fighters and is dedicated to the thousands who died at the hands of fascist occupiers during WWII.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
'Currently, our individual first premium would be in the Rs 3,000-Rs 3,200 crore range. We want to take that to about Rs 6,000 crore in three years.'

Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance has rationalised agent count to improve efficiency and productivity with nearly 39 per cent of business now coming from proprietary channels and 61 per cent from bancassurance, says Kamlesh Rao, managing director (MD) & chief executive officer (CEO), in an interview with Aathira Varier/Business Standard in Mumbai.

How was the company's performance in FY24 and what are your plans?

We were focused on strengthening our margins and persistency figures over the past three years.

Our 13th month persistency is now at 87 per cent, our 61st month persistency is 62 per cent, which is better than perhaps some of the listed players.

Having achieved our trajectory goals earlier than anticipated, we are now poised to shift our focus towards growth, aiming to further enhance our position in the market.

We would be happier if we could double our premium numbers over the next three years.

Currently, our individual first premium would be in the Rs 3,000-Rs 3,200 crore range. We want to take that to about Rs 6,000 crore in three years.

What are the plans for your distribution channels to achieve this target?

We have nearly 39 per cent of our business from proprietary channels and around 61 per cent comes from bancassurance.

Now, we have three new banks and are also investing in our direct and agency business.

We will keep the ratio of business around similar levels as we grow over the next three years.

The agency business also needs to grow, so we are investing in our agency business right now.

Three years back contribution from our direct marketing business used to be about 2 per cent to 3 per cent.

This year, it will be roughly about 7 per cent to 8 per cent of our business.

We want to take that to 14-15 per cent in the next three years. As we wanted to expand our business, we set out for new banks and added three new banks.

Of this, IDFC First Bank and Bank of Maharashtra have started business.

We recently also signed a partnership with Axis Bank and business will start from April.

In terms of distribution channels, we have expanded. In the last three years, we didn't put any incremental capacity in the agency.

This is because we were adding capacity in some of the new bank tie-ups. This year, we have put more capacity on our direct business.

What are your expansion plans?

We have about 370 branches of our own across the country. We added about 100 branches last year. We will add another 50-70 branches next year under the same plan.

What is your view on Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India's (Irdai's) proposal to increase life insurance coverage in gram panchayats across the country?

I think if you look at the regulator and the chairman specifically, he has a very clear focus that insurance penetration in this country needs to increase.

A lot of work is happening in that area. We are on the verge of creating a product, which will be cutting across health, life and property -- Bima Vistaar.

I think it is a great move. Insurance companies are also putting their heads together to see what they can do to get more rural, in line with the regulation.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
The Delhi high court on Friday directed the civil aviation regulator to deregister planes leased to Go First within five working days, giving respite to the lessors.

Photograph: ANI Photo

This means that the airline will have to give back all 54 aircraft to the lessors if its resolution professional (RP) does not challenge the order or ask for a stay.

Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju also refused the request of the RP, represented by advocate Diwakar Maheshwari, to keep the operation of the order in abeyance for a week to enable them to file an appeal before the division Bench of the court.

The five days will start from Monday, so you have time to approach the court, Justice Ganju said.

Disposing of a batch of pleas moved by the lessors, Justice Ganju also set aside the communication letters issued by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) declining to process new registration applications of the lessors.

The court ordered that all maintenance tasks with respect to the aircraft will be undertaken by the lessors and all their authorised representatives up to and until the time the aircraft are de-registered and exported, in pursuance of Rule 32A of the Aircraft Rules.

The respondent DGCA and the respondent Airport Authority of India (AAI) shall assist the petitioner lessors and grant them access to the airports the court said.

The court also restrained the airline and its representatives from accessing or entering or in any manner operating or flying any of the aircraft.

The RP and Go First have also been restrained from removing, replacing, and taking out accessories, spare parts, documents, records, materials, etc from the aircraft.

The RP has to furnish details regarding the maintenance of the aircraft to the lessors.

The AAI will now have to communicate with the lessors regarding export of aircraft and airworthiness of the equipment.

Lessors who do not wish to export their aircraft can move the court to take appropriate steps.

The respondent RP shall forthwith provide up to date information and documentation in relation to the aircraft and the petitioner lessors are permitted to export aircraft as per the Aircraft Act, Aircraft Rules and applicable laws, the court said.

The airline may now ask for a stay of the orders, said a lawyer from the lessor side.

Go First lessors on October 5 last year had requested the high court for deregistration of the aircraft in light of the October 3 notification by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) that exempted aircraft, engines, and airframes from a moratorium under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016.

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on April 8 this year gave another 60-day extension to Go First to complete its insolvency process, which was the third extension sought by Go First.

Sharjah-based aviation company Sky One and SpiceJet promoter Ajay Singh along with Busy Bee Airways, owned by Nishant Pitti of EaseMyTrip, are the two bidders for the airline.

We have acknowledged the judgment issued by the Delhi high court on April 26, 2024.

"We will review the details of the order once we receive the official document.

"Following this review, we will evaluate our position and consider any necessary adjustments to our proposed offer for Go Air.

"Our commitment remains to proceed in a manner that respects the legal process and aligns with our strategic objectives, Nishant Pitti said on X for Busy Bee.

Aircraft lessors, including Pembroke Aviation, Accipiter Investments Aircraft 2, EOS Aviation, and SMBC Aviation filed a petition in May 2023 before the high court, seeking directions to release the planes leased to the insolvent airline.

Big win for lessors

2023

May 2: Go First files for voluntary insolvency

May 9: Lessors seek deregistration of 45 planes

May 10: NCLT admits Go First's petition; imposes moratorium

May 22: NCLAT upholds NCLT admission of Go to insolvency, lessors file a plea in HC seeking the release of aircraft

July 5: Delhi HC allows lessors to access aircraft, carry out maintenance, Go first appeals

September 1: Delhi HC raps Go First RP for not complying with an inspection order

October 3: MCA exempts all transactions and agreements related to aircraft and their engines from the moratorium

October 5: Go First lessors seek deregistration of aircraft after MCA notification

April 26, 2024: HC tells DGCA to deregister all aircraft of Go First
Is the unusually and unbearably scorching Sun and the general laxity, bordering on laziness, among voters, responsible, asks N Sathiya Moorthy.

IMAGE: Voters line up outside a polling station at Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu, April 19, 2024, during the first phase of the general election. All Photographs: Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters

This time, the numbers didn't add up for the Election Commission, or so it seems.

After declaring a state-wide average of 72.09 per cent average polling across Tamil Nadu's 39 Lok Sabha seats at 7 pm on the polling day, April 19, the Election Commission applied midnight corrections, to bring down the figure by around three per cent, to 69.46.

In the previous polls in 2019, it was 72.44 per cent. In the past, such corrections used to give a higher figure for the final turnout.

Officials have since attributed the difference to the approximate figure recorded in the mobile apps of individual polling officials across the state and the final figures when tallied after the dust and din had settled down.

They also explained away the overall lower turnout, especially the discouraging figures in urban centres, starting with capital Chennai, to the unusually and unbearably scorching Sun and also the general laxity, bordering on laziness, among elite and educated voters.

The officials did not say, and obviously so, but it all meant that armchair critics, supporters and opponents of political parties and governments, at the Centre and in the states, continue to leave it at that as has been their wont all along.

The urban voters do not want to buck the trend, as if it were their exclusive right to do so -- and no one should have any issues about it.

IMAGE: Women line up to vote at Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, April 19, 2024.

Tamil Nadu was the only medium-sized state in the country where all 39 constituencies voted in the first-phase of polling on April 19.

While complaints remained with political parties and independent candidates -- like three-time chief minister O Panneerselvam, an ally of the ruling BJP-NDA candidate in coastal Ramanathapuram had issues with the minimal campaign time of only 19 days -- other issues like unprecedented summer heat and a tradition of urban laxity bordering on laziness, among others, contributed to lower voter turnout in the three Chennai city constituencies, and a few others.

Rather, low polling has come to define, quixotically, the urban-rural divide in a state that claims to be the most urbanised and urbanising one in the country. Or, so it seems.

Thus, the lower the voter turnout, higher the number of elite voters a constituency can claim to have in its rolls.

Though the same need not always be true of the high turnout constituencies, which anyway have a mix of semi-urban, semi-rural and rural areas.

The official figures announced close to 15 hours after polling ended at 6 pm put the state average at 69.46 per cent.

Dharmapuri constituency, where Sowmya Anbumani, wife of the PMK's Anbumani Ramadoss, an ally of the BJP, is the key contestant, polled the highest 81.48 per cent.

The lowest was at Chennai Central, 53.91 per cent.

In comparison, the supposedly most elitist of all constituencies in the state, adjoining Chennai South, recorded the second lowest 54.27 per cent.

It was one of those prestige fights involving former Telangana governor Tamizhisai Soundararajan (BJP), incumbent DMK member Tamizhachchi Thangapandian and her predecessor, medical-doctor J Jayavardhan, son of party strongman and former minister D Jayakumar, was the AIADMK candidate.

Post facto, the turnout, which was lower even by past history, is attributed to victims across the Velacherry belt boycotting the poll, to register their protest against the indifference of the Centre and state governments to their plight at the height of the unprecedented December cyclone and consequent floods. This needs independent verification.

IMAGE: A polling official gets her blood pressure measured at a polling station at Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu.

Ironically, the DMK's former Union minister Dayanidhi Maran was seeking re-election from Chennai Central with its lowest turnout, after bagging the seat in 2004, 2009 and 2019, but lost to the ruling AIADMK nominee in the intervening 2014 polls, in which then chief minister J Jayalalithaa's 'Modi-ya, indha Lady-ya?' campaign-call made the difference.

Before 2004, Dayanidhi's late father Murasoli Maran had won the seat in 1998 and 1999.

The lower turnout in Chennai Central can be explained by multiple factors.

Of course, it's the Sun, which read 38 on the thermometer, against the early prediction of 32 degrees -- but the 'real feel' was 46 degrees on polling day.

It was true across the city, so to say. It was the kind of summer heat that Chennaites, rich or poor, had not got used to.

Among them, the former class did not have direct incentives to make it to the polling booths 'in the scorching Sun', as the poor, who seemed to be grateful to their political leaders and governments, whether in the state or at the Centre, for the 'freebies' that were being given to them, all along.

If there were any immediate inducements -- and, irrespective political affiliations and hues, it was there -- it was only an additional motivating factor, so to say.

Yet, all of it does not explain the low turnout, especially in Chennai Central, which has a concentration of upper caste Brahmins and even greater number of north Indian voters, who are settled in the city for generations.

There are also young migrants, both in the IT sector and low-end services industry, who are registered voters in the three city constituencies.

There is a fair share of the latter, in almost every constituency, especially urban and semi-urban.

There are also a substantial number of minority voters, especially Muslims, in Central Chennai.

IMAGE: Women queue outside a polling station at Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu.

Another factor, which may be indicative of a trend, is that in all three outings that he had won, Dayanidhi Maran seemed to have had an easy way -- and there are apprehensions in the party that he might have taken it easy this time -- against a committed BJP nominee Vinoj P Selvam, who has been seen as a strong field worker since his contesting the 2021 assembly polls from one of the city candidates, only to lose to later-day DMK minister P K Sekar Babu.

The AIADMK had allotted the seat inexplicably to the junior DMDK ally, whose candidate was anyway weak.

Suffice to point out that in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, AIADMK booth agents were found missing even in the key Stella Maris College after Jayalalithaa and superstar Rajinikanth had cast their votes.

It was a tactic carefully introduced by the AIADMK Opposition all across the state in the key 1999 Lok Sabha polls when the late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi was chief minister.

There is still another factor, rather two intertwined ones, that lead to low voting in Chennai.

One, parties are believed to enrol 'bogus voters' in ways that electoral officers cannot uncover in their thousands, but are unable to ensure delivery in single-day polling across the state.

Many voters register their names, again an illegal act, in Chennai, where they are employed, and in their home towns and villages.

A long poll-day weekend is an incentive for them to join their families in the villages, where other inducements too may await them.

IMAGE: People stand inside a polling station to vote at Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu.

Yet, it is the election day allegation of state BJP president K Annamalai that the names of 100,000 voters had been stuck off the electoral rolls in his Coimbatore constituency that has drawn greater social media attention especially.

He made the observation before noon, with more than six of the total 11 hours of poll-time remaining.

Then he came up with another charge that between them, the DMK and the AIADMK had spent a total of Rs 1,000 crores (Rs 10 billion) to bribe voters.

It's true that not all voters would have been bribed, nor would have all of them accepted it even if offered, but with 21.06 lakh (2.106 million) voters, the per-head-average works out to Rs 4,750 (approximately).

At 71.17 per cent polling, the highest in 20 years, it is over Rs 7,000 per voter.

Leaving aside such mindless calculations, the immediate first question is this: What were Annamalai's BJP-RSS cadres from booth committee upwards doing all these days, at least from the day he was named the candidate?

Even without it, Coimbatore has become a BJP stronghold and a 'traditional party seat' since the 1998 serial blasts, and has a strong cadre-presence, too.

Incidentally, Coimbatore recorded moderate 64.81 per cent polling.

It was the lowest in the western region, where the party has a substantial backing in neighbouring Tiruppur, Erode and Nilgris, too -- but next only to the southern region, where too the average turnout was relatively low in the mid-sixties.

The low poll percentage in Coimbatore is still intriguing, as it was the most watched constituency even for the national media, thanks to Annamalai's candidature and Narendra Modi promoting him more than any other regional satrap sans the chief minister's job.

It owes to the kind of high tension that got built on the candidacy, and Annamalai's own constant declarations about the rival DMK and AIADMK wanting to unleash violence to spoil his chances.

According to some reports, Annamalai's declarations that he would demand re-polling in the constituency only demoralised party workers and supporters elsewhere in the state, too, as the BJP had hoped to win four or five seats in the state.

The list included Annamalai in Coimbatore, Union minister L Murugan (Nilgiris), former Telangana governor Tamizhisai Soundararajan (Chennai South), former Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan (Kanyakumari) and state legislative party leader Nainar Nagendran (Tirunelveli).

IMAGE: People vote at Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu.

As analysts keep their thumbs crossed on the final outcome, which would be known only weeks later on June 4, parties and leaders will be cocooned in the coming days, analysing their victory chances.

In the process, they will also be washing their dirty linen in public, or at least in private, blaming everyone around, within the party at all levels, for not doing enough, even if they hope to win their respective seats.

In all alliances, especially the ruling DMK-Congress combine, there will be allegations that the alliance partner did not do enough at the grassroots-level.

There will also be charges of senior party leaders, both from constituency and away, trying to torpedo their own party/alliance candidates.

The list could include some DMK ministers, too, some of them seniors and veterans.

All parties, especially DMK boss and chief minister M K Stalin, had warned of stringent action against local party leaders if their candidates fare badly -- even if they won the seat.

The list could again include some seniors in every party -- but what action will be taken, if at all, will be known only after the results are out, both in the state and at the national-level, all on June 4....

N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran journalist and author, is a Chennai-based policy analyst and political commentator.

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 27. A group of Azerbaijan Naval Forces' servicemen is currently in Livorno to take part in international seamanship competitions, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense.

During the visit, Azerbaijani servicemen met with the command of the Italian Naval Academy and the mayor of Livorno.

Furthermore, the Azerbaijani delegation, alongside representatives from other participating countries, took part in the ceremonial parade and the solemn flag handover ceremony that marked the commencement of the competition.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Two Central Reserve Police Force personnel were killed and two others injured as militants attacked a camp of security forces in Manipur's Bishnupur district in the early hours of Saturday, police said.

IMAGE: Security personnel conduct joint combing operations in sensitive areas in both the Hills and Valley sectors of Manipur. Photograph: ANI File Photo

The militants attacked an IRBn (India Reserve Battalion) camp at Naranseina in the Moirang police station area, they said.

"The militants fired indiscriminately from hilltops, targetting the camp. It started around 12.30 am and continued till about 2.15 am. The militants also hurled bombs, one of which exploded in the outpost of CRPF's 128 battalion," a senior police officer said.

The deceased were identified as sub-inspector N Sarkar, a native of Assam's Kokrajhar district, and head constable Arup Saini of Bankura district in West Bengal, he said.

The injured were inspector Jadav Das and constable Aftab Das, he said, adding that they received splinter wounds.

"The two injured personnel were admitted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal. They are out of danger," the officer said.

The CRPF personnel were deployed to provide security to the IRBn camp.

A massive search was underway to find the perpetrators of the attack, police said.

Condemning the incident, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said, "Such actions demonstrate cowardice against dedicated security personnel who work tirelessly day and night to uphold peace and stability in the state. Their sacrifice will not go in vain."
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday denied ticket to its Mumbai North Central MP Poonam Mahajan and instead picked prominent lawyer Ujjwal Nikam, who was the special public prosecutor in Mumbai terror attack and 1993 serial blasts cases, as its nominee against Congress leader Varsha Gaikwad.

IMAGE: Senior lawyer Ujjwal Nikam. Photograph: ANI Photo

Nikam acquired a celebrity status when a hundred accused were convicted in the Mumbai blasts case while the 26/11 terror attack trial culminated in the hanging of Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist captured alive by the police.

In his first reaction, Nikam said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his colleagues must be credited for India's elevated global status.

Speaking to reporters, Nikam said the law is the key support for the poor and weak. "With this view, I joined BJP as I feel the security and sovereignty of the country should remain unaffected".

Gaikwad heads the Mumbai Congress unit and is the incumbent MLA from Dharavi constituency.

She said her fight is not against any candidate but it is an ideological fight.

Mahajan, the daughter of late BJP stalwart Pramod Mahajan, was elected from Mumbai North Central in the 2014 and 2019 elections when BJP and Shiv Sena (undivided) were in alliance.

She is also a former president of the BJP's youth wing.

Voting in Mumbai is scheduled to be held on May 20 in the fifth phase of the general elections.

Born in North Maharashtra's Jalgaon, he started practicing as a lawyer in 1979, but shot to fame for the first time when he was appointed as special public prosecutor in the 1993 serial blasts case.

The case reached its conclusion more than a decade later and a hundred accused were convicted while 23 others were acquitted.

Nikam, who would appear before TV cameras after each day's hearing and speak about the developments in the trial, became famous across the country during this period.

The Maharashtra government subsequently appointed him as special prosecutor in some of the most attention-grabbing cases.

He represented the state in the trial of Ajmal Kasab, the lone Pakistani terrorist arrested during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, the Gulshan Kumar murder case and Shakti Mills gangrape case, among others.

He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2016.

It was long being speculated that Nikam, known to be media-savvy, might enter politics.

Meanwhile, Nikam said he would speak to Poonam Mahajan as he has known her since the days of the Pramod Mahajan (murder) trial. "I used to meet her that time, I know her," he added.

Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha constituency includes six assembly segments Vile Parle, Chandivali, Kurla, Kalina, Bandra East and Bandra West.

The BJP represents two of the six segments, the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde two, and Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress one each.

Speaking on his poll strategy, Nikam said he never underestimated his rivals in the courtroom and will neither do so in the poll arena.

"Varsha Gaikwad is a seasoned politician," he added.

In the court, Nikam is known for arguments replete with histrionics and one-liners. He is hardly ever boring, and lightens the atmosphere by punctuating serious arguments with humour. It will have to be seen whether he can win the argument in the people's court.
Three women originally hailing from Gujarat's Anand district and settled in the United States were killed in a deadly car crash in the US state of South Carolina, their relatives said on Saturday.

Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: Lindsay DeDario/Reuters

The accident occurred on Friday on the Staunton Bridge Road along Interstate 85 near Lakeside Road, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol troopers, said a media report.

The overspeeding car jumped at least 20 feet in the air before crashing into trees, it said.

Relatives in Gujarat have identified the three as Rekha Dilip Patel, Sangita Bhavnesh Patel and Manisha Rajendra Patel. They belonged to Vasna (Borsad) and Kavitha villages in Borsad taluka of the state's Anand district.

The women were also related, they said. The husbands of Rekha and Sangita  Dilip Patel and Bhavnesh Patel, respectively  are brothers, while Manisha's husband Rajendra is a cousin of the two men.

Except for Sangita's father Vitthalbhai, who lives near Kavitha village, all other family members of the three women and their husbands had shifted to the US long back.

I have learnt that my daughter and two other women have died in a road accident on Friday in the US. A fourth woman, also a relative, has been admitted to a hospital there. They were going for an outing, Vitthalbhai Patel told reporters.

He said Sangita never returned to India after moving there nearly 20 years ago. His son had come here a few months ago for his marriage-related shopping, said Vitthalbhai.

Niranjan Patel, a resident of Vasna (Borsad), said a prayer meeting was organised in their village for the three women.

Rekhaben and Sangitaben used to live with their husbands in Atlanta, Georgia, and were going towards South Carolina when the accident occurred. The villagers expressed grief during the prayer meeting, said Niranjan Patel.

The accident victims were travelling in an SUV, according to Chief Deputy Coroner Mike Ellis from the Greenville County Coroner's Office, Fox Carolina reported.

He said the vehicle left the roadway on the right-hand shoulder, ran up the embankment, went through the cement bridge embankment, and jumped completely over all four lanes of traffic. It then went through some trees on the other side and down an embankment, he added.
A Pakistani teenage girl who has been ailing since 2019 got a new lease of life after she received a heart from a 69-year-old Indian donor from New Delhi.

IMAGE: Ayesha Rashid, 19-year-old girl from Karachi undergoes a successful heart transplant in Chennai. Photograph: ANI on X

The 19-year-old girl from Karachi successfully underwent a heart transplant surgery and was discharged recently, doctors who performed the surgery at a Chennai hospital said.

"I am feeling fine (now). I thank the Indian government for giving me a visa. I got a heart transplant here," she said and also thanked the doctors for saving her.

She was very sick upon her arrival in Chennai, her mother Sanobar said. "We got an emergency visa... the doctors saved her," she added.

Getting the visa was very difficult; more than that the patient's family could not afford the treatment cost, Dr K R Balakrishnan, director of the Institute of Heart and Lung Transplant, MGM Healthcare, Chennai, said.

"Her single mother had no money, no resources at all. With great difficulty, they arranged some finance and came here. We had to take care of the patient's entire expenses including her hospitalisation," he said.

The girl has been battling for her life after suffering a cardiac arrest in 2019. Her family consulted Dr K R Balakrishnan and Dr Suresh Rao, Co-Director, Institute of Heart and Lung Transplant, MGM Healthcare.

The medical team advised a heart transplant as her heart pump had developed a leak. She was put on Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO).

A left ventricular assist heart device was implanted to aid in blood pumping in order to sustain her.

In January this year, the teen girl received a heart from a brain-dead man in New Delhi and the transplant was performed for free, the hospital said.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said that the names of party candidates for the prestigious Amethi and Rae Bareli seats in Uttar Pradesh will be announced in a "few days".

IMAGE: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addresses a press conference in Guwahati. Photograph: ANI Photo

Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, he claimed that though the BJP says the corrupt must be put in jails, when leaders facing corruption charges join the saffron party, they are "put on the lap" and sent to Rajya Sabha or assembly.

He also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the latter's "words have lost credibility", while also accusing him of trying to polarise the country.

"You have to wait for a few more days... when the names of candidates come from people to me and I sign the notification, it will be announced," he said when asked about candidates for Amethi and Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituencies.

"Those questioning Congress leaders for changing constituencies must also tell me how many times have (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee and (Lal Krishna) Advani changed their seats," Kharge said, when asked about the BJP criticising Rahul Gandhi for fighting the elections from Kerala's Wayanad instead of Amethi.

"There was a demand from the people of Wayanad and he went there. Leaders have to go as demanded by the people," he said on Gandhi contesting from Kerala.

Hitting out at the Prime Minister, Kharge alleged, "Modi is trying to intimidate everyone, with either CBI or ED or something else."

Comparing PM Modi with his predecessor Manmohan Singh, he said, "In his 10 years as the Prime Minister, did you ever hear Manmohan Singh talking about snatching someone's mangalsutra? Did he badmouth anyone?"

"Singh would make one statement and it would be printed worldwide. If Modi speaks and his words have no credibility, what can we do about it?" he said.

Asked about PM Modi's allegation that Congress' manifesto is about appeasement of Muslims, Kharge asserted that it is a document with assurances for everyone, from youths to farmers, workers, women and backward classes.

Lashing out at the PM, he said, "You should think before you speak. Our Nyays and guarantees are for everyone... when you are repeatedly saying it's for Muslims, you are polarising, dividing the people and one day you will repent."

Asked for his reaction to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's remark that "Kharge should join the BJP", following the Congress chief's statement that "Modi should read the grand old party's manifesto first, then we can have a discussion", the Rajya Sabha MP said he will speak to the PM, who is his opponent in Parliament, and not to a CM.

"I have spoken to Modi and not your (Assam) CM because I am Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha. I was also in Lok Sabha. I have a little bit of competency in Parliamentary office as well... I will speak to Modi. Why he (Himanta) bothers about it? Let him face the people here (in Assam) and then speak about me," Kharge added.

Alleging that the BJP "rolls out the red carpet" for opposition party leaders facing corruption charges when they enter the saffron fold, Kharge said, "They (BJP leaders) say that corrupt leaders will be put in jail, but when those same people join the BJP, they make them sit on their lap."

He said there are many such examples of corrupt leaders from other parties joining the BJP and being made ministers, MLAs or Members of Parliament.

Kharge questioned turncoat leaders "who grew up in the Congress and later left it" that if the grand old party was "so bad, why did they waste 30-40 years" in it.

"Congress is like a flowing river, it is not affected by a few persons leaving it. It is more than a century-old party. It has a history of making India independent and giving it democracy and a constitution. We have shown that democracy has sustained in India only due to the Congress," the party president asserted.

Noting the contribution of Congress leaders in the freedom struggle, Kharge said, "People who freed the country are in the Congress. No one from the BJP had fought for Independence or development. They talk about patriotism and try to project that (Jawaharlal) Nehru, Indira (Gandhi) and Lal Bahadur Shastri were nothing in front of them."

"It is only Modi for them and they think India attained Independence in 2014," he added.

Kharge maintained that the ongoing elections are about "sustaining democracy and saving the Constitution".

"Those in the government, especially Modi, said they are for 'sabka saath, sabka vikas'. But actually what happened was 'sabka satyanaash'," he alleged.

To a question on whether the Congress failed to make electoral bonds a poll issue, the party chief said it has raised the matter.

"We have been saying there is no level playing field. Loss-making companies were giving them (BJP) donations of Rs 500-1,000 crore. It was 'chanda do, dhanda lo'," he added.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is a "sher" (lion) and nobody can break him, said his wife Sunita Kejriwal as she held her maiden Lok Sabha poll roadshow in support of the Aam Aadmi Party's East Delhi candidate Kuldeep Kumar on Saturday evening.

IMAGE: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita holds her maiden Lok Sabha poll roadshow in support of the AAP's East Delhi candidate. Photograph: @AamAadmiParty/X

Standing through the sunroof of a vehicle, Sunita Kejriwal greeted voters in the Kondli area of East Delhi constituency with folded hands. She also shook hands with some women.

She said the Delhi chief minister was jailed because he built schools, provided free electricity and opened Mohalla Clinics.

"We will vote to remove dictatorship and save democracy," Sunita Kejriwal said.

"Your CM is a 'sher', nobody can break him or make him bow down," she added.

As Sunita Kejriwal's carcade snaked through narrow lanes, a large number of AAP supporters, carrying the Delhi chief minister's cut-outs and blue and yellow Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) flags, gathered there and raised slogans like "Jail ke tale tutengey, Kejriwal chhutengey".

Patriotic songs were also played during the roadshow.

Many supporters stood in balconies and windows.

The local leaders of AAP's alliance partner Congress also attended the roadshow with their supporters.

A local resident, Vimla Devi, said the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal just before the elections was not good.

"I feel that the INDIA alliance will sweep the Lok Sabha polls. The chief minister has provided a lot of facilities to the people of Delhi. People will surely vote for his party," Devi said.

With Arvind Kejriwal behind bars in a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy, his wife will spearhead the AAP's poll campaign and hold roadshows, including one in West Delhi Lok Sabha constituency on Sunday, according to party leaders.

Sunita Kejriwal will also campaign for AAP candidates in South Delhi and New Delhi constituencies as well as in Gujarat, Haryana and Punjab, the party leaders said.
An IAF helicopter was pressed into service to extinguish the raging forest fires in Uttarakhand's Nainital district on Saturday, a day after the flames reached the High Court Colony in the Pines area.

IMAGES: An Indian Air Force helicopter was deployed to extinguish the raging forest fires in Nainital. Photographs: Indian Air Froce

The blaze came dangerously close to the houses in the colony and an Army cantonment around five kilometres away from the Pines, prompting the response by authorities.

The Indian Air Force said a Mi-17 V5 helicopter was deployed to assist in the firefighting operations.

"With a forest fire building up in vicinity of an Air Force Station near Nainital, #IAF activated its aerial fire fighting capability, employing a Mi-17 V5 helicopter for undertaking Bambi Bucket Ops," it posted on 'X'.

Forest officials said the helicopter collected water from the Naini and Bhimtal lakes in a Bambi bucket and poured it over the burning forests of the Pines, Bhumiadhar, Jyolikot, Narayan Nagar, Bhawali, Ramgarh and Mukteshwar areas.

The bucket can hold up to 5,000 litres of water at a time.

Boating activities were briefly suspended in Naini Lake due to its low water level, but in Bhimtal Lake, it has been stopped for now, an official said.

SDM Pramod Kumar said the fire has engulfed the forests from Pines to Ladiyakanta.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said all efforts are being made to bring the fires under control. Dhami undertook an aerial survey of the affected areas and reviewed the efforts made so far to extinguish the fires with officials of the Kumaon division at the Forest Training Academy in Haldwani.

He issued strict instructions that forest officers should not be allowed to go on leave until the forest fires are completely controlled and exemptions should be given only in cases of serious illness.

The Army's cooperation is also being taken, Dhami said and issued instructions to take action against those found guilty of setting fire to the forests.

State forest minister Subodh Uniyal said all DFOs are in the field to ensure the fires are effectively controlled. He hoped they would be controlled soon as they were surface fires and not ground fires which continue to rage for days on end.

The continued dry spell for several weeks in the hill state has led to a spike in forest fire incidents especially in the Kumaon region.

Nainital District Magistrate Vandana Singh issued directions to the forest department, fire department, PRD, disaster management, district panchayat and police to effectively stop the forest fire.

She also imposed a ban on the construction of houses and car washing until the situation was brought under control.

Singh asked for emergency meetings to be held in each gram Sabha to educate people not to light garbage on fire.

Three people were arrested in Rudraprayag on Friday while trying to set fire to forests.

As many as 31 fresh incidents of forest fire were reported from various parts of the state on Friday, destroying 33.34 hectares of forest land, according to officials.

The fire that broke out in the forest near Nainital took a horrific form on Friday, posing a threat to the residents of High Court Colony. It also affected traffic movement in the area.

Besides forest department staff, Army personnel are involved in efforts to control the fire.

Anil Joshi, a resident of the Pines area and assistant registrar of the Uttarakhand High Court said, "The fire engulfed an old and vacant house located near The Pines on Friday. It did not cause any damage to High Court Colony but it came dangerously close to the buildings."

Nainital Divisional Forest Officer Chandrashekhar Joshi said, "We have deployed 40 Manora Range personnel and two forest rangers to extinguish the fire."

From November 1 last year till now, a total of 575 incidents of forest fire have been reported in Uttarakhand, affecting 689.89 hectares of forest area.
A lookout circular has been issued against Anmol Bishnoi, the younger brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, in connection with the firing outside actor Salman Khan's house in Mumbai's Bandra earlier this month, a police official has said.

IMAGE: Police and forensic team collect evidence after two unidentified people opened fire outside the house of Bollywood actor Salman Khan, at Bandra in Mumbai on Sunday, April 14, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The police are also likely to take custody of Lawrence Bishnoi, who is currently lodged in a jail in Gujarat's Sabarmati, and was also contemplating invoking the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act in the case, he said.

Anmol Bishnoi had claimed responsibility for the firing and a probe too showed his involvement, following which the LOC was issued on Friday by the Mumbai police, the official added.

"Anmol and Lawrence Bishnoi have been named as wanted accused in the case. Anmol Bishnoi stays in Canada and travels to the USA. However, the IP address of the Facebook post, through which he claimed responsibility of the firing, was traced to Portugal," the official said.

The police had registered the first information report under Indian Penal Code Section 307 (attempt to murder) after two motorbike-borne men fired at Galaxy Apartment in Bandra, Salman Khan's residence, in the early morning of April 14.

The alleged shooters Vicky Gupta (24) and Sagar Pal (21), both residents of Bihar, have been arrested along with Sonu Kumar Subhash Chander Bishnoi (37) and Anuj Thapan (32), who had provided them two country-made pistols and cartridges on March 15, the police said.

According to the police, Sonu Bishnoi and Thapan hail from Fazilka, close to Lawrence Bishnoi's native place in Punjab.

"Both were also accused along with Lawrence and Anmol Bishoi in a firing case registered in Gangapur in Punjab," he said.
Madhya Pradesh's longest-serving chief minister and Bharatiya Janata Party stalwart Shivraj Singh Chouhan is likely to play an important role in national politics with Prime Minister Narendra Modi telling an election rally recently that he wanted to "take him to Delhi (Centre)".

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in conversation with then Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan during the inauguration of various developmental projects, in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, October 5, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Chouhan, who was the chief minister from 2005 to 2023, is contesting the Lok Sabha polls from his stronghold Vidisha, an ancient city incidentally located on the Bhopal-Delhi train route.

The BJP candidate is up against Pratap Bhanu Sharma, a Congressman who won the seat in 1980 and 1984 on the back of the post-Emergency Indira Gandhi juggernaut and later, the sympathy wave caused by her death.

These were the only two occasions when the Congress won the seat since it was created in 1967.

Speaking at a rally in Madhya Pradesh's Harda on April 24, Modi praised Chouhan saying the two had served together in the party organisation and also as chief ministers.

"When Shivraj went to Parliament, I was working together as general secretary of the party. Now I want to take him with me (to Delhi) once again," Modi said at the rally.

Incidentally, Chouhan had reached Vidisha through a Delhi-bound train after the announcement of his candidature.

He led the Bharatiya Janata Party to a crushing victory in last year's assembly polls, though the party, in a surprise move, picked Mohan Yadav as his successor.

Fondly called mama (uncle) and paon paon wale bhaiya in his younger days, Chouhan will be contesting his sixth Lok Sabha election from Vidisha, a seat represented by BJP stalwarts like late Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1991) and Sushma Swaraj (2009 and 2014), as well as newspaper publisher Ramnath Goenka (1971).

After his name was announced, Chouhan said the seat was handed over to him by Vajpayee and it was heartening that he was getting an opportunity to represent it again after 20 years.

"The BJP is my mother, who has given me everything," Chouhan had said at the time.

Chouhan, after serving as first-time MLA from his home turf Budhni, was fielded by the BJP in the 1992 LS bypoll necessitated by the resignation of sitting MP Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

As an MP, he represented the seat five times till 2004 when he resigned to become Madhya Pradesh chief minister in 2005.

"The Congress is only contesting as a ritual as it is no challenge for us. We will win even from booths that have traditionally voted for the Congress. Our aim is to increase the margin. Shivraj ji himself is reaching out to every part," state BJP secretary Rajneesh Agrawal, a native of Vidisha Lok Sabha constituency, told PTI.

On the campaign trail, Chouhan, accompanied by wife Sadhana Singh, can be seen interacting with street food vendors while savouring chaat and samosas over a cup of tea. He also makes it a point to meet voters, especially women, who form a large chunk of his support base.

However, Vidisha district Congress president Mohit Raghuvanshi accused Chouhan of ignoring Vidisha parliamentary areas despite being the local MP and former CM, alleging the BJP leader has not fulfilled promises.

"Chouhan, who used to be the main face of the BJP in the state for two decades, has been confined to Vidisha for campaigning due to the strong challenge posed by the Congress. He has been reduced to the status of a local leader," Raghuvanshi told PTI.

He claimed Congress candidate Sharma had set up educational institutions when he was MP for two terms, that too at a time when there was no local area development fund for parliamentarians.

Rasheed Kidwai, senior journalist and political observer, told PTI that the BJP, under pressure from its ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, was "forced" to field Chouhan from the seat.

"It is an open secret that Shivraj's popularity was sought to be checked but the BJP, under pressure from RSS and women voters, decided to field the former chief minister," Kidwai said.

"He is set to win by a huge margin. In fact, if he wins by the biggest margin from the state or nationally, it is likely to become a major talking point and will be compared with margins in Varanasi, Gandhinagar, Lucknow and elsewhere," Kidwai added.

However, it remains to be seen how Chouhan fits into the Modi-Amit Shah set-up, Kidwai asserted.

Vidisha Lok Sabha seat is spread across eight assembly seats in Vidisha, Raisen, Sehore and Dewas districts.

Bhojpur, Sanchi (SC), and Silwani assembly constituencies are in Raisen district, Vidisha and Basoda in Vidisha district, Budhni and Icchawar in Sehore and Khategaon in Dewas.

Seven of these eight assembly segments of Vidisha LS seat are currently held by the BJP with Chouhan representing Budhni.

Swaraj had won the 2009 Lok Sabha polls by a margin of 3.90 lakh votes after the nomination of Congress candidate Rajkumar Patel, a former MLA from Budhni and minister in Digvijaya Singh's cabinet, was rejected on technical grounds.

Vidisha Lok Sabha is 80 percent rural and dominated by OBCs, including a sizeable chunk from the Dhakad-Kirar community of Chouhan, as well as 35 percent SCs/STs, according to a local BJP leader.

Of the 19.38 lakh eligible voters in Vidisha, 10.04 lakh are men and 9.34 lakh women.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 27. Azerbaijani Parliament Chairperson Sahiba Gafarova has conveyed greetings of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Montenegro's President Jakov Milatovic and a letter inviting him to COP29, a source in the parliament told Trend.

This issue was discussed during a meeting between Gafarova and Milatovic as part of her official visit to this Balkan country.

The host underscored Azerbaijan's friendliness toward Montenegro and noted that the bilateral relationship is improving.

Speaking about Azerbaijan being one of the main investors in Montenegro, Milatovic welcomed the high level of cooperation, especially in the tourism sector.

Congratulating Azerbaijan on hosting the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), he fondly recalled his meeting with President Ilham Aliyev in Dubai during COP28.

Milatovic also conveyed congratulations on President Ilham Aliyev's confident victory in the recent election, noting that members of the Montenegrin parliament were among its observers.

The meeting stressed the necessity of expanding the contractual-legal framework between the two nations and signing new agreements, as well as improving the work of the commission on economic cooperation, which would help to grow relations in this area.



The necessity of strengthening humanitarian relations and people-to-people contacts was also emphasized at the gathering.



Meanwhile, Gafarova denounced biased campaigns and pressure on Azerbaijan by some international organizations, claiming that Azerbaijan is on its own road.

She also informed about the process of delimitation between Azerbaijan and Ermenia, expressed hope for the swift signing of a peace agreement, and reminded that, as a result of the negotiations, Armenia agreed to return four occupied villages to Azerbaijan.

The parliament's head expressed her opinion regarding the prospects of opening transport routes in the region.

She mentioned that the restoration of transportation and communications will benefit the entire region.

Noting that extensive reconstruction and restoration work is currently underway in Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur, the speaker said that new cities and villages are being built in these territories.

She also spoke about Azerbaijan's role as a reliable energy supplier to Europe.

Milatovic expressed hope for the signing of a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia and noted that it would contribute to regional development.

Additionally, the meeting involved an exchange of views on other issues of mutual interest.

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. The COPthe 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 on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 27. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree on approving the Amended and newly drawn up Investment Agreement between the government of Azerbaijan and the ACWA Power Azerbaijan Renewable Energy limited liability company (LLC), Trend reports.

According to the decree, the Amended and newly drawn up Investment Agreement between the government of and the ACWA Power Azerbaijan Renewable Energy (LLC), signed on February 29, 2024, was approved.
The communists leveraged the city's freedoms to run arms and supplies to their base in Jiangxi, documents show.

Beijing insisted Hong Kong pass stringent security legislation known as Article 23 due to fears that the city would be used as a base from which to bring down the government -- because that's exactly what the Chinese Communist Party used the city for.

Hong Kong passed the Safeguarding National Security Law on March 23 as a mandatory obligation under Article 23 of the city's Basic Law. It was billed by the government as a way to close loopholes in the already stringent 2020 National Security Law, which was imposed on the city by Beijing, ushering in a crackdown on dissent in the wake of the 2019 protest movement.

But its roots go much further back in history, according to a veteran journalist and a legal expert, to when the Chinese Communist Party was itself trying to overthrow the Chinese government led by the Kuomintang nationalists.

A lawmaker holds a copy of the proposed Safeguarding National Security Bill at the Legislative Council in Hong Kong, March 19, 2024. (Louise Delmotte/AP)

Secret documents recently declassified by the Chinese government reveal how the Chinese Communist Party used Hong Kong as a base from which to subvert the 1911 Republic of China regime founded by Sun Yat-sen after the fall of the Qing Dynasty.

Reading these documents, I found that the Chinese Communist Party turned Hong Kong into a base for propaganda, for United Front [outreach and influence] operations, organizational operations and mass mobilization.

The setting up of these various bases can be traced back to the 1930s, and were documented in a report made by Wu Youheng, then secretary of the Hong Kong municipal party committee, to the Central Committee.

The Chinese Communist Party really did turn Hong Kong into a base for subverting the central government and dividing China. This is a key reason why Beijing has always seen Hong Kong as a potential threat to its grip on power, due to its relative freedom and connectedness to the outside world.

From Hong Kong, Chinese communists raised funds to finance their campaigns, stored equipment and other reserves, and trained new cadres, according to party documents and other historical texts.

Supply and communication line

Hong Kong also formed part of a secret supply line that ran along the southeastern coast to Shanghai, then to the party's Central Revolutionary Base in the eastern province of Jiangxi, and people also moved along the route.

Through this secret communication line used to move supplies and arms, more than 200 important leading cadres of the Communist Party of China including Zhou Enlai and Liu Shaoqi were sent to Hong Kong for rest and recuperation.

This secret supply line was also an important channel for the communists to receive arms from the Soviet Union.

A young woman is caught between civilians and Chinese soldiers, who were trying to remove her from an assembly near the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, June 3, 1989.(Jeff WidenerAP)

Even more importantly, the Chinese Communist Party took advantage of the relative freedom enjoyed by Hong Kong residents under British rule to set up a command center from which to run its entire military operation for the South China region in the city.

Even the first provincial party committee for Guangdong province was set up in Hong Kong, on Aug. 7, 1927.

By January 1939, the party had set up a southern branch of its Central Committee to direct political, military, mass struggle and other work throughout southern China, and held a major conference in the city's Wanchai district in 1947. The Wanchai Conference, where participants talked about waging guerrilla warfare against the Kuomintang regime, including a concept they termed "red separatism.

The Chinese Communist Party has itself made full use of Hong Kong's freedoms to subvert the central government of the Republic of China and implement armed separatism to split the country.

It is precisely because of this historical experience that the party is very aware of Hong Kong's potential to overthrow a corrupt regime, and is very afraid that others will use their own tactics against them. This is the deep-seated reason why Beijing is afraid of Hong Kong.

Political city

Those fears were brought into far sharper focus on June 4, 1989, when around a million Hong Kongers turned out in protest at the massacre of civilians in and around Tiananmen Square by the People's Liberation Army, according to Eric Lai, a research fellow at the Center for Asian Law, Georgetown University.

"With so many Hong Kong people supporting the Tiananmen student movement, they thought it would likely continue to be a thorn in the Chinese Communist Party's side after the 1997 handover," Lai said.

He said Beijing revised Article 23 of the planned Basic Law after that event, adding in a number of "national security" crimes including "subverting the central government," "collusion with foreign forces," a crime for which pro-democracy media magnate Jimmy Lai is currently on trial.

Since that day, Chinese officials including former Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office director Lu Ping resolved that Hong Kong could never be allowed to become a political city.

Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai, center, is flanked by Deputy Foreign Ministers Li Ke Nung, left, and Chang Wen Tien at the final session of the Geneva Peace Conference on July 21, 1954. (AP)

Lu said that once Hong Kong becomes a political city, there will be endless internal disputes that will give opportunities for foreign forces [to interfere], Lu Pings view was shared by almost all the communists I knew in Beijing.

Today, Hong Kong is once more a power base for the Chinese Communist Party, with the city's Committee for Safeguarding National Security wielding huge power on Beijing's behalf, according to Eric Lai.

"The Article 23 legislation ... once again confirms that the Committee for Safeguarding National Security has supreme power and further consolidates the legitimacy of its rule," Lai told RFA Mandarin in a recent interview.

What's more, the legislation has become a vehicle for the translation of legal concepts previously only used in mainland China's judicial system to Hong Kong's courts, compromising their independence, Lai said.

"Hong Kong used to have an independent judiciary, civil society, and an independent legal profession," Lai said. "The overall situation is very unfavorable for that [now]."

A protester holds up a yellow umbrella as he marches with thousands of others in a rally against the proposed amendments to extradition law in Hong Kong, June 9, 2019. (Kin Cheung/AP)

Additional reporting by Chen Zifei for RFA Mandarin. Translated and compiled by Luisetta Mudie.

This article translates a commentary for RFA Cantonese by Hong Kong-based former Straits Times reporter Ching Cheong that represents the author's personal views, and not those of Radio Free Asia.
Armenian protesters scuffled with the police near the border with Azerbaijan late on April 26. Emotions got heated in the village of Kirants as the protesters tried to stop an unmarked vehicle, believing that it was transporting Azerbaijani cartographers due to work on the demarcation agreed between the two countries on April 19. Since then, locals have been blocking the road to protest the border deal. After a protest leader -- Bishop Bagrat Galstanian -- addressed the crowd, the police allowed a demonstrator to look in the car and see that Armenian cartographers were inside, but no Azerbaijanis.
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
TBILISI -- A bipartisan group of 14 U.S. senators warned in a letter to Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze that the Caucasus nations plan to reintroduce a "Russian-style foreign agents law" could lead to a change in U.S. policy toward Tbilisi.

In the letter -- sent on April 26 and obtained by Voice of America (VOA) -- the senators said they are increasingly concerned that Georgias transatlantic aspirations are being undermined.

The letter came after the U.S. Helsinki Commission called on the ruling Georgian Dream party to withdraw the "foreign agent" bill and urged Tbilisi to divert from this destructive path."

Western governments and rights groups have condemned Georgia's controversial "foreign agents" bill, which many say is a replica of a similar Russian law used to muzzle dissent in that country.

Thousands of Georgians have taken to the streets to protest the bill after the ruling party gave an initial green light to it, despite an outbreak of scuffles in parliament.

The legislation also sparked mass protests when first introduced last year -- causing the government to withdraw the bill.

Mamuka Mdinaradze, leader of the parliamentary faction of Georgian Dream, this month said the party planned to reintroduce the bill, which would oblige noncommercial organizations and media outlets that receive foreign funding and who are engaged in broadly defined "political" activities to report their activities to the authorities.

It would also introduce wide oversight powers by the authorities and potential criminal sanctions for undefined criminal offenses.

Georgian Dream has said the new bill is identical to the one withdrawn last year, except for one change: The term "foreign agent" would be replaced by the words "an organization pursuing the interests of a foreign power."

The U.S. senators in their letter rejected Georgian government claims that the law is equivalent to a U.S. law that requires U.S. citizens to register as foreign agents if they represent the interests of a foreign party in the United States.

"We must also make it clear that the reintroduced foreign agents law does not mirror any U.S. law and would be used to silence the civil society and media that play a significant role in advancing Georgias democratic institutions," they wrote in the letter.

Former Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, chairman of Georgia Dream, on April 27 insisted that the senators' letter was "based on misconceptions."

Garibashvili told reporters that it was crucial to maintain communications with "European and American partners" so that "those misunderstandings are eliminated."

Georgian Dream officials have insisted the legislation is aimed at bringing transparency in a time of high tensions.

"Our country, unfortunately, is still facing challenges. The main challenge is foreign occupation of 20 percent of our country. Russian troops stand on the occupied territory, although there are also other risks in the country," Garibashvili said.

Anti-Russian sentiment can often be strong in Georgia. Russian troops still control around one-fifth of Georgian territory, most of it taken during a lightning war in 2008 that was ostensibly about breakaway efforts in two northeastern regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The final reading of the bill is scheduled to be debated on May 17. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili told the BBC that she will veto it if its approved in its final reading.

Zurabishvili said that her major concern is the fact that the bill in question is "exactly a copy of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's law."

However, Zurabishvili said the ruling Georgian Dream party has enough lawmakers to override her if she does use her veto.

The European Union's ambassador to Georgia has criticized the introduction of the bill, saying it's "incompatible" with the values of the bloc Tbilisi is looking to join.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) also assailed moves to introduce the law.

Georgia has been vocal in its drive to join the EU, which extended candidate status to Tbilisi late last year after the government recalled the first attempt at introducing the law following public protests.

EU officials have said that if Georgia adopts the bill as law, it would disrupt the nations membership hopes.

The EU and NATO are keen to maintain relations with Georgia and move it further away from Russian influence, but recent moves have caused concern in Western capitals.

Most opinion polls in Georgia indicate strong support from the public for closer ties with Western institutions.

With reporting by the Voice of America
One year ago, Hamas -- the U.S.- and EU-designated Palestinian terrorist group that controls the Gaza Strip -- carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel, the deadliest in the countrys history.

In response, Israel launched an aerial bombardment and ground invasion of the Palestinian enclave to destroy Hamas and rescue the 251 hostages taken by the group.

Israel has expanded its war in recent weeks by invading Lebanon and launching air strikes targeting Hezbollah, the armed group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon.

RFE/RL spoke to Lior Yohanani, manager of quantitative research at the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem-based independent research center, which on October 7 released a wide-ranging survey of Israeli public opinion after one year of war.

RFE/RL: Can you explain what your study found as to how Israelis view the past year since Hamas's October 7 attack?



Lior Yohanani: Well, I think Israelis still don't see October 7 as an event that's over. Sure, the actual horrific events of that day ended, but Israelis are still living with the consequences.

There are two main aspects to this. First, since October 7, Israel has been in this multifront war that doesn't seem to have an end in sight. And then, of course, there is the issue of the hostages still being held in Gaza. So, we're seeing a sharp drop in people's sense of personal security. Almost three quarters of the public feel less safe compared to before October 7, and that's despite a year of war and some significant military achievements. On the flip side, we're also seeing that most people say their lives have returned to normal when it comes to things like work, media consumption, and family and social gatherings.

Another thing we're noticing is that the Israeli public is giving pretty low marks to all the political and military leaders for the performance since October 7. For example, almost two-thirds of Israelis are rating Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu's performance since then as poor or not good.

RFE/RL: How has Israel's involvement in a two-front conflict, in both Gaza and Lebanon, as well as a confrontation with Iran affected public opinion among Israelis?



Yohanani: It's tough to answer that question, because we're at the point where things could go in a few different directions. In the last few weeks, we've seen a major escalation in the conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon, and just last week, Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, which Israel is expected to respond to. In a survey we just did recently, we asked whether Israeli society and the military could handle fighting on two or more fronts for an extended period of time, and the results were pretty striking. Over 70 percent believe that yes, both Israeli society and the military can handle that kind of prolonged fighting. So, while the situation is complex and evolving, there seems to be a strong sense of resilience and capability among Israelis, even in the face of these multiple threats. But of course, public opinion could shift depending on how events unfold in the coming weeks or months.



RFE/RL: Is there support for Netanyahus response to October 7? Is there debate in Israeli society, as well as political circles, over Netanyahus strategic choices?



Yohanani: First of all, it's important to say that the Israeli public has largely supported significant military operation against Hamas in Gaza. That said, the Israeli discourse around the October 7 events, the ongoing war, and especially toward Prime Minister Netanyahu, is very polarized between right-wing supporters on the one hand and left and center supporters on the other.

People are hoping for a future where Israel can exist without constant threats, rather than expecting a harmonious relationship with its neighbors in the near-term."

So, on the left and the center, there is a high level of distrust and suspicion toward Netanyahu and his government. For instance, Netanyahu's apparent reluctance to pursue a deal for returning the hostages in exchange for ending the fighting in Gaza is seen by large parts of the public, even on the right, as resulting from Netanyahu's dependence on far-right, ultranationalist members of his government who refuse any compromise or ceasefire.

Now for a long time, Netanyahu and his ministers argued that only significant military force would lead Hamas to compromise and release the hostages. Now, with military attention and resources shifting to the north, people are asking, where is this massive military force that was supposed to bring the hostages home?

One question we have asked several times since October 7 in our polls is what should be the main goal in Gaza: Dismantling Hamas or bringing back the hostages? And as time goes on, public opinion is increasingly supporting the return of hostages. In our current survey, 62 percent saw bringing the bringing back the hostages as Israel's main goal, while only 29 percent pointed to dismantling Hamas as the primary objective.

RFE/RL: How do ordinary Israelis see the question of the remaining hostages amid the continued protests by the hostages' families?



Yohanani: As I mentioned before, most of the public supports a deal to release the hostages, even if it means ending the war and withdrawing the military forces from Gaza. There's this widespread feeling that we've left the hostages behind, and that's really hitting at our sense of solidarity, which is a deep and fundamental value, I think, in Jewish history in general and in Israel society in particular.

At the same time, the campaign run by the Hostages And Missing Families Forum has become very politicized. Many right-wing supporters see it as weakening Israel. As time goes on, we're seeing more and more harassment of protesters who support bringing the hostages back. There are cases of passersby cursing, even hitting and throwing eggs, at hostages' families. In our latest survey, we asked about the effectiveness of the protests and actions taken by the hostages' families.

Despite most of the public feeling empathetic toward the hostage issue, only less than a third think these actions are actually helping to advance a deal for the hostages' release, while almost 40 percent think they're actually hurting the cause. So, you've got this complex situation where people want the hostages back, but there is disagreement and some backlash about how to make that happen.

RFE/RL: Can you explain the reasons behind the apparent contradiction in views regarding prioritizing a negotiated return of the hostages, or destroying Hamas?

Yohanani: You're right to point out that apparent contradiction. Let me break it down a bit. As I mentioned earlier, a clear majority of the public sees a deal to release the hostages as the main goal. But there is a big gap between political camps on this issue. In the center and left, about 80 percent support the deal for the hostages' release, while the opinions on the right are evenly split. So, for most of the left and center, the fighting in Gaza has run its course. They feel most military objectives have been achieved, and Hamas's military power has been significantly weakened. From their perspective, continuing the fight now only puts the hostages at greater risk.

It's important to know that about half of the right-wing also shares this view of prioritizing the hostages' release, but the other half of those on the far-right thinks dismantling Hamas is more important.

Why? For a couple of reasons.

First, there's a security stance that Hamas must be wiped out and not allowed to recover. There is also a very strong sentiment of revenge, with minimal consideration for the cost, whether it's the lives of the hostages, soldiers, let alone innocent civilians in Gaza. Another significant component openly discussed in religious nationalist circles is the return of Jewish settlement to the Gaza Strip after Israel evacuated Jewish settlements from there in 2005.

RFE/RL: Is there public confidence that Israel will ultimately be able to remove the threat of Hamas and Hezbollah and come out of this conflict with greater prospects for a peaceful and stable near-term future?



Yohanani: Right now, the Israeli public isn't showing a lot of optimism. In our current survey, when we asked people if they're optimistic or pessimistic about Israel's future, we found more pessimists, 48 percent, than optimists, 45 percent.

I also think it's important to note that a peaceful future, as you put it, or peace in general, isn't really a common concept in the current Israeli discourse. I would say the hope of Israelis is that the military actions against Hezbollah and Iran will lead to a situation where Israel's existence isn't in question, and that Israeli military superiority will prevent events like October 7 from happening again. So, it's less about peace in the traditional sense, and more about security and deterrence. People are hoping for a future where Israel can exist without constant threats, rather than expecting a harmonious relationship with its neighbors in the near-term.
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 27. The ministers of economy and finance have been given powers to represent Azerbaijan in the Turkic Investment Fund, Trend reports.

President the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a corresponding decree.

According to the decree, the Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan is appointed as the head of Azerbaijan in the Council of Leaders of the Turkic Investment Fund, and the Minister of Finance of Azerbaijan - as an alternative head, and they are given the authority to represent the Azerbaijan in this fund.

This decree comes into force from the date of its signing.
Grainne Ni Aodha, PA

Aontu wants an international city in another part of the country as Dublin is overheating, party leader Peadar Toibin told delegates.

Mr Toibin, who is the party's only TD, said Ireland is becoming a lop-sided city state, and that a third of the country is living in commuter hell.

Mr Toibin addressed his party Ard Fheis conference in Maynooth, Co Kildare, on Saturday evening.

He said that most university-type jobs are based in the Dublin area, meaning young people are forced to move away from home to get a job, but some cannot afford to live in the capital and have to commute from 30, 40, 50 miles away.

This is fraying at the very fabric of families. Mothers and fathers are getting to see their children for maybe an hour in the evening to put them to bed, he said on Saturday.

He said his party wants a new international city built in another location in Ireland to address the issue, which could come from an existing town or city being developed.

We want to front load investment and infrastructure into that new city so that it grows to a critical mass and starts to draw down international investment in its own right, Mr Toibin said.

We want to see it grow to a critical mass that it comes a counter-balance to Dublin in terms of spatial growth.

Mr Toibin also called for the development of a border innovation zone to pull in infrastructure investment and enterprise funding for border counties.

He said: The root of this problem is, I believe that the Fianna Fail/Fine Gael/Green government is increasingly a south Dublin government that cannot see beyond the M50.

During his leaders address, Mr Toibin referenced the States planned Covid inquiry and the Governments handling of nursing homes, as well as immigration and what he called a lack of information being a petri dish for rumour.

He said the island should be treated as one unit in terms of migration policy and criticised a small number of extremists who are harvesting growing discontent due to government strategies.

This must be opposed. The colour of a person's skin is of no more significance than the colour of their eyes, he said.

Mr Toibin, a former Sinn Fein TD for Meath West, left the party after he voted against legislation to liberalise abortion laws in the wake of the Eighth Amendment referendum.

He founded the Aontu party in 2019, which has four councillors on the island and is polling at around 4 per cent.

Mr Toibin said that the party fought a David and Goliath battle on the two defeated referenda in March on amending Irelands constitutional wording on care and families.

While the Government and opposition parties advocated for Yes in both plebiscites, Aontu pushed for a No-No vote.

He claimed that since then, 400 new members have joined the party, which is just shy of 2,000 members.

Mr Toibin is running in the European elections as a candidate in the Midlands North West constituency.
RTE's Nationwide programme recently featured Morris Butchers mosaic shopfront in Elphin, which reflects the county's proud mosaic shopfront heritage.

The programme also featured the mosaic work on the Central Bar and Mary Morris shop in the town.

Presenter Ann Cassin spoke to Laura Earley whose book Roscommon's Mosaic Tradition - Geometric and Artistic Mosaics in the North-West" explores County Roscommons mosaic tradition.

The publication has a particular focus on geometric mosaics found in towns in County Roscommon, and in surrounding counties such as Carrick-on-Shannon, Drumshanbo and Mohill in Leitrim.

Funded by Roscommon County Council, the book was also supported by the Creative Ireland Programme, an all-of-Government five-year initiative, from 2017 to 2022.

This edition of Nationwide can be watched back on the RTE player.
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 27. A group of people have been awarded the Taraggi Medal for their contribution to the economic development of Azerbaijan and fruitful activities in the field of entrepreneurship, Trend reports.

President the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a corresponding decree.
Solo Show  Eugen Raportoru

Eugen Raportoru draws on biblical crucifixion scene in his latest solo show staged by CREART Gallery in Bucharest.

Resurectie - sursa fotofacebookcreartpmb

Ion Puican, 27.04.2024, 14:00

In April and May, between the Catholic and Orthodox Easter, CREART Gallery in Bucharest has played host to an exhibition by the visual artist Eugen Raportoru entitled Resurrection and curated by Daniela Sultana. The colour palette of the works on show, the artists usual greys, alongside subtle components, point to an artist with a complex personality. Curator Daniela Sultana explained at the opening of the exhibition:

Welcome to the opening of the solo exhibition by the visual artist Eugen Raportoru, at CREART, the Centre for Creation, Art and Tradition of the City of Bucharest. As weve already accustomed our public, at least for the last year, we are trying to link the theme of the exhibition to various holidays or to special times of the year. The current exhibition is dedicated to the Easter holidays and is held between the Catholic and Orthodox Easter. Its in the form of an installation, in line with the gallerys exhibition programme. It consists of three large paintings, each of which depicts a cross, like in the Bible, in Christs crucifixion on Golgotha along with the two thieves. Its a sombre scene, taking its inspiration from the Bible and the presentation of the works reflects this. While previous installations consisted of a great number of exhibits and were very colourful, this exhibition is monochromatic and minimalist: only three works, in three colours: white, black and grey.

At the opening of the exhibition, to complement the spirit of the exhibition, the gallery was imbued with the smell of incense, designed as a purifying olfactory ingredient. Curator Daniela Sultana says this was all part of the concept:

The olfactory element was proposed by the artist to complement the artistic concept. Hes staged some legendary exhibitions in the past, one of which was purchased by the Museum of Contemporary Art, another was staged by the Romanian Cultural Institute in London, at the Peasant Museum in Bucharest and the 59th edition of the Venice Biennale. This project is in line with Eugen Raportorus artistic practice which sees him oscillating between painting, which is the medium for which he became known, with its signature colour palette, his emblematic greys, and installation art.

Daniela Sultana, the curator of the Resurrection exhibition also made a short presentation of Eugen Raportorus artistic career:

Trying to make a presentation of Eugen Raportoru as a visual artist, we can start by saying that this year he was awarded by the president of Romania with the Cultural Merit Order. He graduated from the Arts University, where he got his bachelors degree and a masters degree. He has been a member of the Union of Fine Artists since 2010. He is a many-time recipient of the Unions award for painting and is a very active artist who exhibits a lot, both in solo and group shows, at biennales, salons, local art fairs like Art Safari and the Contemporary Art Salon, at the Romanian Peasant Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art. He has also displayed his works abroad, at the Royal Art Academy in London, at the Vatican under the UNESCO aegis, the Ethnic Museum in Oslo, and in Stockholm. In Romania, his work has been displayed in most museums across the country, including the Bucharest City Museum, the Pavel Susara Museum for Contemporary and Modern Art, at the Brukenthal in Sibiu, at the Art Museum in Galati, the Art in Museum in Constanta, in Targu Jiu, at the Gorj County Museum and in many contemporary art centres and galleries.

Curator Daniela Sultana also made a summary of other projects she is working on and which will go on show at CREART Gallery:

CREART will also host an event as part of the Romanian Design Week, an installation by Dorin Negrau, a Romanian fashion designer with an international career. After that we will host solo exhibitions with a note of installation art, given the size of our gallery. Internationally, we will be staging an exhibition at the Romanian Institute of Culture and Humanistic Research in Venice.
Royal Enfields 350cc range continued to dominate this segment with a combined 80% market share in the segment

The Indian two wheeler industry continues to grow at a rapid pace with new and updated products being added in quick succession. Two wheeler makers vying for a top spot have been revamping their product strategies and pricing policies and while the motorcycle segment as a whole ended the last month of FY24 on a positive note, particular attention was paid to the 300-500cc segment that has grown by 17.81% on a YoY basis.

300cc To 500cc Motorcycle Sales  Dominated by Royal Enfield

Though Royal Enfield continues to be the undisputed champion of this segment, rivals are trying to launch new motorcycles in this segment and eat into their market share. In the past year there have been many additions to the segment, with the new Triumph 400, Harley X440 and Honda CB350. New Hero Mavrick also joined the ranks while Kawasaki brought in several new offerings. There is now the Bajaj Pulsar NS400, RE Classic 350 facelift and Kawasaki 300cc ADV set for launch while Honda too plans a host of new offerings in this segment.

Sales of motorcycles in the 300-500cc segment improved to 76,502 units in March 2024, up from 64,937 units sold in March 2023, a volume growth of 11,565 units. MoM sales saw a slight decline by 1.74% when compared to 77,860 units sold in February 2024. Royal Enfield continued to lead with the 300-500cc motorcycle segment with 4 of its models in the top 4 positions. Classic 350 remained a top performer with 25,508 unit sales in March 2024, a 4.26% YoY growth from 24,466 units sold in March 2023. MoM sales however, dipped 9.90% from 28,310 units sold in February 2024. The Classic 350 commands a 33.34% market share.

RE Hunter and Bullet followed along with the Meteor 350 in quick succession. Hunter 350cc sales improved by a massive 45.07% in March 2024 to 15,702 units, up from 10,024 units sold in March 2023. It also saw a huge MoM growth by 29.53% to command a 20.52% market share. Bullet 350cc sales on the other hand dipped 5.91% YoY while it also suffered a MoM setback by 19.23% to 11,262 units. Meteor sales grew enormously to 8,963 units, a 44.31% YoY growth while MoM sales also improved by 10.31%.

Next up was the combined Jawa Yezdi retail sales of 2,476 units but lower YoY and MoM sales when compared to 3,325 units and 2,556 units sold in March 2023 and February 2024 respectively. RE once again entered the fray with the Himalayan with 2,216 units sold last month. Sales of this 450cc adventure bike however suffered YoY and MoM setback. Honda Hness sales also fell to 2,085 units in the past month, a 28.20% YoY decline while MoM sales grew by just 0.63%.

Lower down the sales list was the Triumph 400 of which 2,042 units were sold last month, a 10.08% MoM growth. However, other relatively new-comers to this list that included the Harley X440 (1,839 units) and Honda CB350 (1,457 units) both saw MoM decline in sales. There was also a YoY and MoM de-growth reported for the KTM 390 (745 units).

Motorcycle in Sub-1,000 Units Sales

With the new Hero Mavrick 440 having entered the segment in February 2024, sales touched 568 units in March 2024. There was also the Dominar 400 (478 units), TVS Apache (446 units), Honda CB300 (232 units) and Husqvarna 401 (161 units). It was the Husqvarna 401 that has seen an exemplary MoM growth in sales by 1511.56% from just 64 units sold in February 2024.

Aprilia RS457 also saw a huge MoM growth by 2300% to 120 units sold in March 2024 from just 5 units sold in March 2023. The list also included the Kawasaki Ninja 300 (85 unit) Ninja 500 (39 units), Yamaha R3/MT03 (36 units) besides the Honda CB500 (30 units), Kawasaki Eliminator 400 (7 units) and Kawasaki Ninja 400 (5 units).
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 27. The next graduation ceremony for the Marine Commando Basic Course has been held at the Naval Forces' military unit in Azerbaijan with participation of servicemen of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense.

The ceremony was attended by the First Deputy Minister of Defense  Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, the First Deputy Minister of Defense  Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan Lieutenant General Sultan Kamaletdinov, as well as Turkish and Kazakh servicemen.

First, bouquets of flowers were placed in front of the monument erected in memory of martyrs within the military unit's territory, demonstrating profound respect.

At the graduation ceremony, the memory of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev and martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan was commemorated with a minute of silence.

The national anthems of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan were performed.

During the ceremony, the Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army and his Kazakh counterpart emphasized the importance of such courses in training skilled and professional military personnel.

At the same time, the participation of marines from Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in joint exercises was commended, highlighting their exemplary professionalism.

It was noted that a group of servicemen from all types of troops of the Azerbaijan Army, as well as aviation vehicles and warships will be involved in Birlestik (Unity) - 2024 operational-tactical command-staff exercise to be held in Aktau this year.

Special training classes conducted by Azerbaijani and Turkish instructors at the naval range and training center were considered commendable.

Valiyev expressed gratitude to the professional instructors for their high-level organization and conduct of the course, congratulated the graduates on successfully completing the program, and extended his best wishes for their future service.

Then, the honor student of the course attached the emblem to the symbolic stump, followed by the presentation of certificates to the graduates and the awarding of honors to distinguished servicemen and instructors.

After the completion of the official proceedings, modern weapons, combat techniques, and vehicles used by Marines and special forces were demonstrated.

The ceremony concluded with demonstration of tactical and special exercises of the Naval Special Forces along with exemplary performances by divers from underwater assault and underwater defense units.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
VISTA  If youre wondering where to find the best cupcakes in California, look no further than Vista.

On Feb. 27, the foodie website spoonuniversity.com named Little Cakes Cupcake Kitchen in Vista Village the states top pick for cupcakes. Shop owner Don Hein said he wasnt aware of making the list until he got an email about it, and then a rush of curious cupcake-buyers followed.

Its been a busy year for the shop, which Hein started with his wife, Becky, 6- years ago.

In January, Little Cakes began selling four-packs of cupcakes at nearby Frazier Farms supermarket, where Hein said sales are going like gangbusters.

The shop has also joined Uber Eats for deliveries with a five-mile radius. And in February, the shop signed on as a local fruit bouquet supplier for online retailer 1-800-flowers. Hein said he usually makes and delivers about two fruit bouquets a day, but demand grew by 10 times on Valentines Day, which Hein said required staying up all night to cut fruit and arrange the displays.

Little Cakes Cupcake Kitchen

Hours: Opens at 11 a.m. daily. Closing hours vary.

Where: Vista Village, Suite #180, 30 Main St., Vista

Phone: (760) 842-5138

Online: littlecakeskitchen.com

Meanwhile, he recently introduced a redesigned business logo with a more vintage look. Its showcased in a hand-painted gold-leaf sign on the shops glass storefront.

Little Cakes opened in 2010 just as the cupcake craze was on the rise. During the cupcake heydey, hundreds of shops opened nationwide and TV producers took notice.

Food Networks Cupcake Wars sought out the most creative bakers for a fast-paced competition. Little Cakes first competed on the show in April 2012 with Hein and then-head baker Amanda Suvia winning the top prize. Food Network invited Little Cakes back for a second round in 2013, and Hein returned with the shops new head baker, Jessica Sanchez (Suvia had moved away), and the shop won again. The notoriety led to Little Cakes being featured in national TV commercial for U.S. Bank.

Hein, a Vista resident, said that his shop has had its ups and downs, but it has weathered the downturn by offering a consistent product, a stable team of employees, good social marketing, diversification and networking with other Vista businesses (hes used Mother Earth beer in his cupcakes and buys his fruit from Frazier Farms).

I felt that if you were doing a high-quality product and not just cashing in on a fad, it would eventually pay off, Hein said. We always saw cupcakes as individual cakes, and cake has been around in American culture forever. It isnt going anywhere. Making everything in-house from scratch costs more and its labor-intensive, but thats what you have to do for the best product.

When the store first opened, Hein was using borrowed recipes from his brother Mikes shop, Yellow Leaf Cupcake Company, in Seattle. But over time, Little Cakes developed its own style and flavors (there are more than 100 varieties, with a dozen or so featured daily). One popular flavor that caters to Vistas large Latino population is the new Tamale de Elote variety, a traditional Mexican sweet corn cake with vanilla buttercream frosting.

On a typical weekend, Little Cakes will sell 400 to 500 cupcakes a day. Top-sellers include the almond Champagne, the tuxedo (cookies and cream) and the colorful lemon lavender berry. On Friday, the shop will celebrate St. Patricks Day with a savory corned beef and cabbage cupcake (potato cake with caramelized cabbage, vanilla buttercream frosting, corned beef and maple syrup). Hein said the shop has become known for its creative holiday items, like its edible Christmas trees, which were made with sugar cones and shredded wheat.

Hein now serves as president of the Vista Village Business Association, which produced its largest and most successful WinterFest community celebration in the center this past December. His shop employs nine workers and six of them work full-time and receive health insurance. He said the benefits have helped him maintain a stable workforce who know their customers, which is a big plus in a retail operation.

Whats next for Little Cakes? Possibly a second location. Hein said he was very close to opening another shop two years ago but his investor became ill and has only recently recovered. Theyre looking at possible locations either in North County or San Diego. Like the original store, the second location will have the same focus on community collaboration.

Were very much about supporting the community and other businesses. Thats how you become a good community partner, he said.

pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 27. Azerbaijani servicemen are participating in EFES- 2024 multinational exercises held in Istanbul and Izmir cities, a source in the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan told Trend.

Personnel with a total number of 1,567 people from 49 countries are taking part in the event.

The exercises consist of a command post phase with computer support and a live-fire phase.

The EFES-2024 will last until May 30.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 27. As part of their tour to Azerbaijan, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairs of the Parliaments of the Turkic States have today familiarized themselves with the host's historical landmarks in the city of Shusha, a pearl of Karabakh, Trend reports.

The guests were informed about the historical buildings, mosques, and monuments in the city that were vandalized by Armenians during the 30 years of occupation, and the Azerbaijani government is carrying out reconstruction work to restore Shusha's true historical image, as well as its historical and cultural monuments.



During the journey, they visited historical places, including monuments to notable Azerbaijani figures such as Khurshidbanu Natavan, Bulbul, and Uzeyir Hajibayli in Shusha's Central Square.



They also viewed the House of Khurshidbanu Natavan, the Khan Gizi spring, and the Shusha Fortress walls. During the occupation, Armenians vandalized the walls of Shusha Fortress. Following the liberation, restoration work was done at the fortress. Thereafter, they visited the Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque, as well as the Jidir Duzu Plain.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 27. The State Committee of Azerbaijan for Affairs of Refugees and IDPs has held a draw among the families who will return to Sus village, Lachin district, Trend reports.

Personnel from the Special Representative Office of the President of Azerbaijan in the Lachin District of the Eastern Zangazur Economic Region, as well as the district's executive power and the public council under the Committee for Refugees and IDPs, attended the event.



Newly built private houses in Sus village will be provided to the former IDPs who have permanent registration in this village and previously lived in places of temporary residence.



In total, 59 households participated in the draw. According to the family composition, 13 of them will be housed in two-room, 28 in three-room, 14 in four-room, and four in five-room private homes.

The families participating in the draw will go to Sus in the upcoming days.

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.

Up to date, the former IDPs have returned to Lachin and Fuzuli cities, the villages of Talish (Aghdara district), Aghali (Zangilan district) and Zabukh (Lachin district).

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Decent gains in the banking sector were providing a lift to UK equity markets on Friday following better-than-expected results from NatWest, sending the FTSE 100 to yet another all-time high.

Stocks in the heavyweight mining sector were also boosting the benchmark index as commodity prices rose.

NatWest posted a less-than-expected 27% fall in first-quarter earnings, with pre-tax operating profits falling to 1.3bn from 1.8bn a year earlier. Analysts were forecasting a figure closer to 1.2bn. "NatWest Group has delivered a strong set of results for the first quarter - with an operating profit of 1.3 billion - as we remain focused on the priorities we set out in February, which will help us shape the future of this bank," said chief executive Paul Thwaite.

Lloyds, Standard Chartered and HSBC were also in demand, while Barclays was flat.

Mining stocks were mostly higher as iron ore, copper, silver and gold prices rose, with Rio Tinto, Glencore and Antofagasta in positive territory.

Anglo American gained again after a 16% surge the previous day, after rejecting an "opportunistic" 31bn bid from rival miner BHP, saying it significantly undervalued the company. "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," Anglo said in a statement, adding that the proposed structure was also "highly unattractive".

Convatec shares fell after Peel Hunt downgraded shares in the medical products company to 'reduce' from 'add' and cut the target price to 225p from 245p as the broker said it saw "turmoil" in the wound care market.

Market Movers

FTSE 100 - Risers

NATWEST GROUP (NWG) 308.00p 6.28%

Ashtead Group (AHT) 6,030.00p 4.69%

Anglo American (AAL) 2,656.00p 3.75%

Intermediate Capital Group (ICG) 2,048.00p 3.70%

RS Group (RS1) 732.50p 3.46%

Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 1,917.00p 3.40%

St James's Place (STJ) 433.80p 3.04%

Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 417.80p 2.98%

Persimmon (PSN) 1,319.50p 2.88%

Centrica (CNA) 134.75p 2.55%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

Convatec Group (CTEC) 262.20p -4.86%

Entain (ENT) 785.20p -2.97%

Beazley (BEZ) 641.00p -2.66%

Ocado Group (OCDO) 354.10p -2.26%

Associated British Foods (ABF) 2,637.00p -1.82%

AstraZeneca (AZN) 11,926.00p -0.83%

BP (BP.) 523.20p -0.59%

Tesco (TSCO) 288.40p -0.48%

Admiral Group (ADM) 2,680.00p -0.45%

Imperial Brands (IMB) 1,822.50p -0.27%
YEVLAKH, Azerbaijan, April 27. Azerbaijan's agricultural sector has entered a qualitatively new stage, Azerbaijan's Deputy Agriculture Minister Sarvan Jafarov said, Trend reports.

He made the remark during the meeting on the demonstration of new technologies for soil and resource protection adapted to climate change.

"Steps taken to improve agricultural production efficiency and industry development in Azerbaijan have resulted in agricultural development. Soil salinization, as well as the global decline of water and land resources, have a significant impact on the agriculture sector. As a result, the use of current technologies is critical for solving the challenges. I can confidently claim that Azerbaijan has entered a new qualitative stage," he said.

To note, a republican meeting on the demonstration of new technologies of soil and resource protection adapted to climate change is being held in Yevlakh on April 27.

The main objective of the event is the wide application of moisture-protective technologies and innovative innovations adapting to climate change in the country, environmental protection, and the improvement of knowledge and skills of farmers working in regions suffering from drought in terms of reducing the negative impact of global warming on agriculture, as well as the as well as the exchange of experience gained in this field by large farms and agro-parks.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
The US-India Business Council (USIBC) has named Meta, a leading force in social media, as the Co-Chair of its artificial intelligence (AI) task force. This decision was made during the task force's first virtual meeting. Additionally, Inderpreet Sawhney, Chief Compliance Officer and Group General Counsel at Indian IT powerhouse Infosys, has been appointed to the AI board advisory panel of USIBC.

Besides, Bala Subramania, Senior Executive at UPS, and Akash Shah, Chief Growth Officer at BNY Mellon, also joined the AI advisory committee. As we advance our Al task force, we are thrilled to welcome these exceptional individuals to our esteemed Al board advisory committee alongside Meta as the co-chair of our Al task force Their leadership and expertise will play a crucial role in shaping our strategic approach to Al, enabling us to navigate the challenges and opportunities across various sectors, said USIBCs President Ambassador Atul Keshap.

The council highlighted that the discussions during the initial meeting centered around fostering cross-sector collaboration in the AI domain. In a statement, the council emphasized that the new appointments will enhance USIBC's endeavors to promote collaboration and innovation in the dynamic field of AI, leveraging top business expertise from both the United States and India.

Commenting on his appointment, Infosys Sawhney said, It is a privilege to be part of (the) Al advisory committee. As part of this Committee, I am eager to share our experiences around the techno-legal aspects of Al that Infosys had the opportunity to shape. With our combined talent pool and data resources, the collaboration between India and the U.S. has tremendous value to unlock.

The appointments come two months after the USIBC announced a new AI task force in February this year to align the leadership of India and the US in the realm of artificial intelligence. Back then, it was reported that the new task force would propel AI concepts, drive the multi-stakeholder processes, and foster development and commercialisation of AI technology.

India and the US have been actively seeking collaborations in emerging technology domains. Last November, both governments signed a pact to connect their startup ecosystems, with a specific emphasis on Critical and Emerging Technologies (CET). Concurrently, in the realm of AI, India is experiencing swift adoption. Besides well-known AI chatbots like OpenAIs ChatGPT and Googles Bard, the country is also witnessing the emergence of a growing GenAI ecosystem.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Day in and day out, there is never a dull moment at the Staten Island Courthouse.

Court officers who put their safety on the line to keep things in order; attorneys buzzing through the hallways to meet with distressed clients and families, and judges deciding a persons fate with the swing of a gavel.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The National Endowment for the Humanities just announced a major round of awards and a professor from Staten Island was honored with a prestigious grant in the amount of $349,971.

Dawn Marie Hayes, who holds a doctorate degree and is a professor of medieval European history at Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., won the NEH grant to reconstruct an overlooked period in Italys history.

The project, titled Documenting the Past, Triaging the Present and Conserving a Legacy for the Future: A Web App for Sicilys Norman Heritage Project Description, aims to develop a bilingual, interactive platform for digital access to the documentation of monuments constructed on the island of Sicily during the late-eleventh and twelfth centuries.

In 2019, Dr. Hayes received a $50,000 Level One award in this competition (NEHs Humanities Collections and Reference Resources), which enabled the prototype that is currently live. During this phase, she published an article and a chapter on the project.

My husband and I presented the work as part of an international conference, trying to get the word out and invite feedback, she said. Then it was on to securing Level Two funding - which could make up to an additional $350,000 available to us. This isnt easy [because] the program has +/- 18% funding rate. And of those applications, understandably, the majority support American-focused projects.

So you can imagine the satisfaction that came with securing funding in such tight competition. But I think we did a good job with the Level One funds, so we had a strong record. The evaluators comments also reflected the cutting-edge, interdisciplinary nature of the project, which is attractive.

(AP Photo/Luca Bruno)AP

THE START OF A DIGITAL PROJECT

This new grant will enable a team of researchers and students to further develop a web app, The Norman Sicily Project, available in English and Italian, that is dedicated to one of the most fascinating  but also one of the most overlooked  periods in Italian history.

People often have some knowledge of northern Italy and its past (especially the Renaissance), but many fewer have any sense of the ambitious kingdom that existed in the south (the state developed from +/- 1061-1194), centered in Sicily but also taking up a good part of the southern Italian mainland, for about 150 years, said Dr. Hayes to SILive. And thats a shame because the vast majority of Italian Americans, including myself, have their roots in the south, the region of Italy that traditionally has been less wealthy and developed.

Dr. Hayes explained The Norman Kingdom of Sicily was built slowly as a group of French warriors led by an extraordinary family wrested control of Sicily from the Muslim overlords who had controlled the island from North Africa (whose cultural influence has helped create a distinctive Sicilian culture).

That society and its culture is so special that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization added nine structures from this culture to its famed World Heritage List in 2015, she said. There are many others  hundreds of sites  that are abandoned, falling apart, understaffed, difficult to access, etc.

In 2004, the first time I had visited Sicily, I was so struck by the Arab-Norman past, one that, in spite of my academic training, I had learned almost nothing about as a student.

(AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)AP

SHARING SICILIAN HISTORY

For 10 years, Dr. Hayes began taking pictures of monuments in Sicily every summer, having conversations with the locals, as well as with some of Sicilys cultural authorities, eventually conceiving the idea of sharing the photos and knowledge through a digital project. She shared it with her husband, a senior software engineer and thus, the idea of the web app was born.

The couple embarked on a journey to locate all of the monasteries that existed in the kingdom, identifying them on a map, offering information about them, and determining the climactic, animal, and human stresses these buildings are enduring. These studies will be aided by LiDAR technology that is available in many peoples iPhones.

Many of these buildings, now 1,000 years old, are subject to everything from wildfires, earthquakes, high winds, seasonal flooding, and, in the east, Europes most active large volcano, Mt. Etna, said Hayes. There is little maintenance, so these forces are truly menacing.

In addition to geoscience fieldwork with a colleague at The University of West Indies, Barbados, a desperately needed UX/UI redesign will be done (compliments of Pratt Institute), technical development by software engineers, including my husband, and even network analysis by a mathematician colleague who will be investigating relationships between monuments as well as between people and monuments that the are not immediately discernible, she added.

Dr. Dawn Marie Hayes with her husband, software engineer, Joe Hayes. (Courtesy Dawn Hayes)(Courtesy Dawn Hayes)

One of the most endearing thing about the project, I think, is that it offers Sicilians an opportunity to share their knowledge about their own history, said Hayes. If a local historian gives me information and I cant corroborate it, I still include it in the project, with a caveat that it has not (yet) been corroborated by a published source. I confess to having a soft spot for that island.

I have been teaching its history for years now and have been inviting students to participate in the project - both here and on the ground in Sicily. I began one of the first American university summer study abroad programs in Sicily in 2006 and I am excited to share that Montclair State is about to launch a unique pre-college program for 16- and 17-year-olds this July, she continued.

Students will be earning three college credits while being based in Taormina and traveling to a number of the islands historical sites over nine days. Although the program is open to high school students from across the country, almost half of the students will be from Staten Island, in its inaugural year, drawing on New Dorp, Tottenville, Staten Island Tech and St. Joseph by-the-Sea high schools.

Dr. Dawn Marie Hayes and her husband, Joe Hayes, a software engineer. (Courtesy Dawn Marie Hayes)(Courtesy Dawn Marie Hayes)

ABOUT DR. HAYES

A full-time professor for 25 years and an alumna of Susan Wagner High School, Hayes has taught at Iona College (1998-2002), the Borough of Manhattan Community College (2002-2003) and Montclair State University (since September 2003). She taught at the College of Staten Island (1996-1998) while she was earning her Ph.D. She was promoted to full professor in 2019.

Hayes has authored two books, the most recent about Sicilys first king, and numerous articles. She has presented at many conferences here in the U.S. and in Europe.

Hayes and her husband, Joe Hayes, have been married since 1994 and are the parents of: Joseph Jr. (29 years old), Anastasia (28), Madeleine (27), Alessandra (22), Aidan (17), Adriano (14), and Carlo (12).

We are in Sicily almost every summer and I am so happy to have reconnected with family in Palermo, said Hayes. I try to visit them every summer as well. As for my husband and kids, each of them has endured -- at one time or another -- at least one hair-raising trip to some off-the-beaten path site in Sicily. They have been very, very patient with me. And I am so grateful to them for that.
Royal Caribbean has cancelled all stops to Labadee, the cruise lines private port, due to continued gang violence in Haiti, according to post on the Royal Caribbean Blog.

While Royal Caribbean canceled stops to the private beach from March through May earlier this year, that directive has now been extended through September, according to the blog.

Guests booked on cruises in the summer and early fall are getting notifications from Royal Caribbean that their visits to Labadee have been canceled, the blog said. On Tuesday (April 23), cruisers began to share updates they received from Royal Caribbean that their itineraries have been updated to drop Labadee and replace it with another port or a sea day.

More than 2,500 people were killed or injured from January to March alone in Haiti, which has been overrun by gang violence, according to the Associated Press. More than 90,000 Haitians have escaped the capital of Port-au-Prince, which is now 80% controlled by gangs, said the news outlet.

Pedestrians cross a street as police patrol in an armored vehicle in the Delmas neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, which has been overrun with gang violence. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph)AP

On its website, Royal Caribbean describes Labadee as a private destination where beachside meets mountainside on Haitis northern coast.

Here youll find pristine sands, coral reefs and jungle-covered hilltops nestling lagoon-like bays. Theres no shortage of places to relax and recharge across five stretches of beach, the website says. Or dial up the thrills on an active adventure like a half-mile-long zip line ride over the ocean. And fascinating culture, history and the natural beauty of Haitis spectacular coasts wait to be discovered around every corner. Escape to the Western Caribbean for a wilder way to experience paradise.

Royal Caribbean International made no formal announcements on its website of the suspension of stops to Labadee. Royal Caribbean Blog is an unofficial site for fans of the cruise line and is not affiliated with Royal Caribbean International, reported SILive.coms sister site, Cleveland.com.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Staten Islands three Community Boards have public meetings planned this week, with New York City MTA representatives discussing upgrades for the Huguenot Staten Island Railway Station during a Community Board 3 meeting on Wednesday.

Below are the meetings planned by each board. All meeting are open to the public.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New York spends billions of dollars each year to provide supportive residential settings for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), but despite the massive annual investment, thousands of families are still waiting to receive the support they so desperately need.

The New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) provides housing support for more than 36,000 residents with developmental disabilities, the most of any state in the nation, with investments of over $5 billion each year to develop and maintain housing opportunities.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, April 27. The Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) is looking forward to having Azerbaijan to develop the Islamic financial industry, Dr. Ghiath Shabsigh, Secretary-General of the IFSB told Trend on the sidelines of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) annual meeting in Riyadh.

Islamic finance now has matured globally and there are large number of countries applying it. We see that kind of demand is there. Certainly it is contributing to the economic development of these countries. The framework is there: we have regulations, standards and they can be easily implemented. We really look forward to have Azerbaijan if necessary to implement these standards and develop Islamic financial industry there, he said.

Shabsigh pointed out that IFSB can help regulators adopt Islamic finance standards, change their laws and regulations to incorporate these standards.

That will help the industry and allow them to operate in a safe way and in a prudent way. On a global scale Islamic finance has grown by about 14 percent over the past five years annually. Thats a huge growth. In our membership among non-Muslim countries we have UK, China, Germany, Japan. Islamic banking operates very profitably in non-Muslim countries as well, said the IFSB secretary general.

He noted that when countries adopt Islamic finance, they deepen the market, as they have more options, more instruments.

The extend of development of Islamic finance depends on the economic situation, Shabsigh concluded.

The Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB) is holding its 2024 Annual Meetings and Golden Jubilee in Riyadh from April 27-30, under the Royal Patronage of the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.

The 2024 Annual Meetings are being held under the theme of Cherishing our Past, Charting our Future: Originality, Solidarity and Prosperity, which marks IsDBs 50 years of fostering socio-economic development in its member countries.

Among other topics, the meetings will also feature a roundtable on COP29 with the participation of Azerbaijani government representatives.

As the premier South-South multilateral development Bank, the 2024 IsDB Group Annual Meetings and Golden Jubilee are expected to attract international and regional attention. The Annual Meetings will feature a series of side events with top-level panelists from government, international and regional organizations, the private sector, academia, and civil society.

Ministers of Economy, Planning, and Finance from IsDB's 57 member countries will participate in the event, along with representatives of international and regional financial institutions, Islamic banks, private sector companies, national and international development finance institutions, international and regional organizations, NGOs, chambers of commerce & Industry, and business councils.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Although not apparent, the threat of drug abuse afflicts families all the same. In shedding light on the dangers of drug abuse and encouraging residents to dispose of unused prescription drugs, District Attorney Michael E. McMahon joined community leaders in promoting National prescription Drug Take Back Day, which falls on Saturday, April 27, this year.

Standing before the entrance to Super Health Pharmacy in Pleasant Plains, McMahon highlighted Staten Island efforts to curb the scourge of drug addiction.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New York state will provide more funding to schools, introduce a plan to improve literacy, and will commission a study to ensure equitable funding formulas, according to education investments contained in the state budget.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the historic pre-K-12 education plans in the Fiscal Year 2025 enacted budget that includes nearly $36 billion in total school aid for the 2024-2025 school year  the highest level of school funding in the states history.

Hochul also signed her Back to Basics legislation to improve literacy among students, extend mayoral control in New York City schools for two more years, and commission a study to examine the Foundation Aid formula to ensure long-term fiscal sustainability. Additionally, Hochul has made the Free Application For Student Aid (FAFSA) a requirement for all high school students, while also offering more aid to students through the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).

Every student deserves a high-quality education in the State of New York, said Hochul. This Budget builds on our record funding for education, lays the groundwork to improve reading proficiency, and puts the State on a path to a more equitable school funding formula.

Heres a look at major education initiatives in the state budget.

SCHOOL AID

The budget has invested a record $35.9 billion in Foundation Aid, which is the highest level of school funding in state history.

A Rockefeller Institute study has been commissioned to examine the formula to prepare for any changes next year.

READING PLAN

The Back to Basics reading plan will transition New York to reading instruction that teaches students the foundational skills they need to become proficient readers. The New York State Education Department (NYSED) will provide instructional best practices to school districts in the teaching of reading to students in pre-K through third grade by Jan. 1, 2025.

School districts will be required to annually review their curriculum and instructional practices of alignment with those issued by NYSED, and verify by September 2025.

The budget includes $10 million in investments to train 20,000 teachers in Science of Reading best practices. Additionally, the State University of New York (SUNY) and City University of New York (CUNY) micro-credentialing programs for teachers focused on the Science of Reading have been expanded  ensuring current and future teachers seeking advanced education are best prepared, Hochul stated.

As New York state aims to make changes to improve literacy, efforts are already being made in New York City public schools. Last May, the city launched a major campaign to strengthen literacy in public schools  New York City (NYC) Reads. The multi-pronged, long-range campaign will ensure students become confident leaders and can learn basic algebra.

MAYORAL CONTROL

New York City Mayor Eric Adams will continue to have authority over city public schools, after Hochul announced an agreement with lawmakers on the state budget.

Lawmakers passed a budget bill that included a two-year extension of mayoral control. It means that Adams, and a city mayor elected in 2025, would continue to have control over the countrys largest school system.

The mayor of New York City has had control of public schools since 2002, when then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg got the state legislature to grant him authority for seven years. With that, school boards became the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP), which is now a largely mayor-appointed board that makes decisions on contracts and policies in New York City schools.

Prior to that, local school boards had control over the approximately 1,800 schools.

In addition to the extension, the PEP will grow by one member  with the chair of the board appointed from a set of nominees selected by state officials. Senate and Assembly leaders, as well as the state Board of Regents chancellor, will nominate candidates to oversee the panel. The mayor will then select the chair from those nominees.

The city Department of Education will also be required to make more strict commitments to meet the states class size mandate, including building new schools.

TUITION ASSISTANCE

New York state is increasing the minimum award students can receive through the states Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).

The program helps eligible state residents pay tuition at approved schools in New York state. It is one of the grants, scholarships and awards programs administered by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC). It doesnt have to be paid back.

Its available for eligible college students studying full- or part-time. The state has urged high school seniors who plan to attend college to apply for TAP.

The recently approved state budget will increase the minimum TAP award from $500 to $1,000.

The budget will also: increase the dependent student net taxable income (NTI) limit for TAP eligibility from $80,000 to $125,000; increase the independent married student NTI limit from $40,000 to $60,000, and increase the independent single student NTI limit from $10,000 to $30,000.

These changes are estimated to cost $66 million and benefit about 93,000 students in public and private colleges and universities, including 48,000 students newly eligible for TAP.

UNIVERSAL FAFSA

New York will require school districts to ensure every high school senior completes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), under a plan enacted within the recently approved state budget.

The Fiscal Year 2025 enacted state budget includes the plan to require all students to complete the FAFSA or the New York State Dream Act Application. Students who choose not to fill out an application must sign a waiver form indicating that they are aware of the available financial aid but choose not to pursue it.

All individual students will still be able to graduate, regardless of whether they complete the FAFSA. But the initiative will ensure that every New York student has access to the full scope of financial aid options and opportunities for success.

Hochul this past week launched a public awareness campaign aimed at students, administration officials and education leaders to encourage students to complete the FAFSA.
The Hulu Original four-part, all-access documentary series, Thank You, Goodnight  that totals nearly five hours  chronicles four decades of unreleased demos, personal videos, and never-before-told stories of the iconic Jon Bon Jovi and his band, where fans will get to relive the past and attempt to chart somewhat of an uncertain future.

The documentary is available to stream exclusively on Hulu, for current Hulu and Hulu + LiveTV subscribers, beginning on Friday, April 26.

If you dont have Hulu, you can stream online for free via a 30-day trial with the service.

GET A 30-DAY HULU FREE TRIAL >>

TAKE A LITTLE SNEAK PEEK

ABOUT THANK YOU, GOOD NIGHT: THE BON JOVI STORY

According to Hulu, Thank you, Good night: The Bon Jovi Story is a four part docu-series that dives deep in Bon Jovis 40 year epic past of one of the most recognizable bands in the world and its frontman, Jon Bon Jovi.

The story kicks off by joining members of the band in February 2022 and then follows their real time journey with its fits and starts as they attempt to chart out their future.

And as thrilling as the story of a once in a lifetime talent rally is, its even more amazingly rare that a legend like Jon bon Jovi lets the world into his most vulnerable moments, while hes still living them.

On top will be 40 full years of honest personal videos, unreleased early demos, original lyrics and never before seen photos from down home New Jersey Shore clubs  to sold-out tours on some biggest stages on the planet of earth.

The series also relives the triumphs and set backs, greatest hits and some of the biggest disappointments and even exposes public moments of friction.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, April 27. The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) has approved approximately US$418 million to fund new development projects in member countries, Trend reports.

The board, chaired by IsDB President H.E. Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, approved four

projects during its 355th meeting that focus on socio-economic development and

sustainability.

The meeting was held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on the first day of the 2024 IsDB Group Annual Meetings and the Golden Jubilee marking the 50th Anniversary of the Bank.

Tajikistan received US$150 million for the construction of the Rogun Hydropower Plant

Project's Lot-4 (Left Bank Structures). The project aims to provide clean, affordable, and reliable renewable electricity to meet the country's growing domestic demand, enhance energy security, and commercialize it through the regional power market.

The board also approved EUR120 million for the Turkiye Nakkas-Basaksehir Motorway

Project, a subsection of the larger North Marmara Motorway government initiative.

The main project aims to provide an alternative Bosphorus crossing, significantly reducing traffic congestion, travel times, and greenhouse gas emissions.

The IsDB board approved EUR60.57 million for the Root and Tuber/Regional Cassava

Value Chains Development Project in Benin.

The project aims to improve food security, economic growth, and household income through better production, processing, marketing, and private sector involvement in the cassava, sweet potato, and yam value

chains.

Similarly, Cote d'Ivoire secured EUR70.46 million in financing for its Root and

Tuber/Regional Cassava Value Chains Development Project. This project seeks to boost food security, economic growth, and household incomes through improved cassava production, processing, marketing, and private sector participation. It also aims to create employment opportunities, particularly for women and youth, and develop national and regional trade.

The Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB) is holding its 2024 Annual Meetings and Golden Jubilee in Riyadh from April 27-30, under the Royal Patronage of the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.

The 2024 Annual Meetings are being held under the theme of Cherishing our Past, Charting our Future: Originality, Solidarity and Prosperity, which marks IsDBs 50 years of fostering socio-economic development in its member countries.

Among other topics, the meetings will also feature roundtable on COP29 with participation of Azerbaijani government representatives.

As the premier South-South multilateral development Bank, the 2024 IsDB Group Annual Meetings and Golden Jubilee are expected to attract international and regional attention. The Annual Meetings will feature a series of side events with top-level panelists from government, international and regional organizations, the private sector, academia, and civil society.

Ministers of Economy, Planning, and Finance from IsDB's 57 member countries will participate in the event, along with representatives of international and regional financial institutions, Islamic banks, private sector companies, national and international development finance institutions, international and regional organizations, NGOs, chambers of commerce & Industry, and business councils.
Just four months into the year, 67,734 Australians have already reported losing more than $73.2 million to scams.

While this is a shocking figure by any account, its actually a reduction from the last quarter of 2023, in which Australians reported losing $82.1 million to scams. And even that was a reduction of 43 per cent compared with the 2022 figures for the same period.

Realising youve been caught in a scam can feel awful, but its something we all need to talk about more. Credit: Dionne Gain.

According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Australians lost $3.1 billion to scams in 2022, with the average scam victim losing $19,654 that year.

Over the past decade, the number of scams  both attempted and successful  has skyrocketed around the world. Sometimes, the ploys for money and access to our banking accounts are painfully obvious  a text message at 2am purporting to be from a courier company refusing to release a parcel (that you havent ordered) unless you pay up, for example.
That other stuff included serious offences  aggravated burglaries, robberies, carjackings  that were terrifying for the innocent people involved. In some of these crimes, weapons such as knives and machetes were used by Alex and his gang mates to scare victims. Alex said he was speaking up about his experience because he was now reformed and wanted other youths to know that not only was it possible to change, but that life could be much better. Victoria Police says 620 youth gang members across 43 youth gangs are being actively monitored. It says that since 2020, the number of youth gang members has reduced by 127. Over the past 12 months, the net reduction  that is the numbers of youths leaving gangs minus the number of youths joining gangs  was 63. The Parkville Youth Justice Centre where Alex* spent time after being convicted by the courts. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui Police confirmed Alex  who has not offended for more than a year and has disconnected from his gang  has been removed from the watch list of youth gang members.

His story helps to explain some of the drivers behind youth crime and gang violence. I was bored. And plus I was influenced, and I followed my older friends ways and how they go about what they do, he said. Thats how I think I never really cared about getting done, my parents and all of that, I just wanted to join. I wanted to be known. Alexs experience also reveals the dud deal many of these younger gang members get from the older members.

In Alexs case, he said he was advised on what crimes to commit by older gang members  and received little cash for his efforts. We all wanted money in our hands. We ask them for jobs, or sometimes theyll give us jobs to do. And from that, we get paid from them. And thats how we get our money, he said. We didnt get much, maybe like a couple of hundred [dollars]  If its a big job that they really want us to do and get it done, sometimes they give us $1000. Officers from Operation Alliance  Victoria Polices young gang taskforce  patrol a Melbourne shopping centre Credit: Police Media We never cared what job they gave us. If they said, do a burg, well do it. If they say, you know, we need two cars, well get it for them. Well just do it for them to get money. Sometimes, we do it because were bored as well. And plus, you know were young, we have nothing to do.

Alex said that older teens and young adults in the gang would commission younger members to commit crimes because there was a view that the justice system would be more forgiving towards them. Loading This advice  that even if caught they would just be released within a few days  and the ongoing requests to do burglaries or steal particular cars fuelled a sense of indestructibility. I was never scared of the police and never scared of getting caught, he said. I got told that if its your first time getting done by cops, theyre just going to release you on bail.

During his interview with The Sunday Age, Alex often looked uncomfortable talking about his past. He admitted that his crew had threatened victims of carjackings  soft targets such as Uber drivers in newer cars or people with higher end vehicles such as BMWs or Mercedes  with machetes. So the only way is to scare them. If they get scared, they leave the keys or whatever, and we take it straight away and leave, he said. Now, look back at it. That could be one of my family members. That could have been my uncle. Yeah. It doesnt feel good.

Victoria Police Senior Constable Kurtlee Bryan forged a bond with Alex after meeting him following a late-night arrest. He said he could quickly tell that there was something about Alex that didnt gel with being a hardened criminal. I definitely could tell. His personality didnt suit it. The way he spoke. His mannerisms and the way he would even just present himself, Bryan said. Every youth, I think, has that chance. Theyve just got to be willing to do it.

Its not just me who does this. I work with other services in place and it is a joint effort. Its not just a police job, it is a group thing. We give these kids basically a guide to the end of the line, all you need to do is just walk through that door. Working with support services, Bryan was able to help Alex realise that only he could stop his crimes and only he could lose the respect of adults that were giving him a second go. Soon, Alex was able to sever ties with his former gang mates, get a job and feel good about himself for better reasons. Loading I remember back then, I used to steal peoples shoes and put them on my feet and steal their clothes, too, and I used to run in shopping centres trying to get the best outfit at JD [Sports], he said.

[I was] trying to impress, look cool and post it on Instagram. You got more drip, you look more styled and gangster but now I dont have to do that. I can buy my stuff. The first time I bought my shoes, I was really happy because I can afford things now. Alex hopes that other gang members will see his story and think that maybe life could be better out of the gang. People could find support, not just punishment, within the youth justice system if they were willing to place their trust in police, counsellors and their families, he said. A lot of offenders out there, like me, are willing to change but are scared or still stuck in their ways, or like you know, still influenced by their mates. They just need to find a way out, like how I did.
The teenaged boy was charged with violently sexually assaulting a girl. While the rape was contested, there was no question about his attitude towards women.

In the lead-up to the night in question, he had sexually threatened and harassed classmates and teachers, then skipped class when the school tried to address his behaviour. He turned the phrase gang rape into some kind of joke.

Young boys need positive male role models. Credit: iStock

After watching his family during the hearing in the Childrens Court, though, I realised why he might think this was an acceptable way to behave.

This kid was a chip off the old block. His father would guffaw during proceedings, roll his eyes at the female magistrate, smirk at the victim and exclude the boys mother from legal meetings.
The number of reports being filed about the abuse of young people living in group homes, and the staff caring for these children, underscores the urgent need to reform NSWs out-of-home care system, welfare advocates say.

The state government in 2012 privatised the operation of group homes, where children stay when there are no available or suitable foster care placement, following a damning inquiry into child protection.

But the government now has limited visibility over these children, with critics warning young people can be at greater risk once placed in group homes than the environments they are being removed from.

Child protection advocates warn theres limited oversight for children in privatised out of home care. Credit:

There are currently 648 children in group residential care homes, in what is termed intensive therapeutic care.
Manning Base Hospital says it will apologise to junior doctors after they were told not to sleep on overnight shifts and a mattress and linen were removed from their break room.

In an email sent to junior medical officers on Wednesday, the Taree Medical Administration told doctors to assist other departments instead of sleeping on quiet nights.

Sleeping is not part of your job description. If you find that you have no further duties to attend to the expectation is that you either attend the Emergency Department to assist them or contact the overnight SRMO [Senior Resident Medical Officer] and assist them on the wards, the email read.

Manning Hospital apologised and said the statement did not reflect its commitment to a safe and supportive work culture. Credit: Alamy

The mattress and dirty linen have been removed and this room will be monitored by security, if bedding is found to be returned to this area further action will be taken.
The public discussion about gendered violence in the past week, triggered by the deaths of NSW woman Molly Ticehurst and Victorian woman Emma Bates, has served to highlight that we are facing a very real crisis in our community with the way the attitudes and behaviour of young men towards women is being shaped.

As we report today, NSW Domestic Violence commissioner Hannah Tonkin has warned easy access to pornography and extreme online misogyny are fuelling harmful attitudes to relationships among young boys.

It is material that can be consumed from a young age, with little regulation or oversight.

Research shows Australian teenagers spend about 14 hours online each week. Some 75 per cent of 16-18-year-olds have viewed online pornography and one-third first saw it before they were 13.
The NSW Womens Safety Commissioner, Hannah Tonkin, has warned easy access to pornography and extreme online misogyny were fuelling harmful attitudes to relationships as she called on men to lead cultural change by stepping up as leaders and role models.

As new statistics laid bare the domestic violence crisis in NSW, where police are called to more than 500 incidents a day, academics and experts raised concerns that vitriol against women online was contributing to sexualised violence and misogyny, especially among younger men.

So far this year, 26 Australian women have been murdered. Nine of the alleged perpetrators were under 30.

Its shocking and its heartbreaking, said Tonkin. Women are feeling angry, theyre feeling unsafe. And we need to come together as a nation, urgently, to address this.
More parents are turning to ride-share services to ferry children to extracurricular activities and to take care of the school run, as the end of working from home and the decline of the village places pressure on families.

Child-only trips now comprise about 45 per cent of bookings on Shebah, a ride-share service for women and children, up from 30 per cent before the pandemic.

Christy Moses uses Shebah to book rides for her daughters, Mackenzie and Sailor. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

Parents going back to the office has been a big factor, said Shebah chief executive Sarra Stewart.

But its also people weighing up taking the time out of work to go and pick the kids up and take them to dance or to swimming.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is being urged to declare a national emergency against gendered violence, with advocacy groups begging governments to do more to stop women being murdered.

Thousands marched in Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart on Saturday following a recent spate of horrific killings across the country, with sister rallies in Melbourne, Perth, Canberra, Brisbane and regional cities planned for Sunday.

Thousands rally in Sydney on Saturday. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

Sydney attendees walked from Belmore Park to Hyde Park, holding signs reading, Id feel safer alone with a bear, Murder on the dance floor, on a run, in a park, at the shops, in our homes, and Men are like mushrooms: dangerous till proven otherwise.

Rally organiser, victim-survivor and What Were You Wearing founder Sarah Williams said she was begging the government to act.
The attorney-general said Labor had committed $2.3 billion in measures since coming to office, had a national plan to counter violence against women, and had commissioned the Australian Law Reform Commission to look at the justice systems response to sexual violence.

Speaking in Ipswich in Queensland on Saturday morning, Dreyfus said the rallies reflected a high level of community distress about the number of women who were dying at the hands of those who professed to love them.

Mark Dreyfus said actions that need to be taken to address domestic violence have already been identified. Credit: Justin McManus

Politicians including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Minister for Women Katy Gallagher, Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth and Dreyfus will attend rallies against male violence in cities across Australia over the weekend, spurred by the killing of 26 women in the first 114 days of the year.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus ruled out holding a federal royal commission into domestic violence, saying the government should instead focus on implementing policies it has already identified.

Asked multiple times if he would consider a royal commission, Dreyfus said the question of violence against women was one that had to be dealt with through co-operation between the federal government working with state and territory governments.

I think weve actually identified a whole range of actions already that need to be taken, and I think what we probably can say is that we need to be working harder on the kinds of actions that have already been identified, he said.

Last week, Dreyfus gave a speech in Melbourne saying men needed to step up because there was a crisis of male violence after the Bondi stabbing attack, comments which he repeated on Saturday.

We know more needs to be done and in part, it is about men stepping up, thats what I said in my speech last week. Im going to keep saying that men need to step up, he said.

One of the things we need to look at is whether or not the current arrangements weve got for things like apprehended violence orders [or] domestic violence orders that seek to restrict potential perpetrators are, in fact, enough, are the right measure.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, April 27. Turkmenistan exported a large volume of natural gas to China from January through March this year, Trend reports.

According to official data, Turkmenistan exported $2.4 billion worth of natural gas to China during the specified period.

Furthermore, the latest known values show that Turkmenistan exported $8.82 billion worth of natural gas to China from January through November last year.

Turkmenistan exported $10.25 billion worth of natural gas to China through pipelines in 2022, which is 51 percent more than in 2021.

Meanwhile, Turkmenistan supplies its gas to China through three gas pipelines, passing through Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan before reaching China. The total capacity of these pipelines is 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year.
Queensland Opposition Leader David Crisafulli has rejected claims he is a shoo-in to be sworn in as premier in October, as he fought to regain underdog status following polls that pointed to a convincing LNP victory.

But there was some cross-party agreement on Saturday, with both sides of Queensland politics supporting fresh federal funding for a new nationwide database of guns and gun owners.

David Crisafulli says history points to a Labor victory in October. Credit: Dan Peled

Responding to News Corp polling on Friday, which showed the LNP with a commanding 56-44 two-party-preferred lead, Miles said it was very likely Crisafulli would be premier after the October 26 election.

Speaking in Caboolture on Saturday, Crisafulli was not having a bar of it.
China to send fresh crew to Tiangong space station on Thursday



Jiuquan, China, April 24 (AFP) Apr 24, 2024



China will send a fresh crew to its Tiangong space station on Thursday evening, Beijing's Manned Space Agency announced, the latest mission in a programme that aims to send astronauts to the Moon by 2030.

The Shenzhou-18 mission -- crewed by three astronauts -- is scheduled to take off at 8:59 pm Thursday (1259 GMT) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Beijing said.

It will be led by Ye Guangfu, a fighter pilot and astronaut who was previously part of the Shenzhou-13 crew in 2021.

The latest batch of Tiangong astronauts will stay in orbit for six months, carrying out experiments in gravity and physics, as well as in life sciences.

"All pre-launch preparations are on schedule," Deputy Director General of the CMSA Lin Xiqiang told a press conference.

The Tiangong is the crown jewel of Beijing's space programme -- which has also landed robotic rovers on Mars and the Moon -- and made China the third country to put humans in orbit.

It is constantly crewed by rotating teams of three astronauts.

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 programme 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's Shenzhou-18 mission takes off bound for space station



Jiuquan, China, April 25 (AFP) Apr 25, 2024



A crew of three astronauts from China's Shenzhou-18 mission took off on a rocket bound for the Tiangong space station Thursday, the latest mission in Beijing's space programme that aims to send astronauts to the Moon by 2030.

The crew took off on a spaceship on top of a Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China's northwest at 8:59 pm local time (1259 GMT).

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.

State news agency Xinhua then 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, state news agency Xinhua said.

"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," Xinhua said.

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 programme 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 country -- pushing Beijing to develop its own orbital outpost.

That orbital outpost is the Tiangong, which means "heavenly palace" -- the crown jewel of a space programme 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 kilometres (250 and 280 miles) above the planet for at least 10 years.
China's Shenzhou-18 mission docks with space station: Xinhua



Jiuquan, China, April 25 (AFP) Apr 25, 2024



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 programme 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.

"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 programme 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 country -- pushing Beijing to develop its own orbital outpost.

That station is the Tiangong, which means "heavenly palace" -- the crown jewel of a space programme 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 kilometres (250 and 280 miles) above the planet for at least 10 years.
Microsoft, Google earnings shine as AI drives revenue



San Francisco, April 25 (AFP) Apr 25, 2024



Microsoft and Google on Thursday drubbed quarterly earnings expectations as the tech titans continued investing heavily in artificial intelligence promising to shake up the way people live.

The results were cheered by Wall Street investors who pushed up Alphabet's share price more than 11 percent and Microsoft shares up nearly 4 percent in after-market trades.

Google parent Alphabet reported profit of $23.7 billion on revenue of $80.5 billion, crediting growth in cloud computing, YouTube, and online search advertising.

Artificial intelligence helped drive the Silicon Valley tech giant's business, according to Alphabet and Google chief Sundar Pichai.

"We are well under way with our Gemini era and there's great momentum across the company," Pichai said, referring to the Gemini AI model that powers services across the Google platform.

"Our leadership in AI research and infrastructure, and our global product footprint, position us well for the next wave of AI innovation."

Some $9.5 billion was brought in by Google's cloud computing unit, compared with $7.5 billion in the same quarter a year earlier.

Google also reported its first-ever dividend of 20 cents per share.

"Things are looking good for Google," said Emarketer senior analyst Evelyn Mitchell-Wolf.

However, the future of Google's core search business is not assured, the analyst cautioned.

Google faces an antitrust case in the United States, and the incorporation of AI-generated content into the company's leading search engine "will arguably be the biggest change to the search advertising market since its inception," Mitchell-Wolf said.

The earnings come as Google, Microsoft, Amazon and other rivals competing in the hot field of AI face scrutiny from regulators in the US and Europe.

The US Federal Trade Commission early this year launched a study of AI investments and alliances as part of an effort to make sure regulatory oversight can keep up with developments in the sector and stop major players from shutting out competitors in a field promising upheaval in multiple areas of business.

Amazon -- through its Amazon Web Services arm -- Microsoft and Google are the world's biggest providers of cloud-based data centers, which store and process data on a vast scale, in addition to being some of the world's richest companies.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said sales in the January to March period rose by 17 percent from a year earlier to $61.9 billion, with net profit up by 20 percent to $21.9 billion.

Microsoft has been hugely rewarded by investors since it aggressively pushed into rolling out generative AI, starting with its $13 billion partnership with OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, in 2023.

The embrace of AI has boosted sales of its key cloud services, such as Azure, which have become the core of Microsoft's business under Nadella's leadership.

Cloud giants Amazon and Google are also looking to beef up cloud sales by rolling out AI features to clients and prove that the AI revolution is more than just hype.

In its push, Microsoft has moved beyond OpenAI and signed partnerships with other promising AI startups such as Mistral AI, as well as investing heavily internationally.

In March, Microsoft also announced that it hired DeepMind AI and Inflection AI co-founder Mustafa Suleyman to lead up its AI unit, poaching one of the industry's key figures from a promising startup.



- Unleashed revolution -



The succession of moves has often taken archrival Google by surprise and seen Microsoft pip Apple as the world's biggest publicly traded company.

"Microsoft's earnings show the company is well-positioned to profit from the AI revolution it helped unleash," said Emarketer senior director of briefings Jeremy Goldman.

"While monetizing AI as effectively as Google remains a challenge, Microsoft has positioned itself in the realm of consideration for ad buys -- something that wasn't necessarily the case even a few years ago."

Meta's results on Wednesday however were a first sign of AI fatigue.

The Facebook parent said its quarterly profits soared last quarter but worries over its spending on artificial intelligence saw its share price take a hit.

A potential dark cloud for AI is government regulators that are taking a closer look at Microsoft's ties with OpenAI and others amid fears that the giant is using its huge financial war chest to thwart the emergence of rivals.

Britain's competition watchdog on Wednesday was the latest to begin examining tie-ups between artificial intelligence firms and their US big tech partners, including Microsoft.
ByteDance says 'no plans' to sell TikTok after US ban law



Beijing, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2024



Chinese tech giant ByteDance has said it has no plans to sell TikTok after a new US law put it on a deadline to divest from the hugely popular video platform or have it banned in the United States.

US lawmakers set the nine-month deadline on national security grounds, alleging that TikTok can be used by the Chinese government for espionage and propaganda as long as it is owned by ByteDance.

The Information, a tech-focused US news site, reported that ByteDance was looking at scenarios for selling TikTok without the powerful secret algorithm that recommends videos to its more than one billion users around the world.

ByteDance denied it was considering a sale.

"Foreign media reports about ByteDance exploring the sale of TikTok are untrue," the company posted Thursday on Toutiao, a Chinese-language platform it owns.

"ByteDance does not have any plans to sell TikTok."

TikTok has been a political and diplomatic hot potato for years, first finding itself in the crosshairs of former president Donald Trump's administration, which tried unsuccessfully to ban it.

It has forcefully denied any link to the Chinese government, and said it has not and will not share US user data with Beijing.

TikTok says it has also spent around $1.5 billion on "Project Texas", under which US user data would be stored in the United States.

Its critics say the data is only part of the problem, and that the TikTok recommendation algorithm -- the "secret sauce" for its success -- must also be disconnected from ByteDance.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew has said the company will take the fight against the new law to the courts, but some experts believe that for the US Supreme Court, national security considerations could outweigh free speech protection.



- Bullish investors -



The estimated valuations of TikTok are in the tens of billions of dollars, and any forced sale would present major complications.

Among those with deep enough pockets, US tech giants such as Instagram-parent Meta or Google would likely be blocked from buying the app over competition concerns.

Further, many investors consider TikTok's recommendation algorithm to be its most valuable feature.

But any sale of such technology by a Chinese company would require approval from Beijing, which designated such algorithms as protected technology following Trump's attempt to ban TikTok in 2020.

Beijing has so far vocally opposed any forced sale of TikTok, saying it will take all necessary measures to protect Chinese companies.

While TikTok is a global phenomenon, it represents a small fraction of ByteDance's revenue, according to analysts and investors.

ByteDance has enjoyed explosive growth in recent years, becoming one of the most valuable companies in the world. Its international investors, including US firms General Atlantic and SIG as well as Japan's SoftBank, have stakes worth billions.

"TikTok US is a very small part of the overall business. It is an exciting part of the story, for sure, but... relative to the overall size, it's a very small part," ByteDance investor Mitchell Green, of US-based Lead Edge Capital, told CNBC television last month.

"If it was kicked out of the US, we would not sell."
Cloud storage: Japan region apologises as wind blows away personal data



Tokyo, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2024



A normal if windy work day went south for one Japanese bureaucrat when documents containing residents' personal information were blown away in a real-life slapstick mishap.

The official in central Japan's Aichi region was using a trolley to transport a cardboard box filled with documents from one building to another when, to their horror, it toppled over.

Despite frantic efforts by the official to collect reams of paper strewn across the road by the wind, three sheets were lost, Aichi Prefecture said in an apology statement this week.

"More than 10 other officials joined the search" for the missing documents until sunset, prefectural official Akira Kato told AFP on Friday.

Aichi Prefecture has said it will now digitise its data to prevent a repeat of the embarrassing incident.

The three missing sheets contained data on 121 households, including residents' names and rental housing details, it said.

The cardboard box being transported by the official from the prefectural housing department had contained 1,696 pieces of paper in all.

The search was extended over the weekend after the incident last Friday, but the papers were not found.

"We have made phone calls or visits to all the households affected and apologised," Kato said.

"We express our sincere apologies to residents and other relevant people," the prefecture said, adding that "there have been no reports of abuse of the lost data".
Japan to levy big fines with new app rules



Tokyo, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2024



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, behaviour 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 realise consumer choice while also ensuring security," he said.

hih/stu/mca

GOOGLE
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, April 27. The Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB) is holding its 2024 Annual Meetings and Golden Jubilee in Riyadh from April 27-30, under the Royal Patronage of the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Trend reports from the event venue.

The 2024 Annual Meetings are being held under the theme of Cherishing our Past, Charting our Future: Originality, Solidarity and Prosperity, which marks IsDBs 50 years of fostering socio-economic development in its member countries.

Among other topics, the meetings will also feature roundtable on COP29 with participation of Azerbaijani government representatives.

As the premier South-South multilateral development Bank, the 2024 IsDB Group Annual Meetings and Golden Jubilee are expected to attract international and regional attention. The Annual Meetings will feature a series of side events with top-level panelists from government, international and regional organizations, the private sector, academia, and civil society.

Ministers of Economy, Planning, and Finance from IsDB's 57 member countries will participate in the event, along with representatives of international and regional financial institutions, Islamic banks, private sector companies, national and international development finance institutions, international and regional organizations, NGOs, chambers of commerce & Industry, and business councils.

The meetings will provide an opportunity to explore ways to consolidate economic relations among IsDB member countries and maximize cooperation with participating financing institutions.

During the Annual Meetings, IsDB is also celebrating the Banks Golden Jubilee to commemorate five decades of unwavering collaboration, steadfast partnerships, and transformative change. It marks a significant journey of IsDB that began 50 years ago in Riyadh with the inaugural meeting of IsDB Board of Governors, which was graced with the attendance of the Emir of Riyadh at that time HRH Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.

A number of forums, seminars, and meetings will take place during this historic gathering including the Governors Roundtable Meeting, the 18th IsDB Global Forum on Islamic Finance, IsDB Group 2024 Private Sector Forum, the Role of SMEs in Saudi Vision 2030, Charting a Course for Augmenting SDGs Financing, Leveraging Islamic Finance for Developing Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure, Arab Coordination Group Forum, Future Vision Symposium, General Assembly of Federation of Consultants from Islamic Countries (FCIC).



Rated AAA by the major rating agencies of the world, the Islamic Development Bank is the pioneering multilateral development bank of the Global South that has been working for 50 years to improve the lives of the communities it serves by delivering impact at scale. Guided by the principles of Islamic finance, the Bank brings together 57 Member Countries across four continents, touching the lives of nearly 1 in 5 of the world population. Its mission is to equip people to drive their own economic and social progress at scale, putting the infrastructure in place enabling them to fulfil their potential. Headquartered in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, IsDB has regional hubs and centers of excellence in 11 of its Member Countries. Over the years, the Bank has evolved from a single entity into a group comprising five entities: Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) tasked with research and training, the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC), the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), and the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC).

Cooperation with Azerbaijan

Since Azerbaijans membership in 1992, IsDB has been approving economic and social infrastructure projects, mostly in energy, water and sanitation, and urban services, and improving access to finance. More specifically, the Banks financing assisted the country to reach the following socio-economic results:

In the Energy sector, an energy generation capacity of 1,060 MW and a renewable energy generation capacity of 230 MW were installed. In addition, 287 kilometers of transmission/distribution lines were constructed, and 400 substations were installed or upgraded improving national energy security and boosting exports.

In Water and Sanitation sector, more than 100 small-scale potable water distribution networks in rural communities were constructed or rehabilitated providing clean and safe drinking water and basic sanitation to 75,000 people in 4 regions of Azerbaijan.

In the Agriculture and Rural Development sector, about 85,000 hectares of agricultural land were irrigated, and modern agricultural equipment for farmers was provided.

In the Finance sector, a US$10 million of financing was provided to private sector enterprises including small and medium enterprises affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In late January of 2024 the IsDB and Azerbaijan's Ministry of Economy signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), establishing a collaborative framework for the Country Engagement Framework (CEF) for Azerbaijan during 2024-2026.

The CEF will target projects and programs with high-impact intervention in areas that align with Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities of Socio-Economic Development and the operational strengths of the Bank in line with the strategic priorities set under the Banks Strategic Realignment 2023-2025. It also aims to boost cooperation between the IsDB Group and Azerbaijan, expand the potential areas of collaboration, and strengthen the Banks support in enhancing socio-economic development in the country.

TheIsDB CEF for Azerbaijan will be based on three main pillars namely, i) Green, resilient, and sustainable infrastructure development, including support for Karabakh reconstruction, renewable energy, regional connectivity, and sustainable production of hydrocarbon resources; ii) Supporting productivity-based growth in a competitive and diversified economy, encompassing private sector development, exports, and innovation in agriculture, as well as the Halal ecosystem, and iii) Cross-cutting areas such as digital transformation, Islamic finance, regional and south-south cooperation, and capacity development.

Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn
EU toughens rules on Chinese fashion retailer Shein



Brussels, Belgium, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2024



The European Union on Friday added Chinese-founded online retailer Shein to its list of digital companies that are large enough to come under stricter safety curbs.

The company joins Facebook, TikTok, X, YouTube in a list of 23 "very large online platforms", which have more than 45 million monthly active users in the European Union.

From the end of August, four months after the designation, Shein will have to apply the tougher rules under the Digital Services Act (DSA), one of the EU's landmark new laws against online platforms.

These include implementing measures to "protect consumers from purchasing unsafe or illegal goods, with particular focus on preventing the sale and distribution of products that could be harmful to minors", the European Commission said.

Shein has said it has around 108 million monthly active users in the 27-nation EU.

Beyond the EU, Shein has faced fierce criticism with a long litany of accusations from alleged exploitation of its factory workers with low pay to promoting hyperconsumerism to causing damage to the environment.

Brussels has flexed its legal muscle against the world's biggest digital platforms, launching investigations against TikTok, X and Chinese retailer AliExpress.

Another Chinese shopping app, Temu, is expected to be added to the EU's list after announcing in April that it has around 75 million monthly active users after entering the EU market a year ago.

Under the DSA, the platforms must assess the specific risks posed to Europeans' rights and safety by the content they publish -- or the products on sale in the case of online marketplaces like Amazon and Shein -- and to submit a report to regulators.

They must also provide, at their own expense, an external audit once a year to verify they comply with the rules.

The largest platforms are also subject to increased transparency, with the obligation to provide access to their data to researchers approved by Brussels.



- Taking on Chinese tech -



Shein is not the only Chinese platform in the EU's crosshairs.

Popular video sharing app TikTok, owned by China's ByteDance, has faced the intense scrutiny in the EU -- and beyond.

While it faces a ban in the United States, TikTok is the subject of two investigations by the European Commission over alleged harm to minors.

On Wednesday, TikTok suspended its reward programme on its spinoff Lite app after the commission started a probe into its possible addictive features.

Brussels has also not shied away from wielding its trade weapons against China despite angering Beijing, which accuses the EU of protectionism.

On Wednesday, the EU announced a probe into China's medical device market as Brussels takes on Beijing over green tech subsidies suspected of undermining fair competition.

That follows other investigations in the past few months into Chinese wind turbine suppliers, solar panel manufacturers, trains and electric car subsidies.

raz/del/ach

Meta

X

GOOGLE
US regulators probe Tesla recall over autopilot concerns



Washington, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2024



US auto safety regulatory body said on Friday it opened a probe to determine whether Tesla's decision to recall two million cars last December over autopilot safety concerns was adequate.

Electric car maker Tesla had recalled more than two million vehicles across all models in the United States last December due to a risk linked to its autopilot software.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it had identified in a previous investigation "at least 13 crashes involving one or more fatalities and many more involving serious injuries in which foreseeable driver misuse of the system played an apparent role".

The NHTSA said in a filing that Tesla had deployed "non-remedy updates" to address issues raised in that probe.

It said it would now investigate "why these updates were not a part of the recall or otherwise determined to remedy a defect that poses an unreasonable safety risk".

If autopilot is used incorrectly or if the driver fails to recognize that the function is activated, the risk of an accident could be higher, NHTSA has said.

US-based Tesla has been hit with several lawsuits stemming from car accidents, and its driver-assistance technology has provoked regulatory probes.

In 2021, NHTSA opened an investigation into 11 incidents involving stationary emergency vehicles and Tesla vehicles using the assisted driving feature.

Tesla has stood by the safety of its cars and autopilot features, which it has warned do not free drivers from paying attention.

bur-dhw/sn
EU toughens safety rules for online retailer Shein



Brussels, Belgium, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2024



The European Union on Friday added Chinese-founded online retailer Shein to its list of digital companies that are big enough to come under stricter safety curbs.

The company joins Facebook, TikTok, X, YouTube and others on a list of "very large online platforms" which have more than 45 million monthly active users in the European Union.

From the end of August -- four months after the designation -- Shein will have to abide by tougher rules set out in the Digital Services Act (DSA), one of the EU's landmark laws against online platforms.

They include implementing measures to "protect consumers from purchasing unsafe or illegal goods, with particular focus on preventing the sale and distribution of products that could be harmful to minors," the European Commission said.

Shein, which is headquartered in Singapore, has said it has around 108 million monthly active users in the 27-nation EU.

Reacting to the announcement, Shein said it would comply with the rules.

"We share the commission's ambition to ensure consumers in the EU can shop online with peace of mind, and we are committed to playing our part," said Leonard Lin, global head of public affairs at Shein.

Beyond the EU, Shein has faced criticism over alleged exploitation of low-paid factory workers and arguments it promotes hyperconsumerism and causes damage to the environment.



- EU probes -



Brussels has flexed its legal muscle against the world's biggest digital platforms, launching investigations against TikTok, X and Chinese retailer AliExpress.

Another Chinese shopping app, Temu, is expected to be added to the EU's list after announcing in April that it has around 75 million monthly active users after entering the EU market a year ago.

Under the DSA, the platforms must assess the specific risks posed to Europeans' rights and safety by the content they publish -- or the products on sale in the case of online marketplaces like Amazon and Shein -- and submit a report to regulators.

They must also provide an external audit once a year to verify compliance.

The largest platforms are also subject to increased transparency requirements, with the obligation to provide access to their data to researchers approved by Brussels.

The EU has taken tougher action against China-linked companies in recent months.

Popular video sharing app TikTok, owned by China's ByteDance, has faced intense scrutiny in the EU -- and beyond.

While it faces a ban in the United States, TikTok is the subject of two investigations by the European Commission over alleged harm to minors.

On Wednesday, TikTok suspended its reward programme on its spinoff Lite app after the commission started a probe into its possible addictive features.

raz/rmb/cw

Meta

X

GOOGLE
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, April 27. Islamic finance is a ray of light to meet growing demand for infrastructure projects, said Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser, Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group addressing the panel discussions on Leveraging Islamic Finance for Developing Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure held as part of the IsDB annual meetings in Riyadh, Trend reports.

He noted that COVID-19 exposed vulnerabilities in infrastructure, draining public resources and reversing development progress.

One-third of least-developed countries are now worse off than pre-pandemic. Without immediate action, their development outlook could further deteriorate. Least-developed countries hold tremendous economic potential waiting to be unleashed. Boosting investments in social and physical infrastructure is key to reducing poverty, enhancing health and education, and creating jobs. It also strengthens resilience against future shocks, such as pandemics and climate change, said Al Jasser.

He believes that the world needs long-term solutions, and sustainable infrastructure projects are the answer.

However, financing these projects requires a paradigm shift. Estimates suggest a staggering US$ 15 trillion infrastructure financing gap by 2040. Traditional public financing mechanisms fall short of meeting the growing demand for infrastructure projects. To address these challenges and mobilize sufficient funding for long-term investments, we need a fresh approach.

This is where Islamic finance emerges as a ray of light. Its asset-based and risk-sharing principles perfectly align with the needs of least-developed countries for long-term infrastructure projects, he explained.

Furthermore, Al Jasser said Islamic finance, with its emphasis on environmental responsibility, is perfectly positioned to support these endeavors.

For the last five decades, the Islamic Development Bank has championed Islamic finance. Our strategy revolves around forging strong partnerships, fostering financial markets, and empowering the private sector. Robust governance is crucial to ensure effective risk mitigation within this system, he added.

The Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB) is holding its 2024 Annual Meetings and Golden Jubilee in Riyadh from April 27-30, under the Royal Patronage of the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.

The 2024 Annual Meetings are being held under the theme of Cherishing our Past, Charting our Future: Originality, Solidarity and Prosperity, which marks IsDBs 50 years of fostering socio-economic development in its member countries.

Among other topics, the meetings will also feature roundtable on COP29 with participation of Azerbaijani government representatives.

As the premier South-South multilateral development Bank, the 2024 IsDB Group Annual Meetings and Golden Jubilee are expected to attract international and regional attention. The Annual Meetings will feature a series of side events with top-level panelists from government, international and regional organizations, the private sector, academia, and civil society.

Ministers of Economy, Planning, and Finance from IsDB's 57 member countries will participate in the event, along with representatives of international and regional financial institutions, Islamic banks, private sector companies, national and international development finance institutions, international and regional organizations, NGOs, chambers of commerce & Industry, and business councils.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 27. Presidents of Guyana, Suriname and Ecuador have been invited to COP29, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Brazil, Guyana, Suriname and Ecuador Rashad Novruz wrote on his X page, Trend reports.

He noted that the meeting with colleagues from Ecuador, Guyana and Suriname took place in a warm atmosphere, and their ambassadors were transmitted the letters of invitation to COP29 Summit from President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to presidents of the three countries.

"Had a fruitful conversation about bilateral, regional and multilateral affairs. Much work ahead for all of us to make this Summit a genuine success," he added.

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. COPthe 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 Berlin, and its secretariat is located in Bonn.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
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.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday announced a $6 billion military aid tranche, which is its largest ever for Ukraine and will include interceptors for both Patriot and NASAMS air defense systems.

The package is the second this week, after President Joe Biden signed a much-delayed bill to provide a total $61 billion of new funding for Ukraine.



- Costly delays -



Ukrainian 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 US aid 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.

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.

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.

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/bgs/bfm
CORRECTED: UK navy downs Huthi missile targeting merchant vessel: ministry



London, April 27 (AFP) Apr 27, 2024



Britain's Royal Navy shot down a missile fired at a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden by Iranian-backed Huthis, the defence ministry said on Thursday.

The HMS Diamond warship used a Sea Viper missile system to shoot down the missile on Wednesday, the ministry said.

"The UK continues to be at the forefront of the international response to the Iranian-backed Huthis' dangerous attacks on commercial vessels, which have claimed the lives of international mariners," Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said.

"I want to thank the brave crew of HMS Diamond for her vital role in saving innocent lives and protecting international shipping from illegal Houthi attacks."

US and British forces on January 12 fired their first joint strikes aimed at reducing the Huthis' ability to target vessels transiting the key Red Sea trade route. The Huthis say the attacks are in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where Israel is at war with Hamas.

The Huthis began targeting Red Sea shipping in November.

The US military has also carried out unilateral air raids, but the Huthis have vowed to continue their attacks.

The Red Sea carries about 12 percent of international maritime traffic. Since the attacks started, several shipping firms have stopped using the waterway, instead taking the longer and more expensive route around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.
Taiwan detects 22 Chinese aircraft around island



Taipei, April 27 (AFP) Apr 27, 2024



Taiwan's defence ministry said Saturday it had detected 22 Chinese warplanes and drones around the self-ruled island in a window of less than three hours.

The sorties come less than a month before the May 20 inauguration of new Taiwan president Lai Ching-te, who China regards as a dangerous separatist.

"We detected activities from 22 PLA aircraft... since 9:30 am (0130 GMT)," it said in a statement released at 12:10 pm on Saturday.

"12 aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and central air defence identification zone," it said, adding that the warplanes and drones joined Chinese naval vessels in "joint combat patrol".

The median line bisects the Taiwan Strait, a narrow 180-kilometre (110-mile) waterway separating the island from mainland China.

Beijing, which does not recognise the line, claims democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.

Under the administration of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, tensions between Beijing and Taipei have ramped up, as she and her government reject China's claim to the island.

Her deputy, Vice President Lai, won the island's January presidential election despite warnings from Beijing that he would cause "war and decline" for Taiwan.

Saturday's show of military might comes as the United States and the Philippines are conducting joint military exercises, including near the potential flashpoints of the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

The joint drills involve a simulation of retaking enemy-occupied islands in areas facing Taiwan.

Beijing claims the South China Sea almost in its entirety despite an international ruling that the claim has no legal basis, and recent clashes between Chinese and Philippine vessels have stoked fears of wider conflict.

China's foreign ministry has accused the United States of "stoking military confrontation".
Russia shoots down 68 Ukrainian drones: defence ministry



Moscow, April 27 (AFP) Apr 27, 2024



Russia intercepted 68 Ukrainian drones overnight from Friday to Saturday in its southern Krasnodar region and over annexed Crimea, the defence ministry announced.

The ministry said 66 of the drones were shot down over Krasnodar and the other two over the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014.

"They tried to attack oil refineries and infrastructure. According to the information there, there are no injuries or serious damage," Krasnodar regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev said on Telegram.

Kyiv has stepped up drone attacks in recent months, in particular targeting Russia's energy infrastructure.
Two wounded in Ukraine after 'massive' Russian attack



Kyiv, Ukraine, April 27 (AFP) Apr 27, 2024



Two people were wounded after Russia launched a "massive attack" on energy infrastructure in Ukraine overnight from Friday to Saturday, Kyiv's armed forces and local authorities said.

Moscow fired 34 missiles, of which 21 were shot down, Ukraine's armed forces said.

"Russian armed forces staged another massive missile attack on Ukraine," the army said in its regular morning update.

An 82-year-old woman and a 39-year-old man were wounded, Oleksandr Vilkul, president of the defence council of the central city of Kryvyi Rih, said on Telegram.

"The enemy used various types of missiles, including ballistic missiles, and Kharkiv, Kherson, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk regions were hit," the army said.

"Some of the missiles were destroyed by Ukrainian air defence. Several people were wounded, no deaths reported so far."

The DTEK electric company said four of its thermal power plants suffered damage.
Influential Iraqi cleric backs US campus protests



Baghdad, April 27 (AFP) Apr 27, 2024



Iraqi religious leader Moqtada Sadr on Saturday expressed his support for pro-Palestinian encampments at universities in the United States and called for an end to police action against them.

"We call for a halt to the crackdown on voices advocating for peace and freedom," Sadr said in a statement.

"The voice of American universities demanding an end to Zionist terrorism is our voice."

Sadr once led a militia fighting American forces following the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein.

He retains a devoted following of millions among the country's majority Shiite Muslim population, and wields great influence over Iraqi politics.

Protests and encampments have taken place at campuses across the United States, Israel's largest military supplier.

Student protesters say they are expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where the death toll since October 7 is at least 34,388, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory.

In response to the growing protests, police have carried out large-scale arrests across the country, at times using chemical irritants and Tasers to disperse activists.

The war in Gaza began when Hamas militants from the territory attacked Israel on October 7, resulting in the death of around 1,170 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Militants also seized hostages, 129 of whom Israel estimates remain in Gaza, including 34 who the military says are dead.

Israel vowed to destroy Hamas and has carried out relentless bombardment of Gaza alongside a ground invasion.

All Iraqi political factions support the Palestinian cause, and like its neighbour Iran, Israel's sworn enemy, Iraq does not recognise the Israeli state.
20 Cambodian soldiers killed in ammunition base explosion: PM



Phnom Penh, April 27 (AFP) Apr 27, 2024



Twenty Cambodian soldiers have been killed in an ammunition explosion at an army base in the country's west, Prime Minister Hun Manet said Saturday.

The blast, which also wounded several soldiers, occurred Saturday afternoon at the army base in Kampong Speu province, Hun Manet said in a statement on Facebook, without giving more details.

"I am deeply shocked to receive the news of the ammunition explosion incident," Hun Manet said, expressing his "deepest condolences" to the families of those killed.

It was not immediately clear what had caused the explosion.

Pictures on social media showed a destroyed one-storey building wreathed in smoke, with residents of a nearby village also sharing images online of broken windows.

In the statement, Hun Manet said he had ordered the Minister of National Defense and the Commander-in-Chief of Royal Cambodian armed forces to urgently arrange funerals for the soldiers who died.
20 Cambodian soldiers killed in ammunition base explosion



Phnom Penh, April 27 (AFP) Apr 27, 2024



Twenty Cambodian soldiers have been killed in an ammunition explosion at an army base, Prime Minister Hun Manet said Saturday.

The blast at around 2.45pm (0745 GMT) at the army base in Kampong Speu province to the west of the capital also wounded several soldiers, according to the PM, with the army saying that an entire truck of munitions had exploded.

"I am deeply shocked to receive the news of the ammunition explosion incident," Hun Manet said in a statement on Facebook, expressing his "deepest condolences" to the families of those killed.

It was not immediately clear what had caused the explosion.

Pictures on social media showed a destroyed one-storey building wreathed in smoke, with residents of a nearby village also sharing images online of broken windows.

Other images showed what appeared to be civilians, including a child in diapers -- with cuts and gashes being treated in hospital.

Munitions accidents are not uncommon in Cambodia, which is awash with ammunition following decades of civil conflict -- accidents that are exacerbated by frequently lax safety standards.

Cambodia's army said the incident was a "warehouse ammunition explosion", that had destroyed a truck fully loaded with weaponry.

An office building as well as nearby barracks were destroyed, with 25 nearby homes also battered by the resulting explosion.

In his statement, Hun Manet said he had ordered the defense minister and the commander-in-chief of Royal Cambodian Armed Forces to urgently arrange funerals for the soldiers who died.

He also said that the families of those killed would receive roughly $20,000 each, while injured soldiers would get $5,000.



- Unexploded ammunition -



Cambodia is littered with discarded ammunition and arms from decades of civil war from the 1960s.

In 2005, five Cambodians were killed and three injured after an explosion in a major military arms depot some two kilometres outside the northwestern town of Battambang. It was unclear what had caused the explosion and resulting fire.

Deaths from mines and unexploded ordnance are more frequent, with roughly 20,000 people killed in Cambodia since 1979 and twice as many wounded in landmine and unexploded ordnance accidents.

In 2018, an Australian and a Cambodian were killed when war-era ordnance exploded during a de-mining training exercise in southern Cambodia.

Clearance work continues to this day, with the government vowing to clear all mines and unexploded ordnance by 2025.

Only last week four people were also killed by unexploded ordnance (UXO), according to the Cambodian Mine Action Centre.

Last year thousands of pieces of UXO left over from the civil war were unearthed inside a northeastern school, including some 2,000 explosives.

ss-rbu/sn
Iraq passes bill sentencing same-sex acts to 10-15 years' jail



Baghdad, April 27 (AFP) Apr 27, 2024



Iraq's parliament passed a bill on Saturday criminalising same-sex relations, which will receive a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, in a move rights groups condemned as an "attack on human rights".

Transgender people will be sentenced to three years' jail under the amendments to a 1988 anti-prostitution law, which were adopted during a session attended by 170 out of 329 lawmakers.

A previous draft had proposed capital punishment for same-sex relations, in what campaigners had called a "dangerous" escalation.

The new amendments enable courts to sentence people engaging in same-sex relations to between 10 to 15 years in prison, according to the document seen by AFP, in the country where gay and transgender people already face frequent attacks and discrimination.

They also set a minimum seven-year prison term for "promoting" same-sex relations and a sentence ranging from one to three years for men who "intentionally" act like women.

The amended law makes "biological sex change based on personal desire and inclination" a crime and punishes transgender people and doctors who perform gender-affirming surgery with up to three years in prison.

Homosexuality is taboo in Iraq's conservative society, however there had not previously been a law that explicitly punished same-sex relations.

Members of Iraq's LGBTQ+ community have been prosecuted for sodomy or under vague morality and anti-prostitution clauses in Iraq's penal code.

"Iraq has effectively codified in law the discrimination and violence members of the LGBTI community have been subjected to with absolute impunity for years," said Amnesty International's Iraq Researcher Razaw Salihy.

"The amendments concerning LGBTI rights are a violation of fundamental human rights and put at risk Iraqis whose lives are already hounded daily," Salihy added.

The amendments also ban organisations that "promote" homosexuality and punish "wife swapping" with a prison sentence of 10 to 15 years.

"The law serves as a preventive measure to protect society from such acts," lawmaker Raed al-Maliki, who advanced the amendments, told AFP.

He said passing the new amendment was postponed until after Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani's visit to the United States earlier this month.

The US and the European Union oppose the law and "we didn't want to impact the visit," he said.

"It is an internal matter and we do not accept any interference in Iraqi affairs."

LGBTQ+ Iraqis have been forced into the shadows, often targeted with "kidnappings, rapes, torture and murders" that go unpunished, according to a 2022 report by Human Rights Watch and the IraQueer non-governmental organisation.

Iraqi politicians and social media users have increasingly resorted to anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, which stokes further fear among members of the community.

Human Rights Watch's Iraq researcher Sarah Sanbar said the new law change "is a horrific development and an attack on human rights".

"Rather than focusing on enacting laws that would benefit Iraqis -- like passing the draft domestic violence law or draft child protection law -- Iraq is choosing to codify discrimination against LGBT people," she said.
Latvians asked to turn basements into air-raid shelters



Riga, April 27 (AFP) Apr 27, 2024



Authorities in Latvia called on residents to use Saturday's annual "Big Clean-up Day" to turn basements into air-raid shelters, with many in the Baltic country concerned they could be Russia's next target.

The former Soviet republic, now a member of NATO and the European Union, has a 214-kilometre (133-mile) border with Russia, and has been one of Ukraine's most reliable supporters since Russia's invasion.

"We call on everyone during the big clean-up, but also afterwards, to ensure that your cellars and your basements can be used as shelters in case of emergencies," said Vilnis Kirsis, mayor of the capital Riga.

He said in a communique that municipal employees would do the same for buildings belonging to the city.

Gints Reinsons, head of a Riga civil defence commission, said "the basements of public buildings, schools, retirement homes, hospitals, and town halls will be inspected by the authorities who will prepare them to serve as hiding places in the event of an attack."

He told the TV24 station that the goal was to prepare a hundred anti-bomb shelters a month through the end of the year.

In March, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina compared Russia to an unpredictable drunk.

"We live next to a neighbour who, shall we say, is like an alcoholic or drug addict whose actions we cannot predict," she told public radio.

Since 2008, thousands of Latvians have gathered each spring to participate in a national clean-up day, a tradition that has now been followed by Baltic neighbours Lithuania and Estonia.

Besides collecting trash, Latvians also use the day to plant trees and fix up parks and public spaces.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, April 27. Kyrgyzstan is set to hold an international energy investment forum in Vienna, Austria, on June 10-11, Kyrgyz Minister of Energy Taalaibek Ibraev told local media, Trend reports.

According to him, the forum aims to mobilize financial resources for the construction of the Kambarata-1 hydropower plant (HPP).

"We have produced prototypes of future projects for the forum. It will be attended by energy ministers from Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan, as well as key investors. The major project to be presented during the meeting is one of Kyrgyzstan's largest projects: the Kambarata-1 HPP. We hope that the forum will be an excellent platform for the progress of our project," Ibraev said.

The Kambarata-1 HPP on the Naryn river is the largest hydroelectric project in Kyrgyzstan. 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.

At the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group (WBG) Spring Meetings, held from April 17 to 19, Kyrgyzstan's principal focus was on obtaining investments for the building of the HPP.
Macron ready to 'open debate' on nuclear European defence



Paris, April 27 (AFP) Apr 27, 2024



French President Emmanuel Macron is ready to "open the debate" about the role of nuclear weapons in a common European defence, he said in an interview published Saturday.

It was just the latest in a series of speeches in recent months in which he has stressed the need for a European-led defence strategy.

"I am ready to open this debate which must include anti-missile defence, long-range capabilities, and nuclear weapons for those who have them or who host American nuclear armaments," the French president said in an interview with regional press group EBRA.

"Let us put it all on the table and see what really protects us in a credible manner," he added.

France will "maintain its specificity but is ready to contribute more to the defence of Europe".

The interview was carried out Friday during a visit to Strasbourg.

Following Britain's withdrawal from the European Union, France is the only member of the bloc to possess its own nuclear weapons.

In a speech Thursday to students at Paris' Sorbonne University, Macron warned that Europe faced an existential threat from Russian aggression.

He called on the continent to adopt a "credible" defence strategy less dependent on the United States.

"Being credible is also having long-range missiles to dissuade the Russians.

"And then there are nuclear weapons: France's doctrine is that we can use them when our vital interests are threatened," he added.

"I have already said there is a European dimension to these vital interests."

Constructing a common European defence policy has long been a French objective, but it has faced opposition from other EU countries who consider NATO's protection to be more reliable.

However, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the possible return of the isolationist Donald Trump as US president has given new life to calls for greater European defence autonomy.
* FIRST NAME

* LAST NAME

* EMAIL Your email address

* PASSWORD Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number Show

* YEAR OF BIRTH You must be at least 18 years old to create an account 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906

* Required fields

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice

CREATE ACCOUNT

I'LL TRY LATER

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
While the party might be well-publicised as being at the (roof)top of the hotel, the bottom floor is just as worthy of a visit, if not more. The restaurant, offering elevated Mexican cuisine is ideal if youre looking for an alternative to classic French dining, especially if youre looking to try an original fusion, as it blends Mexican, French and pan Asian. The flavours work perfectly together, bringing out power in even the simplest dishes. Classics such as guacamole are given more delicate tasting notes, and the red tuna and seabream tostadas are as good as it gets. There is nothing  nothing  quite like the corn tempura, though. I would buy a whole Eurostar ticket just to get back to that dish.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, April 27. The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) is ready to consider financing the Kambarata-1 hydropower plant (HPP) construction in Kyrgyzstan as part of a consortium, said Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser, IsDB President, Trend reports.

He made the remark at the meeting with First Deputy Chairman of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliev in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

During the talks, IsDB president highlighted the significance of the Kambarata-1 HPP construction project for the entire Central Asian region.

In turn, Kasymaliev invited IsDB's leadership to participate in the international energy investment forum, organized by Kyrgyzstan and scheduled for early June in Vienna, Austria. This forum aims to mobilize financial resources for hydropower plant construction.

Following the meeting, Kyrgyzstan signed an agreement with the IsDB for $79 million under the project "Financing Affordable Housing According to Sharia Standards". Additionally, it was announced that the bank has undertaken 27 projects in Kyrgyzstan, totaling more than $500 million, with projects worth over $200 million currently in progress.

To note, Adylbek Kasymaliev is currently in Riyadh for a working visit. During the trip, he will participate in the 49th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Islamic Development Bank Group and will also hold a series of bilateral meetings with the leadership of financial institutions and international companies.

The Kambarata-1 HPP on the Naryn river is the largest hydroelectric project in Kyrgyzstan. 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.

At the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group (WBG) Spring Meetings, held from April 17 to 19, Kyrgyzstan's principal focus was on obtaining investments for the building of the HPP.
Mr Martin, who also serves as Irelands foreign affairs minister, told reporters in Dublin on Friday: Clearly, weve had an increase in the numbers coming 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.
Subscription to paid content

Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card.
Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Saturday that he is firmly convinced that Mircea Geoana will run for president of Romania.

Ciolacu was asked on Prima TV if he expects Mircea Geoana to run for president.

"I am firmly convinced that Mr Geoana will run. What I can't stand, I can't stand hypocrisy and people in general realize... I can't stand the double game of selling the truth otherwise than it is," the prime minister said.

He mentioned that he did not like Mircea Geoana saying that Romania did not support him for the post of NATO deputy secretary general.

"Something I didn't like at all was 'well, you know, I am on my own at NATO'. What do you mean? At this level do you think that President Iohannis was not spoken to? Do you think all the Romanian services and the whole Romanian state was not spoken to when someone is representing them? How do you get into such a position without being supported? It's bewildering. I have never heard such an approach," said Ciolacu.

The prime minister also said that he did not have a dialogue with Geoana on the situation in Ukraine, as would have been normal.

"We didn't have any dialogue. A few years ago we were communicating. I was expecting it though, Romania is the country with the longest border with Ukraine. I still consider that he is not on his own, he is Romanian and represents Romania in this position. We did not have a dialogue regarding the situation on the Ukrainian front. I don't remember the minister of Defence telling me that he had a dialogue with Mr Geoana, NATO Deputy Secretary General, regarding the situation in Ukraine. What is this? Do we want to be normal once and for all? Do we assume that we are going to run and have no institutional communication?," added Ciolacu.
The National Liberal Party (PNL) candidate for Bucharest mayor, Sebastian Burduja, registered his candidacy and the necessary list of signatures with the Bucharest Municipal Electoral Office (BEM) on Saturday.

Burduja came to the BEM headquarters by motorcycle, and PNL Chairman Nicolae Ciuca also attended the event.

"We have taken the first step to change Bucharest, a change we have been waiting for for years. It is an important moment for all the citizens of Bucharest, because they have the chance to have a city they can be proud of, a city where they are no longer afraid to send their children to school because of drugs, a city that has parks, in keeping with a 21st century capital, a city where they no longer waste their precious time in traffic, a city where we can all live better. It's a tough race, there are only a few days left until the election, it's a four-way race and that's the beauty of democracy. Bucharest must once again set the exact time for the whole of Romania, both in terms of this electoral competition and in terms of the development of this city," said Burduja.

He directly challenged the current mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan, to a debate to discuss solutions for the Capital.

PNL Chairman Nicolae Ciuca said that at this moment the party has not imposed Sebastian Burduja a percentage to score in the local elections.

"At this moment it is difficult and it would not be fair to Sebastian Burduja to impose a score on him. He is submitting his candidacy a few days after we made this decision and then, depending on how the campaign evolves, in the next few weeks we will discuss and decide how we will approach until the end everything that can be done by Sebastian Burduja and his team, everything that can be done by each sector branch chair and the support he can receive from the PNL leadership," said Ciuca.
What would global culture look like without the contributions of East St. Louis? Thank God we will never know.

It was the City of Champions that groomed Miles Davis into a music icon  and where Ike met Tina. Hip hop has East St. Louis airwaves to thank for its introduction to commercial radio. Before they were filmmakers, Reginald and Warrington Hudlin had their educational and creative talents nurtured through The Katherine Dunham Center for the Performing Arts.

A generation after the Hudlins attended, The Dunham Center was where a five-year-old Heather Beal-Himes (then Beal) stepped foot on the path to her destiny. My teacher, Ruby Streate, told me, Your mission  your purpose in life  is to continue the legacy of Katherine Dunham, Beal-Himes said.

On Monday, she will be celebrated for her world-renowned work within the field of dance. Beal-Himes is among the 2024 cohort for the Saint Louis Visionary Awards, which happens on April 29 at Grand Centers Sun Theater.

Some of the women that I admire most have received a Saint Louis Visionary Award, Beal-Himes said. So, to have my name listed alongside theirs is amazing.

Beal-Himes will be recognized as this years Outstanding Working Artist. Shell share the spotlight with Elizabeth Mannen Berges (Major Contributor to the Arts), Shawna Flanigan (Outstanding Teaching Artist), Meredith McKinley (Outstanding Arts Professional), Luisa Otero-Prada (Community Impact Artist) and Alexa Seda (Emerging Artist).

The great joy of this is lifting up women with these amazing stories, who are making change in our communities through the arts  and to share this gift, Saint Louis Visionary Awards board member Sara Burke told The American in 2016.

Several prior recipients will surely be on hand to celebrate Beal-Himes and the 2024 Visionaries for the ceremony that will be hosted by Min Jung Kim, Saint Louis Art Museums Barbara B. Taylor Director and Margaret McDonald, Senior Principal at the global architecture firm HOK.

Im happy I will be in a room full of love, Beal-Himes said.

By the time she was 12, Beal-Himes was fully committed to the call that Streate had placed on her life. She was taught by some of the greatest practitioners and educators with respect to the world-renowned Dunham Technique. Streate, the late Theo Jamison and Doris Bennett-Glasper were among them. Modern dance the way we see it would not exist the way we see it without the labor of Katherine Dunham, Beal-Himes said. Our bodies wouldnt move the way we move had it not been for the work that she did  particularly the work that she did building and codifying her technique on the bodies of the people of East St. Louis in the 1970s.

She is grateful to her grandfather, Leonard Beal, who left his roots Bealsville, Florida and arrived in East St. Louis, where she thrived thanks to the communitys village approach when it comes to nurturing young people.

I never understood why he left the sun  and a city named after his people  until I received a spiritual reading, Beal-Himes said. I was told, He came here for you. Dancing because I like to dance versus knowing that I am living and walking in my purpose is a completely different feeling.

Her intention is to pass that energy along.

I am teaching children the same way I was invested in, Beal-Himes said. I am pouring into students so that they see themselves reflected back to them.

A certified Dunham Technique instructor  as well as a choreographer, actress, director, and curator  Beal-Himes received her B.A. in dance from Columbia College Chicago and her MFA in Dance from Washington University in St. Louis. She considers herself a lifelong student of the Dunham Technique and says she learns something new every time she teaches.

A recent message came courtesy of the Dunham Walk.

Legend has it that the step was inspired by Ms. Dunham watching women in Haiti come down the mountain carrying everything that they had to sell at the market.

They are stepping over rocks, but they cant lose anything that they are carrying, because they have to sell it, Himes said. It made me think of how in life you have to step over obstacles but you cant lose anything important while you are carrying them. I was like, Come on Ms. Dunham with the life lessons.

When she delivers her remarks in front of family, friends and supporters  there is one person in particular Beal-Himes will have her eye on.

Im really excited to see the look on my mamas face, she confessed. I always think about the sacrifices my mother made. Performance parents dont get the flowers they deserve. They are the ones who truly supply the shoulders for us to stand on.

Her mother, Cheryl Beal, will be in the crowd cheering her on  as usual. So will her husband Ron Himes and their children Ronald and Vivian Himes.

I want to make sure that I am making my mother, my family and my ancestors proud that I am walking in my purpose, Beal-Himes said. Im especially excited for my daughter to be able to see something like this.

And for everyone to know that while my grandaddy might have been guided here for me, the things that I do are for my children  and to show them that they can soar.

The 2024 Saint Louis Visionary Awards will take place at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 29th at The Sun Theater, 3625 Grandel Square in Grand Center. For tickets or additional information, visit https://www.vizawards.org/.
The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis will host its fourth annual Minority Networking event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at the Banks Locust Street and Broadway downtown location.

Attendees will have an opportunity to network and learn about a variety of career paths at the St. Louis Fed.

The event will feature details about the following topics:

job openings

career paths

workplace culture

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

community development

internal employee networks

supplier diversity

Both virtual and in-person attendees will watch a short presentation about working at the Bank at 6 p.m. Afterwards, attendees are invited to continue networking until the conclusion of the event.

Those wishing to attend in person at the St. Louis Fed, located at Locust Street and Broadway in downtown St. Louis, or virtually must register by May 1.

It was great because I got to meet with people outside of the interview process, said Brooke Loving, who attended the event in 2022 and was later hired as an associate instructional designer at the Banks Center for Learning Innovation.

More information about the Banks commitment to workforce diversity can be found on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion section of its website.

For more about careers and working at the St. Louis Fed, visit the Career Central webpage
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, April 27. The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is ready to actively cooperate with Turkmenistan in various areas, Trend reports.

This was stated by UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana during a meeting in Bangkok with the Turkmen delegation headed by Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy Babanyyaz Yalakov.

Noting the fruitful cooperation with ESCAP, the head of the Turkmen delegation expressed gratitude to the leadership and the secretariat for supporting Turkmenistan's initiatives to create a UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund and the adopted resolution of Turkmenistan on the Aral Sea during the 79th session of ESCAP.

The parties considered the possibilities of expanding cooperation with ESCAP in the near future, in particular cooperation with the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) within the framework of the UN Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA).

Meanwhile, the delegation of Turkmenistan is taking part in the 80th session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), held on April 2226 in Bangkok.

Meanwhile, a parallel event was held recently in Bangkok within the framework of the 80th session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) on the resolution of Turkmenistan, 'Consideration of the conditions for the establishment of a UN Special Program for the Aral Sea Basin'.

During the meeting, the delegation of Turkmenistan presented a presentation on the problems of the Aral Sea and the targeted work carried out in Turkmenistan at the state level to mitigate the consequences of the Aral crisis, including within the framework of the Aral Sea Basin Assistance Program.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
ST. LOUIS  Five days before he shot and killed a St. Louis police officer, Thomas Kinworthy Jr. showed up on his fathers doorstep.

It had been a rough spring and summer. Kinworthy had spent months living in the woods, and then he stayed a few weeks in Florida with his ex-wife and children.

He told his ex-wife he wanted to go to St. Louis to reconnect with his father. They had both spent years in prison, and they hadnt spoken in more than a decade.

When Kinworthy arrived, his father noticed strange behavior. Sometimes he appeared normal. But other times he was paranoid, jumping so quickly from one topic to another that he didnt make sense.

He was talking about voices in his head and thinking that people were coming to get him, forensic psychologist Patricia Zapf testified Friday in St. Louis court.

Then, on Aug. 29, 2020, Kinworthy shot a homeless man in the arm, barged into a random Tower Grove South home, ordered the residents out, and shot two police officers, killing one of them.

Kinworthy stayed in the home for hours, even as police officers shot dozens of gas cartridges to smoke him out. He cut his left wrist with a razor before finally being cornered and arrested in a bathroom that was covered in blood.

Kinworthy, now 46, had left a trail of destruction, including the death of Officer Tamarris Bohannon. He was charged with murder and several other felonies, and his trial began this week.

But on Friday, Zapf, hired by Kinworthys lawyers to examine his mental state, argued that Kinworthy could not be held responsible for his actions.

He was in an acute psychotic episode at the time, Zapf argued  the result of a lifetime of trauma, inflicted in part by his parents, and decades of untreated mental illness. Kinworthys lawyers are asking for him to be found not guilty because of mental illness and sent to a state mental hospital instead of prison.

Prosecutors say that Kinworthy should be sent to prison because he knew exactly what he was doing that night. They are expected to present evidence next week that they argue shows Kinworthy is mentally fit enough to be held responsible for the crimes.

Zapf spent several hours on Friday outlining Kinworthys life, including severe physical and mental abuse by his parents, both of whom were drug addicts.

She compiled a lengthy report about Kinworthys childhood, job history, medical records and involvement in the criminal justice system. She reviewed evidence from the scene of the killing and interviewed Kinworthys ex-wife, father and fathers ex-wife.

Zapf said she learned that when Kinworthy was about 10, his mother kidnapped him from his fathers home in Missouri and took him to Florida, where she sexually abused him and prostituted him to friends and drug dealers.

As a teenager, Kinworthy was sent back to Missouri  to another unstable environment that included physical and sexual abuse, Zapf said. It was around then that he first reported hearing voices.

Kinworthy dropped out of school, though he completed his GED in prison. After his release, he began dating his future wife in 2007 and they were married in 2008.

Their first son was born in 2012 with significant health problems and died in the hospital, Zapf said. He had two more children with his wife  a daughter and a son  before they separated in 2019.

Kinworthy struggled to keep a job. He worked for Waste Management for a while, Zapf said, but was fired after claiming to know how to drive commercial vehicles because he had watched a few YouTube videos.

He had a power washing business, but that shut down in 2019. He thought his employees were out to get him, and he kept getting into arguments with them, Zapf said.

Kinworthy never received formal mental health treatment as an adult, though he told Zapf that he self-medicated through the purchase of Adderall and a mood-stabilizing drug thats normally prescribed to people with disorders like schizophrenia.

Kinworthys ex-wife told Zapf that Kinworthy cycled through periods of severe depression during which he could not get out of bed, along with periods of mania during which he barely slept. He heard voices, the ex-wife said, and sometimes thought she was poisoning him.

Still, Kinworthy and his ex-wife remained close. She served as his main support system, and he even Facetimed her on Aug. 29, 2020, at Tower Grove Park before heading into the neighborhood where he would kill Bohannon.

Kinworthy remembered little of that night, Zapf said. She said he believed the house on Hartford Avenue belonged to his friend, and he recalled confronting the people who lived there with a gun at his side. He also remembered shooting into the walls, believing that people were coming to get him, Zapf said.

Kinworthy thought he shot two officers while firing through the walls, Zapf said, but Bohannon was shot through a window. He didnt realize the standoff had lasted hours.

He was really trying to piece things together, she said.

After his arrest, doctors in the Barnes-Jewish Hospital emergency room reported that Kinworthy had been through an acute psychotic episode, Zapf said. He tested positive for marijuana and amphetamines.

A psychiatrist at the St. Louis City Justice Center later diagnosed Kinworthy with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and prescribed him multiple medications. Zapf diagnosed him with schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, which varies slightly from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, mostly in the timing of symptoms.

At the end of Fridays testimony, prosecutor Mary Pat Carl began questioning Zapf. Carl zeroed in on Zapfs credentials and tried to find discrepancies between Zapfs process of evaluating Kinworthy and the best practices that Zapf recommended in a book she wrote on forensic evaluations.

Carl noted Zapf had been paid roughly $27,000 for her services and questioned if she had reviewed enough evidence beyond her analysis of reports, records and interviews.

Carl is expected to continue to question Zapf on Monday. Prosecutors are also expected to call a different expert who evaluated Kinworthys mental state.

Defense attorneys are expected to call a toxicologist and a jail psychiatrist.

Editor's note: This story was updated in April 30 to clarify the nature of the relationship between Thomas Kinworthy and his wife.

Photos: Thomas Kinworthy Jr. on trial for murder of St. Louis Police officer Tamarris Bohannon
PORTLAND, Oregon  An Oregon university said Friday it is pausing seeking or accepting further gifts or grants from Boeing Co. after students and faculty demanded that the school sever ties with the aerospace company because of its weapons manufacturing divisions and its connections to Israel amid the war in Gaza.

Portland State University President Ann Cudd said the school acted in response to the passion with which these demands are being repeatedly expressed by members of the university community, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.

The move isnt permanent, Cudd said in a message to the community. The pause will be in effect until the school has had a chance to engage in this debate and come to conclusions about a reasonable course of action."

The university plans to hold a moderated forum with students and faculty next month where concerns can be debated. Cudd said she would participate.

Boeing donated $150,000 to Portland State University to name a classroom and provides about $28,000 a year for scholarships, the school newspaper PSU Vanguard reported. Portland State doesnt have investments in Boeing.

Student protests over the Israel-Hamas war have erupted on college campuses across the country, particularly after last weeks arrest of more than 100 demonstrators at Columbia University in New York.

Students have called for universities to separate themselves from companies they say are advancing Israels military efforts in Gaza  and in some cases from Israel itself.

About a dozen Portland State students and supporters waved Palestinian flags and held pro-Palestinian signs on Friday. They have a list of 13 demands, including three that involve the university cutting ties with Boeing.
Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading.

Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy
Americans forces in the Middle East have requested more AUD (Anti UAV Defense) systems to protect U.S. personnel from the growing UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) threat. UAVs are cheap, plentiful and can be armed or equipped with more capable video cameras, sensors, and communications capabilities. These accessories are relatively cheap and available from commercial outlets. The cheap and available angle has not only led to a lot more UAVs being used in wartime, with Ukraine being the combat situation where this is demonstrated in what is known as near-peer combat where two adversaries with roughly equal weapons and equipment fight each other. There has not been such a war since World War II. While many aspects of the two forces are similar to the World War II experience, there is a lot of new technology. Some of this new tech is cheap, widely used by both sides and continually evolving for as long as the fighting lasts. When peace returns, evolution will slow down and often stop. The reason for this is cost.

Right now, the fighting in Ukraine has led to a growing number of new AUD systems and one of these is the U.S. Navy system called EAGLS (Electronic Advanced Ground Launcher System) for ships. EAGLS can also be used by ground forces and that is the case for the EAGLS systems sent to protect American forces stationed in the Middle east. Currently, each EAGLS system costs about five million dollars.

EAGLS provides similar functions as the earlier Vampire AUD System that has already been sent to Ukraine and performed admirably. Like Vampire, EAGLS uses APKWS II, or Advanced Precision Killer Weapon System II 70mm laser guided rockets. APKWS 70mm laser-guided rockets weigh only 15 kg and have a range of about five thousand meters when fired from the ground. EAGLS can detect and fire APKWS laser guided rockets at air and even ground targets. Any UAV, cruise missile or helicopter within range is vulnerable.

EAGLS is a self-contained system with three components. There is a CROWS II (Commonly Remotely Operated Weapon Station II) equipped with a four-round 70mm rocket launcher loaded with laser-guided Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rockets, a sensor turret with electro-optical and infrared cameras, and a small radar array. The system is designed to be used from an immobile pallet on the ground or mounted in the back of a Humvee configured as a pickup truck. Any other similar truck will do and the Ukrainians undertake such improvisations quickly. EAGLS uses a DRS RPS-40 radar which can detect targets ten kilometers and track them until they come within the five kilometer range of the APKWS rockets. To deal with that EAGLS also has an optical sight that enables the system operator to fire at targets within visual range. With a heat sensing (infrared) option EAGLS can detect and fire on targets at night.

It is possible for enemy forces to detect the radar signals emitted by the EAGLS radar and fire a guided missile at a stationary EAGLS system. Thats why EAGLS is usually mounted in the back of a truck or Humvee. A new version of the APKWS II is being developed with a range of 12 kilometers. This is a major improvement over the current five kilometers.

The U.S. Navy is equipping some of its destroyers with EAGLS to increase anti-aircraft capabilities while also providing a land attack option as well.

APKWS (Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System) is a 15 kg 70mm rocket, with a laser seeker, a six pound warhead and a range of about six kilometers. Laser designators on a helicopter, or with troops on the ground, are pointed at the target, and the laser seeker in the front of the APKWS homes on the reflected laser light.

APKWS was developed from the 2.75 inch (70mm) rockets used during World War II as an air-to-air weapon for use against heavy bomber formations. The Germans had developed a similar, and very successful weapon, the R4M, but before long it was noted that neither the Japanese nor the Germans had any heavy bombers, so the U.S. 70mm rocket was switched to air-to-ground use. Actually, the 70mm rocket was retained for air-to-air use into the 1950s, but it was never successful in that role. The 70mm rocket became very popular in the 1960s, when it was discovered that the weapon worked very well against ground targets when launched from multiple, 7 or 19 tube launchers mounted on helicopters. The 107-140 centimeter long rockets could be fired singly or in salvoes and gave helicopter pilots some airborne artillery for supporting troops on the ground. There are many variations in terms of warheads and rocket motors. Some versions can go over 10 kilometers.

The United States has also sent six hundred Coyote UAV interceptors to protect American troops in the Middle East. Coyote is launched from an aircraft and weighs 5.9 kg and is a 60 centimeter long UAV with a wingspan of 247 centimeters. Coyote is launched from a pneumatic tube and the wings extend and the Coyote is directed to search for or attack a target by its remote operator who can be over 100 kilometers away. Coyotes can remain airborne for two hours while seeking a target. Cruising speed is 102 kilometers an hour, with a top speed of 130 kilometers. In 2022 the reusable Block 3 Coyote was introduced. Each one carries devices that enable it to destroy up to ten UAVs before landing to be rearmed and have its battery recharged or replaced with an already charged battery.
April 27, 2024: One of the transportation difficulties between Ukraine and the NATO countries is the different gauge railroads used in Europe and Ukraine. Europe uses what is known as Standard Gauge. Gauge means the distance between the two rails. Standard gauge rails are 1,455mm apart. The Russian gauge is wider with the rails 1,524mm apart. In other words, Standard gauge tracks are four feet 8.5 inches wide while Russian Gauge tracks are five feet wide. Since Ukraine was until 1991 part of the Soviet Union, all the Ukrainian railroads are Russian gauge. To deal with this problem, Ukraine is building a transshipment point in the west Ukraine town of Uzhhorod which is on the border with Slovakia and near the Hungarian border. Here there are cranes that will quickly lift standard cargo containers from Russian gauge flatcars and load the containers onto European Standard Gauge flatcars. Passenger trains have a similar arrangement where passengers can disembark and walk a short distance to trains with a different gauge.

Until the Ukrainian military drove the Russian Black Sea Fleet away from the west coast of the Black Sea in 2023, the main Ukrainian port of Odessa was unsafe for commercial shipping. Now the Black Sea route from Odessa to the world is open, via the Turkish Bosphorus strait. Before that the best way out was via rail, and that required a transshipment facility where cargo could be transferred between rail cars using different rail gauges.

Ukraine plans to build some European Gauge rail lines to major transportation centers in several Ukrainian cities. Eventually Ukraine wants to convert all its major rail lines to Standard gauge. This will make it easier to handle trade with Europe and, if theres another war with Russia, the Russians will not have all those Russian gauge rail lines available to quickly move troops and supplies into Ukraine on Russian gauge railroads. Instead, the Russians will have to use roads or capture Ukrainian railroad engines along with passenger, cargo, and flatcars so they can use Ukrainian European Standard gauge railroads.

Converting Ukrainian rail lines from Russian to European gauge is not only necessary economically but also militarily if the Russians invade again.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 27. Uzbekistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) discussed the country's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Trend reports.

The topic was discussed during a meeting between Laziz Kudratov, Uzbekistan's Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade, and Yasser Abdih, the head of the IMF delegation.



Both sides discussed the IMF's assistance for Uzbekistan's membership in the WTO, as well as the intensification and successful conclusion of discussions with the organization's members.



The parties also reviewed Uzbekistan's economic reforms aimed at liberalizing the market, enhancing trading conditions, and attracting international investment.

Furthermore, the IMF team acknowledged the country's success in achieving long-term economic growth and increasing the volume of foreign investment attracted to important sectors of the economy. In reply, the Uzbek side highlighted work on the implementation of the country's state investment strategy, including the creation of conducive business circumstances, the protection of investors' rights, and other significant areas.



The IMF representatives underscored the fund's readiness to support Uzbekistan in enhancing the institutional framework for trade regulation and developing an investment climate to ensure effective reform implementation and strategic goal achievement.

Meanwhile, the IMF projects that Uzbekistans real gross domestic product (GDP) will amount to 5.2 percent in 2024. Uzbekistan's real GDP rate is predicted to fall by 0.8 percent year over year.
Marine Cpl. Miguel Maya, 23, was killed April 23, 2024, in an aviation ground mishap at Camp Pendleton, Calif., service officials said. (U.S. Marine Corps)

The Marine killed Tuesday at Camp Pendleton in what base officials described as a ground mishap was a 23-year-old aircraft avionics technician.

Cpl. Miguel A. Maya served with the Marine Helicopter Light Attack Training Squadron 303 based at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, Calif., north of San Diego. The squadron is attached to Marine Air Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. The wing has its headquarters at nearby Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.

Maya was from McAllen, Texas, the Marines said.

The Marines first reported a fatality during routine military operations Tuesday but updated the incident to an aviation ground mishap when they identified Maya on Friday as the Marine who was killed.

Mayas squadron conducts extensive training on the UH-1Y, AH-1Z, and AH-1W helicopters for pilots and ground crews. It has about 300 Marines and sailors attached to the squadron, according to the units website.

The death of Maya is the latest of several fatal incidents involving Marines in the United States this year.

Sgt. Colin Arslanbas died April 18 during a late-night training exercise near Camp Lejeune, N.C. Arslanbas, 23, was assigned to the Maritime Special Purpose Force with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Two other Marines have died during training at Pendleton in recent months.

In December, Sgt. Matthew Bylski, 23, died in a rollover accident. Bylski was an amphibious combat vehicle crewman assigned to Battalion Landing Team 1/5 of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Fourteen other Marines were in the vehicle when it flipped on land. None were seriously injured.

In August, Lance Cpl. Joseph Whaley, 20, died during a live-fire training exercise at the services infantry school at Camp Pendleton.
WWII veteran Army Air Force Lt Henry Cervantes, part of the 100th Bomb Group, is seen circa May 1945. (National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force/Facebook)

(Tribune News Service)  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 didnt 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, Ill 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 couldnt 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 Aguirres 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.

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 didnt 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 Kahns 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 hed 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.

2024 Los Angeles Times.

Visit latimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
(Henry Compton/Stars and Stripes)

Frankfurt, Germany, October 1948: Mrs. Oliver Johnson, left, a war bride married to an American sergeant, reads a magazine while son William snoozes on the sofa at the Rhein-Main airport. Between 50 and 75 war brides  some with their families, others unaccompanied  were leaving from Rhein-Main for the U.S. each week in advance of a Dec. 27, 1948, deadline, after which immigration would become much more difficult.

Looking for Stars and Stripes historic coverage? Subscribe to Stars and Stripes historic newspaper archive! We have digitized our 1948-1999 European and Pacific editions, as well as several of our WWII editions and made them available online through https://starsandstripes.newspaperarchive.com/
As the season warms, food festivals flood the calendar. One of them, Rolling Kitchens, turns a disused gasworks in Amsterdam into a pop-up, open-air restaurant. The event happens May 8-10. (Teddy Lauren/iamamsterdam)

Food, glorious food, is not only the fuel but the impetus behind many a gourmands travels. Here are just a few upcoming events catering to both body and soul.

Schwetzingen, Germany: Spargel Samstag, or Asparagus Saturday, is a day for celebrating the countrys favorite spring veg. White asparagus is cultivated by depriving it of light as it grows, resulting in a more subtle and delicate flavor than that of its green cousin. The pedestrian zone of this city near Heidelberg best known for its stately palace is the place to sample dishes made of asparagus, enjoy live music and peruse the shops for bargains until 8 p.m. Entry is free. Online: tinyurl.com/32j9u722

Throughout the United Kingdom: Foodie Festivals are celebrations of high-quality local food and drink held at 14 locations across the land. First launched in Edinburgh in 2006, these traveling festivals unite locally operating artisanal producers and street food traders with nationally known TV chefs, bakers and other personalities of the culinary scene. Live cooking theaters provide the chefs with the stages they need to shine and pass on skills to their viewers. Winners and finalists from TV cooking shows including MasterChef and The Great British Bake Off also take part in the Foodies tours. Tutored tastings of wine, sparkling beverages, beer, cider and other drinks are offered at the Drinks Theatre while a Kids Cookery theater gives young visitors the chance to learn basic cooking skills and discover new tastes. Music performed live on stage by top artists is the icing on the cake. The 2024 schedule of festivals includes stops in Brighton on May 4-6; Cardiff on May 10-12; London on May 25-27; St Albans on June 7-9; Bath on June 21-23; Chelmsford on July 5-7; Turnbridge Wells on July 12-14; Tatton Park on July 19-21; Winchester on Aug. 2-4; Edinburgh on Aug. 9-11; Glasgow on Aug. 24-26; Oxford on Aug. 30-Sept. 1; Guildford on Sept. 6-8; and Norwich Sept. 6-8. Ticket prices vary according to date and whos appearing on stage. For example, a ticket to the St Albans event at which Blue performs on June 1 goes for 21 UK pounds (about $26.15) or 46 UK pounds for a family of two adults and two children. Online: foodiesfestival.com

Amsterdam, Netherlands: Rolling Kitchens, or Rollende Keukens in Dutch, is a food festival featuring dozens of food trucks or mobile kitchens parked at Westergas, a disused gasworks converted into a cultural space. Tasty bites from around the world are served at this pop-up, open-air restaurant. Other trucks serve cocktails, wine, beer and a variety of soft and health drinks. Bands on stage help guests dance off the delicacies in which theyve indulged. The event always takes place around the long Ascension Day weekend, which falls May 8-10 in 2024. Festival hours run from 1 p.m.-11 p.m., and entry is free. Westergas is about half an hours walk from Amsterdam Central Station; alternately, take tram number 5. Online: tinyurl.com/jey7f6tz

Gent, Belgium: Gent Smaakt, Or Gent Tastes, sees more than 60 food stands from the city and local area set up at four locations across the citys gorgeously medieval historical core. The offerings at this festival set for May 8-12 hail from around the world and range from fiery hot Asian curries to healthy Mediterranean salads. A number of chefs, from rising stars to long-recognized culinary geniuses, are on hand to show off their skills. DJs provide a musical backdrop as evening morphs into night. While entry to the festival itself is free, a number of workshops require advance sign-up and charge an admission fee. Some of the possibilities include a demo of cooking over an open fire (May 9); a specialty coffee brewing seminar (May 10); a craft beer and cheese tasting session (May 10); an intro to the beverage known as kombucha (May 11); and an introduction to jangs, the sauces which lend Korean dishes their specific flavors (May 12). On all days, a zone set up at the Goudenleeuweplein from 2 p.m.-6 p.m. caters to young visitors; entry is free, but advance sign-up is a must. Online: gentsmaakt.be/en

Antwerp, Belgium: Antwerp Proeft is the name given to the culinary festival set up May 9-12 at the Waagnatie. Here, the signature dishes of the citys best restaurants are offered as tasting menus at a fraction of their normal prices. About 40 restaurants serving close to 90 different menus await discovery here. Belgiums top TV chefs and rising stars are on board, as are artisanal producers and the owners of specialty shops. Cooking demos and workshops, served up alongside sweeping views of the busy waters of the Scheldt, add to the festivals appeal. The restaurants on site have partially covered stands and terraces, should the weather fail to cooperate. Payment takes place by means of a voucher system. Vouchers going for 1.50 euros each serve as the only means of payment for the food and drink available at all stands. The cost of the sampling dishes ranges from 6 to 9 euros. Entry to the festival itself costs 11.40 euros when tickets are ordered online in advance. Online: proeft.be

Vienna, Austria: Three days of al fresco dining await visitors to the Austrian capitals City Park on May 10-12, where more than 100 exhibitors will gather to present their wares, a mix of mostly locally-produced delicacies from field and forest, lake and stream. Things to try here can range from cheese dumplings from the mountains of Tyrol to a spicy paprika dish from Burgenland, a region bordering Hungary. Several stations provide a behind-the-scenes look at how these culinary treats are produced. Entry to the park and festival is free. Online: festival.genussregionen.at
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador attends a briefing in Mexico City on April 11, 2024. (Alfredo Estrella/AFP/ Getty Images/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  In his six years as Mexicos president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador gave his countrys military two important jobs: build infrastructure works to supercharge the economy and rein in violent crime.

By the end of his presidency, he will have accomplished only one  and left the other worse than ever.

AMLO, as the president is known, has used Mexicos armed forces to build airports, construct a nearly 1,000-mile long railroad through the Mayan jungle, and create a state-owned airline. Those initiatives are likely to burnish his economic legacy as he prepares to leave office following this Junes presidential election.

Yet Lopez Obrador will leave another legacy as well. His administration has presided over the bloodiest term in the nations recent history, with more than 170,000 homicides since he took office in 2018 through February. That is a 26% increase from the 135,345 murders during the term of his predecessor, Enrique Pena Nieto. And it has happened despite the combined budgets of the armed forces  the Ministries of Defense, Navy and the National Guard  being boosted by 150%.

This government had the largest legal tools, institutional backup and budget than any other administration, and all the numbers are the worst, said independent Senator Emilio Alvarez Icaza. Were seeing the worst numbers in homicides, in disappeared, in femicide. So the question is, what did they do?

Nearly all of the extra funds AMLOs administration provided to the military were directed to refashioning the armed forces into a construction behemoth, according to an analysis by Bloomberg News and Presupuesta Policy Consulting SA. This is the most in-depth assessment of the militarys resources and spending priorities to date. Meanwhile, as heists, kidnappings and extortions proliferated, the budget to train and deploy soldiers remained practically unchanged in real terms.

A separate public security ministry  which finances certain civilian-run public security efforts including the federal prison system  spent nearly 55% less during Lopez Obradors administration than Pena Nietos, and roughly 12% less than during Calderons term. The ministry receives funding for the National Guard, which Bloomberg did not include in this calculation since it is operated by the military.

While the president is flanked by top brass from Mexicos Defense Ministry and Navy at various ribbon cuttings, cartels have been left to effectively run pockets of Mexican society. They charge locals for everything from Wi-Fi connections to water usage and even the right to have a party. Since the start of this years presidential election season on March 1, nearly 400 people connected to politics have been threatened or kidnapped, according to Mexico City-based consultancy Integralia. At least 24 have been murdered.

All of that has made public safety a top issue for voters. One recent poll said 46% feel security has gotten worse during AMLOs term, and 74% think the government is very corrupt. Its also ratcheted up tensions with the US, where migration across its southern border with Mexico and the influx of fentanyl-laced drugs are top issues in the presidential race between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

That leaves Mexicos next president  be it AMLOs protege and overwhelming favorite Claudia Sheinbaum or opposition candidate Xochitl Galvez  with limited options for reining in the militarys spending and reach, at least in the short term. In 2022, AMLO changed the constitution to allow the military to handle public security until at least 2028.

He made it really hard for the next administration to walk everything back unless they have a wide majority in congress, said Lisa Sanchez, head of Mexico Unido Contra la Delincuencia, a think tank that published a report called The Business of Militarization. Their economic and political empowerment carries other risks  theyre a much more powerful force than they used to be.

The Presidents office and the Defense Ministry did not respond to a request for comment on this article. Theres talk that the army and the navy are involved in everything, Lopez Obrador said during one of his regular morning press conferences in January. Its not about militarizing the country. Its about relying on two institutions that are pillars of the Mexican nation and that have helped us deliver in our responsibility to govern.

In an interview, Arturo Zaldivar, the former head of the Supreme Court who is now helping Sheinbaum design her security strategy, said that the armed forces have always been loyal in Mexico, but as far as infrastructure-building goes, wed maybe have to re-calculate the role these institutions have. It was important for them to intervene, and well have to see if theres reason for them to stay.

Whoever wins, Xochitl or Claudia, is going to face a lot of problems in ruling this country, said Maria Elena Morera, activist and head of Causa en Comun AC, a nonprofit that studies security and other issues. With the military, they have so much power now  maybe they can reach an agreement thats good for them. But its going to be hard to take away all those businesses, and they were the ones who really insisted in handling the countrys security.

The Public Budget

The program had a very official-sounding name: National Security Government Infrastructure Projects. But rather than funding infrastructure works that serve the public like a train line or new airport, the investment program funds upgrades and expansions of the militarys footprint.

During AMLOs administration, the Defense Ministry used the funding to build new air and military bases and remodeled and expanded military hospitals, according to Bloombergs analysis of military spending. It also modified a ranch to include an equine reproduction center, added a cargo elevator for a gym at its headquarters in Lomas de Sotelo in Mexico City and built a diving center in Cozumel, among other projects.

Whats also notable is that the military ultimately spent 288% more for the program than the 35.4 billion pesos, or about $2.1 billion, that Congress originally approved from 2019 to 2022. That meant the military infrastructure program accounted for 22% of the Defense Ministrys annual budget, a leap from the 1% to 3% that was typically allocated during the Calderon and Pena Nieto years.

Members of the Mexican navy stand guard at the entrance of Petatlan, in the state of Guerrero, Mexico, on Jan. 7, 2024, a day after five people were killed and 20 injured in an attack by unknown gunmen during a cockfighting event. (Francisco Robles/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

The Navys National Security Government Infrastructure Projects program, meanwhile, now only accounts for 1.5% of its ministrys overall budget. Thats less than the 2.5% during the Calderon years and the 4.3% during the Pena Nieto era.

The Defense ministry was able to spend more than was allotted for such projects through whats known as an amendment  a tool that lets a ministry change the budget without Congresss approval, as is the case in many other countries. Congress is only informed about amendments in rare circumstances where the changes exceed 5% of a given governmental branchs budget, according to Aura Martinez, an information coordinator at the Global Initiative for Fiscal Transparency.

Defense has been an avid user of amendments, spending 27% more than Congress approved from 2019 to 2022, according to the analysis.

Wed never seen so many spending mechanisms made available to the armed forces as were seeing now, Sanchez said. Defenses overspending equals all of the Labor Ministrys annual budget.

While hes spending more on the military, Lopez Obradors priorities have differed from those of his predecessors. Historically, Mexican presidents have devoted nearly 50% of the Defense administrations budget to training, recruiting and deploying soldiers, and buying weapons. Under Lopez Obradors administration, that share of the budget, in real terms, will have fallen to 17%.

Instead, 51% of the Defense and Navys combined budgets of 331 billion pesos in 2024 was earmarked for infrastructure projects.

Nearly half of the 259 billion pesos that Defense got this year will be used to finish the third of the Maya Train line its in charge of building. The railway is designed to ferry passengers between tourism hotspots like Cancun and Merida, and to hotels the military is building and operating deep in the Mayan jungle.

Another chunk will go to operating the new state-owned airline as well as managing airports near Mexico City and Tulum.

Much of the militarys business operations are housed under a government-run company called Grupo Aeroportuario, Ferroviario, de Servicios Auxiliares y Conexos, Olmeca-Maya-Mexica SA  better known as Gafsacomm. AMLO created the conglomerate in 2022 to oversee most government-built infrastructure projects and handed over its operation to the Defense Ministry. Its budget this year of 15 billion pesos will help it operate 12 airports, five hotels, three natural parks, two trains, a museum and the Mexicana airline.

Hardly anyone expects the airports or the airline to turn a profit in the near future. While the groups losses will be covered by public coffers, it will get to keep any profit it does make and redirect it to the militarys pension system.

The trend is that increasingly, the armed forces are going to have different money-making streams, said Sanchez. And thats dangerous because youre giving more money to an armed corporation that has a legitimate use of power and 400,000 soldiers.

Lopez Obrador sees the projects as a way to develop the economy of traditionally poor parts of the country, which will create more employment and lead to better conditions, ultimately improving public safety. And the military has to be in charge of it all because, in the presidents view, its able to rise above the corruption that plagues civilian agencies handling funds for major projects. The military can deliver at a fraction of the cost of a private company and in a much shorter time, he says.

The Shadow Budget

There are several other, less transparent ways that Mexicos armed forces receive funds to oversee infrastructure works.

The Defense and Navy control trusts in which they or other entities can deposit money without being required to disclose where the funds came from or how theyre being used. At the end of 2023, trusts administrated by the military held 81 billion pesos, compared with 7 billion pesos at the end of Pena Nietos government in 2018, according to nonprofit Mexico Evalua.

Given the lack of disclosure, theres no way to know how much of the money in the trusts is accounted for in the budget.

The exorbitant sum of it all and the risk of double counting are exactly why they should tell us whats in there, said Sanchez.

Then there are contracts. Between 2019 and 2022, the Defense Ministry received an additional 191 billion pesos through agreements with other federal ministries for public projects including the Maya Train, according to the nonprofit Mexican Institute of Competitiveness, known as IMCO.

Contracts are rarely made public and increasingly difficult to track, given Lopez Obradors near dismantling of transparency watchdog, the National Institute for Access to Public Information and Data Protection. IMCO obtained the information through government information requests and legal challenges.

Were facing an opacity monster, said Paula Villasenor, the former head of IMCOs Effective Government division. Its incredibly hard to know how much money and contracts they have.

Sara Velazquez, the lead author of a report called National Inventory of the Militarized, said the military receives money from so many sources that its nearly impossible to trace all of it.

I think even they dont know how much money they get every year, she said.

Record Murders

Mexicos official crime statistics are known to be far from exact. The countrys cifra negra, or the estimated share of crimes that go unreported, reached 92% in 2022, according to statistics agency Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia. Homicides, though slightly down from the first few years of Lopez Obradors administration, are on track to end up the highest ever in a presidential term. The Secretariado Ejecutivo del Sistema Nacional de Seguridad Publica (SESNSP), which is separate from Inegi, has counted 170,959 homicides with intent since AMLO took office through February of this year.

The president has acknowledged that homicides have surpassed those in previous administrations, but he casts blame on the violent country he inherited. Homicides fell 7% between 2021 and 2022, and dropped 4% between 2022 and 2023, which Lopez Obrador said was a direct reflection of his security strategy.

Its crazy to think that what we used to consider a violent year was one with 20,000 victims of homicide with intent, said Lilian Chapa, a public-policy analyst who served as an adviser to SESNSP. The registry counted 29,705 homicides with intent in 2023.

National Guard Does It All

Last year, security consultant Manuel Garza witnessed the biggest heist he had seen in two decades. A shipment of mainly electronic goods worth nearly 17 million pesos was traveling along the highway from the port of Veracruz through the central state of Puebla. The person monitoring it on a screen suddenly saw the dot freeze.

An alert was raised when the dot hadnt moved in over 40 minutes, said Garza, who is being identified using a pseudonym to protect him from retaliation. When the companys private car came to check the scene, the trucks security team of two armed guards were nowhere to be found.

The National Guard showed up 30 minutes later. When the trucks driver called from the neighboring state of Hidalgo, he said he and the two guards had been tied up. But the National Guard didnt take down the witnesses statements. For that, the security company had to go to the local prosecutors office. They got back nothing else from the heist.

The episode is emblematic of how the military has frequently taken a halfhearted approach to law-enforcement responsibilities it inherited when the Mexican government did away with the Federal Police in 2019.

The National Guard had a total headcount of about 104,000 at the end of 2022. That includes 17,419 members drawn from the disbanded Federal Police and 1,050 new recruits. However, the majority of the force is made up of soldiers and marines on loan from the Defense and Navy. The troops were given new uniforms and armbands, but little to no training on how to do police work.

That has led to plummeting arrests as many National Guard members prefer to turn a blind eye to whatever crime is happening before them than go through the motions of properly arresting a suspect and filing the report correctly, according to Chapa, the public-policy analyst. Seizures of illegal drugs and weapons have plummeted as a result.

Guillermo Montes, who also asked to use a pseudonym, was one of the marines transferred to the National Guard. He saw many of his fellow guardsmen make mistakes when they intervened at the scene of a crime because they had no idea how to track down robbers or respond to 911 calls.

One of the hardest things to do, he recalled, was present evidence in front of a judge. Often, their cases were dismissed on procedural grounds, since they hadnt been fully trained on the protocols of filling out police reports.

The armed forces are not trained to be police, he said. We followed in order to help, but we were lacking many of the things that the police know.

Lopez Obrador didnt always back such broad use of the armed forces. He had been vocal about sending the military back to its barracks since losing the 2006 presidential election against Calderon, who had the armed forces take to the streets to fight cartels. That resulted in more than 103,000 homicides during his administration.

We cant solve the countrys insecurity and violence with the army, Lopez Obrador said in a video dated 2010. We cant use the military to make up for the civilian governments shortcomings. Its important we dont give the army excessive faculties  we cant accept a militarist government.

But it didnt take long for him to change his mind. In regular meetings during his transition into office, the Defense Ministrys top brass laid out how corrupt the Federal Police was and how the military was the only institution worthy of his trust, according to a person familiar with the situation.

The Federal Police were plagued by reports of abuse of power, torture and corruption. Last year, Genaro Garcia Luna, who had been in charge of Mexicos battle to root out illegal narcotics and vanquish drug kingpins, was convicted by a federal jury in New York of helping Sinaloa cartel members import and distribute drugs in the US. His defense has requested a new trial.

Though AMLO initially presented the National Guard as a civilian force, its effectively operated by the Defense Ministry, and its budget is routinely transferred to the military. In August 2022, Lopez Obrador issued a decree to place the guard under the Defense Ministry.

In April 2023, Mexicos top court said that decree was unconstitutional, and gave the government until Jan. 1, 2024 to return the operation of the guard to the civilian ministry.

AMLO has said he would abide by the courts order, but in February, he sent a new proposal to Congress to officially move the National Guard to Defense. Congress has yet to pass it.

Were living in two worlds, said Ernesto Lopez Portillo, former member of Mexico Citys Human Rights Commission and head of Universidad Iberoamericanas Citizen Security program. The world of the constitution that says public security is a civilian matter and the world of reality, where the National Guard is, under every indicator that we have, strictly military.

Money and Power

Sheinbaum has said she intends to consolidate the National Guard, and following AMLOs footsteps, that it should operate under the Defense Ministry.

Meanwhile, Galvez has said the military has been asked to do too many things unrelated to their core mission.

They shouldnt be building trains, patrolling parks or handing out books, she said at an event in Campeche in March. A large part of the country is in the hands of criminals these days, we need the military to return to its national security activities.

Mexicos militarization isnt exclusive to the federal government, according Causa en Comuns Morera. Military and Navy officials now oversee public-security ministries in 17 of the countrys 32 states. Sixteen of those states are ruled by AMLOs Morena party.

For whoever wins Mexicos presidential election on June 2, the key question will be how to deal with an empowered, enlarged and wealthy military that has taken over hundreds of tasks that used to be in the hands of civilians  and that has more revenue streams than ever  while reining in the record-breaking number of homicides.

Theyve overused a perverse blanket called national security, said Senator Alvarez Icaza. Now the dilemma is, how do we take away all the money and power that Lopez Obrador gave them?

With assistance from Maya Averbuch, Rafael Gayol and Michael OBoyle.

2024 Bloomberg News.

Visit at bloomberg.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Trinh Xuan Thanh, center, is led into a courtroom by police in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Jan. 24, 2018. (An Dang/Vietnam News Agency)

It was a calm Sunday morning in a park near Berlins iconic Victory Column when a sudden loud shriek startled pedestrians. They turned to see a black-haired man being dragged violently into the back of a car.

Trinh Xuan Thanh - former chairman of Vietnams state-owned PetroVietnam Construction JSC - was then driven south via Prague to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, according to a German court ruling last year describing the audacious 2017 kidnapping.

Thanh was next seen in a subdued state being held up by his captors outside a hotel in the city where a high-level Vietnamese delegation dined with local officials. They jokingly gestured to unsuspecting Slovak officials that their compatriot had too much to drink.

The two men later carried Thanh into a vehicle in the delegations convoy, which was escorted by local police to the airport tarmac. Joining him inside a waiting plane, according to the court document, was Vietnams minister of public security and a rising star in the ruling Communist Party: To Lam.

About a week later, Thanh was on Vietnamese state television confessing to mismanagement and embezzlement that caused the company to lose around $147 million, crimes that saw him receive separate life sentences in prison. The Vietnamese government denied Berlins account that the executive was forcibly returned, saying instead he turned himself in.

Lam has not publicly acknowledged any involvement in the Thanh case. Hed go on to turn his attention to much bigger targets, spearheading an anti-corruption campaign that has ensnared hundreds of officials, including two deputy prime ministers and at least one president. On Friday, another top leader resigned, days after his assistant was detained in relation to a corruption probe.

Within Vietnams opaque political system, Lam, 66, has emerged as one of the most important figures apart from 80-year-old General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, whose ailing health has triggered a rare succession battle in one of Southeast Asias most vibrant economies.

Lam is seen by analysts as a potential candidate for Trongs job when it comes up. His name has also been mentioned once again as a possibility for president after Vo Van Thuong resigned last month over unspecified violations, though its unclear hed even want the largely ceremonial post.

Observers say either scenario would likely see little change from Vietnams foreign policy balancing act between the US and China. Regardless of the outcome, his role as the primary enforcer of Trongs sweeping anti-corruption campaign has in some ways made him even more powerful.

The Ministry of Public Security is now very important for politicians to jockey for power, said Le Hong Hiep, a former foreign ministry official who is now a senior fellow at the Vietnam Studies Program of ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. And to suppress or control other political rivals because of the big anti-corruption campaign.

Political Succession

Unlike the personality-driven politics found in some western democracies, Vietnamese government officials are functionaries of the Communist regimes strictly enforced consensus-based rule. As the public security minister since 2016, Lams law enforcement responsibilities have included leading the sweeping anti-graft effort that saw at least 459 party members disciplined over corruption last year alone.

Thuong last month became the second president in little more a year to step aside after his predecessor assumed political responsibility for the violations and shortcomings involving two graft cases. Days after Thuong resigned, Lam was urging agencies to step up investigations into major corruption cases and further reduce social order crimes by 5%, according to a government readout.

The decision on who will be president could be made as early as this week with other likely names in the mix, while the party chiefs job is expected to be available when Trong steps aside in early 2026, if not sooner.

I dont think anybody would quibble that hes aligned himself close with the party secretary general who has health issues, Carl Thayer, emeritus professor at the University of New South Wales in Australia, said of Lam. When the party chooses leaders, they have to judge exceptionally and To Lam could make a case because of all the people theyve netted.

A spokesman at To Lams ministry did not respond to several phone calls requesting comment.

Blatant Violation

Lams career in Vietnams public security spans five decades, first as a student at Peoples Security University in 1974. He officially joined the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1982, rising through the ranks to become a two-time Politburo member. He was promoted to general in 2019 when Trong concurrently held the presidency following the 2018 death of President Tran Dai Quang from illness.

Lam currently also sits on the partys central steering committee for anti-corruption.

In 2017 he published a 471-page book entitled: The People - The Decisive Factor in Winning the Struggle to Protect Security and Order, in which he stresses the need to deepen international economic cooperation and apply the lessons of Chinas national security model as a means of protecting socialism in Vietnam.

One of the longest-serving ministers of public security, Lams ascent is by no means assured given the fluid state of Vietnams secretive politics. While sources within the party agree he is both feared and respected across the board, its unclear hed have the required support of the National Assembly to get a promotion.

The state meanwhile continues to make an example of officials - including Thuong - who in the partys view have either stoked poor public opinion or otherwise harmed its reputation. Lam found himself in an uncomfortable situation in 2021 after TikTok footage emerged of Turkish celebrity chef Nusret Gokce, known as Salt Bae, presenting a gold-leaf encrusted steak before feeding it to the official in his London restaurant.

The footage triggered an uproar on Vietnamese social media, with many questioning how a top official could be indulging in extravagant meals during an anti-corruption campaign at the height of the pandemic. Neither Lam nor the government commented on the video.

Thanhs kidnapping also created a diplomatic spat. Germany temporarily suspended its strategic partnership with the Southeast Asian nation calling the abduction an unprecedented and blatant violation of German and international law. Two of the men involved were eventually apprehended in Europe and sentenced to prison, with one receiving a lighter sentence for admitting guilt in working with Vietnamese intelligence agencies.

Slovakia also reportedly threatened to freeze relations with Vietnam over the case.

While Vietnam disputes the accusations against it, what isnt contested is the partys willingness to root out graft at great costs. The sweeping effort has, for example, led to a slowing of the nations bond and real estate markets and rattled government workers, delaying approval of projects for fear of being swept up in police investigations.

As a major general at the Ministry of Public Security in 2009, Lam accused the US of interference in Vietnams internal affairs when the Obama administration called for the release of a lawyer, according to a US diplomatic cable posted on WikiLeaks.

Lam also had a contentious meeting with a US official the year before over the alleged beating of an American journalist by the Vietnamese police, according to another cable. Vietnam denied the allegation. During the meeting, Lam promised to look into it and deal with any wrongdoing seriously.

On the one hand, Vietnams anti-corruption drive has helped lift its ranking from 113th in 2016 to 83rd last year in Transparency Internationals corruption perceptions index. His ministry also drafted a controversial cybersecurity decree requiring companies to store local users data in the country.

In any event, his reputation for ruthlessness may be more of a function of his job in a Communist state than anything else.

Now he is seen as someone who is a bit scary, said Hiep of the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. But thats his job - he has to do so to stay in the position. If hes transferred to another position his approach may be different.

With assistance from Karin Matussek and John Boudreau.
A screen grab of a video that John Earle Sullivan recorded on Jan. 6, 2021, shows officers in front of a partition outside the House chamber just moments before all the officers walked away from the area allowing protesters to further smash the glass through which Air Force Ashli Babbitt tried to crawl before Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd shot Babbitt from the other side. (Department of Justice)

A Utah man who recorded himself inciting violence and breaking a window before filming the fatal shooting of Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt outside the House chamber during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack was sentenced Friday to six years in prison.

John Earle Sullivan, 29, was paid $90,875 for his videos before he was convicted at trial. A jury found him guilty in November of rioting and obstructing Congresss certification of the 2020 election results, both felonies, and of five misdemeanor counts.

Prosecutors said Sullivan was a self-described activist with anarchist views who brought a tactical vest, a gas mask, a megaphone and a knife to the riot. Seeking a prison term of a little more than seven years, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebekah Lederer and Michael Barclay said Sullivan shared a desire to see the government burn and the vote certification stopped.

Defense attorney Steven Kiersh said Sullivan was born in Virginia, was adopted by a now-retired Army lieutenant colonel and his wife, and moved with them to Utah, where he trained to be an Olympic speed skater before injuries stopped him. Kiersh cited more than a dozen letters from friends and family who described Sullivan as much different than what the jury saw. The attorney wrote that Sullivan led an admirable and a caring life in which he displayed a sense of responsibility, a commitment to his family, friends and community and an individual who tried to enhance the lives of those around him.

Since his conviction, Sullivan has been held in protective custody in virtual isolation at the D.C. jail, where authorities deemed that he held opposing political views and that housing him with other Jan. 6 defendants would be a threat to his physical safety, his lawyer said. Kiersh asked U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth for a 30-month sentence.

Because Sullivan expressed past support for the Black Lives Matter movement, conservatives like Rudy Giuliani have claimed that he was a left-wing agitator in the mob, as they have sought to direct attention away from what motivated the overwhelmingly pro-Trump crowd. More than 1,350 people have been charged, including nearly 500 accused of attacking police, 130 of whom were armed or caused injury.

John Earle Sullivan (Tooele County Sheriffs Office, Utah)

Sullivans interests were mixed, said prosecutors, who called him an agent of anti-establishment chaos who shared the goal of attacking Congress and the presidential transition. Using personas including JaydenX and Insurgence U.S.A., Sullivan built a social media following of nearly 500,000 by posting protest-related content after the 2020 police killing of George Floyd.

After he organized a July 2020 protest in Provo, Utah, that led to a motorist being shot, he was targeted by conservatives who believed he was a Black Lives Matter activist, he said. Black Lives Matter activists in Utah said Sullivan was not part of their group and urged protesters to avoid him as a troublemaker and riot chaser.

In the winter of 2020, Sullivan wrote in one social media post: Let the electoral purge commence, the government said. Time To Burn It All Down, he wrote in another post on Jan. 2, 2021. At the Capitol he was recorded saying, Were taking this s--- to the ground and Lets f--- this s--- up.

Sullivan grew up in Stafford, Va., about 45 miles from Washington. His brother James is a conservative activist who has denounced Johns liberal politics. The split between the brothers was the subject of an unaired documentary called A House Divided by Jade Sacker, who recorded both men in Washington and some of whose video was shown at trial.
Mooneeswamy has no previous convictions and has not come to garda attention since.

Saira Mooneeswamy (53) with an address at Blessington Street, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty to stealing from Hyde and Seek Childcare, Shaw Street, Dublin 2

Saira Mooneeswamy (53) with an address at Blessington Street, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty to stealing from Hyde and Seek Childcare, Shaw Street, Dublin 2

This is the former creche manager who has been given a suspended sentence after she admitted stealing over 13,000 from the Dublin childcare facility where she worked.

Saira Mooneeswamy (53) with an address at Blessington Street, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty to stealing from Hyde and Seek Childcare, Shaw Street, Dublin 2, between April 1, 2018 and July 15, 2019.

She was given a fully-suspended sentence of one year at a sitting of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court during the week.

The court heard that the parents of one of the children attending the creche said they wanted to stop paying the monthly fees by direct debit and switch to paying cash, as they were applying for a mortgage.

Over the course of 15 months, the parents handed the sum of 13,360 to Mooneeswamy, who was a manager in the Shaw Street facility at the time.

However, the money never reached the creches bank account, the court heard.

Detective Garda Sarah Barry told Oisin Clarke BL, prosecuting, that the creche was the subject of an RTE Prime Time investigation into breaches of regulations at several Dublin childcare facilities.

Following the Prime Time programme in 2019, the owner of Hyde and Seek stepped down and her daughter took over the running of the creche.

An audit was done of the finances and it emerged that some of the childrens payments were missing and that the parent of one child seemed to have paid no fees whatsoever.

Saira Mooneeswamy (53) with an address at Blessington Street, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty to stealing from Hyde and Seek Childcare, Shaw Street, Dublin 2

Mooneeswamy attended a garda station voluntarily and said she had paid the money to someone she believed was an employee of Ulster Bank, however gardai found that her account didnt pan out.

She has since repaid the entirety of the money, the court heard, and has been completely cooperative with gardai.

Mooneeswamy has no previous convictions and has not come to garda attention since.

Mr Clarke said a rather charitable victim impact statement had been prepared in which the complainants indicated they did not wish for Mooneeswamy to get custodial punishment.

Mooneeswamy is originally from Mauritius and has been in Ireland since the early 2000s, the court heard.

Michael Hourigan BL, defending, said Mooneeswamy has been in gainful employment ever since she came to Ireland.

He said his client wished to apologise for the offence.

The court heard that Mooneeswamy was sending the money to support family members in Mauritius.

Several of her education and training certificates were handed into court.

Judge Martin Nolan said Mooneeswamy had succumbed to temptation by engaging in a persistent pattern of behaviour over a period of time.

He said Mooneeswamy was unlikely to reoffend and had a long work history.

He noted that she had repaid most of the money very quickly and that it had all been repaid.
Diego Dos Santos Carvalho (32) and his wife Nela Carvalho (31) had books of evidence served on them at Dublin District Court.

Nela Carvalho is accused of possession of cannabis, which was found at the couples home. Photo: Collins Courts

A husband and wife have been sent for trial over the seizure of 100,000 of cannabis and more than 300,000 in suspected drug-dealing proceeds at their home.

Diego Dos Santos Carvalho (32) and his wife Nela Carvalho (31) had books of evidence served on them at Dublin District Court.

Judge Monika Leech sent them forward for trial to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

The parents of two young children were arrested last year following garda searches in Phibsborough, in the north of the city.

Mr Carvalho is charged with possession of cannabis for sale or supply, following an estimated 5,000 seizure made in a car that was stopped at Goldsmith Street on March 11, 2023. He is charged with the same offence over 100,000 worth of the drug found in a follow-up search at his home at Royal Canal View Apartments on the same day.

He also faces a money laundering charge related to 341,975 of alleged crime proceeds also found at that address.

Ms Carvalho is only accused of possession of the cannabis found at the couples home.

Before the books of evidence were served, the court heard they had both been charged with the additional offence of possession of more than 13,000 worth of cannabis for sale or supply. Neither made any reply after caution.

Both the accused were remanded on bail to appear in the circuit court on a later date.

Last year, the court heard neither of the accused made any reply to the original charges.

It was alleged Mr Carvalho was caught in the act transporting drugs in a car, before the larger amount of cannabis was found in his home.
Judge John Hughes jailed him for three months after hearing McCann, who had psychiatric issues, was already in the shadow of a suspended sentence at the time of the assault.

A Dublin man attacked a man he had known for years, punching him in the face, leaving him with a busted nose and black eye.

Brian McCann (39) set upon the victim on a city street in an unexpected and unprovoked one-punch assault that left the man bleeding from the nose, a court heard.

Judge John Hughes jailed him for three months after hearing McCann, who had psychiatric issues, was already in the shadow of a suspended sentence at the time of the assault.

McCann, with an address at Georgian Hamlet, Baldoyle, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the man.

Dublin District Court heard that on February 24, 2022, at Belcamp Lane, Dublin 17, gardai met the victim, who was visibly bleeding from his nose.

He said he had been punched in the face by the accused, who was known to him.

The assault was unprovoked and he had not seen McCann in many years, a garda sergeant said in evidence.

The accused had 42 previous convictions for offences including assault and threatening to kill or cause serious harm. He was under a suspended sentence at the time of the latest incident but had not been convicted of anything since.

The assault victim was not in court but he provided an impact statement, which was submitted to the court.

Referring to the statement, McCanns lawyer said the victim did not bear the accused any ill will.

McCann lived with his father, was unemployed and a man of limited financial circumstances, his lawyer said.

He had been intermittently employed over the years in jobs including factory work, construction labouring and carpentry.

McCann was a paranoid schizophrenic who was on anti-psychotic and other medication.

He had been in acute psychiatry units in the past and he also had a history of chronic substance misuse, in particular, cannabis.

It appeared to have been a one-punch assault and not a protracted inflicting of violence on the injured party, the lawyer said.

He asked Judge Hughes for leniency.

McCann, who had not been in the right frame of mind at the time of the assault, had apologised to the victim, who would rather see Brian get the help he needs.

The defence lawyer asked the judge to take account of the victims particularly generous attitude to the accused.

The injured party was not in any way vindictive, the lawyer added.

Judge Hughes said it was an unexpected and unprovoked assault in the shadow of a suspended sentence.

The victim had suffered a black eye and a busted nose, he said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 27. Pressure on Iran is growing, but despite this, the country's progress in the nuclear and military sectors is also growing, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said, Trend reports.

He made the remark during the opening ceremony of the 6th Exhibition of Export Potential of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

According to him, Iran's military doctrine does not envision the acquisition of nuclear weapons. This is not due to international norms and IAEA rules, but a fatwa from Iran's Supreme Leader.

The Iranian president stated that Iran uses nuclear technology in industry, petrochemicals, and other fields and will continue to do so.

"The exhibition organized today shows that the sanctions imposed will not affect Iran and that sanctions will never bear results in this country at the will of the Iranian people," he said.

Additionally, it should be noted that the four-day Iran Expo exhibition kicked off today in Iran. It is reported that 2,000 people from 80 countries participated in the exhibition. Through this exhibition, Iran intends to increase the number of countries to which it exports products and showcase the successes achieved by large industrial enterprises and start-up companies.

To note, the Comprehensive Plan of Joint Action on Iran's nuclear program was implemented between Iran and the P5+1 group (the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany) in January 2016. The US announced in May 2018 that it was withdrawing from the plan and imposed sanctions on Iran in November of the same year. Iran has announced that there will be no restrictions on the Iran nuclear deal in 2020.

In late 2020, the Iranian parliament adopted a strategic plan to counter the sanctions, citing the non-fulfillment of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed between Iran and six countries and the imposition of sanctions on Iran.

Based on the decision of the Iranian parliament, as of February 23, Iran stopped the implementation of additional measures and an additional protocol included in the nuclear deal. As a consequence, the monitoring mechanism of the IAEA was reduced by 2030 percent.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Members of the Special Detective Unit (SDU) attended the ministers Meath home on Wednesday night after the threat was issued by phone from a man believed to be in the Cork area.

SPECIALIST gardai rushed to the home of Justice Minister Helen McEntee after bomb threat was made against her, the Sunday World can reveal.

Members of the Special Detective Unit (SDU) attended the ministers Meath home on Wednesday night after the threat was issued by phone from a man believed to be in the Cork area.

No explosives were found and no code word was used by the caller, it is understood.

Code words are historically used by dissidents when bombs are planted.

Despite no explosives being uncovered, any such threat made against the serving justice minister of the day is rigorously investigated as such threats are not only an affront to the impacted minister and her young family, but is also considered an attempted attack on the democracy of the State, according to a source.

It is understood that no arrests have yet been made but that the garda investigation is in full swing.

When contacted by this newspaper, garda headquarters declined to comment, saying: An Garda Siochana does not comment on security details relating to individual State officials or Government ministers.

An Garda Siochana does not comment on the detail of on-going criminal investigations.

Just last month, a man was found guilty by a jury of phoning in a bomb threat to the house of Ms McEntee.

Michael Murray (52), formerly of Seafield Road, Killiney, Dublin, had pleaded not guilty to one count of knowingly making a false report giving rise to an apprehension for the safety of someone else while he was imprisoned in the Midlands Prison, Portlaoise on March 7th, 2021.

The eight-day trial heard that an anonymous caller phoned the Samaritans claiming to be from the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) and said explosives had been planted at the home of Ms McEntee.

Murray has previous convictions for rape, false imprisonment, sexual assault, child abduction, threats to kill, harassment, theft and armed robbery.

In 2013, Murray was convicted of abducting a mother and her four-year-old son and repeatedly raping the woman for hours. He received a sentence of 19 years' imprisonment for this.

He was then sentenced to a further 16 years in prison for a campaign of harassment and death threats directed at his victim and the prosecuting lawyers in that trial  with the judge calling his actions an unprecedented and deliberate abuse of process.

During his sentence hearing for those charges, he threw a bible at the judge. That judge described his actions as a fundamental attack on our system of justice.
Paul was injected with heroin by people he thought were his friends who then went to his house to rob him while he was unconscious, says Victor.

Former soldier and keen sports man Paul McMahon, was found dead in his car in the Ballintrain Road area of Sixmilecross in 2009.

Victor McMahon, still awaits answers into the death of his son Paul, 15 years after he found dead in the front seat of his car in Sixmilecross.

Skydiver Paul McMahon was seriously injured after hitting the ground from over 100 feet during a 13,000 feet jump in California.

Victor McMahon, still awaits answers into the death of his son Paul, 15 years after he found dead in the front seat of his car in Sixmilecross.

Devastated father Victor McMahon continues to be tortured by the suspicious circumstances of his war hero sons death 15 years ago.

Paul McMahon, who served in Kosovo with a Nato peacekeeping force during the war and miraculously survived a 14,000ft skydive fall that went wrong, was found dead in his car on January 6, 2009.

His family has always believed drug dealers  who we arent naming for legal reasons  were involved in his death. They believe the justice system completely failed them.

Paul was injected with heroin by people he thought were his friends who then went to his house to rob him while he was unconscious, says Victor.

Paul was a hero who went to war aged 19 and saw things  like a man being beheaded in front of him  that no man should ever see, let alone a teenager. He came back from Kosovo a broken man and used drugs to help him cope.

Paul was just 28 when he was left by two well-known drug dealing criminals in the passenger seat of his car in sub-zero temperatures, having injected him with heroin, according to the family.

The family say that while Paul lay slumped unconscious, the pair had driven him to his home in Castlederg  28 miles away  and ransacked his house looking for easy cash and took his bank card.

Skydiver Paul McMahon was seriously injured after hitting the ground from over 100 feet during a 13,000 feet jump in California.

In the immediate aftermath of the tragic death the men lied to police about the events of that night and the police failed at that stage to fully investigate what really happened and only sent a file to the PPS four years later after the new evidence emerged.

Two years after the death, a witness  a former girlfriend of one of the men who was with them in the car when they went to Pauls house  made a statement to the PSNI that she hadnt given a true account of what happened at the time as she was being regularly assaulted by her then boyfriend and lived in fear of the man who has more than 500 criminal convictions.

Her new statement was jaw-dropping, yet Victor says nobody has ever been charged with anything to do with Pauls death.

She revealed how the men had injected Paul with heroin, ransacked his house, tried to take money from his bank account, burned vital evidence before police arrived and threatened her to keep her mouth shut.

Former soldier Paul McMahon,(pictured) who served with Tank commander James Blunt in Kosovo.

The PSNI confirmed they reopened the case after the new evidence in 2011 and arrested the two men and sent a file to the PPS recommending prosecution.

However, the PPS told us they couldnt prosecute as the available evidence was insufficient to provide a reasonable prospect of conviction.

Victor says: If they had investigated it properly at the time of the death and arrested those who were with him in the car and taken the case more seriously then maybe the evidence would have been there.

He claimed: Because he was a drug user, police wrote his death off as just another drug death.

Paul was discovered at around 4pm the next day dead in the car where hed been left on the coldest night of the year wearing just a T-shirt.

One of those career criminals was later jailed for four years for stabbing someone in the head.

Former soldier and keen sports man Paul McMahon, was found dead in his car in the Ballintrain Road area of Sixmilecross in 2009.

Paul had turned to drugs after experiencing PTSD and severe mental health issues after witnessing horrific violence in Kosovo where he was pictured serving alongside his friend James Blunt, who later became a huge pop star with hit song Youre Beautiful.

Paul was a fitness fanatic and was trying to get his life back on track when in 2008 he was severely injured in a skydive in the US which wrecked his hopes and dreams of being a personal trainer and pushed him into using more drugs to deal with physical and psychological pain.

A few months after the disastrous skydive, Paul died in what can only be described as bizarre and shocking circumstances.

Now Victor is calling for the case to be reinvestigated and accused the police of failing to investigate his death properly from the beginning.

There were alarm bells all over Pauls death and the way these two dealers, who Paul thought were his friends, injected him with heroin, then when he was passed out they raided his house and took his bank card and tried to get cash from a cash machine.

You see Paul had a lot of money which hed saved up from selling his first house in Tobermore where he originally lived when he was in the army. He had over 100,000 in his bank and because he looked for people he was easily taken advantage of. He thought they were his friends but what friends inject you with heroin, drive you about in a car unconscious and then leave you in the freezing cold in a car overnight wearing just a T-shirt?

The Sunday World has seen statements made by one of the career criminals and his ex-girlfriend. This woman met Victor and his wife Betty to explain what really happened, before making a new statement to police, having finally escaped her abusive relationship.

Victor McMahon, still awaits answers into the death of his son Paul, 15 years after he found dead in the front seat of his car in Sixmilecross.

Pauls body was discovered by the girls mother at 4pm as they had been staying at her rented home in Sixmilecross, which is about nine miles from Omagh.

In her daughters new statement, she says as they awaited the police and ambulance to arrive she was warned not to get involved by her ex.

She says her boyfriend told her what to say and said to tell them Paul, her boyfriend and the other criminal had been away and she had no idea where theyd been.

She went on to say the truth was she was with them most of the night after her partner had aggressively ordered her into the car and she had been present when they drove the long distance to Pauls house in Castlederg. Her ex-boyfriend had told police Paul was driving the car but she says Paul was unconscious the entire time and it was her ex who drove.

I asked what was wrong with Paul... [exs name removed] told me Paul had taken heroin... I was worried about Paul as his eyes were closed, he looked grey and sweaty... he was making a kind of choking noise... they told me he was just snoring... I disagreed and said hes not snoring, it sounds like hes choking on vomit.

Victor points out how callous the men were as on their journey to Pauls house and back they drove past the Omagh hospital twice yet didnt try to get him any help.

The woman says when they got to Pauls house they all went in and while she sat in the kitchen the men spent 45 minutes looking for something before her ex drove them back to Sixmilecross and stopped at an ATM and tried Pauls cash card, making comments they didnt want to try the PIN number too many times.

She says Paul was still making gurgling noises and when they got to her mums house the men debated about whether they should leave the engine running to keep Paul warm but one of them said, f**k it hell be alright till the morning.

She says she went to bed and was awoken by her mum shouting that Paul was dead.

It was really chaotic... they were throwing things on the fire in the fireplace... this was needles and stuff, her statement says.

She says her ex went out to the car to clear prints because he would later tell police the lie that Paul was driving and not him, despite CCTV later showing Paul was not the driver.

She states her ex told her to get his phone and start deleting messages because he said there were messages about drugs on it.

She recalls one message sent earlier from her ex to the other criminal said: Give him loads, then we get the car.

She says she saw the other man burning his SIM card in the fire.

She goes on: I recall there was a conversation about the needle marks on Pauls arm and the fact it was on his right arm... they were trying to get a story together.

They were very concerned about the puncture marks being on his right arm. I recall saying, Why who injected him? They both spoke at once to say [name of other man removed] did it.

The statement of her ex, made two years earlier and a day after the death, is completely different. He claims Paul was driving the car, that Paul went into his house with them and injected himself with heroin while there.

He makes no mention of his girlfriend being present at all and states he didnt supply Paul with the heroin, adding he thinks he got it from someone in Derry.

Victor says he doesnt believe the death was investigated thoroughly in the immediate aftermath.

They drove around Omagh passing the hospital twice with Paul effectively dead in the car, says Victor. One of them even says in his statement it was minus six that night and they left him alone. When they left him in the car they took his wallet and his phone with them  they even took his crutches which he needed after the skydive fall.

Victor recalls it being a particularly difficult time because wife Betty was in Belfast having treatment for cancer at the time.

Betty told us this week: It never goes away, losing Paul. Its always there and we got no justice for him which makes it worse.

Detective Inspector Michael Winters told us yesterday: Firstly, I would like to acknowledge how difficult the years without Paul will have been for his family and offer our ongoing sympathy.

An investigation was initially completed following his sudden death in Sixmilecross in 2009. Following new information coming to light in September 2011, a full review of the circumstances of Pauls death was conducted, which led to a new investigation being instigated.

This resulted in the arrest and interview of two men in October 2012 on suspicion of administering poison to endanger life and administering poison to aggrieve. A full file recommending prosecution was forwarded to the Public Prosecution Service in January 2013.

A PPS spokesperson told us: All the available evidence submitted in an investigation file by police in 2013 was carefully considered by a senior public prosecutor. It was determined that the available evidence was insufficient to provide a reasonable prospect of conviction for any offence, and a decision not to prosecute the two suspects reported issued later that year.

Victor says: It seems to come down to the fact the police didnt fully investigate it the first time round as it cant have been too difficult to find out what really happened if theyd arrested everyone and not written it off as a mere drug death.
He had to go anyway because he was outed as a kiddie pervert

Coked-up pervert Gavin Gillen is claiming hes under the protection of a senior republican after he was released from prison for sending d**k pics.

Gillen, who sent the disgusting images to a 13-year-old girl, was forced to flee his Dunmurry home when he finally got out of Maghaberry Prison recently.

We revealed last year 44-year-old Gillen was labelled a jailhouse spoofer after telling fellow inmates dissident republicans were helping him fiddle the housing points system to get him re-housed on his release.

However we can reveal hes instead living with a relative after he was forced to leave his home in Dunmurry following his child sex conviction.

But sources say the spoofing has carried on.

Hes telling everyone hes working as a doorman at a pub in the Cathedral Quarter, says the source.

Theres no way he was given an SIA licence so if hes working a door somewhere hes told some big lies but its more likely hes not working at any pub.

Which pub would risk losing business when it turned out they had a paedophile on the door? And what woman would want Gavin Gillen searching their bags?

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) was created in 2001, and is the organisation responsible for ensuring there are high standards in private security across the UK. If you work in security, you must have an SIA licence.

Gillen is living with a relative on the Suffolk Road and has been seen drinking frequently in a local boozer.

The locals in Dunmurry wanted him out due to his charges and drug use, said a source. He had to go anyway because he was outed as a kiddie pervert.

He's been doing a bit of plastering and telling people his doorman nonsense and also saying hes being protected by a well-known republican with connections to the INLA.

Hes been seen driving a few of the Erps ones around so he could be an unpaid lacky. He will mess up and run into an angry parent at some point.

Hes barred from the gym he used to be a member of due to his online antics. People are scared to approach him as you reported how his brother Jim is a psycho criminal too.

Gillen got a ten-month jail sentence last year for sexual communication with a child after repeatedly sending pictures of erect penises to a 13-year-old girl.

At Newry Crown Court in February it emerged the coked-up sex monster had asked the child if she has seen a penis and if she has looked for pictures of penises on the web.

He sent her two pictures of an erect penis and asked her if she thought that d**k is nice and he also asked if she liked girls rather than boys.

A barrister told the court Gillen sent her the d**k pics several times but warned her to delete them.

While inside he was telling other inmates he was a trained barrister and offered legal advice.

He also liked dropping names of known dissidents including Carl Reilly who pleaded guilty to membership of the IRA last year.

Gillen is indeed notorious for spoofing. When cops arrested him for sending pictures of his penis to the teenage girl he told them he couldnt be guilty because he was gay.

The court heard even though he knew full well he was almost 30 years older than the schoolgirl Gillen still engaged the child in a series of flirtatious, sexually explicit messages, telling the teenager she was a total honey.

The Sunday World went to Gillens door to ask him about his sickening crime but the creepy coward refused to open the front door.

Sources told the Sunday World at the time that Gillen rarely answers the door as he owes so many people money, often related to his consumption of drugs.

Arrested and interviewed, Gillen accepted he knew the girl was just 13 when sending her sexualised messages and the explicit images.

Claiming he had been in a bar drinking and taking cocaine, Gillen further claimed he was trying to advise her to stay away from boys and said that he was a homosexual man.

However the prosecution said they, do not accept any suggestion that the defendant was in some way a gay man warning the injured party about boys.

The barrister revealed that searches of Gillens devices had uncovered other flirtatious chats with women and also that the creep had looked up heterosexual adult pornography.

He said the images he sent were not his own penis but did accept his behaviour was inappropriate.

In addition to a 10-month jail sentence, Judge Irvine ordered Gillen to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years and also imposed a sexual offences prevention order, which places prohibitions on where Gillen can live, who he can date, where he can work and what devices he is allowed.
The 1997 murder has been mired in controversy after a botched RUC investigation,

Burnt out car at the scene where Sean Brown's body was found near Randelstown in Co. Antrim

Vital camera footage of the LVF squad who murdered GAA official Sean Brown is missing, a new RTE documentary reveals.

The 1997 murder has been mired in controversy after a botched RUC investigation, years of delays to the inquest and its abandonment recently when the coroner called for a public inquiry after revealing several of the 25 suspects were state agents.

Murder of a GAA Chairman, shown on RTE1, reveals the killers were caught on Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras as they drove past Toomebridge RUC station, but the footage is now missing.

The Brown family has also shared a video of the respected father-of-five as he welcomed childhood friend Seamus Heaney to a reception in Bellaghy Wolfe Tones GAA Club following the poets Nobel Prize win in 1995.

Daddy was so very proud that night to have him there, to be able to welcome him back and present him with the painting theyd presented that night of Lough Beg to him, says daughter Clare Loughran.

When Sean was murdered Heaney faxed a letter to the Irish News saying his friend was a man of great integrity and good will. He represented something better than we had grown used to.

Burnt out car at the scene where Sean Brown's body was found near Randelstown in Co. Antrim

The documentary comes just weeks after the UK government announced a legal challenge to coroner Mr Justice McKinneys decision to halt the inquest into the murder and ask for a public inquiry. The challenge centres on how Public Interest Immunity certificates were dealt with during the hearing.

The familys legal team were given folders from the murder investigation which contained dozens of redacted pages, however they did reveal that one of the suspects was a serving RIR soldier, another had a legally held firearm, and that surveillance on one of Mr Browns suspected killers, LVF man Mark Swinger Fulton, had been withdrawn on the afternoon of the killing and reinstated the following morning. Fulton died in prison in 2002.

The four-man murder team abducted 61-year-old Sean as he locked up the Bellaghy Gaelic club late on May 12 1997. His body was found near Randalstown the next morning beside his burnt-out car. He had been shot six times in the head.

The ANPR cameras were triggered as the murder team drove through Toomebridge at around midnight. The cameras had been installed on the RUC station by the army.

Seans widow Bridie recalls the terrible night her husband didnt come home, and says she knew the next morning when she saw police near her home that he was dead.

If he was going to be late he would have let me know she says.

At half two in the morning I took a torch and decided to walk out to the club. I had the torch with me and shone it right round and walked round the buildings again and there was nobody about. Not a sinner.

At half six these two policemen appeared two doors down from me standing on the footpath. I thought there is something going on so I went down to them and I said my husband didnt come home last night. Wheres his body at?

Bridie Brown

And then the policemen came up and into the house. They were anything but nice whenever they did come in.

The family initially had faith in the RUC investigation, which identified within 48 hours that the killing had been carried out by the Loyalist Volunteer Force.

We genuinely did put trust in the police service, says daughter Clare.

We were told that they were investigating it, there was lots of evidence. We were being told they had suspects. We were being told all this stuff and we were putting our faith in what they were telling us.

In 2004 the investigation was described as incomplete and inadequate by then Police Ombudsman Nuala OLoan.

The Browns solicitor Niall Murphy says it has the hallmarks of collusion which include the failure to arrest suspects, and the failure to secure or preserve evidence including DNA samples.

The inquest was halted just weeks before the introduction of the UK governments Legacy Bill next Wednesday. From May 1 all legal proceedings, inquests, criminal investigations and police complaints relating to Troubles deaths will end. Instead, anyone who cooperates with a truth recovery commission will be offered immunity from prosecution.

The film was made by producer Trevor Birney, who made No Stone Unturned with journalist Barry McCaffrey about the Loughinisland murders in 1994 in which six Catholics were killed. It examined collusion between the killers and the security forces. GAA President Jarlath Burns also pledges his support for the Brown family.

This is a basic sense of justice about the murder of one of our members and we will not stop until we get what we need with this family which is the truth about what happened to Sean Brown, he says.

n Murder of a GAA Chairman is on RTE tomorrow night at 9.35pm and on the RTE Player.
Emma-Rose Hollywood, also known as EmRo, was the resident DJ at venues such as Horatio Todds, Laverys and Voodoo in the city centre.

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 (Ireland vs Scotland) 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.
Pocket-sized crochet creations being given out around the Bay of Plenty are delighting those who find them.

The BOP Random Acts of Crochet Kindness was inspired by a similar idea in the United States. Now its being picked up around the world by crafters keen to spread joy in their community.

Pahoia resident Deb Bowden started a group in Omokoroa about six months ago.

Its just a little surprise designed to make people smile, says Deb.

We get together to share ideas and then work individually to make them and place them where locals will find them.

People who happen to find the small plastic parcels with woollen hearts, worry worms, butterflies and flowers will find a poem inside explaining the creation is a free gift to brighten their day.

Wed love to see posts on our Facebook page from people finding them and how it might have made them feel. We often dont know which of us has made it, but it just shares the happiness back to us, says Deb.

Brenda Butler is estimated to have made about 400 crochet gifts and loves leaving them at her local doctors office, in baskets and trolleys at the supermarket, or simply handing them to people as she passes.

Sometimes she gets a hug and a big thank you, says Deb.

Fellow prolific crocheter Christine Conn has been known to simply leave her pocket hugs in public restrooms for people to find.

I learned how to crochet when I was a child and didnt do much with it and just picked it up again recently when the group started, says Christine.

Its just nice to spread some happiness and to show appreciation to people in the community.

Its quite fun trying to put them somewhere so no one sees youve done it, but theyll still be found by someone, laughs Shirley-Ann Crosby.

Its like reverse stealing.

Hundreds have gone out but not many people have commented on the Facebook page, says Deb.

Were hoping to get more people posting about their find on BOP Random Acts of Crochet Kindness on Facebook.
With both her mum and dad coming from military backgrounds, life in the Defence Force isnt an alien concept for Kiwi student Grace Fale, but shes now had the chance to experience first-hand what a career could be like in the Royal New Zealand Navy.

The Aotea College 17-year-old head girl was among 40 students from throughout the country who attended the latest School to Seas wahine camp at Devonport Naval Base in Auckland.

Im super keen on the Defence Force as a future career, and it was so inspiring to listen to so many awesome people within the Navy to help me decide on exactly what branch Id want to specialise in, says Grace.

The week-long camp aims to spark young womens interest in Science Technology Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) based careers - both within the RNZN and the wider marine industry - and break down barriers and stereotypes.

In particular, it helps tackle misconceptions about life for women in the military and women at sea specifically.

During the camp, participants took part in a range of hands-on STEM activities including building an underwater robot, and gained an insight into what life is like on a warship and the many trades on offer in the Navy.

I loved the Sea Safety Training Squadron and learning about survival at sea, says Grace.

Coming from a military family, Grace says her upbringing has helped her develop valuable life skills.

My mum and dad both served in the military before going into the police. They have both been very supportive of a career in defence for me and my siblings.

Growing up in such an environment has taught me resilience, perseverance and leadership skills that my parents have role-modelled to me."

Now in her final year of school, the School to Seas camp has fuelled Graces passion to join the Defence Force.

I am definitely aiming to begin my life in the Navy, and would love to become either a Seaman Combat Specialist or Navy medic, says Grace.

Something on the frontline, getting hands-on, travelling and making those life-long connections.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 27. Mahiroud border-customs checkpoint in South Khorasan province in northeastern Iran has been closed, the statement of Iran's Customs Administration said, Trend reports.

Additionally, it is reported that the passage of trucks through the Mahiroud border customs checkpoint has been suspended.

The Customs Administration noted that due to the great importance of the border-customs point for transit transportation, Iran's Foreign Ministry and the leadership of South Khorasan Province are working to reactivate the point on the border.

To note, Afghanistan arrested six Iranian border guards on April 25, alleging that they had illegally crossed into their country's territory. A few hours later, on the same day, the Iranian border guards were released under an agreement between the two sides.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription.

Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service.
Join NY Cannabis Insider for its next industry meetup in Buffalo on May 14, 2024. Tickets available now.

Happy weekend, everyone!

We had another busy week covering legislative, regulatory and business stories in New Yorks cannabis industry. Lets take a look at what we wrote about.

Reporter Wes Parnell contributed a story about several publicly backed funds meant to bolster mom and pop cannabis stores across the New York supply chain either failing to meet their goals or delaying getting off the ground.

In New York City, a $20 million fund run by the New York City Economic Development Corporation is behind on its target to disburse money by the first quarter of 2024. The states Dormitory Authority has only bankrolled a fraction of the 150 stores it planned to fund with a separate statewide pot of money. And the same agency has yet to dole out any microbusiness loans it promised would be available to licensees almost a year ago.



Sign up for the NY Cannabis Insider Newsletter

Enter your email address to get exclusive reporting on NY's cannabis market delivered to your inbox:









We ran a piece about a traveling training program put on by the Cannabis Workforce Initiative called Seed-to-Success Statewide Live Workshop, which aims to provide detailed cannabis industry knowledge to everyone from consumers to prospective business owners.

The course has been providing free training to people interested in New Yorks cannabis industry  and those interested in the plant in general  said Precious Brown, CEO of Rochester events business Entertaining and Elevating with Cannabis, who has been running the classes.

In a Q&A with Jasmin Kaur, co-owner of Long Island dispensary Strain Stars, Kaur told NY Cannabis Insider about how business has been at the store since it opened last July, and spoke about a scholarship fund in which Strain Stars is participating.

The shop is serving about 1,500 customers per day during the week, and about 2,000 per day on weekends, said Kaur, co-owner of the family-run business. Strain Stars is pulling in between $6 and $7 million per month, Kaur said. Additionally, Strain Stars recently teamed up with nonprofit organization New Hour to create a scholarship fund for the children of formerly incarcerated women.

Reporter Mel Hyman contributed a story about cultivators reactions to the state legislature approving a budget that doesnt include a fund to help struggling cannabis farmers  which had been floated by multiple lawmakers.

The legislators, who chaired the agriculture committees in their respective chambers, said in a joint statement they were very disappointed they couldnt push their relief package over the finish line.

Lastly, we added a new entry to our People to know in NY cannabis series: Danny Murr-Sloat, the owner, founder and lead consultant at AlpinStash Genetics & Consulting.

Have a great weekend everyone, well be back with plenty more next week.
Thank you for reading!

Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue.
The daughter of two of Silicon Valley's most famous entrepreneurs, Slack co-founder Stewart Butterfield and Flickr photo-sharing site founder Caterina Fake, 16-year-old Mint Butterfield, has disappeared from her mother's home. She is wanted in one of the most crime-ridden areas of the United States, the Tenderloin in San Francisco.

ADVERTISIMENT

The Daily Mail journalists describe this place as "an area synonymous with rampant crime and homelessness". It is unclear whether she was kidnapped or decided to run away from home on her own.

The "problem" child, as she has been described, has been known to use psychotropic drugs in the past. She attends a private boarding school in the Napa Valley, so it is unclear how she could have ended up in the dangerous city.

The Marin County Sheriff's Office posted an announcement with a photo of the missing girl on Tuesday. Mint was reportedly last seen on Sunday night around 10:00 p.m. in Bolinas. She was wearing a black sweatshirt, flannel pajama pants, and black shoes.

ADVERTISIMENT

Mint was allegedly carrying a gray suitcase, which may indicate her intention to run away from home. The girl's parents are divorced. Police later reported seeing the girl in the Tenderloin area, 30 miles from Bolinas.

According to Forbes, the assets of the missing girl's father amount to 1.6 billion dollars. However, so far, law enforcement has not received any reports of kidnapping or blackmail.

We haveonly verified information on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!

ADVERTISIMENT
Rumor mill: We've heard about estimates concerning the performance, software features, and release date of the successor to the Nintendo Switch. However, very few details have emerged regarding its appearance or input methods. A recent report suggests that Nintendo is taking extraordinary measures to keep it that way.

Sources have provided details to the Spanish gaming blog Vandal regarding the size and controller connectivity of the Nintendo Switch 2. While rumors should always be taken with a grain of salt, Vandal has an established track record. The blog previously reported on aspects of the Nintendo Switch OLED before that model's release.

Nintendo has reportedly allowed accessory manufacturers to handle the upcoming handheld console without being able to see it, in a sort of black box demonstration.

All those sources agreed that the final hardware is ready, bolstering prior reports stating that Nintendo decided to delay its launch to early 2025 primarily to give developers more time to prepare launch titles.

According to the manufacturers' impressions, the Switch 2 is larger than the original and OLED models but not as big as Valve's Steam Deck handheld PC. This aligns with prior rumors suggesting that Nintendo's new device will feature an 8-inch LED display  a one-inch increase over the OLED. However, it's unclear whether the Switch 2 will increase its native screen resolution beyond the current platform's 720p.

Update (April 28): A second big "leak" comes from Mobapad, a Switch accessories manufacturer, who has provided more details about the Switch 2. The maker claims the new console will feature a larger 8-inch screen with a 1080p resolution and an improved kickstand with a damping bracket for better angle adjustment. It will also keep support for existing Joy-Con and Pro controllers via Bluetooth.

The Switch 2 should be compatible with Switch 1 cartridges, though it will introduce a new cartridge format that won't be backward compatible. They also claim that the design updates includes larger Joy-Cons that attach magnetically to the console with additional buttons located behind each Joy-Con and below the right Joy-Con's home button. The Switch 2 dock would receive an upgrade to support 4K resolution output via USB-C.

Additionally, the new console will still use detachable Joy-Cons, but they will connect to the base unit using magnets instead of rails. While the Switch 2 won't support the original console's Joy-Cons, Pro controllers currently on the market will work. There is no word on whether the new controllers will address the stick drift issue that has plagued Joy-Cons and other gamepads for years.

Previous reports indicated that the Switch 2 will likely be backward compatible with physical and digital games for its predecessor, but an exact picture of the new console's horsepower has been elusive.

Its graphics might be based on Ampere  the same architecture as Nvidia's GeForce RTX 3000 GPUs  using an 8nm process. Performance estimates vary widely, with some rumors suggesting it could land near the PlayStation 4 or Steam Deck, while more optimistic reports put it closer to the Xbox Series S in the best-case scenario.

A behind-closed-doors demonstration at Gamescom last year allegedly showed the console running the Matrix Awakens Unreal Engine 5 demo.
Why it matters: Advanced AI capabilities generally require massive cloud-hosted models with billions or even trillions of parameters. But Microsoft is challenging that with the Phi-3 Mini, a pint-sized AI powerhouse that can run on your phone or laptop while delivering performance rivaling some of the biggest language models out there.

Weighing in at just 3.8 billion parameters, Phi-3 Mini is the first of three compact new AI models Microsoft has in the works. It may be small, but Microsoft claims this little overachiever can punch way above its weight class, producing responses close to what you'd get from a model 10 times its size.

The tech giant plans to follow Mini up with Phi-3 Small (7 billion parameters) and Phi-3 Medium (14 billion) later on. But even the 3.8 billion-parameter Mini is shaping up to be a major player, according to Microsoft's numbers.

Those numbers show Phi-3 Mini holding its own against heavyweights like the 175+ billion parameter GPT-3.5 that powers the free ChatGPT, as well as French AI company Mistral's Mixtral 8x7B model. It's not bad at all for a model compact enough to run locally with no cloud connection required.

So how exactly is size measured when it comes to AI language models? It all comes down to parameters - the numerical values in a neural network that determine how it processes and generates text. More parameters generally mean a smarter understanding of your queries, but also increased computational demands. However, this isn't always the case, as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman explained.

While behemoth models like OpenAI's GPT-4 and Anthropic's Claude 3 Opus are rumored to pack several hundred billion parameters, Phi-3 Mini maxes out at just 3.8 billion. Yet Microsoft's researchers managed to get amazing results through an innovative approach to refining the training data itself.

By focusing the relatively tiny 3.8 billion parameter model on an extremely curated dataset of high-quality web content and synthetically generated material evolved from previous Phi models, they gave Phi-3 Mini outsize skills for its lean stature. It can handle up to 4,000 tokens of context at a time, with a special 128k token version also available.

"Because it's reading from textbook-like material, from quality documents that explain things very, very well, you make the task of the language model to read and understand this material much easier," explains Microsoft.

The implications could be huge. If tiny AI models like Phi-3 Mini really can deliver performance competitive with today's billion-plus parameter behemoths, we may be able to leave the energy-guzzling cloud AI farms behind for everyday tasks.

Microsoft has already made the model available to put through its paces on Azure cloud, as well as via open-source AI model hosts Hugging Face and Ollama.
TL;DR: The Pentagon's mad scientists have been cooking up a beast of an unmanned combat vehicle, and it just took a major step forward. DARPA recently put its 12-ton RACER Heavy Platform (RHP) autonomous tank through a fresh round of testing out in the wild.

For those not in the know, DARPA has been working on self-driving military vehicles for two decades now as part of its RACER (Robotic Autonomy in Complex Environments with Resiliency) program. The goal is to develop autonomous ground vehicles that can navigate off-road terrain without any human input.

This newest phase involved letting the RHP loose on some legit US military training grounds in Texas. The video showed off rugged, obstacle-filled environments packed with vegetation, waterways, ditches, and rocky outcrops. Exactly the kind of hellish conditions that could give a self-driving system a full-on meltdown.

But DARPA's 20-foot-long unmanned behemoth seemed to handle it all without breaking a sweat. The agency reports the RHP knocked out 30 miles of autonomous route-following and cruised along at speeds of up to 25 mph.

To clarify, the RHP testing, assisted by University of Washington and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, occurred late 2023 but has just been announced by DARPA.

One peculiar feature that stood out in the video was the vehicle's glowing green eyes. They do add a touch of futurism that DARPA was likely trying to go for but also appear a tad quirky at times. Apparently, they serve a purpose - a spokesperson for the agency told Gizmodo that "it's just an indicator light to show the status of the vehicle. Green = it's on and in autonomy mode."

Anyway, DARPA says that the 12-ton RACER is designed to support other members of the RACER Fleet Vehicles (RFVs). But those other vehicles are more like self-driving ATVs. Meanwhile, this tank-scaled RHP takes autonomous capabilities to a whole new level of heavy-duty.

DARPA intends to keep iterating on RACER every 6 months or so, continually ramping up the autonomous tech. The RHP is based on an existing Textron combat vehicle platform used by the Army.

Ultimately, the agency seems to be aiming for unmanned combat vehicles that can roll into battle without risking human lives. These could handle dangerous roles like scouting, resupplying, or even paving the way with firepower before troops move in. An AI-driven tank definitely sounds terrifying. But it might just offer a safer alternative to boots on the ground.

Of course, we're still years away from anything like that becoming an actual deployable system. DARPA has been at this RACER rodeo since 2004 when it started with just getting a self-driving car to navigate a simple 1-mile course. Now, two decades later, it has an autonomous tank tearing across training grounds.
Tesla's Cybertruck introduces PowerShare bidirectional charging to consumer electric vehicles (EVs). The truck's large 123-kilowatt-hour battery pack can power tools, and appliances, charge other EVs, and can power houses during grid disruptions with this innovation.



Tesla requires the installation of a Powershare Gateway, a hardware panel that transfers power from the Cybertruck's battery to the residential electrical system. According to InsideEVs, this gateway can also charge the vehicle's battery from the grid. Top-tier Cyberbeast Foundation Series buyers receive a $4,000 installation credit, but new disclosures suggest it may be insufficient.

How Much Does It Cost?

Joe Tegtmeyer, known for his Tesla Gigafactory Texas drone films, bought an all-wheel-drive Foundation Series Cybertruck, missing the $4,000 installation credit. After obtaining a Powershare home charger, mobile connection, and $1,800 Powershare Gateway, he experienced unanticipated issues.



Tegtmeyer contacted Tesla about utilizing the truck's power-exporting capabilities. After assessing his electrical system-including a 36.6 kW solar array and a 250-amp main panel-Tesla-approved installation Treehouse gave him a shocking $33,837.5 estimate. A utility increase to 320A, necessary for smooth component integration, accounted for $24,150 of this cost.



Tesla defended the utility improvement, but some questioned its necessity. Others reported installation charges ranging from $2,150 to $5,000, indicating price variation. The base Cybertruck costs $79,990, and installation costs roughly half that much, raising questions about affordability and transparency. Given the unexpected costs, customers question the viability and accessibility of Tesla's bidirectional charging technology.

This development on the Cybertruck follows Tesla's recall of approximately 3,000 Cybertrucks due to safety concerns about accelerator pedals that could cause unexpected acceleration.

People take pictures of the newly unveiled all-electric battery-powered Tesla's Cybertruck with shattered windows after a failed resistance test, at Tesla Design Center in Hawthorne, California on November 21, 2019.



As previously reported by TechTimes, Tesla recalled the 2024 Cybertrucks because the accelerator pedal might stick, causing inadvertent acceleration and crashes. The company cautioned that the inside trim could trap the accelerator pedal pad.



The EV maker recalled 3,878 model-year 2024 Cybertrucks between November 13, 2023, and April 4, 2024. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has promised the affected vehicle owners free fixes to reduce hazards. Affected vehicle owners will get recall notice letters in June to replace or repair the accelerator pedal component.



In a famous TikTok video, South California driver Jose Martinez complained about the Cybertruck's accelerator pedal sticking. Martinez's video aroused safety worries regarding Tesla's electric pickup, sparking Cybertruck performance debates on different sites.

Tesla Cutting Down Workforce

As the firm recalls thousands of Cybertrucks, Tesla is laying off thousands of workers to simplify operations and decrease expenses. CEO Elon Musk said in an internal memo that Tesla will cut its worldwide employment by "more than 10%," which may affect roughly 14,000 workers, based on the company's 2023 workforce of 140,000.



The decision followed Tesla's first year-over-year sales decline in three years and a wider electric car market slowdown. Musk warned investors that revenue growth might dip below 50% in 2024.



Elon Musk acknowledged the issues and stressed the need for cost-cutting and operational efficiency. He said the layoffs were unpleasant but essential as Tesla reviews its organizational structure to minimize redundancy and optimize operations in changing market conditions.



Tesla has adjusted prices on its popular models because of high financing rates and greater competition. According to reports, the business has prioritized the construction of a robotaxi platform over the development of a cheaper electric vehicle, with a launch scheduled for August 8.



Related Article: NHTSA Closes Tesla Autopilot Investigation, Opens New One on Safety Patch
In the latest report on China's smartphone market, Huawei has surged back to the forefront, leaving Apple trailing behind.

According to data from analytics company Canalys (via Nikkei Asia), Huawei has reclaimed its dominance in the Chinese smartphone market, with a staggering 17% market share.

The company shipped 11.7 million smartphones in the first quarter of 2024, a significant 70% increase over the previous year.

This impressive performance comes after Huawei faced significant challenges from US sanctions, which limited its access to American technology.

On the other hand, Apple, once a dominant player in China, has seen a major decline. The tech giant fell to fifth place in the rankings, dropping Chinese shipments by 25% to around 10 million units.

The decline in Apple's numbers is indicative of the intensifying competition in China's smartphone market, where local vendors like Huawei, Oppo, and Vivo are gaining momentum.

Notably, Oppo rose to second place in the rankings, buoyed by the success of its Reno 11 series, while Vivo maintained its position in the top four despite a slight decrease in shipments.

Huawei Overtakes Apple in the Chinese Smartphone Market

Huawei's success can be attributed to a number of factors. The company's strategic release of new flagship smartphones, such as the Mate 60 Pro, has been well received by consumers despite outcry from US authorities.

Furthermore, Huawei's development of its own operating system, HarmonyOS, has enabled it to set itself apart from competitors while reducing reliance on Google's Android ecosystem. With HarmonyOS installed on over 800 million devices, Huawei is well-positioned to challenge Android and iOS's dominance in China and elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Apple's declining sales in China indicate a difficult period for the tech giant in one of its most important markets. Despite recent efforts to strengthen its ties with China, such as the recent opening of a flagship store in Shanghai and the expansion of its R&D center, Apple has struggled to reverse the decline in iPhone sales.

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently sounded the importance of China to the company's strategy, but the latest data suggests that Apple's grip on the Chinese market is slipping.

Read Also : Apple Cracks Down on AI-Image Generation Apps Promoting Instant Nudity Magic

Apple's Declining Numbers in China

Back in March, Apple's share of the Chinese smartphone market was reported to be at 15.7%, down from 19% the previous year. In contrast, Huawei's market share has expanded to 16.5%, securing its position in second place.

The overall smartphone market in China has also experienced a 7% decline, indicating a challenging landscape for manufacturers.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.
Miss Universe Ukraine 2023 Anhelina Usanova, who now represents the country at the international beauty pageant Miss Eco International 2024 in Egypt, impressed the jury with her "World on Fire" look and was among the top 3 winners in the Best ECO Dress category. The outfit was not only beautiful and elaborate but also carried symbolism.

ADVERTISIMENT

The main goal of the competition is to popularize the importance of caring for the planet and the environment, and the Ukrainian woman's dress personified the theme of forest fires that are terrorizing the world. This is stated on the star's Instagram page.

In addition, the look was a reference to the burned-out Ukrainian territories that suffered from Russian terrorist attacks. It is made in dramatic black, orange and red colors.

It is interesting that absolutely every element of the outfit was created from eco-materials. This only emphasizes the need to preserve the planet's resources and the opportunity to create something incredible from recycled goods.

ADVERTISIMENT

The winner of the contest will become a UN Goodwill Ambassador for Ecology and the Environment. Although the contestants have already shown their eco-suits, the final will take place only on April 28.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!

ADVERTISIMENT
A TikTok lawsuit is coming, said the company, and experts are now analyzing what it will throw against the US ban against them, citing that it has a strong case using the First Amendment of the American constitution.

TikTok previously said that when President Joe Biden signed the bill into law, it would bring a lawsuit against the government for what it imposes against them.

TikTok Lawsuit to Use First Amendment for its Case Against US Ban

TikTok is said to be preparing for one of the biggest fights of its existence in the United States, and Ars Technica reported that experts believe that it will lean on the US Constitution's First Amendment for its case.

It is known that the First Amendment centers on a citizen's freedom to express themselves, freedom of speech and the press, as well as freedom of religion.

It is an important one because TikTok is, first and foremost, a social media platform with communications and user engagements being one of its main features for users.

"Courts have said that a TikTok ban is a First Amendment problem," Santa Clara University law professor Eric Goldman said to Ars Technica. "And Congress didn't try to navigate away from that. They just went ahead and disregarded the court rulings to date."

Read Also : TikTok Halts Rewards Program Following EU Scrutiny

Experts Believe TikTok's First Amendment Use is Strong

Moreover, according to US District Judge Donald Molloy's previous ruling on Montana's TikTok ban that was blocked, "User Plaintiffs are deprived of communicating by their preferred means of speech, and thus First Amendment scrutiny is appropriate."

It is also believed that other courts from various states would follow suit with "respect to a national order," said Georgetown Law's Anupam Chander.

TikTok's Ban in the US is Now a Law

Earlier this week, the US Senate passed a bill that would have the legal means to ban TikTok in the country, one that would identify it as a foreign entity and have it look for a buyer to avoid shutting it down.

This law will give TikTok 180 days to find a buyer and finalize the agreement, to divest ByteDance of its US operations if it wants to continue its availability.

Later on, it was signed by President Joe Biden, now a law, as part of the foreign aid package that supports Israel and Ukraine.

However, selling is not part of TikTok's goals for its US operations, and the company's CEO, Shou Zi Chew, previously expressed the company's intent to serve the American government with a lawsuit for passing this as a law. This only means that TikTok and ByteDance are not considering the sale of the social media platform to a US company.

There is still no formal serving from TikTok against the US, and there is still no information behind the case that TikTok will bring against the country, but it was said to be similar to the previous ones before.

Many experts believe that TikTok will bank on the First Amendment, a.k.a. free speech, for its case, one that it succeeded from before against Montana.
FTC has alleged that Amazon executives engaged in the destruction of potential evidence by utilizing applications.

This accusation arises from their purported use of the ephemeral messaging platform for an extended period following the federal government's notification to Amazon regarding an ongoing antitrust investigation.

Accusing Executives of Evidence Tampering

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alleges that Amazon executives, including Jeff Bezos and Andy Jassy, utilized apps such as Signal to erase potential evidence, hindering the agency's antitrust investigation.

Despite being informed of the inquiry, executives purportedly continued to use Signal's ephemeral messaging feature, leading to concerns of evidence tampering.

FTC lawyers filed a submission on Thursday, asserting that Amazon's top brass exploited Signal's disappearing messages to conceal information pertinent to the antitrust lawsuit.

The lawsuit revolves around Amazon's alleged creation of a clandestine pricing algorithm known as "Project Nessie."

This algorithm is suspected of generating over $1 billion in additional profits for the company. The Washington Post disclosed that Amazon is not alone in using encrypted messaging platforms like Signal, raising broader concerns about using such apps for clandestine communication amidst legal proceedings.

Law enforcement officials have referenced previous legal proceedings that involved the utilization of Signal, citing instances like Sam Bankman-Fried's trial for fraud and the recent legal clash between Google and Epic Games.

These comparisons underscore the significance and implications of Amazon executives' alleged use of the encrypted messaging app in the context of the ongoing antitrust investigation.

By drawing parallels to these past cases, authorities aim to highlight patterns of behavior and potential ramifications associated with using such messaging platforms in legal proceedings.

Also read : Amazon CEO Andy Jassy Voices Frustration Over Regulatory Hurdles in Acquisition Plans

Deleted chats emerged as a significant issue in these legal proceedings, including the DOJ's antitrust trial against Google.

In the latest development, court documents reveal screenshots of a Signal conversation between two Amazon executives. The conversation discussed the activation of disappearing messages with the phrase, "Are you feeling encrypted?"

According to the FTC's legal team, Jeff Bezos, current CEO Andy Jassy, general counsel David Zapolsky, former CEO of worldwide operations Dave Clark, and other executives are Signal users.

The document highlights Bezos as a "frequent Signal user," suggesting that his advocacy for the app may have been influenced by the 2018 hacking of his personal cellphone.

FTC Pursues Discovery Amid Allegations

FTC attorneys actively seek discovery regarding Amazon's endeavors to maintain documents, aiming to ascertain the extent of potentially missing information.

Despite requests made last autumn for pertinent documents regarding Amazon's guidance to employees regarding ephemeral apps, the FTC alleges that Amazon has largely withheld the requested material.

If the judge determines that Amazon failed to preserve data relevant to the case, it could face sanctions. Furthermore, if the judge concludes that these failures were intentional, the consequences could be even more severe.
Drake is now pulling back after facing legal threats from Tupac Shakur's estate, with the Grammy award-winning hip-hop artist recently taking down the diss track, Taylor Made, which used AI-generated voices from West Coast legendary rappers.

This featured AI-generated deepfake voices of Tupac and Snoop Dogg, with its massive hit prompting legal action for this unauthorized use.

Future, Metro Boomin, and Kendrick Lamar's diss against Drake prompted two drops from the Canadian-born hip-hop artist, but it is not exactly tailor-made as it relied on AI.

Drake Diss Track with AI Tupac, 'Taylor Made,' Now Gone

Taylor Made is now gone, the infamous Drake diss track which he made in response to Future, Metro Boomin, Kendrick Lamar's Like That, and the entire WE DON'T TRUST YOU album.

Originally released on Drake's X account, the song is now gone from the platform after a fiasco with Tupac's estate after the unconsented use of the deceased rapper's voice using AI.

This follows the threat of a lawsuit from Tupac's estate which did not appreciate Drizzy's use of Tupac Shakur's voice via AI, giving him two options including taking it down in the next 24 hours or facing the legal battle. Drake chose the first option.

However, his other diss track, Push Ups, is still live, already available on streaming platforms like Apple Music, Spotify, and more, best known for being an alleged AI-generated track.

Tupac's Estate Lawsuit: Drake Backs Away from Fight

Drake did not drag out the threat for long and backed away from the impending lawsuit, which would have made a significant dent against him, especially during this diss era against the D.O.T., Future, and Metro.

On the other hand, Snoop Dogg, whose voice was also used on Taylor Made via generative AI, did not take legal action against the Certified Lover Boy.

Drake and AI-Generated Songs

Drake has solidified himself as one of the top rappers of this generation, with the artist still being active despite seeing almost 20 years since he first started in the mid-2000s.

The modernization era also put its sights on Drake, with generative AI audio using his voice to create the 2023 hit song, Heart on My Sleeve, which also featured fellow Canadian, The Weeknd, on vocals.

It is known that Spotify was the one that took down the song from the streaming platform after the massive trend on TikTok and the listening numbers driving up on the Swedish streaming app.

However, the Champagne Papi also expressed his distaste for AI using artists' voices without their consent, throwing shade against the tech.

That being said, two tracks from Drake featured AI, with Push Ups still behind allegations, but Taylor Made is the more obvious one as it featured a dead rapper's voice.

The back-and-forth diss tracks from Drake saw immense popularity, but also raised the attention of Tupac's estate, initially threatening a lawsuit for its unconsented use, but is now taken down by Drizzy himself.
The groundbreaking development of the world's first skin cancer vaccine represents a significant leap forward in medical innovation.

As this personalized mRNA vaccine enters its final trial phase, it brings promising prospects for individuals battling melanoma.

(Photo: Mufid Majnun from Unsplash)

Entering the Final Phase of the mRNA Cancer Vaccine

The world's first personalized mRNA cancer vaccine has entered its final trial phase, marking a crucial milestone in the quest for innovative treatments for melanoma.

This vaccine offers a glimmer of hope for the numerous individuals worldwide affected by this aggressive form of skin cancer, which claims the lives of thousands each year.

Led by the esteemed University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the trial brings together a diverse cohort of patients, spanning geographical locations, to assess the vaccine's efficacy and safety on a larger scale.

Telegraph reported that Dr. Heather Shaw, a leading figure in the trial, underscores the transformative potential of this vaccine, suggesting that it could potentially provide a cure for melanoma patients.

The personalized nature of the mRNA vaccine represents a paradigm shift in cancer treatment, tailoring therapies to the unique genetic makeup of each individual.

Moreover, beyond its application in melanoma, researchers are exploring its effectiveness in combating other challenging cancers, such as lung, bladder, and kidney cancers.

The preliminary phases of the trial have yielded promising results, with the vaccine demonstrating its ability to mitigate the risk of cancer recurrence in melanoma patients.

This success fuels optimism among both patients and medical professionals, fueling the momentum behind further research and development efforts.

Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment

As the final trial unfolds, the global medical community eagerly awaits the outcomes, hopeful for a breakthrough that could revolutionize cancer treatment and bring renewed hope to countless individuals battling this devastating disease.

mRNA-4157 (V940) has emerged as a neoantigen therapy, leveraging the body's immune system to target each patient's specific cancer type.

When combined with pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an immunotherapy drug, it has demonstrated a 50% reduction in mortality rates associated with skin cancer.

Dr. Shaw emphasized the personalized nature of this therapy, stating that it surpasses conventional vaccines in its sophistication.

The primary objective is to achieve a lasting cure for cancer patients, offering hope for significant advancements in immunotherapy.

Among the initial recipients is 52-year-old British resident Steve Young, who views the vaccine as his best chance at halting the progression of cancer.

Iain Foulkes of Cancer Research UK stressed the importance of ongoing funding for such research endeavors, noting that while a universal cure may be improbable, personalized treatment options like this vaccine hold promise for extending the lives of individuals battling cancer.

According to Dr. Shaw, the therapy exhibits "relatively manageable side effects," including fatigue and mild arm discomfort. However, most patients reported experiencing no more than what one might typically feel after receiving a flu shot.

During its Phase 2, Stephane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, expressed their ambition to provide genuinely personalized cancer therapies to patients. Dr. Dean Y. Li, head of Merck Research Laboratories, regarded these discoveries as a significant advancement in collaboration with Moderna.
Night is a magical time when a whole story can unfold. And as we miss dates under the starry sky or nighttime adventures a bit, OBOZ.UA has collected 5 movies the events of which last one night. The list includes a film that can be seen in theaters starting April 25, and well-known classics.

ADVERTISIMENT

Strangers by Night, dir. by Alex Lutz (2023)

The film by the director, who also played the main role, is released in Ukraine a year after its premiere at last year's Cannes Film Festival. It is a story about Nathalie and Aymeric who collide in the Parisian subway. Can a loud quarrel in the subway turn into a passionate affair? Their argument in a crowded carriage will turn into spontaneous sex in a photo booth. Together, the couple will spend a carefree night under the French sky, where they discuss their happy memories and the years they have lived, to find out at dawn whether they will continue their journey together.

ADVERTISIMENT

Victoria, dir. by Sebastian Schipper (2015)

One night, a Spanish girl named Victoria meets a couple of guys in Berlin. They offer to show her the German capital as it really is. But it's not just a walk through the partying city at night. It turns out that Victoria's new friends need to settle an old debt. They decide to commit a robbery, and Victoria is asked to be the driver.

This one-shot film was considered for the 2016 Oscars in the Best Foreign Language Film category from Germany but lost in the domestic selection to the historical film Labyrinth of Lies.

Collateral, dir. Michael Mann (2004)

ADVERTISIMENT

This movie by the cult director stars Tom Cruise, Mark Ruffalo and Jamie Foxx. This is a story about a taxi driver who accidentally gets into a dangerous adventure. He learns that his client, who asked him to drive him all night, is a hired killer on a mission. Max is forced to indulge the whims of Vincent, a murderer who plans to kill five people. The driver has only one goal left: to save himself and his last victim.

Night on Earth, dir. Jim Jarmusch (1991)

The comedy anthology created by the director of Only Lovers Left Alive consists of five stories that take place over the course of one night and deal with the short-term but sometimes very intimate relationship between a taxi driver and a passenger. They take place in five cities: Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Rome, and Helsinki. The time is the same, but the events take place later and later due to the change of time zones. Jarmusch wrote the script in about eight days, and the choice of certain cities was mostly based on the actors he wanted to work with. Among them are, for example, Winona Ryder (Tim Burton's Beatlejuice) or Isaach de Bankole (Lars von Trier's Manderlay).

ADVERTISIMENT

Before Sunrise, dir. by Richard Linklater (1995)

The cult melodrama has two more parts, but it all started with this story of a chance meeting on a train. Young American Jesse is on his way to Vienna to fly to America. But his plans change when he meets a nice girl named Celine on the train, who is traveling to Paris. The man convinces his fellow traveler to get off the train with him in the Austrian capital to spend at least one night together. Their feelings become so strong that before dawn, the couple agrees to meet in six months. But is it destined to happen so soon?
Kenya flood death toll hits 76



Nairobi, April 27 (AFP) Apr 27, 2024



Seventy-six people in Kenya have lost their lives to floods triggered by torrential monsoon downpours since March, the government said Saturday, warning residents "to brace for even heavier rainfall".

Kenya and its East African neighbours have been battered by stronger than usual rain in recent weeks, compounded by the El Nino weather pattern.

Flash floods have submerged roads and neighbourhoods, leading to the displacement of more than 130,000 people across 24,000 households, many of them in the capital Nairobi, government spokesman Isaac Mwaura said Saturday.

"We deeply regret to announce the tragic loss of an additional six lives in the last 12 hours bringing the total to 76," he said, adding that 29 Kenyans had suffered injuries and 19 been reported missing.

"Nairobi is currently experiencing the highest impact, with a significant death toll of 32 and 16,909 households displaced."

Mwaura said all five dams comprising the Seven Forks hydropower project along the Tana river, Kenya's longest, were at total capacity.

"There is a prediction of a massive overflow downstream within the next 24 hours. Residents in these areas are advised to move to higher grounds," he said.

The monsoons have wreaked havoc across neighbouring Tanzania as well, with at least 155 people killed in flooding and landslides.

"The situation here is really scary," said Khatibu Kapara, a resident of Dar es Salaam's Jangwani neighbourhood.

"Many people including myself have been affected by floods. Many people have lost their property due to floods, their houses have been surrounded" by water, the 35-year-old told AFP.

In Burundi, one of the poorest countries on the planet, around 96,000 people have been displaced by months of relentless rains, the United Nations and the government said this month.

Uganda has also suffered heavy storms that have caused riverbanks to burst, with two deaths confirmed and several hundred villagers displaced.

Late last year, more than 300 people died in rains and floods in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia, just as the region was trying to recover from its worst drought in four decades that left millions of people hungry.

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.

The UN's World Meteorological Organization said in March that the latest El Nino is one of the five strongest ever recorded.
The highest waterfall on the planet is not Angel, which is 979 meters high. The palm tree belongs to the overflow of the Denmark Strait.

ADVERTISIMENT

This is a huge water mass between Greenland and Iceland. It turns out that people have not seen the largest and highest waterfall in the world because it is actually underwater.

According to Anna Sanchez-Vidal, a professor of marine science at the University of Barcelona in Spain, this is possible due to the temperature and salinity gradients that power most ocean currents. The Denmark Strait crosses the Arctic Circle and acts as a funnel for polar waters flowing from the northern seas into the Atlantic Ocean. But, as elsewhere in the ocean, the waters in this region are not homogeneous.

North of the Denmark Strait, surface waters in contact with cold Arctic air cool and become saltier as some of the water freezes and salt concentrates in the unfrozen portion. The cold, salty water is denser than the warm water and therefore sinks to the seafloor, while the more balsamic layer rises to the surface. This exchange feeds a deep ice current that flows south through the Strait and empties into the Irminger Sea in the North Atlantic Ocean.

ADVERTISIMENT

Underwater cascade

Of course, waterfalls always have cliffs or precipices, and the Denmark Strait is no exception. The 3,500-meter-high cliff in the seabed off the southern tip of Greenland was carved by glaciers between 17,500 and 11,500 years ago, during the last ice age. Bottom waters flowing south through the strait hit the edge of this cliff and spill over its slope. A cascade that plunges under the warmer surface waters of the Irminger Sea is formed.

ADVERTISIMENT

The waters to the north of the falls, which scientists call the cataract or overflow of the Denmark Strait, are about 400 meters deep. Sanchez-Vidal, who led the research expedition to the Strait, told about this. According to her, only the lower 200 meters cascade down the slope, while the rest remains on the surface and mixes with warmer waters flowing north through the strait. "Half of the water column is full and half is not," she said.

The highest waterfall does not impress

The waterfall itself is about 2,000 meters high, which is twice the height of the Angel. The size is impressive, but it's nothing like a waterfall on land, says Mike Clare, head of marine geosystems at the UK's National Oceanography Centre in Southampton.

For one, the spill is as wide as the Denmark Strait, which means it stretches across 480 kilometers of seabed. "It probably goes down about 2,000 meters vertically into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, but over a fairly long distance, 500 to 600 kilometers," Clare says. "If we visualize it, it looks like a relatively low-gradient slope."

ADVERTISIMENT

As a result, the water flowing down the falls reaches a speed of only about 0.5 meters per second, much slower than walking speed and a far cry from the speed recorded at Niagara Falls, where water falls down at 109 km/h, or 30.5 m/s.

"If you were down there, you probably wouldn't notice what was happening," Clare.

The same is true above the waves, where there are no signs to indicate an underwater cascade, Sanchez-Vidal said. "On the surface, you have typical sunny Arctic conditions," she said, and "you can't see anything from space" except for mapping indicators such as temperature and salinity.

Indispensable for the ocean

But appearances are deceiving. The cold waters sliding through the Denmark Strait are part of a vital system of ocean currents known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which carries warm waters north and cold waters south, forming a long loop in the Atlantic Ocean. After the cold water leaves the Denmark Strait, it continues its journey south to the Antarctic, then heats up and rises to the surface in a process called upwelling before returning north to complete the cycle in the Arctic.

ADVERTISIMENT

According to Clare, the AMOC transports much more than water molecules. Its cold bottom currents inject oxygen, nutrients and organic matter into the ocean depths, providing food for a rich array of deep-sea organisms. The Danish Strait overflow is at the heart of this life support system, so while "visually it doesn't look that impressive, it's actually an extremely grand facility in terms of the role it plays in the global ocean."

Unfortunately, the overflowing of the world's oceans is threatened by climate change, Sanchez-Vidal said. Melting ice caps and warming oceans are pumping fresh water into the system and slowing down the AMOC, which scientists say is approaching a tipping point. If the AMOC stops, the density of the Denmark Strait overflow "will decrease and it will stop," she said.

ADVERTISIMENT

The Denmark Strait overflow is not the only known underwater cascade. In fact, there are features on the seafloor called nickpoints that look much more like waterfalls on land, Clare said. Nickpoints often occur on continental margins where water currents carrying sedimentary rocks carve out underwater canyons.

"They are much more turbulent than the streams we see in the Danish Strait," scientists comment, "and at the bottom we see something similar to the sinkholes that occur in waterfalls."

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Sydney Airport is hoping to bring an end to hundreds of Uber drivers parking in surrounding residential streets, as passengers increasingly choose ride-share after getting off a flight.

Wolli Creek residents say they are contending with cars parked across driveways and anti-social behaviour including littering and urinating from drivers in Ubers increasingly crowded holding lot, a group of streets where drivers wait for jobs from the nearby international airport.

A map for drivers on Ubers website outlines the boundaries of the holding lot, a group of suburban streets near Cahill Park, and shows drivers the route to travel to the airport once they have been assigned a trip.

Wolli Creek resident Rhondda Orchard is frustrated by the proliferation of ride share vehicles in her local area. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone

Sydney Airport said it was working with Bayside Council and Uber on a possible solution to the situation, which it acknowledged was causing headaches for residents.
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).
Was he intimidated? No, theyre usually OK with us; its the woman they want to get, he said. He activated the duress alarm he has on his watch, and police arrived quickly and served the man with an intervention order that had been issued by a magistrate on Tuesday but not yet served because police had been unable to find him. This is not an unusual scenario. About once a month, Tristan has a perpetrator of family violence who has been stalking or monitoring a woman turn up as he disconnects their feed into the homes of the woman they want to control and keep living in fear. People march in Ballarat on April 12 to protest against the killings of three women in two months in the region, allegedly by men. Credit: Eddie Jim There seems to be a lot more [of these events] recently, he said. Because there are a lot more Wi-Fi camera systems, and doorbells that are compromised. [The perpetrator] will often see us within five or 10 minutes.

One recent client of crisis support agency Safe Steps, whose car had been cleared of multiple surveillance devices, was escorted by police and Safe Steps to her home to collect belongings. The following day, when she left a radiology appointment, her perpetrator was there; he had put three new devices into her car while the group was inside the house. In 12 years working to help keep women physically and psychologically safe from men who stalk, follow and monitor them  which research suggests is a very strong indication they are likely to escalate to use of potentially lethal violence  Steve Wilson has worked with somewhere between 20,000 and 30,000 women. Victorian woman Celeste Manno was stabbed to death in her bedroom by a man who had stalked her intensively after meeting her at work. Luay Sako was sentenced to 36 years jail on February 29. As the nation protests against the fact one woman is being killed just over every four days in 2024  often by a man who is a partner or ex  Wilson is as frustrated as many working in the womens safety sector that strategies and policies in place are not keeping more women safe. Ive seen 12 people this week, women with stitches all over their heads, he said.

Wilson is, however, encouraged by signals that stronger responses to the breaking of intervention orders may be on the table as the Victorian governments newly announced taskforce on violence against women starts discussions, but he feels more practical measures are required. Loading Assistant Commissioner Lauren Callaway, the head of Victoria Polices Family Violence Command, said this week that the organisations 2015 proposal to Victorias family violence royal commission that a register of offenders be created to give women the right to ask if men posed a threat to them should be back on the table. She pointed out that in 2023, for the first time, more homicides of women were perpetrated by ex-partners than current partners. The number of charges for contravening family violence intervention orders has also been steadily climbing year on year. In the 2020-21 financial year, 7493 people were charged and brought before a magistrates court. In 2021-22, 10,601 were charged, and in the past financial year, that figure was 11,917. Perpetrators were overwhelmingly male and most walked away with a fine.

Wilson agrees safety strategies should be turned towards keeping men who would seriously harm women away from their intended victims. Loading Weve got to shift the focus; a lot of people over the last few years have hung their hats on plans and symposiums, but we need stronger bail laws and stronger intervention orders, and more police training around stalking  which is the big red flag, Wilson said. The focus [of the national family violence discussion] has shifted from physical violence to coercive control, but we need to just keep people safe in their homes and when theyre not at home; all those practical solutions to remove the perpetrators ability to commit the abuse. His group does 50 to 60 jobs a week just in Melbourne where were going out and removing trackers.

The cheap devices and software intended for benign means like ensuring kids are safe have been weaponised by family violence stalkers, who have been known to place them in soft toys, glassware, down the sleeves of puffer jackets or in the heels of shoes, says Dr Chelsea Tobin, chief executive of the 24/7 crisis service Safe Steps. Spy companies are becoming a lot more sinister and packing more tech into smaller everyday items, she said. We are seeing an explosion in the use of hidden cameras behind black glass in USB charging ports, battery packs, glassware, digital clocks. Tech use by family violence perpetrators was the major frontier in the fight against violence, Tobin said. Because it was changing so quickly, responses need to engage corporates, banks, telcos to ensure they arent inadvertently facilitating abuse. AI will change the landscape further very quickly, she said.

Tobin said there needed to be more consultation and co-operation between the domestic violence sector and the telecommunications industry, so women were able to more safely and easily use new mobile technologies. Developers of smartphone technologies, such as Apple and Google, need to ensure that there are easier and clearer ways to minimise the possibilities of being stalked and tracked with their products, she said. Safety strategies for those who think they may be under surveillance by a perpetrator Trust your instincts and seek professional support if you need advice, as disrupting controlling behaviour can increase risks. If you feel it is safe for you to do so, here are some general tips that may be helpful: Use a safe computer at a library, internet cafe, university etc.

Turn off location settings to mobile phone and any other devices.

Delete any apps you dont use or dont know what they do.

Dispose of any devices set up by or registered to the perpetrator. Devices set up using a perpetrators email address, Google account or Apple ID may be used to locate people.

Limit use of social media, review the privacy settings on social media accounts and limit what information is publicly shared.

Change the passwords on all online accounts, particularly if you have ever logged into them from a device the perpetrator has continued access to.

Cease use of any accounts that are shared with perpetrator or that perpetrator may have access to, including shared email accounts, bank accounts, mobile phone accounts, online phone records, Centrelink, Medicare and myGov accounts, e-tag accounts etc.

Cease use of any store cards or myki cards that perpetrator had access to while in service. Tobin and Wilson said it was important that perpetrators knew their methods were understood, and that women knew to look out for such surveillance techniques. This will empower victims and tell perpetrators they are on notice, Wilson said. If you or someone you know is affected by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or the crisis line at Safe Steps.
In the morning of April 27, Russia complained about another drone attack on the Krasnodar Territory. Locals heard the sounds of explosions, after which they noticed smoke in the sky.

ADVERTISIMENT

According to preliminary reports, a fire broke out near a bitumen plant in Sloviansk-on-Kuban. Russian sources also report strikes on the Slavyansk ECO refinery, the Ilya refinery and a number of other facilities, and the attacks on Russian refineries were confirmed by the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy.

Early on Saturday morning, Russian media outlets began reporting on explosions in the Krasnodar region of Russia, citing eyewitnesses. They allegedly occurred around 4 a.m. local time and "did not stop for more than 30 minutes."

ADVERTISIMENT

Propagandists were quick to call it a "drone attack" that was allegedly repelled. According to local governor Veniamin Kondratiev, there were more than a dozen drones.

"According to the information available at the moment, more than 10 drones have been suppressed in the Slavyansky, Seversky and Kushchevsky districts. They tried to attack refineries and infrastructure facilities. According to local reports, there were no casualties or serious damage. Operational services are extinguishing the fire caused by the UAV's fall," the official wrote.

ADVERTISIMENT

Meanwhile, propagandists admit that there were some "consequences".

One of the "fires," according to the Russian media, occurred near a bitumen plant. And the vchkogpu channel notes that, in addition to this enterprise, the Slavyansk ECO refinery, the Ilya refinery, and "a number of other facilities" were hit.

In particular, the attack on the Ilya oil refinery in the Seversky district of Krasnodar Krai was confirmed by locals to ASTRA.

"After the UAV attack, a fire broke out at the refinery, and it has almost been extinguished, according to residents," the publication writes.

Meanwhile, Russian propagandists write that "the refinery in the Krasnodar region partially suspended operations after the attack by Ukrainian UAVs." This was allegedly stated by a company representative. It is not specified which of the two refineries is in question.

ADVERTISIMENT

ASTRA also reported, citing eyewitnesses, a possible attack on a military airfield in the Kuban.

"A military airfield in the village of Kushchevskaya, Krasnodar Territory, caught fire after a UAV attack, according to locals. There is no confirmation of this information yet," the journalists wrote, showing a screenshot from one of the local Telegram channels.

The Ministry of Energy of Ukraine also reported hits at two oil refineries in Kuban, as well as as explosions at a bitumen plant and a fire at a military airfield.

"We can play this game together," the ministry reminded the occupiers, which earlier reported that Russian troops had attacked four Ukrainian thermal power plants in different regions at night.

ADVERTISIMENT

The administration of the Slavyansky district of Krasnodar region has confirmed a UAV attack on a local refinery. A rectification column was damaged

"A UAV attack took place on the territory of the plant in Slavyansk-on-Kuban. In total, there were 9 attacks on the tank farm and the distillation column. The tank farm was not damaged thanks to the built-in protection system. The rectification column was damaged. The fire was extinguished by joint efforts of the responsible services. No one was injured," the statement said.

ADVERTISIMENT

Meanwhile, ASTRA's sources in the region's emergency services told the publication that the attack on the military airfield in Kuschevskaya village "damaged aircraft, and their number and degree of damage is being established."

On April 24, it was reported that SSU drones hit two oil depots in the Smolensk region. They were storing 26 thousand cubic meters of Russian fuel.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!

ADVERTISIMENT
A man was killed in a drive-by shooting in Melbournes south-eastern suburbs early on Saturday.

The 30-year-old Cranbourne man was found with a gunshot wound in a vehicle on Bride Avenue in Hampton Park about 12.30am, police said. He died at the scene.

The scene of the drive-by shooting in Hampton Park where a 30-year-old man was killed. Credit: Nine News

Homicide Squad detectives who are investigating the circumstances were told a Ford Ranger utility was seen driving away from the area.

According to police, the same vehicle was believed to be found burnt out at Sweeney Reserve in Berwick just after 2.30am.
Federal disability agency lawyers have been accused of invading the privacy of an NDIS funding recipient by requesting a decades worth of notes from the womans psychiatrist when she challenged a housing decision.

As the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) attempts to reduce its cost blowout, its legal expenses continue to grow, reaching $72.2 million in 2022-23, up from $58.7 million the year prior.

Phillipa Camilleri is a sexual assault survivor with complex post-traumatic stress disorder, an autoimmune disease and mobility issues, who receives funding through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Disability advocates are concerned about the privacy of NDIS recipients. Credit: Kate Geraghty

She applied to the NDIA, which administers the NDIS, for specialist disability accommodation funding to help manage her symptoms in May 2021. The application was rejected in July of that year, leading her to request an independent review of that decision through the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), starting in 2022.
Cheeseman was a federal MP in the seat of Corangamite  which takes in the outskirts of Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula and the Surf Coast  from 2007 to 2013. He moved to state politics with his election to the seat of South Barwon, which covers parts of Geelong and areas to the south and west of the city, in 2018. Loading A new parliamentary integrity commission set up to investigate workplace complaints was supposed to begin its work in June, based on the recommendations of the Victorian ombudsman and the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission under the joint Operation Watts investigation. The government yesterday confirmed that the bill would not be introduced for months following consultation with MPs and stakeholders. Once the parliamentary workplace standards and integrity bill is legislated, three commissioners will need to be appointed.

Allan announced in October the consultation would be undertaken and that the bill would be introduced early in 2024 to bring the Victorian parliament into line with the standards of modern workplaces. She announced the government would consult MPs and other stakeholders about the model the commission should take, a month after then-ombudsman Deborah Glass said that she and IBAC havent seen much signs of life to indicate that the recommendations would be implemented by the June 2024 deadline. The proposed commission would be open to anyone to make complaints about inappropriate workplace behaviour by MPs, including accusations that dont meet a criminal threshold, through a depoliticised investigate process. The commission would not be retrospective. The commission would not have the power to investigate ministers or parliamentary secretaries in relation to their ministerial work, such as conflicts of interest, which would continue to be overseen and sanctioned by the premier under the ministerial code of conduct. The government said the commission would still be able to investigate their workplace behaviour.

Manager of opposition business James Newbury said the commission should have the power to investigate all complaints against a minister. Jacinta Allan is proposing a rigged system that protects rotten ministers, Newbury said. Allan did not front the media on Saturday and her office declined to respond to a list of questions. The Sunday Age asked why Allan would not seek Cheesemans removal from the parliamentary team and whether the alleged behaviour was acceptable for a member of her party room; when the premier first learned of complaints; and whether there was any investigation into them. Three sources said they saw no appetite to boot Cheeseman from Labors parliamentary team and three others said caucus was still largely relying on rumour. They said they would not want to act without learning specifics, pointing out parliamentary secretaries had to follow a high standard and that action had already been taken against him.

Two other Labor Left MPs, speaking anonymously to discuss internal matters, said there had been speculation over the past 24 hours about whether women in caucus could push for Cheeseman to be expelled. But one source said this would require significant effort, given it would challenge Allans authority. There are plenty of female MPs who would like it to happen, but someone has to stick their neck out for it to go from speculation to a reality, they said. Two sources said Cheeseman had advocated for men in the party room to complete bystander intervention training about safe and respectful workplaces through the ALP head office late last year. Pamela Anderson, the chief executive of Emilys List, a support network for women in Labor, said it was important women were equally represented in all facets of politics, including offices, not just as members of parliament.

Women in general are entitled to a safe and respectful working place and parliament is no exception, Anderson said, speaking generally. Loading Cheeseman was parliamentary secretary for the Commonwealth Games before their cancellation. In October, he was transferred to the education portfolio. Parliamentary secretaries are MPs who assist cabinet ministers with their portfolio responsibilities, sometimes known as assistant ministers. Legal advice provided to then-speaker Colin Brooks in 2020 said that the behaviour of members of parliament was not comprehensively covered by existing workplace laws because they were not employees in a legal sense.

Law firm Lander & Rogers, in advice obtained by The Age, said the framework was inadequate to deal with allegations of inappropriate behaviour against MPs. One of the proposals contained in the advice suggested a new independent commissioner could get the power to bypass parliament to sanction MPs including through a fine, suspension or expulsion. Allan cited the ministerial code of conduct to explain his demotion. 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 [Victorian public service] staff, and ministerial and parliamentary colleagues, Allan said in her Friday statement. Loading

Cheeseman was unlikely to be preselected to run for Labor again, two sources said. His political career is over, one said, adding it pointed to a broader cultural problem among men in the Victorian Labor Party. In August last year, Ringwood MP Will Fowles was asked to resign from the parliamentary Labor Party at the request of the office of then-premier Daniel Andrews. Victoria Police investigated and questioned Fowles over an alleged assault of a staffer but did not lay charges. Despite this, Allan declared Fowles would not be welcomed back into the Labor caucus. He now sits as an independent. With Kieran Rooney
In Box Hill, an area that already has high-rise development, towers above the station entrances would be allowed to go 40 storeys. Nearby streets could be built up to 20 storeys, while movement corridors along Whitehorse Road, Maroondah Highway and Station Street would allow 10 storeys. A health and education zone would be permitted to reach up to 15 storeys. Side streets around the denser areas would be classified as either residential or urban neighbourhoods, with height limits of six and seven storeys respectively. Lower height limits will apply above the five other stations. Towers would be capped at 25 storeys at the centre of Monash and Glen Waverleys SRL precincts. Clayton and Burwood would top out at 20 storeys and Cheltenham at 18. Some areas designed as major strategic sites would also permit heights between 15 and 18 storeys. Across each SRL East location, the directions paper proposes developing denser commercial areas close to the new stations and encouraging townhouses or mid-rise apartments on streets within walking distance.

Taller buildings would be promoted in employment and research hubs, such as a nanotech-focused neighbourhood in Monash, while Claytons connection to key medical facilities would allow for denser health zones. Outside these specialist areas, buildings along main roads could rise to 10 storeys, tapering off in surrounding streets. Premier Jacinta Allan and Transport Infrastructure Minister Danny Pearson at the new State Library station this month. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui Premier Jacinta Allan said Melbourne was growing fast, and the rail loop would make room for thousands of new homes close to jobs, transport and other services. We have a clear vision: more transport, more jobs and more homes for Victorians, she said.

The document offers more detail on the governments vision for the six precincts beyond what was first shown in December. Since then, feedback from the community has informed the planning, such as the decision to propose a linear park along Whitehorse Road in Box Hill. The government is seeking further feedback, including locations for new green spaces. More housing options mean local kids have a better shot of owning a home close to where they grew up, Transport Infrastructure Minister Danny Pearson said. Weve taken on board years of community feedback and this is just the next step in a detailed and proper planning process that involves locals every step of the way. The government will seek further community feedback on the plans but even before the emergence of the new height details, some councils were pushing back against unchecked increases in housing density and building heights around some of the proposed stations. Local businesses also expressed concerns that small shopping strips would be bulldozed to make way for the new stations and high-rises. Long-term residents also worry about the drastic change to the style and amenity of their suburbs.

Loading First announced before the 2018 election, the Suburban Rail Loop  a 90-kilometre orbital rail loop linking Cheltenham to Werribee  is one of the Victorian governments signature initiatives. But the huge project has drawn criticism for its cost and raised questions of whether government funding on smaller projects could deliver greater benefits. The Coalition had vowed to shelve the project if elected in 2022, promising to spend the funds involved on the health system. Opposition Leader John Pesutto has reserved the right not to proceed if elected in 2026 despite the first major works contracts being inked. Funding for the $34.5 billion needed for SRL East is also uncertain. The state still hopes to secure two-thirds of the money from the federal government  which has so far committed just $2.2 billion while it awaits further advice from Infrastructure Australia  and from the private sector.

The state government insists it has more than enough money for tunnel-boring machines to start work in 2026. There are also concerns about cost overruns after the North East Link blew out by $10 billion late last year, prompting a warning from credit rating agencies. The states Parliamentary Budget Office has estimated it could cost $96.5 billion to build just the first two sections  SRL East and North, through Melbournes northern suburbs. The government disputes this figure but its own initial estimate  a price tag of up to $50.5 billion  has also been challenged given most of this amount has already been allocated just to SRL East. Infrastructure Partnerships Australia chief executive Adrian Dwyer said housing density around train stations was a win for housing affordability.
House prices have soared by 50 per cent in some Mornington Peninsula suburbs over the past five years, as the shire council considers taxing property developers and diverting the funds into new social housing.

Seven out of the 10 Greater Melbourne suburbs where prices rose most since 2019 were on the Mornington Peninsula, Domains House Price Report for the March quarter revealed.

In Blairgowrie, the median house price is now $1.55 million, up 64 per cent in five years.

Rye and Tootgarook had respective increases of 54.4 per cent and 53.2 per cent.
Rafah, Gaza Strip: A premature Palestinian infant, rescued from her mothers womb shortly after the woman was killed in an Israeli airstrike, has died, her uncle said.

Sabreen Jouda died in a Gaza hospital on Thursday after her health deteriorated and medical teams were unable to save her, said Rami al-Sheikh.

Sabreens home in the southern Gaza city of Rafah was hit by an Israeli airstrike shortly before midnight last Saturday. Her parents and four-year-old sister were killed.

Palestinian baby girl, Sabreen Jouda, who was delivered prematurely after her mother was killed in an Israeli strike, receives treatment in the Emirati hospital in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, last Sunday. Credit: AP

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.
Palm Sunday is one of the most important holidays in Christianity. It marks the solemn entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem a week before his crucifixion.

ADVERTISIMENT

This day, like most Christian and church holidays, has its own rules and prohibitions. Telegraf described them in detail.

In 2024, Palm Sunday in Ukraine falls on April 28, as Easter, according to the lunar calendar, will take place on May 5.

Willow branches are an integral attribute of the holiday. In the past, they were a symbol of nature's awakening for our ancestors.

History of the holiday

According to the legend, Jesus left the village of Bethany, where he raised Lazarus, on a donkey and went to Jerusalem. There, he was greeted by joyful people who began to cover the road with palm leaves as a sign of respect. That is why Palm Sunday is called so in some countries where these plants grow.

What to do on Palm Sunday

On this day, believers attend church and bring willow branches to be blessed. Then they keep the blessed plants at home throughout the year and decorate their homes and iconostasis with them because they believe that they can protect the house from water and fire and give the residents good health.

ADVERTISIMENT

Also, in order to protect their relatives from illness and evil, it was customary to beat each other lightly with a willow, saying, "I don't beat you, the willow does, Easter is coming, a red egg is near."

What not to do on Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is an incredibly important holiday for believers, so during it you should never swear, quarrel, curse, be angry, or take offense. Also, it is not allowed to have fun and eat too much, as well as to engage in hard physical labor, housework, and sewing, knitting, and embroidery.

Even if a person is celebrating a birthday on this day, they should not celebrate lavishly.

In addition, it is not recommended to plant anything on Palm Sunday because, as they say, everything will "fuel willow" and will grow poorly.

Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.

ADVERTISIMENT
On the night of April 27, Russian occupation forces launched another massive missile attack on Ukraine. The approximate route of the enemy's cruise missiles was shown online.

ADVERTISIMENT

The route map was published on the Tracking Telegram channel. Energy facilities in Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Dnipro regions were again under attack.

Russia also attacked critical infrastructure in Stryi, Lviv region, for the fifth time.

In total, the enemy used 34 missiles of various types and locations. The Ukrainian military shot down 21 enemy missiles.

Earlier it was reported that the Russian invaders had improved their missile attack tactics. On the night of April 27, they launched the munitions partly along new routes, and the missiles were more maneuverable.

On the night of April 27, the Russian army launched a new massive missile attack on Ukraine. The invaders launched various types of missiles, including ballistic missiles, at different regions of our country. Some of the enemy's weapons were destroyed by air defense forces during a two-hour air battle.

ADVERTISIMENT

In addition, at night, the invaders attacked a medical facility in Kharkiv with more than 1,000 people. A few meters separated the regional center from a terrible tragedy with a huge number of victims and injured: "high-precision" missiles hit the ground near the facility, resulting in broken windows, shattered roofs and one lightly wounded person.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
Fill up Form 6, 7, 8 Collector Dr Vipin Itankars appeal to voters to rectify the issue by next polls





Staff Reporter :

Some voters in the recently-held Lok Sabha elections were deprived of their right to vote. Names of some people remained in the electoral list despite their demise. To avoid these issues in coming elections, people should fill up Form number 6, form number 7 and form number 8, appealed District Collector and District Returning Officer Dr Vipin Itankar. He was speaking to mediapersons at Collectorate premises on Friday. Because of some reasons, people failed to follow the procedure and they found their names missing from the electoral list. Form number 6 is for new voters registration, Form number 7 is for the deletion of names (those who died, those who have changed their addresses or those who have migrated somewhere etc). Form number 8 is for changes in names, addresses or for other reasons because of which they did not find their names in the electoral list.

Dr Itankar said, District administration has taken a lot of efforts and initiatives with a thought to increase the voting percentage. We have conducted several programmes for public awareness to motivate them for voting. The names of some voters were missing, the addresses of the some voters were changed. During our home visits, we found some voters names were not deleted after their demise. If anyone finds any problem in on-line scrutiny, district administration is ready to help them. We will do proper planning for next polls. Meanwhile, Dr Vipin Itankar, who is also the District Returning Officer elaborated, All the EVM machines used for voting have been kept safe in a strong room at Kalamna under police supervision. Strict arrangements have been made at this place from the point of view of security.

There are six assembly constituencies each in Nagpur and Ramtek constituencies respectively. 20 tables have been arranged for each assembly constituency respectively. For six constituencies, this number will be 120 tables for one Lok Sabha constituency. About 17 rounds of counting of votes will be enough for the result, added Dr Itankar. Although the voting rate has decreased, this time, 24, 837 more voters have exercised their franchise compared to the previous Lok Sabha elections. Collector Dr Vipin Itankar said,The names of the voters will be included in the voter list after the official verification of the issues due to technical difficulties. Deputy District Election Officer Praveen Mahire, District Information Officer Vinod Rapatwar were present.
On the night of April 27, powerful explosions occurred at the Kushchevska military airfield in the Krasnodar Territory of the Russian Federation. Preliminarily, the Russian occupiers suffered aviation losses as a result of the attack.

ADVERTISIMENT

Also, burnt modules for guided aerial bombs, which Russia uses to terrorize Ukrainian settlements, were recorded. Video of the aftermath of the explosions was posted on Telegram.

Emergency services working on the territory of the airfield after the explosions said that military aircraft were hit by the strike. The number and extent of damage to enemy aircraft is currently unknown.

At the same time, footage was posted online showing the destroyed UMCP units (universal correction and planning module), which the Russian occupation army use to equip bombs.

The Russian Ministry of Defense, in turn, traditionally reported that all airplane-type UAVs were allegedly destroyed. The terrorist ministry said that 66 drones were allegedly shot down over the territory of the Krasnodar Territory.

ADVERTISIMENT

Earlier it was reported that the explosions in the Krasnodar region of Russia on the night of April 27 were the result of an operation by the Security Service of Ukraine. Drones launched by special forces hit two oil refineries in the region  Ilya and Slavyansky.

On the night of April 24, drones attacked Smolensk, Lipetsk, and Voronezh regions of Russia. The targets were fuel and energy facilities, industrial infrastructure, an oil depot, and a steel plant.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
CBIs search operation in Sandeshkhali: Arms, ammo seized





NEW DELHI/KOLKATA :

THE CBI on Friday seized arms and ammunition, including a police service revolver and foreign-made firearms, during searches at two premises of an associate of now-suspended TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh in West Bengals Sandeshkhali, officials said. The searches were conducted in connection with the January attack on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team by a mob that was allegedly instigated by Sheikh, who was arrested by the West Bengal Police on February 29 in the case. 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 -- a riverine delta -- on the fringes of the Sunderbans in North 24 Parganas district. During investigation of this case, 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 Sheikh at Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas.

Accordingly, the team of the CBI along with CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) personnel searched two premises at Sandeshkhali today, the spokesperson of the CBI. The swift operation resulted in the seizure of a huge cache of small arms and ammunition, and these included foreign-made firearms, the officials said. During the searches, the CBI seized three foreign-made revolvers and one foreign-made pistol, one Indian revolver, one Colt official issue police revolver, one country-made pistol, 120 nine mm bullets, 50 cartridges of .45 calibre, 120 nine mm cartridges, 50 cartridges of .380 and eight cartridges of .32, the spokesperson said. Besides, many incriminating documents related to Shajahan 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 of the NSG, the spokesperson said in a statement. As officials spread across Sandeshkhali to search targetted locations, NSG units had the responsibility for detecting and handling explosives found during the operation, the officials said.

Earlier in the day, sources had said that five teams of CBI officials, with support from the West Bengal Police, the central forces and the NSG, conducted a search at a house in Sarberia. We had received specific information regarding the stockpiling of this huge cache of arms and ammunition, and explosives. Explosives stacked inside boxes have also been found, a source had told PTI. The owner of the house, identified as Abu Taleb Mollah, is a relative of Sheikh, the sources had said and had added that it was not clear why such a huge cache of arms and ammunition, and explosives were stacked inside the house. The house, which was cordoned off by security forces, was built amid water bodies used for fish farming. Central forces were 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 launched in connection with the three FIRs that the CBI had registered related to the attack on the team of Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in Sandeshkhali on January 5 when it had gone to raid the premises of Sheikh in connection with an alleged ration scam. On the orders of the Calcutta High Court, the central agency had registered three FIRs related to the incidents on January 5. The FIRs pertain to the alleged attack on ED officers by a mob on the complaint by officers, allegations against ED officials levelled by the guard of suspended TMC leader Sheikh and a suo motu case registered by the Nazat police station about the attack on ED officers. After the attack by a mob of around 1,000 people in which three ED officials were injured, a deputy director of the agency had given a complaint to the superintendent of police, Basirhat.
Chhattisgarh: CBI takes over probe in Bhuneshwar Sahu murder case

New Delhi, Apr 27 (PTI)

The CBI has taken over the probe into the killing of a 22-year-old man during communal violence in Chhattisgarh's Bemetara district last year and registered an FIR against 12 people, officials said on Saturday.

Bhuneshwar Sahu was killed in the violence that erupted in Biranpur village on April 8, 2023, after an altercation between schoolchildren from two communities. On April 11, Biranpur residents Rahim Mohammad (55) and his son Idul Mohammad (35) were found dead a few kilometers away from the village and there were multiple injuries on their bodies.

According to procedure, the CBI re-registered the state police FIR that named 12 people as accused in the case, the officials said

In a statement, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said, "It was alleged that children studying in class 7-8 of a village were returning from school, when boys of a community working at a junk shop beat them up, on which a meeting was held."

"It was also alleged that when the victim along with his friends went to the locality of the said community in the afternoon, the members of the community started pelting stones from the roof. The victim fell down and as a result sustained head injuries," it said.

The accused and others allegedly killed the victim using a knife and other weapons, the statement said.

During investigation, the local police found criminal evidence against the 12 people named in the FIR and arrested them, it said. Police had filed a charge-sheet against all the accused but the probe was kept open.

The CBI has taken over the state police FIR against Nawab Khan, Jalil Khan, Basir Khan, Mukhtar Mohd, Safiq Mohd, Abdul Khan, Akbar Khan, Mohd Janab, Ayub Khan, Nizamuddin, Rashid Khan and Kallu Khan.

They face charges of criminal conspiracy and murder.

Bhuneshwar Sahu's killing had become a major political issue ahead of the assembly elections in the state in which the BJP wrested power from the Congress.

The BJP had fielded Bhuneshwar Sahu's father Ishwar Sahu from the Saja constituency and rallied around him to ensure his victory.

He defeated influential Congress leader and minister Ravindra Choubey in the elections held in November last year.

In February during an assembly Session, Ishwar Sahu raised the incident in the House through a calling attention motion questioning the government about a CBI probe in his son's killing.

He had said his son was killed on April 8 last year and only 12 people were arrested in the case even though the names of 36 individuals accused in the incident were then submitted to authorities.

The BJP government, which had assured Ishwar Sahu of a CBI probe, sent the recommendation for it on April 25, and it was received by the agency thenext day.
DESPERATE VOICES





By VIJAY PHANSHIKAR :

Islamabad,

India has little to do with the internal atmosphere in Pakistan. Of course, in right time, India will act decisively and snatch back a complete control of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Prominent Pakistani business leaders have urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to initiate trade talks with India which would benefit the cashstrapped countrys economy. In Lahore, Punjab Province Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan said on Thursday that enmity with India should be ended and talks for the resumption of trade the two countries should be initiated. Khans call for the restoration of trade ties with India came a day after Pakistans business leaders, during an interactive session in Karachi, urged Sharif to initiate trade talks with India. ... S UCH desperate voices are no longer new to Pakistan. At least for the past 2-3 years, lobbies of open-minded sections of the larger Pakistani society have been insisting upon sincere efforts from the countrys leadership to to resume at lest trade ties with India -- so that the countrys dwindling economy would get some support to stand on its own feet. The present appeals, however, show that even political elements are chipping in to ask Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to resume trade ties with India. Possibly, as they may seem to suggest, such an initiative may act as a forerunner to similar resumption of ties with India in other areas.

For, such calls are coming from other sections of the larger Pakistani society -- including intellectuals and litterateurs and sportspersons (in addition to some political elements). This development shows the high levels of desperation to which Pakistan now feels having been driven in the past some years. The push in this direction is growing in strength every passing day. This was expected by countless numbers of Indian experts once Pakistan started sliding down the scale in every field in the past some years. Indian predictions that Pakistan would keep sinking lower in the pit of its own digging started coming true as desperation, too, grew in the Islamic country over the past few years. For, with each of its political experiments failing miserably in the past few years, Pakistans finances dwindled, the quality of its governance sank ever lower, the social texture started showing signs of rot -- even as its anti-India obsession grew menacingly. All these negative signs only kept adding to the overall sense of desperation and frustration in the larger Pakistani society.

However, the worst twist came around the political games Mr. Imran Khan played during and after his prime ministership. As Prime Minister, he took open anti-India positions that baffled even his supporters. For, possibly, he was not expected to go to those terrible distances to berate India. But as he was forced to demit office due to political circumstances, Mr. Imran Khan became the most vocal advocate of India and praised everything India did -- in economy, in strategy, in defence, in science, in industry ...! Nobody actually understood the benefit Mr. Imran Khan was deriving from his overtures. Yet, those assertions gave many a Pakistani from different fields the courage to start voicing their desire to restore ties with India in every possible area of so-called common interests. The trouble with all these people -- including Mr. Imran Khan -- is that India does not suffer from short memory visa-vis Pakistan. India has vowed not to forget all the wrongs Pakistan has heaped on it. If there are any sections of the Indian opinion that favour Pakistan even in distant hints, the larger society castigate those people in no uncertain terms. Any political element that favours Pakistan for whatever reasons gets the boot at the earliest moment. In other words, any restoration f ties with India in any field will be possible only when Islamabad makes a huge national effort to normalise relations by ceasing completely its engagement with terrorism as a policy-tool over a long, long time; and also alter its ugly philosophical commitment to disturbing the larger Indian society by meddling in issues of faith. And, all those efforts will have to be done say for quarter of a century and then expect India to budge a little. But then, there also is a major question to ask in this regard -- Will Pakistan survive for that long to conduct itself in such a gentlemanly manner?

That, however, is not the issue for India at all. No matter its predicament on several fronts, India has little to do with the internal atmosphere in Pakistan. Of course, in right time, India will act decisively and snatch back a complete control of Pakistan-occupiedKashmir. Minus that, Pakistan will have to take a relook at itself and decide what it wants to with itself. Going by the current signals, the efforts of some sections from Pakistan to push the idea of resuming multi-lateral ties with India will prove to be only intellectual day-dreaming that will produce no concrete outcome -- for two reasons: One, Indias disinterest; and two, the inability of the Pakistani leadership to make the decisive move and make it work over a long time so as to convince India -- and the world about its truly good intentions.
Firing outside Salmans residence: 2 men sent to police custody till April 30





MUMBAI :

A MUMBAI court on Friday remanded to police custody till April 30 two men arrested from Punjab in connection with the firing outside Bollywood superstar Salman Khans residence in Bandra. Subhash Chander (37) and Anuj Thapan (32) were produced before a magistrates court. The crime branch on Thursday arrested the duo, who had allegedly provided weapons and cartridges to the shooters, from Punjab.

The police informed the court that the accused were key persons in the crime and were arrested based on technical evidence. They need to be interrogated to find out who supplied them with weapons and asked them to give the same to the two shooters arrested earlier, police said. The police have alleged that Chander and Thapan had come to Panvel (in Raigad district near Mumbai) on March 15 to hand over two country-made pistols and 38 live rounds to the shooters Sagar Pal and Vicky Gupta.
GOOD INITIATIVE





W ITH the u n v e i l - ing of a s e l f i e point at Hombotingla Pass as a tribute to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, the people of India have been bestowed with a fine opportunity to become part of a heroic tale of valour of our Armed Forces. The selfie point offering breathtaking views of the Kargil Town and the Mighty Batalik Sector will serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made by our soldiers in the defence of the nation during the 1999 Kargil War. The 25th anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Diwas is definitely a grand occasion to pay rich tributes to our heroes in the uniform who made supreme sacrifices while defending honour of Mother India. The selfie point is a very good idea mooted by the Indian Army and the Tourism Department of Kargil to take ahead the poignant point in Indias history which needs to be told and retold to generations. Added by a hashtag, the selfie point now becomes a rallying point for Indians to spread the bravery of our Armed Forces during the KargilWar through social media handles and related platforms. More such selfie points will not only promote tourism in Kargil but also help in showcasing the hardships that our soldiers readily undergo to defend people.

IMPACT OF IMPACT

A XAR Patel has raised a valid point in the o n g o i n g I n d i a n Premier League (IPL) where theImpact Player rule has become a hot topic of debate among the teams. Patel has expressed concerns over the future of all-rounders in the Twenty20 team if the Impact Player rule continues and becomes a part of strategy even in international cricket.The Impact Player allows teams to replace a pure batter or pure bowler with any player depending upon the situation of the game. Patel has become the latest critic of the rule which directly affects the prospects of all-rounders who specialise in both skills but are not picked for the want of a pure practitioner as per the need of the innings. All-rounders bring a special charm to the team composition as they can prove extremely handy in both departments, sometimes even changing the complexion of the game when specialist picks do not do well as expected. The Impact Player takes out the uncertainty factor associated with an allrounder and can easily budding players away from acquiring both batting and bowling skills. A one-dimension player as a specialist also needs a good balance at the other end which only an allrounder can provide.
HC rejects quashing of FIR against Moon, Pasha for defaming RSS





Staff Reporter :

The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has ruled against quashing the First Information Report (FIR) filed against Janardan Moon and Javed Pasha for defaming the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and misleading society. Vinay Joshi and Justice Vrushali Joshi dismissed the petition and stated that a prima facie case exists. The police will soon file a chargesheet against Moon and Pasha, with the trial scheduled to take place in the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Court. Moon and Pasha had announced the RSSs support for the Congress Party during a press conference held on March 23 at 4 pm at the Press Club in Civil Lines. Ravindra Prabhakar Bokare, Nagpur Mahanagar Karyavah of RSS, lodged a complaint at Sitabuldi Police Station and a case against under Section 66 (c and d) of the IT Act and Section 505 (2) of the IPC was registered against both. In his complaint, Bokare stated that Moon and Pashas claims were false and aimed at defaming the RSS.

He further stated that the misinformation had been spread on social media to create confusion among the public and volunteers. Additionally, it was revealed that Moon had attempted to establish an organisation named RSS, which was rejected by the Assistant Registrars office. Moons legal challenges, including a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court, were also unsuccessful. The court found no registered organisation in the name of Janardhan Moon. The court concluded that Moon had misused the name of RSS and spreaded defamatory content about it on social media. Adv Indranil Damle represented the State while Moon and Pasha represented by Adv Ashwin Ingole.
LS Polls: Over 50% voting in Vid





A 100-year-old lady makes it a point to exercise her franchise

The Hitavada Team undated :

The Five Lok Sabha constituencies in Vidarbha region which went to polls in the second phase of general elections on Friday saw over 50 per cent voting in the region. The results announced were of counting till 5 pm. As the final results are yet to come, the tally will improve, it is expected. AMRAVATI: DESPITE all out efforts and awareness from District Administration, the voting percentage of Amravati Lok Sabha Constituency where election were conducted on Friday remained below expectation. Till 5 pm, only 54.50 per cent voting was registered. With final figures coming in later in the night, the percentage might reach around 60. In 2019 election, the voting percentage of Amravati Lok Sabha constituency was 63.8 per cent. Voters came out of the house for voting from 7 am and the flow was reportedly good till 12 noon.





The afternoon hours witness a slack pace which picked up again in the last hour. Even after 6 pm, the time to end the voting, long queues were observed at some polling centres. Voter turned out was excellent in muslim-dominated areas where large queue of voters were seen in polling centres throughout the day. Amravati Lok Sabha Constituency has total of 18,36,078 voters who have, on Friday, decided on the fate of 37 candidates in Amravati Lok Sabha Constituency. The voter turn-out in the first two hours (by 9 am) was 6.34 per cent. By 11 am, it went up to 17.73 percent and by 1 pm to 31.41 percent. By 3 pm, the percentage reported was 43.77 which increased to 54.55 per cent till 5 pm.

Achalpur Assembly Constituency recorded the highest 61.33 per cent of voting till 5 pm which was followed by Melghat Assembly Constituency which recorded 55.20 per cent while 54.61 pc was recorded in Amravati Assembly, Daryapur - 53 per cent, Teosa - 52.71 percent and Badnera Assembly Constituency remained at the bottom with 50.94 per cent voting. Senior citizens, women and youths showed enthusiasm to cast their votes. Centres like Pathan Chowk, Nagpuri Gate, Vilas Nagar, Rajkamal, Wadali, VMV area, Badnera and other part of Amravati City witnessed long queues throughout the day. There were problem in a few EVM machines which were immediately changed. Administration had made special arrangement for the voters. Many leaders including sitting MP Navneet Rana, MLA Balwant Wankhade, MLA Ravi Rana, MLA Adv. Yashomati Thakur, Dr Anil Bonde, Rajya Sabha Member, MLA Bachchu Kadu, MLA Rajkumar Patel, MLC Pravin Pote, Dr Sunil Deshmukh, former minister Contd from page 1 and others including Saurabh Katiyar, Amravati District Collector, Padmashree Shankarbaba Papalkar exercised their right to vote. Meanwhile, many names were missing from the voters list. Despite efforts to locate their names through the Election Commission website, checking with booth-level officers on polling station and various app created by candidates they failed to find their names. Hundreds of voters were unable to vote, despite having valid Voter ID cards. Many complained about their names missing from voters list.

Complaint about bogus voting were also reported. Stong police bandobast was maintained across the district to avert any untoward incident. Mean-while, Navneet Rana, BJP candidate, had a heated exchange of words with Manjusha Jadhav, former Corporator when Jadhav objected to her entering polling booth stating that it was illegal. Manish Sathe, Amravati City President of Prahar Janshakti Party also objected MLA Ravi Rana entering one of the polling station area at Frezarpura area. Sathe said that candidates husband is not allowed to entered into polling station. AKOLA: The National General Election held for Akola Parliamentary Constituency, recorded only 52.69 per cent voting till 5 pm. Despite prolonged voter awareness campaigns launched by district administration, social organisation and schools, people in the city area did not show enough enthusiasm to come out and vote. The voting started at 7 am at 2,056 polling stations in the 8 Legislative Assembly constituencies in Akola Parliamentary Constituency. Within two hours, ie, till 9 am, Akola Constituency recorded 17.37 per cent voting. However, later the pace of voting came down as the mercury started moving northwards. Till evening, Akola Parliamentary Constituency recorded an approximate voting turnout 52.69 percent. Akot recorded 52.30 percent, Balapur 57.65 percent, Akola West recorded 47.38 percent, Akola East - 49.10 percent, Murtijapur - 56.93, 33 Risod - 53.79 per cent voting. Out of a total 18,90,814 voters, 55,03,529 men and 50,69,529 women exercised their franchise. In the morning, the polling booths decorated on special themes of forest, agriculture, rural culture, wildlife protection and social issues were having drinking water and seating facilities. A room at the polling booth located at Dadasaheb Divekar School was reserved for transgender voters. As many as 1,544 employees were deployed at 2,056 polling booths. The election is being seen as a triangular fight among Anup Dhotre, son of BJP MP Sanjay Dhotre, Dr Abhay Patil of Congress and Adv. Prakash Ambedkar of Wanchit Bahujan Aghadi while total 15 candidates are in the fray. These leaders along with their family members cast their votes. In morning hours, Collector and Chief Returning Officer Ajit Kumbhar exercised his franchise along with his wife. A large number of voters, who registered their names online, found their names missing from the voters list.

They had to return home without casting their valuable votes. Voters slips hearing photo, name and symbol of candidates were not allowed in the polling stations. However, at many places, voters were seen entering polling booths holding the voter slips and the polling officers were turning a blind eye to it. BULDHANA: The second phase of voting for Buldhana Lok Sabha Constituency in the Lok Sabha Elections was held on Friday and 52.88 polling per cent was recorded till 5 pm. The highest voter turnout was in Mehkar Assembly Constituency, while the lowest turnout was in Buldhana Assembly Constituency. Voting for Buldhana Lok Sabha Constituency started today from 7 in the morning. By five o'clock in the evening, 52.88 per cent voting has been done in which 42.67 per cent voting has been done in Buldhana Assembly Constituency, which is the lowest voter turnout. Till 9 am, 6.61 per cent voting was reported which increased to 17.92 pc by 11 am, 29.07 pc till 1 pm, 41.66 pc till 3 pm and 52.88 till 5 pm. As many as 9,31,249 voters exercised their franchise out of which 5,04,630 were male voters while 4,26,615 were female voters. So, 54.08 pc male voters and 50.22 pc female exercised their right to vote. In Buldhana Assembly Constituency, complaints regarding EVM machines shutting down came from 16 places, control units at 8 places and VVPAT at 12 places. There were 21 candidates in the fray for the Buldhana Lok Sabha seat, but their fate has been locked in the EVM machine, but the Buldhana contest is a three-way contest, in which the Shinde Sena will be fought between Uddhav Sena and Independents.

Discussions are going to be about who is behind whom, what is going on in which village. YAVATMAL-WASHIM: The constituency witnessed 54.04 per cent voting till 5 pm even as the temperatures cross 40 degree celcius. The constituency has a total of 19,40,916 registered voters, comprising 10,02,400 male voters, 9,38,452 female voters, and 64 others. Out of this, 10,48,857 voters exercised their franchise by the 5 pm. Among them were 5,59,248 male voters, 4,89,588 female voters, and 21 others. In the three assembly constituencies of Washim district, - Washim, Karanja, and Risod. The polling percentages in the Assembly constituencies until 5 pm were - Washim Assembly Constituency - 53.81 pc, Karanja Assembly Constituency - 50.41 pc, Ralegaon Assembly Constituency - 61.50 pc, Yavatmal Assembly Constituency - 49.46 pc, Digras Assembly Constituency - 57.06 pc and Pusad Assembly Constituency - 53.18 pc In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Washim-Yavatmal Lok Sabha Constituency recorded a voter turnout of 61.31 pc with 19,16,185 registered voters. Of these, 11,74,824 voters cast their ballots. This year, a higher voter turnout is anticipated. Problems were witnessed at one or two places with the machines. At Falegaon in Babhulgaon, there was confusion forcing Election Officer and Tehsildar of Babhulgaon to install a new machine. In Dabha in Babhulgaon taluka, polling was stopped for some time due to complaints about EVMs. At Hivari in Yavatmal taluka in the afternoon, all employees including the center inspector closed the door of the polling station to have their lunch together, the voters who had come had to wait in the heat till officials completed with their meals. At Watbori in Kalamba taluka, not a single voter came to vote for first 3 hours. A 19-year-old girl went missing and so villagers decided to boycott polls. On getting information, Kalamb Tehsildar Dheeraj Thul and Deputy Superintendent of Police Dinesh Baisa reached the village and assured the villagers to search for the girl immediately after which the villagers withdrew their agitation. Voting in Yavatmal city went on smoothly. In Chhoti Gujri, complaints of people luring voters were recived. Mahayuti candidate Rajshree Patil went to Nanded to vote. Mahavikas Aghadi candidate Sanjay Deshmukh voted with his family at Digras. Yavatmal MLA Madan Yerawar voted at Yavatmal. Manikrao Thackeray voted in his village Haru Former minister Shivajirao Moghe voted in Vasantnagar. Collector Dr Pankaj Asia stood in a queue at Shivaji High School and cast his vote along with his wife. WARDHA: Lok Sabha Constituency witnessed 56.67 per cent polling till 5 pm. Voting started peacefully in all centres of the constituency. Voters were seen present at the polling booths right from 7 am. Long queues of voters were seen at various places. Special arrangements were made on behalf of the district administration so that disabled and senior voters can vote easily. There are 16,82,771 voters in Wardha Lok Sabha Constituency, out of which 8,58,439 are male and 8,24,318 are female and 14 others. Out of these, 5,09,083 male voters (59.30 per cent), 4,44,464 female voters (53.92 per cent) and 6 other voters (42.9 per cent) cast their franchise till 5 pm taking the voting percentage to 56.67 per cent. Assembly constituency-wise polling percentages are as follows Dhamangaon - 53.58 per cent, Morshi - 57.60 per cent, Arvi - 60.85 per cent, Deoli - 57.11 per cent, Hinganghat - 55.48 per cent and Wardha - 56.06 per cent.
Over 63% turnout in phase-II LS polls





NEW DELHI :

Highest 79.46% polling in Tripura Mah records 57.83% voting

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 Pradeshs Mathura, Rajasthans Banswara and Maharashtras 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 I.N.D.I.A. 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 of 57.83 per cent was recorded in eight constituencies in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh recored 54.85 per cent and Bihar 55.08 per cent voting turnout.

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 Shivakumars brother DK Suresh (Cong), and former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy (JDS) are among the key candidates while BJPs 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. 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. In Chhattisgarh 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. 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 Fridays 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.
SC no to 100% verification of EVM votes with VVPAT





NEW DELHI :

The bench headed by Justice Khanna issued two directives: It asked Election Commission to seal and store units used to load symbols for 45 days after the symbols have been loaded to EVMs in strong rooms. Also asked to allow engineers of the EVM manufacturers to verify microcontroller of the machines after declaration of the results on the request of candidates Justice Datta, authored a separate opinion, concurring with the directions issued by Justice Khanna. He said, concerted effort to weaken Indias progress has to be nipped in the bud

SUPREME Court on Friday 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. The court issued two directives. Pronouncing his verdict, Justice Khanna directed the Election Commission to seal and store units used to load symbols for 45 days after the symbols have been loaded to electronic voting machines in strong rooms.

The apex court also allowed engineers of the EVM manufacturers to verify the microcontroller of the machines after declaration of the results on the request of candidates who stood second and third. Request for the verification of the microcontroller can be made within seven days of declaration of the results after payment of fees by the candidate making the request, the court said. If EVM is found tampered during verification, fees paid by the candidates will be refunded, it said. An EVM comprises three units -- ballot unit, control unit and the VVPAT. All three are embedded with microcontrollers which have a burnt memory from the manufacturer. Currently, the Election Commission conducts random matching of VVPAT slips with EVMs at five polling booths per Assembly constituency.

While maintaining a balanced perspective is crucial in evaluating systems or institutions, blindly distrusting any aspect of the system can breed unwarranted scepticism..., Justice Datta said. The bench also asked the EC to examine the EVM for vote counting the paper slips and whether along with the symbol there can be a bar code for each party. Besides seeking to return to the ballot paper system, the three petitions before it had prayed that VVPAT slips should be given to the voter to verify and put in the ballot box for counting and there should be 100 per cent counting of VVPAT slips, the bench said. We have rejected all of them, Justice Khanna said. Hearing the matter on April 24, the bench had said it cannot control the elections or issue directions simply because doubts have been raised about the efficacy of EVM. The petitions had claimed the polling devices can be tinkered with to manipulate the results. NGO Association for Democratic Reforms, one of the petitioners, had sought reversal of the poll panels 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 courts direction to revert to the old system of ballot papers. Justice Dipankar Datta in his statement said that there seems to be a concerted effort to discredit, diminish and weaken Indias progress on every possible frontier and any such attempt has to be nipped in the bud. Writing his views in a separate verdict while concurring with the opinion of Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who was heading the bench, Justice Datta said 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. He said no constitutional court would allow such attempt to succeed as long as the court has a say in the matter.

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 (EVMs) 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.
Make Narendra Modi PM for third term to rid country of terrorism and Naxalism, says Shah

Porbandar, Apr 27 (PTI)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday urged people to make Narendra Modi the prime minister for the third term to rid the country of terrorism, Naxalism and poverty, and to make India the third largest economy in the world. In the last 10 years, PM Modi took several tough decisions without caring for the vote bank, he said as he cited the scrapping of Article 370 and construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya. Addressing a public rally to drum up support for Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who is contesting the Lok Sabha election from Porbandar constituency in Gujarat, Shah also said that after two phases of polls, it is now clear that people of the country have decided to bring Modi to power once again.

There are 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat, of which the Bharatiya Janata Party's candidate from Surat has been elected unopposed. "I would appeal to you to vote for lotus (BJP's poll symbol) on the remaining 25 seats and make Modi prime minister for a third term. Making him PM for the third term means freedom from terrorism and Naxalism, freedom from poverty, making arrangements to give a platform to the youth so they could go hand in hand with the world and create a great India," the senior BJP leader said. PM Modi worked to brighten the name of Gujarat on the world map, and gave a new identity to the state that is known for Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, he said.

Attacking Congress, Shah said, "When Article 370 was scrapped, Rahul Gandhi opposed the move saying a river of blood will flow in Kashmir after that. But in the last five years, let alone the river of blood, nobody dared to throw even a stone there. Modi worked to finish terrorism and Naxalism from the country." When Manmohan Singh was the country's prime minister, anyone could enter the country from Pakistan and blow up bombs, he said. "When Pakistan carried out terrorist attacks in Pulwama and Uri, it forgot that Modi was the prime minister. Within 10 days, Modi carried out surgical and air strikes to finish off terrorists on Pakistan soil. Modi worked to secure the country and make it prosperous," he said. In 10 years of the Congress-led UPA government's rule (between 2004 and 2014), the country's economy was at 11th position, Shah said. "PM Modi brought it to the fifth position in just 10 years. And I give you a guarantee, make him the prime minister for the third term and India will become the third largest economy," he said.

After two phases of election, it is now clear that Rahul Gandhi is finished, Shah said. "In east, west, north, south and central (parts of India) - wherever you go, people across the country welcome the BJP workers by shouting 'Modi-Modi' slogans. People of the country have decided to bring Modi to power once again. The entire country is committed to make Modi prime minister for the third time," he said. Modi took tough decisions without caring about the vote bank, he said.

Under the UPA government, the Congress left no stone unturned to do injustice to Gujarat, Shah said. "In 10 years, the BJP government resolved the issue of Narmada dam. Congress party granted only Rs 1.22 lakh crore to Gujarat in 10 years of this rule, while Modi granted Rs 5.55 lakh crore in the last decade," he said. Shah alleged that the Congress party did not consider anyone except Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi as leaders, and forgot Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. "Modi constructed the Statue of Unity (the world's tallest, at Kevadia in Narmada district of Gujarat) to immortalise Sardar Patel's name. The statue was in accordance with the kind of respect that the people of the country have in their hearts for Sardar Patel," he said.

Shah also targeted Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over his remarks that people of Gujarat and Rajasthan have nothing to do with Kashmir over the scrapping of Article 370. "Kharge saheb, you have crossed 80 years of age and have not been able to understand the country. Every single youth here is ready to sacrifice his life for Kashmir. Shouldn't Article 370 be scrapped? For 70 years, Congress took care of Article 370 like an adopted child for its vote bank politics," he said. Shah also said that the Modi government made possible the construction of Lord Ram temple at Ayodhya. "For 70 years, Congress kept the issue hanging for vote bank politics. In five years of the second term, we won the election, laid the foundation, and consecration on January 22," he said. For 500 years, our God was in a tent at a temporary place. It's Modi who worked to construct his grand temple after 500 years, he said. Modi also built Kashi Vishwanath Corridor as Mughal emperor Aurangzeb had destroyed the temple, Modi said. He also made the Mahakal corridor, enlivened Badrinath and Kedarnath, and Somnath temple is being built using gold, he said.
During a massive combined missile attack on Ukraine on the night of April 27, the Russians attacked, in particular, the Lviv region. The defenders of the sky shot down three cruise missiles over the region.

ADVERTISIMENT

But it was not without hits: the invaders hit two energy facilities in the region, and fires broke out there. The details were revealed by the head of the Lviv Regional Military Administration, Maksym Kozytskyi.

The air raid alert in the Lviv region on April 27 began at 03:58 and lasted a little over two hours, until 06:02. During this time, the invaders attacked the region with cruise missiles of various classes, as well as Kinzhal ballistic ones.

Air Defense Forces shot down three enemy cruise missiles. However, there were some hits.

"The enemy attacked two critical energy infrastructure facilities in Stryi and Chervonohrad districts. Fires broke out. State Emergency Service units quickly extinguished the fires. There is destruction. As of this hour, there are no casualties, injuries, or destruction of residential infrastructure in the Lviv region," Kozytskyi wrote at about 9 a.m.

ADVERTISIMENT

At the time of publication of the message, according to the head of the Lviv Regional Military Administration, all life support systems in the region were operating normally, and there was no need for emergency power outages. However, given the fact that the invaders have been attacking the energy sector outside of Lviv region, residents of the region, like all Ukrainians, will have to limit their electricity consumption.

"Last night only, the occupiers attacked energy infrastructure facilities in Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv regions. It is difficult for the power system to maintain the balance of production and consumption. We have to help. To avoid the need for hourly blackouts, please do not turn on energy-intensive appliances from 19:00 to 22:00. Limit the simultaneous use of such appliances," Kozytskyi urged.

ADVERTISIMENT

Thus, Ukrainians are asked to limit the use of air conditioners, electric kettles, vacuum cleaners, boilers, heaters, irons, washing machines, microwaves and electric ovens. In addition, it is recommended to unplug all appliances that are not currently in use and use energy-saving lamps.

As a reminder, on the night of April 27, the Russian army launched a new massive missile attack on Ukraine . The invaders launched various types of missiles, including ballistic ones, at different regions of our country. Some of the enemy's weapons were destroyed by Air Defense Forces during a two-hour air battle.

The main target of the enemy this time was again the Ukrainian energy sector: four thermal power plants were attacked, and at least one power engineer was wounded.

In addition, at night, the invaders attacked a medical facility in Kharkiv with more than 1,000 people. A few meters separated the regional center from a terrible tragedy with a huge number of victims and injured: "high-precision" missiles hit the ground near the facility, resulting in broken windows, shattered roofs and one lightly wounded person.

ADVERTISIMENT

It was also reported that on April 26, the occupiers attacked Sumy and Bilopillia. An industrial facility was hit, there were civilian casualties.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
Wedded to the idea of a Strong Democracy





Wedding of BJP spokesperson Shivrai Kulkarnis daughter was solemnised on Friday. But that did not stop the family from first fulfilling their national duty and executing their important

The Hitavada Team undated :

Ones day of wedding is undoubtedly one of the most memorable days of ones life. Given us Indians love for weddings and associated celebrations we move the earth to see that the day on which we take the holy vows for janam janam ka rishta is perfect to the T. So on Friday, April 26, which was a very auspicious day as many marriages was scheduled on this day, a most heartwarming fact came to light - that young voters also revere one more of their rishta with equal amount of emotion. The love for their country and the bond to the commitment to let it remain a strong. and vibrant democracy. This little, big fact came to light as reports from different parts of Vidarbha came in showing how amid the tumultous schedule of Indian weddings, young bride and grooms still took out time to do their duty as a responsible citizen of India. Dressed in their wedding attire, they came to vote.





AMRAVATI: Many people standing in the queue for voting in Amravati were taken aback when BJP Spokesperson Shivrai Kulkarni came to cast his vote with his family. With him was his daughter, dressed as a bride alongwith her bridegroom. The couple deemed it fit to first do their national duty then to continue with the wedding rituals. WASHIM: One standout example of young peoples commitment to strengthening systems of the nation was witnessed in Bramha village, where groom Harish Trymbak Musale, hailing from the Vanjari community, made a conscientious decision. Despite tradition dictating a visit to brides home the day before the wedding, Harish chose to prioritize voting. He proceeded with the marriage rituals early in the morning and promptly headed to his own village to cast his ballot, setting a powerful example for others to follow. Another groom also from Bramha village, Prabhu Kolekar kept his duty to vote above his wedding ceremony.

The dedication of these grooms to their civic duty was mirrored by brides across the district, who also made it a point to cast their votes early in the morning, even if it meant adjusting their wedding schedules. MEHKAR: Mehkar taluka also saw 3 bridegrooms demonstrated their commitment to strengthening democracy and did not let their wedding celebrations deter them from exercising their franchise. Ganesh Bhagwat Sonune and Shubham Kedarnath Patale of Ukali in Mehkar taluka and Vaibhav Prakash Kayande from Kinhi in Lonar taluka set an example by prioritising voting. hinganghat: Gaurav Bhaskar Devtale of Phukata village in Hinganghat taluka tied the nuptial knot on Friday. The first thing in the morning that he did however was to cast his vote.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to another massive Russian missile attack on Ukraine. The head of state said that air defense forces had shot down some of the enemy targets.

ADVERTISIMENT

At the same time, the President emphasized that the world has every opportunity to help shoot down every missile and drone of Russian terrorists. Zelenskyy said this in his Telegram.

The President emphasized that specific political decisions and agreements are needed to absolutely protect Ukrainian cities from Russian terror. With additional assistance, Ukraine's defenders will be able to destroy more Russian drones and missiles.

"Thirty-four Russian missiles overnight. Some of them were shot down. But the world has every opportunity to help shoot down every missile and every drone of Russian terrorists. This is absolutely real. And the only thing that is needed is for the necessary political decisions and agreements to become a reality," the president emphasized.

According to Zelenskyy, political decisions will allow Ukraine to receive more air defense systems, a sufficient number of weapons for the Ukrainian military to operate at the front, as well as prompt supplies and decisive action.

ADVERTISIMENT

"Terror must always lose, and everyone who helps us resist Russian terror is a true defender of life," the President said.

At the same time, Zelenskyy thanked the United States and each of its partners for their decisions to support our country and people. The President said that the world must do everything to ensure that life wins.

As a reminder, on the night of April 27, Russian occupation forces launched missile attacks on Kharkiv. There were explosions in the city and damage to civilian infrastructure.

Earlier it was reported that on April 27, the Russian occupation forces staged another massive missile attack on Ukraine. The enemy used various types of missiles, including ballistic missiles, and the Dnipro, Lviv, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions were hit.

ADVERTISIMENT

As reported by OBOZ.UA, on the morning of April 27, Russian terrorists launched a massive missile attack on the Dnipro region. The enemy once again targeted the region's energy infrastructure. Air defense forces destroyed 13 missiles.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
On the night of April 27, the Russian occupiers launched another massive missile attack on Ukraine. A critical infrastructure facility in Ivano-Frankivsk region was hit.

ADVERTISIMENT

This was reported by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. The enemy attack damaged the building.

The attack also resulted in a fire that spread over 200 square meters. Rescuers quickly extinguished the fire. No casualties were reported.

ADVERTISIMENT

Earlier, it was reported that on the night of April 27, the enemy used missiles of various types, including ballistic ones, to attack Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk regions. During the two-hour air battle, 21 missiles out of 34 launched by the occupiers were destroyed by Air Defense Forces.

The day before, on April 26, Russians fired missiles at Kharkiv. Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported a hit near a medical facility. According to preliminary data, there were no casualties.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
The explosions in the Krasnodar Territory of the Russian Federation on the night of April 27 were the result of an operation by the Security Service of Ukraine. The drones launched by the special forces hit two oil refineries in the region  Ilya and Slavyansk.

ADVERTISIMENT

But the special forces delivered the "cotton" to the occupiers' Kushchevsk military airfield together with the Defense Forces: dozens of military aircraft, as well as radar and electronic warfare systems, were deployed there. The details of the night attack were provided to OBOZ.UA by informed sources.

Our interlocutor called Saturday night literally "explosive" for the Russian Kuban. It was especially inflammatory for the Kushchevsk military airfield, as well as for the Ilya and Slavyansk refineries in the Krasnodar region of Russia.

OBOZ.UA's sources claim that all three facilities were hit by SBU drones.

Thus, the SBU attacked the military airfield jointly with the Defense Forces. The source assures that dozens of military aircraft, radar, and electronic warfare equipment were stationed there.

ADVERTISIMENT

There is no exact data on the consequences of the attack on the airfield, but one of the opposition Russian media outlets published a video that was probably filmed at the damaged airfield. If it is genuine, it is possible that the strike hit a warehouse with bomb processing equipment, as debris from correction and planning modules and nose fairings for air bombs can be seen on the ground.

In addition, the SBU attack drones struck the distillation and atmospheric columns of the Ilya and Slavyansk refineries. They are key technological facilities at these refineries.

The source assures that after the hits, fires broke out at the airfield and the refinery and personnel were evacuated. And representatives of at least one of the refineries announced the "suspension of work" of the enterprise.

ADVERTISIMENT

"The SBU continues to effectively work on military and infrastructure facilities behind enemy lines, reducing Russia's potential for warfare. The terrorist country's "cotton" is burning and will continue to burn," our source assured.

As a reminder, it became known at dawn that UAVs had attacked a number of targets in Russia. RosMedia almost immediately reported that two refineries, a bitumen plant, and an airfield were hit.

According to the local governor, Russian air defense allegedly shot down "more than 10 drones." At the same time, he was quick to assure that there were no "casualties or serious consequences on the ground." Meanwhile, Russians published videos of powerful fires in the region.

ADVERTISIMENT

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
New military aid from the United States is likely to be insufficient to make Ukraine liberate all the occupied territories. Moreover, Western media report that some U.S. officials have resumed discussions on the idea of freezing the front line.

ADVERTISIMENT

At the same time, analysts believe that discussing the possible outcome of the war is very premature as President Joe Biden signed a bill authorizing a new aid package only a few days ago. This is stated in the analysis of the Institute for the Study of War.

U.S. military aid is currently on its way to Ukraine, and its delivery to the frontline units will take several weeks and will have a tangible impact on the battlefield. The ISW stated that the Ukrainian military will initially have to use US assistance to stabilize the front line and stop Russia's offensive, especially in the Avdiivka and Bakhmut areas.

At the same time, the scale and intensity of the projected Russian offensive in the summer of 2024, which is likely to begin in June, also remains unclear, and the Russian military command may be actively assessing and revising plans for its summer offensive. Ukrainian troops will have to defend against a Russian summer offensive and prevent the occupiers from achieving significant operational success in the summer months before the Ukrainian Armed Forces can seize the initiative across the entire theater and launch a counteroffensive.

ADVERTISIMENT

According to the analysts, Ukraine also needs to address its current personnel problems by training new personnel, equipping new units, and restoring old ones. The ISW emphasized that the exact timing of these efforts, which are likely to play a significant role in determining the timing of Ukraine's future counteroffensive operations, is unclear. At the same time, analysts are confident that sufficient and consistent Western assistance will be crucial for Ukraine's future counteroffensive efforts.

Almost two years ago, U.S. President Joe Biden signed the Ukraine Lend-Lease Act, which provided for the transfer of U.S. weapons through lease or loan mechanisms. However, it was never used, and the document expired on September 30, 2023, as it was adopted for only one fiscal year.

Earlier, Belgium announced additional assistance to strengthen Ukraine's air defense to protect against Russian missile and drone attacks. The state will allocate another 200 million euros for this purpose, as well as transfer missiles for air defense.

ADVERTISIMENT

As reported, Canada will finance the production of combat drones for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. For this purpose, 3 million Canadian dollars (about 2.3 million US dollars) will be allocated.

Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested the Oyo State chairman of the African Action Congress (AAC) Kayode Babayomi, who is on election duty on Saturday.

It is understood that Oyo State is holding its local government elections across the state.

Reports in some quarters indicates that the exercise has been widely fraught with irregularities.

"The AAC Oyo state chair, Babayomi, has been arrested and detained at the Sanyo police station while on election duty," a source disclosed to the press.

"He was arrested at Ward one, Unit 15, J Nissi area."

"This is particularly planned because at the same polling unit, the Oyo State electoral commission deliberately brought wrong ballot papers, despite coming late."

It was reported that the Oyo State local government elections were delayed in some areas, causing frustration among citizens who had turned out to cast their votes.

According to reports, despite the scheduled commencement time of 8am, many polling units across the state were yet to receive the necessary electoral materials.

The Chairman of the African Action Congress (AAC) in Oyo State had earlier also expressed disappointment, stating, "This issue is very disappointing. We raised concerns days before the election, suspecting that the electoral body planned to delay the arrival of electoral materials at polling units. However, we advise our people to go out and defend their democratic rights."
Following the revelation of how Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, paid school fees for his children including his pre-school child, Zayyan Ali Bello, in advance up to 2034/35, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri has called for the shutdown of the school.

Bello was alleged to have paid a total of $845,852.84 from the Kogi State governments accounts to American International School of Abuja (AISA) as tuition fees for five of his children.

Reacting, Omokri in a write-up he posted on his social media Page, asked why a school domiciled in Nigeria is collecting school fees in dollars.

He further questioned if the United States will tolerate a school in America collecting fees in Naira or any other currency, calling the AISA action as wrong and probably illegal.

The question Nigerians are not asking is why the American International School, Abuja, is collecting school fees in U.S. Dollars for a school that is domiciled in Nigeria. That is wrong, and probably illegal!

Would the United States tolerate a school in America collecting fees in Naira or any other currency? Of course not!

Fact-check me: Last year, the American International School, Abuja, had over 500 students. Consider the downward pressure that school is causing on the Naira if 500 students pay hundreds of thousands of dollars each as school fees annually.

That is a bigger offence and more severe economic sabotage against Nigeria than the alleged actions of Yahaya Bello.

If I were the Minister of Education of Nigeria, that school would have been closed, and their Directors would be receiving the same treatment meted out to Binance executive, he said.

He asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to not only prosecute the school owners but to order the refund of all fees paid in dollars.

If the EFCC swings to action and not only prosecutes the owners of that school, but also asks them to refund all parents who paid their fees in Dollars and ordered them to repay in Naira, it would have an immediate and positive impact on the Naira, he said.

The Nigerian Voice recalls that EFCC had recently formed a Special task force to enforce laws prohibiting currency defacement and dollarization of the Nigerian economy.
The NEETs, young people who are not in employment, education or training, want more. Three million young German adults between the ages of 20 and 30 arent ready for the workplace. One in every five people of that age range have no documented professional training, according to a survey conducted by the German government. This is a serious problem for a high-performing country whose demographics form an inverted pyramid and is currently experiencing a shortage to the tune of millions of specialists. Berlin is concerned that the problem is growing. In the last nine years alone, the number of such unqualified young people has increased by one million.

While the baby boomers close out the professional chapter of their lives, attention has turned to the NEETs, who themselves have few possibilities when it comes to work. In Germany, those without professional training or a degree are at an elevated risk of forming part of the millions who are experiencing long-term unemployment. The NEETs are one of the great dilemmas of the German economy: on the one hand, it needs more specialists; but on the other, it is witnessing the increase of a population that has little or no training. Long based on an educational system held up by two classic pillars (the academic and vocational training), the German economy is struggling to understand why young people terminate 30% of contracts with the companies in which they carry out their professional training (the half of their education that takes place in the workplace). These same companies complain that they cant find young people with the right profile in a country that does indeed have a lot of work: 1.7 million unfilled positions.

Not all those terminated contracts mean that young people leave professional training. Some of them change career. Nonetheless, Germany cant get by with this many young people opting out of study and work. According to the Bertelsmann Foundation, there are 630,000 NEETs between the ages of 15 and 24. The majority of them didnt finish high school; but additionally, many did not find a place in a professional training program. They are, above all, young men whose families come from other countries (the NEET phenomenon affects twice as many of these, as compared to those with German heritage), who have little training, or very young mothers and boys who suffer from issues of mental health and addiction: 50,000 young people drop out of high school every year. Limited or no understanding of the German language is a key negative factor when it comes to that figure.

Berlin now intends to tackle the problem of rising unemployment among young Germans, especially among the NEETs. There are already 353 employment agencies responsible for advising, training and integrating them into the labor market. Work placements are part of the curriculum in secondary schools. In addition, following the disaster of the results of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)s Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), the government approved the largest training program in its history in February. In Germany, it takes six generations to move up the socioeconomic ladder. It is the OECD country with the highest correlation between family and academic failure. The governments new Startchancen program will finance a package of initiatives for 4,000 schools for students facing challenges across Germany. The idea is to invest in educational fundamentals because, as Minister of Culture Theresa Schopper of the Green Party says, the early years are key to academic success.

The goal is to create multidisciplinary teams to support schools that have elevated percentages of students who are less socioeconomically privileged. The program is the political reaction to a drop in test scores in languages and mathematics. It comes from the desire to break from the clear relationship between social providence and academic success that was shown by PISA; above all, in schools in which up to 80% of students native language is not German. The $10.7 billion that has been set aside for the program over the next 10 years for some 4,000 schools in poor neighborhoods will benefit one million students.

Germany is questioning its academic model after its PISA ranking dropped: it came in at 22, ahead of the European Union (24) and Spain (25) in the international comparative study of the cognitive skills of 15-year-olds in mathematics, reading and science. The German economy says it fears for its national competitiveness. The state of Bavaria is calling for reform to offer individualized training, and to concentrate on basic skills, mathematics and language proficiency in primary school. In Bavaria, schools can now teach German instead of English as a foreign language.

Germany invested $193 billion in public education in 2023 (4.7% of GDP, a similar percentage to Spains total in 2022). Economic researcher Marcel Fratzscher warns that social mobility has been on the decline for the past 40 years. While 71% of the baby boomers formed part of the middle class in the 1980s and 1990s, today, that is true for only 61% of millennials. The reason may be the increased importance of education in professional life. According to Fratzscher, dropouts reflect growing social polarization. In no other industrialized country has the middle class shrunk as much as in Germany.

Detlef Storm, chancellor of a Stuttgart school that has 90% foreign-born students, points out some of the challenges: violence, heterogenous classes at school, and loss of family structure that prevents some children from attending. Schools are asking for more investment in faculty, social workers, and in specialists who can support kids with inclusivity needs. Storm warns that many children from other countries have not previously attended school. In many cases, we have to convince the parents that school is an institution that will benefit their children.

Germany has never fallen so far down in the PISA rankings since the study was introduced in 2000. The OECD suggests reasons such as a lack of educational personnel, an increase in gender differences (girls performed better), and the populations heterogeneity. Then there are the screens: 31% of boys (the OECD average) admit that digital devices distract them from learning. In Finland, that percentage rose to 41%. Schools there introduced digital learning before any other country. As a result, homeschooling worked well during the pandemic. Finland now ranks 17th in the PISA. Finnish linguist and professor of Icelandic grammar Eirikur Rognvaldsson is proposing a reduction in working hours so that parents can talk with and read to their children. In Germany, a group of scientists led by neurologist Manfred Spitzer is demanding that schools not introduce digital media until the consequences of such technologies on the child and adolescent brain are well understood.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
Experts inspect damaged bridge

|

IMPHAL, Apr 27 : A four member expert team has on Friday inspected the bridge at Sapermeina along Imphal-Dimapur highway which was badly damaged in a bomb attack on April 24.

The bomb attack was suspected to have been carried out by Kuki militants.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, an official of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) said that the expert team would submit its report to the head office of the corporation at Delhi.

The official continued that they will carry out restoration work of the bridge as per the decision taken by the head office of NHIDCL.

Currently heavy vehicles have been taking an alternative road bypassing the badly damaged bridge.


In 2024, Buenos Aires registered a dengue fever-related death for the first time in four years. It came during one of the worst outbreaks the country has experienced, with more than 232,900 recorded cases and 161 victims, but it is also a warning sign of what happens when temperatures rise, driven by climate change. There are more and more regions where the mosquito that transmits the virus, Aedes aegypti, feels comfortable. It is expected that the Argentine capital  normally immune to the dengue outbreaks that tend to afflict the more tropical northern regions of the country  will soon be rescued by the drop in temperatures coinciding with the fall. In fact, the number of cases in Buenos Aires is already decreasing. However, this does not apply to the rest of the Latin American region.

According to the latest bulletin of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), published on April 19, during the first three months of 2024 more than 4.2 million suspected cases of dengue fever were recorded, four times more than in the same period in 2023 and almost six times more when compared to the average over the last five years. Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Mexico, and especially Brazil  with 86% of infections over the past week  are the most affected countries.

Now, it is Brazil that is in the spotlight. The government decided to pilot a mass inoculation plan using the Qdenga vaccine, manufactured by the Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda, among three million Brazilians. The Lancet recently published data on the effectiveness of this vaccine  the second that has been produced against dengue  in some 20,000 people over four years after they received the injection: protection stood at 61.2% against dengue infection and 84.1% against hospitalization due to the disease.

But, with Qdengas safety and efficacy corroborated, in addition to a pressing crisis in the region, why is only Brazil administering the vaccine to the population? To begin with, not all countries have approved it. Currently, in addition to Brazil, the vaccine has been green-lighted in Colombia and Argentina, but not in Mexico and Peru. However, approval by the regulatory authorities is no guarantee that the vaccine will be accessible or distributed on a large scale. In fact, it may not yet be advisable to do so in this case.

People wait to receive medical attention at a general hospital where a vaccination and fever control center has been established for patients infected with dengue, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on April 6. Anadolu (Anadolu via Getty Images)

Daniel Salas, executive manager of PAHOs Immunization Program, puts it bluntly: The use of the vaccine is not a critical factor in managing the current epidemics. One of PAHOs recommendations for Qdenga vaccination strategies is that it be administered one to two years before the age-specific peak incidence of more dengue hospitalizations. That means that injections given now against current outbreaks would not serve to mitigate the crisis. That is why we insist that the strategies to control the advance of dengue should focus on prevention and control of the transmitting mosquito, education of the population, and strengthening the capacity for clinical management, among other factors, Salas adds.

Another concern that makes some people uneasy is the effects of the vaccine on the different types of dengue virus. There are four in circulation (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4), and the vaccine does not respond in the same way to all of them. There is an unknown here, acknowledges virologist Adrian Diaz, a researcher at Argentinas National Scientific and Technical Research Council (Conicet). The latest Qdenga data show that the vaccine is effective for serotypes 3 and 4 only if the person has had a previous dengue infection. What would happen if we start mass vaccination and we see that for dengue 3 and 4 it does not protect as much, taking into account the background of Sanofis vaccine?

Diazs reference to Sanofi is a grim episode in dengue vaccine research: the French pharmaceutical company developed Dengvaxia, the first vaccine against the disease. The first large-scale application was performed in the Philippines between 2016 and 2017 and went on to vaccinate more than 800,000 minors before the program was scrapped when it was discovered that children who had been inoculated without having been previously infected could develop severe dengue upon first catching the disease. Years later, that campaign is estimated to have prevented more hospitalizations than it caused, but the damage was done and the ghost of that experience haunts Qdengas footsteps.

Many of these answers will come from Brazils courageous decision to massively vaccinate, Diaz reasons. In addition, the Argentine municipalities of Salta, Corrientes, and Misiones, all in dengue-endemic areas in the north of the country, bought the vaccine locally to administer it free of charge in three pilot schemes that will also serve to gather more information on how the drug performs in real life.

A woman covers her nose and mouth while a fumigation campaign against dengue is carried out in Rosario, Argentina, on April 4. Rodrigo Abd (AP)

However, Eduardo Lopez, a pediatric infectologist and epidemiologist who participated in the Qdenga clinical trials in Cali, Colombia, believes there should be greater urgency. We hope that at some point [the vaccine] will be included in national strategies; we have to aim for that. The problem is serious, its not going to go away on its own and we have a tool that we should take advantage of. While perhaps it is not the time to vaccinate indiscriminately, Lopez believes there are steps that can already be taken. First, from the regulatory point of view, how the different countries are going to approve it, a step for which there is sufficiently robust information, according to the infectologist. We also need more intense communication and community education to raise awareness about the vaccine and generate confidence, adds the expert, in addition to collecting information on the areas with the highest seroprevalence  where more people have already been infected with dengue  so that those populations can be prioritized in future vaccination campaigns. Efforts are already being made in different countries in this regard, notes Lopez.

In addition to patience, information, and outreach, there is another missing piece in the puzzle for the vaccine to become a useful tool against dengue crises: accessibility. For now, the six million doses that Takeda is capable of manufacturing have been purchased by Brazil for its public vaccination strategy, so large-scale production for the whole region is unfeasible if there are no agreements in place to produce it in other laboratories  something that is already being studied in Brazil. Additionally, there is the price tag: in Argentina, for example, the two doses that make up the vaccination scheme can be bought privately for about $150. In March 2023, Takeda announced that it expected to sell its doses for between $40 and $115, depending on the use of the vaccine and the geographical area where it is purchased.

These figures imply investments of millions of dollars for large-scale vaccination programs that not all Latin American countries can afford. One option to facilitate the distribution of the vaccine is the PAHO Revolving Fund, a strategy that seeks to reduce the price of the drugs through the mediation of the organization. Salas confirmed that the Revolving Fund has the vaccine available, but in very limited quantities for 2024. As of the date of publication of this article, EL PAIS had not received a response on how these doses will be prioritized, or what medium-term strategy PAHO is seeking. Eduardo Lopez recalls that the unequal distribution of vaccines was one of the errors that the pandemic brought to our attention. Dengue is a neglected tropical disease, because it primarily affects people or regions with more socioeconomic difficulties, he notes, and as such it is vital that there is equitable access in Latin America.

Dengue transmission has increased by 35% in the last six decades and the future augurs that it will only accelerate, so any strategy is urgent. Having a vaccine will not eliminate the virus or the mosquito [...] It is not the solution, but it is one more tool that will help us to reduce the impact of dengue on the health system, says Diaz. And while the path of the drug continues to develop, he underlines other basic pillars to manage the crises that the region is experiencing. Education, which is the most powerful thing, both in communities and among health workers, and strategies to control the mosquito with insecticides and by eliminating its breeding sites. These are tools that only require collective organization, he concludes.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
Calling the BJP the most corrupt, oppressive and autocratic party, Trinamul Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee asked the people of Jhargram to not vote for the saffron party that she said is holding up Bengals dues from the Centre deliberately. She was addressing a gathering at Garbeta in West Midnapore this afternoon. The area falls under the Jhargram Lok Sabha seat. The Trinamul Congress has fielded Kalipada Soren from the seat. The BJP had won the seat in 2019. Coming down heavily on the BJP, Miss Banerjee said: We have heard of man-eating tigers, now we see job-eating BJP.

How could a person who has worked for so many years return the salary with interest at the rate of 12 per cent? This is not dharma but adharma, she said. She was referring to the cancellation of the appointment of nearly 26,000 teaching and non-teaching staff in state schools by an order of Calcutta High Court, which she has blamed on the BJP. Miss Banerjee said the BJP, Congress and CPI-M have united to defeat Bengal. When the BJP-led Centre stopped the dues, neither the CPI-M nor the Congress say a single word. The poor people were deprived. We have paid the dues of 69 lakh job card holders and assure you that the first instalment of Awas Plus will be given to 11 lakh people by December.

The Congress remained quiet on the issue and has now come forward to cut into Trinamuls votes. Miss Banerjee asked where the BJP was when Junglemahal was bleeding. CPI-M had turned the area into a hotbed of criminal activities. People got murdered every day. People did not come to the area and the schools were closed. After coming to power in 2011, we carried out extensive development in Jhargram. We were successful in winning the confidence of the people. College, super speciality hospital, stadium have come up The youths have got jobs. Tourism in Jhargram developed. The BJP was not seen when Jhargram was coming back to normalcy and now they have come to ask for votes, she said. Miss Banerjee said the BJP has said that Lakshmir Bhandar would be stopped in three months.  Who are they to stop it. It is state governments project.

Advertisement

It has helped the women immensely and will continue,  she said. Miss Banerjee said what the BJP is preaching in the name of religion is not Hinduism. Hinduism speaks about inclusiveness. We have learnt to respect the views of other religions and faiths. The BJP is now trying to control our food habits, dress and even faith, she said. If the BJP comes to power it will destroy the social fabric of our country, Miss Banerjee warned.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday blamed the Trinamul Congress for cancellation of the appointment of nearly 26,000 teachers and nonteaching staff in state schools by a Calcutta High Court judgment. Addressing a public meeting in Malda today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: TMC has spoiled the future of youths in West Bengal because of the massive recruitment scam in the education department.

Recently 26,000 families have lost their livelihood. They are now in trouble since they gave money to TMC leaders for jobs after taking loans. Scams have become the culture in Bengal during the tenure of the Trinamul Congress. The TMC is involved in massive scams running into thousands of crores of rupees including the Sarada and Rose Valley scams, scams involving cattle smuggling, coal, PDS, civic bodies and other sectors. TMC commits scams and people suffer for it, Mr Modi said, adding that no work is done here without cut money and commission. Earlier the Left and now TMC has tarnished the image of West Bengal that had led the country and sacrificed a lot during the freedom movement.

TMC has prevented Central governments developmental programmes from being implemented. TMC has shut the doors of development in Bengal, he said. Mr Modi had to stop his speech as the excited crowd shouted slogans welcoming him. The meeting venue at Nityananpur, located on the border between t wo LS constituencies in Malda district, was jampacked. A delighted Mr Modi said: Either I was born in Bengal in my previous birth or I will be born here in my next birth. Mr Modi also criticised the TMC for appeasement politics by opposing the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act in West Bengal. PM Modi also came down heavily on the INDIA alliance.

Advertisement
Two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel lost their lives in an attack by Kuki militants starting from Friday midnight at the Naransena area in Manipur, police said.

According to the police, the CRPF personnel were attacked by Kuki militants starting from midnight till 2:15 am.

The personnel who lost their lives are from the CRPF 128 Battalion deployed at the Naransena area in Bishnupur district in the state.

Meanwhile, Manipur Chief Electoral Officer, Pradeep Kumar Jha on Friday highlighted higher turnout and minimal incidents of violence in Outer Manipur in the second phase of Lok Sabha polls.

Till the last report that we received about an hour back, the voting percentage was in the range of 75 per cent and no major hiccups were reported, said Manipur Chief Electoral Officer.

Advertisement

He also said that people came out in large numbers to exercise their franchise during the second phase of voting. One incident of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) malfunctioning was reported at a polling booth and no major hiccups were reported.

Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency, the 13 assembly segments The voting has remained peaceful One incident of damage to EVM has been reported so far. We are looking into it and have been following up with all the districts and they have reported that voting has been peaceful, he told ANI.

Jha further said that voting in the Outer Manipur constituency had been relatively more peaceful compared to the 2019 election.

People have turned out in huge numbers. As compared to the previous elections, the election in Outer Manipur has been very peaceful We are very hopeful that by late evening today, we should have a clear picture. Except for one or two incidents, nothing major has happened and voting has been very encouraging, Jha added.

According to the voter turnout app of the Election Commission of India, 78.78 per cent of votes were recorded till the last report.

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.

Polling for the second phase in 88 seats across 13 states and Union Territories (UTs) ended 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 Union Territories.

According to the Election Commission, the overall voter turnout in the opening phase was recorded at over 62 per cent.

The next round of polling will be held on May 7. The counting of votes and results will be declared on June 4.
The Uttar Pradesh Child Rights Protection Commission has apprehended five clerics on anti-human trafficking charges who were taking 95 children from different districts of Bihar to Saharanpur by bus.

Acting on a tip-off, sleuths of the anti-trafficking unit of the Commission intercepted the bus carrying the children in Ayodhya on Friday evening.

Later all the children aged between nine and 12 years have been brought to Lucknow and kept in boarding house.

The police is busy interrogating the clerics and getting information about the entire racket.

Advertisement

Commission sources here on Saturday said that on the information by Mission Mukti Foundation New Delhi, the children of Purnia of Bihar were rescued safely.

A Child Welfare Committee member said they had received information that many children were being taken illegally from Araria and Purnia in Bihar to Deoband in Saharanpur.

The Commission with the assistance from police stopped the bus on the highway located at Badi Devkali of Ayodhya.

Altogether 95 children were found in the bus and there were five clerics with them.

According to sources, the children did not know where they were being taken. The information given by the clerics also turned out to be false.

Child Welfare Committee members said that the clerics do not even have the names of the childrens parents and the consent letter. Many children are also orphans. Clerics kept misleading the police

Further investigation was underway police said.
Taking a swipe at the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that both parties are advocating for legalisation of cow slaughter on the sacred land associated with Lord Ram and Lord Krishna.

Addressing a public meeting in support of BJP candidate Thakur Vishwadeep Singh, who is contesting the Firozabad Lok Sabha seat, the CM said, After Kashi and Ayodhya, the focus has now shifted to Mathura.

In a pointed critique aimed at the Congress, CM Yogi said that the people behind the Discovery of India ideology believe that Lord Ram and Krishna never existed. On the one hand, the Modi government is giving free ration to 80 crore people of the country, while on the other hand, during the Congress rule, even the ration of the poorest of the poor was looted.

Advertisement

He also questioned the Samajwadi Partys (SP) contributions to the development of the Braj region. He pointed out that even among the Yadav community, the SP primarily benefits its family members. Their concerns seem confined to their family, and they keep defaming caste in the name of nepotism.

Continuing his critique, the CM asserted that the SPs sympathies lie not with the impoverished, but with the mafia. These people read Fatiha for the mafia, he remarked.

Raising questions on the nexus between the Samajwadi Party and the mafia, the CM said: The SP-sponsored mafia has been responsible for the killings of MLA Krishnanand Rai, numerous policemen, several BJP leaders, as well as BSP MLA Raju Pal and advocate Umesh Pal. However, the Samajwadi Party shows no sympathy; their allegiance lies solely with the mafia. Even as the mafia faces repercussions for their crimes, these individuals are seen going to their houses to read Fatiha. The public should leave them to read Fatiha for five more years.

Taking a dig at the SP, the CM remarked, These individuals are contesting elections in vain. With 273 seats required to form a government in the country, they are contesting elections on only 63 seats. The SP and the Congress have already lost the electoral battle even before stepping into the poll arena. Now, they are seeking a way to escape.

Recalling past instances of bomb threats by terrorists during previous governments, Yogi said that the SP government had attempted to withdraw cases against the terrorists responsible for attacks on the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Sankat Mochan Temple in Varanasi, various courts, and the CRPF camp in Rampur. At that time, the judiciary rebuked them, asking whether they would consider honouring criminals with Padma Awards next.

The Chief Minister mentioned that there was a time when the glass industry in the picturesque city of Firozabad faced an imminent shutdown due to officials harassing businessmen. When our government took office in 2017, we clearly stated that any businessman encountering harassment would promptly receive assistance. Today, Firozabad glass products are gaining recognition worldwide, he added.

The CM stated that the Congress aims to infringe upon the reservation rights of SCs, STs, and OBC communities, with the SP supporting this agenda. Furthermore, they seek to permit cow slaughter on the sacred lands of Lord Shri Ram and Shri Krishna. Will devotees of Ram and Krishna ever accept this? Congress wants to re-implement triple talaq by re-enacting personal law, he remarked.

He added: The Congress aims to introduce Maoist culture in the country. These are the people behind the Discovery of India ideology. The public will now have to question the existence of those who question the existence of India, Ram, and Krishna.
Electoral violence is going unchecked in Mexico. Noe Ramos Ferretiz, a candidate for the municipal presidency of Mante, a city in the state of Tamaulipas, was campaigning last Friday when he was stabbed several times. The politician, who is a member of the National Action Party (PAN), died in the middle of the event, to the shock of his supporters. Overwhelming images of blood-stained leaflets circulated afterwards.

The main suspect fled without a trace, in broad daylight. He would be arrested by the end of the weekend. Hours after the crime in Mante, the body of Alberto Antonio Garcia, a mayoral candidate for the ruling party, MORENA, was found in the city of San Jose Independencia, in the state of Oaxaca. His wife, a councilor in the town of fewer than 5,000 inhabitants, was released alive after being kidnapped for two days.

The murders of Ramos Ferretiz and Antonio Garcia are the latest two cases to be registered during the 2024 electoral process. So far in this election cycle, 30 candidates have already been murdered, according to data from the think tank Laboratorio Electoral (Electoral Laboratory).

In 2021, at least 30 contenders were murdered, according to data from the consulting firm. In the 2018 process, there were 24 political assassinations. With just under 40 days before Mexicans go to the polls on June 2, the vote is close to becoming the most violent one in recent years. The phenomenon of electoral violence has been growing in the country and is increasingly spreading. Its not only a question of numbers, but also of territorial expansion: there are more red flags, more [areas] with a higher incidence of violence, more attacks, says Arturo Espinosa Silis, director of Laboratorio Electoral. I dont think we have to wait for the number of fatalities to be exceeded this electoral process has been more violent when other aspects are looked at, such as assaults and threats, adds Daniela Arias, the organizations coordinator.

EL PAIS has analyzed the consulting firms findings from the last 10 months, to better understand the spiral of violence that surrounds this conflict, which has left a trail of more than 170 attacks, including 29 assaults, 11 kidnappings and 77 death threats. At least 27 other killings of those who werent seeking elected office, such as relatives of officials, political organizers, community leaders and incumbent politicians, have also been logged. This data was last updated on April 19.

Insecurity is spreading faster than the statistics. Just this past Tuesday, April 23, an armed group tried to assassinate Arturo Lara, the mayoral candidate for the Citizens Movement in Amanalco, a municipality in the state of Mexico (Edomex), which surrounds the capital. The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) also announced that its candidate for the municipal presidency in Zacapu, in the state of Michoacan, Lorenzo Martinez, dropped out of the race due to threats.

Lethal violence against people seeking elected office has reached 13 of the countrys 32 states. Its concentrated in the center and south of the national territory. The red flags are in Michoacan, Guerrero and Chiapas, Espinosa Silis explains. Seven of the 30 murders of candidates have occurred in the state of Guerrero. Four more were registered in Michoacan and another three in Chiapas. Oaxaca, Edomex, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Puebla and Veracruz have had two cases each, while Mexico City, Colima, Morelos and Tamaulipas have each had one.

In many cases, the registration of these candidates hadnt even been made official, or their political campaigns hadnt even started. Arias explains that the pre-campaign and inter-campaign period  the pause before the final stretch of the race begins  are usually moments when political violence worsens. The logic is that organized criminal groups seek to exercise political control in the territories they dominate. Its the criminal organizations who authorize who can compete and govern, in an effort to pull the strings of local authorities. Its a way to pressure and condition the decisions of political parties, she says.

Manuel Perez Aguirre, a researcher from the College of Mexico who specializes in organized crime, agrees that the selection of candidates tends to be a fraught period. February and March tend to be very violent months, because thats when [the parties decide] who they will put up as candidates, he points out. To analyze the violence that took place during the 2021 elections, Perez Aguirre and his fellow researchers started with the hypothesis that the cartels were interfering in the political process. While this was partially corroborated, they also realized that organized crime isnt the only relevant actor behind the murders. The politicians themselves are also involved: some seek to win their positions with bullets.

When criminal groups manage to infiltrate local governments  and when they seek to maintain that control in various electoral processes  the analysis falls into a gray area, as the line that divides the state from organized crime becomes increasingly blurred. In many cases, a separation between a mayor who was probably the perpetrator and a criminal group couldnt be established as such, Perez Aguirre notes, as he reflects upon a recent study that he co-authored.

Homicides arent the only acts of intimidation. Michoacan is the state where the most threats are registered: 34 candidates have dropped out of the race after being intimidated by criminals. This phenomenon has affected seven of the 11 parties registered in the western state. You dont have permission  those are the words they use, Antonio Plaza laments, in a conversation with EL PAIS. Hes the leader of Michoacan Primero (Michoacan First), a local party thats competing for the first time.

Morelos is the state with the second-highest number of candidates under threat  14  with Chiapas close behind, at 13. Arias points out that even though the political groups themselves are the ones who report that theyve been intimidated, these acts often dont translate into formal police complaints. This prevents the authorities from acting and investigating. In many cases, threats arent made public and politicians opt to lower their public profile out of fear.

Chiapas and Guerrero are also the states where the most political contenders have been kidnapped, with three cases each. Guanajuato and Sinaloa, territories plagued by violence in recent years, have also recorded at least one kidnapping each, as have the states of Oaxaca, Puebla and Hidalgo. Laboratorio Electorals compilation also reports six attacks in Guerrero, five in Morelos, as well as four in Mexico City and in eight other states, from Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon to the traditionally quiet Campeche.

The victims overwhelmingly hail from local, rather than national politics: they tend to be candidates for mayor, or for the state legislature. What were seeing is that there are areas of the country where theres a total absence of the state, where neither the security forces nor local governments can act, Espinosa Silis emphasizes. Theres no way to put a large amount of resources into each and every one of the police forces in the 2,500 municipalities, Perez Aguirre adds. He also sees the municipal order as the weakest link within the Mexican state.

The violence has reached all registered political parties. MORENA is the party with the highest number of murdered candidates: 10 have been killed so far in the 2024 election cycle.

The murder of Gisela Gaytan, the mayoral candidate in the city of Celaya, was even mentioned in the daily conference given by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, as she was a candidate from his party. The government has been forced to publicly recognize at least 15 murders during this electoral process. These are people who are fighting to assert democracy, who are in the streets showing their faces, fighting for others it hurts a lot that this happens in our country, the president said in early April.

The parties positions on electoral violence have become part of the campaign. At one extreme, the ruling coalition has been reticent before the oppositions criticism, in an attempt to ensure that the security strategy of the current administration isnt questioned. On the other hand, opponents have tried to bring insecurity to the ballot box, in order to capitalize on popular discontent. Gaytans case broke that pattern when it happened in Guanajuato, the state most devoted to the opposition and the only one that voted for the PAN in 2018. It was the first time that MORENA got worried and took up the issue even the president [mentioned it], " Espinosa Silis notes.

The PAN is the second-most affected party when it comes to the murder of its candidates, although its the leading victim when it comes to other types of assaults. The Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) and the Citizens Movement stand out for the number of assaults, despite the fact that theyre relatively smaller parties. Each registered political party has experienced at least one fatality in this cycle.

Of the 30 murdered candidates, 27 were men and three were women. However, the impact on women is multiplied when other types of attacks are taken into consideration: they constitute almost a third of all victims of political violence. Furthermore, between June of 2023 and February of 2024, more than 50 people have been sanctioned for gender-based political violence.

Although the phenomenon of political violence isnt new, studies about it certainly are.

This has caused many differences between the numbers presented by each consulting firm. The authorities dont have official figures, Espinosa Silis sighs. For example, Etellekt Consultores counted 36 murders of candidates in 2021, the same number as the Integralia Group, although there are differences regarding where the assassinations occurred and against whom. In a report published by Perez Aguirre and his fellow researchers at the College of Mexico, 32 cases of political candidates being murdered were reported, two more than Laboratorio Electoral.

Mexico has a long history of electoral violence, even since its creation as a state, Perez Aguirre says. He recalls that one can go all the way back to the assassination of presidential candidate Luis Donaldo Colosio (1994), or even President Alvaro Obregon (1928). The current dynamic, however, is different: the violence is largely a byproduct of the drug war. The lines between political violence and criminal violence have also become blurred: attacks have become normalized in contexts that are touched by other types of violence. Its something much more systematic, much more normal, much more common and one that occurs at the local level, Perez Aguirre adds.

The cycle of violence begins and ends with impunity. In the report recently published by the College of Mexico, its noted that, in 2021, there were no arrests in more than half of the cases analyzed. Overall, the percentage of cases that culminated in a prison sentence was minimal. Arrests [made by the authorities] to appear effective were common, without this giving way to a true clarification about the homicides, the report reads. Specialists note that cases related to this process have raised doubts about the viability of elections and the prevalence of criminal governance in some regions. In Maravatio, a city in the state of Michoacan, the MORENA and PAN candidates for the municipal presidency, Miguel Angel Zavala and Armando Perez Luna respectively, were murdered in February, just hours apart. Months earlier, Dagoberto Garcia, a candidate for a local party, who also had a good chance of winning the post, was also killed. In the cities of Acapulco and Chilapa, both located in the state of Guerrero, there have also been multiple assassinations of political contenders.

A look at the victims beyond the aspirants sheds light on the dynamics of intimidation and deterrence in local Mexican politics. Since June of 2023, when the succession game was inaugurated within MORENA and there was an informal start to the contest, 10 relatives of politicians have been murdered. This year, in Fresnillo, in the state of Zacatecas, the murders of Juan Perez Guardado and Jorge Antonio Monreal  the brother-in-law and nephew of Senator Ricardo Monreal respectively  put the attacks that affect the politicians environment under the magnifying glass. The list of victims includes nephews, brothers, wives and in-laws, among others. Last week, Jose Margay Coutino, a councilor in Villa de Corzo, in Chiapas, was murdered.

Putting the focus on these incidents reveals the double effect of a democracy thats conditioned and limited by violence, according to Espinosa Silis. Three pollsters  Data Civica, Mexico Evalua and Animal Politico  estimate that each political murder impacts citizen participation by more than 1%, due to the fear of going out to vote. These killings also affect those who compete: oftentimes, political parties cannot fill vacancies and their options are limited to those who dare or are allowed to run. For instance, in Jilotlan de las Flores, a city in the state of Jalisco, only one candidate reached the end of the 2021 mayoral campaign, due to intimidation by organized crime. The local Electoral Court ultimately annulled the election. That same year, voting was annulled in four municipalities across the state of Michoacan, due to the interference of organized crime. This was an unprecedented step by the electoral authorities.

In the 2024 election cycle, the impact of violence has been increasingly visible. Its a permanent reminder that, in large swaths of Mexico, getting involved in politics is a matter of survival.
The Naxal insurgency has claimed another life in southern Chhattisgarh.

Joga Podiyam, a Congress leader and former member of the block council, was brutally attacked by Naxal extremists in Dantewada.

Sources indicate that the assailants, armed with sharp-edged weapons, launched their assault from a distance of nearly 500 meters from a CAF camp.

The incident unfolded late Friday night in the Aranpur police station area. Joga Podiyam was at his residence in the village Potali when a group of armed individuals, purportedly Naxal insurgents, stormed his home under the cover of darkness.

Advertisement

In a horrifying display of violence, they forcibly abducted Joga from his familys midst and carried out the heinous act before their eyes. Following the brazen attack, the perpetrators swiftly retreated into the dense forest.

Promptly responding to the incident, law enforcement authorities launched an intensive investigation into the matter. The area remains under close vigilance as authorities tirelessly pursue those responsible for this despicable act of violence.

Previously considered a safe haven for Naxals, Potali village saw a shift in dynamics with increased police presence and development initiatives, prompting unease among the insurgents. The construction of roads, establishment of police camps, and developmental projects in the area disrupted the Naxals stronghold.

Joga Podiyam had long been on the radar of Naxal insurgents, particularly during the 2018 assembly elections when he received warnings alongside targeted attacks on other political figures. The motive behind the attack remains under scrutiny, with investigations exploring all possible angles, including personal vendetta.

Dantewada SP Gaurav Rai stated that they received information late at night regarding the killing of the former district council member. Personnel were immediately dispatched to the scene. As of now, no evidence has been recovered from the crime scene. Investigations are underway to determine whether this was a Naxal attack or a result of personal enmity. Interviews with family members and villagers are also being conducted to gather more information.

As investigations continue, questions persist over the motives behind the attack. While initial suspicions point towards Naxal involvement, authorities remain vigilant in exploring all possible angles.
Senior CPI-M leader and LDF convener EP Jayarajans open admission on the election day that he had met BJPs Kerala in-charge Prakash Javadekar at his sons flat in Thiruvananthapuram has put the Left party in a spot.

Jayarajans statement has come as a rude shock for the CPI-M, which has been branding the Congress as the recruiting ground for the BJP throughout the election campaign.

Javadekar came to the flat unexpectedly. When asked, he said that it was only a casual visit. I left the place saying that I have a meeting when he started speaking politics, said Jayarajan.

Advertisement

The Left leader added that he did not know whether the BJP leader had any other intentions. Jayarajan admitted that Javadekar came to his sons flat along with Dallal Nandakumar.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has expressed his displeasure over the embarrassing turn of events. He said Pinarayi Vijayan said there was lack of vigil on the part of Jayarajan.

Everyone knows the nature of Jayarajan who does not exercise discretion while establishing friendship. If Lord Shiva joins hands with a sinner, Shiva himself will become a sinner, he said, quoting an adage.

CM Vijayan also said that there is nothing scandalous in EP Jayarajan, 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.

However, Leader of the Opposition Congress refused to buy Chief Minister Vijayans explanation that there is nothing scandalous in EP Jayarajans meeting with BJP leader Prakash Javadekar or any other rival politician.

Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan said the conversation had drawn the curtains back on the CPM-BJP nexus. It was no impromptu social call. CM Vijayan had authorised the secret meeting, he said.

Satheesan said that Pinarayi Vijayan was disowning Jayarajan as the links between CPI-M and BJP have been exposed.

Jayarajan admitted that he met Javadekar. CM Vijayans response revealed a clear-cut deal between CPI-M and BJP. Pinarayi Vijayan is justifying Jayarajan. It shows he knew about the meeting, Satheesan said.

Addressing media persons here, Satheesan on Saturday said the CM had defended the meeting between Jayarajan and Javadekar and asked whether Jayarajan was acting as a bridge between the Chief Minister and the BJP to settle the cases against CM Vijayan.

KPCC president Sudhakaran had stirred up a storm on Thursday, accusing EP Jayarajan of secretly plotting to defect to the BJP by opening a secret communication channel with the partys leadership.

The CPI-M suddenly found itself in a quandary after BJP leader Sobha Surendran endorsed K Sudhakarans accusation.

BJP leader Shobha Surendran revealed that EP Jayarajan 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.

She said that Jayarajan withdrew from the move following threats from the CPM leadership in Kerala.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday launched a blistering critique against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of falling short on their grand promises to the citizens of India.

Addressing a press conference, Kharge highlighted the BJPs failure across various fronts to deliver on their electoral commitments. He pointed out that the BJPs professed patriotism often doesnt translate into tangible actions.

Drawing a sharp contrast, Kharge underscored the historical significance of the Congress party, portraying it as the custodian of Indias struggle for independence and the legacy of its freedom fighters.

Advertisement

He questioned the sincerity of former Congress members who switched allegiance to the BJP, challenging them on their decades-long commitment to the Congress if they now deemed it inadequate.

Kharge framed the upcoming election as pivotal for safeguarding the principles of democracy and the sanctity of Indias constitution.

Expressing concern over the prevailing state of unrest among the populace, he emphasized the need for decisive action to address the pressing issues facing the nation.

Specifically targeting Modis unfulfilled pledges, Kharge called into question the Prime Ministers assurances of generating 2 crore jobs annually and repatriating black money stashed abroad.

He also criticized Modis unmet commitment to doubling farmers incomes, highlighting the disillusionment felt by rural communities.

Later in the day, Kharge is scheduled to deliver a public address at a rally in Barpeta, located in Lower Assam, further amplifying his message of accountability and rallying support for the Congress partys agenda.
The Buddhist community leaders have come out in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the remark made by Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge regarding PM Modis faith in Buddhism.

Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena, founder and president of Mahabodhi International Meditation Center expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister for what he has done for the Buddhist people in India and said that no other government have supported the Buddhist cause in India.

I want to express my sincere gratitude to PM Narendra Modi in my capacity for what he has done for the Buddhist people in India. I dont remember how many PMs and governments, earlier, have given and supported the Buddhist cause in India. PM Modi has done a lot for Buddhism, he said.

Advertisement

He has laid the foundation stone of the International Buddhist Centre in Lumbini and has given us a special flight to let Buddha relics to different countries like Thailand. Wherever he goes he talks about Buddhism. In the United Nations he said Bharat ne duniya ko Buddha diya hai, yuddh nahi, Sanghasena added.

Another Buddhist Monk, Norbu Negi from Himachal Pradeshs Dharamshala said that it would be wrong to say that Prime Minister Modi does not have faith in Buddhism adding that the workers of the ruling government help them in their functions here.

It would be wrong to say that PM Modi does not have faith in Buddhism. PM Modi makes a phone call to Dalai Lama on his birthday every year and the Modi government and their party workers also help us and participate whenever we have some functions of Buddhism over here, Negi said.

The Congress chief stirred a fresh row with remarks on Buddhism and PM Modi during an interview with News 24 earlier in the day.

In the interview, Kharge, who is a follower of Buddhism, delved into the inauguration ceremony of Buddha Vihar in Karnatakas Gulbarga in 2009, which was established by the Siddharth Vihar Trust of which he is the founder-chairman.

What did you do, whom did you invite for the Pran Pratishtha? Did you give invitations to the leaders of every opposition party? You are doing everything as per your wish, and yet that temple is not even one-third complete. Now there has been some improvement as far as the construction is concerned. Who should have inaugurated it? As per the Hindu customs, who should have carried out the Pran Pratishtha? Kharge questioned PM Modi for doing Pran Prathistha of Ram Temple.

For example, I established Buddha Vihar in Gulbarga, then who was called for it? Buddha is considered the 9th incarnation of Lord Vishnu but they (BJP) dont come near Buddha. You know in Uttarakhand it has been imposed that if someone wants to adopt Buddhism they should approach the District Magistrate. That is a religion of this country, that was established in this country and has been accepted all over the world, but you (PM Modi) do not believe in it. Now they are attacking us. But what did I do at that time, I witnessed it from a distance while the pratishtha was done by Dalai Lama and then president of India Prathibha Patil was also present there, he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed satisfaction over the turnout in the second phase of voting in the Lok Sabha elections and said the support for NDA will disappoint the opposition.

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, the PM wrote in a social media post on X.

Voting was held today in 88 Lok Sabha constituencies spread over 13 states and Union Territories.

Advertisement
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, will reach his parliamentary constituency Lucknow on April 28.

BJP Lucknow city President Anand Dwivedi said that Defence Minister will arrive at Lucknow Airport at 10:00 pm on Sunday night. From the airport, the Defence Minister will go to Kalidas Marg residence.

He will reach the state headquarters Hazratganj the next day on Monday at 10:00 am and will join the nomination procession starting from there. He will reach Collectorate office at around 12:00 and file nominations.

Advertisement

Dwivedi said next day on Tuesday, he will leave for Indore from Lucknow airport at 10:20 am.

Meanwhile, UP Deputy Chief Minister Brijesh Pathak has called upon the party workers to make the nomination process of Rajnath Singh a historic one.

 There is no competition from the opposition anywhere in the elections, but with the aim of bringing Lucknow Lok Sabha to the countrys biggest victory, the nomination also has to be made grand and memorable, Pathak said.
Appealing to the public to vote for the Congress, Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu urged them not to spare those who trade with the sentiments of the people.

While addressing the first public meeting for Congress Lok Sabha candidate Vinod Sultanpuri in Rajgarh in Sirmaur district, Sukhu said, All four Lok Sabha and six Assembly seats should go to Congress so that a strong message is sent across the country against the horse-trading politics of BJP.

Lashing out at the BJP, he alleged that the Leader of the Opposition, Jai Ram Thakur, is hungry for power. As a chief minister, he was in slumber for five years and the paper leak scam flourished. Only the people can save democracy from destruction. There can be no greater murder of democracy than hatching a conspiracy to topple an elected government on the basis of money power, he charged.

Advertisement

In the past 75 years, democracy has thrived due to the policies of the Congress. If a tea seller is the Prime Minister of the country today, then the credit for it goes to the policies of the Congress, he claimed.

Seeking the support of the people of the Pachchad region, Sukhu said that when the peoples power and God is with him then he is not afraid of conspiracies of the BJP to topple the government.

He further said that the face of six turncoats (former Congress MLAs) who had sold their self-respect was exposed the day they joined the BJP.

BJPs conspiracy to topple the government on the basis of money succeeded in Maharashtra and Karnataka, but their efforts did not succeed in Himachal, he said, urging the public to teach them such a lesson through voting that Himachal becomes an example in the entire country.

People can usher in revolution, so this time bring the revolution of vote on June 1, he appealed.

The Chief Minister said, Vinod Sultanpuri is honest and has a clean image. His father K D Sultanpuri was a six-time MP, no one could buy his self-esteem. Send Vinod to Parliament so that he can raise your voice.

The incumbent MP, Suresh Kashyap, did not get the area developed. He could not even muster the courage to meet the Prime Minister to bring a special relief package in the disaster, he charged.

The three BJP MPs also did not support the government in the disaster nor could they write a letter to the Prime Minister for a special relief package on the lines of Uttarakhand and Gujarats Bhuj, he claimed.
Worried over the rising incidents of forest fires in Uttarakhand, the Indian Air Force in Nainital took to helicopter bambi bucket operation on Saturday to douse blazing inferno in the hills surrounding cantonment area. The Uttarakhand government has also sought support from the Indian army to battle the forest fire crisis.

Forest fires are a big challenge for us. Fire incidents are rising continuously. We are persistently trying to tackle it with all our existing resources. However, additional support has been sought from the Indian Army. Indian Air Force helicopters are also employed for aerial firefighting. Our entire effort is ro bring the forest fire under control, said Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

Seeing the blaze moving towards the Bhowali based Indian Air Force station area, the IAF began its aerial fire fighting, pouring water streams over the affected areas. An Air Force helicopter deployed for the task took water from the nearby Bhimtal lake to pour it over the affected forest areas to prevent it from coming towards the base area.

Advertisement

The raging inferno spread over around 700 hectares of forest cover by Friday. Forest fire affected areas in Kumaon are mainly lower parts of Nainital town, Haldwani forest areas and Champawat districts. Its indeed a big challenge for the past 10-12 days but we are trying our best to tackle the situation, said PK Patro, Chief Conservator of Forest, Kumaon.

Patro informed the department has resorted to its every means to bring raging forest fire under control. Besides fire tenders, we have also called for additional manpower from Home Guard and state police. All DFOs in Kumaon have been asked to be on alert mode on rising forest fire incidents in the region. We hope a small shower will also help us in a couple of days, added Patro.
As Indias mammoth electoral spectacle rolls on, the battleground is not merely political constituencies but the narratives that captivate the nations attention. In the wake of a seismic shift in campaign strategy by the BJP between the first and second poll phases, the political arena has become a battleground of rhetoric, emotion, and accusation. With the dust settling on the second phase of polling yesterday, it is evident that the BJPs strategic shift has left the opposition scrambling to find its footing.

While the Congress attempts to refocus the narrative on substantive issues like job creation and economic equity, its efforts seem overshadowed by the BJPs relentless barrage of emotive appeals. The challenge for the Congress lies in not only countering the BJPs narrative but also in articulating a compelling alternative vision that resonates with the electorate. At the heart of this unfolding drama lies the BJPs deft manoeuvring to pivot the discourse towards emotive issues, particularly in the Hindi heartland states. By invoking religious polarisation and alleging wealth redistribution by its political adversaries, the BJP aims to galvanise its core constituency, harnessing the power of identity politics to maintain its grip on power.

Yet, amid the cacophony of charged rhetoric, one cannot help but question the response from the Congress camp. As the BJP makes its pitch, is the Congress doing enough to counter this narrative? The absence of any mention of wealth redistribution in the Congress manifesto begs the question of whether the party is effectively driving its own agenda, or whether it risks being swept away in the tide of the BJPs emotive appeal. Moreover, as India grapples with record unemployment despite boasting the title of the worlds fastest-growing economy, the silence on job creation becomes deafening. While the BJP touts its achievements, the spectre of jobless growth looms large, leaving many disillusioned with the promise of prosperity. It is therefore imperative for voters to look beyond the rhetoric and scrutinise the policies and promises put forth by each party.

Advertisement

While emotive appeals may sway hearts, it is the tangible impact on the lives of ordinary citizens that ultimately matter. As the campaign unfolds, let us demand transparency, accountability, and a substantive debate on the issues that truly affect the future of our nation. In this high-stakes game of political brinkmanship, the fate of the nation hangs in the balance. As the campaign shifts to the Hindi heartland states, where ~ barring Uttar Pradesh ~ the Congress is the BJPs main rival, the battle intensifies. Will the Congress reclaim the narrative with a compelling vision for the future? Or will it succumb to the BJPs narrative dominance, and be relegated to the sidelines of history? As voters cast their ballots in the five remaining phases of polling, the destiny of a nation hangs in the balance.
The NEP-2020 stresses the importance of inclusive education ~ a process that protects the presence, participation and achievement of all individuals in equitable learning opportunities. Samagra Shiksha, an integrated scheme for school education, highlights that education policies, practices and facilities respect the diversity of all individuals in the classroom because education is a basic human right that should be generated to all regardless of their social status, gender, age, ethnicity, race, language, religion, and disability. Admittedly, inclusion is all about building the inner in children.

In the wake of the publication of the UNESCOs Salamanca Report in 1994, many developing countries started formulating the process to include students with disabilities in mainstream educational institutions. As per the 2011 census in India, over 61 per cent of disabled children attend educational institutions and 12 per cent of disabled population attended schools earlier. But 27 per cent of them did not do so.

Over the years the government has launched different programmes for their inclusion in mainstream institutions. The Mental Health Act (1987) consolidates the law relating to treatment and care of mentally retarded people. The Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) Act,1992 was amended in 2000 to work on manpower development to provide Rehabilitation services. Persons with Disability (PWD) Act,1995 stands for equal opportunity for every person and gives protection of rights and full participation of disabled persons in education, vocation, social security etc.

Advertisement

Every child is assured of getting free education in a good educational climate up to 18 years. Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009 tries to protect the rights of education of those belonging to the backward groups and of children with disabilities from any kind of discrimination and ensure to them elementary education. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), 2000 attempts to implement inclusive education and provides orientation of all teachers to the education of children with special needs. The scheme for Inclusive Education for Disabled at Secondary Stage (IEDSS) was launched in 2009-10 to provide further inclusive education for the disabled children in classes XI to XII. The aim of Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) was to enhance access to secondary education and improve its quality. So many programmes relating to inclusive education have been envisaged and introduced, but the desired success has hardly been achieved.

Why? The answer lies in the fact that along with the government, teachers and guardians as beneficiaries also need to be aware about their inclusion in education. We all agree that education is a basic human right that should be guaranteed to all children. Globally, recent estimates suggest that 224 million young people affected by crises are in need of educational support among which 1 in 10 have a disability.

Inclusive education is a process that protects the participation of all individuals in equitable learning opportunities. It is, in fact, not the same as special education, in that it relies on segregation or integration rather than inclusion. Inclusive education is not a buzzword in the learning environment; it is a transformative approach that brings together students of all backgrounds and abilities. It celebrates diversity, fosters empathy among students and encourages them to respect differences.

Also, it is a potent weapon against discrimination and bullying. It highlights the belief that education is not a one-size-fit-all approach but is about finding the right fit for every student. Education for All, as set out in the Dakar Framework for Action, is to provide quality education for all children, including those who have a distinct form or the other. Thus, a rights-based approach should be adapted, and disability inclusion should be mainstreamed into institutional culture. Provision of accessible and inclusive teaching and learning materials will ensure participation and learning achievement of all learners, including those with disabilities.

In encouraging human diversity in the class, educational institutions built on humanistic aspects of life may lay the foundation for the acceptance of differences. Tony Booth, author of Index for Inclusion, emphasizes the role of values in the democratic and participating practice of inclusion, which recognizes teachers and learners equally. The website of NCERT has links to documents on Learning Outcomes for elementary school and a guidebook on index to inclusion and suggestions for accommodation and modification in assessment. But, in practice, it seems the government has so far focused on universal enrolment while the focus should be on quality of learning. Recent statistics on learning outcomes in numeracy suggested that proper pedagogy and teacher-student interactions are the need of the hour. However, the replacement of PWD Act by RPWD Act, 2016 became momentous in the annals of the disability rights movement.

The preamble of RPWD Act lays down the principles of empowerment of disabled persons in unequivocal terms that includes respect for difference and acceptance of PWD as part of diversity and humanity. This provides for Inclusive Education as a system wherein students with or without disability learn together and the system of teaching and learning is suitably adapted to meet the learning needs of different types of students with disability. The RPWD Act additionally introduces the concept of barriers or its definition of disability. Its most progressive feature is the universal design which is the design of products and environments to be usable by people in general to activities. Disability rights activists ask if social barriers are being overlooked.

RTE mentions quality of learning based on curriculum and assessment methodology should also reflect the change. To encourage more students with support needs, institutions should create a collaborative culture supporting diversity. Collaboration is a process and not an end-product of intervention. Building an inclusive institutional culture is the foundation for promoting inclusive education which may be created by fostering an environment that values diversity, equity and inclusion. This can be achieved by providing opportunities for students to learn about different cultures and traditions.

Teachers can play a key role in promoting education and diversity in schools by using diverse teaching materials to promote Inclusive Education. They can adapt their teaching methods to suit different learning needs, making sure every student grasps the material. The entire school community should promote an environment where students understand and appreciate each others differences. Schools should provide extra support or accommodation for students who need them, tailoring the approach to each students unique needs. Teachers should create opportunities for all students to actively engage in classroom activities and discussions. Communication lines between students, teachers and parents should be kept open to address concerns and make necessary adjustments.

Schools must implement strategies to prevent bullying and promote respect among students. The effectiveness of inclusive practices should be periodically assessed, and improvements be made as required. Boosting student confidence begins by giving everyone equal learning opportunities and celebrating diversity.

An inclusive environment empowers students to thrive both inside and outside school and provides everyone with an equal opportunity to learn. Moreover, schools should help teachers and professionals with the necessary training and resources for inclusive education. Using efficient master schedule software may make classroom organization a breeze and encourage inclusivity

(The writer, a former Associate Professor, Department of English, Gurudas College, Kolkata, is presently with Rabindra Bharati University)
Rosario Porto at the 2015 trial that found her and her husband guilty of killing their daughter.

The mother of Asunta Basterra, a child who was murdered in Spains Galicia region in 2013, was found dead inside her prison cell on Wednesday morning.

Rosario Porto was found hanging by her neck inside Brieva penitentiary in Avila, where she was serving an 18-year sentence for killing her own adopted daughter.

Prison workers taking attendance on Wednesday morning noticed that Porto was missing and went to check her cell, which had been tidied up, suggesting a premeditated suicide.

Alfonso Basterra and Rosario Porto during a police search of their home shortly after Asunta was found dead. Oscar Corral

A lawyer by trade, Porto had already served seven years in three different penitentiaries after being found guilty in October 2015 at a highly-publicized trial of a crime that shocked the nation.

A jury in Santiago de Compostela found that Porto and her then-husband Alfonso Basterra planned and carried out the murder of their own adopted 12-year-old daughter, who was heavily drugged and strangled.

Her body was found on a rural path outside the familys country home in Teo, in the northwestern Spanish region of Galicia. Porto had been the prime suspect in the case from the beginning, after she provided conflicting versions of her own comings and goings on the day of the murder.

Asunta, who was adopted in China at the age of one by Porto and Basterra, is believed to have been suffocated after being heavily sedated with lorazepam, a drug used by her mother to treat her own anxiety.

Porto had already made other attempts to take her own life. On November 12, 2018, she wrapped a cord around her neck inside the prison cell shower but alerted her cellmate about her plans, which sent prison staff running to stop her.

Before that, she had tried to injure herself, and in February 2017 she was briefly hospitalized after overdosing on a prescription drug. Porto had been placed in anti-suicide protocol programs at all three prisons where she served time.

English version by Susana Urra.
Explosions were heard in several Ukrainian regions late on Friday amid Russian missile attacks, local media outlets reported.

In particular, blasts have rocked Ukraines central Vinnytsia region and the western Ivano-Frankivsk region, the government-run Ukrinform news agency said.

Several explosions also rattled Ukraines eastern city of Kharkiv, Xinhua news agency reported, citing Mayor Ihor Terekhov.

Advertisement

The Ukrainian Air Force said on Telegram that Russia launched cruise missiles and aeroballistic missiles at Ukraine during the air strike.

Separately, Ukrainian Telegram channels warned that Russia was likely preparing a new missile attack on Ukraine as a group of Tu-95 strategic bombers had taken off from Olenya airfield in Russias northwestern Murmansk region.
As a crypto enthusiast and advocate for responsible trading, I'm always on the lookout for innovative tools that empower both novice and seasoned investors. Bitcoin Bank Breaker, a new AI-powered trading app, has piqued my interest. However, before we get swept up in the hype, let's delve deeper and critically evaluate its potential.

Promises and Perks:

Beginner-Friendly Interface: Bitcoin Bank Breaker boasts a user-friendly interface, aiming to demystify the often-complex world of crypto trading. This is a significant advantage, especially for those intimidated by traditional platforms.

Automated Trading: The app's core functionality lies in its automated trading algorithms. While the concept is undeniably attractive, the million-dollar question remains  can these algorithms consistently outperform the market?

Free Demo Account: A free demo account allows users to test-drive the platform before committing real capital. This is a commendable move by Bitcoin Bank Breaker, as it fosters informed decision-making and reduces risk.

Test the Future of Trading: Try Bitcoin Bank Breaker's Free Demo Account!

Points of Caution:

Limited Transparency: Transparency is paramount in the crypto world. Unfortunately, Bitcoin Bank Breaker's website could benefit from a more in-depth explanation of its underlying algorithms. Users deserve to understand the logic behind the AI's decision-making process. Additionally, historical performance data showcasing the success rates of the algorithms would be highly beneficial in establishing trust.

Scarcity of Independent Reviews: Independent reviews and user testimonials are invaluable for gauging the legitimacy and effectiveness of any trading platform. The lack of readily available reviews on Bitcoin Bank Breaker raises a red flag, urging caution for potential users.

How does Bitcoin Bank Breaker operate?

It is quite surprising that the website of Bitcoin Bank Breaker provides only a limited amount of information about its operational details. The platform briefly mentions the use of trading algorithms without providing detailed information that could enhance our understanding of its operations. However, drawing from our understanding of other algorithmic trading platforms, we can make some educated guesses about how Bitcoin Bank Breaker might be operating.

Bitcoin Bank Breaker likely utilizes an algorithm that has been trained using price data from different cryptocurrencies. This algorithm appears to analyze the data to identify recurring price patterns that have historically led to predictable outcomes, such as short-term price fluctuations. Through the identification of these patterns, the algorithm is able to make well-informed trading decisions.

Bitcoin Bank Breaker highlights the fact that its trading platform operates with minimal human intervention. The algorithm is able to independently identify and respond to patterns it recognizes, executing trades accordingly. In addition, the platform has the capability to automatically close trades once specific stop loss or profit targets are met. We are unable to independently verify the exact workings of Bitcoin Bank Breaker as the website lacks specific information.

Key Features of Bitcoin Bank Breaker

These are some of the standout features that we discovered, which may be of interest to users on the Bitcoin Bank Breaker platform.

Expertise in Multi-asset Trading

The website of Bitcoin Bank Breaker claims that traders can use the platform to participate in trading with various cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Polkadot, and more. Unfortunately, the platform does not provide specific details about the available options.

Practice Account

Every user of Bitcoin Bank Breaker has access to a demo trading account, which allows them to practice and familiarize themselves with the platform. Traders can gain a deep understanding of the platform's functionality, thoroughly explore its features, and accurately evaluate its performance. The demo account allows users to observe the performance of Bitcoin Bank Breaker's algorithm in real-time market conditions, providing a safe environment for testing and learning.

Improved Security Measures

Bitcoin Bank Breaker emphasizes the utmost importance of safeguarding user data and trade information. The platform employs robust encryption measures to protect sensitive data. Although we made an effort to gather information, we couldn't find any relevant details about the security system of Bitcoin Bank Breaker.

Easy for beginners to understand and use Platform

Bitcoin Bank Breaker is designed to cater to traders of all experience levels, including beginners without prior trading experience. The platform provides an automated trading feature that may be especially attractive to traders who are new to the market. In addition, the website mentions that experienced traders have the ability to customize algorithmic trading parameters or manually trade using Bitcoin Bank Breaker.

Mobile Support

Bitcoin Bank Breaker can be accessed through web browsers on different devices, such as computers, smartphones, and tablets. However, there is no dedicated mobile app available. Traders can conveniently access the platform from anywhere in the world, excluding the United States, as long as they have an internet connection.

Ready to Dive Deeper? Explore Bitcoin Bank Breaker's Advanced Features!

Minimum deposit for Bitcoin Bank Breaker

Bitcoin Bank Breaker operates in line with other trading platforms, where a minimum deposit of $250 is necessary to open a new trading account. This deposit is required in order to access the platform's features, such as paper trading capabilities.

According to the website of Bitcoin Bank Breaker, users have the flexibility to withdraw their initial deposit at any time, without being subjected to any fees. Traders have the flexibility to retrieve their deposited funds if they find the platform unsuitable for their trading needs.

Devices Compatible with Bitcoin Bank Breaker

Here are some of the devices that are compatible with the Bitcoin Bank Breaker website:

Desktops, laptops, mobile phones, and tablets.

Is Bitcoin Bank Breaker a scam or a legitimate platform?

Traders should approach Bitcoin Bank Breaker with caution due to the platform's bold claims, which may raise doubts about its legitimacy. During our review, we couldn't confirm the functionality and performance of Bitcoin Bank Breaker's algorithm, as well as its historical win rate.

The absence of trader testimonials on the website and the scarcity of reviews on the platform's performance contribute to additional uncertainty. However, Bitcoin Bank Breaker does offer a free demo account, enabling traders to personally assess the algorithm's capabilities. It is worth mentioning that the platform places a strong emphasis on transparency, ensuring that there are no hidden fees. This helps to minimize the financial risk when testing the platform in demo mode. However, it is essential for traders to thoroughly research and exercise caution before getting involved with the platform.

Bitcoin Bank Breaker Customer Support

Based on the details shared on the Bitcoin Bank Breaker website, their platform provides round-the-clock customer support service. Traders who have registered and deposited the necessary minimum amount of $250 can avail themselves of this support service. Please be aware that our customer support is only accessible to registered users and may not be available to casual website visitors or potential platform users.

How can I effectively utilize a Bitcoin Bank Breaker?

Once you've carefully reviewed the information, you can proceed with the Bitcoin Bank Breaker platform by following these steps:

Step 1  Account Creation Bitcoin Bank Breaker registration tab

Head over to the Bitcoin Bank Breaker website and sign up by entering your name, email address, and phone number.

Step 2 - Add money to your account

Please ensure that you make a deposit of at least $250. Bitcoin Bank Breaker offers a wide range of payment options, making it convenient for investors to transact without any delays or complications.

Step 3  Begin your trading journey

Once your account is funded, Bitcoin Bank Breaker will conduct market research and execute trades as needed, leveraging the expertise of trading professionals. You can start by using the demo account to become more acquainted with the platform's features. According to Bitcoin Bank Breaker's claims, users have the flexibility to withdraw their remaining funds whenever they choose.

Unlock the Full Power of AI Trading: Explore Bitcoin Bank Breaker's Premium Services!

How can I delete my Bitcoin Bank Breaker account?

Bitcoin Bank Breaker has not provided clear instructions on how to delete an account on its website. If you need help with the account termination process, it would be best to contact the customer support team for expert guidance. Alternatively, users can explore their account settings and locate an option to close or delete the account. However, we recommend reaching out to customer support for assistance on how to delete the Bitcoin Bank Breaker account.

Who founded Bitcoin Bank Breaker?

Bitcoin Bank Breaker has been the subject of rumors, with claims suggesting that it has been founded by well-known individuals, including Elon Musk, who is known for his support of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Moreover, there have been rumored talks about the potential support for Bitcoin Bank Breaker by prominent companies, both within and outside the cryptocurrency industry.

However, it is worth mentioning that during our thorough review of Bitcoin Bank Breaker, we couldn't confirm any of these rumors. There is no concrete evidence to support the involvement of Elon Musk or any other celebrities with the platform. Similarly, we did not find any endorsements from well-known companies supporting Bitcoin Bank Breaker as a trading platform. It is important to approach these claims with caution and verify the information before making any judgments.

Digging Deeper:

Beyond the surface level, it's crucial to consider the potential limitations of AI-powered trading. Crypto markets are notoriously volatile and influenced by a multitude of unpredictable factors. Can Bitcoin Bank Breaker's algorithms truly account for these complexities and adapt their strategies accordingly?

You can also check the Bitcoin Bank Breaker review from Reddit

Final Verdict:

Bitcoin Bank Breaker presents a potentially interesting proposition for beginner and experienced traders alike. However, the lack of transparency surrounding its algorithms and the scarcity of independent reviews necessitate a cautious approach.

Here's my recommendation: Take full advantage of the free demo account to thoroughly test the platform's functionalities. If satisfied with its performance, start small and gradually increase your investment as you gain confidence in the app's capabilities.

Remember: Even the most sophisticated AI tools are not foolproof. The crypto market is a dynamic beast, and responsible trading requires a combination of education, research, and a healthy dose of skepticism. Don't let the allure of automation cloud your judgment  always prioritize responsible trading practices.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 27, 2024 - 10:38 | All, Japan

Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will visit Britain as state guests in late June, the Imperial Household Agency said Saturday, marking the first state visit by a sitting emperor since his father Akihito's in 1998.

The trip, aimed at fostering goodwill and friendship, will be the second overseas one since their June 2023 official goodwill visit to Indonesia.

The state visit was initially planned for 2020 as the emperor's first overseas visit following his ascension to the throne in May 2019, but it was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The imperial couple did, however, visit Britain for their first official overseas trip in September 2022, when they attended the funeral service for Queen Elizabeth II.

The upcoming state visit to Britain is expected to last around a week, with arrangements under way for welcoming events at Buckingham Palace, the London home of the British monarchy, as well as a state banquet hosted by King Charles III, according to the agency.

Outside of official events, a visit to the University of Oxford is also under review, the agency said. The imperial couple both studied at the institution, and Emperor Naruhito is the first Japanese emperor to have studied abroad.

Preparations between the British and Japanese governments are proceeding in consideration of the royal family's health.

Buckingham Palace said in February that the king had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing treatment, while in March, Catherine, Princess of Wales and wife of Britain's heir to the throne, Prince William, revealed she was also undergoing cancer treatment.

Related coverage:

Japan imperial family connects with Dutch counterpart via Instagram

Princess Aiko expresses desire to help people in choosing to work

Catherine, Princess of Wales, reveals she has cancer
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday said the hand of foreign powers is visible with the hand of the Congress in its manifesto which "wants to give property of your children to the Muslims".

"It is for the public to decide that your property should go to your children or the Muslims. We have given equal rights to the Muslims from toilets, to houses to gas cylinders to food but not in the name of religion," Thakur said addressing a gathering in Hamirpur.

The BJP leader said the Congress wants to divide the country on the basis of religion and region.

The tukde tukde gang has taken over the mindset of the Congress and it is for the public to decide that they want to support the forces dividing the country or uniting the country, he said.

"I want to ask Congress leader Rahul Gandhi that when Rajiv Gandhi became the prime minister of the Country, there was a rule that 55 per cent of property of former prime minister Indira Gandhi would go to the government treasury but Rajiv Gandhi changed the law to save his property," he alleged.

Thakur said India has progressed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and has become stronger in the world.

It is now the duty of all party workers to extend their helping hand to Modi by sending all the four MP's from the state and also to elect the six MLAs where bye-elections will be held on June 1, he added.

The BJP leader said Prime Minister Modi has given 33 per cent reservation to women which is a big achievement in itself, adding women have not been given proper respect during the 55 years of Congress party.

'Will name and shame,' says Congress

The Congress has complained to the Election Commission against Thakur for his "outrageous" remarks made at a poll rally and alleged that it violated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that the party has sent a complaint to the Election Commission against Thakur and has sought "immediate and meaningful" action against him, failing which they will "name and shame the offenders".

The Congress also said that Thakur was following the footsteps of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

"Today, Anurag Thakur followed in the footsteps of the PM and the UP Chief Minister and made a most outrageous speech that violates all standards of decency and truth, apart from the EC's Model Code of Conduct itself.

"@INCIndia has written to the ECI to take note of the speech and issue Mr. Thakur a notice immediately. The ECI must realise that a lack of meaningful action emboldens these bad faith actions. And if they do not take action then we will name and shame these offenders who think they are above the law, both in the arena of the public as well as before the courts," Ramesh said in a post on 'X'.
The postponement of the mayoral polls and the Delhi High Court reprimanding the AAP-led government for placing political interest above national interest while hearing non-supply of notebooks to MCD schools sparked a fresh round of political and constitutional stand-off between the Lieutenant Governor and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the national capital.

Both developments again brought forth the practical challenges the AAPs Delhi government is facing in dealing with issues of governance and service delivery, with the Delhi chief minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal in jail in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case.

The AAP took out a demonstration on Saturday accusing the BJP of stopping a Dalits son from becoming the mayor. The third term of the Delhi mayor is reserved for the SC candidate. The BJP conspired with the LG of Delhi to cancel the mayoral polls as they knew the AAP would win with a huge margin, the AAP leaders said.

The protests were held in the backdrop of the postponement of mayoral and deputy mayoral polls by the LG on Thursday on the grounds that he did not deem it appropriate to exercise his powers as Administrator to appoint the Presiding Officer in the absence of inputs from the chief minister. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 and is presently in judicial custody.

The civic polls were scheduled to be held on Friday and the postponement led to the adjournment of the MCD house where members of both the BJP and the AAP exchanged barbs. While the AAP councillors blamed the saffron party for its anti-Dalit mindset, the BJP accused the AAP of supporting corruption. The appointment of a Presiding Officer for the mayoral poll was a point of contention last year as well. The LG had appointed BJP councillor Satya Sharma as the Presiding Officer, whose decisions were challenged by the AAP and the matter had reached the Supreme Court. Eventually, the AAPs Shelly Oberoi had won by a 150-116 margin. The AAP argues that when the advice of the CM was not taken last year, why is it being demanded now?

In another setback for the AAP, while hearing the case of non-supply of books and stationery to students of more than 2 lakh MCD schools despite the beginning of the new session, the Delhi High Court on Friday slammed the government for keeping political interest above national interest.

The bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet P.S. Arora observed, It is your choice that the CM will continue despite being in jail. We have not said so. You are forcing us to go down a street that we have been avoiding. It is the personal call of the chief minister if he wants the administration to be paralysed, the bench remarked.

The observations gave a fresh salvo to the BJP to target the AAP-led Delhi government. Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva on Friday said, Several files are pending with the CM and his ministers, which is bringing the administration to a standstill. The AAP, on the other hand, said that MCDs work stopped due to the non-formation of a standing committee as the LG unilaterally and illegally chose to nominate and appoint 10 alderman to the municipal corporation without the aid and advice of the elected government.

Sanjiv Ranjan, assistant professor at the Delhi University said, The policy executions like distribution of books and daily chores of government functioning is being hampered which cannot be ignored. The Delhi High Courts remarks need to be respected by the AAP. Ranjan feels that the AAP may be facing internal issues in decision-making and is battling practical challenges that the legal experts warned of.

The recent inclusion of Sunita Kejriwal in campaigning is a reflection of indecision and may lead to undue friction among party leaders, Ranjan added.

Under Article 239-AB of the Constitution, the President can suspend the government if the LG is convinced that a situation has risen in which the administration of the NCT cannot be carried on in accordance to the provisions under Article 239AA.
The second phase of the Lok Sabha elections in 88 constituencies across 12 states and a Union Territory saw a voter turnout of 63.5 per cent on Friday. The number could increase after final report is released.

Tripura recorded the highest voter turnout at 79.46 per cent with two polling stations in Tripura East reporting 100 per cent voting. It was followed by Manipur at 77.32 per cent.

West Bengal witnessed 71.84 per cent voting while Jammu and Kashmir saw 71.91 per cent turnout.

Kerala, where all 20 seats went to polls during Phase 2, recorded 70.21 per cent polling. Rahul Gandhi's Wayanad saw 72.7 per cent turnout.

The lowest voter turnout was witnessed in Uttar Pradesh at 54.85 per cent, which was 7 per cent lower than the 2019 elections to the same seats. It followed by Bihar at 55.08 per cent, Maharashtra at 57.83 per cent, Madhya Pradesh at 57.88 per cent and Rajasthan at 64.07 per cent.

In the three Bengaluru Urban seats, nearly half the voters skipped polling on Friday. Bengaluru North saw 54.42 per cent turnout, while Bengaluru South recorded 53.15 per cent polling and Bengaluru Central 52.81 per cent.
The ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) in Andhra Pradesh has deployed a mix of seasoned and first-time women candidates to halt the onward march of the top guns of the BJP-TDP-Jana Sena alliance into the state Assembly. The state goes to the polls on May 13 to elect candidates to the 175-member Assembly.

Nara Lokesh, the general secretary of the TDP and former IT minister, is counted as the second-in-command of the party. He is contesting from Mangalagiri in Guntur district, from where he lost the election in 2019. He is pitted against a new contestant, M. Lavanya, who has replaced the sitting MLA, A Ramakrishna Reddy. Lokesh has been concentrating on the seat this time by not budging from the constituency and campaigning aggressively.

Lavanya is being backed by the top YSRCP leadership, and the constituency was also one of the venues of the bus yatra of YSRCP president and Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. Lavanya belongs to the weavers' community, which constitutes a significant part of the electorate in Mangalagiri. The YSRCP is confident that the welfare measures extended to the weavers and women, in particular, will help propel the candidature of Lavanya, who hails from a political family.

Lokeshs father-in-law, actor and MLA Nandamuri Balakrishna, is contesting from his traditional seat, Hindupur, in the Rayalaseema region. Since the founding of the TDP in 1982, the party has never lost Hindupur. What further helps Balakrishna is the fact that he has a fan base who connect and adore his movies made against the backdrop of Rayalaseema faction violence.

Standing opposite him is another first-time contestant from YSRCP, Koduri Deepika. Hailing from a business family, Deepika was announced as the in-charge of the constituency a few months back, much to the surprise of the local cadre. Ever since then, she has been campaigning aggressively in a bid to create history by defeating a star and also a TDP candidate for the first time in four decades. In the context of caste equations, Deepika has an advantage as she belongs to the Kuruva community, and her husband is from the Reddy caste. Put together, both communities poll a quarter of votes.

In the Pithapuram constituency, actor and founder of the Jana Sena Party (JSP), Pawan Kalyan, is trying his luck once again after unsuccessfully contesting from two seats in the last elections. He is in a face-off with YSRCPs warhorse Vanga Geetha, who served as an MLA and MP and has been associated with multiple parties in her three-decade-long political career. Both contestants belong to the same community, Kapus, who are politically influential in the region. Both the parties are now gunning for non-Kapu votes to capture the seat.
Two CRPF personnel were killed after militants allegedly attacked a security force camp in Bishnupur district of Manipur in the wee hours of Saturday. Two other personnel were also injured in the attack, said police.

The deceased were identified as CRPF Sub-Inspector N. Sarkar and head constable Arup Saini. Two other personnel -- inspector Jadav Das and constable Aftab Das -- received splinter wounds.

The attack took place at an India Reserve Battalion camp at Naranseina, where the CRPF's 128 ballion was stationed to provide security. The area comes under Moirang police station limits.

"The militants fired indiscriminately from hilltops, targetting the camp. It started around 12.30 am and continued till about 2.15 am. The militants also hurled bombs, one of which exploded in the outpost of CRPF's 128 battalion," PTI quoted a senior police officer as saying.

A massive search has been launched to find the attackers.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said there was "no evidence" of recovery of arms and ammunition in Sandeshkhali and claimed that CBI teams conducted searches without keeping the state police in the loop.

Expressing skepticism regarding the operations, Banerjee said the recovered items "might have been brought by officials of the central agency".

"If a firecracker goes off in Bengal, the NIA, CBI and the NSG come to investigate. It seems that a war is going on. The state police were not informed. It is not known what was found. The seized items might have been brought by them (CBI) in a car," Banerjee said.

The CM was addressing election rallies in Kulti and Ushagram for TMC's Asansol Lok Sabha candidate Shatrughan Sinha.

Accusing the BJP of scheming to manipulate the general elections in Bengal, Banerjee vowed to thwart any plan they might have regarding Sandeshkhali.

"I will foil your plans if you are conspiring something regarding Sandeshkhali," he said.

The CBI on Friday seized arms and ammunition, including a police service revolver and foreign-made firearms, during searches at two premises of an associate of now-suspended TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh in Sandeshkhali.

The searches were conducted in connection with the January attack on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team by a mob that was allegedly instigated by Sheikh, who was arrested by the West Bengal Police on February 29 in the case.

Teams of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), bomb detection squad, National Security Guards (NSG), paramilitary forces and West Bengal Police were part of the searches at Sandeshkhali -- a riverine delta -- on the fringes of the Sunderbans in North 24 Parganas district.

Banerjee also said, "Today, I heard there was an incident near Sandeshkhali. A BJP leader had stored bombs in his house. They think that they can win the elections by cancelling (school) jobs and with bombs. We want 'roti, kapda, makaan' and jobs for the people, not their lofty speeches."

The Trinamool Congress alleged that several people were injured after a bomb went off at the house of a relative of a BJP leader in Basirhat assembly constituency on Saturday.

She was apparently referring to the Calcutta High Court judgment on school jobs.

The court declared the recruitment process of the State Level Selection Test-2016 (SLST) in West Bengal government-sponsored and aided schools as null and void, ordering the cancellation of all appointments made through it.

Banerjee also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "silence on the incidents of violence in Manipur" and asked why central agencies were not sent there.

"There is still unrest in Manipur. Today two jawans were killed in the northeastern state. I express my condolences to their families. But why the PM could not bring the situation under control? He must answer why women were paraded naked. Who will answer?" she asked.

Banerjee levelled accusations against the BJP, claiming that they were "financially influencing the media to broadcast content dictated by them".

She further claimed that media outlets were complying with BJP directives to avoid repercussions from agencies like the Income Tax, CBI, and NIA.

Without taking his name, the TMC supremo hit out at BJP's Asansol Lok Sabha candidate SS Ahluwalia alleging that he had paid voters to win the last election from the Durgapur-Bardhaman constituency.

"Why have you come to contest in the Asansol constituency? You did nothing for the seat from where you won last time. You were absent there for the last five years. I know how you won the election from Bardhaman-Durgapur last time. You gave packets (containing money) to voters. I will ask people not to accept anything less than Rs 15 lakh this time... It was the promise of the PM," she said.

Banerjee questioned Ahluwalia's silence when one Sikh IPS officer was allegedly called a "Khalisthani".

"When one of our Punjabi officers was called Khalistani, where were you? You did not protest at that time," she said.
The Congress took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday for asking the Opposition to apologise over the Supreme Courts verdict in the Electronic Voting Machine case. The party said it was the PM who should be apologising for taking funds under the electoral bond scheme.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh tweeted, The Indian National Congress was not a party, directly or indirectly, to the VVPAT petition that was dismissed by the Supreme Court yesterday (Friday). Yet the Prime Minister says that the Supreme Court's decision on VVPAT is a big slap on the face of the opposition and we should apologize to the country. Remember that just a few weeks ago, the Supreme Court had not only declared the corruption-ridden Electoral Bond Scheme illegal but also slapped the Prime Minister hard by declaring it unconstitutional.

Ramesh added PM should apologise for collecting Rs 8,200 crore in five years using schemes declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. The real apology should come from the prime minister, because he collected Rs 8,200 crore in five years using the following 'four methods' through a scheme that has been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court - Prepaid bribe - Give donation, get business;  Postpaid bribe - take the contract, give bribe; Posted bribe - weekly recovery; and Fake companies.

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed pleas seeking paper ballot voting and 100 per cent verification of EVM-VVPAT slips. During a poll campaign on Friday, Modi said the apex court's judgment was a tight slap to the Opposition and it must apologise for committing the sin of creating distrust against EVMs.
The growing Beijing influence on Maldives was on the news again after a 4,500-tonne high-tech Chinese research ship is back in the Maldivian waters, two months after it spent a week docked at different ports in the nation. "Xiang Yang Hong 03" was docked at the Thilafushi industrial island's harbour on Thursday morning, news agency PTI reported quoting a local portal.



Maldives has not officially explained the circumstances for the ship's return to its shores. According to PTI, Male had previously confirmed permitting for the ship to dock before its first visit. It was days after President Mohamed Muizzu's pro-China People's National Congress won the general election, securing 66 out of the 93-member People's Majlis.

Here is what you need to know about the development so far:

1. Xiang Yang Hong 03: The only 4,500-tonne vessel currently in China, the 100-metre-long vessel was added to the fleet of China's State Oceanic Administration (SOA) in 2016. Since 2019, Beijing has also been using the vessel to conduct distant water' and deep sea' surveys at China's Pilot Ocean Laboratory.

China's State Oceanic Administration (SOA), which manages the Xiang Yang Hong 03, stating that the ship is the most modern vessel manufactured in the country for marine research. China says it is a comprehensive research vessel, meaning it is equipped for more than one task.

According to China, the boat's endurance is 15,000 nautical miles, which means it could travel 15,000 nautical miles nonstop for its work without assistance.

2. "Research" vessel: The vessel can "also be used for studies on salinity, microbial genetic studies, underwater mineral exploration, and underwater life and environmental studies. It has data buoys that can measure ocean currents, waves, and important environmental information. These buoys will provide real-time satellite information to the Chinese government, the report then said.

3. Previous docking: In February, the Maldivian Foreign Ministry had said the Xiang Yang Hong 3 was here to make a port call, for the rotation of its personnel and replenishment after a diplomatic request was made by the government of China to the government of Maldives. The vessel would not be conducting any research while in the Maldivian waters, the Foreign Ministry said on January 23.

4. Presence at the EEZ: Xiang Yang Hong 03 has been active inside or near Maldives territory since January. The ship has now come back after skirting the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The ship had earlier docked on February 23 at the same Thilafushi port, about 7.5 km to the west of Male. The hi-tech ship reached Maldivian waters on February 22 after spending about a month near the boundary of the Maldives' EEZ. About six days later, the ship went back to the EEZ boundary.

5. Previous citing:The same vessel was present near the India-Maldives-Lanka trilateral 'Dosti-16' exercise Incidentally, the same Chinese vessel was present near the India-Maldives-Sri Lanka trilateral 'Dosti-16' exercise that took place in the ocean near Male between February 22 and 25, PTI said.
The latest United States intelligence agencies report concludes that Russian President Vladimir Putin probably didnt order opposition leader Alexei Navalny to be killed. Navalnys death in February sparked wide protests across the globe.

Navalny, 47, Putins fiercest critic died at an Arctic prison on February 16. The Kremlin has denied any state involvement in his death. However, Navalnys family and allies have reiterated the states involvement and he was being tortured in the prison.

There were also reports that Navalnys death was around the time when talks were underway to free him in a prisoner swap between Russia and the West.

According to the Wall Street Journal report, the US intelligence agencies determined that Putin probably didn't order Navalny to be killed in February.

The WSJ report said that Washington had not declared the Russian leader of overall responsibility for Navalny's death. However, given the opposition politician had been targeted by Russian authorities for years, jailed on charges the West said were politically motivated, and had been poisoned in 2020 with a nerve agent.

The Kremlin denied state involvement in the 2020 poisoning then too.

Meanwhile, while commenting on the WSJ report Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday that it contained "empty speculation".

"I've seen the material, I wouldn't say it's high-quality material that deserves attention," Peskov told reporters.

The finding had been "broadly accepted within the intelligence community and shared by several agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the State Departments intelligence unit," reported WSJ citing sources.
A video of a Black man yelling "I can't breathe" as a police officer in US state of Ohio knelt on his neck, after wrestling him to the floor of a bar and handcuffed him, has caused outrage on social media. The man was declared dead at a local hospital, as per reports.



The video is reminiscent of the killing of another Black American, George Floyd, who was killed in a similar way in 2020. In the 36-minute body camera footage released by the Canton Police Department, officers are seen apprehending 53-year-old Frank Eugene Tyson.

Tyson who was suspected of leaving the scene of a single-car accident reportedly ran to a nearby bar. In the footage, the police officers can be seen confronting Tyson at the bar following which he shouts, "Cal the sheriff, they're trying to kill me".

Following this, the policemen pin Tyson to the ground and handcuff him, with one of them kneeling on his neck for about 30 seconds.

Tyson can be heard repeatedly yells, "I can't breathe. I can't... get off my neck." In response, another officer yells "Calm down, you're fine".

After the officers get up, Tyson is seen lying motionless, face down on the floor for about six minutes. When they check on him, he seems to be unresponsive. The policemen can be heard saying, "Is he breathing?" and "Does he have a pulse?"

Following this, they are seen removing Tyson's cuffs and giving him CPR. Later, paramedics can be seen carrying Tyson on a stretcher into an ambulance.

In 2020, Minneapolis police drew flak after Floyd was killed after a White police officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck. The incident triggered protests across the US and abroad over police brutality and racial discrimination. Chauvin and three other police officers were later convicted of manslaughter and other crimes.

NEW: 53-year-old man dies after getting taken to the ground by police and telling them that he couldnt breathe.



As Ohio man Frank Tyson was motionless on the ground, one officer could be heard bragging about the bar fight.



Tyson had just gotten out of prison according to pic.twitter.com/vGUTHfLHI6  Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 26, 2024

The accused police officers in Tyson's killing, identified as Beau Schoenegge and Camden Burch, were place on administrative leave and the local crime investigation bureau is probing the incident, according to reports.

Who was Frank Eugene Tyson?

Tyson was released from Belmont Correctional Institute in St Clairsville, Ohio, 13 days before he died in police custody on April 18, according to WKYC, a Cleveland-based NBC affiliate.

He was serving a 24-year sentence for charges including kidnapping, burglary, grand theft of a vehicle, receiving stolen property and failing to comply with a police officer in connection with an incident on July 20, 2000. His sentence included a three-year parol provision after his release. He he was on parole when he was released on April 6 up until his death on April 18.

 with inputs from agencies
KYODO NEWS - Apr 27, 2024 - 19:57 | All, Japan

Nearly 30 percent of municipalities in Japan have no physical bookstores due to the impact of population shrinkage and the prevalence of online stores, according to a survey by a publishing industry association.

Of the country's 1,741 municipalities, 482 cities, towns and villages, or 27.7 percent of the total, had no bookstores as of March, with the rate increasing from 26.2 percent in the previous survey in September 2022, according to data released by the Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture.

In the prefectures of Okinawa, Nagano and Nara, more than half of their cities, towns and villages had no bookstores at all, with the rate standing at 56.1 percent, 53.2 percent and 51.3 percent, respectively.

Rural areas suffering depopulation have been particularly hit by vanishing bookstores, while all 23 wards in central Tokyo still had bookstores.

The central government has been searching for effective measures to prevent physical bookstores from disappearing. They are considered important for expanding knowledge by offering opportunities to discover books outside one's usual interests, in contrast to the online trend of narrowly tailored searches for specific interests.

Currently, there are 7,973 real bookstores, excluding secondhand bookstores and university cooperatives, across Japan, down 609 from the previous survey, which was the first of its kind.

Combining the 343 municipalities with just one physical bookstore and those with none, the overall percentage of cities, towns, and villages with limited or no access to physical bookstores stands at 47.4 percent.

Estimated sales of physical books and magazines also dwindled 6 percent in 2023 from the previous year to about 1.06 trillion yen ($6.7 billion), a downward trend that has continued since peaking at 2.66 trillion yen in 1996, according to the Research Institute for Publications.

"The environment (surrounding bookstores) becomes harsher as personnel costs rise while sales are down," said Shuichi Matsuki, an executive of the Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture.

Matsuki added that bookstores, in cooperation with publishers and writers, need to make their stores more attractive to customers.

Industry minister Ken Saito, following discussing with bookstore managers this month, expressed his vision of "aiming for a world where libraries, online sites and bookstores coexist."

His ministry launched a project team to promote the bookstore business in March.

Related coverage:

Animator Miyazaki, scholar Ueno among Time's 100 influential people

Japan publisher threatened over publication of trans-skeptical book

Chinese Nobel laureate sued for "beautifying" wartime Japan soldiers
A 42-year-old Indian-origin man was fatally shot by the police in San Antonio in the US state of Texas on April 21 Sunday. Sachin Sahoo, hailing from Uttar Pradesh but a legal United States citizen, was shot by an officer who saw the former hitting two of his colleagues with a vehicle in an effort to flee.



The police officers had arrived with a warrant to arrest Sahoo after it was alleged that he tried to run over a 51-year-old woman on purpose, severely injuring her. While the woman needed multiple surgeries, reports claimed that Sachin Sahoo suffered from bipolar disorder.

ALSO READ | Who was Frank Tyson? Another Black man killed by US cop in George Floyd-like murder

Here is everything that is known so far about the police firing that led to the death of the Indian-origin man in the US:

On the evening of April 21, cops were called to a home in San Antonio's Cheviot Height. The first responders learnt that Sahoo was deliberately hit a middle-aged woman with his vehicle. The victim, his roommate, was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition and a felony arrest warrant for Sahoo who fled from the spot soon after committing the offence.

However, Sahoo returned to Cheviot Height later that night and was spotted by neighbors. A police unit reached the spot after being alerted and confronted the man. When the officers tried to contact him, he struck two of them with his vehicle, reports said. Meanwhile, an officer opened fire at Sahoo, who was "pronounced deceased on scene." While one of the policemen was rushed to the nearby hospital, the other was okay to carry on after being treat at the scene, reports added.

Sachin Sahoo reportedly intended to drive past the two police cars blocking his way and ended up hitting the officers. The bodycam footage of the officer who gunned him down is yet to be checked, media reports said. The officer only meant to stop Sahoo from proceeding further.
Global Ease of Doing Business Rankings based on parameters suited to Western nations, performance of emerging economies like India in such Indexes puts a question mark on their credibility and methodology



Member Parliament & Chancellor Chandigarh University in Global AI Summit, hosted at Stanford University



STANFORD, Calif. and CHANDIGARH, India, April 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Indian Diaspora, Indian origin business leaders and international experts from diverse backgrounds, including Chief executive officers, managing directors, academicians, health and AI experts from IT companies hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership for making India a global hub for Artificial Intelligence (AI) at "Indiaspora AI Summit", organised at Stanford University, USA. Besides Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of India, Eric Garcetti and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) & Chancellor Chandigarh University, Satnam Singh Sandhu, CEOs, Technocrats, Researchers, Academicians attended the AI Summit at Stanford University in large numbers.







At the Summit, Indian Diaspora and Indian Origin business leaders from IT and other sectors said PM Modi is shaping India's future by using AI in making nation's strategy for a Viksit Bharat by 2047. They said tech-savvy PM Modi understands transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI) and is promoting AI applications in sectors like agriculture, health-care, and education to take full advantage of the capabilities of AI for social development and inclusive growth.



A Research Paper, "Navigating The Nexus: Unravelling Critiques and Focal Axes of Business Index Constructs", authored by Dr Martin Dahl, faculty of Department of Economics and Management, Lazarski University (Poland) and co-authored by Bob Sidhu and Tejas Dhami was presented during the summit. It ccondemned India's agenda-based rating by Western agencies and lambasted bias against the fastest growing economy in global business indexes. The Research Paper focused on studying the methodology, data collection technique used and other parameters used in calculating the Ease of Doing Business Index which is done every year by World Bank.



Presenting the Research Paper along with Tejas Dhami at the Summit, Chief Global Services at Iron Systems, Bob Sidhu said key findings of this research is that there is issue of faulty and biased rankings affecting business performances and suggest impartiality in improving the global business indexes with transparency.



"Starting with Ease of Doing Business, it's done by the World Bank on the basis of 10 parameters for 190 countries. On the basis of policies and progress, the performance of India which is one of the top emerging economies of the World should have been positioned better in comparison to other nations which otherwise don't have good infrastructure and policies to welcome new businesses. The rankings released by World Bank in 2020 showed that India ranked at 63 which is lower than the countries like Kenya which is ranked 56, Rawanda which is ranked 38 and Kosovo which is ranked 57 even as India leads these countries in matrix such as getting electricity, protecting minority investors, starting a business and trading across borders. India leads these countries in four of the parameters yet India is ranked 63 below these countries which is an evidence of the manipulation done. The criticism and further research on this topic shows that there is problem with data and there is lack of transparency. One of the major problem on Ease of Doing Business Index is that all type of businesses are not covered. These are one of the many other things," Sidhu said.



He said Indian initiatives for improving Ease of Doing Business include remarkable reduction in registration fee and security deposit for electricity connection; and strengthened measures for protecting minority investors in 2015.



"The need for minimum capital and certificate of commencement of business was removed in 2016. Reforms of 2017 were connected with cheaper and faster commercial electricity, electronic tax payments; and removed complications in cross border trade by digitalization. Reforms of 2017 also include reforms for better contract enforcements. PAN and TAN linkage, reduction of import border compliance, are major reforms of 2018. GST implementation, introduction of general incorporation form are major attractions of 2019," Sidhu citing wrong methodologies, bias, manipulations, and hidden agendas in the global business rankings for India which, he said, destroy the purpose and credibility of global business indexes.



Tejas Dhami, Stanford graduate and research fellow, said, "In this Research Paper, we have come to the conclusion that India has been misrepresented in the Ease of Doing Business Index and Logistics Performance Index. In Ease of Business Index, India is ranked below countries like Kenya, Kosovo and Rwanda. And the reason for this are data manipulations and data irregularities. India leads these countries in multiple factors like registering of property, credit availability, and protection of minority interest. In these Logistics Performance Index, India leads countries like Qatar and Latvia. But despite this, India is behind those countries on the basis of rankings. India leads those countries in international shipment score and timeliness score. We feel this data needs to be revised and the indexes need to match the actual representation of these countries,".



Dhami cited faulty methodology, hidden agenda, Western bias, data irregularity, manipulation and trust issues, data uniformity issues, monopoly, limited data, reliability issue of data instruments, bias and subjective views as reasons for skewed ratings of India in Global Indices influenced by Western World.



"The Logistics Performance Index 2023 ranking was for 139 countries. Six indicators are tracked for calculating the Logistics Performance Index. These indicators are customs, quality of infrastructure, easiness in arranging shipping services, quality of logistics services, consignment monitoring, and punctuality of shipments. Singapore and Finland lead in this index. However, countries like Latvia is ranked 35, Qatar is ranked 36 and Thailand is ranked 37 ahead of India ranked 38 in this Index. The challenges of bias and agenda-based ranking can be the reason for such performance. The analysis of performance of Latvia, Qatar, and Thailand, in comparison with India shows that India outperforms these countries in international shipment score and timeliness score; and has almost at par performance in tracking and tracing score. However, India is well behind these countries in the Logistics Performance Index ranking. India's low ranking in Global Logistics index by Western agencies smacks of bias and reflective of agenda aimed at discrediting the progress been made in recent years. In comparing quite relatively equally on customs scores, infrastructure scores and logistic competence, the data seems to have shown evidence that there is lack of consistency and lack of transparency which needs to be addressed for it to be viable as these indexes can prove harmful for further investment growth in India or else there could be ramifications," he added.



Satnam Singh Sandhu, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) & Chancellor Chandigarh University, said, "Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came into power in 2014, great focus has been laid on the usage of Technology to ensure progress and prosperity in the country. Furthermore, he has emphasized on shaping India's future through integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the nation's strategic vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. Recognizing AI's transformative potential, PM Modi is promoting its application in sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and education for social progress and inclusive growth."



While highlighting India's remarkable economic progress under PM Modi's leadership, he added, "India has jumped from being world's 10th largest economy in 2014 to 5th largest economy in just 10 years. This development of India has impacted every section of the society. Over the past decade, 250 million people moved out of poverty, who now have access to essential amenities like clean drinking water, electricity connection, toilet facility, LPG cylinders for cooking, and quality healthcare. This is what is called Real Growth and Real Transformation, which has happened due to the unwavering commitment and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi."



Silicon Valley is the center for technology but for AI India has transformed itself into global hub: Rohit Jain, CIO of Harvard Business School Alumni Association



India at forefront of AI revolution in the world, taken bull by its horns, says India Origin banker in Stanford, California



Ajay Shah, Co-Head of TMT Investment Banking at Deutsche Bank, San Francisco said, "India's vision for AI is remarkable. Today, India is indeed at the forefront of AI revolution not just because of the fantastic talent the country has for software and technology but for what Prime Minister Modi has done. India has taken the bull by its horns and focused on how AI can be a disruptive technology for India's growth story. Rather than focusing on the potential negative aspects of AI, India is dwelling on the positives; if AI can be appropriately used for right application then it can deliver significant results. Really excited to see how it has been changing the entire landscape in India and across the world today. Modi guarantees are definitely working for India and for what PM Modi has done for the development of India and global good, we here is US are rooting for his landslide victory in the polls."



Expressing gratitude to PM Modi for what he has done for the development of not just India but for the global good, Rohit Jain, CIO of Harvard Business School Alumni Association, said, "In the past 10 years of Modi government, India has already transformed itself into a global hub of AI (Artificial Intelligence). India is leading the way in technology globally today. We think that the Silicon Valley is the center for technology but for AI India is the global center. I do a lot of research and on governments and societal impacts of technology; in the past 10 years I have seen India have gone from 100000 start-ups to 1 million start-ups in the past 10 years which is really good thing for the economy. PM Modi must continue to deliver on the guarantees for the welfare and development of India. Abki baar 450 paar."



Kamal Ahluwalia, President of Ikigai Labs, said that PM Modi has done a lot of developmental works in the last 10 years. He emphasized that under PM Modi's leadership, India has undergone remarkable transformation with numerous opportunities emerging across various sectors since 2014. The substantial growth in India's skilled workforce, particularly in data and AI models, attributing this progress to PM Modi's initiatives. Moreover, he mentioned the abundance of job opportunities in both India and America within the data modeling and AI sectors. The Modi government, affirming that PM Modi's vision and policies are steering India towards a promising future in the realms of digital technology, he added.



Indian Diaspora in the USA hails 'Modi Magic' for India's remarkable transformation and global rise over the past decade



Amit Walia, CEO of Informatica, hailing from Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), expressed gratitude for his Indian roots, highlighting its significant influence on shaping his values and outlook. Reflecting on India's remarkable development over the past decade, Walia said, "India has undergone unprecedented transformation in the last 10 years, and the credit goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Today, India is perceived very differently in the global space of innovation, human capital, and progress. PM Modi has put India on a global map as a credible innovator, leader and geopolitics player for all countries. During my stay in the USA, I have seen the tremendous Magic of Prime Minister Modi, particularly in fostering pride in the success of the Indian Diaspora and enhancing the global presence of Indians." Walia further emphasized on Varanasi's development by PM Modi as a reflection of India's progress by promoting Indian tradition and elevating India's pride on a large scale. He also encouraged young Indians to vote for progress, job creation, and innovation, while highlighting the evident progress of India under PM Modi's leadership.



Priya Ramachandran, Founder and Managing Partner Foster Ventures who originally hails from Bangalore in Karnataka, India, said, "Over the past decade, we have transitioned from looking inward to looking outwards, and creating a platform that empowers every individual in India and across the world. It has contributed to India's evolution into a nation that is respected and promotes women and people from all sectors, fostering nationwide equity and equality. This transformation is credited to the 'Modi Magic', which has greatly benefited individuals like myself. This ecosystem fosters collaboration and empowers us to think and work together, which the Modi Government is pushing for during the last decade. Moreover, for fostering better Indo-US relationship, it's very important to continue the efforts initiated years ago for achieving a fruitful outcome and maintaining a desired impact. Thank you, Prime Minister Modi, for everything you are doing."



Indian Diaspora in USA lauds PM Modi for fostering business-friendly environment, leading to India's ascension as a StartUp Nation



Vani Kola, Managing Director of Kalaari Capital, an early-stage venture capital firm, expressed the privilege to be able to participate in the development of Indian startups through investment for the past two decades. Reflecting on progress in technology and entrepreneurship over the past decade, she said, I believe in the magic of dedicated and passionate leadership. The development we have seen in the field of technology and entrepreneurship in the last 10 years is unprecedented. The emergence of over 100 unicorns within this timeframe is nothing short of magical, and it has happened because of great leadership. Prime Minister Modi's leadership has fostered an environment where business is welcomed. Today India is not merely a country that encourages startups, rather, it has already established itself as a StartUp Nation."



Under Modi government, New Unicorns taking birth almost everyday, say business leader in California



Priya Rajan, the Managing Director of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) that since 2014 India has seen more startups than ever before. She added, "Earlier, there were only a handful of Unicorn Companies in India, but now, the country has been witnessing the birth of a new Unicorn Company almost every day." She attributed this incredible progress to the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Modi. "PM Modi has paved the way for countless opportunities for entrepreneurs in India, fostering a conducive environment for innovation and growth. PM Modi's tireless efforts over the past decade and his dedication to promote entrepreneurship is unparallel which has ushered in change, growth and prosperity for all."



About Chandigarh University



Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade University and QS World Ranked University. This autonomous educational institution is approved by UGC and is located near Chandigarh in the state of Punjab. It is the youngest university in India and the only private university in Punjab to be honoured with A+ Grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). CU offers more than 109 UG and PG programs in the field of engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and others. It has been awarded as The University with Best Placements by WCRC.



Website address: https://www.cuchd.in/



Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2399167/Press_Pic.jpg



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

PWR
Mumbai, Apr 27 (PTI) Filmmaker Nag Ashwins sci-fi film Kalki 2898-AD, starring Prabhas and Deepika Padukone, is now scheduled to release in the theatres on June 27, 2024, the makers announced on Saturday.

Production banner Vyjayanthi Movies shared the news of the multilingual big-budget movies new release date on its social media pages along with a poster.

All the forces come together for a better tomorrow on 27-06-2024 #Kalki2898AD," the studio posted.

Also starring Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan and Disha Patani, the movie has been delayed on multiple occasions. It was earlier scheduled for release on May 9 after being moved from January 12.

The magnum opus, which was greenlit as Project K in 2020, promises to transport audiences to a world never seen before in Indian cinema, according to the makers.

The films official title, Kalki 2898-AD, was announced by the makers at the San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) in July 2023. It is produced by Aswini Dutt, the founder of Vyjayanthi Movies.
Islamabad, Apr 27 (PTI) Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday left for Saudi Arabia to attend the World Economic Forum and also hold bilateral meetings with world leaders.

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.

During the two-day visit, PM Shehbaz will meet Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman to discuss Riyadh's investment prospects in the country along with the dignitary's Islamabad visit.

Sharif is accompanied by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.

He is also expected to mull over the prospects and details of the new economic package being sought out by Pakistan in his meeting with International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, The News International reported.

The prime minister and the ministers will participate in WEF discussions on issues related to trade and investment measures, new investment frameworks, restructuring of supply chains, sustainable growth, and the energy landscape, it said quoting the Foreign Office statement issued on Saturday.

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.

His trip comes after last month's visit by Saudi Kingdom's Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud, which was followed by the visit of a high-level delegation led by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan earlier this month.
Lahore, Apr 27 (PTI) German Ambassador to Pakistan Alfred Grannas' speech was interrupted on here Saturday by a pro-Palestine protester, who asked why he was speaking on civil rights when his own country is violating it.

Ambassador Alfred Grannas was speaking at the 5th Asma Jahangir Conference titled Peoples Mandate: Safeguarding Civil Rights in South Asia at a local hotel here in the capital city of Pakistan's Punjab province.

Moments after the ambassador began his speech, a young man rose from his seat and started shouting: Excuse me, Mr Ambassador. I am shocked by the audacity that you are here to talk about civil rights while your country is brutally abusing the people speaking for the rights of the Palestinians.

His comments drew cheer from the other participants with chants of Free, Free Palestine, with many of them rising from their seats in support of the pro-Palestine protester.

As the protester was shouting, the ambassador appeared to be losing his temper as he said, If you want to shout, go out, there you can shout. Because shouting is not a discussion.

Live streaming of Grannas speech was suspended till the organisers managed to take the young man out of the hall.

The protester was later identified as a varsity student belonging to the Progressive Students Collective (PSC) and was accompanied by some other students from the same organisation.

The PSC soon after posted on its official X handle: PSC exposed the hypocrisy of German Ambassador questioning him on the role of Germany in Palestinian Genocide. The organizers of AJ Conf forcefully silenced the voices of students while platforming the facilitators of Pal Gen. #Ajconference #FreePalestine #germanambassador

The first edition of the Asma Jahangir Conference was held in 2018, following the death of renowned lawyer and human rights champion Asma Jahangir.

When reached out for comment by Geo.tv regarding the envoy's mic being muted, Munizae Jahangir  journalist and board member of the Asma Jahangir Foundation, clarified: German ambassador mic was not muted at all, we dont have that technology or above all, the intention.

She also maintained that the conference had arranged a full panel on Palestine and with great difficulty got a noted human rights activist recognised as a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International, Geo News reported.

Germany as part of G7 and also as a prominent EU member has been supportive of Israel in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict which has taken a huge toll on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The latest Israel-Hamas war started on October 7, 2023, when the Hamas militant group carried out an unprecedented attack by air, sea and land on Israel that killed around 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped 250 others. Israels response since then in Gaza has not just killed more than 34,000 people but also caused widespread devastation.
Peshawar, Apr 27 (PTI) A district and sessions judge was abducted on Saturday by armed men in Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police said.

Shakirullah Marwat was kidnapped near Tank and Dera Ismail (DI) Khan district bordering Afghanistan.

DI Khan Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mohammad Adnan said the incident took place in a village named Bagwal. The judge was kidnapped when he was on his way back to DI Khan, returning from duty.

The driver of the judge was not harmed. The vehicle was also recovered from the spot.

Police said that no one has claimed responsibility for the judge's abduction.

Reacting to the incident, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Central Information Secretary Faisal Karim Kundi expressed concern.

He called on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to explain the reason for his "non-seriousness" in the establishment of peace in the province.

"(The) CM should tell why isn't he serious about the establishment of peace and why terrorists are on the loose," he asked.

Kundi said that the report of the judge's abduction has given rise to a sense of insecurity among the masses.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Gandapur issued directives for the safe recovery of the abducted judge. He said that emergency measures should be taken for Marwat's recovery and all available resources should be utilised for the task.

Gandapur condemned the incident, saying that elements involved in the kidnapping cannot escape justice.

Chief Justice Peshawar High Court Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim along with two other judges have called an emergency meeting to ensure security for senior judges in the province.

Additional Chief Secretary of the province and Inspector General of Police Akhtar Hayat Khan Gandapur attended the meeting.

Secretary Home Abid Majeed briefed the meeting.

Monitoring the progress in the case, the district administration has been directed to ensure the timely recovery of the judge.
Washington, Apr 27 (AP) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has determined that an Israeli army battalion committed grave human-rights abuses 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 US 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 US decision this week, have angrily protested any such aid restrictions.

News of the delay comes with Blinken once again headed to Israel. An Israeli foreign ministry official told The Associated Press that Blinken was visiting on Tuesday, the latest of multiple trips he and other top US officials have made since the war in Gaza began.

Blinken stressed in his letter that overall U.S. military support for Israel's defense against Hamas and other threats would not be affected by the State Department's eventual decision on the one unit.

Johnson was instrumental this week in muscling through White House-backed legislation providing USD 26 billion in additional funds for Israel's defense and for relief of the growing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

The Biden administration is facing a decision on the aid as protests and counterprotests over American military support for Israel's war against Hamas are roiling US college campuses as well as election-year politics at home and relations abroad.

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.

The Israeli army announced in 2022 that the unit was being redeployed to the Golan Heights near the Syrian and Lebanese borders. More recently, its soldiers were moved to Gaza to fight in the war against Hamas.

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.

After State Department reviews, Blinken wrote Johnson, he had determined that two Israeli Defense Force units and several civilian authority units were involved in significant rights abuses. But he also found that one of those two Israeli military units and all the civilian units had taken proper and effective remediation measures.

Although the amount of money at stake is relatively small, singling out the unit would be embarrassing for Israel, whose leaders often refer to the military as "the world's most moral army".

The US and Israeli militaries have close ties, routinely training together and sharing intelligence. It also would amount to another stinging U.S. rebuke of Israel's policies in the West Bank. The Biden administration has grown increasingly vocal in its criticism of Israel's treatment of the Palestinians and recently imposed sanctions on a number of radical settlers for violence against Palestinians. (AP) NSD

NSD
Jerusalem, Apr 27 (AP) Yemen's Houthi rebels on Saturday claimed shooting down another of the US military's MQ-9 Reaper drones, airing footage of parts that corresponded to known pieces of the unmanned aircraft.

The Houthis said they shot down the Predator with a surface-to-air missile, part of a renewed series of assaults this week by the rebels after a relative lull in their pressure campaign over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

Officials at the Pentagon, US Central Command and the US Air Force did not immediately return requests for comment Saturday over the Houthi footage. However, CBS News on Friday quoted an anonymous US military official acknowledging a drone had crashed in Yemen.

The Houthis described the downing as happening Thursday over their stronghold in the country's Saada province.

Footage released by the Houthis included what they described as the missile launch targeting the drone, with a man off-camera reciting the Houthi's slogan after it was hit: God is the greatest; death to America; death to Israel; curse the Jews; victory to Islam.

The footage included several close-ups on parts of the drone that included the logo of General Atomics, which manufactures the drone, and serial numbers corresponding with known parts made by the company.

Since the Houthis seized the country's north and its capital of Sanaa in 2014, the US military has lost at least five drones to the rebels counting Thursday's shootdown  in 2017, 2019, 2023 and this year.

Reapers, which cost around USD 30 million apiece, can fly at altitudes up to 50,000 feet and have an endurance of up to 24 hours before needing to land.

The drone shootdown comes as the Houthis launch attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, demanding Israel ends the war in Gaza, which has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians there.

The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking some 250 others hostage.

The Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping, seized one vessel and sank another since November, according to the US Maritime Administration.

Houthi attacks have dropped in recent weeks as the rebels have been targeted by a US-led airstrike campaign in Yemen. Shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has declined because of the threat. American officials have speculated that the rebels may be running out of weapons as a result of the US-led campaign against them and after firing drones and missiles steadily in the last months. However, the rebels have renewed their attacks in the last week. (AP) NPK

NPK
Jerusalem, Apr 27 (AP) Ballistic missiles fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels caused minor damage to a Panama-flagged oil tanker travelling through the Red Sea on Friday, authorities said.

The attack follows an uptick in assaults launched by the Houthis in recent days after a relative lull in their months-long campaign over Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The rebels fired three missiles in the attack, one of which damaged the Panama-flagged, Seychelles-registered Andromeda Star, the US military's Central Command said. The private security firm Ambrey described the tanker as being engaged in Russia-linked trade. The vessel was travelling from Primorsk, Russia, to Vadinar, India, Ambrey said.

Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree later claimed the attack early Saturday in a prerecorded statement aired by the rebels. He described the tanker as being directly hit.

Another vessel, the Antiqua-Barbados-flagged, Liberia-operated Maisha, was also nearby at the time of the assault, the US said. The attack occurred off Mocha, Yemen, near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

The Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping, seized one vessel and sank another since November, according to the US Maritime Administration.

Houthi attacks have dropped in recent weeks as the rebels have been targeted by a US-led airstrike campaign in Yemen. Shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has declined because of the threat. American officials have speculated that the rebels may be running out of weapons as a result of the US-led campaign against them and after firing drones and missiles steadily in the last months.

However, since Wednesday, there have been at least two other attacks claimed by the Houthis. The first targeted the MV Yorktown, a US-flagged, owned and operated vessel with 18 US and four Greek crew members. Another targeted the MSC Darwin.

The Houthis have said they will continue their attacks until Israel ends its war in Gaza, which has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians there. The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking some 250 others hostage.

Most of the ships targeted by the Houthis have had little or no direct connection to Israel, the US or other nations involved in the war. The rebels have also fired missiles toward Israel, though they have largely fallen short or been intercepted. (AP) GSP
New York, Apr 26 (AP) President Joe Biden said on 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 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.

Biden himself had also been vague, saying in March that whether he debated Trump depends on his behaviour. 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 Biden's remarks on the social media site X: OK let's 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 debating 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.

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.

A dozen news organisations, 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 Biden's upbringing, family, and his favourite 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 interview 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 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) PY

PY
KYODO NEWS - Apr 27, 2024 - 09:58 | Feature, All, Japan

During the early 1970s there were multiple reported sightings of a frightening ape-like creature that emerged from deep in the Chugoku Mountain range in western Japan, sparking angst among locals and even a police investigation.

As the story began to take hold, with dozens of sightings reported around Mt. Hiba in Hiroshima Prefecture, the beast eventually came to be known as "Hibagon."

More than five decades have passed since the first sightings, but believers from around Japan have continued to search in hopes of laying eyes on the mysterious creature.

According to the local Saijo Tourism Association, the Hibagon stands about 160 centimeters tall, has a hairy body and an inverted triangular face with a head twice the size of a human's.

From ancient times, Mt. Hiba has been a place of worship where myths abound related to Izanami-no-Mikoto, the goddess of birth and death in Japanese folklore.

It was here on the night of July 20, 1970, that a man in his 30s said he saw from his car an unusual two-legged creature walking down a mountain road in the Yuki district in the former town of Saijo, now incorporated into the city of Shobara, before it slowly retreated back up the trail after noticing it was being watched.

Eyewitnesses have described the unidentified figure as resembling a gorilla covered in dark brown bristles -- the Japanese equivalent of the North American Bigfoot or Himalayan Yeti.

Many people reported spotting the Hibagon over time, causing some residents to be wary of leaving their homes.

The story grabbed headlines, with an article published in the Chugoku Shimbun newspaper on Aug. 26, 1970, recounting the tales of three now-deceased local farmers who spoke about seeing the Hibagon on separate occasions.

One man who was mowing grass near his home early in the morning of July 23, three days after the first sighting, claimed to have seen a creature in a grassy area with a "human face." Another man on July 30 called out to a person whom he believed was a relative walking along a footpath to a rice field, but it turned out to be a "gorilla-type monster."

News of the sightings caused a sensation that eventually drew the attention of police, local government and researchers.

The former reporter, then Shobara bureau chief of the Chugoku Shimbun, who wrote the article, was quoted in the Hiroshima-based daily as saying, "I didn't take the first call seriously because I thought it was just a hoax, but then I got another call from someone else who gave an eyewitness account."

After meeting separately with the three eyewitnesses to hear and compare their stories, the reporter said all appeared shaken up, with one saying, "I can't live here anymore." Another complained of people accusing him of "faking" the story and not believing him.

The Saijo town office later set up a consultation center to deal with residents concerned about the Hibagon sightings. In the end, there were 29 reported encounters.

By the mid-70s, talk about the Hibagon had died down, and the consultation center was closed in June 1975. These days, the Hibagon has become a symbol of the town, and signs with its imagined likeness are everywhere.

A plaster "footprint" purported to belong to the Hibagon was kept in the chief's office of the Shobara Police Station, which is part of the Hiroshima Prefectural Police.

In 2021, when the town's tourist association introduced the footprint in a video on its website, it became a hot topic of conversation, especially among Japan's cryptid enthusiasts.

The police department states that although there is a record of having collected it on Dec. 16, 1970, and storing it, nobody knows its provenance.

As well as the Hibagon, "Tsuchinoko" serpentine monsters are rumored to exist in Nara Prefecture and local tourism authorities in that region are attempting to cash in on visitors' curiosity.

Last year, the Shobara Police Department donated the "footprint" to the tourism association, which moved it to JR Bingo-Saijo Station. The tourist association used the donation as an opportunity to start recruitment for a "Hibagon Explorers" fan club that has seen about 40 people from around Japan join.

A tour of the mountain road where the first sightings supposedly took place is planned for May. Kazuo Yamaguchi, chairman of the tourist association, said, "The Hibagon is an important presence. We would like to promote it as our strength to appeal to the charms of the northern part of the prefecture."

Related coverage:

FEATURE: Domestic strawberry producers of "Warring States" eying new breeds

FEATURE: Capturing the cormorants that do cormorant fishing

FEATURE: Tokyo ramen shop created close-knit community shown in film
New York, Apr 27 (AP) Students protesting the Israel-Hamas war at universities across US, some of whom have clashed with police in riot gear, dug in Saturday and vowed to keep their demonstrations going, while several school faculties condemned university presidents who have called in law enforcement to remove protesters.

As Columbia University continues negotiations with those at a pro-Palestinian student encampment on the New York school's campus, the university's senate passed a resolution Friday that created a task force to examine the administration's leadership, which last week called in police in an attempt to clear the protest, resulting in scuffles and more than 100 arrests.

Though the university has repeatedly set and then pushed back deadlines for the removal of the encampment, the school sent an email to students Friday night saying that bringing back police at this time" would be counterproductive, adding that they hope the negotiations show "concrete signs of progress tonight.

As the death toll mounts in the war in Gaza, protesters nationwide are demanding that 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.

The decisions to call in law enforcement, leading to hundreds of arrests nationwide, have prompted school faculty members at universities in California, Georgia and Texas to initiate or pass votes of no confidence in their leadership. They are largely symbolic rebukes, without the power to remove their presidents.

But the tensions pile pressure on school officials, who are already scrambling to resolve the protests as May graduation ceremonies near.

California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, gave protestors who have barricaded themselves inside a building since Monday until 5 pm Friday to leave and not be immediately arrested. The deadline came and went. Only some of the protesters left, others doubled down. After protesters rebuffed police earlier in the week, the campus was closed for the rest of the semester.

In Colorado, police swept through an encampment Friday at Denver's Auraria Campus, which hosts three universities and colleges, arresting around 40 protesters on trespassing charges.

Students representing the Columbia encampment, which inspired the wave of protests across the country, said Friday that they reached an impasse with administrators and intend to continue their protest.

After meetings Thursday and Friday, student negotiators said the university had not met their primary demand for divestment, although there was progress on a push for more transparent financial disclosures.

We will not rest until Columbia divests, said Jonathan Ben-Menachem, a fourth-year doctoral student.

In the letter sent to Columbia students Friday night, the university's leadership said we support the conversations that are ongoing with student leaders of the encampment."

Columbia's president, Minouche Shafik, faced significant criticism from faculty Friday, but retained the support of trustees.

A report by the university senate's executive committee, which represents faculty, found Shafik and her administration took many actions and decisions that have harmed Columbia University. Those included calling in police and allowing students to be arrested without consulting faculty, misrepresenting and suspending student protest groups and hiring private investigators.

The faculty have completely lost confidence in President Shafik's ability to lead this organization, said Ege Yumusak, a philosophy lecturer who is part of a faculty team protecting the encampment.

In response, university spokesperson Ben Chang said in the evening that we are committed to an ongoing dialogue and appreciate the Senate's constructive engagement in finding a pathway forward.

Also Friday, Columbia student protester Khymani James walked back comments made in an online video in January that recently received new attention. James said in the video that Zionists don't deserve to live and people should be grateful James wasn't killing them.

What I said was wrong, James said in a statement. Every member of our community deserves to feel safe without qualification.

James, who served as a spokesperson for the pro-Palestinian encampment as a member of Columbia University Apartheid Divest, was banned from campus Friday, according to a Columbia spokesperson.

Protest organisers said James' comments didn't reflect their values. They declined to describe James' level of involvement with the demonstration.

Police clashed with protesters Thursday at Indiana University, Bloomington, where 34 were arrested; Ohio State University, where about 36 were arrested; and at the University of Connecticut, where one person was arrested.

The University of Southern California cancelled its May 10 graduation ceremony Thursday, 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 ceremonies.

Universities where faculty members have initiated or passed votes of no confidence in their presidents include Cal Poly Humboldt, University of Texas at Austin and Emory University. (AP) GSP
Thane, Apr 27 (PTI) Police on Saturday arrested 11 Nigerian nationals in Navi Mumbai for allegedly running a drug racket, and seized from them cocaine and other narcotic substances worth Rs 1.61 crore, an official said.

The arrest was made following a raid conducted on Friday, he said.

"Acting on a tip-off that some Nigerian nationals residing at Koprigaon in Navi Mumbai's Vashi were operating a drug racket, a team of the police's Anti Human Trafficking Cell (AHTC) conducted a raid at a flat between 3 pm and 7 pm on Friday, and seized drugs from there," the police official said.

Eleven Nigerian nationals in the age group of 30 to 50 were nabbed during the operation and were formally placed under arrest in the wee hours of Saturday, the police official said.

"The seized drugs comprised mostly cocaine. The stock also included mephedrone and MDMA. The collective value of the drugs is Rs 1,61,00,000," he added.

Mobile phones and other equipment worth around Rs 25 lakh was also seized from the accused, he said.

A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was registered at the APMC police station in Vashi, the official said, adding that investigation was underway.
Imphal, Apr 27 (PTI) Security advisor to Manipur government, Kuldiep Singh, on Saturday issued a stern warning to the group responsible for the attack on a camp of security forces in Bishnupur district, which resulted in the deaths of two CRPF personnel and injuries to two others.

Speaking to reporters, Singh said, "Whoever has committed this act will face severe consequences. We are mobilising all necessary resources and agencies to identify and apprehend the perpetrators."

"The militants came and fired at the IRBn (India Reserve Battalion) camp at Naranseina in Moirang police station area in the early hours of Saturday. Though it was dark, the forces retaliated. Out of the four injured, two succumbed to injuries," Singh said, adding "these forces have come from distant places to maintain peace in this region."

Singh added, "Starting today, we have instructed all security forces, including Assam Rifles and the army, to intensify operations. We are formulating strategies for day-to-day operations. We will leave no stone unturned in our investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice."

Reacting to recent IED explosion that damaged a bridge in Kangpokpi district, Singh expressed concern over attacks on national infrastructure and central forces.

"I have seen that groups are now targeting national infrastructure such as roads and bridges. They are also attacking central forces. This cannot be tolerated. We will probe everything and take action against the culprits," he said.

Expressing surprise at the attack on security forces, Singh said, "We did not anticipate such assaults, especially considering that both Meitei and Kuki militants have historically refrained from targeting forces engaged in maintaining peace. We have always strived to maintain neutrality between both communities. In the past, both communities have welcomed the presence of central forces, so why attack neutral forces now?"

The deceased were identified as sub-inspector N Sarkar, a native of Assam's Kokrajhar district, and head constable Arup Saini of Bankura district in West Bengal, police said.

The injured were inspector Jadav Das and constable Aftab Das, police said, adding that they sustained splinter wounds.
Imphal, April 27 (PTI) Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Saturday strongly condemned the militant attack on security forces in Bishnupur district that claimed the lives of two CRPF personnel and vowed to nab the culprits without delay.

In an interview with PTI Video, he said efforts to apprehend the culprits were underway and assured that they will be brought to justice.

Two CRPF personnel were killed and two others injured after militants attacked an IRBn (India Reserve Battalion) camp at Naranseina in Moirang police station area in the early hours.

The deceased were identified as sub-inspector N Sarkar, a native of Assam's Kokrajhar district, and head constable Arup Saini of Bankura district in West Bengal.

Claiming restoration of peace of late in the strife-torn state, Singh highlighted the successful conduct of Lok Sabha elections, indicating increased confidence among people. He, however, lamented the targeting of security personnel who were deployed to protect the state's people.

"It's unfortunate that our soldiers and CRPF and Assam Rifles personnel are being targeted. They are here to protect our people," Singh said.

Dismissing Congress leader Jairam Ramesh's allegations of exerting pressure on voters, Singh asserted that the Election Commission takes action based on observer reports, not on the basis of social media posts.

"People participated enthusiastically in the election. Re-polling had to be conducted only in 11 polling stations", he said.

Ramesh on April 26 shared a video on X claiming that voters in Ukhrul district in Outer Manipur were being pressured to support the Naga People's Front, BJP's ally, instead of the Congress.

The Congress leader accused the security forces of not taking any action and lamented that such activities are taking place in one of "the most important elections of our lifetime".

Addressing the Meitei-Kuki struggle, Singh outlined government initiatives to restore peace, including the deployment of paramilitary forces, assistance for displaced persons, and reconciliation efforts through peace committees.

"The conflict should not have happened. The government took a lot of steps to contain the situation. Union Home Minister Amit Shah spent three days in the state and talked to the communities. Steps have been taken for displaced people. The central government has provided help in every way," he said.

Responding to opposition criticism, Singh underscored the BJP government's commitment to reconciliation and unity in Manipur, contrasting it with past policies.

"This is not the first time such an incident happened in the state. Manipur was a monarchy, the British included it in India and they worked on the policy of divide and rule. When Congress came to power, they also promoted the British policy. Only after the BJP formed the government, we tried for reconciliation," Singh added.

On the issue of drug trafficking, Singh highlighted the government's 'War on Drugs' campaign initiated in 2018 that led to significant seizures and a reduction in poppy cultivation.

"The BJP government started the 'War on Drugs' and has recovered heroin, opium and other narcotics worth over Rs 60,000 crore over the last few years," he added.

Singh also asserted the necessity of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and inner line permit, emphasizing their role in safeguarding the interests of indigenous communities and maintaining security.

He also elaborated on the efforts to enhance connectivity and infrastructure development in Manipur, emphasizing the importance of initiatives like the Moreh highway and the Golden Quadrilateral project in promoting economic growth and development.
Kohima, Apr 27 (PTI) Markets were shut and private offices were closed as an indefinite shutdown of business establishments began in Nagaland on Saturday to protest against extortion by underground groups.

The shutdown was first observed in the state's commercial capital Dimapur on Friday, following which the other districts joined on a call given by the Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce & Industries (CNCCI).

The CNCI said harassment of the business community over extortion cannot be tolerated any further.

It urged the government to take immediate steps to stop the "unabated" extortions, intimidations and summons by the underground groups.

The CNCI said that banks, educational institutions, government offices and hospitals have been kept outside the purview of the shutdown.

State Home Commissioner Vikeyie Kenya said that it has "come to the notice" of the government that "rampant collection of taxes" from businesses, particularly in Dimapur, by various groups, most of which have signed ceasefire agreements with the government, has created an unbearable situation.

"Such activities reflect adversely on the law enforcing agency as well as on the state government," he said, directing the police to take stringent measures.

He instructed the district administrations and the police to report any violation of the ceasefire ground rules to the Ceasefire Monitoring Group for appropriate action.

Police should continue arresting "underground cadres" found extorting under the National Security Act (NSA), Kenya said.

The Dimapur police commissioner was asked to increase patrolling in market areas, and also deploy IRBn personnel to instill confidence among the people, he said.

The government also directed that a special cell be formed by the police commissioner to exclusively deal with incidents of extortion, he added.

The Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DCCI) said directions of such nature were issued by the state government in the past as well.

"However, considering the government's continued insincerity, it does not seem to hold any water," it said.

The shutdown will continue as long as the government does not take any satisfactory steps, it added.
Kolkata, Apr 27 (PTI) People known as LGBTQ members usually face discrimination in their growing up phase from childhood facing acceptance problems from family, parents, siblings, neighbours, even friends and teachers, participants at a conclave here revealed.

Seventy-five members of the LGBTQ community from different parts of the state, shared their experiences at the conclave - "Rainbow Dialogues  All in this Together"  a project of US Consulate held across seven states in east and north-eastern India, held in collaboration with US-based organisation StoryCenter and BRIDGE early this week.

The participants called for inclusion, equity and accessibility for the LGBTQ community, a spokesperson from BRIDGE told PTI.

Director of the American Center Kolkata, Elizabeth Lee, said "As we reflect on the importance of human rights, we recognize that the struggle of LGBTQ people to obtain rights and recognition is inseparable from the broader fight for universal human rights.

An LGBTQ member from Kalyani in Nadia district told PTI, that though the attitude of people to the community is slowly changing he still faces harassment in public transport.

He recalled when he was a class seven student in a boys' school, his classmates often would ask him to prove he was male by undressing.

"However, in my workplace, my colleagues and seniors are very helpful and cooperative," he said emphasizing that attitude and perception have undergone a change in the past two to three years.

The 24-year-old youth was attending the meet at the American Center to share experiences with other community members.

Prithiraj Nag, one of the speakers and LGBTQ advocacy right activists said, "People known as LGBTQ members usually face discrimination since their growing up phase from childhood facing acceptance problem from family, parents, siblings, neighbours, even friends and teachers."

The 75 participants were mostly from West Bengal including transmen, transwomen, bisexuals, lesbians and other queer group members.
New Delhi, Apr 27 (PTI) Actor Gurucharan Singh of TV serial 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah' fame has reportedly gone missing, sources in the Delhi Police have said.

The 50-year-old actor's father has filed a missing complaint with the police, they said.

According to them, Gurucharan Singh had left home at 8:30 am on April 22 for the airport to go to Mumbai. But he did not reach Mumbai and his phone was also unreachable, the complaint stated.

Police sources said they have formed different teams and an investigation into the matter has been initiated.

"We are scanning CCTV footage to know what exactly has happened," a source said.
Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 27 (PTI) A day after polling concluded in 20 constituencies in Kerala, candidates cutting across political sides on Saturday exuded confidence about their victory and hoped that the drastic drop in voter turnout would favour them.

UDF candidates largely criticised the delayed voting, technical glitches of electronic voting machines and lack of arrangements in polling stations to beat the heat, but expressed confidence that these would not impact their winning prospects.

Many ruling LDF nominees openly claimed that decreased voter turnout has enhanced their chances of winning more seats.

They also claimed that the decreased voter turnout was a proof for the lack of anti-incumbency against the state government as claimed by the opposition UDF.

After examining the initial figures from the grassroots level, they also expressed confidence that their traditional votes had been polled despite humidity and technical glitches.

Senior Congress leader and party candidate in Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor said the party received "very positive news" not only from Kerala but also from Hindi-speaking states with the completion of the second phase of polling in the country.

"There is no doubt about the victory in Thiruvananthapuram. It will be a comfortable victory. The competition in the segment is for the second place," Tharoor told reporters here.

However, the leader said he cannot say at the moment whether the LDF or the BJP-led NDA would come in the second position in Thiruvananthapuram which witnessed a fierce three-cornered fight.

Congress leader and the party candidate in Thrissur K Muraleedharan alleged that large scale cross-voting had happened in the constituency.

He also said the decreased voter turnout won't be a negative factor in his winning prospects.

"If the BJP comes in the second position in Thrissur, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will be solely responsible for that," Muraleedharan further alleged.

He said the BJP would not win any seat in the state this time.

He also accused the Election Commission of failing to arrange adequate facilities for voters to beat the heat.

LDF's sitting MP and candidate in Alappuzha A M Arif attributed the decreased voter turnout to intense heat and humidity.

He said while examining the initial figures, it is believed that the traditional party votes had been polled without fail despite EVM glitches and heat.

He also wanted the Election Commission to make enough arrangements to face situations like intense heat at least in the elections in future.

"We should not persecute the voters for taking part in the democratic process," Arif further said.

Former Finance Minister and LDF candidate in Pathanamthitta T M Thomas Isaac indicated that the decreased voter turnout would ensure the victory of the Left in the segment.

He claimed that the absence of BJP voters might be the reason for decreased poll percentage.

While LDF candidate in Kasaragod M V Balakrishnan Master expected a victory margin of 70,000 votes, his rival candidate and Congress's sitting MP Rajmohan Unnithan claimed that he would win by a margin of over one lakh votes.

BJP candidate Suresh Gopi also expressed confidence that he could wrest Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency by beating the traditional fronts- LDF and UDF- this time.

Despite heightened political fervour and anticipation about the general elections for the 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala, the process concluded with a notable decrease in voter turnout, as the figure stood at 70.22 per cent at 8pm yesterday.

This figure, while significant, was quite a drop from the polling percentage of 77.84 per cent registered in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
New Delhi, Apr 27 (PTI) The Congress on Saturday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been hell-bent on taking "revenge" on the people of Karnataka since they "decisively rejected" him in the 2023 assembly elections.

The opposition party's attack came after the Centre approved about Rs 3,499 crore as drought relief to Karnataka following the state government taking the matter to the Supreme Court.

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X, "Ever since Mr Modi was rejected decisively by the people of Karnataka in the 2023 assembly elections, he has been hell-bent on taking his revenge."

First, Modi tried to "sabotage" the Anna Bhagya food security scheme but the Congress government was unshaken and launched a direct cash transfer scheme for the 4.49 crore beneficiaries, Ramesh said.

"Second, he cut off funds to Karnataka. Between April 2023 -- when he lost -- and January 2024, total central transfers to Karantaka have declined by 23 per cent. Central grants have fallen by 56 per cent," he alleged.

Third, the Centre delayed the legitimate drought relief funds due to the farmers of the state, Ramesh further claimed.

"223 out of 236 talukas in Karnataka are facing drought conditions, with 196 taluks being categorised as severely hit. As early as September 2023, the Karnataka government had approached the Modi sarkar to release funds of Rs 18,172 crore for drought relief. It was delayed for months," the Congress leader said.

Today, after the Karnataka government dragged the Modi government to the Supreme Court for failing to provide drought relief, the Union finance ministry finally agreed to release more than Rs 3,498 crore to Karnataka's farmers, he said.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said the Centre has approved Rs 3,499 crore as drought relief and released only Rs 3,454 crore.

He urged the prime minister to release the balance amount as soon as possible.

The chief minister also thanked the Supreme Court for warning the central government and providing some drought relief to the state.
Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 27 (PTI) A day after polling concluded for the 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala, the Congress on Saturday alleged that voters were harassed and the election machinery was hijacked by the ruling CPI(M) in the state with an aim to bring down the turnout percentage.



AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said the alleged hijacking of the election machinery by the ruling CPI(M) was one of the reasons for the decrease in polling percentage this year as compared to the turnout in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.



Despite heightened political fervour and anticipation about the general elections for the 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala, the process concluded with a notable decrease in voter turnout, as the figure stood at 70.22 per cent at 8pm yesterday.



This figure, while significant, was quite a drop from the polling percentage of 77.84 per cent registered in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.



Venugopal claimed that there were glitches in electronic voting machines (EVMs) in three to five per cent of the polling booths in the state that lead to long delays in the election process which in turn caused discomfort to the voters who had to stand in long queues for hours in the intense heat.



The senior Congress leader alleged that 90 per cent of such EVM glitches occurred in booths where the UDF was strong.



"It was a polling process that harassed voters as no drinking water, sitting or lighting facilities were available in the booths where people waited for hours to vote due to the EVM glitches.



"The election machinery was completely hijacked by the CPI(M) with the aim of bringing down the polling percentage," he alleged.



Venugopal said that despite such alleged moves by the ruling Left party, the pro-UDF wave and the anti-incumbency sentiment against the state and central governments will ensure that the LDF and the BJP-led NDA do not win any seats in Kerala.



He also said that the Congress will be carrying out an analysis of the polling process carried out in the state and based on the outcome requisite legal steps would be initiated.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 27, 2024 - 22:52 | World, All

Wang Huning, who is ranked No. 4 in the ruling Chinese Communist Party's top leadership, met Saturday with a group of 17 Taiwan opposition lawmakers in Beijing, expressing disapproval of separatist activities by advocates of the self-ruled island's independence, according to Taiwanese media.

Wang, who heads China's top political advisory body, called for frequent exchanges across the Taiwan Strait during his talks with the Nationalist Party delegation. Their meeting came ahead of the May 20 inauguration of Taiwan's President-elect Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing views as a separatist.

The party also known as Kuomintang (KMT) favors dialogue with the mainland. In early April, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with former Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou of the opposition force in Beijing.

"We are all Chinese" and "one family," Wang told the legislators' group, according to the report.

Veteran KMT lawmaker Fu Kun-chi, who heads the delegation, said in the meeting that Taiwan's various industries welcome mainland compatriots to visit the island to learn and develop a deeper appreciation of it. The opposition lawmakers are on a three-day visit to the mainland through Sunday.

Cross-strait relations have deteriorated under the rule of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan since 2016. China has shunned talks with the DPP government and increased military pressure on the island.

Communist-led China views the democratic island as part of its territory. The two sides have been governed separately since they split in 1949 due to a civil war, with the then-ruling KMT government retreating to Taiwan.

Related coverage:

U.S. urges China to stop aiding Russia, agrees to keep exchanges

Antony Blinken starts China trip to stabilize ties amid tensions

Philippines, U.S. begin military exercise amid concerns over China
Bengaluru, Apr 27 (PTI) Karnataka recorded 69.56 per cent voter turnout in the 14 constituencies excluding a polling station in Chamarajanagar district in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in the state, election officials said on Saturday.

Overall, the election process went peaceful in Karnataka on Friday barring an incident at a polling station in Indiganatha village of Hanur under Chamarajanagar Parlimentary Constituency where the Electronic Voting Machines were destroyed during a clash between two groups of people over whether to vote or not in the Lok Sabha elections.

The Election Commission said on Saturday that re-polling will be conducted at the said polling station in Hanur on April 29.

The highest voter turnout was recorded in Mandya (81.67 per cent), followed by Kolar (78.27 per cent) and Tumkur (78.05 per cent), the EC said.

Bangalore Central recorded 54.06 per cent, Bangalore South - 53.17 per cent, Bangalore North - 54.45 per cent and Bangalore Rural - 68.30 per cent voter turnout.

A total of 247 candidates -- 226 men and 21 women -- are in the fray for the first phase covering most of the southern and coastal districts, where more than 2.88 crore voters were eligible to exercise their franchise in 30,602 polling stations.

Friday's elections witnessed a straight fight between the ruling Congress and the BJP-JD(S) combine unlike the Assembly elections in May last year which witnessed a triangular contest among the three parties.

In the first phase, the Congress contested in all 14 seats, while BJP fielded nominees in 11 and its alliance partner JD(S), which joined the National Democratic Alliance in (NDA) in September last year, in three -- Hassan, Mandya and Kolar.

Besides the three, the segments where elections were held on Friday are: Udupi-Chikmagalur, Dakshina Kannada, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Bangalore Rural, Bangalore North, Bangalore Central, Bangalore South and Chikkballapur.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the same 14 segments in the first phase had recorded a turnout of 68.80 per cent.

The second phase of polling for the remaining 14 constituencies in the northern parts of the state will be held on May 7.
New Delhi, Apr 27 (PTI) The Congress on Saturday said the BJP's "deluxe brand washing machine" has been reserved for Goa and asked why action against two former chief ministers accused of graft "stalled" after they switched over to the ruling party.

In a post on X, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh posed several questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of his rally in Goa.

"How fast is the BJP washing machine spinning in Goa? Why are Goa's youth unemployed after a decade of double BJP (govt)? Does the prime minister represent Modani or the people?" Ramesh asked.

Elaborating on what he called "jumla details", Ramesh said, "The BJP's deluxe brand washing machine has been reserved for Goa. Having orchestrated mass defections twice in the last five years, their disregard for democratic values has been on full display in the state."

The washing machine has been at play on some notable figures, including two former chief ministers, Ramesh said.

Before switching over to the BJP, one former chief minister was implicated under a money-laundering charge in the Louis Berger bribery case, in which he and another minister had allegedly received bribes to the tune of Rs 70 crore, the Congress leader claimed.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had even received approval from a Goa court to frame charges against him in the case but all action was stopped once he joined the BJP, Ramesh alleged.

"The other former chief minister had two FIRs filed against him for alleged recruitment scams in the animal husbandry and veterinary services, and cooperative societies departments but these too disappeared once he joined the BJP," Ramesh said, without taking any name.

"The prime minister's 'Bhrashtachar Hatao' slogan is shamelessly plastered all over the country even as his party is busy accommodating corrupt politicians. Can the prime minister shed any light on why action against these leaders has been stalled?" the Congress leader asked.

How can the BJP make pretensions of eradicating corruption when their "washing machine" is clearly at full spin in Goa, he asked.

Ramesh also cited the latest Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) data to claim that Goa has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country.

Goa's unemployment rate was at 11.6 per cent in January 2023, 15.5 per cent in April 2023 and 13.7 per cent in August 2023, he said.

This is almost three times higher than the national average of 3.17 per cent, he added.

Ramesh said, "The (Manohar) Parrikar government had promised to create 50,000 jobs and make the state unemployment-free in five years but their grand promises have turned out to be completely hollow."

This is now leading to a brain-drain from the state as the highly educated classes move elsewhere in search of better opportunities, he claimed.

More and more young people are also being pushed into contract jobs, working for minimal pay with no job security or benefits, he said.

"Yet, Chief Minister Pramod Swant has brazenly said that there is no unemployment in the state and 'there is work for those who want to work'," Ramesh said.

According to the Congress leader, in its effort to deceive the people, the BJP seems to have fallen prey to its own delusions.

"Can the prime minister explain why the BJP has ignored the plight of young people in Goa? Does his government have any plans to address this situation and create better opportunities for Goa's youth?" Ramesh asked.

The Congress leader further alleged that Goa's BJP government has blatantly disregarded the concerns of local communities and environment groups to serve the "interests of Modani and corporate groups" that have donated thousands of crores in electoral bonds to the party.

He said, "Despite widespread protests from thousands of citizens, the government has recklessly pushed ahead with the three linear projects -- the double tracking of railway lines of South Western Railway, expansion of the national highway passing through the Western Ghats, and the construction of a high-voltage power transmission line."

These projects will devastate the Mollem National Park and the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary, Ramesh said.

"The government has shown complete disdain for environmental regulations and the democratic process, clearing these projects during the COVID-19 lockdown without meaningful public consultation," he alleged.

The people of Goa have made their position abundantly clear to the Modi government but to no avail, he said.

"The Congress has repeatedly promised to scrap these three projects, including during the 2022 assembly elections. @INCIndia's government in Karnataka has withdrawn permissions for road construction in the forested areas of the state recently. Where does Prime Minister Modi stand on this issue? Who does he represent -- his corporate friends or the people?" Ramesh said and asked the prime minister to break his "silence" on these issues.
Hathras/Firozabad, Apr 27 (PTI) "When I come to work in the fields in the morning, stray cattle are standing there, ready to attack. I was once hit on the back and was hospitalised for a week," says Keshav Kumar, a farm worker in Pilkhana village in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras.

Besides, he said, he has been chased by cows and Nilgai multiple times.

Dharmendra Singh, a farmer, in Firozabad's Akilabad village, says, "I lost 30 per cent of my produce due to stray cattle entering my field. There is drought, unseasonal rain and now this stray cattle menace. What are we supposed to do?"

Instances like these are not uncommon in western Uttar Pradesh and encapsulate the stray cattle menace that farmers have been struggling with for several years now.

The problem, exacerbated by recent policy changes, has emerged as a major issue in western Uttar Pradesh in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

The importance of the issue can be gauged from the fact that it is the sole deciding factor for some.

"I voted for 'phool' (referring to the BJP's party symbol lotus) in the last two general elections thinking that this problem would be solved. As the problem remained unresolved, I didn't vote for them in the assembly polls and plan to vote for the SP this time," Kumar said.

In villages across western Uttar Pradesh, the sight of emaciated stray cattle roaming around has become all too common and so is the sight of destroyed crops. When they can't enter fields, many cows feed on plastic and garbage.

Farmers are also upset over the state government's decision to reinforce an old order that no barbed wires should be used to fence fields. Now, most farmers use plain wires or saris and dupattas to fence fields.

"They are of no use. We don't understand why the government cannot understand our losses," said Akilabad farmer Singh.

According to the 2019 Livestock Census, there are over 1.90 crore cattle in Uttar Pradesh, including 62,04,304 milch cows and 23,36,151 dry cows.

The indigenous female cattle population increased by 10 per cent in 2019 compared to the previous census in 2012. The population of exotic and cross-bred cattle increased by 26.9 per cent from 2012 to 2019.

The stray cattle menace has also added to farmers' economic woes as they do not know what to do with cows that have stopped giving milk.

"Earlier, we would give the old cow in exchange for 10-20 per cent of the down payment and get a new one. But with the new policy, even that is not possible. We have no option but to either sell them illegally or abandon them," said a farmer who did not wish to be named.

In May 2017, the Centre banned the sale of cattle for slaughter in animal markets across the country.

The environment ministry notified the stringent 'Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017' under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Every village in western Uttar Pradesh has a cow shelter but they are at capacity. PTI visited five cow shelters in the region and they were all at capacity.

"In big cow shelters, we can accommodate up to 115 cows and as you can see, we are full," a cow shelter worker told PTI on the condition of anonymity.

He said shelters receive meagre amounts from the government to take care of the cows.

"Last year, I received Rs 6,000 for feeding them. How do we feed them with that amount?" he said.

Chaudhary Pushpendra Singh, the president of farmers' organisation Kisan Shakti Sangh, stressed the importance of adopting sustainable solutions, such as setting up more cow shelters, promoting livestock insurance schemes and incentivising responsible cattle rearing practices, to tackle the stray cattle crisis.

This region is a potato belt, a crop that cows often eat. Though they do not consume wheat, they ruin the crop while passing through the fields, he said.

Amid the election fervour, this issue stands as a potent symbol of the broader challenges faced by rural India, he said, underscoring the critical need for proactive governance and sustainable development strategies.

As polling day approaches, voters in western Uttar Pradesh are keenly watching how various candidates in the fray propose to address the stray cattle menace.

So far, they do not have much to look forward to with political parties keeping mum on the issue.

A Samajwadi Party (SP) functionary told PTI that the issue of stray cattle menace is very sensitive.

"It is a major issue here and if we come to power, we will look into it very seriously," he said.

Hathras and Firozabad go to polls in the third round of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections on May 7. The two constituencies will see a direct fight between the ruling BJP and the SP.

In Hathras, Uttar Pradesh minister and BJP candidate Anoop Pradhan Balmiki will take on SP's Jasveer Valmiki.

In Firozabad, BJP's Vishwadeep Singh is pitted against SP chief Akhilesh Yadav's cousin Akshay Yadav.
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.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who was injured in a car accident on Friday afternoon, remains hospitalized at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem on Motzei Shabbos.

A statement issued by his office after Shabbos decried the medias coverage of the accident. As Shabbat ended, the minister was informed with sorrow and astonishment about the waves of hatred and death wishes that flooded the media studios and social networks, both among the left-wing sector of Israel and in Arab countries and among Israel haters around the world. In studios and among the members of the extreme left, there were probably quite a few who would have celebrated if, G-d forbid, the result would have been worse.

His office also responded to the claim that his vehicle crossed a red light: Minister Ben-Gvir is under constant threat to his life and his conduct is in accordance as one who is targeted by terrorist elements 24/7. The minister returns tonight  from his hospital bed  to tend to the national security of Klal Israel. On Friday, we saw evidence of the importance of the reforms made by Minister Ben-Gvir when a citizen who received a license as part of the weapons reform saved a life.

Ben-Gvir is receiving treatment for rib fractures and bruising. His daughter, who was lightly injured in the accident, underwent testing at the hospital and was released before Shabbos.

(YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis haShabbos in Israel)
Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below.

W.L. writes: I invested in a bond issued by Cauta Capital Limited. The bond scheme is now finished, but I cannot get redemption of my capital or payment of interest that is due. I am told this depends on a sale of emeralds that suffers from constant delays.

Tony Hetherington replies: The calculations you sent me show that Cauta Capital owes you 25,000 on the redemption of your bond, and almost 5,000 in unpaid interest after payments dried up in 2021.

On paper, none of this should be a problem. When you invested in 2017, the company's own accounts show it was worth 69 million. Even as recently as 2022, while it owed 11 million  mostly to bondholders  its assets stood at 19 million.

Since then, the company has filed no accounts, making it impossible to judge whether it is still solvent. This is an offence, and officials at Companies House have begun proceedings to have Cauta Capital struck off.

Losing their sparkle: How did Cauta Capital end up speculating in emeralds?

Yet there were no warning flags when you lent your money. Its bonds were promoted with a whole list of assurances. Cauta would lend money to other businesses only if they pledged their own assets to Cauta, and projects would be financed only if the asset value of the project was far greater than the loan itself.

Better still, Cauta appointed an independent trustee to hold a legal charge worth more than 28 million of its assets as a safety net. So how did you end up being owed thousands of pounds? And how did Cauta end up speculating in emeralds with your money?

I put this to the company's owner and sole director. He is William Abundes, an American living in Luxembourg, who played a major role as a campaigner for Donald Trump, recruiting Americans in Europe to vote for him in the 2016 presidential election.

He told me: 'The shift towards trading in precious stones, specifically emeralds, was a strategic decision made in response to unexpected losses the company incurred following an investment made in a European property development.'

When I pressed Abundes on how this could be allowed, given that no such gemstone trading was ever mentioned when the bonds were launched, he replied that the investment terms do mention 'secured joint ventures'. That description is so vague it could be used to justify investing in land on the moon.

I repeatedly asked Abundes where the company's assets had gone, what had happened to the 28 million safety net and why no accounts had appeared.

Abundes failed to answer.

Its trustee to protect bondholders' interests is accountant Graham Arnott. He has carved a niche for himself as an administrator and trustee for fringe companies that issue bonds.

He told me: 'We were not aware of the change from company investments to gemstones... I was only made aware when it sought assistance from an insolvency practitioner last year.'

An insolvency practitioner! Now there is something that Mr Abundes had not mentioned, and it puts into serious doubt whether Cauta Capital actually has the millions of pounds supposedly guaranteed to make investors feel secure.

Graham Arnott has now asked Companies House not to have the company struck off and dissolved. He told me: 'We will follow this very carefully and instruct our solicitors if necessary to protect the integrity of our legal charge.'

Let me add to this by suggesting the Insolvency Service take a close look at Cauta Capital. A company worth 69 million, which then borrows millions more from investors, only to sink into a mess so bad that it now can't say what it is worth, warrants inspection.

As for the invisible Cauta accounts, boss William Abundes should follow the advice of his hero Donald Trump  who was asked about the information he would have to disclose if he ran for office: 'I look very much forward to showing my financials... because they're huge.'

I doubt the same could be said for Cauta Capital.

Gas firm billed my dead brother

P.C. writes: My brother died in July and we found a prepayment British Gas card in his rented flat. It was unused, so we requested a refund a week after his death.

British Gas said nothing could be done until Croydon Council confirmed the end of his tenancy, which was at the end of last August.

British Gas then kept collecting their standing charges from the card until every penny was swallowed up, even though nobody was in the flat. It was a rip-off.

Rip-off: British Gas then kept collecting their standing charges from the card until every penny was swallowed up, even though nobody was in the flat

Tony Hetherington replies: As you pointed out to me, people who use prepayment cards are normally not very well-off  your brother was no exception. He left debts to pay and, as his only next of kin, all the necessary arrangements fell to you.

This was not easy, as you are 84, but trying to deal with British Gas made things far worse than they should have been, especially as it carried on applying its daily standing charges until the prepaid money ran out in December  five months after your brother died.

The standing charge is applied daily, even to empty properties. But common sense and a kinder response came when I suggested to British Gas that as your brother's tenancy ended last August then, if anyone should foot the bill after that, it should be the owner of the flat  Croydon Council.

You soon received a phone call saying there had been a change of heart. Your brother's estate has now received a refund of slightly more than the 100 credited on his prepaid card. And you have received an extra 100 by way of British Gas saying sorry.

A good outcome.

If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned.
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.
Tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch is set for a near-300m pay day after Darktrace became the latest UK business to be targeted by foreign predators.

The FTSE 250 cybersecurity firm backed a 620p per share offer  valuing it at 4.25billion  from US private equity group Thoma Bravo.

The proposed sale will deepen the 'existential crisis' facing the London stock market amid an exodus of listed companies being taken over or moving overseas.

Lynch, the company's founding investor, is on trial in the US on fraud charges relating to his former company Autonomy, which he denies.

He and his wife Angela Bacares between them own just under 7 per cent of Darktrace  a holding worth 290m under the terms of the deal with Thoma Bravo.

Bumper: Mike Lynch, the cybersecurity firm's founding investor, and Poppy Gustafsson

A spokesman for Lynch, 58, declined to comment yesterday on whether he backed the deal.

Darktrace chief executive Poppy Gustafsson will collect 24m for her stake.

Charles Hall, head of research at Peel Hunt, said UK-listed companies with a combined value of more than 100billion were now subject to bid processes or switching to other listing venues such as New York or Frankfurt. He said: 'The UK market has an existential crisis and needs urgent action to ensure it remains a leading listing venue.'

And in a letter to MPs published yesterday, City minister Bim Afolami said he was working 'every day' to speed through reforms designed to help revive the sector.

Among companies being eyed up for takeovers are mining giant Anglo American, which yesterday rejected a 31billion approach by Australian-listed BHP.

High Street retailer Currys and insurer Direct Line have rebuffed foreign takeover offers.

But others including haulier Wincanton and packaging giant DS Smith have been snapped up by overseas bidders.

At the same time, companies including gambling group Flutter and travel firm Tui are relocating their main listings to the likes of New York and Frankfurt.

Darktrace's announcement yesterday echoed a common complaint among such companies that they are not valued highly enough by the London market. It said: 'Darktrace's operating and financial achievements have not been reflected commensurately in its valuation with shares trading at a significant discount to its global peer group.'

Darktrace shares jumped 16.4 per cent, or 85p, to 602p.

Chicago-based Thoma Bravo, led by Puerto Rican billionaire Orlando Bravo, 54, has more than 110billion assets under management with investments in over 75 companies. Thoma Bravo said it intended to keep Darktrace's headquarters in Cambridge and that it would remain a 'British tech champion'.

Darktrace, founded in 2013, employs around 2,300 people and operates across over 110 counties, boasting more than 9,400 customers.

Gustafsson, 41, said yesterday: 'Our technology has never been more relevant in a world increasingly threatened by AI-powered cyberattacks.'
The Czech billionaire trying to buy Royal Mail has taken a 20 per cent stake in a German steel business.

Daniel Kretinsky, whose 3.2billion offer for Royal Mail owner International Distributions Services (IDS) has been rejected, has snapped up a slice of Thyssenkrupp's steel unit for an undisclosed sum.

The German company said it was in talks with Kretinsky's company EPCG about it taking a further 30 per cent stake  turning it into a 50-50 joint venture.

Swoop: Daniel Kretinsky has snapped up a slice of Thyssenkrupp's steel unit for an undisclosed sum

Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe is Germany's largest steelmaker and tied to the country's rise as an industrial powerhouse.

However, cheaper Asian competitors, high power prices and a cooling global economy have put pressure on the business, leading to operating losses in four of the past five years.

Dubbed the Czech Sphinx, Kretinsky is co-owner of West Ham. He owns a 27.6 per cent in IDS and this month offered to buy the rest of the business for 320p a share.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 27, 2024 - 13:23 | All, Japan, Travel/Tourism

Japan's Golden Week holidays started Saturday, with train stations and airports across the country crowded with tourists amid easing fears of COVID-19, while the yen's sharp fall against other currencies has made overseas travel more expensive.

"I'm going on a graduation trip that I couldn't make due to the coronavirus pandemic. I want to enjoy a night safari," Rika Uechi, 26, said at Tokyo's Haneda airport before leaving for Singapore with a friend from university.

In the airport's Terminal 2, tourists flooded the international departures hall, which resumed operation in July last year after being shut for more than three years due to the pandemic.

A woman who works in Japan and was returning to Taiwan said, "I'm worried that the cost of souvenirs will be higher (due to the weak yen) when I return to Japan. I've prepared more money than usual."

It is almost a year since Japan downgraded the threat level of COVID-19 to the same category as seasonal influenza and significantly relaxed health measures that had discouraged people from going out.

"It's still hard to take off my facemask (because of the risk of infection). But I'm looking forward to meeting my parents," Chiho Okamura said at Tokyo Station before departing for Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, with her three-month-old son.

Over 2.6 million people were booked for domestic flights between Saturday and May 6, almost the same level as the holiday period last year, and 490,000 for international flights, up about 20 percent, airlines said April 19.

As for shinkansen bullet train and other rail services, a total of 2.96 million seats had been reserved for Friday through May 6, up 16 percent from a year earlier, according to an announcement by six Japan Railway operators on April 11. The figure represents a 7 percent increase compared with 2018, before the coronavirus pandemic.

Congestion is expected to peak on May 3 and 6, the railway companies said.

Related coverage:

Golden Week holidaymakers in Japan to reach 90% of pre-COVID level

Japan launches ride-hailing services in Tokyo, other areas to follow

Driver overtime cap introduced as worker shortage worsens
NatWest's boss has admitted he can barely remember the 'Tell Sid' share offers of the 1980s  even as the state-backed bank gears up for one of its own.

Paul Thwaite said the lender was 'taking the necessary steps and measures' to be ready as the Treasury prepares to offload part of its stake to ordinary retail investors this summer.

The comments came as NatWest's share price surged 6.1 per cent to 307.4p, its highest level for more than a year, thanks to well-received first quarter results.

The shares have climbed 70 per cent over the past six months.

The Government, which effectively nationalised the bank in a 46billion rescue in 2008, is looking to sell a chunk of its stake in an echo of the major privatisations of the Thatcher era  best remembered for the 'Tell Sid' ad campaign for British Gas shares.

Signing off: The Government, which effectively nationalised the bank in a 46billion rescue in 2008, is looking to sell a chunk of its stake

Thwaite, 52, said: 'I do vaguely remember Tell Sid. I should admit, I was pretty young when that happened. But more seriously and more importantly the retail share offer, should it happen, is an opportunity because it further reduces the shareholding.'

At its height, the Government owned 84 per cent of Natwest  then known as Royal Bank of Scotland  but a gradual sale of the shares has seen that fall below 28 per cent. Chairman Rick Haythornthwaite this week described the era of state backing as a 'sorry tale'. But performance has been improving and annual profits for last year were the highest since 2007.

Yesterday, the bank reported first quarter operating profits of 1.3billion, 27 per cent down from the same period last year but slightly ahead of analyst expectations.

Profits were squeezed by customers shifting their deposits to higher paying savings accounts as well as fierce competition for mortgage customers.

New home loans nearly halved, from 9.9billion to 5.2billion, and Thwaite said there had been a 'conscious decision to not compete across all segments' amid the squeeze on profit margins in a thin market. More recently, however, mortgage applications had picked up by 25 per cent.

Matt Britzman of broker Hargreaves Lansdown said NatWest was 'best of the bunch' among UK banks that have reported first quarter results this week.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 27, 2024 - 23:00 | All, Japan, World

The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.

----------

Golden Week holidays start amid post-COVID tourism boom, weak yen

TOKYO - Japan's Golden Week holidays started Saturday, with train stations and airports across the country crowded with tourists amid easing fears of COVID-19, while the yen's sharp fall against other currencies has made overseas travel more expensive.

"I'm going on a graduation trip that I couldn't make due to the coronavirus pandemic. I want to enjoy a night safari," Rika Uechi, 26, said at Tokyo's Haneda airport before leaving for Singapore with a friend from university.

----------

Yen sinks to 158 range vs. dollar, new 34-yr low

NEW YORK - The embattled Japanese yen continued weakening to the 158 range against the U.S. dollar in New York on Friday, falling to a fresh 34-year low, after the Bank of Japan kept intact its current monetary easing policy.

The Japanese currency was hovering in the upper 155 range before the BOJ announced its policy decision. But continued yen-selling and dollar-buying sent the Japanese currency to below the 158 line in New York, briefly hitting 158.44, a level that has not been seen since May 1990.

----------

Japan imperial couple to visit Britain as state guests in June

TOKYO - Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will visit Britain as state guests in late June, the Imperial Household Agency said Saturday, marking the first state visit by a sitting emperor since his father Akihito's in 1998.

The trip, aimed at fostering goodwill and friendship, will be the second overseas one since their June 2023 official goodwill visit to Indonesia.

----------

M6.9 earthquake hits south of Tokyo, no tsunami threat

TOKYO - An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 struck near the Ogasawara Islands in the Pacific Ocean, south of Tokyo, on Saturday, but there was no threat of a tsunami, Japan's weather agency said.

The quake occurred at around 5:36 p.m. at a depth of around 540 kilometers and registered 3 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in Hahajima Island, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. There were no immediate reports of injuries or major damage.

----------

Nearly 30% of municipalities in Japan have no physical bookstores

TOKYO - Nearly 30 percent of municipalities in Japan have no physical bookstores due to the impact of population shrinkage and the prevalence of online stores, according to a survey by a publishing industry association.

Of the country's 1,741 municipalities, 482 cities, towns and villages, or 27.7 percent of the total, had no bookstores as of March, with the rate increasing from 26.2 percent in the previous survey in September 2022, according to data released by the Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture.

----------

BMW, Mitsubishi Fuso to jointly tackle mechanic shortage in Japan

TOKYO - The Japanese unit of Germany's BMW AG and Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corp. have launched a joint program in April aimed at training auto mechanics in Japan as part of efforts to address a "severe" labor shortage in the industry.

The program, led by the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan, seeks to provide a platform to train a new generation of mechanics in three years, shorter than the five years usually needed to acquire necessary skills.

----------

M6.1 quake jolts Taiwan, no immediate damage reported

TAIPEI - An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.1 jolted a wide area of Taiwan early Saturday, its meteorological authorities said, but there were no immediate reports of major damage or casualties.

The 2:21 a.m. temblor shook hard the island's eastern county of Hualien, where a quake on April 3 with a magnitude of 7.2 led to 17 deaths and damaged many buildings.

----------

Baseball: Hawks come from behind to beat Lions

FUKUOKA - Ukyo Shuto doubled and scored the winning run on Hikaru Kawase's one-out 10th-inning single as the Pacific League-leading SoftBank Hawks came from behind Saturday to beat the Seibu Lions 2-1.

The Hawks tied it at Mizuho PayPay Dome on Akira Nakamura's seventh-inning RBI pinch-hit single. In the 10th, Nakamura encouraged Kawase, who had entered as a pinch-runner and had yet to bat.



Video: Japanese rhythmic gymnasts perform at send-off event
BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- China supports all Palestinian factions in achieving reconciliation and increasing solidarity through dialogue and consultation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Friday.

Wang made the remarks at a regular press briefing when asked about the meeting between Hamas and Fatah in Beijing on Friday, and the role China played in facilitating the meeting, as well as the outcome and the goal of that meeting.

"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," said Wang. 
People gather for an anti-Israel protest on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) in Texas, the United States, April 24, 2024. (Photo by Christopher Davila/Xinhua)

There have been heavy state and university police presence since the students walked out of class to protest at noontime, including dozens of Texas Department of Public Safety troopers in riot gear.

HOUSTON, April 26 (Xinhua) -- More than 50 people were arrested on Wednesday at an anti-Israel protest on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), the capital city of the south-central U.S. state of Texas, reported local media outlet Austin American-Statesman.

The Palestine Solidarity Committee, a registered student group of UT Austin and a part of the National Students for Justice in Palestine, organized the rally to urge an end to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, according to the report.

About 54 people were held at the Travis County Jail related to the protest, said the report, citing George Lobb, an attorney with the Austin Lawyers Guild.

There have been heavy state and university police presence since the students walked out of class to protest at noontime, including dozens of Texas Department of Public Safety troopers in riot gear.

When some people began setting up tents for an encampment, which the Palestine Solidarity Committee had said was its intention, police took the tents down almost immediately.

As many as 20 people had been booked into the jail shortly after 8 p.m. local time (0100 GMT, Thursday), said Travis County sheriff's office spokesperson Kristen Dark.

"UT Austin does not tolerate disruptions of campus activities or operations like we have seen at other campuses," the UT Division of Student Affairs said in a statement before the protest.

Travis County Attorney Delia Garza issued a statement around 7 p.m. on Wednesday (0000 GMT, Thursday), asking the crowd to disperse "for the safety of all."

On March 27, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order calling for universities to curb antisemitism by revising their free speech policy.

From Texas to California, pro-Palestinian demonstrations are spreading on campuses across the United States, as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in Gaza continues. Hundreds have been arrested by the police amid student protests.

All classes at Columbia University in New York went virtual starting on Monday as divisive demonstrations and debates around the conflict heated up on campus recently.

According to media reports, students from Yale University, New York University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Michigan, the University of North Carolina, Brown University, the University of Southern California, and other universities also staged encampments in solidarity with their peers at Columbia University. 
PUL-E-KHUMRI, Afghanistan, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Afghan counter-narcotics police have smashed poppy on eight acres of land in north Afghanistan's Baghlan province, a statement of the provincial police office said on Saturday.

The operations were launched in different districts of Baghlan province, with eight acres of poppy utterly destroyed, the statement said, adding that police won't allow anyone to cultivate illegal crops.

Afghan police have destroyed hundreds of acres of poppy across the country and have taken into custody those on the charge of involvement in the illegal drug business over the past couple of months. 
In a wide-ranging interview on the Late Late Show on Friday, former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the rise of the populist right was a concern for Ireland, and that immigration was always going to become centre-stage in Irish politics.

Varadkar joined host Patrick Kielty to discuss leaving office, personal life, and current issues, including the topic of immigration.

Explaining his view of migration becoming an inevitable political topic in Ireland, Varadkar pointed to examples abroad, saying "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.

Dont get me wrong, migration is a serious issue, its an important topic. We need to have debate about it, we need to have a policy on it.

But it needs to be done in a way that is respectful, that doesnt leave space for anger, and doesnt leave space for hatred or violence. Thats something I hope as a country we can avoid as best we can.

Varadkar also added that migration was a topic that brings out the best and worst in people. The former Taoiseach told of friends of his who have biracial children in Ireland, who 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 added: Yes, you might take the view that you dont want any more people to come to the country or you dont think we should accept refugees, whether genuine or not. But we need to be sensitive to how that sounds to people. People who need to come to our country. Or people of colour who live in our country, and have no other home.

In the lengthy interview with Kielty, Varadkar also touched on his decision to step down as Taoiseach, a decision which had taken much of the political and public sphere by surprise.

Speaking about his resignation on the Late Late Show on Friday night, Mr Varadkar said that following through with his decision to resign was the hardest part, and admitted that he nearly chickened out the night before.

He conceded that Fine Gael had to perform better in the next general election, and felt that he no longer felt he was the right person to lead the party.
For the most loyal denizens of our blog community, we share just a bit of quick reading whilst the lights are on and for the late night & early morning.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

F-Stop-It: TV News Shares Garbage Phone Pix To Inspire Costly Mobile Upgrade

Photo Gallery: Severe weather brings rare sights to Kansas City As severe weather moves across the Kansas City metro, many residents are capturing rare sights with their lenses.

Protect Paddy At All Costs

Chiefs Make Home-Run Second-Round Pick With First-Round OL Talent The Chiefs officially found their potential left tackle of the future, trading up one selection for BYU offensive lineman Kingsley Suamataia to close out the se

Northland Cooperation?!?!

Local Developers and City Officials discuss exciting new projects at Clay County's State of the Cities Conference - Kansas City Magazine The Clay County Economic Development Council recently held its annual State of the Cities Luncheon at Harrah's North Kansas City on April 19. The conference brought together local developers, business leaders and municipalities to discuss several upcoming projects that aim to provide significant economic growth in Clay County.

KICK-ASS

Home Team Comeback

The best things we saw this week: Tyler Duffey returns to the mound for Kansas City The Royals' reliever was diagnosed with melanoma during spring training.

Preggo Help Arrives

Meet the Kansas City midwife who aims to make birth 'empowering for the whole family' Midwife Clarisa Evans started her practice to empower all members of an expecting family from pregnancy through postpartum. While carrying on the legacy of her great grandmother, Evans has become part of a community that reimagines pregnancy and birth outside of hospitals and inside homes.

Kansas City's Top Couple Parties With Global Elite

Brittany Mahomes dazzles in draped crystal crop top with husband Patrick at Time 100 Gala Brittany Mahomes flaunted her toned figure in a draped crystal crop top and maxi skirt by Sau Lee during a date night with her husband, Patrick Mahomes, at the Time 100 Gala on April 25.

Prez Accepts Challenge From King Of All Media

In Howard Stern interview, Biden says he's 'happy' to debate Trump President Joe Biden said Friday he is "happy" to debate former President Donald Trump, though did not specify as to when.

Big Apple For MAGA?!?

NY union members say Trump support is 'through the roof' after site visit: 'He takes care of the country' According to Steamfitters Local 638 members Gary Zuto and Ronald Dioguard, "everybody" working on New York City construction sites has "Trump stickers on their hard hats."

Working-Class Stay Winning Coffin Nail Rights



Biden administration abandons plan to ban menthol cigarettes, citing 'feedback' An anti-smoking advocate says the decision to leave menthol cigarettes on the market "prioritizes politics over lives, especially Black lives."

Sly Starts Scribbling

Sylvester Stallone writing memoir 'The Steps' inspired by 'Rocky's iconic run at Philadelphia art museum The movie icon's book is inspired by his famed character's running up the Philadelphia Museum of Art's 72 steps in the film's training montage.

Weather Roundup

Midwest tornadoes cause severe damage A tornado plowed through suburban Omaha, Nebraska, on Friday afternoon. (AP video by Margery Beck) (AP production by Javier Arciga)

Tough Guy Clowned Amid Confusion About Love

Andrew Tate ruthlessly mocked for claiming having sex with women is gay Self-proclaimed misogynist influencer Andrew Tate has been ruthlessly mocked online after claiming it's "gay" for men to have sex with women for pleasure.

Cowtown Stormy Checklist

Being prepared ahead of potential severe weather in the Kansas City area this weekend When severe weather strikes emergency officials want you to be prepared.

Wild Weather Weekend Awaits

Alert Day: Severe weather possible Saturday, with flooding as a larger threat Saturday morning will start mainly dry, with temperatures around 80 degrees and a south wind gusting up to 35 mph, making for a warm and humid day.

And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
Representatives of Arctech and MODON pose for a group photo at the signing ceremony of an agreement in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, April 25, 2024. A Chinese solar energy infrastructure company Arctech Solar Holding Co. Ltd, headquartered in eastern China's Kunshan city, has signed an agreement with the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON) to build a photovoltaic production facility in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia's largest port city. Arctech said in a statement released on Thursday that the new factory will span roughly 97,000 square meters and boast a projected production capacity of 3 gigawatts (GW), making it Arctech's second major overseas plant after its Gujarat facility in India. (Arctech Solar Holding Co. Ltd/Handout via Xinhua)

RIYADH, April 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese solar energy infrastructure company has signed an agreement with the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON) to build a photovoltaic production facility in Jeddah, the kingdom's largest port city.

In a statement released on Thursday, Arctech Solar Holding Co. Ltd said the new factory will span roughly 97,000 square meters and boast a projected production capacity of 3 gigawatts (GW), making it Arctech's second major overseas plant after its Gujarat facility in India.

Arctech, headquartered in eastern China's Kunshan city, anticipates that the factory will enable a delivery capacity of up to 10 GW through localized production.

MODON's CEO, Majed Al-Argoubi, welcomed the partnership, emphasizing its alignment with MODON's goals of fostering development in Saudi Arabia's industrial cities and technology zones.

Arctech's Chairman, Cai Hao, underlined the significance of the cooperation, stating it aligns with the company's global strategic initiatives and reflects its commitment to sustainable development on a global scale.

The agreement was signed by the two sides on Thursday, according to Arctech's statement. 

Arctech's Chairman Cai Hao (L) and MODON's CEO Majed Al-Argoubi sign an agreement in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, April 25, 2024. A Chinese solar energy infrastructure company Arctech Solar Holding Co. Ltd, headquartered in eastern China's Kunshan city, has signed an agreement with the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON) to build a photovoltaic production facility in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia's largest port city.

Arctech said in a statement released on Thursday that the new factory will span roughly 97,000 square meters and boast a projected production capacity of 3 gigawatts (GW), making it Arctech's second major overseas plant after its Gujarat facility in India. (Arctech Solar Holding Co. Ltd/Handout via Xinhua)

Arctech's Chairman Cai Hao (L) and MODON's CEO Majed Al-Argoubi sign an agreement in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, April 25, 2024. A Chinese solar energy infrastructure company Arctech Solar Holding Co. Ltd, headquartered in eastern China's Kunshan city, has signed an agreement with the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON) to build a photovoltaic production facility in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia's largest port city.

Arctech said in a statement released on Thursday that the new factory will span roughly 97,000 square meters and boast a projected production capacity of 3 gigawatts (GW), making it Arctech's second major overseas plant after its Gujarat facility in India. (Arctech Solar Holding Co. Ltd/Handout via Xinhua)
A man accused of being part of a Canada Revenue Agency phone scam was arrested at Toronto Pearson International Airport four years after fleeing the country.

Thomas Pao appeared virtually in Brampton court on Friday, April 26 after the RCMP at the airport took him into custody.

According to the Mounties, the CRA scam run out of India has made calls to thousands of random Canadians, telling them they had to pay money owed to the CRA or be reported to the RCMP.

The scam, targeting Canadians since 2014, had cost victims $34 million by 2020, when RCMP in Project OCTAVIA arrested several suspects linked to it.

In December 2020, Pao was charged with fraud over $5,000, possession of proceeds of crime and money laundering.

He allegedly fled to China after being charged, but the RCMPs Transnational Serious and Organized Crime section was told by the Canadian Passport Intelligence section Paos Canadian passport had expired and that he would be returning from China to Canada on an emergency travel document, the RCMP said in a news release.

Fridays arrest demonstrates how persistence and collaboration lead to success in complex files, Insp. Nicole Noonan, officer in charge of the sections Toronto West Detachment, stated in the release.

On Saturday, a spokesperson for RCMP Central Region in Ontario said Pao was a resident of Mississauga in December 2020 when he was originally charged.

If someone on the phone is asking for your personal or banking information, or if you receive an email or text making suspicious tax claims, dont interact and report the communication to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at www.antifraudcentre.ca or by phone at 1-888-495-8501, the RCMP says.
A Scottish island for sale, known as Sanda Island, is currently on the market for $3.1 million. Positioned between Scotland and Northern Ireland, just off the southern tip of the Kintyre Peninsula, this 453-acre property features sandy beaches, many birds, including puffins, and historical sites linked to saints and kings.

The offer includes Sanda and two smaller islands, Sheep Island and Glunimore Island.

Historic Scottish Island for Sale Offers Peace and Nature

Sanda Island boasts a rich history with connections to famous figures such as Scottish King Robert the Bruce and Norwegian King Hacon.

According to CNN, the island also has a chapel linked to Saint Columba and Saint Ninian. The current owner, a Swiss businessman named Michi Meier, acquired the island in 2010.

He is now selling it with seven houses, a pub, a helipad, and a flock of black-faced sheep. These sheep help maintain the island's landscape and are known as the "island lawnmowers."

The main attraction of the Scottish island for sale is the Byron Darnton Tavern, a pub named after a shipwreck near the island in 1946. It was once a bustling spot for visitors during the summer but has been closed since the island changed owners.

The new owner will have the option to reopen it, as it still has an active alcohol license. This offers a potential business opportunity or a private retreat for the new owner.

Three generators currently supply energy on the island, but there is potential for future owners to explore renewable energy sources.

The island's residential buildings have been recently refurbished, including new double glazing to improve energy efficiency. With breathtaking views and unique wildlife, this Scottish island for sale is a rare opportunity for those looking to own a piece of paradise or to develop a unique business venture.

What You Can See at Sanda Island

Sanda Island, located near the Mull of Kintyre, is notable for its varied terrain and historical significance. The island is accessible via a short boat ride from Southend. Once owned by Paul Jones of Manfred Mann fame, the island includes a northeast pier built for the farm, which is the only structure apart from a distinctive lighthouse.

A source shared that the journey across Sanda Island starts at the pier, leading past the farm towards the only beach on the island. The path then winds through a small cemetery and a valley, opening up to stunning views of the west side with the lighthouse in the distance.

This lighthouse is unusual in its design, featuring a small light tower on top of a rock, accessed by interconnected towers via a passageway.

The island also houses a unique accommodation block at the base of a cliff, adding to the quirky charm of Sanda. At night, the lighting in the lighthouse, powered by a 12-volt battery and a small engine, often requires the use of torches as it dims after a few hours.

The living quarters, plagued by dampness due to their proximity to the rock face, are heated by coal fires and portable heaters, offering a rustic living experience.
COLOMBO, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan police confiscated over 38 kilos of drugs in two separate raids carried out on Friday night and Saturday morning, the police said in a statement on Saturday.

Five suspects have also been arrested over the drugs, the police said.

The police said they recovered 30 kilos of drugs at Biyagama, a suburb about 15 kilometers from Colombo, on Friday night and that four people have been arrested.

The 30 kilos consist of 15 kilos of crystal methamphetamine, 14 kilos of hashish, and 900 grams of heroin, the police said.

The street value of the drugs has not been estimated yet, according to police spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa.

In a separate raid on Saturday morning, the police arrested an individual with over 8 kilos of heroin.

The police said the raid was carried out in Maharagama, a Colombo suburb, and the street value of the drugs is 160 million rupees (about 530,000 U.S. dollars).

Further investigations into both cases are ongoing. 
GUIYANG, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Kweichow Moutai, China's leading liquor maker, earned profits of 33.2 billion yuan (about 4.67 billion U.S. dollars) in the first quarter of 2024, up 15.59 percent year on year.

From January to March, its revenue climbed 18.04 percent year on year to approximately 46.5 billion yuan, according to the company's quarterly report released on Friday.

Distilled in the town of Maotai in southwest China's Guizhou Province, this famed liquor is often served at state banquets. 
Russian forces attacked Ukraine's western Lviv region with cruise missiles and Kinzhal ballistic missiles in the early morning hours of Saturday, damaging critical energy infrastructure sites in two districts of the region.

Maksym Kozytskyi, head of the region's military administration, announced this on the Telegram messaging app, Ukrinform reports.

"During the air alert, which lasted in the Lviv region from 03:58 to 06:02, our region was hit by cruise missiles of different types and Kinzhal hypersonic missiles. Soldiers of the Air Command West shot down three cruise missiles. Unfortunately, there are also hits," he wrote.

Kozytskyi noted that the enemy had attacked two critical energy infrastructure facilities in the Stryi and Chervonohrad districts. Fires broke out there, and units of the State Emergency Service promptly put out the blaze.

Read also: Ukrainian air defenses intercept 21 out of 34 enemy missiles overnight

"As of now, there are no casualties and destruction of residential infrastructure in the Lviv region. The region's vital systems are operating as normal. There is currently no talk of emergency power outages," Kozytskyi said.

He recalled that last night the occupiers also attacked energy infrastructure in the Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv regions, so it is difficult for the country's power grid to maintain the balance of generation and consumption.
Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, meets with a visiting Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party delegation led by Fu Kun-chi in Beijing, capital of China, April 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

BEIJING, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Wang Huning, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, on Saturday met with a visiting Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party delegation led by Fu Kun-chi.

"We will adhere to the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus and resolutely oppose 'Taiwan independence' separatist activities and interference from external forces," said Wang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

He pledged that the mainland will continue to promote cross-Strait exchanges, cooperation, and integrated development.

Wang expressed the hope that the KMT legislators would play an active role in enhancing cross-Strait relations, saying that he expected more participation by compatriots on both sides, especially the younger generations, in cross-Strait exchanges and communication.

Compatriots on the mainland are deeply concerned about those who have been affected by the recent earthquakes that hit Hualien in Taiwan, and are willing to provide assistance for post-disaster reconstruction in the affected area, Wang said.

Fu expressed hope for enhanced cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation on the basis of the common political foundation reached by the KMT and the CPC.

It is hoped that the two sides will jointly safeguard peace in the Taiwan Strait and promote the return of cross-Strait relations to a track of peaceful development, he said.

The 25-member KMT delegation arrived in Beijing on Friday evening and is scheduled to return to Taiwan on Sunday.

On Saturday, the delegation visited the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, where its members learned about new energy vehicle (NEV) materials and technologies at the production base of a mainland automobile manufacturer. It also visited an operation center in Beijing's high-level autopilot demonstration zone and learned about self-driving development on the mainland.

Fu expressed the hope that both sides of the Strait will cooperate in the NEV and artificial intelligence (AI) sectors. 

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, meets with a visiting Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party delegation led by Fu Kun-chi in Beijing, capital of China, April 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)
Spain will hand over missiles for Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine.

Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles announced this during the 21st meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group on April 26, Ukrinform reports, citing a press release from the Spanish Defense Ministry.

"The minister has focused, in particular, on the Spanish contribution to anti-aircraft defense, which is a fundamental concern, announcing the shipment of a set of long-range Patriot anti-aircraft interceptor missiles that will arrive at the logistics base within four days," the press release read.

Robles also reported the delivery on April 25 of a new consignment of heavy artillery ammunition, "which will be followed by other shipments of 155mm and 120mm ammunition in the coming months." In addition, Spain sent medicines for hospitals and individual first-aid kits for military personnel to Ukraine.

According to the press release, in the next two months, Spanish aid to Ukraine will include light and heavy machine guns, protected wheeled logistics vehicles, armored infantry vehicles, anti-tank weapons and field artillery howitzers.

In the future, these shipments will be followed by the supply of various anti-aircraft surveillance systems and remote weapons stations for defense against drones, which the Spanish defense industry is preparing.
On the night of April 27, Russia attacked four DTEK thermal power plants, seriously damaging equipment.

DTEK Group reported this on Facebook, according to Ukrinform.

"The enemy has once again massively shelled Ukraine's energy facilities. Last night, four DTEK thermal power plants were damaged in the attack," the statement said.

According to preliminary information, unfortunately, there are casualties.

"The equipment of the enterprises was seriously damaged. Power engineers are currently trying to eliminate the consequences of the attack," DTEK said.

DTEK's thermal power plants have been shelled more than 170 times since the start of Russias full-scale invasion.

As earlier reported, the enemy launched a massive missile attack on Ukraine overnight Saturday.

Illustrative photo
Former British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace has slammed German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for his hesitation in providing military aid to Ukraine.

Wallace expressed his opinion in an interview with the German news agency dpa, Ukrinform reports.

Wallace believes that Scholz should provide Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.

"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? [] 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," Wallace said.

He also dismissed comments made by Scholz that suggested British and French troops are in Ukraine, programming cruise missiles.

"He was wrong. [] 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," 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.

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," Wallace said.

Wallace served as UK defense secretary from 2019 to 2023.
On Friday, the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs protested to Belarus in connection with the reports of the Belarusian authorities about an allegedly planned drone attack from Lithuania.

This was reported by the Lithuanian broadcaster LRT, Ukrinform reports.

The note of protest was handed over to Charge d'Affaires of Belarus Yaroslav Khmyl, who was summoned to the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry.

Read also: Lithuania hands over M577 APCs to Ukraine

On Thursday, April 25, the head of the KGB of Belarus, Ivan Tertel, said that Belarusian security forces "prevented drone strikes from Lithuania on objects in Minsk."

As reported, the Lithuanian Armed Forces denied such reports by the Belarusian State Security Committee, calling them "disinformation" and "nonsense."

Photo: LRT
It would be at least naive to think that Putin will stop at Ukraine in his imperial dreams, so the war in Ukraine is also a struggle of Europeans for their peaceful future.

This was stated by Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky during a speech at the University of Louis during a bilateral visit to Hungary, Ukrinform reports.

"It is naive to think that if Russia won in Ukraine, its tanks would stop at our borders. Moscow's goal is not only to destroy Ukraine and assimilate it with its cruel thinking as a purely Russian territory. It is about undermining our part of Europe. It wants to kidnap the West back into its world of tyranny and disorder, traditions and behavior... Ukraine's defeat will bring the winner new resources and open the gates for other so called "special military operations" in Central and Eastern Europe," the Czech diplomat said.

He noted that the future of Europe is at stake. "If we allow Russia to destroy Ukraine, if its aggression goes unpunished, other predators around the world will follow suit," Lipavsky said.

Ukraine, he emphasized, is fighting for its survival. However, it is also fighting on behalf of European nations.

The Foreign Minister reminded that today in Ukraine people are being killed by the same tanks that the fathers and grandfathers of the current generation witnessed on the streets of Budapest and Prague.

"The situation is changing, and Russia's imperial cruelty continues. Just as in 1956, 1968, or 1981, Russia's rulers believe that they are the only ones who decide the fate of the nations within their reach. As before, Moscow knows only one way to deal with those who oppose it - to defeat them," the Czech foreign minister said.

Read also: European Parliament votes to extend trade liberalization for Ukraine

He noted that Russia's imperial ambitions have no limits if they are not set and recalled the words of former Czech President Vaclav Havel, who once said: "The problem with Russia for many centuries is that Russia does not know exactly where it begins and where it ends." If allowed, Russia would not hesitate to take on the territories of the former Eastern Bloc.

Lipavsky noted that after two years of Russian aggression, the conflict in Ukraine has turned into a war of attrition.

"This is a decisive moment! We must remain focused on Ukraine's defense needs and increase pressure on Russia and its allies through sanctions. We must continue to pursue active and intelligent multilateral diplomacy," he said, noting that as Hungary prepares for its second presidency of the Council of the European Union, he emphasized that the central issue will be how to deal with Russia's aggression against the West.

"I believe that our two countries play a special role in this fight. We are the ones who escaped from the prison that Moscow built for us and around us after the Second World War. We know what it is like to live in that prison. We do not want to live in it again. We need to keep reminding those who look at this prison from the outside what a terrible place it is. And that Moscow should not be allowed to build it again and drag others there against their will," Lipavsky summarized.

The day before, he held talks with his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto.

As reported, the Czech government and president took the initiative to search for ammunition for Ukraine in third countries for EU money. Prague claimed that it had found 800,000 units through its contacts, and later mentioned more than a million; 500,000 of them have already been purchased.
President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Australia for a new military aid package, in particular, for strengthening air defense.

He said this in an evening address, Ukrinform reports.

"I want to thank Australia for the announced new support package for our country and people. It is military support that will strengthen our air defense, plus drones and military equipment. Thank you! Today, the Prime Minister of Ukraine and the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, the Minister of Defense, held talks. They took place here, in our country. I expect a report from the Prime Minister of Ukraine," Zelensky said.

Video: OP

He also emphasized that new communication with other partners of Ukraine is being prepared: both tomorrow and the new week will be active. Zelensky is convinced that every day should add strength to the state and every day Ukrainian positions should be strengthened.

"We need Moscow to make sure that the war will give them nothing. And only by force can we achieve this. All Ukrainians. All partners. And equally decisively," he added.

As reported, Australia is providing Ukraine with a new military aid package worth USD 100 million. The package will include USD 32.5 million worth of drones and a batch of RBS 70 man-portable air defense systems.

Photo: OP
ISLAMABAD, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir said on Friday that the country's army will continue to provide all possible support for the economic development of Pakistan.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said the army chief attended the Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI) conference, where he underscored that the Army's efforts would contribute towards comprehensive national security and the collective good of the nation.

"Pakistan is a blessed land with an industrious and resilient nation that needs to come together for national development," said Munir while addressing the conference held in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.

According to the ISPR, the forum was briefed about the multifaceted GPI initiatives and significant benchmarks achieved in a short time, including the establishment of model farms, water management schemes, technology innovations, and investment partnerships aimed at ensuring food security and enhancing agricultural productivity in Pakistan.

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal and Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain lauded the transformative initiative and underscored that agriculture is the lifeline of Pakistan, hoping that it would introduce contemporary best practices in Pakistan's agriculture sector. 
"The visit is a way of learning and passing the torch to a new generation," said Luca Berrone, a friend of President Xi Jinping since his first visit to Iowa back in 1985.

From April 16 to 24, 32 Muscatine High School students paid an exchange visit to Beijing, Shanghai, and Hebei Province, in the heritage of the friendship between Xi and the people in Muscatine. Check out how this friendship forged 40 years ago continues in the new generation.

Provided by Xinhua Global Service
The University of Southern California (USC), a renowned institution nestled in the heart of Los Angeles, is amidst controversy as it adapts its commencement plans in response to recent events.

With the cancellation of its main commencement ceremony, USC is not only facing criticism but also the daunting task of ensuring a memorable and secure celebration for its graduating students, who have worked tirelessly to reach this milestone.

Controversy and Criticism: Unraveling Recent Events

USC's decision to cancel its main commencement ceremony comes amid escalating tensions and public scrutiny. The university was widely criticized for its handling of various incidents, including the cancellation of the valedictorian's speech and the arrest of student protesters. These actions sparked outrage among students, faculty, and the broader community, raising questions about freedom of expression and institutional transparency.



Canceling the main commencement ceremony was a focal point for dissent, amplifying concerns about administrative accountability and student representation. Many viewed the decision as a further erosion of trust between the university administration and its constituents, exacerbating existing grievances and fueling demands for change.

Adapting to Change: USC's Response

In the face of mounting pressure and scrutiny, USC has embarked on a journey of adaptation and recalibration. Recognizing the need to address the concerns of its stakeholders while upholding its commitment to academic excellence, the university unveiled a revised commencement plan to strike a delicate balance between tradition and innovation.

While the cancellation of the main ceremony may have been a disappointment, USC is demonstrating its commitment to providing a meaningful and memorable commencement experience. The university has unveiled a series of alternative celebrations, including individual graduations for each school and a variety of new activities aimed at fostering a sense of community and camaraderie, showing resilience in the face of adversity.

Moreover, USC has implemented stringent security measures to ensure the safety of all attendees. From ticketed entry to bag searches reminiscent of those seen at concerts and sporting events, the university is leaving no stone unturned in its quest to create a secure environment for commencement festivities.

Looking Ahead: Charting a Path Forward

As USC navigates this period of transition and uncertainty, it faces a pivotal moment in its history. The decisions made in the coming weeks and months will not only shape the immediate future of the university but also have far-reaching implications for its reputation and standing in the academic world.

In charting a path forward, USC must prioritize transparency, accountability, and inclusivity. It must heed the voices of its students and stakeholders, engaging in meaningful dialogue and embracing constructive criticism. USC can rebuild trust and reaffirm its commitment to academic freedom and social responsibility by fostering a culture of openness and collaboration.

Furthermore, USC must remain vigilant in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within its community. It must actively work to address systemic inequities and injustices, ensuring that all university community members feel valued, respected, and supported.

USC's commencement adjustments offer a glimpse into the complexities of institutional decision-making in the face of adversity. While the road ahead may be fraught with challenges, it also presents an opportunity for growth, reflection, and renewal. By embracing change with courage and conviction, USC can emerge stronger and more resilient, ready to face whatever the future may hold.
The departure of Richard Cordray, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Federal Student Aid, signifies a challenging period for the agency responsible for managing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and student loan programs.

Cordray's exit, prompted by mounting pressure from Congressional Republicans following the botched rollout of the FAFSA application, leaves the agency grappling with leadership turnover and difficulties in implementing crucial financial aid programs. Cordray's departure serves as a stark reminder of the intricate and politically charged nature of federal student aid.

Cordray's Legacy: A Mixed Bag

Richard Cordray, a former Ohio attorney general and director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, took on the role of COO of Federal Student Aid in May 2021. Despite his brief tenure, Cordray made significant strides. He led initiatives to provide student loan forgiveness, streamline federal student aid processes, and hold educational institutions accountable for fraudulent practices. Under his guidance, substantial efforts were made to rectify issues with the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program and income-driven repayment plans, aiming to ease the burden on borrowers and instill hope for a more accessible student aid system.

However, Cordray's legacy is also marred by the mishandling of the FAFSA rollout, which exposed vulnerabilities within the agency's operational infrastructure. The FAFSA, a critical gateway for millions of students seeking financial assistance for higher education, experienced significant glitches and delays, drawing ire from both lawmakers and the public. Congressional Republicans seized upon these failures, calling for Cordray's resignation and criticizing the Department of Education's response to the crisis. Despite Cordray's efforts to navigate the storm, the fallout from the FAFSA debacle ultimately contributed to his decision to step down.

Political Headwinds and Leadership Turmoil

Cordray's departure exacerbates the leadership churn at Federal Student Aid, an agency that has seen three COOs in the span of seven years. The ostensibly non-political role has become increasingly politicized, with each new presidential administration ushering in changes at the helm. This instability not only undermines the agency's ability to fulfill its mandate effectively but also creates uncertainty for stakeholders reliant on federal student aid programs.

The politicization of Federal Student Aid reflects broader ideological divisions regarding the role of government in higher education and student financial assistance. Congressional Republicans, emboldened by the FAFSA debacle, have called for greater oversight and accountability within the agency. However, critics argue that partisan maneuvering risks undermining the agency's mission to ensure access to education for all students, regardless of socioeconomic background.

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona's praise for Cordray's leadership underscores the complexities of navigating the intersection of politics and policy within the Department of Education. While Cordray's tenure saw significant achievements in reforming student aid programs, his departure amid controversy highlights the challenges of balancing competing interests and priorities in a highly polarized political landscape.

Charting a Course Forward

As Richard Cordray bids farewell to Federal Student Aid, the agency faces a critical juncture in its ongoing efforts to support students pursuing higher education. The fallout from the FAFSA debacle serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of effective leadership, robust infrastructure, and bipartisan cooperation in shaping federal student aid policies. Moving forward, stakeholders must prioritize transparency, accountability, and innovation to address systemic challenges and ensure equitable access to educational opportunities for all.

Cordray's departure, while significant, should not overshadow the broader mission of Federal Student Aid to empower students and facilitate their academic aspirations. As the agency navigates the choppy waters of political scrutiny and operational challenges, it must remain steadfast in its commitment to serving the needs of students and families across the nation. Only by fostering collaboration and resilience can Federal Student Aid fulfill its mandate and help pave the way for a brighter future for generations to come.
In recent weeks, a series of confrontations between law enforcement and pro-Palestinian demonstrators at various universities across the United States has sparked concerns over the use of force and the protection of free speech on college campuses.

Incidents at Emory University in Atlanta, Emerson College in Boston, and the University of Texas at Austin have drawn attention to the increasingly heavy-handed approach taken by some police departments in handling these protests.

The Clash at Emory University

At Emory University in Atlanta, tensions flared as police clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters on the university's quadrangle. The confrontation quickly escalated, with the Atlanta Police Department and state troopers deploying tear gas canisters and rubber bullets. Videos shared by local media and bystanders showed police tackling demonstrators, restraining them with zip ties, and placing them in vehicles. The police department declined to disclose the number of arrests made, instead referring all questions to Emory officials, who later confirmed that "several dozen people" were taken into custody.

Initially, a university spokesperson denied that the protesters were affiliated with Emory, describing them as "activists attempting to disrupt our university." However, it later became clear that students and faculty members were among those arrested. The incident drew criticism from Democratic state lawmakers, who condemned the use of "excessive force" and blamed the state's Republican majority for creating an environment where such actions were deemed acceptable.

READ MORE : Students Erect Encampments Nationwide, Demanding University Divestment From Companies Linked To Israel

Violence Erupts at Emerson College

In Boston, a similar scene unfolded at Emerson College, where clashes between students and law enforcement turned violent. Students, attempting to block police from entering an alleyway, formed a barricade with their arms locked and held up umbrellas as makeshift shields. However, dozens of city police officers, dressed in helmets and reflective jackets, forcefully removed protesters from the line and dragged them along the ground.

The aftermath of the confrontation was evident the following day, with blood visible in the alleyway as city sanitation workers cleaned the cobblestones. Multiple students provided photos of their injuries sustained during the clash, while four police officers reportedly suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Despite the violence, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu stood by the actions of her officers, stating that ensuring the safety of all residents was her primary mission.

Arrests at the University of Texas at Austin

In Austin, the scene was similar as police descended on the University of Texas flagship campus to quell a protest. Clad in riot gear and brandishing shields, batons, and some assault rifles, officers arrested more than 50 protesters. The crackdown came after months of protests and escalated swiftly as colleges grappled with a fresh wave of unrest. Administrators on some campuses are adopting a harder line, increasingly turning to outside police forces to suppress demonstrations.

The heavy-handed response to these protests has raised alarm among student protesters, First Amendment advocates, historians, and others who have studied the impact of policing on college campuses. The Knight First Amendment Institute called the large-scale deployment of armed officers to suppress peaceful protests "a shocking development" and an assault on free speech.

A Call for De-escalation

As tensions continue to simmer, some Republicans in Congress, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have called for more intervention from law enforcement. They urged President Biden to send in the National Guard to protect Jewish students, who have reported feeling threatened by antisemitic rhetoric and violence. However, critics argue that deploying the National Guard would represent a dramatic escalation and could lead to further violence.

Historians point to past tragedies, such as the 1970 Kent State University shootings, where Ohio guardsmen killed four students during a protest, as a stark reminder of the dangers of militarized responses to demonstrations. Charles H.F. Davis, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan, notes that using campus, local, and state police to crack down on student protests is not new. Still, it is profoundly hypocritical given the commitment many institutions have made to being anti-racist.

The recent clashes between police and pro-Palestinian protesters on college campuses highlight the challenges faced by universities in balancing free speech with public safety. As tensions continue to rise, authorities must exercise restraint and respect the rights of all individuals to demonstrate peacefully. The use of excessive force only serves to escalate conflicts and undermine the fundamental principles of democracy and free expression.
Provincial Minister for Energy, Planning and Development Syed Nasir Hussain Shah on Saturday said 1320 Megawatts electricity will be added to the National Grid after the completion of the first phase of the Thar Coal project

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Apr, 2024) Provincial Minister for Energy, Planning and Development Syed Nasir Hussain Shah on Saturday said 1320 Megawatts electricity will be added to the National Grid after the completion of the first phase of the Thar Coal project.

He expressed these views in a meeting held at the office of Sindh Energy Department.

The CEO of Shanghai Power Meng Donghai and CEO-SSRC Jain while Secretary Energy Sindh Kazim Jatoi and other senior officers of Energy Department were also present. The minister said the 2300 Megawatts Thar Coal Block-I Power Generation Project will play an important role in meeting the energy requirements.

Nasir Shah assured the delegation of immediate removal of all obstacles in the project.

He said that Sindh government will provide all possible cooperation regards project so that the it could be completed as soon as possible.

He directed the delegation to take special care of the local people in the project and provide them with all possible facilities. He added that Thar Coal Project was very important for the whole country including Sindh.

Nasir Shah said that according to the vision of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Sindh government was focusing on public welfare projects like solarization or energy projects in the province.

He said on the direction of Bilawal Bhutto, work is being done rapidly in all sectors.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Apr, 2024) The Workers Welfare Fund (WWF) Balochistan has launched a series of welfare projects worth Rs 1.8 million to enhance living standards and educational opportunities for mine and industrial registered workers across the region.

An official source told APP, the cornerstone of these projects was the establishment of a Girls High School with Staff Residences in Muslim Bagh, Balochistan, designed to provide quality education to the children of 5,605 mine and industrial workers, symbolizing a substantial leap towards gender inclusivity and educational accessibility in the area.

Constructed over 63,000 square feet and with an investment of Rs.700 Million, the school and residences represent a beacon of hope for the future generation of Balochistan.

SAPM Malik stressed ensuring that the project is completed within 24 months.

He said that the former government also laid the foundation stone for 100 worker residence quarters in Muslim Bagh. This housing project, covering 5 acres and costing an estimated Rs.900 Million, will provide secure and comfortable homes for 100 families, directly tackling the housing shortage that plagues the workers' community. The project is set to be completed within 24 months.

He said that a school now has opened its doors to the children of approximately 4,000 mine workers, further underscoring the government's dedication to workers' welfare.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Apr, 2024) The High Court of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir has quashed the fourth detention order in a row under the draconian Public Safety Act (PSA) against former spokesperson of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), Advocate Zahid Ali, directing the authorities to compensate him for the illegal incarceration.

According to Kashmir Media Service, in his habeas corpus petition before the court, Advocate Zahid Ali of Nehama, Pulwama had challenged the detention order the district Magistrate Pulwama had passed against him.

Justice Rahul Bharti in his judgment said, This court cannot resist but to hold that the preventive detention of the petitioner is mala fide and illegal. He added, The petitioner has been made to suffer a loss of his liberty for a cumulative period of more than 1,080 days of preventive custody, covered under the span of four detention orders in a row from 2019 to March 2024,.

The latest preventive detention of the petitioner is compounding the illegality, attending the breach and violation of the petitioners fundamental right to personal liberty with impunity, and that entitles him to compensation, the judgment stated.

While the petitioner Advocate Zahid Ali had sought a compensation of Rs 25 lac, the court directed the occupation authorities to pay Rs 5 lac. This is the first time the court has penalised the authorities for detention under the PSA.

The order said that the court had quashed the three previous detentions of the petitioner not on technical grounds but on the merits of the case.

Notably, Advocate Zahdid Ali was first detained under the draconian law on March 5, 2019. The detention was quashed by the court on July 11, 2019. Eight days after the release order and while he was still under detention, the authorities slapped another PSA against him on July 19, 2019, which was again quashed by the court on March 3, 2020. After remaining out of jail for three months, the IIOJK admin slapped the PSA against Zahid Ali for the third consecutive time on June 29, 2020, which was quashed by the court on February 24, 2021. The fourth detention order is dated September 14, 2022.
(@Abdulla99267510)

The disruption occurs when a student from the Asma Jahangir Legal Aid Cell, in collaboration with the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and Pakistan Bar Council, voiced strong objections to the ambassador's presence at the rights conference in Lahore.

LAHORE: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-April 27th, 2024) German Ambassador to Pakistan Alfred Grannas encountered disruption and protest during his speech at the Peoples Mandate: Safeguarding Civil Rights in South Asia conference held in Lahore on Saturday.

The disruption occurred when a student from the Asma Jahangir Legal Aid Cell, in collaboration with the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and Pakistan Bar Council, voiced strong objections to the ambassador's presence. The student expressed shock at the ambassador's discussion of civil rights while alleging Germany's complicity in the violation of Palestinians' rights.

The audience's response was diverse, with some offering applause while others chanted slogans in solidarity with Palestine, including Free, Free Palestine and From the River to the Sea.

Maintaining composure, Ambassador Grannas responded, If you want to shout, you can go out and shout there, highlighting the need for respectful dialogue.

In the aftermath, the Progressive Students Collective (PSC) condemned what they perceived as the ambassadors disregard for Palestinian rights. They also criticized the conference organizers, alleging the suppression of dissenting voices while providing a platform for advocates of Palestinian genocide. Reports of mistreatment of students by event organizers added fuel to the controversy.

A spokesperson for the PSC stated, Hypocrisy of the ambassador has been exposed by our members,".

Resuming his speech, Ambassador Grannas emphasized the foundational importance of safeguarding human dignity in civil rights discussions, aligning with principles outlined in Pakistans Constitution, notably Article 14.

Grannas underscored the invaluable role of academic discussions, like the conference, in shaping judicial interpretations and decisions, contributing to the protection and evolution of basic human rights.

Drawing parallels between Germany and Pakistan, Grannas highlighted the rarity of explicit guarantees for the inviolability of human dignity worldwide.

Discussing the judiciarys pivotal role, he praised Pakistans courts for their proactive interpretation of the law, citing instances where their rulings positively impacted citizens lives, such as abolishing outdated practices like the two-finger testing in rape cases.

Concluding on an optimistic note, Ambassador Grannas expressed hope for constructive dialogue, recognizing the significance of gatherings like these in honoring the legacy of Asma Jahangir.

The conference, initiated in 2018 following Asma Jahangir's passing, serves as a platform to commemorate her contributions by facilitating discussions on fundamental rights, judicial independence, empowerment of marginalized communities, freedom of expression, and regional solidarity.
(@Abdulla99267510)

The statistics show that the countrys IT exports rose to record high of three hundred and six million dollars in March this year.

ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-April 27th, 2024) The record growth is being witnessed in IT exports due to the efforts of Special Investment Facilitation Council.

According to the statistics, the countrys IT exports rose to record high of three hundred and six million Dollars in March this year.

IT exports totaled 2.28 billion dollars in the first nine months of current fiscal year.

The IT and Telecom sector is one of the key sectors covered by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).

According to the Ministry of Finances forecast, IT exports will increase to three point five billion dollars in the current fiscal year.
MOGADISHU, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The Somali government confirmed on Saturday the surrender of 100 al-Shabab militants, following an amnesty offer by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

As the battle against the extremist group al-Shabab escalates nationwide, Somali National Army (SNA) forces recently accepted the surrender of militants from four regional states, according to the Ministry of Information, Tourism and Culture.

"Last week, 100 al-Shabab militants including leaders who have been long-term members of al-Shabab surrendered from Galmudug, Hirshabelle, Southwest and Banadir regions," the ministry said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

In August 2023, Mohamud offered amnesty to al-Shabab militants as part of a strategy to further weaken the extremist group by removing them from the battlefield.

"The government is extending an amnesty offer as a warm welcome to all radicalized militants who choose to denounce and defect from the terrorist group," the ministry said.

Despite the militants' ongoing attacks on government institutions, army bases and hotels frequented by prominent individuals and government officials, government forces have taken control of major towns in central and southern Somalia as part of the president's all-out battle against al-Shabab. 
Israeli forces shot dead two Palestinian men at a military post near the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, the army and Palestinian officials reported

Jenin, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Apr, 2024) Israeli forces shot dead two Palestinian men at a military post near the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, the army and Palestinian officials reported.

The incident occurred when several militants arrived in a vehicle and fired at soldiers stationed at the Salem military post at the entrance to Jenin, the army said in a statement.

"The soldiers, who were pre-positioned due to several similar past incidents, eliminated two terrorists," the army said.

Palestinian authorities in Ramallah identified the two men killed at the military post as Mustafa Sultan Abed, 21, and Ahmed Muhammad Shawahna, 20.

The official Palestinian news agency Wafa said Israeli forces withheld their bodies after denying medics access to them, adding two other men had been hospitalised after being wounded.

Later on Saturday, residents of Sultan Abed's village of Kfardan held a march paying tribute to him, an AFP correspondent reported.

The mourners included several gunmen who fired in the air.

"I am proud of my son's martyrdom... but the pain I feel in my heart as a father is impossible to comprehend or bear," said Sultan Abed's father.

Abu Nissan, a local commander of Al-Quds Brigade, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, said the militants were not "shaken" by the killing.

"He is not the first martyr, nor he will be the last. We all are martyrs," he told AFP.

Israeli forces regularly carry out raids in and around Jenin and its adjacent refugee camp, a hub of militant groups.

The West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, has seen a surge in violence for more than a year, particularly since the Israel-Hamas war erupted on October 7.

At least 491 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers across the West Bank since October 7, according to Palestinian officials.

The Gaza Strip has been at war since Hamas and other Palestinian militants carried out an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7.

That attack resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people, including Israelis and foreigners, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Israel's retaliatory offensive on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip has killed at least 34,388 Palestinians, most of them women and children, according to the territory's health ministry.
Russia launched a "massive" missile strike at Ukraine overnight, damaging four power plants in the latest barrage targeting the country's energy supply, officials in Kyiv said on Saturday

Kyiv, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Apr, 2024) Russia launched a "massive" missile strike at Ukraine overnight, damaging four power plants in the latest barrage targeting the country's energy supply, officials in Kyiv said on Saturday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Kyiv's Western partners to supply more air defence systems to protect his country's skies, as the air force said it shot down 21 of 34 incoming missiles.

Moscow has launched some of its biggest ever strikes on Ukraine's energy facilities in recent months, knocking out a significant chunk of production, and triggering blackouts and energy rationing across the country.

Ukraine also said it hit two oil refineries and a military air base in southern Russia its own wave of overnight drone attacks.

"Thirty-four Russian missiles overnight. We managed to shoot down some of them. But the world has every opportunity to help (us) shoot down every missile and every drone," Zelensky said in a post on Telegram.

Energy facilities were hit in at least three regions -- including Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk in the west, hundreds of kilometres from the front line -- Energy Minister German Galushchenko said in a Facebook post.

One of the missiles landed 15 kilometres (nine miles) from the Polish-Ukrainian border, Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.

Kyiv says Moscow is escalating attacks from the air and on land ahead of nationwide celebrations on May 9, when Russia marks victory in World War II, and while Ukraine awaits the arrival of crucial US weapons.

- Energy rationing -

The DTEK power operator said equipment at four of its thermal power plants was "severely damaged" in the overnight strikes.

State electricity operator Ukrenergo said it had disconnected its main overhead power line in the west of the country as a preventative measure.

Officials urged people and businesses to limit their power usage.

"We ask all consumers to consume electricity sparingly. Industry is asked to maximise electricity imports and use alternative power sources," Ukrenergo said in a statement.

The head of the western Lviv region called on residents not to use kettles, irons, washing machines and microwaves in peak evening hours.

At least two people were killed in separate shelling attacks on the northeastern Kharkiv region and southern Kherson region, Ukrainian officials said.

The spate of missile and artillery attacks also injured more than a dozen.

Russia's defence ministry said Saturday that over the last week it had carried out 35 "group strikes" against Ukrainian energy sites, military factories, railway facilities, air defence systems and other targets.

The United States on Friday announced a $6 billion package of military supplies to Kyiv to include key air defence munitions and artillery rounds.

- 68 drones downed -

Ukraine launched its own massive drone attack on Russia's southern Krasnodar region overnight.

A Ukrainian defence source told AFP it had hit two oil refineries and a military airfield in the region, just east of the annexed Crimean peninsula.

"Ukrainian drones struck the atmospheric distillation columns of the Ilsky and Slovyansky refineries. These are key technological facilities," the source said.

Russian officials in the Krasnodar region reported a fire at an oil refinery in the town of Slavyansk-on-Kuban.

The refinery partially suspended operations as a result, Russian state media reported, citing a company representative.

Videos and photos on social media showed a large fire raging overnight at the site after a series of blasts.

Moscow said Ukraine had launched one of its largest ever attempted drone attacks on the Krasnodar region.

"Air defences destroyed and intercepted 66 Ukrainian drones over the territory of the Krasnodar region and two over the Crimean peninsula," the defence ministry said.

The governor of Russia's Belgorod border region said later on Saturday that five people were injured when a Ukrainian drone fell on a road a few kilometres from the border.

Kyiv has hit several oil refineries in western Russia in recent months, despite reports of concern in Washington that the strikes could be seen as escalatory and might drive up global oil prices.

Ukraine says targeting Russia's vital energy sector is legitimate as it is a source of fuel and funds for the Russian army.
(UroToday.com) The 2024 Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC) meeting featured a session on the management of metastatic CRPC (mCRPC), and a presentation by Dr. Ian Davis discussing the ideal sequence after ADT alone or ADT + ARPI for treatment in the metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) setting. Dr. Davis started his presentation by emphasizing that there is no ideal sequence after ADT alone or ADT + ARPI for mHSPC. However, there are some less than ideal sequences. The most recent updates (version 3.2024) of the NCCN prostate cancer guidelines are quite dense for mCRPC, with many options based on previous receipt of therapy:

Moreover, there is very little guidance regarding treatment duration sequencing, rather patients can continue through all treatment options listed. Best supportive care, which can include androgen-directed therapy or steroid, is always an appropriate option. Dr. Davis notes that there are several key principles to keep in mind:

Only one treatment is ever given for mHSPC (unless it is changed due to toxicity) Every subsequent treatment is for mCRPC Overall diminishing benefit for later lines of therapy

Thus, the goal is to achieve maximum benefit over the patients life, not just right now There are windows of opportunity  will an effective treatment be able to be given later? What is the probability of benefit given prior active treatment X has been received?

What is maximum benefit? Delayed progression? Survival? Quality of life?



Ultimately, we need to use the most effective treatments and use them in the most effective sequence. Dr. Davis then shared the following hypothetical example based on independent versus interdependent mechanisms of action and the effect on treatment sequence:

There are many options for mCRPC, as highlighted by Dr. Davis:

Docetaxel: TAX 327 1

Abiraterone: COU-AA-301 2 and COU-AA-302 3

and COU-AA-302 Enzalutamide: AFFIRM 4 and PREVAIL 5

and PREVAIL Cabazitaxel: TROPIC 6 and CARD 7

and CARD Radium-223: ALSYMPCA 8

PARP inhibitor + ARPI combinations (mainly a benefit with BRCA1/2 mutation): PROpel 9  22% received treatment for mHSPC, almost all docetaxel TALAPRO-2 10 - ~28% received treatment for mHSPC, almost all docetaxel MAGNITUDE 11 - ~23% received treatment for mHSPC, mostly docetaxel

177 Lu-PSMA: VISION 12 and TheraP 13 : all pretreated for mCRPC ENZA-P 14 : limited first-line mCRPC data

Lu-PSMA:

As follows is the differential treatment efficacy based on clinical state, highlighting changing the biology/efficacy with treatment in the mHSPC setting by the time patients reach mCRPC:

There are challenges in interpreting the literature, with variable access to therapies after mHSPC:

mHSPC protocols do not control sequencing of post-trial therapies

Regional and temporal variability in access to subsequent life-prolonging therapies

Diverse patient populations: We cannot assume each trial is representative of the broader population We cannot assume trials are directly comparable We must consider patient specific factors



As follows are the key mHSPC trial populations and later use of life-prolonging therapies:

Additionally, there are challenges in interpreting the literature, with relevance of older mCRPC sequence data:

Older mCRPC studies did not include patients with intensified treatment for mHSPC However, over half of patients today still only receive ADT alone for mHSPC

Older reports of mCRPC sequencing: Docetaxel is less effective if used after ARPI, whereas cabazitaxel retains activity Abiraterone to enzalutamide sequence is more active than enzalutamide to abiraterone

Real world considerations: Prior treatment clearly affects probability of response to later treatment Real world outcomes are also influenced by patient factors and accessibility to treatments The mCRPC median overall survival: first line is 19.4 months, second line is 14.6 months, and third line is 11.1 months



In a recent real-world study from Freedland et al.15 assessing patterns of treatment in mCRPC in the United States, they noted that baseline demographics vary, treatments were not randomized, chemotherapy was used more in younger and higher risk patients:

Generally, Europeans tended to swap mechanisms, whereas US patients tend to use another ARPI. Dr. Davis then provided thoughts on specific situations, which are not evidence based but based on his opinions:

If a patient does not have a DDR/MMR/TMB high mutation: PARP inhibitors + combinations are less likely to be helpful There is little evidence yet for immunotherapy, but we should keep an eye on this space

If the patient is having early/rapid progression: AR targeting therapy is less likely to be effective and we should consider alternative mechanisms of action For example, taxane chemotherapy, platinum monotherapy + combinations, radioligand therapy, and other targeted approaches

Radioligand therapies: Logical and evidence-based choice for later lines of therapy Emerging evidence for earlier use, but caveats apply Combination approaches may help address tumor heterogeneity

Always consider clinical trials

Dr. Davis concluded his presentation discussing the ideal sequence after ADT alone or ADT + ARPI for treatment in the mHSPC setting by highlighting less than ideal approaches in the modern area:

Anything that means you remove a later, effective option This may not be obvious: missing a narrow window of opportunity to give a more toxic treatment, or use of radiation options that limit later marrow reserve capacity

Use of a less effective treatment before a more effective one: Cabazitaxel before LuPSMA (TheraP) ARPI switch before cabazitaxel (CARD)

Using new stuff just because its new or because you can: Why should docetaxel not be first line treatment now for mCRPC? Corollary: ARPI/ADT doublet for mHSPC leaves docetaxel as an option for mCRPC

Trials designed to use ineffective / toxic placebo endpoints

Presented by: Ian Davis, MBBS(Hons), PhD, FRACP, FAChPM, FAHMS, GAICD, Monash University and Eastern Health, Victoria, Australia

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.



Related content: Sequencing Therapies in mCRPC After Progression on Combination Treatment - Ian Davis





References:
(UroToday.com) The 2024 Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC) meeting featured a session on the management of metastatic CRPC (mCRPC), and a presentation by Dr. Niven Mehra discussing when we should do tumor genomic profiling in advanced prostate cancer. Dr. Mehra started by noting that the EAU, ESMO, NCCN, and APCCC governing bodies provide guidance regarding who to test, when to test, and the genes to test:

Strategies for testing and re-testing are as summarized by Dr. Mehra:

Metachronous: archived (random/targeted prostate biopsies, RALP specimens, lymph node tissue from pelvic lymph node dissections) or fresh biopsies

Synchronous: prostate biopsy, metastatic biopsy, or liquid biopsy

mCRPC: archived, fresh biopsy, or liquid biopsy

The latest update of the NCCN guidelines suggest that for somatic tumor testing the tumor molecular profiles may change with subsequent treatments and re-evaluation may be considered at the time of cancer progression for treatment decision-making. Dr. Mehra then provided his personal interpretation of the guidelines and concurrent NGS testing strategy, which is influenced by a lack of resources for repeat testing:

mHSPC: infrequent  high risk mutations include TP53, PTEN, RB1, BRCA2, ATM

mCRPC: when it may influence treatment decisions  first-line mCRPC treatment, BRCA1, BRCA2, non-BRCA HRR, HRD, MMRd/MSI-H, high TMB, PTEN, RB1, TP53, AR, AKT, and PIK3CA

The cancer biology and genomic landscape varies across localized and the metastatic disease state, as well as for mHSPC and mCRPC:

When considering the use of diagnostic prostate cancer biopsies for NGS, be aware of intra-tumor heterogeneity. There can be analytical or technical reasons for mis-detection and mis-interpretation, including the use of diagnostic biopsies/under sampling of a heterogeneous primary that does not accurately capture intra-tumor heterogeneity:

With regards to the use of liquid biopsies for NGS testing, there are also analytical or technical reasons for mis-detection and mis-interpretation, such as low ctDNA fraction leading to false negatives:

Of note, the median ctDNA percentage is between 0-18%, constraining comprehensive genomic analysis in up to ~50% of samples:

Moreover, the use of liquid biopsies without correction with WBC DNA leads to false positives secondary to clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHiP). Tumor fraction also constrains the alterations that can be identified, given that a median tumor fraction percentage >40% in mCRPC with a median ctDNA percentage <205 missing complex SV, in particular homozygous deletions. For what to test on which tissue in metastatic prostate cancer, Dr. Mehra provides the following table to display genes and context for testing:

The benefit of genomic re-testing in advanced prostate cancer is longitudinal sampling that may identify new actionable events in more advanced disease settings. In a multicenter retrospective analysis of 1,597 patients in the Prostate Cancer Precision Medicine Multi-Institutional Collaborative Effort (PROMISE) database used for characterizing patterns of single versus serial NGS testing, Park et al.1 identified the following actionable alterations: BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM, BRIP1, BARD1, CDK12, CHEK1, CHEK2, FANCL, PALB2, PPP2R2A, RAD51B, RAD51C, RAD51D, RAD4L, MSH2, MSH3, MSH6, MLH1, MLH3, PMS1, PMS2, MSI-H, and high TMB >= 10 mut/MB. As follows are the mutations detected stratified by number of NGS tests:

New actionable data were found on 11.1% (16 of 144) of second NGS tests for the serial group. Cases detected on or beyond second testing included:

BRCA2: 30% (3 of 10)

Non-BRCA HRR genes: 55% (16 of 29)

MSI-H: 33% (2 of 6)

TMB high: 92% (9 of 11)

Finally, Dr. Mehra discussed the prospective ctDNA ProBIO trial assessing genomic re-testing in advanced prostate cancer:

Dr. Mehra concluded his presentation by discussing when we should do tumor genomic profiling in advanced prostate cancer by emphasizing that tissue is the issue for testing and re-testing:

Prostate primary tumor content allows for 50-90% successful NGS reporting in HSPC or CPRC. When NGS reports with inferred tumor fraction >30%, there is a low probability of new alterations on re-testing: BRCA1/BRCA2 Canonical MMRd PI3k pathway

Unsuccessful or incomplete NGS reporting, ie inferred tumor fraction percentage is below 20%, we should consider repeat testing for homozygous TSG deletion and other CNV: Fresh tissue biopsy Liquid with ctDNA percentage preferably >20%

Repeat testing in mCRPC? Do this for late state (ie. visceral metastases or NEPC) Fresh tissue biopsy Liquid: possibly MSI/H, high TMB, non-BRCA HRR, Wnt, MAPK, and cell cycle rearrangements



Presented by: Niven Mehra, MD, PhD, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

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:
(UroToday.com) The 2024 Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC) held in Lugano, Switzerland between April 25th and 27th was host to PSMA for Diagnostic and Treatment session. Dr. Ken Herrmann delivered a state-of-the-art lecture discussing next-generation prostate radioligand therapies and theranostics.



Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a transmembrane protein expressed by the epithelial cells lining the proximal renal tubules, salivary glands, small bowel, as well as the prostate. Expression of this transmembrane protein is upregulated in prostate cancer cells by up to a 1000-fold. The PSMA gene is located on the short arm of chromosome 11 in a region that is not commonly deleted in prostate cancer, thus making it highly prevalent in all forms of prostate cancer, including some castrate-resistant forms. Importantly, the relatively poor expression of PSMA in other organs allows for enhanced targeted imaging in prostate cancer patients.1

The radiotracers most commonly evaluated in the PSMA PET/CT setting are 68Ga-PSMA-11 (t: 68 minutes) and 18F-DCFPyL (t: 110 minutes), with additional radiotracers including PSMA-617, PSMA-1&T, PSMA-1007, and rhPSMA-7.68Ga PSMA-11 was FDA approved in December 2020for the initial staging of prostate cancer patients at high risk of metastases and in those with suspected recurrence based on elevated serum PSA levels. This was followed by the FDA approval of 18F-DCFPyL (Pylarify)

Theranostics uses the same or similar targeting agents that are labeled with either diagnostic or therapeutic radionuclides. Diagnostic radionuclides typically emit or radiation that can be read by PET/SPECT machines. Conversely, therapeutic radionuclides emit or particles that cause DNA breaks and cell damage.

What is the status of radioligand therapy in prostate cancer today? There are two major trials in the metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) space that have led to the regulatory approval of 177Lu-PSMA-617 in the post-taxane and androgen receptor pathway inhibitor (ARPI) setting: VISION and TheraP.2,3

VISION is an international, open-label, phase 3 trial that evaluated 177Lu-PSMA-617 in mCRPC patients previously treated with an ARPI and 1-2 taxane regimens and who had PSMA-positive 68Ga-PSMA-PET/CT scans. Between June 2018 and October 2019, 831 patients were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive either 177Lu-PSMA-617 (7.4 GBq every 6 weeks for four to six cycles) plus protocol-permitted standard care or standard care alone. At a median follow-up of 20.9 months, 177Lu-PSMA-617 plus standard care significantly prolonged, as compared with standard of care, both radiographic progression-free survival (median: 8.7 versus 3.4 months; HR: 0.40, p<0.001) and overall survival (median: 15.3 versus 11.3 months; HR: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.52 to 0.74, p<0.001).



Patient-reported outcomes as evaluated by the FACT-P and Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) scores favored the LuPSMA arm with delays in time to worsening of 7.3 and 11.4 months, respectively.



While a higher rate of high-grade (grade 3-5) treatment-emergent adverse events was observed with LuPSMA (28.4% vs 3.9%) at the time of initial reporting, overall therapy was well tolerated. It bears note that treatment exposure was more than three times longer in the LuPSMA group than in the control group.

TheraP was an open-label, phase II trial of 200 mCRPC men who were randomized to either LuPSMA or cabazitaxel. To screen into the study, all men had both 68Ga-PSMA-11 and 18F-FDG PET/CT and were required to have high PSMA-expression (1 site with SUVmax 20) and no sites of FDG-positive/PSMA-negative disease. All patients had progressive disease with rising PSA 20 ng/mL after docetaxel and 91% had received prior enzalutamide or abiraterone. 200 patients were randomized 1:1 to LuPSMA 6-8 GBq every 6 weeks for up to 6 cycles of therapy or cabazitaxel 20 mg/m2 every three weeks for up to 10 cycles.

The most recent update of TheraP was presented at ASCO 2022 after a median follow-up of 36 months. Progression-free survival favored LuPSMA (HR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.45  0.85). There was however no significant difference in overall survival between the two arms (restricted mean survival time: 19.1 months in the LuPSMA arm versus 19.6 months in the cabazitaxel arm, 95% CI for difference: -3.7 - +2.7).3



Based on the results of these trials, the current guidelines strongly recommend considering the use of 177Lu-PSMA-617 in taxane and ARPI-pre-treated mCRPC patients who have evidence of PSMA-expressing metastatic lesions as per either 68Ga or 18F-DCFPyL PSMA-PET/CT.

In addition to 177Lu-PSMA-617, there are numerous other radioligand therapies currently being evaluated in ongoing clinical trials.

There are ongoing efforts to move up radioligand therapy into earlier line treatment settings. SPLASH (NCT04647526) is evaluating 177Lu-PNT2002 in mCRPC patients with disease progression following an ARPI only (taxane naive). A press release on December 18, 2023, confirmed that this trial met its primary endpoint with 177Lu-PNT2002 improving median radiographic progression-free survival from 6 months to 9.5 months (HR: 0.71, p=0.0088).4

PSMaddition (NCT04720157) is a randomized phase 3 trial evaluating the addition of 177Lu-PSMA-617 to standard-of-care therapy for men with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.

The phase I/II LuTectomy trial is evaluating the use of 177Lu-PSMA-617 in the neoadjuvant setting prior to radical prostatectomy. Results of this trial were recently published in European Urology and demonstrated that PSA50 responses could be achieved in 9/20 patients with no observed grade 3-4 toxicities or Clavien grade 3-5 complications.5

Similar to SPLASH, PSMAfore is evaluating the use of a Lu radioligand agent, 177Lu-PSMA-617, in the post-ARPI/pre-taxane mCRPC treatment setting. Interim results of this trial were presented at ESMO 2023. This is a phase III trial that randomized mCRPC patients with 1 PMSA positive lesion and no exclusionary PSMA negative lesions by 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT 1:1 to open-label 177Lu-PSMA-617 (7.4 GBq every 6 weeks for 6 cycles) or ARPI change (abiraterone or enzalutamide). Importantly, patients randomized to ARPI could crossover to 177Lu-PSMA-617 following centrally reviewed radiographic progression. The trial design for PSMAfore is as follows:

Overall, there were 468 patients randomized. At the primary analysis (median follow-up, 7.3 months), the primary endpoint of radiographic progression-free survival was met (HR 0.41, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.56), which was similar to the second interim analysis (HR 0.43, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.54).

Of note, 84.2% of patients in the ARPI switch control arm who experienced radiographic progression crossed over to 177Lu-PSMA-617. In the pre-specified, crossover-adjusted overall survival data analysis, there was a non-significant overall survival benefit in favor of 177Lu-PSMA-617 (HR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.48  1.33). In the unadjusted, intention-to-treat analysis for overall survival, the HR was 1.16 (95% CI: 0.83  1.64).



For 177Lu-PSMA-617 versus ARPI change, the incidence of grade 3 adverse events was 33.9% (most commonly anemia and dry mouth) versus 43.1%, serious adverse events 20.3% versus 28%, and adverse events leading to discontinuation 5.7% vs 5.2%, respectively. A summary of the most common adverse events is as follows:

Time to symptomatic skeletal events favored the 177Lu-PSMA-617 arm (HR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.22  0.57). Time to composite health-related quality of life or pain worsening as summarized by the FACT-P total score (HR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.47  0.72) and BPI-SF pain intensity scale (HR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.56  0.85), respectively, also favored 177Lu-PSMA-617:

On April 4, 2024, a Novartis press release confirmed the companys plans to file for Pluvicto (177Lu-PSMA-617) pre-taxane label expansion in 2024 based on updated overall survival data demonstrating a hazard ratio <1 in the unadjusted for cross-over, intent-to-treat population.

Another trial of radioligand therapy presented at ESMO 2023 was ENZA-p (ANZUP 1901), which has since been published in Lancet Oncology.6 This is an open-label, randomized phase 2 trial across 15 centers in Australia of 162 mCRPC patients who had not previously received a taxane or an ARPI in the mCRPC setting, had 68Ga-PSMA-PET/CT-positive disease, and 2 risk factors for early progression on enzalutamide. These patients underwent 1:1 randomization to enzalutamide +/- 177Lu-PSMA-617.

This trial met its primary endpoint, with the addition of 177Lu-PSMA-617 to enzalutamide improving PSA progression-free survival from 7.8 to 13 months (HR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.29  0.63, p<0.001).



What are the next generation targets in this space? Ideally, such agents will address areas of high unmet clinical need, including:

Neuroendocrine differentiated tumors

Non-PSMA expressing tumors

Tumors with inadequate responses to PSMA radioligand therapy

Heterogenous tumors

There are numerous such agents currently under evaluation, as summarized in the figure below:

JNJ-69086420, an Actinium-225-labeled antibody targeting human Kallikrein 2 is being evaluated in a phase 1 study (NCT04644770). The expansion cohort of this trial is recruiting, with plans for initiating the phase 2 portion in 2025.



68Ga-RM2, a gastrin-releasing receptor-targeting radioligand, was compared to 68Ga-PSMA11/18F-DCFPyL for the evaluation of biochemically recurrent prostate cancer patients. Fifty patients underwent both 68Ga-RM2 PET/MRI and 68Ga-PSMA11 (n = 23) or 18F-DCFPyL (n = 27) PET/CT at an interval ranging from 1 to 60 days. 68Ga-RM2 PET was positive in 35 and negative in 15 of the 50 patients. 68Ga-PSMA11/18F-DCFPyL PET was positive in 37 and negative in 13 of the 50 patients. Both scans detected 70 lesions in 32 patients. Forty-three lesions in 18 patients were identified on only 1 scan: 68Ga-RM2 detected 7 more lesions in 4 patients, whereas 68Ga-PSMA11/18F-DCFPyL detected 36 more lesions in 13 patients. Based on these results, the investigators concluded that 68Ga-RM2 has value as a radiopharmaceutical and may have a complementary role to 68Ga-PSMA11/18F-DCFPyL PSMA PET in clinical practice.7



Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is a type II transmembrane serine overexpressed in many solid cancers that can be imaged through quinoline-based PET tracers derived from an FAP inhibitor (FAPI). Given the heterogeneous nature of advanced prostate cancer with PSMA-PET/CT having limited diagnostic performance when cells are poorly expressing for PSMA, FAPI PET is being evaluated in such patients to overcome this limitation.



Dr. Herrmann additionally highlighted the emerging role of somatostatin receptor-2 (SSTR2) PET in this setting.

Dr. Herrmann concluded his presentation as follows:

Theranostics involving radionuclides are ready for prime time.

PSMA radioligand therapy is being moved up into earlier-line treatment settings

PSMA has opened Pandoras box in prostate cancer

Multiple new targets are currently being evaluated Human Kallikrein 2 is the most advanced and closest to potential use in clinical practice Gastrin-releasing peptide appears to be promising in a small-group analysis Other targets too early to tell



Presented by: Ken Herrmann, Professor, MD, Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany

Written by: Rashid Sayyid, MD, MSc - Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO) Clinical Fellow at The University of Toronto, @rksayyid on Twitter during the 2024 Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference, Lugano, Switzerland, April 25th - April 27th, 2024

Chang SS. Overview of Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen. Rev Urol. 2004;6(Suppl 10):S13-S18. Sartor O, de Bono J, Chi KN, et al. Lutetium-177PSMA-617 for Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2021;385:1901-1103. Hofman MS, Emmett L, Sandhu S, et al. [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 versus cabazitaxel in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (TheraP): a randomised, open-label, phase 2 trial. Lancet. 2021;397(10276):797-804. Lantheus and POINT Biopharma Announce Positive Topline Results from Pivotal SPLASH Trial in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer. https://lantheusholdings.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lantheus-and-point-biopharma-announce-positive-topline-results. Accessed on April 27, 2024. Eapen RS, Buteau JP, Jackson P, et al. Administering [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 Prior to Radical Prostatectomy in Men with High-risk Localised Prostate Cancer (LuTectomy): A Single-centre, Single-arm, Phase 1/2 Study. Eur Urol. 2024;85(3): 217-226. Emmett L, Subramaniam S, Crumbaker M, et al. [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 plus enzalutamide in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (ENZA-p): an open-label, multicentre, randomised, phase 2 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2024:S1470-2045(24)00135-9 Baratto L, Song H, Duan H, et al. PSMA- and GRPR-Targeted PET: Results from 50 Patients with Biochemically Recurrent Prostate Cancer. J Nucl Med. 2021;62(11): 1545-1549.

References:
(UroToday.com) The 2024 Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC) meeting featured a session on the management of metastatic CRPC (mCRPC), and a presentation by Dr. Karim Fizazi discussing the ideal sequence after ADT + ARPI + docetaxel for treatment in the metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) setting. Theres no question that based on data from PEACE-11and ARASENS2 that triplet systemic therapy works in mHSPC:



In a pre-APCCC survey of 28 providers, Dr. Fizazi asked Among your current patients with upfront (de novo) mHSPC, how often do you currently use the following systemic therapies?

Most common: ADT + docetaxel + ARPI (triplet therapy)

The second most common: ADT + ARPI

The third most common: ADT + docetaxel

Fourth most common: ADT alone

With regards to treatments used beyond progression in PEACE-1 post-triplet therapy, Dr. Fizazi asked the PEACE-1 statistician to compute patients that progressed after triplet therapy for presentation at APCCC (data cutoff April 23rd, 2024, unpublished data). There were 134 patients in the triplet arm that experienced a progression event. At least one life-prolonging treatment was received in 92% of patients that progressed. The most common treatments beyond progression for mCRPC was cabazitaxel (69%), enzalutamide (50%), docetaxel rechallenge (28%), and abiraterone (19%):



Dr. Fizazi notes that the main treatment options for mCRCP patients post-triplet therapy include cabazitaxel (CARD trial3), PARP inhibitors (primarily in the BRCA mutation population; PROfound trial4), and LuPSMA (VISION trial5):



Dr. Fizazi notes that the RADIANT trial has fully accrued, assessing radium-223 as an option for mCRPC post-docetaxel and ARPI. This trial randomized patients to second ARPI versus radium-223 x 6 cycles:



Less appealing options after progression on triplet therapy for mHSPC include (i) a second ARPI, which typically does not work, even though the FDA encourages this sequence, and (ii) docetaxel rechallenge, which has a lower response rate than in docetaxel-naive CRPC, has cumulative toxicity, and cabazitaxel is likely a better choice (20 mg/m2 + G-CSF support). So, how do we choose between the available options? Dr. Fizazi provided the following recommendations:

BRCA alteration: preference for a PARP inhibitor MSI High: (strong) preference for a PD-1 inhibitor Strong PSMA expression: PSMA targeting Frail patient: Lu-PSMA, radium-223 Long time since docetaxel use: Cabazitaxel? Second ARPI?

Dr. Fizazi reminded the audience that no matter what you decide, please do not forget a bone-protecting agent (ie. denosumab)!

Finally, Dr. Fizazi notes that the biology will soon guide us for mCRPC post-triplet, based on oncogenic driver secondary alterations, bypass pathways, and lineage plasticity:

Dr. Fizazi concluded his presentation discussing the ideal sequence after ADT + ARPI + docetaxel for treatment in the mHSPC setting by reminding us that there is life after triplets, and we should continue using them for mHSPC.

Presented by: Karim Fizazi, MD, PhD, Institut Gustave Roussy, University of Paris Saclay, Villejuif, France

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:
(UroToday.com) The 2024 Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC) meeting featured a session on the management of Metastatic Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC), and a presentation by Dr. Joaquin Mateo discussing the best use of PARP inhibitors in mCRPC. The challenge of precision medicine is that PARP inhibitors are (mostly) in tumor cells deficient for HRR and we do not currently have tests to measure HRR function. As such, we use proxy biomarkers, which are different from targeting the oncogene:



Dr. Mateo emphasized that BRCA-deficient metastatic prostate cancer is a distinct disease subset with a poor prognosis:

But, BRCA-deficient metastatic prostate cancer is a disease that has high sensitivity to PARP inhibition, as previously shown in the TOPARP-B trial of olaparib monotherapy:1

These findings in TOPARP-B were subsequently confirmed in the PROFOUND trial2 assessing olaparib versus ARPI in mCRPC BRCA 1/2 patients, and the TRITON 3 trial3 assessing rucaparib versus physicians choice of ARPI or taxane in mCRPC BRCA 1/2 patients:

There remain several key questions. The first key question is whether there is different efficacy for BRCA1 versus BRCA2 mutations. The prevalence of BRCA1 in mCRPC is 1-2%, whereas for BRCA2 is 8-10%. Generally, based on data from TRITON24 and PROFOUND, responses are more robust in patients with BRCA2 mutations:



Importantly, Dr. Mateo notes that not all BRCA1 mutations are associated with biallelic BRCA1 loss in the tumor, thus communication is key for optimal interpretation of NGS results. The second key question is whether germline versus somatic mutations matters. Assessing outcomes from TOPARP-B, PROFOUND, and TRITON2, outcomes were comparable favoring PARP inhibitor treatment, regardless of germline versus somatic mutation assessment of BRCA1/2:

The third key question is when to treat, before or after taxane chemotherapy. Data from PROFOUND suggest that there was a radiographic progression-free survival benefit for both the taxane naive and patients who had progressed on taxanes:



Similar outcomes were also noted in the TRITON3 trial of rucaparib. The fourth key question is what to do with combination therapy. We now have three trials in this disease space, including PROpel(abiraterone + olaparib),5 MAGNITUDE(abiraterone + niraparib),6 and TALAPRO-2(enzalutamide + talazoparib).7 Although there are variations in trial design and mutation inclusion criteria, generally there was a benefit for PARP inhibitor + ARPI versus placebo + ARPI:

Dr. Mateo notes that combination trials suggest that PARP inhibition is better than no PARP inhibition for BRCA mutation mCRPC. However, there is a lack of data comparing combination versus sequential use. There is promising data from BRCAAWAY, but the caveat with this trial is the small sample size. Dr. Mateos view is as follows: ARPI + PARP inhibitor combinations are a reasonable option for ARPI naive BRCA1/2 mutated mCRPC, acknowledging the lack of definitive data and risk of increased toxicities.

For mHSPC, ADT + ARPI +/- docetaxel +/- radiotherapy is standard of care. Notably, ARPI followed by ARPI switch has very limited efficacy and is discouraged in mCRPC by the guidelines. Why would this be any different in the mHSPC to mCRPC setting? In the 3 phase PARP inhibitor + ARPI combination trials, there are limited patients that had prior use of ARPI before the ARPI + PARP inhibitor trial treatment:



He emphasized again that PARP inhibitor monotherapy is approved post-ARPI in BRCA-mutated mCRPC. Dr. Mateos opinion is that we need to ask the relevant questions, noting that the following trial design would answer this relevant question:



Dr. Mateo concluded his presentation with the following conclusions regarding PARP inhibitors for BRCA mutations:

BRCA1/2 mutations associate with HRD in prostate cancer and are associated with a poor prognosis

There is high sensitivity to PARP inhibitors, irrespective of the germline versus somatic origin of the mutation

NGS testing should be considered in all m(CR)PC patients

Trials confirm efficacy as monotherapy combination with ARPI in BRCA mutation patients. Thus, a PARP inhibitor is better than no PARP inhibitor

There is no robust data comparing ARPI + PARP inhibitors versus ARPI followed by PARP inhibitors We need to generate that data through appropriate clinical trials In ARPI-naive patients, the risk benefit ratio makes combinations acceptable until definitive data is available In the post-ARPI setting, the rationale for combinations is unclear, and PARP inhibitor monotherapy should be considered the standard option until proven otherwise



Presented by: Joaquin Mateo, MD, Vall dHebron Institute of Oncology, Barcelona, Spain

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.



Related content: The Use of PARP Inhibitors in mCRPC with BRCA1/2 Alterations - Joaquin Mateo

References:
(UroToday.com) The 2024 Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC) meeting featured a session on global access to advanced prostate cancer in low- and lower-middle-income countries, and a presentation by Dr. Omolara Aminat Fatiregun discussing how we can maximize the use of radiotherapy for prostate cancer in Africa.



Dr. Fatiregun started by emphasizing that we are seeing a surge in prostate cancer secondary to an unpreventable increase despite other interventions such as lifestyle and public health initiatives. Importantly, men of African descent present at younger ages and with late-stage disease. In order to maximize radiotherapy for prostate cancer we need to answer several outstanding questions:

What is the big question?

Are we preparing for a surge of late-stage disease?

How do we incorporate radiotherapy into palliative treatment?

How do we incorporate radiotherapy into localized treatment?

Surmountable challenges to radiotherapy abound in Africa with regard to availability, accessibility, and affordability. The following highlights the global distribution of access to radiotherapy per 100,000 people, notably with many parts of Africa having zero access:



\Some identifiable challenges as highlighted by Dr. Fatiregun include:

Availability of cancer treatment services Radiotherapy treatment machines Cancer medications Capacity building for personnel Accessibility services Affordable costs

Political will  to provide leadership in cancer control

Dr. Fatiregun highlighted that Nigeria is a West African country with a population of 200 million and six geopolitical zones:

Several lessons have been learned thus far in Nigeria:

There is political will

Establishment of the National Cancer Control Program (NCCP) in 2006, comprising: Public Education on Cancer Cancer Prevention Early Diagnosis and Treatment Effective Therapy Palliative Care

Updates of the National Plan are to be provided every five years

Includes involvement of private stakeholders

Includes diverse backgrounds and expertise involved in cancer care

Furthermore, the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) was established by the federal government to provide national leadership in cancer research, treatment, and control in Nigeria. NICRAT developed a National Strategic Cancer Control plan for 2023-2027 launched by the Honorable Minister at the opening ceremony of the 2023 International Cancer Week.

With regard to radiotherapy availability, the first radiotherapy machine was installed in Nigeria in 1969. In 2024, the current status of radiotherapy machines in Nigeria includes 25 new radiotherapy machines (and counting), as well as the first PET scan machine in West Africa (private):



The following three federal centers are awaiting new machines: University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State; University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin; Ahmadu Bello Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Kaduna State. Centers in the pipeline include:

Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos

Lagos State Government

Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau

Lakeshore Cancer Center, Lagos

Mercure Cancer Center, Lagos

NSIA Cancer Centers in Abuja, Enugu, Kaduna State

Katsina State Collaboration

Private Center: Cedarcrest Comprehensive Center

Additional milestones as highlighted by Dr. Fatiregun include (i) The Nigerian Cancer Access Partnership (N-CAP) Program; (ii) ongoing upgrade of Oncology Centers of Excellence (UCH Ibadan, UNTH Enugu, ABUTH Zaria, UDUTH Sokoto, UBTH Benin, and National Hospital Abuja); (iii) implementation of Cancer Health Fund (CHF) in six federal teaching hospitals in each geopolitical zone, which is in the first phase for the treatment of indigent cancer patients of breast, cervix, and prostate; (iv) state and private insurance programs to cover cancer treatment; (v) sensitization of policymakers and stakeholders; (vi) development of cancer control programs by state governments; (vii) committee of CMDS; (viii) a National Cancer Society (NCS); (ix) the Association for Radiation and Clinical Oncologists (ARCON); (x) the African Coalition for Cancer; (xi) and NGOs. However, Dr. Fatiregun notes that there is a need for continued advocacy, given that Nigeria needs about 200 total radiotherapy machines, and the need to scale up current programs to improve availability, accessibility, and affordability. There is also a need for capacity development, personnel training, research, and more centers. Additionally, more public-private partnerships would be helpful, as would international collaborations, and maintenance and evaluation of processes to ensure sustainability.

Dr. Fatiregun concluded her presentation discussing how we can maximize the use of radiotherapy for prostate cancer in Africa with the following take-home messages:

To prepare for this surge we need to maximize the use of radiotherapy in Africa

African countries (low- and middle-income countries) must identify their unique challenges

We must take deliberate and actionable steps toward achieving these goals

Presented by: Omolara Aminat Fatiregun, MBBS, MPH, FWACS, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria

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.
(UroToday.com) The 2024 Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC) meeting featured a session on PSMA for diagnostics and treatment, and a presentation by Dr. Michael Hofman discussing the interchangeability of alternative PSMA ligands for diagnostics and treatment. Dr. Hofman started by highlighting that there are currently four common radiotracers: 68Ga-PSMA-11, 18F-DCFPyL, 18F-PSMArh7.3, and 18F-PSMA-1007, with the aforementioned first three being FDA-approved. According to Dr. Hofman, 68Ga-PSMA-11 and 18F-DCFPyL are equivalent and interchangeable, with normal and similar organ biodistribution (intra-individual comparison):





Notably, amongst the four radiotracers, there are differences in biodistribution:

In Australia, more than 10,000 studies are being performed per year and reimbursement is agnostic, thus allowing the physician to choose the radiotracer they desire. Of note, there may be important differences between PET scanners whether it is digital or an analog:



Indeed, technological advances are outpacing evidence base, and even for bone scans we have two agents (MDP versus HDP):

Are there radioligand-specific differences in tumor uptake? A comparison of the UCSF/UCLA 68Ga-PSMA-11 study,1 CONDOR trial for 18F-DCFPyL,2 and SPOTLIGHT trial for 18F-PSMArh7.33 shows a PPV of 92% in the UCLA/UCSF trial, a correct localization rate of 85%-87% in CONDOR, and a combined region-level PPV of 64% in SPOTLIGHT:

However, Dr. Hofman notes that there are several issues:

There are few comparative studies of the different ligands PSMA PET-new is better than CT/bone scan, but is it better than 68Ga-PSMA-11 or 18F-DCFPyL? The era of using CT and bone scan as the comparator (gold standard) must end

Regarding 18F-PSMA-1007, we must be aware of benign bone uptake:

Dr. Hofman summarized bone uptake with the following points:

18 F dissociation from PSMA-1007 leads to benign bone uptake, which is not described for 18 F-DCFPyL or 18 F-PSMArh7.3

F dissociation from PSMA-1007 leads to benign bone uptake, which is not described for F-DCFPyL or F-PSMArh7.3 48% of PSMA-1007 versus 15% of PSMA-11 may have benign bone uptake

SUVmax: 6.2 vs 2.4

Lesions being called benign bone decrease with reader experience

This is a challenging problem, especially for staging or oligometastatic disease

For PSMA radioligand therapy, PSMA-11, PSMA-617 and PSMA-I&T all have the same binding motif, but different chelator:

However, are PSMA-617 and PSMA-I&T equivalent? Dr. Hofman notes that there is much more data for PSMA-617 as compared to PSMA-I&T:



Sadaghiani et al.4 performed a systematic review and meta-analysis highlighting data the use of Lu-177 in patients with mCRPC. The authors included a total of 24 studies with 1,192 patients who had received Lu-177 based therapy. The majority of these studies reported on 177Lu-PSMA-617 (20 studies) while 3 reported on 177Lu-PSMA-I&T, and 1 reported on both. In this heavily pre-treated population, 44% of patients (95% CI 39-50%) had a PSA response of at least 50% among those receiving 177Lu-PSMA-617 with similar, though slightly lower numbers among those receiving 177Lu-PSMA-I&T (36%, 95% CI 26-47%). Further, these authors found that treatment was well tolerated with very low rates of grade 3 or 4 toxicity, with the highest observed rates for anemia at 8% (95% CI 5-12%). Based on these results MSAC (an independent Australian health technology assessment committee) termed these two agents radioequivalent. Despite the limitations in the evidence comparing products, MSAC accepted that these two products are mutually noninferior for patient outcomes.



Regarding 177Lu-PSMA, is it a drug or a type of radiotherapy?

Arguments for the radiotherapy model: Uses dosimetry to define dose to critical organs We cannot exceed the known maximum tolerated limits to critical organs Toxicities are delayed: short term follow-up is inadequate Its limits are theoretical and are extrapolated from external-beam radiotherapy

Arguments for the drug model: There is no need for dosimetry or post-treatment imaging Maximum tolerated dose is defined with phase 1 dose escalation studies Acute toxicities are observed and definable There is a predictable delayed cumulative toxicity that may be missed



A 2022 study from Schuchardt et al.5 compared the safety, biodistribution, and dosimetry for 177Lu-PSMA I&T and 177Lu-PSMA-617 among 138 patients undergoing radioligand therapy for mCRPC. This study found a lower renal dose with PSMA-617 (0.77 vs 0.92 Gy/GBq, p = 0.0015), but with comparable tumor doses and larger interpatient variability:

At the 2022 APCCC meeting, the question can the data generated by the VISION trial with PSMA-617 be extrapolated to PSMA-I&T? at which time 68% of respondents said no, it could not. However, a recent survey of 95 theranostic centers suggested that 27% were using both agents, 51% were using only PSMA-617, and 22% were using only PSMA-I&T.

Importantly, Dr. Hofman notes that for precision medicine, patient selection is key. Specifically, FDG PET/CT makes invisible PSMA-negative bone lesions visible, thus we should not be treating blindly. Moreover, new ligands must be compared to PSMA-617 or PSMA-I&T. For now, it appears the small molecule peptides have won versus the antibodies:

Compared to the antibodies, small molecules (i) have higher uptake and better tumor dosimetry, (ii) have rapid clearance and lower toxicity, (iii) are cheaper, however (iv) when it comes to the alpha emitters, this may be different.

Dr. Hofman concluded his presentation discussing the interchangeability of alternative PSMA ligands for diagnostics and treatment with the following take-home messages:

The best PSMA radiotracer for PET/CT is the one you can access

68 Ga-PSMA-11 and 18 F-DCFPyL are essentially equivalent

Ga-PSMA-11 and F-DCFPyL are essentially equivalent 18 F-PSMArh7.3 is the newest FDA approved radiotracer, but there are questions as to whether it is equivalent and providers have far less experience with it

F-PSMArh7.3 is the newest FDA approved radiotracer, but there are questions as to whether it is equivalent and providers have far less experience with it For 18 F-PSMA-1007, we must be aware of benign bone uptake

F-PSMA-1007, we must be aware of benign bone uptake PSMA-617 and PSMA-I&T seem to be radio-equivalent

The peptides win, for the moment

Reader experience, patient selection, and technical factors all matter

Presented by: Professor Michael Hofman, MBBS, FRACP, FAANMS, FICIS, GAICD, Prostate Cancer Theranostics and Imaging Centre of Excellence, Peter MacCallum Cancer Center, Melbourne, Australia

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.



Related content: Comparing PSMA Ligands for Prostate Cancer Imaging - Michael Hofman

References:
(UroToday.com) The 2024 Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC) meeting featured a session on PSMA for diagnostics and treatment, and a presentation by Dr. Stefano Fanti discussing how to utilize the presence or absence of CT findings on a PSMA PET/CT. To start, Dr. Fanti emphasized an important philosophy of science: If you conclude with A on the basis of good evidence, you cannot use B obtained with less good evidence to confirm A. Based on multiple studies and reviews, PSMA PET/CT has higher detection rates than any other imaging modality, especially in patients with low PSA values. The following table summarizes the roles of imaging modalities in the setting of early recurrent prostate cancer:1



Thus, as PSMA-PET has higher accuracy (particularly among patients with low PSA levels) than other imaging modalities, we should potentially simply act on the results of the PSMA-PET. However, Dr. Fanti acknowledged that the downfall of this approach, and the elephant in the room, is the false positive rate of PSMA-PET.

As part of the Q&A at APCCC 2024, respondents were asked In the majority of patients with clinically high-risk localized or locally advanced prostate cancer and one PSMA PET positive bone lesions, without a correlate on the CT component of the initial PSMA PET, what do you recommend as the next investigation? Dr. Fanti was shocked that the most common answer (55%) was correlate with conventional imaging (ie. MRI, x-rays, or bone scintigraphy), with an additional 20% suggesting they would biopsy if feasible, and only 13% reporting they would do no further investigation and treat as M0 disease.

What do we do when we are staging a high-risk patient and there is a positive rib lesion? Dr. Fanti highlighted, in particular, that 18F-PSMA-1007 has nonspecific uptake in bone marrow which may lead to false positive bony lesions:



When this patient above was rescanned with 68Ga-PSMA-11, there was no evidence of a rib lesion:



In 2020, Rauscher and colleagues2 performed a matched-pair comparison of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT and 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT to assess the frequency of pitfalls and detection efficacy in biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy. Among 204 PSMA PET/CT scans, 18F-PSMA-1007 PET and 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET revealed 369 and 178 PSMA-ligand-positive lesions, respectively. 18F-PSMA-1007 PET revealed approximately 5 times more lesions attributed to a benign origin than 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET (245 versus 52 lesions, respectively):



Another study from Chen et al.3 assessed solitary rib lesions showing PSMA uptake in pre-treatment staging 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET scans. Among 62 men with PSMA uptake in a solitary rib lesion, 54 went on to have a radical prostatectomy and eight underwent radiotherapy. In all, 61 men (98.4%) met the criteria for a benign rib lesion, and only one man had a false-negative malignant lesion. Of the benign rib lesions, there were four false positives reported as possible metastases. Three had percutaneous rib biopsies, two of which came back with benign histology and one was indeterminate. Dr. Fanti noted that these results indicate that the vast majority of these lesions have low-intensity uptake and are benign. He also strongly urged that we should not call faint PSMA uptake as M+ and that requiring a CT scan todeciden on M1 vs M0 is not logical.

There are several open questions that need to be addressed:

What is the best consensus for PSMA PET reporting?

What is the impact of imaging on patient management?

How do we establish cross-specialty interaction?

How do we handle the use of imaging (PET/CT/MRI) and biomarkers?

Dr. Fanti also acknowledges several major problems that still exist:

Diagnosis is getting more complex with imaging and blood biomarkers

Understanding the importance of prognostication versus identification

There are many unsolved challenges in assessing responses to treatment

Dr. Fanti concluded his presentation discussing how to utilize the presence or absence of CT findings on a PSMA PET/CT with the following take-home messages:

Use the best tracer necessary

CT confirmation is not useful or necessary

Discussions at multidisciplinary tumor boards are necessary

We should not call faint uptake as M+

Dr. Fanti also mentioned to save the date for February 27-28, 2025 for the first APCCC Diagnostics meeting in Lugano, Switzerland.

Presented by: Stefano Fanti, MD, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy

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:
Students learn Chinese fan dance in London, Britain, April 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

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."

LONDON, April 26 (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.

Students learn the typography of the Chinese characters in London, Britain, April 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

"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.

Students learn Chinese Kung Fu in London, Britain, April 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

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."
(UroToday.com) The 2024 Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC) meeting featured a session on PSMA for diagnostics and treatment, and a presentation by Dr. Matthew Smith discussing the patients that should receive chemotherapy before PSMA radioligand therapy. Docetaxel, cabazitaxel, and 177Lu-PSMA-617 improve overall survival in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), however, there is limited information about the comparative effectiveness of taxanes and PSMA radioligand therapy. Thus, the optimal sequencing of taxanes and PSMA radioligand therapy is undefined. Dr. Smith notes that studies from 20 years ago (TAX3271and SWOG 99162) suggest that docetaxel improves overall survival in mCRPC:



However, using a cross-trial comparison approach to assess the activity of docetaxel before and after an ARPI, Dr. Smith notes that docetaxel before ARPI (TAX327, SWOG 9916) shows a >= 50% decrease in PSA in 45-50% of patients and only 25% PSA reduction for docetaxel after enzalutamide in PRESIDE.3 Cabazitaxel also improves overall survival in mCRPC based on data from TROPIC4 (after docetaxel) and CARD5 (after ARPI and docetaxel) trials:

Third, 177Lu-PSMA-617 improves overall survival in mCRPC based on data from VISION6 (after ARPI and taxane chemotherapy), but with no survival benefit yet in PSMAfore (after ARPI, before taxane chemotherapy):



In an updated press release from Novartis on April 4, 2024, regarding PSMAfore, they note that updated overall survival results from a pre-planned analysis at approximately 75% information fraction demonstrates an overall survival hazard ratio less than 1.0 in the intent-to-treat population, unadjusted for cross-over. Dr. Smith notes that in a comparison of VISION and PSMAfore assessing 177Lu-PSMA-617 before and after taxane chemotherapy, the results for radiographic progression-free survival, objective response rate, and >= 50% PSA decrease are quite similar and that perhaps the major differences in overall survival are indeed secondary to the large crossover effect in PSMAfore:

In a comparison of PRESIDE and PSMAfore assessing docetaxel versus 177Lu-PSMA-617 in mCRPC after ARPI, there is a higher objective response rate, >=50% PSA decrease, and median radiographic progression-free survival in the PSMAfore cohort for 177Lu-PSMA-617:

Comparing CARD and VISION assessing cabazitaxel versus 177Lu-PSMA-617 after docetaxel and ARPI, we see very similar results for overall survival, radiographic progression-free survival, objective response rate, and >=50% PSA decrease:



Looking at the VISION subgroup analysis for overall survival, it appears that patients with liver metastasis do quite poorly with 177Lu-PSMA-617 after docetaxel (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.53  1.43), although Dr. Smith emphasized that these patients would likely do poorly with any therapy.



Dr. Smith states that the best comparison of chemotherapy and 177Lu-PSMA-617 comes from the TheraP trial.6 This was the first randomized study to evaluate 177Lu-PSMA-617 vs cabazitaxel for men with mCRPC after docetaxel. In this open-label, phase II trial, 200 men were randomized to either 177Lu-PSMA-617 or cabazitaxel. To screen into the study, all men had both 68Ga-PSMA-11 and 18F-FDG PET/CT and were required to have high PSMA-expression (at least one site with SUVmax  20) and no sites of FDG-positive/PSMA-negative disease. All patients had progressive disease with rising PSA  20 ng/mL after docetaxel and 91% had received prior enzalutamide or abiraterone. Overall, 200 patients were randomized 1:1 to 177Lu-PSMA-617 6-8 GBq every 6 weeks for up to 6 cycles of therapy or cabazitaxel 20 mg/m2 every 3 weeks for up to 10 cycles. Patients were stratified based on disease burden and prior anti-androgen therapy. The trial schema for TheraP is as follows:

The primary endpoint of this study was a PSA decline of 50% (PSA50) and secondary endpoints included PSA-PFS and overall. After a median follow-up of 13 months, 177Lu-PSMA-617 significantly improved PSA-PFS compared with cabazitaxel (HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.86):



Additionally, 177Lu-PSMA-617 had a much higher PSA50 rate (66% vs 37%), particularly for those with SUVmean >= 10:

In work published in early 2024 in Lancet Oncology, Hofman and colleagues7 noted that after a median follow-up of 35.7 months (IQR 31.1 to 39.2), 77 (78%) participants had died in the 177Lu-PSMA-617 group and 70 (69%) participants had died in the cabazitaxel group. Overall survival was similar among those assigned to 177Lu-PSMA-617 versus those assigned to cabazitaxel (restricted mean survival time 19.1 months vs 19.6; difference -0.5 months; p = 0.77):

Moreover, there was no difference in overall survival when stratified by SUVmean +/- 10, in fact, cabazitaxel appears to do better in patients with SUVmean >= 10:

Several other key subgroup analyses were performed on this updated report of TheraP. First, patients with higher SUVmean (>= 10 vs < 10) had improved overall survival whether they were treated with cabazitaxel or 177Lu-PSMA-617:



Second, the overall survival was significantly worse for the screen failures compared to the randomized patients. Thus, patients with PSMA PET-negative disease have a poor prognosis:



Dr. Smith concluded his presentation discussing the patients who should receive chemotherapy before PSMA radioligand therapy with the following conclusions:

The optimal sequencing of chemotherapy and PSMA radioligand therapy is undefined

The cross-trial comparison suggests that 177 Lu-PSMA-617 may have a higher PSA response rate than docetaxel for patients treated with mCRPC and prior ARPI

Lu-PSMA-617 may have a higher PSA response rate than docetaxel for patients treated with mCRPC and prior ARPI Cross-trial comparisons suggest that 177 Lu-PSMA-617 and cabazitaxel have similar efficacy for patients with mCRPC treated with prior ARPI and docetaxel

Lu-PSMA-617 and cabazitaxel have similar efficacy for patients with mCRPC treated with prior ARPI and docetaxel The TheraP study suggests that 177Lu-PSMA-617 has improved PSA response rate and radiographic progression-free survival compared to cabazitaxel, but with no difference in survival

So, according to Dr. Smith, the optimal sequence of chemotherapy and PSMA radioligand therapy in his opinion is as follows:

Recommend PSMA radioligand therapy before chemotherapy for patients who (i) meet imaging criteria for PSMA radioligand therapy, and (ii) are either medically unsuitable for chemotherapy or express a strong preference to avoid chemotherapy

Recommend chemotherapy for patients who do not meet the imaging criteria for PSMA radioligand therapy. PSMA PET-negative disease is associated with worse prognosis but is probably not predictive

For chemotherapy-eligible patients who meet imaging criteria for PSMA radioligand therapy, there are no evidence-based criteria to inform sequencing. Liver metastasis and low SUVmean are prognostic but are probably not predictive biomarkers

Presented by: Matthew R. Smith, MD, PhD, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA



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:
(UroToday.com) The 2024 Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC) meeting featured a session on global access to advanced prostate cancer in low- and lower-middle income countries, and a presentation by Dr. Stacy Loeb discussing the promise and pitfalls of social media and artificial intelligence for prostate cancer in disadvantaged populations. Dr. Loeb started by highlighting the recent Lancet publication reporting the Lancet Commission on Prostate Cancer,1 which provides recommendations for addressing the surge in cases for low- and middle-income countries. Two important aspects are (i) artificial intelligence can complement or supplement deficits in the health profession and important skillsets, and (ii) social media can provide potentially powerful means of improving awareness and assisting with navigation within healthcare systems. However, there are also potential risks.

Dr. Loeb notes that in 2022, 78% of Latin America/Caribbean inhabitants and 36% of sub-Saharan African inhabitants were using the internet. Further, 109 per 100 people in Latin America and 89 per 100 people in sub-Saharan Africa have mobile cellular subscriptions. In some low-income countries, mobile connections are more reliably accessible than electricity and clean water, which is particularly useful for reminders for medication adherence and behavior change. Artificial intelligence apps can scale at minimal marginal cost (compared to increasing the number of healthcare professionals). Dr. Loeb states that there is higher use of social networks among black and Hispanic US adults, as is seen in the following table:

Other examples of potential roles for social media and artificial intelligence for prostate cancer in low- and middle-income countries include:

Awareness and education: awareness messaging on social media leads to cancer screening

Screening and diagnosis: Artificial intelligence-assisted radiology and pathology interpretation

Treatment selection: Artificial intelligence for tailored advice based on cloud-based medical records, and virtual tumor boards for healthcare

Treatment: follow-up visits with telemedicine (ie. via WhatsApp)

Survivorship: advice and support from the online community

Social media is useful for raising awareness and disseminating evidence-based information. This includes the Prostate Cancer Genetics Podcast, which is a prospective study of a podcast series to provide public education on prostate cancer genetics, as well as a prospective study of a sponsored ad campaign on Facebook to raise awareness about prostate cancer risk. In Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic, geriatric oncology care was provided via telemedicine for older patients, with 75% of the consultations taking place via WhatsApp, including 32% of chemotherapy being prescribed remotely, and 81% of geriatric assessments being successfully performed. Another example is using WeChat to provide pelvic floor training, resulting in improved continence after radical prostatectomy.

Dr. Loeb cautions that there is a dark side to social media, which was evident during the most recent Ebola outbreak. Tweets about Ebola in Guinea, Liberia, and Nigeria in 2014 led to disinformation that Ebola may be cured by the plant ewedu, or by blood transfusions, as well as by drinking and washing in salty water. Prostate cancer misinformation is also widespread across all social media platforms, including:

YouTube: 42% of the top 150 videos had some misinformation Instagram: 41% of posts with objective information was misinformation TikTock: 41% of posts with objective information was misinformation Pinterest: 15% of pins in search for prostate cancer had misinformation Podcasts: 13% contained moderate to high misinformation

In work from Dr. Loebs group, aimed to characterize the quality of information and presence of misinformation about skin, lung, breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers generated by four artificial intelligence chatbots.2 Google Trends' top 5 search queries related to skin, lung, breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer from January 1, 2021, to January 1, 2023, were input. The quality of text responses generated by the four artificial intelligence chatbots was good (median DISCERN score of 5, range: 2-5) and no misinformation was identified. Understandability was moderate (median PEMAT Understandability score of 66.7%, range: 33.3%-90.1%), and actionability was poor (median PEMAT Actionability score of 20.0%, range: 0%-40.0%).

Additional work from Dr. Loeb assessed representation in online prostate cancer content among racial and ethnic minorities.3 This study retrieved 150 websites and 150 videos about "prostate cancer" using the most widely used search engine (Google) and social network (YouTube). Among 81 websites and 127 videos featuring people, 37% and 24% had perceived Black representation, and racial/ethnic disparities were discussed in 27% and 17%, respectively. Among 1,526 people featured, 9% and 1% were perceived as Black and Latinx, respectively.

In a recently published study, Dr. Loeb and colleagues conducted 7 virtual focus groups with Black patients with prostate cancer.4 A quote from this study sums up the findings of this important qualitative initiative To the majority of African Americans, you think youre less like to get it [prostate cancer] because you see less African Americans on the internet and on the websites, when its absolutely the other way around. Thus, these focus groups with Black patients with prostate cancer identify negative consequences from underrepresentation.

Dr. Loeb concluded her presentation by discussing the promise and pitfalls of social media and artificial intelligence for prostate cancer in disadvantaged populations with the following take-home messages:

Social media and artificial intelligence hold great promise to help with the surge in prostate cancer, particularly in low- and middle-income countries

The benefits include raising awareness, enhancing clinical care, and providing support

Drawbacks include challenges with readability, spread of disinformation, and limited representation of diversity

Efforts are needed to ensure accuracy, comprehensibility, and equity in the provision of digital information and services

Presented by: Stacy Loeb, MD, New York University, 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:
(UroToday.com) The 2024 Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC) held in Lugano, Switzerland was host to an advanced prostate cancer session. Dr. Himisha Beltran discussed how to identify aggressive variant prostate cancer.

Castrate-resistant prostate cancer is a heterogenous disease with numerous:

Genomic subtypes Examples: BRCA2, microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H), PTEN loss, TP53, and RB1

Phenotypic variants Histologic (e.g., neuroendocrine prostate cancer) PSMA-negative/FDG PET avid Gene expression

Resistance mechanisms Most are androgen receptor driven (AR mutations/amplifications) Non-androgen receptor driven (loss of AR expression/signaling)



This is reflected in the mCRPC clinical phenotype spectrum, whereby some patients have significantly more aggressive disease than others.

This variability spectrum has important therapeutic implications, whereby therapy should be intensified for patients with the most aggressive disease features. We need to develop rational combination strategies that, ideally, should target both AR and non-AR driven disease.

What is aggressive variant prostate cancer (AVPC)? The term AVPC was used for specific clinical criteria in therapy intensification (platinum-taxane) phase 2 clinical trials:

Exclusive visceral metastases; Lytic bone metastases; Bulky lymphadenopathy (5 cm) or mass (5 cm, Gleason 8) in prostate/pelvis Low PSA (10 ng/mL) at initial presentation (before ADT) or at the time of symptomatic CRPC plus high volume (20) bone metastases; Serum CEA and/or LDH twice the upper limit of normal; Short interval (6 months) to CRPC; Small cell/neuroendocrine carcinoma morphology.

In prostate cancer, therapeutic pressure may lead to small cell carcinoma/neuroendocrine prostate cancer transformation.

Other notable aggressive features that are not included in the AVPC definition include:

PSMA negative/FDG avid disease on PET scan

High ctDNA fraction or circulating tumor cell count - reflective of tumor burden

Germline and somatic DNA alterations (BRCA2, RB1)

Liver metastases regardless of other sites

Parenchymal brain metastases (rare but increasingly reported) The list of prognostic biomarkers keeps growing and may inform treatment intensification studies.



Do AVPC clinical features necessarily reflect the underlying biology? In phase 2 platinum trials, AVPC has been defined using clinical parameters. Genomic analysis has demonstrated the following underlying mutations:

~50-60% RB1 (by IHC or NGS)

~80% TP53

~50% PTEN

These mutations appear to be of predictive value, whereby patients with 2/3 alterations in TP53, RB1, and PTEN had longer median progression-free (7.5 versus 1.7 months) and overall survival (20.2 versus 8.5 months), compared to those with 01 alterations when treated with combination cabazitaxel and carboplatin.1 As such, Dr. Beltran proposed whether loss of 2/3 such tumor suppressors should be used to define AVPC instead of clinical criteria.

Dr. Beltran noted that the most common tumor suppressors lost in CRPC are as follows:

RB1: 20% versus 3% for primary

TP53: 45% versus 15 for primary

PTEN: 40% versus 20% primary

Loss of tumor suppressors is associated with lineage plasticity and AR independence. Drawing parallels to small cell lung cancer (SCLC), it appears that loss of RB1 and TP53 precedes histologic transformation to SCLC. 515% of lung adenocarcinomas transform into small cell lung cancer at time of resistance to EGFR inhibitor therapy. Multiple studies have shown that RB1 and TP53 loss detected in lung adenocarcinoma predicts future transformation to small cell lung cancer.

How/what should we measure loss of tumor suppressors in the clinic? Potential candidates, with notable limitations, include:

Primary tumor: Misses alterations that are acquired at later stages

Metastatic tumor: At what time point and which lesion/locations should be sampled?

ctDNA: Has important limitations for detection of numerous deletions

Immunohistochemistry: What antibodies and cut-offs are most reliable

Genomic sequencing: Targeted next generation sequencing is the most common but does not detect functional or epigenetic losses.

The prevalence of these mutations also appears to be influenced by prior therapy received, even in the neoadjuvant setting. Post hoc analysis of the PUNCH CALGB 90203 (Alliance) phase 3 trial of neoadjuvant chemohormonal therapy prior to radical prostatectomy in high-risk prostate cancer patients demonstrated that TP53 alterations were enriched and associated with shorter overall survival, whereas SPOP alterations were infrequently detected after chemohormonal therapy.2

Residual tumors treated with ADT plus docetaxel had mainly TP53 defects and PTEN alterations. Alteration frequency of TP53 tended to be closer to metastatic frequencies.

In contrast to TP53 and PTEN mutations that may occur early and selected for, RB1 alterations are often acquired. In a study published by Rodrigues et al. in 2019, 70 samples from 41 patients (including 20 matched, same patient HSPC-CRPC pairs) underwent fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assessment, and demonstrated the following:

20 HSPC samples: RB1 deletions present in 35%

20 CRPC samples: RB1 deletions present in 65%

Of the 13 HSPC samples without deletion, 7 acquired deletions in the CRPC sample This suggests heterozygous to monozygous loss with disease progression (note: only homozygous losses are reported on most assays)



Dr. Beltran highlighted the numerous ways in which patients may lose RB1 expression:

What is the ideal method to evaluate for tumor suppressor loss? In 2023, Viscuse et al. evaluated 49 men with mCRPC progression who were undergoing biopsies for standard molecular profiling. TP53, RB1, and PTEN expression were assessed by immunohistochemistry, and patients concurrently underwent next generation sequencing and ctDNA testing. Immunohistochemistry outperformed the other two modalities for detection of tumor suppressor alterations (27%). Notably, immunohistochemistry offers the additional advantages of being cost-effective with specific/validated antibodies and easier to implement across centers.

However, p53 immunohistochemistry can be high with mutations but low with deletions. Additionally, issues with regards to quantifying heterogeneity of expression and standardization of testing/reporting remain. This is well-exemplified by an analysis of IPATential 150, a phase 3 trial of abiraterone +/- ipatasertib in patients with PTEN loss. In patients with PTEN loss by immunohistochemistry, there was no radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) benefit to adding ipatasertib. Conversely, among patients with NGS-defined PTEN loss, adding ipatasertib significantly improved rPFS. Dr. Beltran noted that the lesson here is that multiple assays may be required to provide a full picture of tumor suppressor gene alterations.

Dr. Beltran noted that there is currently no indication to test for tumor suppressor loss in the clinic. However, such tumor mutations are often reported in NGS studies and sometimes clinical immunohistochemistry, indicating likely tumor aggressiveness. This may have potential future implications for:

Therapy intensification, potentially with platinum agent

Prompt imaging, potentially with FDG PET

Biopsy: to evaluate for neuroendocrine prostate cancer

Correlate with targets (epigenetic, cell surface)

Next, Dr. Beltran addressed neuroendocrine prostate cancer noting that it is an aggressive histologic variant that can arise de novo or after therapy for castrate-resistant prostate cancer. These tumors clinically, pathologically, and molecularly overlap with small cell lung cancer. There is some controversy with regards to its prevalence with some reporting having never or rarely seen this variant, whereas others report proportions as high as 15-20% of CRPC tumors. Possible explanations for this discrepancy include:

Repeat biopsies are not standardly/routinely done in mCRPC NCCN currently recommends considering a biopsy to evaluate for neuroendocrine differentiation

Variability among pathologists  evaluation and nomenclature is not standardized

Intra-patient heterogeneity

There is evidence that neuroendocrine prostate cancer arises as a result of lineage plasticity, as illustrated below. While these prostate cancer cells are initially highly PSMA expressing in the adenocarcinoma state, they become low/variable PSMA expressing in the neuroendocrine phase. However, expression of other cell surface molecules such as DLL3 increases, facilitating development of novel imaging and treatment targets.

What are the PET features of neuroendocrine prostate cancer? These tumors are often PSMA negative/low, reflecting the lack of androgen receptor expression. This is not universal among all such lesions, as up to 20% of neuroendocrine prostate cancers can express PSMA. Notably, not all PSMA negative lesions are neuroendocrine prostate cancers. These lesions are FDG avid, reflecting metabolic activity; however, this is not specific to neuroendocrine prostate cancer. PET DOTATE has been evaluated in these patients, which performs well for well differentiated neuroendocrine tumors, but poorly for high grade neuroendocrine carcinomas. There are ongoing studies evaluating DLL3 PET in this disease space.

Emerging neuroendocrine prostate cancer biomarkers include:

Molecular imaging (DLL3 PET, others)

Liquid biopsies (cDNA methylation, fragment omics, ChiPseq. CTCs)

Transcriptomic signatures (NEPC score  mRNA based)

Dr. Beltran concluded her presentation as follows:

Aggressive variants of CRPC exist and may benefit from alternative treatment strategies.

The current diagnosis of aggressive disease is imperfect and inconsistent and may encompass multiple biologic subtypes.

Number of emerging diagnostic tools have been developed: Clinical criteria (AVPC) Tumor suppressor loss (RB1, TP53. PTEN) AR gain/mutation/splice variants Biopsy (morphology, immunohistochemistry) PET (PSMA, FDG) Liquid biopsies (cfDNA)

Standardization of biomarkers in clinical studies will be essential for helping us understand their therapeutic relevance.

Presented by: Himisha Beltran, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Department of Medical Oncology in the Lank Division of Genitourinary Oncology and the Division of Molecular and Cellular Oncology at Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Written by: Rashid Sayyid, MD, MSc  Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO) Clinical Fellow at The University of Toronto, @rksayyid on Twitter during the 2024 Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC) Meeting, Lugano, Switzerland, Thurs, Apr 25 - Sat, Apr 27, 2024.



References:
If you want to directly stream it: Streaming services and ESPN+ app.

If you want to watch it on internet, VAVEL US is your best option!
A bipartisan group of 14 U.S. senators on Friday sent a letter to Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze expressing concern over his governments decision to reintroduce and advance a "Russian-style foreign agents law" similar to one they were forced to withdraw a year ago.

The senators said they fear the decision is undermining Georgias European future and its relations with the U.S. They warned the prime minister that if the legislation becomes law, they would be compelled to encourage a shift in U.S. policy toward Georgia.

In the letter, obtained by the Voice of America shortly after it was sent to Kobakhidze, the senators called "on the government of Georgia to withdraw the law, which threatens U.S.-Georgia relations and also raises the possibility of imposing sanctions on individuals, cutting off direct government funding and expanding visa restrictions."

A day before the senators letter became public, the U.S. Helsinki Commission published a strongly worded statement, calling on the ruling Georgian Dream Party to withdraw the foreign agent bill and urging "Georgian authorities to divert from this destructive path."

The commission promotes human rights, military security, and economic cooperation in 57 countries in Europe, Eurasia, and North America. Its members come from the U.S. Senate, U.S. House and the executive branch.

The law would require any organization in Georgia receiving more than 20% of its funding from foreign sources to register as an organization representing a foreign interest. If they fail to register, they would face significant financial penalties.

Opposition and civil society groups say the proposed law is designed to silence the freedom of speech of Georgian citizens and organizations, including the activities of election monitors, by demonizing them as foreign agents, which in the post-Soviet context equates them to traitors.

Georgia will hold parliamentary elections in October.

The government says the law is equivalent to the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act, which requires U.S. citizens to register as foreign agents if they actively represent the interests of a foreign principal in the United States.

In their letter, the senators rejected the comparison.

"We must also make it clear that the reintroduced foreign agents law does not mirror any U.S. law and would be used to silence the civil society and media that play a significant role in advancing Georgias democratic institutions," they wrote.

The U.S. law bases such a foreign agent determination on the activities of U.S. individuals and organizations, and it explicitly creates exemptions for such things as education, cultural and scientific exchange. The Georgian law is based on a Russian law that labels any group or person a foreign agent based only on their funding.

The U.S. senators, echoing many high-ranking EU officials, said the bill targets civil society and appears directed at discrediting assistance from the United States and Europe in support of democracy.

Since Georgias independence in 1991, the U.S. and Europe have invested hundreds of millions of dollars to support Georgias sovereignty and democratic transition, the letter said.

If the bill is approved, the senators say it would cast Georgias strongest partners, the United States and European Union, "as malign actors" and "such a shift would require U.S. policy toward Georgia to change and reflect the new state of Georgias politics."

The U.S. and the EU have been strong supporters of Georgias democratic development for more than 30 years. Russia, however, invaded Georgia in 2008, and still occupies 20% of Georgian territory.

The EU extended candidate status for EU membership to Georgia in December after the government recalled the foreign agent law last year because of massive public protests.

Georgia is awaiting an EU decision to start accession talks with the bloc. If Georgia adopts this foreign agent bill as law, EU officials said, it will derail the countrys path to Europe.

The actions of the Georgian government to pass the "Putin-style law" as Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Benjamin Cardin called it  despite massive street protests by Georgian citizens, particularly youths, and repeated warnings from the EU and the U.S. officials  have caused a dilemma for the supporters of Georgias integration into Europe.

Western supporters of Georgia do not want to push the country away from the EU and NATO because 80% of the Georgian public support membership in these institutions, yet they also do not want to overlook or condone such behavior by the government.

The letter, initiated by Senators Jeanne Shaheen, a senior Democratic member of the Foreign Relations Committee and chair of its Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, and James Risch, the senior Republican on the full committee, was signed by 12 other senators and sent to Georgias Prime Minister Kobakhidze around 9 p.m. Friday in Tbilisi. Other senators signing the letter included Cardin, Lindsey Graham, Chris Coons, Pete Ricketts, Richard Durbin, Roger Wicker, Richard Blumenthal, Thom Tillis, Tim Kaine, Dan Sullivan, Sheldon Whitehouse and Martin Heinrich.
As student protests against Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza continue at more than three dozen American universities, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the demonstrations were "a hallmark" of American democracy. At the same time, he criticized the students for their silence" on Hamas.

"It is also notable that there is silence about Hamas. It's as if it wasn't even part of the story," Blinken said to reporters Friday during a visit to Beijing. "But as I've also said repeatedly, the way Israel goes about ensuring that October 7th never happens again matters profoundly."

Speaking in a country where dissent is often harshly suppressed, Blinken said he understood the war invokes "strong, passionate feelings" and voiced support for the students' right to protest.

"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," he said.

Protests have grown in campuses across the country since Columbia University in New York started cracking down on pro-Palestinian protesters occupying a lawn on its campus on April 18. Police interventions have led to hundreds of arrests but have failed to contain the spread of antiwar demonstrations.

"We have students of all backgrounds and of all histories and identities coming out here to stand on the side of justice and to oppose genocide," said Malak Afaneh, who spoke with VOA from the encampment at the University of California-Berkeley. The third-year law student who has Palestinian parents said there has been an "outpouring of community support."

In many universities, Jewish students participated in expressing their anger about U.S. support for Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza and their schools' financial and academic ties to Israel and to weapons manufacturers.

"We have a university that's actively investing money into companies that are helping fuel [the war], kill these innocent people," a Jewish student from George Washington University told VOA, declining to share her name because of security concerns. "And it's just not something that I morally can  I have never been able to stand by  but especially not now anymore."

Yet some Jewish students have complained of rising antisemitism and have felt unsafe on their own campuses, including Columbia, because of the protests.

Overall, the protests are peaceful, even as some are met with counterprotests from pro-Israel and pro-Zionist students. Demonstrations are broadly protected as free speech under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Antisemitic language

Still, the protests are potentially explosive for university administrators, particularly as some students have been called out for using antisemitic language.

Interpreted differently by its supporters, a chant like, "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," is seen by many Jews and Israelis as a call to dismantle the Jewish state and replace it with a Palestinian state that extends from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.

The demonstrations are also becoming a political headache for President Joe Biden. Student protesters and progressive Democrats who support their cause are important constituencies for Biden ahead of the November presidential election. His reelection bid depends in part to his ability to pacify progressives' anger about his administration's support of Israel, a close U.S. ally.

An added complication for Biden is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's efforts to portray the antiwar sentiment in the U.S. as antisemitic. On Wednesday, Netanyahu called the protests "horrific" and said they must be stopped.

"Antisemitic mobs have taken over leading universities," he said. "They call for the annihilation of Israel. They attack Jewish students. They attack Jewish faculty."

Netanyahu, who is facing protests demanding his resignation at home, said the American demonstrations are "reminiscent of what happened in German universities in the 1930s," drawing parallels to scenes that preceded the Holocaust under Nazi Germany.

Ties are already tense as the Biden administration and Democrats in Congress demand that Israel improve its conduct of the war. In March, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, described the Israeli prime minister as an impediment to peace in the Middle East and called for a new election to replace him. Schumer is the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the U.S.

Republicans decry protests

Netanyahu's criticisms of the protests are echoed by Republican lawmakers who accuse the students of condoning terrorism and supporting Hamas. Republican-led committees in Congress have summoned university administrators to testify, accusing them of allowing campuses to become hotbeds of antisemitism.

On Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson and several other Republican lawmakers visited Columbia University, calling for the resignation of university President Minouche Shafik and decrying the student protests as violent and uncontrollable.

"This is dangerous. This is not the First Amendment, this is not free expression," Johnson said, amid raucous booing and shouts from protesters.

The speaker demanded that Biden call out the country's military reserve force to quell the protests. "There is an appropriate time for the National Guard," he said. "We have to bring order to these campuses."

The White House declined to weigh in, saying decisions to call in National Guard units to break up protests are up to state governors.

VOA's Dilge Timocin and Matt Dibble contributed to this report.
ZARANJ, Afghanistan, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Police have destroyed a drug processing lab in west Afghanistan's Nimroz province, provincial police chief Mullah Mohammad Ibrahim said Saturday.

Acting on a tip-off, police launched an operation in the Delaram district, unearthed a drug processing lab along with objects used in manufacturing heroin, and smashed all on the spot, the official said.

One person was arrested, the official added. 
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Riyadh from Monday through Tuesday to participate in regional talks on humanitarian assistance in Gaza, a post-war roadmap for the Palestinian territories, and stability and security in the Middle East.

"The secretary will discuss ongoing efforts to achieve a cease-fire in Gaza that secures the release of hostages and how it is Hamas that is standing between the Palestinian people and a cease-fire," according to the State Department.

The Gulf Cooperation Council, or GCC, a regional alliance of Arab countries bordering the Persian Gulf, will convene in Riyadh next week.

Blinken will participate in a GCC ministerial meeting to advance coordination on regional security.

Additionally, Saudi Arabia is hosting a special session of the World Economic Forum in Riyadh on Sunday and Monday. Expected participants include heads of state and top executives from both the public and private sectors. The meeting aims to tackle a broad range of global challenges, including humanitarian issues, climate change, and economic concerns.

Gaza, post-war roadmap

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains dire, despite an increase in daily aid and Israel beginning to utilize a northern crossing and Ashdod Port for humanitarian deliveries.

The United States is collaborating with partners to establish a maritime humanitarian corridor; however, these efforts are insufficient as the entire population of Gaza faces the risk of famine and malnutrition.

U.S. officials have stated that Washington is committed to advancing lasting peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians, including through practical steps aimed at establishing a Palestinian state that exists alongside Israel.

"The West Bank and Gaza must be reunified under the Palestinian Authority. A revitalized Palestinian Authority is essential to delivering results for the Palestinian people in both the West Bank and Gaza and establishing the conditions for stability," said Barbara Leaf, an sssistant secretary for Near Eastern Affairs at the State Department during a recent briefing.

Washington also has made clear that Hamas should not play a role in such governance.

However, analysts say there are many hurdles to the U.S. vision.

Michael Hanna, the program director at the International Crisis Group, noted that the current Israeli government has shown a "total rejection of the idea of a two-state solution." Moreover, "the physical reality has changed so dramatically since 1967 that it makes the possibility of a viable, contiguous Palestinian state almost an impossibility."

He said "there's no real assurance" that countries in the Middle East are particularly committed to post-war reconstruction in the Gaza Strip.

"It's very difficult for many of these regional parties to engage politically at the moment while the war rages on," he said.

Prospects for Saudi-Israel normalization

The Biden administration continues to work on a potential agreement that could lead to Saudi normalization with Israel, despite what some officials and analysts consider a remote possibility.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the two-state solution and the return of the Palestinian Authority to control Gaza, demands that are widely supported by the international community.

The Saudis have demanded, as a prerequisite, to see an Israeli commitment to the two-state solution.

"If Netanyahu's positions do not change, he will probably not be able to deliver normalization with Saudi Arabia. It may be that a U.S.-Saudi offer for such a normalization will be publicly made, so when Israelis go to the polls, they can take this option into account," Nimrod Goren, a senior fellow for Israeli affairs at the Middle East Institute, told VOA in an email.

Alleged rights violations being investigated

Blinken's upcoming meetings in the Middle East come as the U.S. evaluates new information from the Israeli government to determine whether to blacklist certain Israeli military units.

These units are accused of violating the human rights of Palestinian civilians in the West Bank before the October 7 Hamas terror attacks on Israel.

Critics have pointed out that the State Department's "slow rolling" in making its decision highlights the special treatment that Israel continues to receive.
British officials formally charged two men Friday with spying on behalf of China in the latest in a series of European arrests of suspected Chinese intelligence agents.

The two men, Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry, were charged with violations of the Official Secrets Act by "providing prejudicial information to a foreign state, China between 2021 and February 2023.

Their arrests on Monday occurred at the same time that German authorities arrested three people suspected of spying for China and leaking information on military technology. German authorities separately arrested an assistant to a far-right European Parliament member.

The Chinese Embassy in London said the charges Cash and Berry face are "completely fabricated" and "malicious slander," a part of British "anti-China political manipulation."

Dominic Murphy, who leads the counterterrorism command of Londons Metropolitan Police, told The Associated Press the charges are the result of an extremely complex investigation into what are very serious allegations."

Cash, a parliamentary researcher with the governing Conservative Party, and Berry, an academic, have been granted bail and released after a court appearance in London. They will next appear in court for a preliminary hearing on May 10.

Cash maintains his innocence, while Berry and his lawyers have provided no public statements.

British and EU officials have warned of the threat that Chinese covert activities pose, with Ken McCallum, the head of Britains domestic intelligence agency, warning in 2022 that China has sought to target and influence British political officials.

Last month, the U.S. and U.K. governments announced new sanctions against hackers with ties to the Chinese government, and both countries accused the hackers of targeting government officials and businesses at the direction of Chinese government leadership.

Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press.
Two U.S. congressmen have introduced a bill to rename the street in front of Hong Kongs de facto embassy in Washington as "Jimmy Lai Way" in honor of the jailed media entrepreneur.

The bill would also apply the name change to the mailing address for the office, officially known as the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office.

Representative Chris Smith of New Jersey announced the bill in a statement Thursday, saying he and the bills co-author, Representative Tom Suozzi of New York, wanted to honor the "renowned Hong Kong human rights defender who remains unjustly imprisoned by Hong Kong authorities."

Authorities jailed the 76-year-old founder of Hong Kong media group Next Digital, formerly Next Media, in December 2020 after accusing him of fraud.

They also charged him with "conspiracy to collude with foreign countries or external forces to endanger national security" under Hong Kongs National Security Law. The cases are still ongoing, and Lai has been denied bail.

In the statement, Smith, who is chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, called the charges "fabricated" and "politically motivated."

"Jimmy Lai is a man of faith and conviction, someone who fervently believed that Hong Kong's prosperity and vitality were built on the rights promised to its citizens," Smith said. "For peacefully acting on this belief, he is arbitrarily detained."

Since Beijing imposed the tough Hong Kong security law in 2020, U.S. lawmakers from both parties have become increasingly concerned about the Asian financial hubs autonomy and are looking at measures to put pressure on its government.

Beijing says the security law is needed to maintain stability but has used it to arrest, jail and try hundreds of pro-democracy activists, stifling Hong Kongs once vibrant civil society.

In March, Hong Kong lawmakers unanimously and quickly approved their own sweeping national security law known as Basic Law Article 23, strengthening the government's ability to silence dissent.

"We will continue to press for Jimmy Lai's unconditional release and seek ways to raise the diplomatic and reputational costs globally for the Hong Kong government and their Chinese Communist Party masters for their rough dismantling of democratic freedoms and the rule of law in Hong Kong," Smith said in the statement.

Smith, who has long been concerned about human rights in China, nominated Lai and other jailed, well-known Chinese rights defenders Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi, along with Uyghur scholar Ilham Tohti, for the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize in February. U.S. lawmakers called them "advocates for peace and freedom."

"The free world must continue calling attention to the Chinese Communist Party's crimes in Xinjiang, erosion of democracy in Hong Kong, and saber-rattling against Taiwan," Suozzi said in the statement.

"Naming a street in Washington, D.C., after Jimmy Lai, a pro-democracy advocate and journalist standing up for human rights in Hong Kong, will signal to the entire world that the United States stands in solidarity with those who oppose the tyranny and repression of the Chinese government," he added.

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office has locations in three U.S. cities  Washington, New York and San Francisco.

VOA contacted the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office and the Chinese Embassy in Washington for their reaction to the proposed bill. They forwarded VOAs inquiry to the Information Services Department in Hong Kong, which did not respond by publication time.

In a response emailed to VOA on Monday, the Information Services Department said that as Lai's trial is still ongoing "it is inappropriate for any person to, comment on the details of the case."



"The HKSAR [Hong Kong Special Administrative Region] Government will not tolerate any form of interference by anyone with the judicial proceedings of the HKSAR," the statement said.

U.S. lawmakers have on several occasions proposed name changes for roads in front of foreign embassies and territories to memorialize and honor rights defenders from those countries who were persecuted by their own governments.

In 2014, a bill was introduced to rename a portion of International Place NW, a street that runs in front of the Chinese Embassy in Washington after Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo. The Chinese writer and government critic died in custody in 2017.

In 2020, U.S. lawmakers proposed renaming the same street "Li Wenliang Plaza" after the doctor who was punished for posting warnings on social media about the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 in Wuhan. He died that same year from the virus.

In 2018, the city government in Washington renamed a section of the avenue in front of the Russian Embassy as "Boris Nemtsov Plaza" in honor of the Russian opposition activist who had been fatally shot in Moscow three years earlier.

In 2022, the street in front of the Saudi Arabian Embassy was renamed "Jamal Khashoggi Way" after the Washington Post columnist was murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul by government agents.

In February, a bipartisan group of U.S. congressmen announced legislation to rename a section of the street near the Russian ambassadors residence as "Alexei Navalny Way" to memorialize the late Russian opposition leader less than two weeks after his sudden death in prison.
Germany's ambassador to Pakistan faced backlash on social media Saturday for asking pro-Palestinian demonstrators to leave a human rights conference instead of shouting and interrupting his speech.

Alfred Grannas was speaking on civil rights at the live-streamed event in the eastern city of Lahore when a young man rose from his seat and spoke to the German diplomat.

Excuse me, Mr. ambassador. I am shocked by the audacity that you are here to talk about civil rights while your country is brutally abusing the people speaking for the rights of the Palestinians, the protester said.

The participants cheered and chanted Free, Free Palestine" and "From the river to the sea" in response to the comments, with many of them rising from their seats in support of the man.

If you want to shout, go out; there, you can shout because shouting is not a discussion, the German ambassador shouted back furiously in response to the questioning voice.

If you want to discuss it, come here. Well discuss it, but dont shout. Shouting is not a behavior. Shame on you, Grannas said.

Organizers forced the protesters out of the conference to let the German diplomat complete his speech.

Grannas video remarks quickly went viral, drawing criticism from Pakistanis, including activists, politicians and journalists.

The German ambassador shouting into the mic about shouting, said Uzair Younus, a former nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Councils South Asia Center.

Not a great look for German diplomacy. These types of interruptions will be the norm, not the exception for Western countries representatives in the global south moving forward as they lecture folks about human rights, Younus wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

"Mr. ambassador, can you tell someone to 'get out' for expressing their opinion freely in your own country? Ghulam Abbas Shah, a Pakistani broadcast journalist, asked on X.

German ambassador to Pakistan lecturing Pakistanis about free speech while German government bans any discussion on Gaza. Students who spoke up during this speech were dragged and beaten up. Shame! Ammar Ali Jan, a Pakistani historian, activist, and politician, said on X.

AJ Conference, the organizers of the event, said in a statement to VOA that the group "emphatically denies having beaten up the crowd that chanted slogans at the inaugural as alleged by @ammaralijan. Its an outrageous lie, especially when several cameras were there to capture everything."

Some social media influencers urged the German diplomat to apologize to Pakistanis for his reaction.

This isn't the way a diplomatic relation is built with the masses of host country @GermanyinPAK," said journalist Sumaira Khan on X. We are shocked to see your level of respect toward Pakistan and Pakistanis. ... You should apologize to our people I believe, she wrote.

Germany has firmly supported Israel since the Jewish state declared war on Gaza-based Hamas after the Iran-backed Palestinian militant group attacked southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people and leading to the capture of scores of hostages.

Israel's counteroffensive has killed nearly 34,000 people in Gaza, two-thirds of them women and children, Gaza health officials say. Israel says the death toll includes thousands of Hamas fighters.

The German government has not budged even as warnings of a genocide allegedly committed by Israeli forces have mounted.

Pakistan does not recognize Israel and has no direct channels of communication with it over the issue of Palestinian statehood.
The CCTV footage shown at the domestic abuse trial was disturbing: The defendant is seen dragging his wife by her hair, and then punching and kicking her. Hours after it was recorded, she died of brain trauma.

The trial of businessman Kuandyk Bishimbayev, Kazakhstan's former economy minister, in the death of his wife, Saltanat Nukenova, has touched a nerve in the Central Asian country. Tens of thousands of people have signed petitions calling for harsher penalties for domestic violence.

On April 11, senators approved a bill toughening spousal abuse laws, and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed it four days later. It's been dubbed "Saltanat's Law" in her honor.

Kazakhs are riveted by Bishimbayev's trial, the first in the country of over 19 million people to be streamed online, and debates about it are dominating social media. Many see it as a moment of truth for Tokayev's promises of reforms and making officials accountable.

Bishimbayev, 44, once seen as a fresh, Western-educated face of Kazakhstan's government under former leader Nursultan Nazarbayev, was jailed for bribery in 2018 before being pardoned less than two years into his 10-year sentence.

Nukenova, 31, was found dead in November in a restaurant owned by one of her husband's relatives. Bishimbayev, who was charged with torturing and killing her, for weeks maintained his innocence but admitted Wednesday in court that he had beaten her and "unintentionally" caused her death.

His lawyers initially disputed medical evidence indicating Nukenova died from repeated blows to the head. They also portrayed her as prone to jealousy and violence, although no video from the restaurant's security cameras that was played in court has shown her attacking Bishimbayev.

Aitbek Amangeldy, Nukenova's elder brother and a key prosecution witness, told The Associated Press that he had no doubt his sister's tragic fate has shifted attitudes about domestic violence.

"It changes people's minds when they see directly what it looks like when a person is tortured," Amangeldy said in a video interview, citing the harrowing video played in court.

"Of course, it's difficult for me to be in court, to listen to various things that the defendant's side has been saying," he said. "It's even more painful to know that [their] words are being broadcast across the country. But I understand that these broadcasts are also educational material, including for lawyers and human rights defenders."

Like neighboring Russia, Kazakhstan largely remains a patriarchal society, and progress has been slow on issues such as domestic violence, sexual harassment and disparities in employment.

According to a 2018 study backed by UN Women, the United Nations' gender equality agency, about 400 women die from domestic violence each year in Kazakhstan, although many abuse cases go unreported.

In 2017, Kazakhstan decriminalized beatings and other acts causing "minor" physical damage, making them punishable only by fines or short jail terms. Russia enacted a similar law that year, outraging women's rights advocates. Kazakhstan's new law reverses this, increasing penalties for assailants and introducing new criminal offenses, including harassment of minors.

Days after Nukenova's death, her relatives launched an online petition urging authorities to pass "Saltanat's Law" to bolster protection for those at risk of domestic violence. It quickly got over 150,000 signatures.

As Bishimbayev's trial began, more than 5,000 Kazakhs wrote senators urging tougher laws on abuse, Kazakh media said.

Still, Amangeldy said the law's final version failed to include all the provisions his family and allies had wanted, noting that "we still have no legal norms around stalking and harassment" of adults.

Viktoriya Kim, a Kazakhstan-based researcher at Human Rights Watch, said the very notion of "domestic violence" is absent from the country's criminal code. Including it, she said, would send "a clearer signal."

But Amangeldy argues that Kazakh society has clearly "passed a point of no return."

"For years, across Kazakhstan and the whole region, the issue [of domestic violence] was shrouded in silence. Raising the issue is already half the solution," he said.

Women's rights advocate Aigerim Kussainkyzy said Bishimbayev's trial has led to "a collective awakening" among politicians and ordinary citizens.

"Some may even label it the trial of the century. ... Male politicians, in particular, have started to consider the implications of domestic violence for their own daughters," said Kussainkyzy, who was among civil society representatives whom lawmakers consulted before passing the bill.

The proposals encountered fierce pushback from the Kazakh Union of Parents  an influential association that echoes Russia's opposition to feminist initiatives and LGBTQ+ rights.

Tokayev has talked repeatedly about strengthening protections for women. In January, he intervened after the Justice Ministry refused to consider the petition by Nukenova's family.

Despite the inclusion of activists in the legislative process, some Kazakh rights defenders argue the law's passage has been accompanied by continuing pressure on those advocates, independent of the government.

Last month, authorities in Almaty  Kazakhstan's largest city and business hub  blocked a rally for International Women's Day to show solidarity with victims of domestic abuse. Feminita, the feminist and LGBTQ+ rights group that tried to organize it, has struggled for years for official registration.

In December, Kazakhstan put women's rights activist Dina Smailova on its wanted list after authorities launched a criminal fraud investigation that she described as likely retribution for her work.

Smailova, head of the NeMolchi.KZ foundation, which means "Don't Be Silent" and advocates for abuse survivors, told AP that she and her organization were unable to join discussions on the new law.

"I've lost faith in the authorities, because even as they pass a law protecting women and children from violence, they pass harsher laws against independent journalists and bloggers," Smailova said in an interview from Montenegro, where she lives.

She welcomed the bill "as a first step," but said it could be adequately implemented only after "corruption and nepotism" within law enforcement and the courts have been tackled, citing the fraud case against her.

"Kazakhstan is a country where everyone has a lot of relatives  and if there's a case concerning a relative of someone in law enforcement, then that person will certainly evade responsibility," she said, adding that education and media campaigns are needed to change attitudes.

Senate Speaker Maulen Ashimbayev said that properly implementing the law would require "a great deal of work," including educational campaigns in schools and the media, as well as vigilance from civil society groups.

HRW's Kim told AP the investigation of Smailova, who has repeatedly criticized officials' failure to protect abused women and children, was marred by "numerous procedural infractions," raising "serious concerns that she is being persecuted."

"I would like to see more willingness from authorities to help and support those who fight for and promote women's rights," the researcher said, noting concerns about Kazakhstan's global reputation played a role in its willingness to act on domestic violence.

"International organizations have called for this particular step for years. That's something the authorities were ready to do to meet rights defenders halfway," she said.

Meanwhile, Bishimbayev's trial continues to spark controversy. Police are investigating telephone threats reported by Judge Ayzhan Kulbayeva after she disallowed forensic evidence from defense lawyers alleging Nukenova's death could have been caused by a preexisting condition.

As closing arguments approach, debate rages in Kazakhstan over its justice system and women's rights, with many believing the trial already has changed the country forever.
Adult U.S. TikTok users spend an average of 54 minutes on the app on any given day, more than Instagram, Snapchat or YouTube, according to research firm eMarketer. If TikTok were to disappear, those platforms  along with younger, smaller emerging rivals  would be scrambling for those valuable minutes of people's attention.

But with an actual ban still likely years away, it's not clear what app will be its biggest beneficiary. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, may see more advertisers amid uncertainty for its biggest rival, according to analysts who follow the company.

Creators, dealing with uncertainty themselves, are also expanding to other platforms if they werent already. But users, especially the younger ones who are TikToks bread and butter, are less predictable. Will they embrace Instagram, a possibly uncool mom favorite? Or could a newer app like Triller rise to viral fame?

Here's a look at some notable TikTok alternatives and how they measure up.

Instagram

Meta has a long tradition of cloning competitive services, with varying degrees of success. The Instagram Story feature, which lets people share photos and videos that expire in 24 hours, is like Snapchat. The company also launched a TikTok knockoff called Lasso in 2018 but closed that down in 2020.

Then Instagram launched Reels 2020, a TikTok-like feed of short videos users can create or scroll through. Its proven to be massively popular. Could it replace TikTok? That depends. While many creators post on both platforms, some experts say the youngest users are unlikely to migrate to a service made popular by their millennial parents. And while Meta's algorithm is addictive, it's still not TikTok.

Replicating TikToks algorithm is a nearly impossible task, as rival Meta would attest to," said eMarketer analyst Jasmine Enberg. TikToks ability to serve up relevant and entertaining content to its users is unparalleled in the social media world.

YouTube

While TikTok gets more headlines, YouTube still dominates U.S. teens' attention. Roughly 9 in 10 teens said they use YouTube, in a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, making it the most widely used platform among the 13-17 crowd. TikTok clocked in at 63%, Snapchat at 60% and Instagram at 59%. Its parent company, Google, launched YouTube Shorts in 2020, shortly after India banned TikTok.

YouTube users can scroll through Shorts just as they can on TikTok or Reels on Instagram and Facebook, watching hours of bite-size videos. As with Reels, many of the videos featured are from TikTok or creators who post to several different platforms. That said, YouTube is still known for its longer-format videos, so it may not have the variety that TikTok users are looking for  at least not yet.

Snapchat

While older adults never quite got into Snapchat, launched in 2011 with its infamous disappearing videos, it remains popular among teens and younger adults. In addition to its disappearing video feature, the company launched Snapchat Spotlight in 2020 (yes, the same year India banned TikTok and former U.S. President Donald Trump was trying to in the U.S.). The feature can be accessed by pressing the sideways triangle icon at the bottom of your screen and, at least according to Snapchat, it shines a light on the most entertaining Snaps, no matter who created them.

Triller, Zigazoo and others

If you're sick of the establishment crowd, newer startups such as Triller offer possible alternatives, with TikTok-like features and more (or sometimes less). Triller, which is getting acquired by a Hong-Kong-based company, is popular for music videos and has tried to lure TikTok creators to its platform, but its user base lags far behind its bigger rivals and the content appears to offer less variety, at least for now.

Zigazoo, meanwhile, stands out from the crowd because it is created with kids in mind and shows kid-appropriate content, according to its creators. The nonprofit Common Sense Media says, Parents need to know that Zigazoo is a TikTok-style video sharing app for posting short videos of kids completing a variety of kid-appropriate challenges.

Zigazoo is meant to be used with a parent, and personal data is treated as though its from those over 13, Common Sense says. Challenges are simple investigative or creative projects like Can you find something thats symmetrical? or Can you teach us how to play your favorite sport or physical activity?

But with a TikTok ban still uncertain, it's possible that new, better rivals will crop up in the months and years ahead as ByteDance cycles through its legal options to keep the app operating in the U.S.
Iraqi Kurdish ministries of electricity and natural resources said on Saturday they are working with their partners to restore operations at the Khor Mor gas field in Iraq's Kurdistan region after output was suspended because of a deadly drone attack.

At least four Yemeni workers were killed, and two other workers were injured in the attack late on Friday, the Kurdish regional government said on X. It said gas supplies to power plants were also halted, resulting in a reduction of approximately 2,500 megawatts of power generation.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani each condemned the attack.

"Our security services must investigate the incident without delay and hold the perpetrators accountable. Preventative measures must also be taken immediately," Rashid said in a post on Saturday.

"Attacks on energy hubs that power millions of homes in the Kurdistan Region and Iraqi provinces are indefensible. These attacks also sabotage efforts by Irbil and Baghdad to develop the energy sector. They happen with disturbing frequency and amount to war crimes," Barzani said Friday.

The U.S. State Department said in a statement: "Attacks like this are an affront to Iraq's sovereignty."

Pearl Petroleum, a five-company consortium that includes two major independent United Arab Emirates oil and gas companies  Dana Gas and Crescent Petroleum, has the rights to exploit Khor Mor and Chemchemal, two of Iraq's biggest gas fields.

The UAE's foreign ministry described the attack as a "blatant violation of international law."

"The Ministry expressed the UAE's solidarity with all measures undertaken by Iraq to protect its sovereignty, security and stability, stressing the UAE's support for its endeavors in combatting terrorism, while underscoring the UAE's commitment to reinforcing security and stability in Iraq," it said in a statement.

Iraq has witnessed drone and rocket attacks since Israel's war in Gaza began in October, mostly targeting bases housing troops belonging to a U.S-led military coalition. They have been claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of hardline pro-Iran militias.

The attack on Friday also underscores security concerns for the oil-rich nation.

The Khor Mor gas field lies near territories under Iraqi control and Kirkuk province, one of the disputed territories between the Iraqi capital Baghdad and Irbil, the provincial capital of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.

Natural resources have been at the backbone of Kurdish hopes for autonomy since a civil war erupted in the 1990s.
Britain's King Charles III will return to public duties next week for the first time since being diagnosed with cancer as he makes good progress following treatment and a period of recuperation, Buckingham Palace said on Friday.

In February, the palace revealed that the 75-year-old king had been diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer detected in tests after a corrective procedure for an enlarged prostate.

Although Charles continued with official state business, the diagnosis led him to postpone public engagements to begin treatment and rest.

"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," a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said.

"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."

Although it was too early to say how much longer his cancer treatment would last, the spokesperson said his doctors were "very encouraged by the progress made so far and remain positive about the kings continued recovery."

No further details about his condition or his treatment were given, in line with the usual stance on medical privacy.

While pictured and filmed carrying out some official duties in private, Charles's only public appearance since his cancer diagnosis came last month when he greeted well-wishers in an impromptu walkabout after an Easter church service in Windsor, raising hopes that his health was improving.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak responded to the news of the king's return to public duties, saying on social media site X: "Brilliant news to end the week!"

Japanese emperor visit

To mark his return, Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla, will visit a cancer treatment center in London next Tuesday, the palace said. It was also confirmed that the Japanese Emperor Naruhito and his wife, Empress Masako, would pay a state visit in late June.

However, Charles will not carry out his usual summer program and his plans will be crafted in consultation with his medical team to minimize risks to recovery, the palace said.

The king's absence has coincided with news that his daughter-in-law Kate, wife of his son and heir Prince William, was undergoing preventative chemotherapy after tests in the wake of major abdominal surgery revealed cancer had been present.

The Princess of Wales, often known by her maiden name Kate Middleton, will herself only return to public duties when her medical team say she is well enough to do so.

Charles's health scare came less than 18 months into his reign after he succeeded from his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, and less than a year since his coronation, Britain's biggest ceremonial event for seven decades.

"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.
Lebanon has moved toward accepting the International Criminal Court's jurisdiction to prosecute violations on Lebanese territory since October, in what Human Rights Watch said Saturday was a "landmark step" toward justice for war crimes.

Lebanon has accused Israel of repeatedly violating its sovereignty and committing breaches of international law over the last six months, during which the Israeli military and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah have traded fire across Lebanon's southern border in parallel with the Israel-Hamas war.

That cross-border shelling has killed at least 70 civilians, including children, rescue workers and journalists, among them Reuters visuals reporter Issam Abdallah, who was killed by an Israeli tank on October 13, a Reuters investigation found.

Lebanon's caretaker cabinet voted on Friday to instruct the foreign affairs ministry to file a declaration with the ICC accepting the court's jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute crimes committed on Lebanese territory since the October 7 terror attack by Hamas into southern Israel.

The decree also instructed the foreign ministry to include in its complaints about Israel to the United Nations a report prepared by the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research, an independent research institute.

That report looked specifically into Abdallah's killing and was produced by examining shrapnel, flak jackets, a camera, tripod and a large piece of metal that were gathered by Reuters from the scene, as well as video and audio material.

Neither Lebanon nor Israel are members of the ICC, which is based in The Hague, Netherlands. But filing a declaration to the court would grant it jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute relevant crimes in a particular period.

Ukraine has twice filed such declarations, which allowed for the court to investigate alleged Russian war crimes.

"The Lebanese government has taken a landmark step toward securing justice for war crimes in the country," said Lama Fakih, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch, urging the foreign minister to "swiftly" formalize the move by filing a declaration to the ICC.

"This is an important reminder to those who flout their obligations under the laws of war that they may find themselves in the dock," Fakih said.
While Myanmars rebel forces battle the military for control of a key border town in the east, another armed group has been closing in on a Chinese-funded oil and gas terminal in the west that could prove an even bigger prize.

Since breaking off a cease-fire in November with the military regime that seized control of Myanmar in a 2021 coup, the Arakan Army has made steady battlefield gains across northern Rakhine state, also known as Arakan, in the countrys far west.

The AA has been extremely effective in winning a dominant position over most of the theater, although not all of it, said Morgan Michaels, who runs the Myanmar Conflict Map at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, which is keeping close track of the fighting.

The Arakan Army and local media say the group now controls eight of Rakhines 17 townships and one more in the neighboring state of Chin.

Michaels, whose research includes verifying those reports, said the military still appears to control a few pockets in some of the townships the Arakan Army has overrun.

But the key point is that they have dismantled the interlocking defenses of the regime. And so even if there is some regime outpost left, they can just circumnavigate it, so they have freedom of movement in these places, he said. They can establish their administration, so theyre the dominant player there.

The Arakan Army is also on the offensive in three more townships including Ann, where the military bases its Western Command, and says it has been closing in on both the state capital of Sittwe and the port town of Kyaukphyu.

Arakan Army spokespoerson Khine Thu Kha told VOA Thursday the group was preparing to take both towns soon.

We have surrounded Sittwe and Kyaukphyu, he said. Our objective is to regain all our ancestral lands. That means the whole Arakan.

A spokesman for the junta could not be reached for comment.

Formed in 2009, the Arakan Army has quickly grown into one of Myanmars most powerful ethnic minority rebel groups. It aims to establish its own government over Rakhine, which once made up most of the former Kingdom of Arakan. Since 2021, it has been among the established rebel groups that have allied with a new crop of local militias seeking to oust the military regime.

The Arakan Army was also a key player in a major rebel offensive in the northeast of Myanmar late last year. Dubbed Operation 1027, it handed the junta its worst string of defeats since the putsch.

If the junta were to also lose Sittwe in the west, it would be the first state capital to fall to the resistance and make for a humiliating symbolic defeat but not a very strategic one, said Min Zaw Oo, who runs the Myanmar Institute for Peace and Security, a think tank that has also been tracking the conflict in Rakhine.

Losing Kyaukphyu, on the other hand, would hit the junta hard strategically and financially, said Min Zaw Oo, who is also an adjunct fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

He said Kyaukphyu, which hugs Rakhines Bay of Bengal coast, hosts a military radar station and a major naval base with significant value both militarily and monetarily.

Kyaukphyu is best known, though, for its billions of dollars worth of investment projects backed by Beijing, including the terminus of twin oil and gas pipelines that run from the coast across Myanmar to Chinas landlocked Yunnan province. A deep-water port and special economic zone are also in the works.

The route  part of Beijings Belt and Road Initiative  gives China a way to import oil and gas that avoids the Malacca Strait between Malaysia and Indonesia, a potential chokepoint if a conflict were to break out between China and the United States.

Additionally, the pipelines are a vital part of Myanmars oil and gas industry, the military regimes main source of revenue.

Should the junta fail to hold Kyaukphyu, Michaels said, they would lose access to the pipeline terminus, so this has economic and also diplomatic implications for its relationship with China if it doesnt control this major asset. So, in that sense it would be quite a significant loss for the regime.

Min Zaw Oo said the oil and gas industry may be bringing in as much as a fifth of the heavily sanctioned regimes current earnings and that Kyaukphyus loss would be a huge hit, possibly worse than Myawaddy.

The town of Myawaddy sits on eastern Myanmars border with Thailand, straddling the main trade route connecting the two countries, and earns the junta valuable tax revenue off the roughly $1 billion in annual trade that passes through. The Karen National Liberation Army, another ethnic minority rebel group, appeared to take control of the town earlier this month before pulling back in the face of a counteroffensive by the military and allied militias.

Given Kyaukphyus importance to China, Michaels and Min Zaw Oo say Beijing will likely be putting pressure on the junta and the Arakan Army to agree to a new cease-fire or truce at least around its projects there, possibly one that leaves the junta in charge of the port and splitting the profits with the rebels.

China is the juntas main weapons supplier, along with Russia, and it is widely believed to be a major source of arms, ammunition and other vital supplies for some of the countrys ethnic minority rebels, including the Arakan Army.

Its very likely that Chine will not be happy if theres fighting in Kyaukphyu, so they may have already communicated [this] to the Arakan Army, said Min Zaw Oo, noting that there has been relatively little fighting around the port town itself.

Khine Thu Kha would not tell VOA what, if any, talks the Arakan Army has had with China about its Rakhine projects but insisted that the groups policy was to protect all foreign investments across the state.

The Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar did not reply to VOAs requests for comment.
NANCHANG, April 27 (Xinhua) --Three people were killed and two others injured after a fire broke out Saturday morning in the city of Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province.

The fire broke out in a residential complex called Jingchengmingjun in Nanchang County at around 7:20 a.m., according to the local fire rescue team.

The fire has been put out and investigation into the cause of the accident is currently underway. 
US House committee chair stresses tribal sovereignty

Oklahoma congressman Tom Cole is the first Native American to chair the powerful U.S. House Appropriations Committee, which passes bills to fund the federal government.

In a message to constituents Monday, Cole, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma said, "It is important to remember that Native Americans are the First Americans. They are sovereign nations who governed themselves long before settlers arrived, and they continue to do so today.

"Through legally binding agreements, such as the federal trust responsibility, the United States is obligated to provide services and federal resources to tribes  a responsibility I have been and will continue to work to ensure is met," Cole wrote.

He also stressed the importance of raising congressional awareness about Native American issues, sovereign rights and the unique challenges facing tribal communities.

Read more:

Native Americans most likely victims of deadly police force

A Lee Enterprises' Public Service Journalism team has published the first of a series of stories from more than a year's research into why Native Americans are more likely than any other racial group to die in the hands of law enforcement.

The opening article focuses on South Dakota, home to nine federally recognized tribes, and cites poor funding for police in tribal communities and a lack of accountability for fatal law enforcement incidents. Their investigation also found that loved ones of Native Americans who die in jail or police shootings "struggle to access even the most basic information about how these deaths occur."

According to figures compiled by the Indigenous-led activist and advocacy group NDN Collective, Native Americans represent 8.2% of the South Dakota population but were victims in 75% of fatal police shootings from 2001 to 2023.

In its 2021 report to Congress, the Interior Department's Bureau of Indian Affairs said that its Public Safety and Justice Programs across Indian Country are funded at just under 13% of total need and that it would take an additional 25,655 new officers to adequately serve Indian Country.

As VOA has previously reported, South Dakota governor Kristi Noem has repeatedly criticized the Biden administration for failing to adequately fund tribal law enforcement.

Inadequate funding of tribal safety and justice programs is not a new problem. In July 2003, the U.S. Civil Rights Commission reported that per capita spending on law enforcement in Native American communities was about 60% of the national average.

Read more:

Navajo Nation to investigate abuse allegations

Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren says he welcomes an independent, fair and transparent investigation into allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault within the office of the tribal president and vice president.

In a Facebook stream April 16, Vice President Richelle Montoya revealed that she was sexually harassed within the office of the president and vice president during an August 2023 staff meeting.

"I was made to feel that I had no power to leave the room, I was made to feel that what I was trying to accomplish didn't mean anything, that I was less than," she said.

She did not name the individual who harassed her, "for fear of retaliation."

In November 2023, Navajo Times reported that former employees had experienced sexual assault and sexual harassment in the same office.

Indigenous journalists call for greater representation in media

The president of the Indigenous Journalists Association, or IJA, this week called on the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to better support Indigenous journalism

"Globally, Indigenous communities are ignored, misrepresented, maligned and in many cases dehumanized by media portrayals of our cultures, distinct issues and the challenges we face due to the impacts of colonization," said IJA head Christine Trudeau, a citizen of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.

Fewer than half of 1% of newsroom employees identify as Indigenous, she said, adding that some of the most prestigious news outlets routinely stereotype  or disregard altogether  tribal nations.

"To fully realize self-determination, we must ensure that our cultures are accurately represented in the coverage of our communities," she said.

See Trudeau's full statement in the video above.

Feds return land to tribe in Illinois

One hundred seventy-five years ago, Shab-eh-nay ("Built Like a Bear"), chief of the Prairie Band Potawatomi in Illinois, returned home from an extended visit to Kansas to find that the U.S. government had illegally auctioned off more than 1,200 acres (485 hectares) of land promised under the Prairie du Chien treaty of 1829.

Late last week, the Interior Department announced it would place 130 acres (52 hectares) of the original Shab-ey-nay Reservation land into trust for the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, which is now the only federally recognized tribal nation in Illinois.

Read more:

North Carolina tribe opens medical cannabis dispensary

The Eastern Band of Cherokee, or EBCI, has opened the first cannabis dispensary in the state of North Carolina. The Great Smoky Cannabis Company opened on April 20, known for decades as the national cannabis holiday "4-20."

Marijuana is still illegal in North Carolina, but because the EBCI is a federally recognized sovereign nation, it can make its own laws. The tribe legalized medical marijuana in 2021 and voted to legalize recreational cannabis in September 2023.

North Carolina residents at least 21 years old can apply for a medical card from the EBCI cannabis control board. They will need to demonstrate they have one of 18 medical conditions that include anxiety, PTSD and cancer.

Read more:
Analysis of more than 25,000 images from divers, tourism operators and recreational boats on Australias annual Great Reef Census is getting under way. Now in its fourth year, one of the worlds fastest-growing conservation projects is helping to gauge the health and degradation of the worlds largest coral system, which is suffering from another mass bleaching event.

The Great Reef Census collects a trove of images of what is arguably Australias greatest natural treasure.

Each picture can contain vital information about the health of the Great Barrier Reef. Together, the images create a vital evaluation of the state of the ecosystem.

The barrier reef stretches for 2,300 kilometers down Australias northeastern coast. It is under increasing threat from global warming, pollution and overfishing, as well as coral-eating crown of thorns starfish.

The surveillance project is urging so-called citizen scientists around the world to help in the analysis of the images. The survey also uses artificial intelligence to scan much of the data.

The public is being asked to analyze the images to see which reefs fared better than others and potentially identify so-called new "key source reefs," which are those reefs that appear to have escaped the worst of the degradation.

Anyone can help in the effort, said Nicole Senn, impact and engagement lead at Citizens of the Reef, which coordinates the survey.

"Citizen scientists using our A.I assisted platform can actually provide data that is highly comparable in accuracy to a reef expert, and it takes as little as one minute to analyze an image, and the data you are generating helps to prioritize conservation efforts on the reef and identify key source reefs, she said. These are healthy reefs that are positioned in a way that they can help nearby reefs recover and this is just one of the many ways your analysis of these images can help."

The Great Barrier Reef is suffering from another widespread bleaching event.

Scientists say that corals bleach, or turn white, when they are stressed by changes in water temperature, light, or nutrients. In response, the coral expels the symbiotic algae living in their tissues that give them their color and energy, exposing their white skeleton.

Not all bleaching incidents are due to warm water, but experts say the mass bleaching reported on the Great Barrier Reef is caused by a marine heatwave.

Experts say reefs around the world last year and early this year have been affected by high ocean surface temperatures.

Chris Lawson, a data scientist with the Great Reef Census Science Committee, told VOA that the situation appears to be dire.

"The latest mass bleaching event has been designated as the fourth global mass bleaching event, he said. So, it is not just in Australia, it has been observed globally and by all accounts is the worst one on record in terms of its extent and its severity of bleaching."

Experts say reefs extreme susceptibility to warming sea temperatures makes them one of the world's ecosystems that is most vulnerable to climate change.
Changes are being urged to plans for returning thousands of Afghan citizens from Pakistan to make the process more effective.

While Pakistan has delayed the expulsion of some 850,000 documented Afghan refugees to Afghanistan, a senior Red Cross official is appealing for the returns to occur "in a more staggered way" so Afghanistan can better absorb the enormous influx of people.

"It will be important to work with the government of Pakistan in 2024 to ask that if there are going to be returnees," that they arrive "in smaller numbers at a time just so it is more manageable on the Afghan side," said Alexander Matheou, regional director, Asia Pacific Region for the International Federation of the Red Cross.

Speaking in the Qatari capital, Doha, Matheou told journalists in Geneva on Friday that he had just concluded his fifth visit to Afghanistan since the autumn of 2021, shortly after the Taliban takeover of the country.

He said the challenges facing Afghan returnees from Pakistan was one of several pressing issues he discussed with de facto Taliban rulers.

"You will be aware that over half a million have crossed the border over recent months, and it is likely that we will see large numbers of new arrivals in the coming months," he said.

"I imagine this is probably the largest population flow in a short period of time in Asia since the population movement from Myanmar into Bangladesh in 2017," he added. "So, it is a significant event."

Returnees ill-equipped to start over

Since October, Pakistan has expelled more than 500,000 Afghan refugees who lacked proper documentation. In a second phase of expulsions, which has been temporarily halted, more than 850,000 Afghans holding identification cards issued by the Pakistani government are slated to be forcibly deported.

Matheou notes many of the returnees have lived in Pakistan for decades and are ill-equipped to begin a new life in a country that to them is unknown, without government or international support.

The humanitarian effort is, he said, " largely concentrated on trying to help people on arrival at transit stations near the border. He added that the real challenges start once people move away from those transit areas.

"When we interviewed the returnees themselves, it was also clear that most had no idea how they were going to settle in their point of destination or how they were going to build a livelihood with nothing," he said. "They largely expected to be living with distant relatives, which would actually make very, very poor people some of the poorest communities in the world, even poorer."

Children make up half of returning Afghans

Matheou described the returnees as being in generally poor health, especially the children, who account for nearly half of all returnees.

"The evidence of that was we visited clinics where they reported a real spike in cases of acute malnutrition coming from the arrivals from Pakistan.

"We visited routine immunization programs of the IFRC and the Afghan Red Crescent in the villages, and there it was clear looking at the children that as well as being anemic, you could see wasting and stunting among the children," he said.

Wasting in a child is a condition that increases the risk of death and requires intensive treatment and care.

While Afghanistan is a country with multiple challenges, Matheou said there have been a few positive changes since the Taliban came to power.

"There are still plenty of security incidents going on in Afghanistan every day or most days, but the security on the whole is better than it has been for decades, and on the surface it is peaceful, and this is clearly deeply welcomed by a war-ravaged population," he said, noting there is also a welcomed commitment to reduce theft and corruption.

Human rights crises remain

While security has improved, however, he said the country's humanitarian and human rights crises remains severe. That is most clearly manifested in the mental health crisis afflicting the population.

"Beneath those crises, there is an invisible crisis of hopelessness, depression, desperation that stem from a collapsing health service, mass unemployment, barriers to education, and frustrated boys, girls, men, and women who are stuck at home all day.

He said the IFRC has a staff in two to three of the provinces of Afghanistan, but the work of ministering to the physical and mental health needs of the population was done primarily through the Afghan Red Crescent.

Despite the Taliban ban on women's participation in work and education, he said, "We try to ensure that our work is gender balanced. We employ women in all our health, mental health, primary health services, as well as services for women-headed households."

He warned, though, the outlook for Afghanistan is bleak. If the Taliban does not change its discriminatory policies against women, he said it will be difficult to get the kind of funding needed to turn Afghanistan into an economically viable society.

"The future of where the next generation of doctors and nurses will come from, where the next generation of teachers will come from, and where employment generated for families to be economically independent and hopeful about the future is looking quite grim," he said.
Russian missiles pounded power facilities in central and western Ukraine on Saturday, increasing pressure on the ailing energy system as the country faces a shortage of air defenses despite a breakthrough in U.S. military aid.

The airstrike, carried out with ballistic missiles and cruise missiles fired by Russian strategic bombers based in the Arctic Circle, was the fourth large-scale aerial assault targeting the power system since March 22.

"The enemy again massively shelled Ukrainian energy facilities," said DTEK, Ukraine's largest private electricity company, adding that four of its six thermal power plants had suffered damage overnight.

Rescuers battled to put out fires at several energy facilities in the western regions of Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk, which border NATO members Poland and Romania, officials said.

After strikes on energy facilities in the central Dnipropetrovsk region, running water supplies were disrupted in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's hometown of Kryvyi Rih, officials said.

Ukrainian air defenses brought down 21 of the 34 incoming missiles, the commander of the air force said in a statement.

None of the facilities hit was identified by name, a security measure intended to prevent Russia quickly assessing the impact of its strikes.

Russia, which began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, denies targeting civilians but says the Ukrainian energy system is a legitimate military target. Ukrainian authorities said one energy worker was hurt overnight.

Overnight in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, which has been heavily bombed in recent weeks, a missile struck a hospital holding 60 patients, injuring a woman and damaging the building, nearby water pipes and power lines, the regional governor said.

Ukraine, which has tried to take the fight back to Russia in recent months using long-range drones, attacked the Ilsky and Slavyansk oil refineries in Russia's Krasnodar region overnight, a Ukrainian intelligence source told Reuters.

The drone strike conducted by the SBU security service caused fires at the facilities, the source said. Russia's Kushchevsk military airfield was also attacked in the southern region, the source said.

The Slavyansk oil refinery was forced to suspend some operations after being damaged in the attack, Russian state news agency TASS cited an executive overseeing the plant as saying.

Rolling blackouts

Ukraine has lost 80% of its thermal power generation and 35% of its hydroelectric capacity during Russian attacks, officials say.

Although the core of the energy system comes from nuclear power, that lost capacity serves a balancing function in the grid and its loss could be a big problem when consumption rises later this year, officials say.

Rolling blackouts have been introduced in several regions, but the full impact of the attacks has not been felt as consumption, which peaks in winter and the height of summer, is low because of mild weather.

There were no planned blackouts for now in Lviv region, but the governor urged residents to economize on electricity use, especially during the evening hours of peak consumption.

Zelenskyy called for more air defense supplies, faster deliveries and decisive actions from Kyiv's allies.

The United States approved a major aid package for Ukraine this week, overcoming a congressional deadlock that dragged on for six months as Kyiv's weapon stocks became depleted.

The Pentagon said on Friday it would buy $6 billion worth of new weapons for Ukraine including interceptors for the Patriot air defense system.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, who visited Lviv on Saturday, announced a $100 million military aid package including short-range air defense and drones with air-to-ground precision munitions coming separately.
A three-ship flotilla planning to reach Gaza with humanitarian aid from Turkey was prevented from sailing by Guinea-Bissau authorities, which took down their country's flags from two ships, organizers said.

Just before the flotilla was set to sail from Turkey to Gaza on Friday with 5,000 tons of aid, a surprise inspection by the Guinea-Bissau International Ships Registry resulted in the removal of the flags from two of the Freedom Flotilla ships.

A press release by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition described the cancellation of the vessels' registry as a "blatantly political move," adding, "Without a flag, we cannot sail."

The organizers blamed Israel for applying pressure to prevent the flotilla. "It is obvious, and I think it is publicly known, that there has been close contact between Israel and the president of Guinea-Bissau," organizer and steering committee member Torstein Dahle told The Associated Press, without elaborating.

He said that hundreds of Turkish and international participants were disappointed by the cancellation. "It is very hard for us, because it takes time to procure a flag. It's a procedure that can't be done in a few days. ... But we're not giving up."

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition includes Turkish and international organizations, among them the IHH (Humanitarian Relief Foundation) and the Mavi Marmara Association from Turkey, which also organized an ill-fated 2010 flotilla.

On May 31, 2010, Israeli commandos stormed the Mavi Marmara in international waters, leading to an altercation that left nine people dead and dozens of activists wounded. On the Israeli side, seven soldiers were wounded by activists who attacked them with clubs, knives and pipes.
Four Yemeni workers were killed Friday in a drone attack on an Emirati-owned gas complex in Iraq's northern autonomous Kurdistan region, 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 would 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" would be punished.

A drone hit the site about 6:45 p.m. 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 of electricity, 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 Sulaymaniyah, 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 neighboring 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."
Republican activists gathered in a school lunchroom last month to hear political pitches from candidates and agreed on the top issue in the Denver suburbs these days: immigration.

The area has been disrupted by the arrival of largely Venezuelan migrants coming north through Mexico, they said. Virtually everyone in the meeting said they were uncomfortable with the new population, which has overwhelmed public services and become a flashpoint in local and national elections.

Weve lived here our whole lives, and now we have to pay for hotels and debit cards and health care for the migrants, through government spending, said Toni Starner, a marketing consultant. My daughters 22 and she cant even afford to buy a house.

Some 1,200 miles to the south, migrants are also transforming the prosperous industrial city of Monterrey, Mexico. Haitian migrants speak Creole on downtown streets and Central American migrants ask motorists for help at intersections.

But the new arrivals arent even part of Mexicos political conversation as the country gears up for its presidential vote on June 2.

If it were a problem, the politicians would already be mentioning it in their campaigns, said Ingrid Morales, a 66-year-old retired academic who lives on Monterreys south side.

Parallel presidential elections

Every 12 years, the coincidence of presidential elections in the U.S. and Mexico provides a valuable comparative snapshot. The different ways migration is resonating in the two countries elections this year reflects the neighbors' very different styles of democracy.

Mexican politics are still dominated by institutional political parties, while Donald Trump disrupted the United States two-party system with his more populist approach and moved anti-immigration sentiment to center stage in U.S. politics.

Mexican politics also revolve more around bread-and-butter issues such as the economy than in the wealthier United States, which is increasingly consumed with questions of national identity, said Andrew Selee, president of the Migration Policy Institute.

Whats more, just about every Mexican family has an immediate experience with migration, with many still having relatives living in other countries. While migrants must travel through Mexico to enter the U.S., they are more dispersed as they travel and have not generated similar scenes of an overwhelmed Mexican side of the border.

In Mexico, there isnt that same perception of chaos, Selee said.

Migration is major campaign issue in US

Trump is making that perception of chaos his campaigns main theme as he tries to return to the White House. AP VoteCast, a survey of the national electorate, found immigration was a top issue among voters in the Republican presidential primarys initial states. An AP-NORC poll conducted last month found that 58% of Americans say immigration is an extremely or very important issue for them personally.

In contrast, Mexicos presidential frontrunner, Claudia Sheinbaum, didnt even include a mention of immigration when she announced 100 campaign commitments last month. When she came to the state where Monterrey sits  Nuevo Leon  in February she talked about security and the water supply. Her main opponent, Xochitl Galvez, visited the city last month and talked about her proposals to raise police salaries and combat gender violence.

But Monterrey, a three-hour drive from the Texas border, has increasingly become a critical waystation, even destination, for tens of thousands of migrants. Local authorities and international organizations have scrambled to find a place for the new arrivals.

Femsa, the owner of the ubiquitous convenience store chain Oxxo, has hired hundreds of migrants to work in its stores through a program with the United Nations refugee agency.

An annual survey of Nuevo Leon found last year that nearly nine in 10 residents noticed an increase in migrants and about seven in 10 felt that they should be provided with work. Its not as if Mexicans arent divided over the issue: Those surveyed in Nuevo Leon were split over whether Mexico should admit more migrants or stop the flow.

The lack of clear political advantage could explain why politicians have stayed away from talking about immigration, said Luis Mendoza Ovando, a political analyst and columnist with the main local newspaper, El Norte.

Migrants settle in Colorado

Colorado became a stop on the migrant trail even more recently than Monterrey. In late 2022, Venezuelans crossing into Texas from Mexico found that it costs less to take a bus from the border city of El Paso to Denver, Colorado, than many of the United States better-known metropolises. And Denver  a liberal, fast-growing city  offered migrants food and shelter.

Now, Denvers mayor, Mike Johnston, reports that his city of 710,000 has received nearly 40,000 migrants, what he calls the highest number of new migrants per capita of any city in the United States. The largely Venezuelan population is mainly confined to Denver but has started to trickle into surrounding suburbs like Brighton, often selling flowers or window-washes at street corners.

Unlike in Monterrey, where many migrants found jobs with established employers, paperwork hassles and federal regulations have prevented most migrants in Denver from receiving authorization to work. Irregular labor such as yard work or housecleaning is their only way of making a living.

Thats led to a heavy burden on Denvers coffers, and other cities in Colorado have watched in alarm. The two next largest after Denver, Aurora and Colorado Springs, both passed resolutions saying they dont want large numbers of migrants sent to their cities.

The migrants in Denver say they feel increased pressure in the form of fewer city benefits and stepped up warnings from local police that they can't sell windshield washes, flowers or home-cooked food from streetcorners without a permit. The wary feelings towards them extend to the heavily Hispanic suburbs just north of Denver that comprise the states 8th congressional district, likely to be one of the most heated fights in this years battle for control of the House of Representatives.

State Representative Gabe Evans, one of the Republicans competing for the partys nomination against Democratic Representative Yadira Caraveo, said that the districts residents are fed up.

Evans grandfather immigrated from Mexico and earned his U.S. citizenship by serving in World War II.

The citizenship for the Chavez family was paid for in blood, Evans said. Then you have people crossing the border and just getting handed things.

Cynthia Moreno, a Democrat, said her father came from Mexico legally in the 1920s. Though she has personal sympathy for the migrants plight, shes aghast theyre allowed to stay.

If I lived in Denver, Id be pissed right now, Moreno said, calling immigration the nations top priority.

Lawmakers deadlocked on immigration

That 1986 immigration bill was the last significant one passed by Congress, which has deadlocked for decades over whether to legalize additional generations of people living in the country illegally. In a sign of how the politics of immigration have shifted, that issue didnt even come up in the bipartisan immigration bill that Trump killed earlier this year. Instead, the proposal focused on border enforcement.

The legislation never made it to the floor of the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. But Caraveo, who introduced her own package of immigration measures last month that included a proposal to legalize those brought to the country illegally as children, said she would have supported the bipartisan immigration bill anyway.
The U.S. Air Force said Friday that it has awarded a $13 billion contract to Sierra Nevada Corp to develop a successor to the E-4B, known as the Doomsday plane due to its ability to survive a nuclear war.

The Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) project is intended to replace the aging 1970s-era aircraft, which is approaching its end-of-service life, an Air Force spokesperson said in a statement.

Work on the SAOC will be carried out in Colorado, Nevada and Ohio and is expected to be completed in 2036, the Air Force said.

To satisfy operational requirements, the weapon system will be comprised of a commercial derivative jet hardened and modified to meet military requirements.

Reuters in December reported that the U.S. Air Force eliminated Boeing from its competition to develop a successor to the E-4B Nightwatch.

While typically used to transport the U.S. secretary of defense, the E-4B is designed as a mobile command post capable of withstanding nuclear blasts and electromagnetic effects, allowing U.S. leaders to deliver orders to the military in the event of a national emergency.

The E-4B is also capable of refueling mid-air and features conference and briefing rooms and advanced communications equipment.

The Air Force currently operates four E-4B aircraft with at least one on alert at all times. The fleet of highly-modified Boeing 747-200 jumbo jets has become increasingly difficult and expensive to maintain as parts become obsolete.

The E-4B is expected to reach the end of its service life in the early 2030s.
The URL has been copied to your clipboard

The code has been copied to your clipboard.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced a military aid package for Ukraine valued at up to $6 billion. Analysts say the aid is desperately needed to help Ukraine regain the upper hand after months of having to ration ammunition. VOA Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb has details.
The United States is reviewing new information provided by the Israeli government and will decide whether a certain Israel Defense Forces unit is taking effective steps to remediate human rights violations against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. The incidents it is accused of occurred before the October 7 Hamas terror attacks on Israel.

A source familiar with the matter told VOA on Friday that the process continues to be ongoing and is consistent with a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Israel that requires Washington to consult with Israeli officials prior to any conclusion.

The Israeli government will continue to receive U.S. military aid during the review process, in which the State Department is assessing whether the IDF is taking appropriate steps to remediate the violations.

There will be restrictions on the provision of U.S. military assistance if it is determined that there has not been appropriate accountability and remediation taken by Israels military, according to the source.

The review process has drawn sharp criticism from Muslim rights groups who say the Biden administration has not done enough to hold Israel accountable for human rights violations against Palestinian civilians.

Some analysts also have said the protracted process indicates the special treatment that Israel continues to receive from the United States.

The Leahy Law

The review is being conducted under a U.S. law known as the Leahy Law, which prohibits U.S. funding from going to foreign security units implicated in severe human rights violations.

However, exceptions exist, such as when a foreign government addresses the issue through "remediation" as well as when the U.S. equipment is used for disaster relief.

The State and Defense departments have a joint remediation policy allowing resumption of assistance if the foreign government is effectively addressing the violations through investigations, adjudications and proportional sentencing.

On Thursday, State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said the Biden administration takes extensive steps to fully implement the Leahy Law for all countries that receive applicable U.S. assistance.

That, of course, includes Israel, with whom we have a long-standing security relationship, Patel told reporters during a press briefing.

Three IDF units and two civilian border police units were previously reportedly under investigation.

U.S. officials declined to identify the units under review, but Israeli media said they include Netzah Yehuda, a military unit made up mostly of ultra-Orthodox Israeli soldiers that operated primarily in the West Bank before it was reassigned to the northern border in 2022.

The allegations related to the IDF units were based on incidents that took place before the October 7 Hamas terror attacks on Israel. They are not connected to Israels military operations in Gaza after October 7, nor to actions against Iran and its proxies.

One incident involved the death of an elderly Palestinian American, Omar Assad, in January of 2022.

The Biden administrations review process has drawn scrutiny from Muslim civil rights groups.

In a statement, the Council on American-Islamic Relations Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said: Sanctioning this unit is the least the Biden administration should have done, and suspending military aid altogether is what the administration should do now."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, is the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S.

'It's not really a sanction'

If foreign security units are blacklisted by the U.S. because of serious human rights violations, they cannot receive U.S. military assistance, use U.S. weapons, or participate in U.S. training.

However, technically, the foreign government can use its own funds to purchase U.S. weapons and issue them to any unit it chooses, according to analysts.

It's not really a sanction or a punishment. It's the way in which Congress frames its laws to advance certain values, like human rights in this instance, Sarah Harrison from International Crisis Group told VOA.

The fact that the State Department is now slow-rolling its decision underscores this exceptional treatment that Israel continues to receive, Harrison added.

US college students stage protests

The investigation comes amid rising international anger over the high death toll and suffering among Palestinian civilians in Gaza during Israels drive to destroy the militant group Hamas, whose October 7 attack in Israel claimed some 1,200 Israeli lives.

U.S. college students have staged pro-Palestinian protests on campuses across the United States.

Asked about the protests during a press conference Friday in Beijing, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that in America, it is 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.

This could be over tomorrow, it could have been over yesterday, it could have been over months ago, if Hamas had put down its weapons, stopped hiding behind civilians, released the hostages, and surrendered, but of course, it has chosen not to do that, Blinken said.

And it is also notable that there is silence about Hamas from the students.

VOA White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara and VOA White House Correspondent Anita Powell contributed to this story.
ISTANBUL, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and visiting Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte discussed Rutte's candidacy for the position of Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) during a meeting in Istanbul on Friday.

Following the meeting at the Vahdettin Mansion on the Asian side of the city, Erdogan and Rutte held a joint press conference.

"No one should doubt that we will make our decision within the framework of strategic wisdom and fairness," Erdogan told reporters, adding that he shared with Rutte what kind of qualities Turkiye would like to see in the new NATO secretary general.

Erdogan emphasized his expectation for the future secretary-general to prioritize the preservation of NATO's primary position in ensuring Euro-Atlantic security.

The Turkish leader added that during a phone conversation last week, he discussed NATO's role with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, who also announced his candidacy for the post.

Rutte, for his part, emphasized that Turkiye is a geopolitical actor with significant influence in the region, stating that NATO's southern flank needs the country.

"Turkiye plays an important role in Gaza and Ukraine," Rutte said, highlighting Turkiye's decisive efforts, especially in resolving the conflict in Gaza.

Jens Stoltenberg, who became NATO Secretary General in 2014, will end his term on Oct. 1 this year after NATO allies unanimously extended his term four times. 
From New York to California, students protesting the Israel-Hamas war slept in tents at college campuses, as some universities moved to shut down encampments and arrested dozens of demonstrators after reports of antisemitic activity.

With the death toll mounting in the war in Gaza, protesters nationwide are demanding schools cut financial ties to Israel and divest from companies they say enable the conflict. Some Jewish students say the protests have veered into antisemitism and made them afraid to set foot on campus.

At Columbia University in New York City, where early protests sparked pro-Palestinian demonstrations across the country, students and administrators have engaged in negotiations, the university said in a statement Saturday night.

"Dialogue between university officials and student organizers is ongoing. We want to be clear: There is no truth to claims of an impending lockdown or evictions on campus," the Columbia administration's statement said.

Though the university repeatedly set and then pushed back deadlines for the removal of the encampment, the school sent an email to students saying that bringing back police "at this time" would be counterproductive.

Decisions to call in law enforcement, leading to hundreds of arrests nationwide, have prompted school faculty members at universities in California, Georgia and Texas to initiate or pass votes of no confidence in their leadership. They are largely symbolic rebukes, without the power to remove their presidents.

Washington University in St. Louis locked some campus buildings and arrested protesters Saturday. The St. Louis Police Department said in a social media post that it assisted campus police, although city officers did not make any arrests.

The Riverfront Times, a St. Louis weekly newspaper, reported more than 80 people were arrested during the protest that began in public areas before moving to the campus in the afternoon. Megan Green, president of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, said in a social media post that she was present and the protest remained calm "until the police came in like an ambush."

Green Party Presidential Candidate Jill Stein said in a social media post that she and two of her campaign managers were among those arrested on the Washington University campus.

The University of Southern California said on Saturday it had temporarily closed its University Park Campus to nonresidents, without providing details of the closure or possible enforcement measures.

Joel Curran, senior vice president of communications, said in a statement that USC property was vandalized by members of a group "that has continued to illegally camp on our campus," as well as disrupting operations and harassing students and others.

Students declined numerous attempts by university President Carol Folt to meet, and the administration hopes for "a more reasonable response Sunday before we are forced to take further action," Curran said.

"While the university fully supports freedom of expression, these acts of vandalism and harassment are absolutely unacceptable and will not be tolerated," Curran said.

In Boston, police in riot gear cleared an encampment on the campus of Northeastern University on Saturday. Massachusetts State Police said about 102 protesters were arrested and will be charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct. Protesters said they were given about 15 minutes to disperse before being arrested.

As workers pulled down tents and bagged up the debris from the encampment, several dozen people across from the encampment chanted, "Let the kids go," and slogans against the war in Gaza. They also booed as police cars passed and taunted the officers who stood guard.

Northeastern said in a statement that the demonstration, which began two days ago, had become "infiltrated by professional organizers" with no affiliation to the university and antisemitic slurs, including "kill the Jews," had been used.

"We cannot tolerate this kind of hate on our campus," the statement posted on social media said.

The Huskies for a Free Palestine student group disputed the university's account, saying in a statement that counterprotesters were to blame for the slurs and no student protesters "repeated the disgusting hate speech."

Students at the Boston protest said a counterprotester attempted to instigate hate speech but insisted their event was peaceful and, like many across the country, was aimed at drawing attention to what they described as the "genocide" in Gaza and their university's complicity in the war.

The president of nearby Massachusetts Institute of Technology said in a statement Saturday that an encampment there had become a "potential magnet for disruptive outside protesters" and was taking hundreds of staff hours to keep safe.

"We have a responsibility to the entire MIT community  and it is not possible to safely sustain this level of effort," MIT President Sally Kornbluth said. "We are open to further discussion about the means of ending the encampment. But this particular form of expression needs to end soon."

Indiana University campus officers and state police arrested 23 people Saturday at an encampment on the school's Bloomington campus. Tents and canopies were erected Friday at Dunn Meadow in violation of school policy, university police said in a release. Group members were detained after refusing to remove the structures with charges ranging from criminal trespass to resisting law enforcement, police said.

Arizona State University said 69 people were arrested early Saturday on suspicion of criminal trespassing for setting up an unauthorized encampment on a lawn on its Tempe campus. The protesters were given chances to leave and those who refused were arrested.

"While the university will continue to be an environment that embraces freedom of speech, ASU's first priority is to create a safe and secure environment that supports teaching and learning," the university said in a statement.

The tensions have piled pressure on school officials, who are scrambling to resolve the protests as May graduation ceremonies near.

USC drew criticism after refusing to allow the valedictorian, who has publicly supported Palestinians, to make a commencement speech. Administrators then scrapped the keynote speech by filmmaker Jon M. Chu. The school on Thursday announced the cancellation of its main graduation event, a day after more than 90 protesters were arrested by police in riot gear.

Folt, the university president, made her first public statement late Friday, addressing the controversies as "incredibly difficult for all of us."

"No one wants to have people arrested on their campus. Ever. But, when long-standing safety policies are flagrantly violated, buildings vandalized, Department of Public Safety directives repeatedly ignored, threatening language shouted, people assaulted, and access to critical academic buildings blocked, we must act immediately to protect our community," Folt said.

The nationwide campus protests began in response to Israel's offensive in Gaza. Hamas launched a deadly attack on southern Israel on October 7, when militants killed about 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took roughly 250 hostages. Vowing to stamp out Hamas, Israel launched an offensive in Gaza. In the ensuing war, Israel has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry.

Israel and its supporters have branded the university protests as antisemitic, while critics of Israel say it uses such allegations to silence opponents. Although 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.
A week after Kyrgyzstan, Georgia passed a law on the financing of political organizations from abroad. Small demonstrations took place for three days in front of the Parliament, culminating in a rally of more than 10,000 people. The protesters referred to the bill as the "Putin Law" because they said it was based on a law in force in Russia. The government responded by distributing copies of its U.S. equivalent, the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which is in force... since 1938.

During the debate, MP Aleko Elissachvili jumped onto the podium to punch rapporteur Mamuka Mdinaradze in the face. Aleko Elissachvili is a print and radio journalist. He fought in Ukraine against Russia [1] as part of the "International Legion for the Territorial Defense of Ukraine". According to him, forcing newspapers financed by more than 20% from abroad to tell their readers would be an attack on freedom of expression.

There are many links between Georgians and Ukrainian "integral nationalists". For example, former pro-US president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili (who had increased the incarceration of opponents) went into exile in 2013 and gave up Georgian citizenship to acquire Ukrainian citizenship in 2015. Under pressure from the "integral nationalists", he was then appointed governor of the Odessa Oblast. He was stripped of his Ukrainian citizenship by President Petro Poroshenko and thus found himself stateless, before being restored to his Ukrainian nationality by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

At the same time, his Minister of the Interior, Eka Zguladze, also became Minister of the Interior in Ukraine. She was dismissed at the same time as him. During this period, she married Raphael Glucksmann, future chairman of the European Parliaments Special Committee on Foreign Interference. The latter is the son of the anti-communist philosopher and contributor to the Freedom House news agency, Andre Glucksmann (Freedom House was an extension of the CIAs effort for anti-communist left-wing publications [2]).
Well, it took me an embarrassingly long time to realize that were moving forward one year per episode. Oh, look, theyre noting the year again! I would say. So now, here we are in 1617, and some peasants have unearthed a burial site in a dark Scottish forest. This feels Macbethian (a play written during James Is reign!). The gravediggers find something wrapped in iron and ask, What sort of demented wee man are we working for here? CUT TO JAMES.

James is all over the place this week. Were all very concerned about him. He begins by biting George on the wrist like a damn animal. When George tends to it later, James kisses it and pronounces it all better. Not really, James! Do you know how much bacteria lives in the human mouth? No, you do not, because, as we mentioned already, its 1617! My friend was bitten by her cat, and her hand blew up like a balloon. And according to an extremely cursory Google search, human bites are more dangerous than animal bites.

Everyone else watching this moved on from the bite moment in two seconds, but I remain concerned. What will you do without antibiotics, George? I guess since his historical cause of death is not king bite, we can continue. This week is all about James and George in Scotland, George learning some things about The World, and Mary at home as she tries to marry John to Sir Edward Coke and Lady Hattons daughter Frances. Mary doesnt need to learn about The World because she is well familiar with how royally it has screwed her over.

This marriage between John and Frances is  complicated. Because the show is named Mary & George, we generally root for both Mary and George. But John is mentally ill, and dangerously so, and Mary just does not care because she wants him married well. Lady Hatton is an asshole, but shes mainly trying to protect her daughter in a pretty amazing way for the 17th century. I have to keep reminding myself of the latter fact as I go, GEEZ, can Lady Hatton just ease up on hiding her daughter away from this intensely unsuitable groom Frances definitely doesnt want to marry? Its very mentally jarring. John is off walking into the estates lake and then almost drowning, time and time again, and Marys new husband has to keep rescuing him. This would be very emotionally (and physically) taxing! Its understandable when Sir Thomas says he misses being bored and alone.

James basically says he hates Scotland but that he has to go back because of duty. I have to confess, that kind of line always sways me. Its terrible, I know. Duty is what caused the charge of the light brigade, which is a memorable poem, but it was such a stupid way to lose lives. Yet here we are; this worked on me. James names Francis Bacon the Keeper of the Seal while hes away, which is very fancy for Bacon, and George accompanies James, only to be seated far away from him at dinner. George sulks about this because of course he does. Who is there to cheer him up but Sir Peter Carr, Somersets cousin? I wish I could say that I, like Georges brother Kit, didnt trust Peter, but I did! I did trust him! This is yet another reason I cannot be allowed at James Is court.

Peter is all, Oh, I hate Somerset, booooo, hes the worst. This is a clever deception. In the meantime, he worms his way into our hearts by being cute and having great sex with George. Everyone in the 17th century is gay! This is like that musical Zanna, Dont, where everyone is gay and you have to come out as straight. Imagine George hitting on a man and that man not being into it. Seems impossible. I guess that could also be because Nicholas Galitzine is a very pretty man.

Anyway, so Kit doesnt trust how nice Peter is, and great job on that, Kit. George and I continue to be like, Sometimes people are nice, Kit. Well, no, they arent. Not when you live in a world of INTRIGUE. Before Peter reveals his malicious intentions, hes just part of the kings retinue. James is keeping George at arms length, which makes George get even closer with Peter. George finally asks James what is up, because hes been a real Debbie Downer since they came to Scotland, and George thinks everyone there is super nice. James points out that the Scottish murdered his father before James was born and gave my mother to the English to be caged and beheaded. Hmmm. Yes. Good point. James tells George that he had a true love once, and no one is ever going to measure up. Could this man be linked to the weird burial at the beginning? (Yes.)

Meanwhile, Mary enlists Sandie to find Frances because Lady Hatton has squirreled her away. Again, good for Lady Hatton. Sandie finds her and, while wearing a fun hat, storms the house with a group of armed men and finds Frances hiding in the attic. Frances looks so much like Anne Hathaway. Its all I can think of whenever I see her. Shes shoved into a carriage with Mary and Sandie, who are canoodling in the corner. Lesbians, am I right? No chill. Not unless were faced with a dire situation, which these two are about to be, at which point, canoodling ceases and chill commences. Francis Bacon and a line of behorsed men stop the carriage. Francis tells Mary that this isnt a great situation for anyone, and he proposes the whole thing to King Solomon. This results in a house-sharing/joint-custody situation with Mary, Frances, and Lady Hatton, which I LOVE and wish we got more of.

Sandie tells Mary that she went to Marys home and it was hell. John had just sliced Jenny, the serving girl, across the face because he had been locked in his room after continuing to walk into the lake. Mary tries to convince Sandie that everything will be okay and shell take care of it. She also says that the wedding is still on? MARY.

Back in Scotland, James loses his shit by a river and starts running around saying that the men with him are going to assassinate him. Peter pulls him out of the river, giving us even more reason to trust him. No worries here! Kit calls James the Mad River King, and I would read a book with that title, 100 percent.

Okay, now we get to Peters devious treachery. He takes George to Ruthven Castle (now Huntingtower Castle), seemingly to bang. While there, he tells George about Jamess great love, the Duke of Lennox, and how the Scottish nobles kidnapped James and kept him at Ruthven in order to get rid of Lennox. Nobles really hate a favorite. During this storytelling, Peter is seemingly getting ready to sex George, sitting on top of him. Then he starts choking him, and for a second, youre like, Oh, so they are going to bang, but it is soon very clear that, no, Peter is just trying to murder George for what he did to Somerset. He calls George an English slut! How will George get out of this one?

But then Kit appears and shoots Peter in the head. George survives! Kit is made an earl! James apologizes to George for shutting him out, and he tells George about his past with Lennox. When Lennox died in France, he sent his embalmed heart to James, which is what the gravediggers dug up earlier. James said he came to Scotland because of duty, and that duty was to bring Lennox home and rebury him there. James and George have a kind moment together that I appreciate because everyone is always being so crafty on this show that its nice to have a momentary pause for genuine emotion.

James and his entourage find a beautiful field and he calls his men to start digging. George wants to do it, and when James asks why, George says, Duty. CUTE. George and James dig together. This probably should not, in fact, be cute, but it is. As they journey back toward London, the royal party makes camp, and who should show up but Francis Bacon. He wanted to tell his side of the Frances/John story before Mary. Unfortunately for him, Mary is already in the kings tent and has been talking to him for hours. Take that, Bacon, youve just been Villiersed!

As a result of all this, John and Frances get married. Surely this cannot end well. When George asks if he can choose his own wife, Mary says no, but that she looks after him well, and she will look after all her children. What does that mean, Mary?! What are your plans? No, wait, dont tell us. Im looking forward to being surprised and horrified.
Photo: Christopher Jue/Getty Images for TAS Rights

We are less than a fortnight away from Taylor Swifts Eras Tour arriving across the pond in Paris, France. We are also in the middle of Swifts latest era The Tortured Poets Department, thats filled with 31 brand spanking new songs. How is she going to fit them into the upcoming concerts? Thats way too many only to be played during Swifts surprise song set, where she sings two songs acoustically on piano and guitar. She only has fifty shows in Europe, so it would take up 31% of the acoustic set if she decided to savor them all for the latter half of the show. But Swifts too much of a mastermind for that. This leg of the tour only had one opener, Paramore, meaning more possible stage time for Swift. Could she add her newest era to an already 3-hour and 15-minute concert? Heres all the evidence weve collected as to why Tortured Poets could be added to the Eras Tour.

Exhibit A:

Ah, YouTube shorts. Probably one of the most annoying features added to the platform as it floods the subscription feed with short-form videos on a site that thrives in long form content. But it is now our first piece of evidence. Looking closer at the 15 second video of Swift rehearsing the concert, you can see her leaning against a railing that looks like The Torture Poets Department logo?

Photo: Taylor Swift/YouTube Shorts

Shes wearing what we can assume to be a lilac skirt, which is also seen in another YouTube Shorts video and mentioned in imgonnagetyouback. Below is a closer look at her heels, which are very similar to the same shoes she wears in the Fortnight music video. Now, why would she need to practice in different shoes if not for a new set?

Our last piece of Shorts evidence shows dancers wearing black hats and holding canes. Now, after what feels like countless viewings of the Eras Tour movie, I do not remember seeing Swifts dancers with either of those items, nor doing any of those moves with Swift at the center.

Photo: Taylor Swift/YouTube Shorts

Exhibit B:

In March 2023, Swift, similarly to the Fortnight challenge, shared bits and pieces of her life in a TikTok, where she showed different colored mics from the Eras Tour, including a white one, which we havent seen on tour yet.

| ALL of Taylor Swifts microphones for The Eras Tour! #TSTheErasTour pic.twitter.com/EvzHKyfYSX  The Eras Tour (@tswifterastour) March 31, 2023

Over a year later, the white microphone has made its way back into Swifts hand, possibly for a Tortured Poets appearance.

Photo: Taylor Swift/YouTube Shorts

Exhibit C:

The Anthology announcement echos a similar message that Swift shares on the Eras tour. Right before she plays Lover, she tells the crowd some variation: These songs maybe started out being about my life, but my goal, my dream is that by the end of the night, theyll be about your life. And now for her latest album release, Swift writes, And now the story isnt mine anymore its all yours. Swift loves to create parallels between her new music and her previous work. Can this be an Easter Egg for whats to come?
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. Photo: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage

Angelina Jolie is contesting Brad Pitts request for NDAs in their yearslong winery dispute, Page Six reported on April 26. Lawyers for Pitt filed a motion to obtain Jolies NDAs from any third parties, arguing that the documents are necessary to shed light on why she chose to sell her stake in the winery to a Russian oligarch instead of Pitt following their 2016 divorce. While Jolies side strongly objected to the NDA turnover, a judge had a different opinion, according to a May 16 ruling. The latest on the Pitt-Jolie divorce proceedings below.

Jolies lawyers argue NDA request is abusive

April 26, 2024: Lawyers for Jolie are calling Pitts motion to obtain Jolies NDAs from any third parties an invasion of privacy, an attempt to silence her, and even abusive. Attorneys for Pitt asked L.A. Superior Court to disclose the NDAs and other sensitive information earlier this month in an apparent effort to shed light on whether his NDA request was the deal-ender [Jolie] subsequently alleged it to be when selling her vineyard shares to a Russian oligarch instead. Pitt first sued Jolie over the sale of their $500 million winery, Chateau Miraval, in 2022.

Jolies attorneys previously claimed Pitt wanted her to sign an onerous and expansive NDA that would cover Pitts personal misconduct whether related to Miraval or not, including the abuse allegations related to an incident on a plane in 2016, in order for Jolie to agree to sell her stake in Miraval to Pitt. When the deal fell apart over the matter, she sold her shares elsewhere.

By their nature, Pitts Requests seek to intrude on Jolies privacy, says Jolies new filing, per Page Six. The Requests seek contracts between Jolie (or any of her entities) and any other person or entity. Most, if not all, of these agreements will be employment-related contracts that include Jolies compensation or compensation she paid to third parties. Jolies lawyers added, Forcing Jolie to spend the time and expense of gathering and producing all of this documentation is expensive, wasteful, and unreasonable  and the latest manifestation of Pitts abusive conduct toward Jolie. The Court should not allow it.

Brangelina first purchased the famed, 1,200-acre vineyard in 2008 and were married in the Chataeus chapel six years later. The couple divorced in 2019. The dispute over the property brought abuse allegations against Pitt back into headlines, wherein filings detail the physical abuse Jolie and their children faced on a plane in 2016.

A judge orders Jolie to hand over NDAs

May 22, 2024: Jolie must hand over eight years worth of NDAs in the long-running Chateau Miraval saga, a judge ruled on May 16 in the Los Angeles Superior Court. According to documents reviewed by People, the movie star must produce, within 60 calendar days of this Order, all non-privileged documents in her possession, custody or control that are responsive to Pitts motion filed last month, Judge Lia Martin said. A source close to Pitt called the ruling a significant blow to the credibility of Jolies claims, saying their rhetoric doesnt match with actual facts.

Though a source for Pitt is painting the ruling as a win, Murphy believes the NDA request was an effort to deflect attention from the key issue  Pitts alleged behavior. Paul Murphy, an attorney for Jolie, said their side is more than happy to turn them over, People reports.

Common NDAs are simply not comparable to Mr. Pitts last-second demand to try and cover up his personal misconduct, he said, adding that the ruling opens the door to discovery on all issues related to Pitts abuse. The lawyer said their team welcomes transparency in the discovery responses.

Angelina looks forward to the eventual end of this litigation with its false narratives that continue to hurt the family and interfere with their ability to heal, Murphy said.
Dining chat: A waiter gave our anniversary bubbly to the table next to us. What should we have done?
The Chang'e-6 lunar probe is scheduled for launch at an appropriate time at the beginning of May, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA). #XinhuaNews
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.
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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement
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.
A woman has been killed every four days in 2024. We bring you stories of lives lost in recent years. Some of the cases featured are still before the courts.

The state coroner is being lobbied by Victoria Police and a key family crisis service to reclassify the deaths of three women by suicide this year as being caused by family violence.

The women died as the perpetrators of violence against them were due to be released from custody, including a 25-year-old woman with a six-year-old child. The woman died by suicide on the eve of the discharge of a man who had tried to kill her by strangulation.

Assistant Commissioner Lauren Callaway spoke on Friday about proposals to register and track high-risk family violence perpetrators. Credit: Justin McManus

Chelsea Tobin, chief executive of crisis service Safe Steps, said the woman  known by the pseudonym Sara for privacy reasons  was desperately reaching out to services for help prior to her suicide.

She was fearful of the mans pending bail release and believed the perpetrator would try again to kill her, Tobin said.
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?

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement
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
Camp is a sacred place: an escarpment that curls like the spine of a crocodile along the Gulf of Carpentaria in the Northern Territory.

It is the primordial ceremonial site of the Yolngu Yolngu people where a traditional welcome begins with feet dancing in the skin of the Earth and a shifting tide of bodies pulsating to the rhythmic beat of the clapsticks. Red flag-wielding Dilak elders, men and women of all ages draped in cloth and pelt, branded t-shirts and caps, stomp into dust clouds between gyrating children.

Dancers of all ages stomp into dust clouds. Credit: Nina Franova

This free-wheeling frenzy of colour and movement is not just entertainment. The Garma Festival is a curated invitation to the clans to join in the diplomacy of kinship, the continuation of story, a form of literature linked by song and design as accurate as the GPS co-ordinate of a forest or a beach in a sacred location.

Travellers who come as outsiders and enthusiasts to experience the largest Indigenous celebration of art, politics and life in Australia will not find it bundled easily into a glossy travel brochure. This is a gift to be unwrapped slowly. Slow like the snaking line for food served from bain-maries and the queue for the cold-water showers. Loud like the bands that play until 11pm and the generators that snarl through the dark hours. And basic, like the accommodation in canvas tents packed, sardine style, at the edge of the ceremonial grounds.
Lviv: Australia will answer Ukraines global call to help the war-ravaged nation bolster its air defences against Russias barrage of missile and drone attacks with a new $100 million military aid package.

Defence Minister Richard Marles announced the assistance in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Saturday, becoming just the second federal government minister to visit the country since Vladimir Putins troops invaded in February 2022.

Defence Minister Richard Marles visits Ukrainian troops at a training facility near Lviv, near the Polish border on Saturday. Credit: Department of Defence

The boost, which also includes $30 million towards uncrewed aerial systems and $15 million towards high-priority equipment such as combat helmets, rigid-hull inflatable boats, boots, fire masks and generators, comes a week after the US Congress broke a months-long deadlock to send about $9 billion in military aid to Kyiv, and Britain pledged almost a further $1 billion.

Marles toured several secure military sites on a whistle-stop visit, including training facilities near Lviv, about 70 kilometres from the Polish border, before a meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
BEIJING, April 27 (Xinhua) -- China's national observatory on Saturday evening issued a yellow alert for heavy fog in some parts of the country.

From Saturday evening to Sunday morning, thick fog is expected to shroud parts of the Bohai Strait, the coastal waters of the Liaodong and Shandong peninsulas, the coastal waters of Jiangsu, and parts of the Yellow Sea.

Visibility in some affected areas will be reduced to below 1,000 meters, the center said.

It has advised motorists to control their speeds to ensure safety, and said that precautionary measures should be taken at airports, on expressways and at ferry terminals to ensure traffic safety.

China has a three-tier, color-coded warning system for thick fog, with red being the most serious warning, followed by orange and yellow. 
Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang delivers a speech during a promotion event for the Arabic edition of "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" in Cairo, Egypt, April 24, 2024. Over 100 representatives from China and Arab countries attended the event held here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

CAIRO, April 26 (Xinhua) -- A promotion event was held in the Egyptian capital Cairo on Wednesday for the Arabic edition of "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China."

Over 100 representatives from China and Arab countries attended the event.

Former Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf said that "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" clearly portrays China's vision to the international community, shares experience from China's modernization drive without reservation, and helps readers better understand Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as well as China's current policies.

It presented a China that is reliable, admirable and respectable, Sharaf added.

While addressing the event, Hussein Al-Hindawi, Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League, said that the books are full of China's classical, time-honored and ever-new governance concepts, which can be regarded as a model in the world.

Mohamed Rashad, president of the Arab Publishers Association, said that the Arabic edition can help readers comprehensively and systematically understand President Xi Jinping's political views, thoughts and theories, as well as the rich connotation and important values of building a community with a shared future for mankind and promoting the Chinese-style modernization.

Du Zhanyuan, president of China International Communications Group (CICG), said the books have always been considered as a "window of thought" for the world to understand China.

They are a reliable source for readers worldwide to understand China's approach to and theory of governance in the new era and the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, he said, adding that President Xi's important statements embody the value of "people first" as well as a people-centered philosophy of development in the country's governance.

The books also reveal the internal logic of the Chinese-style modernization and provide reference and inspiration for developing countries to explore their roads to modernization, Du said.

Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang said that "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" is a guide to decoding Chinese-style modernization, a treasure trove showcasing China's sense of responsibility as a major country, and a window to see the charming personality of the Chinese leader.

In a series of new ideas and initiatives, President Xi has shown China's firm determination to follow the path of peaceful development, and expressed China's sincere wish to bring benefits for the whole world through its development, Liao said.

The promotion event was sponsored by the CICG and the Chinese Embassy in Egypt and hosted by the Foreign Languages Press and the CICG's Center for Europe and Africa. 

Du Zhanyuan, president of China International Communications Group, delivers a speech during a promotion event for the Arabic edition of "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" in Cairo, Egypt, April 24, 2024. Over 100 representatives from China and Arab countries attended the event held here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

Former Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf delivers a speech during a promotion event for the Arabic edition of "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" in Cairo, Egypt, April 24, 2024. Over 100 representatives from China and Arab countries attended the event held here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)
SYDNEY, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Police in the Australian state of Victoria have reported that two people were killed after an aircraft crashed in Mount Beauty on Saturday.

Located in the state's northeastern, Mount Beauty is a small town surrounded by the Alpine National Park which features lakes, forests and snowfields.

It is believed that the pair were flying over Embankment Drive when the aircraft went down at about 1:45 p.m. local time. Both the pilot and the passenger died at the scene, whose identities remain to be formally confirmed.

According to Victoria Police, they were the only occupants of the aircraft and a report would be prepared for the Coroner.

A statement from the state's Country Fire Authority (CFA) indicated that the crashed plane was a "powered glider."

"Incident deemed under control at 2:13 p.m. and safe at 3:34 p.m. Emergency service crews will remain on scene for quite some time," said the CFA. 
A Labour TD has said a bomb threat that caused the evacuation of Helen McEntee's family from their home is "a new low in politics".

A major investigation is under way after threats to the Minister for Justice's home were made in two late-night phone calls during the week.

The Irish Daily Mail reported that the threat forced the evacuation of the Minister's husband and young family.

Ms McEntee was not at home when the threats were made.

It is understood that gardai regarded the alert with the "utmost seriousness".

Labour TD Aodhan O Riordain said there was a worrying increase in the level of anger against politicians, fuelled largely by the "immigration debate".

Speaking to Newstalk radio, he said there was an "unprecedented level of anger" on the election campaign trail this year.

"I'm standing in the European elections at the moment, and what I'm coming across is an unprecedented level of anger, violent language, abuse, which is making a lot of political parties find it difficult to find candidates."

The threats come after a man was found guilty last month of phoning in a bomb hoax to the house of Ms McEntee.

Michael Murray (52), formerly of Seafield Road, Killiney, Dublin, had pleaded not guilty to one count of knowingly making a false report giving rise to an apprehension for the safety of someone else while he was imprisoned in the Midlands Prison, Portlaoise on March 7th, 2021.

The eight-day trial heard that an anonymous caller phoned the Samaritans claiming to be from the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) and said explosives had been planted at the home of Ms McEntee.
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.
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.
During the 64th Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), China has expressed commitment to supporting Zimbabwe's innovation-driven development. A senior Zimbabwean gov't official said the country seeks to harness China's innovation experience for industrialization.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
GUANGZHOU, April 27 (Xinhua) -- As of 4 p.m. Saturday, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge has seen over 10 million inbound and outbound vehicles pass through its Zhuhai port since it opened to public traffic in October 2018, according to the bridge's border inspection station.

The number of inbound and outbound vehicles passing through the Zhuhai port of the bridge, which is the world's longest bridge-tunnel sea crossing, surged from 860,000 in 2019 to 3.26 million in 2023.

So far this year, the number of inbound and outbound vehicles to pass through the Zhuhai port has exceeded 1.58 million.

The bridge has brought new forms of cross-border travel. Data shows that in 2023, more than 45,000 mainland tour groups traveled to and from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and the Macao SAR via the bridge. And residents of Hong Kong and Macao made almost 10 million visits to the mainland via the bridge, a record high.

The 55-km crossing links China's Hong Kong SAR, the city of Zhuhai in Guangdong Province, and the Macao SAR. It has brought tremendous economic opportunities and benefits to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. 
This photo taken on April 26, 2024 shows a symposium promoting the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Casablanca, Morocco.

Two promotion events for the CIIE were held separately in the Moroccan cities of Casablanca and Rabat on Friday. (Xinhua/Huo Jing)

RABAT, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Two promotion events for the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) were held separately in the Moroccan cities of Casablanca and Rabat on Friday.

As part of the promotion events, a symposium was held in Casablanca, during which a delegation from the CIIE Bureau briefed the Moroccan guests on the preparations for the CIIE.

The symposium was organized by the CIIE Bureau, the Chinese embassy in Morocco, the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), and the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM).

The CIIE served as a platform through which many Moroccan companies deepened their connection with the Chinese market, noted Li Guoqing, deputy director of the CIIE Bureau, highlighting that high-quality products from Morocco, including red wine, cosmetics, as well as food and beverages, had successfully entered the Chinese market.

Li expressed the hope that Moroccan business organizations such as the CGEM could motivate more elite Moroccan businesses to participate in the expo, and share the enormous opportunities of China.

Zheng Wei, economic and commercial counselor of the Chinese embassy in Morocco, said at the symposium that the CIIE provided Moroccan companies with an excellent opportunity to explore market opportunities and strengthen international cooperation, adding that Moroccan companies were invited to use this important platform to promote featured products and services in the rapidly growing Chinese market.

After the symposium, delegates from the CIIE Bureau and the CGEM signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation for the seventh CIIE.

Mehdi Laraki, chairman of the Morocco-China Business Council at the CGEM, said that Moroccan companies were keen on exporting agricultural products to China and hoped to enter the Chinese market through the CIIE.

Later in the day, the delegation from the CIIE Bureau promoted the CIIE to the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development in the capital city of Rabat. 
BEIJING, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Vidu, a text-to-video large AI model capable of creating a 16-second, high-definition video in 1080p resolution with a single click, was unveiled on Saturday at the 2024 Zhongguancun Forum in Beijing.

Developed by Tsinghua University and Chinese AI firm ShengShu Technology, Vidu is China's first video large AI model with "extended duration, exceptional consistency and dynamic capabilities."

As a large AI model developed in China, Vidu is able to understand and generate Chinese content such as the panda and the loong, or the Chinese dragon, according to Zhu Jun, deputy director of the Tsinghua Institute for Artificial Intelligence.

The company said that Vidu's core architecture was proposed as early as in 2022. 
BEIJING, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The Forum on Promoting University Technology Transfer opened on Saturday at the Beijing University Of Technology.

As the first event of its kind to be held during the 2024 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum) annual conference, it has attracted representatives of hundreds of domestic and overseas universities and enterprises to explore new models to enhance the transformation of scientific and technological achievements.

Facilitating the transfer of original and disruptive technological innovations -- from academia to industry, from laboratories to production lines, and from shelves to markets -- is crucial to driving industrial innovation through technological advancement, said Shan Zhongde, vice minister of industry and information technology.

He noted that it is a significant measure in advancing the development of new industrialization and new quality productive forces.

The China National Intellectual Property Administration, along with seven relevant government departments, initiated patent inventory work at the beginning of this year, and over 1,700 universities and research institutions in China have compiled an inventory of 914,000 patents to date.

The three-day Forum on Promoting University Technology Transfer has gathered more than 500 university sci-tech achievements. The event saw the release of a compilation of outstanding cases of sci-tech achievement transformations among universities.

The ZGC Forum kicked off on Thursday in Beijing. It focuses on cutting-edge fields from artificial intelligence to life sciences and new materials over the course of the five-day session, scheduled to close on Monday. 
Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang delivers a speech during a promotion event for the Arabic edition of "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" in Cairo, Egypt, April 24, 2024. Over 100 representatives from China and Arab countries attended the event held here on Wednesday. [Xinhua/Sui Xiankai]

CAIRO, April 26 (Xinhua)  A promotion event was held in the Egyptian capital Cairo on Wednesday for the Arabic edition of "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China."

Over 100 representatives from China and Arab countries attended the event.

Former Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf said that "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" clearly portrays China's vision to the international community, shares experience from China's modernization drive without reservation, and helps readers better understand Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as well as China's current policies.

It presented a China that is reliable, admirable and respectable, Sharaf added.

While addressing the event, Hussein Al-Hindawi, Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League, said that the books are full of China's classical, time-honored and ever-new governance concepts, which can be regarded as a model in the world.

Mohamed Rashad, president of the Arab Publishers Association, said that the Arabic edition can help readers comprehensively and systematically understand President Xi Jinping's political views, thoughts and theories, as well as the rich connotation and important values of building a community with a shared future for mankind and promoting the Chinese-style modernization.

Du Zhanyuan, president of China International Communications Group (CICG), said the books have always been considered as a "window of thought" for the world to understand China.

They are a reliable source for readers worldwide to understand China's approach to and theory of governance in the new era and the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, he said, adding that President Xi's important statements embody the value of "people first" as well as a people-centered philosophy of development in the country's governance.

The books also reveal the internal logic of the Chinese-style modernization and provide reference and inspiration for developing countries to explore their roads to modernization, Du said.

Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang said that "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" is a guide to decoding Chinese-style modernization, a treasure trove showcasing China's sense of responsibility as a major country, and a window to see the charming personality of the Chinese leader.

In a series of new ideas and initiatives, President Xi has shown China's firm determination to follow the path of peaceful development, and expressed China's sincere wish to bring benefits for the whole world through its development, Liao said.

The promotion event was sponsored by the CICG and the Chinese Embassy in Egypt and hosted by the Foreign Languages Press and the CICG's Center for Europe and Africa.

Du Zhanyuan, president of China International Communications Group, delivers a speech during a promotion event for the Arabic edition of "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" in Cairo, Egypt, April 24, 2024. Over 100 representatives from China and Arab countries attended the event held here on Wednesday. [Xinhua/Sui Xiankai]

Former Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf delivers a speech during a promotion event for the Arabic edition of "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" in Cairo, Egypt, April 24, 2024. Over 100 representatives from China and Arab countries attended the event held here on Wednesday. [Xinhua/Sui Xiankai]

(Source: Xinhua)
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.

(Source: Xinhua)
BEIJING, April 27 (Xinhua) -- China's urban passenger trips soared 27.7 percent in 2023, official data showed.

A total of 101 billion passenger trips were made in China's urban areas during the period, according to the Ministry of Transport.

Passenger trips handled by ferries logged a sharp year-on-year growth of 85.3 percent to 82.67 million.

The number of passenger trips via the country's urban rail transit networks neared 29.39 billion, soaring 52.2 percent from the previous year.

The data also showed that China's urban passenger trips operated by taxis and buses and trams rose 21.7 percent and 18 percent, respectively year on year in 2023. 
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 06: Harvey Weinstein leaves court on January 6, 2020 in New York City. Weinstein, a movie producer whose alleged sexual misconduct helped spark the #MeToo movement, pleaded not-guilty on five counts of rape and sexual assault against two unnamed women and faces a possible life sentence in prison. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)
Castle Green hands over Rhosrobin affordable homes to North Wales Housing Association

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Apr 27th, 2024

The first phase of new affordable homes in Rhosrobin have been delivered under a deal between Castle Green Partnerships and North Wales Housing Association.

Its the third housing association Castle Green has partnered with in North Wales as part of its commitment to providing affordable housing.

At Llys y Coed on Main Road, Rhosrobin, 47 affordable homes are being provided under a development agreement signed in January, as part of the Section 106 contributions agreed during the planning process.

30 of the homes are now complete.

The first of those homes have now been handed over to NWHA and tenants will be moving into all of the completed homes in the next few weeks.

Contracts were exchanged last month on a deal for a further 14 homes, known as additionality units, six of which are now complete

Eoin ODonnell, partnerships director at Castle Green Partnerships, said: Handing over homes under our partnership with North Wales Housing Association marks a key milestone in what we hope will be lasting and mutually beneficial relationship.

Llys y Coed was among the schemes held up because of issues relating to phosphates, environmental targets and waste water, which meant a lack of new homes being built in the Wrexham area in recent years.

This in turn has contributed to a deficit of much-needed affordable housing.

The fact that North Wales Housing Association have purchased additional homes is an indicator of the high demand in the area for affordable homes.

Castle Green Partnerships, part of St Asaph based Castle Green Homes, specialises in building homes for housing associations.

Lauren Eaton-Jones, assistant director of development at North Wales Housing Association, said: We are delighted to have partnered with Castle Green to provide 61 homes in Rhosrobin, Wrexham, as part of our drive to provide more affordable homes in all six local authorities across North Wales.

We are determined to make a difference for communities across North Wales, providing safe, well- maintained and affordable homes for our residents. Growth and development are extremely important in our vision.

These houses are of the highest quality and will be homes that our residents will be proud to live in.

We hope this is just the start of our partnership with Castle Green as we look to work together and deliver homes where they are needed the most.

The affordable homes in Rhosrobin are part of a wider 189 home development taking shape across a 39 acre site.

Work started on site in November 2023 and is expected to be complete by June 2025.
North Wales MS supports call for national brain tumour strategy

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Apr 27th, 2024

A North Wales MS has backed cross-party letter calling for National Brain Tumour Strategy.

Llyr Gruffydd has joined with politicians from across the political spectrum to call on Eluned Morgan, the Welsh Governments Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care in urging her to listen and work with the brain tumour community.

The Plaid Cymru Senedd member says people who have a brain tumour have been left behind for too long and that this has to change.

The letter sent by Mr Gruffydd to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care has been signed by fellow MSs Peredur Owen Griffiths, Heledd Fychan, Mark Isherwood, Joel James and Mike Hedges.

The letter is part of a campaign by The Brain Tumour Charity, which has warned that for years people who have been diagnosed with a brain tumour have been falling through the cracks.

Its open letter addressed to all four UK Health Ministers obtained over 52,000 signatures.

Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40.

The Brain Tumour Charity says that there are gaps in the health service and that these can only be addressed through systematic change and developing a comprehensive National Brain Tumour Strategy.

According to the charity, brain tumours often fall into the too difficult pile due to the nature of the disease.

There are more than 120 different types of brain and central nervous system tumours. These can be high grade, or low grade (non-malignant), and as a result the disease does not sit neatly in the cancer nor the rare disease world.

The charity also says that brain cancers are often missed by NHS cancer programmes because of the differences in how they start, develop and are tracked, compared to other cancers.

People who have brain tumour can face a number of complex issues. These include multiple misdiagnoses and trips to GPs, having to undergo harsh treatments, as well as not having access to the support from an allocated Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS).

The letter sent by Mr Gruffydd, of Plaid Cymru, follows a meeting he had recently with representatives from The Brain Tumour Charity at Ty Hywel to show his support for Brain Tumour Awareness Month.

Llyr Gruffydd MS said: It is vital that the Welsh Government, as well as governments across the UK, make sure that people who have brain tumours receive the care they need  from a speedy diagnosis, to having access to the most modern treatment options.

Brain tumours are a complex disease but those affected have been left behind for too long. This has to change. There now needs to be a decisive strategy which will lead to the systemic change that is required to tackle this devastating disease.

For me it was a no brainer to have signed the letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and I now urge her to listen and work with the brain tumour community in the creation of an effective strategy.

Cameron Miller, Director of External Affairs & Strategy at The Brain Tumour Charity said: It is inspiring to see the level of support we have received across the political spectrum for the call for a National Brain Tumour Strategy. We thank every politician for joining the brain tumour community in this call and on the journey to improving brain tumour care for all.

We all want to see a step change in the way brain tumours are tackled so that they are no longer placed on the too difficult pile because of their complexity. A Strategy would address the challenges people currently face across the whole patient pathway.

The strategy would require all nations of the UK to work together to tackle problems affecting diagnosis, care, treatment and research with separate implementation plans then being developed within each nation.

The Brain Tumour Charity, which is the UKs largest dedicated brain tumour charity, funds pioneering research to increase survival and improve treatment options.

It also works to raise awareness of the symptoms and effects of brain tumours to bring about earlier diagnosis.

The Charity also provides support for people who have affected so that they can live as full a life as possible, with the best quality of life.

To find out more, visit: https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/get-involved/campaigning-for-change/what-were-campaigning/national-brain-tumour-strategy-its-a-no-brainer/
This article is old - Published: Saturday, Apr 27th, 2024

Wrexham.com has invited the four candidates vying for the role of North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner to take part in a written Question and Answer session.

On May 2 voters will head to the polls to elect a commissioner whose responsibilities include deciding the budget for North Wales Police and holding the forces chief constable to account.

In North Wales four candidates have put themselves forward to become the regions next PCC. These are (you can click to view their Q&A):

We contacted the four candidates with 10 questions about their plans if elected and what they feel are the biggest crime related issues facing North Wales.

You can read Andy Dunbobbins  Labour and Co-operative Party candidate  in full below:

1. What are the key crime issues in North Wales that you think need addressing and plan on focusing on in your term in office if elected

Serious and Organised Crime is the key crime area in North Wales. Serious and organised crime causes considerable damage to our communities and peoples quality of life. We know that violence (at street level) is often linked to drugs supply, including county lines operations.

There are also connections between drug supply and use with other forms of crime, such as anti-social behaviour, cybercrime, modern slavery, theft and violence against women and girls. I

have ensured North Wales Police continues to use intelligence and information to identify the biggest threats to our communities.

Arresting and disrupting the activities of criminals wherever they try to break the law. Investment of dedicated teams of officers and staff across North Wales and continued work with the Regional Organised Crime Unit is critical.

I will strive to continue working with the Chief Constable to make North Wales as hostile an environment for organised criminals.

I already collaborate with partner agencies to improve education and awareness of cybercrime, guarding against scammers and fraudsters.

2. Theres still a lot of confusion around what a Police and Crime Commissioner is  if elected how would you raise awareness of the role and your work across the region

I understand about the awareness and confusion surrounding the role of Police and Crime Commissioner, and it has been a prominent thought of mine during this term, resulting in me appointing a Head of Communications and Engagement. Engagement has improved, with an average of 50 articles per month being featured in the media, significant growth on the OPCC social media channels, the introduction of a fortnightly newsletter (850 subscribers) and an increase of visitors to the website (average 9000 visitors per month).

Furthermore, I see the role of the Police and Crime Commissioner as being the bridge between our communities and North Wales Police. I believe in getting out and about, meeting people and being visible myself.

At events, walkabouts, surgeries and county shows; I have made myself available to meet the public and listen to your concerns. I have introduced surgeries during my time in office which had never taken place, prior to my election.

I am determined to do all that I can to ensure that our communities are listened to and receive the best possible police service.

3. Across the UK the reputation of policing has faced fierce scrutiny in the last few years and trust has decreased. Within your role as Police and Crime Commissioner how would you work to rebuild the relationship between the public and police,

We have all seen the highly corrosive impact that bad officers have on the reputation of policing.

In February 2023 I commissioned a report from the Chief Constable that would set out the scale of misconduct in the Force. North Wales Police was the first force in Wales to publicly release such statistics. Openness and transparency are fundamental if we are to regain the publics trust.

Expecting and enforcing the highest standards is non-negotiable. The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner oversees the police complaints system, and the PCC is the relevant review body for all complaints.

There is still work to do and we have to constantly review our processes, vetting and recruitment in order to regain and maintain the publics trust and confidence in policing. It goes back to me saying that I see myself as the bridge between the community and the police.

I will always stand up for victims by giving them a voice  listen to peoples lived experience is what I am about.

I want appropriate support for victims that helps them get on with their lives, using tailored approaches to support people.

We are listening to their lived experiences through our engagement, as only then can we truly improve the response when they call for help.

4. Retail crime has been quite topical lately with assaulting a retail worker to be made a standalone criminal offence. Where does addressing it stand in your priorities and do you have sufficient resources to tackle it.

Having worked in the retail sector and experienced first-hand the risks this can bring, I welcome the recent announcement that assaulting a shop worker will be a separate criminal offence. This is after years of campaigning by USDAW and the Co-operative party.

During my term, I have attended the Senedds Cross Party Group on Small Shops where I spoke about retail crime to members and others, including the Association of Convenience Stores.

I have also met the Federation of Independent Retailers on a couple of occasions, developing positive relationships to tackle the issues faced in the whole sector. I want to build on that success.

I have a dedicated pledge in my manifesto, stating that I want to work with the North Wales retail sector further.

Shop assistants and colleagues have the right to go to work and feel safe. Business owners have a right to know that the police are there for them if the worst happens. In North Wales, we introduced the We Dont Buy Crime initiative last year.

I know police officers are active in the community in advising businesses on how to make their premises and operations more secure, and ensuring goods and property can be marked, making it harder for them to be sold on.

The bigger picture is to look at the social reasons behind this rise and how we can ensure that offenders are dissuaded from causing further crime  taking a public health approach.

This means a collaborative and whole systems approach with the Police, alongside commissioned and support services, which runs through my manifesto for fighting crime in North Wales.

5. What relevant experience have you got for the role of Police and Crime Commissioner?

I am the current Chair of Policing in Wales, Interim Chair of Police Digital Services and PCC lead for other technology initiatives  elected by my peers within the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC).

Technology initiatives include National Law Enforcement Data Service (NLEDS); this will be replacing what is commonly known as PNC and the Forensic Collision Investigation Network (FCIN). Another key responsibility of the Police and Crime Commissioner is being the Chair of the Local Criminal Justice board.

In addition, I also Chair the newly created North Wales Prevention and Reducing Harm Forum which focuses on prevention as this will reduce the impact on our communities and lowers demand on already stretched public services.

I enjoy being challenged and to put forward positive and constructive challenge for the betterment of those I service.

I rigorously scrutinise police perform against priorities set in my police and crime plan. Every quarter I hold the Chief Constable to account through my strategic executive board meeting. I believe that this has led to improvements in North Wales Polices performance. Crime down and performance up.

6. What are your thoughts on the 20mph policy in Wales and secondly how would you put those thoughts into action as Police and Crime Commissioner?

It is very important to be clear that I, nor policing do not have the power to make laws.

This is also an operational policing matter, of which Police and Crime Commissioner are duty bound not to intervene with.

The decision of where officers are deployed is one for the Chief Constable. That said, I have discussed this with the Chief Constable some months ago and we have an agreed view.

A similar question (regarding the 20mph) was asked at the Police and Crime panel back in June 2023, where the Chief Constable made it clear that officers will be deployed where there is the highest risk of harm and that an evidence-based approach will be taken, of that I am supportive.

I have spoken to many people about the 20 mph with most people agreeing that they have no problem with the implementation of it outside schools, hospitals, doctors and nurseries. And I welcome the recent announcement from the new Cabinet Secretary for Transport.

I look forward in seeing further developments of the 20mph and will ensure that North Wales Police KSI (Killed or Seriously Injured) data is used to make a well-informed decision.

7. The cost of living crisis shows little sign of improving and Council Tax and precepts from all levels have increased. How will you work to keep the policing precept as low as possible while providing value for money?

During my term, the policing precept has been the lowest in Wales. The last precept survey had the best response to date throughout the creation of the Police and Crime Commissioner role, which is pleasing.

From my scrutiny and constructive challenge, working with North Wales Police, over 10 million has been found in efficiencies in my term. However, I am wanting to improve public participation further and have a dedicated pledge in my manifesto.

There is a difficult balance to strike between ensuring that we provide the right level of funding to help keep the people of North Wales safe, while also ensuring that people see value for their money.

I am also under a legal obligation to present a balanced budget, while also ensuring we keep Police Officer and PCSO numbers at mandated levels. So, proposing no increase, or even a cut in the precept, would not have been an option for us, as we would not have been able to fulfil our obligations.

The Police and Crime Panel also exercise their statutory duty in scrutinising the precept proposal of the Police and Crime Commissioner. Having carried out scrutiny on my proposals, they have agreed the proposed increases in the precept because they feel it is justified and will provide for an effective and efficient policing service in North Wales.

8. A common criticism is a lack of bobbies on the beat and a drop in visible policing. Is this something you would look to improve if elected as Police and Crime Commissioner and if so, how? If its not a priority  why isnt it?

The reality is that the Tories hollowed out neighbourhood policing, resulting in an increase of competing demands. Due to demand, resources were allocated to response policing  fighting the here and now..

I know how much the effectiveness and efficiency of the Police means to you, your families and our communities. It is a core part of my responsibilities as your Police and Crime Commissioner. It is also contributing significantly towards improving trust and confidence.

Our communities in North Wales rightly deserve a visible policing presence. This includes in our cities, towns and rural areas. By having a visible presence in all our communities, all residents and visitors to North Wales can feel safe and secure.

Neighbourhood policing is the bedrock of society and allows communities to thrive and feel safe. Welsh Labour recognises the importance of neighbourhood policing and has put PCSOs on our streets to keep our communities safe, despite policing not being a devolved area. Furthermore, 133 PCSOs have been funded in the last budget.

Labours mission is for safer streets, coupled with my number one priority of neighbourhood policing  going back to basics and getting the basics right. And in North Wales, we are already on the path of this journey.

Earlier this year (according to the ONS) North Wales Police topped the forces across England and Wales for public confidence. In addition, the force maintains the second lowest figure nationally for rates of recorded neighbourhood crime per 1000 population and investigation timelines have fallen on average by nearly 40%.

Throughout my term, I have invested heavily in several initiatives which have reduced demand on our neighbourhood policing teams whilst improving relationships between communities and North Wales Police.

Examples include Youth Shedz, Justice in a Day and Dont steal my future programmes as well as funding two engagement police vans.

I have also worked with key stakeholders in securing a new police station in Prestatyn as well as plans for one in Holyhead. We are also looking at improving front counter service across the police estate, so people can access the police face to face easier.

If UK Labour are given the privilege to be in government, we will take back our streets from gangs, drug dealers, and fly tippers  with stronger policing, guaranteed patrols in town centres and more criminals behind bars. A visible and approachable Police Service allows people to have regular contact with their local Neighbourhood team.

9. What are your priorities for reducing rural crime and boosting policing in rural communities across North Wales.

A key part of my role as Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales is ensuring that the rural and farming communities in the region feel represented, know where to turn if they become victims of crime, and are happy with the performance and service of North Wales Police.

Our rural and farming community is integral to the economy and culture of North Wales and I am committed to engaging as much as possible with the rural community.

I have six-monthly face-to-face meeting with representatives of the NFU and FUW so that they can share with me their concerns.

At the one meeting, theft of farming machinery and plant was a topic that came up. Subsequent to this, some may be aware of the high-profile arrests that took place in February 2023 where North Wales Polices Serious Organised Crime Unit and Rural Crime Team worked with Dyfed-Powys Police and West Mercia Police as part of Operation Calafat.

The arrests followed an investigation into the thefts targeting rural areas such as Tywyn, Dolgellau and Bala.

I have also introduced the We Dont Buy Crime campaign with North Wales Police as a means of reducing thefts, including in rural and farming communities.

The team have developed specific Rural Crime Prevention Packs and will be providing farmers and rural businesses with Smart Water forensic marking, robust deterrent signage, and tailored crime prevention advice.

Working jointly with the police, we launched a new mobile policing vehicle to provide a visible base for North Wales Police Officers and PCSOs to engage with rural communities. It means staff can work away from a station for longer periods of time, as well as being able to invite members of the public inside for meetings or general discussions.

I also attended the launch of the All-Wales Wildlife and Rural Crime strategy last year. This first ever made-in-Wales strategy to integrate rural and wildlife crime and will be vital in bringing Welsh Government, police forces and partners together to tackle such offences.

10. Finally, what are your views on police funding  specifically on local and national levels and how do you think policing should be funded?

After 14 years of Tory cuts and underinvestment, we need sustained and fairer funding to allow Welsh Government, local government, policing, fire, and all other public services so we can plan better.

All public services are intrinsically linked so it makes sense that we take a cooperative approach.

With the inflicted cost of living crisis caused by the UK Conservative government, households are already struggling to make ends meet and I just dont think its fair to keep putting the burden on the local taxpayer.

The current formula doesnt compensate for poorer areas or areas which have higher challenges in terms of policing and lower income. We need a fairer formula and one that takes proper account of the financial constraints, both in terms of policing needs, but also in terms of the population on which the precept falls.

We need a more immediate solution, and I am keen to explore potential options.

For example, if we were to receive a Barnett consequential population share for the funding for policing, we would have more money afforded to policing in Wales.

This would be an improvement than what we currently have from the current funding formula.
Wrexham University proposes net zero solutions through local collaboration

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Apr 27th, 2024

Wrexham University is one of six universities to propose new ideas for meeting net zero targets through local and industry collaboration.

The institutions proactive approach to empowering communities and local industry to drive the net zero transition is one of six innovations proposed by the Key Cities Innovation Network (KCIN) in Civic Partners in Net Zero  a collection of peer-reviewed studies.

Co-edited by Wrexham University Vice-Chancellor Professor Maria Hinfelaar, the studies detail innovative ways in which universities are working with their local communities to achieve net zero targets.

KCIN coordinates universities associated with the cross-party group of 27 Key Cities across England and Wales  including Wrexham  which is the largest grouping of urban authorities in the UK outside London.

The studies, selected not only for local relevance but also their potential for replicating in other places, range from tech innovation and policy development to engaging local communities with climate science.

The two case studies described in the Wrexham paper emphasise its approach to community and business engagement through decarbonisation research, industry collaboration, climate change education, and a strategic Low Carbon Transition and Delivery Plan.

The first Wrexham case study, Ecological Citizens, cultivates and actively promotes ecological citizenship through technologically apt interventions, with a focus on empowering individuals and communities to take positive climate action.

The second, Large Housing Estates of the Future, explores Wrexham Universitys collaboration with social housing developers to implement sustainable outcomes through best-practice solutions such as integrating smart grids, various renewable energy sources and energy storage systems.

The other innovations featured in Civic Partners in Net Zero are:

Dynacov: pioneering new technology to enable recharging of electric vehicles (notably heavy goods and public service vehicles which will still be required in car-free cities) by dynamic recharging while driving on power-enabled public roads. (Coventry University and Coventry City Council)

The Morecambe Bay Curriculum: researchers working with educators in local schools and colleges to weave sustainability and place into everyday teaching across all phases of education, in a collaboration inspired by the development of Eden Project Morecambe. (Lancaster University with Lancaster and Morecambe College, University of Cumbria and the Eden Project)

Connecting policy and science for net zero carbon construction: trialling local planning policies to achieve low carbon outcomes that go far beyond national building regulations. (University of Bath and Bath & North East Somerset Council)

The promise of biotech: supporting a circular economy by deploying new technologies to recover waste and produce clean energy and fertilisers. (University of South Wales)

Stories in the Dust: researchers and a theatre company combine to engage primary school audiences emotionally with climate science. (University of Southampton and Stories in the Dust Theatre Company)

Cllr Mark Pritchard, Leader of Wrexham County Borough Council, said: It is important to have cross-sector collaboration as well as local empowerment to help shape strategic decisions, ensuring that councils are focusing on issues that really matter.

We welcome the report as well as the featured case studies from Wrexham University that demonstrate the best practices of proactive approaches to empower communities and local industry to drive the net zero transition.

Professor Maria Hinfelaar, Vice-Chancellor of Wrexham University and co-editor of the Civic Partners in Net Zero report, added: One of the defining opportunities for the Key Cities Innovation Network is to develop and apply ideas that can scale not only to large cities but to all kinds of urban areas  and their associated rural and coastal places  as represented by the diversity of the Key Cities.

When it comes to climate change, universities have a critical role to play in brokering partnerships with their local authorities, community organisations and local people to create a more environmentally sustainable society.

While each study in this collection represents a specific locality with its own characteristics and actors, there is scope for replicating the ideas and practices elsewhere and so add value to our collective efforts to reduce carbon emissions locally, nationally and globally.
Wrexhams MP launches petition amid concerns over potential cuts to Metastatic Cancer Nurse role

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Apr 27th, 2024

Wrexhams Member of Parliament has launched a petition amid concerns about a potential cut to the Metastatic Cancer Nurse position at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

Sarah Atherton MP has written to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) after being contacted by a large number of constituents concerned about the future of the role.

Earlier this month the Senedd was told that the health board had indicated that a metastatic breast cancer nurse position that has been vacant since last summer is now under review due to financial constraints.

The Senedd was also told that the specialist nurse positions at the hospital support patients with metastatic breast or colorectal cancer.

In a response to Ms Atherton the Health Board confirmed that this post is being funded for a further three months whilst an evaluation is carried out on the service.

After this, the Health Board will decide on the permanent funding for the post.

Ms Atherton has now raised concerns that the cut could be made at a time when cancer waiting times in North Wales are struggling to reach the 75 per cent target.

Ms Atherton also recently wrote to the Minister for Health and Social Care to press for more funding to be provided by the Welsh Government to ensure that the Metastatic Cancer Nurse in Wrexham remains in post and permanently funded so that they can continue to provide invaluable support to local patients.

Sarah Atherton MP commented: As a former nurse, I know first-hand the crucial role Metastatic Cancer Nurses play in providing support and guidance to patients and their families battling cancer.

It deeply concerns me and many constituents to hear of the potential cut to the Metastatic Cancer Nurse position in Wrexham.

Its worrying that despite receiving substantial funding from the UK Government, the Welsh Government, which is responsible for running the Welsh NHS, continues to choose to waste money on vanity projects.

What residents need is a government that prioritises funding our NHS health over unnecessary expenditures such as 34million on the 20mph speed limit, 120million on more Senedd members, and handing 19,200 per year to illegal migrants coming to Wales.

I have launched a petition in order to send a strong message on behalf of the women of Wrexham to save Wrexhams Metastatic Cancer Nurse, and I urge you to join me in this fight.

You can view the petition here.
Israeli police and security personnel work at the site of a stabbing attack in Ramla, Israel, on April 26, 2024. According to Israeli police and rescue services, early on Friday, an Arab assailant stabbed an 18-year-old woman in Ramla. The woman sustained serious wounds, and the attacker was neutralized. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

Israeli police and security personnel work at the site of a stabbing attack in Ramla, Israel, on April 26, 2024. According to Israeli police and rescue services, early on Friday, an Arab assailant stabbed an 18-year-old woman in Ramla. The woman sustained serious wounds, and the attacker was neutralized. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

Israeli police and security personnel work at the site of a stabbing attack in Ramla, Israel, on April 26, 2024. According to Israeli police and rescue services, early on Friday, an Arab assailant stabbed an 18-year-old woman in Ramla. The woman sustained serious wounds, and the attacker was neutralized. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

Israeli police and security personnel work at the site of a stabbing attack in Ramla, Israel, on April 26, 2024. According to Israeli police and rescue services, early on Friday, an Arab assailant stabbed an 18-year-old woman in Ramla. The woman sustained serious wounds, and the attacker was neutralized. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
While hundreds of millions of workers and rural poor in India struggle to make ends meet and some two hundred million people suffer from malnourishment, the income share of Indias wealthiest 1 percent has risen to among the highest anywhere in the world.

According to the latest World Inequality Database Paper on India, which was published last month under the title Income and wealth inequality in India 1922-2023, Indias top 1% now gorge on a larger share of the national income than do their counterparts in many of what have hitherto been considered among the worlds most unequal countries, including South Africa, Brazil and the US.

A girl stands in her shanty home on the outskirts of in Guwahati, India, Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. [AP Photo/Anupam Nath]

The report was authored by Nitin Kumar Bharti, Lucas Chancel, Thomas Piketty and Anmol Somanchi, economic experts at World Inequality Lab (WIL). It demonstrates that the fruits of Indias capitalist rise over the past three decades have been almost entirely monopolized by the Indian bourgeoisie, the more privileged sections of the middle class, and global capital, while the mass of the population remains mired in squalor, deprivation and extreme economic insecurity.

This constitutes a searing indictment of the entire political establishment and governments at every levelabove all the successive Union governments led by the principal parties of Indian big business, the Congress Party and the Hindu supremacist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has held office since 2014.

As the title indicates, the report found that contemporary India, supposedly the worlds largest democracy, has higher levels of economic inequality than prevailed at the height of the British Raj, which systematically looted India for the benefit of British-based investors and British imperialisms wars.

The top 1 percent of Indias population (or 9,223,448 individuals) held 22.6 percent of national income and 40.1 percent of national wealth in 2022-23. Compared to this, the bottom 50 percent (or over 461 million adults) received only 15 percent of Indias national income. The middle 40 percent (or around 369 million adults) had an income share of 27.3 percent. In relation to the share of wealth, the bottom 50 percent owned just 6.4 percent in 2022-23, while the middle 40 percent had 28.6 percent.

To give a sense of the staggering level of income inequality, the report states, The top 1% earn on average INR (Indian Rupees) 5.3 million (US $63,580), 23 times the national average of INR 0.23 million. Average incomes for the bottom 50% and the middle 40% stood at INR 71,000 (US $853) or 0.3 times national average and INR 165,000 (0.7 times national average) respectively. At the very top of the distribution, the richest 10,000 individuals (of 920 million Indian adults) earn on average INR 480 million (US $5.7 million or 2,069 times the average Indian). To get a sense of just how skewed the distribution is, one would have to be at nearly the 90th percentile to earn the average income in India.

The following are some of the key figures presented in the report:

*According to Forbes billionaire rankings, the number of Indians with net wealth exceeding 1 billion US$ at Market Exchange Rate (MER) increased from 1 to 51 to 162 in 1991, 2011 and 2022 respectively. Not only that, the total net wealth of these individuals as a share of Indias net national income boomed from under 1 percent in 1991 to a whopping 25 percent in 2022. In other words, Indias 162 richest individuals own the equivalent of almost a quarter of Indias net national income.

* In 2022-23, 22.6% of national income went to just the top 1%, the highest level recorded in our series since 1922, higher than even during the inter-war colonial period. The top 1% wealth share stood at 40.1% in 2022-23, also at its highest level since 1961 when our wealth series begins.

* As per the annual Forbes rich list, the net wealth of (US dollar) billionaire Indians has grown by over 280% cumulatively between 2014 and 2022 in real terms, 10 times the growth rate of national income over the same period (27.8%). The period referred to here corresponds to the first eight years of the Modi-led BJP government, underscoring how its pro-investor policies have massively benefited the super-rich at the expense of the workers and rural toilers.

In 1961, the report found that the wealth share of the top 10 percent of Indias population was 45 percent. During the subsequent two decades, this did not change much, as this was the period when socialist policies were at their peak causing wealth concentration to be more-or-less brought to a stand-still. Contrary to the reports characterization, the economic policies carried out by Congress-led Indian governments during this period had nothing to do with socialism. They were nationally regulated capitalist policies that kept a state monopoly on certain big corporations in key industries and highly restricted the entry of foreign capital, so as to boost indigenous Indian capitalist development. Those policies led to the enrichment of a tiny super-rich elite at the expense of the vast majority of the population, as underscored by the fact that even during this period, the top 10 percent controlled 45 percent of all national wealth.

However, according to the report, India social inequality began to grow sharply with the initiation of pro-investor/pro-market economic reforms in 1991, aimed at attracting international capital and fully integrating India into the US-led world capitalist order. Just over three decades later in 2022, the wealth share of the top 10 percent had reached 63 percent. This demonstrates emphatically that it was the Indian bourgeois that have been the primary beneficiaries of the open economic policies carried out by successive governments led by Congress and the BJP since 1991.

The report notes another important factor in the process of growing wealth inequality: greater financialization of wealth as evidenced from a growing stock market (as a % of GDP). Giving an example of this, the report noted: The SENSEX (S&P Bombay Stock Exchange Sensitive Index) a free-float weighted stock market index of 30 companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange, grew by 7300% between 1990 and 2023. What this exposes is that these billionaires, like their counterparts across the world, have pocketed huge amounts of money through speculation on the stock market and the privatization of publicly owned corporations (public sector units) while hardly creating jobs or producing anything of value.

The list of dollar billionaires in India shows the impact of the Modi governments anti-working class policies. According to the Hurun Global rich list, in 2014, when Modi first came to power, India had 70 dollar billionaires. Today, this number has reached 271, with their combined wealth at $1 trillion. Mukesh Ambani, a leading beneficiary of Modis pro-corporate policies and now Asias richest person, has increased his wealth to $115 billion from $18 billion in 2014.

According to the Hurun Global Rich List, the city of Mumbai, Indias financial capital, officially surpassed Shanghai (87 billionaires) as the Asian city with the most billionaires, with 92 in 2024. This years list marked Mumbais entry for the first time into the ranks of the worlds top three billionaire home-city, the report noted.

The report Income and wealth inequality in India 1922-2023: The Rise of the Billionaire Raj makes the following comment: [T]he Billionaire Raj headed by Indias modern bourgeoisie is now more unequal than the British Raj headed by the colonial forces. Then it makes a timely warning to the capitalist elite: It is unclear how long such inequality levels can sustain without major social and political upheaval.

They then propose some timid reforms be enacted with the aim of preventing such a social explosion: While there is no reason to believe income and wealth inequality will slow down by itself, writes Piketty and his co-authors, historical evidence suggests that it can be kept in check via policy. The report proposes implementing a super tax on Indian billionaires and multimillionaires, along with restructuring the tax schedule to include both income and wealth, so as to finance major investments in education, health and other public infrastructure.

Neither Modi nor the Congress and the other opposition parties, which all represent Indias ravenous ruling elite, will pay any heed to such appeals. On the contrary, they will take all possible measures to further enrich the tiny corporate and financial elite, impoverishing the workers and rural poor. They are bitterly hostile to the multi-million Indian working class and the oppressed, as clearly shown during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ruling classs profits before life policy sacrificed between 5-6 million Indians as the virus was allowed to freely spread to protect the profits of Indian and foreign capital. Modis refusal to adopt serious public health measures resulted in the collapse of Indias healthcare system during peak periods of infection and death.

Indias ruling elite also fully endorses the spending of billions to make the country a frontline state in US imperialisms war preparations against China. While millions struggle to find enough food to eat and die from preventable diseases, India invests huge sums of money in modern weapons of death and destruction.

Such a brutal social system should be ended, and the vast wealth held by the super-rich expropriated. Rather than squandering billions on war and enriching the corporate oligarchy, billions should be directed to satisfy the crying social needs of the impoverished workers and rural poor for decent healthcare, education, and basic social services. This necessitates a struggle for the socialist transformation of society through the establishment of workers power.
A foul campaign has been launched by the Australian and other Murdoch media outlets, evidently assisted by selective leaks from the police and intelligence agencies, to demonise Muslim teenagers and whip up an Islamic terrorism scare campaign.

Over 400 officers from NSW Police and the Australian Federal Police have arrested six Sydney teenagers, accusing them of terrorism related offences. [Photo: NSW Police Media]

Todays Australian splashed over its front page exclusive stories, based on prejudicial police information. One article witch-hunted the seven boys, as young as 14, arrested last Wednesday in huge police raids in Sydneys working-class western suburbs on serious terrorism charges despite the police admitting they had no evidence of a terrorist plot or plan.

Another inflammatory article claimed that the 16-year-old boy who allegedly stabbed an Assyrian Christian priest at a suburban Sydney church on April 15, idolises former Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, because the boy had a photograph of bin Laden on his social media profileat least according to the police leaks.

Noting what appears to be a major security breach, the newspaper also reported that the names, addresses and other personal details of the teenagers arrested on Wednesday as supposed associates of the boy were being shared across WhatsApp groups, already triggering an anti-Muslim retaliation attack.

A page from Wednesdays police warrants has started circulating, including the colour, make and licence plate of five cars, one of which has since been vandalised, the Australian stated.

The newspaper also broadcast extraordinary CCTV footage of one of the arrested boys, aged 16, allegedly throwing stones and another object at a liquor bottle shop attendant earlier this week.

The publication of such material, violates sub judice laws, and makes impossible any fair trial of the teenagers.

This has all the hallmarks of a coordinated campaign, emanating from the highest echelons of the police-intelligence apparatus, and politically backed by the Albanese Labor government, to stir up anti-Islamic sentiment. It is part of an attempt to tarnish and suppress the intense opposition in the working class to the governments support for the worsening Israeli genocide in Gaza.

Within hours of the stabbing at the church, the police and intelligence chiefs, with Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses personal involvement, initiated an official declaration of a terrorist incidentbefore even speaking to the accused boy, who has a documented history of mental health problems. By doing so, they activated police-state powers, including to search and seize, arrest and detain without charge and conduct intensive surveillance.

Albanese then quickly convened a meeting of the National Cabinet security committee. This body, which consists of key government ministers, the police, intelligence and military chiefs and top officials, set the police raids in motion, spearheaded by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), the domestic political spy agency.

More than 400 police and ASIO officers were mobilised to storm into at least 13 homes in southwestern Sydney suburbs that have significant Middle Eastern populations, causing widespread shock and anger. This offensive is still continuing. A 15-year-old boy was arrested last night and charged with conspiring to prepare a terrorist act.

The media witch hunt is, in the first instance, a bid to justify the raids and arrests, all conducted on similar vague and flimsy charges. Far from any evidence of specific plans, locations, times or targets for a terrorist act, the AFP said investigations had revealed a network who shared a violent extremist ideology.

Clearly, this accusation was directed at identification with Islamic belief. The only cited evidence against the boys consisted of belonging to a social media chat group. In the case of the 14-year-old, it soon became known that his crime was to passively receive online material.

The flimsy nature of such charges points to the political timing of Wednesdays police raids. They began just before ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess and AFP Chief Commissioner Reece Kershaw made a joint appearance at the National Press Club to declare a heightening danger of Sunni Islamic violent extremism. Burgess claimed there was a 50 percent chance that someone would plan or conduct such an act of terrorism in the next 12 months.

Under the terrorism laws, imposed with Labors support by the previous Liberal-National government in 2002, charges such as conspiracy, preparation and possession of material can be laid and prosecuted without any proof of concrete plots.

And by defining terrorism in terms that include religious ideology, the laws have been used, in repeated high-profile cases over the past two decades, to essentially imprison people for their beliefs. In many cases, the only evidence of terrorist intent has been based on loose talk provoked by undercover police or ASIO agents.

Prominent Islamic leaders called a media conference in Sydney yesterday to denounce the questionable law enforcement tactics involved in the teenagers arrests, made without any specific terrorist evidence. They said the arrests had caused alarm and outrage in their communities. This clearly reflects widespread anger.

The Islamic organisations called for changes to the terrorism laws, saying they target specific communities by focussing on religious belief. That call was immediately opposed by police representatives and New South Wales (NSW) Labor Premier Chris Minns.

In an earlier statement, the Islamic Council of NSW said: Many in the Muslim community have expressed their concern that if you are an Australian Muslim, even with a formal mental health diagnosis, you will be subjected to a different application of the law compared to other Australians.

At the same time, another large police operation across western Sydney is targeting 50 men and teenagers accused of participating in clashes with the police outside the church after the April 15 stabbing. During what the police classified as a riot, people in the crowd, evidently supporters of the right-wing priest, Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, demanded vigilante-style revenge against the boy.

These widespread police operations point to the Labor governments and the police-intelligence apparatus exploiting the April 15 events to inflame communal tensions and activate far-reaching police powers, both as a means of sowing toxic divisions in the working class and of intimidating and suppressing unrest.

This is happening under conditions of intensifying disaffection among workers and young people with the Albanese governments support for the US-backed genocide in Gaza and its commitment to the wider war drive of US imperialism against Iran, Russia and China, combined with a deepening cost-of-living and social crisis in working-class areas.

Once again, but even more than before, the war on terror, declared by the US and its allies in 2001 to justify the barbaric pre-planned invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, is being used to blackguard and suppress domestic discontent.

Like the Biden administration in the US, the Labor governments have slandered as antisemitic the mass opposition to the Gaza genocide, including the student encampments that are now developing in Australia in solidarity with those spreading across the US.

Far from being antisemitic, the protests are anti-genocide and anti-Zionist, with many Jewish students taking part, calling for their universities to divest from corporations engaged in the genocide.

Labor leaders have previously threatened to outlaw Gaza genocide protests. They are now inciting communal tensions and stoking fears of terrorism to seek to create the conditions for police repression, as in the US.
On Wednesday, the student parliament (StuPa) at Humboldt University (HU) in Berlin voted by a large majority against the reintroduction of a regulatory law at Berlins universities. The adopted motion stated that the Berlin Senates draft law stands in the tradition of the expulsion of politically unwelcome students during the Nazi era and aims to criminalise legitimate democratic protest culture at universities. The StuPa therefore encouraged the student council, the legally recognised student representative body, to agitate against the reintroduction of the regulatory law.

IYSSE rally against the genocide in Gaza on December 13, 2023 at Humboldt University in Berlin

The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) has described the regulatory law as an attempt to whip universities into line and to reintroduce the principle of thought crimes. A week ago, around 500 students demonstrated in Berlin against the de-registration clause. It is of great significance that the HU StuPa has now also rejected this attack and thus defended the right of students to protest against war, genocide and capitalism on campus.

HU President Julia von Blumenthal, on the other hand, publicly supported the Senates initiative in advance, and advocated the reintroduction of a stricter regulatory law. On Wednesday, she appeared before the student parliament to reaffirm her anti-democratic position in the face of critical questions.

In her speech, Blumenthal made it explicitly clear that expulsion and other regulatory measures could be applied to take action against lecture hall occupations and political assemblies that were not coordinated with university management. As an example, she cited the occupation of the Institute of Social Sciences on the occasion of the dismissal of the popular sociology lecturer Andrej Holm in 2017. She said that management wants to take legal action against such and other protests that are not within the limit of criminal liability, regardless of the courts. These powers were to be framed in accordance with the rule of law and applied proportionately, she claimed absurdly.

Subsequently, the StuPa deputy Gregor Kahl for the IYSSE responded in a speech to the Presidents remarks:

Dear Ms. von Blumenthal, You have publicly announced and confirmed once again that you would like to reintroduce the right to regulate students, including the possibility to expel students under certain pretexts. The wording in the bill is so vague that students can already be expelled due to forms of political protests such as unauthorised lecture hall occupations or prohibited slogans. This is not an oversight, but the deliberate political thrust of this measure. It aims directly at silencing the widespread opposition to the genocide in Gaza in the universities. In addition, the law is intended to create the conditions for criminalising any student opposition to war and the right-wing policies of the government. Anyone who has doubts about this assessment or considers it exaggerated should take a look at the events in the United States. There, mass protests against the massacre in Gaza are currently taking place at many of the countrys most prestigious universities, with tens of thousands taking part. Hundreds of peacefully protesting students were arrested and dozens were expelled. At NYU alone, police have arrested 130 students and supporters. Democratic and Republican leaders are now even calling for the use of the National Guard against our fellow students  the same National Guard that in 1970 wounded 13 Kent State University students with firearms and killed four of them during protests against the US invasion of Cambodia. Ms. von Blumenthal, when you last spoke in front of the student parliament in February last year, I addressed the crucial role that Humboldt University has played for years for German war propaganda. I asked you what you will do to protect critical students from right-wing violence. You never responded to me. In the meantime, security for students has not improved, but deteriorated. Right-wing groups and individuals have a free hand to destroy student material at this university and foment a climate of intimidation. And now, a year later, it must be noted that not only do you continue to do nothing to defend students against right-wing attacks, but with the reintroduction of the regulatory law, you are carrying out the sharpest attack on the democratic rights of students so far. While a professor at this university can state that Hitler was not vicious and the Holocaust was basically the same as shootings during the Russian civil war, it is to be made possible to expel students in the future if they oppose the politics of war and genocide. You speak of dialogue and exchange here in the student parliament, but you refuse to engage in any serious dialogue. Instead, you threaten to kick critical students out of the university. You have not even ruled on an official complaint that has existed for years against Mr Baberowski for physically assaulting one of our deputies and insulting and threatening others, although you are legally obliged to do so. With this balance sheet, I do not expect you to address these points. That is why I appeal to all Members who are here today to vote against the regulatory law today. This attempt to transform Berlins universities into subservient forgers of military cadre must absolutely be stopped. And I call on all fellow students to protest against this. We must turn to the international working class, the vast majority of the population, to repel these attacks  in the US, in Germany and around the world.

During the debate on the student parliaments position, by which time the president had left, Kahl stressed that the law was directed against any form of student opposition to right-wing government policy. The push must be seen in the context of the reactions to the mass protests in the United States and Germanys return to a policy of war and genocide.

The presidents attempt to disguise the regulatory law in her speech as an instrument in the fight against violence and sexual assault was decisively rejected by several speakers. With the exception of RCDS and Jusos, the youth organisations of the Christian Democratic Union and Social Democrats respectively, all student lists voted against the law at the end of the debate.
Students at Australias University of Melbourne and University of Sydney have begun campus occupations to protest against Israels ongoing genocide against Gaza.

Anti-Gaza genocide camp at the University of Melbourne

The encampments in Australia have been organised in solidarity with similar demonstrations at university campuses in the US. The Australian protests have denounced the police-state crackdown on US students, which is being coordinated nationally by the Biden administration and has as its aim the outlawing of opposition to the genocide, and war more broadly.

Such protests at two of Australias most prestigious universities, in the two largest cities in the country, underscore the ongoing and deepening opposition of students and youth to the mass murder in Gaza, which is being aided and abbetted by all the imperialist governments, including the Labor administration in Australia.

A central demand of the students is the cessation of the universities collaboration with arms manufacturers which have been directly supplying weaponry and other military supplies to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and used in the genocide.

About 100 students and others joined the encampment on the University of Melbourne campus which began on April 25.

That date marks the yearly pro-militarist celebration known as ANZAC Day which is used by the political and media establishment to glorify Australias involvement in past wars, especially World War I, and promote the military as Australia deepens its involvement in the ongoing assault in the Middle East, the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine and US-led provocations against China.

Young people protesting against war on ANZAC Day has sparked outrage from right-wing commentators. Spokesperson for veterans affairs for the opposition Liberal-National Coalition Barnaby Joyce denounced anti-ANZAC sentiment as disrespectful.

Meanwhile, the universities have issued threats against the protests.

An email by University of Melbourne Vice Chancellor Duncan Maskell in response to the peaceful protest paid lip service to students right to exercise their right to protest. But the email quickly warns against any action which is deemed to undermine safety and wellbeing of others on campus.

Maskells email says the university will not tolerate behaviours including vilifying an individual on their own or as part of a group and denounces all forms of racism, including antisemitism and Islamophobia.

The university is attempting to set up the conditions where, like in the US, the students engaged in peaceful protests against the Gaza genocide can be accused of antisemitism and of jeopardising campus safety.

Maskells threats against the protests include the warning: in order to observe and maintain public order, Victoria Police may themselves choose independently of the University to attend campus at any time.

University of Sydney acting Vice Chancellor Annamarie Jagose issued a similar statement on Wednesday, 24 April.

In it, she also states: we have zero tolerance for any form of racism, threats to safety, hate speech, intimidation, threatening speech, bullying or unlawful harassment, including antisemitic or anti-Muslim language or behaviour.

New South Wales state police conducted an operation at the University of Sydney yesterday according to campus newspaper Honi Soit. It is unclear if the police presence had anything to do with the ongoing encampment.

A University of Sydney spokesperson who gave Honi Soit a statement refused to comment on the nature of the supposed threat to which the police were responding. Several buildings were evacuated.

As in the US, a nationally-coordinated attack on the demonstrations is being developed. The Murdoch-owned Australian has published several frothing denunciations of the small encampments, in the few days since they were established.

In an article today, the Australian featured a letter from the Australian Academic Alliance Against Antisemitism to university leaderships across the country. The missive, from the rabidly Zionist and pro-Israeli organisation, includes hysterical accusations that the situation is rapidly spiralling out of control, with a wave of purported antisemitism on campuses across the country.

This is a lie, conflating opposition to Israeli war crimes with anti-Jewish racism. It is a slander against the many Jewish youth in Australia, as internationally who have protested against Israels mass murder. It is also antisemitic, falesly identifying the Jewish people en bloc with a widely-despised garrison state of imperialism as it perpetrates atrocities.

The national Chancellors Council has immediately acceded to the letter, pledging to table it and discuss it at a meeting in Queensland this Thursday. This body, which brings together university leaderships across the country, includes senior figures from the military apparatus, such as former Chief of the Defence Force Angus Houston.

The frothing response underscores the bankruptcy of the perspective advanced at the encampments by pseudo-left organisations such as Socialist Alternative, Socialist Alliance and Solidarity. All of them are seeking to limit the actions to pressuring the corporatised university leaderships to break ties with Israel. This is part of their broader program of subordinating anti-genocide protests to feckless appeals to the federal Labor government, as it continues to aid Israels mass murder.

As the International Youth and Students for Social Equality and the Socialist Equality Party have insisted, students and youth must turn to the working class, to fight the genocide and the developing attacks on democratic rights. The aim must be to develop a unified movement of workers around the world, against the mass murder, the broader program of imperialist militarism and their source, the capitalist system itself.

IYSSE campaigners spoke with students at the encampments.

In Melbourne, Safiyya, a psychology student, said: I am here because I believe strongly that Gaza should be free from killing and oppression. Were here to show that students around the world support the Palestinians and we wont back down.

Safiyya

The student opposed the Australian governments role in Israels onslaught. The Labor Partys support for genocide is terrible. They are totally ignoring the rights of Palestinians.

Safiyya also noted the US-led spread of the conflict throughout the Middle East targeting Iran, which threatens to spiral into a global conflict. Its a really scary thought, the possibility of a world war. I just hope the genocide stops soon.

In Sydney, Siena also spoke with IYSSE members. She studies law at the University of New England, but travelled to the University of Sydney to join the protest.

Its just horrific. Its blatant genocide and its been going on for over six months now, not to mention the 75 years prior. The government is not only apathetic, they are actively supporting the genocide, sending weapons and doing weapons deals with Israel despite no one supporting it! People straight up see through it, it's not like you can cover up a genocide, especially nowadays with everyone on social media seeing the horrific events that are happening.



When asked what she thought about Labors support for the genocide she said: Weve all seen clips of Albo [Prime Minister Albanese] out being pro-Palestine decades ago, and now theyre [Labor] truly spearheading the deals with Israel. I saw a photo today of [Foriegn Minister] Penny Wong putting flowers on the grave of someone that was murdered from the genocide. It is truly ghoulish and completely unconscionable to be putting on this facade of empathy towards the victims of this genocide when you are the ones providing them [Israel] with the resources to continue it.

Siena

Referring to ANZAC Day, Siena said: Its just completely absurd. Australia has their priorities in all the wrong places. Theyre continuing to invest in weapons manufacturing and make people feel like that is a fundamental part of our economy when thats just so not true. Instead, they should be investing in actual essential services like teaching, nursing and other healthcare professions.

Its unsustainable because people are going to get more angry and they wont continue to support a government that is actively supporting genocide oversees while violently oppressing minorities and the working class in our own country.
With Israels imperialist-backed ethnic cleansing operation against Palestinians well into its seventh month, weekly protests involving thousands continue in Australias major cities.

Part of the Melbourne rally on April 21, 2024

Workers and young people at the demonstrations are voicing their opposition not only to the Netanyahu regimes genocide and growing military assault on the broader Middle East, but to the ongoing support afforded to these war crimes by the federal Labor government.

Reporters from the World Socialist Web Site spoke to several of those who attended the Melbourne rally last weekend.

Michelle, an education support worker, said Im just disappointed that our government is supporting this. I cant make sense out of it. Every time something escalates, [the government] just follows America. She thought the US support for Israels genocide was about control, money and power.

Michelle

Michelle pointed to the complicity of the corporate media: Weve been told a lot of lies. Were not told the full story on the news. They just keep pointing to October 7, and that it all started from there, and I dont believe it. Ive seen a lot of information and watched a lot of videosIm more educated about it now.

She was concerned about escalating conflict in the Middle East, and the threat of a broader war: Ive got one little grandchild and I just think it is going to get messy and awful. We can look over there and see that were not untouchable either. One day it could be knocking on our door.

Jasmin, a 25-year-old dentist, said the doxxing of health workers criticising the attack on Gaza is inhumane and cruel. Healthcare workers should be able to give voice to the victims affected by the war.

She said the conditions in Gaza were terrible and that health workers in Gaza can see first-hand the effect on children, the elderly and pregnant women. This is collective punishment.

The attack on health workers is to weaken Palestinians as a whole so they can't resist and fight back. They are targeting vulnerable communities and health care workers intentionally.

Steve, a 69-year-old retired IT worker, had been to about seven of the Sunday rallies. He said the suppression of protests in the US and Berlin shows the degree to which support for Palestinians is growing. If you look at what Biden is doing, he is having to actually notice what is happening in terms of support for Palestinians. The fact that they are shutting down protests is illustrative of them trying to protect their position.

Steve

Speaking about Labors backing of the genocide, Steve said, The issue is the support for the US. It goes back to AUKUS, and what that process is doing reinforcing that connection between the USA and Australia. When you look at Gaza and all the other things going on, a lot of it is driven by the relationship with the US.

I dont think the rationale [of US imperialism] is we want a war, what I do believe is that their rationale is we have to maintain US supremacy throughout the world, and they will put whatever effort they can into maintaining that position.

Eva, an architect, came to the protest to oppose the injustice that is currently happening in Palestine. She was also concerned about the threat of broader conflict, saying Israels bombing of Iran was highly inflammatory.

Eva

Eva said the Labor government had been really disappointing. I have written to my [Labor] MP and received no response. I dont think Muslims like myself will be voting for Labor again. Were just looking for what our other options are.

Speaking on the significance of US student protests against the genocide, and their repression by police, she said: It is really concerning, the irony of it being that there is the First Amendment right to free speech. I think [US authorities] are scared and they are trying to quell it as much as possible. I think as a people it is our responsibility to work even harder to make our voices even louder.
Work at CNH? Tell us what you think about the layoffs. All submissions will be kept anonymous.

Picketing CNH workers in Racine [Photo: Wisconsin State AFL-CIO/Facebook]

London-based CNH Industrial laid off some 220 workers on April 1 at the Case tractor factory in Mount Pleasant in southeastern Wisconsin, outside Racine. Nearly 220 of the plants roughly 660 workers were given indefinite layoff notices.

The layoffs come over a year after the United Auto Workers (UAW) rammed through a sell-out contract, ending a nearly nine-month-long strike by roughly 1,100 agricultural and construction equipment manufacturing workers in Racine, Wisconsin, and Burlington, Iowa.

Speaking to the WSWS, a former Mount Pleasant CNH worker said, I feel sad for those that did and now dont have a job. A lot of my friends were laid off.

CNHs 2023 earnings report, released in February, showed a net income of $2.383 billion, which Scott Wine, CEO of CNH, described as record full-year revenue and net income. The company also announced a bonus $500 million share buyback program, to begin once the current $1 billion share buyback program finishes.

Meanwhile, a typical worker at the plant earns $52,000 annually, 350 times less than Wines salary of $18 million last year.

The billionaire Agnelli family, the principal shareholder of Stellantis, also holds a controlling interest in CNH Industrial through its investment vehicle, Exor. This connection underscores the significant consolidation of corporate power and wealth within a select few hands globally.

Exors recent restructuring of CNHs executive leadershipwith the appointment of a new CEO previously at Volvo Groupis part of preparations for new assaults on their workforce. The new CEO is reportedly devising CNHs latest cost-reduction strategy, implementing job cuts.

The layoffs come amid growing attacks on workers worldwide. Hundreds of thousands of workers in the United States have lost their jobs. Teslas fascistic billionaire CEO Elon Musk recently announced the electric vehicle maker would slash 14,000 jobs.

In northern Wisconsin, in the village of Hawkins, JELD-WEN, a door and window manufacturing company, will close its manufacturing facility on June 10 and lay off 338 people.

In southeastern Wisconsin, Conagra Brands plans to close its Birds Eye facility in Beaver Dam by the end of the summer and destroy 250 jobs.

After the UAW rammed through a contract last fall which it falsely hailed as a historic victory, there have been 8,000 layoffs in the Detroit 3 automakers. Meanwhile, UAW President Shawn Fain is closing ranks with the Biden administration as it crushes anti-war protests around the country.

The UAW, whose Local 180 oversees the Mount Pleasant plant, will do nothing to bring back jobs and prevent further layoffs. Rich Glowacki, chair of the bargaining committee for UAW Local 180, said, Its really sad to see because Case used to be one of the premier employers in southeastern Wisconsin. Most people, when they got hired at Case, pretty much said that their life was going to be on a better trajectory. Now, thats all a fairy tale.

Glowacki oversaw the current contract, which created a new tier in healthcare benefits, forced new hires onto high-deductible health plans, raised workers healthcare premiums by 5 percent, and excluded COLA (cost-of-living allowance), among other concessions.

He admitted that the union was aware that layoffs were coming. Wisconsin Public Radio reported that in February and March, CNH workers in Mount Pleasant began hearing of a possible rebalance, i.e., mass firings due to market conditions, Glowacki said. The UAW did nothing to stop them.

To add insult to injury, Glowacki and the UAW are aware that more layoffs are coming. He revealed that CNH informed his local that it aims to cut the workforce even further and bring it down to roughly 170 employees by 2026. But what is the UAW doing to stop these cuts? Nothing.

The Democratic Party has sought to shift blame for the job cuts on foreign workers. As CNH has stated it will be shifting jobs from Wisconsin to Mexico, Wisconsin Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin released a letter condemning the company for sending jobs to the south. Baldwin stated, Moving production to Mexico as you are considering would not only be a slap in the face to the workers who have given so much, it would destroy the institutional knowledge that your workforce has developed over decades of building agricultural equipment.

Such comments aim to distract from the role of management in the US and its lackeys in the union bureaucracy in slashing jobs. A fight to defend jobs in reality requires unity between American and Mexican workers against the transnational corporations which scour the earth for the cheapest labor.

The layoffs can and must be stopped, but that fight must take on a new form, wholly independent from the unions and the multiple arms of the bureaucracy, in the development of rank-and-file committees.

CNH workers affected by layoffs should reach out to their fellow workers in Iowa and globally, as well as autoworkers, UPS workers and others being hit with mass layoffs, to organize a rank-and-file committee to fight the job cuts. This committee must fight to prepare workers for a two-front war against both management and the UAW sellouts.

Workers should develop a plan for solidarity actions to stop the job cuts at different plants and workplaces in Wisconsin, neighboring states, across the country and globally.

Above all, building such committees requires a new perspective, one opposed to the nationalist divide-and-conquer strategies put forth by both capitalist parties, the Democratic and Republican parties, and instead fights for the unity of the international working class.
On Friday, PEN America, the largest writers advocacy organization in the US, canceled its main annual event, the World Voices Festival, scheduled for next month in New York City and Los Angeles, because of scores of withdrawals by scheduled participants over PENs support for Israel and its murderous actions in Gaza.

The boycott began last month when several prominent authors, including Naomi Klein, Michelle Alexander, Hisham Matar and Lorrie Moore, withdrew from the festival. They issued a statement that read in part:

We have concluded that attending this years festival would only serve to contribute to the illusion that PEN America is truly devoted to the defence of free speech at the center of humanitys struggle against repression  PEN America has declined to join other leading human rights organizations and United Nations officials in the demands for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire [in Gaza].

PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel

PEN America, in its cowardly, dishonest statement calling off the festival, smeared the writers who boycotted its events, as well as other opponents of genocide.

We have  heard from dozens of writers who have had to endure harsh attacks on social media and heavy demands to distance themselves from PEN America. Many expressed genuine fear to us. This is the universal response of university administrators and others: opponents of genocide are dangerous and threatening.

PEN America complained that it has been unable to dupe writers and others into believing that the organizations silence on the Gaza genocide, its refusal to condemn Israels targeted murder of journalists and assaults on writers, was something other than an endorsement.

We now face a campaign that casts our struggle to reflect complexity, uphold our identity as a big tent organization, and show fealty to our principles as a moral abdication, lamented pro-Zionist CEO of PEN America, Suzanne Nossel.

While hundreds of Palestinians are being slaughtered every day in Gaza, how unfair to accuse a cultural organization that claims to defend free speech of moral abdication for its shameful acquiescence!

Again, PEN here echoes the unconvincing and trite line of the authorities, from Biden to various Democratic and Republican governors and mayors, who are beating, pepper-spraying and tasing anti-genocide campus protesters and insisting that not only are the latter antisemitic (despite the fact that many are Jewish), but that they are disturbing public order.

Last year, PEN brought disgrace on its own festival by supporting the demands of several Ukrainian nationalist writers, who insisted they would only participate if there were no Russian authors presenting in the festival at all.

2023 PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature

Earlier this week, PEN also cancelled its literary awards ceremony in New York after 28 of the 61 nominees refused to be considered for awards. Altogether, over 70 writers have publicly shunned the organization, an unprecedented number.

In a statement, PEN America noted that nine of the ten nominees for the Jean Stein Book Award, given to an author for a book-length work of any genre for its originality, merit, and impact, which has broken new ground by reshaping the boundaries of its form and signaling strong potential for lasting influence, had withdrawn from consideration.

Israel has targeted and murdered scores of journalists, bombed libraries and other cultural sites and kidnapped writers as part of a broader mass killing of Palestinian civilians. Writers and readers have become disgusted by PENs refusal to condemn any of this, while at the same time continuing to claim that it speaks for the best interests and democratic rights of artists.

Many reacted with jubilation that the PEN literary awards had fallen apart. Well done to all the nominees who took a principled stand and withdrew from the awards, said one individual on Twitter/X. Congratulations to everyone who withdrew, said another. Well done to all the writers who listened to their conscience. No business as usual! said a third.

While PEN is in a state of severe crisisone that could well be terminalit continues its mission of confusing and disrupting the actual defense of free speech at the behest of the State Department and the Biden administration.

On Wednesday, PEN America issued a statement on the protests at Columbia University and elsewhere that called for safeguarding free speech and students right to engage in peaceful protest, but continued:

We also fervently condemn the antisemitic harassment and intimidation that has targeted students at Columbia and on other campuses. It is horrifying to see Jewish students targeted with hateful slurs and blatant bigotry in some instances, with many feeling unsafe on their campuses because of their religious identity.

This a foul slander against pro-Palestinian students, a fairy tale floated by the White House and its allies on the fascist right. Its repetition by PEN is of a piece with the organizations attempts to paint Ukrainian ultranationalistsand virulent antisemitesin progressive colors and its refusal to utter the word genocide in relation to Gaza.

It is significant that opposition is mounting everywhere to the official literary, academic and cultural institutions, PEN America especially.

PEN Americas staff, which has exposed management actions against free speech, protested for better working conditions last week in front of the outfits New York headquarters.

Former and current PEN America employees issued their own statement supporting the cancellation of the literary awards and addressing the nominees who withdrew in hope they could work together with them to condemn the suppression of free expression and the killing of writers, including an extraordinary number of journalists, in Gaza just as elsewhere, and with as much force, outrage and impact.

The Palestine Festival of Literature, Writers Against the War on Gaza and Amplify Palestine have organized a reading by the authors who have boycotted the PEN events. The alternative event, Freedom to Write for Palestine, will be held in New York City on May 7.

The conduct of PEN America, especially since its brazen support for Ukrainian nationalism and anti-Russian chauvinism in 2022, has made it clearer than ever that being a part of the American cultural establishment means taking orders from the pro-war, pro-genocide Biden administration and its operatives. Indeed, Nossel is one such operative, an alumna of the State Department and an acolyte of the imperialist thug Richard Holbrook. Such an organization exists not to defend, but to suppress artistic freedom.

The collapse of PEN America is a part of a shift in social and political relations. The brutal murder spree in Gaza, the bloodbath in Ukraine funded by the US and its allies, and advanced preparations for war with Iran and China are meeting with a strong popular response, including among artists.
Build a rank-and-file committee to organize against the new TA! Fill out the form at the bottom of this article for help getting started.

Entrance to the Orange County Transportation Authority, OCTA.

The Teamsters union has suddenly announced a new contract for approximately 600 Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) bus drivers in Southern California, only days before the current deal expires on April 30.

On April 19, Teamsters Local 952 issued a strike authorization vote to take place April 29 and 30. Five days later on April 24, the union instead announced that instead a contract ratification vote would take place on April 28 to 30.

As of this writing, no details about the contract have been given to the rank and file other than a brief note on the April 24 memo stating, *YOUR BARGAINING TEAM WILL EXPLAIN OCTAS OFFER/*A RATIFICATION VOTE WILL FOLLOW.

This suggests that workers will be forced to vote immediately without having had the chance to review the contract themselves, based only on the say-so of the union bureaucracy.

Any contract which workers to vote on in such conditions can only be a sellout. If the contract contained significant gains, or even provisions which the Teamsters bureaucracy could dishonestly spin as huge gains, they would be shouting it from the rooftops. At any rate, workers should reject the contract on principle unless they have been given adequate time to study it.

The vote comes as the Teamsters bureaucracy nationwide keeps a guilty silence about a massive cost-cutting campaign at UPS, as the company moves to cut 200 facilities and automate the rest.

The measures were announced only months after the Teamsters rammed through a new contract through lies, claiming it was one of the best in company history. In reality, UPS has cited labor certainty provided by the contract as key to their plans to cut tens of thousands of jobs.

In opposition, the UPS Workers Rank-and-File Committee, which warned in advance the Teamsters were preparing a sellout, is fighting to build a rebellion against the sellout. 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, a recent open letter by the committee to Teamsters General President Sean OBrien said. If you will not fight the layoffs, then get out of the way so that UPS workers can do it ourselves.

At OCTA, employees covered under their current contract face a plethora of work-related issues stemming from low pay, inadequate lunch and restroom breaks and higher healthcare costs, which the last pro-corporate contract enforced by Teamsters Local 952 failed to address and will most likely continue under the new contract presented.

Many workers are paid so little that they cannot afford to live in Orange County where they work. Many have to travel from the Inland Empire, sometimes traveling 30 to 60 miles one way.

This will obviously make it harder for the lowest-paid workers to drive out to Orange County to take part in the hastily announced contract and authorization votes.

Local 952s bureaucracy will follow the same rotten playbook used during their last contract vote in order to browbeat the membership into voting yes on a contract that they have yet to see.

One veteran OCTA bus driver commented: Be careful, because a lot of things are changing very quickly. The union has been backtracking a little bit and trying to cover themselves since a worker brought up the fact of the offer being the last and final offer. That is not what was posted at the base. Now all of a sudden the union is saying that it is the last and final offer. Im calling it BS!

Much like the previous contract ratification vote, in which membership worked for 10 months past the expiration of their contract, the bureaucracy has kept all details of the contract to themselves, effectively keeping the rank and file in the dark.

The rank and file drivers voted down the last concessionary contract twice. Like this time the union refused to inform them of the details and even attempted to intimidate the drivers by mandating that they could not return to vote later after they had a chance to consider the contract.

The World Socialist Web Site and the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) call on all OCTA bus drivers to reject this offer until the full contract has been made available and all members have time to adequately review and discuss every detail of the contract.

Voting No is the first step. In order to win any major gains, the bus drivers must form rank-and-file committees, independent of the union bureaucracy, in order to take control of all aspects of the negotiations between OCTA and the Teamsters.

Such committees have already been formed among UPS workers, railway workers, autoworkers, postal workers, educators that are united in the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees.

A rank-and-file committee is needed to ensure that the membership is given accurate details of the contract, and that the Teamsters bureaucracy will not be able to leave workers on the job past April 30th, the date of the contracts expiration.

This struggle must also be expanded to other workers facing the same dismal working conditions such as public school teachers who have been betrayed by the United Teachers Los Angeles union, and UPS drivers who have also been betrayed by the Teamsters.
This photo taken on April 27, 2024 shows the combination of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket having been transferred vertically to the launching area at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province. The Chang'e-6 lunar probe is scheduled for launch at an appropriate time at the beginning of May, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

The combination of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket was transferred vertically on Saturday to the launching area at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province, the CNSA said.

After Chang'e 6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket arrived at the launch site in January and March, respectively, the assembly, testing and other preparations were successively completed.

The probe is set to collect samples from the far side of the moon, marking a mission that will be the first of its kind in human history. (Photo by Huang Guochang/Xinhua)

WENCHANG, Hainan, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The Chang'e-6 lunar probe is scheduled for launch at an appropriate time at the beginning of May, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

The combination of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket was transferred vertically on Saturday to the launching area at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province, the CNSA said.

The combination on a removable launch pad was moved out of the vertical test building, and then safely transported to its launching area.

The functional checks, the joint test work and the propellant filling will be carried out before the launch.

After Chang'e 6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket arrived at the launch site in January and March, respectively, the assembly, testing and other preparations were successively completed.

The probe is set to collect samples from the far side of the moon, marking a mission that will be the first of its kind in human history. 

This photo taken on April 27, 2024 shows the combination of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket being transferred vertically to the launching area at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province. The Chang'e-6 lunar probe is scheduled for launch at an appropriate time at the beginning of May, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

The combination of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket was transferred vertically on Saturday to the launching area at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province, the CNSA said.

After Chang'e 6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket arrived at the launch site in January and March, respectively, the assembly, testing and other preparations were successively completed.

The probe is set to collect samples from the far side of the moon, marking a mission that will be the first of its kind in human history. (Photo by Huang Guochang/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 27, 2024 shows the combination of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket being transferred vertically to the launching area at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province. The Chang'e-6 lunar probe is scheduled for launch at an appropriate time at the beginning of May, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

The combination of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket was transferred vertically on Saturday to the launching area at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province, the CNSA said.

After Chang'e 6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket arrived at the launch site in January and March, respectively, the assembly, testing and other preparations were successively completed.

The probe is set to collect samples from the far side of the moon, marking a mission that will be the first of its kind in human history. (Photo by Huang Guochang/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 27, 2024 shows the combination of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket being transferred vertically to the launching area at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province. The Chang'e-6 lunar probe is scheduled for launch at an appropriate time at the beginning of May, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

The combination of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket was transferred vertically on Saturday to the launching area at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province, the CNSA said.

After Chang'e 6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket arrived at the launch site in January and March, respectively, the assembly, testing and other preparations were successively completed.

The probe is set to collect samples from the far side of the moon, marking a mission that will be the first of its kind in human history. (Photo by Huang Guochang/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 27, 2024 shows the combination of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket being transferred vertically to the launching area at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province. The Chang'e-6 lunar probe is scheduled for launch at an appropriate time at the beginning of May, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

The combination of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket was transferred vertically on Saturday to the launching area at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province, the CNSA said.

After Chang'e 6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket arrived at the launch site in January and March, respectively, the assembly, testing and other preparations were successively completed.

The probe is set to collect samples from the far side of the moon, marking a mission that will be the first of its kind in human history. (Photo by Huang Guochang/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 27, 2024 shows the combination of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket being transferred vertically to the launching area at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province. The Chang'e-6 lunar probe is scheduled for launch at an appropriate time at the beginning of May, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

The combination of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket was transferred vertically on Saturday to the launching area at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province, the CNSA said.

After Chang'e 6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket arrived at the launch site in January and March, respectively, the assembly, testing and other preparations were successively completed.

The probe is set to collect samples from the far side of the moon, marking a mission that will be the first of its kind in human history. (Photo by Huang Guochang/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 27, 2024 shows the combination of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket being transferred vertically to the launching area at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province. The Chang'e-6 lunar probe is scheduled for launch at an appropriate time at the beginning of May, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

The combination of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket was transferred vertically on Saturday to the launching area at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province, the CNSA said.

After Chang'e 6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket arrived at the launch site in January and March, respectively, the assembly, testing and other preparations were successively completed.

The probe is set to collect samples from the far side of the moon, marking a mission that will be the first of its kind in human history. (Photo by Huang Guochang/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 27, 2024 shows the combination of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket having been transferred vertically to the launching area at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province. The Chang'e-6 lunar probe is scheduled for launch at an appropriate time at the beginning of May, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

The combination of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket was transferred vertically on Saturday to the launching area at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province, the CNSA said.

After Chang'e 6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket arrived at the launch site in January and March, respectively, the assembly, testing and other preparations were successively completed.

The probe is set to collect samples from the far side of the moon, marking a mission that will be the first of its kind in human history. (Photo by Huang Guochang/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 27, 2024 shows the combination of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket having been transferred vertically to the launching area at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province. The Chang'e-6 lunar probe is scheduled for launch at an appropriate time at the beginning of May, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

The combination of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket was transferred vertically on Saturday to the launching area at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province, the CNSA said.

After Chang'e 6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket arrived at the launch site in January and March, respectively, the assembly, testing and other preparations were successively completed.

The probe is set to collect samples from the far side of the moon, marking a mission that will be the first of its kind in human history. (Photo by Huang Guochang/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 27, 2024 shows the combination of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket being transferred vertically to the launching area at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province. The Chang'e-6 lunar probe is scheduled for launch at an appropriate time at the beginning of May, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

The combination of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket was transferred vertically on Saturday to the launching area at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province, the CNSA said.

After Chang'e 6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket arrived at the launch site in January and March, respectively, the assembly, testing and other preparations were successively completed.

The probe is set to collect samples from the far side of the moon, marking a mission that will be the first of its kind in human history. (Photo by Huang Guochang/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 27, 2024 shows the combination of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket being transferred vertically to the launching area at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province. The Chang'e-6 lunar probe is scheduled for launch at an appropriate time at the beginning of May, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

The combination of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket was transferred vertically on Saturday to the launching area at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province, the CNSA said.

After Chang'e 6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket arrived at the launch site in January and March, respectively, the assembly, testing and other preparations were successively completed.

The probe is set to collect samples from the far side of the moon, marking a mission that will be the first of its kind in human history. (Photo by Huang Guochang/Xinhua)
The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in Sri Lanka will hold a public lecture titled Leon Trotsky and his place in history at Peradeniya University on Wednesday, May 15. It is the third lecture in a series held at the university by the IYSSE with the sponsorship of the Political Science Association. The first lecture was on historical materialism and the second on The Communist Manifesto.

Leon Trotsky (18791940) was co-leader with V. I. Lenin of the 1917 October Revolution in Russia and a Marxist genius in the struggle for socialist internationalism in the 20th century.

The Theory of Permanent Revolution, which Trotsky first elaborated in 1905, shows that the bourgeoisie in historically oppressed capitalist countries is utterly incapable of fulfilling the tasks of the democratic revolution. Those tasks can only be realised by the working class fighting for socialism with the support of the poor peasantry. That theory guided the seizure of political power by the Russian working class in October 1917, which was the first stage in the world socialist revolution.

Trotsky led the crucial political struggle against the anti-Marxist and nationalist theory of socialism in one country that was promoted by the Stalinist bureaucracy inside the first workers state in the aftermath of the failure of revolutions in Germany and other European countries in the early 1920s.

Trotsky founded the Left Opposition in 1923 to arm the workers in Russia and internationally with the perspective of international socialism and deepen the political struggle against the Soviet Stalinist bureaucracy.

Trotsky warned in the 1930s that unless the Soviet working class overthrew the bureaucracy in a political revolution, the Stalinists would restore capitalism. This was vindicated in the negative in 1991 when the Stalinist bureaucracy liquidated the Soviet Union.

Trotskys statement in the founding document of the Fourth International in 1938 that capitalism was in a death agony is reflected in imperialisms support for Israels mass genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine and the American-led war preparations against China, which pose the danger of a nuclear world war.

In a statement highly relevant to today, Trotsky wrote: Without a socialist revolution, in the next historical period at that, a catastrophe threatens the whole culture of mankind. The turn is now to the proletariat, i.e., chiefly to its revolutionary vanguard. The historical crisis of mankind is reduced to the crisis of the revolutionary leadership.

All of the political issues analysed by Trotsky in the first four decades of the 20th centuryworld war, fascism, the global crisis of capitalism and social revolutionare those that confront the working class today. Trotskys vast Marxist analysis, continued and developed by the International Committee of the Fourth International, must be studied and assimilated, to guide the developing struggles of the working class against imperialist war, inequality and capitalism.

We urge students, academics, workers and youth to attend this important lecture on Trotskys struggle and his place in history.

Date: Wednesday, May 15 at 5 p.m.

Venue: Room No. 86, Department of Political Science, University of Peradeniya, Kandy.
Educators , make your voices heard. Speak out against the bipartisan mobilization of police to suppress antiwar protests.

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers on Capitol Hill in Washington. [AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib]

As mass arrests take place at universities across the US, from New York to Ohio to California to Minnesota and more, Randi Weingarten, the millionaire president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has closed ranks with the bipartisan slander of protesters as antisemitic.

As police were advancing on students at Columbia University in New York on Monday, Weingarten wrote on Twitter/X: The antisemitic chants from protestors outside of Columbia University are horrific, unacceptable examples of antisemitism. This hatred and vitriol understandably puts Jewish students, professors and the community on edge. Hate speech that threatens violence is not protected speech under the law & must be condemned-calling for divestment is protected free speech, calling for the killing of Jews is not. I've said it before and I'll say it again: hate does not belong on campus.

Weingarten is repeating the big lie that the protests are dominated by antisemitism and even, according to her, killing Jews. In reality, there has not been a single antisemitic instance which she can point to, and a large number of people arrested at the protests are Jewish.

Weingartens statement is a serious attack, which puts the immense resources of the AFT and its 1.7 million members, most of whom are opposed to Israels genocide, behind the attack on the rights of students and teachers to protest. It underscores the need for educators to organize a rebellion against the corrupt pro-war bureaucracy Weingarten heads, which falsely claims to speak in their name.

She is contributing to an environment which could result in deaths. Right-wing senators Tom Cotton and Josh Hawley have already called for the deployment of the National Guard like at Kent State in 1970, where guardsmen killed four anti-Vietnam War protesters.

But her statement is hardly surprising. Weingarten, a member of the Democratic National Committee with close ties to the Clintons, Genocide Joe Biden and other war criminals, personifies the role of the AFL-CIO bureaucracy as a mouthpiece for US imperialism abroad and austerity at home.

A self-proclaimed Zionist, she has given political cover for the Democratic Partys central role in Israels genocide in Gaza, which has officially killed over 30,000 Palestinians--mostly children and women--and left virtually all infrastructure in ruins.

The ongoing ethnic cleansing of Gaza includes the deliberate and systematic destruction of the education system, which the UN has referred to as scholasticide. In addition to destroying every university in the Gaza Strip, Israel has sought to obliterate K-12 education. A report published Tuesday by Education Cluster, using satellite footage to verify ground reports, found that over 85 percent of school buildings in Gaza have been damaged, and 72.5 percent require full or major reconstruction to be functional again. Israel has killed at least 5,479 students, 261 teachers and 95 university professors, according to the UN.

From the beginning, all of Weingartens efforts have been against the emergence of opposition to the genocide. Initially, she vociferously opposed a ceasefire resolution in a discussion of the AFL-CIO leadership, insisting on Israels right to defend itself. Her only opposition came from American Postal Workers Union president Mark Dimondstein, who is Jewish, exposing her slanders of antisemitism as a conscious lie.

Later, when this failed to stem the tide of mass protests, she flew to Israel to pose as a defender of peace and human rights. Finally, in January, the AFT followed in the footsteps of other US unions by signing a ceasefire resolution that put primary blame for the massive loss of life on the Palestinians themselves and the dictatorial rule of Hamas.

Meanwhile, Weingarten has cavorted with actual neo-Nazis who form the shock troops in the US-NATO proxy war against Russia in Ukraine. In 2022, on a tour of Ukraine, she shook hands with Andriy Sadovyi, the mayor of Lviv who is an outspoken admirer of Nazi collaborator and Holocaust perpetrator Stepan Bandera.

One of Randi Weingarten's tweets on her meeting with Lviv's mayor Andriy Sadovyi from October 12, 2022 [Photo: Randi Weingarten]

Weingarten also praised this weeks bipartisan passage of an additional $95 billion military funding package that includes more billions for the murderous Netanyahu regime. The bill, which funds US military aggression in the Middle East, Ukraine and against China is an open expression of the relentless drive to World War III.

Finally, she wrote on Tuesday, this much needed aid is on the way - particularly Ukraine.

The endless sum of money being funneled into war is coming directly out of the pockets of the working class through mass layoffs, suppressed wages, and cuts to social programs. Meanwhile, school districts across the US face record budget cuts, with educators and students being told there is no money for essential school resources, personnel and programs.

Weingarten only expresses in one extreme form, the critical role of the entire union bureaucracy in promoting war. But other union bureaucrats seek to disorient and render harmless opposition to war by combining toothless support for a ceasefire with ironclad support for the Biden administration. The United Auto Workers passed a ceasefire resolution last December, only to endorse Biden weeks later. At last weekends Labor Notes conference, UAW President Shawn Fain gave a warmongering speech calling autoworkers the arsenal of democracy--in plain language, cannon fodder for World War.

The chasm between the union bureaucracy and rank-and-file workers will only become more apparent as the ruling class expands its wars abroad. There is mass hostility within the American working class to war, built up over the course of decades of one bloody intervention after the other. The violent crackdown against campus protests reflects a keen awareness on the part of the ruling class that a far broader and more powerful antiwar movement is beginning to emerge throughout the working class.

While Weingarten, National Education Association (NEA) President Becky Pringle and the union bureaucracy close ranks to defend American capitalism, educators across the US are taking a courageous stand in defense of their students against state violence.

Hundreds of faculty at campuses across the country have begun to participate in and defend the student protests, including by forming physical barriers between students and police.

Professor of Journalism at Northwestern University in Illinois Steven Thrasher, where faculty have taken shifts to protect their students, expressed the sentiments animating educators when he wrote on X, Never been arrested before, somehow always slipped out, but ready today. No one will touch our students without going through us at NU EJP. Hurting our students is my red line.

Elizabeth Dunn, Associate Dean for Graduate Education at Indiana University, spoke in tears at a faculty rally Friday to denounce the university for breaking the fundamental link between us and our students. I would imagine theres a fairly high likelihood I will be fired today, but I cant sit here and watch this anymore.

But the critical question facing educators is a rebellion against the corrupt apparatus, combining the fight against war with the defense of public education in the US, Palestine and around the world. The way forward is the formation of rank-and-file committees, independent of and opposed to both the two pro-war parties and their lackeys in the union bureaucracy.
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.

Asia

Bangladesh police open fire on protesting garment workers

At least 50 garment workers were injured last Sunday when police attacked hundreds of protesting Abanti Colour Tex employees demanding full payment of their March salaries. The protest blocked Dhaka-Munshiganj regional road, causing a two-kilometre-long traffic jam. The export-oriented plant employs 7,000 workers.

Protesters said factory management paid the Eid bonus on April 8 when the factory closed for the religious holiday while falsely promising that March salaries would be transferred via mobile banking services.

Twenty of the 50 injured protesting workers suffered bullet wounds. We were protesting peacefully when police started to baton-charge and shoot at us, one worker told the media.

We are demanding our salary, is that a crime? So why did police fire on us? If we had been paid our salaries on time we would not need to take to the streets, another garment worker said.

We had no Eid festival this year as we werent paid our salaries, and I couldnt go to my village. We always have to take to the streets every time to get the wages of our hard work. Are we human or something else? one other garment worker said.

Sanofi India sales workers hold two-day national strike

Sales promotion employees from Sanofi India Limited held a two-day national strike on April 22 and 23 in protest unfair and anti-democratic labour practices. Indias well-known multinational pharmaceutical company, which is headquartered in Mumbai, has about 800 sales workers who are members of the Hoechst All India Representatives Committee (HAIRC). The workers denounced management over its attacks on workers union rights.

Air India technicians call off planned strike after agreement with management

Air industry technicians employed by Air India Engineering Services called off planned strike action on April 23, after management agreed to grant some of their demands. While no details have been made public, the technicians had threatened strike action because there had been no promotions over the past seven years and that 75 percent of the workforce are contract employees for a government-owned engineering company whose major client is Air India.

Accredited Social Health Activist employees in Tarn Taran, Punjab demand higher retirement age and improved pensions

Accredited Social Health Activist workers in Tarn Taran, in Punjabs Majha region, demonstrated outside the Civil Surgeons office on April 20 in protest over sub-standard wages and pensions, and the sudden dismissal of all 58-year-old employees. The protestors said that they had only worked for the scheme for 17 years before being terminated without prior notice and given no compensation.

Workers demanded that their retirement age be set at 65 and their monthly pension fixed at 10,000 rupees ($US120). After the protest, they submitted a memorandum with their demands to the civil surgeon. The demonstration was called by the Democratic ASHA Workers Facilitators Union.

Pakistani water and sanitation workers demand outstanding wages

Water and Sanitation Employees Union (WASA) members rallied in Quetta on April 24 to protest the government for non-payment of two-months salaries. The demonstration began at the WASA office and ended with sit-down protest outside of the local press club. Workers said that their action against WASA management would continue until their demands are granted.

Australia and the Pacific

Fraser Island Council workers in Queensland take industrial action

Members of the Services Union (SU), Electrical Trades Union (ETU) and the CFMEU employed by the Fraser Island Council stopped work and rallied outside the councils chambers in Harvey Bay on April 19. They were protesting the councils refusal to grant wages and conditions demands in a new Certified Agreement (CA).

The negotiations for the new CA also involve members of the Australian Workers Union of Employees Queensland, the Automotive Metals, Engineering, Printing & Kindred Industries, Industrial Union of Employees Queensland and the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers Australia.

While negotiations began in November 2023, they remain deadlocked because council management refuses to increase its original offer. SU members decided a fortnight ago to take industrial action. The last agreement expired in 2021.

The council is refusing to negotiate on any wage demand in the new agreement that exceeds a 14 percent increase, improves job security, increases superannuation contributions, changes work hours or includes a minimum four-hour call-out payment on weekends. Workers want wage increases in line with rises in the Consumer Price Index.

Saputo milk-processing workers strike in Tasmania

Milk-processing workers at Saputos Burnie, Tasmania plant began a campaign of industrial action, including strikes, on April 23.

About 22 Saputo maintenance and process workersmembers of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and the Communication Electrical Plumbing Union (CEPU)have unanimously voted to strike and applied a range of bans to win their claims in a new enterprise agreement.

While negotiations between Saputo and the AMWU and CEPU began in December 2023, when the last agreement ended, talks are now deadlocked. The company is refusing to negotiate on workers key demandfor pay rates in Tasmania to be brought into line with Saputos workers on the mainland.

The unions say Saputo workers in Victoria are currently earning 15 to 21 percent more than their comrades doing equivalent work in Burnie. The admission is an indictment of the unions decision to allow Tasmanian workers pay rates to be aligned to the previous lower cost of living in that state. Burnie workers, however, are now facing prohibitively high house prices, rising rents and utility bills increasing by up to 20 percent.

South Australian rail union cancels industrial action on ANZAC day

Overtime bans by 200 South Australian Keolis Downer commuter train drivers were cancelled by the Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) on Thursday to ensure residents in Adelaide, the state capital, could attend ANZAC day ceremonies.

RTBU train drivers are in an enterprise agreement dispute with Keolis Downer, operator of the Adelaide metropolitan commuter rail system, and the South Australia Labor government. The union announced on Tuesday that overtime bans would not be imposed on ANZAC day, Australias pro-war national holiday.

The union has also called for two-hour stoppages during peak hours at 6 a.m. on April 16, and 4 p.m. on April 18, and another 24-hour strike on May 2.

Train drivers want a 20 percent pay rise over four years but Keolis Downer is only offering 14.7 percent, or annual increases of 3.9 percent. The Australian Bureau of Statistics Employee Living Cost index is 6.9 percent, meaning workers would need a pay increase of 27.6 percent over four years to keep up with the increased cost of living.

New Zealand doctors to strike after rejecting pay deal

About 2,500 junior doctors working in New Zealands public hospitals will strike next month after rejecting the latest pay offer from Health NZ-Te Whatu Ora. The NZ Resident Doctors Association (NZRDA) issued a strike notice after saying bargaining had reached an impasse.

The first junior doctors strike in five years will see a full withdrawal of work for 25 hours from 7 a.m. on May 7. The NZRDA said Health NZs proposals included a menu of unacceptable set of remuneration options, including what would be pay cuts or a pay freeze for nearly 600 residents, including 300 GP trainees, in 2025.

Other issues include pay cuts of up to 12 percent, a pay cut for general practice trainee positions, lowering the cap on salary progression and removing the extra step in the salary scale once a registrar passes their first specialist training exam. While the offer contained a pay rise of up to 25 percent for some resident doctors, the salary model makes the impacts highly uneven.

NZRDA national secretary Deborah Powell said the doctors are united in not accepting a pay deal which would cut the pay of any resident doctors, especially at a time when the RMO [resident medical officer] workforce already has 500 vacancies.
Dana Fort Wayne

The circumstances of the recent employee-involved shooting incident at the Dana Corp plant in Fort Wayne, Indiana illuminates the brutal management regime at the facility in the wake of the 2021 contract sellout at Dana imposed by the United Steelworkers and United Autoworkers.

In the early morning of April 13 a Dana Fort Wayne supervisor fired a gun during an altercation with a worker. Given the rise of mass shooting incidents, workers feared for their lives when they heard gunshots, but management initially refused to order the evacuation of the plant. When workers refused to return to work without an investigation of the incident, management threatened to dock their pay while the union did nothing.

Fortunately, it was finally determined that no one was injured in the shooting. Nonetheless the incident highlights the tense conditions that exist at Dana and the indifference of both management and the United Steelworkers at the plant for the lives and well-being of workers.

Workers at Dana conducted a militant struggle against the UAW and USW bureaucracies in 2021, opposing attempts to ram through a sellout agreement. Workers at 12 plants decisively rejected the initial contract by 90 percent. Workers formed the Dana Workers Rank and File Committee and demanded the setting of a date for strike action to oppose managements concession demands and fight for substantial pay raises and an end to the tier system.

Both the USW and UAW attempted to isolate and divide workers at each plant. Workers were browbeaten, threatened with job cuts and victimization and once even poisoned by management with a toxic chemical spray after a worker tested positive for COVID.

Two workers, a tier two and a seniority worker, recently spoke to the World Socialist Web Site about the shooting and the overall situation at the plant.

The tier two worker described the shooting and its aftermath. She said that the worker and supervisor had been arguing for weeks and possibly longer. Allegedly, after the argument last week, the supervisor went to his car and pulled a gun on the worker. In the struggle two shots were fired, luckily missing the worker.

They let the worker who was shot at come back and fired the supervisor. Management never called security or sounded the alarm, just some supervisors came to our area telling us to leave the building.

It was a big ordeal. First, when we refused to go back to work, Dana said they were not going to pay us. Workers pushed on the union. Then Dana said they didnt find the supervisor and that the workers are not filing a report.

You keep hearing its being investigated. The news is lying about what happened, they said two employees or two workers to downplay what happened. Security actually tried to kick off local reporters too.

This fight was festering for months, she said. The union and the company pushed it off. It put our lives in danger. Greg Martin, our local president, is covering for the company. We have not had any active shooter training or safety meetings for years. Everyone in the plant is uncomfortable.

The union says its meeting with HR. Everyones badges were shut off from accessing HR, to protect themselves and not workers. Now we have a security guard at the back door. Were told if someone comes into the plant that we are to call the safety manager first, not the police. Well, the safety manager might not be on third shift; what happens then?

A seniority worker said, There was a struggle and shots went off into the floor of the plant. It was downplayed in the news as two employees. Theres a parking lot in the back with no guard. It takes people to experience near-death before something happens. The company spokesman told the news said that Dana doesnt allow guns in the plant and that only one shot was fired. It was clearly two according to people on the floor!

Its a big coverup. They dont care.

The police found shells. Supposedly he hit the worker over the head, and it discharged. Then the second was when there was a struggle right after. If you take a look at our supervisors here, they have serious criminal records.

I try to look at it like second chance, but these are not petty crimes. Supervisors constantly scream throughout the plant at workers and then HR makes excuses for them. HR is coming back full circle to the years of Ford. They support whoever the tyrant is while peoples jobs are in jeopardy.

The first worker said the shooting was only part of the general breakdown of working conditions at the plant. Theres no safety with the leaking ceilings, they still put out buckets and trash cans. One girl broke her leg slipping on oil, another guy broke his arm.

They fired the safety guy who was actually filing grievances. Then they brought back the guy who allowed people to get hurt, like the woman who cracked her head open. Really only two union people said anything with the toxic chemical spraying during COVID. The rest of the union guys sit in the office for their own positions and sit on their butts.

Upstairs there are tier one workers and downstairs we have tier two with some tier one. We have different pay scales and they let the managers have free rein on workers downstairs. They try to split both tiers up and the shooting eventually happened because of this situation caused by the union. People sit up in the office and laugh at workers calling them lazy, even those that are on disability and have to be restricted.

We are supposed to have a rotation of doing different jobs every day, while supervisors force us to run the same jobs. When someone is on [health] restriction supervisors target people. Then the union doesnt understand the documentation to enforce this. We were the ones who had to make a fuss about it. Its in our contract books. The union is up there 8 hours and dont know how to do this?

The seniority worker continued, Unions used to be for fighting the company. [Now] the union and Dana took our pensions and are living high off the hog. There are people on second shift that dont have any training. They dont give them any respect. Management verbally abuses them calling them dumb as. We also have Burmese immigrants that need translated work instructions. Weve requested them but they are not there. Then we have inspections in the plant and are blamed for high scrap by the union and company. Before if there was a bad part on the line we would pull it. Now management looks the other way to get them out the door. It is contradictory, with scrap management gets bonuses and we get blamed.

We had a supervisor write up workers for not doing anything. Theres an hour-by-hour report to show when machines are down. Well, the supervisor had a disciplinary meeting for the worker saying this. He tried to claim the worker put the wrong clock number. That is what management does, blame workers for down jobs. Union reps wouldve let this go. They dont lose sleep when people lose their lives. Its a corporate mentality.

The worker referred to the fact that Biden recently spoke in front of an audience of United Steelworkers officials, beating the war drum against China, while UAW President Shawn Fain and Biden earlier this month joined billionaires and war criminals at a state dinner at the White House.

Things like labor history should be part of education, like the Pullman strike. Ive spoke out against both parties, Democrats and Republicans. The CEO here used to support Trump. Then you see Nazis in Canada being applauded, while Congress is a lapdog for the military and trillions are stolen from us for the military.

His coworker continued, Theyre cutting people then immediately hiring more while people are on layoffs. Were all trying to survive, she said, referring to the genocide in Gaza. The top three percent dominate, saying its supposed to trickle down. Its like the strike vote, we voted it down, but the union pushes it through anyway. Theyll do it again with a new committee coming in. We voted for the committee this week. One guy said hes running and if he doesnt win hell retire. They were supposed to be there for us. They brought in the tier system, and were working alongside people making $10 an hour.

Asked about the Dana Workers Rank and File Committee developed in opposition to the bureaucracy, she stated, Yeah lot of us want to do this. They cant replace us. Managers and supervisors dont know how to run machines. Theyre still putting robots in here, but this is only making us work harder. We saw the news on Dana being profitable, but once again since COVID, we havent received any profit-sharing. Everyone is calling for the union to get a financial lawyer to open up the books. USW claims the treasurer is looking into it.

In the period since the supposedly historic contract at the Big Three, in reality a sellout, layoffs have hit workers at Ford, Stellantis and General Motors, as management attempts to squeeze out more profits and cut costs as part of the shift to electric vehicles. The same process is underway at the parts suppliers, as the auto companies demand cost savings.

Due to the just-in-time inventory system, Dana workers are in a much more powerful position than 2021, since a strike would quickly halt production at auto assembly plants. However, workers are blocked from using their power by the pro-corporate UAW apparatus.

As the WSWS stated in 2021: This only underscores the need for Dana workers to establish new organizations, independent of the unions, which function as scabs and company spies and not as unions in the traditional sense of the word.

Workers interested in helping to build a rank-and-file committee are encouraged to contact the WSWS.
Pakistan has "categorically" rejected a report by the U.S. State Department over the alleged human rights violations in the country last year, saying that only a politically motivated report can ignore the alarming situation in Gaza. #GLOBALink





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
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.
While I was born more than a decade after The Sound of Music hit theaters in 1965, the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer was one of my favorites as a child. Rather, I should say the first half was. The political plotline involving the Third Reichs annexation of Austria flew right over my young head like the absurd little bird the von Trapp children sing about. So I decided to rewatch the classic as an adult to enjoy both the sweet singing family and the more serious subject matter. Here are 32 thoughts I had while doing so.

The Sound of Music

Maria's Entrance Is Nothing Short Of Epic

That gorgeous helicopter footage of the Alps never fails to impress during The Sound of Musics opening credits. Maria is merely an ant against the vast backdrop as she appears on the hill, with the camera zooming all the way in before she sings the titular song. Iconic! Apparently that scene was super hard to film , but totally worth it, in my opinion.

The Sound of Music

How Far Was The Abbey From Marias Mountain?

I didnt see any abbeys in those aerial views of Marias mountain, so when the bells started ringing, just how far did Maria have to run to get back? I hope Julie Andrews didnt have to do too many takes.

The Sound of Music nuns

Some Of The Nuns Complaints Seem Awfully Petty

Im not arguing that there were some legitimate concerns regarding Maria becoming a nun, but some of those sisters were unnecessarily harsh. She climbs a tree and scrapes her knee. Really, that makes her an actual demon?

The Sound of Music

Is The Sound Of Music The Best Sing-Along Movie Ever?

From beginning to end, I joined in on all of the tunes, which were all gorgeously performed by the cast. If theres a better sing-along movie, I certainly cant think of it after that experience.

The Sound of Music

Maria Pretending Shes At A Ball Is So Relatable

Marias used to a life of minimalism, so of course the first thing she does after being shown to the ballroom of Georg von Trapps large estate is pretend shes at a lavish affair, bowing fancily to other imaginary partygoers.

The Sound of Music

Julie Andrews And Christopher Plummers Chemistry Is Electric In Their First Exchange

Georg is steely but clever. Maria is sassy but well-meaning. Im obsessed with every bit of this first meeting, from her dead-panning that the poor didnt want this one when asked about her dress to blowing her whistle at him to say she didnt know his signal.

The Sound of Music

Did Captain Von Trapp Really Have A Whistle Call For Each Of His Children?

Maria was right when she said the captain using a whistle to call her and the children was humiliating. This movie is, of course, based on a real-life family, so was the whistle a fictionalized detail or did Georg really do this? I think I need to read Maria von Trapps memoir.

The Sound of Music

Rolfe Is So Much Trouble

I may be biased against Rolfe since I know how the movie ends, but only a 17-year-old boy could think hes so much wiser about the ways of the world than 16-year-old Liesl, or anyone else for that matter.

The Sound of Music Liesl and Rolfe

Liesl And Rolfes Gazebo Dance Is No Joke

I never fully appreciated the choreography of Liesl and Rolfes dance in the gazebo during the rainstorm, twirling together and stepping up and down on the benches. Even the hopping from bench to bench as they ran around the circle looked so graceful.

The Sound of Music

The Curtain Clothes Are Still Adorable

I was always strangely jealous of the green, patterned play clothes Maria made for the von Trapp children from the old curtains in her bedroom. No two outfits were the same, either. This nun-turned-governess really has so many skills. (Those outfits ended up being worth a small fortune , and I cant say Im surprised.)

The Sound of Music

The Do-Re-Mi Song Really Oversimplifies Learning To Sing

I can sing all of those words in that order, but no pneumonic device in this world is good enough to make the right note come out of my mouth.

The Sound of Music

Standing Ovation For The Do-Re-Mi Choreography

When you think of The Sound of Music, you think of Do-Re-Mi. Its iconic, and the choreography should be part of the reason why. Just look at what these eight actors are being asked to do. They are doing choreography while riding bikes, pedaling faster or slower to change formation (Im not surprised the young Gretl actress rode on the back of Julie Andrews bike). Then, at the end, the staircase portion includes the kids jumping backward to the steps below on cue without looking, before running up and down and ultimately lining up at the top of the stairs.

The Sound of Music

Georg Von Trapp And The Baroness Are Kind Of Cute Together

After seeing how strict the captain was with Maria and the children, I love how much he loosened up around his pal Max and especially the Baroness Elsa von Schraeder. They are actually kind of cute together, Georg looking all smitten. I love that dichotomy from Christopher Plummer.

The Sound of Music

Whats Up With Max And The Baroness?

I never picked up on it before, but Max and Elsa seemed to be thick as thieves when Georg wasnt around, scheming to get Georg and Elsa engaged and joking about her fortune. I love the fun and flirty repartee, but am I missing something more?

Christopher Plummer in The Sound of Music

When Von Trapp Calls Maria Captain

Captain von Trapp got so flustered during his heated argument with Maria that when she said, I am not finished yet, Captain, he replied, Oh yes you are, Captain  fraulein. The looks they exchanged afterward were priceless, as she looked shocked and he was so embarrassed.

The Sound of Music

Von Trapps Face When He Hears His Children Singing Is Sob-Worthy

All the fury from Capt. Von Trapp's argument with Maria was instantly dissolved when he heard his childrens angelic voices singing to Max and the Baroness. I swear in that moment his grief for his wife was palpable, as was the regret of how he he'd treated his kids. That moment instantly changed him forever.

The Sound of Music

Im Convinced Maria Is A Robot

There is nothing this woman cant do. She instantly won over children who had run off a billion nannies before her, made all of their clothes from scratch, taught them to sing and then turned them into a whole musical act, and then got their father to completely change his parenting style. Im supposed to buy all that, AND believe she put together that marionette show? Shes definitely not a human woman.

Eleanor Parker in The Sound of Music.

The Baroness Is So Deliciously Evil

I love how you can see the Baroness watching all of Georg and Marias interactions with such a knowing eye. The differences between her and Maria are never more obvious than at the party, when she follows Maria into her bedroom. The baroness is in her expensive gown and Maria in just her undergarments as Elsa casually mentions that she can tell Maria and von Trapp love each other, knowing that will drive the governess away. So cruel yet so brilliant.

The Sound of Music

Only Grown-Up Men Are Scared Of Women

Wise words from Kurt when Louisa said he only thought the women at the party looked ugly because he was scared of them.

The Sound of Music intermission

Intermission, AKA, When Younger Me Used To Turn The Movie Off

Marias gone, the Nazis are coming and the best songs have been sung. But lets be honest, what really kept me from watching the second half of The Sound of Music more often than not was having to get up to change the VHS to the second cassette. I know, Im dating myself and making myself look lazy, but facts are facts.

The Sound of Music

Ouch, Not The Reaction You Want When You Tell The Kids Theyre Getting A New Mother

Ive never seen seven sadder cheek kisses than the ones the von Trapp children give the Baroness when her engagement to their father is announced. And they didnt even hear her say she was shipping them off to boarding school!

The Sound of Music

The Plot Moves So Fast In This Movie

For a three-hour movie, the plot really rolls along at a lightning quick pace. No time is wasted convincing the children to love Maria at the beginning; they just do. The captain is instantly on board with raising the kids musically, and sure, Maria went back to the abbey, but the Reverend Mother didnt exactly have to twist her arm to get her to return to von Trapp.

The Sound of Music

Its No Use, You And I

As soon as Maria comes back, its all over for Georg. He cant even hide his love anymore, and I loved this breakup scene between him and Elsa, with him telling her, Its no use, you and I. Her acknowledgement of his love for Maria was also amazing and elicited the best reaction from Georg after she said, And somewhere out there is a young lady who I think will never be a nun.

The Sound of Music

They Got Engaged On The Same Night?!

I know I said things happened quickly in this movie, but this is wild. Georg had been single for all of 20 minutes before he not only professed his love for Maria but asked her to marry him! He broke off an engagement, then got re-engaged in the same night!

The Sound of Music

Are The Nuns Really Singing How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? At Her Wedding?

Maria is shown walking down the aisle in one of the most gorgeous movie weddings of all time , to the tune of an entire choir singing, How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? Show me a bride who wants to be called a "problem" on their wedding day! If you cant sing something nice, just go with Here Comes the Bride. These are truly some salty sisters.

The Sound of Music

It Feels Like The Movie Should End Here

Maria found her home with the von Trapps, the Baroness is no longer in the picture, the seven children have a loving mother and father again. And they all lived happily ever after. Right? Nope, bring on the Nazis.

The Sound of Music

Georg And Maria Honeymooned For A Month?

Not only did Georg and Maria leave the seven children for a whole month to celebrate their newlyweddedness, but they left Max in charge? What are his child-rearing qualifications? Did Georg really think if he were left to his own devices for that long that Max WASNT going to enter the children into the music festival?

The Sound of Music

What A Terrible Welcome Home Gift

I guess its a good thing they honeymooned for a month, because Georg and Maria returned to news that he was being made to join the navy of the Third Reich the next day. He instead made the choice to pack up the whole family and make a run for it. What a test for their young marriage.

The Sound of Music

Exactly How Big Is Maxs Music Festival?

Max talked a fair amount about his music festival and finding the best acts for it, but I never realized what a huge deal it was until he announced the winner as the highest honor in all of Austria. That seems hyperbolic.

The Sound of Music

How Did We Get Here?

Remember when we were skipping across the fields in the Alps, wearing our curtain outfits, pretending to drink tea? It was a simpler time. Its hard to believe that was the same movie as where we are now  in a dark cemetery with 17-year-old Rolfe pointing a gun at Captain von Trapp.

The Sound of Music

The Nuns Sabotaged The Nazis Cars!

We always knew these nuns were feisty. I guess they decided there are worse things than girls who are always late for everything (except for every meal).

The Sound of Music

I Cant Believe The Von Trapp Family Is Actually Hoofing It Over The Mountain To Get To Freedom

With the borders closed, the von Trapp party of nine escaped Austria on foot, actually climbing through the Alps to reach Switzerland. Thats pretty extreme, and I love how the movie ends how it began, with Maria on the mountain. But she's no longer alone.

Its easy to see why The Sound of Music won five Academy Awards and why it remains a favorite so many decades later. Its certainly one of Julie Andrews best movies , even if Christopher Plummer admitted to hating the film for being so awful and sentimental and gooey. Forgive me, Captain, but Id have to disagree.
An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th (2024) Streaming: Watch & Stream Online via HBO Max

An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th (2024) isnt just a chronicle of a tragedy; its a chilling look into the undercurrents that can tear a nation apart. On April 19th, a bomb ripped through Oklahoma City, shattering lives and forever changing America. But what led to that devastating day? The documentary delves deep, exploring the rise of anti-government rage and the descent into violence.

Heres how you can watch and stream An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th (2024) via streaming services such as HBO Max.

Is An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th (2024) available to watch via streaming?

Yes, An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th (2024) is available to watch via streaming on HBO Max.

An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th (2024) goes beyond a typical documentary on tragedy, delving into the roots of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. It explores the rise of anti-government sentiment in the US, delving into societal factors that breed violence and fuel acts like Timothy McVeighs.

Unlike a typical narrative film, An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th (2024) doesnt rely on actors portraying characters. Instead, the documentary features real people who provide firsthand accounts and insights.

Watch An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th (2024) streaming via HBO Max

An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th (2024) is available to watch on HBO Max. Max, formerly known as HBO Max, is a streaming platform that provides a diverse range of content, including shows and movies from HBO, DC Universe, Cartoon Network, and other networks. Offering a subscription-based model, Max boasts a user-friendly interface for seamless streaming across multiple devices.

Go to HBOMax.com/subscribe Click Sign Up Now Choose your plan: $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year (with ads)

$15.99 per month or $149.99 per year (ad-free)

$19.99 per month or $199.99 per year (ultimate ad-free) Enter your personal information and password Select Create Account

Max With Ads provides the services streaming library at a Full HD resolution, allowing users to stream on up to two supported devices at once. Max Ad-Free removes the services commercials and allows streaming on two devices at once in Full HD. It also allows for 30 downloads at a time to allow users to watch content offline. On the other hand, Max Ultimate Ad-Free allows users to stream on four devices at once in a 4K Ultra HD resolution and provides Dolby Atmos audio and 100 downloads.

An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th (2024) synopsis is as follows:

The events surrounding the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, tracing its roots in anti-government sentiment and examining its lasting impact.

NOTE: The streaming services listed above are subject to change. The information provided was correct at the time of writing.

Weve reached the 70th anniversary of Akita Kurosawas magnificent Seven Samurai, the hugely influential film about a small town that Movies Jeff Ames 9 hours ago

Ahead of Bridgertons highly-anticipated return on May 16, showrunner Jess Brownell confirmed that they already know who will be the TV Maggie Dela Paz 9 hours ago

ComingSoon has an exclusive look at two new images from Duchess, a new gangster thriller movie that is directed by Movies Brandon Schreur 9 hours ago

Jessica Rothe has provided an update on Happy Death Day 3. Speaking with ScreenGeek, Rothe  who Tree Gelbman in Movies Brandon Schreur 10 hours ago Read more

The post An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th (2024) Streaming: Watch & Stream Online via HBO Max appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Audacys Oceanfront Concerts draws small but lively crowd: Everybodys out here having fun.

Cooler temperatures and overcast skies dampened the weekends festivities in Virginia Beach, with a smaller-than-expected turnout at Audacys Oceanfront Concerts.

Thats not to say those who attended didnt have a good time.

All the acts have really put on for Virginia, from the R&B to the rock band, everybodys just showcasing what we have in Hampton Roads, Vincent DJ Vinny Del Sol Jones said Saturday. Everybody kind of brought their own crowd. I see some older faces; I see some younger kids; I see little babies running around here.

Everybodys out here having fun.

Virginia Beach asked Audacy, a national radio company that owns several local stations, to fill in the gap left when Pharrell Williams moved his Something in the Water festival to October.

City leaders wanted to provide organized activities for college students. The last weekend in April is traditionally College Beach Weekend, when thousands of students from historically Black colleges and universities vacation in Virginia Beach before exam week.

The city provided Audacy $750,000 and in-kind city services in exchange for national radio advertising promoting Virginia Beach tourism.

It really takes a village to pull this off, said Don London, Audacy Virginias vice president of programming. We appreciate the police officers, the fire department and the City Council.

London lamented the weather, but said the event otherwise went smoothly.

The Oceanfront was quiet in the early evening hours Friday, but as the night progressed, more folks made their way to 31st Street. Visitors and locals were bundled up in sweatshirts and outdoor gear as temperatures dropped to the low 50s amid a strong breeze.

DJs queued pop, R&B and rap songs for the crowd, and passersby on the boardwalk and surrounding areas bobbed their heads along to the music and tried to sneak peeks at the stage.

The main stages performances featured acts such as Pkclasik, DJ 2Much, NLE Choppa, Tee Grizzley and Shordie Shordie. For several blocks, folks could hear Alexander Star and The Golden People blast new music on the beach.

Friday nights headliners on the main stage drew several thousand people, London said.

The artists were great, and people endured the weather, he said, adding he was expecting a bigger crowd for Saturday nights show.

Earlier Friday, Hampton Roads artists took the Homegrown stages from noon to 5 p.m. More than 30 local artists performed for free throughout the festival.

Related Articles

Saturday was mostly cloudy and about 60 degrees near the ocean, but the wind had died down compared with Friday.

On Audacys Homegrown Stage at 24th Street, Saturday kicked off with Tapped In, a local musician showcase.

Over the afternoon, several dozen people, including friends and family members of the performers, and some observers who heard the music from the Boardwalk and beach gathered in the park.

Jaketa Thompson of the Virginia Beach Jaycees and her friends stopped by the 17th Street stage where DJs were entertaining a small crowd. She also planned to see Juicy J on the main stage Saturday night.

Unlike College Beach Weekends of years past, the resort area wasnt crowded with groups of students walking on Atlantic Avenue or the Boardwalk. Instead, there seemed to be locals of all ages enjoying free programming in the public parks.

John Zirkle, president of the Virginia Beach Hotel Association, said there was not an uptick in bookings this weekend.

Katie King, katie.king@virginiamedia.com, Stacy Parker, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com, Eliza Noe, eliza.noe@virginiamedia.com
Kingom of the Planet of the Apes is one of this summers big blockbusters, and with its release in a few weeks, that means its time to up its promo game. Weve gotten plenty of trailers and posters, and there are standees in theaters, but thats apparently not enough. 20th Century has decided that we need to see some realapes out there, reigning over humans as they do in the film.



Earlier in the week, a group of apesas in, people dressed to look like apeson horseback were spotted in San Franciscos West Bluff Picnic Area. They didnt speak a word to anyone or do anything but look pretty intimidatingso much, in fact, that SFGate claims cyclists had nearly fallen over upon seeing them. A similar event took place in Los Angeles, wherein another set of saddleld up apes showed up on Venice Beach, staring people down while they strolled around the beach.

Thus far, the apes have only showed up in those two spots, but its San Francisco that has the most significance to the franchise. Both Rise and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes are set in the city, and the former has a big set piece near its end, wherein Caesar and the other apes storm the Golden Gate Bridge. The entire sequence was pretty great back in 2011, and funnily enough, the apes spotted in San Francisco were said to be toward the Fort Point National Historic Site at the base of the bridge. In Dawn, Caesars lieutenant Koba finds an armory within Fort Point, which becomes the central location for that movies big setpiece to close out act two. Its just all-out carnage with some incredibly ridiculous visuals, like Koba dual-wielding machine guns while riding on horseback and charging through fire.



Like the earlier movies, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes appears to be set in or around San Francisco, since one trailer shows apes hanging around at the remains of the Golden Gate Bridge. Having actors show up at the real world parallel is pretty cool if you remember these movies fairly well. And if you dont, well, youre probably going to remember the sight of three dudes riding horses dressed as apes for quite a while.

Image: Charles Russo/SFGATE (Other)

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes comes to theaters on May 10. Ahead of its release, io9's looking back at the three reboot films, starting with Rise.



[via San Francisco Chronicle]





Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
In celebration of Tallahassee's bicentennial this year, Leon County Tourism is hosting a series of special film screenings of "Invisible History: Middle Florida's Hidden Roots."

In celebration of Tallahassee's bicentennial this year, Leon County Tourism is hosting a series of special film screenings of "Invisible History: Middle Florida's Hidden Roots."

The department is putting on the series in collaboration with acclaimed filmmaker Valerie Scoon and All Saints Cinema, 918 Railroad Avenue. The documentary sheds light on the lesser-known aspects of plantation life and slaves living in North Florida.

The free first screening is open to the public and takes place at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 28 at All Saint's Cinema, 918 Railroad Ave.

Additional screenings are scheduled for the following: 6:30 p.m. June 19, 6:30 p.m., 1 p.m. Aug. 17 and 1 p.m. Oct. 19. 1 p.m. and 1 p.,. Dec. 1. Registration is encouraged due to limited seating.

The screening will be followed by a dialogue session with Valerie Scoon and longtime Tallahassee resident and historian Althemese Barnes. According to a statement from Leon County Tourism, "our aim is to spark conversations that encourage deeper reflection on the history and culture of Tallahassee-Leon County during this Bicentennial year. "

More information and registration for the event can be found at TallahasseeLeonCounty200.com or reach out to Bicentennial Coordinator Vel Johnson at JohnsonV@LeonCountyFL.Gov.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee screening 'Invisible History: Middle Florida's Hidden Roots'
A building destroyed by an Israeli strike is seen in Kafr Kila, Lebanon, on April 27, 2024. Two Hezbollah fighters and a civilian were killed, and three other civilians injured on Saturday in Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

BEIRUT, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Two Hezbollah fighters and a civilian were killed, and three other civilians injured on Saturday in Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua.

The sources, who spoke anonymously, said that Israeli warplanes destroyed a house with two missiles in the southeast village of Kafr Kila, killing two Hezbollah members who were inside while wounding three other civilians.

Another warplane targeted a two-story house in the southeast village of Kfarchouba, killing its owner, Qassem Asaad, the sources added.

According to the sources, Israeli warplanes carried out a series of air strikes on five towns and villages in the eastern and central parts of the border region in southern Lebanon, destroying five houses and damaging about 35 others.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah said its fighters "bombed the Habushit site and the 810 Hermon Brigade headquarters in the Maale Golani barracks with dozens of Katyusha rockets."

A Lebanese military source told Xinhua that about 20 surface-to-surface missiles were monitored being launched from southern Lebanon towards northern Israel, some of which were intercepted by Israeli Iron Dome missiles.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on Oct. 8, 2023, following a barrage of rockets launched by the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah toward Israel in solidarity with Hamas' attack on Israel the day before. Israel then retaliated by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon. 

A building destroyed by an Israeli strike is seen in Kfarchouba, Lebanon, on April 27, 2024. Two Hezbollah fighters and a civilian were killed, and three other civilians injured on Saturday in Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua)

A building destroyed by an Israeli strike is seen in Kfarchouba, Lebanon, on April 27, 2024. Two Hezbollah fighters and a civilian were killed, and three other civilians injured on Saturday in Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua)

A building destroyed by an Israeli strike is seen in Kafr Kila, Lebanon, on April 27, 2024. Two Hezbollah fighters and a civilian were killed, and three other civilians injured on Saturday in Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

A building destroyed by an Israeli strike is seen in Kafr Kila, Lebanon, on April 27, 2024. Two Hezbollah fighters and a civilian were killed, and three other civilians injured on Saturday in Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Hold Hands While Stepping Out for Dinner in N.Y.C.

It was a busy day for the couple who were also honored with Conservation International's Global Visionary Award on Thursday

TheImageDirect.com Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez have a great work-life balance!

The Amazon founder, 60, and his fiancee, 54, smiled as they held hands while stepping out for dinner at The Lobster Club in New York City on Thursday, April 25.

The duo was joined by friends and the businessman's father, Miguel Bezos, before heading to a meetup at Shinji's Cocktail Bar.

Bezos looked dapper for the night out, wearing a navy blue suit, white dress shirt, and blue tie. Sanchez opted for a chic peplum blazer layered over a little black dress, tights, and pointed-toe heels.

TheImageDirect.com Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez

Related: Lauren Sanchez Stuns in Racy Red Corset Dress with Jeff Bezos at White House State Dinner

It was a busy day for the Emmy-winning journalist and her partner, who were also honored with Conservation International's Global Visionary Award on Thursday.

The engaged couple received the award from the environmental organization at its annual gala due to their work with the Bezos Earth Fund.

According to its website, the fund was developed by a $10 billion commitment from Bezos in 2020 to help "address climate and nature within the current decade." The tech billionaire serves as executive chair, and Sanchez is the fund's vice chair.

Conservation International expressed in a press release that the award highlights "Bezoss and Sanchezs unwavering dedication to addressing the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss by preserving Earths most critical ecosystems and supporting the local communities that safeguard them."

TheImageDirect.com Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez

Related: Jeff Bezos, Fiancee Lauren Sanchez and Her 3 Kids Are Living a Dream on Japan Spring Break Trip: PHOTOS

CEO Dr. M. Sanjayan added that the couple is "making history" in his own statement.

"Not just with the sum of their investment in nature but also the speed of it. They understand that the time to start reversing nature loss and climate change is now  not ten minutes or ten years down the road," he said.

"It's not easy to change entire systems, but that's precisely what they've set out to do. And they're bringing everyone to the table  communities, businesses, governments  while promoting the wisdom of Indigenous peoples who have stewarded their lands brilliantly," continued Sanjayan. "This is collective action with scale and speed, both top-down and bottom-up.

We're thrilled to honor @JeffBezos and Lauren Sanchez with the Global Visionary Award for their work through the @BezosEarthFund. Thank you, Jeff and Lauren, for helping protect our planets future. pic.twitter.com/0ZyPecatmd  Conservation Intl (@ConservationOrg) April 25, 2024

Philanthropy has always united the couple since the start of their romance.



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.

Back in June 2021, a source told PEOPLE, "Both Jeff and Lauren are really energized by the work they are doing in philanthropy. It's been a focus and bright spot for them, particularly over the last year."



For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
After a trip to a state appeals court, a lawsuit from actress Hayley Marie Norman accusing ABC, Tracee Ellis Ross and Kenya Barris of lifting ideas from a show shed been pitching that she alleges was turned into Black-ish spinoff Mixed-ish without her involvement has been dismissed.

The 2nd District Court of Appeal found that the lawsuit shouldnt have been allowed to proceed against Ross and Artists First, a production and management company that counts her and Barris among its clients. It said, in a ruling issued on Tuesday, that all of Normans claims arise from protected activity, reversing the trial court and delivering a finishing blow to her lawsuit.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

In a statement, Michael Plonsker, a lawyer for Norman, said We strongly do not agree with the appellate decision.

Norman alleged she pitched her series, a 30-minute sitcom, employing flashbacks, that follows the journey of a mixed-race female protagonist as she grapples with her biracial identity while living in the suburbs surrounded by both sides of her African American and Caucasian families, in 2017 to production company Big Breakfast, a sister company of Artists First. Brian Dobbins, who was Ross manager, then sent the series deck to the actress after Norman suggested that she be brought on as a producer. The project, which got as far as the duo discussing ideas with each other and entering into written agreements with Big Breakfast, stalled after Showtime, Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Amazon and Starz passed on financing it.

Norman sued in 2020 when she learned that ABC was developing a Black-ish prequel that she claims ripped off her ideas for a series she registered in 2016 as Mixed with the Writers Guild of America. She alleged that she shared designs for her show with Big Breakfast, Dobbins and Ross, who allegedly portrayed herself as mentor to her while plotting and scheming to steal her show and pass it off as her own. Claims against Big Breakfast centered on allegations that it acted in bad faith by allowing its sister company Artists First to exploit Mixed without involving or compensating Norman.

The court dismissed the lawsuit as to Barris, Dobbins and ABC under Californias anti-SLAPP law, which compels the early dismissal of legal actions aimed at suppressing free speech, but allowed it to proceed against Ross and Artists First. It reasoned that Norman was likely to succeed on her claims for breach of contract, among others, concluding that evidence of the communication and collaboration among [her], Ross, and Dobbins allows an inference that they accepted disclosure of her ideas and materials with the understanding that she expected to be involved in the series and paid if they were used. Appeals followed.

The appeals courts reversal swung on a finding that Norman failed to prove that she was likely to prevail on her claim for breach of implied-in-fact contract, because she couldnt show that she had an agreement with Ross and Artists First. It said that they didnt accept her ideas on the condition that theyd be expected to pay for them.

The conclusion was based on Big Breakfast passing Normans ideas for the show around to others without conditioning acceptance on payment or involvement. Norman entered into a contract with the production company for the exclusive rights to Mixed but not Artists First or Ross, who got the materials from Dobbins. In a court declaration, Dobbins stated that he was not told of any conditions relating to the show or that the ideas for the series were Normans proprietary property.

Ross entered into a written agreement with Big Breakfast to help develop [Mixed] and pitch it to financiers, which she did, the order stated. This evidence does not support a finding that Ross and Artists First agreed to receive [Mixed] pursuant to an agreement that they were expected to pay Norman for her ideas.

The court noted that Norman asserted that her materials for Mixed could only be used upon her express consent, suggesting that she didnt offer her ideas under the condition of obligation for payment.

On the issue of whether Mixed and Mixed-ish are substantially similar  which the trial court found in favor of Norman on since both works focus in part on a mixed-race character navigating life, interracial dating and microaggressions  the appeals court said that certain similarities should be filtered out because they were created before she thought of or shared her ideas. Many of the alleged overlaps between the two series were first brought up in Black-ish, including the central character in the spinoff, the justices stressed.

Regardless, the appeals court said that the alleged similarities are very general, high-level elements that shouldnt be considered in an analysis of whether the works are substantially similar.

Since the lawsuit was dismissed under anti-SLAPP, Norman was ordered to pay roughly $62,000 in legal fees for Barris, Dobbins and ABC.

In 2018, Barris was sued by a former writing partner for allegedly stealing the concept for Black-ish. The two sides settled shortly before trial.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Best of The Hollywood Reporter
Shivaay is a 2016 Indian action thriller film directed and produced by actor Ajay Devgn, who also stars in the lead role in the film. Set in the backdrop of the Himalayas, Shivay is a Shiva devotee and a skilled mountaineer. Things in his life go terribly wrong when his daughter gets kidnapped in Bulgaria.

Heres how you can watch and stream Shivaay via streaming services such as Prime Video.

Is Shivaay available to watch via streaming?

Yes, Shivaay is available to watch via streaming on Prime Video.

Shivaay, a charming mountain man, falls in love with Olga, a Russian woman. However, Olga leaves Shivaay when they have a baby girl together. To fulfil her daughters wish to see her mother, they embark on a trip to Bulgaria, where she gets kidnapped by human trafficking crime lords. How will this father bring back her daughter back in an unknown country?

The movie stars Ajay Devgan as Shivaay, Erika Kaar as Olga and Abigail Eames as Gaura in the prime roles.

Watch Shivaay streaming via Prime Video

Shivaay is available to watch on Prime Video. It is a leading streaming platform with many movies, shows and original content to stream online.

You can watch via Amazon Prime Video by following these steps:

Go to Amazon Prime Video Select Sign in and Create your Amazon account Sign up for a Prime Video membership: $14.99 per month or $139 per year with an Amazon Prime membership

$8.99 per month for a standalone Prime Video membership

Amazon Prime is the online retailers paid service that provides fast shipping and exclusive sales on products, so the membership that includes both this service and Prime Video is the companys most popular offering. However, you can also opt to subscribe to Prime Video separately.

Shivaay synopsis is as follows:

Shivaay, a fearless Himalayan mountaineer covered in Lord Shiva tattoos, heads to Bulgaria to fulfill his nine-year-old daughter Gauras wish of seeing her mother Olga, who abandoned them years ago. But their plan goes for a toss when the little girl gets kidnapped in the foreign land. Rescuing her from the masked child-traffickers becomes his only reason for survival.

NOTE: The streaming services listed above are subject to change. The information provided was correct at the time of writing.

Fans will have to wait a bit longer for the Kraven the Hunter and Karate Kid release dates. When will Movies Tyler Treese 7 hours ago

Weve reached the 70th anniversary of Akita Kurosawas magnificent Seven Samurai, the hugely influential film about a small town that Movies Jeff Ames 1 day ago

Ahead of Bridgertons highly-anticipated return on May 16, showrunner Jess Brownell confirmed that they already know who will be the TV Maggie Dela Paz 1 day ago

ComingSoon has an exclusive look at two new images from Duchess, a new gangster thriller movie that is directed by Movies Brandon Schreur 1 day ago Read more

The post Shivaay Streaming: Watch & Stream Online via Amazon Prime Video appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
When I think of Arab culture, food is the first thing that comes to mind. We are known to eat fruits and vegetables in all stages of growth: almonds, lima beans, sour green plums and chickpeas, just to name a few. We also, despite the intense labor and time-consuming nature of it, love to stuff things: eggplants, onions, zucchini and, last but not least, grape leaves. Its name varies from country to country, but what it stands for stays the same. Our food acts as an unspoken love, a steadfast strength, a detailed care, a long history and an act of resistance.

View of the mountains in our family village. (Courtesy Zeina Zeitoun / TODAY Illustration / Getty Images)

It took me a while to arrive at those revelations. Growing up in a predominately white American district, my school lunches looked very different from my classmates. I wanted ham and cheese sandwiches, but I got labneh and zaatar. I wanted chips and pretzels, but I got kaak sticks instead. I wanted fries, but I got warak anab  stuffed grape leaves. It was never a matter of taste or preference, but a matter of fitting in and not drawing any more attention to myself. The dreaded whats that?! paired with an uneasy facial expression still haunts me today. I had to learn to embrace our culture, and for me, food was the way. Part of me thinks I wanted to learn everything there is to know about the dishes I grew up with to redeem myself from all the times I tried to conform to something I wasnt. As an Arab born in America, I felt guilty and sad that I didnt experience what it was like to be raised in my country of origin. Knowledge is power, and the more I learned, the more confident I became in my genuine, Arab self.

After years of patiently observing the women in my life make warak anab, I decided to take on the challenge while away for college in 2014. Not to brag too much, but I picked it up seamlessly and my tips and tricks have evolved since then. My quickly acquired grape-leaf-stuffing skills are a testament to the labor and care that my family put into each giant pot of perfect, juicy, melt-in-your mouth warak anab. Like in many cuisines outside of the Western world, there is no set-in-stone recipe that gets passed down. A couple handfuls of this, a pinch of that, a mug of water, a little bit of that and a little bit of this until it tastes just right. My aunts would sit with a big pot of hashweh (stuffing) and a gallery of grape leaves for hours, rolling up each leaf as easily as sealing a stack of envelopes. Growing towers of tightly wrapped grape leaves eventually made their way into a pot that would sit on the stove for at least an hour. The house would smell like heaven, and everyone knew exactly where to find me: hunched over the pot trying to get a taste before anyone else. Back then, it was easy to assume that there would be warak anab on the table at every family gathering without thinking of the work it took to get them there. While you can still find me hunched over that pot today, I eat a little slower and never forget to kiss the hands that so graciously made the food.

Young Zeina in the kitchen. (Courtesy Zeina Zeitoun / TODAY Illustration / Getty Images)

The more I observed the making of warak anab and other time-consuming dishes from southwest Asia, I started seeing the connections between our cooking and how Arabs care for one another. Despite the stereotypes youve probably seen in Western movies and in the media, painting Arabs as angry and violent, we are incredibly kind and complex people. With over 12 million words in the Arabic language, we have 24 ways to say the word "love" and 13 ways to say the word "friend." We treat friends like family, and whenever we see you we always ask if youve eaten a full meal yet. Apologies from our parents after family feuds come in the form of freshly cut fruit. Presents and housewarming gifts are typically food and kitchenware. The time we spend preparing and cooking meals mimics the time and detail we put into how we tend to each other. Its custom to make meghli, a Lebanese rice pudding spiced with cinnamon and caraway, when someone gives birth. We make hareeseh, an ancient porridge-like dish made of shelled wheat and lamb, during the winter for warmth.

Im still learning these customs and recipes, but doing so makes me feel like I am honoring family members and ancestors who are no longer with us. Its taught me that, despite the challenges of unwanted wars, destruction of land, displacement and the deaths of family members, nothing truly dies.

Stills from old family videos. (Courtesy Zeina Zeitoun / TODAY Illustration / Getty Images)

While Lebanese people call it warak anab or warak areesh, there are many different names for this time-consuming dish. Palestinians call it warak dawali, Syrians call it yebrak and Iraqis call it dolma. Whatever the name, either stuffed with meat and rice or vegetables and rice, this dish is widely loved, and many fight over whose is the best. Since my family has always made the vegetarian version, thats what Im used to.

A plate of rolled grape leaves. (Courtesy Zeina Zeitoun / TODAY Illustration / Getty Images)

Preparing warak anab requires attention to detail. I learned from my mom that buying a specific brand of grape leaves that have smaller, more delicate leaves works much better, so the bite isnt too thick. She also taught me to pick tomatoes that arent too firm so that there is an abundance of liquid that goes into the mixture, which helps cook the rice inside. Every little detail that goes into the making of this dish has a purpose.

Its not just warak anab, though: Some of our other staple ingredients, such as olives and zaatar, also signify cultural preservation and identity. From the destruction of olive trees in South Lebanon, caused by Israeli shelling, according to the agricultural minister, to the Israeli government outlawing the cultivation of zaatar in Palestine, these ingredients alone are an act of resistance and preservation for Arabs and Palestinians who have faced and still face displacement and occupation today. Learning about these ingredients and how theyre grown and cultivated provides others with important context and a deep understanding of the labor and love that Arabs have for their land.

Even though I have started to dislike the word resilience  it makes me think about why someone was forced to be resilient in the first place  I cant help but embrace its meaning. My mom rolling grape leaves, my aunts picking from olive trees on the side of the road, my late teta (grandma) preparing seasonal ingredients for the whole family  these are all acts of preservation. Since I was a little girl, especially after visiting Lebanon for the summer while the 2006 war erupted, I was constantly aware of how fast we could lose everything. Against so many odds, we are still here. We are still rolling warak anab. We carry our traditions and culture wherever we go and we carry them with pride  even when its all we have left.

Grape vines. (Courtesy Zeina Zeitoun)

Learn to make my warak anab

Ingredients

2 bunches of parsley

5-6 medium tomatoes

1 large onion

1 jalapeno

Half a bunch of mint

2 small potatoes

4-5 lemons

1 jar of grape leaves

Olive oil

1 cup of Egyptian rice (or arborio rice)

Instructions

Slice the potatoes and set aside.

Finely chop the parsley, tomatoes, onion, jalapeno and mint, and put them in a large mixing bowl.

Add in the juice from the lemons, a hefty amount of olive oil and salt, and a pinch of pepper.

Add the rice to the mix.

Add more salt, lemon, olive oil or spice to taste. It should be salty and lemony. If your face puckers a bit, thats when you know its good to go.

Drain the liquid from the mixture and save for later.

Rinse the grape leaves and quickly boil them to remove the liquid they were in and loosen up the leaf. This makes the leaves easier to work with.

With the vein side up and the stem removed, place a small spoonful of stuffing at the bottom center of the leaf.

Bring up the bottom of the leaf, tuck in the sides and finish rolling like you would a wrap. Repeat until theres no more stuffing left.

Put a dash of olive oil in a pot and line the pot with a layer of potato slices.

Put the grape leaves on top of the potatoes, making a spiral shape.

Place a small plate right on top of the grape leaves, face down in the center of the spiral.

Pour the saved liquid on top of everything.

Cover the pot and when it starts to boil, turn it down to simmer for 45 minutes to an hour.

Once its cooled down, place a large flat plate over the top of the pot, flip and enjoy!

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
On this day in history, April 27, 1805, US Marines attack shores of Tripoli, key victory in Barbary Wars

On this day in history, April 27, 1805, US Marines attack shores of Tripoli, key victory in Barbary Wars

The fledgling United States Marine Corps proved its dauntless courage with a "miracle" victory in the Battle of Derna on the shores of Tripoli in North Africa on this day in history, April 27, 1805.

The successful attack against overwhelming numbers on the port city in present-day Libya, a stronghold of pirates who spent years attacking United States ships at sea, was the climactic battle of the First Barbary War (1801-05).

The victory is immortalized in a patriotic American anthem.

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, APRIL 26, 1865, JOHN WILKES BOOTH IS KILLED BY UNION TROOPS FOR MURDERING LINCOLN

"From the Halls of Montezuma/To the Shores of Tripoli/We fight our country's battles/In the air, on land and sea," proclaims the rousing opening lyrics of "The Marines' Hymn" (the original 19th-century opening line, pre-air power, was "on the land as on the sea").

Writes the Office of the Historian of the U.S. Department of State, "Prior to independence, American colonists had enjoyed the protection of the British Navy."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

August 1804: Tracers arc in the sky as ships of the U.S. Navy bombard Tripoli in an action against a ruler who supported the Tripolitan (Barbary) pirates. The pirates demanded protection money from all ships and the USA decided to go to war to release their hold on the area.

"However, once the United States declared independence, British diplomats were quick to inform the Barbary States that U.S. ships were open to attack."

The pirates demanded tribute from foreign nations for safe passage through the Mediterranean.

American ships became a common target, inciting anger among U.S. citizens.

President Thomas Jefferson sent a fleet to the Mediterranean to combat the pirates in 1801.

Among other indignities, 297 crewmen of the U.S. frigate Philadelphia were captured and taken prisoner after the ship ran aground off Tripoli in 1803.

The Battle of Derna ended with Marines raising the American flag over a captured foreign stronghold for the first time in their history  an act of resolve for which the Corps would later be immortalized in a famous photograph during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.

The victory at Derna forced Barbary pirate leaders to the negotiation table, ending the war two months later with the Treaty of Tripoli.

GOLD COIN FROM 17TH CENTURY EXPECTED TO FETCH THOUSANDS AT AUCTION AFTER IT WAS INITIALLY THOUGHT A FAKE

The battle followed one of the most incredible efforts in the history of American warfare.

Marine Corps Lt. Presley O'Bannon, joined by former Army captain and consul William Eaton, led a small band of Marines and an international mercenary force on a 400-mile march from Alexandria, Egypt, to attack the pirate port.

They were "able to assemble a mixed force of some 400 men, composed of 38 Greek mercenaries, 25 mostly European artillerists, 90 men  190 camels and their drivers, a small force of Arab cavalry, and eight U.S. Marines," writes the Naval History and Heritage Command in its official report of the battle.

American General William Eaton (1764-1811), who took part in the Tripolitan War between the U.S. and the Barbary States. Original Publication: From a drawing, made from an old print, by D McN Stauffer.

"This force began its march in Egypt on March 8, 1805, and after six weeks of mutiny, hunger, thirst, Arab intransigence and religious tension, arrived on April 25 before Derna, the easternmost fortified town under Tripolitan control."

MEET THE AMERICAN WHO FIRST COMMANDED THE MARINES: REVOLUTIONARY WAR HERO SAMUEL NICHOLAS

The march "with a mercenary army that continued to have serious threats of mutiny, lack of food, and no water was a miracle itself," Kater Miller, a curator for the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Virginia, told Fox News Digital.

Another incredible feat followed.

Derna was defended by a much larger force of 945 cavalry and 1,250 foot soldiers. But the Marine-led assault enjoyed the support of U.S. Navy warships offshore, in one of the first joint-force attacks in U.S. military history.

1799: A U.S. Navy warship captures an Algerian corsair in the war with Barbary (Tripolitan) pirates. The pirates demanded protection money from all ships and the USA decided to go to war to release their hold on the area.

"Eaton  called on Governor Mustapha Bey to surrender, a summons that was contemptuously rejected," states the Naval History and Heritage Command.

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, FEB. 23, 1945, US MARINES RAISE AMERICAN FLAG OVER IWO JIMA, CAPTURED IN HEROIC PHOTO

"Assaulting a fortified coastal city, with a handful of Marines, bolstered by a mercenary army against numerically superior defenders was a tremendous gamble," said Miller.

The high-stakes gamble yielded big rewards.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

The attack deposed longtime Tripolitania dynastic leader Yusuf Karamanliand and led to the Treaty of Tripoli in June.

Among other outcomes, the crew of the Philadelphia was released.

The attack also earned praise for the Marines from Karamanliand's own brother.

Sword presented to Marine Corps officer Presley O'Bannon to celebrate success in Battle of Derna, on shores of Tripoli, during the Barbary Wars.

"Lieutenant Presley O Bannon, commanding the Marines, performed so heroically in the battle that Hamet Karamanli presented him with an elaborately designed sword that now serves as the pattern for the swords carried by Marine officers," Miller said.

The sword is housed at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Virginia today.

"The Navy-Marine Corps team worked together to achieve their objective for the first time since the Corps' reconstitution (in 1798)," said Miller.

"The assault was successful because of intrepid leadership, U.S. Navy support, and tenacity."

For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle .





Original article source: On this day in history, April 27, 1805, US Marines attack shores of Tripoli, key victory in Barbary Wars
A record number of bear attacks across Japan have caused widespread alarm and six fatalities in the last year, prompting repeated warnings from authorities and wildlife experts.

Of the 219 attacks in the last 365 days, one of the most publicized occurred when a brown bear allegedly decapitated a Hokkaido fisherman.

Decapitated head found during search for fisherman believed to have been attacked by bear https://t.co/4KZ5vtI9vq pic.twitter.com/WzGYhvVaKx  The Messenger (@TheMessenger) May 17, 2023

Brown and black bears are under stress from depleted food sources and expanding human populations. In Japan, bears emerge from hibernation around this time of year, hungry and looking to forage. Authorities have already cataloged 32 sightings across the country since April 1, the South China Morning Post reported  50% more than average.

Bad mood bears

Kevin Short, a naturalist and former professor of cultural anthropology at Tokyo University of Information Sciences, says its common for bears to wake up in a bad mood after winter. But diminished foraging conditions are pushing them to the brink.

Last autumn saw an almost total failure of the nut harvest, especially of beech nuts, and that is what the bears rely on to fatten themselves up just before they go into hibernation, he explained. The crop was the worst that I can remember, and a lot of bears went into hibernation without sufficient energy reserves to get them through the winter.

A warm, short winter has also contributed to the situation, which has worsened steeply in recent years. A 2023 official report shared by the Nippon Times showed that sightings hovered near record levels in 2019 and 2020. Attacks, on the other hand, skyrocketed in 2023. No more than 150 occurred in any previous year since 2006.

graph showing bear attacks in japan since 2006

More and more, rural farmlands in the foothills that once acted as buffer zones between the bears and humans are disappearing, Shinsuke Koike, a specialist in biodiversity, forest ecosystem, and bears at the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, told the BBC. What we need to think about doing now is how to get the bears back into the mountains.

Hunting ban lifted

Prefectural governments have taken measures both violent and nonviolent toward that end. Japans public broadcaster, NHK, shared a series of 30-second instructional videos last year on what to do during bear encounters. And Hokkaido legalized bear hunting again after a decades-long ban.

The 1990 ban protected bears while their numbers guttered at around 5,000. But now, according to reports, populations in the prefecture have doubled. Over 12,000 bears roamed Hokkaido by 2021. Of those, the government caught and killed over 1,000.

Elsewhere, farmers and village-dwellers use robotic monster wolves and live dogs to keep bears at bay.

So-called Monster Wolves allegedly keep wildlife at a distance.

Still, encounters will likely increase as Japans rural population continues to decline. And uninformed tourists can face especially high risks in areas like Hokkaido.

As always, experts urge backcountry visitors to be prepared and safety-educated where bears are present.

The post In Japan, Bear Attacks Surge as Authorities Warn Hikers Away appeared first on Explorersweb.
Like many a well-loved dish, pad Thai is served up with its very own apocryphal origin story: As the oft-repeated tale goes, Field Marshal Phibun, prime minister and nationalist dictator from 1938 to 1944, created the dish as part of his campaign to shape Thailands nascent national consciousness.

The real story, as always, is a little more complicated. By the time Phibun came to power, stir-fried noodles similar to pad Thai were already common. The regimes campaign to promote noodles as a source of nutrition and noodle hawking as a worthwhile economic activity touched on Thai-style stir-fried noodles, but made no mention of a specific dish called pad Thai.

The dish as we know it most likely crystallized later, during the Vietnam War years, suggests historian Chatchai Muksong. A dish called pad Thai appeared for the first time in a home economics handbook (itself an example of American influence) in 1962 as part of a weekly meal plan. The influx of American visitors and influence fundamentally changed the way Thai people grow, cook, and eat food, and perhaps incentivized the creation of a dish that would be iconic and marketable to the outside world. As Muksong speculates, the branding of the dish as Thai hints at a target audience more foreign than local.

In the years that followed, successive Thai governments seized on Thai food  now familiar to more Americans than ever before  as its star export. It launched campaigns to promote Thai restaurants abroad, standardize popular recipes, and even worked on an artificial tongue to police taste. Through these efforts, pad Thai, in essence, became a standard bearer for Thai culture in the age of globalization.

Why Youll Love It

The pad in pad Thai, of course, refers to how its prepared: by stir-frying, usually in a wide, well-seasoned, very hot wok or pan. These conditions are a little trickier to replicate in a standard-issued American kitchen (as my gloopy, sorry attempts over the years can attest), but not impossible. By cooking and setting aside the ingredients in rounds, and letting the pan come up to temperature in between each round, this recipe is well-adapted for the BTU-deficient masses. Whats more, this method works perfectly well in a standard frying pan too.

According to our cross-tester, the sweet preserved radish, as well as the dried small shrimp, are the key secret ingredients that lend more flavor and authenticity to this dish.

Key Ingredients in Pad Thai

Some notes on key ingredients, before we get started.

Sugar: While palm sugar is the traditional option (it was the only choice before granulated sugar became commercially available), light brown sugar is also entirely acceptable. I prefer the paste variety (nam tarn peep after the containers it was traditionally sold in) because it is easier to use. If opting for the solid or cake variety, you will need to chop up, pound, or melt the sugar (in the microwave, with a little water) first before measuring and using in the recipe. Avoid granulated coconut sugar; the caramelized flavor doesnt work well in this application.

Tamarind: This is the key, in my opinion, to that signature tang. You can use commercial concentrate or make your own pulp  both are equally valid life choices (and I support you on your journey). I dont have a specific brand Im loyal to  just go with whatever your local Asian market carries. When developing the recipe, I used GloryBee brand organic tamarind puree because it was what my local grocery store carried.

Tofu: This is, by far, my favorite part of the whole dish. When properly fried, the tofu picks up a nice crust while absorbing a ton of flavor. In Thailand, most people use yellow tofu (tao hu luang), which is a more compressed version than whats typically sold in most U.S. supermarkets. Extra-firm tofu, once pressed, works well as a substitute.

Sweet preserved radish: Called chai poh or chai poh wan in Thai, this ingredient provides another layer of savory sweetness to the dish. Its sold both whole and pre-shredded; either will work. You can skip it if you absolutely must, but it is worth searching for (at your local Asian market or online).

Dried shrimp: Dried shrimp adds a pop of texture to the dish. Dried shrimp should be relatively easy to find at Asian markets. I prefer the smaller ones, but use whatever size you like. It can be skipped if unavailable.

Bean sprouts: I call for mung bean sprouts here because it is the most commonly used in pad Thai. However, if soybean sprouts (or other mild, crunchy sprouts or shoots like sunflower) are available to you, they will work just as well.

Noodles: Traditionally pad Thai is made with flat, thin rice noodles. The most renowned variety comes from the province of Chanthaburi (where they are manufactured), and is named sen Chan after its place of origin. They are flat rice noodles about 1/2 to 1 centimeter wide. Noodles sold as pad Thai noodles work perfectly well. Sen lek, literally small noodles, can also be used. Different brands of noodles may take different soaking times. If your noodles droop when picked up and can wrap around your fingers without breaking, they are fully hydrated and ready for use.

Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter

How to Make Pad Thai

As with most stir-fried dishes, it is exceedingly important to have all the ingredients prepared before you start cooking. In the interest of saving on dishes, Ive tried to group ingredients together as much as possible in the recipe below.

Soak the noodles. Submerge your noodles in lukewarm water. Let soak until noodles are droopy and pliable, about 30 minutes (or longer for thicker noodles). While some folks prefer to blanch their noodles or use hot water for soaking, I much prefer the lukewarm water method. Yes, your noodles will take longer to fully hydrate, but you also dont have to watch the clock so carefully; an extra 20 minutes wont hurt your noodles much. This way, you can set your noodles soaking and take as much time as you need on the other ingredients. Prepare the tofu. Cut, salt, and press the tofu. Make the sauce. Simmer palm sugar, fish sauce, and tamarind together and set aside. Prepare the remaining ingredients. Have all your aromatics, seasonings, proteins, and vegetables at hand and wok-ready. Stir-fry ingredients separately. Stir-fry the tofu, shrimp, and noodles separately. Toss everything together. Stir-fry the eggs, then add the rest of the ingredients back into the wok to bring everything together.

Helpful Swaps

Sugar: If using palm sugar in a puck or block, microwave for 30 seconds with a little water, then stir with a spoon until a paste forms before measuring out 1/4 cup. If palm sugar is unavailable, an equal amount of packed light brown sugar can be used instead. Do not substitute granulated coconut sugar.

Tamarind: If using tamarind pulp, prepare it by soaking it and pressing it through a strainer first. The strained tamarind should be about the consistency of applesauce; if its thinner, reduce or omit the water from the sauce. If its thicker, add more water as needed.

Tofu: Thai yellow tofu, dry tofu, or smoked tofu can be used in place of extra-firm tofu. Just cut into 1-inch-long pieces that are 1/2-inch wide and 1/2-inch thick  no need to press.

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

The noodles can be soaked up to 1 to 2 days ahead. Once softened, drain well and refrigerate in an airtight container.

While the recipe only calls for half a block of tofu, I highly recommend cutting and draining the whole thing (increase kosher salt to 1 tablespoon if you choose to do so). What you dont use can be refrigerated for 1 to 2 days or frozen for up to 5 months, and used later in other stir-fries (or another round of pad Thai). Incidentally, freezing and thawing tofu gives it a spongy texture that is excellent in many applications (including this one).

The pad Thai sauce can also be made up to 1 month ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container. The sauce can also be made in larger quantities and stored for future use. You can freeze extra portions of the sauce to have pad Thai sauce available for use whenever the craving strikes; thaw before using.

What to Serve With Pad Thai

While many Thai dishes are traditionally eaten as part of a larger spread accompanied by  or rather to accompany  rice, pad Thai is considered arharn jaan deaw, a one-dish meal, and is often eaten just by itself. Its usually served for lunch and dinner, but is also great as a late-night post-going-out restorative.

Pad Thai is usually served accompanied by a few garnishes. Sugar, lime wedges, crushed peanuts, and red pepper flakes are provided so diners can season the dish to their liking. Fresh vegetables  typically fresh bean sprouts, whole scallions or garlic chives, and fresh banana blossoms  are served on the side (to be nibbled on) for textural contrast. You can, of course, skip the bells and whistles and serve the noodles simply as is.

Pad Thai Recipe

Dish up these tasty noodles for lunch, dinner, or as a late-night restorative.

Prep time 30 minutes

Cook time 20 minutes

Serves 4

Ingredients

For the tofu and stir-fry:

7 to 8 ounces dried pad Thai noodles (thin, flat rice noodles)

7 ounces extra-firm tofu

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

3 cloves garlic

1 medium shallot

1/4 cup Thai sweet preserved radish

2 tablespoons roasted, unsalted peanuts

2 tablespoons small dried shrimp

4 large eggs

2 medium scallions or 6 garlic chives

2 cups mung bean sprouts

8 ounces raw jumbo peeled and deveined shrimp (21 to 25 per pound)

4 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided, plus more as needed

For the sauce:

1/4 cup palm or coconut sugar paste (or palm sugar in a block or puck, see Recipe Notes)

3 tablespoons fish sauce

3 tablespoons tamarind concentrate or prepared tamarind pulp (see Recipe Notes)

3 tablespoons water

Serving options:

2 medium limes, cut into wedges

1 to 2 medium scallions or garlic chives

Handful mung bean or soybean sprouts

Banana blossom (see Recipe Notes)

Granulated sugar

Crushed roasted, unsalted peanuts

Red pepper flakes

Instructions

Soak the noodles: Place 7 to 8 ounces dried pad Thai noodles in a large bowl and add enough lukewarm water to fully submerge the noodles. Let soak until the noodles can bend around your fingers without breaking, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the tofu. Prepare the tofu: Fit a rimmed baking sheet with a wire rack and line the rack with paper towels or a kitchen towel. Drain and cut 7 ounces extra-firm tofu into 1/2-inch thick planks. Place the planks in a single layer on the towels and sprinkle with 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt. Cover with more paper towels or another kitchen towel. Top with a second rimmed baking sheet. Place some heavy weights on the baking sheet (a Dutch oven plus your bowl of soaking noodles makes the perfect press). Let drain for 30 minutes. (Skip this step if you are using a tofu that is not stored in water.) Meanwhile, make the sauce and prepare the remaining ingredients. Make the sauce: Place 1/4 cup palm sugar paste, 3 tablespoons fish sauce, 3 tablespoons tamarind concentrate, and 3 tablespoons water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until the sugar is fully dissolved and the consistency of maple syrup, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Prepare the remaining ingredients: Mince 3 garlic cloves and 1 medium shallot (about 1/4 cup), and place both in a small bowl. Finely chop 1/4 cup preserved radish and crush or coarsely chop 2 tablespoons roasted, unsalted peanuts. Place both in a second small bowl. Rinse 2 tablespoons small dried shrimp and add to the bowl of peanuts and radish. Crack 4 large eggs into a medium bowl. Halve 2 medium scallions lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces (if using 6 garlic chives, cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces). Place in a second medium bowl and add 2 cups mung bean sprouts. Drain the noodles. Transfer the tofu to a cutting board and cut the planks into pieces roughly 1 inch long and 1/2 inch wide. Pat 8 ounces raw jumbo shrimp dry with paper towels if they are very wet; you can keep the tails on or remove them. Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large, well-seasoned wok or nonstick or cast iron frying pan (12 to 14 inches) over medium-high heat until it just begins to smoke. Add the tofu and stir-fry until golden-brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl, leaving the oil behind in the pan. Heat the pan up again over medium-high heat. Add the jumbo shrimp and spread into a single layer. Cook until opaque and just cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes total. Transfer to the bowl of tofu. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons vegetable oil to the pan. Add the shallots and garlic and fry until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the peanut mixture and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the noodles and sauce, and keep the noodles moving in the pan (use 2 spatulas if you can) until the strands are cooked through and evenly coated in sauce, about 3 minutes. If the pan dries out before the noodles soften, add water a tablespoon at a time (2 to 3 tablespoons total) and keep stirring until the noodles are cooked through. Transfer to the bowl with the tofu and shrimp. Return the pan to medium-high heat, adding a little more vegetable oil if the pan is dry. Once the pan is starting to smoke again again, add the eggs. Scramble the eggs with a spatula to form large curds. Right before the eggs are cooked through, return the noodle mixture to the pan and toss everything together, breaking up the pieces of egg. Push the noodles to one side of the pan. Add the scallions and bean sprouts to the other side and toss into the noodles until just wilted, about 30 seconds. Transfer the pad Thai to a serving platter. Serve with lime wedges, 1 to 2 whole medium scallions or garlic chives, a handful of fresh bean sprouts, a banana blossom, and small piles of granulated sugar, crushed peanuts, and red pepper flakes if desired.

Recipe Notes

Noodles: If your noodles are on the thicker side (or if you're short on time), soak the noodles in hot water instead. Check them after 15 minutes, then every 5 minutes after. Once they can wrap around your fingers without breaking, drain, rinse in cold water, and set aside until ready to use.

Fresh banana blossom prep: Peel off the tough outer petals to reveal the tender, white heart. Quarter the heart lengthwise and let soak in cold water acidulated with the juice of 1 lime and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar for about 5 minutes. This will prevent the blossom from turning brown.

Substitutions:

Sugar: If using palm sugar in a puck or block, microwave for 30 seconds with a little water, then stir with a spoon until a paste forms before measuring out 1/4 cup. If palm sugar is unavailable, an equal amount of packed light brown sugar can be used instead. Do not substitute granulated coconut sugar.

Tamarind: If using tamarind pulp, prepare it by soaking it and pressing it through a strainer first . The strained tamarind should be about the consistency of applesauce; if its thinner, reduce or omit the water from the sauce. If its thicker, add more water as needed.

Tofu: Thai yellow tofu, dry tofu, or smoked tofu can be used in place of extra-firm tofu. Just cut into 1-inch-long pieces that are 1/2-inch wide and 1/2-inch thick  no need to press.

Make ahead:

The noodles can be soaked up to 1 to 2 days ahead. Once softened, drain well and refrigerate in an airtight container.

The tofu can be drained, pressed, and cut up to 1 day ahead. Refrigerate in an airtight container.

The pad Thai sauce can also be made up to 1 month ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container. You can freeze extra portions of the sauce to have pad Thai sauce available for use whenever the craving strikes; thaw before using.

Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Sprinkle the noodles with a little water and cover loosely before microwaving to help the noodles soften and heat through evenly.
Soon spotting a black bear in your RI yard may not be unusual. What to do if you see one.

Josh Dominikoski had an unexpected visitor to his home in Coventry one night last week.

"I was very, very surprised when I opened the camera app and saw there was a bear on our front porch," Dominikoski said.

Dominikoski got to the front door just in time to see the bear scurrying away.

"I've never seen a bear outside a zoo, so it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience," Dominikoski said.

Josh Dominikoski was surprised April 18 when a home camera detected a black bear in his yard. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management says the bear population in Rhode Island is likely to grow.

Black bears have awakened from their winter slumbers and are occasionally making their presence known in Rhode Island as the hungry animals search for food. Residents have also spotted black bears in Charlestown on April 12, and near the Scituate-Foster line on April 21, according to Evan LaCross, a spokesman for the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. On Tuesday, the DEM recovered the body of a bear that had apparently been struck by a truck on Interstate 95 in West Greenwich.

Bears likely to move to RI from Connecticut, Massachusetts

Bear sightings here have increased over the last several years, and sometime in the near future, spotting a bear in Rhode Island could become more than a once-in-a-lifetime event.

"I do believe, over the next decade or so, we will continue to see more bears," said Morgan Lucot, furbearer specialist for the DEM.

Rhode Island is believed to have only "a handful" of resident black bears, all males, but the population here will likely increase as the much higher bear populations in neighboring Connecticut and Massachusetts continue to grow and young bears leave "for a territory to call their own," LaCross said.

Rhode Island has some good habitat for black bears, especially in the western and northwestern parts of the state, and it's a good sign they're coming back, Lucot said.

"It takes a little bit of work to co-exist with bears, but I think it's worth it," she said. "They're beautiful animals."

Consider the situation in Massachusetts. In the mid-1970s, the black bear population in the Bay State was estimated at less than 100, but now the state is home to an estimated 4,500 black bears, according to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.

Black bear population was decimated by habitat loss, hunting, vengeance

The black bear population was initially reestablished in the western part of Massachusetts and has expanded east. With the growth of the Massachusetts bear population, it's likely that others have and will move south, across the Rhode Island border, in search of their own space, the DEM says.

Black bears were common in Southern New England when the first European settlers arrived but they were brought to "the brink of extinction" due to habitat loss as forests were turned into farmland, unregulated hunting and persecution by farmers who saw the bears as a threat to crops and livestock.

The bears spotted near homes recently in the Ocean State are hungry and looking for food following a winter of hibernating, according to Lucot.

"They often cover long distances looking for food," she said.

They might be young bears spending their first spring on their own, away from mom. Cubs are born in the winter and spend their first two winters with their mothers before heading out on their own in their second spring, according to Lucot. She likens those young bears to human teenagers, sometimes making "foolish" decisions as they try to find their way in the world.

If they are out on their own for the first time, it's likely they're also exploring Rhode Island for the first time. The DEM has seen no evidence that a female bear has taken up residence here and raised cubs, according to Lucot.

Bears are more likely to search for food near houses in the spring because their wooded habitat hasn't started supplying them with food such as berries, Lucot said. In Coventry last week, Dominikoski believes the bear that showed up on his porch was also responsible for knocking down his neighbor's bird feeder.

According to LaCross, the "DEM stresses that merely seeing a black bear does not mean the bear is a problem or that it poses a threat to public safety. However, bear interactions with humans, pets, livestock, agricultural products, and other property can become problematic."

Tips for sharing Rhode Island with bears

DEM provides the following tips for "co-existing" with black bears:

Black bears are naturally shy animals but can't resist free food. Avoid drawing these large mammals into yards by removing bird feeders from April 1 to November 1, when bears are active and secure other potential food sources. Secure trash in containers and only put them out on the curb the morning of trash collection.

To help keep bears wild and fearful of humans, it's important for the public to not approach them. If there are no food attractants in the area, bears will wander away on their own. If you spot a bear in your neighborhood, keep yourself and pets inside until the bear has left.

The public can report bear sightings to the DEM's Division of Law Enforcement at (401) 222-3070. LaCross said the DEMs goal is to educate the public about bear behavior and reduce the potential for conflict between bears and humans.

Further information on "how to live with bears responsibly" is available at bearwise.org and the DEM's community resource for Living Alongside Black Bears.

Last Thursday night, the bear's visit caused a stir at the Stuart Drive home Dominikoski shares with his partner, Louie Alfaia, and Louie's mother, Maria Alfaia. Their Dalmation, Lucy, was "quite excited," Dominikoski said, apparently wondering, "What's going on? It's supposed to be my bed time."

Who knows if the bear will return, but Dominikoski would like to avoid any face-to-face meetings between the curious visitor and Lucy.

"We'll definitely be careful with her," he said.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI's black bear population is growing. What to do if you see one.
1 seriously injured in I-485 Outer Loop crash in west Charlotte: Medic

CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  One person was seriously injured in an accident along I-485 Friday evening in west Charlotte, Medic confirms.

The crash, which involved a motorcycle, happened just before 5 p.m. Friday, April 26, on the I-485 Outer Loop, near I-85.

Medic said one person was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

 Track issues along your commute with the QCN Traffic Interactive Map

NCDOT reports that the right two lanes are closed at Exit 10B (I-85). Currently, two of three lanes are shut down. The expected impact on traffic is high.

NCDOT projects the area will reopen between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.

The cause of this accident remains under investigation.

This is a Developing Story . Check back for updates

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
During a demolition project of a former Minnesota high school, construction workers discovered in the rubble a time capsule from 1920.

The capsule, which was buried at Owatonna High School in Owatonna, Minnesota, was found as the construction crew was pulling down the front pillars and doors of the school.

The time capsule was opened during a community event on Monday, with the items found inside including a roster of the teachers and administrators at Owatonna Public Schools in 1920, the high school magnet, the high school newspaper, three local newspapers and financial statements.

JUDGE DISMISSES 2 FELONY CHARGES AGAINST ALLEGED WOULD-BE MINNESOTA COLLEGE SHOOTER

"We were thrilled to discover that a time capsule had been placed in the cornerstone of the high school," the school districts superintendent, Jeff Elstad, told Fox Television Stations. "It's always exciting to learn more about the history of our community and the people who had the foresight to build a great school that would serve so many students for generations."

"While you never know exactly what might be included, many of the items such as newspapers and local history are typical of what is included in a time capsule  It was especially fun to discover the items that specifically shared information about the schools at that time," he added.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The Owatonna High School Museum Committee is working with the Steele County Historical Society to dry and preserve the items. A determination will then be made as to which items will be displayed at the school and which will be moved into the historical society's collections.

MINNESOTA POLICE CLEAR OUT ANTI-ISRAEL PROTEST IN THE HEART OF ILHAN OMAR'S CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Elstad said the discovery has allowed the community to look back at local history.

"We appreciate the historical significance of the time capsule and are committed to continuing to preserve our history for generations to come," he said.





Original article source: 104-year-old time capsule discovered during demolition of Minnesota high school
ADDIS ABABA, April 27 (Xinhua) -- African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat on Friday expressed deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian and security situation in El Fasher city in North Darfur State of western Sudan.

In a press statement, Faki said the significant buildup of fighters and weapons in the vicinity of El Fasher poses a grave threat to the lives, property and livelihoods of millions of people and complicates an already-difficult peace-making process.

"The AU Commission chairperson calls on the belligerents to immediately cease fighting, return to the local truce in El Fasher, begin the implementation of the May 2023 Jeddah ceasefire agreement, and unconditionally resume a new round of talks, to achieve a lasting and comprehensive cessation of hostilities," the statement further said.

The AU Commission chief further called on all Sudanese actors to support the efforts of the AU High Level Panel on Sudan which is trying to convene in the coming days a preparatory process for an all-inclusive Sudan political dialogue.

On Friday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) expressed concern that the manoeuvring of opposing armed forces in western Sudan is raising tensions, blocking aid to thousands of people and creating a horrifying situation for civilians.

El Fasher, the capital city of North Darfur State in western Sudan, is experiencing intense clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Since the conflict between the SAF and the RSF broke out on April 15, 2023, more than 14,700 fatalities have been recorded, while the number of people displaced inside and outside of Sudan has reached 8.2 million, according to a recent report by the UNOCHA. 
14-year-old shot in the back early Saturday morning, APD says

Atlanta police are searching for the person who shot a teenager early Saturday morning.

Officers were called to a townhome community on Brownlee Road in southwest Atlanta around 3:30 a.m.

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

When they arrived, they found a 14-year-old who had been shot in the back.

The teenager was alert, conscious and breathing when he was taken to the hospital. There is no word on his current condition.

TRENDING STORIES:

Investigators say the teen was not cooperative with responding officers when they questioned him about the shooting.

There is no word on what led up to the shooting or possible suspects.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:
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)

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.

Ali Muldrow

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)

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.

Tomorrow: 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 NC Newsline.
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. (Photo by 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.

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 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.

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)

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.

Tomorrow: 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 North Dakota Monitor.
17-year-old arrested in Florida after deadly shooting at McKees Rocks playground

A teenager has been arrested in connection to a deadly shooting at a playground in McKees Rocks.

Delvon Johnson, 17, is charged in the shooting death of Ahsan Edwards, 15.

>> I wish I could unsee it: Community reacts to deadly shooting of teen at McKees Rocks playground

Ahsan was shot multiple times at Third Street Park on Saturday, April 20. He died at a local hospital.

Witness interviews and multiple videos led detectives to Johnson.

>> Teen dead after shooting at playground in McKees Rocks

Johnson was arrested Friday afternoon in Orlando, Florida.

He is facing multiple charges including criminal homicide, aggravated assault and illegal possession of a firearm.

Police said Johnson is still in Florida, pending extradition back to Allegheny County.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

TRENDING NOW:

Allegheny County library card holders can get free admission to over a dozen attractions this summer Southwest Airlines to stop service to four airports amid problems with Boeing deliveries Charges refiled against former Pittsburgh Public Schools student accused of attacking staff VIDEO: Group of Jewish Pitt students calling for release of 133 hostages being held by Hamas DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
Barnwell, S.C. (WJBF)  Two people are dead following a crash in Barnwell County early Saturday morning.

The incident occurred around 3:10 a.m. on US Highway 78, six miles east of the Town of Blackville.

According to Master Trooper William Bennett with South Carolina Highway Patrol, a 2010 Ford Crown Victoria was traveling west on US Highway 78, ran off the right side of the road, struck a ditch, and overturned multiple times.

There were 2 occupants in the vehicle and both occupants died at the scene.

Barnwell County Coroner Denise Gibson identified the victims as Alton Snipe, 35, and Vernon Snipe Jr., 37, both of Charleston. Gibson says both were ejected from the vehicle.

This collision remains under investigation by the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Count on NewsChannel 6 for more details as they become available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
2 Michigan Teens Among Some of the First Black Girl Eagle Scouts in the State: 'It's Really Important'

Kimani Brame and Phoenix Moyer earned the feat after Scouts  formerly Boy Scouts  began allowing girls to join their ranks in 2019

Kenyatta Brame Kimani Brame and Phoenix Moyer.

Two high school students in Grand Rapids, Michigan, are now among some of the first Black girls to reach Eagle Scout status in the state!

The students, East Kentwood High School sophomore Kimani Brame and junior Phoenix Moyer, earned the feat after Scouts  formerly Boy Scouts  began allowing girls to join their ranks in 2019.

"We did not plan to be among the first. We didn't know that we were one of the first until my ceremony, when they actually talked about it," Moyer tells PEOPLE. "When we were doing our project, earning all of the merit badges, we didn't know. That was not even a thought in our minds. We were just doing what our dads encouraged us to do as Scout leaders, and what our older brothers did anyway."

"We knew that there's not a lot of Black female Scouts, but we didn't even think that we'd be newsworthy. We had no idea," she adds.

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.



Lee Moyer Phoenix Moyer in her scout uniform.

Brame and Moyer received high praise from not only their fellow Scouts, but also government officials, including Congresswoman Hillary J. Scholten, the first woman to represent Grand Rapids district.

"I know what its like to break barriers and to be the first, but youre blazing a trail for so many women to follow, the congresswoman told the new Eagle Scouts in a clip obtained by WOOD-TV.

And I couldnt be more proud of you, Scholten added.

State Representative Phil Skaggs, who presented Brame with a tribute during her induction, also shouted out the trailblazers on social media.

"It was an honor to present an official Tribute of the State of Michigan to Kimani Brame on her induction as an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America," Skaggs wrote.

Kenyatta Brame Kimani Brame in her scout uniform.

Related: Boy Scouts Will Now Require a Diversity & Inclusion Badge: 'We Believe That Black Lives Matter'

Speaking about her achievement and the praise she has received since, Brame says, "It's crazy to me. I did not imagine that this was going to happen at all."

"I feel so honored to be someone who did this, and just to have the honor to be one of the first. It's really important to me," she adds.

Moyer, meanwhile, tells PEOPLE that being a Scout "kind of does change you as a person."

"Not as soon as you get it, you've flipped the switch or anything, but on the journey there," she explains. "It teaches you so many things about yourself, about other people, about things of the world, like important skills, communication, ways to meet people and be around people, and just getting there."

"It makes you a different and a better person, and it teaches you that you can do hard things. I've done so many things I never thought I'd be able to do," Moyer adds.

Lee Moyer Kimani, Scoutmaster Brame & Phoenix.

Looking ahead, both Brame and Moyer plan to continue their work with the Scouts in the years to come.

"Our dads will make sure every other Tuesday we will be at our church," Moyer says. "Our troop has recently had an influx of younger Cub Scout kids, and it's a ruckus, but it's fun, and it's really nice to be kind of a leader in that position."

"We're also trying to encourage more young girls. It's pretty much Phoenix and I against the world right now," Brame adds. "I love Phoenix to death, so I am just fine being us, but since it's kind of us who are in the higher positions as females, we're trying to start over again to get some of the littles [to join]."

Moyer and Brame also tell PEOPLE that they are currently looking into colleges and both have their hearts set on pursuing their interests: horticulture and biomedical engineering, respectively.



For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A 2-year-old child was severely injured during an assault that took place Tuesday night on the south side of the city.

According to a police complaint report, a woman living in an apartment on Ship Mill Street in the Far South neighborhood heard her door being kicked in at 9:49 p.m. Tuesday. She told police that a man forced his way into her residence and demanded her phone.

The victim refused and the man told her he was not leaving without taking something. After the man attempted to remove a television mounted to the wall, he went to a bedroom and picked up a flat screen television and began to leave the residence.

Takeover of nightmare Downtown KeyBank tower could be coming thanks to latest lawsuit

The woman, who was holding her 2-year-old, told the man, later identified as Andre Sallee, that she was going to call police. Sallee reportedly came back inside the apartment and punched the woman multiple times.

After the woman fell onto a couch, Sallee, 25, allegedly kicked her in the leg and fled the scene in what she believed to be a white car.

During the alleged assault the child was injured and taken to Nationwide Childrens Hospital. Neurosurgeons treated the child for a skull fracture and brain bleeding. The childs condition was not immediately known.

Sallee was arrested Wednesday, charged with aggravated robbery. A Franklin County Municipal judge issued him a $1 million bond and ordered him to next appear in court on May 3 for a preliminary hearing.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
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.

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.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
ROY, Utah (ABC4)  Over the last two weeks, three guns were found in the possession of students at Roy High School in northern Utah.

Lane Findlay, Weber School District spokesperson, said in an email Friday that none of the cases were related, nor did they involve threats toward any students or staff.

Karen in viral video facing sexual battery charge for pulling down teens skirt

Still, the students are facing criminal charges, as firearms of any kind are prohibited on school grounds.

In one of the incidents, which happened Thursday, school officials told parents that a student was found with an unloaded firearm in a gun case in their trunk. The student said that they had the gun in their car because they planned to go hunting after school.

The day before, school officials found an unloaded handgun on a different student. The student told authorities they were having trouble with people outside of school and carried the weapon for protection.

There was no indication of any conflict with anyone at Roy High or that the student had any plans to use the gun while at school, school officials wrote in a letter to parents at the time.

The other gun-on-campus incident happened on April 11. School officials responding to a tip found a gun on a student. The student was detained and police responded to the building.

In one of the letters to parents, school officials said that the possession of a gun by a minor on school property is against the law, regardless of the students intent with the weapon. They asked parents to talk with their children about the consequences, noting that even look-alike weapons and toy guns are prohibited.

Along with facing criminal charges, the students will also face disciplinary measures, up to expulsion.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
The aftermath of a Russian attack on the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on 27 April. Photo: Serhii Lysak on Telegram

A woman was injured in Russian attacks on the city of Dnipro on Saturday, 27 April, and another two women sustained injuries in Russian attacks on the Nikopol district, both in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

   27 ,   Telegram 

The aftermath of a Russian attack on the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on 27 April

Photo: Serhii Lysak on Telegram

Details: Lysak said that a 59-year-old woman sustained a cut wound in a Russian attack on the city of Dnipro; she will be treated on an outpatient basis.

Over the course of today, Russian forces also deployed kamikaze drones 13 times to attack the Nikopol district; the Russians also shelled the area five times and dropped a bomb from a drone. The Nikopol, Myrove, and Pokrovske village hromadas [administrative units designating cities, towns, and villages and their adjacent territories  ed.] all came under Russian attack.

Two women, aged 40 and 88, were injured in the Nikopol district.

   27 ,   Telegram 

The aftermath of a Russian attack on the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on 27 April

Photo: Serhii Lysak on Telegram

Two five-storey residential apartment buildings and nine private houses sustained damage, as did six outbuildings, one of which has caught fire. The fire has been extinguished. The premises of an agricultural firm were also damaged. Damage to a power line has meant that over 300 households have had their power cut off.

Support UP or become our patron!
PHNOM PENH, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Twenty soldiers were killed on Saturday as fire swept through an ammunition warehouse in western Cambodia, setting off a series of explosions, the country's Prime Minister Hun Manet said.

The blaze broke out at 2:30 p.m. local time at the ammunition depot in the Third Military Command in Chamkar Doung village of Kampong Speu province's Chbar Mon town.

"Twenty soldiers were pronounced dead and several others were wounded in these explosions," Hun Manet wrote in a text posted on his official Telegram channel.

He expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families and extended his sympathy to the injured people.

The prime minister donated 20,000 U.S. dollars to each of the bereaved families and 5,000 dollars to each of the wounded soldiers.

Kampong Speu Provincial Police Chief Major General Sam Samuon told Xinhua that an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the incident. The extent of the damage to the ammunition depot remains under assessment. 
Four probation officers at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall have been placed on administrative leave following an internal review by the Los Angeles County Probation Department.

The suspensions relate to multiple incidents of youth-on-youth violence at the embattled juvenile detainment facility in Downey, officials said.

Probation Department Chief Guillermo Viera Rosa said these suspensions are part of a concerted effort to root out staff that he says are responsible for perpetuating a culture of violence, drugs, or abuse at the countys juvenile institutions.

While these incidents involve a small number of our staff, they violate our core values and undermine our ability to do our duty to provide a safe and nurturing environment for the rehabilitation of the youth placed in our care, Viera Rosa said in a news release issued Friday.

He added that he was committed to dig deeper into potential wrongdoing and take immediate action to address anything that contributes to that alleged culture of violence.

Before being named chief of L.A. Countys Probation Department, Viera Rosa was appointed as the chief strategist for the countys juvenile operations following intensely critical reviews of facility conditions by state leaders. During his tenure, he has promised to wipe the slate clean and revitalize the way the county addresses juvenile detention.

Arguably the biggest change during his time at the helm of the Probation Department took place when hundreds of detained juveniles were moved from other aging facilities to Los Padrinos, which was renovated and reopened last summer.

Since then, probation officers located a gun inside the facility and a riot occurred, leading to one inmate escape followed by another juvenile escape months later.

Last May, a teenager housed at Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar died of an overdose while in custody, which the union representing the probation officers blamed, in part, on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Union officials said a hiring freeze led to many officer vacancies.

Earlier this year, eight probation officers were placed on administrative leave due to a December incident involving them and several of the incarcerated minors at the facility. Video released by the Los Angeles County Probation Department showed what some referred to as a juvenile fight club, with the L.A. County Office of the Public Defender saying it showed the probation officers encouraging violence between detained youth.

The investigations involving all of the 12 suspended officers are ongoing and are now being conducted by the California Attorney Generals Office.

A spokesperson for Viera Rosa said the decision to send the investigation to outside law enforcement was made to ensure a fair and independent review while the departments own internal affairs unit is restructured and professionalized. It is unclear what that entails.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Four L.A. County probation officers have been placed on leave in connection with youth-on-youth violence inside a Downey detention facility, officials announced Friday.

The discipline comes after eight officers working at Los Padrinos juvenile hall were placed on leave for allowing a group of youths to beat up a teen in December. The involvement of four more sworn peace officers may indicate that troubling incidents of guards being present while youths assault each other are more widespread than previously known.

L.A. County Probation Department Chief Guillermo Viera Rosa said the discipline against the four additional officers, which occurred after an internal review, was "part of a comprehensive push to root out departmental staff responsible for perpetrating a culture of violence, drugs, or abuse in County juvenile institutions."

"My commitment to dig deeper into potential wrongdoing, to take immediate action, and to publicly disclose my actions should make it clear that we will not tolerate anything that creates or contributes to a culture of violence in our juvenile facilities," Viera Rosa said in a news release, while offering no specifics on what occurred.

Read more: Video shows L.A. probation officers letting group beat teen in Los Padrinos juvenile hall

The incidents have been turned over to the California attorney generals office to investigate, according to the Probation Department.

The Times obtained footage of the December incident earlier this month showing at least six youths assaulting a 17-year-old while guards stand by, laughing and at one point shaking hands with an assailant. The 17-year-old sustained a broken nose, according to his public defender, Sherrie Albin.

The video raises the question of whether the violence was coordinated, with one county supervisor calling the conduct organized fights.

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
I-4, SunRail need billions of dollars for Orlando transportation projects in the works

Editors note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal.

Traffic demand in Central Florida is driving billions of dollars in new transportation projects.

Regional transportation authorities already have proposed some major projects in the coming years to make up for demand. Central Florida Expressway Authority has more than $4 billion planned in its 2024-2028 five-year work plan, while the Florida Department of Transportations 2024-2029 plan for District Five (which encompasses Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Volusia, Marion, Sumter and Flagler counties) includes more than $16.34 billion proposed across highways, Floridas Turnpike, rail and more.

Read: Bird flu virus remnants found in grocery milk; FDA says supply still safe

Those projects dont include the millions of dollars that local cities, counties and transit service providers plan to invest to meet demand. Orange County, which had been consideringgenerating dedicated funds for transit though a transportation sales tax ballot initiative, suspended those efforts April 9.

Click here to read the full story on the Orlando Business Journals website.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.




I take a 40-minute bus ride once a week to shop at Trader Joe's. Here are 12 items I like to buy.

I take a 40-minute bus ride once a week to shop at Trader Joe's. Here are 12 items I like to buy.

I take a 40-minute bus trip to Trader Joe's every week to do my grocery shopping.

Crispy jalapeno pieces, Japanese-style fried rice, and onions are some of the items I like to buy.

I also shop for dark-chocolate orange sticks, salad kits, and ghost-pepper chips.

Every Saturday, I brave a 40-minute bus ride to Trader Joe's, where my partner and I shop weekly.

Like many Americans, we both work from home, so it's important we have quick and easy bites to get us through the day.

Here are 12 items that always make it into my shopping cart at Trader Joe's.

I never leave without at least two bags of the BBQ-and-black-pepper Toscano chopped salad.

I like to add chicken and red-pepper flakes to Trader Joe's BBQ-and-black-pepper Toscano chopped salad. Mila Cuda

Trader Joe's BBQ-and-black-pepper Toscano chopped salad makes the ultimate effortless lunch. These salad kits are perfect for two people and are easy to elevate. I often add chicken and red-pepper flakes for that extra zing.

Although most of my favorite Trader Joe's salad kits are seasonal, the barbecue-and-black-pepper Toscano chopped salad is a fixture in the produce aisle  and it never disappoints. I love the corn-bread croutons and barbecue sweet-onion dressing.

My partner loves Trader Joe's beer-bread mix.

Trader Joe's beer-bread mix is insanely easy to prepare. Mila Cuda

One of my partner's favorite snacks  if you consider bread a snack  is Trader Joe's beer bread. It's also one of the few things I know how to bake from scratch. However, this doesn't stop me from stocking up on beer-bread mix.

It is outrageously easy to make, and as the package says, all I need to do is add beer and butter to the mix. However, I also like to add cheddar and herbs.

I add Trader Joe's crispy-jalapeno pieces to everything.

Trader Joe's crispy-jalapeno pieces taste great on salads, soups, and sandwiches. Mila Cuda

With only four ingredients, Trader Joe's crispy-jalapeno pieces pack a punch, making them the perfect topping for salads, soups, and sandwiches.

Whether I'm snacking on them straight from the canister or sprinkling a handful onto my salmon bowl, their craveable crunch and subtle heat truly can't be beat.

The frozen breaded-chicken tenderloin breasts are an essential purchase.

Trader Joe's breaded-chicken tenderloin breasts are crispy and fresh. Mila Cuda

These are not your usual frozen chicken tenders. Trader Joe's breaded-chicken tenderloin breasts are crispy, fresh, and evocative of amusement park afternoons.

I like to chop them up and add them to a salad or serve them with a side of sweet-potato fries and ranch.

Trader Joe's dark-chocolate orange sticks are delicious and underrated.

Trader Joe's dark-chocolate orange sticks are my favorite sweet treat. Mila Cuda

Beneath the dark-chocolate shell lies a gelatinous texture bursting with orange flavor. Albeit not for everyone, Trader Joe's dark-chocolate orange sticks are my favorite sweet treat.

I imagine they're reminiscent of the chocolate oranges I see at Christmastime, though I've never actually tried them myself.

Trader Joe's frozen Japanese-style fried rice is ready in minutes.

I love Trader Joe's Japanese-style fried rice. Mila Cuda

The Japanese-style rice is by far my favorite Trader Joe's rice, and, in my opinion, it's not even a close race. Fully cooked and flavored with soy sauce and mirin, this quick and comforting meal includes edamame, tofu, and hijiki seaweed.

I recommend adding a fried egg and some Chile Crunch for extra flavor.

I can't get enough of Trader Joe's Everything but the Bagel seasoning.

Everything but the Bagel seasoning tastes great on everything from popcorn to Brussels sprouts. Mila Cuda

Want to spruce up your salads, add more flavor to your Brussels sprouts, or make your popcorn really pop? Trader Joe's Everything but the Bagel seasoning is your answer.

I didn't believe the hype until I tried it for myself. The flaky sea salt, dried onion, and garlic pair well with the crunch of the sesame and poppy seeds. This blend will get stuck in your teeth, but in my opinion, it's totally worth it.

Trader Joes onions are huge and cheap.

Trader Joe's onions are priced by quantity, not weight. Mila Cuda

Trader Joe's onions can't be beat  they're the size of a softball and are priced by quantity, not by weight. Sometimes, a single onion can get me through a week of meals.

The frozen egg frittatas are the perfect weekday morning pick-me-up.

Trader Joe's frozen frittatas taste great on their own or in a sandwich. Mila Cuda

I keep Trader Joe's Swiss-and-cauliflower frittatas on deck for all my savory breakfast needs. The fried onion is subtle and pairs well with the Swiss. The fluffy texture is delightful on its own or in a sandwich.

Trader Joe's ghost-pepper chips are not for the faint of heart.

Trader Joe's ghost-pepper potato chips make a great late-night snack. Mila Cuda

These lattice-cut, kettle-cooked chips deliver on both heat and crunch. Trader Joe's ghost-pepper potato chips make the perfect late-night snack for those who aren't afraid of a little spice.

Have I ever eaten a bag in one sitting? No comment.

My partner likes to make floral arrangements with Trader Joe's flowers.

I never skip the floral section. Mila Cuda

You never know what you'll find in the floral section, from seasonal bouquets to orchids and fresh eucalyptus.

My partner makes an arrangement of Trader Joe's flowers for our dining table every week. The bright pops of color and sweet aromas are an ever-welcome delight.

Trader Joe's red-pepper spread makes the perfect pasta sauce.

I like to add garlic, onion, and Gochujang to make Trader Joe's red-pepper spread into a pasta sauce. Mila Cuda

I have yet to actually try this spread on sandwiches or as a dip for veggies. Instead, my partner and I like mixing it with fresh garlic and onion (and a spoonful of Gochujang) on pasta night.

We always keep a jar in the pantry since we never know when it might come in handy.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Arizona's 11 fake electors sign a document in Phoenix on Dec. 14 2020, falsely claiming that they were the state's electors and that Donald Trump won the presidential election in Arizona. Screenshot via AZGOP

Attorney General Kris Mayes has released the names of five more people who were indicted by a grand jury for the part they played in Arizonas 2020 fake elector scheme to keep former President Donald Trump in the White House.

Mayes announced on April 24 that a grand jury had indicted 18 people, including all 11 fake electors, for their actions related to the fake elector plot. But she did not initially release the names of seven of the 18 since they had not yet been legally served, although it was easy to figure out who some of them were through statements describing them in the indictment.

The five additional indictees are:

Christina Bobb, the Republican National Committees senior counsel for election integrity and a former attorney for the Trump campaign who was accused in the indictment of making false claims of widespread election fraud in Arizona and in six other states.

John Eastman, a former Trump lawyer who is facing possible disbarment in California for his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Boris Epshteyn, a former Trump aide who is still one of the former presidents advisors.

Jenna Ellis, a former attorney for the Trump campaign and a conservative media personality who was censured last year for making false statements about the 2020 election, and who pleaded guilty in October to a felony charge in Georgia for her attempts to overturn the election results.

Michael Roman, a former Trump campaign aide who was also indicted in the Georgia case.

The names of the remaining two indictees have not been released, but its clear from how they are labeled in the indictment that they are Rudy Giuliani, who was described as an attorney for Trump who was often referred to as the mayor, and former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.

The previously named indictees are Arizonas fake electors:

Kelli Ward, former AZGOP chairman

Arizona Sen. Jake Hoffman, leader of the Arizona Freedom Caucus

Arizona Sen. Anthony Kern, member of the Arizona Freedom Caucus

Tyler Bowyer, Turning Point USA CEO

Michael Ward, husband of Kelli Ward

Nancy Cottle, a Republican whos been active in local politics for a decade

James Lamon, a failed 2022 U.S. Senate candidate

Robert Montgomery, former chairman of the Cochise County Republican Committee

Samuel Moorhead, former chairman of Gila County Republican Party

Lorraine Pellegrino, former president of the Ahwatukee Republican Women

Gregory Safsten, former executive director of the AZGOP

All 18 of those indicted are charged with conspiracy, fraudulent schemes and artifices, fraudulent schemes and practices and forgery, all felonies.

The fake electors were indicted by a grand jury on April 23 for signing bogus documents claiming that they were Arizonas certified electors and that Donald Trump won the 2020 election. Like it did in other states, the Trump campaign urged the fake electors to attempt to keep him in office after he lost to Joe Biden.

Trump is identified in the indictment as unindicted co-conspirator 1.

Georgia, Michigan and Nevada have already brought charges against fake electors there, and Wisconsin is still investigating possible charges for its fake electors.

Many of those who were indicted in the Arizona case continued to spread misinformation about the 2020 election, claiming that it was stolen from Trump, long after the election was over.

Sens. Hoffman, of Queen Creek, and Kern, of Glendale, as well as the Arizona Republican Party, all responded to the indictments with outrage and accusations of their own.

Todays indictments by Attorney General Kris Mayes represent a blatant and unprecedented abuse of prosecutorial power, aimed solely at distracting the public from the critical policy debates our country should be focusing on as we approach the 2024 election, the AZGOP said in a statement on April 24. The timing of these charges-precisely four years after the 2020 election and as President Biden seeks re-election-is suspiciously convenient and politically motivated. This is not justice; it is pure election interference.

Hoffman, in a statement, espoused his innocence and alleged that Mayes timed the handing down of the grand jury indictments to bolster Bidens reelection campaign calling them naked political persecution.

In his own statement, Kern said he was running for the U.S. House of Representative this year to ensure that others arent prosecuted for political reasons.

When President Trump called for my aid, I answered, Kern said in a statement. My reward? A crooked Democrat Attorney General prosecuting me with 9 fabricated felonies.

SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE

The post 5 more Trump attorneys, aides publicly named in AZ fake elector indictment appeared first on Arizona Mirror.
Editors Note  The copy was updated to reflect changes made by police regarding the number of people shot near the nightclub.

WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said six people were hurt in a shooting that took place late Friday night in Northwest D.C.

MPD posted about the incident on the X platform at 11:56 p.m. It took place near Decades nightclub in the 1200 block of Connecticut Ave. NW in the Dupont Circle neighborhood.

In an update, Asst. Chief Ramey Kyle said that the shooting took place as a result of a fight that started inside the club along Connecticut Avenue. The fight spilled out into the street.

Metrobus, car crash in Northeast DC; 8 hurt

Kyle said the people who were hit by the gunfire had injuries that werent considered life-threatening.

Officers took someone into custody in connection to the shooting. Kyle said they also recovered a gun.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
5 takeaways from Trumps first full week on trial in New York

The first criminal trial of a former president has reached the end of week one, with plenty of drama along the way.

The jurors who will decide former President Trumps fate heard from former magazine executive David Pecker, Trumps longtime assistant Rhona Graff and a previously little-known figure from the banking world, Gary Farro.

Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Those charges spring from a $130,000 payment made by Trumps former attorney and fixer Michael Cohen to adult actress Stormy Daniels in the final weeks of the 2016 presidential election campaign.

The money, for which Cohen was later reimbursed to the tune of $420,000, was intended to silence Danielss claim that she had a sexual encounter with Trump a decade previously.

Prosecutors claim that the manner of accounting for Cohens reimbursement was intended to conceal the true nature of the payments.

Trump denies any illegality and also denies having sex with Daniels. His version of events is that the $420,000, paid in installments to Cohen, was a legitimate legal retainer.

Here are the main takeaways from the first week of full trial proceedings.

A former tabloid king holds court

The weeks proceedings were dominated by David Pecker, previously the publisher of the National Enquirer and CEO of American Media Inc.

Pecker testified on each of the four days the court was in session. Now 72, Pecker appeared tired, according to reporters in the courtroom, when he finally concluded his testimony on Friday.

At the center of Peckers testimony was the concept of catch and kill. The phrase refers to a practice of paying for stories with the intention of quashing them rather than publishing them.

Pecker detailed how the Enquirer did this with two people other than Daniels.

One was a former doorman at Trump Tower, Dino Sajudin, who claimed to have knowledge that Trump had fathered a child with a woman who was not his wife. Pecker and the Enquirers reporters came to believe Sajudins story was untrue.

The second was Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model, who claims she had an affair with Trump. The former president denies this.

Pecker testified that the deals were struck because he thought the allegations would be damaging to the presidential hopes of his friend, Trump, if they were made public.

He testified that the tabloid ran negative stories about Trumps rivals for the 2016 GOP nomination, including Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Ben Carson, also with the aim of helping Trump.

Trumps legal team contended that many of these decisions were ones Pecker, or any tabloid publisher, might have made. Trump was good for newsstand sales at the time.

Team Trump also implied that Peckers testimony may be tainted because American Media came to a nonprosecution agreement with the Department of Justice in 2018.

The big question: Election interference?

Two issues are interlocked at the center of the case against Trump.

One is whether the records pertaining to payments to Cohen were false.

Even if the jury concludes that they were, this is usually a misdemeanor rather than a felony.

Felony convictions normally depend upon the alleged falsification of business records being part of another crime.

Prosecutors contend the additional  though uncharged  crime here pertains to election interference.

The argument, in summary, is that the payments were concealed as part of Trumps campaign to win the presidency  not merely to spare him personal embarrassment. Therefore, prosecutors say, the payments to silence Daniels had the effect of concealing information from voters that they would otherwise have known.

Trumps team pushes back at that entire narrative.

The battle was framed in stark terms at the start of the week.

Trumps actions were election fraud, pure and simple, prosecutor Matthew Colangelo said on Monday.

Trumps lead attorney, Todd Blanche, countered that theres nothing wrong with trying to influence an election  its called democracy.

Trump looks diminished at his own trial

The dynamics of the trial itself have tended to leave the former president looking like a diminished figure.

Unable to respond in the courtroom itself, he has listened silently, sometimes shaking his head, to allegations of crimes and lurid personal conduct.

He has spoken to the media outside the courtroom, but these appearances have been brief, and the former president is removed from any of the pomp and staging that he enjoys at his rallies.

Trump has even complained several times about the courtroom being too cold. He has appeared to close his eyes several times during the proceedings.

Its not a great look for a candidate who, at 77, is trying to portray himself as a more vigorous alternative to the 81-year-old President Biden.

Trump fares better before the Supreme Court

Thursday brought a legal split screen for Trump.

He had to be in court in New York at the same time as his lawyers in Washington were making arguments before the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court case is to decide Trumps claim that he is immune from prosecution for actions he took as president. These proceedings derive from the Jan. 6-related charges leveled against Trump by special counsel Jack Smith.

The oral arguments went well for Team Trump. The Courts conservative justices  six in total, three of them nominated by Trump himself  seemed receptive to the idea that there could be a distinction made between official and private acts taken by a president. They also seemed open to a potential measure of immunity for official acts.

Any Supreme Court decision that permits a measure of immunity will likely lead to more arguments over how that should be defined in Trumps Jan. 6 case.

In all likelihood such a decision would kick the case and the two others  oversensitive documents at Mar-a-Lago and the attempt to overturn the 2020 election result in Georgia  past the date of this years presidential election.

Fight over the New York gag order is yet to be settled

The New York trial has had a running sideshow  the question of whether Trump has violated the gag order imposed upon him by Judge Juan Merchan.

Prosecutors say he has done so in 10 social media posts, and they want him fined at the rate of $1,000 per post. They contend he has also violated the order an additional four times in interviews or public remarks.

Trump has continued to blast the order itself while his legal team argues his comments are legitimate responses to things adversaries have said about him.

The next hearing on the gag order has been set for next Thursday. It had initially been set for the previous day, when Trump had campaign rallies scheduled in Michigan and Wisconsin.

Merchan consented to moving the date during Fridays proceedings.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
MIAMI - About 50 people are lucky to be alive Friday afternoon after the double-decker bus they were in caught fire, shutting down the westbound lanes of I-595 in Davie.

It happened before 3 p.m. near Nob Hill Road.

CBS News Miami's Nikiya Carrero interviewed two of the tourists who say they were headed to the Everglades, but they never made it.



Edward McElduff, visiting from the UK, said "It was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. I started thinking about my fiance and my wedding that I got coming up. Sort of started accepting defeat."



McElduff, along with his colleagues, decided to take a break from the World Finance Forum and take a trip to see alligators when the unimaginable happened.



Lewis Chandler, also visiting from the UK, said "It's just one of those things that would never happen or ever happen to you and then all of sudden you find yourself running off a bus on the freeway."



The group got on the bus at 305 Lincoln Road on South Beach where Miami Tours is located.



About 40 minutes into the drive, they noticed smoke.



"Then, about 10 minutes later, we noticed we were being pulled over on the freeway. And it was at that moment we noticed something more serious was going on."



The group said the driver did not give them any instructions, so they took matters into their own hands.



Calmly, exiting one by one, but the door on the bus was against the guard on the shoulder.



"We had been pulled over so far that you had to climb over the shoulder to get out of the door," said Chandler.



Both men said they were two unsung heroes who assisted the entire group.

No injuries were reported.

Images from Chopper 4 showed a charred skeleton of a chartered bus on the emergency lane of an empty highway.

It is not clear what may have started the fire.

The bus was eventually towed away from the scene, as lanes started to reopen.



Traffic was affected for miles.

Rhona Graff, former Trump assistant, takes the stand at his New York trial

New York's highest court overturns Harvey Weinstein verdict

Another American arrested in Turks and Caicos after bullets found in luggage
McKinley Park man gets 50-year sentence for 2016 killing of Brighton Park teen, attorney general says

A McKinley Park man was sentenced to 50 years in prison Friday for the 2016 drive-by shooting on the citys Southwest Side that left a teenager dead, the office of Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced.

A Cook County jury in December convicted Sergio Gonzalez, 29, of first-degree murder in the slaying of David Gonzalez, 17, court records show. Sergio Gonzalez and David Gonzalez were not related, authorities said.

David Gonzalez was shot eight times from a moving vehicle in the late evening of Jan. 7, 2016, in the 3100 block of West 41st Place in Brighton Park.

Sergio Gonzalez and a second man, Jose Juarez, were quickly apprehended following a police pursuit that ended 11 blocks from the shooting scene, police said. Each man was later charged with murder.

Authorities said they believed hostilities between longtime gang rivals Latin Kings and Two-Six led to the slaying.

Juarez was found guilty of murder in 2019 and sentenced to 45 years in prison, according to Raouls office. The Illinois Appellate Court upheld Juarezs convictions two years ago following an appeal, according to court records.

Sergio Gonzalez has another case pending related to an alleged 2010 murder and was also charged separately with attempted murder and participation in a nine-person group attack while in custody at the Cook County Jail, according to records.

He is next set to appear in court on May 21.
April 27 (UPI) -- A total of seven people were shot and one person was killed during a pair of gun violence incidents in or near nightclubs in Washington D.C. late Friday and early Saturday, police said.

Four men, one woman and a security guard were shot, although none suffered life-threatening injuries, after an angry patron was kicked out of a nightclub located on Connecticut Ave. N.W. in the nation's capitol Friday night, D.C. Metropolitan Police assistant chief Ramey Kyle said in a video statement.

Kyle said police apprehended the lone suspect and recovered a firearm.

"This all started with a dispute that started inside an establishment ... and spilled into the street," he said.

The argument occurred inside the Decades nightclub and culminated in the shooting outside it, WTOP-AM reported.

The U.S. Secret Service helped local police secure the crime scene and apprehend the suspect. The shooting occurred around 11:30 p.m.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to call 202-727-9099 or text 50411 to anonymously report the information.

Another shooting at a nearby nightclub occurred hours later in the U Street Corridor and claimed one man's life, according to WRC-TV.

Despite the shootings, reported crime in Washington D.C. violent crime declined by 25% after reaching record highs in 2023, according to the Metropolitan Police Department's crime data.
OTTAWA, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Husky Oil Operations Limited was fined on Friday 2.5 million Canadian dollars (1.83 million U.S. dollars) for spilling about 250,000 liters of crude oil into the Atlantic Ocean in Canada.

According to a news release from Environment and Climate Change Canada, the oil spill occurred on Nov. 16, 2018, at the White Rose oil field in the Newfoundland and Labrador offshore area, due to a failure of the subsea flowline connector from the SeaRose Floating Production, Storage and Offloading installation.

On Nov. 18-23, 2018, 17 potentially oiled birds were observed from offshore vessels and platforms, seven of which were captured. An oiled bird was also discovered on Dec. 4, 2018. These observations, and subsequent laboratory analyses, confirmed that the oil release affected various migratory birds, the release said.

The oil company pleaded guilty earlier to the charges under the federal legislation and will be added to the Environmental Offenders Registry as a result of conviction.

A total of 2.4 million Canadian dollars (1.76 million dollars) will be directed to the Government of Canada's Environmental Damages Fund to support projects that have a positive impact on Canada's natural environment. The rest will be paid to the Receiver General for Canada, the release said. 
RIYADH (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and several international officials will be in Riyadh this week for talks aimed at pushing for a peace agreement in Gaza to be held on the sidelines of a World Economic Forum meeting, the WEF's president said on Saturday.

"We do have the key players now in Riyadh and hopefully the discussions can lead into a process towards reconciliation and peace," Brge Brende said at a news conference in Riyadh, adding that Gaza's humanitarian crisis would be on the agenda.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will attend the meetings alongside regional leaders including Qatar's prime minister, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Oman's crown prince and Bahraini officials, Brende said.

Egypt's foreign minister, Brende said, would be there to update officials on a round of talks Egyptian negotiators held in Israel on Friday in an effort to restart stalled efforts to end the war in Gaza and return the remaining Israeli hostages.

"There is now a bit of momentum for negotiations on the hostages and also a possible ceasefire," Brende said.

(Reporting by Pesha Magid in Riyadh; Writing by Andrew Mills; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Proposals from the 14 Wisconsin residents, brought together to come up with consensus solutions on abortion, arrived at proposals designed to address the economic, health, and education disparities that can lead to people choose abortion. (Baylor Spears | Wisconsin Examiner)

Editors note: This story is the third 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.  The Starts With Us civic experiment on abortion began with a hypothesis that was reflected in the sessions first working title: Abortion Access & Limits.

And the experiments results, following heated discussions among 14 Wisconsin residents with divergent abortion beliefs, are reflected in the sessions final title: Abortion & Family Well-Being, whose just-released five proposed consensus solutions are designed to address the economic, health, and education disparities that can lead people to choose abortion. The group ultimately could not come to any consensus about abortion itself.

But they came very close.

Shortly before Starts With Us went live with its public feedback period on Wednesday, participant Dr. Kristin Lyerly experienced what facilitator Mariah Levison had throughout this session described as heartburn.

The OB-GYN and abortion provider told States Newsroom she couldnt sign off on the final language of what would have been a sixth proposal titled, Keep abortion available when a woman is experiencing a life-threatening medical risk. She said she took issue with some of the non-medical terms like unborn child, but her bigger concern was that the proposal used Wisconsins definition of a life-threatening medical risk, which she said is poorly defined and does not explicitly include mental health emergencies.

As a physician  I do this in practice, and everybody else is just talking about the theory of it, said Lyerly, who has since stepped away from the Starts With Us project because her recently launched congressional campaign conflicts with its nonprofit status. When Im taking care of my patients, Im focused on, what does my patient need medically right now? Not, hey, can you Google what current Wisconsin law says about when a mothers life is in danger?

Starts With Us communications manager Tori Larned told States Newsroom that despite high-level consensus on this issue, several participants  both who support and oppose abortion access  disagreed with this proposals final language, so theyve scrapped it for now with the potential to revisit in the near future.

For some, the language is still too permissive and for others its too restrictive, Larned said in an email. Citizen Solutions is about bringing more nuance to what is often a binary, overly simplistic conversation.

Lyerly said she is excited about the proposals the group did achieve consensus on and the connections she made with people who disagree with her. But she remains firm in her view that a medical procedure shouldnt be narrowly regulated.

I think we made some important headway, and I think that the fact that we were not able to address the pressing issue of abortion itself really emphasizes how complicated this problem is, and how it belongs in the realm of medical practice, not politics, Lyerly said. Its really hard to find that middle ground because there isnt necessarily middle ground that applies universally. Its a personal issue for you that affects your personal self and your personal family.

Several of the participants on either side of the abortion access divide told States Newsroom that this civic experiment motivated them to keep engaging in discussions about abortion with people they disagree with. A couple said they were disappointed with the ultimate results. And some expressed improved understanding in the others point of view, but no major shifts in thinking.

Initially, I just felt that, how could you want to kill a baby inside your womb? How could you ever come to that conclusion? said participant Jeff Davis, 76, who has worked with crisis pregnancy centers for women who are contemplating abortion. From just some of the experiences of people who were there who viewed things differently than I do, I could see why a person could come to those conclusions. And so even though I didnt change my view, its like, okay, now how can these concerns be addressed so that a person would want to choose life?

Davis also told States Newsroom that he was among those abortion opponents who initially agreed that pregnancy termination should be allowed to preserve the life of the woman but could not agree to include mental distress as part of that definition. The semi-retired bovine veterinarian said his reasoning revolves around the qualitative nature of mental distress.

It seems to me that those who are pro-abortion want to set the bar very low, Davis said. As a result, almost every woman could claim mental distress as a reason for being able to have an abortion.

Participant Ali Muldrow, the executive director of the abortion fund WMF Wisconsin, said she ultimately thinks theirs is a progressive set of policy proposals in what it doesnt include: abortion-ban exceptions for rape and incest.

The fact that we actually didnt agree on an exception for rape and incest I think is a win, Muldrow said. Were not oversimplifying hugely traumatic experiences as if they can be easily identified, proven, and used to access health care. We didnt take the bait of compassion with a condition of extreme brutality. Thats something youre seeing around the country right now and its really dangerous.

She said that for her the groups dynamics reflect what she sees in the U.S., that there is a majority broadly on the side of abortion access despite their diverse personal views, and a minority (in this case five white Christians) advocating for limits because of deeply held religious beliefs.

When you pair people who represent 80% of the population with people who represent kind of a specific religious perspective and pretend that those sides are equal, while also failing to kind of acknowledge that one of those groups of people has had historically more power than the other group of people, it creates a pretty complex dynamic, Muldrow said.

Abortion opponents also expressed disappointment at what they saw as an imbalance of abortion perspectives. Kateri Klingele said that ahead of the final session held in April she acted as spokesperson for the five abortion opponents, and said they would refuse to consider an abortion exception related to fetal health diagnoses. Lyerly noted that three of the nine abortion-access supporters were absent for the final in-person debate. Heather Martell and Ramona Williams were absent because of personal issues, and Monique Minkens started feeling sick and had to leave.

The proposed consensus solutions on abortion and family well-being

This group of 14 Wisconsinites live all across the state, including Milwaukee, Rock, Chippewa, Door, Brown, Grant, and Dane counties. But now residents from the entire state  and the nation  can vote and comment on the groups proposals for state lawmakers to potentially consider. The proposals were evaluated by 14 health, legal, and policy experts with divergent views on abortion access, three of whom (a Catholic marriage and family expert, pro-life OB/GYN, and professor of educational policy studies) chose to remain anonymous.

In brief, they would:

Require human development education in schools (and ensure that its medically accurate, developmentally appropriate, and state-funded);

Require all options information at pregnancy centers, abortion clinics, and prenatal care providers (and to make sure it is standardized, medically accurate, and required for dissemination at centers that oppose abortion the same way it is at abortion clinics);

Provide a refundable state child tax credit (While Wisconsin recently expanded its state-level child and dependent care tax credit, the state has no state-level child tax credit. Fifteen states do provide these additional state-level child tax credits, many of which come in at or above $1,000 per qualifying child.); and

Enact paid family leave, including foster and adoptive parents.

We envision a world where Wisconsinites have greater support for planning and sustaining their families, the participants write in their joint vision statement. Unintended pregnancies and poor fetal and maternal health outcomes are experienced disproportionately by women of color and lower-income women.  Better community and social supports  including for children and families, as well as during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period  help those who become pregnant feel like they have options for continuing their pregnancy.

Starts With Us head of programs Ashley Phillips said that after the public feedback period concludes on May 31, the participants will find out which proposals got the most support and then evaluate potential next steps, including bringing them to state lawmakers. She noted that for their first session, on gun rights and safety launched last year in Tennessee, more than 30,000 Tennesseans weighed in on eight proposals and five majority-supported proposals were ultimately brought to the state legislature.

Phillips said Starts With Us absorbed a lot of participants feedback (including hiring a mental-health counselor to help guide the final session in April) as they continue to iterate their Citizen Solutions sessions throughout the country. She said the results of this particular experiment, on abortion in Wisconsin, make her optimistic.

If you look at the five [proposals], theyre much more about root causes of abortion, Phillips said. Thats the conversation that this group is trying to have. How can we expand the conversation on abortion, so its not just about weeks, and its not just about exceptions and carve-outs and bans and not bans and morality or not?

Many of the participants said this experience was hard, but for most it was worthwhile.

I think its important to hear where people are, Muldrow said. As important as the areas where we agree, I think the areas where we disagree are deeply important. If you want there to be this kind of happy Kumbaya ending to a conversation about abortion with people with very different beliefs, its a little disappointing that one of the more pronounced elements of that conversation is where people disagree, but people were able to disagree and stay in that space together. I think theres a lot to learn from that.

The post On abortion, advocates and opponents unite on policies to address root causes appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Proposals from the 14 Wisconsin residents, brought together to come up with consensus solutions on abortion, arrived at proposals designed to address the economic, health, and education disparities that can lead to people choose abortion

Proposals from the 14 Wisconsin residents, brought together to come up with consensus solutions on abortion, arrived at proposals designed to address the economic, health, and education disparities that can lead to people choose 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 story is the third 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.  The Starts With Us civic experiment on abortion began with a hypothesis that was reflected in the sessions first working title: Abortion Access & Limits.

And the experiments results, following heated discussions among 14 Wisconsin residents with divergent abortion beliefs, are reflected in the sessions final title: Abortion & Family Well-Being, whose just-released five proposed consensus solutions are designed to address the economic, health, and education disparities that can lead people to choose abortion. The group ultimately could not come to any consensus about abortion itself.

But they came very close.

Shortly before Starts With Us went live with its public feedback period on Wednesday, participant Kristin Lyerly experienced what facilitator Mariah Levison had throughout this session described as heartburn.

The OB-GYN and abortion provider told States Newsroom she couldnt sign off on the final language of what would have been a sixth proposal titled, Keep abortion available when a woman is experiencing a life-threatening medical risk. She said she took issue with some of the non-medical terms like unborn child, but her bigger concern was that the proposal used Wisconsins definition of a life-threatening medical risk, which she said is poorly defined and does not explicitly include mental health emergencies.

As a physician  I do this in practice, and everybody else is just talking about the theory of it, said Lyerly, who has since stepped away from the Starts With Us project because her recently launched congressional campaign conflicts with its nonprofit status. When Im taking care of my patients, Im focused on, what does my patient need medically right now? Not, hey, can you Google what current Wisconsin law says about when a mothers life is in danger?

Starts With Us communications manager Tori Larned told States Newsroom that despite high-level consensus on this issue, several participants  both who support and oppose abortion access  disagreed with this proposals final language, so theyve scrapped it for now with the potential to revisit in the near future.

For some, the language is still too permissive and for others its too restrictive, Larned said in an email. Citizen Solutions is about bringing more nuance to what is often a binary, overly simplistic conversation.

Lyerly said she is excited about the proposals the group did achieve consensus on and the connections she made with people who disagree with her. But she remains firm in her view that a medical procedure shouldnt be narrowly regulated.

I think we made some important headway, and I think that the fact that we were not able to address the pressing issue of abortion itself really emphasizes how complicated this problem is, and how it belongs in the realm of medical practice, not politics, Lyerly said. Its really hard to find that middle ground because there isnt necessarily middle ground that applies universally. Its a personal issue for you that affects your personal self and your personal family.

Several of the participants on either side of the abortion access divide told States Newsroom that this civic experiment motivated them to keep engaging in discussions about abortion with people they disagree with. A couple said they were disappointed with the ultimate results. And some expressed improved understanding in the others point of view, but no major shifts in thinking.

Initially, I just felt that, how could you want to kill a baby inside your womb? How could you ever come to that conclusion? said participant Jeff Davis, 76, who has worked with crisis pregnancy centers for women who are contemplating abortion. From just some of the experiences of people who were there who viewed things differently than I do, I could see why a person could come to those conclusions. And so even though I didnt change my view, its like, okay, now how can these concerns be addressed so that a person would want to choose life?

Davis also told States Newsroom that he was among those abortion opponents who initially agreed that pregnancy termination should be allowed to preserve the life of the woman but could not agree to include mental distress as part of that definition. The semi-retired bovine veterinarian said his reasoning revolves around the qualitative nature of mental distress.

It seems to me that those who are pro-abortion want to set the bar very low, Davis said. As a result, almost every woman could claim mental distress as a reason for being able to have an abortion.

Participant Ali Muldrow, the executive director of the abortion fund WMF Wisconsin, said she ultimately thinks theirs is a progressive set of policy proposals in what it doesnt include: abortion-ban exceptions for rape and incest.

The fact that we actually didnt agree on an exception for rape and incest I think is a win, Muldrow said. Were not oversimplifying hugely traumatic experiences as if they can be easily identified, proven, and used to access health care. We didnt take the bait of compassion with a condition of extreme brutality. Thats something youre seeing around the country right now and its really dangerous.

She said that for her the groups dynamics reflect what she sees in the U.S., that there is a majority broadly on the side of abortion access despite their diverse personal views, and a minority (in this case five white Christians) advocating for limits because of deeply held religious beliefs.

When you pair people who represent 80% of the population with people who represent kind of a specific religious perspective and pretend that those sides are equal, while also failing to kind of acknowledge that one of those groups of people has had historically more power than the other group of people, it creates a pretty complex dynamic, Muldrow said.

Abortion opponents also expressed disappointment at what they saw as an imbalance of abortion perspectives. Kateri Klingele said that ahead of the final session held in April she acted as spokesperson for the five abortion opponents, and said they would refuse to consider an abortion exception related to fetal health diagnoses. Lyerly noted that three of the nine abortion-access supporters were absent for the final in-person debate. Heather Martell and Ramona Williams were absent because of personal issues, and Monique Minkens started feeling sick and had to leave.

The Wisconsin 14 gather in front of the Wisconsin Masonic Center in Madison, where they spent multiple days trying to come to consensus on abortion and family well-being

The Wisconsin 14 gather in front of the Wisconsin Masonic Center in Madison, where they spent multiple days trying to come to consensus on abortion and family well-being. Several of the participants on either side of the abortion access divide said the Starts with Us civic experiment motivated them to keep engaging in discussions about abortion with people they disagree with. (Sofia Resnick/States Newsroom)

The proposed consensus solutions on abortion and family well-being

This group of 14 Wisconsinites live all across the state, including Milwaukee, Rock, Chippewa, Door, Brown, Grant, and Dane counties. But now residents from the entire state  and the nation  can vote and comment on the groups proposals for state lawmakers to potentially consider. The proposals were evaluated by 14 health, legal, and policy experts with divergent views on abortion access, three of whom (a Catholic marriage and family expert, pro-life OB/GYN, and professor of educational policy studies) chose to remain anonymous.

In brief, they would:

Require human development education in schools (and ensure that its medically accurate, developmentally appropriate, and state-funded);

Require all options information at pregnancy centers, abortion clinics, and prenatal care providers (and to make sure it is standardized, medically accurate, and required for dissemination at centers that oppose abortion the same way it is at abortion clinics);

Provide a refundable state child tax credit (While Wisconsin recently expanded its state-level child and dependent care tax credit, the state has no state-level child tax credit. Fifteen states do provide these additional state-level child tax credits, many of which come in at or above $1,000 per qualifying child.); and

Enact paid family leave, including foster and adoptive parents.

We envision a world where Wisconsinites have greater support for planning and sustaining their families, the participants write in their joint vision statement. Unintended pregnancies and poor fetal and maternal health outcomes are experienced disproportionately by women of color and lower-income women.  Better community and social supports  including for children and families, as well as during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period  help those who become pregnant feel like they have options for continuing their pregnancy.

A June 2023 poll conducted by Marquette University in Milwaukee found 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. The participants in the Starts with Us civic experiment came from diverse backgrounds and points of view on abortion acces

A June 2023 poll conducted by Marquette University in Milwaukee found 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. The participants in the Starts with Us civic experiment came from diverse backgrounds and points of view on abortion access. (Sofia Resnick/States Newsroom)

Starts With Us head of programs Ashley Phillips said that after the public feedback period concludes on May 31, the participants will find out which proposals got the most support and then evaluate potential next steps, including bringing them to state lawmakers. She noted that for their first session, on gun rights and safety launched last year in Tennessee, more than 30,000 Tennesseans weighed in on eight proposals and five majority-supported proposals were ultimately brought to the state legislature.

Phillips said Starts With Us absorbed a lot of participants feedback (including hiring a mental-health counselor to help guide the final session in April) as they continue to iterate their Citizen Solutions sessions throughout the country. She said the results of this particular experiment, on abortion in Wisconsin, make her optimistic.

If you look at the five (proposals), theyre much more about root causes of abortion, Phillips said. Thats the conversation that this group is trying to have. How can we expand the conversation on abortion, so its not just about weeks, and its not just about exceptions and carve-outs and bans and not bans and morality or not?

Many of the participants said this experience was hard, but for most it was worthwhile.

I think its important to hear where people are, Muldrow said. As important as the areas where we agree, I think the areas where we disagree are deeply important. If you want there to be this kind of happy Kumbaya ending to a conversation about abortion with people with very different beliefs, its a little disappointing that one of the more pronounced elements of that conversation is where people disagree, but people were able to disagree and stay in that space together. I think theres a lot to learn from that.

The post On abortion, advocates and opponents unite on policies to address root causes appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
Abortion politics is threatening to roil Florida Republicans chances in competitive state Legislature races amid widespread voter backlash.

The Florida Supreme Court upheld a 15-week limit on abortion earlier this month, paving the way for a six-week ban passed by the state Legislature last year to soon go into effect.

Now, a handful of vulnerable Republican state lawmakers who supported the six-week restrictions could be imperiled in November as anger over the ban grows.

Given how unpopular this new policy is and the fact that theres a constitutional amendment question regarding abortion on the ballot, I do think that theres some risk for down-ballot Republicans, former Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.) told The Hill.

Florida has become a focal point in the battle over abortion access as a number of states have seen abortion access curtailed following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

The state Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that the contested 15-week abortion restriction could proceed, arguing that a privacy clause within the state Constitution does not pertain to abortion.

The state Legislature last year passed a six-week limit on the medical procedure, though it was not enforced as the litigation around the 15-week ban wound its way through the courts.

The six-week ban will officially become enacted May 1, rapidly changing the landscape of abortion access in the Sunshine State. At the same time, abortion-rights advocates eked out a win this month when the Florida Supreme Court said a ballot measure seeking to enshrine abortion protections into the state Constitution could go before voters this fall.

Among the members who voted for the six-week ban who live in swing districts are GOP state Reps. Rachel Saunders Plakon in Seminole County; Susan Plasencia, who represents parts of Orange and Seminole counties; David Smith in Seminole County; and Carolina Amesty, who represents portions of Orange and Osceola counties. Not all of them currently have declared Democratic challengers.

Nonetheless, Democrats are confident some of these GOP state legislators will be vulnerable for voting on the six-week ban. If thats the case, it would show how abortion politics is roiling redder states at a more local level.

I do think for all these Republicans that voted essentially with [Gov. Ron] DeSantis in an attempt to boost his ambitions for the White House  they havent only endangered women and abortion seekers, but theyve also endangered their political careers, and it will be made very clear on the campaign trail how out of touch they are, even with their own base, said state Rep. Anna Eskamani (D), who previously worked at Planned Parenthood.

Yet some experts like Michael Binder, faculty director of the University of North Floridas Public Opinion Research Laboratory, are skeptical that vulnerable GOP state lawmakers could be in further trouble over their vote on the six-week abortion ban alone.

Binder noted there is a ballot measure that is out there that expands and enshrines abortion rights into the state constitution, and that is certainly something where you could see some folks maybe voting for a Republican but also voting yes.

It could also maybe motivate a few more people to come out that might otherwise not come out, he added. Not a lot, but a few.

Some Republicans also say they are skeptical, noting factors like candidate quality and other top issues among voters.

Overall, having the six-week abortion ban, reproductive rights amendment on the ballot is a net plus in terms of Democratic voter turnout, said Justin Sayfie, a Florida-based Republican strategist. But the challenge for the Democratic Party in Florida in these state House and state Senate races is putting up viable candidates.

Florida Democrats say they are up for that challenge, announcing a recruitment effort earlier this month to bring in candidates for every state and federal legislative office.

But Republicans say the issue also stems from the two candidates who will be at the top of the ballot in Florida this cycle: President Biden and former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-Fla.), a Senate candidate.

Theyve got two weak candidates [on the statewide ballot]. They need something else to energize their voters, Sayfie said.

Biden and Mucarsel-Powell have both zeroed in on abortion as a key campaign issue in the state. Earlier this week, the president made a campaign stop in Tampa, taking the opportunity to slam Floridas six-week abortion ban, which is slated to go into effect next week. Meanwhile, Vice President Harris is slated to deliver remarks in Jacksonville the day the ban takes effect.

Its not so much that we have to make it an issue, that people have already made this an issue, said Florida state House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell (D). Voters have shown us that this is the formula to connect with them, to be able to have the credibility to ask for their vote, you have to be able to say that you authentically say that you care about the issues that they care about.

Polling shows the issue is certainly on voters minds.

An Emerson College polling survey released earlier this month found that 42 percent of Florida voters said they plan to vote in November in favor of the amendment to enshrine abortion rights into the states constitution, while 32 percent said they were not sure. Twenty-five percent said they would vote against the measure.

A separate USA Today/Ipsos poll from earlier this month found that 57 percent of voters said they would vote to expand abortion access through the ballot measure.

Still, Republicans say other issues will be at play in November, particularly for swing voters.

Thats the danger for Democrats, they talk so much about abortion and reproductive rights that voters think, Gosh, they dont care about these other issues that I care about, Sayfie said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Air-raid warning issued in Ukraine's southeastern oblasts three times overnight: explosions heard in Kherson

An air-raid warning due to the threat of missile launches has been issued in Ukraine's southeastern oblasts for the third time on the night of 26-27 April.

Source: Ukraine's Air Force; Defence Forces of Ukraine's South

Details: An air-raid warning was issued in Kherson, Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts.

Updated: Roman Mrochko, Head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration, reported that several explosions were heard in the city of Kherson. The citys coastal zone is under fire. The Russians are attacking from the temporarily occupied left bank of the Dnipro river.

The all-clear was given at 06:48.

Support UP or become our patron!
The gun Al Capone used for personal protection will be auctioned in SC soon. Heres when

He called it Sweetheart, a Colt 1911 .45 semi-automatic pistol that gangster Al Capone always carried with him for protection.

He said the gun saved his life many times.

It was left to his wife, Mae, then passed to his son, Sonny, and finally his granddaughters, who auctioned it off in 2021 for $860,000.

Now, its going to auction again, this time in South Carolina by Greenville based Richmond Auctions. Estimated value: $2 million to $3 million, with some speculation it could go much higher.

The Greenville auction will be held at 3 p.m. May 18 at 1451 Donaldson Road. Online bidding is available. Starting bid is $500,000.

Jordan Richmond, owner of Richmond Auctions, said he suspects it will break records, including the $6 million paid for the gun that brought down Billy the Kid and two Army revolvers owned by Ulysses S. Grant at $5 million.

He said he got goosebumps holding the Capone gun.

The history is incredible, he said. What its been through, what its seen.

The owner is a businessman in Las Vegas who is not a gun collector, Richmond said. He bought it as an oddity to show visitors to his office.

He found Richmond on Google, from the news that Richmond sold guns owned by John Waynes family last year for $5.4 million.

When the Capone family sold the Colt in 2021 it was through Witherells Auction House in Sacramento, California, close to where Sonny Capone lived after changing his last name to Brown in his later years.

The gun was one of 174 items sold, including personal photographs, pocket watches, jewelry, furniture and kitchenware owned by the Capone family.

People registered for the auction from around the world.

The Colt pistol was the top seller. Early estimates said it would sell for $100,000 to $150,000.

The Capone granddaughters were criticized at the time for making what some called blood money. The lot went for $3 million.

Granddaughter Diane Patricia Capone told CBS News at the time the family wanted the world to know the grandfather they knew, not the mobster. They did not know him until he returned to Florida after serving a prison sentence for tax evasion at Alcatraz.

He had gone through quite a transformation, she said. He lived out the rest of his life trying to make amends, trying to make peace with God and he believed that he was given a second chance.

She said the granddaughter knew him as Papa, a doting husband, father and grandfather.

He would run around the house playing with us as small children. He was clearly a complex man, and thats evident if you examine the years after his imprisonment at Alcatraz.

She also said she was concerned about losing everything in a wildfire. At the time, she lived in Northern California.

During the 1920s Prohibition Era in Chicago, Al Capone was among the most feared men in organized crime. The feud over racketeering and booze was fierce and bloody, including the St. Valentines Day Massacre, during which seven men were lined up and shot in a Chicago garage.

The killers have never been identified but it is commonly held that Capone was behind the murders.

He was known by many nicknames including Scarface for the scar he got in a bar fight and Big Al, as well as being known as Public Enemy Number One, and to others, a modern-day Robin Hood.

His life is the subject of many movies, the best known being Scarface. He was also a character in the Mario Puzos book The Godfather, in which Capone sends two men to kill Don Vito Corelone but instead get killed by Luca Brasi.

Capone was born in 1899 to Italian immigrants, lived in Brooklyn and moved to Chicago in 1919 at the invitation of Johnny Torrio, who worked for crime boss James Big Jim Colosimo as an enforcer. Capone was a bouncer in a brothel initially before ultimately taking over the Chicago Outfit six years later.

He was known to say you can get more with a kind word and a gun than with just a kind word.

Capone was 48 when he died on Jan. 25, 1947, after developing dementia from syphilis.
Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer, speaks Friday, April 26, 2024, on the floor of the Alaska House of Representatives. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer, speaks Friday, April 26, 2024, on the floor of the Alaska House of Representatives. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

The Alaska House of Representatives voted by a wide margin and with bipartisan support on Friday to ban children younger than 14 from using online social media.

House Bill 254, from Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer, also requires companies that provide internet pornography to check whether an Alaskan viewing that pornography is at least 18 years old.

The bill, which passed on a 33-6 vote, advances to the state Senate for further consideration.

\Vance said the age requirement, which also requires parents to sign off on 14- and 15-year-olds using social media, is about protecting children.

It contributes to the well-being of our children, because we know that continued exposure to this kind of content affects their mental health, the way that they view themselves, the way that they view relationships, body images, and it really gives a twisted view of what healthy sexuality is, she said before the vote.

The bill was originally written without the social media component, which was inserted via an amendment offered Wednesday night by Rep. Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage.

I believe that with the inclusion of (a) social media (ban) for kids under 14, and only with parental consent for those under 16, we are achieving the goal of the underlying bill, which is to prevent young people from seeing online pornography, Gray said before the vote.

Rep. Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage, speaks Friday, April 26, 2024, on the floor of the Alaska House of Representatives. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

The bills opponents  and even some of its supporters  said they believe it raises privacy and constitutional free-speech concerns. The bill requires pornography websites to verify ages via a commercially reasonable age verification method, which could entail submitting an ID.

Supporters who acknowledged those issues said they hope that the Senate will address potential problems, while detractors said the potential problems are too big to be overcome.

There might be a scenario in the future where it is safe enough to protect people from privacy concerns, but really, I am very concerned about the privacy of all individuals who might have to comply with this type of commercial age verification technology, said Rep. Genevieve Mina, D-Anchorage, who voted against the bill.

Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla and another opponent, said that right now, the United States has a very different view of the internet than a place like China, which puts restrictions on its citizens use.

We are so close to going more in a direction with Chinas internet, he said, where anytime you hop onto the Web, you have to upload your picture, you have to upload your template and again, youre going have to do something to verify who you are, and then that will be tracked.

The original version of the bill is similar to legislation backed by the National Decency Coalition, which says that 16 states have passed bills it supported.

Legal challenges in state and federal courts have had mixed results, and last month, the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Texas version of the law in a 2-1 decision.

Gray, who added the social media ban to the bill amid bipartisan support, also successfully amended it to include a $100 per-year state voucher for parents who buy content-filtering software.

Under the language of the amendment, parents would submit a reimbursement request to the state.

Eastman, speaking to the voucher plan, criticized it as poorly worded and suggested that Alaskans might be able to receive reimbursements for their Netflix subscriptions because that company offers content-filtering features on its video streaming service.

Vance said legislators should not lose sight of the bills ultimate goal.

In the end, were protecting the most vulnerable among us, she said.

The tally board in the Alaska House of Representatives displays the votes for and against HB 254 on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

The tally board in the Alaska House of Representatives displays the votes for and against House Bill 254 on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

The post Alaska House approves social media ban for young kids, online pornography ID checks for all appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
The Boney Courthouse building in Anchorage holds the Alaska Supreme Court chambers. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

The Alaska Supreme Court overturned a 20-year-old precedent Friday by ruling that Alaska Native tribal organizations can more easily receive the kind of sovereign legal immunity that individual tribes have.

Fridays 4-1 decision means the tribal consortiums that provide health care for tens of thousands of Alaskans  both Native and non-Native  are largely immune from civil lawsuits in state court, unless those consortiums waive their immunity.

Under the decision, immunity is now established by a five-part test already used by some federal courts. Previously, state judges used a simpler test that examines only whether a consortium is financially separated from its member tribes.

This is a fantastic day for tribes in Alaska.

 Nathaniel Tanner Amdur-Clark, lawyer for Copper River Native Association

Fridays case began in 2019 when a woman named Yvonne Ito said she was wrongly fired by the Copper River Native Association, and the association claimed immunity.

This is a fantastic day for tribes in Alaska, said Nathaniel Tanner Amdur-Clark, a lawyer for Copper River Native Association. The court is recognizing that when tribes band together to do things like provide health care for their people, theyre doing that as part of the tribe.

Attorney Jim Davis, of the Northern Justice Project in Fairbanks, represented Ito. He said he believes thousands of consortium employees now have no legal recourse in cases of sexual harassment, discrimination, or wage theft, unless the consortium has waived immunity in their employment contract.

In light of this new decision, if you are an employee of one of these corporations and you are a victim of sexual harassment, racial discrimination, illegal demotion, wage theft, etc., you effectively have no remedy because of the immunity these corporations now have, he said by email. You can support tribes 100%. And the Northern Justice Project does. And also see todays decision as a travesty for 1000s of Alaska employees.

The decision does not apply to Native corporations created by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, such as Arctic Slope Regional Corp., but even with that exemption, it has implications for many of the states largest employers.

A voluntary survey conducted by Alaska Business Magazine this year listed two health consortiums among the states 10 largest private-sector employers. When the Alaska Department of Labor conducted a detailed analysis in 2010, tribal associations represented six of the states top 50 private employers.

Two of the Alaska Supreme Courts five justices  Peter Maassen and Dario Borghesan  recused themselves, leaving two semi-retired justices  Dana Fabe and Warren Matthews  to join Daniel Winfree, Susan Carney and Jennifer Henderson on the bench.

Henderson, writing for the majority, said that over the past 20 years, federal court rulings have shown that the Alaska Supreme Court was wrong in 2004 when it declared that financial insulation was the key test in determining whether a consortium is legally an arm of its member tribes and should share their sovereign immunity.

Multiple federal circuit courts have adopted frameworks for evaluating arm-of-the-tribe immunity, and none treat financial insulation as dispositive, she said.

In place of the old test, Henderson wrote, state judges should use a five-part test adopted by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which has jurisdiction over Alaska.

Judges should examine the purpose of a consortium, the way it was created, the way it is controlled, the intent of the member tribes, and the financial relationship between the consortium and its member tribes.

The state of Alaska argued that because Copper River Native Association was incorporated under Alaska law, it should not be eligible for sovereign immunity.

Writing for the majority, Henderson said the state is wrong.

No single factor is dispositive  even an entitys incorporation under state law, she wrote.

In overturning its prior precedent, the court said, it had to determine not only that circumstances had changed, but that changing its interpretation will result in more good than harm.

The four justices in the majority concluded that the benefit of a new ruling outweighs the harm, but Senior Justice Warren Matthews disagreed.

These laws are of vital importance. Once there is immunity, normal enforcement tools are no longer available.

 Senior Justice Warren Matthews

In my opinion, the answer is no, and the question is not close, he wrote.

Todays decision immunizes these companies from the normal enforcement mechanisms built into Alaskas health, safety, employment, and civil rights statutes, and municipal ordinances of all sorts including tax, planning, zoning, and building codes, he said. These laws are of vital importance. Once there is immunity, normal enforcement tools are no longer available.

He went on to state that employees will have no way of asserting claims against their employers.  Unpaid suppliers and contractors whose contracts have been breached will also be left without a remedy.

He concluded, Relegating employees to the powerless status they held in the early twentieth century and placing a sector of the economy off-limits to normal law enforcement efforts designed to protect public health and welfare cannot be regarded as other than seriously harmful.

Amdur-Clark said the kind of sky-is-falling issues raised by Matthews really arent going to come to pass.

Consortiums said in legal filings that they were worried about frivolous lawsuits that could force them to spend money that might otherwise go to health care.

The main benefit is security.  It makes sure these critical resources that are intended for the benefit of patients and Alaska Native people actually go toward that, rather than fending off legal claims.

If someone is injured by a doctor and needs to file a malpractice claim, they can still do so in federal court, he said, and an employee or supplier working with a consortium can negotiate in their contract for a partial waiver of legal immunity, ensuring both sides are protected.

The case was closely watched by the state of Alaska, which filed friend-of-the-court briefs backing Ito, and the U.S. government, which did the same for the association.

Tribal groups across the state  including Tanana Chiefs Conference, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, United Tribes of Bristol Bay, Maniilaq Association, and Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, also expressed their interest in the issue via friend-of-the-court briefs.

Erin Dougherty Lynch is the managing attorney for the Native American Rights Fund, which filed some of those briefs. She said the case boils down to a fundamental issue: Tribes, practically since the founding of the United States, have been recognized as sovereign governments, with their own rights and responsibilities.

Five individual tribes, each operating their own health care program, for example, each have tribal sovereign immunity, she said. If those same five tribes decide to join together and jointly run a health care program serving all five of their communities, why should the five individual Tribes essentially all lose their sovereign immunity, one of their fundamental sovereign powers?

The post Alaska tribal health consortiums are legally immune in many cases, state Supreme Court says appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
BEIJING, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, on Saturday said that the mainland is willing to provide mobile houses and other relevant materials to people in the area of Hualien in Taiwan that was hit by a recent earthquake.

The mainland expressed deep concern and condolences after a 7.3-magnitude earthquake jolted waters off the coast of Hualien on April 3, Zhu said.

After learning that those affected by the disaster are eager to receive stable, convenient and comfortable mobile houses, the mainland is ready to donate such materials via Red Cross organizations on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, Zhu said, adding that she hopes they can be delivered to those affected soon.

Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait all belong to the same family of the Chinese nation, and they always help one another in the face of major natural disasters, Zhu said. 
Amber Alert canceled for two missing Salisbury children, ages 2 and 3

Amber Alert canceled for two missing Salisbury children, ages 2 and 3

SALISBURY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  An Amber Alert has been canceled for two Salisbury children, the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons reported.

The Amber Alert came in around 10:30 p.m. on Friday and was canceled shortly after.

It is unknown at this time if the children are OK or if anyone was arrested.

Sad situation: Frantic calls for help when two women, baby shot near Salisbury cemetery

PREVIOUSLY:

The Salisbury Police Department is searching for 2-year-old IghJhlan Silver and 3-year-old Prasjhas Reid.

IghJhlan is described as a Black female, approximately 2 feet, 6 inches tall, weighing 28 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes

Prasjhas is described as a Black male, approximately 2 feet, 6 inches tall, weighing 26 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes.

The victims are believed to be with Kevin Antonio Smith. He is described as a 25-year-old Black male, 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing 155 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.

The children were last seen in the area of North Caldwell Street and West Innes Street, with an unknown direction of travel. The suspect vehicle is a Gray 2023 Nissan Altima with N.C. license tag number KHB-1698.

If you have any information regarding this case, call the Salisbury Police Department at 704-638-5333, or dial 911.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Hamas on Saturday published a video of two hostages, American-Israeli Keith Siegel and Israeli Omri Miran.

In the video, Siegel, who appears to be speaking under duress, pleads for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to negotiate a hostage release deal with Hamas. This is the first video released of Siegel since he was kidnapped by Hamas alongside his wife from their home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7.

CNN cannot verify where or when the video was shot, but the hostages said they were unable to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Passover, which ends Tuesday. Miran said I have been here for 202 days, which suggests the video was filmed on Thursday.

The Israeli Prime Ministers Office declined to comment.

Former Hamas hostage Aviva Siegel wears a T-shirt showing a her husband Keith during her visit to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on February 28, 2024. Aviva Siegel was released on November 26, 2023. - Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images

This is the second hostage video released by Hamas in recent days. On Wednesday, the terror group released a video of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who had been kidnapped from the Nova music festival on October 7.

In the undated video, Goldberg-Polin is shown with part of his left arm missing several inches above the hand.

In a video released Saturday by the Hostages Families Forum Headquarters, Siegels family reacted to the latest footage from Hamas.

Keith, I love you, we will fight until you return, said his wife Aviva, who was released in November as part of the last hostage deal after 51 days in captivity.

Seeing my father today only emphasizes to all of us how much we must reach a deal as soon as possible and bring everyone home, his daughter, Ilan, said. I demand that the leaders of this country watch this video and see (our) father crying out for help.

The hostage forum called the proof of life of Siegel and Miran the clearest evidence that the Israeli government must do everything to approve a deal for the return of all the hostages before Independence Day (May 14). The living should return for rehabilitation, and the murdered should receive a dignified burial, the group said in a statement.

Now is the time for the government and its leader to prove through actions their commitment to the citizens of Israel who await the return of the hostages. The Israeli government must not miss this opportunity to bring them all home! the statement added.

Hamas gunmen broke into the home of Omri Miran, his wife, and two daughters at Nahal Oz Kibbutz on October 7. Miran was abducted, but his family survived.

Officials from Egypt and Israel told CNN on Friday that an Egyptian delegation was in Israel as part of an effort to advance the stalled negotiations aimed at releasing hostages and implementing a ceasefire in Gaza.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Americans arrested in Turks and Caicos face 12 years in prison over 'innocent mistake': 'Never dawned on us'

Americans arrested in Turks and Caicos face 12 years in prison over 'innocent mistake': 'Never dawned on us'

Multiple Americans are facing minimum 12-year prison sentences for unknowingly having ammunition or bullets in their luggage while traveling home from Turks and Caicos.

Ryan Watson, a father of two from Oklahoma, and Tyler Wenrich, a father of a 1-year-old toddler from Virginia, were both arrested and detained this month after Turks and Caicos airport security found bullets in their luggage while they were returning from their vacations on the island.

"At some point, [airport security] extracted a baggie that had four hunting bullets that I use for deer hunting. And I was just as surprised as anybody else that they made that discovery," Watson told Fox News Digital. "I don't recall ever putting those bullets in that bag. I can make an assumption that I used that bag on weekend trips and I had  back in November  used that bag  for my deer-hunting trip in Texas."

Now, Watson  who was celebrating several of his friends' 40th birthdays on the islands  faces a minimum of 12 years in prison if his efforts for justice in court aren't successful. A recent mandate passed in February subjects Turks and Caicos tourists to more than a decade of prison time for leaving the country with bullets in their bags. His wife, Valerie, was arrested alongside her husband on April 12, but authorities released her on Tuesday.

OKLAHOMA MAN WITH AMMO IN TURKS AND CAICOS AIRPORT FACES 12 YEARS IN PRISON: RISK OF LOSING EVERYTHING'

Ryan and Valerie Watson were arrested in Turks and Caicos on April 12 after island airport officials found ammunition in Ryan's carry-on bag. Valerie was released, but Ryan faces up to 12 years in prison.

"I thought that was an intimidation tactic at first," Ryan Watson said of the potential 12-year sentence that was explained to him upon his arrest.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

OKLAHOMA AIRPORT UNDER TSA MICROSCOPE AFTER TURKS AND CAICOS JAILS DAD FOUND WITH AMMO

Watson was released on $15,000 bail after the driver he hired for his weeklong vacation put up his vehicle "as what they call surety," Watson said.

A Turks and Caicos court confirmed that Ryan Watson was granted $15,000 bail for the ammunition possession charge.

"So it has to be a local that has an asset of the equivalent value of your bail. And so he put up his vehicle, which is his way to make a living. He put up the title of that vehicle in order for us to get bail," Watson explained.

The father of two is now staying at a local residence because he cannot leave Turks and Caicos under the conditions of his release until his trial.

The Oklahoma father has been in touch with at least five other Americans who are facing the same fate, including Tyler Wenrich, who remains in jail after being arrested on April 20.

"Double check. Triple check. Quadruple check. Because  an innocent mistake like this now has  it's affecting a lot of families," Wenrich's father, Michael Wenrich, told Fox News Digital.

WATCH:

Both men, who are legal gun owners in the U.S., got through TSA security in American airports without being flagged prior to their trips.

Ryan and Valerie Watson on vacation in Turks and Caicos.

Now, TSA is investigating Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, where Watson flew out of to get to the islands.

"We had no intentions of ever bringing anything into this country.  It was just trying to pack board shorts and flip-flops, and that was all we were concerned about bringing," Watson said. "So  it never dawned on us to research any of these things. And there are a lot of locals that have been just such a blessing and have had such gracious hearts."

Valerie Watson similarly said her family realizes their story "may hurt" tourism in Turks and Caicos, which her family does not want to happen because the locals they met there "are such good-hearted people."

Wenrich flew from Virginia to Florida, where he boarded a Royal Caribbean cruise for a "wedding party," all without the bullets being detected, his dad said. The cruise docked, and the party spent some time in Grand Turk before Wenrich was eventually detained when he was caught with two stray bullets in his bag while returning home.

The U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas currently has a travel alert that says "[f]irearms, ammunition (including stray bullets), and other weapons are not permitted in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI)," adding that "TCI authorities strictly enforce all firearms-and-ammunition-related laws."

"The penalty for traveling to TCI with a firearm, ammunition, or other weapon can result in a minimum custodial sentence of twelve (12) years," the Embassy states in the alert. "If you bring a firearm or ammunition into TCI, even inadvertently, we will not be able to secure your release from custody. You are subject to TCI laws and must follow local law enforcement procedures."

Tyler Wenrich and Ryan Watson are both set to appear in court in Turks and Caicos on June 7.

Valerie thanked the public and government leaders for their outpouring of support for her family, saying she and their children just want Ryan home.

"We really strive to just raise our kids to be good people. We strive to be good people and do good for others. We would never intentionally do anything that would put anybody in harm," she said. " And the amount of support that people have shown us through all of this in just so many different ways, through prayer, through the GoFundMe  our government officials, doing everything they can to help and support us. I mean, it is humbling and we are so grateful.  We want Ryan to come home so that he can be with our kids and our family."

Both Watson and Wenrich are set to appear in court on June 7.





Original article source: Americans arrested in Turks and Caicos face 12 years in prison over 'innocent mistake': 'Never dawned on us'
(Getty Images)

The top story coming out of Pennsylvanias 2024 primaries may well have been Nikki Haleys performance. It was significant enough that it caught the attention of President Joe Bidens re-election campaign, which made it clear that Haley voters in Pennsylvania would be welcomed in the Biden-Haley camp. Among the voters who cast ballots for Haley was former Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Despite suspending her campaign back on March 6th, the former South Carolina governor still received 157,581 votes or 16.6% of the GOP tally on Tuesday, stemming a trend of decline in her totals. For instance, in the March 19th primaries she averaged 15.3%, but by the April 2nd primaries, that share had dropped to a 12.5% average.

Far more concerning for the Trump campaign, however, is where these Haley votes came from. I compiled a Top Ten Counties List based on Haleys performance, included below:

Chester: 24.98%

Montgomery: 24.66%

Delaware: 23.49%

Cumberland: 23.14%

Dauphin: 20.86%

Lancaster: 20.41%

Erie: 20.39%

Centre: 19.41%

Allegheny: 19.32%

Bucks: 19.10%

All four of the crucial Philadelphia collar counties made this list, and even took all three of the top spots. Recall that Bidens 293,034 vote margin from these counties was essential to his victory in 2020, as it was a noticeable improvement from Hillarys 188,353 vote margin in 2016.

Key: Deep Pink  Haley overperformed her statewide average. Light Pink  Haley underperformed her statewide average. (Map by Nick Field via Daves Redistricting)

Two years ago, Gov. Josh Shapiro set a new high-water mark when he registered a 388,273 margin out of the southeastern counties. Every step Biden can take towards that Shapiro number will raise his odds of re-election exponentially.

Speaking of Bidens performance, his turnout as an incumbent President in a noncompetitive primary surpassed three of his immediate predecessors, although the one exception was Donald Trump.

Trump in 2020 and Bush in 2004 both lost the Keystone State despite their superior primary turnout operation, whereas Bill Clinton and Obama both won the commonwealth.

Its difficult to calculate write-in totals in Pennsylvania, although NBC News puts the figure in the Democratic primary at 55,339 or 5.3%. Geographically, the write-in votes tended to come either from the left-leaning areas of Philadelphia or the states most rural counties.

Senate Turnout

As for the Senate match-up, while U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and GOP candidate David McCormick both ran uncontested, we can still read a bit into the results. For example, Casey managed to out-run Biden by accumulating 1,011,430 votes. A combined 1,010,515 Democrats cast a ballot for Biden or Dean Phillips, meaning that even those who may have cast protest write-in presidential votes still filled in the oval for Casey.

Furthermore, we can compare these results to a similar point in Caseys career. In 2012, he was on the ballot at the same time as an incumbent Democratic president. Weve already covered how Barack Obama got 616,102 votes in that race, and down-ballot Sen. Casey received only 565,488. That year he was dealing with long-shot primary challenger Joseph Vodvarka, who took 133,683 protest votes, or just over 19%.

By November, though, Casey won his race by a 53.69% to 44.59% margin over Republican Tom Smith, outpacing President Obamas 51.97% to 46.59% margin over Mitt Romney. Altogether, Casey won 31,090 more votes than Obama did, yet he did not win the top spot among statewide candidates, that honor instead went to Democratic attorney general nominee Kathleen Kane (yes, really).

Conversely, McCormick got 874,035 votes in Tuesdays Republican primary. With 948,057 voting for either Donald Trump or Nikki Haley in the presidential contest, that means just over 92% of GOP presidential voters cast ballots for McCormick. These could be Haley protest voters or even Trump supporters who still arent enamored with McCormick. In fact, Trump took the time during one of his courthouse statements on Tuesday to urge his Pennsylvania backers to vote for McCormick, so perhaps the McCormick campaign saw poor internal numbers and reached out for help?

The lesson in all these cases is that, while primary results dont tell us much about November, they do reveal quite a bit about where all the campaigns stand right now.

The post Analysis: Turnout in the Pennsylvania 2024 primary appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
Andrew Cuomo has agreed to testify to Congress on the Covid nursing home debacle (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has agreed to testify before Congress about his administrations controversial handling of New York nursing homes during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Governor Cuomo will be appearing before our select Subcommittee on the Pandemic on June 11, Rep Brad Wenstrup, the Ohio Republican who chairs the panel, told CNNs Jake Tapper on Friday. This will be a transcribed interview at 10am.

The former Democratic governor will be asked by the panel of lawmakers about his March 2020 advisory, which barred nursing homes in New York from rejecting patients solely on the basis of a COVID-19 diagnosis.

Im trying to learn why he would do something like this, Mr Wenstrup said.

As a doctor who has treated infections, it goes against all medical common sense to take someone who was highly contagious and put them amongst the most vulnerable.

Fmr. NY Gov. Cuomo responds to House subpoena

Watch the full video here: https://t.co/4yzGLJZi1Z pic.twitter.com/dpj6f7baNE  The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) April 27, 2024

In 2021, an investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James found that the New York State Department of Health undercounted COVID-19 deaths among residents of nursing homes by approximately 50 per cent.

The health department failed to report roughly 4,100 deaths between April 2020 and February 2021, according to a 2022 audit by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

However, Mr Cuomo has insisted that the advisory was consistent with guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CNN reported.

When pressed by Jake Tapper Friday about an alleged cover-up, Mr Wenstrup responded, Well, hes going to have the opportunity to deny that again and take a look at what some of the other people are saying actually took place and whether it was intentional to play those numbers down or whether it was just miscounting.

Last month, Mr Cuomo was sent a subpoena to testify along with a letter in which Mr Wenstrup alleged that the misguided decision effectively admitted thousands of COVID-19 positive patients into nursing homes, causing predictable but deadly consequences for New Yorks most vulnerable.

In this October 2020 photo, families of COVID-19 victims who passed away in New York nursing homes gather in front of the Cobble Hill Heath Center to demand that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo apologize for his response to the coronavirus in nursing homes during the pandemic (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)

The agreement comes roughly nine months after the panel began contacting Mr Cuomo, according to Mr Wenstrup, who said the panel was ignored on many of our requests, there were delays.

Rich Azzopardi, a spokesperson for Mr Cuomo, told CNN, Theres no news here, we agreed to do this months ago.

As part of the agreement, Mr Cuomo will do a transcribed interview instead of a deposition.

Mr Cuomo resigned in 2021 after New York Attorney General Letitia James released a damning report that the former governor had sexually harassed state employees and others outside of government, citing 11 women in the report.

Mr Cuomo has denied the allegations.
Andrew Tate and brother to be tried on trafficking charges in Romania, court rules

Andrew Tate and brother to be tried on trafficking charges in Romania, court rules

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.
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC)  Another American man is in custody in Turks and Caicos after he allegedly brought ammunition to the British overseas territory.

According to the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, 31-year-old Tyler Scott Wenrich, of Richmond, Virginia, was charged with possession of ammunition on Tuesday.

Police said Wenrich traveled to the island of Grand Turk on a cruise ship and, while going through a security checkpoint, it was discovered that he had ammunition in his possession.

While U.S. incidents involving ammunition in airport security checkpoints usually result in a fine, Turks and Caicos has laws that could result in 12-year minimum prison sentences.

Wenrich is the vice president of Emergency Services Solutions, Inc., which is based in Virginia. The companys CEO, Blanton Marchese, confirmed to Nexstars WRIC Friday that Wenrich is based in the Richmond area.

He is scheduled to appear in court on June 7.

US traveler facing 12 years in jail for carrying ammo to Turks and Caicos: Boneheaded mistake

The news comes after a similar incident involving a man from Oklahoma, Ryan Watson. He was traveling to Turks and Caicos with his wife on a birthday trip this month, and was stopped by airport security as he was trying to leave the country. Ammunition was found in his carry-on luggage.

The family contends the ammo was left there by mistake, and told NewsNation it had been missed by TSA on their way out of the U.S.

Watson is also being held in Turks and Caicos awaiting his June 7 court date, NewsNation reports. Both men face a possible 12-year sentence.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
The organizers of the anti-Israel encampment at Columbia University are refusing to consider taking down the tents until the administration makes progress on some of its demands.

We are not actually negotiating on the state of the encampment as of now, Columbia University Apartheid Divest negotiator Mahmoud Khalil told The Post Friday afternoon.

The encampment was on its tenth day Friday, as the universitys leaders seemed to backtrack on its demand for the students to clear off the campus lawn by that morning following an extension from Wednesday at midnight.

The tent encampment is now in its tenth day. AP

Speaking to The Post on Friday, Khalil said the students were not given a new time limit for getting off the lawn.

We asked them not to talk about the encampment. We are there to negotiate the demands, not the encampment, and we made it very clear, Khalil, who is a graduate student, told The Post of the ongoing talks between student organizers and officials.

The university understood that we cannot operate on the timelines. We cannot operate under time pressure, he explained.

The students are refusing to leave until their demands are met. AFP via Getty Images

We want to have negotiations when both parties can meaningfully engage in the conversation rather than a deadline at 12am while we are at a meeting at 8 pm.

Columbia University Apartheid Divest has five core demands listed on its website, including asking the school to financially divest from companies and institutions that profit from Israeli apartheid, genocide and occupation.

The list also insists that the university cut ties with Israeli universities and stop expanding into Harlem, Lenape ancestral lands and Palestine.

The final two demands call for the defunding of campus Public Safety and severing the universitys relationship with the NYPD, and a public statement calling for an immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

A Palestinian flag waves above the encampment. Melissa Bender/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

We have been in negotiations with the University since [last] Friday, but increasingly we are met with an unwillingness to understand what are the core demands of the student movement, Sueda Polat, another member of the negotiating team, told The Post.

As we said, time again, at the heart of this action, at the heart of this encampment is the wish for a complete divestment and boycott of institutions that are complicit in Israels genocide, she added.

On April 18, Columbia president Minouche Shafik called on the NYPD to enter the Morningside Heights campus and break up the original encampment after the protesters ignored warnings to move.

The student protesters rebuilt the encampment after the NYPD raid last week. Ron Adar / M10s / MEGA

The authorities arrested 108 participants at the site, which has since prompted a movement of similar encampments on university campuses across the country.

This university has proposed only further engagement with the apartheid state, Polat said Friday, referring to Israel.

For example, while we ask for the dual-degree program with a Tel Aviv University  which is directly contradicts, this universitys equal opportunity and affirmative action policies  to be ended, the university has suggested that we increase access to Palestinians by engaging with the apartheid state, she told The Post.

On the matter of divestment, which again the priority demand, Columbia has asked students to operate within the confines of bureaucratic red tape, with no assurances of binding divesting decisions, if we end the encampment, she continued.

Some students have been at the encampment for multiple days. REUTERS

The university seems to not believe that students can maintain their resolve staying on this lawn, ignoring the reality that over the past 10 days we have demonstrated how committed we are, how high our resolve is, and how truly we wish from the heart for a complete divestment and boycott.

They believe they can outstand us. We told them that they cannot.

Columbia and other campuses have been increasingly divided since Hamas Oct. 7 terror attack and Israels retaliatory bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

Columbia and other campuses have been increasingly divided since Hamas Oct. 7 terror attack and Israels retaliatory bombardment of the Gaza Strip. NYPJ

In November, Columbia suspended Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace.

Both groups were criticized for seeming to celebrate or excuse the deadly Oct. 7 attack and for promoting ideological language in their critiques of Israel.

In the 10 days since the tent encampment went up, Jewish students at Columbia have reported feeling increasingly unsafe due to protesters calling for Israels destruction and even expressing support for Hamas.

Both groups were criticized for seeming to celebrate or excuse the deadly Oct. 7 attack and for promoting ideological language in their critiques of Israel. NYPJ

The occupiers have been noshing on fruits, nuts, granola bars and overpriced sandwiches this week and getting sundry items like toothpaste, garbage bags and feminine hygiene products delivered.

Photos taken by The Post Friday showed the once-stately campus looking like an over-crowded rummage sale.

Earlier this week, the university announced that the final weeks of spring classes would be hybrid due to the strife on campus.

In the 10 days since the tent encampment went up, Jewish students at Columbia have reported feeling increasingly unsafe due to protesters calling for Israels destruction and even expressing support for Hamas. NYPJ

After nearly two weeks of upheaval, others in the community say they are starting to get fed up.

The friends that I have, we are definitely over the protest in terms of, you know, we want to live our lives, Noa Fay, a 23-year-old Barnard senior, told The Post on Thursday.

They are selfish. They are not taking the other students into consideration, another student said of the protesters.
A New York City police officer called out anti-police City Council members as "hypocritical" after they pleaded with police to rescue them after receiving "scary" threats.

The New York Post, citing NYPD sources, said that staffers were left clutching their pearls after threats were made against NYC Council members Chi Osse and Shahana Hanif, along with Yusef Salaam and Carlina Rivera.

"Its disgusting," one staffer texted a council colleague. "Ive clutched my nonexistent pearls at some of the threats made against Osse. And some have been thought to be credible as per security and NYPD."

"And for him to be such a critic, if the PD says we need to evacuate/be careful and then listen," another staffer replied.

NYC CRIME DOWN WITH MORE POLICE ON BEAT, PROVING FAILURE OF EARLIER DEFUND THE POLICE TACK: EXPERT

New York City Council member Chi Osse has been a vocal critic of the NYPD.

A staffer for Hanif allegedly complained about "elevated" and "especially concerning" threats phoned into her office, praising law enforcement for being "very responsive," the Post reported.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

One Brooklyn police officer told The Post that this is what they would expect from "hypocritical politicians."

"I wouldnt expect anything less from a couple of hypocritical politicians," the officer told the outlet. "Since they dont want police officers, why dont they go out and hire private security?"

New York City Council member Shahana Hanif. Hanif has been critical of the NYPD and a vocal supporter of the anti-Israel movement.

The four Democratic council members have been vocal critics of the NYPD and have pushed for controversial policies, such as the "How Many Stops Act," which requires officers to document basic information in low-level encounters.

Along with their anti-cop rhetoric, the council members have been vocal supporters in pro-Palestinian protests raging across the Big Apple.

JONATHAN DILLER SHOOTING: NYPD SERGEANTS' UNION TELLS ANTI-POLICE DEMOCRATS TO STAY AWAY FROM FUNERAL

NYC Council member Carlina Rivera speaks during a rally. Rivera has spoken out against the police.

In October, less than a month after Hamas' unprecedented attack on Israel, Hanif was arrested at an anti-Israel rally in Bryant Park.

"On October 20th, I was arrested alongside a multiracial coalition of New Yorkers, among them two members of my team, many Muslims and Jews, many whose first-time it was risking an arrest, demanding Senators Schumer and Gillibrand support a ceasefire in Gaza," Hanif wrote in an Instagram post following her arrest. "I am proud to echo the calls for peace made by so many of my Palestinian, Muslim and Jewish neighbors. We have seen enough bloodshed, we need our elected officals in every level of government to demand a ceasefire now."

Osse, Salaam and Rivera have all also called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Osse, Hanif, Salaam and Rivera for comment.





Original article source: Anti-police New York City Council members change tune after 'scary' threats; blasted as 'hypocritical': report
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD)  The race for District 4 Councilmember in the city of Baker is a runoff between Robert Young and Toni Jackson. Both are Democrats.

The Municipal General Election in Louisiana will be held on Saturday, April 27. Polls will be open from 7 am. to 8 p.m., and more information can be found at the Louisiana Secretary of States website.

Voters across Louisiana will determine local runoff elections, consider tax proposals and finalize some leadership of the Republican and Democratic committees at the state and community levels.

Two local tax proposals also are on the ballot.

Louisiana Supreme Court: St. George can incorporate into new city, taxes can support services

What do the tax proposals support?

Central Community School Board

One is a 32.52-mill renewal that supports the Central Community School Board. Its reasonably estimated to collect $7,114,107, and would be used for giving additional support to public schools, including paying salaries and benefits of school personnel and other costs of maintaining and operating the school system. If passed, it would last from 2027 to 2036.

Mayfair Park/Park East/Heights Crime Prevention and Improvement District

The other is a continuation of an annual parcel fee that supports the Mayfair Park/Park East/Heights Crime Prevention and Improvement District. Up to $144 per parcel would be collected for five years, starting in 2024. (It is not levied on the parcels of residents 65 and older.) The maximum initial collection is estimated to be $63,360. If passed, the funds would be used to aid in crime prevention, adding to the security of District residents by providing for an increase in the presence of law enforcement personnel, beautification of public spaces within the District, and promoting and encouraging beautification of private spaces within the District.

Previous EBR election news

On Saturday, March 23, East Baton Rouge Parish voters re-elected Darnell Waites as the mayor of Baker, elected Carl Dunn as Baker police chief and chose Emily Soule as the new District 8 School Board member. Desiree Collins, Democrat, was elected to the Baker District 3 seat.

Previously, Charles Vincent, Democrat, won the District 1 council seat in Baker unopposed at qualifying. Cedric Murphy took the District 5 seat unopposed when competitor Crodell Veal withdrew; both are Democrats.

Latest News

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to BRProud.com.
Students take part in the "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" at Columbia University in New York City, the United States, April 26, 2024.

The Columbia University encampment against Israeli military action in Gaza continues to be the focus of attention since it started on April 17 as the negotiation between students and the university administration yielded some progress. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

by Xinhua writer Liu Yanan

NEW YORK, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The Columbia University encampment against Israeli military action in Gaza continues to be the focus of attention since it started on April 17 as the negotiation between students and the university administration yielded some progress.

Continuing as planned, the talks have shown progress, said an update by Columbia University on Friday afternoon.

Barnard College with Columbia University has reached a resolution with "nearly all students" who were placed on interim suspension for their alleged participation in the "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" on April 17 and 18, according to a report by Columbia Daily Spectator later Friday.

"We are pleased to have reached these resolutions and are actively working to complete this process with the remaining students so that they can fully return to campus life," a spokesman for Barnard College said.

Still, amnesty is just one of the three demands the students asked for from Columbia University. The talks on divestment from corporations profiting from Israeli apartheid, genocide and occupation in Palestine is in an impasse.

"I can't say we've made great progress, but we've made progress in describing what the implications of our demands are and conveying what exactly we wish for the university to do," said Sueda Polat, a member of the students' negotiating team.

"What we can say right now is that we're continuing to negotiate, and we were in the room for over 11 to 12 hours yesterday," she added.

Polat expressed her confidence and determination to stick to their demand and get things done as preparatory work is underway for commencement on the campus.

"The movement doesn't end whether or not the semester ends. We still have three weeks at least to the commencement, which we hope families and students will be able to celebrate. We believe we have time on our side as well as the power of the students," Polat told Xinhua on Friday.

However, there is a possibility that the National Guard could be brought in to sweep the camp in Columbia University.

The encampment on the West Lawn of Columbia University's Morningside Campus had around 100 tents or tarps with over ten faculty members working as volunteers at the gate of the encampment on Friday afternoon.

"We've demonstrated that this is a peaceful protest that falls within the guidelines of what free speech guarantees to us," said Polat, adding that there are community guidelines at the entrance of the encampment, which encourages open dialogue and communication with people, regardless of any faith background and ideology.

Though efforts have been made in response to criticism of inflammatory rhetoric, students in support of the encampment feel the threat of counter-protesters.

"It's terrifying that the neo-Nazis are lurking. There's also a coordinated doxing effort where like undergraduates are being harassed," said Jonathan Ben-Menachem, a Ph.D candidate in the Sociology Department at Columbia University.

Ben-Menachem noted the presence of neo-Nazis and white supremacists on the campus, referring to online videos showing pro-Israeli protesters climbing up campus gates.

White supremacists and Christian nationalists have been invigorated by encampment, according to Ben-Menachem.

Moreover, the encampment continued to pop up on other university campuses as the movement resonates among young Americans, who are frustrated with the Biden administration's policies on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Hundreds of students at New York University set up a new encampment on Friday evening after the first one was cleared earlier this week while students from Stanford University, the University of Pennsylvania, Northeastern University, Northwestern University and others also joined the movement. 

Students take part in the "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" at Columbia University in New York City, the United States, April 26, 2024.

The Columbia University encampment against Israeli military action in Gaza continues to be the focus of attention since it started on April 17 as the negotiation between students and the university administration yielded some progress. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

This photo shows tents of the "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" at Columbia University in New York City, the United States, April 26, 2024.

The Columbia University encampment against Israeli military action in Gaza continues to be the focus of attention since it started on April 17 as the negotiation between students and the university administration yielded some progress. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

People walk by the tents of the "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" at Columbia University in New York City, the United States, April 26, 2024.

The Columbia University encampment against Israeli military action in Gaza continues to be the focus of attention since it started on April 17 as the negotiation between students and the university administration yielded some progress. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD)  On Saturday, April 27, voters across Louisiana will cast their ballots for parish, city and community tax propositions.

Taxes will be on the ballots in Assumption, Ascension, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana parishes.

Voters will cast ballots for municipal and local elections across the state. According to the Louisiana Secretary of States website, the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day.

Early voting ran from Saturday, April 13, through Saturday, April 20, excluding Sunday, April 14.

The Open Primary/Presidential/Congressional Election in Louisiana will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

This Week in Louisiana Politics: Lawmakers consider child workers, public records and guns

Ascension Parish

City of Gonzales Proposition (Renewal)

Can the City of Gonzales, State of Louisiana collect of a tax of 3.27 mills from 2026 to 2035? About $576,000 is expected to be collected annually. Funds will be used for paying the costs of constructing, maintaining and operating fire department stations and equipment and providing for other matters in connection therewith.

Fire of Protection District No. 3 Proposition (Renewal)

Can Fire Protection District No. 3 collect an ad valorem tax from 2025 to 2034? About $2.8 million is expected to be collected annually. Funds will be used for development, operation and maintenance of the fire protection facilities of the District and paying the costs of obtaining water for fire protection purposes, including charges for fire hydrant rentals and service, and salaries of firemen, and all purposes incidental thereto.

Parishwide School District Proposition (Bond)

Can the Parishwide School District of Ascension Parish issue up to $110 million in bonds in one or more series, to run not exceeding 20 years? Funds will be used for the purpose of acquiring and/or improving lands for building sites and playgrounds, including construction of necessary sidewalks and streets adjacent thereto; purchasing, erecting and/or improving school buildings and other school related facilities within and acquiring the necessary equipment and furnishings therefor, title to which shall be in the public. The current 15.08 millage tax is not expected to increase.

Assumption Parish

Gravity Drainage District No. 2 Proposition (Acreage Tax)

Can Gravity Drainage District No. 2 collect an acreage tax of 35 cents from 2024 to 2033? About $8,900 is expected to be collected annually. Funds will be used for maintaining, improving and keeping in repair the system of gravity drainage constructed in said District.

Livingston Parish

City of Walker Proposition (Renewal)

Can the City of Walker collect a one-half of one percent sales tax for a period of 25 years, starting April 1, 2025? About $1.8 million is expected to be collected annually. Funds will be used for extending, improving, maintaining and operating the sewerage system of the City and constructing, improving and maintaining public streets and drainage facilities, including equipment.

Fire Protection District No. 10 Proposition (Renewal)

Can Fire Protection District No. 10 collect a special tax of 11.1 mills from 2025 to 2034? About $167,000 is expected to be collected annually. Funds will be used for purchasing fire trucks and other firefighting equipment, and for acquiring and constructing buildings to be used to house firefighting equipment, and for acquiring, maintaining, operating and developing the fire protection facilities and equipment.

Fire Protection District No. 5 Proposition (Renewal)

Can Fire Protection District No. 5 collect a 10.14-mill tax from 2025 to 2044? About $1.3 million is expected to be collected annually. Funds will be used for maintaining, operating and developing the fire protection facilities, for purchasing fire trucks and other firefighting equipment, paying the cost of obtaining water for fire protection purposes, including charges for fire hydrant rental and service and for the purpose of paying the cost of acquiring, improving, or constructing fire protection facilities of the District, constituting works of public improvements.

Recreation District No. 2 Proposition (Renewal)

Can Recreation District No. 2 renew the levy and collection of a 15-mill property tax from 2025 to 2034? Around $1.1 million is expected to be collected annually. Funds will be used for the purpose of constructing, improving, maintaining and operating the recreational facilities governed by the District?

Special Taxing District No. 5 Proposition (Renewal)

Can Special Taxing District No. 5 renew the levy and collection of a 1/2% tax, for a period of 10 years, starting on Aug.1, 2025? Around $2.1 million is expected to be collected annually. Funds will be used to acquire drainage works, equipment and facilities necessary to construct, maintain and operate outlets for the waters of the District, and prevent flooding; and further shall the District be authorized to fund the proceeds of the Tax into bonds to the extent and in the manner permitted by the laws of Louisiana?

Pointe Coupee Parish

Fire Protection District No. 2 Proposition (Millage)

Can Fire Protection District No. 2 collect a special tax of 15 mills from 2024 to 2033? Around $297,500 is expected to be collected annually. Funds will be used for the purpose of maintaining and operating the Districts fire protection facilities, for purchasing fire trucks and other firefighting equipment and emergency rescue equipment; paying the cost of obtaining water for fire protection purposes, including charges for fire hydrant rentals and service; and paying the cost of acquiring fire protection facilities of the District, including specialized rescue tools and lifesaving equipment, all constituting works of public improvement.

Fire Protection District No. 3 Proposition (Millage)

Can Fire Protection District No. 3 collect a special tax of 15 mills from 2024 to 2033? Around $1.2 million is expected to be collected annually. Funds will be used for the purpose of maintaining and operating the Districts fire protection facilities, for purchasing fire trucks and other firefighting equipment and emergency rescue equipment; paying the cost of obtaining water for fire protection purposes, including charges for fire hydrant rentals and service; and paying the cost of acquiring fire protection facilities of the District, including specialized rescue tools and lifesaving equipment, all constituting works of public improvement, and funding salaries and benefits of full-time firefighters.

Fire Protection District No. 5 Proposition (Millage)

Can Fire Protection District No. 5 collect a special tax of 3 mills from 2024 to 2033? Around $499,000 is expected to be collected annually. Funds will be used for the purpose of maintaining and operating the Districts fire protection facilities, for purchasing fire trucks and other firefighting equipment and emergency rescue equipment; paying the cost of obtaining water for fire protection purposes, including charges for fire hydrant rentals and service; and paying the cost of acquiring fire protection facilities of the District, including specialized rescue tools and lifesaving equipment, all constituting works of public improvement, and funding salaries and benefits of full time firefighters.

West Feliciana Parish

Parishwide Law Enforcement District Proposition (Renewal)

Can the Law Enforcement District of the Parish of West Feliciana continue to collect a 5.77-mill property tax from 2026 to 2030? About $2.5 million is expected to be collected annually. Funds will be used for providing continued funding for the District.

Multiparish taxes

Livingston and St. Helena parishes

Florida Parishes Juvenile Justice District Proposition (Millage Extension and Rededication)

Can the Florida Parishes Juvenile Justice District extend the levy of a 3-mill property tax to continue from 2026 to 2035? Around $11.7 million is expected to be collected annually. Funds will be used for the purposes authorized by the Districts enabling legislation, including assisting and affording opportunities to children who enter the juvenile justice system or who need care or supervision, to become productive, law-abiding citizens by establishing rehabilitative programs within structured environments, providing physical facilities and related services for children throughout the District, and for improving, maintaining and operating the Florida Parishes Juvenile Detention Center and acquiring, maintaining and operating necessary equipment and furnishings for said Center. The tax is subject to homestead exemption.

Iberville, Pointe Coupee and West Baton Rouge parishes

18th Judicial Enforcement District Proposition (Sales Tax)

Can the 18th Judicial Enforcement District collect a 0.25% sales tax, for a period of 10 years, starting July 1, 2024? Around $8.2 million is expected to be collected annually. Funds will be used for the purpose of providing funding for the offices of the District Attorney for Iberville, West Baton Rouge and Pointe Coupee Parishes.

Latest News

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to BRProud.com.
Ancient Ruins

The rolling hills of Ireland are filled with historically significant structures, like cathedrals and castles, and yet some older ruins that date to prehistoric times remain undiscovered because they're under layers of sediment built up over the countless years.

But thanks to lidar, a technology that uses lasers to map terrain, archaeologists have been able to find forgotten structures hidden in the landscape. Most recently, they say they've located a grouping of ancient monuments they say were likely used as "pathways for the dead" in the modern-day town of Baltinglass in County Wicklow.

These structures, called cursus monuments, are five in number and date to the middle of Neolithic era  between 8000 BCE to 2000 BCE  and were earthworks made of trenches or ditches that spanned the landscape, as detailed in new paper in the journal Antiquity.

They range in size from 400 to more than 600 feet long, but the largest spans at 1,312 feet, study author and archaeologist James O'Driscoll from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland told Live Science.

"While we don't know the actual rituals that took place there, the layouts suggest that they may have been used as either processional routes for mourning or a way to move the dead onto heaven," said Driscoll, referring to the monuments' orientation to the morning sun of the summer solstice and their proximity to nearby ancient burial sites.

Tech Tools

Driscoll was able to find these monuments by using lidar, which usually entails flying an airplane or helicopter from which laser pulses are shot at the ground. Data from these tools enabled Driscoll to find telltale structures that suggested the cursus monuments.

An aerial survey company based in Ireland performed a lidar scan of the area that Driscoll was studying back in 2022. Besides the cursus monuments, the scan found previously unknown structures such as a hillfort from the Bronze Age and medieval ringforts.

It's a long settled area, so finding something new must have been exhilarating.

"Since these [were built during the] Neolithic, there were no metal tools and they would have likely used wooden shovels," O'Driscoll told Live Science. "It shows just how much resources, time and effort went into building them, since this is a sizable settlement."

More on archaeology: Scientists Find Ruins of Ancient Cities in Amazon Jungle
Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of assault. Reader discretion is advised.

Ariel Castro, who was responsible for the Cleveland kidnappings, pleaded guilty to 937 counts of kidnapping, rape, and aggravated murder. He was then sentenced to life plus 1000 years in prison on August 1, 2013. Castro was caught after three women, whom he was holding hostage for around a decade in his Cleveland home, managed to escape and reported him to the police, per ABC News.

His first known victim was Michelle Knight, who was 21 years old and a mother at the time of her abduction. People Magazine reported that Knight now identifies as Lily Rose Lee. On August 22, 2002, Castro reportedly offered her a ride when she was late for an appointment with a social worker. She was acquainted with one of his daughters and accepted the ride, after which he took her to his residence and held her there for nearly 11 years until May 6, 2013.

Amanda Berry, then 16, was walking home from work when Ariel Castro offered her a ride. She also knew one of his daughters and accepted the ride before informing her sister about it. However, no one heard from Berry for the following ten years. An unknown male allegedly called Berrys mother from her cell phone and informed her that she was with him and would return in a few days.

The outlet also noted that Gina DeJesus, the youngest of Castros three victims, was kidnapped by him when she was returning home from school on April 4, 2004. Even DeJesus was acquainted with one of the mans daughters, Arlene, and accepted a ride from him.

How did Ariel Castro die?

CNN reported that Ariel Castro died by suicide in his prison cell on September 3, 2013. He was found hanged with a bedsheet at the Correctional Reception Center in Orient. He was rushed to the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and was pronounced dead at 10:52 p.m.

Castros victims were held at his residence until May 6, 2013, when Berry escaped from the house and called authorities. They were chained, starved, and sexually assaulted over their years in captivity. Lee reportedly became pregnant and miscarried five times after Ariel Castro physically abused her to abort the child. He occasionally took Jocelyn, Berrys daughter, out while the three women remained chained.

People Magazine reported that Ariel Castro was caught after Berry noticed that he had left her bedroom door unlocked. The front door was wired with an alarm. However, she managed to squeeze an arm through the opening. This brought attention to a neighbor, Charles Ramsey, who helped her kick the door open. She got out with her daughter Jocelyn, whom she gave birth to during her captivity, and called 911 with Ramseys help.

The police then rescued Castros two other victims from his house. The women were reunited with their families. Berrys mother had died from a heart attack by then, but she was welcomed home by her sister. Since then, the three survivors have made public appearances and spoken about their experiences.

The post Ariel Castro Kidnappings: What Was the Cleveland Kidnapper Convicted Of? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of assault. Reader discretion is advised.

The Ariel Castro kidnappings include the abductions of Amanda Berry, Michelle Knight, who now identifies as Lily Rose Lee, and Gina DeJesus. According to People Magazine, they were held hostage by Castro in his Cleveland home for 10, 11, and 9 years, respectively. Berry, Knight, and DeJesus were chained and locked inside his Cleveland house and were reportedly deprived of food and basic hygiene. They were also sexually assaulted, which resulted in Amanda Berry giving birth to her daughter Jocelyn in 2006.

On May 6, 2013, after a decade of being held by Castro, the women made a successful escape to freedom. When Castro wasnt around, Amanda Berry reportedly saw the bedroom door unlocked for the first time in ten years. She also noticed that the front door downstairs was open but wired with an alarm. Berry saw that the storm door was padlocked shut but was able to squeeze out an arm, ABC News reported.

Amanda Berry then began waving from the door and screaming for help. She was first seen by a neighbor who didnt intervene, which made her believe that Castro would be back and kill her after knowing her calls for help. Then, another neighbor named Charles Ramsey noticed her. Berry managed to get his help to kick the door open and get Jocelyn and herself out. Once they were out of the house, Berry ran across the street and called 911.

Police then arrived at Castros Cleveland residence. The three women were rescued, and their families were contacted. Amanda Berrys mother reportedly suffered a heart attack and died before she could meet Amanda. However, her sister was there to welcome her home.

How did Ariel Castro kidnap Amanda Berry?

Ariel Castro kidnapped all three of his victims by offering them a ride. He reportedly convinced them that they were acquainted with one of his daughters. Amanda Berry was 16 when she was offered a ride by Ariel Castro as she walked home from work on April 21, 2003. Berry knew one of his daughters and accepted the ride. She informed her sister that she took a ride from Castro, but the latter then kidnapped her.

A week later, an unknown male called Berrys mother from her cell phone and informed her that her daughter was with him and would be coming home in a few days, per People Magazine. However, no one heard from Berry for the following ten years.

By the time he kidnapped Berry, Castro was already holding Michelle Knight, a then-21-year-old mother whom he kidnapped on August 22, 2002. Knight was getting late for an appointment with a social worker when Castro offered her a ride. He told her about one of his daughters, whom Knight knew, and she accepted the ride that eventually led to her abduction.

Gina DeJesus was also offered a ride by Ariel Castro when she was on her way home from school on April 4, 2004, nearly a year after Amanda Berry was kidnapped. She was only 14 at the time, and she also knew one of his daughters, Arlene. The latter was one of the last people to see DeJesus before she disappeared for nearly nine years.

Following his arrest, Ariel Castro pleaded guilty to 937 counts of kidnapping, rape, and aggravated murder. He was sentenced to life plus 1000 years in prison on August 1, 2013, reported ABC News. He was 53 at the time.

The post Ariel Castro Kidnappings: How Did Amanda Berry Escape From Castros Cleveland Home? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Arizona Dem says state is bluer 'not because Arizona is necessarily a blue state,' but from distaste for GOP 'extremism'

An Arizona lawmaker says GOP "extremism" has led many state voters to increasingly back Democrats.

"The Republican party has become extreme in the age of Trumpism," the state senator told Politico.

Arizona in recent years has become a hotly-contested swing state up and down the ballot.

In recent years, Arizona  after decades as a GOP bastion  has emerged as one of the most prominent electoral prizes for Democrats.

President Joe Biden won Arizona in 2020, the first time that a Democratic presidential nominee had carried the state since 1996. Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly won a special election for his seat in 2020 and then won a full term in 2022. And Katie Hobbs was elected to the governorship in 2022, the first time that a Democrat had won the post since 2006.

This November, Democrats are hopeful that Rep. Ruben Gallego can hold the seat of retiring Democrat-turned-independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, as he's set for a likely face-off with Republican Kari Lake.

However, despite Arizona's seemingly clear shift to the left, a Democratic lawmaker recently said that the state was not as blue as it might appear, pointing to what she said was voter distaste with GOP "extremism" as a reason why her party has found success.

"The trajectory of Arizona has been steadily trending bluer on a statewide level," state Sen. Priya Sundareshan recently told Politico. "It's not because Arizona is necessarily a blue state but it's because Arizona has rejected extremism and the Republican party has become extreme in the age of Trumpism."

Phoenix, Arizona. dszc

Arizona, one of the key swing states that'll be hotly contested by both Biden and former President Donald Trump this fall, has become ground-zero for major issues like immigration and reproductive rights.

Sundareshan, an environmental attorney who in 2022 was elected to the state Senate from a Tucson-area district, is one of the leading Democratic legislative leaders seeking to repeal Arizona's Civil War-era near-total abortion ban  which the state's conservative Supreme Court reinstated earlier this month.

The GOP-controlled state House of Representatives earlier this week voted to repeal the law after three Republicans joined the lower chamber's Democrats to roll back the measure. The state Senate is set to vote on the repeal next week.

If the repeal passes both chambers, Hobbs, a supporter of abortion rights, is expected to sign it into law.

Top Republicans are scrambling to contain the fallout over the abortion ban, especially given the party's precarious position in critical suburbs across the country  which includes scores of voters in Arizona's populous Maricopa County.

Despite appointing three anti-abortion associate justices to the US Supreme Court who backed the demise of Roe v. Wade, Trump earlier this month stated that the Arizona court's decision went too far. And the former president has also seemingly rejected the conservative push for a national abortion ban.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Around 100 protestors were arrested at Northeastern University on Saturday morning amid a pro-Palestine protest, according to the university.

Northeastern University said the schools police department along with local law enforcement started clearing an unauthorized encampment on the universitys Boston campus Saturday morning.

The encampment was set up at the schools Centennial Common during this week. The protestors were told to leave.

Massachusetts State Police officers began arresting non-student protestors and taking down some encampments during the early morning hours on Saturday.

What began as a student demonstration two days ago, was infiltrated by professional organizers with no affiliation to Northeastern, the school said in a Saturday statement on the social media platform X.

As part of clearing the site, approximately 100 individuals were detained by police, the school said.

The institution stated that students who produced a valid Northeastern ID were released and will face disciplinary proceedings within the university, not legal action.

Those who refused to disclose their affiliation were arrested, the school added.

Northeastern is one of many colleges around the country that has dealt with pro-Palestine protests on their campuses with students protesting the Israel-Hamas war and pushing schools to disclose their investments.

The school said it took action to clear the protest encampments after virulent antisemtic slurs became incorporated into the protests.

We cannot tolerate this kind of hate on our campus, the schools statement reads.

Huskies for a Free Palestine, the student organization leading the protest, said on Saturday that the administration quickly provided false narratives in regard to the encampment.

Were here because our university refuses to even address the catastrophic humanitarian crisis that the Genocide against Palestinians had created, the group said on Instagram. Northeastern refuses to cut ties to weapon manufacturers doing business with the Israeli military.

The videos posted by the group on Instagram show protestors chanting Free, free Palestine and police officers present on campus in riot gear.

Northeastern said in an update that Centennial Common was fully secured and that campus operations have returned to normal.

We want to thank NUPD, our Student Life staff, and the universitys external partners for their flawless execution this morning, the school said on X.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
DENVER (KDVR)  Firefighters with Aurora Fire Rescue are battling a two-alarm fire Friday afternoon.

AFR said a structure caught fire near 1800 S. Truckee Way, prompting a two-alarm response.

The public was asked to avoid the area for safety reasons.

SkyFOX captured images of the blaze from above.

Aurora Fire Rescue reported a working house fire on South Truckee Way, which is seen here from SkyFOX on Friday, April 26, 2024.

Aurora Fire Rescue reported a working house fire on South Truckee Way, which is seen here from SkyFOX on Friday, April 26, 2024.

Aurora Fire Rescue reported a working house fire on South Truckee Way, which is seen here from SkyFOX on Friday, April 26, 2024.

Aurora Fire Rescue reported a working house fire on South Truckee Way, which is seen here from SkyFOX on Friday, April 26, 2024.

Aurora Fire Rescue reported a working house fire on South Truckee Way, which is seen here from SkyFOX on Friday, April 26, 2024.

Aurora Fire Rescue reported a working house fire on South Truckee Way, which is seen here from SkyFOX on Friday, April 26, 2024.

No further information was immediately available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
The Australian government announced a new aid package for Ukraine worth 100 million Australian dollars ($65 million) on April 27, following a meeting between Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles in Lviv.

According to the Australian government, this package takes Australia's military support to Ukraine to 880 million Australian dollars ($575 million).

Shmyhal said that half of the latest package will be allocated to Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS).

More than 30 million Australian dollars ($19.6 million) will be allocated to the international drone coalition for Ukraine, which aims to bolster Ukraine's arsenal of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), Shmyhal said.

Marles said he was pleased to announce the new batch of military assistance, which includes "world-leading drone technology, with the support of the local Australian defense industry."

"Australia is also providing critical air-to-ground precision munitions and short-range air defense systems," Marles added.

"We highly appreciate the solidarity of the Australian people with Ukraine," Shmyhal said, and thanked Marles for "his deep involvement in Ukrainian affairs, for effective solidarity, for concrete things that Australia does for Ukraine."

Read also: Minister: Belgium to allocate $213 million for German-led air defense initiative

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A recent Whatcom County drug bust led to the arrest of two Lynden residents and the seizure of about 2.5 pounds of suspected meth and 43 grams of suspected cocaine.

Detectives also confiscated three handguns, two of which were stolen, and about $4,000 in cash. The evidence was collected across two traffic stops in Lynden and a search of an apartment shared by Benjamin Vallejo, 43, and Ashley Andrews, 31. Both Vallejo and Andrews are from Lynden and have been arrested, according to Deb Slater with the Whatcom County Sheriffs Office.

Three young children who were in the vehicle with Vallejo and Andrews during one of the traffic stops were taken into protective custody and turned over to Child Protective Services, Slater said.

Vallejo and Andrews were arrested the night of Thursday, April 25 on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver; maintaining a dwelling for drug sales; and possession of stolen firearms. Vallejo was also arrested on suspicion of delivery of a controlled substance, and because he had nine prior felony convictions, he received three counts of unlawful possession of a firearm.
A Chinese exhibitor shows household appliances to visitors at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, on April 26, 2024.(Xinhua/Zhang Baoping)

BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Over 30 Chinese companies are exhibiting at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Zimbabwe's second-largest city, Bulawayo.

On the theme of "Entrepreneurship: The Catalyst for Industrialisation and Trade," the five-day expo runs from Tuesday to Saturday.

ZITF, the country's leading international exhibition, is a major annual trade and investment platform that offers opportunities for local and international businesses to explore partnerships.

Chinese companies in various sectors, including information and communications technology (ICT), manufacturing, transportation, new energy and agriculture, showcase a wide range of products made in Zimbabwe and China on the theme "Support made in Zimbabwe, promote the industrialization of Zimbabwe."

Huawei, a major global ICT player, showcased its cutting-edge technologies, including digital power solutions equipment.

"This trade fair is the biggest event in the country, and as an important contributor in the ICT sector for the country, we think we also need to show the public our latest technologies," Huawei Zimbabwe Managing Director Yang Shengwan told Xinhua on Friday.

"Under the guidance of Vision 2030 of the country, Huawei is ready to do more for the country, for example, the digital Zimbabwe and smart Zimbabwe. We try to bring the latest technologies for the country to achieve the final digital economy," he added.

Meng Limin, chairperson of Jiangsu Fanye Power Energy Equipment, a player in the renewable energy industry, and one of the Chinese companies exhibiting at the trade fair, said the expo provided an opportunity to expand business.

"Many people visited our exhibition stand to see our products and they expressed interest. There are a lot of companies and mines that need our solar power equipment to address the power deficit," she told Xinhua on Friday.

Hu Sha, the deputy captain of the 21st China Medical Team in Zimbabwe, and head of the Zimbabwe-China Traditional Chinese Medicine Center at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in the capital Harare, presented Chinese Traditional Medicine (TCM) to locals at the expo.

"I am so glad to come here to establish a TCM stand. A lot of people are coming here, they are very interested in TCM, so we introduced the TCM therapy and TCM medicine and acupuncture, cupping, and moxibustion," she said.

Zhao Ke, chairperson of the China-Zimbabwe Exchange Center, a non-governmental organization dedicated to the advancement of China-Zimbabwe cultural ties and socio-economic development, said the number of Chinese companies present at this year's expo grew from 15 in 2023 to over 30 this year, a development which demonstrates the importance of the trade fair to Chinese enterprises.

"This year our theme is promoting 'Made in Zimbabwe,' so we chose Chinese enterprise companies that are manufacturing their products in Zimbabwe, so I think 70 percent of companies here manufacture their products in Zimbabwe, including clothing, shoes, chemicals, and washing products. We got a quite good response from the people, from the exhibitors, they are quite happy, a lot of people came to their stands, asking about their brands," said Zhao.

The increased attendance of Chinese companies at this year's ZITF signals the growth of trade relations between China and Zimbabwe.

Trade between the two countries reached a record 3.12 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, up 29.9 percent from the previous year, according to statistics from the Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe.

Sam Ndanga, a local visitor to the Chinese pavilion, was impressed by the products and services offered.

"The exhibitors have quite a wide range of products which are of interest, particularly the Chinese products - solar products, because of the power problems we have, everyone is going solar, going green, so I was particularly impressed by a wide range of power banks which can act as a buffer in case of power cuts in offices," Ndanga told Xinhua. "I am going to procure some for our offices so that we don't have to lose internet connectivity when there is no power." 
An exhibitor introduces a product to a visitor at the booth of Chinese portable power and renewable energy company EcoFlow during the IFA 2023 in Berlin, capital of Germany, on Sept. 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)

Electricity generated by renewables grew to 75.9 billion kilowatt hours between January and March, up 9 percent year-on-year.

BERLIN, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Renewable energies covered around 56 percent of electricity consumption in Germany in the first quarter of 2024, according to preliminary calculations from energy association and research institute.

"The recent steady increase in the share of renewables in electricity consumption shows that we are on the right track," Kerstin Andreae, chairwoman of the Executive Board of the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW), said Friday.

Electricity generated by renewables grew to 75.9 billion kilowatt hours between January and March, up 9 percent year-on-year. Onshore wind turbines alone produced 39.4 billion kWh of electricity, covering more than a quarter of the electricity demand, according to the calculations.

"The expansion of renewable energies has recently increased significantly. This is now being reflected in electricity generation," Andreae said. However, she noted that intensified efforts are needed to achieve the climate targets.

This photo taken on Jan. 4, 2024 shows solar panels installed on the roof of a residential house in Berlin, Germany. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)

Germany aims to cover at least 80 percent of its gross electricity consumption from renewable energies by 2030 and to achieve its climate neutrality by 2045, five years earlier than the European Union as a whole.

According to an analysis published Friday by KfW Research, a German investment and development institution, every second company in Germany uses electricity from renewable energies. The companies use a corresponding electricity tariff or have established their own supply using biomass, photovoltaics or wind turbines.

"The increased use of renewable energies is central to the success of the green transformation in the corporate sector," said Fritzi Koehler-Geib, chief economist at KfW, who also stressed that there still was a "particular need for action in the provision of heat."

To achieve the energy transition, the lower parliament Bundestag passed a solar-related package on Friday to reduce bureaucracy in the construction and operation of photovoltaic systems and to further accelerate the expansion of photovoltaics.

Under the solar package, private households can operate mini solar systems on their balconies without necessity to register them with the grid operator.
Authorities seek public help to locate at-risk missing man in Southern California

The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department is seeking public assistance to help locate an at-risk missing man.

Authorities say 71-year-old Francisco Davila Moreno was last seen around 3:00 a.m. Thursday in the 11800 block of Pope Avenue in the city of Lynwood.

Moreno is described as Hispanic, 5 feet 6 inches tall, with green eyes, short black hair and a mustache. He was last seen wearing a green jacket, red sweater, black pants, black Nike shoes and gold necklace.

The 71-year-old suffers from memory loss, and his family is extremely concerned for his well-being.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Departments Missing Persons Unit at 323-890-5500.

If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Former Attorney General Bill Barr suggested Friday that people may take former President Trump too literally, and Trump wouldnt carry out serious actions he threatens against other people.

When CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins asked Barr if he remembered when the former president said the person who leaked information about him going to a bunker during the 2020 protests over George Floyds death should be executed.

I remember him being very mad about that. I actually dont remember him saying executing, but, I, you know, I wouldnt dispute it, Barr said, highlighted by Mediaite. The President would lose his temper and say things like that. I doubt he would have actually carried it out.

Collins pressed Barr, asking if Trump would say things like that on other occasions.

I think people sometimes took him too literally and you know, he would say things like, similar to that, in occasions, to blow off steam, but I wouldnt take him literally every time he did it, Barr said.

The former attorney general said he wouldnt take Trumps threats literally because at the end of the day, it wouldnt be carried out.

The former presidents reported threats to execute the person who leaked information about his actions during the protests are not the only time he has argued someone should die.

A president threatening to direct SEAL Team Six to kill a political opponent should be covered by presidential immunity from prosecution, Trumps legal team suggested earlier this year. Its been a refrain in the defense against his 2020 federal election interference case, and the Supreme Court began hearing the argument Thursday. for presidential immunity in the case.

Barr, who served as attorney general for the final two years of Trumps term in the White House, has endorsed the former president in the upcoming election, despite his criticisms.

He said he would vote for the Republican ticket in the November election, which likely will be the presumptive nominee, Trump.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
CNN

Bill Barr, Donald Trumps former attorney general who once said that voting for the indicted ex-president would be playing Russian roulette with the country, stood by his decision to vote for Trump in November while also suggesting that Trump used to regularly float the idea of executing his political rivals while in office.

Barr made the nonchalant admission Friday during a CNN interview when anchor Kaitlan Collins mentioned former Trump White House communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin claiming that Barr was present in the summer of 2020 when Trump suggested that an unknown White House leaker should be executed.

I remember him being very mad about that. I actually dont remember him saying executing, but I wouldnt dispute it, you know The president would lose his temper and say things like that. I doubt he wouldve actually carried it out, Barr said.

Collins then questioned whether Trump would say things like that on other occasions.

Barr responded that people would sometimes take Trump too literally.

He would say things similar to that on occasions to blow off steam. But I wouldnt take them literally every time he did it, he acknowledged.

Why not? Collins pressed.

Because at the end of the day, it wouldnt be carried out and you could talk sense into him, Barr argued, prompting Collins to counter that an unexecuted order doesnt remove the threat.

Barr insisted that there was no threat.

I dont think the threat is there. The thing that I worry about President Trump is not that hes going to become an autocrat and do those kinds of things, Barr said.

When Collins inquired as to why Barr believes that, and whether or not its a hunch, Barr responded that it was just his feeling.

Having worked for him and seen him in action, I dont think he would actually go and kill political rivals and things like that, Barr claimed.

Later in the interview, Collins read aloud Trumps mocking response to Barr following his endorsement. Barr replied by effectively kowtowing: Classic Trump, he said.

The real threat to Democracy, Barr claimed, came from the Biden administration, as opposed to the former president who has been indicted for his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
Belgian Defence Minister Ludivine Dedonder has announced additional aid to strengthen Ukraine's air defence following a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (also known as the Ramstein group) on 26 April.

Source: European Pravda, citing Dedonder at a press conference, quoted by the Belgian TV channel RTBF

Dedonder said Belgium will provide Ukraine with missiles for air defence systems from its own stockpile (though she did not specify which types or how many), and will also contribute 200 million to a German initiative to send air defence systems.

Quote: "We will remain mobilised over the coming weeks to support Ukraine. Our message remains unchanged: the day Russia stops its invasion and gives up the illegally occupied territories, the conflict will end."

Background:

Ludivine Dedonder and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo have announced the accelerated delivery of their own F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, which will take place by the end of 2024, rather than in 2025 as previously planned.

On 17 April, the German government launched an initiative to find additional air defence equipment that could be sent to Ukraine. Berlin later reported that it was discussing funding for the initiative with Denmark and the Netherlands.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that Washington continues to negotiate with its allies on the possibility of supplying Ukraine with additional air defence systems, including Patriots.

Support UP or become our patron!
Best Friends NWA rescues 30 dogs at risk of being killed from Central Arkansas shelter

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  The Best Friends Pet Resource Center in Bentonville took in more than two dozen dogs from an overcrowded Central Arkansas shelter earlier this week, according to a news release.

30 dogs were recovered, including a mother and her nine puppies, from Jacksonville Animal Services that were at risk of being killed, Best Friends said.

Purina Presents: Meet Ryder in Pet of the Week

These dogs were pulled despite the Pet Resource Center being filled to the brim with dogs, and we need the community to help us save even more lives by adopting, the company said in the release.

For the rest of the weekend, Best Friends says they are waiving adoption fees to help the dogs find homes.

For more information on the available dogs, visit BestFriends.org.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
The Biden administration abruptly announced Friday that it will delay regulations banning menthol cigarettes amid widespread opposition to the proposal.

In a statement, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra said his agency would not move to finalize the regulations and pointed to opposition from civil rights activists. Since they were first proposed by the HHS' Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the regulations have sparked a contentious debate between health advocates and civil liberties and business groups.

"This rule 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," Becerra said in a statement. "Its clear that there are still more conversations to have, and that will take significantly more time."

The announcement comes exactly two years after FDA initially proposed the regulations, paving the way for an historic ban on menthol cigarettes that the administration said would be a "critical" piece of President Biden's Cancer Moonshot initiative. FDA also argued at the time that the ban would broadly "reduce the appeal of cigarettes" and have substantial health impacts.

BIDEN ADMIN FACING CONGRESSIONAL PROBE OVER PROPOSED BAN ON MENTHOL CIGARETTES

The Department of Health and Human Services previously stated that the ban on menthol cigarettes would be a "critical" piece of President Biden's Cancer Moonshot initiative.

FDA ultimately handed the regulations off to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for final approval months ago after a lengthy public comment period. However, officials dragged their feet in moving forward with the regulations and missed multiple self-imposed deadlines to finalize them, igniting concerns among health advocates that the administration may change course.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"Unfortunately, the possibility of this administration making these rules a reality is shrinking with the passage of time, and ACS CAN is calling on the administration to not miss the opportunity to make a historic gain in the fight against cancer," American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network CEO Karen Knudsen said in a statement on Friday ahead of Becerra's announcement.

CONSERVATIVE GROUP UNLEASHES 6-FIGURE AD CAMPAIGN TARGETING BIDEN'S MENTHOL CIGARETTE BAN

OMB declined to comment and referred Fox News Digital back to Becerra's statement.

And an FDA spokesperson said the agency remains committed to issuing tobacco product standards for menthol in cigarettes and characterizing flavors in cigars.

"As weve made clear, these product standards remain at the top of our priorities," the spokesperson said.

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra testifies before the Senate Finance Committee, March 22, 2023.

During the public comment period, associations representing convenience stores, police, consumers and minority groups warned the administration that a ban on menthol cigarettes could foster an illicit market for the product, while punishing small business owners and minorities who are the largest consumers of the product.

Groups representing minorities, like the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement and the nonprofit National Action Network  the latter of which was founded by civil rights leader the Rev. Al Sharpton  argued that banning menthol cigarettes while not restricting non-menthol cigarettes "puts a microscope on minority communities."

BIDEN ADMIN'S PROPOSED MENTHOL CIGARETTE BAN COULD BECOME LIABILITY IN 2024: 'UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES'

The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement, National Action Network, National Newspaper Publishers Association and civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump met with Becerra, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf and White House domestic policy adviser Neera Tanden to discuss the proposal in November, according to White House records.

The White House also convened meetings with other stakeholders, including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American Lung Association, and the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS).

Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network emerged as a leading opponent of the Biden administration's menthol cigarette ban.

"The USHBC applauds President Biden for his leadership in delaying the menthol ban, recognizing the unintended consequences it would have had on convenience store sales nationwide and the livelihoods of over 600,000 workers," Javier Palomarez, the president and CEO of the U.S. Hispanic Business Council, told Fox News Digital in a statement.

"Implementing a ban would have not only been ineffective but would also risk disproportionately criminalizing people of color, the very communities where menthol cigarettes are consumed," Palomarez added. "We are delighted that the President has heard our concerns and we offer ourselves up as a resource to develop a comprehensive approach to public health."

According to NACS, the rule would have led to a reduction of $72,285 a year in non-tobacco sundry sales and $160,107 a year in tobacco product sales for the typical convenience store nationwide . The organization projected that the convenience store industry could have collectively lost $2.16 billion in sales as a result of the regulations.

In addition, government watchdog group Protect the Public's Trust (PPT) said the administration's actions Friday confirmed its concerns it expressed last week when it sued HHS for withholding documents related to the regulations.

"This announcement appears to confirm the basis for our lawsuit a few weeks ago on the proposed menthol cigarette ban. Public health authorities following the polling rather than the science is not a good look. It's also a major reason why trust in our public health officials is at an all-time low," PPT Director Michael Chamberlain said. "This only heightens the need for transparency into what's really driving decisions at the FDA."





Original article source: Biden admin abruptly delays plan to ban menthol cigarettes amid widespread opposition
The Biden Administration has delayed plans to ban menthol cigarettes, a proposal announced by the Food and Drug Administration years ago.

"There are still more conversations to have, and that will take significantly more time," Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement Friday.

The FDA announced its plans to ban menthol tobacco cigarettes in 2021, followed by its proposed rules for the ban in 2022. The move was aimed to improve the health of those most likely to smoke them, including kids and Black Americans.

According to the FDA, nearly 85% of Black smokers use menthol cigarettes, compared to just 30% of white smokers. Black men have the highest lung cancer death rate in the U.S. and both Black men and women are far less likely to be diagnosed with the disease at an early stage, when it is often more treatable, than white Americans.

The proposed ban  and now the delay  has raised questions about the effect it could have on Black voters months before a contentious presidential election.

The ban has already been delayed at least once, with promises of it being enacted by the end of last year coming and going. At the time, the White House quietly updated its Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs website to reflect that any final ban on menthol wouldnt happen until at least March.

At the time of the December delay, one official with a national public health group working to remove the products from the market told NBC News they were "deeply concerned" the ban would not take effect before the 2024 election.

"Everything gets harder to do in an election year because people are distracted and bandwidth is stretched," the official said in December.

Becerra's statement did not indicate if or when the ban would be enacted by the Biden Administration and provided no further details on conversations around it.

After the delay was announced Friday afternoon, anti-smoking and health advocates began expressing their frustration.

"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," Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, said in a statement. "The administrations inaction is enabling the tobacco industry to continue aggressively marketing these products and attracting and addicting new users."

The American Lung Associations President and CEO Harold Wimmer said the organization is "deeply dismayed" that the White House keeps delaying action.

"Every day that President Biden fails to finalize these rules, he loses an incredible opportunity to reduce the death and disease associated with tobacco use. Ending the sale of menthol cigarettes would have helped eliminate the dramatic health inequities in who uses tobacco products in the United States," Wimmer said in the statement.

Laurent Huber, executive director of Action on Smoking and Health, said that 789,724 Americans who smoke every day, including 199,732 Black smokers, are expected to quit once the ban is enacted.

Carol McGruder, co-chair of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council echoed dismay after the delay. "If the Biden Administration believed that Black lives matter, they would have ended the sale of menthol-flavored cigarettes. Instead, they appear to be caving to Big Tobacco which has racistly targeted our community for decades," McGruder said in a statement.

"Hundreds of thousands of Black Americans will die in the years to come because of todays inaction," she said. "Shame on you, President Biden!"

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
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

An earlier version of this article was published in the On the Trail 2024 newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox on Tuesday and Friday mornings here. To submit a question to next weeks Friday Mailbag, email onthetrail@deseretnews.com.

Good morning, friends. This is Gitanjali Poonia. I cover Utahs congressional delegation for the Deseret News, and Im filling in for Samuel Benson this week while hes on vacation. Hell be back soon, but in the meantime, Im excited to share some of the things Ive heard in my reporting around the state.

3 things to know

What would happen if a third-party candidate won enough electoral college votes in the presidential election that neither Donald Trump or Joe Biden got 270 votes? Thats the question Deseret Magazine writer Ethan Bauer asks in his latest article. Read more here.

Three members of Utahs congressional delegation held a hearing in southern Utah this week where they and local officials expressed frustration with the Biden administration over its management of federal land in Utah. One county commissioner said he felt insulted by his treatment by the feds. Read more here.

Trumps attorneys argued before the Supreme Court on Thursday that a presidents official actions should be immune from criminal prosecution. The justices asked the attorneys some pointed questions, perhaps showing which way they are leaning in the case. Read more here.

The Big Idea

The Biden administrations interest in Utah

In the last few months, several high-level Biden officials  as well as first lady Jill Biden and second gentleman Doug Emhoff, husband to Vice President Kamala Harris  have come to the Beehive State to tout the Biden administrations spending on infrastructure projects. Visitors have included Robin Carnahan, administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration and, just Thursday, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. She traveled to Utah to unveil $331 million in new funding, stemming from Bidens Invest in America initiative, for what the administration says are safer and cleaner transmission lines in Western states like Nevada and Idaho.

Earlier this month, a group of Utah Democratic leaders traveled to Washington, D.C., for a White House briefing to learn more about the infrastructure projects in their state. They dont ever let (Bidens) schedule out. But with a wink and a nod, I thought he or vice president would be there, said former state Sen. Scott Howell, who attended the briefing. But the countrys chief executive, along with key secretaries and advisers, were in Baltimore on April 5 as a show of support after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. We understood that thats where he needed to be, Howell said.

The briefing Howell and others received lasted five to six hours and was held at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House. In the hearing, Bidens senior advisers and staffers broke down the administrations large-scale investments under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act for the delegates from Utah, which is receiving $3.5 billion funding for projects.

Are these briefings in Washington, D.C, and a laundry list of project unveilings meant to help prop up Biden during his reelection bid this year? Howell told me he wasnt surprised the timing coincides with the 2024 race, saying it is just the nature of politics. But, he said, It doesnt matter if its the day before the election, (as long as) this benefits the citizenry.

Utah Democratic Partys Vice Chairman Oscar Mata, who also attended the briefing, said that the attendees at the briefing were from deeply red states, but that hasnt discouraged Bidens White House.

I think it really goes to show that Biden and his administration want to reach out to all communities, including those that arent in typically reliable blue areas, Mata said. Noting the many high-level visitors to Utah, he said that in his lengthy career in politics, this is the first time he sees an administration not take a state for granted, or assume that its a lost state, and being present (through) elected officials.

What were reading

Trump is already floating names to fill his cabinet, should he win in November. A leading candidate for secretary of state is Robert OBrien, the Utah resident and former national security adviser. OBrien and Trump are close, but Politico reports that the Achilles heel may be OBriens support for Ukraine  a position Trump does not agree with. Inside the fight for top Trump national security roles (Alexander Ward and Daniel Lippman, Politico)

Biden is attempting to court Nikki Haley supporters in his latest mid-six figure digital ad buy in Pennsylvania. This move comes after a larger number of Republican primary voters in the Keystone State than expected voted for Haley even after shed dropped out of the race. Biden campaign makes new digital ad buy in Pennsylvania to court Nikki Haley supporters (MJ Lee, CNN)

See you on the trail.

Editors Note: The Deseret News is committed to covering issues of substance in the 2024 presidential race from its unique perspective and editorial values. Our team of political reporters will bring you in-depth coverage of the most relevant news and information to help you make an informed decision. Find our complete coverage of the election here.
GAZA, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Hamas said on Saturday that it would review Israel's response to the movement's proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas has received Israel's official response to the movement's position on a ceasefire in Gaza, which was submitted to the mediators Egypt and Qatar on April 13, said Khalil Al-Hayya, Hamas deputy chief in Gaza, in a press statement, adding that Hamas will hand in its reply to the mediators after studying the Israeli response.

This came hours after a high-level Egyptian delegation, led by Egyptian Intelligence Chief Abbas Kamel, arrived in Israel as part of the efforts to broker a ceasefire deal between the conflicting parties.

Kamel held talks with officials of the security services about the possible military operation in Rafah and the release of detainees, according to local media outlets.

Hamas announced on Friday that it is open to any ideas or proposals for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, which "take into account the needs and rights of the Palestinians."

Qatar, Egypt and the United States are seeking to reach a deal for a prisoner exchange and a second ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, following the first one that ended last December.

Since the conflict between Israel and Hamas broke out in Oct. 7 last year, at least 34,305 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli attacks on Gaza and about 1,200 people have died in Hamas attacks on Israel. 
The Biden administration announced Friday it is reinstating federal protections for LGBTQ+ people seeking health care that had been unraveled during the Trump administration.

The move comes after years of legal disputes and pressure from activists to protect patients who are undergoing gender affirming treatment or who received abortions from being denied other forms of health care. Conservatives oppose the rules prohibiting discrimination, contending they would force providers to provide services against their religious beliefs.

Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post.

Under sweeping rules finalized Friday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, government health officials, organizations receiving federal health funding and health insurers that do business through government plans must abide by the nondiscrimination standards. Officials stress the rules are about prohibiting discrimination against patients rather than compelling providers to perform procedures.

Proponents of the rules have said they would protect patients from being turned away because they are gay or trans and prohibit health insurance policies that require LGBTQ+ people to wait longer and pay more for fertility benefits. The rules also contain more broadly applicable provisions, such as requiring health providers and other recipients of federal money to inform patients of free services that provide accessibility and language assistance.

Americans across the country now have a clear way to act on their rights against discrimination when they go to the doctor, talk with their health plan, or engage with health programs run by HHS, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement.

The rule focuses on Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which bans health care providers from discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age and disability in health programs that receive federal funding. HHS can enforce strict penalties against organizations and workers that the agency concludes broke the law - ranging from requiring additional training to kicking offenders out of federal programs. Federal officials say the rules preserve religious exemptions.

Politicians and advocacy groups have spent more than a decade arguing over how the White House should interpret the rule, particularly how it applies to LGBTQ+ and pregnant patients who could face discrimination from providers unwilling to treat them. The Obama administration issued regulations that included protections for gender identity and sex stereotyping. The Trump administration eliminated those specific protections. And the Biden administration moved in 2022 to restore and expand on the Obama-era definition by including sexual orientation as a specific protection.

The Supreme Court in 2020 also ruled, in Bostock v. Clayton County, Ga., that sex discrimination includes discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation, prompting some courts to block implementation of the Trump-era rules. A coalition of LGBTQ+ and other organizations suing to repeal the Trump-era rules urged the Biden administration to expedite the rules restoring protections.

LGBTQ+ activists cheered the Biden administration to finalizing the rules Friday.

LGBTQ Americans are grateful for this step forward to combat discrimination in health care so no one is barred from lifesaving treatment, Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of the advocacy group GLAAD, said in a statement.

The fight over discrimination in health care is likely to drag on because conservatives have signaled plans to resist attempts to cement protections.

Republicans criticized the Biden administrations proposed rule in 2022, with state attorneys general warning HHS not to exceed its statutory authority and signaling that they were prepared to sue over the anticipated final rule.

Conservatives also are urging a future GOP White House to reverse the redefinition of sex to cover gender identity and sexual orientation and pregnancy to cover abortion, Project 2025, a conservative group backed by the Heritage Foundation, wrote last year in a road map for policymakers.

The Biden administrations interpretation of the law would create special privileges for new classes of people, defined in ways that are highly ideological and unscientific, Project 2025 added. The group called for HHS to instead focus on serious cases of race, sex, and disability discrimination such as its probe into Michigan State University over allegations former gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar assaulted students there.

Related Content

He threatened Marjorie Taylor Greene amid a mental health crisis. Then came the consequences.

A Ukraine-born congresswoman voted no on aid. Her hometown feels betrayed.

AI deepfakes threaten to upend global elections. No one can stop them.
The Biden administration announced a new rule Friday expanding safeguards against potential discrimination of gay and transgender Americans seeking medical care, in a reversal of Trump-era limitations that nixed federal health protections for members of the LGBTQ+ community.

In a set of expansive new rules unveiled by the Department of Health and Human Services, the department moved to advance civil rights protections for patients by barring health providers and insurers receiving federal funding from discriminating against those seeking care on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. The HHS rule restores Obama-era protections for transgender patients that the Trump administration rolled back in 2020  a move that was condemned by LGBTQ+ advocacy and human rights organizations.

Todays rule is a giant step forward for this country toward a more equitable and inclusive health care system, and means that Americans across the country now have a clear way to act on their rights against discrimination when they go to the doctor, talk with their health plan or engage with health programs run by HHS, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a Friday statement.

The finalized rule comes as access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth has been tangled in political controversy, with more than 20 states in recent years attempting to restrict youth access to such care. As conflicting rulings on state-level bans have emerged from lower-level courts across the country, the Supreme Court has faced mounting pressure to consider the matter.

The contested rule stems from Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which bars discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability in specified health programs or activities. The new HHS guidelines stipulate that while Section 1557s prohibition on sex discrimination includes LGBTQ+ patients  and bans limiting access to care based on a patients sex assigned at birth or gender identity  exemptions based on health care providers religious beliefs still apply.

A 2016 interpretation of the clause under President Barack Obama expanded the ban on sex discrimination to encompass gender identity, but the HHS under Trump announced, on the four-year anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub shooting, that it was striking certain provisions of the 2016 Rule that exceeded the scope of the authority delegated by Congress in Section 1557.

HHS will enforce Section 1557 by returning to the governments interpretation of sex discrimination according to the plain meaning of the word sex as male or female and as determined by biology, the 2020 statement read. That move swiftly met with legal opposition from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was set to take effect.

The Biden administration in 2021 announced its intention to protect transgender Americans from health care discrimination through Section 1557 and Title IX regulations, citing a 2020 Supreme Court ruling that affirmed federal civil rights law bars discrimination against gay, lesbian and transgender workers.

Fridays expansion of civil rights protections was applauded by human rights and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, with Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson commending the HHS regulation as a crucial step forward by the Biden-Harris administration in the fight for complete health equity for LGBTQ+ Americans.

Countless Americans can now find solace in knowing that they cannot be turned away from health care they need just because of who they are or who they love, she said in a statement provided to CNN.

CNNs Devan Cole contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
A Douglasville man was granted clemency by President Joe Biden on Wednesday, a release from the White House said.

Biden gave Jeffrey Alan Lewis, 58, clemency along with 10 others as part of Second Chance Month, according to a statement from the president.

America is a Nation founded on the promise of second chances. During Second Chance Month, we reaffirm our commitment to rehabilitation and reentry for people returning to their communities post-incarceration. We also recommit to building a criminal justice system that lives up to those ideals and ensures that everyone receives equal justice under law, Biden said in a statement in part. I am using my clemency power to pardon 11 individuals and commute the sentences of five individuals who were convicted of non-violent drug offenses.

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

TRENDING STORIES:

Lewis pled guilty to a non-violent drug charge at the age of 40, according to the White House.

Explaining the clemency move for Lewis, Biden said in a statement that had he been sentenced under current laws and sentencing practices, Lewis would have had a significantly shorter sentence.

Lewis had already served his sentence and completed the obligations necessary for a supervised release, the White House said in a statement.

Since his release, he has been consistently employed, contributes to the community through charitable works and active community engagement, and he has built a reputation as a family man, according to officials.

Lewis was the only person to receive clemency from Georgia in this round of petition approvals.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:
This article was originally published in Rhode Island Current.

A lot of Rhode Islanders want to read Kristin Hannahs latest novel, The Women.

The e-book version of Hannahs Vietnam War narrative had 837 holds across the states libraries as of April 12. Nearly a week later, on Thursday, April 18, that number had risen to 900, according to the statewide library catalog. At least four physical copies were still available.

Libraries dont pay what consumers do for e-books  they may pay as much as nine times more, according to the Rhode Island Library Association. Theyre also not technically buying books: Libraries purchase licenses to e-books, not the e-books themselves, and licenses expire. Libraries essentially lease books for a set number of checkouts or duration of time, usually one to two years.

Help fund stories like this. Donate now!

If we purchased enough book licenses to satisfy even half of the 800 holds, it would cost us $24,000, said Julie Holden, assistant library director at Cranston Public Library. For one book. Its a book thats going to disappear in two years.

The costliness of e-books and audiobooks  with limits driven largely by book publishers concerns over revenue, copyright and author compensation  inspired the states libraries to put their weight behind a pair of bills in the General Assembly: H7508 in the House, led by Newport Democratic Rep. Lauren Carson, and S2514 in the Senate, led by Democratic Sen. Victoria Gu of Westerly. The bills would leverage state contract law to give public libraries more control over their negotiations with e-book suppliers.

If a bridge contractor is building a bridge in Rhode Island to replace the Washington Bridge, they have to build the bridge to the specifications of the state, Holden said. So thats what this is saying: If youd like to sell e-books to libraries in Rhode Island using state money, these are our terms. If the bills pass, and the publishers decide theyre not going to sell e-books to libraries anymore, then well see what happens.

Some of the protections offered by the bills include allowing libraries to determine loan periods and to buy e-books at prices closer to consumer rates. Licensing models which require libraries to pay a fee for each checkout would be eliminated, and libraries would also be able to disclose their license agreements to other libraries.

Several states aim to rein in prices

Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Iowa, Hawaii and New York all have similar legislation in process this year. Other states have seen support from lawmakers but opposition from the judicial or executive branches. After Marylands General Assembly unanimously passed a bill to protect libraries purchasing powers in 2022, the U.S. District Court in Maryland blocked the law on the basis of it being unconstitutional  an opinion informed by Association of American Publishers legal battle to prevent the laws enactment, Publishers Weekly reported. In December 2021, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed a similar bill.

Holden, who also chairs Rhode Island Library Associations membership committee, said e-books are a towering expense in the states already-squished library budgets. Public libraries are essentially paying for items they dont own. The two major e-book platforms are OverDrive and Hoopla  the former allows libraries to purchase books for a set amount of time, while the latter makes libraries pay per-checkout. Whats consistent to both models is a reliance on licensing.

Normally a state or municipality would never spend money on something thats going to disappear. Its not a good investment. Its not a good use of taxpayer money, Holden said.

Around a decade ago, e-book purchases were comparable to hardcover prices, Holden noted. That changed once publisher HarperCollins moved to a licensing model that limited books to 26 checkouts.

Overall, the prices have risen, and the terms have been restricted, Holden said. So now were spending money on disappearing products.

Thats totally different from the consumer space: Look at Amazons storefront for e-books and youll find books under $1 or books at 80% off. Audiobooks, which Holden called a whole other beast, also run up costs and libraries pay far more for them than a consumer does. A recent Stephen King audiobook, Holden said, was around $130.

Both time-based and checkout-based licensing have drawbacks, Holden said. With the former, the clock starts running once a book is purchased, meaning libraries are paying for hours, days or even weeks where the book is not being read by library patrons.

The checkout model, meanwhile, means people sometimes have to fight over the limited supply of a book. Holden said Cranston Public Library had to cap its Hoopla expenditures to $1,000 monthly, which translates to roughly $33 a day based on each checkout costing the library around $2 or $3. Most days, the checkouts are already full by 6 a.m., because people are putting in their holds at midnight.

Weve had a lot of people emailing us complaining, calling us begging us to fund this further, so that all the books arent gone at midnight, Holden said. So now our patrons are staying up until midnight, so they can check out the days quota.

Similar e-book bills have emerged several times in Rhode Islands General Assembly  in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. The Senate Committee on Education did recommend passage of Sen. Hanna Gallos 2022 version of the bill, but the legislation has not progressed much otherwise.

Rhode Island Current reached out to two of the major e-book retailers about the proposed legislation.

We are not prepared to comment at this time, said David Burleigh, a director of corporate outreach for Overdrive.

Hoopla did not return multiple requests for comment.

Larry Berman and Greg Pare  spokespeople for the Rhode Island House and Senate, respectively  said in a joint statement via email: Public hearings have been held on both bills in the respective House and Senate committees. Leadership is reviewing the testimony as the bills travel through the normal legislative process.

The price libraries pay for physical books have largely stayed the same, barring regular increases from inflation. But The physical books seen here in the basement of the Providence Public Library likely arent as in high demand as certain e-books, with some digital titles having hundreds of holds (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

Publishers struggle with shadow libraries

While libraries budget concerns over e-books is a more recent trend, book publishers have worried about their own finances since 1908, when the First Sale Doctrine emerged. This feature of U.S. copyright law allows the original purchaser of a book to resell their copy. Thats one reason publishers fretted when the secondhand book market saw exponential growth thanks to Amazon, and it contributes to publishers more modern preference for licensing over traditional sales, according to a 2023 report from the Engelberg Center on Innovation Law and Policy.

Brick and mortar libraries must play by the rules of copyright. More harmful to publishers bottom lines are shadow libraries  online repositories of pirated e-books and PDFs that are virtually limitless in size. After years of battles over audiovisual content like pirated movies and music, federal attention on illicit libraries has intensified in recent years. A 2023 report on counterfeiting and piracy by the Office of the United States Trade Representative noted that Libgen, one of the more infamous and popular book pirates, has seen legal action from 11 countries  including the United States, who seized a number of web domains associated with the site in 2022.

The Dublin, Ohio-based OCLC  which maintains WorldCat, the largest library catalog with data aggregated from institutions worldwide  also filed a complaint against one of these shadow libraries in Ohio U.S. District Court in February.

None of this has stopped Libgen from being mirrored, or copied to different servers. One Libgen mirror and search engine boasted a collection of 31,645,836 books as of this writing.

Rhode Islands public libraries, meanwhile, cant even obtain a digital copy of E.B. Whites Charlottes Web, a childrens classic that was published 72 years ago.

We cant purchase it, Holden said. We dont know why. Its just not available for librariesThe libraries cannot purchase it.

The Kindle version is currently available on Amazon for $5.99.

Rhode Island Current is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Rhode Island Current maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janine L. Weisman for questions: info@rhodeislandcurrent.com. Follow Rhode Island Current on Facebook and Twitter.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A ground delay at Nashville International Airport (BNA) impacted travelers for about an hour Thursday.

Its shining a light on an even larger problem  air traffic control is understaffed.

PREVIOUS: Ground delay lifted at Nashville International Airport

Last year, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said they were short 3,000 controllers across the country. In a statement to News 2, FAA officials said:

The BNA tower has 31 fully certified controllers and another nine trainees. The tower is authorized to have 39 controllers. Prior to becoming fully certified at the tower, the trainees were previously certified at other FAA facilities. Trainees are able to work some positions there on their own, without supervision, as soon as they demonstrate theyre proficient on those positions.

Robert Fowler with Middle Tennessee State Universitys aviation school told News 2 there are a lot of factors that go into understaffing at towers across the country.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Its the time that it takes to train them; it is the failure rate in training; roughly about 50% of the candidates fail out of the initial training, and then some then fail when theyre training in their facilities as new air traffic controllers. So even if they hire 2,000 air traffic controllers, youre not going to see 2,000 air traffic controllers taking positions right away, said Fowler, who is an assistant professor with MTSUs Aerospace Department. The FAA does allow air traffic controllers to transfer from one tower to another, but its a very difficult process, not easy for an air traffic controller to transfer from one facility to another, so there isnt a lot of flexibility as far as moving personnel around.

Another factor in nationwide understaffing is the strict age requirements. You cant apply to be a controller until youre 35 years old and must retire by the age of 56.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
TALLAHASSEE  As he stood in line Friday in the old Capitol to pay final respects to the late Florida Gov. and U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, James Stansbury sported a 45-year-old Fathers Day gift he had bought for his dad.

He was wearing a Bob Graham Florida tie purchased when he was a student at Florida State University. The tie is a Graham memento a Tallahassee clothier had designed in the 1970s when Graham was first elected governor.

Stansbury recalled several encounters he had with Graham as a student and state employee, and then after Graham retired as an elected official.

He always had time to talk. He didnt have an entourage or anything like that. It would just be him. A humble servant of the people, always willing to listen, always accessible," said Stansbury, a state land use planner.

Graham's legacy, according to Stansbury and a dozen other mourners, is a lasting bond with Floridians like one no other politician ever had  or is likely to create again.

From earlier Friday: Florida Gov., U.S. Sen. Bob Graham lies in state at old Capitol

His casket was topped with a mix of Florida greenery, palms and citrus, including orchids, magnolias, kumquats and Spanish moss. An honor guard of military and law enforcement officers brought the casket inside to the FAMU Gospel Choir singing Aretha Franklin's "Walk in the Light."

Graham died April 16 in Gainesville with wife Adele and other family by his side. The 87-year-old Democratic governor and U.S. senator suffered a stroke in 2020 and retired from public life.

He had served a total of 38 years in elected office. Those who were interviewed during what became a three-hour lying in state at the old Capitol remembered the man they considered an exceptional Floridian, a statesman who placed good public policy over partisan advantage.

We worked a lot together when I was mayor of Tampa on transportation, growth management and the 6-cent sales tax, said Republican former Gov. Bob Martinez, who succeeded Graham as governor. And when I was elected governor, I couldnt have asked for a better transition.

Graham was a multi-millionaire south Florida politician and Harvard Law grad, a patrician who embraced what it's like to work for a living so that he could do a better job.

A dare by a high school civics teacher for him to teach for a day led to the creation of Graham work days in which he would do ordinary jobs for eight hours, seeing a Florida he did not know.

What the media considered a political gimmick, according to Graham confidants, provided experiences that would inform the policies Graham would later advocate.

You learn by walking in other peoples shoes, by getting into the nitty-gritty of what human beings around you are dealing with, said state Rep. Allison Tant, D-Tallahassee, who as a Florida State student interned in Grahams office.

Graham was a noted diarist who recorded his work days and other interactions with people in small spiral notebooks. A New York Times analysis of his notes once found that, outside his official duties, he had worked more than 921 ordinary jobs in 109 cities in five states as an elected official.

Those jobs included eight-hour shifts as a short order cook, a bellhop, social worker, plumber, citrus packer, tomato picker, road worker, garbage man, circus clown and tree trimmer, among other gigs.

As governor, Graham championed environmental protection, public schools, social services and growth management to accommodate a growing population. He earned high marks  an 83% approval rating  and is credited with creating 1.2 million jobs and raising the states per capita income above the national average for the first time.

Early on, a lot of people called him Gov. Jello because he didnt seem to have a fixed position, but I think that masks the fact he really was listening and learning, said John Hedrick, a retired assistant public defender in Tallahassee and a longtime Democratic Party activist.

Tony Carvajal, the executive director of the Association of Florida Colleges, said he'd become disillusioned with the political process early in his career.

Then he moved into Graham's orbit and found that he seemed to take an interest in and have respect for everyone, regardless of the persons status.

He held one of the highest positions in the U.S. Senate (chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee), but he would take the time to bring you along, not by force but by connecting with you, Carvajal said.

He added: He came from wealth. You knew he was highly educated. You knew he was in the military. But he never made you feel he was any of those things. He got me back to doing public policy.

Visitors line up to pay their respects to former Gov. Bob Graham, who lay in state in the Historic Capitol on Friday, April 26, 2024.

Numerous mourners, like Carvajal and Tant, credit Graham for setting them on their career paths.

Former Tallahassee Mayor John Marks said he was a 27-year-old Air Force veteran with a law degree when Graham called to inquire if he was interested in being a Public Service Commissioner.

He gave me that catalyst, the jumpstart that I am extremely proud of and grateful that he did, said Marks, whom Graham named to the commission, which regulates investor-owned utilities.

He said, If youre on the (PSC), I expect you to do your job. If you need me, I am here but I expect you to do your job and if you do, I doubt that you will hear from me again. 

Marks got the appointment. The next time he saw Graham was two years later when the governor asked him to vet another candidate for the commission. A lot of the things I accomplished are a result of the confidence he had in me as a young, young guy, Marks said.

One of former Gov. Bob Grahams famous blue and silver Florida ties and a lantern, gifted to him by the Inaugural Prayer Service Committee for his first inauguration as governor.

Noted lobbyist Ron Book added: Im here because of the guy that gave me everything that I became, he said, standing near the Graham casket.

Book was Grahams director of legislative affairs. He said Graham would not let the Legislature end the session until he was satisfied with how money was distributed to individual school districts.

He wanted to know everyone was getting their fair share, said Book, a prominent lobbyist whose clients include nonprofits such as Best Buddies International and 20 cities, school boards, and hospital districts.

Former Florida Senate President Jim Scott, a Republican from Fort Lauderdale, served in the state Senate with Graham. He called him a great friend who understood that partisan politics ends on Election Day.

We were taught, and Graham was of that mold, that you were elected as a Democrat or Republican, but then youre a senator. Or then youre a governor. (And) you govern based on the whole state, and you deal with policy, Scott said.

Gwen Graham, daughter of former Florida Governor Bob Graham, speaks to a visitor paying respects at the Historic Capitol on Friday, April 26, 2024.

After he left the U.S. Senate in 2004, Graham founded the Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida and wrote at least six books, including America, the Owners Manual: You Can Fight City Hall  and Win.

Matthew Jacobs, executive director of the Bob Graham Center, said Grahams life's work was to get to know people on their terms, connecting with them and figuring out how to do the most good."

He said America, the Owners Manual is given to students at the center "so they can learn how to impact their local communities and pursue change.

Doug Cook, a former budget director under the late Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles, put Graham in the context of a pantheon of Florida leaders including Chiles, and former Govs. Reubin Askew and Leroy Collins.

They built modern Florida, Cook said. They were always focused on the people of Florida. And they were devoted to Florida. Were a better state because of them.

And Bud Chiles, of Tallahassee, a son of Gov. Chiles, said people were asking him, " 'Why do people here look so joyful today? I say its because people have such a remembrance of a great leader who really cared about the average Floridian, their problems, their concerns and (who) dedicated his life to meeting those needs.

He put that above power, fame, money and made the sacrifices that he needed to make," Chiles added. It was a golden age, that started with ... Gov. Collins and continued into the sixties and seventies with the election of my dad, Bob Graham and Gov. Askew.

I think thats why people are smiling. Those were great days.

John Kennedy and Ana Goni-Lessan contributed. James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jcall@tallahassee.com and is on X as @CallTallahassee.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee says farewell to the late Gov., U.S. Sen. Bob Graham
Body-cam footage shows police left an Ohio man handcuffed and facedown on a bar floor before he died

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP)  An Ohio man who was handcuffed and left facedown on the floor of a social club last week died in police custody, and the officers involved have been placed on paid administrative leave.

Police body-camera footage released Wednesday shows a Canton police officer responding to a report of a crash and finding Frank Tyson, a 53-year-old East Canton resident, by the bar in a nearby American Veterans, or AMVETS, post.

Lawyer: Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after his return to New York from upstate jail

The crash at about 8 p.m. on April 18 had severed a utility pole. Officer Beau Schoenegges body-camera footage shows that after a passing motorist directed police to the bar, a woman opened the door and said: Please get him out of here, now.

Police grabbed Tyson, and he resisted being handcuffed and said repeatedly, Theyre 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. A recent Associated Press investigation found those words  I cant breathe  had been disregarded in other cases of deaths in police custody.

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 Tysons wallet before realizing he was in a medical crisis.

Five minutes after the body-camera footage recorded Tyson saying I cant breathe, one officer asked another if Tyson had calmed down. The other replied, He might be out.

Former Ohio State football player accused of bank robbery

Tyson telling officers he was unable to breathe echoes the events preceding the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police in 2020. Tyson was Black, according to the coroners office. Both Canton Police Department traffic bureau officers who were placed on leave, Schoenegge and Camden Burch, are white, according to the police department.

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 Tysons 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 Coroners Office said Thursday an autopsy was conducted earlier in the week and Tysons 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.

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.

A Tyson family member reached by phone Thursday declined immediate comment.

The Ohio Attorney Generals 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 Tysons 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 U.S. 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 led 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.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Boise nonprofit will open 58 transitional apartments for homeless  for as low as $0

The Boise Rescue Mission plans to open its new transitional housing unit on the Boise Bench for working residents who are at risk of homelessness.

The Boise Rescue Mission, a faith-based nonprofit that runs homeless shelters and transitional housing in Boise and Nampa, will host a grand opening Saturday for Next Step, a 58-unit apartment building on Curtis Road.

The apartments replace a former assisted living building. The Rescue Mission has worked on renovating the building for the past two and a half years, according to a news release from the organization.

In a video tour of the Next Step transitional housing complex, Rev. Bill Roscoe, president and chief operating officer of Boise Rescue Mission, said the apartments will be for tenants who have spent time in a homeless shelter program and are wanting to move into a more independent living situation.

The Next Step apartments were formerly an assisted living facility that the Boise Rescue Mission renovated into transitional apartments. Rachel Spacek

Its a tough step from homelessness and shelter life back into the community, Roscoe said. And so this project will provide that next-step assistance that people need in order to make that transition smoothly and successfully.

The apartments are studios and one- and two-bedroom units. There is a central commercial kitchen and dining room.

Roscoe said tenants will have breakfast and dinner in the dining room and have soup and sandwiches for lunch, with the ability to take sandwiches to go if they have day jobs.

Tenants will not pay rent, Roscoe told the Idaho Statesman by phone, but instead will pay a program fee on a sliding scale. The scale starts at $0 for people who have no means to pay and goes up to $500 for people with two-bedroom apartments who can pay.

The program fee includes meals, case management and counseling, Roscoe said.

Roscoe and other housing advocates have said apartments built by private developers, even with help from the city of Boise, are still too expensive for people exiting homelessness to afford. Roscoe offered his organizations transitional living as a possible solution.

The Boise Rescue Mission operates around 50 transitional living apartments throughout the valley, according to previous reporting by the Statesman.

This addition will significantly expand our capacity to help people take an intermediate step from our emergency shelters toward independent living, Roscoe said in the news release.

The Boise Rescue Mission will host a grand opening and tours for The Next Step starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 27, at the apartment complex at 1777 S. Curtis Road.

How an advocate says Boise police skirt ban on ticketing homeless people for camping

Patient-care woes forced this Boise nursing home to close. It may reopen as something else
AUSTIN (KXAN)  The City of Austins Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management launched a new program to help spread awareness on bomb-making materials.

Its called the Bomb-Making Materials Awareness Program.

Funding for the program is provided by the State Homeland Security Grant Program from Gov. Greg Abbotts Public Safety Office.

BMAP is one way our office is increasing capacity beyond emergency management response, said Ken Snipes, HSEM Director. Prevention and risk management are key tenets of our work. This program will allow us to expand outreach to the business community to help prevent domestic terrorism.

The program is a counter-terrorism risk management program.

It focuses on restricting malicious actors from:

explosive precursor chemicals

explosive powders

exploding target materials

associated components

delivery methods

HSEM staff will reach out to businesses in specific industries that might sell those types of supplies.

Bomb making materials are readily available at beauty supply stores, hardware stores, pool supply stores, sporting goods, home improvement, and others. Quentin OBryan, Bomb-Making Materials Awareness Program Manager

The plan is to educate those businesses about the types of products they sell that can be used for homemade explosives and how to recognize and report suspicious activity.

OBryan said there are approximately 80,000 businesses in Texas that sell or distribute products containing chemicals that can be used to make a bomb.

Fertilizer, hair developer, pool sanitizers, nail polish removal, and drain cleaning, OBryan listed.

Businesses are asked to practice the RACK system:

Recognize products within your inventory that can be used to make bombs

Ask for customer I.D. and note suspicious purchases

Check your inventory and report missing or stolen products

Know your customers and report suspicious purchases or behaviors

Our retail partners can be the first line of defense against helping to alert law enforcement to suspicious buying patterns and buying behaviors that could be linked to potential criminal or terrorist activity in our communities. Brandon Gentry, Texas Office of Homeland Security at DPS

Over the coming months, staff will connect with hundreds of businesses in the area to educate them on this program.

In a news release, the HSEM wanted to remind people that, factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity are not suspicious.

People are encouraged to report only suspicious behavior and situations.

Keep an eye on whats going on

The Beauty Store Salon and Spa in Austin always has nail polish remover stocked on its shelves.

We carry nail supply, brushes, combs, and then some gifting, said store manager Kamryn Denton.

Denton said Beauty Store Salon & Spa has been around since 1988. (Photo: KXAN)

Denton said Beauty Store Salon & Spa has been around since 1988. (Photo: KXAN)

Denton said Beauty Store Salon & Spa has been around since 1988. (Photo: KXAN)

Denton said Beauty Store Salon & Spa has been around since 1988. (Photo: KXAN)

Nail polish remover is a common purchase for her customers. Using it for bomb-making supplies was never on her radar.

Wouldnt have thought us to be you know, a place where you could get bomb making materials at all. Kamryn Denton, Beauty Store Salon and Spa Manager

But now that shes aware, Denton said shell be cautious.

It is such a small space that you would for sure notice if there was somebody suspicious or if they were taking a lot, Denton said. Its a great way to kind of keep an eye on whats going on.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
SINGAPORE, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's national heritage Thian Hock Keng Temple will hold activities to commemorate the 1,064th anniversary of sea goddess Mazu from April 28 to May 1, according to its latest statement.

The commemorative activities include drawing workshops, charity dinner, dragon and lion's salute, traditional string puppet show, Taoist rituals, and Mazu's excursion.

Established in 1839, Thian Hock Keng is one of the most important Hokkien temples in Singapore. Chinese immigrants used to visit the temple to worship Mazu for blessing safe voyage across the ocean.

The Mazu belief and customs were inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009. 
A preschool teacher shows a poster of the planets to children. (Getty Images)

South Dakotas two largest cities are creatively spending child care grants awarded by the state, with uses including boot camps for providers and the hiring of a child care entrepreneur-in-residence.

Both communities face a shortage of available child care slots and struggle with affordable child care options for families, which can cost economic productivity and force family members out of the workforce.

Rapid City and Sioux Falls are two 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.

Third in a series

This is the third in a series of three stories examining how communities are innovating and collaborating with child care grants. The first two stories:

The initiatives range from improving the child care workforce to creating after-school programs and supporting existing providers with continued education.

We want to see a better quality of life for everyone in our community, said Brienne Maner, executive director with Startup Sioux Falls. This crisis is affecting everyone directly and indirectly. I want to see better support for our kids. I want to see our parents, especially our mothers, be able to confidently go back into the workforce knowing theyre making a difference and getting ahead financially  and that putting their child in day care wont break them.

Startup Sioux Falls is partnering with the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, Helpline Center and Lutheran Social Services to launch a small business accelerator program tailored for child care providers and to fund a child care entrepreneur-in-residence to help support providers in the metro area, Maner said. Lutheran Social Services will start its own child care development program for underserved communities in Sioux Falls  such as Spanish-speaking, multilingual, refugee or immigrant families.

The state awarded the Sioux Falls collaboration just under $285,000, Maner said.

Child care workers dont always identify as a small business owner, therefore theyre not necessarily seeking the same resources other small businesses and entrepreneurs are, Maner said. Were looking at this as a more economic approach. Were providing tools for success and creating a community of individuals who can help support each other as they move forward.

Elevate Rapid City will host a series of child care provider boot camps throughout the Black Hills area this year with most of its $255,000 grant, said Laura Jones, the nonprofits housing and community development manager.

The boot camps will cover basics such as branding and marketing, accounting best practices, and requirements and benefits in becoming a licensed provider with the state, Jones said. Another piece of the grant will be used for subgrants to help existing providers expand their facilities to become licensed with the state.

Our secondary goal of our overall grant is to get more in-home providers to register with the state, Jones said. We have no idea how many unlicensed providers are out there, and theres no way to know how many spots are being covered by unregistered providers.

Both Jones and Maner said providers in their communities are interested in long-term policy solutions in addition to the one-time pot of cash from the state.

This problem isnt going to be fixed at the local level, but were doing what we can and deploying the resources we have to help our community from within, Maner said, adding that providers would benefit from financial support at a national level. Its in our economys best interest to take a hard look at how were prioritizing child care when it comes to workforce and public health and all these sorts of things. I hope our state leadership is listening and will be a good advocate for us in Washington, D.C.

The post Boot camps, business accelerators: Rapid City, Sioux Falls get creative with child care grants appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Both sides of Alaska homeschool case want programs in place, disagree over how it should happen

The Boney Courthouse in downtown Anchorage, across the street from the larger Nesbett Courthouse, holds the Alaska Supreme Court chambers. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

The Boney Courthouse in downtown Anchorage, across the street from the larger Nesbett Courthouse, holds the Alaska Supreme Court chambers. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

The administration of Gov. Mike Dunleavy and plaintiffs in a court case whose outcome struck down key components of Alaskas homeschool programs have different ideas for how to get families who use those programs through the next year.

Earlier this month, Anchorage Superior Court Judge Adolf Zeman ruled that the law allowing the state to distribute payments to the parents of homeschooled students is unconstitutional. That left families who use the program to navigate uncertain terrain as they finish out this academic year and plan for the next.

For that reason, attorneys on both sides of the case have requested that the courts put the ruling on hold. Such holds are called stays. But where the state has filed for an indefinite stay on the courts ruling, the plaintiffs ask the court to limit a stay to two months. The Anchorage School District, the states largest, filed a friend of the court brief supporting the plaintiffs; three people whose families use the programs filed a response in support of the state.

The states request would retain the aspects of Alaska law Zeman found unconstitutional until a higher court weighs in on his decision.

Plaintiffs were willing to compromise, said their attorney, Scott Kendall. They offered to expedite the states appeal and help get legislation passed to fix the unconstitutional language in state law. They also offered to agree to the longer stay the state requested if it passed emergency regulations that keep the correspondence program running, but restrict spending on private school education. That is, Alaska families would not be able to offset private school costs with state funds, but could still purchase curriculum and textbooks with state money. Kendall drafted an example of such regulations.

The state declined the plaintiffs offer through its attorney.

At this point, the state plans to see how the stay proceedings play out in the courts, before deciding how best to address any problems that may remain once the trial court and the Supreme Court have weighed in on the stay, wrote Margaret Paton-Walsh, the chief of the special litigation section within the Alaska Department of Law.

The states request for a stay emphasizes the harm correspondence families will experience without one and that the judges ruling means correspondence programs would not be able to operate at all.

For decades, the State has offered correspondence schools as one of the options for Alaskan students in furtherance of its constitutional duty to provide for education, Paton-Walsh wrote in the stay request. Wrongfully removing that educational optioneven temporarilyirreparably harms both the States education system and the children within it.

Kendall said the states argument is disingenuous and that it is clear the ruling does not end the entire correspondence program.

The only part that they are holding up on is the part that is so clearly unconstitutional, he said. I believe theyre trying to manufacture a crisis around the correspondence schools in order to get what they really want, which is to tear out part of our Constitution: the direct benefit clause, which prohibits spending public funds at private schools.

Kendall said the administration refused a compromise that would maintain the correspondence programs while meeting the constitutions requirements.

If thats where theyre at, then theyre not arguing with me, Kendall said. Theyre arguing with the founders who wrote Alaskas constitution, and thats not a winning legal argument.

To change the constitution would take approval from two-thirds of both legislative bodies and a public vote in favor.

The state asked for a decision by May 2, but the judges decision could come at any time.

The post Both sides of Alaska homeschool case want programs in place, disagree over how it should happen appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Brent Hatch didnt get enough signatures to qualify for Republican primary. What does that mean for his Senate bid?

Senate candidate Brent Hatch, son of former Sen. Orrin Hatch, did not collect enough signatures to qualify for the June 25 Republican primary. But Hatch can still make it onto the ballot if he is nominated by delegates at Saturdays GOP state convention.

By the 5 p.m. Friday deadline, Hatch had 21,035 certified signatures according to the states website, short of the 28,000 certified signatures necessary to appear on the ballot. Candidates can also qualify for the primary ballot by receiving more than 40% of delegates support at the convention, a feature of Utahs unique party caucus system.

The candidate who wins the June 25 primary will face a Democratic candidate and third party candidates for the Senate seat currently held by Sen. Mitt Romney.

Hatch told the Deseret News, I have been working hard for months meeting with delegates up-and-down the state. My focus from day one has been on the delegates and doing well at the convention on Saturday. That has not changed. I am touched by the overwhelming support I have received from the delegates so far and expect to do extremely well at the convention.

The state GOP nominating convention has historically been characterized by a more ideological electorate. Candidates who might be popular generally with Utah voters, like former Gov. Gary Herbert and Romney, sometimes lose among delegates. Both Herbert and Romney won by large margins in their subsequent primary elections.

When he met with the Deseret News and KSL editorial boards in early April, Hatch called the task of competing with his well-resourced Republican opponents to gather 28,000 signatures daunting, and said his primary ballot qualification was up in the air.

The daily grind of this is really pretty amazing, Hatch said. My father wasnt here to warn me about that.

Hatch is the son of the late Orrin Hatch, who was Utahs longest serving U.S. senator, holding the seat from 1977 to 2019. Not wanting to ride the coattails of his father, Hatch built a career outside of electoral politics, first working as a legal counsel in the Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations and then as a litigator at his high-profile Salt Lake City firm.

Who is running for the Senate in Utah?

Besides Hatch, the other Republican candidates running for the open Senate seat include Utahs 3rd Congressional District Rep. John Curtis, former state House Speaker Brad Wilson, Moxie Pest Control CEO Jason Walton, Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs, political adviser Carolyn Phippen, certified public accountant Josh Randall, Bookroo founder Chandler Tanner, former piano tuner Jeremy Friedbaum and Abraham Lincoln impersonator Brian Jenkins.

The Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate in Utah include mountaineer Caroline Gleich, Archie Williams III and Laird Hamblin. The Democratic convention is also on Saturday.
Britain plans to equip the Armed Forces with a homegrown hypersonic cruise missile by the end of the decade, The Telegraph has learnt.

Military chiefs want a weapon capable of reaching speeds exceeding Mach 5 as the Government races to catch up with China, Russia and the US.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has insisted that the new weapon be designed and built entirely in Britain and is understood to have set a deadline of 2030 for it to enter service.

The project has been identified by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, as one destination for a planned 75 billion uplift in the defence budget over the next six years.

A government defence source said: Cutting-edge projects like this are only possible because of the massive new investment the Government has made this week in defence innovation.

With Labour refusing to match our investment, continuing this project would be impossible under Keir Starmer  the military would be forced to cut the hypersonic programme, in a move that would make Putins dreams come true.

The missile plans are understood still to be at an early stage, with no decision taken so far on whether it would be launched from land, sea or air.

One option is a weapon that could be fitted to a fighter jet like the Typhoon or F-35, which would have a shorter range and smaller payload than a larger weapon launched from the ground. The missile could also be launched from one of the UKs warships.

The project is being managed directly by MoD headquarters in Whitehall, rather than by one of the three armed services.

Since late last year, the MoD has been running a consortium of around 80 companies to come up with possible designs.

The Hypersonic Technologies & Capability Development Framework Agreement was launched in December in what has been described as a national mission.

Sources involved in the project said the construction of the missiles would be especially difficult because some of the materials required do not yet exist, and must be developed from scratch to withstand the high temperatures that come with hypersonic speeds.

Engineers are also working on a British version of a scramjet engine, which uses compressed air moving at supersonic speeds to aid the combustion of liquid or solid fuel.

The MoD declined to comment in detail on the plans, citing national security concerns, but a spokesman said: We are pursuing hypersonic technologies to further develop UK sovereign advanced capabilities. We continue to invest in our equipment to meet current and future threats.

Most missile projects work as international collaborations between the UK and at least one foreign ally, making the hypersonic cruise missile project unusual.

A separate project could see the UK acquire an even faster and more sophisticated type of hypersonic weapon, known as a glide vehicle, through the AUKUS partnership with the United States and Australia.

Hypersonic missiles, which operate at significantly faster speeds than standard cruise missiles, have the ability to evade an opponents air defences by travelling at more than 4,000 miles per hour and manoeuvring in mid-flight.

The US has already successfully tested a hypersonic cruise missile, which it says is vital to keep pace with missile technology in Russia and China, which both claim to have developed similar technology.

Joe Biden, the US president, has described Russian hypersonic missiles launched at Ukrainian cities as being almost impossible to stop.

The US has several hypersonic missile programmes. They have suffered months of delays and failures, but a recent test flight over the Pacific Ocean was a success, and Washington hopes to have its first hypersonic weapons in service as early as next year.

Earlier this month, North Korea claimed it had successfully tested a new hypersonic missile that could evade South Korean and US air defences, but this claim has been described as greatly exaggerated.

China goes hypersonic

China has developed land, sea and air-based hypersonic weapons, including the DF-ZF glide vehicle that entered service in 2018 and is said to be capable of speeds approaching Mach 10.

At that speed, a missile with a long enough range could travel the circumference of the Earth in just over three hours.

Western experts have cast doubt on claims by Russia and North Korea to have produced a true hypersonic missile, with Moscows Kinzhal claim to the title dubbed at best questionable.

Ballistic missiles, including the Trident system used in British and US nuclear submarines, can already travel at speeds of over Mach 20, but are easier to shoot down because they travel on a predictable trajectory.

The UK is prepared to invest up to 1 billion in its hypersonic project through the defence consortium in the next seven years, although sources said missiles could be purchased from the US if a future defence review found they were needed sooner.

The competition over hypersonics, which has been compared to the start of the Cold War arms race in the 1950s, has prompted debate over whether the missiles are worth their high price tag.

James Black, the assistant director of defence research at Rand Europe, a think tank, said that while the missiles offered some military benefits, the money may be better spent on existing technology.

High cost and enduring challenges to technical feasibility mean that such weapons, if and when they become available to the UK armed forces, are likely to only be available in very small numbers, he said.

This raises questions about whether the UK would be better off increasing its stockpiles of cheaper precision weapons and other munitions rather than purchasing too many exquisite hypersonic weapons that may be overkill for most targets.

Once the UK has developed its own hypersonic weapon, it will be shared with the US and Australia in exchange for collaboration on other projects, including AI, quantum technology, hypersonics and undersea drones.

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.
British troops could be sent to Gaza to help US deliver aid

British Army personnel load humanitarian aid onto an A400M Atlas military plane as part of an action to address the plight of Palestinian people in Gaza, at an unspecified location in Jordan earlier this month - CPL TIM LAURENCE RAF/Reuters

The Government is reportedly considering sending British troops to Gaza to help deliver aid once the US finishes building a new sea route into the besieged territory.

The Pentagon on Friday confirmed that construction of the temporary pier, designed to speed up humanitarian aid into Gaza as famine looms, had begun and operations will begin in early May.

In a briefing with journalists, a senior US military official emphasised that no American troops would be ashore and that nationals from an unnamed third country would drive the trucks along the 500-metre floating causeway to a secure area on the beach.

We have a third party who will be driving the trucks down the pier, the official said. Just a point of emphasis, there will be no US military boots on the ground. So, a third party is driving those trucks.

While refusing to name which country would supply the drivers, he made clear it would be carried out by a significant partner.

The UK is considering sending British troops to fulfil the task, the BBC reported, but no decision has been made.

In addition to aid from the air, the Government is considering putting British Army 'boots on the ground' - CPL TIM LAURENCE RAF/REUTERS

Concerns over US  and now possibly UK  troops getting caught up in the conflict were heightened this week when a United Nations team touring the planned secure area for distribution was forced to duck for cover on Wednesday as mortar shells landed nearby.

About 1,000 US troops will support the military effort, including in coordination cells in Cyprus and Israel, but none will step foot onto the shore under a direct order from President Biden.

A British ship which will house hundreds of US army personnel building the jetty has set sail from Cyprus, a UK defence source said Saturday.

Plans for the new sea route have been mired in security concerns from the outset.

Sonali Korde, an official with the US 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.

The pier will initially facilitate the delivery of 90 truckloads of international aid a day into Gaza, rising to up to 150 truckloads once fully operational, the US estimates.

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 case of Ahmed Ali Alid, the Moroccan asylum seeker who was this week found guilty of murdering a stranger in a rampage motivated by the conflict in Gaza, highlights just how broken Britains immigration system has become.

The 45-year-old, who entered the UK illegally via the Netherlands in 2020, attempted to kill his housemate, a Christian convert, by knifing him in his bed as he slept.

He then prowled the streets of Hartlepool until he came across Terence Carney, 70, who was out for a morning walk, attacking him and stabbing him to death.

Alid told police after his arrest that the attack was for the people of Gaza and that, if he had had access to a machine gun, he would have killed more people.

During the police interview, he attacked two female officers, yelling Palestine and Allahu Akbar as he grabbed one of them and wrestled her to the ground, causing his solicitor to dial 999.

The tragedy of this case is that there would have been multiple chances to stop Alid. He had been in the country for several years, having previously spent more than a decade roaming around Europe.

Had his presence in the UK been properly interrogated, it would have been discovered that he had left Morocco in 2007 after having a problem with the intelligence services, and that he had been refused asylum in Germany.

(According to the UN Refugee Agency, 94 per cent of asylum applications from Morocco are rejected  presumably because its actually a safe country where Sir Richard Branson has a home).

Asked during his trial if he had been successful in applying for asylum during the three years he spent in dispersal lodgings in Hartlepool, he said: I didnt have any answer. So he was basically left to kill.

How many other people have entered the UK illegally, and pose a similar threat to the safety and wellbeing of the British public?

The Home Office already has some serious questions to answer  as does the Ministry of Justice, which ultimately oversees legal aid. I can disclose that Alid received such help to fund his defence. Is that really the best use of public money?

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.
SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA)  A man who claims he was sexually abused by a Florida priest as a child spoke publicly for the first time in Sarasota on Friday.

Investigators said Father Leo Riley, 68, faces allegations of sex abuse. The alleged incidents occurred in Iowa and date back to the 1980s, before the church transferred him to Florida.

A 32-year-old man said he was sexually abused by Father Riley in the early to mid-2000s. Tragically, this is part of a larger issue within the Catholic Church, something weve seen before.

As a child, I attended Saint Charles School in Port Charlotte, where Father Leo Riley repeatedly abused me for years, said the man who does not want to be named.



I never told anybody back then. He said that if I told anyone, he would do to my sister what he was doing to me, he continued. I buried these memories very deep, but I couldnt keep them buried forever.

All those memories came rushing back two days ago, when Riley was arrested at his Southwest Florida home. Hes been charged with five counts of capital sexual battery.





When they started coming back and flashes and nightmares, I needed to do something about it, the alleged victim said. Im standing here now on behalf of myself and anyone else that was a victim of Leo P. Riley.



Investigators said Riley served as the Associate Pastor at the Resurrection Church in Dubuque four decades ago. In 2015, the first alleged victim in Iowa came forward. At that point, Riley had already been transferred, and was working at Saint Charles Borromeo Church in Port Charlotte, where he was for 13 years.

In May of 2023, the Dubuque Police Department said it was contacted by the Archdiocese of Dubuques Office for the Protection of Children, a division of their Human Resources Department, regarding reports they had received of cold cases of sexual abuse that occurred in the city in the 1980s.

Man who shot self at Tampa FDOT building was outraged with transportation officials

Dubuque police said that first alleged victim as well as three other men in Iowa reported being sexually abused by Riley from 1984 to 1986 when they were in grade school and served as altar boys of Resurrection Parish.

Riley is currently assigned to San Antonio Catholic Church within the Diocese of Venice.

The people with the power to do something about this higher up in the diocese or archdiocese or even above that need to make sure that theres a no tolerance policy for this, said Mallard Perez managing partner, Damian Mallard, .

In 2020, the attorney filed a lawsuit against Riley, St. Charles Borromeo, and the Diocese of Venice on behalf of his client.

8 On Your Side investigation: Rick Scott demands answers after $100M goes missing from trust fund

The Diocese sent 8 On Your Side this statement:

Although Father Riley strenuously denied the allegation, maintaining his innocence, in accordance with the Diocese of Venices Policy for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults, upon learning of the allegation Bishop Dewane immediately placed Father Riley on administrative leave, pending the investigation that was to be conducted by the Archdiocese of Dubuque. On May 17, 2023, Bishop Dewane also sent a letter to parishioners alerting them to the allegation.

The statement also said: The Diocese of Venice has just learned that Father Riley has now been arrested. We pray that the Lord of Truth and Light will guide us all in His ways moving forward. We pray, today and always, for the healing of all victims of abuse. May the light of truth and justice alleviate their pain and suffering, and may the Lord grant them healing, and peace. The Diocese of Venice provides a Victim Assistance Coordinator, who can be reached at 941-416-6114.

But Mallard said parts of that statement were misleading.



Why was Father Riley permitted to remain in his position with access to children for nearly three years after my client became the second person to allege sex abuse by him, filed a lawsuit and sworn to it under oath, Mallard said.



Mallard said the Charlotte County Sheriffs Office is now investigating the matter.

$100M missing from trust fund: Case much worse than FTX scandal if claims true, attorney says

Sheriff Bill Prummell shared the following statement:

If the accusations are true, then we have had a sexual predator living among us in Charlotte County that was trusted by far too many people simply because of his position. It is likely that there are more victims, and I encourage them to come forward so that we can make sure this type of heinous thing does not happen to anyone else here. It doesnt matter when it happened, but what does matter is that the truth needs to be shared and justice needs to be served. We stand with you.



If you were abused by this man, you are not alone there is help available to you, the alleged victim said.

If anyone has information about Riley or is a victim of these types of crimes within Charlotte County, contact the Charlotte County Sheriffs Office at (941) 639-2101.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
A Calwell County teacher has been awarded the American Chemical Society Hach Grant for Professional Development.

The prestigious grant will enable Lauren Smith, the Honors Chemistry teacher at Caldwell Early College High School, to participate in the Biennial Conference on Chemical Education at the University of Kentucky this summer.

This training will provide me with the invaluable tools and resources that I look forward to sharing with my colleagues in the school district through ongoing professional development, Smith said.

The $2,500 grant will also be used to support the enhancement of Smiths chemistry classroom by purchasing new teaching materials, resources, and software.

Smith has also been selected as a recipient of the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Promoting Innovation in Science and Mathematics grant. The $4,500 grant will be allocated, with $2,000 earmarked for further professional development and $2,500 dedicated to enhancing her classrooms chemistry lab.

ALSO READ: Federal grant will help students facing mental health challenges in Rock Hill

Smiths winning grant proposal includes integrating fine arts into the chemistry curriculum.

I plan to incorporate several new art projects that are chemistry-based, and ideally, we will have a chemistry art gallery at the end of the school year when students will reflect upon their knowledge and understanding of the content as well as how that allows them to express themselves creatively, Smith explained.

Smith said she has taught chemistry for 10 years and is committed to innovative teaching methods.

A resident of Lenoir since 2008, she taught previously at Challenger Early College High School in Hickory for 12 years and has been involved in New Schools Projects and Cooperative Innovative High Schools as a site researcher for innovative designs in inquiry-based learning in the science classroom.

She is an alumna of Appalachian State University and holds National Board Certification.

VIDEO: Federal grant will help students facing mental health challenges in Rock Hill




Search and rescue crews in Curry County worked their way down cliffs in the Natural Bridges area of Boardman State Scenic Corridor to recover the body of a California man who fell and died at the site on the south Oregon Coast.

A California man died Sunday after falling 300 feet from a cliff on the south Oregon Coast, according to the Curry County Sheriffs Office. It marks the fourth death in four years at the the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, and the third death in four years in the Natural Bridges area located north of Brookings.

Richard Ehrhart, 69, of San Jose, was hiking the Natural Bridges Trail in Curry County with his wife on April 21. The two separated on the trail, the sheriff's office said, and his wife returned to the couple's car.

Later, a caller relayed that he had seen a person on the rocks below him, from the trail, that appeared to be deceased. The body was identified as Ehrhart. Search and rescue teams recovered his body.

Oregon State Police is the lead agency for investigating the cause of death.

The Natural Bridges are a series of scenic rocks and bluffs near the Pacific Ocean viewed from just off very steep cliffs.

We here at the Curry County Sheriffs Office express our condolences to the family and friends of Richard Ehrhart. We also want to remind everyone of the dangers of hiking the coastal trails, and to please be safe, the sheriffs office said in a news release.

Search and rescue crews in Curry County worked their way down cliffs in the Natural Bridges area of Boardman State Scenic Corridor to recovery the body of a California man who fell and died at the site on the south Oregon Coast.

Fourth death in 4 years at Boardman Corridor

While its unclear exactly what happened in the accident, the Boardman Corridor in general  and the Natural Bridges area in particular  has become the location with the most fatal accidents on the coast since 2021.

A North Carolina woman visiting the Natural Bridges section of the park died in a fall in 2021. A California man died when he fell from the Natural Bridges Viewpoint in 2022. Another man was rescued from the area in 2022, according to newspaper archives.

Last year, a 36-year-old father died and three children were rescued after an attempt to visit the so called Secret Beach went wrong and the group slid down a cliff after following a user-created trail.

Why is the area on the south Oregon Coast so dangerous?

The number of people visiting the park located just off U.S. Highway 101 has increased by more than 34% since 2018, according to state park numbers, which has meant more visitors to an area with steep cliffs that drop hundreds of feet.

In addition, the number of so-called social trails that sometimes lead to dangerous spots has increased. People can think theyre going to get a scenic viewpoint only to come to an extremely dangerous location.

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department spokesman Chris Havel said park staff have done their best to cover up social trails with brush, but they often reemerge.

As for putting up more signs that illustrate the danger, Havel said thats a challenge too, as visitors often take them down. Or, it creates the illusion that every social trail without a sign is perfectly safe, which may not be true.

This is a challenging issue, Havel said. There often isnt an easy or obvious solution, especially at a place like Boardman that stretches 12 miles and is really a series of different parks. Were going to work on looking at whats going on to pick up on a real pattern or trend and then figure out what we could do.

Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 15 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. Urness is the author of Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon and Hiking Southern Oregon. He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Man dies after fall at Boardman Corridor on Oregon Coast
Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, meets with a visiting Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party delegation led by Fu Kun-chi in Beijing, capital of China, April 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

BEIJING, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Wang Huning, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, on Saturday met with a visiting Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party delegation led by Fu Kun-chi.

"We will adhere to the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus and resolutely oppose 'Taiwan independence' separatist activities and interference from external forces," said Wang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

He pledged that the mainland will continue to promote cross-Strait exchanges, cooperation, and integrated development.

Wang expressed the hope that the KMT legislators would play an active role in enhancing cross-Strait relation, saying that he expected more participation by compatriots on both sides, especially the younger generation, in cross-Strait exchanges and communication.

Compatriots on the mainland are deeply concerned about those who are affected by the recent earthquakes that hit Hualien in Taiwan, and are willing to provide assistance for post-disaster reconstruction in the affected area, Wang said.

Fu expressed hope for enhanced cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation on the basis of the common political foundation reached by the KMT and the CPC.

It is hoped that the two sides jointly safeguard peace in the Taiwan Strait and promote the return of cross-Strait relations to the track of peaceful development, he said. 

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, meets with a visiting Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party delegation led by Fu Kun-chi in Beijing, capital of China, April 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)
On April 25, 2024, the Tohono Oodham Nation, the National Congress of American Indians, the Inter-Tribal Association of Arizona, the Association on American Indian Affairs, and the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers filed an amicus brief urging all 29 Judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to rehear Apache Stronghold v. U.S.

The nonprofit organization Apache Stronghold initially brought the case to protect a sacred place the Apache call Chichil Bidagoteel, which translates into English as Oak Flat from being transferred to a mining company, Resolution Copper. The Tribal Nation and Tribal Organization amicus brief contends that a rehearing is exceptionally important because sacred places like Oak Flat are vital to many Tribal Nations religious practices. A final negative ruling will not only allow Oak Flats destruction but will bear grave consequences for all Tribal Nations whose religious practices depend upon sacred places.

Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning.

Attorney General for the Tohono Oodham Nation Howard M. Shanker sees a rehearing as an opportunity for the Ninth Circuit to correct past legal interpretations. Under current legal precedent, judges can rule that the total destruction of Oak Flat causes no burden on Apache religious exercise. No burden, even though Resolution Copper intends to mine the sacred place until tunnels underneath Oak Flat cause it to collapse into a crater two miles wide and 1,000 feet deep. No burden, even though the mining would end religious customs practiced at Oak Flat. No burden, even though the Western Apache would lose the ability to practice religious ceremonies at this sacred place and the opportunity to pass these teachings on to future generations, said Shanker.

On March 21, 2023, in Apache Stronghold v. U.S., an eleven judge en banc panel of the Ninth Circuit heard Apache Strongholds arguments to block the federal government from transferring Oak Flat to Resolution Copper. Resolution Copper intends to mine Oak Flat until it collapses into a two-mile wide crater. This will destroy the Apaches land-based religious practices at Oak Flat. The destructive mining technique Resolution Copper plans to deploy will also render unfit the surrounding landscape that local communities call home. The en banc panel considered whether the land transfer, and subsequent mining, would substantially burden Native American religious exercise under the Religious Freedom and Restoration Act (RFRA).

In March 2024, the en banc panel handed down a lengthy set of opinions with a bare 6-5 majority opinion denying that the land transfer of Oak Flat constitutes a substantial burden under RFRA. The thin majority written by Judge Collins, came to its conclusion by rejecting the plain meaning of the term substantial burden. Instead, the Collins majority reached its decision by adhering to a novel theory of the terms meaning that has no basis in precedent. In dissent, Judge Murguia vigorously disagreed, finding that the plain meaning and common sense require finding that Oak Flats destruction constitutes a substantial burden on Apache religious exercise for purposes of RFRA.

The outcome of this case will have a drastic impact on the over 400 Tribal Nations whose homelands and sacred places fall under the Ninth Circuits jurisdiction, said Native American Rights Fund (NARF) Staff Attorney Beth Margaret Wright.

Earlier this month, in response to the March 2024 decision, Apache Stronghold requested a review by the full slate of twenty-nine Ninth Circuit judges. In a brief filed today, the Tohono Oodham Nation and four Tribal organizations, represented by NARF, supported Apache Strongholds request for review by the full Court.

The Ninth Circuit can and should hold the United States accountable to protect Tribal Nations religions and sacred places, like Oak Flat, said NARF Staff Attorney Jason Searle.

About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net."

Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net
They called it mashing and spooning. You could once get arrested for it in Fort Worth

Our Uniquely Fort Worth stories celebrate what we love most about Cowtown, its history & culture. Story suggestion? Editors@star-telegram.com.

Standing on the Corner was a popular song in the 1950s (recorded by the Four Lads, Dean Martin, and others) with lyrics that said:

Standing on a corner watching all the girls go by.

Standing on a corner giving all the girls the eye.

Brother, you cant go to jail for what youre thinking ...

Or for that woo-hoo look in your eye ...

Actually, there was a time you could go to jail for doing just that. Your grandparents generation, raised on Victorian morality, called it, mashing, and it was one form of the public display of affection that was criminalized, along with spooning. The Fort Worth police enforced laws against both mashing and spooning in the early 20th century.

Mashers were men who made unwanted advances toward a lady. Exactly what constituted mashing, however, was hard to define. One letter-writer to the Star-Telegram in the aftermath of Fort Worths 1911 race riot did not stop with excoriating the rioters and the craven police who did not stop them. He also deplored the mashers who hung out on lower Main, insulting decent women with rude comments.

The Fort Worth city council first criminalized mashing in 1915. It passed an ordinance making flirting [or] smiling at one of the gentler sex a violation, carrying a fine of not less than $5 nor over $500. In other words, giving them the eye. It was left up to the beat cop to enforce the new law, though commissioners were moved to take action when one outraged lady complained to them by ordering police to be more vigilant upholding public morality.

The number of cases prosecuted against mashers increased in the 1920s, reflecting a backlash against the nations new, more permissive morality. While many women shrugged off boorish male behavior, others refused to suffer such behavior in silence. In August 1921 an unidentified Riverside resident was arrested at a downtown movie theater after a lady complained he was coming on to her. When the case came up in corporation court the next day, the complainant was a no show, so the man was released.

That same month, Nick Naum approached Mrs. Lomax Haskell on West 13th on her way to her husbands drugstore. Hello, kid, he said, and asked where she was going. He picked the wrong woman to be so familiar with. A few minutes later her husband returned with a policeman to arrest Naum and haul him into municipal court.

Edward Botto also landed in municipal court. His mistake was winking (twice!) at the wife of Fort Worth Detective Winston Lewis. Naum was fined $50, and Botto was fined $25. They got off easy. In an earlier case, a masher was fined $100 and costs in Judge Raymond Bucks city court for accosting a young lady on the street, though there is no indication he touched her.

The size of the fine was based on the prominence of the victim and her willingness to testify, as well as the seriousness of the crime. What mattered was that the authorities took mashing as a serious offense against public morality. The irony was that this was the same town that had long tolerated prostitution and wide-open gambling in Hells Half-acre.

Dallas had similar morality laws

Dallas authorities likewise took the job of preserving public morality seriously, but like their Fort Worth counterparts they had a hard time defining it. In 1917, Dallas Judge Bennett Hill ruled that winking at a woman was not an indecent gesture and therefore did not constitute mashing. The case came about when a young woman minding her own business on a public street was winked at by a young man. She complained to the nearest policeman who took the accused into custody, charging him with mashing. The case came before Judge Hill in city court who ruled that the accused had committed no crime.

Spooning was another affront to public morality. It was what later generations would call petting or necking. As criminalized in Fort Worth ordinances, it could be charged to either sex or to both members of a couple. It was up to the arresting officers discretion. By 1909, spooning was perceived as such a problem that Fort Worth commissioners took it up in council.

The immediate problem was that students were doing it in darkened school buildings and on school grounds at night. Clearly, there was a lot to be learned at school that wasnt on the regular curriculum. School principals had tried putting janitors on night patrol, but since the janitors were not paid extra, they did not do much patrolling. Commissioners decided this was a job for the police. Unwilling to take regular officers off their duties, they authorized hiring special officers to do the job. No word on how successful they were.

Fort Worth authorities were not alone in being alarmed at declining public morality, and the problem outlived the Roaring Twenties. In 1930, police in the Houston suburb of West University Place arrested a man for kissing his young lady in the dark. The case went to trial in county court, and a jury fined him $67.30, focusing on the fact that the criminal act had been committed in a darkened car. The case took an odd turn when the defense counsel and prosecutor got into a debate over whether kissing was an inherent and therefore constitutional right. The prosecutor asserted, Kissing may be a constitutional right, but we dont want petters in West University Place! The jury agreed.

Mashers, spooners, and their ilk were just one aspect of the changing urban landscape in the early 20th century: public morality, crime, and other issues were alarming to a large segment of society. Historically, for instance, sexual openness had not been a problem for rural communities, where hanging out in front of the general store did not offer the same opportunities for ogling the girls.. The problem was not that a new generation had discovered sex; it was that urban living provided more opportunities to act out those urges.

Author-historian Richard Selcer is a Fort Worth native and proud graduate of Paschal High and TCU.
People from all over the Arlington community filled the seats Friday evening at St. Andrews United Methodist Church.

Words of comfort were offered, prayers were made, and songs of worship were sung to honor the life of 18-year-old Etavion Barnes.

The community, the victims family, and the Bowie High School student body are not alone in the grieving of Barnes, as the church offers their support, and he can be remembered as a light that continues to shine.

To the church, when one person in the community suffers, everyone suffers.

Pastors and the churchs praise team led a community service prayer and a lighting of the candles Friday, inviting people to grieve and stand in solidarity following the act of violence that took Barnes life.

Barnes was killed after he was shot five or six times by another student, 17-year-old Julian Howard, according to Arlington police.

Bowie High School was placed on lockdown Wednesday, and students were kept there for over two hours as authorities were investigating the shooting and secured the campus.

Barnes was shot near a portable classroom, and Howard was taken into custody near the school. The motive for the shooting is under investigation, but police believe the victim and the suspect knew each other.

The church made prayers for Barnes and his family to offer hope and peace. But they also prayed for Bowie High students and faculty, encouraging compassion for each other, friendship, and kindness.

Tina Plunkett, whose children graduated from Bowie High, says she is grateful for the church family and the community, but is saddened to see so much violence.

I cant imagine being a teacher these days. I cant imagine being a law enforcement officer these days. Its terrifying, said Plunkett.

She never feared her children would encounter gun violence when they were attending Bowie High, but to Plunkett, things have escalated.

I think before it was just the fear that theyre going to high school, theyre gonna be with the older kids, what are they gonna see, said Plunkett. These days, theres so much out there that the kids have to deal with ... and theyre torn in so many different ways.

Bowie High sophomore Elizabeth Hyden says Barnes passing has been rough on students and teachers.

You never expect that its gonna happen to you, said Hyden. Something that you always see over the news or you just hear that it happens, but you never expect that its really gonna happen.

Hyden and her classmate Nalani Patterson say they cannot see themselves and the school moving forward, rather, they feel the need to take extra precaution.

Going back to school... I dont know how I feel really, said Patterson. I hope that the school can move maybe not past it, but through it.

The students say Bowie High needs to revamp their security.

We need more security. We need just more precautions in general, considering our student safety, saud Hyden. We do have the metal detectors, but I definitely think that we can go above that to prevent something like this happening again.

But a Bowie High teacher who spoke anonymously to the Star-Telegram on Wednesday says the security at the school is not taken seriously.

Im not surprised that this happened. Its been a very mismanaged school for several years, and the security is a joke and nobody does their job, said the teacher.

The teacher said they have been trying to get the schools administration to crack down on security this school year, including checking that the students wear their IDs and show their IDs to get into the building.

Its not a safe building, said the teacher. They added that the metal detectors at the school are not as effective as they should be.

They can be successful ... but its very easy to sneak something in, very easy, especially at the beginning of the day when a bunch of kids are going through them. Its not monitored really, the teacher said.

The church also wants to point to resilience in the face of this tragedy and does not want Bowie High to be defined by the shooting.

The prayer service was concluded with the lighting of the candles, symbolizing the light that Barnes was and the outpouring of love and support from the community.
The retired cop who became the face of D.C. Metropolitan Police brutalized at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, has launched a private security business with a name evoking the attackand is already providing services to a campaign of the congressman who helped spearhead the subsequent impeachment of President Donald Trump, as well as major political organizations, the pol told The Daily Beast.

Federal Election Commission records show the campaign of Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) paid nearly $50,000 between August and February to Lower West Terrace LLC, a venture launched by Officer Michael Fanone and bearing the name of the entrance he defended on the infamous vote certification date.

As one of the managers of the second Trump impeachment trial, Swalwell committed to the congressional record Fanones account of the injuries he sustained during the election deniers bloody assault on the seat of government: Trump supporters swarmed him on the lower west terrace, tased him until he suffered cardiac arrest, and pummeled him into unconsciousness.

Swalwell, who has personally sued Trump for fomenting the attack, said he and Fanone had bonded not only over the trauma of that day but both received menacing communications from the vanquished presidents supporters.

He saved my life, Swalwell said of Fanones service on the day of the riot. When someone threatens to murder your kids, which happens a lot with me, having someone you know and trust to protect you and your family is kind of a free-for.

But the Democrat was quick to assert that Fanone has not personally guarded him or his family, and maintained that the company has instead assigned a veteran of the U.S. Armys elite Delta Force. Campaign finance records show no other federal candidate or committee has hired Lower West Terrace, but the lawmaker claimed the firm counts major political organizations among its clients, and that other officers present at the Capitol have served among its contractors.

Swalwell declined to provide more specific details on those points, and Fanone and his team were more reticent still. Fanone would not confirm Swalwells assertion that the company has served other political groups.

The company uses highly qualified contractors who are licensed to perform security services in the respective jurisdictions, an attorney for Lower West Terrace wrote in response to queries The Daily Beast directed to Fanone. The company does not identify its clients or comment on the security services requested or provided to its clients.

The Daily Beast spoke to Harry Dunn, a former Capitol police officer famous for battling rioters in the corridors of powerand for his subsequent testimony about the racist insults he endured while doing so. Now a candidate for Congress in Maryland, Dunn said Fanone had not approached him about joining the venture, but reported attending what he described as a meet and greet with politicians in D.C. last fall where Lower West Terrace provided security.

Two former D.C. Metropolitan Police Officers guarded the event, and Dunn said he discovered upon speaking to one of them that he too had protected the Capitol on Jan. 6. However, Dunn declined to provide names or additional details about the gathering, other than to say it was not a fundraiser.

Cop Assaulted at Capitol Vents Fury at GOPs Bullshit Claims That Rioters Were Just Like Tourists

Swalwell said Lower West Terrace, like the other security vendors his campaign and office have used, gets paid on a for services basis and selected depending on need and availability and cost.

Lower West Terrace currently has no web presence beyond online campaign finance databases and an unused domain registered through GoDaddy, indicating it relies entirely on word-of-mouth to expand its business. Virginia business records show Fanone formed the company in August 2021, four months before he retired from the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and only weeks after he appeared on the cover of Time magazine.

The entity became inactive in the years that followed, until Fanone reinstated it in June. Two months later, it collected its first check, for $5,400, from Swalwells campaign. Hed go on to receive $43,657.50 more by mid-February.

He told me he was starting a security company, and he knew we had a lot of threats, publicly, coming our way, Swalwell said. We let him bid on some of our needs.

In January, ahead of the third anniversary of the riot, Fanone appeared in ad campaigns attacking Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH)both colleagues across the aisle from Swalwellfinanced by the organization Courage for America. It also brought Fanone a spate of media hits, most of them on MSNBC. Yet in none of these instances did he mention his security firm or its work for Swalwell.

Mr. Fanone has dedicated his life to law enforcement, he is not a politician, and his work is not political in nature, Lower West Terraces lawyer wrote. Any statement otherwise would simply not be true.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
On Friday, April 26, four teens were arrested in Vancouver, Washington for a carjacking that happened in Bellevue.

It started with four teens in a stolen white Hyundai Elantra following the victim to their neighborhood near the 10000 block of Northeast 13th Place in Bellevue when they approached the victim at gunpoint.

After a short exchange, the suspects stole the victims black BMW X5 and personal belongings. The Hyundai and the personal belongings of the victims were abandoned not far from where the victim was carjacked.

During the investigation, Tumwater Police were contacted about a vehicle that matched the description and suspects dumping the victims belongings.

At around 9:00 p.m., the suspects attempted to enter Joint Base Lewis-McChord but failed. They were then pursued by Washington State Patrol officers as they drove southbound on Interstate 5.

The police arrested four male teenagers aged 14, 15, 16, and 17 years old after the pursuit ended near Exit 14 in Vancouver.

Bellevue Police took custody of the teens and charged them with First Degree Robbery and possession of a stolen car. The vehicle was impounded for further investigation.
School police parked in front of Washington Preparatory High School in South L.A. and increased neighborhood patrols after one student fatally shot another after school on April 15 outside a nearby convenience store. (Howard Blume)

The Los Angeles school district has removed a campus-safety contractor from Washington Preparatory High School after an adult  who apparently worked for the contractor  refused to intervene before a fight that ended with the death of a student, schools Supt. Alberto Carvalho said Friday.

The fight began after an individual, believed to be a school safety worker, was approached by worried students. In a cellphone video of the April 15 incident, which happened a few blocks from campus, an adult can be heard saying, off camera: Let them ... fight. If they want to fight, let the ... police [inaudible]. ... Im not breaking up s. I dont give a f.

The allegation  by students and by Nery Paiz, the head of the school administrators union  is that this individual was wearing the yellow vest or jacket that identifies someone as part of "safe passages"  a program to keep students safe on the way to and from school.

Less than 10 seconds after the fight began, three shots rang out and Elijah McGinnis III, 15, collapsed. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.

"If this individual made those comments, that is totally inconsistent with any policy or best practice that we would approve or consent to," Carvalho said in an appearance on the KTLA-TV Channel 5 morning show.

Carvalho then strongly suggested, based on a district probe, that he had reached the same conclusion as others: The person on the video was a safe-passages worker: "I can also say that, on the basis of this investigation, that private sector entity is no longer contracted with the school system."

The superintendent's comments were the most significant disclosures to date from the school system in the wake of the shooting.

For 10 days, Los Angeles Unified School District officials referred all questions to the L.A. County Sheriffs Department  which is investigating the shooting. The district continues to refuse to release the name of the company that provided the safe-passages service.

Although Carvalho visited the campus after the fatal shooting, he had not  until Friday  made a public statement.

The incident at Washington Prep raises serious questions about a ramped-up safe-passages effort, including about the level of training and screening for participants and the extent to which they are willing and able to coordinate with police when a situation begins to get out of hand. So far, district officials have provided no specific answers to such questions.

In his comments, Carvalho spoke to a common criticism making the rounds: that the district was avoiding responsibility for what happened. Notably, a message to staff and parents from Washington Prep Principal Tony Booker defined the incident simply as something that occurred "off-campus after school hours."

Such messages are typically written or approved by the central district office, sometimes after a review by attorneys.

Carvalho, at least broadly speaking, assumed a greater degree of responsibility.

"Let's be clear about one thing," he told the TV anchors. "Number one, any type of violence that victimizes a child, whether it is in school or anywhere in our community is something that we cannot ignore. And there are too many such incidents in our community."

But Carvalho also put some distance between the event and the culpability of the nation's second-largest school system.

"Safe passage entities  these are not employees of the school system," Carvalho said. "They are contracted entities to provide some degree of supervision, usually in areas where it is known for these incidents to occur."

School police  who are district employees  have temporarily increased patrols outside the school. And no follow-up violence appears to have occurred.

But the distinction between district employees and district contractors was not necessarily meaningful to students recently interviewed outside of the school.

Two girls, who were walking down the block toward the corner where the shooting occurred, said that having more security did not make them feel more safe "because there was security over there when it happened, the guys in the yellow shirts," said one.

They, too, had seen cellphone video of the incident. One witness said that more than a dozen students appeared to be filming what they thought would be a fist fight or maybe a beating. They did not know that the teen who was jumped by at least five boys had a gun in his pocket.

The many videos captured many angles. The two girls walking down the block described what the person in the yellow jacket was doing in at least one of the videos.

"In the video, it showed he was, like, in the background," she said. "And he was just watching."

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The walls of Centennial High School are full of colorful student artwork that celebrates various programs. But until recently, the American Indian Education Program didn't have one.

A mural depicting a buffalo atop a medicine wheel is now underway in the school's main hallway near the gyms and cafeteria. Three students came up with a design. One of them graduated before painting began and another transferred, leaving senior Lexi Sanburg as the project's lead artist.

Although Sanburg, 18, lacked confidence in her artistic abilities, she was the only one willing to take on the task.

"I was kind of like, 'Well, I guess here I go. We're just faking it 'til I make it,'" Sanburg said.

The Centennial High project is one of several efforts launched in recent years to emphasize Native history in Minnesota schools.

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community set up a $5 million campaign to fund grants, research and workshops for educators across the state. The tribe disbursed a series of microgrants in March. The Minnesota Historical Society also offered a Native American undergraduate fellowship for years, which was further boosted by a grant from the Mellon Foundation that helped the program expand in 2019.

Centennial High School, about 30 miles north of Minneapolis, enrolls 1,997 students, nearly 2% of whom are Native American, according to enrollment data from the Minnesota Department of Education.

Sanburg took a mural painting class at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts, which boosted her confidence in her painting abilities. As a hobby, Sanburg would create artwork that resembled her Native American heritage.

There wasn't any room at home to store her art class projects, so American Indian Education Program Coordinator Stephanie Spencer offered to display the pieces in her classroom.

The mural is part of Sanburg's senior art project. The class is taught under her Dakota art teacher Kevin Gilbertson, who helps her with the project daily. In addition, Sanburg serves as a teaching assistant to Spencer.

Sanburg grew up around the scent of burning sage, a Native tradition her mother kept alive. She felt at home within the Native American Education program, which is what compelled Sanburg to paint the mural.

"If I have this opportunity to make our room seen, why wouldn't I take it?" Sanburg said.

She plans to attend Augsburg University in the fall, and she received a full-ride scholarship to study psychology.

Spencer said members of the senior class of 2022 who brainstormed the design decided it should include a buffalo because one hunt of the prairielands mammal would typically feed a whole community, just as education feeds the Centennial community.

When Sanburg was tapped as the artist for the project, she received nothing but positive reinforcement from the students who worked on the design.

"They really kind of held Lexi in this beautiful little circle of support," Spencer said.

Spencer said Native American teachers and school staff began filling her inbox expressing their gratitude the moment Sanburg stenciled her work on the wall.

"[The mural] makes them proud," Spencer said. "Not so long ago a lot of them weren't proud to be Native."

Spencer said Native American education is often taught in the past tense and lacks lessons about contemporary people. She added the effects of the mural led to more questions about the American Indian Education program at Centennial.

Principal Tom Breuning said he's seen the effects of the mural firsthand.

"I see a sense of pride towards the mural. I see kids walking by and it's that sense of pride," Breuning said.

Sanburg's mural will be completed by the end of May.
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, senior legal correspondent Laura Jarrett explores the key question that has lingered over Donald Trump's legal proceedings this week. Plus, with the Ukraine aid package now passed, "Meet the Press" moderator Kristen Welker looks ahead to the next big fight facing Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell.

Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here.

The central question hanging over Trumps legal cases

By Laura Jarrett

In the midst of a high-stakes argument at the Supreme Court this week, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson asked the lawyer for former President Donald Trump a piercing question: If theres no threat of criminal prosecution, what prevents the president from just doing whatever he wants?

Its a question that lingers over not only Trumps criminal case in Washington  where a grand jury indicted him for attempting to overturn the 2020 election  but also in New York, where prosecutors are asking a judge to hold him in criminal contempt, because they argue hes attacking potential trial witnesses.

Trump is under a court-imposed gag order that directs him not to comment on anyone who might testify at the trial, but he continues to post about witnesses online and hold forth in the hallways of the courthouse railing against his former fixer turned states witness.

Do you have a news tip? Let us know

So whats a judge to do when faced with a defendant who also happens to be the presumptive GOP nominee for president? If the judge imposes a fine, as prosecutors have urged him to do, will the defendant stop? And if not, then what? In court this week the prosecution argued that Trump appears to be angling for incarceration  presumably to gain martyrdom status with his political base.

None of this is normal. And the judges overseeing Trumps cases right now appear to feel the weight of the unusual circumstances they find themselves in.

Judge Juan Merchan in New York and Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington, D.C., have both remarked at various points that, for the purposes of their cases, Trump should be treated like any other defendant. But hes not any other defendant. And if he wins his immunity argument in the Supreme Court, shielding him from prosecution, then he truly enjoys rare status.

Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, at oral argument Thursday in the election interference case, mused that everyone agrees no man is above the law. But the countrys legal system is being tested in an unprecedented way right now, and well see if hes correct.

Trump trial, Day 8: Longtime Trump assistant and bank executive each take the stand

By Adam Reiss, Gary Grumbach, Jillian Frankel and Dareh Gregorian

The prosecution moved onto its second witness in its case against Trump after former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker finished his testimony, which included attempts by defense attorneys to muddy his remarks about a joint scheme to benefit Trumps 2016 campaign.

Peckers dramatic testimony was followed by two other witnesses, including Rhona Graff, Trumps longtime assistant and gatekeeper, who said she was testifying pursuant to a subpoena.

Graff said she worked for the Trump Organization for 34 years and was responsible for maintaining Trumps list of contacts and his calendar. People on the contacts list  which prosecutors have a copy of  included former Playboy model Karen McDougal and adult film star Stormy Daniels, Graff acknowledged. Both women have alleged that they had sexual relations with Trump in 2006 and received money to keep quiet about their claims during his 2016 presidential campaign. Trump has denied their claims.

The listing for McDougal included multiple phone numbers and addresses. The contact information for Daniels just said Stormy and included a cellphone number, Graff confirmed after their listings were shown in court.

Asked by prosecutor Susan Hoffinger if shed ever seen Daniels in a reception area at Trump Tower, Graff said she had a vague recollection of that. Asked if she knew that Daniels was an adult film actress, Graff said, Yes, I did.

The final witness on Friday was Gary Farro, a bank executive who helped former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen set up the shell company he used to pay Daniels. Prosecutors are using his testimony to authenticate documents related to the transaction. His testimony will continue when the trial resumes on Tuesday morning.

Read a full recap of Day 8 of the Trump trial here 

Mitch McConnells next big fight

By Kristen Welker

Mitch McConnell has waged plenty of political battles in his decades as a senator  on campaign finance, against Barack Obamas judicial picks, and, most recently, in support of aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia.

But the Kentucky Republican, who is stepping down as Senate GOP leader at the end of the year, sees an even bigger fight ahead for himself: the battle against isolationism inside his own party.

He teased it in this exchange with me for an interview that will air on Meet the Press this Sunday, when discussing his conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after Congress approved more aid.

McConnell: Well, he was grateful, because he knew that the big challenge was in my party. And I think he  it was nice of him to mention that we had a bigger vote than we did a couple months ago. I think theres a growing feeling in the Republican conference in the Senate that the isolationist path is not a good idea.

And McConnell went into more detail later in the interview, telling me that, after he steps down as leader, he plans to spend his time fighting back against isolationism within the GOP.

The challenge for McConnell: The Republican nominee for president has espoused an America First foreign policy, which many GOP lawmakers have embraced.

Case in point: More House Republicans voted against additional aid to Ukraine than voted for it. And these are relatively newer members of Congress  of the 112 House Republicans who voted against Ukraine aid, more than 70 were elected after 2016. And in the Senate, 10 of the 15 Republicans who opposed the aid package were elected after 2016.

McConnell could be fighting an uphill battle, with Republican critics of funding Ukraine, like Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, suggesting this is the last aid package that will pass Congress.

I asked McConnell about this and much more in our interview Sunday on Meet the Press.

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
Following a volatile eruption of severe weather across the Plains on Friday and Saturday, resulting in nearly 125 combined preliminary tornado reports, the pattern unfolding across the nation's midsection on Sunday may continue to bring hazards such as damaging wind gusts, hail, flash flooding and tornadoes.

To put into perspective how numerous the storm reports were on Friday, when over 80 preliminary tornadoes occurred, AccuWeather Meteorologist Alex Duffus noted that the last day when there were more than 75 filtered tornado reports was March 31st, 2023. On that date, there were 163 filtered tornado reports. Filtered storm reports remove the duplicate reports that would otherwise lead to an inaccurately high total for an event.

Similar to Friday, AccuWeather meteorologists marked another rare 'high' risk for severe weather from south-central Oklahoma to east-central Kansas and the western border of Missouri for Saturday outlining the area with the best prospects for destructive, widespread and dangerous storms.

GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP

Storms that ripped through the Plains on Friday were associated with the first of two expansive storm systems to pulse across the Central states into the start of the new week. On Saturday, this initial feature continued to track northeastward and moved over the Great Lakes, eventually pushing into southeastern Canada as the secondary storm made its debut across the Plains.

Due to the high risk nature of the storms through Saturday night and the widespread coverage area of hazardous storms, experts urge the tens of millions of people within the danger zone this weekend to be prepared.

AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said that AccuWeather meteorologists recommend people in the risk areas to make sure they have multiple ways of getting weather warnings so they can quickly move to safe shelter if faced with an immediate threat.

Another component of the storms that should not be disregarded is the flood risk. Due to the repeat downpours and rounds of storms since late last week, locations from northeast Oklahoma to southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri can face a widespread flash flood risk through Sunday night.

Residents are urged to take additional caution when traveling and should not attempt to drive on flooded roadways. Experts from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that over half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into dangerous floodwaters.

On Sunday, the same area of low pressure that will spark storms across the Plains on Saturday will shift eastward, bringing yet another day of hazards.

Locations from central Texas to eastern Nebraska and Iowa will be at risk once again through Sunday night. A moderate risk zone is being highlighted around metro areas like Little Rock, Arkansas, as an corridor where the chances for robust storms is greater.

Localized damaging wind gusts of 55-65 mph will be possible with peak winds up to the AccuWeather Local StormMax of 75 mph. Other severe weather risks such as hail, intense downpours and isolated tornadoes will also be within the realm of possibilities on Sunday.

Residents are cautioned to stay hyper-vigilant when the risk for severe weather lasts into the overnight hours. Potent thunderstorms hidden under the cover of darkness, especially when there is an isolated tornado threat, can result in an elevated danger.

The threat will continue to evolve into the new workweek as the primary zone of low pressure nudges northeastward. From Monday to Monday night, thunderstorms can develop across the Mississippi Valley to the Gulf Coast and pose yet another risk for severe weather hazards like hail, gusty winds and flash flooding.

On Tuesday, AccuWeather meteorologists say that a new area of low pressure will eject from the Rocky Mountains into the central states. The chance for additional severe weather will arise as thunderstorms erupt Tuesday evening from far eastern Kansas to Iowa and southern Minnesota. Storms can pack hail and locally damaging winds as they evolve into the night.

Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
Chad Daybell trial hears how his family was aware of light and dark spirit ratings

Chad Daybells former wife and their children were aware of the Doomsday cult authors light and dark rating scale, which he used on multiple people close to him prior to their untimely deaths.

Vincent Kaaiakamanu, an officer with the Madison County Sheriffs Office, testified at Mr Daybells death penalty trial in Boise, Idaho this week how the defendant would label people either light or dark, based on how much he believed a person had been taken over by evil.

The court saw a message sent by either Mr Daybell or his then-wife Tammy Daybell in a Google chat with their children, that rated one of their 12-year-old students as 4.2 dark. The couple had been teaching a class at church at the time and was referring to one of the participants.

I will enjoy watching his growth to world terror and domination, the message read.

Officer Kaaiakamanu testified that several messages in the chat showed Tammy and the Daybell children knew about the light and dark rating system.

Tammy and Chad Daybell were married in 1990. He is now accused of conspiring with Lori Vallow to kill her (Facebook)

Another message in the family chat was from Daybells daughter Emma, who expressed she liked a boy they had labelled as dark. A response came from either Daybell or Tammy that said perhaps that boy was influencing her, Officer Kaaiakamanu testified.

Mr Daybell, 55, is charged with murder in the sudden 2019 death of Tammy, as well as the deaths of Lori Vallow Daybells children, Tylee Ryan, 16, and Joshua "JJ" Vallow, seven, whose bodies were found buried on Daybells Rexburg property in June 2020 after being missing for nine months.

The light and dark rating system has come up multiple times in the trial as well as the trial of Lori Vallow that took place in the same Ada County Courtroom a year ago.

The couple, who married just two weeks after Tammy died in her sleep in October 2019, had rated Tammy, Vallows children, and Vallows then-husband Charles Vallow, who was killed by Alex Cox, each as dark before their deaths.

Vallow was convicted of the three murders and sentenced to life in prison. Jurors heard how she, Mr Daybell and her late brother Alex Cox were fuelled, in part, by their bizarre cult beliefs. If convicted, Mr Daybell faces either the death penalty or life in prison.

On Friday, it was revealed in court that Mr Daybells defence attorney John Prior now owns his clients property where the children were buried.

Last year, Lori Vallow was convicted in the three murders and sentenced to life in prison (AP)

A cross-examination with the states witness, a realtor named Ron Arnold, became heated when Mr Prior asked about the acreage of the land.

So the acreage that youre talking about, do you have any recollection of how much acreage were talking about that surrounds Chads house?

The witness clapped back: You own it! How many acres is it?

Mr Prior called a sidebar, after which Judge Steven Boyce instructed the jurors to disregard Mr Arnolds last statement.

Property records reviewed by Court TV revealed that Mr Prior does own Daybells property and that the deed transfer was made in May 2021  which is the same month he was hired to defend Mr Daybell.
SEOUL, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Saturday denounced a human rights report by the United States as "malignant slander" against the country.

In a press statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), a spokesman for the DPRK foreign ministry lashed out at the 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices released recently by the U.S. State Department, and warned the United States to stop its illegal interference in the sovereignty and internal affairs of the DPRK.

Calling it "full of lies, fabrications, prejudice and hostility," the statement said the human rights report has nothing to do with ensuring genuine human rights, but is a move by the United States to "collect data necessary for tarnishing the image of other countries incurring its displeasure and for justifying its interference in their internal affairs and scheme to bring down their social systems," according to the KCNA.

The DPRK also fought back in the statement at the "horrible" human rights situation in the United States.

The United States is fostering massacres of innocent civilians through its overseas military aid to the tune of tens of billions of U.S. dollars, the statement said.

Serious human rights abuses are also rampant in the United States, the statement said, citing as its proof the U.S. practices of institutional suppression of citizens, fomentation of confrontations between nations, races and religions as well as all kinds of crimes of violence and maltreatment of immigrants. 
Champaign County States Attorney consulted prior to police action at protest, says she is prepared to prosecute

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA)  More law enforcement agencies are responding to a large encampment on University of Illinois campus, and the Champaign County States Attorney said they have her support.

As of 6:30 p.m., no arrests have been made, despite multiple confrontations between protestors at the Alma Mater Statue and law enforcement. If arrests are made and law enforcement believe someone violated criminal law, Champaign County States Attorney Julia Rietz is prepared to prosecute.

Police, protestors in standoff as pro-Palestine encampment continues

WCIA spoke with Rietz Friday around 4:30 p.m. She said her office was consulted prior to the police taking action this afternoon, and she is prepared to prosecute if arrests end up being made.

My role is to determine if there is criminal violations, and if there are, prosecute them, Rietz said. And that is my plan.

Hundreds arrested in pro-Palestine college protests around the country: What to know

One person was arrested Friday morning at the encampment. Protestors started to rally again around 3:45 p.m. and multiple agencies responded to the scene.

University Police said in a Facebook post officers attempted to enter the assembly to remove demonstrators tents with no intention of making arrests, unless they violated criminal law. Police officials described the protestors as combative while officers tried to reach the tents, so officers retreated. Additional law enforcement agencies have since been assembled.

Urbana Fire Department is on scene with an ambulance in case of injuries, an official with the department confirmed.

Due to the increased police presence at the demonstration, the Illini 5K was cancelled for Friday evening.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
Each year, the Charlevoix County Community Foundation makes grants that support a wide variety of programs.

CHARLEVOIX COUNTY  The Charlevoix County Community Foundation hosted two grant cycles in March, responding to requests from local nonprofit organizations working to address environmental needs as well asneeds in arts, music, history and culture.

A total of $112,495 in grants have been awarded to nonprofits between the two cycles.

Environment and Land Use grants totaled $63,960 and include projects that will improve water quality in the Lake Charlevoix Watershed, replace invasive species with native species, protect land, create more natural habitats and build capacity for organizations doing this work.

Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council will use their grant to restore the Stover Creek stream channel profile, create instream habitat and provide for more natural flow of water, sediment and wildlife in Lake Charlevoix.

The Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy will purchase a vehicle for their staff to use in their work around the watershed.

On Beaver Island, Taras Meadow will conduct workshops on soil regeneration, organic waste management and local foods production, and will bring a monarch butterfly expert to lead in native plantings and butterfly protection efforts.

St. James Township will use their grant to protect, educate and improve access at the Gull Harbor Natural Area.

Three organizations will be using grant funds in efforts related to combating invasive species, including CAKE CISMA, through the Antrim Conservation District, Camp Daggett and the Little Traverse Conservancy.

The Conservation Resource Alliance will complete a multi-year project to replace aging infrastructure at road crossings on the Jordan River and Deer Creek in the Jordan River Watershed.

Subscribe: Check out our offers and read the local news that matters to you

Arts and Culture grants totaled $48,535 and include a variety of programming to enhance the arts, music, culture and history in the area.

Charlevoix Public Schools students will bring three interactive murals to downtown Charlevoix.

The Crooked Tree Arts Center will host an exhibit exploring the history, identity and environment of Michigan.

The Beaver Island Performing Arts Alliance will bring a play to the island community.

The Traverse City Dance Project will present a live dance performance in East Park in Charlevoix as part of their summer community tour.

The City of Boyne Citys farmers market will bring more musicians to the market this summer.

The City of East Jordan will purchase some new sound equipment, which will help to attract more talent to share with the community this summer.

Several grants will also increase access to the arts and programming for all ages.

Charlevoix Circle of Arts will provide community arts programming for children and adults in Charlevoix.

Raven Hill Discovery Center in East Jordan will purchase tents to host a pop-up museum on the corner of Fuller and Pearsall roads this summer while Fuller Road is under construction.

The Dorothy Gerber Strings program, offered through the Great Lakes Center for the Arts, will use grant funds for critical instrument repairs and replacements.

Tunes Music Makers on Beaver Island will offer lessons and rentals for a variety of instruments, including guitar, piano, mandolin, ukelele and electric guitar.

Grant funding will also go towards organizations dedicated to exploring local history and culture.

The Beaver Island District Library will use their grant to offer cultural programming highlighting Indigenous peoples, crafts, art, music, dance, storytelling and foods.

The Beaver Island Historical Society will use their grant to bring several unique cultural programs to the island.

The Charlevoix Historical Society will continue work to archive and digitize a large collection of photos and documents.

The Northwest Michigan Arts & Culture Network will use their grant to partner with Charlevoix County arts organizations to help to build capacity for the future.

At Wagbo Peace Center in East Jordan, renovations of a building will eventually make it possible to host fiber arts workshops, classes and equipment.

For a complete list of grants, visit c3f.org.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Charlevoix County Community Foundation announces March grant recipients
Webcam models perform at the Chaturbate booth during the 2017 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on January 19, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada - Photo: Gabe Ginsberg/FilmMagic (Getty Images)

Chaturbate will pay $675,000 in fines for not adhering to a new law in Texas that requires all porn sites to verify the age of users, according to a new report from 404 Media which cites a court order released Friday.



Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Chaturbate, along with Pornhub, last month for ignoring the age verification law, which requires all adult websites to verify ages through a drivers license or passport. And while Chaturbate has now implemented age verification, other sites like Pornhub and XHamster have opted to block access to their entire sites within the state of Texas.

Chaturbate is reportedly using a company called Incode to verify user ages, according to 404 Media, which also handles identity verification and fraud detection for mainstream banking clients.

Texas passed the age verification law, known as HB 1181 last year, which imposes fines of up to $20,000 per day for non-compliance. A fine of $250,000 is also tacked on if any minor is found to have accessed porn on the site. A group of porn sites sued Texas shortly after the law was passed but the notoriously conservative Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the state, allowing the law to stand.



Texas originally sought a $1.78 million fine against Chaturbate, calculated by the 178 days the company didnt have age verification after the law was passed on September 1, 2023, according to the Laredo Morning Times. That figure was reduced to the $675,000 figure announced Friday in the settlement. Chaturbate, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment, has 30 days to pay the fine.



Paxton praised Chaturbate in a press release on Friday for opting to institute age verification two days after Texas filed its lawsuit against the company on March 19.



Its a very positive development that this company has decided to follow the law and begin reasonable age verification measures designed to protect Texas children from harmful material, said Paxton. Other pornography companies should follow this example and willingly choose to do the right thing and abide by the law.

Texas isnt alone in recently passing laws to require age verification for users of porn sites. Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Utah, and Virginia all have similar laws.



For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
(Reuters) - Three police officers were killed on Saturday in southern Chile during what President Gabriel Boric called a cowardly attack that led him to declare three days of national mourning.

The attack occurred in the municipality of Canete, in Arauco province, when the officers responded to three false emergency calls, authorities said.

The officers were attacked in their vehicle with heavy-caliber weapons and burned, the authorities said.

The region where the attack took place is home to long-running tensions between the state and the South American country's Mapuche Indigenous people.

"This morning we received the serious and painful news of an attack in the province of Arauco, in which three police officers were killed. We coordinated immediate actions to respond to this cowardly attack," Boric said in a message via social media platform X, before traveling to where the attack took place.

"We will find the whereabouts of the perpetrators of this terrible crime," he said.

(Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Chris Reese)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Get ready! The 13-year cicadas are about to make a return to Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky over the next several weeks.

If you have not experienced them, it is unlike anything you have ever seen or heard. During the month of May, you can expect these big red-eyed bugs to be emerging, shedding their exoskeletons, and then eventually swarming.

Cicada-geddon: Biggest bug emergence in centuries is coming

How many? How about one million, per acre?

So, how soon are they coming?

News 2s Davis Nolan spoke with Dr. Midhula Gireesh, assistant professor of entomology and plant pathology at UT Institute of Agriculture to find out.

They are expected to emerge when the soil temperature eight inches deep is about 64 degrees Fahrenheit, and that is going to be soon, Gireesh explained. You can see the exit holes that they make their exit holes, like tiny holes that you can see in your yard, closer to the trees.

Gireesh said the soil temperature is now in the low 60s, so it wont be long before you start seeing those tiny holes beneath the trees.

Periodical cicadas set to reemerge in Middle Tennessee this summer

Cicadas will be swarming a few weeks later, and the deafening noise they make is the males mating call. Once they mate, the females need to lay their eggs. That is when they target small tree limbs the size of a pencil or smaller and can cause damage.

She makes slits and she tries to lay her eggs in there, Gireesh pointed out. So that is when the damage is evident, and small, very young trees, they might not withstand the damage.

According to Gireesh, you should cover small trees and shrubs with an airy cloth, like cheesecloth, to keep the females from cutting those slits in the small limbs to lay their eggs.

The cicadas should be around through May into early June before dying off.

The eggs will hatch, and the young cicadas will bury themselves underground for another 13 years!

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
BENNETTSVILLE, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Queen City News tried for more than a week to get someone inside Bennettsville City Hall to explain whats going on with the citys budget.

On April 16, city leaders tried to meet privately about some sort of trouble related to the citys accounting of American Rescue Plan Act tax dollars.

City council voted during the April 16 special called meeting to go behind closed doors to discuss the accounting problem, but Queen City News Chief Investigator Jody Barr objected to the closed-door meeting, citing a ban in the states open meetings law prohibiting public bodies from discussing those kinds of matter out of public view.

Bennettsville City Administrator William Simon called reports about unaccounted for/missing COVID relief funds baseless and misleading. Simon told city council hes confident his staff will be able to account for all pandemic relief tax dollars before the April 30, 2024, spending report deadline. (WJZY Photo/Jody Barr)

The citys attorney agreed, telling the council and the city administrator City Financial Affairs isnt an allowable executive session.

SC city refuses to give details on missing COVID tax dollars

Once back inside the public meeting room, Simon then discussed in the open what he and the council wanted to discuss in private. However, the city administrator never identified the exact account(s) of concern or the specific accounting problem surrounding those funds.

The purpose of the meeting is theres some accounting that we need to do regarding some of our funds and some of our accounts that could impact our budget, Simon told the council during the public session of the April 16 special called meeting. I will just say weve combed through some of our accounts, some of our federal accounts, and we are still in the process of accounting for all of the funds.

What weve done as step one is to look at all of our expenditures out of said fund, and were looking at remaining balances in those things that have not been purchased as a starting point to make sure that we can account for any remaining funds from that pool of money, Simon told the council.

City administration didnt reveal a single dollar figure during the meeting. In a discussion following the meeting, Simon confirmed to Jody Barr the tax dollars of concern had to do with pandemic funds, but would not confirm a dollar amount or what exact accounts are in question.

Mr. Simon. How big is the shortfall? A million? Million, plus, just under a million? Barr asked Simon as the administrator walked to the closed-door session in the April 16 meeting. Instead of answering, the city administrator avoided the question, Wheres your cameraman tonight? Simon asked as he walked out of the council chambers.

The day after the April 16 special called meeting, Queen City News asked Simon for the latest city budget as part of our work to identify the accounting problems. Simon never responded to that email. On April 18, Barr contacted City Attorney Mason King by phone.

In a six-minute call, Barr asked King to help convince Simon and the city to disclose the accounting problems the city wanted to meet privately to discuss on April 16. King said he would contact the city, but no one from city hall responded.

Queen City News published our Behind Closed Doors investigation on April 23, one week after the special called meeting about the accounting problem. By the time our reports aired, the city had not responded with any documents or an agreement to sit for an interview to explain to the public the problems in the citys accounting.

On Thursday afternoon, multiple people contacted Barr after City Administrator William Simon posted a full-page press release to the city and Bennettsville Police Departments Facebook pages. The release called our reporting of unaccounted-for/missing COVID tax dollars baseless and misleading.

Bennettsville City Administator William Simon posted this full page press release to the city and Bennettsville Police Departments Facebook pages on April 25, 2024, more than a week after we started to question accounting problems within the citys COVID fund accounts. (Source: City of Bennettsville)

Simons press release was a complete denial the city was missing any of the $3.8 million federal tax dollars awarded to the city during the pandemic. This is what Simon told the council during the April 16 special called council meeting.

So weve made progress towards accounting for these funds. The reason for the meeting is that we just want to get to the point where were at the finish line and there are some remaining funds that were looking for, or need to account for. Were confident that were going to be able to do so. But we want to know we want to give you all that information as you consider first reading of the budget today and let you know that were going to continue to work after that, Simon told the council.

Barr attempted to question Simon further following the meeting, but Simon would not give any further detail on the record. Simon did offer to meet at a later date to sit for an interview about the unaccounted or missing COVID tax dollars. Our attempts to schedule that interview with Simon in the following days were unsuccessful.

Those attempts included that six-minute call with the city attorney eight days ago.

Barr again asked Simon for an interview on April 25, within hours of the city posting its press release, which the city never sent to QCN. Simon said he was not aware of our call with the city attorney, but he would not agree to sit with QCN for an interview.

Queen City News Chief Investigative Reporter Jody Barr questions Bennettsville City Attorney Mason King during an April 16, 2024, special called council meeting where city leaders tried to take a financial accounting problem behind closed doors. (WJZY Photo/Jody Barr)

Im reluctant to sit down with you for an interview as your previous coverage, in my opinion, unfairly implied guilt of a matter that does not exist. For the record, the existing ARPA funds were received in 2021 & 2022 and received acceptable audits. The method of financial accounting established existed long before I was hired. While I am abreast of the matter, I cannot speak to the actions of the previous administration. During my short time here, I have not made any changes to ARPA accounting procedures. William Simon, Bennettsville City Administrator

Simon did include the latest city audit, which was a review of the citys financial activity between April 30, 2022, and April 30, 2023. The audit, in plain language, did not appear to identify any accounting problems that would support the accounting problems Simon vaguely discussed in the April 16 special called council meeting.

The audit did show an unfavorable variance of $984,321. The auditor pulled that number when he compared the citys actual General Fund expenditure of $8,158,880 to a final budget of $7,174,559. An unfavorable variance is defined as, an accounting term that describes instances where actual costs are greater than the standard or projected costs. An unfavorable variance can alert management that the companys profit will be less than expected. The sooner an unfavorable variance is detected, the sooner attention can be directed towards fixing any problems, according to Investopedia, an online financial reporting news website.

Queen City News attempted again to talk to the citys long-time auditor, Bob Milhous, to learn more about what caused the unfavorable variable and how that would impact a municipalitys budget. Milhous did not return a message left on his office phone last week and a message left again for him Friday morning has not yet been returned.

Queen City News could not find an email address for Milhous, who is based in Columbia, S.C.

The citys press release shows city hall has no intention to publicly discuss the problems it discovered in its COVID funds for another three months. Simon said hell provide a forthcoming progress report related to COVID funds and will hold a public forum in July 2024.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
CHICAGO  Despite her small stature, Lori Lightfoot loomed large in a city known for its big shoulders. She fits the great characters of Chicago politics, said Gregory Royal Pratt, author of a new book about Lightfoot. Big, brash, bold. Sometimes offensive. Sometimes endearing. Shes a brilliant woman and a dynamic personality.

Pratt, who covered City Hall during Lightfoots tenure, said the former mayor is fascinating figure who led Chicago through a transformative time. Its a way for me to document the history of the city we love and the mayor that the city loved and, sometimes, loved to hate, he said.

The book is entitled The City is up for Grabs. The phrase comes from Lightfoots own words in a text message to Ald. Rosanna Rodriguez Sanchez during the 2020 riots. But, in a broader sense, it also describes the political void from which she emerged. When mayor Rahm Emanuel stepped down in 2018 and said I am not going to run again, that created a power vacuum in the City of Chicago that threw the political establishment up for grabs, Pratt said.

Lightfoot was initially viewed as a longshot candidate in the crowded field to succeed Emanuel, but her candidacy, Pratt said, was boosted by extraordinary luck. Theres no doubt if a lightning bolt doesnt come out of the federal prosecutors office and strike Ed Burke right in the head, she doesnt become the Mayor of Chicago, he said.

Powerful alderman Ed Burkes indictment (and later conviction) on corruption charges galvanized voters against the machine. A nimble Lightfoot rebranded as the reform candidate. She ended up in a runoff against Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. It was a really bizarre election in that way where Lori Lightfoot did everything right, and Toni Preckwinkle did everything wrong, Pratt said.

Lightfoot won in a landslide, sweeping all 50 wards. She made history as the first openly gay person, and first black woman to hold the office. But, in Pratts analysis, she made an immediate error: alienating city council during her inauguration speech, in which she called out corruption in city government.

Pratts book argues that the moment was indicative of a theme throughout Lightfoots time in office  the impulse to act as a prosecutor instead of a politician. You cant slap everybody all the time as though they were a criminal, because thats just not the way you get stuff done., and she could not adapt her personality and her leadership style, Pratt said.

Lightfoot did not agree to be interviewed for the book, but Pratt spoke with dozens of city hall insiders, along with Lightfoots former classmates, co-workers, and rivals. I have four years of the mayors text messages with powerful people, he said. I have four years of her emails with her staff, and again, with all sorts of powerful people.

In an interview with WGN News political host Paul Lisnek in 2023, Lightfoot discussed some of her key accomplishments: Brining a casino to Chicago, and her signature economic development initiative Invest South-West which brought projects to historically ignored parts of the city. I think we planted great seeds for transformation that will inure to the benefit of people, long-term, in the city, Lightfoot said.

In March of 2020, Lightfoots agenda was upended as the world experienced the beginning of the covid pandemic. I think that mayor Lightfoot should be proud of her work under covid and as a city, the city should be proud of her. That doesnt mean that its that simple or that clear, he said.

Though we remember the tough leader whose strict stance became a national symbol of responsibility, Pratt says Lightfoot was reluctant to take drastic action and had to be pulled in that direction by Governor J.B. Pritzker. She was a little bit behind him every step of the way and he complained about that, Pratt said. Its kind of funny how you luck into a reputation that maybe you didnt earn, but you get anyway and if I was her Id ride with it too.

On May 25 of that same year, George Floyd was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis, sparking violent riots and massive racial justice protests across the country. In Chicago, looters ransacked stores on Michigan Avenue and in various neighborhoods. It was a collective failure of the city and its leadership to fully anticipate, Pratt said.

Pratt says perhaps the most consequential decision of Lightfoots term was  in real-time, and in retrospect  her biggest misstep: the hiring of David Brown as police superintendent. Pratt reports that many in Lightfoots own circle viewed him as overmatched and outdated. In the Lisnek interview, Lightfoot defended her choice: Being superintendent of the second largest police force in the country is not an easy job, she said. On any given day, under the best of circumstances, theres probably less than half a dozen people qualified to do it nationwide.

Pratt said that argument shows the former mayors unwillingness to admit Brown wasnt successful. What she ended up arguing to people is that theres a small handful of people who are capable of being the police department superintendent, which is grossly exaggerated, he said.

Chicago (like cities around the country) experienced a rise in violent crime during the four years Lightfoot served.

Lightfoot tangled with the police union and the Chicago Teachers Union, which went on strike for 11-days in 2019, and engaged in a labor action, refusing to return to in-person learning forcing school cancellations in 2022. Mayor Lightfoot does not share their politics, he said.

In the end, Pratt says the Lightfoot years seemed hopeful and hectic, overwhelming, and exhausting. She became the first incumbent not to even make the runoff election.

When you face historic challenges that literally no mayor has faced, youve got to take challenges head on, and youre not going to please everyone, Lightfoot told Lisnek.

She finished third behind Paul Vallas, and eventual mayor Brandon Johnson.

People were just kind of tired, Pratt said. It was a little bit like trump in 2020, where its something new every single day.

But Pratts conclusion is that the city  which he describes as up for grabs wont be held down for long. We are a strong resilient people, Pratt said. We like our mayors we like our politics, but that doesnt mean that any four years can break a city as incredible as this one.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
BEIJING, April 27 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to strengthen high-level exchanges with France, give play to the leading role of head-of-state diplomacy, and add new connotations to the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, a senior Chinese official said on Saturday.

Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks over a phone call with French President's Diplomatic Counselor Emmanuel Bonne.

He said China is willing to push bilateral cooperation with France in various fields to a new level, and give play to the important role of the two major countries in dealing with global challenges.

Wang said that China and France both insist on independence and win-win cooperation, both oppose the division of the world and bloc confrontation, and both practice multilateralism and uphold the UN Charter and international law.

Noting that the current international situation is complex and volatile, with numerous challenges and hot spots emerging one after another, he said the international community expects China and France to form a common position and speak with same voice on major issues bearing on world peace and stability, as well as the future and destiny of mankind.

It is hoped that the French side will push the European Union to continue to pursue a positive and pragmatic policy toward China, Wang added.

For his part, Bonne said France is willing to take the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries as an opportunity to intensify high-level exchanges, deepen mutual trust, strengthen practical cooperation and strive for mutual benefit and win-win results.

The two sides should work together to cool down hot spot issues, cope with global challenges including climate change, make positive contributions to narrowing the North-South gap and rejecting bloc confrontation, and push for further development of France-China and Europe-China relations, he said.

The two sides agreed to cooperate on the development of artificial intelligence, continue to strengthen coordination on tackling climate change, and further refine the successful practice of "from French farm to Chinese dinner table," so as to provide a good environment for enterprises of both sides to invest and do business in each other's countries.

The two sides also coordinated on international and regional issues of common concern such as the Ukraine issue and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. 
College administrators are falling into a tried-and-true trap laid by the right

A student is arrested during a pro-Palestinian demonstration at the University of Texas at Austin on April 24, 2024.

A student is arrested during a pro-Palestinian demonstration at the University of Texas at Austin on April 24, 2024. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Interrogations of university leaders spearheaded by conservative congressional representatives. Calls from right-wing senators for troops to intervene in campus demonstrations. Hundreds of student and faculty arrests, with nonviolent dissenters thrown to the ground, tear-gassed and tased.

Weve been here before. In my book Resistance from the Right: Conservatives and the Campus Wars in Modern America, I detail how, throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s, conservative activists led a counterattack against campus antiwar and civil rights demonstrators by demanding action from college presidents and police.

They made a number of familiar claims about student protesters: They were at once coddled elitists, out-of-state agitators and violent communists who sowed discord to destroy America. Conservatives claimed that the protests interfered with the course of university activities and that administrators had a duty to guarantee daily operations paid for by tuition.

Back then, college presidents routinely caved to the demands of conservative legislators, angry taxpayers and other wellsprings of anticommunist outrage against students striking for peace and civil rights.

Biden is chained to his pro-Hamas base that is overrun by the same bougie jihadists threatening violence on college campuses Send in the National Guard to protect Jewish students pic.twitter.com/xEMwlUKnws  Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) April 25, 2024

Today, university leaders are twisting themselves in knots to appease angry donors and legislators. But when Columbia University President Minouche Shafik called in the NYPD to quell protests, she was met with a firm rebuke from the American Association of University Professors.

If the past is any indication, the road ahead wont be any easier for college presidents like Shafik.

Lawfare from the right

Throughout the 1960s, students organized a host of anti-war and civil rights protests, and many conservatives characterized the demonstrators as communist sympathizers.

Students spoke out against American involvement in the Vietnam War, the draft and compulsory ROTC participation. They demanded civil rights protections and racially representative curricula. The intervention of police and the National Guard often escalated what were peaceful protests into violent riots and total campus shutdowns.

From 1968 into the 1970s, conservative lawyers coordinated a national campaign to sue indecisive and gutless college presidents and trustees whose approach to campus demonstrations was, in conservatives estimation, too lenient.

The right-wing organization Young Americans for Freedom hit 32 colleges with lawsuits, including private Ivy League schools such as Columbia, Harvard and Princeton, as well as public land-grant universities such as Michigan State and the University of Wisconsin.

The legal claim was for breach of contract: that presidents were failing to follow through on their end of the tuition agreement by not keeping campuses open and breaking up the protests. Young Americans for Freedom sought to set legal precedent for students, parents and broadly defined taxpayers to be able to compel private and public institutions to remain open.

Conservative students further demanded that their supposedly communist peers be expelled indefinitely, arrested for trespassing and prosecuted.

Expulsions, of course, carried implications for the draft during these years. A running joke among right-wing activists and politicians was that protesters should be given a McNamara Scholarship to Hanoi, referencing Robert McNamara, the U.S. secretary of defense and an architect of the Vietnam War.

A pro-Vietnam War pin suggests dumping protesters in North Vietnams capital, Hanoi.

A pro-Vietnam War pin suggests dumping protesters in North Vietnams capital, Hanoi. (Stuart Lutz/Gado/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, right-wing activists hounded college leaders with public pressure campaigns by collecting signatures from students and alumni that called on them to put an end to campus demonstrations. Conservatives also urged donors to withhold financial support until administrators subdued protesting students.

Cops on campus

Following the massacre at Kent State in 1970, when the National Guard fired at students, killing four and wounding nine, nearly half of all colleges shut down temporarily amid a wave of nationwide youth outrage. With only a week or two left of the semester, many colleges canceled remaining classes and even some commencement ceremonies.

In response, conservatives launched a new wave of post-Kent State injunctions against those universities to force them back open.

With protests ongoing  and continued calls from the right to crack down on them  many university administrators resorted to calling on the police and the National Guard, working with them to remove student protesters from campus.

In fact, this very moment brought about the birth of the modern campus police force.

Administrators and lawmakers, afraid that local police could not handle the sheer number of student demonstrators, arranged to deputize campus police  who had historically been parking guards and residence hall curfew enforcers  with the authority to make arrests and carry firearms.

State and federal lawmakers attempted to further stifle student dissent with reams of legislation. In 1969, legislators in seven states passed laws to punish student activists who had been arrested during protests through the revocation of financial aid, expulsion and jail sentences.

President Richard Nixon, who had excoriated campus disruptions during his successful White House run in 1968, encouraged college presidents to heed the laws and applauded them for following through with expulsions.

Is antisemitism the new communism?

As the U.S. presidential election approaches, Ill be watching to see how the Trump and Biden campaigns respond to ongoing student protests.

For now, Trump has called the recent protests antisemitic and far worse than the 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville. Biden has similarly condemned the antisemitic protests and those who dont understand whats going on with the Palestinians.

Both are repeating the false framework laid out by GOP Reps. Elise Stefanik and Virginia Foxx, a trap that university administrators have fallen into during House inquiries since Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

There indeed have been antisemitic incidents associated with pro-Palestinian demonstrations on university campuses.

But in these hearings, Stefanik and Foxx have baited four women presidents into affirming the rights politicized framing of the protests as rife with antisemitism, leading the public to believe that isolated incidents are instead representative and rampant.

Like their association of civil rights and peace demonstrators with communism throughout the Cold War, politicians on both sides of the aisle are now broadly hurling claims of antisemitism against anyone protesting Israels war in Gaza, many of whom are Jewish.

The purpose then, as it is now, is to intimidate administrators into a false political choice: Will they protect students right to demonstrate or be seen as acquiescent to antisemitism?

A counter-protester holds a sign during an anti-Vietnam War event in New York City in 1969.

A counter-protester holds a sign during an anti-Vietnam War event in New York City in 1969. (Harvey L. Silver/Corbis via Getty Images)

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Lauren Lassabe Shepherd is a historian who studies the political history of the American academy, especially its relationship to the 20th century conservative movement. 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 College administrators are falling into a tried-and-true trap laid by the right appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
Columbia Universitys senate has called for an investigation into president Minouche Shafik and members of her administration, amid the ongoing protests on campus over the Israel-Gaza war.

The sentate voted on Friday to approve the resolution, and accused the administration of violating established protocols, undermining academic freedom, and breaching the due process rights of both students and professors, according to the senates Resolution Adressing Current Events, seen by The Independent.

Ms Shafik has faced heavy criticism for her decision to allow the New York Police Department (NYPD) to disperse protesters on the campus, resulting in the arrest of more than 100 students.

The resolution was based partly on a damaging report by the senate executive committee, which accused Ms Shafiks administration of engaging in many actions and decisions that have harmed the institution. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 62-14, with three abstentions.

The resolution also calls for establishing a senate task force to investigate university decision-making in future.

Part of the resolution stated: We unreservedly condemn external interference in the internal affairs of Columbia University that undermines the traditions of academic freedom and shared governance.

Minouche Shafik, president of Columbia University, has faced heavy criticism since allowing police onto campus to disperse student protesters (AP)

Dr Jeanine DArmiento, Chair of the University Senate Executive Committee, said: Columbia University is an institution of teaching, research, and learning. We are not a corporate entity, a media outlet, or an arm of any political party.

We have a structure of shared governance, with the University Senate the third branch of University governance, functioning in a democratic fashion alongside the President and the Board of Trustees, as set out in the University Statutes, she said, in a statement shared with The Indpendent following Fridays senate meeting.

As with any democracy with its structures and institutions, there are moments of challenge, even crisis, but these structures and institutions survive, adapt, and, ultimately, prosper because we work together for the greater good of all members of our community.

We recognize the external challenges but we are united in our purpose of charting a course forward and identifying productive ways by which we can reunite our community.

She continued: Our goal today first and foremost was to tell our students that we support you. We want the administration to turn around and realize they are running a university. Our message to students is also that, like you, we care about what will happen once the media depart our campus: we are going to keep pushing and pushing until the administration gets it right.

During a visit to Columbia on Wednesday, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson called for Shafik to resign

Finally, we wanted to show our students the value of collective decision-making, where all parties are heard and the group comes to consensus through conversation.

A statement from Columbia University later acknowledged the vote but said that the administration and the Senate shared the same goal of restoring calm to campus so everyone can pursue their educational activities.

We are committed to an ongoing dialogue and appreciate the Senates constructive engagement in finding a pathway forward, the statement read.

Despite the strong passing of the resolution to investigate Ms Shafik and the administration, the Columbia senate does not have the power to remove the president. However, per The New YorkTimes, some expressed on Friday that the outcome could further erode the relationship between Ms Shafik and the Columbia community.

It is the latest blow to the beleagured president, who has already undergone a grilling by Republican lawmakers in Congress about antisemitism on college campuses. Despite striking a more conciliatory tone before the House Education and Workforce Committee than the presidents of Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania, Ms Shafik was later hit by a motion of censure from Columbias chapter of the American Association of University Professors.

The AAUP responded angrily to Ms Shafiks congressional testimony, accusing her of capitulating to demands from lawmakers who they said made slanderous assaults on faculty and students, and later submitted a motion of censure against her.

Georgia state officials detain a protester at Emory University (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

On Monday, Republicans in New Yorks delegation to the US House wrote a letter urging Ms Shafik to resign, saying she had failed to provide a safe learning environment in recent days as anarchy has engulfed the campus.

During a visit to Columbia on Wednesday, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson called for Shafik to resign if she cannot bring order to this chaos. Mr Johnson was loudly booed during his address.

The original Columbia encampments where set up in protest after students asked 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.

Just less than two weeks since the NYPD clashed with protesters at Columbia, the protests have sparked an international movement. On Friday, police in Paris worked to oust protesters who occupied the Sciences Po campus in the French capital.
By Jonathan Allen

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Before students set up a pro-Palestinian protest encampment on a Columbia University lawn last week, some of them took an optional course called "Columbia 1968" about protests against the Vietnam War, a similarly galvanizing moment of campus activism.

Frank Guridy, the Columbia history professor who has taught the class since 2017, along with a couple of his students stopped by the encampment at the New York City campus on Thursday to discuss the parallels at a teach-in called "1968: Continuing the Fight." Protesters listened sitting on mats on the grass outside their tents, eating free kidney beans and rice and kosher Passover snacks off paper plates from a nearby community kitchen set up on tables under canopies.

The school administration suspended dozens of protesting students and had them arrested last week. Some of them say they are only acting on the lessons and education they have received on campus as they oppose Israel's war in Gaza.

Bo Tang, a second-year undergraduate history student, said he was part of the student protesters' research group, which looked at the strategies and tactics of past and present social justice movements to "try to take lessons from them."

The group interviewed alumni involved in the 1968 protests, some found through Guridy's class, Tang said, getting them to share lessons on building support for a protest movement.

Tang and other students say classmates and professors previously agnostic about the protest showed up at the encampment after police were called in, including faculty who have donned yellow vests to help with security and safety.

Protest encampments have also appeared at colleges across the U.S. and abroad in solidarity with the Columbia students, drawing criticism from the White House, many Republican lawmakers and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who call the protesters antisemitic and intimidating to Jewish students.

Many Jewish students are among the organizers, though, and bristle at allegations of antisemitism. Over many hours spent at the encampment this week, Reuters journalists have seen students peacefully chatting, reading, eating and holding both Jewish and Muslim prayer ceremonies. There have been jazz performances, lectures, first aid courses, bouts of pro-Palestinian revolutionary chants and writing workshops. Sometimes heated but non-violent debates break out between anti-Zionist Jews and pro-Israel students visiting the camp.

A typical sign warns those in the encampment, however, to be careful in their interactions with counterprotesters: "WE DO NOT ENGAGE WITH INSTIGATORS."

'LIBERATED ZONE'

The student protesters set up the encampment at dawn on April 17 without required school permission, demanding Columbia divest from weapons manufacturers and other companies that support Israel's government and military. The protests, held in coalition with dozens of other student groups, have been led by Columbia chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace, both of which the school suspended in November for an earlier unauthorized pro-Palestinian protest.

The day after the encampment was set up, Columbia President Minouche Shafik called in police, who arrested 108 of the students on trespassing charges, outraging some faculty. Students have since rebuilt the encampment, more bustling than before.

Shafik, who declined interview requests through a spokesperson, has said she called police as a last resort for rule-breaking, that the encampment has caused "rancor" on campus, and that school policy cannot be dictated by a subset of students and staff. Her administration has been holding stop-and-start negotiations with the protesting students, while steadily filling adjoining lawns with bleachers and scaffolding ahead of the school's May 15 commencement ceremony.

"We have our demands; they have theirs," she wrote in a campus-wide email.

At his teach-in, Guridy and his students told the protesters how their 1968 predecessors were outraged by Columbia disciplining six students who had protested the school's ties to weapons research, and the university's plans to build a racially segregated gym near Harlem.

The 1968 protesters occupied multiple buildings on campus and held the acting dean hostage for a day before police violently ended the occupation a week later, arresting some 700 students.

The 2024 protesters decided to instead occupy one lawn of the main Columbia campus, noting that school administrators recently designated it for protests, albeit with permission.

Maryam Alwan, a third-year Palestinian-American undergraduate student among those arrested and suspended last week, said the easily circumvented hedge-lined lawn was chosen so administrators could not accuse them of disrupting classes.

"We looked at some of the imagery of the '68 protests," Alwan said. A famous photograph of the 1968 protests shows students holding a large sign saying: "Liberated Zone." The 2024 protesters erected a similar sign over their camp, and Alwan was delighted to see the sign since spread to other campuses.

"My class is not a boot camp for revolution," Guridy said in an interview after his teach-in. "It's a history class."

He called Tang one of his "sharpest students."

Around protests, Tang still has to finish his final paper for Guridy's "Columbia 1968" class.

"It's hard to get A-pluses in the humanities classes," Tang said. "But I'm shooting for it."

(Reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York; Additional reporting by Caitlin Ochs in New York; Editing by Donna Bryson and Tom Hogue)
Khymani James said people should be 'grateful' he was not murdering them, in a viral video - BOSTON GLOBE/BOSTON GLOBE

A student protest leader has been banned from Columbia Universitys campus in New York for saying that Zionists dont deserve to live and that people should be grateful he wasnt murdering them.

The same way were very comfortable accepting that Nazis dont deserve to live, fascists dont deserve to live, racists dont deserve to live, Zionists, they shouldnt live in this world, said Khymani James in a video circulating on social media.

The comments were reportedly made during and after a disciplinary hearing with the university, which Mr James recorded. He had been called to the hearing over an earlier comment on social media, in which he discussed fighting a Zionist. I dont fight to injure or for there to be a winner or a loser, I fight to kill, he wrote.

In the video, he adds: Be grateful that Im not just going out and murdering Zionists. Ive never murdered anyone in my life and I hope to keep it that way.

Pro-Palestine students pause for prayer in a protest encampment at Columbia University - CAITLIN OCHS/REUTERS

Mr James has since apologised for the comments, saying he misspoke in the heat of the moment and that every member of our community deserves to feel safe, without qualification

However, Columbia said on Friday he had been barred from campus. It was not immediately clear if he had been suspended or expelled from the university.

Mr James is a member of the universitys Apartheid Divest campaign group, which said his views did not reflect the values of the group or the campus protests.

A wall with Hamas hostage flyers posted in front of the university's pro-Palestine encampment - MICHAEL BROCHSTEIN/SHUTTERSTOCK

There has been heated debate over whether the pro-Palestine protests taking place on university campuses across the US are tinged with antisemitic perspectives.

Protest organisers say any individual touting these views does not reflect the movement as a whole and that the vast majority of those taking part are peaceful anti-war protesters.

Many universities have clamped down on the protests, citing concerns over discriminatory rhetoric and student safety and amid political pressure to take action.

Columbia and other universities have been heavily criticised for sending in riot police to arrest student protesters, with footage showing chaotic scenes and heavy-handed tactics being used to disperse the protests.

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.
Plans for alumni reunions at Columbia University are turning controversial, with some alumni planning to stay away over the continued protests against the war in Gaza on campus.

Debate raged in a Facebook group for members of the class of 1989 this week, with at least 10 people saying they would not attend their classs 35th reunion on campus.

A post declaring I WILL NOT ATTEND REUNION! and featuring an image of a star of David received 18 likes and more than 50 comments in less than 24 hours.

The situation has deteriorated beyond what I could have imagined, one alum wrote. I feel no need to stick around. Wethe Jewish community, alums, students and facultyarent wanted or valued.

The Columbia Alumni Association and reunion planning committee did not respond to a request for comment.

The class of 1989 discussion started on Thursday, two weeks after students erected tent encampments at the upper Manhattan campus to protest Israels bombings on the Palestinian territory.

Mike You Suck: Columbia Students Let Loose on Speaker Johnson

The administration has unsuccessfully attempted to oust the protesters, leading to clashes with the police and the arrest of more than 100 students. The school announced this week that all classes on the main campus will be held remotely for the remainder of the semester.

The protests have since spread to other college campuses and become a major political issue, with leading members of U.S. Congress showing up to show their support for the protesters or for Jewish students. Hundreds of students have been arrested, and at least one schoolthe University of Southern Californiacanceled its graduation ceremony.

Now, alumni are grappling with whether they want to be on campus, too.

Karin, a class of 1989 alum who asked to be identified by her first name for fear of harassment, said she had never attended a reunion before and would not go this year because of the administrations lack of response to the protests.

Its disgusting whats going on, and so I have no interest in any way in supporting my alma mater, she told The Daily Beast. Ive been saying for weeks now that I am no longer proud to say I went to Columbia. Im disappointed.

Karin, who described herself as a Zionist and a proud Jew, has strong ties to the school: Her daughter is an alumna, her husband attended business school there, and both she and her mother worked for the university. But she said she is now happy that neither of her sons, who are both in college, chose to attend the Ivy League school.

I really dont think theyve done enough to make the current students feel safe, she said, adding that she did not know if she would feel safe being on campus for reunion, either. (The protests have been largely peaceful, though there have been chants of From the river to the sea, which some see as a call for the destruction of Israel.)

NYPD officers stand guard outside of Columbia University on April 24. Michael M. Santiago/Getty

Other alumni were less decided. Amy Keyishian, a graduate of Columbias all-women Barnard College, said she was considering staying away for fear that the environment on campus would be too anxiety-provoking.

I just dont want the drama, she said. Its not even that Im angry at the university; I dont know what I would do in [Columbia President Minouche Shafiks] shoes I just dont want to be around it.

Keyishian is on the planning committee for the Barnard reunion, and said emails have been flying in recent days about how to address the situation. One woman has already stepped down from the committee for ideological reasons, she said, while others are trying to stay the course.

Im just keeping my mouth shut for once, Keyishian said.

Arrests Get Violent as Cops Deploy Tasers and Tear Gas on Campus Protesters

Few members of the class have expressed support for the protesters, though a number urged their fellow alumni not to turn their backs on the school. A post about a petition in support of the protesters received a single like, and two of the three comments on it were alumni expressing their disagreement.

Many of the alumni admitted they didnt know how much difference their boycott would make, and some said they doubted the event would even take place if the protests continued.

If things can be cleared out by graduation, that might be the litmus test for me, said Jennifer, an alum who asked to be identified by first name only. If they cancel graduation, I would not go in solidarity with these poor seniors.

Carl Schaerf, a class of 1988 grad, said about 120 to 130 people show up to a typical class reunion, which is held every five years.

Would it surprise me if they lost another 20 off of that? It wouldnt, he said. Its not a particularly comfortable time to be on that campus.

Schaerf said he respects students right to protest but thinks the administration should restore more order to campus.

I think Jewish alums should be donating to the [campus Jewish organization] Hillel, which will send the right message, he said. Beyond that, I dont really have a good answer.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
NEW YORK (PIX11)  With the university senate calling for an investigation into acts that President Minouche Shafik has taken against protesters and faculty, Friday saw many new developments in the ongoing protests at Columbia University over the war in Gaza.

Among other new developments on Friday, Jewish voices on campus calling for the release of Israeli hostages and condemning acts of violence against students are becoming more prominent. Also, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez visited protesters at the tent encampment on campus. A student leader of the tent encampment that has been at the center of the protest also apologized for a video recorded in January in which they said, be grateful that Im not just going out and murdering Zionists.

Delta flight returns to JFK airport after emergency slide malfunctions: officials

Meanwhile, just off-campus, tensions continue to flare, with a strong police presence monitoring non-student demonstrators and separating them at times.

The scene at the central campus of the Ivy League university continues to evolve. On Friday, where there had once been only the tent encampment protesting Israeli attacks in Gaza, there are other displays, including hundreds of Israeli flags of varying sizes flying on a lawn in the middle of a main cross-campus passageway. On an adjacent lawn is another display of flags arranged in the shape of a Star of David. Dozens of posters of Israeli hostages are on the stone walls just outside of the pro-Palestinian tent encampment.

Still, some Jewish students say they do not feel safe. One student, Jonathan Swill, pointed out that a large Israeli flag, a large American flag, and a large banner calling for the hostages release had been removed from the area next to the tent encampment Thursday night.

He also said that he has not felt secure on campus since an incident last November.

I had a pin on the back of my backpack that said, Israel Always and Forever,' he said. Somebody grabbed the back of my backpack. It was a guy wearing a keffiyeh covering his face, he said, referring to an Arab head covering.

At the encampment, meanwhile, some student leaders said they feel threatened as well.

Multiple death threats, being harassed for wearing keffiyeh, doxed, stereotyped, said one student leader in a statement at the camp, Being treated differently by high-ranking administrators, including the president.

He was referring to Columbia University President Minouch Shafik. Just before 7:00 Friday night, the university senate voted to approve a resolution calling for an investigation into the schools leadership in the wake of Shafiks actions related to the tent encampment and other issues.

On Thursday of last week, a day after students had set up the tents on a lawn in front of the main library, Shafik called in the NYPD to clear out the encampment and to arrest more than 100 students. They were subsequently suspended.

In a statement issued after the senate vote, a Columbia spokesperson said that the administration and the senate share the same goal of restoring calm to campus so everyone can pursue their educational activities. We are committed to an ongoing dialogue and appreciate the Senates constructive engagement in finding a pathway forward.

University commencement exercises are still scheduled for May 15.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
NEW YORK  Columbia University administrators on Saturday vowed not to bring the New York City Police Department in to clear out a pro-Gaza tent city on the schools property, claiming that police intervention would only inflame an already tense situation.

We called on the NYPD to clear an encampment once, but we all share the view, based on discussions within our community and with outside experts, that to bring back the NYPD at this time would be counterproductive, further inflaming what is happening on campus, and drawing thousands to our doorstep who would threaten our community, the school said in a statement.

The decision comes as school administrators and demonstrators continue negotiations to clear the schools main lawn of protesters. During the weeklong talks, students have demanded Columbia take the threat of physical action against them off the table, insiders with knowledge of the discussions said.

On April 18, university officials reached out to the NYPD, who arrested more than 100 protesters on campus. Since then, police have maintained a presence outside the school gates.

Columbias campus is on private property. The NYPD can only go in if the school asks them to.

While they wont be opening its doors to cops in riot gear, Columbia said they will hold protesters who spew antisemitic hatred accountable for their deeds and words.

Chants, signs, taunts, and social media posts from our own students that mock and threaten to kill Jewish people are totally unacceptable, and Columbia students who are involved in such incidents will be held accountable, Columbia said, noting that student Khymani James was banned from the school Friday.

James, one of the leaders of the encampment, in a newly surfaced clip from a January Instagram Live video said Zionists don t deserve to live and Be grateful that Im not just going out and murdering Zionists.

James apologized for his remarks on Friday in a statement released through Columbia University Apartheid Divest, a coalition of more than 100 student groups that organized the encampment.

What I said was wrong, James said. Every member of our community deserves to feel safe without qualification.

The student coalition said James words did not reflect their values but would not say if he is still part of the demonstration.

A Columbia spokesman called the video extremely alarming and upsetting, though he would not comment on individual cases.

Calls of violence and statements targeted at individuals based on their religious, ethnic or national identity are unacceptable and violate university policy, spokesman Ben Chang said Friday. When there are violations of student conduct policies, they are reviewed and disciplinary measures are applied.

Columbias tent city initially sprang up two weeks ago while President Minouche Shafik was in Washington, D.C., testifying before Congress on antisemitism.

After cops cleared the lawn, the protesters quickly returned and set up a second encampment.

The NYPD has repeatedly said that they are willing to go back in if asked, but wants the university to have a more comprehensive plan in place if they go in a second time.

Meanwhile, NYPD brass on Saturday doubled down on their belief that outside agitators have influenced Columbias protesters after student organizers blasted the notion.

Speaking to the Associated Press, Columbia protesters said they underwent hours of planning sessions before their headline-grabbing demonstrations began, where they discussed everything from their demands to bathroom access and trash removal to the tents, which organizers admit they purchased after scouring online retailers and Craigslist for the most affordable options.

Last week, NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry and Mayor Eric Adams raised the possibility that someone outside the university was funding the protest because the tents protesters used looked alike.

[The outside agitators] are trying to hijack a peaceful protest and turn it into something far more sinister, Daughtry said on X.

To imply this is AstroTurfed or paid off, when it has actually been students laying the groundwork for this from the very beginning, is ridiculous, protester Layla Saliba told the AP, adding that the tents were ordered in bulk by the organizers, not by anyone else.

Mayor Adams spokesman Fabian Levy responded to the AP report on X, claiming that Columbias president and a progressive city councilmember who doesnt agree with the mayor both wondered last week if outside agitators had infiltrated the protest.
CONCORD, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A fire at a Concord mobile home injured two people and killed the residents dog Friday afternoon, firefighters say.

According to the Concord Fire Department, crews responded just after 5:30 p.m. to the 6000 block of Baltic Avenue, off Pitts School Road. Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy smoke and fire showing from a single-story residence.

Man strikes parked vehicle, house after shot in west Charlotte: CMPD

The fire was brought under control within 13 minutes of the arrival of fire companies.

The American Red Cross is assisting the four residents displaced by tonights fire.

CFD said the homes two residents were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. One dog did not survive, however.

The fire is under investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
HONG KONG, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Shanghai TV Week opened on Saturday in the latest move to deepen cultural cooperation between the two cities as they jointly pledged at the sixth session of the Hong Kong/Shanghai Cooperation Conference held on Friday.

The event is co-organized by Shanghai Media Group and Radio Television Hong Kong as requested by a cooperation document the two sides signed at the conference.

Cultural programs produced by Shanghai Media Group will be aired on Radio Television Hong Kong Channel 31 from Saturday, including a documentary on early ancient Chinese civilization called China Before China, a program on the culture of Shanghai and a program about exhibits at the Shanghai Museum. The two media outlets also co-created a feature program about Hong Kongers residing in Shanghai and Shanghai natives living in Hong Kong.

Director of Shanghai Media Group Song Jiongming said at the opening ceremony that he hopes the programs to be aired during the week will foster affinity between the people of Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Eddie Cheung, director of broadcasting of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and head of Radio Television Hong Kong, said the event showed stronger ties between media outlets in the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong. 
Outspoken anti-abortion activist Randall Terry has been chosen as the religiously conservative Constitution Partys presidential nominee for the 2024 election.

Terrys entrance onto the 2024 scene, first reported by Ballot Access News and confirmed by POLITICO, reaffirms that the issue of abortion is a central concern for conservative voters going into the November election, as Terrys platform is almost exclusively dedicated to his anti-abortion stance and activism.

We are running for President in the effort to make child killing by abortion the number one voter issue in America, his campaign website says. We will show the horror of aborted children to the American people, and call on Christians to REPENT for having voted for Joe Biden.

Terry, a founder of the anti-abortion group Operation Rescue, put in an ill-fated bid for the Democratic nomination for president in 2012, campaigning against then-president Barack Obama. Central to his campaign at the time was a series of graphic ads  including a Super Bowl ad that featured pictures of aborted fetuses  landing Terry in hot water with the FCC.

Terrys made-to-shock ads are already making a reprisal in his 2024 bid for president, with his site prominently featuring six ads that include images of aborted fetuses. Several ads also reference another conservative flashpoint: gender-affirming care.

According to its website, the Constitution Party is on the ballot in 12 states and is petitioning to be on more. In 2022, the party made it on the ballot in 15 states, including battleground states Georgia, Wisconsin and Michigan.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) is not too worried about a possible primary challenge from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, he told a local news anchor Friday evening.

Im not too worried about it. My last election, I had a primary. I had several primary opponents, and I got 76% of the vote, Cornyn said, responding to the anchors question about the primary challenge. And so, I realize Im not going to get 100% of the vote. And contested primaries actually make you a better candidate in the general election, in my experience.

The Texas anchor followed up with Cornyn, asking, Do you have a working relationship with the attorney general? while noting that both Cornyn and Paxton like to spar on social platform X.

Well, theres a lot we agree on. And, and, you know, having held that job for four years as the chief law enforcement officer for the state, I have strong feelings about how that job should be performed. But now my job is different. And its to represent all of us here in Texas and work with all of our elected officials, including the attorney general, Cornyn responded.

Paxton said Cornyn has been in Washington too long and has never really had competition, during an interview with Tucker Carlson in September 2023.

Hes worked for what, 14 years or so? And I cant think of a single thing hes accomplished for our state or even for the country, let alone the fact that we have a massive invasion into our state, Paxton said.

Cornyn has lately taken aim at Paxton, following the Texas Attorney Generals blasting of the Senators leadership prospects amid his bid as a possible successor to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Hard to run from prison, Ken, Cornyn wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Cornyn and Paxton have trolled online, firing back at each other on social media.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(COLORADO)  From now until June 4, Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) is offering grants to organizations working to connect kids to the outdoors. The Colorado Outdoor Equity Grant Program (OEGP) will award $3 million in Outdoor Equity Grants this December.

The funding is being offered to any organization that is helping to instill excitement for the outdoors in Colorado youth, as well as a sense of responsibility for the environment. Any organization (including nonprofits, government entities, school districts, for-profits, and federally recognized tribes) that is trying to increase outdoor access for youth is encouraged to apply.

CPW especially wants to reach youth from communities that are often excluded: youth from low-income, and communities of color, LGBTQ+ youth, youth who are members of Tribal Nations with historical ties to Colorado, and youth with disabilities.

We want to help every Coloradan, regardless of background, explore our states incredible outdoor spaces, said Governor Jared Polis. With this program, we are breaking down barriers to the outdoors, and creating a shared sense of belonging and stewardship.

The OEGP Board is looking for letters of interest from organizations that:

Support outdoor activities and education for Colorado youth

Show cultural competence in working with target populations

Demonstrate commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion

Propose to increase the capacity of communities they serve in the outdoors and conservation

Show a deep commitment to and understanding of the youth they serve

Will use that understanding to help cultivate responsibility for the outdoors

For more details please see CPWs grant guidelines.

The Outdoor Equity Grant Program exemplifies our dedication to fostering accessibility and diversity in our outdoor spaces as mission-critical to CPW, said CPW Director Jeff Davis. Through this program and our continued commitment to it, we are expanding opportunities for underserved communities while also reaffirming our mission to ensure all Coloradans can experience a connection to the natural world.

The OEGP Board invites organizations of all sizes and with diverse missions to apply. Any organizations who have previously received Outdoor Equity Grant funding can reapply if they have spent at least half of their previously-awarded funds, or plan to do so by September 25.

For more details and relevant links, please visit CPWs website.

Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
Crews respond to small electrical fire inside Fanatics store in PNC Park

Emergency crews were called to the Fanatics Clubhouse store in PNC Park on Friday evening.

Firefighters were first dispatched to federal street around 7:30 p.m. for a fire alarm.

Crews didnt find anything when they were first dispatched, but they were called back around 8:30 p.m.

When firefighters arrived a second time, they found a small electrical fire.

The fire was put out in roughly 20 minutes. No one was hurt.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

TRENDING NOW:

Allegheny County library card holders can get free admission to over a dozen attractions this summer Southwest Airlines to stop service to four airports amid problems with Boeing deliveries Charges refiled against former Pittsburgh Public Schools student accused of attacking staff VIDEO: Group of Jewish Pitt students calling for release of 133 hostages being held by Hamas DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Friends and family of Cristina Ase, a Vancouver woman who has been missing since last month, gathered at a candlelight vigil at Glenwood Park on Friday night to remember her on her birthday.

We love her, we miss her. And wherever she is, we are going to continue fighting to bring her home, said Sandy Hayden, one of Ases coworkers.

The Vancouver Police Department said Ase left her home on the morning of March 26 but never showed up for work in West Linn. The last ping from her phone placed its location in Southeast Portland.

Newly released emails shed light on Gov. Kotek staff concerns about First Spouse

Kind of gave me a chill coming to this area knowing this was the last place her phone was signaled, said Jennifer Williams, another one of Ases coworkers. It just feels dark being here.

Police have characterized Ases disappearance as suspicious. But despite tremendous efforts by loved ones, many have found it challenging to accept the lack of clues  or closure  about her whereabouts.

Its really hard not to have any answers, not understanding what happened to her. Hoping theres some sort of lead to find out where she is, Williams said.

Oregon man sentenced to 50 years in the 1978 killing of a teen girl in Alaska

The search effort has included people putting up missing person flyers around the park, the greater Portland and Vancouver areas and a billboard. The sentiment from many: they want to bring her home.

Almost three weeks ago, warrants show investigators found a roll of duct tape and several hairs in Ases gray 2013 Toyota RAV4. The car was found near her home in Vancouver after her disappearance.

She was just ripped from us, from her life from everything. Its important we do what we can for her, said Matt Shempert, who worked with Ase.

We would be homeless: Aurora couple say they cant afford home amid unemployment payment delays

The gathering culminated with community members singing Happy Birthday to Ase with a birthday cake and releasing balloons on her 62nd birthday.

Crime Stoppers of Oregon is offering a cash reward of up to $2,500 for any information that leads to an arrest. Those who do have information are asked to contact the Vancouver Police Department.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Cybertip leads to arrest of Blue Grass man for child pornography

A 57-year-old rural Blue Grass man faces felony charges after the Scott County Sheriffs Office received a Cybertip, a news release says.

On Jan. 8, 2024, the Scott County Sheriffs Office received a Cybertip from the Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and started an investigation, according to a news release.

Christian Allen (Scott County Jail)

During the investigation, Christian B. Allen was developed as the suspect in this case, the release says. Through the criminal investigation, evidence was obtained for criminal charges against Allen that he possessed child pornography.

On Friday, Allen was arrested and booked into the Scott County Jail. He was charged with five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a Class D felony.

According to court records, Allen was released on his own recognizance.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky, in the presence of his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto, has said that Russian imperialism is the greatest threat to Europe, and that Ukraine should be supported to defend itself against it.

Source: the Hungarian independent outlet Telex with reference to Lipavsky at a press conference in Budapest on Friday, as reported by European Pravda

Details: This is the first time Lipavsky, who has been in office since 2021, has visited the Hungarian capital for bilateral talks. At the press conference, Lipavsky spoke a lot about the Russo-Ukrainian war.

"I think it's a well-known fact that Czechia sees Russian imperialism as the greatest threat and risk to Europe. The Czech Republic will support Ukraine for as long as it takes," he said.

Lipavsky added that it is in Europe's interest that Ukraine defends itself and liberates all its territories.

"If we do not want Russia to threaten us even more in the future, we must use force to prevent the redrawing of borders in Europe, which threatens international order, international stability and prosperity," Lipavsky said.

He stressed that no one is currently doing more for the security of Europe than Ukrainians, "so we support President Zelenskyy's peace plan and at this point, we see it as the only realistic way to end the war."

Background:

Meanwhile, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto recently said that the EU was "preparing for a world war" because of the situation in Ukraine.

A similar statement was made by Hungarian PM Viktor Orban, who accused European leaders of using the "logic of war" amid Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Support UP or become our patron!
GAZA, April 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 22 Palestinians were killed and several others injured on Saturday due to Israeli airstrikes on central and southern Gaza, according to Palestinian sources.

Palestinian security sources told Xinhua that Israeli warplanes targeted a populated house in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza with a number of missiles, killing nine Palestinians, including four children, and injuring 30 others.

In another Israeli airstrike targeting a house in the far south of the Gaza Strip, six Palestinians, including four children, were killed, and eight others were injured, according to medical sources.

Later, warplanes targeted a house in the "Nasir" neighborhood north of Rafah, where seven Palestinians were killed and several others injured. The wounded had been transferred to Abu Yousef Al-Najjar Hospital in the city.

Meanwhile, Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee said on social media platform X that fighter jets targeted more than 25 sites in the Strip, including military buildings, weapons warehouses and underground structures.

He added that the Israeli warplanes attacked a site used to launch rocket shells toward the Ashdod area, a site for launching shells in Khan Younis, and a car carrying eight Hamas militants in the center of the sector.

Also on Saturday, the Gaza-based Health Ministry warned that residents of the coastal enclave, inhabited by more than two million people, are drinking unsafe water due to Israel's refusal to allow the entry of materials for its treatment.

Meanwhile, Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, an independent non-profit organization based in Geneva, said that residents of Gaza receive much less clean water than they need, and the majority have to use contaminated water unfit for drinking.

The Gaza-based Health Ministry announced on the day that the Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip from ongoing Israeli attacks has risen to 34,388.

It said in a press statement that the Israeli army killed 32 Palestinians and wounded 69 others during the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 34,388 and injuries to 77,437 since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

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. 
Dairy farmers are at risk for bird flu. Here's how they can stay safe.

Dr. Barb Petersen, a dairy veterinarian in Amarillo, Texas, had been caring for sick cows for several weeks in March when she and a colleague finally pinned down the cause of the illness among the herd: the H5N1 strain of the bird flu.

It was the first time the virus had been detected in cattle.

The sick cows, said Petersen, who owns Sunrise Veterinary Service, tended to produce milk that didnt look quite right, and had mastitis, an inflammation of the udders.

During that same time, she said, dairy workers  including those who were never in close contact with the sick cows  also fell ill.

People had some classic flu-like symptoms, including high fever, sweating at night, chills, lower back pain, as well as upset stomach, vomiting and diarrhea, Petersen said. They also tended to have pretty severe conjunctivitis and swelling of their eyelids.

Petersen noted that the people were never tested for H5N1; its possible that their symptoms were the result of another illness.

Since the outbreak in cows was announced in late March, bird flu has been detected in 33 dairy herds in nine states: Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota, Ohio and Texas.

So far just one person, a dairy worker in Texas, has tested positive for the virus. The persons case was mild, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The only symptom involved was conjunctivitis, or pinkeye.

At least 44 others may have been exposed, the CDC said. Some have been tested, while others were asked to monitor symptoms, such as cough, sore throat, pinkeye, fever, headache and diarrhea.

Dr. Keith Poulsen, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, said hes heard reports of flu-like illnesses on affected dairy farms.

Its certainly not a large amount, he said, but theres probably a lot of cases that are not documented.

Several factors may prevent sick dairy workers from seeking medical care or farmers from even reporting a positive case among their cattle.

Farming, especially in rural areas with fewer medical centers, is often a 24/7 job without the benefit of sick days. Whats more, false information circulating across farming communities is fueling a tremendous amount of fear that dairy farmers could lose their livelihood if they are tagged as harboring H5N1, Poulsen said.

The biggest concern that we hear our dairy farmers say is, I dont want to test because theyre going to depopulate my herd, he said. Misinformation out there is really challenging because thats really not the case.

Our job right now is to protect farmworkers, said Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University School of Public Health. We cant do that unless we know where the virus is or where it isnt.

Its still unclear how the bird flu virus spreads from cows to people, though some experts said it could be through multiple paths, such as contact with milk, contaminated milking equipment, or even respiratory droplets.

I think everythings on the table at this point, said Dr. Andrew Bowman, a veterinary epidemiologist at the Ohio State University.

On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration said that genetic traces of the virus have been detected in 1 in 5 samples of pasteurized milk.

Preliminary results announced Friday by the agency said that pasteurization kills the virus, adding that the testing did not detect any live, infectious virus in commercially sold milk. The FDA said it was testing 297 samples from 38 states.

The FDA said it had also tested several powdered infant and toddler formulas and found no evidence of bird flu virus. It was unclear how many formula samples the agency had tested.

Meanwhile, experts recommend that anyone in contact with dairy cattle wear protective equipment, including safety glasses or goggles, waterproof aprons and boots that can be sanitized.

Poulsen encouraged dairy farmers to be as up front as possible about the virus. The more time it has to replicate in cows and other mammals, the stronger it might become, he said.

The longer that we let this go unchecked or uncontrolled, he said, it becomes a much, much bigger problem that could make Covid look easy.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
There is no clearer example of the broken Westminster consensus than the last three decades of immigration policy. Successive governments have failed to tackle illegal migration. And as I have set out in these pages, the latest attempt  the Safety of Rwanda Act  will shortly join the graveyard of policies that havent re-established our southern border.

But as offensive and dangerous as illegal migration is, the bigger scandal is the story on legal migration because the numbers involved are so much greater. Last year, there were about 30,000 illegal small boat arrivals, but this was dwarfed by the 1.2 million people who arrived here perfectly legally.

Legal migration policy has a far bigger impact on the publics day to day lives. As just one example, our housing crisis is increasingly an immigration crisis. As housing secretary, I managed to drag up housing starts to almost a quarter of a million (the highest level since 1986), but we would need to build an impossible 515,000 new homes every year in England alone just to cope with current levels of immigration. This unmatched demand will continue to cause rents to spiral and homeownership rates to dwindle.

For nearly three decades, politicians of all stripes have promised to control and reduce legal migration, only to allow it to balloon to extreme levels. The numbers we have experienced are jaw-dropping. In the 25 years up to Tony Blairs election, cumulative net migration was 68,000; in the next 25 years to 2022 it was 5.9 million  almost 100 times the previous 25 years.

Until we left the EU and ended free movement, politicians knew full well that they couldnt keep their promises. Since we took back control of the levers of migration, these were promises that politicians deliberately broke by liberalising our system even further by lowering salary thresholds and creating new routes with lax rules.

Frankly, those decisions were two fingers up to the public who havent forgotten or forgiven. A plurality of almost every voting group agree that immigration has been too high over the last 10 years, including 53 per cent of Londoners, 49 per cent of Lib Dems and 43 per cent of 18-24 year olds. Most in the SW1 bubble are blissfully unaware of the deep well of anger from voters that they have, yet again, had their express wishes betrayed.

Those in power who are aware choose to do nothing as they cling to the last remaining argument the pro mass-migration camp can muster: the orthodoxy that immigration is an unalloyed economic good and that our public services would collapse without it. This myth needs debunking, which is why I have partnered with Neil OBrien  a first-rate minister and former Treasury special advisor  and the Centre for Policy Studies  the pre-eminent centre-Right economic think tank  to confront it head on.

It stands to reason that, if all this migration is rocket fuel for our economy, growth would be booming and wages rising. But since 1998, the first year net migration passed 100,000, GDP per capita growth has averaged 1.2 per cent a year, barely half the rate in the four decades before that. There are other factors at play, but its undeniable that mass migration has diluted our capital stock and that far too many of the migrants who have come have been net burdens on the Exchequer over the course of their lifetimes.

Policymakers take the economic contribution of the average migrant, but the employment rates, earnings and fiscal impact of different migrant groups vary massively. For instance, our report reveals that a migrant from Poland is 50 per cent more likely to be in work than a migrant from Somalia or Bangladesh. This is cause for concern, not least because, since leaving the EU, weve seen migration from Europe radically decrease and an enormous increase in non-EU migration.

Clearly, the post-Brexit liberalisations need to be unwound swiftly. Before I resigned as immigration minister, I managed to secure a reduction in annual arrivals of an estimated 300,000 per year, but I saw that as an important first step, not job done. We need to create a far more restrictive system that establishes the UK as the grammar school of the Western world, focusing on attracting the high skill, high wage migrants who will be net contributors to the economy. If we were to do so, combining the current levels of migration from the EU with our historic, pre-Brexit levels of immigration from outside the EU, this would bring net migration comfortably back into the tens of thousands.

But well-meaning policy isnt enough. The state has consistently shown itself to be astonishingly bad at forecasting the consequences of its immigration politics. Take the social care route, which the Department for Health and Social Care forecast to have 6,000 main applicants, but ended up with 146,000 and 203,000 dependants last year. Excluding the pandemic, annual net migration has exceeded the forecasts used in OBR projections 93 per cent of the time.

The only way politicians can look voters in the eye and guarantee they can meet their promises to reduce net migration is to introduce a cap which would serve as a democratic lock on numbers. We propose that this cap should be voted on by all MPs in Parliament in a Migration Budget Debate, alongside forecasted impacts of immigration on housing, infrastructure and public services.

The road back to having any credibility on immigration will be long and hard. The Conservative Party must repent, and even then voters would perfectly reasonably decide that all is not forgiven. But regardless of the party-political implications of these reforms, they are so clearly in the national interest that they should be delivered without delay.

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.
Daredevils now riding a new wave by standing on top of NYC buses in twist on deadly subway surfing trend

These daredevils are riding a new wave.

Adrenaline junkies are now surfing atop Big Apple buses barreling down major thoroughfares  a new twist on the deadly transit trend of surfing subway cars.

One audacious roof rider captured their illegal trip on an M15 articulated bus, the streetscape blurring past as the steel behemoth hurtled down Second Avenue in Manhattans Murray Hill neighborhood, video footage shared on Instagram this week showed.

A February clip showed a hoodie-clad youth running and jumping on the roof of a moving bus in Queens. X @EJonatha4766004

Another vertigo-inducing clip posted on X in February showed a hoodie-clad youth crouching down on the roof of a different articulated bus  before hopping on to a different section of the vehicle and ducking beneath an electric cable line.

If theres something ridiculous, foolhardy and dangerous, teens will figure out how to do it, straphanger Pamelda Candusso Hirsch, 71, griped to The Post.

They could forever ruin so many lives.

Mustapha Sawaneh, who has driven MTA buses along crosstown routes for six years, warned the brazen surfers who are taking their stunts from the citys underground to the streets face more unpredictable and dangerous terrain.

If a cab cuts in front of you, you have to slam on the breaks. If someone steps out on the street, you have to swerve the bus, Sawaneh, 26, said.

One MTA bus operator warned surfing on New York City streets was more unpredictable compared to the subways. X @EJonatha4766004

If youre [subway] surfing you can see a train curve ahead, whats coming up [but] when youre bus surfing you dont know whats going to happen.

Several bus drivers suspected the reckless riders were somehow scampering aboard their vehicles while they were parked during their 10-minute breaks, or even a 30-second stop at a red light.

Operators are going to need to check [the top of buses] before we head out, said veteran operator Jason Williams, 40.

He warned its impossible to tell from the drivers seat whether their bus has a roof-level stowaway unless someone tells you, and then it might be too late.

New York City and state officials have attempted to crack down on the scourge of transit surfers, which they say has become more common among teens who are trying to copy what they see on TikTok and Instagram.

MTA bus operators think the rogue riders are getting on buses roofs when they stop at the end of their route or at traffic lights. Instagram @_thisisnyc_

In September, the Adams administration and the MTA deployed a public service campaign with ads and announcements warning about the dangers of subway surfing.

At least two people have been killed riding outside of trains this year, including 14-year-old Alam Reyes, who was killed after he was thrown from the top of a southbound F train in Brooklyn.

Last year, at least five teens were killed while subway surfing.

Dave Steckel, an MTA spokesman, said the agency was investigating the incidents.
Shaima Refaat Alareer, the daughter of a prominent Palestinian poet, was killed alongside her family in an Israeli airstrike on a house west of Gaza City on Friday, according to multiple sources, four months after her father died in a similar attack.

Alareers husband and their two-month-old son also died in the strike, according to eyewitnesses and family friends.

Eyewitnesses in Al-Rimal neighborhood told CNN that three Israeli missiles struck a home where the family were sheltering.

When asked for comment about the strike, the Israel Defense Forces told CNN it follows international law and tries to mitigate civilian harm, but was unable to provide further comment without exact coordinates and the time of the strike.

Shaima was the daughter of Palestinian poet Refaat Alareer, who was killed along with several other family members when an Israeli airstrike hit their home in the Shujayya neighborhood in December.

Alareer spoke to CNN in October, when he was deliberating over whether to stay at his home in Gaza City or flee further south with his wife and six children. At the time, the 44-year-old writer and academic said they had no choice but to remain in the north, as they have nowhere else to go.

Residents of Al-Rimal neighborhood said Shaima and her family had been displaced from their home in Shujayya nearly four months ago.

Video shot for CNN shows residents running towards the house after the strike and gathering around the bodies of those killed. Footage shows the house completely demolished.

Residents told CNN the familys remains were taken to Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital.

Mosab Abu Toha, a Palestinian poet from Gaza and friend of Refaat who is now displaced in Cairo, told CNN that Refaats brother had informed him of the devastating news of the killing of Refaats daughter, husband and newborn child on Friday.

Shaima had posted news of her motherhood in a recent message on her private Facebook account, according to Abu Toha. He shared a screenshot of her message to her deceased father.

I have a beautiful news for you, I wish I could convey it to you while you are in front of me, I present to you your first grandchild. Do you know, my father, that you have become a grandfather? Shaima wrote.

This is your grandson Abd al-Rahman whom I have long imagined you carrying, but I never imagined that I would lose you early even before you see him.

Strike on refugee camp

Overnight Friday into Saturday, at least 15 people were killed after an Israeli strike targeted Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, with at least two children still missing under the rubble, according to the Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza.

Video shot for CNN shows a residential block of buildings destroyed, with mounds of rubble piled up around the area. Residents are seen climbing over the debris picking up carpets and salvaging whatever is left of their belongings.

Women and children are seen standing inside the remains of what looked like their homes, watching civil defense workers using handheld machinery to dig in the rubble. Young men appear to be helping rescue workers by wrapping bodies in blankets and moving them out of the area.

Hafez Abu Shallouf, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Civil Defense, told CNN from the site of the strike that an Israeli bomb was dropped on the refugee camp overnight and caused mass destruction.

We rushed here and saw the martyrs, the wounded and the injured. Theyre all civilians. Our capabilities are limited  we will help in whatever way we can, he said.

An aerial view of destruction after an Israeli attack on Nuseirat refugee camp in Deir Al Balah, Gaza on April 27. - Ashraf Amra/Anadolu/Getty Images

Shallouf pleaded for the international community to supply heavy duty equipment. We are working with our hands  we use a few tools here and there, but the destruction is too vast, its very hard, he added.

A resident of the camp, Salah Al-Saiqaly, told CNN he was sleeping at home with his children when he felt a huge explosion around midnight, causing the walls around him to collapse on top of him.

What have these kids done? What have the people who were safely living in their homes done? Why the injustice? Why the oppression? Do they think we dont care about our kids and our wives? Our blood is not cheap, he said.

Al-Saiqaly said there was no warning of the strike and criticized the Israeli military for striking an entire residential block rather than targeting its attacks.

Another resident, Mahmoud Al-Jid, told CNN he was shocked to learn that his uncle had been killed after his house was unexpectedly struck in the middle of the night.

It felt like an earthquake shook the camp. There were around 15 homes in this block, and now they are in bits and pieces, he said.

CNN has reached out to the IDF for comment on the target of any airstrikes that occurred in the Nuseirat area overnight Friday into Saturday and whether warnings were provided to civilians.

Journalist Mohammad Al Sawalhi contributed reporting from central Gaza, as did Khader Al-Zaanoun of Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
On This Day, April 27: U.S. executes first prisoner convicted on DNA evidence

On April 27, 1994, Virginia executed a condemned killer, Timothy Spencer, in the first case in which DNA testing was used to obtain a conviction. File Photo courtesy of Florida Department of Corrections

April 26 (UPI) -- On this date in history:

In 1521, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan was killed by natives of the Philippine Islands during his attempt to be the first to circumnavigate the world. His co-leader, Juan Sebastian de Elcano, completed the voyage in 1522.

In 1749, George Frideric Handel's "Fireworks Music" was first performed.

In 1810, Ludwig van Beethoven composed "Fur Elise."

In 1865, the steamboat Sultana, heavily overloaded with an estimated 2,300 passengers, most of them Union soldiers on their way home, exploded on the Mississippi River just north of Memphis. The death toll in the worst maritime disaster in U.S. history was set at 1,450.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in (R) and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shake hands in front of the Military Demarcation Line at the Joint Security Area on the Demilitarized Zone in the border village of Panmunjom in Paju, South Korea, on April 27, 2018. File Photo by Inter-Korean Summit Press Corps

In 1897, the cornerstone was laid for Grant's Tomb in New York City's Riverside Park. A holiday had been declared for the occasion and an enormous crowd turned out in honor of Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th president and Civil War general who died 12 years earlier.

File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

In an canonization mass, Pope Francis honors Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II by declaring them saints in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican in Vatican City on April 27, 2014. File Photo by Stefano Spaziani/UPI

In 1932, prohibition and birth control were to be raised during the formal business meeting of the League of Women Voters in the run-up to the 1932 elections.

In 1937, the first Social Security payment was made in the United States.

On April 27, 1993, Kuwait said it foiled an Iraqi plot to assassinate former President George H.W. Bush during his visit earlier in the month. UPI File Photo

In 1978, communist rebels overthrew and killed Afghan President Mohammed Daoud Khan, a precursor to the Soviet-Afghan War.

In 1991, an estimated 70 tornadoes hit Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa, killing 23 people and leaving thousands homeless.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., (R) speaks at an event hosted by the National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C., February 14, 2017. On April 27, 1937, the first Social Security payment was made in the United States. File Photo by Molly Riley/UPI

In 1993, Kuwait said it foiled an Iraqi plot to assassinate former President George H.W. Bush during his visit earlier in the month.

In 1994, Virginia executed a condemned killer, Timothy Spencer, in the first case in which DNA testing was used to obtain a conviction.

In 2008, police said a 73-year-old Austrian man, Josef Fritzl, had been accused of fathering several children with his daughter while holding her captive in a cellar for 24 years. Fritzl was eventually sentenced to life in prison.

In 2009, General Motors announced it would drop the Pontiac line.

File Photo by Roger Williams/UPI

In 2011, a record outbreak of 358 tornadoes carved a devastating path through parts of 21 states from Texas to New York and on into Canada, hitting southern states hardest. Nearly 300 fatalities were reported, mostly in Alabama, over a four-day period.

In 2014, tens of thousands of people gathered at the Vatican for the canonization of two former popes, John XXIII and John Paul II.

In 2018, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in met during a historic summit to discuss full denuclearization.

In 2023, James Corden signed off on The Late Late Show for the final time after hosting the show for eight years.

File Photo by Greg Nash/UPI
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said a man from Maryland was responsible for a shooting outside of a nightclub in Dupont Circle on Friday night.

Officers responded to the area outside Decades nightclub in the 1200 block of Connecticut Ave. NW at about 11:21 p.m. There, they found six people who had been shot.

Three men and two women were taken to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. A fourth man was treated at the scene for a graze wound but refused to be taken to the hospital.

Six people shot outside club in Dupont Circle; person in custody

Officers said they arrested 29-year-old Rennwel Mantock, of Hyattsville, Md. A gun was found at the scene.

Detectives said he had been involved in a dispute inside the club. He opened fire after employees removed him from the nightclub.

Alex Colorado, of Arlington, Va., arrived at the club just moments after the shooting.

Itsa place that I typically go to probably a couple of times a month with friends, Colorado said. And seeing a place impacted like that and, you know, just kind of seeing whats going on in the city and seeing that happen in a place I like going to [is] really unfortunate.

Man stabbed, critically hurt near Audi Field

Closure notice outside of Decades. (Dave Leval/DC News Now)

MPD posted a notice that Decades would be closed for four days.

Its really sad for the business owners. I mean, it wasnt really their fault, said Kyle Hyman of New York City, who would go to the nightclub while in college. So, you know, I wish them the best. And I hope that theyre going to be able to reopen operations sometime soon.

Mantock was charged with assault with intent to kill, possession of unregistered ammunition and possession of an unregistered firearm.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
On Saturday, April 27 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Seattle Field Division is hosting its annual National Drug Prescription Take Back event.

Unused prescription medication is often a gateway to drug abuse and addiction, which is why the DEA has been offering a safe and anonymous way for people to dispose of these medications.

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, said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram.

For the past 26 years, the DEA has collected various forms of medication and are including vaping devices so long as the batteries are removed.

With 5,000 locations nationwide you can search for a location near you, but if unable to find a location or miss the date, medications can still be dropped off at pharmacies near you.
Zelenskyy informed US House of Representatives Speaker that Ukraine would hold out without US assistance until April

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Mike Johnson. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

In December 2023, during a conversation with Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that Ukraine would be able to withstand more pressure from Russian missiles and drones by March or April.

Source: Politico, citing sources

Details: Sources noted that Zelenskyy told Johnson that Ukraine could hold out without additional military assistance from the US until "March or April," after which it would run out of weapons.

A source from the House of Representatives informed the publication that after this conversation, Johnson decided to support assistance until this deadline and chose to prepare the bill.

The preparation was handled by Johnson's national security aide, Josh Hodges, who supports Ukraine.

Background:

On 2 April, US President Joe Biden signed legislation enacted by Congress that offers about US$61 billion in new military and economic aid to Ukraine, as well as help to other US allies.

On 23 April, the Senate finally adopted a legislative package that includes about US$61 billion in new military and economic aid to Ukraine, as well as help to other US allies.

American media reported that after the bill is adopted, Ukraine's next package of US military aid, likely worth US$1 billion, might include long-range ATACMS missiles.

Support UP or become our patron!
A police officers fist to a female students face, an account detailed in a letter by University of Texas-Austin faculty condemning police actions on campus. Of all the disturbing things Ive seen or read in recent days, that stuck with me most.

Maybe its the violent intimacy of the act. Maybe the power imbalance. Maybe because it illustrates better than anything else, weve lost our way.

Issac Bailey

Or, maybe because it underscores how fruitful and unnecessary the decisions by college presidents and armed agents of the state on campuses from New York to California have revealed themselves to be. They have been cruel in the extreme. While the police officer was punching that student, the nation was being treated to U.S. Supreme Court hearings that amounted to what could be narration of the effective end of the worlds oldest-standing democracy.

It sounds like hyperbole. But just think about what was just argued before the court. In a case that could determine if presidents and former presidents could essentially be immunized from criminal prosecution, a lawyer for Donald Trump was asked if a president would be immune after ordering the assassination of a political rival because of alleged corruption.

It would depend on the hypothetical, but we can see that could well be an official act, attorney D. John Sauer told the court.

Its tempting to ignore his words, given that the court may rule against Trump. That would be unwise, knowing the court shouldnt have taken this case if the adage no man above the law was a principle we held dear.

George Washington has long been praised for setting the stage for our democracy by refusing to hold onto power at any cost. Its taken nearly two and a half centuries, but that question is back before us again, this time in the person of Trump, a man who has incited a violent insurrection attempt and has violated every political norm and exposed a cold, hard reality. Our vaunted system of checks and balances is only as good as the people we empower to uphold it.

Thats at the existential end of the spectrum. On the personal end, Idaho defended its near-total abortion ban before the Supreme Court on Wednesday by making it clear abortions shouldnt be legal even if the pregnant woman is in so much distress, she may not only lose the baby, but an organ. The state argued a 40-year-old Ronald Reagan era law that determines how people are to be treated when they show up at a hospitals emergency room doesnt really apply to pregnant women if an abortion is what they need in an urgent situation.

Its not a hypothetical. An increasing number of women have been facing such scenarios since Roe v. Wade was upended by the ultra-conservative Supreme Court, including in North Carolina.

Staff at Person Memorial Hospital in Roxboro, N.C. turned away a woman complaining of stomach pain, saying they couldnt provide her with an ultrasound, according to The Associated Press. Neither did they tell her how risky it would be to leave before being stabilized. She gave birth in a car while trying to make it to a hospital 45 minutes away  her baby didnt make it.

There are more such horror stories, including a woman who miscarried in the lobby restroom of a Texas emergency room after staff refused to check her in.

But I cant get the image of a police officers fist to a female students face out of my mind because it came during peaceful protests. No matter if you agree with that students politics, you must know that protest, even the loud and obnoxious kind, is the bedrock of this democracy, and that this democracy cant thrive without it. The heavy hand of the law coming down on her is not only a threat to her, but to us all.

Issac Bailey is a McClatchy Opinion writer in North and South Carolina.
by Gretinah Machingura

HARARE, April 27 (Xinhua) -- China and other foreign investors are welcome to partner with local companies to develop Africa's budding electric vehicle (EV) industry, a senior official from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) has said.

Although there is some distance to go for Africa in terms of EV productive capacity and supportive ecosystem, Africa has begun exploring opportunities and taking significant steps in this regard, leveraging its vast green mineral resources that are key inputs into EVs, Eunice Kamwendo, director of the UNECA Sub-Regional Office for Southern Africa, told Xinhua in an interview Thursday.

"The joint Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)-Zambia Batteries for Electric Vehicles Initiative is a case in point which seeks to build productive capacities for EV manufacturing in the two countries starting with production of sulphates and precursors for lithium-ion batteries for EVs," Kamwendo said in her e-mailed response to Xinhua from Zambia where UNECA Sub-Regional Office for Southern Africa is located.

She said that in the medium term, Africa is focused on building its own capacity to manufacture EVs, and with the correct industrial model and governance frameworks on the horizon, there should be good opportunities for international investors, including China, to partner with local companies to produce electric batteries and vehicles.

"This seems to be the case with the DRC-Zambia Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and many others in the pipeline. Chinese or any other international industrial expertise will certainly be of great value to Africa's budding EV industry," Kamwendo said.

Kamwendo has lately called on African countries to harness the opportunities presented in recent developments in the global battery and EV industry.

She made the request at a recent UNECA technical review meeting on the implementation of the cross-border special economic zone for the battery and EV industry planned in the DRC and Zambia, with the support of the UNECA and the African Export-Import Bank.

At the review meeting, she emphasized the benefits of the battery and EV initiative in the two countries, saying the planned joint SEZ will promote manufacturing agglomeration in the two countries and across the continent, while also bridging the technological gap in the sector.

She said the surge in demand for rechargeable batteries, driven by smartphone use and the need to store renewable energy, represents a huge opportunity for the African continent to drive development based on clean energy transition.

Kamwendo described demand for EVs in Africa as low but growing.

"Insignificant at the moment but growing and will no doubt be accelerated by the push for the global energy transition," she said.

She said as part of the equation, Africa must navigate how to accelerate investments in the industry.

Kamwendo said the joint DRC-Zambia Batteries for Electric Vehicles Initiative has drawn huge interest from the rest of the continent, especially from countries with substantial mineral deposits of lithium, manganese, cobalt, nickel and graphite, such as Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar and Botswana.

"A revolution is certainly on the way. Small, but important steps to build an African EV industry," she said. 
Preston Berry, 4, wears his FrontRunner Halloween costume at the grand opening of UTA's commuter train at the Salt Lake station April 26, 2008. The train meant to alleviate congestion on I-15 runs between Ogden and Salt Lake City six days a week. | Keith Johnson

A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.

Perhaps it was fitting that the first official FrontRunner run began in Ogden, which has many of its ties to rail travel dating back to the transcontinental railroad days. Also, in the first half of the 1900s, rail service between Salt Lake and Ogden was routine via the Bamberger Railroad.

The weekend of April 26-27, 2008, dawned bright and warm as dignitaries gathered at Ogdens Union Station. After a bunch of speeches, riders jumped on the FrontRunners train and traveled south, according to front page coverage in the April 27 Deseret News.

Small celebrations were held along the way in Roy, Clearfield, Layton, Farmington and Woods Cross before arriving at the plaza of the new Salt Lake Central Station, according to the Deseret News Art Raymond in the April 27, 2008, story.

A crowd gathered at the Farmington station is reflected in one of the windows of FrontRunner, UTA's commuter rail system, during the grand opening April 26, 2008. FrontRunner is a commuter rail system that runs between Salt Lake City and Ogden in an attempt to alleviate congestion on Interstate 15. | Keith Johnson

Now the iconic red, white and blue FrontRunner engine and bi-level passenger cars are visible all along the Wasatch Front. Rail service extends to Provo, with expansion in both directions a constant consideration.

As an homage to the famous image that captured the driving of the golden spike at Promontory Summit in 1869, UTA put two FrontRunner trains nose-to-nose behind the speakers podium as a backdrop to the grand ceremony, wrote Raymond.

The Utah Transit Authority came into existence on March 3, 1970, when Salt Lake City, Sandy and Murray voted to form a transit district. Bus service was extended to Weber and Davis counties three years later, and to Utah County in 1985.

Light-rail mass transit debuted in Utah on Dec. 4, 1999, months ahead of projected construction timetables  and seven years after Salt Lake County voters rejected a sales-tax increase to pay for it, per reports.

Earlier this month, members of the International Olympic Committees host site commission mentioned the public transit options in place as a key part of Salt Lakes bid for a 2034 Olympic Games.
Detroit Police officer Caleb Williams, 21.

A rookie Detroit cop pointed his department-issued Taser stun gun at his 10-year-old nephew and then fired it in an attempt to threaten the boy, according to Wayne County prosecutors.

Caleb Williams, 21, was arraigned Friday in Detroit's 36th District Court on one count of felonious assault and one count of second-degree child abuse. (Williams is no relation to the college football superstar with the same name, drafted first on Thursday in downtown Detroit by the Chicago Bears.) The officer faces as many as 10 years in prison if convicted.

Nonfatal police shootings in Detroit: First-of-its-kind investigation raises questions

More: Mayor Duggan touts NFL draft, public safety boost, junk removal plan at State of the City

According to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, Williams was at a home on East Outer Drive in Detroit when, on April 17, he "threatened and frightened his 10-year-old nephew by arcing his department-issued Taser while standing in close proximity to the child."

A Taser weapon when activated fires two small darts attached to wires that carry high-voltage electricity. If a dart strikes someone, the surge of electricity can temporarily disable the person with painful muscle contractions, according to an online description by Axon Enterprises Inc., the weapon's Arizona-based manufacturer. Williams reportedly activated his Taser three times next to the child. According to a spokesman with the Detroit Police Department, Williams has been suspended with pay while the case against him proceeds.

Williams was given a $10,000 personal bond, meaning he was released with a requirement that he must pay up only if he fails to appear in court. As a condition of his bond, he may not possess any weapons nor have contact with minor children. Williams' next court date is a probable cause hearing set for 8:45 a.m. on May 3; followed by a preliminary exam scheduled on May 9, also at 8:45 a.m.

His lawyer, Detroit-based attorney Wright Blake, could not be reached on Friday evening.

Contact Bill Laytner: blaitner@freepress.com

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Police officer charged with assault for using Taser to scare boy
Die Welt, a German media outlet, has stated that a peace agreement could have been signed a few weeks after the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The conditions for ending the war then were spelled out in a 17-page draft agreement that the parties agreed on on 15 April 2022. Russia demanded neutrality from Ukraine, and a limit on the number of troops, weapons, equipment and aircraft. The then-occupied territories were to remain with Russia.

Source: Die Welt with reference to the document at their disposal

Details: Only a few points remained unagreed upon, and they were supposed to be discussed personally by Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a summit, but this never happened.

Die Welt noted that immediately after the start of the full-scale war, the Russian and Ukrainian sides began negotiations to end combat actions. Moscow tried to force Kyiv to surrender at the negotiating table.

In this treaty, Ukraine pledged to maintain "permanent neutrality". By doing so, Kyiv renounced any membership in military alliances. Thus, the country's accession to NATO would have been ruled out.

Ukraine agreed to never "receive, produce or acquire" nuclear weapons, to not allow foreign weapons and troops into the country, and to not grant access to its military infrastructure, including airfields and seaports, to any other country.

In addition, Kyiv had to refrain from conducting military exercises with foreign participation and from participating in any military conflicts. According to Article 3 of the document, nothing explicitly prevented Kyiv from becoming a member of the EU.

In response, Russia promised not to attack Ukraine again. To give Kyiv this assurance, Moscow agreed that the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, which are the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China and Russia itself, could provide Ukraine with comprehensive security guarantees. In Article 5 of the draft treaty, Kyiv and Moscow agreed on a mechanism reminiscent of NATO's assistance provisions.

In the event of an "armed attack on Ukraine", the guarantor countries would be obliged to provide Kyiv with support in its right to self-defence, enshrined in the UN Charter, within a maximum of three days. This assistance could be provided through "joint action" of all or some of the guarantors' powers. The treaty had to be ratified by each signatory state in accordance with international law.

Thus, the two sides developed a mechanism that differs significantly from the 1994 Budapest Memorandum. At that time, Russia had already assured Ukraine of its territorial integrity. Western states promised Kyiv support in case of an attack but did not guarantee it.

However, the security guarantees being considered in the spring of 2022 would have required the approval of the United States, China, the United Kingdom and France in a second phase. Russia also wanted to include Belarus, and Kyiv wanted to include Turkiye. However, the first goal of the negotiators was to create unity between Kyiv and Moscow so that the text could be used as a basis for multilateral negotiations.

Crimea and the port of Sevastopol were to be excluded from security guarantees. By doing so, Kyiv was practically handing over control of the peninsula to Russia.

It is not clear from the document which part of Ukraines east was to be excluded from the guarantor states' promise. The relevant areas were marked in red. In the Istanbul communique, Kyiv supposedly agreed to exclude parts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts that Russia had already occupied before the full-scale war. The Russian delegation, on the other hand, insisted that the borders be determined personally by Putin and Zelenskyy and marked on a map. The Ukrainian delegation rejected this option.

Russia demanded that in the event of an attack, all guarantor states would have to give consent to activate the assistance mechanism. This would have given Moscow a veto to override the defence mechanism. In addition, Moscow rejected Ukraines demand that the guarantor states could establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine in the event of an attack.

During the talks, Russia signalled its readiness to withdraw from Ukraine, but not from Crimea and the part of Donbas that was to be excluded from security guarantees. Putin and Zelenskyy were to discuss the details of the withdrawal directly. This was confirmed to Die Welt by two members of the Ukrainian negotiation delegation independently of each other.

The issue of the size of the Ukrainian army in the future also remained unresolved. Kyiv partially responded to Russia's demands for demilitarisation. Moscow demanded that the Ukrainian army be reduced to 85,000 soldiers, and currently, there are about a million servicemen. Ukraine proposed the number of 250,000 soldiers.

Opinions also differed on the number of military equipment. Russia demanded that the number of tanks be reduced to 342, while Kyiv wanted to keep it at 800. Ukraine wanted to reduce the number of armoured vehicles to 2,400, while Russia demanded that only 1,029 be left.

There was also a big difference in the numbers of artillery pieces. Moscow planned to allow Ukraine to keep 519, while Kyiv wanted 1,900. Kyiv wanted to retain 600 multiple-launch rocket systems with a range of up to 280 kilometres, while Russia wanted 96 pieces with a maximum range of 40 kilometres. Russia wanted to reduce the number of mortars to 147 and anti-tank missiles to 333, while Kyiv insisted that the number be reduced to 1,080 and 2,000 respectively.

In addition, Russia demanded the destruction of Ukrainian aircraft. Moscow demanded that 102 fighters and 35 helicopters be left, while Kyiv insisted on 160 jets and 144 helicopters. According to Russian ideas, there should be two warships, while according to Ukrainian ideas, there should be eight of them.

Die Welt stressed that the draft treaty shows how close Ukraine and Russia were to a possible peace deal in April 2022. But after the promising summit in Istanbul, Moscow put forward the following demands, which Kyiv did not agree to.

Thus, Russia demanded that Ukraine make Russian the second state language, lift mutual sanctions and stop lawsuits in international courts. Kyiv also had to ban "fascism, Nazism and aggressive nationalism" in Ukraine.

As Welt learned from several diplomats involved in the negotiations, there was great interest in the agreement in the spring of 2022. After the failure of its offensive on Kyiv, Russia withdrew from Ukraines north and announced that it wanted to focus on gaining territory in the east.

Die Welt quoted an unnamed member of the Ukrainian delegation as saying: "It was the best deal we could have had." Die Welt believes that even after more than two years of the full-scale war, the deal still looks favourable in retrospect.

Quote: "Ukraine has been on the defensive for several months now and has suffered heavy losses. Looking back, we can say that Ukraine was in a stronger negotiating position then than it is now. If the war had ended about two months after it started, it would have saved countless lives."

More details: At the time, negotiators predicted that Zelenskyy and Putin would sign the document in April 2022.

Die Welt writes that Davyd Arakhamiia, a member of the Ukrainian delegation, suggested in November 2023 why the leaders of the two countries had not met. The then UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrived in Kyiv on 9 April and said that London would "not sign anything" with Putin and that Ukraine should continue fighting. Later, Johnson rejected ever saying that. However, there are reasons to believe that the proposal to provide security guarantees to Ukraine in agreement with Russia failed at this stage.

Support UP or become our patron!
TEMPE, Ariz.  Young Latino voters in key swing states have the numbers to potentially sway the 2024 presidential election. But interviews with nearly two dozen young Latino students on college campuses in battleground states revealed many are currently unmotivated to back a candidate or even cast a ballot.

The students in Arizona, Pennsylvania and Georgia spoke passionately about Israels war in Gaza, the rising cost of living, immigration and abortion. Almost everyone interviewed said TikTok is where they get most of their news.

Amid the palm trees at Arizona State University, senior Darien Guerrero, 22, said he leans Republican. What he cares about most is the great threat of climate change.

But voting in November wasnt high on his to-do list.

Climate change is a problem that is bigger than us, bigger than the elections, the parties or anything. This is a human civilization problem, said Guerrero, a biology major. He added that those in power often seem to be in the way of his generations efforts to fix the issue.

In the western U.S., which includes the battlegrounds of Arizona and Nevada, Latinos are nearly 4 of every 10 newly eligible voters  defined as those who have reached ages 18 or 19 since the 2022 midterms. In the South, Latinos are 24% of newly eligible voters, and in the Northeast they make up 19%.

Arizona (Suzanne Gamboa / NBC News)

Young voters usually favor Democratic candidates: The Harvard Youth Poll showed young Hispanics favor President Joe Biden over former President Donald Trump 50% to 27% in a two-way race, with 22% saying they dont know. National polls currently show a tight race among all voters.

If young voters, many of them Latino, dont vote in large enough numbers for Democrats  particularly in Arizona, Georgia or Pennsylvania  that could be the whole race, said Republican consultant Mike Madrid.

Its not [if] Democrats will win the youth vote  they will  but percentage is everything, he said. That is what has been narrowing this year, in a way that has been unprecedented.

Pamela Gomez, 20, a biomedical student at ASU, said she intends to register to vote  but not yet. She passed on doing so with a group registering voters just a few yards away.

I wish voting for a third party was more common or had more effect, Gomez said. Right now, I dont want to vote for either Biden or Trump, but I know going for a third party doesnt go anywhere.

Arizona (Suzanne Gamboa / NBC News)

Biden and Democrats drew on solid young Latino support in battleground states to secure their 2020 and 2022 victories. In 2020, new voters of all backgrounds under age 30 favored Biden over Trump, 59% to 33%. Trump won new voters of all backgrounds over age 30, 55% to 42%.

Its unclear how that will play out in this election cycle. Theres a general sense of both parties are the same, nothings going to change; institutions have failed us; we dont trust any of the institutions no matter whos in power, said political scientist Stella Rouse, director of ASUs Hispanic Research Center.

Isiger Palomino-Garcia, a student at Lehigh Carbon Community College, lives in a section of eastern Pennsylvania considered the states Latino Belt. The Lehigh Valley was once known as an industrial center and includes Allentown, the former steel town that now has the third-most Hispanic people of any city in Pennsylvania. Every block in downtown Allentown seems to have a Dominican barbershop, churches with Spanish names and countless Hispanic food restaurants.

Candidates, especially Biden, are pinning their hopes on potential voters like Palomino-Garcia. But while she remembered being really happy that Barack Obama was president when she was a teenager, the 21-year-old said she hasnt decided whether to vote this year because none of the candidates excite her.

Pennsylvania (Serge Stambolyan)

Thats not for lack of effort on the part of the Democratic Party, according to Victor Martinez, owner and co-host of Allentown-based Spanish-language radio station La Mega 101.7 FM. He said this election is the first time he has seen the Democratic Party pay such early attention to Latino voters overall in the region.

The Biden campaign has purchased ad time on the station, given Martinez unprecedented access to Democratic candidates, and invited him to broadcast live from the White House during the State of the Union address. Republicans have not yet approached him, he said.

Im not worried about young people voting for Trump, said Democratic strategist Chuck Rocha, who was a senior adviser to Sen. Bernie Sanders presidential campaign. Im worried about them staying home.

Israel-Hamas war and rising housing costs top concerns

Dalton State College is Georgias first Hispanic-serving institution, a federal designation for nonprofit institutions with at least 25% Hispanic full-time undergraduate enrollment. Located in the deep-red Whitfield County, which is represented by far-right Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in Congress, Dalton boasts a large manufacturing industry and was once dubbed the carpet capital of the world. Its also home to a vibrant Latino community that has come to define the small city in recent decades.

Nearly 40% of students on campus are Hispanic, and many of them grew up in Dalton or the surrounding area. Whitfield County is home to just over 11,000 registered Latino voters  about the same number of votes that carried Biden to victory in the state in 2020.

It is apparent here, as in Pennsylvania and Arizona, that the Biden campaign hasnt yet eased young Latinos worries on several issues, in particular the Israel-Hamas war and frustrations over the lack of affordable housing.

Emmanuel Ramirez, 19, a computer science freshman at Dalton State College, said that while hes leaning toward Biden, he hasnt ruled out voting for a third party candidate in part because hes unimpressed by the candidates responses to the Israel-Hamas war.

Its infuriating. Its frustrating, Ramirez said. At the time of the interview, Ramirez was fasting for Ramadan to show solidarity with his Muslim friends.

Biden, who signed a bill Tuesday that includes includes $26 billion in assistance to Israel and humanitarian relief in Gaza, has urged Israel to agree to a cease-fire and to curb attacks on Gaza, while Trump said in March that Israel should finish the problem, though he has otherwise mostly avoided talking about the war. Many young Latinos who expressed anger over the civilian deaths in Gaza were opposed to sending money to Israel and supported a cease-fire.

Many students were familiar with videos on social media that they said show Israeli strikes killing and injuring Palestinian civilians, including children, but some were not familiar with the details of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks and hostage takings that triggered the current conflict.

Arizona (Suzanne Gamboa / NBC News)

Marcel Lopez, 20, who is getting his associate degree in engineering at Phoenix Community College, was also unhappy with the billions the U.S. is sending to support Ukraine in what he sees as an unwinnable war.

Rocha said the war, along with a sense of rebellion and the none of the above view of Trump and Biden, are at the heart of malaise among young voters.

Across all three battleground states, young Latino college students said one of their top economic concerns was the increasing cost of housing.

Nicholas Hernandez, 22, an ASU political science and transborder studies major, said his family recently moved out of their four-bedroom west Phoenix home because the rent kept increasing. A lot of my friends talk about that, too. Their parents rents have increased as well.

He works two jobs and pays his school-related costs and application fees for law school. Hes a loyal Democrat, and although he said Joe Biden is not the best, he is voting for him.

Pennsylvania (Serge Stambolyan)

A class assignment on municipal candidates motivated Jeremy Bautista, 20, a Lehigh Carbon business major, to vote for the first time last year in local Allentown elections. But hes unsure whether he wants to vote again; neither Biden nor Trump has eased his concerns about his economic future.

Am I going to be able to live on my own by the age of 23? he said. Am I going to be able to have that independence?

When immigration is personal

Many of the young Latino college students interviewed are children of immigrants, with previously or still undocumented family members, and they see immigration as a deeply personal issue. They chafed  and some became emotional  while discussing the threats of increased immigration enforcement and deportations.

In Georgia, Ramirez recalled spending his summers picking grapes with his family, starting at age 10. He saw Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrest and detain his father, leaving his mother to struggle to make ends meet for their three children.

It was hard, Ramirez said through tears. It was really unfair. Obviously, the exploitation was there, the wages werent fair at all, and it hurt. But it shaped me.

Hernandez, the ASU student, said he often talks with fellow students about living under his states harsh show me your papers law and worries about a return to that anti-immigrant environment.

Arizona (Suzanne Gamboa / NBC News)

A lot of us talk about the trauma  of us losing our parents, seeing tios (uncles), tias (aunts), friends, parents hiding. My dad was afraid to drive around, said Hernandez. My mother had to drive him everywhere.

At Dalton State College, Karla Hernandez, 21, a senior studying biology, had similar fears now that the state has passed new legislation, House Bill 1105, to crack down on undocumented immigrants following the slaying of nursing student Laken Riley at the University of Georgia. Most Hispanic students and locals who spoke to NBC News cited the bill as a cause of deep concern.

georgia dalton (Courtesy Karla Hernandez)

Hernandez said she learned about the bill through Instagram posts and looked it up. The bill, which is awaiting the governors signature, could bring back a program known as 287(g) that partners local law enforcement with ICE to make arrests, conduct raids and other actions. The program has been a source of numerous complaints of racial profiling, denial of due process and family separations.

It was like there is no way this is actually happening, and it was, so thats really shocking, she said.

ASUs Rouse said her research shows theres diversity of opinion in border counties and cities when it comes to immigration, even among young people, with some supporting more immigration restrictions because of the way increased migration has affected their communities. That could work in Republicans favor.

For more from NBC Latino, sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Trump has vowed that, if elected, hell conduct massive deportation sweeps and wants to end birthright citizenship. As president, he tried to get rid of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which Biden supports.

The issue for Democrats is whether these differences can mobilize young Latino voters to abandon thoughts of a third-party candidate.

A mobilization tipping point?

A few days after Arizonas Supreme Court upheld an 1864 law imposing a near total ban on abortions, Guerrero, the biology student at ASU, said in a text that the courts decision makes him feel more compelled to vote, though he hadnt decided how hell vote.

Across the board, regardless of political leanings, young Latino college students supported abortion rights.

Mariajose Leon, 19, a freshman studying biomedical science and Spanish at ASU, said abortion is a human rights issue that is very black and white  women should have the right to decide.

Arizona (Suzanne Gamboa / NBC News)

Juan Carlos Avitia, 18, an ASU freshman studying aerospace engineering, said he leans Republican. He said women should have the right to choose, with some limits. I dont like big government, but I think there should be restrictions, he said.

Abortion has been a mobilizing issue for Democrats: About 4 in 10 (42%) young Latino voters nationally said that the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade and state laws restricting abortion motivated them to vote in the 2022 midterms, according to a Brookings report.

Thats why Alyssa Caceres, 20, a student at Lehigh Carbon, voted for the first time in that midterm. This year, shes unhappy with the prospect of Biden and Trump on the ballot again, but does plan to vote.

Im unsettled. Im picking between the lesser of two evils, she said. There should be a third choice thats better.

Fellow Lehigh Carbon student Margaret Rodriguez Sanchez, 20, is still on the fence about registering to vote. But she said reproductive rights would be very important when it comes to my voting.

Pennsylvania (Serge Stambolyan)

Rouse, the ASU Hispanic Research Center director, said the Israel-Gaza conflict and immigration seemed to be drowning out the abortion issue, and she was unsure if it would be as mobilizing as Democrats hoped. But its back on the radar, she said.

This year, Democrats started their outreach and messaging to prospective Latino voters earlier and have been amping it up with just seven months to go before Election Day.

But in a tight race boiling down to what happens in a few swing states, challenges remain  especially for Biden. Young voters, Rouse said, arent engaging with what she describes as existential threats to democracy.

Its a really hard message to get across to young people, she said.

CORRECTION (April 29, 2024, 5:51 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated the designation of Dalton State College. It is Georgias first Hispanic-serving institution, not its only one.

Suzanne Gamboa reported from Tempe and Phoenix, Arizona; Nicole Acevedo from Allentown and Schnecksville, Pennsylvania; and Isabela Espadas Barros Leal from Dalton, Georgia.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
MESA COUNTY, Colo. (KREX)  The District Attorneys Office held its annual luncheon for National Crime Victims Rights Week on Friday.

Each year for National Crime Victims Week, we try to do a lunch to honor crime victims and really kind of take stock of what we do, why we do it, and kind of think about how we can do it better, says District Attorney Dan Rubinstein.

Rubinstein tells WesternSlopeNow the District Attorneys Office chooses a different case for the luncheon each year to honor the victims of.

We always choose cases that are closed so that we make sure we dont have any impact on somebodys right to a fair trial. Then once we pick a few cases that might be good, we need to reach out to the victims because we dont want to re-victimize anybody by pressuring them to speak if theyre not ready, Rubinstein says.

This years luncheon honored the victims of the 2021 Teller Avenue shooting  sometimes referred to as the CMU shooting  which resulted in the death of one student and the injury of four others.

Christine Hurford, one of the students shot in the incident, was invited to speak at the luncheon. When asked how it felt to be recognized and honored, Hurford said, Its kind of hard to put into words how I feel, because its just been a big part of my life for so long that it just kind of feels like every day for me.

Hurford tells WesternSlopeNow it was good to be able to see the people involved in helping her again. No part of my life now would be possible if it wasnt for everyone who has been working so hard to help. I really dont think I would have been able to find the strength to keep going on if he wasnt put behind bars, and thats all thanks to everyone here.

Director of Victim Services for the District Attorneys Office Jennifer Lucero says its important to raise awareness, not just for crime victims who are going through the criminal justice system, but also for victims who arent.

We never know when someone may confide in us or talk to us about the victimization that theyve had. And how we respond to them and how we interact with them is really going to set the tone for their healing journey into survivorship, says Lucero. Its important for us to understand how we respond to people who are in trauma or how we respond to people who maybe arent ready to tell their stories. They need that empathy and they need that compassion in that moment.

National Crime Victims Rights Week is April 21-27. For more information on Crime Victims Rights Week, visit the Office for Victims of Crimes website.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com.
(Bloomberg) -- When President Joe Biden returned to the White House after delivering his State of the Union address, 23-year-old TikTok influencer Awa Sanneh joined roaring cheers alongside administration staffers gathered on the mansions back porch.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Biden told the group how important social media content is to reach Gen-Z voters, recalled Sanneh, among dozens of creators invited for a watch party that night.

Just weeks later, Biden signed into law a bill that forces TikToks parent company, Beijing-based ByteDance Ltd., to sell its stake or face a ban in US app stores. That has rattled the social media creators his campaign has taken unprecedented steps to court.

Im pretty critical of him at this moment in time, said Sanneh, who has attended multiple administration briefings and has more than 510,000 followers. If you truly understood the impact, then you would want to keep TikTok.

Bidens embrace of the divest-or-ban bill exemplifies his efforts to contain what administration officials and lawmakers from both parties see as a growing national-security threat from China. Nonetheless, he continues to promote his political message on the platform.

None of the influencers who spoke to Bloomberg News said Biden had lost their vote. However, the new law is likely to turn off younger voters, who've propelled the app to mainstream relevance and are key to Democratic electoral wins. Many are already unenthusiastic about Bidens reelection.

Election after election, young people continue to show us they understand the stakes of this moment, and will vote like their futures depend on it  because they do, said Seth Schuster, a spokesperson for Bidens campaign.

Kenny Walden, who has 167,000 TikTok followers and has attended White House events, posted a video on the platform expressing confusion over Bidens decision to back the bill over privacy and data security concerns.

@2rawtooreal2

My thoughts havent changed on the tiktok ban

 original sound - 2RawTooReal

Im against it, Joe, said Walden, whose content focuses on encouraging people to vote for Biden. The president is silencing his frontline of defense, he added, referring to creators like him.

Opponents of the bill say it threatens freedom of speech and singles out the social-media platform over others collecting users data.

White House officials maintain their intention isnt to prohibit TikTok from operating, but to force the apps Chinese owner to divest. The 270-day deadline for ByteDance extends beyond November, allowing users to continue posting through the election.

This is about our national security. This is not concerns about Americans using Tiktok, said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Theres certainly time on the books to see how this plays out.

Earlier: TikTok Ban in US Looms as Biden Kicks Off 270-Day Countdown

ByteDance has made clear it has no intention of selling, and a protracted legal battle is likely. At the same time, Donald Trump is already using the prospect of a ban to court younger voters. In a social media post before the bill passed Congress, he blamed Biden for setting a ban in motion. That marked a reversal for Trump, who as president signed an order in 2020 banning the app that was later overturned in court.

Bidens team says its presence on the app is a vital part of a strategy to reach voters in as many arenas as possible. The apps reach is massive: More than 170 million Americans have accounts, the company says, and a third of adults under 30 get their news from it, according to the Pew Research Center.

Earlier: Bidens Campaign to Stay on TikTok Despite Divestment Law

In a first-of-its-kind push for a presidential administration, Bidens aides are in touch daily with social media influencers or their managers. Meanwhile, campaign officials are considering bringing creators into their headquarters, said a person familiar with the deliberations.

The campaigns partnerships with popular creators are all the more important since TikTok prohibits political advertising. Organizing multiple people to push positive content beats Bidens presence alone on the app, according to a person with knowledge of the strategy.

Never miss an episode. Follow the Big Take DC podcast on iHeart, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen. Read the transcript.

The Biden campaign launched a TikTok account during the Super Bowl in February. It has more than 300,000 followers, which pales in comparison to those of the most popular influencers. The campaign is taking at least one known security precaution: Staffers post on the app from one separate device.

Biden officials were already facing a daunting landscape on TikTok, even before he signed the divest-or-ban bill. Negative posts about the 81-year-old president proliferate on the platform, driven by frustration over his handling of the war in Gaza, his age and climate policies.

Its very anti-Biden, Kerry Robertson, a Minneapolis-based influencer who supports Biden, said of TikTok. It always has been.

Even though the algorithm isn't showing me any kind of pro-Biden content or anything like that, whenever I do those videos, I get a lot of Thank you for this,'" she added.

Earlier: Primaries Show Candidates Can Win on TikTok But Lose at the Polls

There is no clear evidence TikToks algorithm has a particular political bent, according to Neta Kligler-Vilenchik, a Hebrew University of Jerusalem associate communication professor. But since its notoriously opaque, it presents a problem for those seeking to understand its growing political influence, said Columbia University associate communications professor Ioana Literat.

Look what's happening on TikTok, Biden said recently at a fundraiser. Its so easy to just flat-out lie and not know whats true, so we got a lot at stake here.

Its difficult to measure the volume of positive or negative sentiment about Biden on TikTok because the company restricts certain data. Users are often siloed in different content universes, where their feeds reflect topics they interact with the most, experts say.

Bidens team is making the calculus that they can persuade disenchanted voters to consider supporting him, in part through online content.

Before Bidens Radio City Music Hall fundraiser in March, which featured comedian Stephen Colbert and former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, some TikTok creators joined a roundtable with campaign staffers about digital strategy, where Biden stopped by to speak with them, one influencer recapped in a video.

@claaaarke

seeing biden, obama, clinton + queen latifah in one day? high school clarke is screaming ????

 Calm (Lofi) - Faneo sound

Finnegan Biden, Biden's granddaughter, also hosted a happy hour for creators at nearby Pebble Bar before the fundraiser.

Similar to the Radio City event, behind-the-scenes visits to the White House are great fodder for social media. "Look at this  this napkin has the seal of the president on it," Sanneh said in a video inside a White House bathroom that drew 2.1 million views.

@_awasanneh

Dear Awa-Topia (the name is a work in progress- shush): your unwavering support has been the heartbeat of my journey. Your passion fuels my creativity, and your dedication lights up my darkest days. Thank you for being the foundation of this incredible life I get to live. Thank you for supporting this slightly off- putting, wierd, black girl from Texas. Gratitude flows from every corner of my heart to yours.

 original sound - Awa

If TikTok goes away, so does a source of influencers revenue. Harry Sisson, a 21-year-old who has joined both official and campaign gatherings, is encouraging his 850,000 TikTok followers to watch videos on his YouTube channel, where he has been posting more because of the potential ban.

There are a lot of creators on TikTok who support them and have done a lot of work for the campaign and the president, Sisson said in an interview. Im overall disappointed.

--With assistance from Alex Barinka.

(Updates with details about opposition to bill in ninth paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Has Donald Trump betrayed the anti-abortion movement? Its a hard case to make against the president who appointed the Supreme Court justices necessary to gut Roes protections once and for all, and whos gone to some lengths to take a victory lap for doing little more than being the warm body who complied with the Federalist Societys honey-do list. But this does seem to be the position of Trumps former vice president, Mike Pence, who spent last weekend working himself into a lather over Trumps weeks-old commentary on the matter, in which he appeared to disavow his support for a national ban on abortion.

The end product of Pences considerable vexation is an op-ed in The New York Times, a halting work of high dudgeon in which the former vice president meanders through eight paragraphs before eventually alighting on his complaints about his former boss. Pence says that Trumps recent retreat from the pro-life cause has left him disheartened. I was deeply disappointed, he says, when the former president stated that he considered abortion to be a states-only issue and would not sign a bill prohibiting late-term abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, even if it came to his desk.

Its hard to say who this op-ed is for. Pence doesnt exactly command any kind of political constituency and hes now well outside Trumps circle of influence. And for all of Pences melodramatic talk of betrayal, he arrived rather late to this particular party, some weeks after Trump made the statement in question. All that said, I feel duty-bound to tell Pence to cheer up: If Trump is reelected, he will absolutely sign a national abortion ban. Im really not sure why anyone even doubts this. Take it to the bank.

Perhaps we should go back and actually reflect upon what Trump actually said:

My view is now that we have abortion where everybody wanted it from a legal standpoint, the states will determine by vote or legislation or perhaps both, and whatever they decide must be the law of the land, in this case, the law of the state. Many states will be different. Many will have a different number of weeks, or some will have more conservative than others, and thats what they will be.

If this is why Pence is so mad, the fault perhaps lies in his cognitive abilities, not Trumps remarks. As Semafors Jordan Weissman noted, If you actually listen to Trumps statement on abortion, he doesnt say should be left to the states. He says will be left to the [states]. Its just a statement of what the law is. He leaves unsaid what would happen if a ban crosses his desk.

Indeed, it wasnt until days later that Trump actually offered any kind of political commitment, telling a reporter on the airport tarmac in Atlanta that he would not sign a national abortion ban into law. Here, I must offer a reminder that this promise isnt worth much, as Trump isand I cant believe I have to explain this to Mike Pencean inveterate liar. Even the reporting on Trumps comment is careful to note that this represents a shift from Trumps prior position on the matter and alludes to the former presidents possible motivation, to to make one of his greatest political liabilities disappear.

As Ive written before, lies and prevarications are what you should expect from Trump and his fellow Republicans this year as they attempt to regain power in a world where the Dobbs decision has rebounded to their political detriment. Its been well established that conservatives are planning further rollbacks to abortion rights behind the scenes, even as they endeavor to present themselves as more politically palatable to the publican effort that involves rebranding the pro-life movement in an effort to obfuscate its plans.

Here, conservatives havent been doing anything different than what theyve been doing for decades. Pence, in fact, is prevaricating in this very op-ed when he says, I believe the time has come to adopt a minimum national standard restricting abortion after 15 weeks in order to end late-term abortions nationwide. Im not sure he actually believes this! In 2010, Pence told an Indiana anti-abortion group that abortion should never be legalthough he offered some concessions on saving the life of the mother. As recently as last May, Pence vowed his support for a national ban on abortion after six weeks. Perhaps Mike Pence should explain to the pro-life movement why hes become such a squish on the issue before he tries to fillet his former boss.

If Trump is reelected, the last thing you should expect is this kind of wishy-washiness. As Susan Rinkunas recently reported for Jezebel, leaders on the right are increasingly discussing the prospect of using the Comstock Act to ban abortion nationwide if he wins a second term. The still-on-the-books law from 1875, which the Christian Right has been hoping to revive, is one of the linchpins of Project 2025, the de facto second-term playbook that the Heritage Foundation has created on Trumps behalfwhich states that the Dobbs decision is just the beginning.

As Rinkunas documents, the level of prevarication around the rights out-in-the-open plan to use Comstock as a reproductive rights bulldozer is sky-highand ably summed up by an anonymously quoted attorney who explained to The Atlantics Elaine Godfrey that Comstock is obviously a political loser, so just keep your mouth shut. Say you oppose a federal [legislative] ban, and see if that works to get elected. Its not hard to see this in the subtext of Trumps own remarks when he talks about the GOPs obligation to the salvation of our NationTO WIN ELECTIONS. As Rinkunas notes, Trump is eyeing his own salvation from potential criminal convictions as well.

But why tell the press that you plan to lie to the press about your abortion position? Here we should consider the world-historical awfulness of American political reportingand how badly they biffed the story when Trump made his abortion remarks. As The Present Ages Parker Malloy reported, NBC News, The New York Times, CNN, Axios, CBS News, NPR, ABC News, The Washington Post, The Hill, Forbes, Politico, Financial Times, the Associated Press, and The Wall Street Journal  all botched their reporting of Trumps statement on abortion policy by inaccurately stating in headlines that he believes abortion rights should be left up to individual states to figure out.

The medias track record, to put it mildly, is shit! Sometimes its hard to know whether the political press doesnt realize when theyre getting squid ink sprayed in their faces or if they simply look forward to being abused in that fashion.

Its honestly hard to discern whether Pences op-ed isnt meant to be more of this same dissembling. Only his near-total irrelevance to the conservative movement exculpates his involvement in their effort to paint Trump and his fellow Republicans as more moderate than they really are. Regardless, Mike Pence should calm down: Hes going to get everything he could possibly want out of a second Trump presidencyexcept for maybe an apology for that time Trump sent a mob to murder him. Given Pences voracious appetite for self-abnegation, though, maybe he doesnt mind.

This article first appeared in Power Mad, a weekly TNR newsletter authored by deputy editor Jason Linkins. Sign up here.




It may sound counter-intuitive, but Donald Trump has probably done more to strengthen Nato than any other political leader in recent years. While he was president, he berated European members of the alliance for failing to pay what he called their dues, accusing them of freeloading on the US.

Earlier this year, he seemed to go even further by suggesting at an election rally, not only that he would not bring America to the defence of delinquent Nato members, but would encourage Russia to attack them. Cue a predictable international outcry, led by Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg, who accused him of undermining all of our security. Joe Biden, of course, waded in, saying Trumps remarks were appalling and dangerous and would give Putin a green light for more war and violence.

Both of them were wrong. Anyone who has the slightest understanding of Trumps negotiating techniques knows that he is unlikely to have meant what he said literally; it was a rhetorical device to emphasise his entirely valid point about recalcitrant Nato members. As for a green light, it was Biden who flashed that at Putin with his disastrous retreat from Kabul in 2021, which can only have contributed to Moscows calculations on invading Ukraine the following year.

Trumps presidency was in fact a red light against Putins aggression, largely because of his unpredictable nature. And that same unpredictability has now rattled many Nato leaders into recognising that they need to step up their defence efforts for fear that he might abandon Nato in a second term.

Poland, now with the largest defence spending by percentage of GDP in the whole of the alliance, has bolstered its military out of fear of Russian invasion. But do we really think that the likes of Germany would finally have started to get their act together without genuine concern over a second Trump presidency? It doesnt seem to have been Putins invasion that spurred them into action. Weve had two years of heel-dragging and inadequate military support to Kyiv on the part of France and Germany. Britain, meanwhile, has been inexplicably continuing to reduce the size of its Armed Forces.

But not any longer. And Rishi Sunak even implicitly linked his announcement of a significant boost in defence spending to Trump, when he said: We cant keep thinking America will pay any price or bear any burden if we are unwilling to make sacrifices for our own security. Sunaks long overdue uplift was not only intended to bring Britains defences closer to where they need to be, but also to encourage other Nato members to match our future spending of 2.5 per cent of GDP in anticipation of a potential Trump victory in November.

UK ministers are reportedly pushing actively for that ahead of the Nato summit in Washington this summer. Even 2.5 per cent will not be enough to meet Natos new capability targets, but at least it is a start. Eighteen Nato members will meet the current 2 per cent target this year, a significant rise compared to the start of Trumps first presidency.

Remembering Trumps mercurial character, it is of course possible that as president he might actually pull the US out of Nato, though that would require Congressional approval. His then National Security Adviser, John Bolton, said he came close to doing so back in 2018. But even if that does happen, Trump-driven increased spending in Europe will have already made the world a safer place. Combined with greater military capability, the political will demonstrated by making hard choices on defence expenditure in a tough economic climate will act as the most effective deterrent against aggression.

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.
WASHINGTON, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The Pentagon has confirmed that the United States will withdraw most of its troops stationed in the African countries of Chad and Niger.

"Do we have to adjust sometimes based on the dynamics? Yes, we do," U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Charles Brown said Friday at a press conference when answering a related question.

Brown said the United States will "continue our (counter-terrorism) operations and continue our influence and work with many of the African nations that are on the continent."

On Thursday, Pentagon Press Secretary Patrick Ryder told a regular press briefing that the U.S. Africa Command is in discussion with Chadian officials about a plan to "reposition some U.S. military forces from Chad." He said some of the forces "were already scheduled to depart."

"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," Ryder said.

On Niger, Ryder said talks were ongoing between senior officials of the United States and Niger on withdrawing U.S. troops there, with a meeting between U.S. military leaders and Chadian officials scheduled for next week "to coordinate the withdrawal process in a transparent manner and with mutual respect."

According to U.S. media reports, the United States will pull out about 75 Army Special Forces from Chad and withdraw over 1,000 troops from Niger, under pressure from both countries -- either explicitly or implicitly -- to do so.

The New York Times said in a report that the move by the two countries indicated "a recent pattern by countries in the Sahel region, an arid area south of the Sahara, of breaking ties with Western countries." 
After a drag queen show during prom, an Albuquerque high school principal is removed

The principal of a high school in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been replaced and multiple employees have been put on administrative leave as the district investigates a drag queen show that took place during prom.

Earlier this week, the chief of Albuquerque Public Schools, Channell Segura, sent a letter to parents confirming the performance occurred during April 20's prom and said an investigation would determine how it happened and how it may have affected students.

Segura was unavailable for comment Friday. She did not say in the letter whether the replacement of Atrisco Heritage Academy High School's principal was related to the drag performance.

In a video on TikTok, students can be seen gathering around the performer in thigh-high black boots and a matching body suit, as the performer is bending over, squatting and dancing provocatively.

Atrisco Heritage Academy High School. (Google Maps)

NBC News affiliate KOB 4 in Albuquerque identified the performer as drag queen Mythica Sahreen.

Sahreen told the station that he previously worked with the Gay-Straight Alliance and was invited to perform at the prom. He did not say who invited him.

On the schools official Facebook page, several people expressed disappointment and frustration over the performance.

Every staff member who knew anything about that disgusting spectacle at prom should be fired," wrote a poster named Kristin Arnold Waide. "Immediately.

Another poster, identified as Paul Miller, wrote, "How wicked and morally corrupt must people be to allow this? Whoever approved this should not be allowed anywhere near children.

A poster named Robb Vann said the performance resembled grooming and predatory behavior.

What do yall teach the students there? Did not one person on staff stand up and say anything?" Vann wrote.

It was unclear whether the posters were parents of students at the school.

School district spokesperson Martin Salazar declined to say Friday whether the performance was approved by school officials or how many staff members were placed on leave.

At this point, I do not have any other information to share, he said.

The district this week named Anthony Lovato acting principal, he said. Former principal Irene Cisneros could not be reached for comment.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Driver injured, 3 dead when SUV hits bridge, tree and flips over, SC highway patrol says

Three people died and a fourth was injured in an Upstate crash, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Just after noon on Friday, a 2020 Volvo SUV was driving north on Interstate 85 near Lakeside Road in Greenville County, approximately two miles south of Greenville, Master Trooper Michael Ridgeway said. The car drove off the road to the right, up an embankment and hit a bridge and a tree before flipping over.

The driver, who was injured, was transported by EMS to Greenville Memorial Hospital.

The three passengers of the car died at the scene. The Greenville County Coroners Office has not publicly identified the victims.

The SC Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the crash.

Through Saturday, 270 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2024, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Last year, 999 people died in crashes in South Carolina..

At least 25 people have died in Greenville County crashes in 2024, according to DPS data.
A dozen UAVs attempted to attack an oil refinery, a bitumen factory and a military airfield in Russias Kuban on the night of 26-27 April.

Source: Veniamin Kondratyev, the governor of Russias Krasnodar Krai; TASS, a Kremlin-aligned Russian news outlet

Details: Kondratyev noted that more than 10 drones were suppressed in the Slavyansky, Seversky and Kushchovsky districts of Krasnodar Krai.

           '   . pic.twitter.com/BKAeRIXqaJ     (@ukrpravda_news) April 27, 2024

He also said that firefighters were extinguishing fires caused by the fall of the UAVs.

Later, the Head of the Slavyansky district of Krasnodar Krai added that a distillation column at the Slavyansk refinery was damaged during the drone attack.

Local residents said that the Ilsky Oil Refinery in the Seversky District of Krasnodar Krai was attacked. After the UAV attack, a fire broke out at the refinery, and it has almost been extinguished.

Updated: Ukraines Energy Ministry cited early reports indicating that strikes were conducted on the Slavyansk ECO oil refinery, a bitumen factory, the Ilsky oil refinery and several other facilities. Fires broke out at some scenes after the attack.

Following information from open sources, a military airfield in the town of Kushchevskaya in Krasnodar Krai also caught fire after a UAV attack.

The Russian Defence Ministry claimed that air defence systems destroyed and intercepted 66 UAVs over the territory of Krasnodar Krai, and two more drones were destroyed over temporarily occupied Crimea.

Support UP or become our patron!
As of Thursday, under New York State law, the imprisoned rapist Harvey Weinstein serving a 23-year sentence in upstates Mohawk Correctional Facility, became a completely innocent man, having his conviction for sex crimes thrown out by the highest court in state, the Court of Appeals. Well, it was sort of the Court of Appeals.

In a plot more convoluted than his hit film Pulp Fiction, this rapist foiled justice with a secret, twisted sequence. He must be tried again, as Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg pledges to do. Thankfully, due his conviction in a separate California case, Weinstein will not go free.

The tale begins during Weinsteins trial before Acting Manhattan state Supreme Court Justice James Burke, when the judge allowed prosecutors under then-DA Cy Vance to introduce testimony from Weinsteins assaults on three women that were not part of this case, a procedure that is sometimes allowed. Weinstein was then convicted on February 24, 2020 and sentenced to what should have been life for him on March 11.

He appealed his conviction and the Manhattan appellate bench upheld it on a 5-0 decision on June 2, 2022. Weinstein then requested to be heard by the Court of Appeals, which granted permission.

Then it got weird. Before the oral argument was held on Feb. 14, the briefs by Weinsteins lawyers and Bragg before the high court were all kept secret because of a state law requiring privacy for sex crime victims.

Gannett and the Daily News both asked the court to let them submit briefs making the point that the cases papers should be made public with appropriate redactions to preserve privacy. While the court accepted the briefs from the press, it ruled against the petitions for openness. Everything stayed secret, including, crazily, the briefs on behalf of openness from Gannett and The News.

The next wild thing was that two of the judges, Shirley Troutman and Caitlin Halligan, both rescued themselves. The other five judges should have heard the case, as is allowed under the state Constitution, which sets a quorum at five. Four votes for Weinstein or Bragg would have been needed to make a decision. But under a bad new policy of Chief Judge Rowan Wilson, substitute judges from lower courts are automatically brought in to hear a case whenever there is a recusal, a break with the entirety of the courts history.

Which judges are brought in? It is not a random selection or a rotation, it is whomever Wilson wants. And presto, the two judges Wilson chose sided with him and one other, giving them a 4 to 3 advantage in favor of Weinstein.

The problem is that two of the four are not real Court of Appeals judges, who had to be screened by the special commission on nomination, then formally tapped by the governor and finally confirmed by the state Senate.

So such a monumental case was left to lower court judges selected by Wilson, giving him the effective power of three votes, when he is supposed to have only one.

We complained mightily about this policy of automatically bringing in substitute judges when Wilson started doing it, but we never thought that the monster Harvey Weinstein would be the beneficiary. For shame.

___
Valerie Williams, a former teacher in Pittsburgh, speaks at the April 26, 2024 launch of Educators for Biden in Pennsylvania. She was joined by state Sen. Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny) (l) and Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers president Bill Hileman (screen capture)

PITTSBURGH  When her daughter was born, Valerie Williams had already had her on a waitlist for childcare for six months, hoping shed have a spot lined up before it was time for her to go back to her job as an early childhood educator. She eventually found a child care program, but said she had to work extra jobs just to pay the $1,400 monthly bill the equivalent of a second mortgage or rent payment, Williams said.

I was a pre-school teacher working for untenably low wages, teaching in a local Pittsburgh area child care center making $12.40 an hour  thats $496 a week before taxes, or $25,792 a year  from which my own health care premiums were also deducted, a few hundred dollars each month, Williams said. So I worked two additional jobs at that time, routinely working seven days a week.

But then she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. While it was ultimately benign, at the time of her diagnosis Williams had no idea how she was going to manage or how much medical care she would need. Then she was hit with another shock: She could not afford the deductibles and copays under the health care plan provided by her teaching job.

I realized that my wages were so low, I couldnt afford to use my own health care, Williams said. She made her comments at the Friday launch in Pittsburgh of an Educators for Biden-Harris initiative for Pennsylvania, joined by state Sen. Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny) and Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers president Bill Hileman.

Sen. Williams, who is minority chair of the state Senate Education Committee, said the launch was about mobilizing educators, school staff, parents and everyone in the community who cares about public education in this country.

For many teachers, Sen. Williams said, the pandemic pause on student loan payments  which began during former President Donald Trumps administration  and the recent loan forgiveness initiatives were the only ways they could afford to remain in their classrooms.

First lady and teacher Jill Biden launched the national Educators for Biden-Harris initiative April 19 in Minnesota, joined by the presidents of the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). The two national teachers unions, which have already endorsed President Joe Biden, have nearly five million combined members with local affiliates in all 50 states.

As part of its student loan debt forgiveness initiatives, the Biden administration in March announced it would forgive about $6 billion in student loan debt for 78,000 public service workers including teachers, nurses and social workers.

Vice President Kamala Harris visited Philadelphia earlier this month to tout a new round of student debt forgiveness from the administration, and spoke with educators who described how having their loans canceled had changed their lives for the better.

To date, the Biden administration has canceled or forgiven a total of $144 billion in student loan debt for more than 4 million borrowers, Harris said.

Campaigns education plans

Trump, the presumptive 2024 GOP nominee for president, has criticized the Biden administrations student debt relief efforts, calling them very, very unfair to the millions and millions of people who have paid their debt through hard work.

On his campaign website under a Protect Parents Rights section, Trump outlines his education plan if he wins another term, which includes reward[ing] states and school districts that abolish teacher tenure for grades K-12 and adopt Merit Pay, cut the number of school administrators, adopt a Parental Bill of Rights, and implement the direct election of school principals by the parents.

Under his 2025 budget request, Biden proposes $12 billion to fund strategies to lower college costs for students, according to a White House fact sheet accompanying the budget request. And during his 2024 State of the Union address in March, Biden echoed an earlier call to increase pay for public school teachers.

Valerie Williams said she ultimately left her teaching position and took a full-time role with her second job for better benefits and pay. I still think about those children and their families and how frustrating it was to have to make that call, she said Friday. If Id been making more money and had the benefits I needed, I would have been able to stay at the job I loved so much.

SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE

Update: This article was updated at 7:30 a.m. April 29, 2024 to clarify the number of borrowers who have received student debt relief.

The post Educators for Biden-Harris launches in Pennsylvania with focus on teacher pay appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
Ashley Ehasz speaking to teachers April 25, 2024.(Photo by Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com)

This article first appeared on LevittownNow. It is is republished with permission.

Democratic congressional candidate Ashley Ehasz said on Thursday that she is ready for her second turn taking on four-term incumbent GOP U.S. Rep Brian Fitzpatrick (R-1st District) this November.

At the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers (NFT) union office in Middletown Township on Thursday, Ehasz received the endorsement of the American Federation of Teachers Pennsylvania (AFT-PA), which represents more than 36,000 members in the Keystone State. It was her campaigns first labor union endorsement of the election cycle.

The Ehasz campaign added the education unions endorsement to a number of others, including from EMILYs List, NewDems Action Fund, and VoteVets.

Ehasz, a U.S. Army veteran and public school graduate, thanked the teachers union for their support and said she believes in greater oversight of the charter school system to real solutions for affordable higher education.

Ehasz said she supports high-quality education in public schools.

While Fitzpatrick, a former FBI special agent, has held back past primary and general election challengers since his first race in 2016, Ehaszs campaign thinks they have a better shot this year.

Ehasz didnt talk about whether national Democratic groups were planning to throw their support and funding behind her campaign, but she said she already has a roster of groups behind her and helping support her message.

For us, she said, its about talking to voters and making sure we have a plan to do that.

The campaign and candidate have cited Ehasz familiarity with voters due to her second run for the First District Congressional seat, recent election wins for Democrats, and a message they believe will connect with voters. The campaign is putting a focus on protecting access to abortion services and fighting to protect democracy.

Ehasz will have to make that case to voters as she goes against Fitzpatrick, who has strong name recognition.

The Democrat launched her campaign last April in a bid to have more time to fundraise, gain endorsements, and get in front of voters. She remained active in Democratic events since her 2022 loss.

Fitzpatrick has proven to be a skilled fundraiser and entered April with $3.6 million in the bank, while Ehasz campaign had approximately $820,000 on hand. Her campaign has pointed out that it has raised $1.4 million this election cycle and have had strong fundraising cycles.

NFT President Tara Huber, a longtime Neshaminy High School teacher, said Ehasz will support public schools and educators if elected.

Unfortunately, the incumbent has failed to recognize the invaluable contributions of our teachers. Instead, he has allowed our schools to come under siege from extremist forces, threatening our fundamental freedoms and the very fabric of our education system, she said.

AFT-PA President Arthur Steinberg noted Ehaszs support of Democratic school board candidates in the First Congressional District in the past. He said those candidates werent focused on culture wars, adding that Fitzpatrick has supported MAGA extremists for school board races.

We had voters stand up and reject the extremists, Ehasz said.

After speaking with teachers, Ehasz told this news organization that Fitzpatrick, who was endorsed by then-President Donald Trump in 2020 but has worked to brand himself an independent voice, wants to go after our schools and turn them into battlegrounds for the culture wars. The message, she believes, will work with voters.

Ehasz lost the 2022 general election to Fitzpatrick by 10 percentage points, a gap of close to 36,000 votes.

Fitzpatricks recent primary win over Mark Houck was by 23 percentage points. While an overwhelming victory for the congressman, it marks his smallest victory against a primary challenge by percentage of the vote in his political career.

Fitzpatrick and his campaign did not return a request for comment.

The post Ehasz ramps up campaign against Fitzpatrick appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
Elderly man with dementia who vanished in DeKalb County has been found safe

An elderly man suffering from dementia who walked away from his home earlier this week has been found.

Elmer Thomas, 87, left his Decatur home around 11:50 p.m. on Friday night and his family hasnt seen him since.

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

Police say that Thomas wife is currently in Virginia attending a funeral. His family says he believes he is heading there to see her.

He is driving a red 2013 Ford F150 with Georgia license plate YIL767.

Thomas is described as being five feet, seven inches tall and approximately 150 pounds.

TRENDING STORIES:

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:
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. 
YANGON, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Four teenagers drowned in Ayeyarwady River in southern Myanmar's Ayeyarwady Region on Saturday, the Myanmar Fire Services Department reported.

The incident took place at around 9:30 a.m. local time on Saturday after five male teenagers went swimming in Ayeyarwady River near a village in Kyangin Township of Ayeyarwady Region, the department said.

"Out of the five boys, one was rescued by local fishermen," U Htay Naung, secretary of the Shwe Seikthar Kayunar Shin Rescue Organization, told Xinhua. 
Elk Rapids High School Eco Club members Kaylee Lemmien and Gabe Klein look at donated and consigned dresses during the second day of Sustainable Style, an event they put on with Tinker Tailor and Green Elk Rapids. Feb 17, 2024. (Photo: Izzy Ross/IPR News)

This coverage is made possible through a partnership with IPR and Grist, a nonprofit independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future.

On a Saturday in February, high school senior Kaylee Lemmien sifts through dresses at Tinker Tailor, a small shop in downtown Elk Rapids.

Id call this a mermaid, sequin, light blue gown with a tulle skirt. Its got a lace-up back, kind of open, she says. Very pretty.

Tinker Tailor usually alters clothes but on this day, its selling prom dresses.

The dresses are short and long, and come in all sorts of fabrics and adornments  neon pink satin, muted lilac, sequins, zebra stripes, rhinestones.

The garments have been donated and consigned by people around the region, with the goal of giving them a new life at prom this spring.

The Eco Club at Elk Rapids High School worked with the store and the volunteer group Green Elk Rapids to coordinate the event, called Sustainable Style. Its an effort to cut back on fast fashion.

Fast fashion is a trend which is driven by newness, said Shipra Gupta, an associate professor of marketing at the University of Illinois Springfield. It tends to treat its products like food that spoils quickly.

Estimates of the fashion industrys environmental and climate impacts vary; the United Nations has said the industry creates anywhere from 2% to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

The industry also creates up to 20% of the worlds wastewater, and the Columbia Climate School has reported that it consumes around 93 billion metric tons of water annually, while 53 million metric tons of clothing are incinerated or thrown away.

Fast fashion is especially damaging, because it encourages people to cycle through clothing quickly. And that business model has had serious implications; a 2017 Ellen MacArthur Foundation report found that clothing production had doubled between 2000 and 2015, even as the amount of times an item was worn declined.

Fast fashion is a driver for American consumer behavior, Gupta said.

Constantly seeing new items in stores can trigger a desire to buy more. Gupta said younger people are particularly susceptible to this, because theyre still forming and exploring their identities.

One way to shift that mindset is to focus on individual styles.

Elk Rapids High School Eco Club members Kaylee Lemmien and Gabe Klein look at donated and consigned dresses during the second day of Sustainable Style. Feb 17, 2024. (Photo: Izzy Ross/IPR News)

Dresses that were donated or consigned for the Sustainable Style event in Elk Rapids. Feb. 17, 2024. (Photo: Izzy Ross/IPR News)

Tinker Tailor owner Rachele Cummings wraps an upcycled prom dress for Addison Looney as part of the Sustainable Style event. Feb. 17, 2024. (Photo: Izzy Ross/IPR News)

Dresses that were donated or consigned for the Sustainable Style event in Elk Rapids. Feb. 17, 2024. (Photo: Izzy Ross/IPR News)

Eco Club members Zoe Macaluso, Kaylee Lemmien and Gabe Klein talk at the back of Tinker Tailor during the second day of Sustainable Style. Feb. 17, 2024. (Photo: Izzy Ross/IPR News)

Dresses that were donated or consigned for the Sustainable Style event in Elk Rapids. Feb. 17, 2024. (Photo: Izzy Ross/IPR News)

You are more likely to buy or wear something that is true to your identity, true to your style, she said. You are more likely to keep it for a longer time and you are less likely to purchase as frequently as if you were a fashion-oriented consumer.

Donating clothes isnt necessarily environmentally friendly. For instance, if the clothes are in poor condition it can contribute to environmental pollution, because those garments often get thrown away.

In Elk Rapids, students hope that events like Sustainable Style can cut back on consumption locally, providing a responsible place to donate and buy used evening wear.

You try really hard to be eco-friendly  dont use single-use plastic, recycle, compost  everything, Macaluso said.

But sometimes there arent any options, especially in small towns.

Then you kind of have to drive to Grand Rapids, and you have to go to a mall and you have to buy a new dress, she said. So I think this just provides another option. Another opportunity to say, Oh, I have a chance here to help the environment a little bit. So Im going to take it.

In the past, students searched far and wide for dresses, traveling to hubs like Grand Rapids, a two-hour drive south.

Kaylee Lemmien, who was shopping for dresses and is also a member of the Eco Club, said that along with reducing the need to buy new garments it creates an opportunity to stay closer to home.

Not having to go down to Grand Rapids and spend that money on gas and do all of that stuff is really, really nice and freeing, she said. This is just such a cool idea.

Perhaps most importantly, initiatives like these can help others think about how fashion impacts the environment.

I think its very meaningful, because it starts to engage consumers, especially the young generation, said Sheng Lu, an associate professor of fashion and apparel studies at the University of Delaware. Even though this effort is relatively small, it could help people think differently about fashion and the environment, and even inspire other communities to do the same.

And it has encouraged other community members to get involved.

I honestly was pretty nervous coming in here, said sophomore Addison Looney, who was shopping with her mom. But there were a lot of great selections I was pretty indecisive about it. But I picked it out.

The dress is a soft lavender with beading in the front. Addisons mom, Sara, said they were looking forward to the event.

Knowing this is just a great opportunity to shop local, and to obviously save money, she said. But also just the resale aspect of it  to just kind of keep dresses going, because theyre usually a one-time use.

Macaluso, the Eco Club president, said theyve been able to stoke interest in buying used clothing. The prom event led Tinker Tailor to set up a Dress Vault in the store so people can continue consigning, donating and shopping for secondhand items.

I think it really just builds off that idea of  hey, these dresses didnt go bad, they havent expired, she said. And they can find a new home.

The post Elk Rapids students make prom more climate friendly with upcycled dresses appeared first on Michigan Advance.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The El Paso Community College (EPCC) will be hosting its premier open house event, Tejano Day, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 4 at the Mission Del Paso campus located at 10700 Gateway Blvd., EPCC announced in a news release.

Flyer courtesy of EPCC

Attendees will be able to explore EPCC career and technical programs, visit community vendors and student resources, learn about student organizations and speak to EPCC faculty.

Additionally, on-site enrollment services will be available for students to build their schedule for this upcoming summer and fall semesters, according to EPCC.

The event will also feature food, chances to win prizes and more.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG)  Escambia County Emergency Medical Services is offering a $5,000 sign-on bonus for new, full-time paramedics.

The goal is to attract qualified individuals with a passion for public safety to join the countys EMS team, a release said.

It didnt even look real: Destin fisherman recalls reeling in 888-pound bluefin tuna

The $5,000 sign-on bonus is available for newly hired full-time paramedics, to be paid out over 3 years in accordance with the terms of their contract, an Escambia County release said. A contract is required in order to receive the bonus, which will be paid in three installments.

Full-time paramedic positions are now open. They offer benefits such as competitive wages, shift differentials, deferred compensation and state retirement.

We are excited to offer this bonus to recruit high-quality individuals to increase our staffing levels, which will help ensure we are continuing to provide the highest level of service to Escambia County residents, EMS Chief David Torsell said.

Recruitment and retention are challenges faced by EMS agencies throughout the nation, with many looking at innovative ways to enhance recruitment, Torsell said. Our hope is that this bonus, combined with our competitive pay and benefits, will encourage qualified applicants to seek a rewarding career in public service with the Escambia County EMS team.

Mobile Police identify Prairie Avenue homicide victim

Minimum Qualifications

Those interested must complete the following:

High school diploma or the successful completion of the GED test

Completion of emergency medical coursework at the paramedic level, or a combination of education and experience equivalent to these requirements

Licenses and certifications including: Valid Florida Paramedic Certification, AHA CPR Certification, AHA ACLS Certification, valid drivers license from state of residence

Additional qualifications are available in the job description.

Apply for a position with Escambia County EMS, here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
As Rep. Matt Gress, R-Phoenix, speaks to reporters, on the floor of the House of Representatives on April 10, 2024, Reps. Analise Ortiz (in red) and Oscar De Los Santos (wearing a green tie) and other Democratic lawmakers looked on and chastised him. Gress had earlier unsuccessfully tried to force a vote on a bill to repeal the 1864 near-total abortion ban that the Arizona Supreme Court said needs to be enforced a day earlier. Photo by Gloria Rebecca Gomez | Arizona Mirror

On the same day that the Arizona House of Representatives voted to repeal an abortion ban from the 19th Century, a trio of anti-abortion Republicans launched an ethics complaint against top Democratic lawmakers who angrily protested an earlier move to block that vote, accusing them of intimidating GOP lawmakers and inciting a riot.

On April 9, the Arizona Supreme Court revived a near-total ban on abortions from 1864, ruling that it trumps a 15-week gestational ban passed in 2022.

The decision left GOP lawmakers scrambling, with some fearful of the political repercussions in November but most unwilling to move against the partys pro-life stance. On Wednesday, Democrats were finally able to peel away three Republican lawmakers to narrowly repeal the law by a vote of 32 to 28, but that success followed several high profile failures, including one that culminated in a vehement reaction on the House floor just a day after the state Supreme Courts ruling.

When the GOP majority voted to pause the floor session instead of allowing a bill to repeal the 1864 near-total ban to be heard on April 10, Democrats erupted into loud shouts of protest, yelling Shame!, Hold the vote! and Blood on your hands! and pointing accusingly at Republican lawmakers across the chamber.

That display has been repeatedly denounced by Arizona Republicans, who have compared it to insurrectionist behavior and cited it as part of their reasoning for delaying a vote on the repeal for two weeks. And on April 24, the same day the House repealed the 1864 law, Republican Reps. Jacqueline Parker, Barbara Parker and David Marshall reiterated that criticism in an ethics complaint filed against Democratic Reps. Oscar De Los Santos and Analise Ortiz. The two led their party in excoriating Republicans that day.

In their letters to House Ethics Committee Chairman Joseph Chaplik, the trio call for an investigation into De Los Santos and Ortiz, accusing them both of disorderly, inappropriate, and disruptive behavior unbecoming of an elected official and embarrassing to the House of Representatives on a national stage. While Ortiz is only accused of violating the legislatures definition of disorderly conduct, De Los Santos, the No. 2 Democrat in the House, is accused of three separate violations, including meeting the legislatures threshold for disorderly conduct and breaking procedural rules and decorum standards governing debate in the chamber.

While disorderly conduct isnt a crime under Arizona law, the complaint lodged against De Los Santos and Ortiz defines it based on a legal definition from 1910 which describes it as an act that scandalizes people, is offensive to the public sense of morality, conflicts with the rules around good order and decorum or is contrary to law. De Los Santos, write the trio, violated all three of those qualifications when he incited a riot on the House Floor and shouted and insulted lawmakers. Because De Los Santos began protesting before the chamber could vote on a motion to recess rather than allow the repeal bill to be considered, the complaint alleges that he sought to interfere with the legislative process.

Given his actions were intended to threaten members and force the House to act in accordance with his will, they could even be characterized as an attempted insurrection, reads the complaint against De Los Santos.

This embedded content is not available in your region.





The complaint against Ortiz includes similar allegations and accuses her of disrespecting Republican lawmakers and exhibiting behavior unbecoming of an elected representative.

Also included as evidence of disorderly conduct in the complaint is the duos disruption of an impromptu press conference held by Republican Rep. Matt Gress shortly after the House failed to support his bid to repeal the 1864 near-total ban. Gress, who is seeking reelection in a swing district, pushed for the House to consider the repeal bill on April 10 but later voted with the rest of the majority party to table the matter instead.

While Gress spoke to reporters about his commitment to continue advocating for the repeal on the House floor shortly after the rest of the Republican Party had dispersed in the face of criticism from Democrats, Ortiz and De Los Santos, along with other Democrats, approached and accused him of lying and not caring if women died. Gress, Ortiz told reporters, has previously supported bills that have the potential to codify fetal personhood and his vote to recess the floor session instead of forcing a vote on the repeal bill showcased his insincerity.

A picture of Democrats shouting at Gress is included in the complaint, and a reference is made to a recording Ortiz made of the encounter, in which she stated an intent to disrupt Gress remarks to reporters.

As the riot continued, Representative Ortiz participated in the disruption of a press conference by shouting at members from across the floor and charging the personal desks of Republican members, reads the complaint. Her own recording of the encounter captures her statement, I think we need to disrupt his conference over here, and depicts her charging across the House Floor to Representative Gress and engaging in name-calling in front of the press.

Gress did not respond to requests for comment on the complaint, or about whether he would be willing to testify to support it in an ethics hearing.

This embedded content is not available in your region.





The complaint added that the angry yelling from Democrats, movement towards Republican lawmakers and De Los Santos hovering near Republican desks and invading the personal space of some lawmakers amounted to intimidation.

Several members felt that their personal safety could be at risk and the sergeant at arms was approached to ask him what he could do. This outburst completely shattered the decorum and civility of the chamber and disgraced every one of its members, reads the complaint.

De Los Santos and Ortiz have until May 1 to file written responses. While its under the purview of the House Ethics committee whether to take up the investigation, the options for punishing the duo are limited as final actions against them must be voted on by the entire House.

The committee can recommend that the two be censured, which Republicans, who hold a one-vote majority, can follow up on. But expelling Ortiz or De Los Santos requires a two-thirds supermajority vote, and Democratic support for such a motion will not happen, especially given that De Los Santos has already been the recipient of Republican retaliation after the repeal of the 1864 law. On Wednesday, shortly after the law was successfully struck down by the House, GOP leadership stripped the Laveen Democrat of his committee assignments.

In an emailed statement, Minority Leader Lupe Contreras denounced the complaints as just another attempt to punish Democrats for spearheading the vote to repeal the 1864 ban and voicing their disapproval of the GOP push to block it.

These complaints are nothing more than retaliation against our members who reacted to a clear abuse of the process by a Republican Speaker pro tem who refused to recognize one of our members and instead went forward with a substitute motion to recess the chamber to avoid a vote on the 1864 total abortion ban repeal, Contreras said. In spite of the over-top rhetoric in the complaints, thats all this was. The fact that the Speaker has already punished Assistant Leader De Los Santos by stripping him of his committees before an ethics hearing has even taken place only underscores and accentuates the abuse of process.

Progressive organizations defended the free speech rights of the two Democrats and highlighted the accusations of insurrection as ironic.

Utilizing your First Amendment right to speak out against a Civil War era abortion ban is democracy in action, Alejandra Gomez, executive director of LUCHA, said in a written statement. This baseless complaint from Arizona Republicans is full of irony, as they themselves have ties to the January 6th insurrection. This is nothing but a desperate attempt to silence dissent and a waste of time and resources.

For Ortiz and De Los Santos, the complaints led to a fundraising opportunity. In posts on social media site X, the two criticized the complaints as groundless and asked for help covering their legal costs and bolstering their reelection campaigns.

@RepAnaliseOrtiz & I held the line against the extreme 1864 total ban on abortion. Now, MAGA Republicans are retaliating by filing meritless ethics complaints against us. Please donate to cover our legal fees & ensure we are both re-elected, wrote De Los Santos.

When we said shame on you, we spoke for millions. We wont be silenced. Help us fight this, added Ortiz.

SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE

The post In ethics complaint, Republicans accuse 2 Dems of insurrection for protesting on the House floor appeared first on Arizona Mirror.
EU ambassador hopes membership negotiations will start by late June: Ukraine is ready

Katarina Mathernova, the EU Ambassador to Ukraine. Photo: Katarina Mathernova on Facebook

Katarina Mathernova, the EU Ambassador to Ukraine, believes that Ukraine is ready to start negotiations on joining the European Union and hopes these will begin by the end of June.

Source: European Pravda, citing Mathernova in an interview with Ukrainian Radio

The ambassador emphasised that the EU sent a political signal regarding the start of negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova as early as December last year.

Quotes: "Ukraine is on the right track, it is ready for negotiations," Mathernova stated.

She added that reforms need to be continued. However, Mathernova believes it can be done during the accession negotiations.

"So, I cannot guarantee, but I can say that I hope the negotiations will start in June," Mathernova noted.

Background:

Both Ukraine and Brussels are working to ensure that negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU officially commence no later than the end of June, when Belgium's presidency of the EU Council ends and Hungary's six-month presidency begins.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that the European Union should officially start accession talks with Ukraine in June this year to show Russia that Europe does not show any weakness.

Support UP or become our patron!
Aboard Ferdinand Magellans voyage of 1519 to 1522, the greatest expedition of the Age of Discovery and the first to successfully circumnavigate the globe, was a single Englishman. Andrew of Bristol was the master gunner on the flagship, Trinidad. He made it across the newly-minted Pacific Ocean and, in doing so, unknowingly traversed the deepest part of Earths seas, the Mariana Trench.

Spice, by Roger Crowley, is a narrative history about discovery and long-distance trade between 1511 and 1571, primarily concerned with the contest between Spain and Portugal. Magellan had been commissioned by the Spanish crown to go in search of a new route to the Moluccas (today known as the Maluku islands of Indonesia). These were the fabled Spice Isles, the Early Modern worlds great source of nutmeg and cloves.

The Portuguese had found them first but, in a time before reliable maps, their location was a closely-guarded secret. The treaties of Alcacovas and Tordesillas, drawn up between Portugal and the crowns of Castile and Aragon in the 15th century, had carved up the world. Portugal declared ownership of the Indian Ocean and much of the South Atlantic, while almost all of the American coast and the Pacific, with any new territories rumoured to exist west of that, were monopolised by the Spanish. Under this new doctrine of mare clausum (closed sea), ships entering another kingdoms waters risked capture or destruction.

Charles V of Spain was therefore searching for a way to reach the Spice Isles while minimising the amount of time spent trespassing in hostile waters. Since the eastern route was closed, Magellan, Portuguese by birth, promised him a western one, around the tip of South America, that would allow Charles to exploit the Spice Isles under a veneer of plausible deniability. In return, Magellan was to be made as wealthy as a king, with the right to governorship of any lands discovered en route.

When the three ships remaining from Magellans originally five-strong fleet arrived at Guam, the southernmost island of the Marianas archipelago, they were starving and battered by disease: it had been three months and 20 days since theyd last had fresh food. The islanders rowed out to their ships but, rather than offering help, set about stripping them of valuables. At first, the sailors could do little more than look on, almost too weak to prevent the pilfering. Magellan would call these the Islas de los Ladrones: the Islands of Thieves. It was here that Andrew of Bristol succumbed to scurvy, only three weeks before the Portuguese explorer met his own fate, hacked to death on the shores of the Philippine island of Mactan.

The spice islands, hand-coloured map, 1799 - CPA Media Pte Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo

Crowleys prose barrels forward, which is wonderful in the early chapters, where the cast of characters is small and the stakes are obvious. Magellans voyage is packed with mutinies, maroonings and tense first encounters. Even in the relatively peaceful sections, he manages to capture the excitement of Europeans discovering, often for the first time, the hitherto unimagined immensity of the planets oceans in all their moods.

After Magellans death, the circumnavigation was completed by Juan Sebastian Elcano. It caused a major diplomatic incident when his ship limped alone into Sanlucar in southern Spain, two years after departing, carrying a fortune in nutmeg and with only 18 of the 270-odd men who had originally embarked. Charles had triumphed, and Portugals most important trade monopoly had been shattered. Even worse, Spanish expansion westward had finally overlapped with the Portuguese-controlled East. Here, too, Crowley tells a fine story, capturing the shockwaves that rippled across European politics while remaining grounded in historical resources, such as the diary of Antonio Pigafetta, an Italian nobleman (and one of the lucky survivors) who chronicled the trip.

Its after Elcanos doomed second voyage of 1525, in which one less lucky sailor was discovered suffocated by lice, that Spices problems begin. We start to lose sight of familiar characters and, as the horizons of European imperial ambition expand, the scope of the narrative also starts to broaden uncontrollably. The history remains genuinely compelling, with the focus on the battle for control of the Moluccas punctuated by interludes in which the Portuguese make early trading efforts in China, and the English attempt to go over the top of Russia to cut their own path to the isles. In both cases, though, the real interest comes from how their original mission to discover new spice-routes is dwarfed by the immensity of what they find.

Barrelling prose: historian Roger Crowley

The Portuguese, for instance, were amazed by the wealth and complexity of the new civilisation that they had encountered, a place where they squander gold leaf and silk. Through a mixture of arrogance and bad luck, they offended their hosts by trying to establish a fort. Many were executed as barbarians, and the remainder held hostage by an entirely unsympathetic Jiajing emperor. Meanwhile, the Englishman Richard Chancellor took his expedition as far as Archangel before the ice locked them in. News of exotic strangers in a northern port caught the attention of Ivan the Terrible, and Chancellor became the first Englishman to travel to Moscow, returning safely to England and founding the Muscovy Company in 1555.

While the huge mark-up available for spice traders at the start of the 16th century provided plenty of incentive to weave the oceans together, global trade saw booms in a host of other valuable commodities including ivory, gemstones and silver. In one late chapter, we learn about forced labour at the Bolivian silver mine of Potosi  the mountain that eats men  a portend of the large-scale colonial exploitation soon to come. Each of the episodes Crowley covers are fascinating stories, drenched in gothic detail and pushed through with frenetic energy, but Spice is overstuffed with them, and they blend together into a slightly over-seasoned collection.

Spice is published by Yale at 20. To order your copy for 16.99, call 0808 196 6794 or visit Telegraph Books

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.
Evacuations lifted after dozens of train cars derailed near New Mexico state line, some carrying propane

Thirty-five rail cars of a train derailed in New Mexico Friday afternoon, prompting evacuations that lasted until Sunday and forcing a 50-mile stretch of Interstate 40 to close.

McKinley County Fire & Rescue was dispatched around 12:40 p.m. Friday after the train derailed and caught fire off Interstate 40 near the state line. Six of the derailed train cars were carrying propane, according to BNSF Railway.

Evacuation orders were issued for residents within a two-mile radius of the derailment and fire along the New Mexico state line with Arizona, according to an update from BNSF Railway. All evacuations were lifted Sunday, according to a Facebook post from McKinley County Fire & Rescue. Air monitoring at the site was ongoing Sunday and results do not indicate any concern for air quality, the agency said.

Interstate 40  which was closed in both directions with traffic rerouted  was reopened Sunday.

Westbound I-40 from mile marker 126 remains open to traffic. Both lanes from eastbound I-40 from mile marker 333 in Arizona is also open following Fridays derailment fire, the countys fire and rescue said.

A team of National Transportation Safety Board investigators are also expected to document the scene and examine the train and equipment involved in the derailment, the NTSB said.

BNSF said fire suppression assessments are ongoing at the site.

No injuries have been reported. BNSF says it is currently working with the residents displaced by the evacuations and will provide necessary lodging and accommodations.

Along with all local public safety agencies, BNSF is committed to working within Unified Command while ensuring the community is safe and taken care of throughout the duration of the incident, their release said.

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg addressed the massive derailment in a social media post, saying, We are coordinating across state, Tribal, and local agencies to ensure safety in the region. Please follow state and local guidance for detour information around I-40.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs also took to social media to react to the derailment.

I am deeply concerned about the train derailment along the Arizona-New Mexico border and am monitoring the situation closely, Hobbs wrote. My administration is in contact with Secretary Buttigieg and the New Mexican government. As we learn more about the situation on the ground, the State of Arizona stands ready to deploy the resources necessary to keep our communities safe.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Hello, its the weekend. This is The Weekender 

The right-wing Washington Examiner published a funny non-story on Friday headlined, Donald Trump Jr. appreciates but rejects offer to run NRA. I call it a non-story because the National Rifle Association never actually offered Don Jr. the position  the Examiner aggregated a report from The Reload gun magazine about an NRA board member suggesting in an email that Don Jr. might be a good fit. And Don Jr. only rejected the supposed offer because the Washington Examiner called someone close to him to ask about it.

The official reason the source close to Don Jr. gave was that the former presidents son is too tied up working on his fathers campaign and has recently begun moving in as a key surrogate for his father while he sits in a courtroom in Manhattan all day for his criminal trial. Don Jr., who is a really big gun guy and has done a lot of disgraceful trophy hunting in his day, was apparently, in the Examiners words, very appreciative of the suggestion.

Theres probably no lie in Don Jr.s rationale for rejecting the offer but theres another possible underlying reason. Even some of the biggest gun nuts have been distancing themselves from the gun group, which has been plagued by corruption and financial mismanagement for five-plus years. Just earlier this year, the NRAs former longtime chief Wayne LaPierre was found liable for spending millions of NRA funds on his own personal, extravagant lifestyle. A jury found LaPierre must repay $4.4 million to the NRA and that its retired finance chief, Wilson Phillips, must repay $2 million.

Thats small potatoes compared to the fines being imposed on Don Jr.s father, but perhaps he doesnt want to touch any more potentially fraudulent organizations with a 10 foot pole.

Heres what we have on tap for you this weekend:

Kate Riga covered Supreme Court oral arguments this week. She unpacks why the conservative justices handling of the Idaho abortion case foreshadowed what was to come the following day on Trumps grasp at immunity.

Hunter Walker discusses his reporting on the mother of all Twitter files and how extremely exciting Elon Musk is for the far right.

Khaya Himmelman weighs in on the RNCs latest election integrity scheme.

Lets dig in.

 Nicole Lafond

The End Of Arguments

On Tuesday, I felt reasonably confident about Thursdays Supreme Court arguments over Donald Trumps immunity claims.

It wasnt my primary beat (Josh Kovensky is our go-to Trump malfeasance guy), but because of my experience covering the Supreme Court, I was subbing in while he covered the hush money trial in New York. Id read the briefs and had enough outside expertise to get a sense that even for this Court, Trumps arguments were both too flimsy and too extreme. A Court with an originalism fetish buying that the framers meant to insulate the President, kinglike, from any legal repercussions if he committed crimes in the course of his official acts? Its a stretch.

I felt totally differently exiting arguments Wednesday on an unrelated case, a tension between federally regulated emergency room care and Idahos draconian abortion ban. There too, I was well aware of the Courts partisan lean on the issue. But the case was so easy, Idahos argument so, well, dumb.

The government argued that in hospitals participating in Medicare, emergency room staff must stabilize patients under the Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA). As the law doesnt specify types of treatment, it seems obvious that such a requirement stretches to abortion, if thats what a pregnant patient needs to be stabilized. Idahos ban only includes an exception to save the womans life  a much more narrow assurance, though the states lawyer pretended otherwise (to the point of mendacity).

Federal laws preempt conflicting state ones. States habitually have to abide by mandates, even ones they dont like, when accepting federal funding. These are bedrocks of our system.

Instead of putting aside their clear personal dislike for abortion, the conservatives twisted themselves into knots to create a world where a near-total abortion ban doesnt harm women, where Idaho doctors arent airlifting out pregnant patients rather than risking running afoul of the bans punishments, where doctors dont have to sit and watch patients painfully deteriorate until theyre sure death is closer. And the justices did so with notable pique towards the liberals, who insisted on bringing such real-world anecdotes into the colloquies.

It was the results-oriented Court at work, without a complicated case to cover its tracks. I feared that conventional wisdom on the Trump immunity case was about to be blown out of the water.

It was. After Thursdays arguments, the justices seemed inclined to send the case back down for further litigation on the immunity question, almost guaranteeing Trumps desired delay for the brunt of Jack Smiths Jan. 6 prosecution (they went so well for him that Trumps lawyer declined to give a rebuttal, the only time Ive ever seen that happen).

With that flourish, the Court is finished with arguments for the term. We now face a couple uneasy months, waiting for decisions from on high.

 Kate Riga

The Great Right Hope

Since taking over the site formerly known as Twitter in 2022, Elon Musk has arguably made himself the most prominent promoter of far right conspiracy theories and debunked race science.

So, what happens when one of the worlds richest people acquires one of its biggest megaphones and makes clear to the fringe that they are a fellow traveler?

This past week we looked at one example that shows how Musks unique brand of political engagement has inspired and excited a key figure involved in the effort to overturn former President Trumps 2020 election loss.

Ivan Raiklin is a former Green Beret and longtime associate of Trumps ex-national security adviser, retired Army Gen. Michael Flynn. Along with promoting various debunked conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential race, Raiklin was the author of the Pence Card menu that helped inspire Trump allies plans to have the former vice president reverse the election results.

In the months since, Raiklin has kept diving down the rabbit hole. Hes currently part of the touring road show for Flynns documentary that we told you about last week. Raiklin is touring the country with a pile of paper printouts and bits of string that he claims illustrate a Deep State conspiracy to take down Flynn, Trump, and others on the right. The schtick also includes a target list Raiklin has cooked up as part of a scheme to have Musk release their Twitter direct messages to prove  well, something.

Based on his comments, Raiklins fishing expedition was inspired by the Twitter Files project Musk launched soon after taking over that company where he released a trove of internal documents and correspondence from its executives. The story of Raiklins effort to publish what he has called The Mother Of All Twitter Files is a clear sign of how much Musk has excited the right. Its also further proof that many of the same people who pulled the 2020 election into the fever swamps are continuing to spin unhinged conspiracy theories ahead of the next one.

And the narratives they are spinning this time around may be even more wild. The story in Raiklins piles of paper and string involves the shutdown of the global internet, potential assassination plots, and Flynnworlds ongoing fixation on Pence. Its a real weird one and a sign of just how much weirder things might get.

 Hunter Walker

The RNCs Latest Election Integrity Scheme

Donald Trumps campaign and the Republican National Committee recently announced a plan to deploy more than 100,000 volunteers to monitor the voting process in key battleground states in the upcoming presidential election. This most recent Republican election integrity effort is rooted in election lies, highlighting Trumps continued obsession with baseless claims about the last election. Democrats see it as a sign that Trump is planning to cry voter fraud once again if he doesnt win this fall.

This initiative is described by the RNC and the Trump campaign as the most extensive and monumental election integrity program in the nations history, and will include the deployment of lawyers to monitor early voting, mail ballot processing, post election audits, canvassing, and recounts, as well as logic and accuracy voter machine testing.

Every battleground state will also have an Election Integrity Hotline, the RNC outlined, where lawyers will address issues from poll watchers and voters and guide watchers through the appropriate election code and provide clarity on how various issues should be answered, resolved, or escalated. But the DNC said it sees through the charade.

Democratic National Committee Rapid Response Director Alex Floyd said in a statement: Donald Trump knows hes running a losing campaign, so hes working with his handpicked team of election deniers at the RNC to once again lay the groundwork to undermine our democracy and spread baseless lies about a rigged election.

 Khaya Himmelman
Ex-boyfriend found guilty of murdering Troy woman and shooting her date on Thanksgiving

A Montgomery County jury has found a former Collinsville man guilty of shooting and killing his ex-girlfriend and critically injuring her date on Thanksgiving three years ago at a Farmersville home.

The jury deliberated less than three hours Friday before finding Robert Bobby J. Tarr, 51, guilty of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.

Were very pleased with the verdict, said States Attorney Andrew Affrunti, who runs a three-person office and prosecuted the case himself with help from Derek Dion of the states attorneys appellate prosecutors office.

Were glad that we can start giving some closure to the victims and their families. Obviously, a lot of that will come with sentencing, but Im glad that we can start that process.

Tarrs ex-girlfriend, Leslie J. Reeves, 45, was a well-known Troy resident and mother of two who owned All You Studio and Party Place in Troy. She also volunteered as a domestic-violence advocate.

Authorities believe the shootings took place after midnight on Nov. 25, 2021, at the home of Christopher J. Smith, then 48, who was critically injured. Smith was on a first date with Reeves, and that made Tarr jealous, according to prosecutors.

Smith wasnt asked to testify at the trial because he didnt remember the crime, Affrunti said. He laid unconscious on a bloody kitchen floor for more than 12 hours before police arrived.

Hes walking, Affrunti said. Hes talking. Hes made a great recovery, but he still has a long way to go. He suffered a gunshot wound to his head.

Tarrs Springfield attorneys, Mark Wykoff and Daniel Fultz, couldnt be reached for comment on Saturday.

Tarr has been held at the Montgomery County Jail in Hillsboro on a $2 million bond since he was taken into custody the day after the shootings. The trial began with jury selection on Monday morning.

Tarrs sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 1. He is eligible for 76 years to life in prison, an enhanced sentence, due to the jury finding he discharged a firearm while committing the murder and attempted murder.

We are very grateful to all of the agencies that helped with this case, Affrunti said, naming the Montgomery County Sheriffs Department, Illinois State Police and Springfield Police Department.

Affrunti credited the latter with cracking Tarrs cellphone and providing key evidence.

Farmersville is about 25 miles south of Springfield, along Interstate 55.

In a separate case, Tarr was indicted by a grand jury in September 2022 on two counts of solicitation of murder for hire. Hes accused of hiring a hit man to kill Smith and a sheriffs deputy who investigated the shootings. That case will go to trial at a later time.

When you start talking about a different criminal act inside of another criminal trial, it can create a lot of issues on appeal, Affrunti said. So we decided it would be best to (wait on the solicitation charges).

Police received calls for a welfare check to Nobbe Street in Farmersville at about 12:42 p.m. Nov. 25, 2021, according to an initial news release from the sheriffs department.

The coroners office pronounced Reeves dead from a gunshot wound at the scene. Smith was transported to St. Johns Hospital in Springfield.

Dawn Mushill, executive director of the Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce, posted a long statement on the organizations website at the time, saying its members were devastated.

Mushill described Reeves as powerful, lovable, strong (inside and out), gracious, vulnerable and funny.

The statement noted that Reeves was a domestic-violence advocate who offered self-defense training at her studio, in addition to yoga and other fitness services. She also worked with shelters, food pantries, counselors and non-profit organizations to help victims.

There is no doubt that she became very vulnerable, advocating in the way that she did, Mushill wrote. But honestly, I do not think she would have stepped back from any situation if it meant helping someone else.

The tragedy to this situation is that she lost her life in the same way that she protected others.

Reeves was a cheerleader at Collinsville High School, according to her obituary. She went on to earn a bachelors degree in engineering from the former University of Missouri Rolla and a masters at the University of Kansas.

Reeves worked as a petroleum engineer before operating a fitness studio.

Leslie was known for her beautiful smile, living life to the fullest and helping others, the obituary stated. Her greatest joy was her children and her time with them was the happiest times of her life.

Leslies favorite hobbies ... were dancing, exercising, art, collecting shoes, travel, cats, and listening to 80s music. Leslie excelled academically and went from being a proud Kahok to a Miner to a Jayhawk.
NEW DELHI, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Two paramilitary troops of the Central Reserve Police Force were killed and two others injured in a militant attack Saturday in India's northeastern state of Manipur, police said.

The attack was carried out at a stationed camp in Moirang area of Bishnupur district, about 45 km south of Imphal, the capital city of Manipur.

According to police, the incident, involving gunshots and grenade attack, lasted for over two hours.

Following the attack, authorities rushed reinforcements to the area to track down the militants. 
By Nate Raymond

(Reuters) - A former McKinsey & Co partner sued the global consulting firm on Friday and accused it of defaming him and making him a "scapegoat" to distract attention from its work advising OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma and other manufacturers of opioid pain medications.

Arnab Ghatak, who was fired in 2021, filed the lawsuit in New York state court just two days after Reuters and others reported that the U.S. Department of Justice was conducting a criminal investigation of McKinsey's role in the U.S. opioid epidemic.

Part of that investigation concerns whether McKinsey obstructed justice, an inquiry related to McKinsey's disclosure that it had fired two partners who communicated about deleting documents related to their opioids work, people familiar with the matter said.

Those partners included Ghatak, who had been a senior partner and McKinsey's global head of medical affairs. In his lawsuit, Ghatak alleged that McKinsey and its global managing partner, Bob Sternfels, lied to the U.S. Congress and the public about his role deleting emails.

Ghatak accused Sternfels of misleading Congress when he testified before a House of Representatives committee in 2022 that the two partners were terminated for violating a document retention policy, one that Ghatak said in fact did not exist.

He said McKinsey knew no evidence existed of him improperly deleting emails, yet had promoted the narrative "to create a scapegoat as a diversion from their own decades long work in non abuse deterrent opioids."

The lawsuit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages from McKinsey and Sternfels, who was also named as a defendant.

A spokesperson for McKinsey called the complaint "entirely meritless."

"We terminated him for serious violations of our professional standards," the McKinsey spokesperson said. "We fully stand by our decision to terminate Dr. Ghatak and by our public statements on the matter."

A U.S. Department of Justice spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

McKinsey previously agreed to pay nearly $1 billion to settle widespread opioid lawsuits and other related legal actions by states, local governments, school districts, Native American tribes and health insurers accusing it of contributing to a deadly U.S. opioid addiction epidemic.

McKinsey in 2019 said it would no longer advise clients on any opioid-related businesses. McKinsey did not admit to wrongdoing in those civil settlements.

Purdue pleaded guilty in 2020 to charges over its handling of opioids. A multi-billion-dollar settlement it reached in bankruptcy court resolving lawsuits alleging it fueled the epidemic is on hold while the U.S. Supreme Court considers a challenge by the Biden administration to the deal.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; additional reporting by Chris Prentice; Editing by Leslie Adler)
As university administrators and law enforcement crack down on campus protests over Israels war in Gaza, theyre invoking a familiar trope: the outside agitator.

On April 18, the New York Police Department arrested more than a hundred people in connection with pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, kicking off a wave of similar demonstrations at other US colleges and universities. Following the NYPDs arrest of more than 130 protesters at New York University last week, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a news conference that outside agitators were disrupting the city and throwing bottles and chairs at police officers.

NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry suggested on Fox 5 New York on Tuesday that an outside entity was funding campus protests because of the similarities in tents used at student encampments, saying there are professional agitators in there that are just looking for something to be agitated about.

Elsewhere, Emory University President Gregory Fenves said in an April 26 university-wide letter that highly organized, outside protesters were behind an encampment that prompted the school to call in law enforcement. Videos captured police wrestling people, including at least one Emory professor, to the ground, and a CNN crew witnessed officers using pepper spray and pepper balls on the crowd.

On Monday, Fenves walked back his earlier statement, saying members of the Emory community were involved in the encampment. He also apologized for the mischaracterization and said he was devastated that members of our community were caught up in law enforcement activity.

In these instances, and others, authorities have not offered many specifics about who the outside agitators are, how significant their numbers are or how they differentiated outsiders from university-affiliated protesters.

Large-scale social movements can certainly be vulnerable to groups who seek to capitalize on the chaos for their own ends, said Aldon Morris, a professor emeritus of sociology and African American studies at Northwestern University. But time and again, authorities have leveled the broad accusation of outside agitators to undermine or stifle protests.

The notion here is that student protests arent really legitimate because the claim is they are being taken over by outside agitators who are violent, anti-government, anti-democracy and so forth, Morris told CNN.

The use of the term is nuanced. This time around, city officials, university administrators and supporters of the student protesters have all cited outside agitators as people who are trying to hijack the protests for their own means. But whether the person using the phrase is trying to quell the protests or defend them, its not always clear who these outside agitators are, and whether they can be classed as such in the first place.

It seems to me that the outside agitator claim is one to shift the focus away from the grievances of the students and their protest, Morris said.

Outside agitator trope has a long history

You dont have to look far back in history to find examples of the outside agitator narrative.

During a speech at the height of the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, then-President Donald Trump characterized the demonstrations occurring nationwide as being overrun with professional anarchists, violent mobs and other left-wing groups. As he spoke, police forcibly dispersed peaceful protesters outside the White House gates with tear gas, flash grenades and rubber bullets  a move that resulted in uproar and prompted a lawsuit from a coalition of civil rights groups.

While there were some reports of people with extremist ties showing up at protests, an Associated Press review of court documents published in October found that most of those who were arrested or charged at the time didnt appear to be linked to highly organized extremist groups. Many of them, the AP found, were young adults from suburban areas that Trump had vowed to protect.

A demonstrator walks in front of a row of military police members wearing riot gear as they push back demonstrators outside of the White House, June 1, 2020 in Washington D.C., during a protest over the death of George Floyd. - Jose Lusi Magana/AFP/Getty Images

Claims of outside agitators  or crisis actors, which evoke a similar idea  also emerged during a 2018 walkout of Oklahoma teachers, in the aftermath of the Parkland school shooting earlier that year and amid the violent unrest that followed the police shooting of an 18-year-old Black man in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014.

The outside agitator label was also frequently evoked during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s, implying that protesters participating in demonstrations were driven by the nefarious agendas of shadowy others, as opposed to being motivated by their own concerns.

One example is the 1964 Mississippi Summer Project, Kathleen Fitzgerald, a teaching associate professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina, explained in a 2020 interview with CNN. A group of mostly White college students who traveled from the North to Mississippi to help register Black voters and open freedom schools were dismissed by White Southerners as outsiders.

When they use that narrative, its an assumption that no locals would agree with these actions and no locals are on board, Fitzgerald said in 2020. And thats certainly not true.

In this Aug. 23, 1964 file photo, Bruce Solomon, of the Brooklyn borough of New York, teaches a class for young Black students about arts, African American history and rights at a "Freedom School" in Jackson, Miss. Solomon was one of hundreds of volunteers in the Mississippi Summer Project. The classes throughout the state were set up by the volunteer workers in churches, homes and other buildings to encourage African Americans to register to vote during the long hot summer. - BH/AP

The use of the term is complicated

Indeed, there are people who travel to support causes they believe in, but that doesnt necessarily mean there is a significant distinction between them and those who were originally protesting.

For instance, Martin Luther King Jr. and other activists in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference were often called in to assist with civil rights demonstrations across the South. In doing so, they were portrayed as outsiders stirring up trouble  a notion that King rejected.

Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial outside agitator idea, he famously wrote in Letter from a Birmingham Jail. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds.

As messages from Emory Universitys administrators referenced outsiders as an explanation for why state and local law enforcement were called to campus, demonstrators at the university echoed Kings 1963 words.

In a statement, protesters asserted that Emory University is a part of the world and, in turn, those joining the movement could not be considered outsiders.

We want to say as clearly as possible - we welcome outside agitators to our struggle against the ruthless genocide of Palestinians.

Still, the use of the term is more complicated than it seems.

Some Jewish students have reported threats and antisemitic rhetoric from protesters at some demonstrations, and some institutions have moved classes online over safety concerns. As pro-Israel politicians have amplified concerns around antisemitism, some supporters of students right to free expression have suggested outside agitators are undermining otherwise peaceful protests.

That is why I am deeply concerned about misinformation that aims to undermine this movement, outside agitators that detract from peaceful solidarity actions, and the aggressive response by law enforcement to students peacefully protesting across the country, Rep. Ayanna Pressley said in a statement.

Rep. Hank Johnson similarly criticized outside agitators who seek to usurp the peaceful protests against the Netanyahu governments killing of tens of thousands of innocent Gazans by giving life to a false narrative that the protest movement is violent and anti-Semitic.

Daughtry, the NYPD Deputy Commissioner, has also sought to distinguish student protesters from outsider agitators  though some students have dismissed the notion that outside forces are behind the demonstrations.

Late last week, he expanded on his earlier statements, saying that: What may have started as a group of Columbia students wanting to express their constitutional right to protest has drawn crowds of outside agitators who are trying to hijack a peaceful protest and turn it something far more sinister.

Emphasizing outsiders serves as a distraction, one scholar says

Given how the trope of the outside agitator has been deployed throughout history, Morris says he views recent references to outsiders at these protests as a distraction from the students primary aim: Calling attention to the war in Gaza.

At the heart of these demonstrations at US colleges and universities are very specific demands: Students at some campuses are calling on their universities to divest from companies linked to Israel or its war effort. Others are asking their schools to cut ties with Israeli academic institutions, disclose their investments or more broadly support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

But in recent days, much of the national conversation around the protests has revolved around antisemitic incidents or scenes of chaos and disruption as officials try to break up demonstrations, Morris said.

It seems that those who oppose the protests want to deal with any issue other than the issue which really caused the students to organize and to launch these protests, he added.

Protests at some colleges and universities have indeed drawn some participants from outside the respective schools. In some cases, people have shown up in solidarity  the crowds at Emory University included organizers from the Stop Cop City movement, and local Atlanta media reported that at least one Spelman College student was in attendance.

In this March 9, 2023 photo, demonstrators confront an Atlanta police officer during a protest over plans to build a new police training center, in Atlanta. Sixty-one people have been indicted in Georgia on racketeering charges following a long-running state investigation into protests against a proposed police and training facility in the Atlanta area that critics call Cop City. - Alex Slitz/AP

In other cases, the identities and motivations of outside protesters have been less clear  at Columbia, journalists and students have drawn a distinction between the student-led encampments and those protesting outside the universitys gates.

Its a double-edged sword, Morris said. On the one hand, the student protests can be more powerful by larger numbers of people who come in from the outside, so long as they share the goals of the student protest movement. At the same time, their movement can be undermined by those with ulterior motives.

Whats particularly concerning, however, is that university administrators and law enforcement are again using the mere presence of outsiders to suppress demonstrations, Morris said. In doing so, he added, they might inadvertently end up strengthening the movement.

Administrators often make a grave error by engaging in repression of the protests, he said. That kind of repression often generates more protests and larger protest movements.

Already, that appears to be happening. As Columbia University administrators called in police on April 18 to disperse student encampments on campus, students mobilized in similar ways at Yale University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Texas at Austin, among other colleges and universities.

In response to administrators decisions to bring in law enforcement to quell demonstrations, the conversation has already broadened beyond Israels war in Gaza to questions about when free speech on campus crosses a line and what administrators obligations are to their students.

As students continue to press the administrations of their schools to fulfill their demands, and as officials respond to the protests, Morris said it remains to be seen what narrative will win out.

The movement has to struggle with the narrative. The university has to struggle over the narrative, he said. And the real issue is: What narrative will become dominant?

This write has been updated since its publication on April 27 to reflect recent developments.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  A former Salt Lake City police officer has been found guilty after investigators say he pinned a man with his personal vehicle while off-duty.

The ex-officer, Thomas Caygle, was found guilty of negligently operating a vehicle resulting in injury.

READ NEXT: Competency in question: Will federal evaluators make a difference?

ABC4s The Justice Files first started looking into Caygle after reviewing the disturbing dashcam and body camera footage of Caygle, who was seen slurring his words and unable to walk in a straight line.

In the body camera footage, Caygle is heard telling officers he is currently a Salt Lake City police officer and used to work for the Ogden City Police Department.

The Justice Files later found the Ogden and Salt Lake City police departments had internally investigated Caygles behavior.

Almost terminated at Ogden City Police Department

Thomas Caygle worked for the Ogden City Police Department for eight years. In that time, he was written up multiple times for crashes  including an incident where he hit a pedestrian.

An internal investigation also found he failed to properly investigate and complete reports. This included theft, assaults and missing persons cases. In 2019, he was given one final warning.

No further performance-related issues will be tolerated and if any occur it will lead to termination. This form was signed by Caygle and his manager on Sept. 23, 2019.

Shortly after this, Caygle resigned from the Ogden City Police Department and was hired by Salt Lake City police.

Problems with Salt Lake City police

Newly obtained investigative reports show Caygle was already on thin ice with the Salt Lake City Police Department prior to his arrest.

In April 2022, a complaint was filed that claimed he was sleeping inside a police vehicle parked at the public safety building. The report also brought up that Caygle was in a drowsy and lethargic state while on duty in the past, and that another sergeant experienced similar behaviors from Caygle.

In a separate report, a trainee was interviewed and admitted that Caygle would regularly sleep on duty and said he had to physically wake him up while en route to calls for service.

Officer ****** stated Officer Caygle would be alert once they arrived on calls, but Officer ****** would have to inform Officer Caygle about the details of the call.

The arrest

Caygle was fired from SLCPD after the third investigation involving his arrest where investigators say he pinned a man with his vehicle.

It started when authorities say he rear-ended a man and the drivers pulled over to the side. After that, the victim got out to look at the damage to the back of the vehicle and Caygle pulled his vehicle forward, pinning the man. Eventually, the victims girlfriend ran to the drivers side of the vehicle and pulled their car forward to release the victim.

Caygle failed his field sobriety test and was arrested on several charges. He was later charged with aggravated assault and negligently operating a vehicle resulting in injury. A judge found Caygle guilty of negligently operating a vehicle, a Class A misdemeanor.

Caygle now faces up to a year in a county jail and a possible fine of up to $2,500, according to Utah State Code.

Fired by SLCPD

According to newly released personnel documents, Caygle was fired on Sept. 26, 2023.

In his termination letter, Captain Derek Dimon called his criminal charges deeply troubling, inappropriate, and unacceptable.

In addition, engaging in conduct that resulted in you being criminally charged reflects extremely poorly on you, the Department and the City; demonstrates a lack of integrity; is inimical to public service; and significantly jeopardizes public trust as well as the trust placed in you by me and your colleagues in the Department and throughout the city.

Caygle appealed this decision. According to police records, Caygle claimed his accident had less media attention than other police shootings in which officers did not receive comparable discipline. The appeal decision also stated Caygle claimed the victim was to blame for hurting the departments reputation because he shared video of the incident.

Your statement that the other drivers actions (as opposed to your own) are the source of any discredit brought upon the Department demonstrates a lack of personal accountability and a failure to appreciate the seriousness of your conduct, responded Deputy Chief Andrew Wright.

Sentencing delayed

Caygles sentencing was scheduled for March, but had to be postponed because Caygle did not report to his parole officer. According to his attorney, he had medical and family-related issues.

The judge pushed back his sentencing to April 29th.

Caygle_Appeal_Decision_MRDownload

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Some US officials say in internal memo Israel may be violating international law in Gaza

Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a house, in Rafah

Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a house, in Rafah

By Humeyra Pamuk

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Some senior U.S. officials have advised Secretary of State Antony Blinken that they do not find "credible or reliable" Israel's assurances that it is using U.S.-supplied weapons in accordance with international humanitarian law, according to an internal State Department memo reviewed by Reuters.

Other officials upheld support for Israel's representation.

Under a National Security Memorandum (NSM) issued by President Joe Biden in February, Blinken must report to Congress by May 8 whether he finds credible Israel's assurances that its use of U.S. weapons does not violate U.S. or international law.

By March 24, at least seven State Department bureaus had sent in their contributions to an initial "options memo" to Blinken. Parts of the memo, which has not been previously reported, were classified.

The submissions to the memo provide the most extensive picture to date of the divisions inside the State Department over whether Israel might be violating international humanitarian law in Gaza.

"Some components in the department favored accepting Israel's assurances, some favored rejecting them and some took no position," a U.S. official said.

A joint submission from four bureaus - Democracy Human Rights & Labor; Population, Refugees and Migration; Global Criminal Justice and International Organization Affairs  raised "serious concern over non-compliance" with international humanitarian law during Israel's prosecution of the Gaza war.

The assessment from the four bureaus said Israel's assurances were "neither credible nor reliable." It cited eight examples of Israeli military actions that the officials said raise "serious questions" about potential violations of international humanitarian law.

These included repeatedly striking protected sites and civilian infrastructure; "unconscionably high levels of civilian harm to military advantage"; taking little action to investigate violations or to hold to account those responsible for significant civilian harm and "killing humanitarian workers and journalists at an unprecedented rate."

The assessment from the four bureaus also cited 11 instances of Israeli military actions the officials said "arbitrarily restrict humanitarian aid," including rejecting entire trucks of aid due to a single "dual-use" item, "artificial" limitations on inspections as well as repeated attacks on humanitarian sites that should not be hit.

Another submission to the memo reviewed by Reuters, from the bureau of Political and Military Affairs, which deals with U.S. military assistance and arms transfers, warned Blinken that suspending U.S. weapons would limit Israel's ability to meet potential threats outside its airspace and require Washington to re-evaluate "all ongoing and future sales to other countries in the region."

Any suspension of U.S. arms sales would invite "provocations" by Iran and aligned militias, the bureau said in its submission, illustrating the push-and-pull inside the department as it prepares to report to Congress.

The submission did not directly address Israel's assurances.

Inputs to the memo from the Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism and U.S. ambassador to Israel Jack Lew said they assessed Israel's assurances as credible and reliable, a second U.S. official told Reuters.

The State Department's legal bureau, known as the Office of the Legal Adviser, "did not take a substantive position" on the credibility of Israel's assurances, a source familiar with the matter said.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said the agency doesn't comment on leaked documents.

"On complex issues, the Secretary often hears a diverse range of views from within the Department, and he takes all of those views into consideration," Miller said.

MAY 8 REPORT TO CONGRESS

When asked about the memo, an Israeli official said: "Israel is fully committed to its commitments and their implementation, among them the assurances given to the U.S. government."

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

Biden administration officials repeatedly have said they have not found Israel in violation of international law.

Blinken has seen all of the bureau assessments about Israel's pledges, the second U.S. official said.

Matthew Miller on March 25 said the department received the pledges. However, the State Department is not expected to render its complete assessment of credibility until the May 8 report to Congress.

Further deliberations between the department's bureaus are underway ahead of the report's deadline, the U.S. official said.

USAID also provided input to the memo. "The killing of nearly 32,000 people, of which the GOI (Government of Israel) itself assesses roughly two-thirds are civilian, may well amount to a violation of the international humanitarian law requirement," USAID officials wrote in the submission.

USAID does not comment on leaked documents, a USAID spokesperson said.

The warnings about Israel's possible breaches of international humanitarian law made by some senior State Department officials come as Israel is vowing to launch a military offensive into Rafah, the southern-most pocket of the Gaza Strip that is home to over a million people displaced by the war, despite repeated warnings from Washington not to do so.

Israel's military conduct has come under increasing scrutiny as its forces have killed 34,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the enclave's health authorities, most of them women and children.

Israel's assault was launched in response to the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, in which Israel says 1,200 people were killed and 250 others taken hostage.

The National Security Memorandum was issued in early February after Democratic lawmakers began questioning whether Israel was abiding by international law.

The memorandum imposed no new legal requirements but asked the State Department to demand written assurances from countries receiving U.S.-funded weapons that they are not violating international humanitarian law or blocking U.S. humanitarian assistance.

It also required the administration to submit an annual report to Congress to assess whether countries are adhering to international law and not impeding the flow of humanitarian aid.

If Israel's assurances are called into question, Biden would have the option to "remediate" the situation through actions ranging from seeking fresh assurances to suspending further U.S. weapons transfers, according to the memorandum.

Biden can suspend or put conditions on U.S. weapons transfers at any time.

He has so far resisted calls from rights groups, left-leaning Democrats and Arab American groups to do so.

But earlier this month he threatened for the first time to put conditions on the transfer of U.S. weapons to Israel, if it does not take concrete steps to improve the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.

(This story has been refiled to remove an extraneous paragraph)

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Don Durfee and Suzanne Goldenberg)
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 should have done in the presence of a white female given strict codes of conduct dictating social interaction in the South.

Emmett, of course, did the wolf whistle, Parker said during a recent visit 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. Photo by 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 when it came to 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?

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.

To see the exhibit virtually, click here.

The post Eyewitness to kidnapping of Emmett Till hasnt closed his eyes to quest for racial justice appeared first on Maryland Matters.
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)

This story originally appeared on 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 should have done in the presence of a white female given strict codes of conduct dictating social interaction in the South.

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.

A red sign marking the place where Emmett Till's body was found. The sign is marked with bullet holes.

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?

Three people behind a table

Sydney Pursel, curator of public practice at Spencer Museum of Art at 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.

A man in a suit speaking into a microphone

The Rev. Wheeler Parker, a cousin of murdered teen Emmett Till, said the 1955 homicide committed by Mississippi racists invigorated the U.S. civil rights movement and continued almost 70 years later to offer perspective on how the nation had progressed on race relations. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

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.

Kansas Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kansas Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Sherman Smith for questions: info@kansasreflector.com. Follow Kansas Reflector on Facebook and Twitter.

SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE

The post Eyewitness to kidnapping of Emmett Till hasnt closed his eyes to quest for racial justice appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
F-16s headed to Ukraine this summer will face their most dangerous battlefield ever

Ukraine is slated to receive its much-anticipated fleet of F-16 fighter jets this summer.

The American-made aircraft have flown combat missions around the world over the past few decades.

But former US military pilots say Ukraine will be the jet's foremost combat test.

The long-awaited delivery of F-16s to Ukraine is on the horizon, and these advanced American-made fighter jets can't come soon enough for its forces.

Western-provided F-16s will give Kyiv's current fleet of aging Soviet-era warplanes a major upgrade in capabilities, for critical offensive and defensive roles, and boost their firepower with the right munitions.

The combat-proven Fighting Falcon has decades of experience flying in tough, war-time environments in places like the Middle East and the Balkans. The fourth-generation fighter has racked up an impressive collection of high-profile missions over the years.

But the skies above Ukraine will be the most dangerous battlefield that the fighter jets have faced so far, former US military pilots told Business Insider, as the aircraft goes up against Russia's advanced air-defense systems and long-range air-to-air missiles.

A combat-proven fighter jet

Ukraine first requested F-16s from its Western partners in the early weeks of Russia's full-scale invasion, but the US didn't sign off on a third-party transfer from its allies to Kyiv until last summer.

A F-16 aircraft is pictured after the first delivery of Norway's old F-16 fighter aircraft to Romania at Rygge Air Force Base, Norway on Nov. 28, 2023. Photo by OLE BERG-RUSTEN/NTB/AFP via Getty Images

Four NATO members  Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands  have collectively promised to send dozens of F-16s to Ukraine, whose pilots are training in the US and in Europe. The fighter jets are expected to arrive at some point this summer, reportedly as early as June.

The F-16s are a notable upgrade over Ukraine's fleet of Soviet-era aircraft; at the start of the war, Kyiv was flying Su-24s, Su-25s, Su-27s, and MiG-29s.

The Fighting Falcon has a more efficient internal layout and better electronic warfare capabilities than many of Ukraine's current jets. It is also a very nimble and maneuverable aircraft, and can be equipped with advanced targeting pods and air-to-surface ordnance to strike ground vehicles and positions.

Since the first F-16 prototype flew 50 years ago, the multi-role fighter has flown sorties in difficult combat environments around the world. It first achieved notable success, though, at the hands of Israeli pilots in the early 1980s.

Israeli Air Force combat aircraft, including F-16s, in June 1982 flew a suppression of enemy air defense (SEAD) campaign in Lebanon's heavily fortified Bekaa Valley. Within hours, Israel had destroyed a large number of Soviet-built, Syrian-owned surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems and enemy aircraft, without taking any losses. It was a stunning tactical victory after the IDF's heavy losses to SAMs in the Yom Kippur war nine years before.

Romanian air force F-16 fighter planes fly above the Baza 86 military air base, outside Fetesti, Romania, Monday, Nov. 13, 2023. AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru

The US Air Force first flew the F-16 in combat during Operation Desert Storm in Iraq during the early 1990s. The fighter flew more sorties than any other aircraft, and was used to attack enemy airfields, missile sites, and military production facilities.

Later that decade, F-16s were deployed to the Balkans for NATO's Operation Allied Force air campaign against Yugoslavia. There, they flew SEAD, close-air support, and counter-air missions, while destroying enemy radars, fighter jets, and armored vehicles.

During these operations in the 1990s, the Air Force only lost 17 aircraft in combat  a tiny number compared to the tens of thousands of sorties that were flown, according data from the Defense Technical Information Center. Five of those aircraft were F-16s.

Other militaries  like Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt  have also operated the F-16 in conflicts of varying intensities over the years. More recently, the F-16 has operated above Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and has also been used to thwart the Islamic State.

'The toughest scenario that the F-16 will have'

Despite flying in many challenging operating environments over the last 50 years, F-16s are still likely staring down their most dangerous battlefield yet, former US military pilots say.

US Air Force F-16's stand ready with bombs loaded to take off during the first daylight attack to liberate Kuwait in 1991. Reuters file photo

"Going into Desert Storm, arguably against the third largest army in the world and a very robust air force  that was a very, very tough situation," John Baum, a retired US Air Force lieutenant colonel who has logged over 2,300 hours as an F-16 pilot, told BI.

"F-16s from Ukraine going against Russia  absolutely, without a doubt, the toughest scenario that the F-16 will have off of its nose," said Baum, now a senior resident fellow at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.

Ukraine has already lost at least 86 aircraft since the war began, according to the open-source intelligence site Oryx, which tracks war losses, underscoring the danger that pilots face in the skies.

Among the threats that Ukraine's F-16s will be facing are advanced Russian air-defense systems like the S-300 and the highly advanced S-400, a formidable fleet of Su-35s and MiG-31s armed with long-range R-37 air-to-air missiles and powerful radars, and early warning aircraft that can detect them hundreds of miles away.

"There is a gazillion ways to detect these F-16s," Brynn Tannehill, a defense analyst and former US Navy aviator, told BI.

A Russian soldier walks near Russia's air defence system S-400 Triumf launch vehicles (C) at the military exhibition "Oboronexpo-2014" in Zhukovsky outside Moscow, on August 13, 2014. KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV

Russia's arsenal of surface-to-air systems, specifically, are more modern and advanced than the ones that the F-16 went up against in past conflicts, like the SA-2s, SA-3s, and SA-6s of Bekaa Valley.

"The Russians are bringing high-end equipment" to the Ukraine war, Tannehill said, adding that past F-16 foes in the Middle East like Iraq and Syria were "typically operating legacy Soviet equipment and probably weren't quite as well-trained or equipped" as Moscow is now.

Experts say the F-16 would be a valuable asset to go after Russia's formidable arsenal of air-defense systems and carry out SEAD and destruction of enemy air defenses (DEAD) missions.

Ukraine already possesses US-provided, air-to-surface AGM-88 HARM, or high-speed anti-radiation, missiles, which can hunt down enemy radars. But Kyiv's Soviet-era aircraft were not designed to interface with these missiles, while the F-16 was actually made to carry them  allowing for more effective and dynamic targeting.

Russia has "probably one of the most robust and advanced integrated air-defense systems in the world, but the F-16 will have a capability to build situational awareness and feed that picture" to the rest of the Ukrainian forces, Baum said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, second right, and Dutch caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte, center, look at F-16 fighter jets in Eindhoven, Netherlands, on Aug. 20, 2023. AP Photo/Peter Dejong

The fighter jets can then leverage its HARM targeting systems and missiles to strike the Russian radars.

Perhaps one of the biggest issues the fighters will face is the physical layout of the operating environment, Baum said. When Ukrainian F-16s take off, they could be immediately within range of Russian surface-to-air systems, rather than enjoying neutral territory that they can use to their advantage to safely approach the battle space.

Ukrainian pilots may be "looked at and targeted before they even get to begin to do their own tactics," Baum said.

Softening the battlefield

In a defensive role, F-16s can add an extra layer to Ukraine's air-defense network, which has been stretched thin in recent months as Kyiv waited for US lawmakers to approve additional funding that could replenish its dwindling stockpile of critical interceptor munitions.

Ukraine already has AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 air-to-air missiles in its arsenal, and can outfit its F-16s with these munitions to intercept Russian one-way attack drones, cruise missiles and the fighter-bombers pounding Ukraine's troops with glide bombs. This would help complement Kyiv's existing air defenses, made up of Soviet-era systems and Western ones like US-provided Patriot batteries and NASAMS.

Patriot air-defense systems are seen at the airport of Rzeszow-Jasionka in Poland on Nov. 22, 2023. INA FASSBENDER

Meanwhile, Ukraine has increasingly gone after Russian air-defense and detection capabilities over the past few months  possibly softening the battlefield for the arrival of F-16s.

In March, for instance, Western intelligence said Moscow had likely grounded its fleet of A-50 early warning and control aircraft after Ukraine shot down two of these planes within a matter of weeks. More recently, in mid-April Kyiv used long-range missiles to take out multiple S-400 launchers and radar stations at a Russian base in the occupied Crimean peninsula.

"Ukraine has been doing a lot to degrade Russia's capabilities to counter-detect their own aircraft," Tannehill said. "And this may be a sign that some of this may have been done in anticipation of getting F-16s, and being able to push them a little further forward."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Former President Donald Trump delivered a barrage of false claims to media cameras this week as he entered and exited the Manhattan courtroom where he is on trial on charges of falsifying business records in relation to a hush money scheme during the 2016 presidential election.

Heres a fact check of four of the claims he made about the trial. (For this particular article, well leave aside the false claims he made in the courthouse about a variety of other subjects.)

Courthouse security

After The New York Times published a story that said Trump was unhappy with the meager crowd he saw when he arrived at the courthouse for opening statements on Monday, Trump told reporters inside the courthouse on Tuesday: For blocks you cant get near this courthouse.

He added on social media on Tuesday: Thousands of people were turned away from the Courthouse in Lower Manhattan by steel stanchions and police, literally blocks from the tiny side door from where I enter and leave. It is an armed camp to keep people away. And he said in comments inside the courthouse on Thursday: This courthouse is locked down; theres not a person within five blocks.

Facts First: Trumps claims are all false. The police have not turned away thousands of people from the courthouse. And while there are various security measures in place in the area, including some street closures enforced by police officers and barricades, its not true that this courthouse is locked down, that for blocks you cant get near this courthouse or that theres not a person within five blocks. In reality, there is a designated protest zone for the trial at a park directly across the street from the courthouse  and people are permitted to drive right up to the front of the courthouse and walk into the building, which remains open to the public. If people show up early enough in the morning, they can even get into the trial courtroom itself or the overflow room that shows near-live video of the proceedings.

The reality is that few of Trumps supporters have chosen to show up. There were well under 100 visible Trump supporters gathered in the protest zone at the outset of the trial in mid-April, and there have often been three or fewer there on subsequent days, according to CNN journalists who have been reporting from the courthouse area.

You can read more here.

Michael Cohens crimes and Trump

On Monday, Trump said upon leaving the courtroom that the crimes committed by his former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen had nothing to do with me.

Cohen is expected to be a key witness for the prosecution. Trump said: The things he got in trouble for were things that had nothing to do with me. He got in trouble; he went to jail. This has nothing to do with me. This had to do with the taxicab company that he owned, which is just something he owned  and medallions and borrowing money and a lot of things  but it had nothing to do with me.

Facts First: Trumps claim that Cohens prison sentence had nothing to do with me is false. Cohens three-year sentence in 2018 was for multiple crimes, some of which were directly related to Trump. Most notably, Cohen was sentenced for campaign finance offenses connected to a hush money scheme during the 2016 presidential campaign to conceal Trumps alleged extramarital relationships  the same hush money scheme that is central to this prosecution against Trump. Cohen was also sentenced to two months in prison, to run concurrently with the three-year sentence, for lying to Congress in 2017 in relation to previous talks about the possibility of building a Trump Tower in Moscow, Russia, including about the extent of Trumps involvement in the aborted Moscow initiative and about when in 2016 the discussions ended. (The discussions continued into June 2016, the month after Trump became the presumptive Republican nominee, and did not conclude in January 2016 before the first votes were cast, as Cohen had claimed.)

Referring to Trump as Individual-1, Cohen said at the time of his 2018 guilty plea for making false statements to the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence: I made these statements to be consistent with Individual-1s political messaging and out of loyalty to Individual-1. When Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to the campaign finance violations, he said he broke the law in coordination and at the direction of a candidate for federal office, Trump.

The gag order on Trump

Upon leaving the courtroom on Tuesday, Trump approached the cameras, began talking, and complained that he is not allowed to talk.

Trump was criticizing Judge Juan Merchans gag order on him. Merchan had held a hearing on Tuesday morning to consider prosecutors allegations that Trump violated the gag order with a series of online posts, including some in which the presumptive Republican presidential nominee shared others articles related to the case on social media.

Trump claimed, Cant even allow articles to be put in. He claimed the articles he is referring to say the case is a sham. He added, I dont even know if youre allowed to put them in. He also claimed that although others are permitted to lie and speak about him, Im not allowed to say anything.

Id love to talk to you people, Id love to say everything thats on my mind, but Im restricted because I have a gag order, Trump said.

Facts First: As he has before, Trump made Merchans gag order sound far broader than it is. The gag order does not prohibit Trump from declaring the case a sham or from sharing others claims that the case is a sham. It also does not prohibit Trump from speaking to the media about the case, from defending his conduct at issue in the case, from denouncing the judge and district attorney involved in the case, or from campaigning for the presidency with speeches, media interviews and online posts.

Rather, the gag order forbids Trump from three specific categories of speech:

1) Speaking publicly or directing others to speak publicly about known or foreseeable witnesses, specifically about their participation in the case

2) Speaking publicly or directing others to speak publicly about prosecutors (other than Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg), members of the district attorneys staff and the court staff, or family members of any of these people including Bragg, if those statements are made with the intent to interfere with the case

3) Speaking publicly or directing others to speak publicly about jurors or prospective jurors

In his comments on Tuesday, Trump made the point that an article may have a certain headline that generally denounces the case but, somewhere deep in the body of the text, may mention somebodys name he is not permitted to mention because of the gag order.

Its not clear how Merchan would view Trump having shared an article in which, say, a witnesss name was only mentioned deep in the text. To date, though, articles that prosecutors have alleged Trump violated the gag order by sharing featured headlines that made it entirely clear the articles discussed likely witness Cohen.

Biden and the case

On Tuesday, Trump said upon leaving the courtroom: By the way, this trial is all Biden. You know, this is all Biden, just in case anybody has any question. He added, Hes the one that has us in all these different lawsuits. He said upon his departure Friday: This is all a Biden indictment.

Facts First: There is no basis for Trumps claims. There is no evidence that Biden has had any role in launching or running Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs prosecution - and Bragg is a locally elected official who does not report to the federal government. The indictment in the case was approved by a grand jury of ordinary citizens.

Trump has repeatedly invoked a lawyer on Braggs team, Matthew Colangelo, while making such claims; Colangelo left the Justice Department in 2022 to join the district attorneys office as senior counsel to Bragg. But there is no evidence that Biden had anything to do with Colangelos employment decision. Colangelo and Bragg had been colleagues before Bragg was elected Manhattan district attorney in 2021.

Before Colangelo worked at the Justice Department, he and Bragg worked at the same time in the office of New Yorks state attorney general, where Colangelo investigated Trumps charity and Trumps financial practices and was involved in bringing various lawsuits against the Trump administration.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
State Rep. J.D. Scholten, D-Sioux City, a vocal opponent of consolidation in agriculture, talks with Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan in Nevada on April 20, 2024. (Photo by Douglas Burns)

Iowa Writers 'Collaborative. Linking Iowa readers and writers.

NEVADA, Iowa  Harold Beach, a northeast Missouri farmer who runs a row-crop operation and raises hogs and cattle, traveled to central Iowa last weekend to urge one of the nations top regulators to stop a multibillion-dollar takeover of a Lee County fertilizer plant he and other rural advocates say will further erode competition in agriculture and increase costs for one of modern farmings essential inputs, nitrogen.

I would like you to be fearless and courageous and be a Teddy Roosevelt, Beach told Federal Trade Commission chair Lina Khan.

Khan spoke to an audience of about 100 people that featured farmers, rural leaders and some state legislators. But her main mission for the 90-minute session in downtown Nevada, the county seat of Story County and a 15-minute drive from the center of agricultural research in the state, Iowa State University, was to gather facts from the brewing storm over Koch Industries planned purchase of OCI Globals nitrogen fertilizer plant in Wever, a small town in southeastern Iowa.

Over a decade ago, during the administration of Gov. Terry Branstad, the state provided $240 million in tax incentives for the development of the plant  one of the largest economic-development efforts in the history of the state, and one designed to bring jobs and access to more affordable fertilizer for a wide swath of Iowa.

Koch plans to buy the plant for $3.6 billion.

I am concerned about the greed-flation that permeates everything, said Susie Petra, an Ames educator who spoke at the event.

Here is how Koch Industries sees it in a news release:

WICHITA, Kan., Dec. 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/  Koch Ag & Energy Solutions (KAES), a global provider of solutions for the agriculture, energy and chemical markets, today announced an agreement to acquire OCI Globals fertilizer plant in Wever, Iowa, for $3.6 billion.

The transaction, once finalized, will give KAES 100% ownership of the state-of-the-art facility, which was opened in 2017 and has the capacity to produce 3.5 million metric tons of nitrogen fertilizers and diesel exhaust fluid annually.

Todays announcement is an important step forward for KAES as we continue to invest in our fertilizer business, said Mark Luetters, president of Koch Ag & Energy Solutions. This investment complements our existing business and we look forward to advancing this transaction with OCI to completion.

A parade of farmers and legislators urged Khan, one of the more highly visible FTC chairs in history, and a regulator not afraid to drop lawsuits on major American companies, to halt the purchase. The detractors say the Koch takeover is bad for farmers, and is a toss-away of hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies from the state.

We are losing it, David Weaver, who farms in Boone and Greene counties, said of capitalism and democracy itself.

Aaron Lehman, president of the Iowa Farmers Union, said the concern is easily understood: Farmers fear getting gouged on fertilizer costs by a consolidated industry with increasingly less competition.

Added Iowa Falls farmer John Gilbert, Iowa agriculture is addicted to nitrogen.

Khan said the direct public input gives her a better understanding of challenges facing farmers. She said the FTC can investigate whether the Koch deal is restricting markets. If so, the government agency can go to court to block it, she said.

The anti-trust laws prohibit mergers if they may substantially lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly, Khan said. So when deals are proposed we can investigate them and try to understand: is this going to eliminate competition in a way thats going to harm farmers, harm communities, harm customers?

Bottom line, she said, the Biden administration wants markets to work for regular people.

If we see monopolistic practices in the marketplace were going after them, Khan said.

Koch Industries is aware of the listening session in Nevada, a Koch Fertilizer spokesperson, Greg Lemon, said in a statement.

We have received support from many customers and are confident the Federal Trade Commission will allow our transaction to proceed after they have concluded their analysis and customer outreach, Lemon said. This acquisition builds on the $2 billion in investments we have made in our North American facilities to increase production, enhance safety and reliability, and improve our customers access to the products and service they need to feed and fuel the world. 

This column was originally published by Douglas Burns blog, The Iowa Mercury. It is shared here through the Iowa Writers Collaborative.

Editors note: Please consider subscribing to the Iowa Writers Collaborative and member authors blogs to support their work.

The post Farmers fear higher prices, consolidation from Koch fertilizer plant purchase appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
NEW DELHI, April 27 (Xinhua) -- A massive fire has broken out in the forests of India's northern hilly state of Uttarakhand, as people in the state's famous tourist destination Nainital faced breathing problems with dense smoke engulfing the residential areas.

The fire has been raging for more than 24 hours, and has destroyed over 33 hectares of forest land so far. Pine and oak trees form the majority of vegetation in these forests.

Personnel of the Indian Navy and the Indian Army have been called in for fire-fighting. Helicopters have been pressed into service to douse the flames. According to media reports, boating activities in the Naini Lake in Nainital have been suspended for tourists.

Uttarakhand's Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said intense fire-fighting work was undertaken to control its further spread. He also said several persons were detained by the local police for their alleged role in causing the fire incidents. 
Father Who Drove His Family Of 4 Off Cliff Suffered Psychotic Break, Doctors Say

On April 24, two doctors for the defense testified that Dharmesh Arvind Patel experienced an episode that led him to believe that his children may be sex trafficked

Facebook Dharmesh Arvind Patel with his family

The man who allegedly drove his car over a California cliff with his family inside the vehicle suffered a psychotic break at the time of the incident, doctors say.

Dharmesh Arvind Patel allegedly drove his familys Tesla off a 250-foot cliff at Devils Slide on Jan. 2 while his 41-year-old wife Neha and two children, a 7-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy were in the vehicle. Per an arrest report by the California Highway Patrol that was previously reviewed by PEOPLE, Patel was arrested after the crash at Stanford Hospital on suspicion of attempted murder and child abuse. On Jan. 29, he was charged with three counts of attempted murder.

According to San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, on April 24, two doctors testified that at the time of the crash, Patel was experiencing a psychotic episode that led him to believe that his two children may be sex trafficked, The Los Angeles Times reported.

The California radiologist, 40, also suffered from major depressive order, the doctors for the defense, Mark Patterson and James Armontrout, said, according to the outlet.

Related: Neighbor of Calif. Family Driven Off Cliff by Father Says, 'We Don't Know What Goes on Behind Closed Doors'

Sgt Brian Moore/AP/Shutterstock The sight of the crash after Dharmesh Arvind Patel drove his family's Tesla off of a California cliff

Patel, who has pleaded not guilty to his charges, is now seeking mental health diversion in his case, per the L.A. Times. If granted, he would be released from jail.

Following his release, he would be put on a two-year treatment plan, and if he does not commit another crime  or break the rules imposed upon him within those two years  all of the charges against him would be dropped, the outlet reported.

However, prosecutors oppose the diversion, alleging that the doctor who diagnosed Patel on behalf of the prosecution found that he is suffering from schizoaffective disorder, not major depressive disorder with a psychotic feature. Therefore, they argued, Patel would not be effectively treated by the defenses proposed plan, per the L.A. Times.

Instead, prosecutors believe the case should stay in court.

Related: Neighbors Left Confused After Seemingly 'Great Guy' Drove Tesla Off Cliff with 'Idyllic Family' Inside

Uncredited/AP/Shutterstock Dharmesh Arvind Patel

Wagstaffe, who has previously spoken with PEOPLE about the case, also expressed worry that should Patel be released, he will not be monitored outside of his doctor visits.

If he goes off his medication, how do you know? he said, per the L.A. Times. Its not like being on probation or on parole. Its purely the visits with the psychiatrist.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

At the February court hearing where Patel pleaded not guilty, his defense attorney, Josh Bentley, said his wife, Neha, did not want her husband to face prosecution, KNTV reported at the time.

Patel and his wife were both injured in the crash, and their daughter was hospitalized with injuries, Wagstaffe previously told PEOPLE. Their son sustained just "bumps and bruises, but no injuries," he said.

Facebook Dharmesh Arvind Patel with his wife and kids

Following the crash, Neha allegedly told paramedics that "he [Patel] intentionally tried to kill us," the district attorney previously told PEOPLE.

"She made that statement when asked, 'What happened? What happened?'" Wagstaffe said at the time. "'He intentionally tried to kill us.'  We have multiple people who heard her say that."

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
Body found inside flaming boat near NYC landmark Sunnys a flashback to the old days of Red Hook

A little bit of the old days came back to Red Hook early Saturday when the FDNY was called to a boat fire near a world-famous bar in the Brooklyn nabe, and discovered a smoldering body in the wreckage.

The FDNY responding to a call of a dumpster fire at 253 Conover St., between Beard and Reed streets, found flames shooting out of a boat on a trailer just before 5 a.m., the FDNY and NYPD said.

Stunned firefighters found the mans body inside the boat, an NYPD spokesperson said.

I called it in. Honestly, I thought it was a dumpster fire. These days they have all these lithium batteries. My second thought was that its hazardous material. It was a powerful blaze, Sunnys owner Tone Balzano Johansen, 58, who lives upstairs from the bar, told The Post.

The FDNY was responding to a call of a dumpster fire at 253 Conover St. Kevin C. Downs for NY Post

Stunned firefighters found a mans body inside the boat. Kevin C. Downs for NY Post

Cops were on the scene early Saturday morning to examine the evidence. Kevin C. Downs for NY Post

She found it strange when an ambulance pulled up to the scene.

When she learned there was a dead body aboard the fiberglass boat, it gave Johansen the creeps.

It was a flashback to the old days of Red Hook. The Red Hook of yesteryear, she noted.

Johansen said the bar closed at around 1:30 a.m. Saturday and an hour later her bartender had closed-up and unlocked her bike and headed for home.

The fire was reported across the street from Sunnys. Google Maps

The owner of Sunnys called in the fire. Kevin C. Downs for NY Post

Johansen said she did not hear a thing. I was facing the other way [sleeping] so I saw something orange, flickering.. and I turn around and it was a big blaze.

She continued: Im a little suspicious. We dont really have homeless people much in this neighborhood because its too far from the hustle and bustle of the city, she reasoned, adding the locale is far from the subway. I dont think a homeless person would have curled up in a boat. I think its an inside job, she added.

Johansen, is a Norwegian artist and the widow of Sunny Balzone, the original proprietor of the legendary Red Hook bar and beloved raconteur who died on March 10, 2016. The rough-and-tumble gin mill is a local institution and was a favorite of the hard-scrabble best-selling author and chef Bourdain.

A medical examiner is working to determine cause of death. Kevin C. Downs for NY Post

Cops could be seen Saturday morning examining the charred boat and surveying the lot.

The FDNY fire marshal is investigating what sparked the blaze, and a medical examiner is working to determine the cause of death, officials said.
Pages of history features excerpts from The News Journal archives including the Wilmington Morning News and the Evening Journal.

April 29, 1986, The Morning News

Soviet nuclear reactor leaks; radiation spreads

The Soviet Union said Monday that a nuclear accident damaged an atomic reactor at the Chernobyl power plant in the Ukraine. Radiation reported up to 10 times above normal swept across Finland, Denmark and Sweden, more than 750 miles away.

Front page of The Morning News from April 29, 1986.

Budapest Radio in Hungary reported early today that there were injuries from the accident, and noted that the power plant was at the conjunction of two rivers, near the reservoir that supplies Kiev, a city of 2.4 million people and the capital of the Ukraine.

The official Soviet new agency, Tass, said only that people affected were being aided, but did not say whether there were injuries or deaths.

Recent news on Ukraine: Biden signs $95 billion Ukraine, Israel aid bill that includes TikTok sell-or-ban law

April 30, 1992, The News Journal

L.A. officers acquitted in Rodney King beating

Four white Los Angeles police officers were acquitted of all but one assault charge Wednesday in the videotaped beating of black motorist Rodney King.

Violence, including looting and fires, broke out on the largely black south side of Los Angeles a few hours after the verdict. As the violence spread across the residential and business areas, Mayor Tom Bradley asked Gov. Pete Wilson to send in the National Guard.

Front page of The News Journal from April 30, 1992.

The verdict, in the seventh day of deliberations, came after a year of political uproar sparked by the graphic videotape of a black man being beaten by white officers, denounced in many quarters as brutality. The backlash brought down the Los Angeles police chief.

My client and I are just outraged, said Kings lawyer, Steve Lerman. It sends a bad message. It says its OK to go ahead and beat somebody when theyre down and kick the crap out of them.

Bradley blasted the jurys decision.

Several hours after the verdicts were announced, several hundred demonstrators rushed the main doors at the police departments Parker Center headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. They backed off as helmeted officers blocked the doors.

May 1, 1939, Wilmington Morning News

President Roosevelt opens Worlds Fair

President Franklin Roosevelt officially opened the New York Worlds Fair yesterday by pledging the nation anew to a policy of peace and international good will.

He made no reference to German Chancellor Adolf Hitlers rejection of peace guarantee proposals submitted by him to Berlin and Rome two weeks ago.

Front page of the Wilmington Morning News from May 1, 1939.

A parade of more than 25,000 artisans, officials and representatives of the foreign exhibitors in their colorful dress led off the days events.

At 6 p.m., the fairs president announced that more than 600,000 persons had passed through the gates.

The exhibit area with its wide, asphalt-paved avenues, clipped cedar hedges, lawns and fountains was about 90 percent complete. Some pavilions owned by the 60 foreign nations participating lagged behind, but this was said to be due to the unsettled European conditions.

The pavilion of Czechoslovakia will be manned by Czech officials who refused to surrender it when their country was occupied by Germany.

Twenty-eight warships of the Atlantic squadron stood in New York Harbor on opening day and 11 others were to arrive next week.

May 3, 1898, The Morning News

Dewey in hot battle with the Spanish at Manila

On the basis of press dispatches and advices from Ambassador Hay in London, President McKinley and Secretary Long are confident that Commodore Dewey won a great victory in Manila harbor, totally destroying the usefulness of the Spanish fleet.

Front page of The Morning News from May 3, 1898.

The Laffan News Bureau reported that the American fleet under command of Commodore Dewey anchored in the Manila bay at 5 oclock Sunday morning.

Dewey then ordered his squadron to close in and delivered an awful cannonade, using guns of all calibers for 30 minutes. Both fleets were soon at it, while the forts took a hand in the melee, keeping up a steady fire at the American ships. Dewey maneuvered his ships continuously, thus rendering the marksmanship of the Spanish gunners less effective.

Deweys fleet then withdrew beyond the range of the smaller guns and poured shells from his big guns upon the Spaniards, inflicting hideous damage.

The Spanish squadron was practically annihilated and all the forts were silenced. Three of the Spanish warships were on fire, one had sunk and the others were riddled and helpless.

Catch up on history: First Super Bowl, hostages freed from Iran: The News Journal archives, week of Jan. 15

May 3, 2011, The News Journal

How U.S. got enemy No. 1

After nearly a decade of anger and fear, America rejoiced Monday at the demise of Osama bin Laden, the terrorist mastermind behind the horrific 9/11 attacks. Navy SEALs who killed the worlds most-wanted terrorist seized a trove of al-Qaida documents to pore over, and President Barack Obama laid plans to visit New Yorks ground zero.

Front page of The News Journal from May 3, 2011.

Killed in an intense firefight in a daring raid at his fortified hideout in Pakistan, bin Laden was hunted down based on information first gleaned years ago from detainees at secret CIA prison sites in Eastern Europe, officials disclosed.

His body was quickly taken away for burial at sea, but not before a DNA match was done to prove his identity.

A U.S. official said there also were photos showing bin Laden with the fatal wound above his left eye, a gunshot that tore away part of his skull.

Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: FDR at World's Fair, bin Laden killed: News Journal archives, April 28
Fire crews are on the scene of the blaze at the Oceanside Pier on Thursday. "90% of the pier was saved thanks to a really quick response," a city spokesperson said Friday. (Phil Diehl / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Firefighters have contained a fire that engulfed the end of the Oceanside Pier, a local landmark that has been destroyed by fire and storms and rebuilt several times in its 136-year history.

On Friday, the wood pylons of the 1,954-foot wooden structure were still smoldering from the blaze that ignited Thursday, officials said. No injuries were reported.

Oceanside and Strand beaches are still closed to the public as an environmental group cleans up the debris that has washed ashore. The fire also damaged a vacant restaurant that used to be Ruby's Diner and a snack shop that housed the Brine Box, a seafood eatery.

"90% of the pier was saved thanks to a really quick response," Oceanside city Public Information Officer Terry Gorman Brown said. "A lot of times when piers catch, they're made of wood  they're toast."

The structure sits so high above the water that the sea spray couldn't dampen the flames, she said.

"We don't know [the cause] yet because until [the fire] is fully out we can't really get out there," said Brown.

Read more: Opinion: A San Francisco carve out could wreck California's landmark coastal protections

The city engineer is assessing the damage and evaluating when the pier might reopen to the public.

This isn't the first time the pier has caught fire. The last time was in 1976, when a blaze destroyed parts of the pier's fish market, according to Kristi Hawthorne, director of the Oceanside Historical Society, who wrote a brief history of the pier for the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce.

The wooden pier is the longest of its kind on the West Coast and has been rebuilt five times since it was first constructed in 1888, so many times that it may not be considered the same pier.

"It's never the same pier," said Hawthorne. "But in our hearts and in our minds, it's still always the Oceanside Pier."

The pier was originally built as a commercial shipping wharf to bring business to Oceanside, which was incorporated the year the pier opened. But two years later the wharf was destroyed in a large storm and rebuilt four years later as a sightseeing pier with iron pilings.

The pier has been torn down or damaged in storms multiple times. Today's sixth iteration of the pier was built in 1987 at a cost of $5 million.

The worn nubs of the first wharf can still be seen at times in low tide, and other parts of the structure have managed to survive the test of time. The access bridge connecting pedestrians to the pier is almost 100 years old, and the city is using funding from a sales tax measure to help demolish and construct a new bridge that will be approximately three stories high and house restaurants and other businesses.

Read more: Drone footage: Isla Vista bluff collapses in storm, damaging a student apartment balcony

Oceanside is still in the preliminary design phase of that plan, with the new building estimated to cost around $40 million.

Despite the pier's battered history, Hawthorne said, the city's residents have always been determined to rebuild because it is a part of the local identity.

"It is the pride of Oceanside," said Hawthorne, who started researching the pier in 1987 as a volunteer with the Oceanside Historical Society.

The pier has been a part of landmark moments in Oceanside history. In 1916, a huge flood washed through San Diego County. Roadways and railroads were cut off from the area, Hawthorne said, and the pier was used to deliver emergency supplies by boat.

During World War II, the pier became a military lookout for enemy planes and submarines.

Hawthorne's children have grown up visiting the pier and eating there on special occasions. She said local residents have their graduation photos taken overlooking the water. It's one of the first places she recommends tourists visit.

"You take one of the most beautiful, iconic walks," she said of the view from the pier.

The pier may need to be rebuilt again by 2037, as it has an estimated 50-year lifespan.

Its ever-changing nature adds to its charm, Hawthorne said.

"We're not taking [the lates fire] as a loss," she said. "It's just a new chapter."

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Elevated Access is a nonprofit organization made up of volunteer pilots across the country who will fly people in need of abortion or gender-affirming care wherever they need to go, at no cost. (Courtesy of Elevated Access)

With Florida set to enforce a six-week abortion ban as early as May 1 and a near-total prohibition taking effect soon after in Arizona, staffers at abortion funds say they wont be able to meet the increased demand for help funding out-of-state travel  a development that could lead to more people continuing unintended pregnancies.

About this article

This article was originally published on The 19th, an award-winning news organization that covers health care, womens rights, reproductive rights, gender issues and politics. The original article can be found here.

I dont think people quite understand the ramifications, said Stephanie Loraine Pineiro, the executive director of Florida Access Network, one of the Sunshine States abortion funds. These nonprofit organizations help pregnant people cover the cost of terminating a pregnancy. Were thinking about the collateral damage. Peoples lives are going to be affected.

One state ban alone would have strained the nations fragile abortion fund network. But together, the two laws may be too much to bear. After spiking in June 2022, a temporary result of the Supreme Courts unpopular decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and end the federal right to an abortion, donations to these funds have steadily declined.

In Florida, representatives for the states abortion funds said they were already at their limits. Now, they fear the six-week ban will stretch them further. Last year, more than 80,000 abortions were performed in the state, according to the state health department.

In Arizona, about 11,500 abortions took place in 2022, the most recent year for which there is complete data from the states health department. Though a smaller figure, staffers at Arizonas sole abortion fund say they will not be able to support sending that many people across state lines.

Where are people going to get resources to pay for these abortions to go out of state? asked Eloisa Lopez, the executive director of the Abortion Fund of Arizona. Its not going to be possible for folks.

The regional implications in the South are particularly significant. In Florida, home to more than 60 clinics, abortion is currently legal until 15 weeks of pregnancy  less permissive than what Roe had guaranteed, but still the most generous of any of the states neighbors. Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia have almost completely banned the procedure. It is legal up to six weeks of pregnancy in Georgia and South Carolina, and up to 12 weeks in North Carolina. As a result, pregnant people have flooded into clinics in the Sunshine State, which has recorded one of the largest increases in the procedure since Roe fell.

Arizona never became the same sort of regional destination  until now, it had also enforced a 15-week limit, but that law was stricter than those of surrounding states. Yet physicians there said they also saw out-of-state patients in the post-Roe landscape, particularly people from Texas who were unable to get an earlier appointment in a state closer to home.

Despite the bans that have gone into effect since Roe v. Wades overturn, the number of abortions performed has held steady, multiple analyses show  the result of patients being able to order abortion pills by mail or to travel relatively short distances over state borders for care.

But the abortion laws in Florida and Arizona both could undercut that. Representatives for abortion funds in both states said they do not cover the costs for people ordering abortion medication through the mail from another state, citing potential legal risk. And the travel they do support will likely become longer and more expensive.

In Florida, physicians are preparing to send patients to Virginia, the last state in the South to permit second trimester abortions, as well as to Washington, D.C. and Illinois. Arizonans will have a handful of states to travel to  Nevada, Colorado, California and New Mexico  though clinics have already been besieged by the increase in patients from states like Texas and Oklahoma.

In Arizona, Lopez estimated that a trip out of state could cost patients between $1,500 and $2,000. Spending that much money on every Arizonan who might need financial support to leave the state simply isnt possible, she said.

And as more patients travel further distances  trips that could require pricier plane tickets, extra gas, or more nights in hotels  abortion fund representatives worry their travel budgets wont go as far as they once might have.

With more people needing to travel further distances, the money that is allocated for travel  it will be spent down much sooner, Loraine Piniero said.

Her fund has already cut back operations. Florida Access Network used to fund people who traveled to Florida for the procedure; in response to growing financial pressure, it now only funds Floridians who are traveling for care. Its still a substantial task: In 2023, the fund spent $400,000 to support 1,500 people.

Staffers from other funds said they likely wont be able to help everyone who calls for assistance.

It is absolutely possible that our call volume is going to get to the point where we have to be really, really strict with how much we can fund each caller, or potentially have to close our line periodically, said McKenna Kelley, a board member of the Tampa Bay Abortion Fund. So far, its not looking super promising.

Even organizations in cities expecting an influx of abortion patients  such as Chicago and Washington D.C., now among the closest legal options for Floridians  say they dont believe they will be able to meet the heightened demand.

We have not turned a single caller away since the summer of 2019  almost five years, said Megan Jeyifo, the executive director of the Chicago Abortion Fund. This is pushing us to the brink.

The post With Florida and Arizona bans looming, moneys getting tight for abortion travel funders appeared first on Daily Montanan.
Florida mayor slams cop's 'dismissive' treatment of Gisele Bundchen after she cried over paparazzi during a traffic stop

Gisele Bundchen became emotional during a traffic stop in Surfside, Florida, this week.

Bundchen told a police officer she was trying to evade the paparazzi "stalking" her.

The Mayor of Surfside called out the cop's "dismissive" response, which he called "unacceptable."

A Florida mayor has criticized a police officer who pulled over Gisele Bundchen for a traffic stop, calling the behavior toward the supermodel "unacceptable."

Bodycam footage captured the interaction between the police officer and Bundchen, 45, in Surfside  a town about 30 minutes from Miami Beach  on Wednesday. Footage obtained by Fox News Digital showed Bundchen telling the officer she was attempting to escape the paparazzi following her.

The police officer acknowledged her situation but said there was "nothing" he could do about it.

"Yeah, but he's, like, stalking me," Bundchen said.

The police officer then told Bundchen she'd need to contact the Miami Beach Police Department since that's when the paparazzi began following her. After the police officer apologized, Bundchen broke down into tears.

Bodycam footage captred the moment between Gisele Bundchen and the police officer. NDZ/Star Max/Getty Images

"I'm so tired," she said. "Everywhere I go I have these fucking guys after me. Nothing protects me. I can't do nothing. I just want to live my life."

The police officer responded that he couldn't stop the paparazzi from doing their job, which is to take photographs.

"I don't know how that's allowed," she said.

Now, Mayor Charles Burkett has lambasted the police officer in a letter addressed to Surfside Police Department's Chief of Police, according to WPLG.

"This response is wholly unacceptable and not reflective of the values, judgement and service residents expect from their police," Burkett wrote. "The dismissive posture towards a resident who is clearly in distress is everything we do not want to see in the way our police interact and serve our residents."

Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett in July 2021. Miami Herald/Getty Images

Interim Police Chief Henry Doce echoed Mayor Burkett's sentiments in a statement to the outlet.

"I would have liked to have seen more empathy at the initial contact to what was going on," Doce said.

Still, Doce added that the police officer is "phenomenal."

"Could we have done better? I think it's a learning opportunity to understand what the dynamics of that situation is," Doce told WPLG.

Representatives for Bundchen and Burkett did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment. The Surfside Police Department declined to provide additional comments.

Bundchen moved to Florida in 2020 after her former husband, Tom Brady, joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bundchen and Brady announced their divorce in October 2022 after getting married in February 2009.

The pair share two children  Benjamin and Vivian  and Brady has a son named John from a previous relationship.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Rep. Bill Posey (R-Fla.) announced Friday that he is retiring at the end of this year, adding to a wave of congressional retirements.

It has been the greatest honor of Katies and my life to represent you in Congress, Posey said in a statement. And, polls suggest that because of YOUR support, I could remain in the job forever, and we were looking forward to another spirited campaign for a final term in office.

However, earlier this week circumstances beyond my control now require me to [suspend] my re-election campaign, he added.

Posey, 76, has represented Floridas 8th Congressional District since 2008. According to Cook Political Report, the district is solidly Republican.

The Florida lawmaker said he looks forward to helping former President Trump get reelected and said his goal was to see former state Senate President Mike Haridopolos replace him in the House.

For many years, Mike has served as my Congressional Finance Committee Chairman, while I have mentored him to replace me, Posey said. Mike was, and remains, my first choice to represent you, me, and our district in Congress.

Without going into a lot of personal details, stars aligned during the past week and Mike decided he was ready for Congress, he continued, highlighting Haridopoloss conservative values and strong work ethic. I enthusiastically endorse him and will do everything I can to help him get elected.

Poseys announcement comes after a slew of other GOP lawmakers announced they would also not seek reelection in 2024, and after others  such as former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) and former Reps. Mike Gallagher (Wis.) and Ken Buck (Colo.)  who left Congress before the end of the term.

While Posey didnt mention what it was like within the House in his announcement, many of the Republicans leaving office voiced a common theme for their departure: the toxicity of Capitol Hill.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Forbes journalist placed under house arrest for allegedly spreading fake news about Russian army

A Russian court has placed Forbes journalist Sergey Mingazov under house arrest after he was detained for allegedly spreading fake news about the Russian armed forces, the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti has reported.

Forbes Russia says its journalist will be under house arrest for at least two months as he awaits trial after being detained on Friday.

RIA reported on Saturday that: Forbes journalist Mingazov, detained in the case of spreading fake (news) about the Russian Armed Forces, has been placed under house arrest.

On Friday, Mingazovs lawyer Konstantin Bubon said that the journalist had been detained for reposting a publication about the events in Bucha (Ukraine) on Telegram.

Mingazovs Telegram channel had 476 subscribers at the time of publishing this article. It shows that he reposted stories about the Russian military allegedly committing atrocities in Bucha, near the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, from other news outlets such as the BBCs Russian outlet and Radio Freedom.

Bubon said that Mingazov is accused of spreading knowingly false information about the Russian armed forces under the guise of reliable reporting.

The city of Bucha was liberated by Ukrainian forces at the end of March 2022, having been occupied near the beginning of Russias invasion of Ukraine in February the same year. According to the Ukrainian prosecutor generals office, the Russian army committed thousands of war crimes in the Bucha district, with hundreds of civilians killed in the town. The Kremlin has denied any involvement in the mass killings and has reiterated baseless claims that the images of civilian bodies were fake.

Internet ban imposed

Bubon told Forbes Russia that Mingazovs house arrest was enforced as a preventative measure. In Russia, preventative measures take place pre-trial and include being remanded in custody, released on bail, or placed under house arrest.

Bubon also told Forbes Russia that the court had banned Mingazov from using the internet and imposed restrictions on his communications with people other than relatives, investigators, lawyers, and medical professionals.

On Saturday, without naming Mingazov, Khabarovsk territorys Investigative Committee stated that it had chosen house arrest as a preventative measure, after charging a man with the public dissemination of knowingly false information about the Russian armed forces.

In April 2022, a man, acting out of political hatred, posted a publication on a news channel he administers, intended for viewing by an unlimited number of people, the Investigative Committee alleged.

It contained, under the guise of being reliable, deliberately false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, it continued.

Russia has been cracking down on journalists since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Several prominent journalists have been arrested, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty editor Alsu Kurmasheva and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.

Courts have also ordered the arrests in absentia of several journalists for criticizing the state, including Alexander Nevzorov, Dmitry Gordon, and Marina Ovsyannikova.

On Saturday, a local Russian court press service said that Konstantin Gabov, a Russian journalist it said worked as a producer for the Reuters news agency, was detained and accused of extremism.

Gabov allegedly helped to produce content for a YouTube channel associated with late opposition leader Alexey Navalny called NavalnyLIVE, the Basmanny District Court press service said.

The court said Gabov was involved in the preparation of photo and video materials for the YouTube channel and would remain in detention for at least two months, until June 27.

Russian authorities designated Navalny and his organizations as extremist, meaning anyone associating with his group faces a legal risk.

CNN has reached out to Reuters for comment.

CNNs Zahra Ullah contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
A former Boston Police Commissioner is backing a group of disgruntled restaurant owners in the North End, saying that the community has been unjustly denied opportunities presented to other neighborhoods.

In a rally on Hanover Street Friday afternoon, William Gross says he supports the North End restaurant owners complaint against the City of Boston for being excluded from outdoor dining.

In March, nearly two dozen restaurant owners closed their doors temporarily to protest Mayor Michelle Wus decision to revoke the neighborhoods outdoor dining. The restaurant owners then sued the city.

North End restaurant owners claim anti-Italian discrimination in amendment to outdoor dining lawsuit

Citing false narratives on traffic, Gross said he was perturbed that other neighborhoods were afforded the opportunity to put patios on crowded streets for dining when North End owners could not. He called for the city to come together to find a solution with the owners.

Boston 25 News has reached out to Mayor Wus office for comment.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
KATHMANDU, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said on Friday that Nepal will unswervingly support China on issues concerning China's core interests and looks forward to continuing to strengthen cooperation with China in various fields.

Dahal, also known as Prachanda, made the remarks while meeting in Kathmandu with Luo Zhaohui, head of the China International Development Cooperation Agency.

With the exchange of high-level visits and the implementation of bilateral agreements between the two countries, Nepal-China relations have been elevated to a new height, stated the prime minister.

He said that the Nepali side sincerely thanks China for its support and assistance in Nepal's economic and social development, poverty reduction and anti-epidemic efforts.

Dahal voiced hope that the two sides will further strengthen cooperation in the fields of infrastructure connectivity, tourism, healthcare, education, agriculture and water conservancy, promote high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and implement the Global Development Initiative.

For his part, Luo noted that China and Nepal are good neighbors connected by mountains and rivers, good partners in mutually beneficial cooperation and good friends helping each other.

Luo said the proposal of building a China-Nepal trans-Himalayan multi-dimensional connectivity network in particular charts a strategic direction for the sustainable development of bilateral relations.

He suggested that both sides should implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen the alignment of strategic plans, deepen practical cooperation and push bilateral relations to a new level.

During his stay in Nepal, Luo also met respectively with Sher Bahadur Deuba, president of the Nepali Congress party and former prime minister, K.P. Sharma Oli, chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) and former prime minister, and held talks with Nepal's Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun and signed related cooperation documents.

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song was present at the meetings. 
John Barrow speaks to a Democratic group in Hoschton, Ga., on Monday, April 15, 2024, seeking support in his race for the Georgia Supreme Court. Barrow is basing his campaign for the high court around his support for abortion rights as he challenges incumbent Justice Andrew Pinson in a nonpartisan election in May. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy)

HOSCHTON, Ga. (AP)  May's election for the Georgia Supreme Court is playing out as races for the state's highest court have for decades: sitting justices running uncontested.

But there is an exception, and it's driven by the issue that has roiled politics across the country for the past two years: abortion.

Justice Andrew Pinson is the only one of four incumbents seeking election to draw a challenge, and it's a formidable one. Former U.S. Rep. John Barrow, a Democrat, hopes to harness a voter backlash to abortion restrictions to unseat Pinson in what could be a model for future Georgia court contests in a state that has become a partisan battleground.

The May 21 general election for a six-year term is nonpartisan, and a Barrow victory wouldn't change the conservative leanings of the court. Eight of the nine justices, including Pinson, were appointed by Republican governors. The other won his seat unopposed after being appointed to a state appellate court by a Democratic governor.

Barrow's bid is seen as a longshot. Pinson, appointed two years ago by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, appears to be raising more campaign money as the state's legal establishment closes ranks around him.

But Barrow hopes a voter backlash against Georgia's near-total abortion ban is the path to an upset.

In talks primarily to Democratic groups, Barrow says that when Pinson was Georgias solicitor general, he was the lawyer most responsible for the state supporting the Mississippi case that led to the U.S. Supreme Court overturning a constitutional right to abortion in 2022.

That decision cleared the way for a 2019 Georgia law to take effect banning most abortions after fetal cardiac activity can be detected, usually in about the sixth week of pregnancy. Thats before many women know they are pregnant.

At an April 15 Democratic meeting in a retirement community northeast of Atlanta, Barrow attacked Pinsons former membership in the Federalist Society and his term as a clerk for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, drawing boos from the 50 attendees.

Barrow said he believes Georgians have a state constitutional right to abortion and that voters would boost their chances of restoring broader access to abortion by doing something they've never done before: defeating an incumbent state justice.

I happen to believe that the Georgia Constitution does provide a right of privacy, and that encompasses everything that we associate with what was the law under Roe vs. Wade. And then its probably wider, Barrow said. That would mean the current statute, the current ban were living with right now, violates that provision of the Constitution.

Opponents of the six-week ban are challenging it in state court, arguing Georgias unusually well-developed law protecting privacy should void it. That case is almost certainly headed back to the Georgia Supreme Court

Pinson said it would be inappropriate to discuss his views on abortion or other topics that might come before the court.

If judges start talking about issues in cases that come before the court, or that could come before the court and opine, Personally, I think this; personally I think that, man, it just starts chipping away at peoples confidence in our judiciary, Pinson said in an interview.

State supreme court races have become more expensive in recent years as courts have weighed issues like political gerrymandering. The U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning the right to abortion has put those races under even greater scrutiny in the past two years as the divisive issue has returned to the states.

Public polling shows the majority of people in the U.S. support a right to abortion, and voters have affirmed abortion rights in seven states over the past two years since Roe v. Wade was overturned, including in Republican-leaning states such as Kentucky, Montana and Ohio.

Douglas Keith, who tracks state supreme courts for the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University, said money has poured into races from groups on the left and right, creating contests like the one last year in Wisconsin. There, a liberal judge backed by Democrats flipped the court after defeating a former justice supported by Republicans and anti-abortion groups in the most expensive state Supreme Court race ever.

We are seeing money like weve never seen before in these races. Candidates and groups are adopting messages that theyve never used in judicial elections before, and theres just generally more attention on these races," Keith said.

Pinson, 37, graduated first in his law school class at the University of Georgia and served four years as solicitor general, helping Georgia win a long-running water rights dispute. Kemp named Pinson to the state Court of Appeals in 2021 and elevated him to Georgia's high court a year later. Many lawyers, including some Democrats, have endorsed him for election.

Meaningful electoral challenges to sitting Georgia judges are rare. Anthony Michael Kreis, a law professor at Georgia State University, said that reflects a small club dynamic prevailing within Georgias legal establishment.

I just think that were dealing with a kind of old-school mentality, where people dont really want to engage in the kind of partisan warfare over judicial seats like weve seen in some other states, Kreis said.

Barrow, 69, served five terms in Congress and for a time was the only white Democratic representative from the Deep South. He finally lost in 2014 after Republicans gerrymandered his district a second time. In 2018, he narrowly lost a statewide race for Georgia secretary of state to Republican Brad Raffensperger.

Although justices are elected, the pattern has been for a justice to resign and let the governor appoint a successor. A newly appointed justice then gets two years on the bench before facing voters.

Barrow was denied a chance to run in 2020 after a justice announced he would resign after the election date before his term ended. A challenge arguing the election should be held anyway was rejected. Barrow calls the system of appointments dysfunctional and pledges that if elected he will let voters choose his replacement.

If the voters give me the office, Im going to give it back to the voters, he said.

While his victory wouldn't change the overall political composition of the court, Barrow said it would send the state's justices a message on abortion rights. He referenced the decision earlier this year by the Alabama Supreme Court that declared frozen embryos created through in vitro fertilization could legally be considered children and an Arizona Supreme Court decision earlier this month reviving an abortion ban from 1864, before Arizona was a state.

Were getting an education right now all across the country as to how important the office of state supreme court justice is," Barrow said.
Former federal prosecutor punched in the face by brute on NYC subway as underground crime soars: Its not a safe place

A former federal prosecutor was punched in the face by a brute while riding the subway on the Upper West Side -- an attack he said shows the crime-plagued Big Apple "not a safe place."

He went from fighting crime to getting clobbered by it.

A former federal prosecutor was punched in the face by a brute while riding the subway on the Upper West Side  an attack he said shows the crime-plagued Big Apple is not a safe place.

The 56-year-old attorney was heading uptown on a not terribly crowded No. 2 train at 6:20 p.m. Wednesday when the crazed straphanger growled, Back the fk up then struck him, the victim and police said Friday.

He takes [his] hand and he folds it up into a fist and punches me in the side of the face and kind of knocks my glasses off, said the attorney, who asked that his name be withheld out of concern for his safety.

It was clearly a solid smash in the face with that right hand, right fist, he said.

My jaw is still kind of sore today.

The former prosecutor  who spent 12 years sending gangsters and white collar criminals to prison in the New York was gobsmacked by bad old days-style subway violence because he hadnt even been standing near the guy, he said.

I was completely taken aback. It happened really fast, he said.

I said, What the fk? I wasnt even close to you.

He got off the train on Broadway and West 72nd Street and called police  but his attacker was still at large Friday, said the former prosecutor, who now works at a private firm.

He said the beating frightened him enough to make him believe the city is unsafe.

Stuff like this certainly gives the city a feeling of like, its not a safe place. Like is this the worst crime in the history of the world? No, I mean, Im going to be fine, he said.

A former federal prosecutor was punched in the face by a brute while riding the subway on the Upper West Side  an attack he said shows the crime-plagued Big Apple not a safe place. gerenme

But it does create an entire sensation that the city is not that safe, and that, you know, like law-abiding people and law enforcement is not really in charge.

He added, If medium-sized crimes go unprosecuted, that eventually leads to a greater sense of disorder and larger crimes.

Asked about Gov. Hochuls plan to deploy the National Guard to city subways, he called the idea ineffectual.

I dont know what the National Guard is going to do about people punching people in the face on a subway car. Unless theyre on the subway car, theyre not going to do anything, he said.

What needs to happen is police need to be in the subway system, and they need to react quickly to situations like this.

The 56-year-old attorney (not pictured) was heading uptown on a not terribly crowded No. 2 train at 6:20 p.m. Wednesday when the crazed straphanger growled, Back the fk up then struck him, the victim and police said Friday.

The attack hearkens back to the bad old days of subway crime in the 1970s and 80s  when straphangers feared riding the rails at night and Guardian Angles patrolled the underground.

Subway violence in the Big Apple has spiked significantly since before the pandemic, with the number of injured straphangers jumping 53% from 2019 to 2023, according to data reported last month.

Additional reporting by Joe Marino
Former Marines family paid $1.8 million after he was killed by Franklin County deputy

Franklin County agreed to pay $1.75 million to the family of a former U.S. Marine shot and killed by a sheriffs deputy.

The commissioners approved a settlement agreement with Dante Jones father and estate on Wednesday. The agreement ends a wrongful death lawsuit that started with a chase on a foggy night in November 2019.

Attorneys for Jones father said Deputy Cody Quantrells poor choices combined with his lack of training and knowledge of department policies led to Jones death.

The attorneys also claimed the evidence didnt fit the deputys version of events, particularly whether he was inside or outside Jones car when he started shooting.

The settlement agreement says that neither side admits to wrongdoing.

Franklin County Administrator Mike Gonzalez said the commissioners felt the settlement was the best outcome for Franklin County.

The commissioners felt like it was best to close the chapter on this tragic incident, rather than prolong the pain for the family, Gonzalez said. It also lets our sheriffs office reflect and learn from this event.

He added that a jury trial could end up requiring the county to pay an even larger amount and they owed it to the taxpayers to come to a fast resolution.

Brian Davis, who represented Jones father Donald Jones, said hes pleased they were able to get justice for Dante.

While it is a relief to put this in the past and move forward toward healing, it does not erase the tragic nature of this incident, Davis told the Tri-City Herald.

Donald Jones said he remains haunted by the shooting. He described his son as a good kid, who loved the Marines, but came back from two deployments struggling with what he saw.

I miss my son, he said. I often find myself awake at night thinking about the evidence and wondering what really happened to my son, but I realize that will do me no good and will not bring Dante back.

He recognizes the important role police officers play, and hopes the settlement leads officers to getting the proper training to deal with U.S. veterans in crisis.

Franklin County sheriffs office

Sheriff Jim Raymond told the Herald that he was not consulted about the settlement or asked if he agreed with it.

My deputies followed policy, procedures and practices concerning the Dante Jones matter, he said.

He noted the deputies fully cooperated with the Regional Special Investigations Unit. The unit uses investigators from different police agencies in Benton, Franklin and Walla Walla counties to investigate officer-involved shootings.

After reviewing the final report, Franklin County Prosecutor Shawn Sant found Deputy Quantrell didnt break the law.

Mr. Jones used his car as a deadly weapon when he attempted to drive off with Deputy Quantrell halfway inside the car. Deputy Quantrell was at risk of serious injury or death at the time he discharged his duty weapon, Sant said in a news release at the time of his decision.

He told the Herald that the physical evidence matched Quantrells version of events. That included the deputys injuries.

The shooting happened before a 2021 law that required all departments to get body and dashboard cameras.

Dante Redmond Jones early Monday led Franklin County sheriffs deputies on a high-speed chase on Sagehill Road from Highway 170 north to Hendricks Road. The deputy reportedly shot Jones after he stopped in the middle of the roadway at one point and tried to hit his patrol car.

Helping U.S. veterans

Donald Jones hopes to use the funds from the settlement to help other veterans who need support in dealing with their mental health.

We hope this brings awareness to helping people in need in times of crisis, he said.

Dante Jones deployments left him with post-traumatic stress disorder, his family said. He lived in Arizona with his father after coming home, but returned to the Tri-Cities eight months before he was killed.

When he came back from his second tour, he struggled with what he saw, which had to do with the suffering of children, Donald Jones told the Herald on Thursday. He was proud to serve this country and aspired to be a firefighter or police officer to continue his service.

Veterans Affairs doctors were treating Jones, but the trauma left him with problems functioning in society, including trouble holding down a job at a hardware store and a restaurant, according to the SIU report.

A former roommate said Jones was pro-cop and supportive of police. He was surprised to learn Jones had been killed in a confrontation with officers.

His only other trouble with the law was a trespassing incident 10 years earlier involving a damaged fence in Pasco.

Friends told investigators that Jones had a drinking problem, and a former girlfriend said she believed he had used drugs before switching to alcohol.

Deputys history

Before Quantrell joined Franklin County in 2018, he worked for the Toppenish Police Department in the Yakima Valley, where he was counseled for pulling out his sidearm when he stopped a motorcyclist, according to the lawsuit.

The motorcyclist was detained, searched and released after officers determined police didnt have any reason to hold him, said the suit.

The attorneys quoted a portion of then Police Chief Curt Ruggles report, which said the tactic of advancing on a suspect with a gun drawn is something that should only be used in rare circumstances, such as helping another officer who is in immediate danger.

What you did is considered Tombstone Courage and that behavior has resulted in injuries and even death in police officers nationwide, the chief said in his report.

The suit says Quantrell also was counseled for not stopping a police chase that ended up causing significant damage to his patrol vehicle and to a citizens fence.

The attorneys claim that Quantrells behavior didnt improve when he joined the Franklin County Sheriffs Office.

Deputy Quantrell has been subject to numerous citizen complaints concerning his actions with the public, said the suit. As an example, during a routine traffic stop, Deputy Quantrell was found to use questionable verbal behavior and non-verbal actions which called into question his decision-making skills and professionalism.

Between joining the sheriffs office and the shooting, less than 1 percent of his training was dedicated to de-escalation techniques, the attorneys said.

Dante Jones death

The deadly confrontation began with a call about a suspicious vehicle on Fir Road. Quantrell, along with Sgt. Gordon Thomasson and Deputy Andrew Gardner, drove there to investigate.

While they were searching the area shortly after 3 a.m., a Honda Civic sped past Thomassons patrol SUV going 82 mph in a 55-mph zone on Taylor Flats Road.

The sergeant lost sight of the car before he could turn around, but he believed it could be the same car they were looking for, and he noted the driver honked as he was passing.

Thomasson spotted it again at a Taylor Flats Road intersection. As he got closer, the car sped off again.

He began following the car as it drove on Route 170, but hadnt turned on his emergency lights yet.

Quantrell and Gardner took over following the car at 3:18 a.m. and they activated their emergency lights. Thomasson let them take over because their cars were better equipped to handle the slick roads, according to the lawsuit.

While the countys attorneys denied the weather was bad, the SIU investigation confirmed it was foggy.

As they followed, Jones would hit the brakes suddenly in an attempt to cause Quantrell to crash into him.

They continued to follow Jones, and while he slowed to highway speeds, the Civic didnt stop.

Then at 3:22 a.m., Thomasson called off the chase because of the fog.

Jones attorneys pointed out that despite the order to end the pursuit Quantrell kept going.

Arrest attempt

At one point, Jones stopped the car, and then backed up until he stopped next to Quantrells drivers side door.

Quantrell pulled his gun and stepped out, opening the Civics passenger door and ordering Jones, who was alone, to show his hands and told him he was under arrest.

Jones was looking at him, but said nothing, Quantrell told investigators. The deputy crawled into the car with the intention of grabbing the keys to shut off the engine.

He was halfway inside when Jones put the car into gear and started to drive, according to the SIU report.

When the car pulled forward Quantrell said he became pinned and feared he would be dragged under the car.

Before the deputy fell out of the car, he fired four of the 15 rounds in his pistol, said the report.

The badly wounded Jones drove a half mile before his car veered into an orchard off Sagehill Road. The deputies followed, and after putting him in handcuffs, tried to stop the bleeding by applying pressure and tourniquets, said the report.

Jones died on his way to the hospital.

Investigation questions

While the prosecutor said that Quantrells description of events matched the physical evidence from the scene as documented by the SIU team, Donald Jones attorneys argued there are inconsistencies.

They claim that the Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory didnt find that Quantrell fired the shots while he was inside the car.

The evidence suggests that Deputy Quantrell shot Dante from a position outside of Dantes vehicle in an attempt to stop Dante, according to the complaint. This was excessive under the circumstances and resulted in Dantes death.
Former Meta executive Sheryl Sandbergs new movie on sexual violence that occurred during Palestinian militant group Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel was released Friday, according to the films account on the social platform X.

After October 7th, the reports were coming out about, not just mass murder, but mass sexual violence, and the usual people who should be speaking out were either ignoring it or denying it, Sandberg said in an interview with Fox News Dana Perino Friday when asked about her motivation behind her participation in the movie, Screams Before Silence, in a clip highlighted by Mediaite.

And, thats not okay. And this documentary gives anyone a chance to hear directly from first responders, Sandberg continued.

On an about section for the movies website, it states that during the October 7 attacks on Israeli towns and at the Nova Music Festival, women and girls were raped, assaulted, and mutilated.

Released hostages have revealed that Israeli captives in Gaza have also been sexually assaulted, the section reads.

Despite the indisputable evidence, these atrocities have received little scrutiny from human rights groups and international organizations, the section continues. Many leading figures in politics, academia, and media have attempted to minimize or even deny that they occurred. In Screams Before Silence, a 60-minute, presenter-led documentary film, Sheryl Sandberg, former [chief operating officer] of Meta and founder of LeanIn.org, interviews multiple eyewitnesses, released hostages, first responders, medical and forensic experts, and survivors of the Hamas massacres.

A United Nations special group focused on sexual violence has found clear and convincing information that Hamas committed rape and sexualized torture during its deadly attack on Israel in October of last year.

Based on the information it gathered, the mission team found clear and convincing information that sexual violence, including rape, sexualized torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment has been committed against hostages and has reasonable grounds to believe that such violence may be ongoing against those still held in captivity, the U.N. special group said in a press release.

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.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Former Russian president threatens to seize property of US citizens in response to confiscation of Russian assets

Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council and former president of the Russian Federation, has threatened to confiscate the assets of US citizens in response to the US bill on the transfer of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine.

Source: Medvedev on Telegram

Details: "Obviously, we cannot give a fully symmetrical response to the gall of the US to shamelessly steal our assets. The reason is apparent  we do not have a significant amount of American state property.

Therefore, the response can only be asymmetrical. This means foreclosure, for example, by court order, on the property of private individuals under Russian jurisdiction," Medvedev said.

In particular, he referred to the movable and immovable property of Americans on the territory of Russia, as well as investments, assets, and other savings of US citizens.

Furthermore, Medvedev explained that Russian legislation has the necessary foundation in Article 1194 of the Civil Code, which provides for the restriction of property rights for citizens of a state that has done the same for Russian citizens. Medvedev proposes to expand this article to allow for the seizure of property, not just its restriction.

Background:

On 20 April, the US House of Representatives voted in favour of a bill that would see the expansion of sanctions against Russia and allow Russian assets to be confiscated in favour of Ukraine.

Support UP or become our patron!
Former Russian sex spy says she was trained as a master manipulator

Former Russian sex spy says she was trained as a master manipulator

After charming her targets as a "master manipulator," Aliia Roza is breaking her silence.

The former Russian citizen who claims to be an ex-spy is revealing her tales of sexpionage in a new podcast from Tenderfoot TV and iHeartPodcasts, "To Die For."

The podcast claims to be the first time an alleged Russian Federal Security Service (FSB)-trained "seduction agent" is speaking out about her "training, techniques, targets and missions," Deadline.com reported.

MASSACHUSETTS MANS DEATHBED CONFESSION RATTLES FAMILY AFTER DECADES ON THE RUN: IT WASN'T A WEIRD DAD JOKE

Aliia Roza is sharing her story in the TenderfootTV and iHeartPodcasts series "To Die For."

It was launched by Neil Strauss, author of "The Game" who also wrote "The Dirt" about rock band Motley Crue.

"Its been over two decades that Ive stayed silent," Roza told Fox News Digital. "But for a few reasons, I couldnt keep my silence. I couldnt live with this pain anymore, even though Ive been through all this trauma.  If it was not me [speaking out], then who would speak out?"

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

In the podcast, listeners will discover how Roza managed to flee Moscow with her young son. Roza said she wanted to give her child a better life.

Aliia Roza, who lives in Los Angeles, told Fox News Digital she wanted to give her son a better life.

"The biggest achievement of my life is becoming a parent," Roza explained. "I wanted to experience that. I wanted to create a family. I wanted to have kids. And I was not allowed to do that. And then I realized, Wait a minute. I live only one life. I dont want to spend my life sacrificing for something I dont believe in anymore.' That was the moment when I looked for possibilities to escape."

In the podcast, Aliia Roza described how she grew up in a strict household.

Roza was born into a Kazakh-Tatar family of a high-ranking military officer in the Soviet Union. Her grandfather fought the Nazis during World War II, and her father is a high-ranking officer of over 45 years. As a child, Roza said, she was involved in a special government program for children of high-ranking officers.

Roza described how she once had big dreams to pursue fashion design. But it was her father, she said, who warned her, "Theres no other option."

FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X

Aliia Roza Aliia Roza was born in the USSR into a Kazakh-Tatar family of a high-ranking military officer in the Soviet Union.

"I was trained from a very early age to do different things like martial arts, physical activities," Roza claimed. "I learned you cannot give up, you cannot be vulnerable, you cannot be weak, you cannot cry. Nobody can enter this program. If you dont have a family member who is a high-ranking officer, its impossible.

"I never thought I would [later] enter a sex program."

At age 18, Roza said, she was chosen out of 350 students to participate in a top-secret program developed by former KGB psychologists and high-ranking officers. There, Roza said, she studied how to use seduction and persuasion to get information from enemy targets.

At age 18, Aliia Roza said, she entered a top-secret program where she learned about the art of seduction.

"Its not just sex  its very far from sex actually," Roza explained. "Its all about the art of communication. Were taught how to dress up, how to put on makeup, how to present yourself, how to speak with your targets, how to make your targets believe in you and trust you.  Its about the psychology of people, of criminals, of men.  Its about understanding the perspective of men and what exactly they want."

Aliia Roza is the granddaughter of a national hero who fought the Nazis during World War II. Her father is a high-ranking officer of over 45 years.

"When you seduce, its  as simple as starting with good compliments," she continued. "Its not just, I like your jacket. It has to be something really specific and appropriate from that moment. This will make people really attracted to you. Theyll start to like you. And when you know how to lead a conversation, people will become very open to you. They will become very friendly.  You learn how to be polite, friendly, respectful in society.

Aliia Roza said she was chosen out of 350 students to participate in a secret program developed by former KGB psychologists and high-ranking officers.

"And there are the sex techniques," she teased. "This is really hardcore. But its making your target become obsessed with you. Thats a completely different game."

Roza said it took "many years" for her to later realize she was "brainwashed" as a "master manipulator."

SIGN UP TO GET THE TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER

Aliia Roza said she was trained to be a "master manipulator."

"I was made to believe that I was a hero fighting against human and drug trafficking, saving all of these underage kids that were  kidnapped from their families," she said. "I would see all the parents coming to our department crying, begging us to help.

"We as agents had this very low salary.  We had like $100 a month working six days a week.  But I felt patriotic. I felt like a hero saving someones life. And I felt very powerful. I felt that nobody could do anything to me. I was sacrificing my body doing all these missions. So, I just detached my emotions from my body.

Aliia Roza said that, at first, she felt "patriotic" as a spy.

"At the end of the day, when I saved someones life, I felt good about it," Roza shared. "But I never asked myself how I felt being in a body that was constantly abused and raped by random men.  One former FBI agent said I was a broken toy, that I was sex trafficked myself.  But all my classmates, we didnt feel this way. We felt patriotic. We were ready to sacrifice and do anything for our government. Thats how I felt."

Author Neil Strauss is the host of "To Die For."

Strauss told Fox News Digital that, at first, it was difficult to believe Rozas story. But after doing research and speaking to sources, it was difficult to ignore her claims.

"I only covered the story of Aliias time in Russia," he explained. "But theres a whole other world, a whole other story. There are very intense experiences, trauma, PTSD.  It goes in a place no one expects.

As a secret agent, Aliia Roza worked to stop human and drug trafficking. It's something she's still passionate about today.

"I remember the first time I was introduced to Aliia over dinner," Strauss recalled. "When she started speaking, everyone stopped what they were doing. They only listened to her. She held the floor for the rest of the meal. Thats all I could think about afterward.  There was a story here that needed to be told. And it was also the way she told her story. I never heard anything like it before."

GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB

It was love that made Aliia Roza rethink her life choices.

In 2004, Roza fell in love with a man she was meant to gather intelligence on, the New York Post reported. According to the outlet, the mans associates discovered she was a spy. With the help of her lover, Roza fled Moscow and eventually laid down roots in Los Angeles.

Roza has not returned to Russia for more than a decade, she said. She assumed a new name, one she still uses today.

Roza said despite working to stop human and drug trafficking as a spy, she also felt "used" by the Russian government.

"I saw all these other female agents who reached a certain age, like 56," she said. "They were so miserable, so lonely. They were not allowed to have private lives. They couldnt have families.  I couldnt allow that to happen to me."

Aliia Roza teaches other women about the art of seduction.

Today, Roza teaches her tips on seduction not to agents-in-training, but to women eager to boost their self-esteem. She has over a million followers on Instagram.

She described being "disappointed" by the Russia-Ukraine war.

"Putin started the war," she said. "All of these innocent people have died for no reason.  Its awful. We need to speak out about it because its not over.  Who will speak out against this evil? What is happening in the world? I do hope my story will encourage women to be inspired, support each other and share their stories. I hope we can unite."

Aliia Roza said she has been encouraged to return to her old life. She's declined.

Strauss is hopeful the podcast will encourage other former female spies to come forward.

"What stood out to me? Most people are afraid to talk," he explained. "And if the Russian intelligence program is so widespread, why are so few people willing to come forward? And I think a lot of people dont understand what its like for a woman growing up in the Russian military intelligence community, the lack of rights, the lack of agency, the abuse and horror that goes on there.

"I can tell you from researching Aliias story  it doesnt go well for anyone," he added. "The agents are as exploited as the targets. I think there are no winners here when youre using sex and love as weapons of war."





Original article source: Former Russian sex spy says she was trained as a master manipulator
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  A weekend of remembrance for a political giant in Arkansas has started, bringing in people across the country to pay their respects.

Former Arkansas Gov. David Pryor, who also served the Natural State as a U.S. senator and congressman, died Saturday at 89 years old.

David Pryor, former Arkansas governor, U.S. congressman and senator, dies at 89

As Pryor was lying in state in the State Capitol Rotunda Friday ahead of funeral proceedings, many notable figures in Arkansas politics, Republicans and Democrats alike, stopped to say goodbye and pay their final respects.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and her husband spent time with Pryors family Friday morning visiting, a sign of support following Pryors appearance at the Republican governors inauguration last year. Pryor also sat with the General Assembly during Sanders first legislative address as governor.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders orders flags to half-staff in memory of former Gov. David Pryor

The bipartisan respect shown politically and personally for Pryor was a fitting example for the life the former public servant lived, according to his loved ones. Several friends and family members told KARK 4 News about how Pryor went beyond party lines and earned respect from everyone because of his impact and his heart, not just his policies.

Pryor was known to have been a force at the ballot box for decades, with his political career starting in the 1960s in the Arkansas House of Representatives before moving on to U.S. Congress, serving for two terms.

He eventually came back to Arkansas and ran for governor, winning in 1975 after defeating former Gov. Orval Faubus in the Democratic primary.

Politicians from the Natural State remember former governor David Pryor

His final political office was back in D.C., this time as a U.S. senator. Pryor served three terms in the Senate, wrapping up his political career in 1996.

Politics aside, people on Friday talked about how the Pryor legacy goes beyond his work and shows more of him as a real human  kind and genuine, and always listening.

His leadership and sense of service passed from one generation to another, with his son Mark Pryor going on to become U.S. senator as well, following in his fathers footsteps. The younger Pryor spoke with KARK 4 News about his dads career, and more importantly, the kind of father figure he was.

My dad was a very special person, and you can see by crowds coming today to be with him as he lays in state, he said. He was just legendary for taking care of his constituents needs, but also making courageous stands when it wasnt always easy to do.

Capitol View: The legacy of David Pryor, week in Arkansas politics

The elder Pryor was known best for fighting against the Faubus machine for decades and being a champion for the underdog. He fought for the elderly and was a strong supporter of civil rights legislation in Arkansas from the earliest days of difference-making in the state.

Skip Rutherford, a longtime friend who shared in common with him an upbringing in small-town Arkansas and worked for Pryor in Congress, was floored by the news of his former bosss death.

When I got the news that morning, it was stunning, Rutherford said, speaking of the morning he learned Pryor had passed. I mean, I just was almost paralyzed.

Having known Pryor nearly all his life, Rutherford explained that he was able to see the progression of Pryors political career and the potential he had in his earliest days that others quickly picked up on.

When David Pryor was a young state legislator at this state capitol, one of our friends in Batesville was in the legislature with him, Rutherford said. This legislator, the late Virgil Butler, kept telling me and the others, This guy David Pryor is special. You all keep an eye on him. Representative Butler was right.

Current and former Arkansas politicians, colleagues respond to the death of David Pryor

Mack McClarty, also stood out from the crowd Friday as a notable figure in the political landscape nationally and a close ally of Pryors. The former White House Chief of Staff under former president Bill Clinton. McClarty served as treasurer on Pryors first gubernatorial campaign.

McClarty noted that he had known Pryor since he was 8 years old and worked closely with Pryor and Sen. Dale Bumpers during the Clinton administration. All that time spent in close circles with Pryor left a deep impression on McClarty.

I feel he was the most beloved figure in Arkansas politics, he said.

Rutherford, McClarty and the younger Pryor all spoke about the legacy Pryor leaves behind, and how the David and Barbara Pryor Oral and Visual History Center in Fayetteville serves as a way to keep his memory alive. The organization archives old stories and footage of Pryor, documenting his stories and work, along with the long-term impact he had in politics and the state of Arkansas.

Funeral arrangements set for former Arkansas Gov. David Pryor

The visitation for former Gov. David Pryor will be Friday night in Little Rock, followed by the funeral on Saturday afternoon. The service will be live-streamed and available on KARK.com.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
FILE - Simon and Sally Glass comfort each other during an emotional news conference about the death of their son, Christian Glass, Sept. 13, 2022, in Denver. A former Colorado sheriffs deputy was convicted of a misdemeanor on Friday, April 26, 2024, in the shooting death of the 22-year-old man in distress who had called 911 for help after his car got stuck in a small mountain community. (AP Photo/Thomas Peipert, File)

DENVER (AP)  A former Colorado sheriffs deputy was convicted of a misdemeanor on Friday in the shooting death of a 22-year-old man in distress who had called 911 for help after his car got stuck in a small mountain community.

Andrew Buen was also charged with second-degree murder and official misconduct in the 2022 death of Christian Glass, which drew national attention and prompted calls for police reform focused on crisis intervention. But jurors could not reach a verdict on those charges and only found him guilty of reckless endangerment, which is typically punished by a maximum four months in jail, The Denver Post reported.

A second-degree murder conviction would have carried a sentence of years in prison.

Prosecutors alleged that Buen needlessly escalated a standoff with Glass, who exhibited signs of a mental health crisis. But the defense said Buen shot Glass to protect a fellow officer, which made the shooting legally justified.

A second officer indicted in Glass death previously pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor. Six other officers have been charged with failing to intervene.

District Attorney Heidi McCollum still has the option of pursuing the charges against Buen for murder and official misconduct. She said Friday she expects to make a decision in the next couple of weeks.

An attorney for the Glass family said the family would like the prosecution continue.

"The jury found Deputy Buens conduct to be criminal, Siddharta Rathod said. The jury found Deputy Buen guilty of reckless endangerment. And it is one step closer to getting justice for Christian. Deputy Buen will reface a jury of his peers.

Glass called for help after his SUV became stuck on a dirt road in Silver Plume. He told a dispatcher he was being followed and made other statements suggesting he was paranoid, hallucinating or delusional, and experiencing a mental health crisis, according to Buen's indictment.

When Buen and other officers arrived, Glass refused to get out of his vehicle. Officers body camera footage showed Glass making heart shapes with his hands to the officers and praying: Dear Lord, please, dont let them break the window.

In closing arguments on Wednesday, prosecutors said Buen decided from the start that Glass needed to get out of the vehicle and shouted commands at him 46 times over about 10 minutes. The prosecution contends Buen did not have any legal justification to force Glass out, not even if it was a suspected case of driving under the influence.

They fired bean bag rounds and shocked him with a Taser, but those attempts failed to make Glass exit. He then took a knife he had offered to surrender at the beginning of the encounter and flung it out a rear window, which was broken by a bean bag, toward another officer, Randy Williams, according to the indictment. At that point, Buen fired five times at Glass.

Glass just reacted after being treated like an animal in a cage being poked and prodded, and the knife never touched Williams, District Attorney Heidi McCollum told jurors in closing arguments in Idaho Springs.

Defense lawyer Carrie Slinkard faulted prosecutors for not looking into whether Glass had behavioral or psychological issues that could explain his behavior, whether drugs had played a role, or whether both factors could have contributed.

Glass mother, Sally Glass, has previously said her son has depression and had recently been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. She said he was having a mental health episode during his interaction with the police.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Stephen Potts, who described Glass as a terrified boy, said it did not matter what prompted the crisis.

He was in a crisis of some kind," he said. "Is this how we expect people in crisis to be treated?
SPRINGDALE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  A former Springdale police officer who resigned following his alleged involvement in a March road rage incident has been arrested and charged, according to court documents.

Garry Jones, 43

(Courtesy: Washington County Jail)

Garry Jones, 43, was arrested on Friday on third-degree assault and harassment charges, both misdemeanors, according to a criminal information sheet.

The document said Jones followed a woman to her vehicle in a public place to harass, annoy, or alarm her, eventually creating apprehension of imminent physical injury by showing a firearm.

Springdale police officer resigns during investigation into road rage incident

An arrest warrant was issued on April 25 and Jones was arrested the next day. He was booked into the Washington County Jail at 9:43 a.m. and was released at 2:51 p.m. the same day. No bond was listed.

Springdale police said on March 6, officials received a report of a road rage incident involving Jones, who was off-duty at the time.

Jones was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation from the Washington County Sheriffs Office.

On March 21, Springdale police said Jones resigned from the department during an internal investigation into the incident.

Jones is set to appear in court on May 15.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
KIEV, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Explosions were heard in several Ukrainian regions late on Friday amid Russian missile attacks, local media outlets reported.

In particular, blasts have rocked Ukraine's central Vinnytsia region and the western Ivano-Frankivsk region, the government-run Ukrinform news agency said.

Several explosions also rattled Ukraine's eastern city of Kharkiv, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov.

The Ukrainian Air Force said on Telegram that Russia launched cruise missiles and aeroballistic missiles at Ukraine during the air strike.

Separately, Ukrainian Telegram channels warned that Russia was likely preparing a new missile attack on Ukraine as a group of Tu-95 strategic bombers had taken off from Olenya airfield in Russia's northwestern Murmansk region. 
Moscow's Basmanny District Court has arrested Anton Filatov, a former subordinate of Deputy Defence Minister Timur Ivanov, on suspicion of large-scale embezzlement.

Source: Russian Interfax with reference to the court; Kremlin-aligned Russian newspaper Kommersant

Details: The court did not provide details of the case.

Filatov is charged under Art. 160.4 of the Russian Criminal Code (embezzlement or misappropriation of someone else's property, committed on a large scale). He faces up to 10 years in prison if proven guilty.

Kommersant reports that Filatov was previously the head of several companies subordinate to the Ministry of Defence. As the newspaper notes, "Deputy Defence Minister Timur Ivanov, recently arrested for a bribe, used to be a curator at Oboronlogistics LLC, where Anton Filatov worked until 2019."

For reference: The Investigative Committee reported on the detention of Timur Ivanov on 23 April. He was then arrested until 23 June. Entrepreneur Sergei Borodin and Alexander Fomin, the founder of construction company OlimpSitiStroy, were also arrested in this case. Fomin is charged with giving a bribe (Art. 291 of the Criminal Code), Ivanov and Borodin are charged with receiving a large bribe (Art. 290.6 of the Criminal Code). The defendants in the case have already appealed against their arrest. Ivanov denies his guilt.

Support UP or become our patron!
EL PASO, Texas (EL PASO MATTERS)  A Fort Bliss soldier who has been missing almost four years has been declared dead by the Army, officials announced on Friday.

An Army board of inquiry determined that Richard Halliday died on July 23, 2020, the day he was last seen at Fort Bliss, an Army statement said. The statement does not provide a manner or cause of death, or any indication that Hallidays remains were recovered.

On April 24, 2024, the Army informed the Halliday family that the preponderance of evidence provided during a board of inquiry supported changing the duty status of Pvt. Richard Halliday from missing to deceased, the statement said. The BOI determined that Pvt. Halliday died on July 23, 2020. The Army expresses its deepest condolences to the Halliday family and notes that this determination will allow us to further support the family under the Army Casualty Program.

Halliday was a 21-year-old private assigned to the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, and his disappearance drew media attention in El Paso and elsewhere over the following months.

Records made public by the Army Criminal Investigation Division earlier this year showed that Halliday was facing numerous personal and legal challenges in the months before his disappearance.

He was arrested for driving while intoxicated by El Paso police, was stopped at the U.S.-Mexico border with a high-powered rifle, and had attempted suicide. Days before he disappeared, he told a friend that he was going to go to the Red Sands area of East El Paso and shoot himself, investigators reported.

Halliday was in the process of being administratively discharged from the Army, and was supposed to be closely watched by his unit. But the soldier assigned to monitor him on the day he disappeared didnt report for duty on time, the records showed.

His parents, Robert and Patricia Halliday of South Carolina, have been critical of the Armys investigation of their sons disappearance. They have said the Army didnt notify them their son was missing for more than a month.

Patricia Halliday has stated on social media that Richard was murdered, but hasnt made public any supporting evidence. Over time, she has accused a number of El Paso officials and journalists of interfering with her sons case, including the authors of this story. She has tied her sons disappearance to the 2019 Walmart mass shooting a year earlier, also without providing any evidence.

The investigative files made public earlier this year show that the Army has treated Hallidays disappearance as a cold case. In its statement to El Paso Matters and KTEP Public Radio Friday, the Army said: We ask anyone with information about the case to contact the Army Criminal Investigation Division, which continues to maintain their investigation.

In a social media broadcast Wednesday, after the Army notified the Halliday family that their son was now being listed as deceased, Patricia Halliday reiterated her claim that Richard was murdered. She also said on social media that she and her husband turned away the two soldiers who came to their home on Wednesday to notify them of the status change.

Fort Bliss originally considered Halliday absent without leave, or AWOL, and then switched his status to missing, which led to an investigation.

The year he disappeared, the Army changed its policy for soldiers who do not show up for duty. They are now classified as absent unknown status, which prompts law enforcement to assist in efforts to find the soldier.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Raising twins as a working single mother became a bigger challenge for Gente Tesfai when she suffered a knee injury that required major surgery, leaving her unable to return to work.

Thats when she turned to the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) where the Fresno County Department of Social Services helped her go back to school. She will receive her masters this year from Fresno State.

As a single mom without external support, CalWORKs gave me hope and a path to a better life, said Tesfai.

The type of support Tesfai received might soon be available to fewer people in the county, whose poverty rate is 18.6% higher than the national rate and 13% above the state rate.

In light of a $58 billion budget deficit, Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed $41.9 million in cuts to CalWORKs. Locally, the program helps 50,654 residents annually with a staff of over 2,600.

Gov. Newsom has proposed to cut funding for CalWORKs by $41.9 million for the budget deficit for 2024, which many people in Fresno County rely upon.

CalWORKs  part of a federal welfare program that provides temporary cash aid and social services  is designed to help reduce poverty. It also offers child care, mental health, and employment services to help families become self-sufficient.

Welfare program called crucial for Fresno County

CalWORKs is crucial in Fresno County due to high social and economic disparities, such as low wages, high unemployment, and inadequate affordable housing, said Sanja Bugay, director of the countys social services department.

The countys unemployment rate is above the state average at 9.5%, and 23.4% dont have a high school diploma or GED. This leads to more people dependent on CalWORKs.

When Tesfrai heard that Gov. Newsom is considering cutting the funding for CaLWORKs, she felt devastated. She is concerned that parents wont get the support for their education and employment that makes their progress difficult to escape poverty.

The state should prioritize funding programs like CalWORKs, not cut funding because its not just about providing temporary assistance; its about empowering individuals to break free from cycles of poverty and become self-sufficient contributors to society, said Tesfai.

The proposed cuts would project a loss of $8.2 million next year for Fresno Countys program. Some Democrats, according to CalMATTERS, prefer a funding freeze.

Although not ideal, freezing funding for CalWORKs is preferable to making cuts, particularly during economic downturns when safety net programs are crucial, said Bugay. Maintaining current funding levels ensures that essential services for vulnerable families are maintained, which prevents further hardships.

CalWORKs programs and understaffing

CalWORKs offers many programs from housing, utilities, medical care, food, or clothing for eligibility for temporary assistance. In addition, families or individuals can receive ongoing monthly cash assistance for basic needs. But, if the funding gets cut, then the department will be understaffed to help the people that need CalWORKs the most.

Bugay says that if the state cuts the funding for CalWORKs, it will be difficult for her to help families who need help with the program. In addition, she and other social workers need to navigate the complex rules of CalWORKs, which at times contradict other assistance programs.

CalWORKS waiting time and approvals take 45 days, but it varies from county to county, according to a report from Marca. However, if CalWORKS funding gets slashed, county residents will face longer waits and delayed eligibility. In addition, the lack of funding will create more caseloads for social services employees.

These impacts could undermine the programs ability to support families striving to overcome poverty effectively, said Bugay.

There has been an increase since post-COVID 19 on people applying for CalWORKs. But the funding in the county for CalWORKs is decreasing while applications for help trend higher, said Bugay.

If California goes through with funding cuts, it will result in more understaffing for Social Services, he said.

Maintaining funding for various components of CalWORKs  family stabilization, employment services, or general aid  is crucial, said Bugay. These programs provide critical support to families in distress and play a pivotal role in sustaining the economic vitality of small businesses throughout the community.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  Longtime Johnson City Press editor-in-chief and co-owner John A. Johnny Jones had the best interest of the community at heart at all times, former employee and friend Tom Harris said Friday.

Gov. Bill Lee signs bill allowing armed teachers in schools

Jones, whose father Carl A. Jones owned the daily paper when Jones was growing up, died Tuesday in Johnson City. He was 78. He was one of four siblings, including three brothers who were closely involved in the family business until they sold it in 2002. Preceded in death by his parents and one brother, he is survived by a brother, a sister, his partner Michelle Goebel, and his daughter Jacqueline Jones Hawks, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. A memorial service is set for May 11 at Munsey United Methodist Church according to an obituary on the Morris-Baker Funeral Home website.

Harris, who was advertising director for the Press and also served as publisher of the Jones-owned Erwin Record, said Johnny Jones was just like all the rest of the Joneses; they cared deeply about their employees.

John A. Johnny Jones (Jones family)

In the case of Johnny Jones  a 1964 graduate of Science Hill High School who was in East Tennessee State Universitys inaugural class of communications graduates in 1969  that care extended to the community and the political sphere, Harris and others said.

Tennessee Senator Rusty Crowe called Jones a consummate newspaper man who had left his father proud and grateful that the family included a journalist to take over the paper when he passed away.

Crowe said Jones  a Democrat who took a six-month leave of absence in 1986 to direct communications for Ned McWherters successful Tennessee gubernatorial campaign  covered my political career honestly and with integrity, hitting me hard when he needed to but giving praise when appropriate as well.

He remembered Jones disappointment when Crowe, switched parties to become a Republican in the early 1990s, saying he always appreciated that his friendship remained.

Harris said that description aligned with a man he remembered as wanting to be fair about everything even though he wasnt afraid to take a hard stance on something  he wanted to be sure he provided the news in an impartial manner at all times.

That approach helped shape the career of Don Armstrong, who worked for the Press during the latter years of the Jones ownership and is now Director of Student Media and Adviser to the East Tennessean at ETSU.

Johnny cared not only for telling accurate stories that impacted the people of the region, but he also cared for those who worked for the publication, Armstrong said via email. He called himself fortunate to have worked under a family newspaper ownership model, which he called a rarity in todays digital age.

That spirit of family isnt as common in the 2024 journalism world, but I try to carry that influence in my daily work with students. His death is a great loss for the community.

Alchemy & Shade wins Tri-Cities Best Tattoo Shop

Tom Hager has much longer memories involving Jones. The Johnson City School Board member grew up in the same neighborhood as Jones and remembers him and Carleton, the youngest of the three Jones brothers, very well.

Cotty and Johnny were just like brothers to me and Ive known him since we were six years old.

Hager described Jones as always really friendly.

He always wanted to do a little dabbling in politics, and we had a good time discussing different issues  just very very enjoyable talking with him about politics. Just a great, great guy and I consider him a dear friend, Hager said.

Jones moved to Middle Tennessee after the sale of the papers but returned to Johnson City several years ago and moved into Hagers west Johnson City neighborhood.

He had this little dog named Stella, and my granddaughter also lives in the neighborhood and I always knew when Johnny had walked Stella because my granddaughter would say, I saw Mr. Jones and Stella today. She always went out and talked to him and petted Stella.

Tom Harris worked more than 30 years for the newspaper group that also included the Jonesborough Herald and Tribune and Mountain City Tomahawk as well as a couple Middle Tennessee papers.

He described Jones as someone who, while not guarded, chose his words carefully. He was one of these people that he was very deliberate and considered everything he said, but when he said it, he meant it.

Jones led the formation of two Johnson City Press community staples, the Christmas Box and the Newspapers in Education program. He served at the state level as a member and chairman of the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission. He worked with Crowe and the late State Representative Ralph Cole of Elizabethton to create the states Watchable Wildlife license tag, which funds non-game wildlife habitat enhancement programs throughout the state.

He served on a host of local boards, was by his fathers side during the push for establishing ETSUs Quillen College of Medicine, and was honored as an outstanding ETSU alumnus in 2006.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
State Rep. Mesha Mainor, representing part of Fulton County, is suing District Attorney Fani Willis, Commissioner Marvin Arrington, and multiple departments of the county government.

Mainor announced the lawsuit itself on Friday, saying shed be holding a news conference on Tuesday morning at the State Capitol.

According to the announcement, Mainor said shell also be addressing oversight of Georgia prosecutors and statistics regarding Fulton County Jail inmates waiting for prosecution beyond a 90-day threshold after being denied bond.

Citizens and family members must know they have a right to file a motion for a bond and the judge must grant the bond if they have been confined to jail more than 90 days and District Attorney Fani Willis has failed to prosecute, Mainor said in a statement.

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

Mainor, a Fulton County Republican lawmaker, was a Democrat before recently switching parties. She filed the lawsuit on April 2, according to court records.

The lawsuit names Willis and Arrington in both their individual and official capacities, as well as the overall Fulton County government, the Fulton County Ethics Board and the Fulton County D.A.s Office.

In the civil filing, Mainor requested a jury trial and alleges the defendants deprived her of certain rights while acting under the color of state law.

Part of the lawsuit ties back to a series of incidents while Rep. Mainor was running for office in 2019, according to the lawsuit. At that time, Mainors suit says she hired a man named Corwin Monson as a campaign volunteer.

Before working together on the campaign, Mainors lawsuit said the two were friends for several years with many friends in common.

Mainor said she was forced to fire Monson from his volunteer position with her campaign after witnessing his unruly, belligerent behavior. Afterward, Mainor said Monson started to stalk her, showing up uninvited to campaign events, joining Mainors church and sitting outside of her home.

Monson also is said, according to Mainors lawsuit, to have called her from several phone numbers and left multiple voicemails, with Monson later turn[ing] these voicemails into a song. He also told Mainor he was in love with her and arrived at her home to propose in front of her children, who were minors, according to the lawsuit.

In June 2019, Monson was cited for criminal trespass at Mainors home after refusing to leave her property. The following August, Mainor filed a temporary protective order against him, which a judge granted.

Monson was arrested in September 2019 and September 2020 for violating the temporary protective order, the lawsuit says. In September 2020, Monson was indicted for aggravated stalking by the Fulton County DAs Office, as well as violating the protective order, the record says.

At the start of 2021, Monson was indicted by the Fulton DA again for a second aggravated assault charge, where Mainor was the victim. The lawsuit says Monson faced up to 20 years in prison due to the cases.

TRENDING STORIES:

Mainors lawsuit says Monson is a close friend and associate of Defendant Commissioner Arrington. The commissioner was hired as Monsons defense attorney for the September 2020 aggravated stalking case, according to Mainors lawsuit. Mainors lawsuit says an Assistant District Attorney informed Plaintiff Mainor of the influence Defendant Commissioner Arrington wielded in the D.A.s office and that he used his influence to circumvent the office policies of the District Attorneys office.

The lawsuit says these actions include intimidating the ADAs by copying the District Attorney on emails, negotiating plea deals directly with the District Attorney instead of the ADAs, and demanding meetings with the District Attorney when ADAs refused to bend to his will, and alleges that Fulton County residents hire the commissioner as their defense attorney due to this power he is accused of yielding in the DAs office.

Mainor further alleges that Arrington negotiated with former D.A. Paul Howard to have Monson plead guilty to a misdemeanor, though charged with a felony, going outside of the DAs office policies. The lawsuit also states that Arrington is heard conspiring to cause the sitting judge on the criminal case to be removed from office while on phone calls at the county jail with Monson.

Focusing on Willis, Mainor alleges in her lawsuit that Arrington later admitted to telling her about the Monson case before she was sworn in, saying he accused Mainor herself of being crazy while speaking to the new D.A. and influencing a bias against her during the case. Mainor alleges Arrington encouraged Monsons wife to harass her as well, and a second protective order was sought against Mrs. Alesha Monson.

Arrington is said to have resigned as Mr. Monsons attorney in December 2020 after the jail calls were made public.

The lawsuit goes over the events in the case after Willis was sworn in, alleging that handling of the case was unusual and against policy, and accusing Willis of dropping the ball regarding the plea deal for Mr. Monson. Mainor accuses both Arrington and Willis of operating under the color of law while causing severe financial and emotional damages to her, due to the alleged failure to properly prosecute Mr. Monson, and for violating her constitutional rights through deliberate indifference.

The lawsuit names the Fulton County Ethics Board as a defendant due to what Mainor alleges was a failure to follow proper procedure while reviewing more than 30 violations submitted in an ethics complaint against Arrington. The complaint was later closed.

When Mr. Monson was released from jail in November 2021, Mainor said he immediately began stalking her again. His probation included a condition to have no direct or indirect contact with Mainor, but began to show up to events hosted by Mainors friends and neighbors after being released, the lawsuit says.

The same month, Mainor ran into Monson as she was exiting a gas station near her home, a few hundred feet from her house, according to the court filing. When Mainor told the DAs office of the incident, the lawsuit alleges no actions were taken.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

A December 2021 incident at the Coverdell Legislative Office Building, where Mainor works, led to a new investigation into Monson for violating the temporary restraining order. Mainors lawsuit says the DAs office again declined to prosecute Monson for the violation, noting that A.D.A. Yolanda Mack said It doesnt appear that his [Monsons] intentions were to violate the order but simply give testimony on his ethics complaint against you. He didnt have any contact with you directly or indirectly.

As a result of the incidents detailed in the lawsuit, Mainor is seeking a jury trial and alleging that Arrington, Willis, and the Fulton County Ethics Board had violated the states Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations Act, inflicting intentional emotional distress and requesting the court order compensatory and consequential damages to Mainor.

Channel 2 Action News has reached out to the Fulton County Government and Fulton County District Attorneys Office for comment on the lawsuit.

Mainor is expected to hold her news conference on Tuesday, April 30 at 10 a.m. on the steps of the State Capitol.

IN OTHER NEWS:
We will fund all social security spending this year and next  Ukrainian PM

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has said that Ukraine can fund all social expenditure on time and in full this year and next.

Source: Denys Shmyhal on the national joint 24/7 newscast

Quote: "We are absolutely sure that this year (and frankly, we are pretty sure about next year as well), we will definitely fund all social payments, all pensions and subsidies in full.

We will do everything the state needs to do on time, without delays, and in full.

The US assistance gives us 100% confidence that we will fulfil these obligations."

Support UP or become our patron!
NEW YORK  The pro-Palestinian protests roiling Columbia University and college campuses nationwide have political pundits asking whether widespread demonstrations could ruin the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this summer, just as they did two generations ago in 1968.

Hundreds of Columbia students this month erected a tent city encampment to protest Israels war in Gaza, spurring the university administration to call in police to clear the Manhattan campus and make scores of arrests.

Like in the 60s, when police crackdowns emboldened youthful anti-war protesters, the New York City Police Department action failed to quell the Gaza protests. The student demonstrators returned in force hours later and have vowed not to back down.

Gaza protests have spread like wildfire on college campuses in recent days, with thousands of students calling for the U.S. to end its support for Israel and demanding their institutions cut ties with companies that do business in the Jewish state.

The growing movement poses a political threat to President Joe Biden, who has for the most part strongly backed the U.S. ally. and recently approved billions in additional military aid. Polls show especially younger voters disapprove of his handling of the conflict.

With Biden locked in a tight reelection fight, images of chaos on the streets of the liberal city when Democrats gather to nominate him for a second term threaten to turn off moderate and independent suburban voters who will likely decide the election.

It could also short-circuit Bidens effort to launch his campaign in earnest by showing off a unified and determined Democratic Party.

Chicago 24 could be a powder keg, said Matt Mackowiak, a Republican strategist. The Democrats have a massive risk of letting activists define the event and scare swing voters.

But Democratic strategist Basil Smikle believes the specter of former President Donald Trumps effort to get back to the White House will be a powerful unifying incentive for Democratic voters even in the face of divisive anti-Israel protests.

Its safe to assume, as in years past, that there will be some kind of protest at or near the convention, said Smikle, a Hunter College political science professor. But I dont feel it will detract from the larger message and mission, which is to beat Donald Trump.

The Biden agenda will prove more appealing, and the Trump agenda too extreme, to opt out of this election, Smikle added.

The fact that anyone is even bringing up comparisons to the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago has to be troubling for the Biden campaign and Democrats.

The 1968 gathering came as Democrats were wrestling with the divisive Vietnam War. The civil rights movement was also spreading across the nation and riots erupted in major cities after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in April of that year.

Vice President Hubert Humphrey, a supporter of the Vietnam War, locked up the Democratic nomination with the support of party bosses even though he didnt participate in primary elections. The nomination contest was thrown into chaos when his main rival, Robert F. Kennedy, was also felled by an assassins bullet.

The Chicago convention itself was deeply split between pro- and anti-war delegates. On the muggy streets outside, huge and angry crowds of protesters gathered to demand an end to the war and justice for Black Americans.

The raging bloody battles turned into an iconic image of American division, especially between the long-haired leftist protesters and the nearly all-white phalanxes of baton-wielding Chicago cops.

Republican Richard Nixon successfully used the Chicago chaos convention to portray Democrats as unable to control their own supporters. Months later, he edged Humphrey to win the White House.

GOP strategist Scott Jennings predicted Biden would be put in a similar political vice when Palestinian supporters run amok and force Democratic authorities to crack down.

And I think Biden will try to fine people on both sides it, Jennings said, referring to Trumps damaging effort to downplay the 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The 2024 Democratic convention is only the second time since then that Democrats have brought their signature event back to the Windy City.

Its a decision that raised eyebrows from the beginning, albeit mostly because party nomination conventions have recently been held in battleground states to maximize a possible bounce among local voters.

After Chicago was picked in spring 2023, Hamas terrorists launched a brutal attack on Israel on Oct. 7 that killed more than 1,000. Israel responded with an invasion of the Gaza strip that has continued ever since, so far killing more than 30,000 Palestinians, mostly innocent civilians.

As the Israeli operation has dragged on, pro-Palestinian demonstrations erupted at Columbia, a hotbed for protests in 1968. The demonstrations have grown bigger and spread to dozens of campuses across the nation, just as they did in the 1960s.

Still, comparisons to 1968 seem far-fetched, at least so far.

There have been clashes between police and protesters and Columbia and elsewhere, but not anything close to the scale or intensity of the 1968 tumult.

Perhaps more significantly, the Gaza protests dont seem to reflect deeper divisions in American society as did civil rights and Vietnam.

Democratic strategist Tom Watson predicted anti-Israel protests wont threaten wider Democratic determination to beat Trump.

He scoffed at any comparison with the turbulent 60s when American soldiers were dying daily in Vietnam and cities were on fire.

The only thing similar to 1968 is that the (Rolling) Stones are still on tour, Watson said.
KIEV, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Explosions were heard in several Ukrainian regions on Friday amid Russian missile attacks, local media outlets reported.

The Ukrainian Air Force said on Telegram that Russia launched cruise missiles and aeroballistic missiles at Ukraine during the air strike. 
From Gen Alpha to boomers, we asked 6 therapists what each generation is talking about in therapy

Different generations love to complain about each other, but therapists say we're all struggling.

Younger generations grapple with identity, friendship, and forging their own path.

Older generations face challenges with parenting and balancing responsibilities.

Baby boomers inherited a thriving economy and ruined it for the rest of us. Millennials are anxious avocado-eaters who'll never own property, while Gen Zers are depressed snowflakes who take liberties at work. As for Gen X, hardly anyone even remembers they exist.

It's too soon to tell how Gen Alpha will be judged, but they practically came out of the womb watching TikTok and already use antiaging skincare products, so things aren't looking good.

Or so the stereotypes go.

So in the spirit of finding some common ground amid all the mud-slinging, BI asked six therapists what their clients from different generations commonly talk about in therapy. Topics include feeling inadequate, relationships, and difficulty navigating life transitions.

It turns out Gen Z are not the only ones struggling with their mental health. A Gallup poll found that nearly a quarter of US adults visited a psychologist, therapist, or psychiatrist in 2022  a 10 percentage-point rise from 2004.

The reasons aren't all bleak: There's less stigma around seeking treatment, particularly among younger people, and a greater emphasis on the importance of good mental health than in previous years, Gallup found. But the stress of the pandemic likely played a part, it said, and women, young adults, and people with lower household incomes were least likely to rate their mental health positively, the poll said.

No matter how old we are, we're all grappling with something, whether personally or collectively. International relations are tense, and it feels like we're constantly on the verge of entering a recession or seeing AI steal our jobs, not to mention the text bombs we're sending each other.

"Every generation is genuinely struggling to make meaning of what their life should look like at this time. What that looks like for different age groups is different," Israa Nasir, a psychotherapist based in New York and the author of the upcoming book " Toxic Positivity ," told Business Insider.

But every generation goes through the same life stages necessary to become a fully formed human, she said.

So while headlines and online trends will have you believing that Gen Z is from Venus while boomers are from Mars, we're probably more similar than we are different.

Generation Alpha

Members of Generation Alpha were born around 2010 and later. The oldest turn 14 this year, so they're very much still children.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one in five children have a mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder, with ADHD and anxiety being the most prevalent, but of those, only 20% receive mental health treatment. The CDC data is based on children aged between 3 and 17.

There's been a spike in children being diagnosed with ADHD since 2003, according to the CDC, and anxiety has also increased over time. Between 2016 and 2019, more than 9% of US children were diagnosed with anxiety.

Georgina Sturmer, a UK-based counselor registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, told BI that this age group was "hit hard by a perfect storm"  the COVID pandemic plunged the world into turmoil and uncertainty and separated them from their peers, she said.

Generation Alpha is learning how to deal with emotions. Elena Popova/Getty Images

In a more general sense, kids under 13 often stress most about things happening in their immediate environment  "often what is happening that day or that week," Amanda Macdonald, a UK-based BACP-registered therapist, told BI.

Parents typically have a large role in their children's lives at this age, and there is a push and pull between what is allowed, how things are done, and the child's desire for greater independence, she said. Gen Alpha are also forming friendships outside their family and independent of their parents or carers, and that's reflected in what kids worry about.

Thai Alonso, a clinical psychologist based in New Jersey, told BI that the most common concern among kids late in elementary school or middle school is conflict with their parents. Parents' expectations around their child's behavior and how they deal with emotions can cause clashes, she said.

Among preschool-aged Gen Alphas, who are too young for one-to-one therapy, Alonso said she gets a lot of referrals for kids struggling with behavioral difficulties such as emotion regulation, anger, and ADHD.

Gen Z

Gen Zers are typically between 14 and 26 years old. Therapists said that identity, body image, and friendship issues are common concerns for this age group, and they often struggle with anxiety and low moods.

Younger Gen Zers who are in high school or college worry about social hierarchies and dynamics, such as who is "cool" and who is not, which can lead to angst and a sense of not being good enough, Jill Owen, a clinical psychologist in the UK, told BI. Clients often compare themselves to their peers, particularly when it comes to how "popular" or attractive they are. She believes the rise of social media over the past decade has made this worse.

Gen Z grew up on social media and they often compare themselves to others. Getty Images

"Younger Gen Z are developing their own sense of identity, with how they dress, speak, and spend their time, essentially what being 'them' means," Owen said. "With this sense of independence comes anxiety over becoming an adult, and an awareness of wider issues such as climate change and global injustices."

Diana Garcia, a therapist in Florida, works mainly with older Gen Zers between 18 and 26. "At this stage of life, they are starting to explore what's important for them, whether they have values similar to or different from those of their family of origin," she said. They're thinking about careers or at the start of that journey and that can create feelings of anxiety, she said.

Millennials

Like Gen Zers, millennials, who are in their late 20s to early 40s, also feel insecure because they compare the "perfect lives" they see on social media with their own, Owen said.

Many are also becoming parents for the first time or considering having children, which can bring up lots of different feelings.

Past generations weren't as aware of the extent to which parenting styles can impact a child's mental health. Social media made this information mainstream, and millennials think more about how their upbringing affected them emotionally and how they can avoid harming their kids, Israa Nasir said.

Millennials are under pressure to get married, own a home, and have kids. Maskot/Getty Images

"I have observed a lot of motivation to look inward and begin to unpack childhood traumas in an effort to protect their own children," Alonso said.

Nasir has seen that as well. "People are actually just straight-up coming into therapy saying, 'I think I had a lot of emotional issues with my parents when I was younger,' or 'I need to deal with my issues with my parents,'" Nasir said.

Many millennials are also hitting traditional milestones like buying properties, getting married, and having kids later. Those who haven't fulfilled these societal expectations or simply chose a different path might come to therapy to discuss those pressures, Sturmer said.

Gen X

Generation Xers are around 44 to 59 years old.

They have higher incomes than millennials, but many still have college debt to pay off or are paying it off on behalf of their kids. They also care for aging parents, have bigger families than millennials, and are expected to "step up" as community leaders, a 2019 Gallup analysis found. "It's a perfect storm of financial, emotional, and time-pressure stress," Gallup said.

Gen Xers have to look after their kids as well as aging parents. Moment/Getty Images

Sturmer, who works primarily with women, said all these pressures, along with dealing with the emotional impact of menopause, take its toll mentally.

Many of her Gen X clients are also trying to help their children deal with mental-health challenges.

She said she sees "tired, overwhelmed, stressed parents who are doing their best to support their children to navigate mental-health services, while also coping with everything that's going on in their own lives."

Boomers

Baby boomers are in their 60s and 70s. BI previously reported that boomers hold half of America's wealth, but it's not spread evenly among them. Many members of this generation are considered economically insecure and do not have enough savings for retirement and long-term care.

Boomers are adjusting to a later stage of life. Halfpoint Images/Getty Images

They're adjusting to a later stage of life, and some are fearful that as they age, they might start to lose their identity or feel a loss of direction.

"Retirement can bring with it a loss of identity, confidence, and sense of purpose. Empty-nest situations can have a similar impact," Owen said.

As people's kids grow up and start families of their own, it can provoke difficult feelings. "If we've always understood our role in terms of our job or our family life, then it makes sense that this might leave us struggling to understand who we are," Sturmer said.

"We often hear people joking about how lucky the boomers are  free university education, rising house prices  leaving us with a stereotypical image of a debt-free couple sailing off into retirement. But this isn't necessarily the reality," she said.

Correction: May 3, 2024  An earlier version of this story misstated the results of a Gallup poll on Americans' mental health. The number of adults who visited a mental-health professional in 2022 compared to 2004 rose by 10 percentage points, not 10%.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Gen Z sees the Gaza protests as their 1968 moment: We built this on their legacy

Historical comparisons between the mass protests of 1968 and todays student demonstrations in solidarity with Gaza are both imperfect and hard to avoid.

Its been just 10 days since Columbia University students pitched the first tent on the campus lawns, and already the protests have galvanised a generation of college students much in the same way the Vietnam war did 56 years ago  spreading from coast to coast.

It is not just the scale of the protests that have drawn comparisons, but the tactics. That is no accident: the protesters say they studied that generation-defining movement methodically before launching their own.

We were only able to do this because the student organisers went into the archives of 68 and learned from what the older generation wrote about their experiences. A lot of organisers spent time and looked at how they did everything, Majd, a Columbia undergrad who asked for their full name not to be published, told The Independent at the protest camp on Friday.

We completely built this on their legacy, Majd added.

While planning for their encampment, the Columbia protest organisers learned about how the 1968 protesters dealt with security and how they navigated communications. Later, they invited several participants of the historic protests to visit the encampment and speak.

Columbia University professors speak in solidarity with their students right to protest free from arrest at the Columbia University campus in New York (AP)

Even the idea of a solidarity camp at Columbia was based on the 1968 anti-Vietnam war protests, said Ava Lyon-Sereno, a Columbia student and protester. It really feels like were continuing a tradition.

Student protests over the war in Gaza have been common across college campuses since the war broke out in October, following a surprise Hamas attack that killed 1,200 in Israel. The resulting conflict has killed more than 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.

The Columbia protesters of today may seem tame compared to their historical forebears. During the Vietnam war protests, a dean was briefly taken hostage and five buildings were seized. Then, as today, Columbias president called in police to break up the protests. Around 1,000 officers flooded onto campus, some on horseback, and made 700 arrests.

Despite a media campaign to tarnish the camp as dangerous radicals, the students of Columbia today are hyper-focused and strategic  their primary aim is to convince the university to cut ties with Israeli academic institutions and divest from Israel-linked companies in protest over the war. Organisers hosted de-escalation training and media training for the protesters. There are encampment monitors in yellow clearly-marked jackets to handle the press. The encampment even has a designated nut zone to protect students with allergies.

Students in the 1960s were horrified by the filtered and selective images of Vietnam that appeared on their television screens, while Generation Z now wakes up every morning to videos of death inches from their faces. If Vietnam was Americas first television war, Gaza may be the first time many young Americans have so intensely consumed a live-streamed war. They read headlines and see images every day about the horrors caused by US weapons and are asked to be silent and study.

You know, when I wake up in the morning and see a video of a parent carrying bits of their child in a plastic bag, that should not be normal, that should not be acceptable, said Lyon-Sereno.

Changes in technology have made the protesters mission even harder today than in 1968, too.

Its a whole new terrain now, said Aidan Pari, a protester and student at Columbia. We have digital security that we need to look at  people trying to take pictures of peoples faces and dox them online. We have face detection software in the cameras at Columbia and the next morning you wake up and youre suspended.

But we can use what they did in 68 as building blocks, Pari said.

Many of the Columbia students wonder if their movement would have grown so fast if it had not been for the rash decisions of their universitys leaders. When the Columbia administration ordered police to break up the budding protest camp last week, leading to the arrests of more than 100 students, it had the opposite of the intended effect. Gaza solidarity protests have spread like wildfire to dozens of campuses across the country in the past week  at Yale, NYU, Ohio State University, Stanford University, Emory University, and Berkeley, to name a few  leading to a violent crackdown by police and the arrest of hundreds of students. The movement has even spread beyond the borders of the US to Paris, Sydney and Cairo.

Protesters against the Vietnam war at Columbia University in April 1968 (Getty)

In 1968, too, protests spread across the world  most consequently in Paris, where student protesters linked up with millions of striking workers and threatened to overthrow the government.

The students in Columbia have no such ambition, but this is an election year, and young voters are a crucial part of the coalition that US president Joe Biden needs to win in November.

Majd, a Columbia student, thinks the chances for Biden to win young voters back are slim.

Were in such a difficult situation because you have a genocidal enabler and you have Trump. We dont need to even get into how bad that is going to be, they said.

I feel like this generation  at least people in this camp  understand that we deserve an option that is neither of them.

National Guard soldiers come up against protesters outside the Democratic National Convention in Illinois in 1968 (Alamy)

The final echo from history looms: As in 68, the Democratic National Convention (DNC) will be held in Chicago. Then, 10,000 protesters descended on the convention to protest, and a violent police crackdown ensured any messages the Democrats were hoping to convey to the public were overshadowed.

Gaza protesters have promised to do the same again.

Well be marching with or without permits. This DNC is the most important one since 1968, also in Chicago, when Vietnam war protesters and the Black liberation movement organised mass demonstrations that were violently repressed Hatem Abudayyeh, national chair of the US Palestinian Community Network recently told The Chicago Tribune.

In the tumult of that year, and perhaps because of it, Richard Nixon was elected president.

Today, as Bidens unconditional support for Israels war in Gaza becomes more unpopular by the second, it is Donald Trump who waits in the wings, hoping to capitalise on the chaos.
Those too young to remember the tumultuous 1960s might be under the impression that what is happening in American universities now is a revival of the spirit of what became known as the international student revolution. The sight of campuses shut down by protesters fighting with police, of university studies suspended by occupations and chanting demonstrators, and, most notably, the infectiousness of the resistance that has spread rapidly through the nations academic life: surely this must be a return to the political rebellion that awakened a generation.

As one who was there at the very beginning, let me assure you that what is going on now is absolutely nothing like what happened then. In fact, the cause that is being espoused so riotously today is the very antithesis of what was being fought for back in that formative day.

I was an undergraduate at Berkeley when the Free Speech Movement  still the revered, historic progenitor of this tradition  was born. Its objectives were very clear and completely justifiable in legal and political terms. We returned to campus for the new academic year in autumn 1964 to discover that the universitys Board of Regents had laid down an unprecedented ban on any form of political activity  holding meetings, inviting guest speakers, handing out leaflets, raising contributions, even wearing badges identified with causes  in any part of the university.

This was an unambiguous and indefensible breach of the constitutional rights to free speech and assembly of everyone who lived or worked on the campus and it created, as you might imagine, an immediate wave of outrage among the student body. (It was widely believed at the time that this had been done at the behest of businesses in nearby Oakland, whose owners were angered by student protests against their racist hiring policies. This theory still seems entirely plausible.)

All that inchoate rage became focused when one defiant student, Jack Weinberg, stood in the quad and began, as had always been his right, to solicit contributions for a civil rights organisation. The campus police descended, arrested him and put him in a police car to take him away.

What happened next was truly extraordinary. In an astonishing, spontaneous expression of solidarity which I shall never forget, hundreds of students who had witnessed this arrest converged around the car and would not let it move. For roughly 32 hours, the police and their captive student were held in place by a peaceful but immovable crowd.

The roof of the car quickly became a platform onto which protesting speakers climbed to make speeches and declarations of, again peaceful, resistance. (One of them included the slogan, Dont trust the liberals when they are over thirty which is now always misquoted as Never trust the liberals.)

But what began as a generational movement quickly gained support from the grown-ups. There was one particularly moving moment when the campus was effectively paralysed by striking post-graduate teaching and research assistants. The senior academic staff convened in a large lecture hall where they voted as a body to support the strike. While they held their ballot, a great crowd of students waited quietly outside, and then greeted them as they emerged with thunderous applause.

Of course, there was defiance and physical obstruction. We marched in to occupy the administration building of the university while Joan Baez stood on the steps singing We Shall Overcome, and were forcibly removed and arrested. This was the era of politically sophisticated passive resistance. We were advised by our leaders to go limp and say I am not resisting arrest when the police laid hands on us.

But can we be clear on what this was about? The motivating force was to protect the freedom guaranteed to every citizen by the nations founders: indeed to defend the very point of Americas existence. It was the principle of personal liberty itself that was seen to be threatened and which had to be saved by, as its principal orator, Mario Savio, said, [putting] your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels.

Does this, you may wonder, bear any resemblance to the apparent sympathies of todays pro-Palestine demonstrators who are putting their bodies on the line for  what? An alignment with forces supported by the most illiberal, authoritarian, repressive regime in todays world? What exactly do they believe they are fighting for  or against  by identifying themselves with the interests of Hamas, a terrorist organisation which is sponsored by the Islamist regime in Iran?

There seems to be some confusion about this even within their own ranks. Asked to explain their motivations, some of them speak meaningless gibberish and others admit to astounding levels of confused ignorance. (Its something about Israel, isnt it? says one girl in a risible recorded interview that is doing the rounds on the internet.)

One thing that is absolutely certain is that the side they are backing is not remotely interested in freedom of speech or assembly. And the side they are opposing and seeking to deprive of its right to exist is the only true democracy in the region. This is a degree of moral confusion and ignorance which is beyond anything that could have been anticipated all those years ago when an earlier generation fought with the police for their genuine birthright.

Perhaps it is testimony to a crisis of confidence in American identity. That will be for historians to judge. For now, there is just an urgent need to call it what it is  a dangerous, delusional cult which could have terrible consequences that would have been unthinkable only a decade ago.

Liberals  in the true sense of that word  are going to have to get a grip. To use more of the text from that great piece of oratory from Mario Savio: Theres a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious  makes you so sick at heart  that you cant take part. You cant even passively take part. And youve got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, and youve got to make it stop.

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.
John Astor's pocket watch and cufflinks were up for auction, 112 years after the tragedy - CORIN MESSER/BOURNEMOUTH NEWS AND PICTURE SERVICE

A gold pocket watch recovered from the body of the richest man on the Titanic on Saturday sold for a record price of 1.175 million.

The 14-carat gold Waltham watch, which belonged to business magnate John Jacob Astor, beat the 1.1 million paid in 2013 for the violin played by the bandmaster of the Titanic.

The leather case that protected Wallace Hartleys violin from the freezing water of the Atlantic also sold at the auction today for 360,000. Hartley placed the wooden instrument in the valise which he then strapped to his body, possibly for added buoyancy, as he plunged into the icy water.

Hartley, like Astor, died in the 1912 disaster which claimed the lives of 1,522 people.

The two items were among dozens of Titanic-related pieces of memorabilia that went under the hammer at Henry Aldridge & Son.

Other notable lots include a chess board made from wood recovered from the wreck site of the Titanic fetched 42,000, and an extremely rare pocket book of sailings for Titanics voyages for the rest of 1912. According to the schedule, the unsinkable ship would have made another 13 crossings of the Atlantic, with the last being on Dec 18  the book sold for 70,000.

A chess board recovered from the Titanic wreck site fetched 42,000 - CORIN MESSER/BNPS

A photo of the iceberg that may have sank the Titanic has come to light 112 years after the disaster - CORIN MESSER/BNPS

Andrew Aldridge, the auctioneer said: The Astor watch has now become the most valuable piece of Titanic memorabilia ever sold, just beating the 1.1 million paid for the violin over 10 years ago.

It is a remarkable result. We expected the watch to sell for 150,000 but we had some incredible bidding on it and it eventually went to a US collector.

The results demonstrate the ongoing fascination of the Titanic story 112 years after she sank.

On the night of the disaster, Astor, 47, saw his young, pregnant wife Madeleine into a lifeboat but was turned back by Charles Lightoller, the first officer. Rather than try his luck with another lifeboat, the impeccably-dressed Astor was last seen smoking a cigarette on the starboard of the bridge wing chatting to a fellow first-class passenger.

Astors body was recovered from the north Atlantic seven days later.

His exquisite pocket watch, which was engraved J.J.A, was removed from the Americans body. The timepiece, along with his 55 million estate (7 billion today), was left to his 20-year-old son Vincent.

It is not known what condition the watch was in at the time but it would have stopped working at 2.20am  the moment the Titanic and Astor disappeared into the Atlantic.

As many as 1,517 people died when the Titanic sank on April 15 1912 - BNPS

Vincent Astor later had the watch restored and repaired and wore it until 1935 when he gifted it to his godson, William Dobbyn.

Dobbyns father, also William, had been Astors executive secretary and was close to Vincent. Dobbyn Snr had accompanied Astor and Madeleine on their extended honeymoon to Egypt and France in September 1911.

The newly-wedded couple boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg on April 10, 1912 to return to America but Dobbyn stayed behind in France, a move that saved his life.

The gold watch was acquired from the Dobbyn family by the private collector of Titanic memorabilia in the 1990s.

Since then, it has been displayed at various museums including the National Geographic Exhibition in Washington DC and the Titanic Museum, The Worlds Largest Titanic Attraction in Missouri, US.

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.
FIRST ON FOX: The GOP is blasting President Bidens campaign over an "out-of-touch" memo warning that former President Trumps re-election could mean the end of one of Washingtons most glamorous traditions.

The White House Correspondents' Dinner and the days leading up to it are an annual social event, frequently invitation-only, where D.C.s elite in media, journalism and politics gather for a celebration of the press.

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) warned Thursday evening that Trump returning to the White House could put a stop to the festivities.

BIDEN VOWS TO LET TRUMP-ERA TAX CUTS EXPIRE NEXT YEAR, MEANING HIGHER RATES FOR MANY

The Republican Party is slamming Democrats for attacking former President Trump for not attending the White House Correspondents' Dinner, which is coming Saturday. President Biden is attending.

The Republican National Committee (RNC) on Friday told Fox News Digital in response, "The fact that Joe Biden is pandering to journalists by threatening their annual ego-stroking elites fest is pathetic and out of touch, but it goes to show that Democrats can't win on the issues."

"Biden can spend 2024 vacationing in Delaware and rubbing elbows with East Coast elites all he wants, but President Trump and Republicans will continue to talk about the issues that matter and present solutions to Biden's failures on everything from the economy to the border," RNC spokesperson Anna Kelly said.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Trump never attended the event as president. He held a rally with supporters in 2019 instead and even prohibited his administration officials from attending, according to Reuters. It was canceled in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

NEW POLL SHOWS BIDEN'S 2024 LEAD VANISHING WITH TRUMP ON TRIAL

Biden attended last year's dinner, which was hosted by comedian Roy Wood Jr.

Democrats Thursday evening statement criticized Trump for shunning the dinner, arguing it was another way Trump was showing contempt for journalists and the First Amendment.

"We hope everyone has a good time this weekend, because if Donald Trump wins in November, this Saturday could also be known as the last White House Correspondents Dinner. To state the obvious: Trump is a thin-skinned narcissist who  despite spending seemingly every waking moment glued to his seat consuming cable news  is constantly attacking the free press and unable to handle a little good-natured ribbing," DNC rapid response director Alex Floyd said.

"He skipped the White House Correspondents Dinner every single year he was in office because of his deep-seated insecurities and pathetic desperation to be liked by the same people he rails against, and that was before he outright banned members of his administration from attending at all.

TRUMP ATTORNEY, SUPREME COURT JUSTICE CLASH ON WHETHER A PRESIDENT WHO 'ORDERED' A 'COUP' COULD BE PROSECUTED

Trump held a rally during the dinner in 2019

"Fun and jokes aside this weekend, Saturday is also a reminder of whats at stake with an angry, vengeful Trump on the ballot. He may be a punchline, but he is also a sad, vindictive wannabe authoritarian who shows no respect for the First Amendment  or the Fourth Estate."

The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

The DNC declined to provide additional comment.





Original article source: GOP blasts Dems' 'out-of-touch' warning of no more White House Correspondents' Dinners if Trump wins election
Frank Demcy Mylar, attorney general candidate, speaks in an additional round for the attorney general race at the Utah Republican Party state nominating convention at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 27, 2024. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News

Four Republican challengers battled for Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes seat at the GOP state convention Saturday. State delegates voted to advance Frank Mylar and Rachel Terry to the primary.

It took two rounds of voting to reach that point. Mylar received 59.76% of the vote and Terry received 40.24% in the second round of voting, earning their primary spots. Derek Brown will also appear on the primary ballot because he collected signatures ahead of convention.

During the first round of voting, Mylar (42.83%) and Terry (31.47%) advanced, giving them a second chance to make their case to delegates. Brown and Christensen were eliminated after that first round. Brown received 16.70% of the vote while Christensen received 9%.

Mylar, an attorney who owns his own firm, took the stage as Survivors Eye of the Tiger blared throughout the speakers. At the firm that he has owned for more than 20 years, he focuses on constitutional and government litigation. He also worked for 12 years in the Utah attorney generals office.

Mylar emphasized his experience with the conservative legal advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom and spoke about how he fought for Utahns to receive religious exemptions from COVID-19 vaccinations. He also spoke about his background in criminal law and constitutional claims.

One of his applause lines was when Mylar said he would fight for Utahns to have Utah lands. He referenced a brief he filed three weeks ago to fight for Utah lands as evidence of this.

Thats one huge difference in this race, is that Ive actually filed constitutional cases for people like you, Mylar said, adding that he has not charged a dime for his work on many of these cases.

Terry, the current director of the Utah Division of Risk Management, followed Mylar in speaking and said that she would need no training to take on the job. She has worked as an assistant attorney general and the deputy director for the Utah League of Cities and Towns. She pointed out that she was a convention only candidate and licensed to practice law in Utah.

Making her case, Terry said she has worked on one of the most difficult, complex and significant cases in our states history. She said she would fight against the federal government with respect to lands and energy.

Referencing her endorsement from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Terry said she has what it takes to fight for Utah. I love this work. I love it. Im good at it. I love you. I love the state of Utah, she said.

During his remarks, Brown, who served as chief legal counsel to former Sens. Bob Bennett and Orrin Hatch, and who was an attorney at Sidley Austin LLP, referenced his endorsement from Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, who he called the countrys greatest senator.

Rachel Terry reacts after the attorney general race in which Frank Demcy Mylar won 59.76% of the votes and Terry won 40.24% of the votes, meaning they will both advance to the primary ballot, at the Utah Republican Party state nominating convention at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 27, 2024. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News

Lee endorsed Brown early on in the race. At Browns booth in the exposition hall before voting took place, Lee said he hoped Brown would become the Beehive States next attorney general because he had confidence that he would stand up to federal overreach. The Supreme Court appears likely to overturn a legal doctrine that says federal courts often need to defer to an agencys interpretation of some statutes, called Chevron deference. Lee said he supports Brown because he thinks hes the man to challenge federal overreach. We dont just need to get a lawyer, we need this lawyer because he brings a really unusual skill set and background.

Brown said if he was elected, he would focus on the issues that matter to Utahns including land and energy. He said due to the structure of the Supreme Court, Utah is primed to fight federal overreach and hes the man for the job.

Christensen, chief of staff and general counsel for OmniTeq, spoke first and pitched himself as the America First candidate. He said that if he is elected, he would be the greatest ally that former president Donald Trump has ever had.

Making his case, Christensen said he would do an electoral integrity audit on his first day in office if hes elected. Throughout the course of the election, this has been a point of emphasis for Christensen. He also said that he would work to secure the border.

Previously, Christensen was the executive director of the Senator Orrin G. Hatch Center for Civility and Solutions and was an associate at Ropes & Gray LLP. He was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar, but as of convention, is not licensed to practice law in Utah. In an exclusive statement previously given to the Deseret News, Christensen said he was taking the bar in July.

Brown, will appear on the primary ballot on June 25 along with Mylar and Terry.

Audience members react to the attorney general race in which Frank Demcy Mylar won 59.76% of the votes and Rachel Terry won 40.24% of the votes, meaning they will both advance to the primary ballot, at the Utah Republican Party state nominating convention at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 27, 2024. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News

Derek Brown, Attorney General candidate, speaks at the Utah Republican Party State Nominating Convention at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 27, 2024. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News

Rachel Terry reacts after the attorney general race in which Frank Demcy Mylar won 59.76% of the votes and Terry won 40.24% of the votes, meaning they will both advance to the primary ballot, at the Utah Republican Party state nominating convention at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 27, 2024. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News

Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes speaks at the Utah Republican Party state nominating convention at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 27, 2024. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
Florida GOP Rep. Bill Posey announced Friday that he would not be seeking re-election, joining a slew of other GOP lawmakers also not seeking re-election.

"It has been the greatest honor of Katies and my life to represent you in Congress. And, polls suggest that because of YOUR support, I could remain in the job forever, and we were looking forward to another spirited campaign for a final term in office," Posey said in a statement released. "However, earlier this week circumstances beyond my control now require me to suspend my re-election campaign."

"I will continue to devote all possible resources to continue representing you through the end of my current term, helping President Donald Trump return to the oval office, and supporting former Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos, in whom I have the greatest trust and confidence, to take up my battles against the swamp and replace me as your Congressman," Posey continued in the statement.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS EYE CRACKDOWN ON FAMILY-SPONSORED IMMIGRATION

The GOP representative then shared his endorsement of former Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos. Haridopolos announced his campaign on Friday, thanking Posey in a Facebook post announcing his run.

"It has been the greatest honor of Katies and my life to represent you in Congress. And, polls suggest that because of YOUR support, I could remain in the job forever, and we were looking forward to another spirited campaign for a final term in office," Posey said in a statement released.

"For many years, Mike has served as my Congressional Finance Committee Chairman, while I have mentored him to replace me. Mike was, and remains, my first choice to represent you, me, and our district in Congress," Posey said in the statement.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

EX-HOUSE REPUBLICAN WHO VOTED TO IMPEACH TRUMP DROPS MICHIGAN SENATE BID

"Without going into a lot of personal details, stars aligned during the past week, and Mike decided he was ready for Congress. I enthusiastically endorse him and will do everything I can to help him get elected," he continued.

Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos announced his campaign on Friday, thanking Posey in a Facebook post announcing his run.

"I wish to thank our incredible Congressman Bill Posey for his faithful service to our community, state, and nation. I will work every day to live up to his legacy of service and serve the people of District 8 with integrity and honor," Haridopolos said in a statement to Space Coast Daily upon his announcement.

Posey was first elected to Congress in 2008 and worked in the Florida State Legislature for 18 years prior. The Florida Republican was a supporter of former President Donald Trump.

He recently voted against the foreign aid package supported by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson as well as the FISA renewal earlier this month.

"Our nation is facing an unprecedented border security crisis and a crippling national debt putting undue strain on our cities and jeopardizing the safety and security of Americans," Posey said in a statement after voting against the foreign aid package. "Defending our borders and balancing our budget should be THE top priority in Washington. Ive voted against 99% of all spending over the past four years because those bills failed to secure our border. The American people expect Washington to put America first."





Original article source: GOP Rep. Bill Posey won't seek re-election, endorses former Florida Senate President as replacement
Governor Ron DeSantis on Friday signed 28 bills into law, addressing a spectrum of issues ranging from enhancing transparency in artificial intelligence-driven political advertisements to the regulation of vape products.

One of the key bills signed by Governor DeSantis (HB 919) mandates disclaimers on certain political ads produced using artificial intelligence. This move aims to improve transparency in political messaging by requiring ads utilizing AI-generated content to include a disclaimer indicating they have been generated and may not be accurate information.

READ: Florida House passes bill requiring AI-generated political ads to include disclaimer

In a parallel move, SB 1680 was also signed into law, establishing an advisory council within the Department of Management Services tasked with guiding the Legislature on emerging technologies, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence.

The Governor also took action on matters of public health, signing HB 1007 into law, which targets vape and e-cigarette products marketed toward minors.

This bill provides Attorney General Ashley Moody with the authority to pursue illegal manufacturers and sellers of electronic cigarettes, particularly focusing on single-use devices such as vapes. Additionally, it allows for the establishment of a registry of prohibited vape products following an administrative review process.

These bills passed during the legislative session ending on March 8.

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
VELIKO TURNOVO, Bulgaria, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The Bulgarian leg of the 17th "Chinese Bridge" -- Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students, was held here Saturday.

Seventeen-year-old Raya Popova from the Vasil Levski secondary school in Ruse emerged as the champion and she will proceed to the final round in China.

There are 12 contestants from five secondary schools demonstrated their language skills at the competition, which was co-organized by the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria, the Confucius Institute at the University of Veliko Turnovo and the Confucius Institute in Sofia.

Popova told Xinhua that she has been studying Chinese for almost three years and it was her third time partaking in the "Chinese Bridge" contest. "I have never been to China and I dreamed of going there," she said excitedly.

Wang Min, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria said that the "Chinese Bridge" competition was an influential international event.

Likening it to an "Olympics" for Chinese language learners around the world, she said, hundreds of millions of people worldwide tuned in to watch the competition each year.

It also functions as an important platform to promote exchanges and cooperation among Chinese language learners from different countries, Wang noted.

Neyko Genchev, deputy mayor of Veliko Turnovo, a city located in northern Bulgaria, has described the "Chinese Bridge" as "a bridge of trust."

Meanwhile, associate professor Anna Ivanova of the University of Veliko Turnovo (UVT) emphasized that Chinese language carried a profound spiritual tradition and a wealth of wisdom.

Therefore, learning Chinese language would remain a top priority at UVT, the vice-rector of UVT added. 
MILFORD TOWNSHIP, PIKE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  A man is charged after state police said he killed his 67-year-old grandmother because he believed she was the devil.

According to the Pennsylvania State Police-Blooming Grove Friday around 11:49 a.m. police charged 28-year-old George F. Sisco with the homicide of his grandmother in their home in Milford Township.

The criminal complaint states first responders were dispatched to the scene of an interior fire at a home in Milford Township, dispatchers said a second call came in and advised officers of a domestic disturbance at the scene as well.

Upon arrival, state police said after firefighters made entry to extinguished the fire they found a body on the floor in the kitchen area.

State police said Sisco was on the scene covered in blood and when asked twice he responded the second time with She was the devil I had to do it.

Man allegedly stashes gun in public area

When investigators said they spoke with Sisco he told officers for the past seven months he believed his grandmother was the devil.

Sisco said Friday morning he witnessed his grandmother putting flea medication on the cat which to his beliefs was poisoning it, court documents state.

Court documents explained when Sisco saw her doing that he said he had to take action so he began striking her in the back of the head with a closed fist.

Sisco told investigators as stated in court documents he realized that was not working he began slashing her neck with a knife until he placed his hand on her heart and realized she was still alive.

The affidavit explained when Sisco realized her heart was still beating he took a knife and began stabbing her in the chest.

Offices said Sisco told officers he read the bible on how to kill the devil and that you must use the holy spirit and fire. Sisco lit a rag and placed it on his body when it initially did not spread he began to recite a prayer over the body and the fire then spread throughout the victims upper body, as explained in court documents.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
A panel of experts spoke against Enbridge's plans to build a tunnel for the Line 5 pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac during a panel in Traverse City on April 24, 2024.

TRAVERSE CITY  On Wednesday night, more than 100 people tuned in virtually while dozens filed into the Alluvion in Traverse City for a program regarding Enbridge Energys Line 5.

A panel of speakers addressed the crowd during the event, which was aimed at rejecting Enbridges oil tunnel plans.

Moderated by Ashley Rudzinski, Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities' climate and environment program director, the panelists each spoke about their expertise on the topic and why they oppose the operation of Line 5 and the building of a tunnel through the Straits of Mackinac.

More: DOJ weighs in on Line 5 trespass on tribal land in Wisconsin

Line 5 is a pipeline that was built in 1953, transporting crude oil and natural gas liquids through a 645 mile-long route that runs from Superior, Wisconsin, through the Straits of Mackinac before ending in Sarnia, Ontario.

The discussion held Wednesday night primarily concerned the 4 miles of the pipeline that crosses through the straits.

Rudzinski introduced the panel and the background for the discussion, which came following the Michigan Public Service Commissions December approval of Enbridges 2020 request to replace and relocate the segment of Line 5 that runs through the Straits of Mackinac into a tunnel beneath the straits. The approval is being appealed.

A panel of experts spoke against Enbridge's plans to build a tunnel for the Line 5 pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac during a panel in Traverse City on April 24, 2024.

Sean McBrearty, operations director for Oil and Water Dont Mix, is an advocate for shutting down Line 5. During the meeting, he spoke about the history of Line 5 and Enbridge.

McBrearty said the fight to shut down Line 5 really started after the 2010 Kalamazoo oil spill, when a failure in Enbridges Line 6B burst and flowed into Talmadge Creek.

Environmental advocates have expressed concerns about the devastating risk of a rupture in the straits. On the other side, proponents of the pipeline point to the economic impact and need for fuel transportation.

McBrearty added that he feels the commissions that have been making decisions regarding the tunnel proposal have not done a thorough enough review of the proposal, and claimed the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy only looked at the northern and southern shores, rather than the area the tunnel would actually run through. He also noted that one plan's approval is contingent upon reviewing Enbridges data, rather than having a study conducted themselves.

We are at a real risk of this project being permitted with nobody actually reviewing the plans, McBrearty said.

More: As legal sparring continues, Army Corps pushes Line 5 permit timeline to 2025

Next, Dan Bock, assistant attorney general, spoke to the crowd about the litigation that is in process and has been for what is now coming up on five years.

In summer 2019, Attorney General Dana Nessel filed a lawsuit against Enbridge arguing that:

The easement agreement and the pipelines location in the bottomlands of the Staits of Mackinac violates the public trust doctrine and that the easement was never valid,

The location of the pipeline creates a common law public nuisance and violates the Michigan Environmental Protection Act,

To get the case back into state courts where motions have been filed since 2020 and awaiting decision.

Brian OMara, a geological engineer and tunnel expert, addressed the crowd next to discuss his four hours of expert testimony on the Michigan Public Service Commission case and the more than 500 hours he has spent reviewing the plans.

Tunneling beneath open water  people have been trying it for hundreds of years. It is the most complicated, most challenging, difficult thing we can do on Earth, OMara said. It may sound simple, but it is not.

He said he became an expert very quickly on learning about methane levels in tunnels because he has worked in them for 35 years. He spoke about a 2017 study that was needed in order to get approval for a Line 5 tunnel, and that Enbridge originally said they did not anticipate that there would be methane or toxic gases.

Well, Enbridge found it, he said. They tried to downplay it, they tried to ignore it.

The original plan included backfilling the tunnel with concrete, which would support the tunnel, and help prevent explosions and floods.

He alleges the company has little to no experience in tunnels, and different concerns are being ignored.

They dont know what theyre doing, and they dont know that they dont know what theyre doing, and they wont listen to people who do know what theyre doing, OMara said. That combination of ignorance and arrogance is really dangerous.

Executive Director of the Michigan Climate Action Network Denise Keele spoke next, talking about climate change and the burning of fossil fuels.

The real danger of this in my mind, and for the Michigan Climate Action Network, and I hope for all of you, is that this is not safe because greenhouse gases are not safe and we are in a climate emergency, she said.

She said the burning of fossil fuels is contributing to rising temperatures, leading to historic high temperatures, last summers Canadian wildfire season, and dam failures in the state.

Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our local coverage

The final speaker was Holly Bird, a Traverse City-based lawyer, water protector and Indigenous activist, who spoke about tribal sovereignty in cases like this one.

She spoke about different treaties providing support to tribes, and said that Enbridge already violated treaties by putting in the pipelines. She said there are meant to be consultations with the tribes that will be affected when you cross or abrogate any kind of right a tribe may have.

When the pipeline was put through originally, that consultation never happened, Bird said.

She also spoke about the Department of Justices recent decision stating Enbridge is trespassing on the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewas land, who declined to renew an easement that expired more than a decade ago.

This is dangerous. This is dangerous for all of us, Bird said. We know that because water is precious, we know that because air is precious, and our climate is precious. But in these cases what Enbridge is asking the court to do is completely ignore the rights of all of you. Not just us this time, but its all of you and all of us.

An Enbridge monitoring station tracking the Line 5 oil pipeline passing through the Straits of Mackinac.

In an email statement, Enbridge spokesman Ryan Duffy said "Enbridge is investing in a cleaner energy future and the transportation systems that deliver energy resources safely, affordably and reliably."

"Our commitment to protecting the Great Lakes continues to drive our work to build the Great Lakes Tunnel, deactivating the section of Line 5 that currently sits in the waters of the straits and locating a replacement section inside the confines of the tunnel, deep under the lakebed," he added. "We remain fiercely committed to protecting the natural resources of Michigan and the Great Lakes region, and to building the Great Lakes Tunnel. We have been pursuing permits for the construction of the tunnel since 2020 and currently hold permits from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy and the Michigan Public Service Commission. We await a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers."

Duffy also noted that "The Great Lakes Tunnel for Line 5 at the straits makes what has always been a safe pipeline even safer, ensuring energy access and reliability, and supporting jobs and the economy throughout the Great Lakes region. Building the Great Lakes Tunnel has the support of 70 percent of Michiganders."

Duffy also countered some points made during the panel, including:

"Tunnels are used safely every day across the globe. The Great Lakes Tunnel will conform to all approved tunnel specifications and will be subject to environmental reviews. We will continue to work with the Straits Corridor Authority, which has oversight responsibility and with permitting agencies. We will continue to use industry leading expertise, and the tunnel will be built to stand the test of time. We are partnering with world-class firms on the Great Lakes Tunnel Project. The expertise of these firms has shaped the design and engineering process."

"The geology is not known to have gas. The tunnel lining has a double gasket, reducing the infiltration of any gases as well as water. While the geology is not known to have gas, OSHAs requirements will be adhered to for construction in a potentially gassy atmosphere. This will include continuous monitoring of atmospheric conditions within the tunnel during construction, including fixed monitoring points on the TBM."

 Contact reporter Karly Graham at kgraham@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KarlyGrahamJRN.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Groundwork hosts panel forum to discuss Line 5 tunnel project
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. (Photo by Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner)

Can a group of strangers 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.

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.

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 & 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 Dr. 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.

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. (Photo by Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner)

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.

University of Wisconsin-Madison obstetrics and gynecology professor Jenny Higgins presents U.S. reproductive health data to the Wisconsin 14 on day one of the Wisconsin Citizen Solutions on Abortion & Family Well-Being, Dec. 8, 2023. (Photo by Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner)

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 Can a group of strangers find common ground on one of the most divisive issues in America? appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Guatemalan authorities raided the offices of the NGO Save the Children on Thursday citing complaints over the treatment of Guatemalan children in Texas, the countrys public prosecutor told CNN.

The raid was carried out by authorities from the Special Public Prosecutor Against Impunity and the Civil Police, government lawyers said, after an investigation was opened into the treatment of migrant children in Texas shelters.

The Public Prosecutor received a complaint referencing and highlighting incidents regarding Guatemalan children and teenagers being subject to vulnerabilities in shelters in Texas, connected with a network which [involves] NGOs that operate in the United States and Guatemala, a spokesperson for the Public Prosecutors Office, Juan Luis Pantaleon, said.

Pantaleon said the raid was to gather information for the investigation. It included document searches and seizures, the prosecutors office said on X.

The complaint was filed in Guatemala but authorities requested the help of the Texas Attorney Generals Office since some of the shelters allegedly involved are located there.

Save the Children, a British organization that helps minors in disasters and humanitarian crises, said in a statement that it was not given any specific accusation and there is no evidence that support any accusation of improper conduct.

It added that the organization does not facilitate - and we never have - any transfer of children or teenagers out of Guatemala.

Save the Children also said that it answers to the UKs Charity Commission, which has its books audited annually.

The Guatemalan Prosecutor for Impunity, Rafael Curruchiche, said the case is transnational and of great transcendence, involving several organizations.

Curruchiche himself was sanctioned by the European Council last February with asset freezes and listed among those responsible for undermining democracy, the rule of law, and the peaceful transfer of power in Guatemala.

He is among other Central American officials who have been sanctioned with visa denial or cancellation for allegedly undermining democracy and the rule of law, including obstructing corruption investigations and raising spurious claims against other officials, according to a 2022 Report to Congress by the US Department of State.

Curruchiche has not responded to several requests for comment by CNN, but at the time he said to local media that he did not care about Washingtons sanctions and called the EU measures laughable.

Guatemalas current President Bernardo Arevalo, an anti-corruption figure who defied the odds and won the election last year in a landslide, has promised to empower the judiciary.

He has, however, been constrained by the Guatemalan prosecutors office  led by US-sanctioned Attorney General Consuelo Porras  that has made two requests to withdraw his immunity and is accused of attempting to disqualify the results of his election.

Guatemalas Attorney Generals Office hasnt responded to CNNs multiple requests for response to this accusation.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Authorities are investigating after a gunshot wound victim was found dead in southeast Columbus on Thursday.

Investigators responded to Noe Bixby Road and Carbondale Drive at 2:22 p.m. on Thursday after report of a suspicious death, according to the Columbus Division of Police. A female victim, who has not been identified, was pronounced dead at the scene.

An autopsy performed on Friday determined the victim was killed by a gunshot wound.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Investigators are working to identify the victim and determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Columbus police at 614-645-4730.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Former President Donald Trump returns from a break in his trial at the Manhattan criminal court in New York, Friday, April 26, 2024. | Jeenah Moon

Former President Donald Trumps hush money trial continued for the eighth day, as the case resumed Friday at Manhattan criminal court.

According to The Hill, David Pecker, the former CEO of American Media Inc.  the parent company of the National Enquirer  was questioned for the fourth day in a row. On the stand, the former publisher has spoken about alleged agreements made between Trump and Michael Cohen, Trumps previous lawyer, during the former presidents 2016 campaign.

Also, Judge Juan Merchan is weighing whether or not Trump violated a gag order by allegedly attacking other witnesses on social media. And in a recent update posted by Yahoo, the hearing for the gag order has been rescheduled for May 2.

Trump is currently facing 34 felony counts, wrote The Hill.

What is the hush money trial?

The case, per the Deseret News, revolves around Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg accusing the former president of creating false business records linked to a $130,000 payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to allegedly keep her from speaking out about a relationship. Cohen allegedly organized the payments prior to the 2016 presidential election.

Cohen and Daniels are both witnesses for the prosecution in the trial, reported the Deseret News.

In addition, the trial involves an alleged discussion between the former president and Cohen about a $150,000 hush money payment to former Playboy model Karen McDougal. The model alleged she had a relationship with Trump, but he has denied such claims, according to a timeline by CNN.

Trump, who has been charged with 34 felony counts, has denied wrongdoing. Im the leading candidate ... and this is what theyre trying to take me off the trail for. Checks being paid to a lawyer, he said to The Associated Press on Monday. Its a case as to bookkeeping, which is a very minor thing.

But Im in a courthouse for a rigged trial. Its a rigged trial  terrible, the former president told reporters about the case, per The Hill.

Whats been claimed in the trial?

During hours of testimony, Pecker spoke of a catch and kill method in which he allegedly agreed to purchase the rights of stories unfavorable to Trumps 2016 presidential campaign  as a way to prevent them from going public, reported CBS News.

Matthew Colangelo, senior counsel to Bragg, argued that Pecker and Dylan Howard  the editor of the National Enquirer at the time  utilized the strategy to make Trump appear more favorable to voters. This was a planned, coordinated, long-running conspiracy to influence the 2016 election to help Donald Trump get elected, Colangelo told the jury on Monday, previously shared by the Deseret News. It was election fraud, pure and simple.

Trumps attorney Emil Bove said the 2016 arrangement was a standard operating procedure, according to Yahoo.

Prior to entering the courtroom on Friday, Trump spoke to the press about missing the birthday of his wife, Melania. It would be nice to be with her, he said, per The Hill.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges. If convicted, some experts told USA Today that a sentence could range from probation to up to four years of incarceration.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after returning to New York City from upstate prison

Harvey Weinstein, the former movie mogul and convicted sex offender, has been hospitalised in New York City, his lawyer said on Saturday.

Arthur Aidala, an appellate lawyer for Weinstein, told The Associated Press that Weinstein was moved to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan after he was transported to the city jails from a prison in upstate New York.

They examined him and sent him to Bellevue. It seems like he needs a lot of help, physically. Hes got a lot of problems. Hes getting all kinds of tests. Hes somewhat of a train wreck health wise, Mr Aidala said.

The news comes just days after a New York appeals court vacated his rape conviction after finding the trial judge made egregious errors by allowing prosecutors to call witnesses whose allegations were not related to the charges at hand.

Weinstein was moved from Mohawk Correction Facility, located approximately 35 miles from Syracuse, to Rikers Island on Friday afternoon after his 23-year prison sentencing was vacated.

The 72-year-old will remain in custody due to his 2022 Los Angeles rape conviction.

Harvey Weinstein, pictured walking into the Manhattan Criminal Court in 2020 ahead of his conviction, still faces a 16-year sentence in California (AFP via Getty Images)

It is unclear what health issues Mr Aidala was referring to specifically. He told AP that Weinsteins ailments were physical, not mental, adding that his client is sharp as a tack.

Weinsteins lawyers previously said he suffers from sleep apnea, cardiac issues, diabetes and eye problems.

He was not treated well. They refused to give him even a sip of water, no food, no bathroom break, Mr Aidala said. Hes a 72-year-old sickly man.

According to the lawyer, doctors at Bellevue will run tests on Weinstein before he returns to Rikers.

The movie mogul is slated to appear in Manhattan Criminal Court on Wednesday.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized for testing after return to New York jail

Ex-movie mogul Harvey Weinstein was hospitalized for a bevy of tests after returning to a New York jail shortly after the states highest court overturned his 2020 rape and sexual assault conviction, according to his attorney.

Weinsteins 2020 conviction was overturned in New Yorks Court of Appeals in a 4-3 decision, citing a judicial error by Judge James Burke for allowing women to testify who were not part of the case against the former movie producer.

The NYC Department of Corrections determined that Mr. Weinstein needed immediate medical attention. A myriad of tests are being performed on Harvey and he is being kept for observation. We are all grateful for the professionalism of the Department, Weinsteins lawyer Arthur Aidala told The Hill.

The New York City Department of Correction spokesperson told The Hill that Weinstein remains in custody at Bellevue Hospital.

The Hill has reached out to Bellevue Hospital for comment.

The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision spokesperson told the AP that Weinstein was transferred to the New York City Department of Correction in accordance with the ruling after being at a Mohawk Correctional Facility, a state prison.

Weinstein served a 23-year sentence. He was found guilty of third-degree rape and criminal sexual act following the allegations about him that came up in 2017, igniting the #MeToo movement.

The appeals court said on Thursday that Burkes entry of untested allegations did not provide credibility to the criminal charges and damaged the ex-movie moguls character.

Following Thursdays decision, a retrial was ordered. Weinstein stayed in custody due to his 2022 conviction involving rape where he was sentenced to 16 years in jail.

Updated at 9:53 p.m. EST.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Hays CISD to buy 30 new school buses, retrofit old buses for student safety

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN)  New school buses and added bus seatbelts are coming to the Hays Consolidated Independent School District.

At its Monday meeting, the Hays CISD board of trustees unanimously approved the $4.7 million purchase of 30 new school buses, which will have seatbelts. The board also approved about $397,000 to retrofit seatbelts on 13 older school buses.

PREVIOUS: Hays CISD speeds up bus replacement, identifies student who died in Friday crash

The accelerated bus purchases and added seatbelts come after a deadly crash involving a Hays CISD school bus in March. The crash killed one Hays prekindergarten student and the driver of a car behind the bus.

The Hays school bus involved did not have seatbelts. The district previously said this bus was a 2011 model, which predated a 2017 state law requiring seat belts on school buses.

RELATED: Hays CISD bus in rollover crash did not have seat belts

Max Cleaver, the districts chief of operations, said the 2025 model buses will arrive in about 12 months. The buses will likely be delivered over several weeks. The new buses will be funded from the 2023 voter-approved bond.

Cleaver said the district hopes to install the retrofitted seatbelts before the next school year.

In a letter to Hays CISD families, the district said it will have more buses arriving soon and in the coming months in addition to the bus purchase approved Monday. A district spokesperson also said every bus used on regular routes will have seatbelts as of this week.

Previously, the district said it would accelerate its bus replacement cycle to have a bus fleet fully equipped with seatbelts at the absolute soonest possible date.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
CHENGDU, April 27 (Xinhua) -- A pair of giant pandas will be sent to the San Diego Zoo in the United States to start a 10-year international giant panda protection cooperation, said the China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA) Saturday.

It marks a new round of giant panda protection cooperation between the two countries after the CWCA and the zoo signed a cooperation agreement recently.

Yun Chuan, male, and Xin Bao, female, have been selected from the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) and will be accompanied by experienced breeders and veterinarians to the United States.

The CCRCGP has conducted scientific research cooperation with the San Diego Zoo for over 25 years, with fruitful results in the protection, breeding, disease control of giant pandas and related public education.

In May 2019, two giant pandas returned to China after staying in the San Diego Zoo for years. 
Last week, students at Columbia University set up an encampment on the campus green to protest Israels war in Gaza, kicking off what would quickly become a national mobilization of student activists.

Similar encampments and demonstrations at more than 50 other colleges erupted this week against the Israeli offensive, which has killed over 34,000 people in Gaza, caused famine and displaced most of the population.

Online, scenes of peaceful solidarity were quickly intertwined with reports of mass arrests, punditry and misinformation. More than 100 demonstrators were arrested at Columbias demonstration, and more than 500 have been arrested nationwide as of Friday, according to Axios and The New York Times.

Heres a breakdown of what the pro-Palestine protesters want to see from their colleges and the response to these protests.

Divestment From Companies Funding Israel

One of the top demands that students across the country have is for their universities to divest from companies linked to Israel or businesses which profit off of its war with Hamas  and, by proxy, the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians, they argue.

Im a member of this community, and I dont want this particular community to be profiting from apartheid, from war, from genocide, Ariela Rosenzweig, a senior at Brown University, told The New York Times.

Several colleges have refused or ignored this demand.

In a statement, American University president Sylvia Burwell rejected calls to end investments and partnerships with Israel, claiming that such actions threaten academic freedom, the respectful free expression of ideas and views, and the values of inclusion and belonging that are central to our community.

Harvards interim president, Alan Garber, told student newspaper the Harvard Crimson that the university staunchly opposes calls for it to divest from Israel and will not entertain such demands.

Colleges and universities receive large endowments that are spread across an array of investments and assets. According to USA Today, the biggest university endowments in the U.S. total nearly $50 billion and make up thousands of funds. Columbia University holds a spot among the top 15 largest endowments in the country, with more than $13 billion.

Colleges are required to report gifts and contracts from foreign sources to the Department of Education. The department found that about 100 colleges and universities in the U.S. have reported $375 million in gifts or contracts from Israel over the past two decades, the Associated Press reported.

Students are calling for transparency on these investments, as well as divestment from Israeli weapon manufacturers and other companies that are profiting from the war in Gaza.

Some colleges, such as Brown University, say they already refuse some Israel investments, such as in Israeli arms manufacturers, though protesters there want them to divest further.

During House Speaker Mike Johnsons (R-La.) address at Columbia University this week condemning the protests, students emphasized their commitment to the demand by chanting Disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest, CNN reported.

Similar calls for colleges to divest from certain companies in the past have yielded results. For example, in the 1980s during the South African anti-apartheid movement, more than 150 colleges divested from companies that did business with South Africa, per the New York Times.

Transparency On Ties To Israel

Several students have called for greater transparency on their colleges financial ties to get a better sense of their overall investment in Israel.

BlackRock, the worlds largest asset manager, has been scrutinized for its holdings in weapons manufacturers by students at the University of California, Berkeley and Columbia University, who believe that their colleges should divest from it, The New York Times reported.

Students are also demanding that their schools sever academic ties with Israel. For example, students from Columbia University and New York University are both demanding the end of their schools respective Tel Aviv programs.

Denouncement Of Genocide, Call For Cease-fire

Student protesters across the country are calling for Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territory and for their colleges to show support for a cease-fire. The United States, a staunch ally of Israel, has repeatedly voted against a widely supported cease-fire resolution put before the U.N.

Israel and its allies have argued that it has the right to defend itself against Hamas through a military offensive. But a United Nations human rights report last month argued that Israel is committing a genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

Students have called for their colleges to openly denounce the assault in Gaza as a genocide.

We would like Northeastern [University] to denounce the genocide that is happening in Palestine. We think that would be a very powerful gesture from the university, and we think it would be very in line with the universitys values, August Escandon, a senior at Northeastern University, told NBC Boston.

The Response

Most of the protests thus far have been peaceful, Al Jazeera and CNN reported. But colleges have cracked down hard on encampments and demonstrations, arguing the protests endanger students safety, particularly that of Jewish students.

Heavily armored police have been sent in to arrest the protestors on some campuses.

One video captured from the protest at Emory University shows a professor being violently arrested, as police slamming her head into the concrete while tying her hands behind her back.

And on Saturday morning, Northeastern University police and other local law enforcement officers cleared the encampments on the campus.

In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), the school said the student demonstration was infiltrated by professional organizers with no affiliation to Northeastern and that virulent antisemitic slurs and the phrase kill the Jews were used at the protest.

Video footage from the protest shows a counter-protester holding an Israeli flag saying, kill the Jews, as corroborated by a reporter for a local news outlet, though its not clear if this is the incident the Northeastern statement refers to. The crowd booed and asked the person to leave. (Northeastern did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the protests.)

Many pro-Palestine student groups  which often also include Jewish students and organizations  have come forward to denounce antisemitism and affirm that the individuals making such inflammatory remarks dont represent their groups or their values concerning the war in Gaza, ABC News reported.

At universities across the nation, our movement is united in valuing every human life, Columbia University Apartheid Divest, one of the groups that protested, wrote in a statement. As a diverse group united by love and justice, we demand our voices be heard against the mass slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza.

Jewish students who have joined pro-Palestinian efforts have warned the dangers of conflating criticisms of Israel to antisemitism or labeling all pro-Palestinian protestors antisemitic. The progressive group Jewish Voice for Peace has argued that such assumptions are dangerous and actively harms both Palestinian and Jewish students.

We build a new community, and as we built it, we committed to fighting all forms of oppression together, knowing that antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, in particular racism against Arabs and Palestinians, are all cut from the same cloth, Barnard student protester Soph Askanase said at a press conference last week.

At the press conference, a Columbia student said, regarding student safety concerns, that theres a difference between feeling unsafe and uncomfortable.

Those two are not always the same thing, the student said, adding that protestors have had peaceful and cordial conversations with Israeli Jewish students who dont agree with their movement. We open our encampment to everyone. What we dont allow is people who are coming in who will harass people, who will spew hatred.

Some politicians and groups, such as Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) and the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, have expressed support for students protesting on their college campuses this week, and have called out aggressive responses from police.

Johnson suggested in his address at Columbia University that the president might need to call in the National Guard to end the encampments.

The White House, for its part, has condemned antisemitic comments at protests.

But students have no intention of backing down, and have vowed to continue advocating for Palestine through demonstrations in the upcoming weeks. At institutions such as Emerson College in Boston, the student government also voted for their president to resign due to encampment arrests, as did California State Polytechnic University, Humboldts senate of faculty and staff.

Meanwhile, administrators and protesters at some colleges began negotiating demands, and students are refusing to leave until theyre met.

We have amazing students who support the Palestinian liberation movement and want to see a free Palestine. This movement is very big and its only growing every day, one Columbia protestor said at a press conference. We are not going anywhere until our demands are met.

Related...
SAN DIEGO (KUSI)  Dozens of U.S. military veterans took off for Washington, D.C. on Friday for a historic honor flight.

The flight commemorated the contributions of U.S. Navy Special Warfare Operators, now known as Navy SEALs. According to organizers, this flight marks the first time in the 19-year history of the Honor Flight Network that a trip was dedicated entirely to these servicemembers.

They will tour D.C. memorials built in their honor, as well as other attractions during the three-day trip.

Watch Ed Lendermans report for KUSI in the video player above.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
A tornado touches down near the edge of northeast Lincoln, near 84th Street and Cornhusker Highway. April 26, 2024. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)

WAVERLY, Nebraska  A wave of at least six tornadoes that local meteorologists called historic swept across eastern Nebraska on Friday, flattening a business, flipping a train and destroying dozens of suburban homes near Omaha.

But as of late Friday, officials had confirmed no serious injuries or deaths from some of the worst storms to hit the Omaha area since the May 1975 tornadoes that killed three people, injured hundreds and tore through an area near 72nd and Pacific Streets.

A funnel cloud forms in northeast Lincoln on Friday. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

Taylor Nicolaisen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Valley, said Friday was the most tornado warnings the service had ever issued in a single day, at least 41. The previous record was May 12, 2023, with 33 warnings.

Preliminary reports showed potentially record force for a metro area from the tornadoes that hit Douglas County, meteorologists said. But people will need to verify damage on the ground before classifying tornadoes capable of being stronger than an EF-3.

This is pretty historic, he said. For people who worry about this type of thing, this was a once-in-lifetime event. This only happens every few decades. But it could still be deadly and dangerous tomorrow.

Stay out of damaged areas

Douglas County reported dozens of damaged homes in the Elkhorn and Bennington areas. Waterloo also saw significant damage. Authorities urged people to stay away from the affected areas to allow first responders to do their work. Some residents reported minor injuries.

County Sheriff Aaron Hanson urged people in the damaged areas to understand the risks they are taking if they go.

These areas are dangerous. Even if you dont see emergency crews actively working in that area, these areas are still dangerous, he said. There could be objects or infrastructure that could injure or kill you.

In Omaha, Eppley Airfield reported significant damage to the private plane air service side of Eppley and some damage to airport facilities, but not to the terminal that handles commercial flights, which were still operating.

At least 7,000 customers of the Omaha Public Power District were still without power late Friday, mainly because of storm damage to six transmission lines and power poles and lines throughout the area. Local hospitals were open and accepting patients.

Damage still being tallied

Katrina Sperl of the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, which collects and confirms damage and injury reports statewide, said NEMA received reports of building and house damage in Sherman and Greeley Counties, along with downed power poles.

Minor damage was reported in Boone, Buffalo, Butler, Howard, Platte and Nance Counties. Washington County was still assessing its damages late Friday, emergency management officials said.

Call 211 with questions

Storm-affected Nebraskans with a need for services, help or answers to questions that are not emergencies can call 211. Authorities urged people to call 911 only for emergencies.

Lancaster County reported at least 12 homes damaged and minor injuries in the Waverly area, where a 31-car train was derailed by a tornado and the same storm system caused a total building collapse of an industrial building housing Garner Industries.

Three people were injured in the collapse, but Lancaster County officials expected all to recover. Seventy people were working inside the manufacturers facility at the time. Garner does plastic injection molding work.

Lincoln saw tornadoes touch down in the southwest, and at the northwestern edge of the city. Examiner reporters saw at least two funnels touch down just west of Waverly, near 84th Street and Cornhusker Highway, including one that toppled the train.

BNSF told 10/11 News that none of its crew members were injured and no chemicals or substances were spilled that would require specialized cleanup or hazardous materials teams.

Pillen offering update Saturday

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen plans to update Nebraskans at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Douglas County Sheriffs Office. He said he has ordered that state resources be made available to assist with the emergency response and to support local first responders.

Nebraskans are tough, resilient people, and our neighbors and communities will rally around affected families and businesses to assist them, he said. Nebraskans are no strangers to severe weather and  will help Nebraskans to rebuild.

A second round of severe weather could come Saturday, with Nicolaisen and others warning of a significant chance of tornadoes and hail, this time mainly south of Interstate 80. He urged people to heed warning systems that saved lives Friday.

The post Historic Nebraska tornadoes, storms leave damage in their wake appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
HO-HO-KUS  Tests taken earlier this month after the borough's $3.7 million water treatment system upgrade indicate "below detectable levels" of chemical contaminants ahead of the May 23 deadline, Mayor Thomas Randall announced Thursday.

The announcement is posted on the borough website, hhkborough.com, and will be mailed to residents.

"We are happy to announce that the Department of Environmental Protection has been on site and has given their final approvals to close out the remediation portion of the project on April 18," Randall said. "While a few cosmetic and punch-list items remain to be completed, the water quality portion is complete."

Ho-Ho-Kus was one of seven Bergen County municipalities, and 34 across the state, cited in January 2022 by the DEP for excessive levels of "forever chemicals" known as PFAS in their water systems, including perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA.

One of four PFAS treatment facilities in Ho-Ho-Kus.

Other Bergen County entities cited include Garfield, Mahwah, Oakland, Park Ridge, Waldwick and Ridgewood Water, which serves Ridgewood, Wyckoff, Glen Rock and Midland Park. Depending on the severity of contamination, municipalities were given varying deadlines for compliance with the new maximum levels.

Ho-Ho-Kus Business Administrator William Jones said the project was financed with a $3.7 million loan from the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank. Because the borough was ready to close on the loan before July 1, 2023, "we were able to qualify for $1 million in loan forgiveness off the top of the loan," Jones said, so the cost after anticipated forgiveness is $2.7 million.

The borough is part of a larger group in multi-district litigation against 3M and Dupont, which are accused of being the sources of the contaminants.

NATIONAL STANDARDS EPA announces new drinking water standards. How could NJ water systems be affected?

The borough is serviced by five wells. Four received on-site treatment, Jones said. The borough did not need to purchase supplemental water from Veolia North America to keep its contaminant numbers down during remediation, he said. The fifth well is pumped to one of the other four for treatment.

The announcement did not give specific numbers for the April test results, saying only that "none of these contaminates can be found at the parts per trillion standard" set by New Jersey, and earlier this month by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The borough's August 2021 tests results reported varying parts per billion of perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, at the four sites.

The DEP's April test results for Ho-Ho-Kus are posted on its website.

"We would like to thank the residents for their patience during this time," Randall said. "This work has resulted in the best possible outcome for our residents."

Randall said questions should be directed to Jones at 201-652-4400, ext. 231, or jonesw@Ho-Ho-Kusboro.com.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Ho-Ho-Kus NJ meets DEP water rules ahead of schedule
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A married couple in Aurora say they are on the verge of losing their house due to what they describe as delayed unemployment insurance payments.

Its just the latest chapter in a saga KOIN 6 News has been investigating in recent weeks involving dozens of people reporting similar issues  and unable to get ahold of anyone for help  seemingly ever since the Oregon Employment Department merged their U.I. system to a new website, Frances Online. In some instances, people told us they only got paid after one of our news reports that highlighted their case went public.

KOIN 6 also received an update from OED saying in part that Frances Online is working but other factors could contribute to delays, such as when investigations are necessary when individuals quit or are fired, rather than being laid off. An OED spokesperson also told KOIN 6 a downturn in federal funding has led to OED having a smaller staff than in the past, and less employees available to take calls, an issue that predates the new site launch.

Drug crisis devastates small-town Oregon

Laurie Boyce and Lowell Boyce told KOIN 6 theyve gotten unemployment benefits in the past in a matter of days after applying. But when Lowell was let go from the sawmill where he worked more recently, it seemed to be taking a lot longer  more than they could take  with bills piling up and contributing to stress for the couple. Laurie said shes convinced it has to do with the new site launch.

Now their home payments hang in the balance. Should they be unable to make those payments, we would be homeless, Laurie said.

Laurie said theyve tried to call OED but got put on hold for hours only for it to be dropped. Boyces husband even went to an OED office in person, with representatives telling him he was doing everything right. Now theyre wondering why he hasnt received the money his family needs so desperately.

Portland-area shops to support during Independent Bookstore Day

As part of OEDs response to KOIN 6s inquiry, they said they couldnt comment on Boyces specific case. However, they did offer some alternative reasons why people, in general, might be experiencing delays as of late, including lack of federal funding leading to less staff and the need for lengthier investigations in some cases.

OED Communications Director Rebeka Gipson-King told KOIN 6 in part:

Regarding the length of time, this depends on the complexity of the claim. Some claims can be approved very quickly, like when someone is laid off due to no fault of their own. Others, such as when someone quits their job or is fired, take longer because we have to do an investigation to see if they are eligible. This has no relation to Frances and everything to do with the amount of people we have to do these investigations.

[] OED is receiving less federal funding, which has led to a significant drop in our workforce, which has led to not enough people to process claims, investigate them, and answer the phones. [] This was a problem before we launched Frances Online, but the launch has certainly drawn more attention to it. The online system is working.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  Leaders of South Carolinas third largest school district will cast a wide net as they look to replace outgoing superintendent Rick Maxey.

Horry County Schools Board of Education on Monday likely will retain a national search firm for both an interim and permanent superintendent, according to an item on its agenda.

The board is also expected to vote on a modification to Maxeys contract to facilitate his retirement.

Maxey has led the 48,0000-student district since 2015 and is under contract through 2027. But he notified board members earlier this month that hes ready to end his 35-year education career.

As I retire, I leave with a sense of pride and confidence in the future of Horry County Schools, Maxey wrote in a Tuesday letter to staff members. I know that the district will continue to thrive and uphold its commitment to providing the best possible education for all students.

Maxeys departure comes amid strong performance reviews by his employers.

In 2021, the board bumped Maxeys salary from $227,304 to $266,000. In November, district leaders extended his contract through 2027.

The Board would like to thank Dr. Maxey for his leadership of Horry County Schools to exceed state and national standards. We would also like to say how proud we are to work with the South Carolina Superintendent of the Year, board members wrote in Maxeys annual review.  The Board maintains the utmost confidence in Dr. Maxeys vision, leadership, strong communication skills, and individual characteristics and work traits.

Horry County Schools last year approved its first billion-dollar budget. The district trails only Greenville and Charleston County School in size.

* * *

Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
Here are the House incumbents not running for reelection in 2024

Here are the House incumbents not running for reelection in 2024

A number of incumbent House lawmakers have announced they will not seek another term in office.

The announcements ring in a likely season of retirement decisions, as Democrats and Republicans weigh their futures and seek to give their potential successors time to campaign.

While some of those leaving their House seats are vying for the Senate or different offices, others are simply getting ready for a life outside politics.

Here are the House members who say they wont be running for reelection in 2024.

Democrats retiring from office (12)

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (Ore.)

Blumenauer, 75, announced he will not run for reelection after serving Oregons 3rd Congressional District for 27 years.

His district, which includes north Portland and much of its southeast, is a solidly Democratic district that has a rating of D+22 by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.

Blumenauer was elected to the House in 1996 in a special election to fill the seat of Democrat Ron Wyden, who left the lower chamber for his current seat in the Senate.

Rep. Tony Cardenas (Calif.)

Cardenas will not run for reelection in 2024 after nearly three decades in public service.

Cardenas, 60, told the Los Angeles Times he is at the age where he has enough energy and experience to maybe do something [different] where he doesnt have to be in Washington, D.C., 32 weeks out of the year.

Cardenas was first elected to the U.S. House in 2013 to represent Californias 29th Congressional District, making him the first Latino elected to represent the San Fernando Valley.

Cardenass district in deep blue California leans heavily towards Democrats with the Cook Political Report labeling it D+26. The seat will likely stay in Democrats hands, though it could be a crowded race.

Rep. Anna Eshoo (Calif.)

Eshoo wont seek another term in the lower chamber after over three decades serving a Northern California district.

She was first elected in 1992 in the Year of the Woman and was the first woman and first Democrat to hold her seat.

Eshoos Silicon Valley district is considered a solidly Democrat race, with a Cook Political Report rating of D+26.

Rep. Brian Higgins (N.Y.)

Higgins, 64, stepped down from the lower chamber in February, citing frustrations with Congress.

He served 19 years in Congress and represented New Yorks 26th Congressional District, which will likely stay in Democratic hands. The Cook Political Report considers the race solid Democrat, with a rating of D+9.

His early departure will likely pave the way for a special election for the seat in the spring.

Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.)

Kildee, 65, will not seek reelection in 2024, saying his cancer diagnosis earlier this year sparked a need to reassess his career plans.

The Michigan Democrat said while he had a successful surgery and is now cancer-free, the experience made him realize it time to step back form public office.

Kildees retirement opens a competitive seat in the heart of Michigan to represent the states 8th Congressional District. The seat was considered lean Democratic according to the Cook Political Report before the announcement. His retirement likely moves the seat to a toss-up for 2024.

Rep. Derek Kilmer (Wash.)

Kilmer, 49, wont run for reelection, after serving Washingtons 5th Congressional District since 2013.

Kilmer previously served as the chair of the New Democrat Coalition from 2019 to 2021 and was the chair of the House Modernization Committee from 2019 to 2023.

Kilmers district is considered solid Democrat by the Cook Political Report, at a rating of D+6.

Rep. Kathy Manning (N.C.)

Manning said she wont be running for reelection in 2024, citing the egregiously gerrymandered congressional maps in North Carolina.

Manning appeared open to future service, adding, if the impending lawsuits are successful and the General Assembly is forced to draw fair congressional districts, I will seek to continue my service to our community.

Manning, 67, is in her second term representing North Carolinas 6th Congressional District. Under new GOP-led congressional lines approved in October, Manning was widely expected to be threatened by the new map.

Cook Political Report rated the race as solid Republican.

Rep. Grace Napolitano (Calif.)

Napolitano will retire at the end of her term after 25 years in Congress. Napolitano, 86, was first elected to Congress in 1998 and is the oldest member of the House.

While she moved districts several times because of redistricting, she has represented portions of eastern Los Angeles throughout her career. She represents Californias 31st Congressional District, which is likely to stay in Democratic hands in 2024.

Rep. Wiley Nickel (N.C.)

Nickel wont run for reelection, arguing the Republicans who approved North Carolinas new congressional maps rigged the system in the partys favor.

Nickel, 48, is in his first term as representative for North Carolinas 13th Congressional District, which Cook Political Report now labels as solid Republican race under the redrawn maps. He joins the growing number of North Carolina Democrats who are citing the new maps as the reason for not running in 2024.

Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (Md.)

Ruppersberger is retiring from Congress at the end of his term after serving 11 terms in the upper chamber.

Ruppersberger, 77, who represents Marylands 2nd Congressional District, sits on the House Appropriations Committee. He served on the House Intelligence Committee and for four years was the top Democrat on the panel.

His seat will likely stay in Democrat hands. President Biden easily won the district in the 2020 election, besting former President Trump 59.4 percent to 38.6 percent.

Rep. John Sarbanes (Md.)

Sarbanes will not run for reelection in 2024. He said he is being drawn back to his previous work with nonprofits and volunteering in his community.

Sarbanes, 61, has represented Marylands 3rd Congressional District since 2007. Sarbaness seat is likely safe for Democrats in 2024, with Cook Political Report forecasting the race will be solid Democrat with a rating of D+10.

Rep. Jennifer Wexton (Va.)

Wexton will not seek reelection in 2024 in light of worsening health challenges.

Wexton, 55, revealed in April she was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease. In September 2023, the Virginia Democrat said her diagnosis changed to progressive supranuclear palsy, which she described as Parkinsons on steroids.

Wexton was elected in 2018 to represent Virginias 10th Congressional District, which will likely stay Democratic in 2024, per Cook Political Report.

Democrats seeking other offices (12)

Rep. Colin Allred (Texas)

Allred announced he will run for the Democratic nomination to challenge Sen. Ted Cruz (R).

In his announcement for his Senate bid, Allred said he was prepared to take on anyone who came through during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and pointed to a comment from a rioter who said he believed Cruz would want us to do this.

Allred, 40, is in his third term as a representative for Texass 32nd Congressional District, which Cook Political Report lists as solid Democrat with a rating of D+14.

But Allreds Senate bid could be an uphill challenge, as Texas has not elected a Democratic senator in 30 years. Acknowledging this, Allred said someone like me was never supposed to get this far and that he has taken down a lot tougher guys than Ted Cruz.

Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (Del.)

Blunt Rochester will not run for her seat in the House but instead for Delawares seat in the Senate, which will be left vacant by Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), who is retiring.

Blunt Rochester has represented Delawares at-large congressional district since 2017, and she was the first woman and first African American to represent Delaware in Congress. The Cook Political Report rates the at-large district as solid Democrat.

Rep. Ruben Gallego (Ariz.)

Gallego will not seek reelection in the House but will instead run for Sen. Kyrsten Sinemas (I-Ariz.) seat in the higher chamber.

In announcing his Senate bid, Gallego pointed to his pursuit of the American dream during his childhood and said too many Arizonans see their dream slipping away.

The 47-year-old Democrat was first elected to the House in 2014 to represent Arizonas 3rd Congressional District. With a Cook Political Rating of D+24, it is likely the seat will remain in Democratic hands in 2024.

Rep. Jeff Jackson (N.C.)

Jackson will throw his hat in the ring for North Carolinas attorney general in 2024 after just one term in the House.

Jackson, 41, a former local prosecutor, ex-state senator and Afghan war veteran, won an open House seat in 2022 for North Carolinas 14th Congressional District.

At the time, the district leaned Democratic, but the GOP-led state Legislature has since approved new redrawn maps that makes the district more favorable for Republicans.

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein (D) announced at the beginning of 2023 that he would be running for the states governorship.

Rep. Andy Kim (N.J.)

Kim announced he would not run for his seat in the House and will instead challenge Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), who is facing a federal indictment on corruption charges.

Kim, 41, was the first lawmaker from New Jersey to call on Menendez to resign in the wake of the allegations. Menendez has pushed back against the charges and said he has no plans to step down from the Senate despite repeated calls from his Democratic colleagues.

Kim, who represents New Jerseys newly drawn 3rd Congressional District, said his Senate bid was not something he expected, while noting New Jersey deserves better.

Kim is in his third term in the lower chamber after being first elected in 2018. His district represents parts of southern and central New Jersey, with the newly drawn maps including more Democratic voters than the previous districts boundaries, per The Associated Press. Cook Political Report rates the district as likely Democrat with a score of D+5.

Rep. Barbara Lee (Calif.)

Lee is part of the crowded race to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).

Feinstein died in September at her home in Washington, D.C., at the age of 90, though she had already announced she was not running for reelection next year.

In launching her Senate bid in February, Lee, 77, said she is running for the higher chamber because Californians deserve a strong, progressive leader who has accomplished real things and delivered real change.

Lee has served Californias 12th District since 1998.

Sen. Laphonza Butler, the former president of EMILYs List, is currently filling Feinsteins seat until the 2024 election.

Rep. Dean Phillips (Minn.)

Phillips will not seek another term in Congress as he pursues a long-shot primary challenge to President Biden in the 2024 election.

Phillips, 54, was first elected in 2018 to represent Minnesotas 3rd District, which is likely to stay in Democrat hands, according to the Cook Political Report.

Phillips presidential bid, launched in October, drew criticism from Democrats who argued it would harm Bidens reelection chances. Phillips has argued it is time for Biden, 81, to pass the torch to the next generation of leaders.

Rep. Katie Porter (Calif.)

Porter also has eyes on replacing Feinstein.

In her announcement, which came before Feinstein announced her retirement, Porter said its time for new leadership in the U.S. Senate and the Golden Gate State needs a warrior in Washington.

Porter, 49, was elected to the House in Californias 45th Congressional District in 2018. As part of Californias redistricting, Porter now serves the 47th Congressional District, which leans Democrat.

Rep. Adam Schiff (Calif.)

Schiff jumped into the California Senate with the hopes of replacing Feinstein.

Schiff is serving his 12th term representing Californias 30th Congressional District, which is rated as solid Democrat by Cook Political Report.

In announcing his Senate bid earlier this year, Schiff said the U.S. Senate needs a fighter who has been at the center of the struggle for our democracy and our economy.

Rep. Elissa Slotkin (Mich.)

Slotkin launched a bid to succeed Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow (Mich.) at the beginning of 2023, just months after she was reelected to a third term in the 2022 midterms.

Slotkin, 47, represents Michigans 3rd Congressional District, which is forecast to be a toss up race.

Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.)

Spanberger launched a bid for Virginia governor, announcing she will not seek reelection to the House next year.

Spanberger said she knows how to bring people together at a time when the nation is at a crossroads.

Spanberger, 44, is serving her third term in the House after first being elected in 2018 to represent Virginias 7th Congressional District.

In the wake of her announcement, the Cook Political Report shifted the forecast for the district race from likely Democrat to lean Democrat with a rating of D+1.

Rep. David Trone (Md.)

Trone is seeking Sen. Ben Cardins (D-Md.) seat in the Senate after Cardin announced he would not seek reelection.

Trone has represented Marylands 6th Congressional District, which includes the northern suburbs of Washington since 2019. Cook Political Report predicted the race for Trones seat will be likely Democrat in 2024, meaning it is not considered competitive at this point but could become so ahead of the election.

Republicans retiring from office (17)

Rep. Larry Bucshon (Ind.)

Bucshon will retire at the end of his term in early 2025 after serving in Congress since 2011.

Bucshon, 61, represents Indianas 8th Congressional District, a solid Republican district, according to the Cook Political Report. He won his most recent reelection bids with over 65 percent of the vote in 2020 and 2022.

Rep. Ken Buck (Colo.)

Buck was the second Republican to announce he wont run for reelection, just hours after Rep. Kay Granger (Texas) announced her plans.

Buck, who is a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, pointed to the election denialism within his party in a video announcement posted to X, formerly known as Twitter.

The 64-year-old lawmaker was first elected to Congress in 2014 to represent Colorados 4th District. The district voted for former President Trump by nearly 19 points in 2020, a signal the Republican primary candidate is likely to win Bucks seat.

Rep. Michael Burgess (Texas)

Burgess announced he will not seek reelection in 2024, opening up another Dallas-area seat in the 2024 House elections.

Burgess, 72, was first elected to Congress in 2002 and practiced medicine for nearly three decades earlier.

The Texas Republican said he will serve the remainder of his term until January 2025 and did not provide a reason for his retirement.

Burgess represents Texass 26 Congressional District, which is likely to stay in Republican hands. Cook Political Report labels the district as solid Republican with a rating of R+13.

Rep. Jeff Duncan (S.C.)

Duncan will retire from the House at the end of his term after 14 years in the lower chamber, and said it is time for new leadership and fresh ideas in South Carolinas 3rd Congressional District.

Duncan, 58, was first elected to Congress in 2010 as part of the Tea Party wave that handed Republicans control of the House.

His South Carolina seat is very likely to stay in Republican hands, with a Cook Political Report score of R+21 for his district. Former President Trump won the area by over 30 percentage points in 2020.

Rep. Drew Ferguson (Ga.)

Ferguson, 57, revealed near the end of 2023 he will not run for reelection in 2024. He did not provide a reason for the choice, but said he is looking forward to spending more time with his family.

Ferguson represents Georgias 3 Congressional District, which will likely stay in Republican hands in 2024, the Cook Political Report forecasts.

Rep. Mike Gallagher (Wisc.)

Gallagher will depart from Congress at the end of his term after four terms in the lower chamber.

The Wisconsin Republican, who currently serves as chair of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, announced his decision just days after he was among three lone Republicans to vote no in the Houses first impeachment vote on Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

According to Cook Political Report, his district is a solidly Republican with a rating of R+10.

Rep. Kay Granger (Texas)

Granger will not seek to take back her seat in 2024, capping off 14 terms in the House.

The veteran Republican lawmaker and chair of the House Appropriations Committee said she will serve the remainder of term, which will expire Jan. 3, 2025  exactly 28 years since she was sworn into the lower chamber.

Granger, 80, was elected in 1997 to represent the 12th Congressional District of Texas after previously serving as the first female mayor of Fort Worth.

In her announcement, Granger said she is encouraged by the next generation of leaders in her district.

Grangers district in north Texas tends to lean conservative and is expected to remain in Republican control in the 2024 election.

Rep. Bill Johnson (Ohio)

Johnson has left Congress to take a position as the president of Youngstown University.

Johnson, 69, was elected to Ohios 6th Congressional District in 2010. The seat is likely to stay in Republican control, with Cook Political Report rating the race as solid Republican.

He was initially slated to resign before mid-March, but resigned earlier than expected on Jan. 2.

Rep. Doug Lamborn (Colo.)

Lamborn announced at the beginning of 2024 he will not run for reelection, freeing up all three of the states Republican-held congressional seats in the 2024 election.

Lamborn, 69, is in his ninth term and was the longest-serving Republican in his states delegation.

He represents Colorados 5th Congressional District, which is solidly Republican with a Cook Political Report score of R+9.

Rep. Jake LaTurner (Kan.)

LaTurner, 36, will leave the House at the end of his term to better focus on his family and young children, he announced in April.

His 2nd Congressional District covers central Kansas City and much of the eastern part of the state. It is a solid red district, with Republicans expected to win the set in November.

Rep. Debbie Lesko (Ariz.)

Lesko said she wont run for reelection because Washington, D.C. is broken. The 64-year-old lawmaker said she also wants to spend more time with her family.

Lesko was sworn into Congress in 2018 after winning a special election to fill the seat left by former Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.). She was voted into a full term in November 2018.

A Republican candidate will likely fill her seat for Arizonas 8th Congressional District given the districts lean.

Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (Miss.)

Luetkemeyer will retire at the end of his term at the end of 2024.

Luetkemeyer, 71, was elected to Congress in 2009 and represents Missouris 3rd Congressional District, which includes areas to the north, south and west of St. Louis. The area is considered solidly Republican.

He is currently a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee and was seen as a top contender to replace House Financial Services Committee Chair Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), who is also leaving Congress at the end of his term.

Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (Calif.)

McCarthy, the first House Speaker to be ousted from the top spot, departed the House altogether at the end of 2023.

His decision came two months after he was removed from his role as Speaker in a historic 216-210 vote. All House Democrats and eight Republicans voted to remove the Speakers gavel from the 58-year-old lawmaker.

McCarthy came to Congress in 2007 and served in various GOP leadership positions along the years. He currently serves Californias 20th District, which Cook Political Report rates as a solid Republican race.

Rep. Patrick McHenry (N.C.)

McHenry announced in December he will retire at the end of the 188th Congress, capping off McHenrys nearly two-decade tenure in Congress.

McHenry, 48, was thrown into the national spotlight in October when he served as the Speaker pro tempore following the historic ousting of McCarthy.

The North Carolina Republican serves as the chair of the Financial Services Committee and was first elected to the U.S. House in 2004.

He represents North Carolinas 10th Congressional District, which Cook labels as a Solid Republican district with a rating of R+22.

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Wash.)

Rodgers, the chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said she will not run for reelection after serving for nearly two decades.

Rodgers, 54, is the first woman to chair the Energy and Commerce Committee. She served as chair of the House Republican Conference from 2012 to 2018.

She represents the 5th Congressional District of Washington, which includes Spokane. Her seat will likely stay in Republican hands and has district as a solid Republican rating of R+8.

Rep. Greg Pence (Ind.)

Pence will retire from Congress at the end of his term after six years in the lower chamber.

Pence, 67, was first elected to the House in 2018 to serve Indianas 6th Congressional District, which is likely to stay in Republican hands. The Cook Political Report categorizes the district as solid Republican, with a rating of R+19.

He is the brother of former Vice President Mike Pence, and found himself involved with his brothers ongoing tensions with former President Trump over the former vice presidents refusal to overturn the 2020 election results.

Rep. Bill Posey (Fla.)

Posey, 76, announced April 26 that he will retire the House at the end of the current term.

He was elected to the House in 2008 after serving for 18 years in the Florida Legislature.

Posey is also a staunch supporter of former President Trump and said he will continue working to help the former president get reelected in November.

It has been the greatest honor of Katies and my life to represent you in Congress. And, polls suggest that because of YOUR support, I could remain in the job forever, and we were looking forward to another spirited campaign for a final term in office, he wrote in a statement. However, earlier this week circumstances beyond my control now require me to suspend my re-election campaign.

He has already endorsed a replacement, state Sen. Mike Haridopolos, who officially jumped into the race earlier this week.

Rep. Matt Rosendale (Md.)

Rosendale will retire at the end of his current term, reversing his decision in March after previously announcing he would seek reelection.

The announcement came weeks after the Montana Republican launched a Senate campaign in early February, but suspended it days later after a number of high-profile Republicans endorsed his primary opponent.

Rosendale, 63, said he and his family received death threats in the wake of what he claimed were false and defamatory rumors. He did not elaborate on the threats or allegations, though it came days after former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp alleged he dropped his Senate bid because of a rumor that he impregnated a 20-year-old staff person.

Rep. Brad Wenstrup (Ohio)

Wenstrup, 65, wont seek reelection in the House next year and said in November he will retire from Congress at the end of the year.

Wenstrup was first elected to Congress in 2013 to represent Ohios 2nd Congressional District, which has a heavy lean towards Republicans. Cook Political Report labels the race as solid Republican with a rating of R+25.

Republicans seeking other offices (5)

Rep. Kelly Armstrong (N.D.)

Armstrong launched a bid for North Dakotas governor and will not run for reelection, leaving open the states sole House seat.

Armstrong, 47, was first elected to the House in 2018 after serving six years in the state Senate and as chair of the North Dakota Republican Party.

Former state Rep. Rick Becker and Democrat Trygve Hammer, a military veteran, have already announced bids for the at-large seat.

North Dakotas at-large district is solidly Republican, and the Cook Political Report labels the district as R+20.

Rep. Jim Banks (Ind.)

Banks is running for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.), who is running for governor in the Hoosier State.

Banks, 44, was elected to serve Indianas 3rd District in 2016. He previously served in the Indiana state Senate for six years. Bankss district is considered a solid Republican race with a Cook Political rating of R+18.

Rep. Dan Bishop (N.C.)

Bishop will run for North Carolinas attorney general instead of seeking reelection for his seat.

Bishop, 59, was elected to Congress in 2019 and is a prominent member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus.

He represents North Carolinas 8th District, which leans red with a Cook Political Report rating of R+20.

Rep. John Curtis (Utah)

Curtis started the new year off by announcing he will run for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Mitt Romney (Utah.)

Curtis, the former mayor of Provo, Utah, was elected to the U.S. House in 2017 to represent Utahs 3rd Congressional District. The district, which covers the Provo area, is solidly Republican with a Cook Political Report rating of R+13.

Rep. Alex Mooney (W.Va.)

Mooney will not seek a sixth House term, but instead will challenge Sen. Joe Manchin (D).

Launching his Senate bid last year, Mooney said he was all in and hammered Manchin as a liberal Democrat.

Mooney, 52, is serving his fifth term in the House. His district is considered solid Republican by the Cook Political Report with a score of R+22.

Republican expelled from the House

Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.)

Santos was expelled from the House on Dec. 1 after more than two-thirds of those present voted to remove him from Congress.

Santos has previously said he would not run for reelection, an announcement he made in November shortly after the House Ethics Committee released a scathing report over substantial evidence that showed the embattled lawmaker violated federal crimes.

Santos had avoided expulsion twice amid a series of legal fights. He faces a total of 23 federal charges alleging he inflated campaign finance reports, charged donors credit cards without authorization and fraudulently received unemployment benefits.

Santos admitted earlier this year to embellishing parts of his background while campaigning but rejected calls to resign.

Santos flipped New Yorks 3rd Congressional District from Democrat to Republican in 2022. The Cook Political Report said it is a lean-Democrat seat for the 2024 cycle.

Lawmakers who reversed their decision

Two Republican lawmakers initially announced their retirement plans, but reversed these decisions upon further thought.

Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) in February said she will seek another term in the House, nearly a year after she announced she would retire to spend more time with family. She said she decided to continue fighting for her constituents given the challenging times for our Republic.

Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.) similarly changed his mind, just two weeks after saying he would retire at the end of his current term. He said the reverse in choice came after he fielded calls from various people, including former President Trump, encouraging him to run again.

Updated: April 27 at 11:50 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
DOTHAN, Ala. (WDHN)  On Friday, a Houston County judge scheduled a status hearing in the case of Harvest Church in Dothan against the United Methodist Church.

This comes after the Alabama Supreme Court refused to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Harvest against the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church in April.

Houston County Judge Christopher Richardson has scheduled a status hearing on July 25 at 1:30 p.m. between the two parties. This hearing will allow the court and the parties to check the status of the case before advancing it any further.

According to court documents, a motion to dismiss the case has also been filed. That motion will likely be discussed during the status hearing.

The fight began early last year when Harvest split from the AWFC and feared the denomination would seize their property. The church then filed a lawsuit and protection order against the AWFC.

The denomination has repeatedly requested the case be thrown out, saying it was a matter that needed to be handled internally and not in a court of law.

However, the Supreme Court disagreed, saying that Harvests filing of its deed and organizational documents opened the door to having any property dispute handled in the court system.

The Judges also said the denomination had not provided enough evidence to support the dismissal request.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com.
Vehicles from the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW), the police and the fire department park on the grounds of the Elm volunteer fire department this morning as part of a search operation for a missing six-year-old child in northern Lower Saxony. Moritz Frankenberg/dpa

A massive search operation for a missing 6-year-old boy with autism in a wooded area of northern Germany has gone into its sixth day after a new tactic to help locate the child proved unsuccessful.

"Unfortunately, the night did not bring us any progress," said a police spokesman on Saturday morning in Bremervorde, a town west of Hamburg.

Using a so-called "silent strategy," around 200 German soldiers looked for the boy named Arian in small groups and with night vision equipment. Their search did not turn up any leads.

The police said that the new strategy had been discussed with an autism expert. Arian is autistic and does not respond to being spoken to.

Earlier in the week searchers set off fireworks in hopes of attracting the boy, as he's always been interested in fireworks, while the fire brigade hung sweets and balloons in the woods near his family's home.

Arian left his parents' house alone on Monday evening. A surveillance camera had filmed the boy running towards a neighbouring forest. The family home is in Elm, a small outlying community of Bremervorde.

Hundreds of people have been canvassing the area for days, and on Friday the German Armed Forces increased their support to a total of around 450 soldiers.

On Saturday, the search will continue along the town's Oste river. Police divers searched the water earlier in the week.

Teams have been expanding the search zone and have also used drones and a helicopter in hopes of spotting the boy from the air. A Tornado aircraft was also deployed to take aerial photographs with a thermal imaging camera.
HOUSTON, April 26 (Xinhua) -- All charges have been dropped against the 57 people who were arrested on Wednesday during a pro-Palestinian protest on the campus of the University of Texas, Austin, the Travis County attorney's office confirmed on Friday.

All charges were about criminal trespassing, and lacked probable cause, said the office.

County Attorney Delia Garza, whose office handles misdemeanor cases, told the local media outlet Austin American-Statesman on Thursday that her office agreed with defense lawyers that there were "deficiencies" with the probable cause arrest affidavits, which are the documents filled out by law enforcement to justify an arrest.

The university said Friday that people who were arrested on criminal trespassing charges during Wednesday's protest would be barred from campus, per an existing university policy, according to the newspaper.

The Palestine Solidarity Committee, a registered student group and a chapter of the National Students for Justice in Palestine, organized the rally on Wednesday to call for an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

When some people began setting up tents for an encampment, which the Palestine Solidarity Committee had said was its intention, police took the tents down almost immediately.

"UT Austin does not tolerate disruptions of campus activities or operations like we have seen at other campuses," the UT Division of Student Affairs said in a statement before the protest.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott on March 27 issued an executive order calling for universities to curb antisemitism by revising their free speech policies.

From Texas to California, pro-Palestinian demonstrations are spreading on campuses across the United States as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza continues. Hundreds have been arrested by police amid student protests.

According to media reports, students from Yale University, New York University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Michigan, the University of North Carolina, Brown University, the University of Southern California, and other universities also staged encampments in solidarity with their peers at Columbia University. 
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Hundreds gathered at Browns Funeral Home in Grand Rapids Saturday to say their final goodbyes to 25-year-old Samuel Sterling.

Friends and family entered the funeral home around 10 a.m. and the funeral started at 11 a.m. After the service, his family released doves. Robert Hurd, a deacon at the Messiah Baptist Church, said the entire community is grieving from Sterlings death.

I know that that young man had a lot of living to do. And all of us have made mistakes in life. And the whole purpose of criminal and the criminal justice system is for people to have a second chance and get an opportunity to do better, but they cant do better if theyre killed unjustly, Hurd said.

Sterling, who died last week, was wanted on outstanding warrants and ran away when police found him in Kentwood on April 17, the Michigan State Police said. That chase ended when he was hit by an unmarked MSP cruiser in the parking lot of a nearby Burger King.

On Friday, security footage was shown during a press conference put on by Sterlings family and their attorneys.

Attorneys release video of deadly cruiser crash

Community members said the fight for justice for Sterling and his family does not stop here.

Its something that we dont want our community to be more outraged about. So we would hope that our city and our city officials in the MSP would come forward even to shine (a) light on giving some comfort to this family, Reginald Howard, a friend of the Sterling family, said.

Mark Totten, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, said in a statement Friday that they are monitoring the states investigation on Sterlings death. The name of the detective sergeant who hit Sterling has not been released, that person has been suspended.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
On Monday, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees will resume talks with Hollywood studios, represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, over a range of serious issues including residuals and so-called artificial intelligence.

The news follows the announcement Friday that L.A. locals 44 and 884 have become the last of the guilds L.A. locals to strike tentative new studio deals.

Studio Teachers (IATSE Local 884) reached a tentative deal on Friday, April 19. Affiliated Property Craftspersons (Local 44) reached its deal on Thursday, April 25.

Our locals craft-specific issues required the employers attention, and at the table were seeing improved engagement and dialogue. That indicates the studios negotiators have different marching orders this contract cycle. This approach will be helpful as we continue our negotiations over the next few weeks, IATSE International Vice President Mike Miller said in a statement.

As previously stated, the guild will resume negotiations with studios over the Hollywood Basic Agreement, which collectively covers all 13 L.A.-area locals, on Monday, April 29. Those talks are expected to end on May 16. Following their conclusion, IATSE will pivot to negotiating a new Area Standards Agreement, which covers all members working outside of L.A., on May 20. Those talks are expected to run through May 31.

While the locals negotiations focused on issues specific to the positions that each of them represents, the next round of talks will deal directly with wage increases, pension and health contributions, quality of life conditions, and job security across members. Theyll also deal with the two issues that most directly caused the double Hollywood strike of 2023: Residuals, and the software popularly referred to as artificial intelligence.

The strike, which shut down most film and TV production for a combined 191 days, looms large over these talks. L.A. Countys unemployment rate rose to a two-year high of 5.4% in January, driven in large part by the shut-downs, and IATSE members were hit particularly hard, as below-the-line labor is far more dependent on steady work to survive.

But given the seriousness of concerns about dwindling residuals in the streaming era, and the possibility so-called AI could be used to replace labor outright, IATSE, along with fellow below-the-line union Teamsters 399, has consistently said that a strike is not off the table  and crucial to that, both unions have vowed there will be no extensions of their current contracts beyond their expiration date of July 31.

However, a good sign that L.A. need not brace for another shut-down came in March, when talks began on the right foot, according to union insiders.

In its announcement Friday, IATSE repeated calls for its members, members of other unions and supporters generally to participate in the #OneFightFridays campaign by wearing union gear on Fridays.

Jeremy Fuster contributed to this report.

The post IATSE to Resume Studio Talks Over Residuals, AI as LA Locals Reach Tentative Deals appeared first on TheWrap.
Images emerge of results of Ukrainian attack on Russian oil depot in Smolensk Oblast  photo

The aftermath of Ukrainian attack on Russian oil depot in the village of Razdorovo. Photo: Radio Liberty

The Russian service of Radio Liberty has posted satellite images showing the consequences of a Ukrainian drone attack on a Rosneft oil depot in the village of Razdorovo, Smolensk Oblast.

Source: Radio Liberty

Details: The Razdorovo depot was attacked by Ukrainian drones on 24 April.

A Rosneft refinery in Yartsevo, another town in the oblast, was also attacked on 24 April.

According to an Ukrainska Pravda source, the oil depots were attacked by drones from the Security Service of Ukraine. 26,000 cubic metres of Russian fuel and lubricants were stored at these depots. The explosions caused a huge fire to break out, and staff were evacuated.

Support UP or become our patron!
Though some Republicans may blame House oversight committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) for their failure to impeach President Joe Biden, the real reason is simple: The whole party bought into long-debunked conspiracy theories peddled by their leader, Donald Trump.

And the impeachment inquiry has been a true team effort, with backing from leadership and Comer sharing investigatory duties with House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) and especially House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio).

The inquiry spanned a wide range of topics, from Hunter Bidens million-dollar business deals to his budding art career and to the Justice Departments alleged failure to lock him up for not paying taxes. Comer and company have highlighted payments to the younger Biden by foreign nationals from all over the world and shown that Joe Biden would occasionally meet and greet his sons benefactors.

Hunter Bidens work for the Ukrainian gas giant Burisma, however, received special attention, because when he took a board position with the company in 2014, his father served as the face of U.S. policy toward Ukraine. The Ukraine connection offered Republicans the only potential example of the elder Biden taking an official action benefiting his family.

But the Ukraine corruption story has been repeatedly investigated, starting in 2019 after then-president Trump tried to coerce Ukraine into announcing an investigation into the Bidens, withholding military aid and getting impeached in the process.

It was stale, moldy pizza left over from the Ukraine shakedown, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the top Democrat on the oversight committee, said in an interview. The whole Burisma lie has this overwhelming stench of Russian disinformation and propaganda.

Nevertheless, one Republican lawmaker told CNN this week that people wish Comer had reined in his rhetoric about the Biden investigation, so as to temper expectations. Another complained that he should have sent out subpoenas faster. Comer said he wouldnt have done anything differently.

Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, attends the White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn on April 1, 2024. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

As soon as Hunter Biden took the Burisma board seat in 2014, it looked like an obvious conflict of interest. The move even prompted one diplomat to complain to the vice presidents office, since a corrupt-looking job for the vice presidents son made it harder for the U.S. to push for anti-corruption reforms in Ukraine.

Republicans didnt take issue with it at the time. But when Trump realized in 2019 that Joe Biden would be his likely opponent in the next presidential election, he made a stink, claiming that when the Democrat pushed for the ouster of a Ukrainian prosecutor in 2015, he did so to stave off an investigation into Burisma.

However, the same diplomat who complained about Hunter Biden, as well as many other State Department officials involved in Ukraine policy, told Congress in 2019 that they wanted the prosecutor fired for entirely separate reasons  including that he had not prosecuted Burismas founder  and said that Trumps allegation was a conspiracy theory peddled by Ukrainians who were themselves corrupt.

The next year, Trumps own Treasury Department sanctioned Andrii Derkach, a member of Ukraines parliament, for propagating the Burisma story in the U.S., including through his association with Trumps then-attorney Rudy Giuliani. A press release from the department said that Derkach had been an active Russian agent, with ties to that countrys intelligence services, for over a decade.

Since at least 2019, Derkach and his associates have leveraged U.S. media, U.S.-based social media platforms, and influential U.S. persons to spread misleading and unsubstantiated allegations that current and former U.S. officials engaged in corruption, money laundering, and unlawful political influence in Ukraine, the Treasury Department said in a release announcing additional sanctions in January 2021.

In other words, the corruption story about Hunter Biden might have had a grain of truth, but it was also Russian propaganda, certified as such by the Trump administration itself.

Meanwhile, Senate Republicans conducted a follow-up investigation into Hunter Biden and Burisma, again interviewing State Department officials and other sources familiar with the younger Bidens work, only to conclude that it wasnt clear if Burisma had had any effect on U.S. policy toward Ukraine. That investigation also examined Hunter Bidens income from other foreign nationals, including from China and Kazakhstan.

As soon as Republicans learned that theyd won control of the House of Representatives in November 2022, Comer held a press conference announcing that theyd dive back into the Biden family, this time with the help of material from Hunter Bidens laptop. A Republican committee report accompanying the press conference underscored the younger Bidens various foreign business deals and rehashed the Ukraine corruption story.

The following May, Comer and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) demanded that the FBI hand over a document reflecting a tip that, according to their description, laid out a criminal scheme involving then-Vice President Joe Biden and a foreign national.

The Republicans had some idea what the document said, if not the entirety of its contents, but they did not say what foreign nation was involved. Raskin thought it was telling that theyd said the FBI tip was from June 2020.

During this same time period, Rudy Giuliani and Russian agents, sanctioned by Trumps Treasury Department, were peddling disinformation aimed at interfering in the 2020 presidential election, Raskin said in a statement at the time. Comer angrily responded, in an interview with HuffPost, that Raskin didnt know what the hell he was talking about.

Weeks later, Giuliani offered a further clue in an interview with the far-right cable news station Newsmax: That document was discovered because it was at least one FBI agent that went out and tried to corroborate what I gave them.

The FBI refused to hand the document over, warning that the information was raw and unverified, but Comer and Grassley somehow obtained it themselves and made it public. Sure enough, the form reflected a series of conversations that an FBI informant said hed had with Mykola Zlochevsky, the founder of Burisma. Zlochevsky suggested that hed paid $5 million bribes to Joe and Hunter Biden, and Republicans trumpeted the material as their best piece of corroborating evidence.

When then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) announced in September that Republicans investigation would become an impeachment inquiry, he highlighted the story.

Even a trusted FBI informant has alleged a bribe to the Biden family, he said.

In a development foreshadowed by the Trump administrations warnings about the Russian agent who peddled the Burisma story in 2019 and 2020, the Justice Department said in February that the FBI informant had totally made up his conversations with Burismas founder  and said that he had ties to Russian intelligence services. Hes now in a California jail awaiting trial on related charges, to which hes pleaded not guilty.

The impeachment inquiry has since lost all momentum, with Republicans publicly acknowledging that they lack the votes to try to throw Joe Biden out of office and Comer saying he will instead refer Biden family members and associates to the Justice Department for prosecution.

Hunter Biden, for his part, has claimed that he was immensely qualified for his Burisma gig, and said that he joined the board to help it send a defiant signal to Russia. He has also conceded that the work was light and paid well. He wrote in his 2021 memoir that he did nothing unethical but also that he wouldnt have taken the job had he known what backlash would follow.

In a deposition in February, Hunter Biden recalled a 2015 meeting with Amos Hochstein, a State Department official with a focus on energy affairs. (In his own interview with lawmakers in 2020, Hochstein said that he had been monitoring an uptick in pro-Moscow media outlets using Burisma to create some kind of rift between the U.S. and Ukraine and that he had made then-Vice President Joe Biden aware of it, adding that Hunter Biden had subsequently asked for the meeting.)

According to Hunter Biden, the two talked about the recent death of his brother, Beau Biden, and the toll it had taken on his family. Then Hochstein offered a stark warning about his Burisma job that Hunter Biden relayed to the roomful of Republicans trying to impeach his father: You have no understanding of the Russian disinformation and the way in which they could potentially weaponize this.
Eminent Indian documentarian Nishtha Jains latest effort is an account of the epic, year-long farmers protest that took place in India in 2020-21.

Farming the Revolution, which world premieres at Hot Docs, follows the millions of Indian farmers who gathered during the height of COVID-19 lockdown at the borders of the countrys capital, Delhi, to protest against newly enacted farm laws. The farmers believed that if implemented, these laws would negatively impact the government-protected farmers markets, leaving them to the vagaries of the free market.

More from Variety

Jain is known for jute weaving documentary The Golden Thread, which won the top prize at Bergamo this year and multiple award-winning woman empowerment film Gulabi Gang (2012).

It was the COVID year. We had already witnessed heart-rending scenes when the sudden announcement of all-India lockdown saw millions of Indian migrant workers walk to their homes thousands of miles away from the cities. A few months prior to that were the Delhi riots which brought the India-wide protests against the citizen amendment bill to an end leading to the arrests of many human rights activists, Jain told Variety.

When spontaneous protests against the farm laws broke out all over India, the question foremost in my mind was, will the farmers rise to protest the farm bills and how would that pan out. If their movement was crushed like many before, it could mean that they would lose whatever little state protection they had and would gradually lose their farm lands, their sole source of livelihood. This would be catastrophic. We began filming two days after the farmers reached Delhi borders and were stopped from entering Delhi.

However, Jain and her crew, which included co-director and DoP Akash Basumatari, persevered.

The movement was massive. There were millions of people at one point, hundreds of farm unions, huge protest cities at the four to five entry points to Delhi. There was so much to unpack  from why the farmers are protesting, the challenges of farming in India, the nature of the present protests. Even though the farm unions were united, there were differences in their approach and politics. Plus many other organizations joined the farmers with their own agenda.

What story do I tell and through whom? It took me a while but I decided to focus on the largest and oldest farm union from Punjab because of their approach to resistance, which was both novel and revolutionary while being completely non-violent. And then the movement went on for very long and it was difficult to get funding until it ended, Jain said.

Funding eventually arrived from a variety of sources. The film is supported by Sundance Documentary Fund, IDFA Bertha Documentary Fund, Chicken & Egg Pictures, Alter Cine Foundation, CNC, PROCIREP, ANGOA, Srfond, Fritt Ord, NFI, NRK, RTS, Bergesenstiftelsen and Filmkraft Rogaland. The producers are Jain for Raintree Films and Valerie Montmartin for Little Big Story, with Torstein Grude serving as co-producer for Piraya Film, in co-production with ARTE France and Al Jazeera.

The third and the most difficult part of it was editing 500 hours of rushes into a 100-minute film and translate the social-cultural-political context to the outside audience which knows very little about India, be it farming, Punjabs history or Sikhisms influence on the farmers protests, Jain said. To give you a small example, very few people outside India have heard of Indias freedom movement martyr Bhagat Singh. But in the protests, we saw thousands of Bhagat Singhs, every young farmer drew courage from their hero who was hanged by the British colonizers.

Cinephil is handling international sales. Farming the Revolution is both a cinematic achievement and an urgent record of the farmers struggle in India which mirrors the difficulties of the agricultural fields across the globe. Nishtha and Akash were able to capture the resilience of people and to craft an ode to their power, Cinephil managing director Suzanne Nodale told Variety.

While Cinephil will ensure that Farming the Revolution is seen globally, it is a rather more difficult task in India. Even festival screenings in India require a go-ahead from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. And getting a censor certificate for political documentaries is always tough and next to impossible. Public screenings of films even though they have a censor certificate have been known to be disrupted if the subject doesnt suit the ruling government. Streamers too dont touch political content in India. So the only way is releasing it for free on YouTube. And of course releasing it in international film festivals and TV channels abroad, Jain said.

Jain is now taking a break from documentaries and collaborating on a narrative project with a scriptwriter.

Best of Variety

Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
The day before Indiana University students planned to set up a pro-Palestine solidarity encampment on Dunn Meadow, a public field that's long been a site of gathering and protest in Bloomington, IU officials quietly changed its on-campus events policy to require tents and other "structures" to receive prior approval from the university.

The next day, 33 protesters at the encampment were arrested, shoved with riot shields and handcuffed with zip ties by Indiana State Police troopers who told them their use of camping tents and canopies on Dunn Meadow was unlawful.

Protesters say they were unaware of the policy change and many believe they were targeted by IU.

The fact that they did it late at night, the night before they knew that this pro-Palestine event was scheduled to take place tells us that this was not about security, said David McDonald, chair of the IU Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology and one of those arrested. It was about stifling speech on this particular issue.

More on the Dunn Meadow protest: State police detain pro-Palestine protesters, tear down encampment at Indiana University

The change was approved by an ad-hoc committee of four, consisting of the IU chief of police, the vice provost for student life, the associate vice president of events and conferences and the vice president for undergraduate education. No faculty or students were involved in the committee.

On Thursday, hundreds of protesters refused to take down their encampment after IU Police Department and Indiana State Police officers told them the event was a violation of school policy. IUPD distributed pamphlets saying tents needed prior registration, but protesters disputed the claim, citing the Bloomington campus' policy on use of assembly grounds under an existing campus policy that's been in place since 1969,

Pro-Palestine demonstrators chant through an open door at Franklin Hall on Friday, April 26, 2024.

As faculty and students attempted to explain the campus policy to troopers, state police Capt. Rob Priest replied, "I'm not arguing," and "I'm just following orders."

"If you resist us and stay, you're going to be arrested," Priest said. Less than three hours later, state police officers, many wearing full military gear and wielding riot-control equipment including rifles and riot shields, advanced on protesters and cuffed and arrested 33 protesters, three of whom were faculty members.

Banned from all IU-owned properties

All 33, the majority of them students, received the same penalty: a one-year ban from all IU-owned properties.

For freshman Elena Thomas, that meant she couldn't return to her dormitory after she was released from Monroe County Jail around 9 p.m. Thursday and had to stay the night at a friend's off-campus house. For IU senior Cameron Pierce it means he can't attend departmental graduation ceremonies or the commencement ceremony next week. For McDonald, it means he can't do his job.

Indiana University professor Elizabeth Dunn speaks at the rally outside of Bryan Hall on Friday, April 26, 2024, in response to the police action at Dunn Meadow during the demonstrations the previous day.

An IU spokesperson said students and faculty are encouraged to appeal their bans with IUPD, saying the bans will be lifted through an appeals process in "nearly all cases."

Indiana University defended IUPD and state police actions Thursday, saying protesters violated "university free speech and events policies," noting that the revised outdoor policy was published online and at Dunn Meadow. But the students, faculty and community members who were arrested say those policies weren't clearly communicated to them by IU. They also say state police acted with disregard for protester safety and their First Amendment rights.

"There was no, 'This is new policy,'" said Chris Handwerger, an IU senior who was detained and banned from IU property. "There was no, 'This was changed last night.' It was just like, 'Nope, this is the policy, your policy's wrong.'"

"To be very clear, the students were never violent, and the troopers were absolutely brutal," McDonald said. "And this administration, which purports to hold students in high regard, has obviously demonstrated the opposite."

Indiana University Police Department officers listen to Pro-Palestine demonstrators at Franklin Hall on Friday, April 26, 2024.

'You expect your kids to be protected when they're here'

As the arrests began Thursday, IU Palestine Solidarity Committee President Aidan Khamis grabbed a megaphone from inside the pro-Palestine encampment and shouted, "IU would rather brutalize its students than divest from genocide!"

Similar responses had been seen across the country, including at University of Texas at Austin, where state troopers were deployed to a pro-Palestine encampment and more than 50 were arrested. The week before at Columbia University in New York, more than 100 protesters were arrested.

A pro-Palestine encampment also happened at Purdue University in West Lafayette and the University of Notre Dame in South Bend. There were no arrests at either of those.

A pro-Palestine demonstrator chants at Indiana University Police Department officers at IU's Franklin Hall on Friday, April 26, 2024.

Around Indiana: Here's what happened at student protests this week over Gaza conflict

McDonald said he tried to stand between state police and protesters when the officers began advancing on the encampment and was hit in the ribs "four or five times" with a metal baton. Pierce said he and his wife were "dogpiled" by several officers and had "knees on the back of their spine" as they were rounded up with other cuffed protesters. Several detained protesters said their zip tie handcuffs, which remained on for several hours as detainees were taken to the Harry Gladstein Fieldhouse and then to Monroe County Jail, left bruises.

"I still have marks on my wrists because they were pretty tight," Handwerger said. "But there were a couple people where it was legitimately cutting off circulation pretty bad."

Detained protesters were loaded onto buses with IUPD officers after being cuffed by state police officers.

"It wasn't until I was at the courthouse, and had already been bound for three hours, that I was told what I was being charged with," Pierce said.

Dennis Thomas, the father of protester Elena Thomas, said he was disturbed by the state police using such force in response to seemingly lawful protests.

"You expect your kids to be protected when they're here," Thomas said. "I've always encouraged my daughters to stand up for what they feel is unjust to them, and you would think that these are things universities would want to protect and inspire in our future leaders."

Demonstrators with flags talk calmly with demonstrators with flags of Palestine during the pro-Palestine demonstration at Dunn Meadow on Friday, April 26, 2024.

IU says faculty, student appeals will likely result in lifted bans

At the Monroe County Jail, all 33 protesters were charged with criminal trespass, a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine. Protesters were told that returning to campus could result in the charge being escalated to a Level 6 felony.

All of the charges against the 33 are preliminary and had not been filed by the prosecutor by the end of the day Friday. All of the protesters except one  a man charged with felony battery  were released sometime between 8 p.m. Thursday and 1 a.m. Friday.

As protesters left the jail, a crowd gathered in the nearby alleyway and cheered as they were released. Family and friends of the arrested offered to grab bikes and personal items for those who were banned from campus. People cracked jokes, traded contact information and waited on the pavement for their friends to be released.

"It feels like a humongous betrayal from the university," Pierce said. "I'm not surprised by their actions, but I guess I'm just surprised by how quickly they put together a plan, before the encampment even started, to shut down a peaceful protest."

"I have zero regrets," Handwerger said. "If I could do it over again, I'd do exactly the same."

H-T reporter Laura Lane contributed to this article.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: 33 arrested at pro-Palestine rally after Indiana University policy change
Interfaith campaigner calls on imams to tackle extremism as he warns of new terror threat

Fiyaz Mughal says some in the Muslim community have 'lost trust in the state' after Government's support for Israel in its war against Hamas - Paul Smyth/Alamy Stock Photo

A leading interfaith campaigner has called on moderate imams to do more to tackle extremism as he warns that Britain is heading towards a new wave of homegrown terrorist attacks.

Fiyaz Mughal, an outspoken critic of radical Islamism, said that one of the biggest failures of recent months has been the failure of imams to quell community tensions. He warned that a section of the British Muslim community has lost trust in the state as a result of the Governments support for Israel in its war against Hamas.

Its a matter of time before we start to get terrorist attacks happening here, Mr Mughal told The Telegraph.

We are in that window of a serious set of attacks coming in the next 18 months. It is definitely coming. You have people who are hot and angry and entrenched in what they are seeing. He added that one of the biggest failures has been imams not speaking publicly.

Mr Mughal explained: There has been no significant movement of imams to quell community tensions. There has been no imam who has said, we need to calm things down, we need to work with the state authorities.

First anti-Muslim hatred tsar

Earlier this year, Mr Mughal was appointed by Michael Gove to spearhead a Government crackdown on extremism as the first anti-Muslim hatred tsar. But he quit the role after his name was leaked and he was subject to a torrent of abuse.

He also said it would take a decade to repair the relations between British Jews and Muslims as a result of the Israel-Hamas war. Mr Mughal went on to criticise Muslim peers, saying they have not done enough to help with inter-communal tensions.

If you are taking public money, you take the Kings shilling, speak. You have a duty to speak, said Mr Mughal.

Every time you clock into the Lords, you should be speaking about engagement.

I think some of them are just scared. Some of them think that this will affect their political careers. Some of them literally just want to have an easy life. You have to be bold. If you are in a position of power, you cannot be passive, added Mr Mughal.

A report published earlier this month found that only one in four British Muslims believes that Hamas committed murder and rape in Israel on Oct 7.

The poll, which was commissioned by the Henry Jackson Society, a counter-extremism think tank, also found that almost half (46 per cent) of British Muslims said they sympathise with Hamas. The survey, which is the largest of its kind to be carried out since the Israel-Hamas conflict began, asked a range of questions to British Muslims as well as to the general public.

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.
Iowa Auditor Rob Sand's office may have violated state open record laws in withholding records of several email exchanges with journalists requested by a conservative lawyer, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled Friday.

The dispute arises from a June 2021 report in which Sand, a Democrat, accused Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, of inappropriately including her own image in public awareness ads to stop the spread of COVID-19. A state ethics panel rejected that claim, finding the law in question has an exception for a declared disaster emergency like the pandemic.

In the wake of the report, the Kirkwood Institute, a public interest law firm founded by prominent Iowa Republican attorney Alan Ostergren, filed a records request for the auditor's communications with two reporters in connection with the report. The auditor's office provided some records but withheld others, citing several exceptions to Iowa's open records law.

Sand also did not provide one email his chief of staff, John McCormally, had sent to liberal journalist Laura Belin, which she subsequently quoted on her Bleeding Heartland news blog. Only after Ostergren sued did Sand's office eventually turn over that email chain.

Ostergren argued in court that the delayed release of the emails violated the law, and also challenged Sand's rationale for withholding other emails. A district judge privately reviewed the withheld emails and sided with Sand, finding the delay in providing the email to Ostergren was "reasonable" and dismissing the case.

Iowa Auditor Rob Sand.

Supreme Court: Delay might be unreasonable

Sand's office told the Des Moines Register at the time it was not the "lawful custodian" of the emails, but in court it instead argued the emails were not found until well after Ostergren sued because they were sent from McCormally's personal email.

The Supreme Court questioned that claim Friday as it unanimously revived Ostergren's lawsuit, finding that a jury might view Sand's delay as unreasonable under the circumstances. Justice Matthew McDermott noted in his opinion that Ostergren had specifically asked about the missing email to Belin, putting in question Sand's claim not to have been aware of it.

"Kirkwood put the Auditors office on notice of the failure to produce this email when Kirkwood filed its petition by specifically identifying the email as improperly withheld," McDermott wrote, noting even after the lawsuit, Sand took nearly four months to turn over the emails.

"Kirkwood presented enough evidence to permit a factfinder to conclude that, as to this email, the Auditors offices delay was unreasonable," he wrote.

Related: Bleeding Heartland news site sued for libel by proponent of banning LGBTQ book from school

While the email has since been provided to Ostergren, McDermott noted Ostergren still could be entitled to attorney fees for his lawsuit under a Supreme Court decision last year faulting the governor for long delays in responding to record requests.

The justices also directed the district court to take a closer look at nine email chains it had permitted Sand to withhold, supposedly because they were records received as part of an "audit or examination." The Supreme Court did agree that a 10th message chain should be withheld under a separate legal provision, allowing the government in some circumstances to withhold messages received from outside tipsters.

Republicans respond with criticism for auditor

Alan Ostergren

Ostergren in an email noted Sand has publicly proclaimed the importance of public access to records.

"Rob Sand has said that officials who dont comply with the open records laws should be held accountable. I agree, he should be held accountable and the Supreme Courts decision paves the way for that," Ostergren said. "The court made clear that he cannot hide all emails with bloggers behind his audit powers. We look forward to the opportunity to go back to district court to hear Sands justification for hiding these emails for so long."

Sonya Heitshusen, a spokeswoman for Sand's office, said in an email the case would continue.

We are disappointed in the need for additional proceedings, but will continue to follow the law and protect whistleblowers and tipsters as always, she said.

Sand, Iowa's sole Democratic statewide officeholder, has repeatedly butted heads with Republican leaders, and the state party in a statement said Friday's ruling shows Sand "is corrupt and cannot be trusted in office."

"The auditor needs to stop with the self-righteous attitude and get his own house in order before preaching about government transparency," Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann said. "This is a clear violation of the law and Auditor Sand and his office need to be held accountable."

This embedded content is not available in your region.

William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com or 715-573-8166.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Supreme Court faults Auditor Rob Sand in open records lawsuit
WASHINGTON/SANNA, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group launched three anti-ship ballistic missiles into the Red Sea from Yemen, hitting a British oil tanker, the U.S. military confirmed on Friday.

The British-owned MV Andromeda Star ship suffered minor damage, the U.S. Central Command said on the social media X.

A missile also fell in the vicinity of another ship, the MV Maisha, without any damage, said the military.

The Houthis on early Saturday claimed responsibility for attacks on the British oil tanker.

"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. 
Iranian women are being sexually assaulted, tasered and beaten in a fresh morality police crackdown on those flouting Tehrans strict dress codes.

Multiple videos posted online show women being bundled into the back of vehicles for infractions as minor as wearing a coat that is too short or too colourful.

Under the code name Noor or light in Farsi, the Islamic Republic has launched a major new clampdown on anyone violating its draconian female dress codes.

Women in Iran told The Telegraph of sexual abuse and being denied entry to public spaces such as subway stations, universities, and cafes for not complying with headscarf rules or for wearing fitted trousers.

The latest severe measures started on April 13, just hours before Iran launched hundreds of suicide drones and missiles at Israel.

Many Iranians speculate this timing was chosen because global attention was diverted.

Police officers on hijab surveillance in Tehran - Majid Asgaripour/WANA via REUTERS

A women being bundled into one of the white vans used by the morality police to round up those deemed to be violating the country's strict dress codes

I was approached by a group of plainclothes officers at around 5pm last Wednesday when I was walking on the pavement towards home, said Taranom, 25, a civil engineering student in Karaj, near the capital Tehran. (Like others in this article, a pseudonym is being used to protect her identity.)

I had my headscarf loosely draped around my neck, ready to be pulled up if I encountered them but everything unfolded too swiftly for me to react, she added.

One of them, with a long beard, made a call and requested a van to be brought to the scene, she recalled

Shortly after, he began touching me inappropriately. He was touching my breasts and was telling me Isnt this what you wanted by coming out like this? Enjoy then. It was the worst moment of my life, she said.

I tried to resist, but another one of them grabbed me by the hair and slammed me onto the ground.

Feeling helpless, I attempted to scream and call for help but there was no one there. I stood up but another one grabbed my shirt and slammed me to the ground again, she recalled.

A white van arrived a few minutes later and she was dragged inside while screaming. Four other girls, all crying, were already in the vehicle. They were then taken to a police station where they found dozens of other women.

She waited in a room for five hours.

Eventually, her name was called and she was given papers to sign. She said the documents stated she should not appear without a hijab again and that she would not file a complaint about the officers behaviour.

Iranian women clash with police during protests in 2022 after Mahsa Amini died in custody after being arrested for wearing her headscarf 'improperly' - SalamPix/ABACA

Across Iran, hundreds of women like Taranom have been arrested over the past week, and many more have been summoned and subjected to the use of force due to violations of dress codes.

Videos posted online show the morality police violently arresting women. One clip from Tehran shows a woman surrounded by nearly a dozen officers, with two women slapping her face and two men pushing her into a vehicle.

In another, a woman can be heard saying Let me put on [my headscarf] as a male officer tasers her.

The crackdown has also extended to online platforms. Police have arrested several women who shared their experiences and dozens of Instagram pages have been blocked.

Imprisoned womens rights activist Narges Mohammadi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year, called the situation an all-out war against women.

Today, the authoritarian religious government, driven by desperation rather than strength, has unleashed an all-out war against women on every street of the country, Ms Mohammadi said in a voice message from the notorious Evin prison.

An Iranian reads a news report about women's rights activist Narges Mohammadi, who is currently in prison - ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Universities and cafes have not been spared either.

Over 200 students from Amirkabir University in Tehran went on strike on Sunday and refused to attend classes in protest against new rules at universities.

They have separate entry doors for girls and boys. At the gate designated for girls, there are cameras to identify those not wearing the hijab, said Noshin, a student at Tehran University.

She recounted being stopped on Saturday despite wearing a headscarf, accused of wearing trousers that were too tight and a coat that was too short.

In northeastern Mashhad, Parvin, a 32-year-old nurse, was denied entry to a subway station, while in northwestern Tabriz, Shahnaz, a 24-year-old student, was refused entry to a cafe.

They are everywhere you look, said Parvin. They are using this time when the world is distracted by their conflict with Israel to harass us.

After being grabbed and verbally abused by a female officer at the subway station for failing to wear a headscarf, Parvin instead chose to walk. I refused to let them dictate what I should wear.

Since the September 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who was arrested for wearing her headscarf improperly, there has been a growing trend of women appearing in public without the hijab.

Aminis death sparked nationwide protests and the white vans associated with the morality police disappeared for a while.

But they are back in full force. On Tuesday, Ahmadreza Radan, the commander of Irans police, declared that the new crackdown will continue with force and precision.

The authorities cannot do anything with Israel, said student Noshin. Instead, they harass us.

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 Office of the Prime Minister of Israel on Friday flatly rejected the disinformation campaign waged by the terrorist movement Hamas that the Jewish State was involved in any misconduct regarding a mass grave found at a battle site located on a hospital compound in Gaza.

"Hamas libels know no limits. It's sad to see how many news organizations are still so quick to copy and paste Hamas' lies for clickbait. The IDF will continue to target Hamas while avoiding civilian casualties with precision likely to have never been seen in the history of warfare," Israeli government spokesman Avi Hyman told Fox News Digital.

Middle East expert Tom Gross told Fox News Digital, "Hamas has a long track record of fabricating the truth that puts even al Qaeda or Isis to shame. And yet, the supposedly responsible media  in particular, CNN on this occasion  repeat Hamas lies almost unquestioningly."

Gross added, "Even the BBC was not caught out on this occasion, but it seems CNN was all too eager to give credence to the latest Hamas blood libel against the Jewish state. When historians come to examine why there has been such a sharp increase in antisemitism in America this year, they may well examine the role of some media in encouraging it."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convenes the weekly cabinet meeting at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, Israel, Jan. 7, 2024.

UN, HUMAN RIGHTS, MEDIA GROUPS RELY ON HAMAS DEATH TOLL IN 'SYSTEMATIC DECEPTION': EXPERT

The Hamas-run Civil Defense agency in Gaza said on Tuesday that Palestinian health workers uncovered nearly 340 bodies of people allegedly killed and buried by Israeli forces at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

When asked about the Hamas officials who claimed that the presence of hundreds of bodies in mass graves at the hospital compound in Khan Younis, U.S. State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said on Wednesday, "The allegations are troubling, they are disturbing, we take them very seriously, and were continuing to press the Government of Israel for more information. Its our understanding the IDF has spoken to some of this publicly; they have stated that in search of Israeli hostages, they have uncovered graves in the area where Palestinians had previously been buried."

Israeli army spokesman Maj. Nadav Shoshani wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, "Misinformation is circulating regarding a mass grave that was discovered at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. The grave in question was dug  by Gazans  a few months ago."

BIDEN ADMIN CONTINUES PUSH FOR 2-STATE SOLUTION AS CRITICS WARN: 'EFFORTS REPEATEDLY FAIL'

He continued: "This fact is corroborated by social media documentation uploaded by Gazans at the time of the burial, as seen in the video below. 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."

Prominent American statisticians have argued that Hamas has fabricated death toll counts in the Gaza Strip to garner support among Western countries to end Israels campaign to root out the jihadi terrorist network. Hamas fails to distinguish between its terrorist combatants and civilians in its wars against Israel, military and statistical experts have long argued.

U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters about the mass grave, "We want answers," adding,"We want to see this thoroughly and transparently investigated." Hamas invaded Israel on Oct. 7 and slaughtered 1,200 people, including over 30 Americans.

Hospitals are protected institutions during war under international law. However, the medical centers in the Gaza Strip have frequently been turned into de facto military installations by Hamas to wage war against Israel. Hospitals lose their protected rights when they are converted into military sites. Hamas uses medical compounds to hold hostages.

Hamas currently has over 100 hostages, including Americans, in its captivity. The Hamas-held hostages are believed to be in Rafah, the main stronghold of Hamas battalions.

Hamas terrorists and Gazans are seen in the above photo.

ISRAELS NETANYAHU SAYS ANTISEMITIC MOBS HAVE TAKEN OVER AMERICAS LEADING UNIVERSITIES

Omri Ceren, the national security advisor for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, wrote on X about some of the mainstream reporting about the mass grave: "This is just something Hamas made up and CNN is amplifying it. I haven't even seen a defense of it. It's just CNN amplifying a thing that Hamas made up and then moving on."

The Times of Israel reported, in response to the Hamas accusation that Israel is to blame for the mass grave, that the "evidence has suggested this is false, with the bodies having previously been buried at that same location by Palestinians amid the fighting between Israeli forces and terror operatives in the area."

The U.N.s controversial human rights chief, Volker Turk, said he was "horrified" by reports of mass graves at the Gaza hospitals  Shifa medical compound in Gaza City and Nasser Hospital.

Smoke billows after the Israeli army launched an airstrike on Al Mughraqa area in the Gaza Strip, on April 14, 2024.

In January, Israels mission in Geneva, Switzerland, took Turks office to task for failing to call for the release of hostages in Gaza on the 100th day since the start of the war.

"Not one word demanding the release of the hostages held in Gaza. A call for a ceasefire, without demanding the release of our hostages and the disarming of Hamas, is a call for terrorism to win," wrote Israeli diplomats on X.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is located in Geneva.

Fox News Digital press queries to the IDF and the State Department were not immediately answered.





Original article source: Israel debunks 'Hamas libels' about mass grave spread by media for internet clicks, says Netanyahu spokesman
Just when coverage of Israel in much of the broadcast media couldnt seem any more spiteful and misleading  the slippage into the mainstream of slurs like genocide and famine, for instance, neither of which are remotely accurate descriptions for what is going on in Gaza  a story breaks that destroys all my remaining confidence that such outlets will cover the war impartially.

It was reported last week that a mass grave had been discovered in Khan Younis. Few were willing to blame the Israelis directly, but the coverage  and the response from some politicians  heavily implied that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) must have been responsible. I listened and read with a now-familiar torpor; vaguely interested in whether anyone would question the storys assumptions, while knowing that they wouldnt.

The globally parroted suggestion that the IDF had tied Gazans hands behind their back before shooting them and dumping them in these graves (there is a deliberate resonance here: the SS often shot Jews in Eastern Europe into graves theyd forced them to dig) immediately struck me and most other sane Israel-watchers as almost certainly untrue. Israel, unlike Hamas, does not conduct warfare with freewheeling sadism; instances of any such foul play are investigated and punished, for which there are plenty of examples.

Of course, I could be wrong in this case, but I highly doubt it  especially given that geo-imaging now shows that the mass graves are actually on a site in hospital grounds in which Palestinians had previously buried dead bodies.

But there is a tendency to always assume the worst of the IDF. There is an ancient anti-Semitic trope of Jews drinking the blood of the innocents. A version of this trope appears to have structured many peoples views of Israels war in Gaza since the Hamas attack of October 7  and indeed long before, at least since the turn of the millennium when the Second Intifada broke out, receiving similar encouragement to that enjoyed by Hamas now.

The urge to portray the IDF as an immoral army is very strong indeed; almost a religion in itself. But its wrong. In fact, the IDF has a strong claim to being the most moral army in the world.

I once interviewed Asa Kasher, the philosopher and linguist who wrote the IDFs code of ethics, in his humble flat in a Tel Aviv suburb. I was amazed at the sobriety and rigour with which he had approached his task. This very unglamorous philosophy professor had put immense thought into the life-and-death implications of his work.

The code sets out four fundamental values, number three of which is human dignity. This states explicitly that every individual is of inherent value, regardless of their ethnicity, religion, nationality, gender or status. Soldiers are instructed to maintain their humanity during combat. Elsewhere, under discipline, it reads that the soldier will ensure they are only giving out legal orders, and do not follow illegal orders.

This code of ethics used to be handed out in paper format to all conscripts and is now disseminated in basic training. And its hardly surprising that the IDF seeks to inculcate such values in its troops. Israel is a democratic, free country, and many non-Jewish Israeli citizens serve in its armed forces. It also knows that it will face more scrutiny than perhaps any other army in the world.

And its not just theoretical: the IDFs morality is seen in its actions. It is currently trying to dismantle probably the most extensive, cunning terrorist infrastructure ever known, one that is highly likely to have been built with the help of hundreds of millions of Western taxpayer money, UN and other aid funds. Hamas operates via an outstandingly well-constructed tunnel network bigger than the whole London Underground.

Israel uses a great deal of precision technology to limit the bloodshed. But its difficult. There are booby traps and mines above, below, and fire all around. Hamass whole strategy revolves around using civilian shields and as many brutal tricks as possible, such as those that have resulted in IDF soldiers firing on their own and on aid workers.

And still journalists and Twitter armies lap up the idea that Israel is going after women and children, refusing to acknowledge how and why they end up stuck in the cross-hairs.

Despite this near-impossible battlefield, the IDF seems to have managed to keep its ratio of civilians to combatants killed lower than almost any other army ever has. The world eats up Hamas figures for the numbers who have been killed, naturally refusing to distinguish between Hamas fighters and civilians.

But according to one analysis earlier this year, even if we accept the terror groups statistics, for every Hamas combatant eliminated, approximately 1.5 civilians have been tragically killed. Given that the UN says that civilians usually make up a shocking 90 per cent of casualties in war (a 1:9 ratio), this is impressive.

Unlike most, Israel drops leaflets and sends texts to people before any attacks so they can evacuate; in this war, it has sacrificed some of its objectives in order to limit civilian deaths.

No army gets this right all the time, but the IDF operates in a manner light years away from that of all the terror groups and militias that hate Israel, currently being cheered on college campuses.

It is the ultimate taboo but it is true: the IDF is the most moral army in the world, and its enemies not only know this, but also trade on it.

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.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz held out the prospect of postponing a planned offensive in the Gaza city of Rafah in the event of a hostage agreement with the Palestinian Islamist Hamas militia.

"The release of the hostages is our top priority," Katz told Israel's Channel 12 on Saturday. Also citing the minister, the Kan channel reported that Israel was prepared to postpone the military operation if a hostage deal was reached.

Hamas said it is currently examining an Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza war and the release of further hostages. Israel expects a response within 48 hours, Channel 12 reported on Saturday.

Israel has said an advance into Rafah is necessary to eliminate Hamas forces, which is the stated goal of its military offensive in the wake of the October 7 attacks in southern Israel.
Meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the conflict between Israel and Hamas in New York

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel's foreign minister said on Saturday that a planned incursion into the southern Gaza city of Rafah could be suspended should a deal emerge to secure the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

The comments came as international mediators push for a deal to achieve a ceasefire in the six months of devastating fighting in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages taken during Hamas' Oct. 7 assault that sparked the war.

"The release of the hostages is the top priority for us," Foreign Minister Israel Katz said during an interview with local Channel 12 television.

Asked if that included putting off a planned operation to eliminate Hamas battalions in the city of Rafah, Katz answered, "Yes."

He went on to say: "If there will be a deal, we will suspend the operation."

Though Katz is a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet, he is not a member of the narrow-forum war cabinet overseeing the Gaza offensive.

Israel, which launched its war to annihilate Hamas after the Islamist group's Oct. 7 attacks on Israeli towns, says Rafah is home to four Hamas combat battalions reinforced by thousands of retreating fighters, and it must defeat them to achieve victory.

But Rafah, which abuts the Egyptian border, is sheltering more than a million Palestinians who fled the Israeli offensive through the rest of Gaza and say the prospect of fleeing yet again is terrifying.

Earlier on Saturday, Hamas said it had received Israel's official response to its latest ceasefire proposal in Egyptian- and Qatari-mediated negotiations and will study it before submitting its reply.

On Thursday, the United States and 17 other countries appealed to Hamas to release all of its hostages as a pathway to end the crisis.

Hamas wants to parlay any deal into a permanent end to the fighting - short of a formal peace, as the Islamist group is sworn to Israel's destruction. Israel plans to pursue the war until Hamas's governing and military capacities are dismantled.

More than 130 hostages are still being held in Gaza captivity, including women and children.

As Hamas issued a new video showing two of the hostages pleading for their release and sending love to their families, thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv in protest, demanding that the government do more to secure their release.

Some 1,200 people were killed on Oct. 7, according to Israeli tallies, in the deadliest single attack in Israel's history. Israel's offensive in Gaza has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in Hamas-ruled Gaza.

(Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; editing by David Evans)
RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) -Israeli soldiers killed two Palestinian gunmen who opened fire at them from a vehicle in the occupied West Bank, the military said on Saturday.

The military released a photo of two automatic rifles that it said were used by several gunmen to shoot at the soldiers, at an outpost near the flashpoint Palestinian city of Jenin.

The Jenin Brigade, an umbrella group that includes armed factions such as Islamic Jihad and Hamas, said the two gunmen were its members.

There was no other immediate comment from Palestinian officials in the West Bank, where violence has been on the rise as Israel presses its war against Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza.

Israel launched its offensive in Gaza after Hamas led an attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7 in which Israel said 1,200 people were killed and 253 taken hostage. More than 34,000 Palestinians have since been killed, according to the Gaza health ministry, and most of the population displaced.

Violence in the West Bank, which had already been on the rise before the war, has since flared with stepped-up Israeli raids and Palestinian street attacks.

The West Bank and Gaza, which Israel captured in a 1967 war, are among the territories which the Palestinians seek for a state. U.S.-brokered peace talks collapsed a decade ago.

(Reporting by Ali Sawafta in Ramallah and Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem; Editing by Toby Chopra)
Two armed Palestinians were shot dead during an attack on an Israeli military checkpoint in the northern West Bank.

Several Palestinians opened fire on soldiers at the Salem checkpoint in the Jenin area overnight Saturday, the Israeli military said.

Two gunmen were killed and two automatic rifles were confiscated, the military said. There were no casualties on the Israeli side.

The Islamic Jihad militant group confirmed that members from Jenin had attacked the checkpoint and were killed.

The official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that in addition to the two fatalities, two other attackers were also injured.

There has been an increase in attacks by Palestinians in the occupied West Bank over the past two years. Since the start of the Gaza war following the Hamas massacre on October 7, the security situation further deteriorated.

The Health Ministry in the West Bank says at least 468 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military operations, confrontations, or during their own attacks since October 7.

There has simultaneously been an increase in violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.
Ukraine's ability to liberate its entire territory in the long term depends on numerous future decisions in the West, the Kremlin and Kyiv. Any discussions that view the prospects of Ukrainian victory or defeat as predetermined outcomes ignore how all involved parties could dynamically change the war course in Ukraine.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Details: Western media continue to report that some US officials began discussions on "freezing the lines" again as the new military aid package to Ukraine may be insufficient for Ukraine to regain all of its territory.

ISW noted that the current package supporters did not claim that it alone would allow Ukraine to liberate all the Russian-occupied territory and discussions of possible end states of the war are premature as President Joe Biden signed the bill for new aid just two days ago.

The US military aid is currently on its way to Ukraine and it will take several weeks to reach units in the combat zone and significantly impact the battlefield. In the coming weeks, Ukrainian forces will initially have to use US aid to stabilise the front line and stop Russian advances, particularly on the Avdiivka and Chasiv Yar fronts.

The scale and intensity of the projected Russian offensive operation in the summer of 2024, which is likely to begin in June, is also still being determined. In addition, the Russian military command may actively assess and revise plans for their summer offensive efforts to account for engagements with better-equipped Ukrainian forces.

The Ukrainians must defend against Russian summer offensive actions and prevent Russian troops from making significant progress during the summer months before they can challenge the initiative and conduct a counteroffensive later in 2024 or 2025.

Ukrainian forces must also address the present issues with training new personnel, equipping the new units and restoring the old ones. The exact timeline of these efforts, which is likely to play a significant role in determining Ukraine's future counteroffensive operations, is still unclear.

ISW assessed that sufficient and consistent Western support will be crucial for Ukraine's future counteroffensive actions. However, the US and the West will have to react as Ukrainian military command determines the scale and direction of such operations and communicates Ukraine's needs to Western partners in the weeks and months leading up to future counteroffensive operations.

To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 26 April:

Western media continues to report that select US officials have resumed discussing the idea of "freezing the lines" where they are because the latest package of US military assistance to Ukraine may not be enough for Ukraine to regain all its territory. Supporters of the current package have not claimed that it would by itself allow Ukraine to liberate all occupied territory, and the discussion of possible end states of the war is very premature as President Joe Biden signed the bill authorising the new package only two days ago.

Public meetings between officials from Russia, Belarus, the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), Iran, and North Korea have surged in recent days, with at least 10 high-level bilateral meetings between 22 and 26 April, underscoring the deepening multilateral partnership these states are constructing to confront the West.

PRC officials claimed that NATO bears responsibility for Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine amid meetings between PRC officials and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on 26 April.

Ukraines Western partners continue to provide Ukraine with immediate and longer-term military assistance, particularly for Ukraines air defences.

The Ukrainian military has reportedly pulled US-provided M1A1 Abrams tanks from the frontline in part because of the widespread threat of Russian drones and other strikes.

Russian authorities continue efforts to expand the definition of prosecutable anti-war sentiment to portray Russians who oppose the war in Ukraine as opposing Russia itself.

Russian forces recently made a confirmed advance northwest of Avdiivka, and Ukrainian forces made a confirmed advance in east (left) bank Kherson Oblast, although this advance was likely not recent.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Libertys Tatar-Bashkort service Idel Realii reported on 26 April that Samara Oblast is forming a new "Batyr" volunteer motorised rifle battalion.

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) issued a joint statement on behalf of 45 member states stating that Russia has arbitrarily detained thousands of Ukrainian civilians in occupied Ukraine and subjected them to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.

Support UP or become our patron!
ITHACA, N.Y. (WETM)  An Ithaca man was arrested on Wednesday after police say they found a gun, meth, cocaine, and fentanyl in his possession.

William L. Ellison, 41, was arrested after a Tompkins County Sheriffs deputy, who was working a GIVE (Gun Involved Violence Elimination) detail, conducted a traffic stop on his vehicle on Coy Glen Road in the Town of Ithaca at about 10:35 p.m. on April 24. According to the sheriffs office, the deputy found approximately 9 grams of methamphetamine, 5 grams of crack cocaine, 1 gram of fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, and an unlawfully possessed .380 caliber handgun that was loaded with seven rounds during an investigation that followed the traffic stop.

Newfield man faces multiple charges after probation check

Ellison was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (a class B felony) and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon (a class C felony).

Ellison was arraigned at the Tompkins County Sheriffs Office CAP and taken to the Tompkins County Jail, where he is currently being held without bail. Ellison is scheduled to appear in the Town of Ithaca Court on Monday, April 29.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com.
Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic Edil Baisalov (4th R, front) attends a welcoming ceremony for children who underwent heart surgery in China and returned to their homeland in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, April 26, 2024. Baisalov on Friday thanked China for providing medical assistance to Kyrgyz nationals. (Photo by Roman Gainanov/Xinhua)

BISHKEK, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic Edil Baisalov on Friday thanked China for providing medical assistance to Kyrgyz nationals.

During a welcoming ceremony for children who underwent heart surgery in China and returned to their homeland, Baisalov said that the Kyrgyz people will always remember the kindness of the Chinese people.

Kyrgyzstan is ready to continue to strengthen the friendship between the two countries and contribute to the development of Kyrgyz-Chinese relations, Baisalov said.

The ceremony was also attended by Chinese Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Du Dewen, representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Ene-Balaga Tirek Foundation of the First Lady of Kyrgyzstan Aigul Japarova, medical workers, relatives and friends of the patients.

Du congratulated the children on their recovery and return to Kyrgyzstan and said that the program fully demonstrates the friendship of the Chinese people towards the Kyrgyz people.

Currently, Chinese-Kyrgyz relations are experiencing a historic high and the two countries have achieved fruitful results in medicine and healthcare cooperation, said the ambassador.

China is willing to work with Kyrgyzstan to build a Chinese-Kyrgyz community with a shared future for the benefit of the two peoples, Du said.

The charity project was carried out within a cooperation framework between Henan Provincial Chest Hospital and the Ene-Balaga Tirek Foundation. Surgeries were performed on 10 children with congenital heart disease. 
Shutterstock.com

Baby Boomers grew up in cars and as many of them reach retirement, many might be looking to purchase a used car for their golden years, post-career. But what is the best vehicle for this generation to buy in 2024?

The best vehicles for Baby Boomers this year are those that offer reliability, comfort, and easy handling, with safety features that support an active lifestyle without compromising on performance or economic value, said Geoff Cudd, the founder of Find The Best Car Price.

Read Next: These 10 Used Cars Will Last Longer Than an Average New Vehicle

Learn More: How To Get $340 Per Year in Cash Back on Gas and Other Things You Already Buy

Of course, its always important to do your research and come prepared with a plan. With that in mind, here are 10 perfect used cars for Baby Boomers to buy in 2024:

Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief.

Tesla Model S

Despite the recent ups and downs with the overall Tesla brand, Cudd shared that the Model S might not be a bad option for Boomers looking to buy a used car.

Explore More: 6 American Cars Worth Buying

The Tesla S could be attractive for those interested in cutting-edge technology combined with the environmental and economic benefits of electric propulsion, though its important to consider the accessibility of charging infrastructure, Cudd said.

Kia Telluride

The Kia Telluride is a midsize SUV that offers a spacious and comfortable interior, a smooth ride, and a range of features that make it a great choice for Baby Boomers, according to Carl Rodriguez, founder of NX Auto Transport.

It comes with a choice of powerful engines, including a V6, and offers a smooth and refined ride, said Rodriguez. The Telluride also comes with a range of safety features, including Kias Drive Wise suite of driver-assist technologies.

Toyota Camry

When Baby Boomers choose a car, they need to think about things like comfort, ease of use, safety, and dependability, said Blake Shaw, automotive expert and car enthusiast from All About Wheels.

Spacious, comfortable, reliable, and proven to hold their value extremely well over time, said Mark Beneke, the owner of Westland Auto, Inc. The Camry has high safety ratings and low maintenance costs making it a no-nonsense vehicle that makes it one of the safest choices to go with, said Beneke.

Toyota Corolla

As a Boomer myself and one who currently drives this car, The Toyota Corolla is my #1 choice for used cars for Boomers, proclaimed David Bakke, a car buying expert at DollarSanity.

Story continues

If you go with the basic model, youll save on price, and the fuel economy is solid, said Bakke. Not too heavy on the extras, but at my age, I dont even want them. Cant go wrong here.

Subaru Outback/Forester

For Baby Boomers seeking the ideal vehicle, a mix of comfort, safety, and ease of use should be prioritized, noted Cudd, who recommended the Subaru Outback as a vehicle that fits this bill.

Thats because its one of Subarus models with a reputation for reliable performance, comfortable interiors, and advanced safety features, making them practical for both daily use and longer journeys.

If Baby Boomers plan to spend more time in rougher terrains or need more room, Beneke also suggested they look at the Outback.



The all-wheel drive makes driving in rough weather conditions and various terrains safe, easy, and comfortable. Not to mention that Subaru is another brand thats earned a strong reputation for providing quality and reliability, said Beneke.

Hyundai Sonata

The Hyundai Sonata is a midsize sedan that offers a comfortable ride, spacious interior, and a range of features that appeal to Baby Boomers, Rodriguez described.

This model has cutting-edge technology with easy-to-use controls, great gas mileage, and a smooth ride, making it perfect for people who want a mix of modern features and classic comfort, explained Shaw.

Rodriguez highlighted that the Sonata comes with efficient engines, including a hybrid option, and offers a smooth and quiet ride. The Sonata also comes with a range of safety features, including Hyundais SmartSense suite of driver-assist technologies.

Toyota Highlander

For those who have family they travel with often but dont need a big-body gas guzzler, the Highlander is the top choice, Beneke recommended.

They come equipped with mechanical components built to last and provide more than enough power to make driving with a full family comfortable, said Beneke. Theyre easy to get in and out of, safe, and highly sought after, helping their resale value remain high.

Honda CR-V

Cudd thinks the Honda CR-V is a great pick for boomers because it offers spacious seating and a user-friendly infotainment system, important for those who appreciate simplicity and efficiency in vehicle operation.

Im not a fan of SUVs because I only have one kid, but for Boomers with larger families, this mini SUV could be the way to go, Bakke said, explaining how the CR-V is more affordable than other full-sized SUVs and noting the price difference on the estimated MSRP to be about $29,500.

It also has solid safety features and good visibility which is important for Boomers with kids, Bakke added.

Mazda 3/6

Another safe choice for Sedans would be the Mazda 3 or 6. The brand has repeatedly proven that reliability and performance are their primary focus. With their styling changes over the last 10 years, they have also become very attractive vehicles, said Beneke.

They offer a good blend of fuel efficiency, power, and durability. The 6 provides the most ample interior but both vehicles offer a lot of space. This makes either one a safe and cost-effective choice, said Beneke.

Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon

If what youre after is the most spaciousness, power, durability, and safety, the Tahoe and Yukon are your best bets, Beneke mentioned.

These are two vehicles that GM has always made sure to maintain their reputation, Beneke continued. Theyre built to last and extremely comfortable to drive, even with a full cabin. Theyre also two full-size SUVs with the highest resale values.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 10 Perfect Used Cars for Baby Boomers To Buy in 2024
UK news presenter Rageh Omaar is receiving medical care after becoming unwell live on air, ITV News has said.

Viewers took to social media Friday evening to express their concern after Omaar was seen struggling to read the autocue towards the end of News at Ten bulletin. He managed to sign off with a short farewell, and then sat at the studio desk while the credits rolled.

More from Deadline

ITV pulled the show from its scheduled re-run on its one-hour-delay channel, and stated Saturday morning:

We are aware that viewers are concerned about Rageh Omaars wellbeing, Rageh became unwell while presenting News at Ten on Friday and is now receiving medical care. He thanks everyone for their well wishes.

Omaar, who is 56, is a regular anchor for the flagship news program, is also the broadcasters international affairs editor and presents the current affairs show On Assignment from around the world.

He previously worked as a foreign correspondent for the BBC, where he became a familiar face on British screens during the second Gulf war in 2003. His live reports from rooftops while missiles flew overhead earned him the nickname the Scud stud.

Best of Deadline

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Students of color in special education are less likely to get the help they need  here are 3 ways teachers can do better

When I was a special education teacher at Myrtle Grove Elementary School in Miami in 2010, my colleagues and I recommended that a Black girl receive special education services because she had difficulty reading. However, her mother disagreed. When I asked her why, she explained that she, too, was identified as having a learning disability when she was a student.

She was put in a small classroom away from her other classmates. She remembered reading books below her grade level and frequent conflicts between her classmates and teachers. Because of this, she believed she received a lower-quality education. She didnt want her daughter to go through the same experience.

Ultimately, the mother and I co-designed an individualized education plan  known in the world of special education as an IEP  for her daughter where she would be pulled out of class for only an hour a day for intensive reading instruction.

When compared to white students with disabilities, students of color with disabilities are more likely to be placed in separate classrooms. This may lead to lower educational outcomes for students of color in special education, as students with disabilities perform better in math and reading when in general education classrooms.

Students with disabilities perform better academically when placed in general education classes. Robin Bartholick via Tetra images/GettyImages

Researchers, such as University of Arizona education scholar Adai Tefera and CUNY-Hunter College sociologist of education Catherine Voulgarides, argue that systemic racism  as well as biased interpretations of the behavior of students of color  explains these discrepancies. For example, when compared to students with similar test scores, Black students with disabilities are less likely to be included in the general education classroom than their non-Black peers. To curb this, teachers can take steps toward being more inclusive of students of color with disabilities.

As a Black feminist researcher who focuses on the intersection of race and disability, here are three recommendations I believe can help teachers to better support students of color with disabilities.

1. Inform families of their rights

Federal law requires that schools provide parents and guardians with Procedural Safeguards Notices, a full explanation of all the rights a parent has when their child is referred to or receives special education services. These notices need to be put in writing and explained to families in language that is easily understandable.

However, research shows that in many states, Procedural Safeguards Notices are written in ways that are difficult to read. This can make it harder for families, especially immigrant families, to know their rights. Also, families of color report facing greater resistance when making requests for disability services than white families do.

When meeting with families, teachers can take the time to break down any confusing language written in the Procedural Safeguards Notice. This can assure that the families of students of color are fully aware of their options.

For example, families have the right to invite an external advocate to represent their interests during meetings with school representatives. These advocates can speak on behalf of the family and often help resolve disagreements between the schools and families.

Educators can tell families about organizations that serve children with disabilities and help them navigate school systems. The Color of Autism, The Arc and Easterseals are striving to address racial inequities in who has access to advocacy supports. These organizations create culturally responsive resources and connect families of color with scholarships to receive training on how to advocate for themselves.

2. Talk about race and disability

Despite the growing diversity within K-12 classrooms, conversations around race are often left out of special education. This leaves a lack of attention toward the issues that students of color face, like higher suspension rates and lower grades and test scores than their white peers in special education.

When teachers talk about race and disability with their colleagues, it can help reduce implicit biases they may have. Also, dialogue about race and disability can help to reduce negative school interactions with students of color with disabilities.

Arizona State University teacher educator Andrea Weinberg and I developed protocols that encourage educators to talk about race, disability, class and other social identities with each other. These include questions for teachers such as:

Do any of your students of color have an IEP? Has a student with disabilities or their family shared anything about their cultural background that distinguishes them from their peers? Are there patterns of students not responding to instruction?

The protocols also encourage educators to consider their own social identities and how those may shape how they interpret students behaviors and academic needs:

Who do you collaborate with to help you better understand and respond to students diverse needs? In what ways are students and teachers benefiting from the diversity represented in the classroom?

Educators using these questions in the Southwest, for example, say they help a mostly white teacher workforce understand their role in disrupting inequities. One study participant said, These things are not addressed, and theyre not talked about among faculty.

3. Highlight people of color with disabilities in the classroom

Often, classroom content depicts disabled people  especially those of color  as people at the margins of society. For example, in To Kill a Mockingbird, Tom Robinson, a Black character with a physical disability, is killed after being falsely accused of a crime. Teachers can incorporate thoughtful examples of disabled people of color in their lesson plans to help students better understand their experiences.

When teaching about Harriet Tubman, educators can mention how she freed enslaved people while coping with the lifelong effects of a head injury. Tubmans political activism provides a historical example of disabled people of color who helped improve society for all.

Famous Mexican artist Frida Kahlo suffered from spinal and pelvic damage after a bus accident. Universidad Carlos III de Madrid/flickr

Art teachers can highlight Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and how she boldly addressed her physical disabilities in self-portraits. Disabled peoples experiences are frequently shown from the perspective of people without disabilities. In her art, Kahlo displayed herself with bandages and sitting in a wheelchair. Her portraits featured her own reactions to having disabilities.

Physical education teachers can discuss current events, such as recent news about Olympian Simone Biless attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and anxiety. Her openness has sparked international conversations about less noticeable disabilities.

Teaching students about the contributions that disabled people of color make to our society emphasizes that neither race nor disability should be equated with inferiority.

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: Mildred Boveda, Penn State

Read more:



Mildred Boveda does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
JACKSONVILLE, Ark- Officers with the Jacksonville Police Department made a second arrest in connection with a shooting in Galloway Park that left two people injured Tuesday night.

Department officials said they arrested 23-year-old Diondre Bradford of Little Rock in connection with the shooting. Records show Bradford is being held in the Pulaski County Detention Center on a $250,000 bond.

Jacksonville police investigating Tuesday night shooting at park

On Tuesday night, officers with the Jacksonville Police Department responded to Galloway Park around 7:24 p.m. after there had been reports of a shooting. Officers said they found two people who had been shot, and the pair were taken to the hospital for treatment.

Investigators said they found a van they were looking for in connection with the Tuesday night shooting in front of a home. They said Bradford came out of the house when they arrived and officers recognized him from an investigation into an unrelated crime. During further investigation, officials said they identified Bradford as a suspect in the Tuesday incident.

Jacksonville police arrest suspect in Galloway Park shooting investigation

Officials said Bradford is facing 36 counts of committing a terroristic act, two counts of battery in the first degree, a single count of aggravated robbery, four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of aggravated assault. He is also facing two charges of misdemeanor failure to appear warrants.

Department officials said the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the

Jacksonville Police Department at 501-982-3191 or after-hours 501-985-2802.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
A Utah man in a ballistic vest and gas mask, who filmed the fatal shooting of Ashli Babbit, was sentenced to six years in prison Friday for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, according to the Justice Department.

John Earle Sullivan, 29, was found guilty of obstructing an official proceeding, including possession of a dangerous weapon on Capitol grounds on Nov. 16, 2023. On top of the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth also sentenced him to 36 months of supervised release and ordered him to pay $2,000 in restitution.

According to court documents, in the days and weeks leading to the events of Jan. 6, 2021, Sullivan used various digital platforms and personas to present himself as an activist; however, on these platforms, Sullivan made his true objectives clear: to cause pure chaos and disruption to the status quo, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia said in a press release.

Sullivan arrived in the Capitol area on Jan. 6 with a ballistic vest, gas mask and a bull horn. He encouraged other rioters by saying into the megaphone: Get in that sh and Storm that sh. He said he would continue filming as a good ploy so he would not get arrested for entering the building, per prosecutors.

Once inside the Capitol, he told law enforcement to stand down so they would not get hurt. He also joined a crowed outside the House of Representatives where he told other rioters that he had a knife. In the Speakers Lobby, he encouraged others to break the windows, the release said.

After the windows were broken, Babbitt climbed through and was shot.

Sullivan was arrested in Salt Lake City on Jan. 14, 2021. He was paid more than $90,000 for his riot videos before he was convicted, The Washington Post reported.

Since the attack on the Capitol, more than 1,385 people have been charged in nearly all 50 states for their crimes related to the insurrection, the release said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Ukrainian children abducted by Russia who have been brought back to Ukraine. Photo: Andrii Yermak on Telegram

Japan has joined the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, the last Group of Seven (G7) country to do so.

Source: Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraines Human Rights Commissioner

Quote from Lubinets: "Another country, Japan, has joined the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children!

This is a historic and a victorious decision: now all the Group of Seven countries support us! We will be able to redouble our efforts with this great help from our international partners, and will ensure that the fourth point in the Ukrainian Peace Formula is implemented: The liberation of persons held in captivity or deported.

The coalition was founded in Kyiv on 2 February 2024. Its a joint initiative by Ukraine and Canada. A total of 36 countries have already joined!"

Background:

The United States joined the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children as a member state in March 2024.

Also in March, the US House of Representatives passed a bipartisan resolution condemning Russia's abduction of Ukrainian children.

Support UP or become our patron!
During a visit to Japan, a Ukrainian delegation led by Energy Minister German Galushchenko held discussions with Japanese officials regarding assistance in rebuilding Ukraine's energy sector.

Russia has intensified its missile and drone strikes against Ukraine's critical infrastructure, launching large-scale attacks on energy facilities across the country.

Galushchenko outlined the extensive losses incurred, particularly in thermal and hydro generation, and emphasized the urgent need for equipment to restore capacity and enhance resilience before the next winter. Specifically, the focus was on acquiring gear such as gas turbines, gas piston units, and portable mobile generators.

Japanese officials expressed readiness to share expertise in nuclear safety and reconstruction, reaffirming ongoing support for Ukraine at international forums like the G7. Keichi Ichikawa, the Assistant Chief Secretary at Japan's Cabinet Secretariat, said that supporting Ukraine's energy sector remained the foremost focus of Japan's aid efforts.

Japan, the third largest donor to Ukraine, has allocated substantial financial aid, underscoring its commitment to Ukraine's recovery and energy security.

Since the start of Russias full-scale invasion, Japan has contributed around $8 billion to Ukraine in humanitarian and financial assistance, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.

Read also: Shmyhal: Japan to allocate $1.3 billion to support Japanese investors in Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A Jewish Princeton University freshman recounted the virulent antisemitism he witnessed on the Ivy League campus at an anti-Israel protest encampment this week.

Maximillian Meyer of New York told Fox News Digital that protesters flew Hezbollah flags and chanted in support of Hamas as the wave of anti-Israel activism that continues to wash over some of America's top institutions came to Princeton  placing Jewish students in fear of attending classes and engaging in regular student life.

"The craziest thing to me is the fact that I saw the Hezbollah flag multiple times, and I wasn't even shocked," Meyer said in an interview. "And I thought that that is more emblematic of the moral rot that has taken hold on our college campuses  of our so-called elite college campuses  than anything else. The fact that not only do we have Hezbollah flags, not only are there chants supporting the Houthis, chants supporting Hamas, but that we're not even surprised. It has become ubiquitous. And that is devastating."

The U.S. State Department officially designates Hezbollah a foreign terrorist organization.

COLUMBIA STUDENT BANNED FROM CAMPUS AFTER REMARKS ABOUT MURDERING ZIONISTS

The Hezbollah flag was spotted at the Princeton encampment at approximately 5:16 p.m. Thursday, according to The Daily Princetonian. Organizers then promptly asked it be put away.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The photo of the flag was initially shared by an X account belonging to Myles McKnight, an 2023 alum who also served as president of an undergraduate student organization dedicated to promoting free speech, per the publication. It was re-posted by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

Meyer, who is currently studying politics at Princeton, said he has been standing up against anti-Israel organizations since the war in Gaza broke out after the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. He said the number of counter-protesters who have joined him varies, sometimes reaching a total of about six or seven students, in comparison to the 100 to 150 students and faculty demanding that Princeton divest from Israel and condemn the Jewish state's campaign to eradicate Hamas, a terrorist group.

However, Meyer said many Jewish students don't want to stay and speak out due to their fear and intimidation by the pro-Hamas groups.

"They are intimidated by the fact that their professors are participating in calls for their own for their own genocide," Meyer told Fox News Digital.

Meyer said that when he does protest, he always holds an American flag alongside the Israeli flag in an effort to signal his support for Israel as a Jewish American.

"So, when I carry my American flag and my Israeli flag, I understand that I'm not just protesting for my own people as a Jew, but I'm protesting for my own people as an American," he explained. "And that is a fundamental point that people need to understand. People need to understand that standing against the pro-Hamas mob is the exact same thing as standing with the United States of America."

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ACCEPTED TO COLUMBIA SAYING 'NO THANK YOU' DUE TO ANTISEMITISM: COLLEGE CONSULTANT

An aerial shot of protesters at Princeton University on Thursday in New Jersey.

Meyer stated his fellow Jewish students can no longer attend school normally, with students now distracted during class "because they hear the chants."

"They're calling for their genocide while they're trying to pay attention and obtain their education," he said. "These are not only distracting and hateful, but they are expressly antisemitic. I'd like to see the administration condemn any of these calls."

Meyer called out faculty members who had supported the protest and specifically mentioned professor Max Weiss, who recently made a speech at the tent encampment on Princeton University's campus wherein he read a poem written by a Palestinian writer. The poem says that Jews "evolved backward" from "victims to victimizes," according to a New York Post reporter, who witnessed the speech. Weiss is currently an associate professor of history at Princeton.

NY CONGRESSIONAL REPS INTRODUCE LAW FORCING COLLEGES TO ADDRESS ANTISEMITISM OR FACE LOSING FEDERAL FUNDS

Hezbollah members salute and raise the group's yellow flags during the funeral of fallen fighters who were killed in an Israeli strike on their vehicles, in Shehabiya, Lebanon, on April 17.

"In that poem [he] said, the Jews have evolved backwards. Evolved backwards. And if that's not antisemitic, if that isn't in violation of policies regarding discrimination, I don't know what is," Meyer said.

Princeton University did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Just this past week, university police moved in on the tent encampment on Princeton's campus, ultimately leading to two arrests. Princeton University Public Safety, the Ivy League schools police force, gave demonstrators several warnings before acting, the university said.

Meyer said he thought the university made a move in the right direction with the arrests of the protesters, but "that's not enough."

"Espousing overt antisemitism is abhorrent. It is abhorrent, and the university doesn't do anything except for talk about free speech and not allow tents to be built. But tents are not the extent of the problem," Meyer told Fox News Digital. "Tents are not the end all, be all of what must be stopped. They certainly must be stopped. But Hezbollah flags must be stopped."

Fox News Digital's Lawrence Richard contributed to this report.





Original article source: Jewish student slams Princeton for permitting terror group flags, antisemitism on campus: 'Must be stopped'
Conservative columnist Jonah Goldberg dubbed Vice President Kamala Harris as President Bidens worst political decision of his presidency in Saturday comments.

Goldberg made the argument during a panel discussion on CNNs The Chris Wallace Show.

CNN anchor Wallace was detailing the results of a focus group results to a panel. He said the Republican Voters Against Trump, an anti-Trump outside group, found that swing voters dont like Harris and another focus group done by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) said the VP rubs some people the wrong way.

Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of the online news outlet The Dispatch, argued Harriss likeability issue could hinder Bidens reelection efforts.

I think shes a pretty big drag. I think she was arguably Bidens worst political decision of his presidency to pick her in the first place, Goldberg said in Saturday comments on CNN, highlighted by Mediaite.

And, one of the special reasons that shes a drag is, Bidens age concerns people, he said. They worry that he cant fill a term. They worry that hes not up to the job. And, so, the vice president matters more than they normally do.

The Los Angeles Times columnist argued that Democrats should not nominate candidates who are in deep-blue states, citing concerns about the ability to persuade a broad swath of the electorate unless they are once-in-a-generation talents like former President Obama.

I generally think going into the future that Democrats really should not nominate or front people who come from decidedly all-blue states unless theyre, like, once-in-a-generation talents, like Barack Obama, Goldberg said. Because Kamala Harris does not know how to talk to the center or to the right. She only really knows how to speak the language of the base of the party. And thats 34% of the electorate.

Wallace then cited the recent April Monmouth University poll which found that 55 percent of respondents disapproved of her job rating, a slight improvement from her previous 58 percent disapproval in the February iteration of the poll.

Tech journalist Kara Swisher, who was also on the panel along with journalist Lulu Garcia-Navarro and Washington Free Beacons editor-in-chief Eliana Johnson, said that Harris numbers do not matter since she will not be swapped for another candidate.

It doesnt really matter, shes not going to be replaced, Swisher said. And they dont like her. Theres lots of reasons they dont like her, and I dont think the vice president matters as much as people think. I dont think they think about her unless

Wallace chimed in, saying it might matter more with Bidens age.

Yes, I get that. I get that, but, right now, I dont think thats the first thing they think about is her, necessarily, Swisher said.

I just think theyve not liked her, shes had a not successful vice presidency, although I dont know what that means at all, because I dont think people thought or Mike Pence very much or Dan Quayle, or anybody else. And, so, it doesnt matter because shes not going anywhere, hes not going to replace her. Think about that. Think about the earthquake that would cause.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office reported that a traffic crash occurred earlier today on Southside Blvd., resulting in a fatality.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

The incident took place around 12:37 pm in the 8000 block of Southside Blvd.

According to JSO, a large Dodge SUV, followed by a small Nissan SUV, traveled southbound on the Southside Blvd. service road. Simultaneously, a motorcycle was heading northbound on the same service road.

As the Dodge SUV attempted a left-hand turn onto the on-ramp for Southside Blvd., it crossed paths with the oncoming motorcycle.

During the accident, the motorcycle collided with the passenger side of the Dodge SUV. The motorcycle was propelled into the southbound lane and collided with a Nissan SUV traveling in the same direction.

A witness reported that the motorcycle appeared to be traveling at a high rate of speed.

The motorcyclist, identified as a male in his mid-30s, was thrown from the motorcycle and pronounced deceased at the scene by Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department.

Both drivers of the SUVs involved remained at the scene and are cooperating with detectives. Authorities have stated that there are no signs of impairment to the drivers.

This incident marks the 59th traffic fatality in Duval County this year, with the 8th involving a motorcyclist.

Read: New recreational park, public library coming to Nocatee community

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
In this article, we will look at the 15 fastest rising universities in the US. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, you can look at the 5 Fastest Rising Universities in the US.

Higher Education Trends in the US

The higher education situation in the United States is changing; some recent reports show that college dropout rates in the region are increasing. According to a report by the Education Data Initiative, the college dropout rate increased to 32.9% in 2023. Moreover, 40 million Americans were recorded to drop out of college in 2021, and only 864,824 students re-enrolled for the fall semester during the same year. The rise in college dropouts is attributed to financial concerns, the inability to manage living expenditures, lack of motivation to study a particular program, and the passion to earn money without a degree due to the hot job market. Although the Education Data Initiative finds that college dropouts make 35% less income on average than those with a bachelors degree, wanting to start a business or pursuing a job remains one of the most common reasons behind dropping out. A report by the World Economic Forum found that approximately 31% of US college students intended to drop out to find a job in 2022; moreover, 29% mentioned the rising cost of living as a reason for not returning to college. To read more about universities, you can look at the 20 Largest Universities in the World and the 15 Cheapest American Universities with Low Tuition for International Students.

Growing Education Technology Market

The COVID-19 pandemic pushed the traditional education system a step further towards technology as colleges around the globe adapted education technologies to foster e-learning. According to a report by Grand View Research, the global education technology market was valued at $142.37 billion in 2023. The EdTech market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 13.4%, reaching $343.33 billion by 2030. As per the sector-wise analysis, the K-12 EdTech segment led the market share in 2023 and contributed over 40% in revenue growth. Regionally, North America dominates the market and held approximately 36% market share in 2023. The growth in the region is attributed to the adoption of personalized learning and digital skills. You can also look at the Academic Ranking of World Universities: Top 30.

The EdTech market in the US is also poised for growth and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.3% from 2024 to 2030. Some factors contributing to growth in the market are the emergence of new EdTech startups, established education technology companies, and a surge in education learning outcome investment by the government.

Story continues

Leading Education Technology Companies in the US

Udemy Inc. (NASDAQ:UDMY), 2U, Inc. (NASDAQ:TWOU), and Coursera Inc. (NASDAQ:COUR) are leading EdTech companies and online learning platforms in the United States and internationally.

Udemy Inc. (NASDAQ:UDMY) is a leading online learning and skills teaching platform. The company is based in San Francisco, United States. On March 21, Udemy Inc. (NASDAQ:UDMY) announced its partnership with the Cloud Native Computing Foundation to supercharge the next generation of native cloud developers. The Cloud Native Computing Foundation builds sustainable ecosystems for cloud-native software and provides certifications for aspiring developers. Under this collaboration, both companies will endorse content for more than 233,000 project contributors and millions of future cloud-native developers and prepare them for the Cloud Native Computing Foundation certification exam.

Coursera Inc. (NASDAQ:COUR) is another leading online education provider and Edtech company based in California, United States. The company collaborates with top universities to provide online degrees and professional certifications. On April 13, Coursera Inc. (NASDAQ:COUR) launched its new augmented reality course experience featuring courses from leading universities. The platform has launched VR-enabled courses from Duke University, Peking University, and the University of Washington. This innovation will make the learning experience more interactive and help learners develop relevant AR and VR skills. Coursera Inc. (NASDAQ:COUR) has also launched a new AR professional certification from Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META) to support this.

2U, Inc. (NASDAQ:TWOU) is a top education services company operating in the US. The company provides services to nonprofit colleges, universities, and also offers courses, executive education programs, and boot camps to students across the globe. 2U, Inc. (NASDAQ:TWOU) has a community of over 83 million learners and has partnerships with more than 260 of the world's top universities. Here are some comments from the company's Q4 2023 earnings call:

"We will continue to evolve and develop our plan for the long term over the coming months. Before I turn things over to Matt, I want to briefly discuss our results for the year. Our revenue for 2023 was approximately $946 million with an adjusted EBITDA of around $170 million. It is worth noting that $88 million of this revenue came from exiting certain degree programs or portfolio management. We do not expect to have additional portfolio management activities in 2024. We are optimistic about our degree business and expect enrollment to grow this year by single digits looking at the current portfolio. We also expect that our 2024 launches will generate up to $100 million in revenue at steady state, which is between 2.5 to 3.5 years from launch."

With this context, let's look at the 15 fastest rising universities in the US. You can also take a look at the biggest EdTech companies in the world.

15 Fastest Rising Universities in the US

Our Methodology

We relied on the QS World University Rankings to curate the list of 15 fastest rising universities in the US. The QS World University Rankings features more than 1500 universities from over 104 locations. We used the reports from 2022, 2023, and 2024 from the above source to filter US universities. To get the fastest rising universities, we calculated the change in the overall score for all US-based universities and selected universities showcasing a positive change in the overall score over 3 years. The list is ranked in ascending order of the improvement in score from 2022 to 2024.

15 Fastest Rising Universities in the US

15. University of Florida

QS World University Ranking Score (2024): 49.1

QS World University Ranking Score (2022): 46.9

Improvement in Score: 2.2

The University of Florida is a public land-grant university based in Gainesville, Florida. It ranks as the 15th fastest rising university in the US, with a QS World University Ranking of 168 in 2024. The university has improved 20 places since last year and has seen an improvement of 2.2 in overall score since 2022.

14. North Carolina State University

QS World University Ranking Score (2024): 37.2

QS World University Ranking Score (2022): 34.7

Improvement in Score: 2.5

North Carolina State University is another public land-grant university in Raleigh, North Carolina that ranks 14th on our list of fastest rising universities in the US. The university has improved by 2.5 points in the overall score from 2022 to 2024. Moreover, North Carolina State University ranks 274 in the QS World University Ranking as of 2024 and has improved 38 positions compared to 2023.

13. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

QS World University Ranking Score (2024): 34.5

QS World University Ranking Score (2022): 31.6

Improvement in Score: 2.9

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, also known as Virginia Tech, is a public university in Blacksburg, Virginia. It ranks 13th on our list of fastest-rising universities in the US. The institute currently ranks 302 on the QS World University Ranking for 2024. However, it has improved 61 positions in a single year compared to its 2023 ranking of 363rd globally.

12. Michigan State University

QS World University Ranking Score (2024): 52.7

QS World University Ranking Score (2022): 49.7

Improvement in Score: 3.0

Michigan State University, situated in East Lansing, Michigan, ranks 12th fastest rising university in the US. The university has improved by 3 points in the overall score change since 2022. It is currently ranked at 136th position and has improved 23 positions since 2023.

11. University of Miami

QS World University Ranking Score (2024): 36.9

QS World University Ranking Score (2022): 33.7

Improvement in Score: 3.2

The University of Miami ranks 15th on our list of fastest rising universities in the US. It is a private university situated in Coral Gables, Florida. As of 2024, the university ranks 278 per the QS World University Ranking. The University of Miami has improved by 3.2 points in terms of the overall score in a 3-year from 2022 to 2024.

10. University of Texas at Austin

QS World University Ranking Score (2024): 71.8

QS World University Ranking Score (2022): 68.4

Improvement in Score: 3.4

University of Texas at Austin is a public university ranking 10th on our list of fastest rising universities in the US. The university currently ranks 58 in the QS World University Ranking and has improved 14 positions since 2023. In terms of 3-year progress, the universitys overall score has improved by 3.4 points since 2022.

9. Iowa State University

QS World University Ranking Score (2024): 27.9

QS World University Ranking Score (2022): 24.1

Improvement in Score: 3.8

The Iowa State University is situated in Ames, Iowa. It ranks as the 9th fastest rising university with an improvement of 3.8 points in the overall score since 2022. The university is currently ranked 400th and has improved by 81 positions in a year.

8. Purdue University

QS World University Ranking Score (2024): 60.7

QS World University Ranking Score (2022): 56.9

Improvement in Score: 3.8

Purdue University is the 8th fastest-rising university in the US. The university has a QS World University Ranking of 99 as of 2024 and has improved 130 positions from its 2023 ranking of 129th university worldwide.

7. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

QS World University Ranking Score (2024): 69.1

QS World University Ranking Score (2022): 65.2

Improvement in Score: 3.9

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a public land university in Illinois. It ranks as the 7th fastest rising university in the US, with its overall score improving by 3.6 points since 2022. The university is currently ranked 64th against its 2023 ranking of 85th worldwide.

6. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

QS World University Ranking Score (2024): 83.8

QS World University Ranking Score (2022): 79.7

Improvement in Score: 4.1

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public University that ranks as the 6th fastest rising university in the US. The universitys overall score has improved by 4.1 points since 2022 and is now ranked 29th in the QS World University Ranking 2024.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Fastest Rising Universities in the US.

Suggested Articles:

Disclosure: None. 15 Fastest Rising Universities in the US is originally published on Insider Monkey.
More than two years after it first opened to homeless residents living in their vehicles, San Luis Obispo Countys Oklahoma Avenue Safe Parking site is set to close next week after a recent ruling by Central District of California District Judge Andre Birotte Jr. denied another extension of the sites closing date.

According to court minutes from a Wednesday hearing, Birotte denied a preliminary injunction sought by the San Luis Obispo County chapter of the California Homeless Union that would have prolonged the sites closure.

Birotte also decided to vacate the courts order to show cause for why the site should remain open.

According to the minutes, the homeless union failed to establish a serious question of whether the site residents Fourteenth Amendment rights would be violated by the county closing the site.

The court also found the union failed to establish that the countys anticipated closure of the site  initially announced in February 2023  is responsible for exposing them to likely danger, or that the countys conduct is deliberately indifferent to that danger.

Site residents have had 87 days to seek shelter or housing since the countys final Feb. 2 closure announcement, which nearly matches the original 90-day stay residents agreed to in August 2021 when they joined the pilot program, Birotte said in the minutes.

An Oklahoma Avenue Safe Parking Site resident holds a sign during a demonstration Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 23, 2024, at the Katcho Achadjian Government Center. The San Luis Obispo County chapter of the California Homeless Union filed a lawsuit against the county and the Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo related to the operation of the safe parking site and treatment of its residents. John Lynch/jlynch@thetribunenews.com

Birotte found residents have had plenty of opportunities to relocate and have agreed to several relocation deadlines in the past two and a half years, but have not made sufficient efforts to make good on those deadlines despite receiving extensions.

According to court documents, Birotte said the public interest does not favor extending the deadline, citing the 2023 grand jury report that found the site had a litany of health and safety issues as a drain on county resources as it works on its five-year plan to address homelessness.

That the resources expended on this site are detracting from the countys ability to address its broader homelessness issue is particularly troubling: This harms the countys ability to be an effective policymaker and other individuals who may be deprived of limited county resources, the minutes read.

A tow truck removes an Oklahoma Avenue Safe Parking Site residents camper from the program site Sept. 15. A total of six residents were evicted for alleged incidents and threats of violence on the site. John Lynch/jlynch@thetribunenews.com

What will happen to safe parking residents?

With the preliminary injunction denied, the site is on track to close Monday at 3 p.m., according to the court minutes.

Once the existing temporary restraining order is lifted, the county will not supply the site with restrooms, showers, trash cleanup, fencing, site security and food deliveries, according to the minutes.

The county doesnt intend to arrest any site residents staying at the site once services have been closed, viewing it as a last resort in the event that individuals breach the peace or interfere with cleanup efforts, according to the minutes.

For the 90-day period following closure, the county will offer storage for residents recreational vehicles, vehicles or personal belongings, which will be followed by a cleanup to remove all trash from the site, the minutes read.

Homeless union lawyer Anthony Prince told The Tribune a more comprehensive statement will come Monday morning, but said the union is disappointed with Birottes ruling.

Prince said the Union intends to go forward with a civil rights lawsuit against the county, the Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County and others for breaking their promise of housing for all residents, possible misappropriation of funds provided for assisting the homeless, violating laws under the Americans With Disabilities Act and increasing the dangers facing the displaced residents by closing the Safe Parking Site.

The Oklahoma Avenue Safe Parking site has shrunk in recent weeks as more residents were asked to leave or moved off the site. Several residents said theyve returned to homelessness after leaving the parking site. John Lynch/jlynch@thetribunenews.com

He also said the union and county are close to reaching an agreement to keep the site open for another week and require the county to provide funds for residents to find temporary indoor shelter.

Because the county is engaged in litigation with the union, it cannot comment on any discussions of an agreement until if and when there is an agreement reached, county spokesperson Jeanette Trompeter told The Tribune in an email.

Meanwhile, Prince said he was proud of the members of the homeless union who stood their ground and kept the site open for these many months with the assistance of the union legal team.

As the court acknowledged in a prior ruling, he said, it was the fire lit by the unionized residents under the feet of the county and CAPSLO during this time period that resulted in more residents being provided with permanent housing than were provided by the county or CAPSLO in a similar time period in the last two years.

California Homeless Union lawyer Anthony Prince, center, and union members held a demonstration and news conference Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 23, 2024, at the Katcho Achadjian Government Center to announce the filing of lawsuit over the management of the Oklahoma Avenue Safe Parking Site. John Lynch/jlynch@thetribunenews.com
Julian Assanges mission was to change the world - but at what cost?

Julian Assange started his WikiLeaks whistleblowing website on a quest for radical transparency and truth, a mission that turned an already polarizing personality into a notorious character and earned him crusaders and critics in equal measure.

His long-running battle against extradition to the United States had been making its way through UK courts for years until a remarkable plea deal on Monday.

Assange, 52, left the UK after agreeing to plead guilty to a single felony charge in exchange for time served. The deal was finalized in a remote US court in the Pacific on Wednesday morning, after which he is expected to return to his native Australia.

It has been 12 years since Assange was a free man. He spent the past five years in Londons high-security Belmarsh prison and nearly seven years before that holed up at the Ecuadorian embassy in the English capital, trying to avoid arrest.

He was facing life imprisonment in the US for publishing hundreds of thousands of sensitive military and government documents supplied by former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning more than a dozen years ago. But recently there has been increased pressure for a resolution to Assanges case.

In April, US President Joe Biden offered Assanges supporters a glimmer of hope saying his administration was considering a request from Australia to drop its charges against the WikiLeaks founder. The remarks were described as an encouraging signal by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who added that Assange had already paid a significant price and enough is enough.

The ascent of Assange

Born in Townsville, eastern Queensland, in 1971, Assange had a less than conventional upbringing. His education was a combination of home schooling and correspondence courses, since his family moved frequently.

In his teens, he discovered a natural proficiency for computing, but his activities  which included accessing several secure systems, including the Pentagon and NASA, under the hacker alias Mendax  soon put him on the radar of authorities. In 1991, he was charged with 31 counts of cybercrime by Australian authorities but only received a small fine at sentencing after pleading guilty to most of the charges.

Following his brush with the law, Assange worked as a computer security consultant, traveled and briefly studied physics at the University of Melbourne before withdrawing from the course.

His vision when starting WikiLeaks in 2006 was that it would be a kind of online repository, which would publish anonymously submitted documents, video and other sensitive materials after vetting them.

Julian Assange leaves a Melbourne court after facing charges of computer hacking in 1995. - Ian Kenins/The AGE/Fairfax Media/Getty Images

It ran for several years, uploading material ranging from the US militarys operating manual for its detention camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to internal documents from the Church of Scientology and some of 2008 Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palins stolen emails.

But it was catapulted to global attention in 2010 with a video that later became known as Collateral Murder. Back then, journalist Atika Shubert caught wind of footage circulating which claimed to show a deadly 2007 US helicopter attack in Iraq. Then a reporter for CNN in London, Shubert tracked down the individual in possession of the footage.

On first impressions, Assange was vague and elusive, Shubert recalled. With the benefit of hindsight, she now believes his behavior was the result of sitting on this cache of documents from Chelsea Manning and trying to figure out how to publish it.

He showed up unannounced at CNNs London office soon after, a USB stick with thousands of classified documents in the palm of his hand. That was my first introduction to the world of data dumps and what exactly WikiLeaks was doing - the scale of it - which I had never heard of before, Shubert said.

WikiLeaks ultimately released the video from the US helicopter attack in Iraq, sparking condemnation from human rights activists and earning rebuke from US defense officials. By the years end, the organization had gone on to publish nearly half a million classified documents relating to the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

An image taken from classified US military footage shows a wounded Iraqi person being loaded onto a van during a 2007 attack by Apache helicopters, as released to Reuters on April 5, 2010 by WikiLeaks. - WikiLeaks/Reuters

Under a global spotlight

As WikiLeaks continued its disclosures, Assange found himself the latest cause celebre  his every movement intensely scrutinized. And with each headline, his infamy grew among those who did not share his vision.

Fidel Narvaez, former consul of the Ecuadorian embassy in London, met Assange in 2011, after WikiLeaks released another huge archive  this time of secret US diplomatic cables. The pair became close friends through the years.

Assange can be stubborn, sometimes he can clash with other people, but once you know him  he is extremely respectful and warm. He has a great sense of humor, Narvaez told CNN. His one mission in life is publishing, which is what he has done with WikiLeaks.

Assanges story, as the teen hacker who became insurgent in information war as the Guardian put it in 2011, sounded like the plot of a Hollywood blockbuster. Soon his tale was immortalized in documentaries and films, perhaps most notably in 2013s The Fifth Estate, which Assange labeled a geriatric snoozefest that used what he considered flawed source material.

For journalist and author James Ball, who briefly worked at WikiLeaks and was based for a time at Ellingham Hall, a remote manor house north of London where Assange holed up before seeking refuge in Ecuadors embassy, the infancy of WikiLeaks was an exhilarating time.

File photograph from 2010 of the WikiLeaks.org homepage. - Joe Raedle/Getty Images

You were working on the kind of material that we (had) really never seen before. Leaks have become a bit more common since, but the idea that you could peruse through these huge sets of records that showed what happened in conflicts or what actually happened in closed rooms, was sort of completely new, Ball told CNN.

WikiLeaks became a household name thanks to its frequent data dumps, but some were starting to question the founders behavior. For many, his polarizing personality became an issue.

Ball added: He sort of liked the attention.  He liked the fuss that (the disclosures) caused but he was oddly incurious actually about the documents.

Others offer alternative explanations for Assanges eccentricities. Narvaez said the Assange he knew was hyperactive and workaholic and pointed to his diagnosed autism spectrum disorder as an element of his personality.

Shifting attitudes

Such questions aside, WikiLeaks essentially ground to a halt when Assange was accused of sexual assault in Sweden in August 2010. The organizations focus shifted from offense to defense, despite the transparency campaigners vehement denial of the allegations against him. There were mounting calls for Assange to leave WikiLeaks and, when he didnt, many cut ties with it.

Assange labeled it a smear campaign orchestrated to pave the way for his further extradition to the US and refused to go to Sweden for questioning.

In June 2012, while out on bail from UK officials over the Swedish probe, he opted for a nuclear option and knocked on the door at 3 Hans Crescent, where he requested political asylum from Ecuador.

Outside the confines of his diplomatic shelter, the world questioned whether Assange was trying to circumvent justice.

Stella Assange, the wife of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, delivers a speech outside The Royal Courts of Justice, Britain's High Court, in central London on March 26, 2024. - Daniel Leal/AFP/Getty Images

Over time, his relationship with his host soured along with the arrival of a new president in Ecuador in 2017. Assange was an inherited problem for Lenin Moreno, who was facing pressure from the US to expel him from the diplomatic bolthole.

It was obvious that former President Moreno was going to give in to external and internal pressure, Narvaez said.

Narvaez, seen as too close to the unwanted houseguest, was asked to leave in July 2018 amid a shake-up of the diplomatic missions staff. I left him isolated, and I was the last person he trusted, Narvaez said.

Nine months later, in April 2019, Assange was pulled kicking and screaming from the building by Londons Metropolitan Police on an extradition warrant from the US Justice Department.

Legal limbo

Once in British custody, Assange had lived, mostly isolated, in a three-by-two-meter cell at Belmarsh prison in southeast London. The prison has the capacity to hold over 900 inmates and is known for once housing infamous terror suspects such as Abu Hamza al-Masri within its high-security unit.

The US accused Assange of endangering lives by publishing secret military documents in 2010 and 2011. He was wanted on 18 criminal charges relating to his organizations dissemination of classified material and diplomatic cables and faced up to 175 years in prison conditions much harsher than here in the UK.

Fighting his corner since he entered Belmarsh: his wife, Stella Assange. The couple married in March 2022, while he was in prison.

Stella, the mother of Assanges two young sons, called her husband a political prisoner outside court in March and has repeatedly voiced her fear that, if extradited, he could take his own life.

Im very concerned about how hes doing. Physically, hes aged prematurely, she previously told CNN. Hes on medication. As you know, in October 2021, he had a mini-stroke and he has all sorts of health problems.

She had labeled the US latest guarantees that Assange could lean on First Amendment protections at trial blatant weasel words in a statement on April 16.

The diplomatic note does nothing to relieve our familys extreme distress about his future  his grim expectation of spending the rest of his life in isolation in US prison for publishing award-winning journalism, she said.

Nick Vamos, head of business crime at Peters & Peters law firm and a former head of extradition at the UKs Crown Prosecution Service, told CNN that on the other side of the coin, some might suggest that you should allow the judicial system to follow through to its conclusion without being influenced by protests from supporters.

Assanges team had argued his potential extradition was for political reasons and that a handover to the US violated the European Convention on Human Rights. It was a claim supported by independent experts.

The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Alice Jill Edwards, in February called on the British government to halt a possible extradition and reiterated her concerns about Assanges fitness and the potential for him to receive a wholly disproportionate sentence in the United States.

Marking Assanges five years at Belmarsh, Amnesty Internationals Secretary General Agnes Callamard had warned that Assange, if extradited, would be at risk of serious abuse, including prolonged solitary confinement, which would violate the prohibition on torture or other ill-treatment. She added that US assurances over his treatment could not be relied upon as they are riddled with loopholes.

unknown content item

-

Far-reaching repercussions

Beyond the personal costs for Assange, many had expressed concern about the broader implications for press freedom around the world if he had been sent to the US.

Five international media organizations that collaborated with Assange previously called the US government to end its prosecution of him for publishing classified material. In a 2022 letter, representatives for The New York Times, the Guardian, Le Monde, El Pais and Der Spiegel argued publishing is not a crime.

Obtaining and disclosing sensitive information when necessary in the public interest is a core part of the daily work of journalists. If that work is criminalised, our public discourse and our democracies are made significantly weaker, the letter stated.

Jameel Jaffer, executive director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, said the plea deal averted the worst-case scenario for press freedom, but this deal contemplates that Assange will have served five years in prison for activities that journalists engage in every day.

He continued, It will cast a long shadow over the most important kinds of journalism, not just in this country but around the world.

Likewise, former Guardian editor and collaborator Alan Rusbridger wrote on X that while it was good news that Assange is apparently free, he expressed concern at the repercussions of his years-long legal battle.

His treatment was a warning to journalists and whistleblowers to keep quiet in future, he added. And I suspect it will have worked.

This story has been updated with latest developments following Assanges US plea deal.

CNNs Xiaofei Xu and Alex Stambaugh contributed reporting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Edgar Rodriguez Ruelas when he was arrested in 2020.

A jury will now decide the fate of a man accused of sexual assault and burglary in a string of home invasions and hiking trail attacks in Ventura County from 2016 to 2020.

The prosecuting and defense attorneys gave closing arguments Friday in the trial of Edgar Rodriguez Ruelas, and jurors began their deliberations Friday afternoon. The Woodland Hills man was arrested in 2020 and charged with felonies in five incidents, including sexual assault, assault with the intent to commit a forcible sex crime, and burglary with the intent to commit sexual assault.

According to prosecutors, he sexually assaulted one woman by penetrating her with fingers and attempted to sexually assault the other four victims. Those women either escaped or fought off their attacker.

Rodriguez Ruelas did not deny that he entered the homes of the alleged victims in his trial or grabbed them on hiking trails. But his attorney, Sandra Bisignani, in her closing argument on Friday, argued that he did not intend to rape or sexually assault them, which is required to convict him of the most serious crimes he was charged with.

Instead, Bisignani told the jury that her client has a fetish for womens underwear, which drove him to break into homes in his Ventura neighborhood in 2016 and in Thousand Oaks in 2017. He assaulted one woman because he wanted to touch her underwear, and that was his goal in the attempted assaults as well, Bisignani said.

The case, she said, is not a whodunit but a why-done-it.

Mr. Rodriguez is not a rapist, Bisignani said. He did not intend to rape anyone and he did not intend to forcibly sexually penetrate anyone.  He had an underwear fetish that he kept secret his entire life and that fetish turned into obsession.

FILE PHOTO -- Visitors enter Ventura County Superior Court.

In his closing argument to the jury, Deputy District Attorney Brent Nibecker, the prosecutor in the case, said the available evidence all points to Rodriguez Ruelas breaking into homes or following women on trails in order to sexually assault them.

Investigators never found evidence he stole anyones underwear, Nibecker said, and in his job as a residential window installer, there were never any complaints by clients that he went through their underwear drawers or took anything from their homes.

If hes just after their underwear, why does he attack solo women on hiking trails? Nibecker said. Why wouldnt he go into empty apartments and go through peoples underwear drawers?

Police and prosecutors believe Rodriguez Ruelas was responsible for more than the five assaults and attempted assaults he was charged with. There was a string of nighttime break-ins and peeping incidents in 2016 in the Ventura neighborhood where Rodriguez Ruelas lived at the time, near the Ventura County Government Center, and the crimes stopped when he moved out of the area. He was charged with two of those break-ins, and a similar one in Thousand Oaks in 2017.

In March 2020, Rodriguez Ruelas was arrested in San Diego, the day after a 16-year-old girl reported that a man attacked her on a hiking trail in Oak Park. Police then connected him to the break-ins in Thousand Oaks and Ventura. He is now 41, and has been in Ventura County jail since his arrest.

Prosecutors also presented evidence during the trial that he touched another woman without her consent years earlier, and that in 2013 he was caught going though the underwear of 12-year-old twin girls who were guests in a hotel where he worked.

Those accusations were not part of the criminal charges against him, but jurors are allowed to consider them as evidence of his motive or intent in the incidents he was charged for, if they decide it was more likely than not that he committed those uncharged offenses.

Investigators also found pornography in Rodriguez Ruelas internet history that was, Nibecker said, eerily specific and eerily similar to crimes he was charged with. He searched adult websites for terms including young teen forced and for videos with sleeping women, home invasion scenarios and encounters on hiking trails, Nibecker said. There were not any search terms related to womens underwear.

Were not here to criminalize pornography, but what we see here provides insight into the type of things that sexually arouse the defendant, Nibecker said. What he searched for in private reveals volumes about what goes on in his head.

In her closing argument, Bisignani said those searches represented a small, cherry-picked slice of Rodriguez Ruelas internet history and do not indicate any desire to assault women.

Who cares if Mr. Rodriguez watched pornography? she said. There is zero evidence to show that watching pornography leads to the commission of sexual offenses. ... The prosecution is trying to scare you, but you can't let fear make your decision for you."

Tony Biasotti is an investigative and watchdog reporter for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at tbiasotti@vcstar.com. This story was made possible by a grant from the Ventura County Community Foundation's Fund to Support Local Journalism.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Jury takes case of man accused in Ventura, T.O. sexual assaults
The court decision overturning Harvey Weinsteins New York rape conviction came as a shock to victims, activistsand the man who was the foreman of the jury that found him guilty.

This decision is so unfair to the women that were hurt by [Weinstein], Bernard Cody told The Daily Beast on Friday. When our conviction happened, the women were so relieved it was over. And so were we. To take that away is awful.

Cody and his fellow jurors deliberated five days, reviewing four weeks worth of testimony and evidence, before finding Weinstein guilty in 2020. The former producer was then sentenced to 23 years for sexually assaulting former Project Runway production assistant Miriam Haleyi and raping former actress Jessica Mann.

But in a 4-3 decision Thursday, the New York Court of Appeals tossed the verdict and ordered a new trial, finding the judge improperly allowed testimony from accusers beyond the victims in the case.

Weepy Weinstein Cant Wait to Return to NYC

I heard about the decision at work. My coworker came over to me and said, There is breaking news with your friend. And I was like What friend? And then I saw it was news of Harveys conviction that I was a part of, Cody said.

I was shocked. What is going on with the world? he added.

Cody said he served as the jury foreperson because he was the first person picked for the panel of five women and seven men. He previously told The Daily Beast that the trial was surreal and difficult to go through because jurors understood they were part of something that was such a big moment in history.

Where the Men Taken Down With Harvey by #MeToo Are Now

He took detailed notes to ensure he understood the full scope of the evidence. That attention to detail, however, meant he could not sleep some nights because of the harrowing testimony from six women.

The jury struggled on the most serious charge against Weinstein, predatory sexual assault. At one point, they told Judge James Burke they were in a deadlockand were told to come back after the weekend to try to reach a unanimous decision.

When we came back that Monday, we went through the evidence one last time and we came to a decision for a verdict, he said. It took us a long time to get to that decision.

Cody said that despite the upsetting news that the conviction was overturned, he finds some solace in the knowledge that Weinstein wont be free anytime soon. In 2022, the disgraced Hollywood producer was also convicted in Los Angeles of similar charges and got a 16-year prison sentence.

If we convicted him here in New York, and Los Angeles convicted him in Los Angeles its obvious there is some truth to these allegations somewhere, Cody said, adding that he was proud to be on the jury.

As the Manhattan District Attorneys Office plans for a retrial, Cody urged the prosecutors to think about the women involved.

If they know they have another good case, I think they should retry his case. If they think things are iffy now, dont do it, Cody said. These women have been through enough.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
CLEVELAND (WJW)  The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland is alerting its diocese after an unauthorized party may have accessed an employee email account that stored personal information.

The Diocese said the data security incident involves employees personal, financial and even travel information including the following:

Financial account information

Routing number

Security code

Health insurance information

Passport number

Social Security number

Full names

Date of birth

Video: Sex offender arrested after encounter at a Westlake park

Upon learning thiswe commenced a prompt and thorough investigation, the Diocese stated. As part of the investigation, we engaged third-party cybersecurity professionals to conduct a forensic investigation and review the impacted email account and the data stored within.

Shaker Heights commencement speaker withdraws amid growing petition

That doesnt surprise me. Nonprofits are almost bigger targets, said Trent Milliron, president and CEO of Kloud9 IT.

Kloud9 IT is a cyber security company that specializes in business IT support. Milliron says anyone impacted by the breach should monitor their credit over the next year.

Social security numbers, bank account numbers, those can all be used to open accounts and credit lines, said Milliron.

Milliron suggests obtaining free credit reports and reviewing financial account statements weekly.

I would even probably call the different credit bureaus and put a freeze on any credit, said Milliron.

Meanwhile, the Diocese has set up a confidential toll-free response line at 866-528-9250. The response line is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Central Time.

You can read the Catholic Diocese of Clevelands full statement by clicking here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
JUST IN: Confirmed Tornado spotted in Knox City

KNOX COUNTY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  A confirmed, life-threatening tornado was spotted in Knox County Saturday afternoon.

At about 3:30 p.m., a tornado was spotted near FM 222 and FM 1292 near Knox City. It moved east at 20 miles per hour.

Courtesy of Chad Mcghee

Courtesy of Timothy Sanders

The Knox City Volunteer Fire Department asks the public to stay off the roads as city workers, utility companies, and first responders work to clear the roadways.

First responders are still assessing the damage, with hail and rain still in the area.

Our severe weather team is working to gather details, and BigCountryHomepage will update as soon as new information is made available.

Please continue to seek shelter.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas raised a question Thursday that goes to the heart of Special Counsel Jack Smith's charges against former President Donald Trump.

The high court was considering Trump's argument that he is immune from prosecution for actions he took while president, but another issue is whether Smith and the Office of Special Counsel have the authority to bring charges at all.

"Did you, in this litigation, challenge the appointment of special counsel?" Thomas asked Trump attorney John Sauer on Thursday during a nearly three-hour session at the Supreme Court.

Sauer replied that Trump's attorneys had not raised that concern "directly" in the current Supreme Court case  in which justices are considering Trump's arguments that presidential immunity precludes the prosecution of charges that the former president illegally sought to overturn the 2020 election.

Sauer told Thomas that, "we totally agree with the analysis provided by Attorney General Meese [III] and Attorney General Mukasey."

SPECIAL COUNSEL JACK SMITH HITS BACK AT JUDGE FOR 'FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED LEGAL PREMISE' IN TRUMP DOCUMENTS CASE

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"It points to a very important issue here because one of [the special counsel's] arguments is, of course, that we should have this presumption of regularity. That runs into the reality that we have here an extraordinary prosecutorial power being exercised by someone who was never nominated by the president or confirmed by the Senate at any time. So we agree with that position. We hadn't raised it yet in this case when this case went up on appeal," Sauer said.

Donald Trump, Justice Clarence Thomas, Special Counsel Jack Smith

In a 42-page amicus brief presented to the high court in March, Meese and Mukasey questioned whether "Jack Smith has lawful authority to undertake the 'criminal prosecution'" of Trump. Mukasey and Meese  both former U.S. attorneys general  said Smith and the Office of Special Counsel itself have no authority to prosecute, in part because he was never confirmed by the Senate to any position.

Federal prosecutions, "can be taken only by persons properly appointed as federal officers to properly created federal offices," Meese and Mukasey argued. "But neither Smith nor the position of special counsel under which he purportedly acts meets those criteria. He wields tremendous power, effectively answerable to no one, by design. And that is a serious problem for the rule of law  whatever one may think of former President Trump or the conduct on January 6, 2021, that Smith challenges in the underlying case."

TRUMP ATTORNEY, SUPREME COURT JUSTICE CLASH ON WHETHER A PRESIDENT WHO 'ORDERED' A 'COUP' COULD BE PROSECUTED

The crux of the problem, according to Meese, is that Smith was never confirmed by the Senate as a U.S. attorney, and no other statute allows the U.S. attorney general to name merely anyone as special counsel. Smith was acting U.S. attorney for a federal district in Tennessee in 2017, but he was never nominated to the position. He resigned from the private sector after then-President Trump nominated a different prosecutor as U.S. attorney for the middle district of Tennessee.

The Supreme Court heard Trump's arguments about presidential immunity earlier this week.

Meese and Mukasey argued that because the special counsel exercises broad authority to convene grand juries and make prosecutorial decisions, independent of the White House or the attorney general, he is far more powerful than any government officer who has not been confirmed by the Senate.

Sauer and Trump's other attorneys objected to the legitimacy of Smith's appointment in the charges against Trump in the classified documents case, also brought by Smith, before a Florida federal court.

In a March court filing in Florida, Trump's attorneys claimed that the special counsel's office argues in federal court that Smith is wholly independent of the White House and Garland  contradicting Trump's arguments that the federal charges against him are politically motivated. But at the same time, the special counsel's attorneys insist that Smith is subordinate to the attorney general, and therefore not subject to Senate confirmation under the appointments clause of the U.S. Constitution.

SPECIAL COUNSEL IN TRUMP CASE UNCONSTITUTIONAL, FORMER REAGAN AG SAYS

"There is significant tension between the Offices assurances to that court that Smith is independent, and not prosecuting the Republican nominee for President at the direction of the Biden Administration, and the Offices assurance here that Smith is not independent and is instead so thoroughly supervised and accountable to President Biden and Attorney General Garland that this Court should not be concerned about such tremendous power being exercised to alter the trajectory of the ongoing presidential election," Trump's attorneys wrote in the filing.

The special counsel's office, responding to Trump's claims in the Florida case, argued that the attorney general "has the statutory authority to appoint a Special Prosecutor" and that the Supreme Court even upheld that authority "in closely analogous circumstances nearly 50 years ago"  in a 1974 case that challenged the prosecutor investigating the late President Richard Nixon.

Meese and Mukasey wrote in their brief that the Nixon case was irrelevant because it "concerned the relationship between the President and DOJ as an institution, not between the President and any specific actor purportedly appointed by DOJ."

The pair also said special counsel investigations are necessary and often lawful, but stated that "the Attorney General cannot appoint someone never confirmed by the Senate, as a substitute United States Attorney under the title Special Counsel. Smiths appointment was thus unlawful, as are all actions flowing from it, including his prosecution of former President Trump."

Smith was a private citizen when Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed him as special counsel to investigate Trump in 2022.

U.S. Special Counsel Jack Smith has charged Trump in Florida for allegedly mishandling classified documents and in Washington, D.C., for election interference.

Other recent special counsels  including John Durham's Trump-Russia probe; David Weiss of the Hunter Biden investigation; and Robert Hur, who investigated Biden's mishandling of classified documents  were all confirmed by the Senate to various positions before being named as special counsels.

The Florida court has yet to rule on Trump's motion to dismiss the classified documents case due to claims that Smith was improperly appointed.

The Supreme Court is expected to rule on Trump's immunity arguments before its term ends in June.





Original article source: Justice Thomas raised crucial question about legitimacy of special counsel's prosecution of Trump
Just 15 percent of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing. But why is it broken and how do we fix it? Those are two of the questions Reason's Nick Gillespie asked Justin Amash in February at Students for Liberty's LibertyCon. Amash, the Palestinian-Syrian-American former five-term congressman from Michigan, is now running for Senate as a Republican.

First elected as part of the Tea Party wave in 2010, Amash helped create the House Freedom Caucus but became an increasingly lonely, principled voice for limiting the size, scope, and spending of the federal government. During the first impeachment of President Donald Trump, Amash resigned from the GOP, became an independent, and voted to impeach. He joined the Libertarian Party in 2020, making him the only Libertarian to serve in Congress.

Q: Why is Congress broken, and how do we fix it?

A: We don't know exactly how Congress got to where it is, but today it is highly centralized, where a few people at the top control everything. That has a lot of negative consequences for our country. Among them is that the president has an unbelievable amount of power because the president now only has to negotiate with really a few people. You have to negotiate with the speaker of the House. You have to negotiate with the Senate majority leader and maybe some of the minority leaders. It's really a small subset of people that you have to negotiate with. When that happens, it gives the president so much leverage.

When we talk about things like going to war without authorization, as long as the speaker of the House isn't going to hold the president accountable and the Senate majority leader is not going to, the president is just going to do what he wants to do. When it comes to spending, as long as the president only has to negotiate with a couple of people, the president's going to do whatever the president wants to do. It's super easy in the system for the president to essentially bully Congress and dictate the outcomes.

Q: Where did you first encounter the ideas of liberty?

A: They came from my parents' immigrant experience coming to the United States. My dad came here as a refugee from Palestine. He was born in Palestine in 1940. When the state of Israel was created in 48, he became a refugee. My mom is a Syrian immigrant.

When my parents came here, they weren't wealthy. My dad was a very poor refugee.When he came here, he didn't have much, but he felt he had an opportunity. He felt he had a chance to start a new life, a chance to make it, even though he came from a different background from a lot of people, even though his English wasn't great compared to a lot of people. He came here and he worked hard, and he built a business. When we were young, he used to tell us that America is the greatest place on Earth, where someone can come here as a refugee like he did and start a new life and have the chance to be successful. It doesn't matter what your background is. It doesn't matter what obstacles you face. You have a chance here and you don't have that chance in so many places around the world.

Q: You voted to impeach Donald Trump. Was that one of the toughest votes in your legislative record?

A: I think that courageous votes are the ones where everyone is against you. I don't mean just one party. It's one thing to vote for impeachment and half the country loves what you did and half the country doesn't like what you did. That's not that challenging or difficult. It's when you take a vote and you know that 99 percent of the public is going to misconstrue this, misunderstand it, be against it. The vote is going to be something like 433 to 1 in the House. Those are the tough votes. There are plenty of those votes out there, where you're taking a principled stand and you're doing it to protect people's rights. But it's not the typical narrative.

This interview has been condensed and edited for style and clarity.

The post Justin Amash on Why Congress Is Broken appeared first on Reason.com.
Sen. Kellie Warren, the Republican chairwoman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, lauded a bill sent to Gov. Laura Kelly affirming new mothers could seek court orders for child support for a fetus from the moment of conception. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Sen. Kellie Warren, the Republican chairwoman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, lauded a bill sent to Gov. Laura Kelly affirming new mothers could seek court orders for child support for a fetus from the moment of conception. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  The Kansas Legislature sent Gov. Laura Kelly a bill directing the judicial system to recognize child-support claims on behalf of fetuses from conception to birth.

The legislation introduced on behalf of faith-based Kansas Family Voice and endorsed by anti-abortion lobbying organizations was described by a supporter as simple and short and by a critic as very dangerous.

It wouldnt authorize child-support payments for medical expenses incurred during pregnancy if the woman received an elective abortion. The exception in Senate Bill 232 would be if an abortion was performed to save the life of a pregnant woman.

The bill was approved 82-38 in early April by the House and adopted 25-12 by the Senate on Friday following brief debate. Neither chamber adopted the bill by the two-thirds majority required to overturn a potential veto by the governor. She recently vetoed an abortion regulation bill for being excessively intrusive and a separate measure that would have created a crime of compelling someone to get an abortion.

This bill is simple and short and does not effect a fundamental change in current Kansas law about the definition of a person, a human being or an unborn child, said Sen. Kellie Warren, R-Leawood. The real impact of this bill is helping women  helping women to pay for things.

The Kansas Department for Children and Families said parental relationships were not legally established under state law until a live birth. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported 12,700 children were born out of wedlock last year in the state.

Sen. Ethan Corson, a Johnson County Democrat, had urged colleagues to reject the bill. He said the innocuous-appearing legislation added a layer to state statute declaring Kansas law conferred personhood on a fetus at the moment of conception.

The legislation resembled an Alabama law relied on by the Alabama Supreme Court to declare embryos to be extrauterine children and that destruction of embryos created through in vitro fertilization could be illegal, Corson said.

The impact of this bill is likely to be much more serious, much more sweeping and much broader in its application. Particularly, I think, if were going to say that fetuses now have legal rights, Corson said.

He said the legislation conflicted with the decision of Kansas voters in August 2022 to defend the right to bodily autonomy in the Kansas Constitution, which was interpreted by the Kansas Supreme Court to guarantee a persons right to end a pregnancy. Voters of Kansas overwhelmingly defeated a proposed amendment to the constitution that would have nullified the high courts decision and make it easier for state lawmakers to impose additional restrictions on abortion.

I know Kansas women right now are scared, Corson said. They want to make sure that this body (Senate) is going to protect their access to reproductive technology. Enacting a bill like this  is very dangerous.

On the contrary, Warren said there were multiple references in Kansas health, family, criminal and probate law that advanced the belief human life began at conception. Signing SB 232 into law, she said, would merely add a factor for courts to consider when making determinations of child support.

Fetal personhood is not what this bill is about, the senator said. Kansas statute has already determined the question. It is a settled issue. Its not going to be some sea-level change of how our codes are looked at or our statutes are looked at.

Other factors relied upon by state courts to work through child support cases included the basic needs and age of a child, financial standing of parents, educational requirements of a child as well as financial resources of the child.

The post Kansas legislators send governor bill extending child support to fetuses at point of conception appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
In this article, we shall discuss the 15 friendliest countries in Africa. To skip our detailed analysis of the hospitality and tourism industry in Africa in 2024, go directly and see 5 Friendliest Countries in Africa.

Africa's Economic Outlook 2024: An Overview

According to the IMF, economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is slated to rise from 3.4% in 2023 to 3.8% in 2024, with nearly two thirds of countries expecting higher growth rates. The report projects economic recovery to persist far beyond 2024, with growth projections reaching 4% in 2025. Additionally, inflationary pressures have subsided by more than 50%, public debt ratios have broadly stabilized, and multiple countries have issued Eurobonds this year, a culmination of a two-year hiatus from international markets. However, there is a significant downside, especially with respect to Northern Africa. As African governments continue to struggle with financing shortages, high borrowing costs, and incoming debt repayment deadlines, there is a substantial financial squeeze impeding greater financial growth in many of the friendliest countries in Africa. Moreover, the continent continues to be increasingly vulnerable to global external shocks as the current geopolitical climate exacerbates political instability in the region.

ETF performance in the region is a good indicator of the financial unfavourability of some of the best countries to visit in Africa as of April 2024. Take for instance, the iShares MSCI South Africa ETF (NYSE:EZA), which aims to mirror the performance of an index composed largely of South African equities. The ETF provides investors with access to large and mid-sized companies in South Africa with net assets north of $254 million as of April 19. As of April 19, the fund has 32 holdings, with the most prominent ones being Standard Bank Group (JSE:SBK) and Bid Corporation Ltd. (JSE:BID). In the last five years, the ETF is down 32.45% as of April 22. Another ETF with substantial African exposure is the Amundi Pan Africa UCITS ETF (BIT:LAFRI), which tracks the benchmark index SGI Pan Africa Index, which in turn tracks some of the largest stocks listed in Africa like Naspers Ltd. (JSE:NPN) and Commercial International Bank Egypt (OTC:CIBEY). The index is equally exposed to three zones with the largest constituents capped at 10%. In the last five years, the ETF is down by 8.04% as of April 2022. With the impact of geopolitical turbulence in the Middle East and Sudan, oil production cuts, and tight policy settings in several economies, the IMF has downgraded projected growth by 0.5 percentage points to 2.3% in Northern Africa as of Q1 2024. Investors are waiting out the storm to see what the policy response to the aforementioned crises will be before ascertaining the region conducive for investment, with venture capital inflows to African startups plummeting 31%, according to Bloomberg.

Story continues

Potential in Africa's Tourism Market: An Analysis

According to a report by the Africa Economic Forum, the region's tourism sector is projected to be a primary driver of the continent's economic growth through its travel and hospitality subsectors, especially post the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement. Considering the progressive contribution of the tourism and hospitality industry to the continent's GDP, the African region has emerged as the second-fastest growing tourism industry in the world, with an annual growth rate of 6.5%. The overall travel and tourism industry is considered a powerhouse sector of the African economy, with a contribution of $186 billion to the region's economy. In 2022, the friendliest countries in Africa welcomed more than 80 million international tourists, with the tourism industry employing more than 25 million people, making up 5.6% of virtually all jobs in the region. Furthermore, the region has generated more than $39.2 billion in international tourist receipts. Although international tourist arrivals on the African continent have nearly doubled by 36 million between 2000 and 2020, the Sub-Saharan region has commanded the lion's share of this growth, attracting more than 24.7 million tourists. This is owing to the fact that at the onset of the 21st century, North Africa, particularly countries we covered in our article on the 20 Most Visited Countries In Africa, boasted a significantly well-developed tourism infrastructure, with some of the friendliest countries in Africa like Libya and Morocco attracting as many international visitors as the 48 other sub-Saharan countries combined.

However, as we covered in our article on the 30 Least Developed Countries in Africa in 2024, when pitted against other competing markets of the world, Africa's tourism industry remains substantially underdeveloped. Of the 1.2 billion international tourists in 2022, merely 58 million made their way to the friendliest countries in Africa, roughly five percent of the world's inbound tourism. Despite more than doubling since the onset of the twenty-first century, the region's tourism industry continues to lag behind other developing regions like South Asia and Latin America in terms of number of international tourists received annually. Therefore, according to a report by the WTTC, the region's tourism industry has vast untapped potential and could potentially unlock more than $168 billion by 2030.

According to Brookings however, untapping this potential could demand significant improvements in multiple areas of the African economy, particularly when considering current sectoral growth patterns as more than 57% of international tourists continue to gravitate towards developing countries as travel destinations, especially driven by growth in the adventure and nature tourism subsectors. According to the report, improvements in public goods provision are interconnected and highly dependent on infrastructure investment. In contrast with middle-income countries where levels of social development and GDP per capita tend to influence tourism growth, low-income countries only seem to attract international visitation when substantial foundations of infrastructure and education are achieved. Although it houses more than 15% of the global population, sub-Saharan Africa commands merely 4% of the world's scheduled airline seats. Furthermore, due to skyrocketing costs of airline tickets to the friendliest countries in Africa and a heavy dependance on imports, tourism into sub-Saharan Africa costs travelers 25% to 30% more than other parts of the world. Some of the top non-African players in Africa's tourism industry are Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (

NYSE:HLT), Marriott International Inc. (

NASDAQ:MAR), and

Hyatt Hotels Corporation (

NYSE:H).

Unlocking the Potential of Leisure Travel in Africa: An Overview

According to Bloomberg, major hotel chains like Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (

NYSE:HLT) and Marriott International Inc. (

NASDAQ:MAR) are in the process of doubling their footprint across the friendliest countries in Africa in a bid to capitalize on the current tourism boom and the enormous potential of the continent's tourism economy. After inaugurating the JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge in Kenya with rooms averaging more than $3,000 a night, Marriott International Inc. (

NASDAQ:MAR) has more than 138 hotels under development across Africa as of April 2024, while Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (

NYSE:HLT) has more than 72 projects in the pipeline. Hyatt Hotels Corporation (

NYSE:H) is currently in the process of investing in eleven properties across the region. All in all, the total number of hotel rooms operated in some of the best African countries to live in by major non-African players like Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (

NYSE:HLT) and Marriott International Inc. (

NASDAQ:MAR), and

Hyatt Hotels Corporation (

NYSE:H) is projected to skyrocket by more than 75% to 175,346 within the next decade. Of this number, more than three-quarters are expected to comprise upscale, upper upscale, or luxury properties.

The uptick in leisure travel, not only in some of the friendliest countries in Africa but also globally, can be gauged by the performance of ETFs like Defiance Hotel Airline and Cruise ETF (NYSE:CRUZ), which mirrors the performance before expense of the BlueStar Global Hotels, Airlines, and Cruises Index, a weighted index of companies primarily engaged in the passenger airline, hotel and cruise industries. The ETF has more than 63 holdings as of April 20 and includes leisure travel stocks like

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (

NYSE:HLT) and Marriott International Inc. (

NASDAQ:MAR). As of April 20, the ETF is up by 18.32% in the past one year and boasts an expense ratio of 0.45%. Another ETF which provides an accurate gauge to understand the surge in leisure travel is AdvisorShares Hotel ETF (NYSE:BEDZ), which is one of the only actively managed ETFs investing primarily in the global hotel and travel industries. As of April 20, the ETF has more than $3.94 million worth of assets under management and in the last five years, is up by more than 11.02%. The ETF invests at least 80% of its net assets in securities of companies which derive at least 50% of their net revenue from the hotel business like Marriott International Inc. (

NASDAQ:MAR) and

MGM Resorts International (

NYSE:MGM).

Friendliest Countries in Africa

alarico/Shutterstock.com

This surge in investor interest in some of the friendliest countries in Africa is primarily owing to the uptick in international visitation post the COVID-19 pandemic. Google searches for African safaris has more than doubled in 2023 compared to 2022. In Uganda for instance, international visitor arrival jumped more than 57% in 2023, driving earnings to $985 million. In 2024, revenue is expected to reach 2019 levels. Secondly, the African leisure travel segment has paid special attention in meeting the sustainability objectives of the consumer. According to McKinsey, global tourism accounts more than 11% of the world's carbon footprint and more than 60% of tourists have cited sustainability concerns as primary when opting for travel locations. African tourism providers have started to adapt accordingly, with safaris now being conducted with fewer vehicles and more pedestrianization. Furthermore, as covered in our article on 15 States With the Most Beautiful Beaches in the US, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (

NYSE:HLT) global Travel With Purpose strategy aims to reduce the operational environmental footprint of the company's hotels globally, enabling visitors to travel more sustainably and leading the way to a net-zero future for travel.

Our Methodology

To compile our list of the 15 Friendliest Countries in Africa, we decided to undertake a consensus-based approach using a diverse variety of credible sources like travel blogs, news articles and Reddit threads to ascertain the most popular tourist destinations in Africa. We then shortlisted more than 30 countries which appeared most frequently during our research. Since friendliness is an incredibly multifaceted and complex phenomenon, we established a three-pronged criteria to measure the level of friendliness in each country using the index from our articles 30 Friendliest Countries in the World and 15 Friendliest Countries in Asia; the criteria is premised on the frequency of pleasant tourist interactions (15 points), cultural openness and diversity (10 points), and low incidents of scams and crime (5 points). We then proceeded to award each country a cumulative score according to the aforementioned criteria and selected 15 countries which scored the highest points. Subsequently, we ranked each entry based on the total points scored, from lowest to highest. Where there was a tie, we broke it based on the frequency of pleasant tourist interactions.

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 professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

For ease of travel, you may also want to check out our coverage on the Top 15 English Speaking Countries in Africa.

15 Friendliest Countries in Africa

15. Zimbabwe

Insider Monkey's Score: 13

Shona, spoken by about 42% of the population, and Ndebele, spoken by roughly 39%, are the two main languages of Zimbabwe. But over 80% of the population in Zimbabwe can also understand and speak English. This makes it easier for tourists to communicate with the locals and explore the country conveniently.

14. Swaziland

Insider Monkey's Score: 14

Being one of the safest countries in Africa, Swaziland welcomes many tourists every year. In 2023, around 0.76 million people visited Swaziland. Violent crimes are not common in Swaziland, which is why many tourists feel safe traveling across the country. Being friendly and warm to tourists is embedded in their culture.

13. Ethiopia

Insider Monkey's Score: 14

The transportation system is highly efficient in Ethiopia and is mainly dependent on the public sector. There are many forms of intercity public transport in Ethiopia, including trains and buses. The buses in the country include luxury buses, ordinary buses, and minibuses, providing tourists with a wide range of options to choose from.

12. Rwanda

Insider Monkey's Score: 15

Home to many volcanoes, mountains, lakes, and rainforests, Rwanda is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Africa. The locals in Rwanda are known to be extremely friendly and hospitable towards the tourists. Rwandan people are known to make extra efforts to make tourists feel safe and at home.

11. Kenya

Insider Monkey's Score: 16

Kenya is one of the friendliest countries in Africa. It offers the cultural heritage of its locals, who are known for their height, beauty, and diversity. Kenya does not have a single prominent culture that the locals identify with, instead it is a mix of different cultures. This enables them to be open to new and different cultures.

10. Morocco

Insider Monkey's Score: 16

It is extremely easy and convenient for tourists to communicate in Morocco. There are many languages spoken in Morocco, including Arabic, French, and English. This makes it easier for tourists from different countries to visit Morocco and communicate with locals.

9. Zambia

Insider Monkey's Score: 17

The culture in Zambia is extremely fluid. The locals in the country always welcome new cultures and traditions when exposed to new and diverse groups. The population of Zambia itself is made up of approximately 60 to 70 tribal groups. Thus, the Zambians are open to cultural and ethnic diversity, making Zambia one of the friendliest countries in Africa.

8. Madagascar

Insider Monkey's Score: 19

Known for its welcoming and warm locals, Madagascar is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Africa. The locals in Madagascar are known to be always ready to help tourists. Many tourists believe Madagascar to be a safe and hospitable island.

7. The Gambia

Insider Monkey's Score: 20

River Gambia takes up most of the area in The Gambia. Thus, the tourist infrastructure is built in a way where visitors can conveniently take boat rides to visit and explore the country, making The Gambia one of the friendliest countries in Africa. Yellow and green taxis are also an extremely popular way to travel around the country. Green taxis are specifically for tourists.

6. Ghana

Insider Monkey's Score: 22

The locals in Ghana are widely known for their politeness, thus, they are extremely welcoming towards all tourists. Ghanaians are perceived to be extremely warm and hospitable people. Treating their visitors with good manners and warmth is embedded into their culture.

Click here to continue reading and see 5 Friendliest Countries in Africa. Suggested Articles

Disclosure: None. 15 Friendliest Countries in Africa is originally published on Insider Monkey.
Sen. Cindy Holscher, a Democrat, said she was disappointed the Kansas Senate declined to allow a medical marijuana bill to be pulled from committee to the full Senate for debate. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Sen. Cindy Holscher, a Democrat, said she was disappointed the Kansas Senate declined to allow a medical marijuana bill to be pulled from committee to the full Senate for debate. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  Republican members of the Kansas Senate crushed with a boot heel Friday an attempt to breathe life into legislation creating the state regulatory framework for cultivation, distribution and use of medical cannabis.

The Senate has been the stumbling block since the Kansas House approved a medical marijuana bill in 2021 that wasnt allowed to come to a vote by Senate leadership.

In 2023, a bill was introduced in the Senate to make cannabis products available for medical use. Senate Bill 135 received two days of hearings in the 2023 session, but was idled by Senate Republicans.

Sen. Rob Olson, R-Olathe, offered a written motion calling for that bill to be withdrawn from the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee and transferred to the full Senate for possible debate and votes.

Someday this is going to be law in this state, Olson said. I would like to put it into law with good boundaries, and this bill does that.

The vote on pulling that bill forward was 12-25 failure. It was well short of 24 necessary to force a bill to the Senate floor. A separate vote would have been necessary to determine whether the Senate bypassed leaderships opposition to formal debate on the medical marijuana bill left to collect dust for more than a year.

Sen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overland Park, said it was frustrating GOP lawmakers again stood in the way of legislation that would enable Kansas veterans and people with serious health conditions from attempting to benefit from legal consumption of marijuana products. The fate of Olsons attempt to compel action on a medical marijuana bill confirmed political challenges confronting marijuana advocates, she said.

Over the past three weeks, scores of Kansans have reached out to their senators voicing support for medical cannabis as they have done for nearly the past decade, Holscher said. Sadly, supporters have faced many hurdles on this important measure.

In March, separate legislation was introduced in the Kansas Legislature that would allow medical marijuana sales through a multiyear pilot program. There was a Senate committee hearing on that bill, which was opposed by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies. The Kansas Cannabis Chamber of Commerce also criticized the pilot program concept.

Senators on that committee decided to table the measure, which effectively killed it. With days left in the 2024 session, the failed motion by Olson put an explanation point on another year of consternation for cannabis advocates.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has endorsed the concept of making medicinal sales legal in Kansas. Shes also said the state wasnt ready for recreational sales. Kansas is bracketed by Colorado and Missouri  border states offering legal medicinal and recreational marijuana to consumers.

The post Kansas Senate rejects attempt to dislodge medical marijuana bill stuck in a committee appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
The beloved British broadcaster was found murdered on her doorstep 25 years ago from yesterday

Colin Davey/Getty Jill Dando

Its been a quarter century since England was rocked by one of the most high-profile killings in the countrys history.



Beloved British broadcaster Jill Dando was murdered 25 years ago from yesterday, on April 26, 1999, marking another grim anniversary in a homicide case that remains unsolved.



Dando, who was 37 years old at the time of her midday murder, was shot to death on her front doorstep. Her body was discovered by a neighbor outside her Fulham, London, home about 15 minutes after the shooting, allowing her killer to escape the scene undetected.

Fingers have been pointed at multiple suspects over the years, and a list of theories  some plausible, some conspiratorial and some downright outlandish  have swirled since the day Dando was killed, an event that shocked the British public who grew accustomed to watching her on television throughout the 1990s.



The journalists murder was the subject of a handful of series over the years, including an investigation by the BBC and a three-part true crime documentary which premiered on Netflix last September, titled Who Killed Jill Dando?



To this day, that question still haunts investigators, fans, and most of all, Dando's family. Heres what happened.

Tom Wargacki/WireImage Jill Dando

Who was Jill Dando?

Dando was a celebrated British journalist, known for her vibrant and empathetic personality, along with her striking style that was even said to influence Princess Diana.

Born in Somerset, England, in 1961, Dando went on to study journalism at the South Glamorgan Institute of Higher Education before taking a job as a reporter for the local Weston Mercury. Soon after, Dando landed a gig as a print reporter for the BBC and slowly began taking on opportunities to present the news on television, catching the attention of producers.



She received an offer to join BBCs national news broadcast team in 1988, launching her an illustrious and influential television career that would see her go on to become one of the most recognizable newscasters in the country throughout the 1990s.

Dando hosted several BBC news and talk show programs throughout her career, from Breakfast Time to the BBCs primetime Six OClock News, to the true crime show Crimewatch, which she began hosting from 1995 until the time of her death four years later.



Her role as the host of Crimewatch later led to several theories soon after her murder that a former subject of the show wanted to kill Dando in revenge for her reporting.

Colin Davey/Getty Jill Dando

How did she die?

Dando was found shot to death at point blank range by an unknown assailant on her doorstep, according to The Guardian. Dando was found with a single bullet wound to the head and pronounced dead upon arrival at a nearby hospital.

News of her murder was announced by her colleagues at BBC during an emotional broadcast later that evening, as recounted in Netflix's three-part documentary series released last year.

Investigators offered a 250,000 reward for information leading to her murderer's arrest, according to Sky News. But despite pleas for information, investigators' trail on a potential killer has remained cold for most of the past 25 years, and Dando's death remains one of Britains most high-profile unsolved murders, according to the BBC.

Dave Benett/Getty Jill Dando

Inside the cold case

Dandos murder remains unsolved to this day, although a renewed public interest in her case over the last few years has led to calls for the cold case investigation to pick up again.



Barry George, a convicted rapist, was falsely convicted of her murder in 2000 and served eight years in prison before a review of forensic evidence was later determined to be insufficient, making his involvement in Dandos murder implausible, according to The Standard.



The outlet reported earlier this week that a lawyer for George, now 64, has called for investigators to reopen the case and look into another popular theory surrounding a Serbian hitman, The Daily Mirror reported. Many have theorized a hitman was involved in Dandos death given the seemingly professional manner of her broad daylight killing.

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, Georges lawyer, Michael Mansfield KC, told the Mirror.

Paul Buller/TV Times via Getty Jill Dando

A brother's theory

Dandos unsolved killing has led to wide speculation about what might have happened to the newscaster.



Netflixs three-part series examines many of the theories, including some that allege she was killed randomly by an ex-criminal like George, by a professional Serbian hitman hired by someone upset with her coverage of ongoing conflicts in the country throughout the late 1990s, by an obsessive stalker, or even that her death was orchestrated by someone closer to her, who knew of her whereabouts on the morning of her murder.

Im always interested in any new lines of inquiry about Jills death, especially if they might lead to somebody being arrested and convicted of her murder, her brother Nigel Dando, now 72, told the Mirror.

Nigel also revealed his leading theory in a September 2023 interview with BBC, explaining that he believes his sister was killed by an opportunist looking to make a name for themselves.



"My theory, which I had before this documentary and more so since I've seen a greater insight into the police investigation, is that it was just someone who was in that street who may or may not have known that she lived there, who was armed at the time, who may have recognized her, who perhaps thought he or she could get five minutes of notoriety by shooting her, Dandos brother told the BBC. "And that is my view as to what happened, no matter how odd and strange people may think that is, it's certainly one of the theories that's abounded; that Jill was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Who Killed Jill Dando is available on Netflix.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
King Charles' cancer battle has him 'determined to make his mark on history': expert

King Charles' cancer battle has him 'determined to make his mark on history': expert

Buckingham Palace announced Friday that King Charles will resume royal duties Tuesday, nearly three months after revealing his cancer diagnosis.

Royal experts are sharing their opinion with Fox News Digital about the king's quick return to royal duties. Charles and Queen Camilla will visit a cancer treatment center Tuesday and meet with patients and medical professionals.

Christopher Andersen believes the king's health is a reminder of his mortality, and it urges him not to "want to waste a single minute."

King Charles will return to royal duties Tuesday after revealing his cancer diagnosis nearly three months ago.

"Charles is an entirely different sort of royal animal. Now that he has what Princess Diana called the top job, King Charles is determined to handle things the way his mother Queen Elizabeth did  by getting out there among the people, to the extent he can, and working his tail off," Andersen, author of "The King," told Fox News Digital.

KING CHARLES RETURNING TO ROYAL DUTIES FOLLOWING CANCER DIAGNOSIS

"The late queen used to say, I must be seen to be believed, meaning that the monarchy is more than an illusion.' King Charles wants to be seen doing the job he was born to do.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"There is something else at work here. Now that the king has been reminded of his mortality  and we still have no firm idea how serious his condition really is  it's certain that he doesn't want to waste a single minute," Andersen noted. "Regardless of the cards that have been dealt him, Charles III is determined to make his mark on history."

Andersen explained that Charles is "clearly frustrated."

KING CHARLES GIVES KATE MIDDLETON HISTORIC ROYAL TITLE AMID CANCER BATTLES

"Now that the focus of the press has turned away from Kate and back towards him, all the rumors about the true nature of Charles's condition must be taking their toll," he said. "The only way to quell speculation and the inevitable conspiracy theories is for the king to present a business-as-usual front."

King Charles was diagnosed with cancer shortly after receiving treatment for an enlarged prostate.

Buckingham Palace has not disclosed what type of cancer King Charles was diagnosed with.

Kinsey Schofield, host of the "To Di For Daily" podcast, told Fox News Digital Charles is "eager" to get back out there and serve the people of the commonwealth.

"Plus, we are gearing up for one of the most patriotic, exciting events in the U.K., Trooping the Colour. The King can't wait to show off Britain's beautiful pomp," she said.

Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Louis, Kate Middleton, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince William on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour June 2, 2022.

Kate Middleton, Prince William and their three children  Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis  attend the Trooping the Colour event every year. It is unknown if Kate will be in attendance June 15.

British royal expert Hilary Fordwich explained that due to Charles' succeeding the longest reigning monarch in Britain's history, he has "a lot to prove."

LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

She also noted that the bombshell Panorama interview the late Princess Diana held for the BBC in 1995 cast doubt on Charles' future as king.

"Therefore, he has a great deal to prove to the nation and indeed the commonwealth," Fordwich noted.

Princess Diana's bombshell BBC interview cast doubt on Prince Charles' future as king, according to royal expert Hilary Fordwich.

Along with Charles fighting his own health battle, the Princess of Wales has not been performing royal duties as she privately deals with her own health. In a video shared in March, the Princess of Wales revealed she too is battling a form of cancer and has been undergoing preventative chemotherapy treatment.

"Princess Kate has chosen to focus on her family while she undergoes chemotherapy at home, and that is pretty consistent with the approach she has always taken toward the job," Andersen told Fox News Digital.

"In fact, long before she was diagnosed with cancer, Kate was often criticized for not doing enough royal engagements, preferring instead to prioritize her children. The tabloid press even branded her a slacker for that, which was terribly unfair."

Kate Middleton announced to the world she had cancer in a pre-recorded message shared earlier in March.

Due to Kate and Charles' cancer battles, Prince William has been handling a majority of the public duties for the royal family over the past several months.

On Friday, Buckingham Palace shared a statement about Charles' return to royal duties.

"This visit will be the first in a number of external engagements His Majesty will undertake in the weeks ahead," the palace said.

Another upcoming event is scheduled for June, when Charles and Camilla will host the emperor and empress of Japan for a state visit.

Queen Camilla and King Charles will host the emperor and empress of Japan for a state visit 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 concluded.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER

A spokesperson for the palace explained to Fox News Digital that while Charles is well enough to resume his duties, he's still receiving treatment for his cancer.

"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," the palace said.

Buckingham Palace announced King Charles' treatment program will continue as he resumes royal duties.

"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," said a spokesperson.

The palace added that it's "too early to say" how long the king's treatment may continue, "but His Majestys medical team are very encouraged by the progress made so far and remain positive about The Kings continued recovery."

Fox News Digital's Stephanie Nolasco contributed to this report.





Original article source: King Charles' cancer battle has him 'determined to make his mark on history': expert
Kitten season in Fresno: When baby cats are left to die  in water, dumpsters, plastic bags

Got a cat problem in your community?

Theres a strong chance its about to get bigger this time of year.

And thats if it hasnt already grown out of control.

Its called Kitten Season  when cats give birth to their litters as the weather warms up, and newborn kittens start sprouting and spreading.

Were expecting another big year of kittens, said Ruben Cantu, animal care adoption supervisor at Valley Animal Center.

In some ways, the sight of baby cats might seem cute and welcoming. But with kittens being born essentially at an uncontrollable rate in Fresno County, Kitten Season also has become a deadly time of year.

Whether its been out of ignorance, desperation or pure evilness, peoples attempts to address their cat problems have led to various forms of animal cruelty.

Sometimes, with kittens dying.

People do horrendous things sometimes to get rid of cats, said Beth Caffrey, donor/media spokesperson at the no-kill cat sanctuary in Parlier called The Cat House on the Kings. I wish I could say that these are extremely rare examples.

We are trying desperately to get people to know that killing kittens doesnt solve the problem.

People on social media have shared horror stories of kittens left in a plastic bag and dumped on the side of the road or in a trash can.

Animals shelters have found boxes or baskets filled with abandoned kittens.

Other times, kittens have been throw in water and left to drown.

Fresno County is expecting many kittens to be born in the coming months with the weather warming up -- like this large litter of kittens that were placed in a crate. The time of year is sometimes referred to as Kitten season, which can also be a deadly time with people doing acts of animal cruelty to get rid of the baby cats. Courtesy photo/The Cat House on the Kings

Cat overpopulation

Like so many other parts of the United States, Fresno County has a serious issue with cat overpopulation.

The Humane Society of the United States estimated there are 30 million to 40 million community cats (a combination of stray and feral cats) in the country.

There are not exact numbers of stray and feral cats that make Fresno County their home. But local animal shelters and control services believe the population is so large that their efforts to help curb the cat population is a mere drop in the bucket.

Last year, The Cat House on the Kings shelter alone took in 1,305 cats/kittens. Their goal is to provide animals with a better life either through forever home adoption, foster care or continuing life at the no-kill sanctuary.

Valley Animal Center brings in an average of 300 to 500 kittens in their care.

Both are operating at max or near-max capacity.

And there are other animal shelters in the area that have gone on to turn away cats and kittens because their facilities have reached maximum capability.

Fresno County is expecting many kittens to be born in the coming months with the weather warming up. The time of year is sometimes referred to as Kitten season, which can also be a deadly time with people doing acts of animal cruelty to get rid of the baby cats. Courtesy photo/The Cat House on the Kings

All of these animal organizations can become quickly overwhelmed by the number of requests to take in cats, Cantu said. Kitten Season makes that issue significantly more challenging to manage.

While kittens are born during all times of the year, cats typically give birth to them during the warmer months.

So for Fresno County and the rest of the central San Joaquin Valley, Kitten Season can run from about March to October with the peak times being April and May, according to local animal services.

One study said a fertile cat can produce an average of three litters in one year.

And with the average number of kittens in a litter being four to six, that one unspayed female cat and her unspayed offsprings could theoretically be responsible for approximately 5,000 kittens in a seven-year span.

An outdoor cat thats not neutered can do a lot of damage, Caffrey said.

An unneutered male cat, by the way, can smell the scent of a female cat in heat from at least one mile away, and they tend to look for mating partners within a 5-mile radius.

With weather warming in Fresno County, Kitten Season is underway. But with many kittens being born at an uncontrollable rate, its actually a deadly time of year. Courtesy photo/The Cat House on the Kings

Non-lethal approach

While killing cats through cruel methods is not considered the answer to the cat overpopulation problem, the reality is some animal control centers do end up euthanizing cats, especially black cats.

Approximately 1.4 million cats nation wide are euthanized each year, according to the National Kitten Coalition.

Black cats have the highest rate of euthanasia at 74.6%, based on data analyzed by the National Library of Medicine.

Animals shelters with no-kill approaches emphasize a non-lethal method: TNR, which stands for trap-neuter-return.

Cats are humanely trapped then taken to a veterinarian to be neutered before being returned to their home.

Among the ideas behind the TNR approach is that the cat colonies will regulate itself and limit the cat groups growth.

The TNR approach had helped Disneyland for years control its wild cat population that lives on its grounds.

A story by Vice.com in 2014 reported Disneyland had an approximate cat population of 100, with employees feeding, vaccinating and helping the animals get neutered.

Last year in Fresno County, the nonprofit organization Fresno T.N.R. was able to help spay and neuter 6,690 cats.

The Cat House on the Kings helped the general public in about 1,400 TNR cases.

Caffrey said TNR methods have helped keep the cat population down in places such as Sierra Vista Mall, Woodward Park and the Fresno State campus.

Our goal is to provide as many spay-neuter surgeries as possible, Caffrey said. You see that when people step up and do TNR, those cat populations are dealt with in a healthy way.

Animals shelters and veterinarians also stress that pet owners have their animals spayed and neutered  not only to keep them from having kittens but for health reasons.

The Humane Society said the average lifespan of spayed and neutered cats and dogs is demonstrably longer than the lifespan of those not.

Fresno County is expecting many kittens to be born in the coming months with the weather warming up -- like this litter of kittens that were left in a bucket. The time of year is sometimes referred to as Kitten season, which can also be a deadly time with people doing acts of animal cruelty to get rid of the baby cats. Courtesy photo/The Cat House on the Kings

Raising awareness

Among the reasons the cat population took off in recent years in Fresno County and elsewhere is because of the limited animals services offered during the COVID-19 pandemic, shelters said.

We lost ground during COVID, Caffrey said. Theres so many more cats out there.

But Caffrey said the way for communities to regain ground and help control the cat population is by people getting more involved.

Those efforts include raising awareness about the issue, stressing to pet owners the importance of spaying and neutering their pets and educating people on the trap-neuter-return process.

Theyd also like to see more people become foster homes  and maybe forever homes  for animals to help alleviate some of the burden on shelters to house all of the animals.

Its a continuous effort to raise awareness because the cat cycle keeps going, Caffrey said. Theres always new pet owners and more people who can learn about the issue.

Alleycat.org gets a timeline of what a kitten is going through after being born and when to help it. Courtesy photo/The Cat House on the Kings

Workers at local animal shelters suggested that anyone whose cat had a litter to contact a shelter to learn what to do next  rather than dump the unwanted kittens elsewhere.

We know its a hard deal for those who want to do the right thing but want quick solutions, Caffrey said. Thats one of the reasons why we stress to spay and neuter pets. So you and your animal dont land in that situation.

If you and your pet are in the situation, we have to be patient and not separate the kittens from their mother too soon. But we also have to help spay and neuter those kittens when they reach eight to 16 weeks before they start having kittens of their own and add to the issue.
What We Know About Claims That Israel Lured and Shot Palestinians Using Drones Playing Recordings of Crying Infants

On April 16, 2024, the outlet Middle East Eye reported on alleged acts of cruelty by the Israeli Defense Forces against residents of Al Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza involving armed quadcopter drones luring would-be good Samaritan Palestinians into the streets with the sounds of crying infants and shooting them:

Israeli quadcopters are employing a "bizarre" new tactic of playing audio recordings of crying infants and women in order to lure Palestinians to locations where they can be targeted. On Sunday and Monday night, residents of the northern parts of Gaza's Nuseirat refugee camp woke up to the sounds of babies crying and women calling out for help. When they went outside to locate the source of the cries and provide aid, Israeli quadcopters reportedly opened fire directly at them.

That reporting, by journalist and activist Maha Hussaini of the nonprofit Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, followed online claims about such drone attacks, and involved interviewing witnesses on the ground in the besieged refugee camp. Snopes can neither confirm nor exclude the possibility that these events occurred as described.

While the claim has several aspects characteristic of either rumor or propaganda, the notion is not on its face absurd based on the IDF's past use of drones and their current technological capabilities. Hussaini, who is on the ground in the Gaza Strip, told Snopes she visited the camp after residents reporting the drone noises reached out to her directly. The IDF did not respond to Snopes' requests for comment or clarification.

The Accusation

According to EuroMed Monitor's reporting, these tactics were employed on the nights of April 14 and 15. The earliest mention on social media of drones playing crying infant noises that Snopes has identified appeared on X, where two accounts made the same claim simultaneously on April 14, at 11:49 p.m. Gaza time.

Quds News Network is a Palestinian youth-run media outlet. Mariam from Gaza is a popular X account that shares breaking news about Gaza. It is unclear which of these two accounts' tweets was first, or whether either tweet was a response to the other.

Video footage of the alleged practice emerged on social media the next night. The earliest instance of someone sharing a video on X purporting to document the drones playing prerecorded audio came at around 1:30 a.m. Gaza time on April 16, in a post from an account described as belonging to a pro-Palestinian activist:

BREAKING: Israeli quadcopter drones are emitting sounds of crying children and women to lure civilians for targeting in Al-Nusairat! pic.twitter.com/dGaSw8hJXX  S A R A H (@sarabahaa94) April 15, 2024

This video has since gone viral. The version shared above has received more than 1 million views, at the time of this reporting, as has a version of the video produced by Middle East Eye that had been shared alongside Hussaini's reporting. As far as Snopes can discern, this is the only video used as evidence to support the claim that these drones were playing prerecorded infant crying noises.

Hussaini, in an email to Snopes, said that she "personally went there and met with numerous eyewitnesses, including at least five people I interviewed  and many others who only spoke to me but refused to be recorded or interviewed, fearing for their own safety."

On April 16, Hussaini published her report in Middle East Eye, citing eyewitnesses who said seven to 10 people were injured in drone attacks the previous night. She published the testimony of two residents of the Al Nuseirat camp. The first said she heard the sound of a woman crying and screaming coming from a drone:

Samira Abu al-Leil, a resident of the refugee camp, told Middle East Eye that she heard Israeli quadcopters opening fire during and shortly after playing the recorded sounds, which lasted for several minutes and recurred multiple times on Monday night. "I heard a woman crying and screaming for help, saying, 'Help me, my son was martyred'. The sounds were coming from the street and they were bizarre," the 49-year-old said.  "At night, the streets are usually empty and men are inside their homes," Leil added. "When the quadcopters open fire, they only hit the roofs and streets, they don't find any people to shoot. So they played these sounds because they know the nature of our society; they know that men were going to try to provide help. They wanted them to go out so that they could shoot them," she said.

The second witness said he heard the crying baby noises, but did not venture to look because he has heard warnings about the practice:

Muhammed Abu Youssef, 19, told MEE that at around 2am on Monday he heard the cries of babies. However, since people were posting on social media to raise awareness of the source of these sounds, he chose not to venture outside. "There were different sounds coming from the quadcopters. They were making noises; some recordings were comprehensible and some were not. They lasted for around 30 to 60 minutes, then the quadcopters started opening fire and firing bombs in the neighbourhood," he said. "We did not go out, because we learned that these were only recordings played by the quadcopters to lure us to go out.

On April 20, Al Jazeera published an interview with a witness to the drone activities at Nuseirat. It is unclear whether this is the same person mentioned in MEE's reporting, but the testimony is nearly identical.

These are testimonies of Palestinians who thought they heard children and women screaming for help in Gaza's Nuseirat refugee camp, only to realize that the cries were coming from an Israeli drone broadcasting distress calls to lure them out so it could shoot them. pic.twitter.com/5BZnynjXPD  AJ+ (@ajplus) April 20, 2024

The accusations against the IDF require the context of their weeklong military incursion into the the Al Nuseirat camp, which was ongoing during this time period and ended April 18.

The Context: An 8-Day Campaign in Northern Gaza

The Al Nuseirat refugee camp is in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. On April 10, the IDF began an eight-day military operation in the area of that camp that resulted in widespread destruction, according to Gaza's media office. As reported by Turkish news outlet Anadolu Ajansi on April 18:

The Israeli army withdrew from the northern part of the camp on Wednesday following an 8-day military operation.  The civil defense agency said heavy machinery is needed to extract the bodies of dead people from under the debris of destroyed buildings. According to Gaza's government media office, 75 people were killed, 348 injured and 100 others went missing during the Israeli operation, in addition to the destruction of 13,000 housing units in the camp.

Palestinians living in Nuseirat Refugee Camp collect the usable items among the rubble of the destroyed buildings after Israel withdrawal on April 18, 2024. Streets and alleys are littered with the rubble of buildings after the devastation by Israeli attacks (Photo via Getty Images).

Valid Skepticism: An Urban Legend Repurposed as Propaganda?

There are reasons to be cautious of these claims. Despite the claim being viewed or shared millions of times, there are few known eyewitnesses to the events. There appears to be only one video purporting to show the drones playing the audio of crying babies.

Despite the appearance of widespread corroboration, the claims as they have been reported can be traced to the words of just a few individuals amplified by activist accounts on social media.

On top of those reasons, it is important to note that the claim that one's enemy is so evil that they would use the sound of a crying infant as bait is both a long-held urban legend and a propagandistic claim seen leveled against enemy combatants throughout time.

In fact, the IDF leveled a nearly identical and equally unverified claim against Hamas in December 2023, as reported by The Washington Post, going so far as to use it as a defense for their firing on and killing Israeli hostages in the early days of the conflict:

In recent days, the IDF has reported that its soldiers have been hearing recordings of weeping and people speaking Hebrew  attempts, commanders believe, to trick the Israeli soldiers to search for hostages nearby. The IDF has not released those recordings. Some analysts suggest that wariness of such traps might have been a factor in the IDF's mistaken killing of three Israeli hostages in Gaza last week  that the troops were spooked and too fast to fire.  "Booby traps, dolls, crying, people speaking Hebrew," said a lieutenant colonel in an IDF reconnaissance unit. "We have been well-briefed." The officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under rules set by the IDF, said his unit was sent recently to investigate a building in central Gaza where he said rocket parts had been manufactured and some soldiers heard "recordings of crying" but could not find the source. The IDF destroyed the building.

While none of these facts is enough to conclude the drone attacks described by Al Nuseirat camp residents are not real, they are significant enough to merit pause.

Invalid Skepticism: Does the IDF Have This Technology?

While there are valid reasons to be skeptical of the claim, some skeptics have asserted that it is impossible for the IDF to have carried out night attacks using gun- or grenade-mounted quadcopters, as described in media reports. These lines of reasoning are demonstrably flawed.

The IDF has developed a suite of high-tech drones that have regularly been used in the present Gaza conflict. Though the claim of using crying infant audio is new, the claim that drones carrying guns that fire single targeted shots are a part of the IDF arsenal is as old as the present conflict. In November 2023, the Telegraph reported on armed drones "patrolling" around a hospital in northern Gaza:

The Israeli military is using remote-controlled quadcopters equipped with rifles to patrol the perimeter of Gaza's hospitals, say doctors. Ghassan Abu Sitta, a British-Palestinian surgeon working at the Al Ahli hospital in northern Gaza, said the drones were hovering in "the vicinity of the hospital" and were firing "single bullets." "We have had wounded come and say that it's been firing at people in the streets," he said in a voice message to The Telegraph on Monday. "We can hear it. This afternoon it was really spooky. It's like a drone sniper and it flies very low."

The Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems, which provides quadcopter drones to the IDF, advertises a drone-based, partially AI-informed tactical weapons platform for quadcopter drones known as Bird of Prey. The below description is from a February 2024 release:

The Bird of Prey is an agile, compact and fully stabilized weapon system for drone platforms, designed to enhance infantry squad lethality beyond its detection and engagement range with stand-off warfare capabilities.  The lightweight and foldable system is designed to be carried, deployed, and operated by a single soldier, fitting into an infantry backpack.  The system supports a range of modular multi-role and multi-caliber armaments while maximizing flight time and mission length. Bird of Prey features advanced algorithms and autonomous capabilities including integrated autonomous target recognition (ATR) to detect, classify and track targets within the field of view (FOV) day and night.

An Elbit video also demonstrates the technology with both gun-mounted and grenade launcher-mounted quadcopter drones. According to this promotion, the system is able to survey and identify targets on its own, but it requires a human to authorize a strike:

This system matches witness accounts of quadcopter drones firing single shots and dropping explosives. Elbit systems and the IDF have historically worked closely on the development of this sort of drone technology.

In 2021, as reported by the Times of Israel, an until-then secret unit of drone operators and soldiers  in conjunction with Elbit systems  tested the offensive use of swarms of drones during an 11-day campaign in Gaza in 2021:

In one use of artificial intelligence, the Israeli military deployed small flocks of quadcopter drones over the southern Gaza Strip with each device monitoring a specific patch of land, The Times of Israel learned at the time. When a rocket or mortar launch was detected, other armed aircraft or ground-based units attacked the source of the fire. During the 11-day campaign, dubbed Operation Guardian of the Walls, [the] unit worked with the Elbit defense contractor, which manufactured the drones, and other units within the IDF to refine its capabilities in real time.

For these reasons, the claim that a quadcopter drone could operate at night and be armed with a rifle is plausible. For EuroMed Monitor's part, the group has been critical of the IDF's drone use since before these April 2024 incidents in Al Nuseirat. In a February 2024 report, the group stated:

Israel's army has increased its use of electronic-controlled quadcopters  which were previously restricted to use for intelligence purposes  for killing and injuring Palestinians. The Israeli army has escalated its premeditated murders, extrajudicial executions, and judicial killings against Palestinian civilians through direct targeting with snipers and drones in various regions of the Gaza Strip, in addition to aerial and artillery bombardment of residential areas, Euro-Med Monitor said.  The Israeli army is using small killer drones fitted with machine guns and missiles which are highly mobile and versatile, i.e. ideal for short-term operations.  These drones have killed dozens of civilians, confirmed Euro-Med Monitor, by firing automatic machine guns mounted beneath the aircraft at random gatherings or by shooting directly at people.

The Bottom Line

There are very few independent accounts that corroborate allegations that the IDF used drones to lure people into their sights with the sounds of infants in distress. The claim is similar to common urban legends and rumors, including one lodged by the IDF against Hamas in December 2023.

These facts alone are not enough to disprove the reality of these events, however, and claims that the IDF does not have technology capable of performing these tasks are misguided.

Sources:

Bird of Prey. Directed by Elbit Systems, 2024. YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCfv79C_-I0.

Booth, William, and Hazem Balousha. "Ambushes and Booby Traps: Hamas Tactics Stir Confusion, Fear, Danger." Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2024. www.washingtonpost.com, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/12/22/hamas-booby-traps-gaza/.

Carroll, Evan. "Do Israeli Quadcopters Play Sounds to Lure People out of Their Homes?" Skeptics Stack Exchange, 17 Apr. 2024, https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/q/56904.

Israeli Army Withdraws from Gaza Refugee Camp, Leaving behind Bodies, Trail of Destruction. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israeli-army-withdraws-from-gaza-refugee-camp-leaving-behind-bodies-trail-of-destruction/3195189. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.

"Israeli Drones Lure Palestinians with Crying Children Recordings Then Shoot Them." Middle East Eye, https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/disturbing-recordings-crying-infants-played-israeli-quadcopters-lure-gaza-residents-shooting. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.

"Maha Hussaini." Middle East Eye, https://www.middleeasteye.net/users/maha-hussaini. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.

Monitor, Euro-Med Human Rights. "Gaza: Israel Systematically Uses Quadcopters to Kill Palestinians from a Close Distance." Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, https://euromedmonitor.org/en/article/6166/Gaza. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.

New State-of-the-Art UAS to Be Launched by Elbit Systems at Singapore Airshow 2024. https://elbitsystems.com/pr-new/new-state-of-the-art-uas-to-be-launched-by-elbit-systems-at-singapore-airshow-2024/. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.

Sebouai, Lilia, et al. "'Drone Snipers' Firing at Targets around Gaza Hospitals, Says Trapped British Doctor." The Telegraph, 13 Nov. 2023. www.telegraph.co.uk, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/armed-drones-israel-hamas-war-gaza-hospitals-gunshots/.

Updates:

April 29, 2024: This report was updated to include comment from Maha Hussaini.
What you need to know about St. George: New Louisiana city will be in East Baton Rouge Parish

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD)  The city of St. George will be in the southern tip of East Baton Rouge Parish. Residents have been working to incorporate since 2018, and a Louisiana Supreme Court decision released on Friday, April 26, reversed a lower courts ruling and will permit the city to incorporate.

Previous estimates stated about 86,000 residents were expected to live in the approximately 60-square-mile area, per the St. George website. It makes up about 22% of the parish of Baton Rouge and other incorporated areas, according to estimates referenced in the Supreme Court opinion.

In a proposal on the St. George website, founders cite the citys high crime rates and concerns with city-parish tax spending as reasons they want their own government.

A map of the city of St. Georges boundaries

They also looked at East Baton Rouge Parish School System scores up to the 2015-16 school year. The founding group initially created a school district but couldnt get a two-thirds majority for a constitutional amendment to fund schools in the area. According to the St. George website, their goal remains to create a city and change education options in EBR Parish.

Baton Rouge mayor-president disappointed in Louisiana Supreme Court OKing St. George incorporation

The Supreme Court said St. George is identifiable as a distinct community with a thriving business community and its own fire department.

J. Andrew Murrell, an attorney representing the incorporators, said they expect the process to take time and will work with the East Baton Rouge Parish government on a smooth transition.

What will the government look like?

The founders looked at Sandy Springs, Georgia, as an example of a model city to follow. Sandy Springs was incorporated in 2005. The Atlanta suburb has about 107,000 residents and a low crime rate.

Plans for the government call for a mayor and five council members  three to be elected from districts and two at-large.

The new city plans to support itself with a 2% sales tax thats estimated to bring in about $48 million per year. The funds are currently paid to East Baton Rouge City-Parish, and voters will have the option to swap the funding to the new city once its incorporated.

Approximately 54% of residents previously OKd the incorporation. In the Louisiana Supreme Court decision that approved the change, incorporator Chris Rials is quoted as saying, one would reasonably expect that if 54% of voters wanted to have St. George, 54% would approve what theyre already paying for.

Lawyer for new city of St. George talks about Supreme Court decision OKing incorporation

The city of St. George plans to continue using some services provided by East Baton Rouge Parish, according to the plan published online. They include:

East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriffs Office (criminal and civil services).

19th Judicial District Court.

Emergency Medical Services.

Alcohol Beverage Control.

Mosquito and Rodent Control.

Animal Control.

BREC.

East Baton Rouge Parish Library control.

Garbage/trash collection.

Fire protection will be provided by the St. George and East Side departments.

The new city will provide for the maintenance and upkeep of streets, bridges, medians, ditches, canals, and other public grounds and facilities in the new city, according to the St. George website.

A lower court decision denied the petition to incorporate, noting the city might not be able to provide services or maintain a balanced budget. The Supreme Court determined those were errors when saying St. George can proceed.

The petition to incorporate specifies that all non-parish services will be provided subject to the availability of funds derived from taxes, license fees, permits and other revenue which become available to the municipality and are authorized by state law.

Latest News

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to BRProud.com.
Russia has dismissed a report claiming Vladimir Putin did not order the killing of famed dissident Alexei Navalny, who died in an Arctic prison in February.

Dmitry Peskov, Putins spokesman, told Russias state-run media on Saturday that he had seen the Wall Street Journal report, which cited an assessment by U.S. intelligence agencies, and that there was little reason to believe it. He derided its logic and said it wasnt worth looking into.

I would not say that this is high-quality material that deserves any attention. Some very empty reasoning, Peskov said.

The Kremlins rejection of the U.S. report oddly puts them in agreement with Navalnys allies, who have also disputed its findings.

How Putins Whirlwind Bromance Could End in a Kremlin Tragedy

Leonid Volkov, a longtime Navalny supporter, slammed the report and said those who believe Putin wasnt involved clearly do not understand anything about how modern day Russia runs.

The idea of Putin being not being informed and not approving killing Navalny is ridiculous, he added.

The finding, which was first reported by The Wall Street Journal, said the Russian autocrat did not directly plan the timing of Navalnys death, although it did not dispute his responsibility for it. While Putin bears culpability for sending Navalny to the brutal prison camp where he died, U.S. intelligence doesnt believe he planned to have Navalny killed when he died.

Navalny to Take One Last Shot at Putin From Beyond the Grave

Sources told the WSJ that the finding is broadly accepted within the U.S. intelligence community, although some European intelligence allies doubt it couldve happened without Putins direct involvement.

According to the WSJ, the intelligence report relied on classified information and an analysis of the timing of his death near Putins predetermined re-election, among other factors.

Sources didnt say whether the report explored how Navalny died. At the time, Russias prison service said he collapsed after a walk and could not be revived by emergency personnel.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Kristi Noem, a contender to become Republican Donald Trump's vice presidential running mate, defended herself on Friday against Democratic attacks over her account of shooting a dog on her family farm.

Noem, the governor of South Dakota, describes killing an "untrainable" dog called Cricket which she "hated" in an upcoming memoir, excerpts of which were first published by The Guardian on Friday. She also said she shot to death a goat.

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem speaks at the Calvin Coolidge Foundation conference at the Library of Congress on February 17, 2023 in Washington, DC.

Noem said the dog ruined a hunt and later attacked chickens owned by a local family, behaved like a "trained assassin," and was "dangerous to anyone she came in contact with."

"I realized I had to put her down," Noem writes.

The Democratic National Committee seized on the excerpts, calling them "horrifying" and "disturbing" and tried to make a 2024 election argument about the shooting of the animals.

"If you want elected officials who don't brag about brutally killing their pets as part of their self-promotional book tour, then listen to our owners  and vote Democrat," the DNC said in a statement, giving voice to the dogs.

Responding on X, Noem said, "We love animals, but tough decisions like this happen all the time on a farm. Sadly, we just had to put down 3 horses a few weeks ago that had been in our family for 25 years."

Noem is on a list of candidates being considered by Trump to be his vice presidential running mate, friends and allies of Trump have told Reuters. Trump faces a general election rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden on Nov. 5.

Colleen O'Brien, senior director at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), decried Noem's decision to kill the dog.

She criticized Noem for allowing "this rambunctious puppy loose on chickens and then punishing her by deciding to personally blow her brains out rather than attempting to train her or find a more responsible guardian who would provide her with a proper home."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kristi Noem defends killing dog on her family farm
L.A. supervisors oppose plan to eradicate Catalina deer by shooting them from helicopters

A mule deer doe walks along a hillside near the Descanso Beach Club in Avalon on Santa Catalina Island last year. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

In the fall, the Catalina Island Conservancy labeled its plan to eliminate the islands invasive mule deer population, by employing helicopter-bound hunters armed with high-powered rifles, bold and ambitious.

But the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors chose other descriptors, decrying the proposal in an opposition letter as inhumane and drastic."

Supervisor Janice Hahn, whose district includes Santa Catalina Island, drafted the response  saying she was prompted by an intense public outcry that sprung up after the aerial sharpshooting proposal became public.

The nonnative mule deer population on the island can range between 500 and 1,800, according to the conservancy. The deer have destroyed natural habitat  including native vegetation found only on the island  and exacerbated the risk of soil erosion in grazed-over areas.

As this is happening, the deer are starving and dying of thirst .

The island and the deer are both fighting for survival and neither one is winning, Whitney Latorre, the conservancys chief executive, said in an interview with The Times in the fall. Unless we address the deer issue, the island will become more and more vulnerable to the devastating consequences brought on by rising temperatures and drought."

Read more: Desperate to rid Catalina of invasive deer, officials propose bold helicopter hunt

Hahn, however, called for the conservancy to reconsider other options it previously studied and rejected. The conservancy manages nearly 90% of the island.

A Hahn spokesperson said the supervisor did not have a preference for a specific alternative, but asked the group to reconsider sterilization, relocation or extending the hunting season.

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted unanimously to send a letter expressing its opposition of the plan to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The agency has the authority to approve or deny a permit application initially filed by the conservancy in August 2023 to remove the deer.

An agency spokesperson confirmed that the permit, if approved, would allow the conservancy to remove non-native, invasive, or detrimental wildlife to improve or restore ecosystem or habitat conditions.

Read more: Catalina deer in the crosshairs: Will compromise avert a planned slaughter?

Normally, the review process takes 100 days, said Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Tim Daly. However, Daly said the department hasnt ruled on the application because its been waiting for the conservancy to file additional requested paperwork.

The conservancy did not respond to calls for comment.

The conservancy previously said it planned to hire sharpshooters from the Connecticut-based nonprofit White Buffalo Inc. The group would use AR-15-style rifles with lead-free bullets, to avoid poisoning natural scavengers.

Some carcasses would remain where they fall and those closer to Avalon and roadsides would be removed.

Mule deer were introduced to the island in the 1930s as a game species for hunting, according to the conservancy .

The conservancy reviewed six potential plans for deer removal, including fencing, aerial sharpshooting, recreational hunting, the introduction of natural predators, relocation and sterilization as well as the use of chemical contraceptives.

Each option was evaluated on seven factors, including minimizing the effect on ecology and deers suffering, team safety and how quickly it could be accomplished.

Grades ranged from poor to excellent. Aerial sharpshooting was the only option that earned at least a good grade on the seven values, with fencing and hunting earning four fair designations or higher.

Aerial sharpshooting was listed as the top option because its efficient for eliminating large numbers of deer over a short amount of time, according to the conservancy.

The main drawbacks included the loud sounds of gunfire, which could distress wildlife and local residents.

Read more: Planned deer slaughter on Catalina Island sparks firestorm of protest among residents

In comparison, fencing was described as costly and challenging given the islands topography, while recreational hunting was generally ineffective on its own, the conservancy found.

However, opposition to aerial hunting has grown over the months.

The advocacy group Coalition to Save Catalina Island Deer has collected more than 18,000 signatures since Sept. 23 on a petition opposing the concept.

The group says there was no meaningful public process in discussing the proposal and characterized aerial shooting as inhumane tactics. Both the coalition and Hahn have said the sharpshooting method is extreme.

The conservancy hosted a community forum Jan. 31, after the petition was published, to discuss several conservation issues, including the deer population.

However, the idea is not a novel one, said Bernd Blossey, a natural resources and environment professor at Cornell University.

Blossey, who also is chair of the university's deer management program, pointed to aerial shooting efforts used to eradicate feral goats on the Galapagos Islands and in New Zealand earlier this century.

Read more: Desperate to rid Catalina of invasive deer, officials propose bold helicopter hunt

When people ask if something is normal, I respond with, How do you define normal? Blossey said. In the case of Catalina, which is an island like the Galapagos and New Zealand, using helicopters or aircraft to shoot unwanted animals is standard operating procedure.

Blossey also believes that calls to relocate the animals, as some conservationists want, may be more harmful than helpful.

The capture is traumatic, the transport is traumatic, and the success rates of doing both are poor, he said. Then theyre moved to areas that they dont know and its just not a good thing.

Blossey also said he didnt want to sugarcoat aerial shooting, because he said the mortality numbers would be high, particularly early in the process.

You might get a couple hundred in the first week because the deer arent used to the tactic and wont have any defenses, he said.

If approved, the hunts would begin in the fall.

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Buy, hold, rake in solid income. That sounds like a pretty good investing strategy. You only have to find the right stocks worthy of holding for the long term and that pay attractive dividends.

Three Motley Fool contributors think they can help out on that front. Here's why they picked AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY), and Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) as dividend stocks to buy and hold for the next decade.

An unstoppable passive income machine

Prosper Junior Bakiny (AbbVie): Many dividend investors fear experiencing reduced payouts. In the worst-case scenario, corporations can suspend their dividend programs altogether. Though there are no certainties in life -- or equity markets -- investors can be as confident as possible that AbbVie is unlikely to resort to dividend cuts. That's not just because management has explicitly, repeatedly stated that returning money to shareholders via dividend hikes is one of the company's priorities.

CEOs make empty promises all the time. However, AbbVie has demonstrated its commitment to that goal with tangible moves. Since it split from Abbott Laboratories, AbbVie has increased its payouts by 287.5%. Despite recently losing patent protection for what was by far its most important product, immunology medicine Humira, AbbVie has continued to hike its dividend. Further, even without Humira driving top-line growth, AbbVie's underlying business remains solid.

Drugs such as Skyrizi and Rinvoq -- two immunology products -- AbbVie's Botox franchise, migraine treatments Qulipta, schizophrenia therapy Vraylar, and more, will allow the company to get back to revenue growth next year. Beyond that, AbbVie had a deep pipeline that should allow it to modify and improve its product mix regularly. AbbVie is a Dividend King: It has raised its payouts for 52 consecutive years. Its forward yield of 3.69% is well above average.

The company's cash payout is just under 48%, a reasonable number that leaves plenty of room for further dividend increases. Investors looking for income stock to hold on to for a while can safely add the drugmaker's shares to their portfolios.

Eli Lilly gives investors the best of both worlds

David Jagielski (Eli Lilly): Normally when you're thinking about which dividend stocks to buy for your portfolio, you might begin by filtering out investments that only offer modest yields, like the one Eli Lilly pays -- 0.7%. But it would be a mistake to overlook this top healthcare giant as it can make for a fantastic dividend stock to hold over the long run.

Although its yield looks underwhelming, that's only because of how massive of a growth stock Eli Lilly has been. In five years, the stock's value has risen by more than 500%. But the company's dividend has also doubled during that stretch. Eli Lilly has been generously rewarding shareholders with some large rate hikes. The $1.30 quarterly dividend it currently pays is 15% higher than the $1.13 payment it issued to shareholders a year ago. A decade ago, the company's quarterly dividend was just $0.49.

The key thing for investors to focus on here is the long term. And in the long term, Eli Lilly has fantastic growth prospects thanks to its diabetes and weight loss drugs, Mounjaro and Zepbound. At their combined peaks, they may generate more than $50 billion in annual revenue for the business. While Eli Lilly will invest a lot of its profits back into the business, it's likely to also continue rewarding shareholders along the way.

That means what may seem like a modest dividend income right now may rise quickly over the years. What's more is that you can also profit by hanging on to the stock and benefiting from its valuation, which may continue to rise as Mounjaro and Zepbound rake in billions in revenue for the business. By investing in Eli Lilly, you can get the best of both worlds -- a fast-growing business and dividend.

High yield, low valuation

Keith Speights (Pfizer): Pfizer should be attractive to both income and value investors. It just might appeal to growth investors, too.

The big drugmaker's dividend yield stands above 6.6%. Pfizer has increased its dividend every year since 2010, and I expect this streak to continue. CFO Dave Denton told analysts in January that growing the dividend is the company's first capital allocation priority.

Pfizer's shares have tanked over the last couple of years due primarily to rapidly declining COVID-19 product sales. I think the sell-off is overdone, though, with shares now trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of under 11.9.

2024 could be the low point for COVID-19 vaccine sales, in my opinion. Most individuals who wanted a vaccine last year will probably get another this year. Pfizer hopes to launch a combination COVID-flu vaccine in 2025 that could spark a sales rebound for its COVID-19 franchise.

The company still has another big hurdle to jump, though, with multiple blockbuster drugs losing patent exclusivity over the next few years. The good news is that Pfizer's new products and newly approved indications for existing products should produce enough additional revenue to offset the impact of declining sales for the products facing patent expirations.

A rebound in COVID-19 sales and counterbalancing the impending patent cliff isn't enough to make Pfizer's growth story compelling. However, the pharma giant's business development deals might be. Pfizer expects acquisitions completed in recent years and some that are yet to be made should increase its revenue by roughly $25 billion per year by 2030.

Should you invest $1,000 in AbbVie right now?

Before you buy stock in AbbVie, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and AbbVie wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $506,291!*

Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*.

See the 10 stocks 

*Stock Advisor returns as of April 22, 2024

David Jagielski has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Keith Speights has positions in AbbVie and Pfizer. Prosper Junior Bakiny has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Abbott Laboratories and Pfizer. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

3 Dividend Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Next Decade was originally published by The Motley Fool
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The substitute teacher caught on video fighting a high schooler after an alleged racially charged comment is no longer in custody a day after his arrest.

ReKwon Smith, 27, faces charges including battery and assault on a school pupil stemming from an incident caught on cell phone video Thursday. The video does not show the interaction before the fight and instead begins as Smith and a high school student throw punches and slap each other.

Sources tell 8 News Now that the involved student used a racial slur during the initial interaction. Clark County School District police have not confirmed or denied this accusation.

Photo of ReKwon Smith provided by Clark County School District Police Department

Clark County Judge Daniel Westmeyer dropped a $9,000 bail requirement and released Smith because he lacked a criminal history and was not determined to be a flight risk. The release is conditional on the 27-year-old:

avoiding further arrests or citations

not returning to Valley High School

having no contact with the involved student

Smiths family and Alzora Jackson, his attorney, declined to speak to media after his afternoon court appearance. Hes due back in court on May 28.

As this investigation develops, contention remains in the school community about who is at fault in this fight. Kali Fox Miller, president of Nevada PTA, is not yet pointing the finger at either side.

You can have situations where everyone is wrong, Miller said during a virtual interview Friday afternoon. If it had not been the teacher who was in this altercation, it would have been another student. Something was clearly going wrong.

Her concern extends to not enough de-escalation training among educators, especially those with only a handful of teaching experience. CCSD police confirmed Smith began working in the district in November 2023, roughly five months ago.

This is not just a school problem. This is all of our problem. I think we all feel a little bit of failure from this, Miller said. I encourage (CCSD) to communicate with parents and teachers on how theyre going to prevent this from happening again.

Sources tell 8 News Now the student involved is recovering at a local hospital and was also arrested in this incident, though the students identity is hidden within the juvenile court system.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Lawmakers in Vermont, New York California and Massachusetts are considering ways to make oil companies pay for the effect of their emissions. (Getty Images)

Lawmakers in Vermont, New York California and Massachusetts are considering ways to make oil companies pay for the effect of their emissions. (Getty Images)

A fast-emerging field of climate research is helping scientists pinpoint just how many dollars from a natural disaster can be tied to the historic emissions of individual oil companies  analysis that is the centerpiece of new state efforts to make fossil fuel companies pay billions for floods, wildfires and heat waves.

When a flood or wildfire hits, researchers in attribution science run computer models to help determine whether the disaster was caused or intensified by climate change.

As those models become more precise, other scientists are working to measure how specific companies, such as Exxon Mobil or Shell, have contributed to climate change through their historic greenhouse gas emissions.

This is a growing field, and its a game changer for addressing climate change, said Delta Merner, the lead scientist for the Science Hub for Climate Litigation at the Union of Concerned Scientists, a climate-focused research and advocacy nonprofit. It has a role to play in litigation and in policy, because it gives us that precision.

For the first time, some state lawmakers are trying to turn that advanced modeling into policy. Under their proposals, state agencies would use attribution science to tally up the damages caused by climate change and identify the companies responsible. Then, they would send each company a bill for its portion of the destruction, from heat waves to hurricanes.

This science is evolving rapidly, said Anthony Iarrapino, a Vermont-based attorney and lobbyist for the Conservation Law Foundation who has been a leading advocate for attribution-based policy. This is something that couldnt have been done 10 years ago. [Lawmakers] are benefiting from this shift in focus among some of the most talented scientists we have out there.

Lawmakers in Vermont and four other blue states have proposed climate Superfund bills, which would create funds to pay for recovery from climate disasters and preparation for sea level rise and other adaptation measures.

Oil and coal companies would pay into those funds based on the percentage of emissions theyve caused over a set period. The legislations name references the 1980 federal Superfund law that forces polluters to pay for the cleanup of toxic waste sites.

This is a growing field, and its a game changer for addressing climate change. It has a role to play in litigation and in policy, because it gives us that precision.

 Delta Merner, lead scientist for the Science Hub for Climate Litigation at the Union of Concerned Scientists

States climate proposals come after years of lawsuits by state attorneys general against many of those same companies. They claim the companies knew years ago that fossil fuel use was causing climate change, but misled the public about that danger. While the courtroom fights are far from resolved, some advocates think its time for lawmakers to get involved.

There have been a lot of lawsuits trying to get these companies to pay for some damages, and the industrys message has been, This is a task for legislatures, not the courts, said Justin Flagg, director of environmental policy for New York state Sen. Liz Krueger, a Democrat. We are taking up that invitation.

Oil industry groups object to the methodologies used by attribution scientists. Industry leaders say lawmakers are acting out of frustration that the lawsuits have been slow to progress.

The science isnt proven, said Mandi Risko, a spokesperson for Energy In Depth, a research and public outreach project of the Independent Petroleum Association of America, a trade group. [The state bills] are throwing spaghetti at a wall. Whats gonna stick?

Oil companies also assert that climate Superfund bills, if enacted, would force the penalized companies to raise gas prices on consumers in those states.

A legislative push

The push for climate Superfund legislation began with a federal bill in 2021, backed by U.S. Senate Democrats, that failed to pass. Lawmakers in a handful of states introduced their own proposals in the following years. Now, Vermont could soon become the first to enact a law.

Vermonts measure would task the state treasurer with calculating the costs of needed climate adaptation work, as well as the damage inflicted by previous disasters such as last summers devastating floods.

The program would collect money from companies that emitted more than 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide around the world from 1995 to the present day. Those companies with a certain threshold of business activity in Vermont would be charged according to their percentage of global emissions.

We can with some degree of certainty say how much worse these storms are [due to climate change], said Democratic state Sen. Anne Watson, the bills sponsor. That really is the foundation for us to bring a dollar value into a piece of legislation like this.

Environmental advocates say the bill is a pioneering attempt to use the latest science for accountability.

This is one of the first instances of climate attribution science being at the center of legislation, said Ben Edgerly Walsh, climate and energy program director with the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, an environmental nonprofit. That reflects the maturity of this field.

Walsh said the measure, if passed, is expected to bring in hundreds of millions of dollars. The bill was approved by the Senate earlier this month in a 26-3 vote, and a House version has been co-sponsored by a majority of that chambers members. Republican Gov. Phil Scott has not said whether he would sign it into law, but he has said he would prefer to see larger states go first.

Exxon Mobil deferred an interview request to the trade group American Petroleum Institute. The institute did not grant an interview with Stateline, but pointed to the comments it filed with Vermont lawmakers last month. The group said its members lawfully extracted fossil fuels to meet economic demand and should not be punished for that after the fact. The letter also questioned states authority to impose payments for emissions that were generated overseas.

Meanwhile, New York lawmakers are currently negotiating a budget that could include a climate Superfund policy. A measure that passed the Senate at the end of last year would seek to collect $75 billion over 25 years to pay for the damages of climate change.

Its not intended to be punitive, its intended to pay for our needs, said Flagg, the New York Senate staffer. Its going to be a lot of money, and $75 billion is only a small portion of that.

The proposal applied to companies with a presence in New York responsible for more than 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide between 2000 and 2018.

In Massachusetts, Democratic state Rep. Steve Owens introduced a similar bill last year. While the measure failed to advance, Owens said lawmakers are becoming familiar with the concept.

Is this fraud that we can litigate or something that we can legislate? he asked. That question was not settled in time for this session. Were going to keep working to get people used to the idea.

Lawmakers in California and Maryland also have introduced climate Superfund bills this session.

Challenges ahead

If legislatures in Vermont and elsewhere pass climate Superfund bills, the state officials who carry them out are expected to rely heavily on researcher Richard Heedes Carbon Majors project, which has tallied the historic emissions of 108 fossil fuel producers using public data.

We know enough to attribute temperature response, sea level rise, build a reasonable case and apportion responsibility among the major fossil fuel producers, said Heede, whose project is part of the Climate Accountability Institute, a Colorado-based nonprofit research group that has received funding from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. But that hasnt been tested in court.

Heede said that more than 70% of carbon emissions from fossil fuels can be linked to just over 100 companies, but noted that many large emitters, such as Saudi Aramco, the national oil company of Saudi Arabia, are owned by international governments that are unlikely to face accountability from U.S. state governments.

Last year, a study looking at temperature and water vapor data found that much of the area burned by wildfires in the West over the past several decades was tied to emissions produced by the largest fossil fuel and cement companies. That research by the Union of Concerned Scientists Merner and others was published in Environmental Research Letters. Similar research, looking at storms and heat waves, can show how much of an events intensity and economic damage can be pinned on climate change.

Backers of the state bills say they expect strong legal challenges from oil companies if their proposals become law. Pat Parenteau, an emeritus professor of environmental law at Vermont Law School, has supported states climate lawsuits, but cautioned that climate Superfund bills will likely face similar legal delays if enacted.

The companies are gonna litigate the hell out of it, he said. Throw something more at them, but dont for a minute think theres something magical about it.

He urged Vermont to wait for bigger states, such as New York, to pass the first climate Superfund bills and face the ensuing legal onslaught.

Advocates acknowledged the bill will face legal challenges, but said thats not a reason to pause their efforts.

Vermont is already paying through the nose for the climate crisis, Walsh said. The sooner we pass a law like this, the sooner we could actually see these companies be held financially accountable.

Stateline, like Oregon Capital Chronicle, 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 Lawmakers hope to use this emerging climate science to charge oil companies for disasters appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after his return to New York from upstate prison

FILE - Harvey Weinstein arrives at a Manhattan courthouse as jury deliberations continue in his rape trial in New York, on Feb. 24, 2020. Weinstein will appear in a New York City court on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, according to the Manhattan district attorneys office. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

NEW YORK (AP)  Harvey Weinsteins lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.

Attorney Arthur Aidala said Weinstein was moved to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan after his arrival on Friday to city jails.

They examined him and sent him to Bellevue. It seems like he needs a lot of help, physically. Hes got a lot of problems. Hes getting all kinds of tests. Hes somewhat of a train wreck health wise, Aidala said.

A message left with the hospital was not immediately returned Saturday.

Frank Dwyer, a spokesperson with the New York City Department of Correction, said only that Weinstein remains in custody at Bellevue. Thomas Mailey, a spokesperson for the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, said Weinstein was turned over to the city's Department of Correction pursuant to the appeals ruling. Weinstein had been housed at the Mohawk Correctional Facility, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) northwest of Albany.

On Thursday, the New York Court of Appeals vacated his conviction after concluding that a trial judge permitted jurors to see and hear too much evidence not directly related to the charges he faced. It also erased his 23-year prison sentence and ordered a retrial.

Prosecutors said they intend to retry him on charges that he forcibly performed oral sex on a TV and film production assistant in 2006 and raped an aspiring actor in 2013.

Weinstein remained in custody after the appeals ruling because he was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 of another rape and was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

For some time, Weinstein has been ailing with a variety of afflictions, including cardiac issues, diabetes, sleep apnea and eye problems.

Aidala said he spoke to Weinstein on Friday afternoon after he was in transit to New York City from an upstate jail less than 24 hours after the appeals ruling, which was released Thursday morning.

He said his client's ailments are physical, adding that mentally he is sharp as a tack. Feet are firmly planted on the ground.

The lawyer said it usually takes state corrections and prisons officials a week or two to arrange to transport a prisoner.

He was not treated well. They refused to give him even a sip of water, no food, no bathroom break, Aidala said. Hes a 72-year-old sickly man.

Mailey, the state corrections spokesperson, had no comment when Aidala's remarks about Weinstein's treatment were read to him over the phone.

Aidala said he was told that Bellevue doctors planned to run a lot of tests on Weinstein before he can be returned to the Rikers Island jail complex.

The lawyer said he's scheduled to meet with Weinstein on Monday. He added that he plans to tell a judge when Weinstein goes to court on Wednesday in Manhattan that a retrial should occur after Labor Day.
TEXAS (AP)  At least 15 people died in Texas over a decade following a physical encounter with police during which medical personnel also injected them with a powerful sedative, an investigation led by The Associated Press has found.

Several of the fatal incidents occurred in Dallas and its nearby suburbs. Other cases were documented across the state, from Odessa to Austin to Galveston.

The deaths were among more than 1,000 that APs investigation documented across the United States of people who died after officers used, not their guns, but physical force or weapons such as Tasers that  like sedatives  are not meant to kill. Medical officials said police force caused or contributed to about half of all deaths.

It was impossible for the AP to determine the role injections may have played in many of the 94 deaths involving sedation that reporters found nationally during the investigations 2012-2021 timeframe. Few of those deaths were attributed to the sedation and authorities rarely investigated whether injections were appropriate, focusing more often on the use of force by police and the other drugs in peoples systems.

The idea behind the injections is to calm people who are combative, often due to drugs or a psychotic episode, so they can be transported to the hospital. Supporters say sedatives enable rapid treatment while protecting front-line responders from violence. Critics argue that the medications, given without consent, can be too risky to be administered during police encounters.

Texas was among the states with the most sedation cases, according to the investigation, which the AP did in collaboration with FRONTLINE (PBS) and the Howard Centers for Investigative Journalism.

The Texas cases involved the use of several different drugs intended to calm agitated people who were restrained by police. Most of them were administered by paramedics outside of hospitals.

Those included the two earliest deaths documented by AP that involved the use of ketamine  men who died in 2015 in Garland and Plano. A third case involving ketamine involved a man who died in Harris County in 2021.

The most common drug used in Texas during the incidents was midazolam, a sedative that is better known by its brand name Versed. Eight cases involved injections of the drug, including one in 2018 in which a paramedic rapidly gave two doses to a man who was restrained by officers in Bastrop.

A local case out of Bastrop County brought the Texas Rangers to investigate the actions of emergency medics.

The case is from 2018 involving the death of Lorenzo Juarez. We reported at the time the Bastrop County Sheriffs Office responded to a man wilding a sword or machete. BCSO found him holding a steel pipe, and he dropped it before deputies reached him. Juarez was taken into custody for medical concerns, according to BCSO.

In videotaped interviews with the Texas Rangers obtained by the AP, the paramedic and her partner said they were ready to sedate Juarez, without even assessing him and gave him a second dose within a minute or two of the first. Experts said that would be too close together.

Other cities now focus more on addressing mental health. The report found Austin includes a specially trained response team.

Your options are stay home or go to the hospital, and that is it. What our team has done is go, you know what? Theres a better solution here. Sedation is a tool like any other, and it can be used well, or it can be used in not ideal conditions. Frequently, we will work with patients to have shared decision making to give them a dose that helps their anxiety and calms them down. Many patients say, Yes, I would like some medication to calm down. Our goal is not to come in and fully knock somebody out 100% of the time, said Austin-Travis County Mental Health Paramedic team Captain Kim Griffith.

APs investigation shows that the risks of sedation during behavioral emergencies go beyond any specific drug, said Eric Jaeger, an emergency medical services educator in New Hampshire who has studied the issue and advocates for additional safety measures and training.

Now that we have better information, we know that it can present a significant danger regardless of the sedative agent used, he said.

Sedatives were often given as treatments for excited delirium, an agitated condition linked to drug use or mental illness that medical groups have disavowed in recent years.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
This legendary Sacramento pool hall has a must-try burger. Heres what it cost me

Related story lead image

About the Writer

Brianna Taylor covers affordability on The Bees service journalism team.

Behind tinted windows, a longtime Sacramento pool hall drips with nostalgia and delicious food.

Jointed Cue Billiards in Hollywood Park has stood the test of time, made apparent by the memorabilia that hangs like art on its walls and booming throwback music.

Spend enough hours in the pool hall and you could lose sense of time. Thats by design.

Calvin McGee lines up a shot on Thursday at Jointed Cue Billiards, a neighborhood pool hall in Hollywood Park. Jose Luis Villegas/jvillegas@sacbee.com

I enlisted Larry Lee, a Sacramento native, to guide me on my next reader-suggested activity on a $25 budget. If his name sounds familiar, he introduced me (and several of you) to South Area Markets pad Thai.

The Jointed Cue is a true gem in Sacramento, he told me. Its a storied community gathering space where you can enjoy delicious food and a game of pool with good company, all at a reasonable price.

There is even a dedicated tournament room you can play in when its not in use for a tournament.

Founder Terry Stonier opened Jointed Cue Billiards in the late 60s. Over the next several decades, it became a self-proclaimed mecca for pool on the West Coast.

In 2018, the billiards joint was hit with a lawsuit under the Americans with Disabilities Act and forced to close its doors. Three years later, Katy and Shan Damani, a couple from the Bay Area who frequented the business, took over ownership and brought it back to life.

The duo has three kids all under 11.

We just knew and loved the place as a legendary pool room, Katy said, adding that the billiard reopened up to code in November 2021 with new carpet, updated kitchen appliances and a fresh coat of paint.

It means a lot to a lot of people and theres a lot of gratitude in our community ... for the fact that we did not let it die, she added.

Vintage billiard postcards line a wall at a Jointed Cue Billiards in Hollywood Park while patrons play pool Thursday. Jose Luis Villegas/jvillegas@sacbee.com

My time at Jointed Cue Billiards in Sacramento





In this series, service journalism reporter Brianna Taylor discovers Sacramento through one of your favorite affordable activities every month  all on a $25 budget. Rachel Handley

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Location: 2375 Fruitridge Road, Sacramento

Ive completed a list of firsts with your help, but visiting a pool hall without any knowledge of the sport was intimidating. Luckily, my partner was excited to show me the ropes.

Out of Touch by 80s American pop-rock duo Daryl Hall and John Oates set the tone at the billiards hall on a cloudy Monday afternoon.

An employee greeted us before we were handed a ball set and pointed to an empty table in the back.

A flyer pinned to the counter said singles play for $10.80 per hour and two or more people play for $15.50 per hour.

Then theres the legendary tournament room that Katy said has been left mostly untouched since the 80s. There, prices range from $12 to $20. The room, which is behind the main hall, is adorned with four high-end pool tables, stadium seating, past tournament boards and flyers, and photo collages.

People sometimes come through the pool room who played there in the 70s and can find the picture of that on the wall, Katy told me.

Audrey Amundsen lines up a shot on Thursday at Jointed Cue Billiards, a neighborhood pool hall in Hollywood Park. Jose Luis Villegas/jvillegas@sacbee.com

How I spent my $25 budget at Jointed Cue Billiards

The first thing I did was set a timer for one hour to make sure we didnt go over.

After about 30 minutes of trying my best to shoot pool (but mainly watching others do better), I walked up to the food counter and ordered a cheeseburger because Larry said it was a must-try.

Then I remembered what Katy told me.

The cheeseburger has been known and legendary in the Sacramento area and it started with the founder ... 75% of our clientele come in for cheeseburgers.

I ordered that for $8.25. No sides.

Jointed Cue Billiards, a pool hall in Hollywood Park,. has reasonably-priced meals and a must-try cheeseburger. Jose Luis Villegas/jvillegas@sacbee.com

Menu items, from breakfast platters and burger combos to small bites and salads, are made to order using one grill and one fryer.

My food took about 10 minutes, which felt like no time as I continued to lose. Lawrence Ramirez, an employee at the pool hall, delivered the cheeseburger straight to my table.

The losses (all three) were more bearable as I took the first bite of my burger and realized what the hype was about.

The meat had crispy edges and pickles added a perfect tang. I wished I couldve eaten a side of fries and had a drink  but I was already busting my budget.

After I finished, I played pool for another 15 minutes before my hour was up.

Pool tables are reflected off a glass cabinet holding pool sticks on Thursday at Jointed Cue Billiards. Jose Luis Villegas/jvillegas@sacbee.com

Is Jointed Cue Billiards affordable?

I shot pool with my partner and ate a burger for just over $25. After taxes and fees, the $26.51 I spent accounted for the most expensive outing Ive done for this series yet.

More affordable options for food at the pool hall include small bites, ranging from $1.75 lumpia to a $12.50 combo plate. Also available are onion rings, mozzarella sticks, fried mushrooms and jalapeno poppers.

The beer list includes tap, bottled and canned options.

A $100 monthly membership allows customers unlimited pool time and access to play in the tournament room. On Thursdays, ladies play for free.

Thank you for the suggestion, Larry! I crossed playing pool in a legendary pool hall off my list.

Jinny Hilderbrand watches from the sidelines as she waits her turn to play Thursday night. Jose Luis Villegas/jvillegas@sacbee.com

Hours: Jointed Cue Billiards is open from 11 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Thursday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturday; and 9 a.m. to midnight on Sunday.
To the editor: It feels like a heavy week. College students across the nation have been facing extreme forms of retaliation for justly demanding that the schools to which they become indebted divest from a genocide.

These institutions are trying to silence us, yet they are the ones that have taught us we have a right to peaceful assembly. That is, apparently, unless we exercise that right to call them out and hold them accountable.

A genocide should never be debated; it is inhumane to do so. Let us remember that in arresting student protesters, USC, Columbia, the University of Texas and other schools are choosing to leave a very sad legacy.

Jocelyne Flores, Fontana

..

To the editor: As a USC alumnus, I am all in favor of law enforcement arresting campus agitators, protesters and non-student hoodlums committing vandalism and trespassing.

As John Adams aptly stated: "Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence."

It is a fact that Hamas is a terrorist group committed to the extermination of Israel. It is also a fact that the majority of Palestinians in Gaza agree with the decision by Hamas to attack Israel on Oct. 7.

The abject ignorance of these protesters is appalling yet not surprising. The spinelessness of most college administrators and presidents is equally appalling yet also not surprising.

Kevin S. Avery, Tarzana

..

To the editor: The student protests regarding Gaza are not pro-Palestinian or antisemitic. They are anti-genocide.

There is no excuse in the world for killing 35,000 people  two-thirds of whom are women and children  all in the cause of vengeance. Israel has the absolute right to exist and protect itself. It does not have the right to slaughter innocents.

No one in our universities across this country would protest the slaying of the Hamas murderers who slaughtered innocent Israelis on Oct. 7. But Israel cannot be allowed to continue killing Palestinians. The protesters are reminding us all that genocide is a vile sin.

Glenn Shockley, Winnetka

..

To the editor: I would posit that most of the protesters are unaware of the history of Palestine and the persecution of the Jewish people going as far back as the year 70 AD. Granted, Israel's response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack may have been too harsh, but what would you expect a lion to do if you poked its behind with a stick?

Our education system has failed to prepare our students to analyze events critically. It should be obvious that this mob behavior on our college campuses cannot be accepted as the norm.

John T. Chiu, Newport Beach

..

To the editor: The Gaza Strip is about 7,500 miles from Los Angeles and 5,800 miles from Washington. The United States does not have combat troops on the ground in Gaza or Israel.

Currently, there is no military draft, so none of the students protesting on college campuses has to make a difficult choice about how or whether to avoid it, nor do they have to grieve their peers who came home in a box.

People in Israel and Gaza have no influence on American policy.

I know people who protest like to feel as if they have made change in the world, but the situation in Gaza will not change because American college students are protesting. I wish it would, but wars in that region have been going on for a long time.

Darcy Vernier, Culver City

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Letters | Give me liberty or give me death. Voting is an act of our revolution

Voting is an act of our revolution





The (Revolutionary War) patriot, Patrick Henry, had it right when he said, Give me liberty or give me death. Spoken before the American Revolutionary War, Henrys cry is one to which most Americans can still relate.

Liberty or death was the option for Black Africans when rebelling against slavery in the Americas and apartheid in South Africa. We saw it in Native Americans fight for freedom at the Little Big Horn. We heard it from Britains Winston Churchill and the survivors of the Jewish holocaust after World War II. In their own words, Never, never again .The liberty or death option is true for the Palestinians and the Israelis, respectively, and with other racial and ethnic conflicts around the world where governmental apartheid, genocide and other forms of oppression are practiced.

Given that oppression and genocide are man-made outcomes of evil intentions, death is the preferred option for many victims and advocates who fight against them. Of major concern is governments inability to listen to protesters, especially the students, who now cry, Stop the killings. Thus, for any American governmental complicity, citizens should honor their oath to defend the Constitution of the United States against enemies, both foreign and domestic, and act. Vote!

Dallas Barnes, Pasco

Thanks for putting measure on ballot

The Walla Walla County Fire District 4 Board of Fire Commissioners has my gratitude for placing a fire levy lid lift on the August primary election ballot. This is our first funding request in almost 40 years and would help keep up with rising costs to provide emergency services.

Costs to provide service increase 4 to 5 percent per year, but state law limits the districts revenue to just a 1 percent increase per year. Our call volumes have increased 30 percent from 2018 to 2022.

Of our calls, 68% are for medical emergencies. We require additional personnel to reduce response times.

We also need to protect the health and safety of our firefighters. The lid lift would fund renovations at Station 41 on Howard Street to upgrade the ventilation system and replace apparatus that has aged out of service.

The fire district can meet its daily operational and capital needs through this request, which means paying cash instead of borrowing money, which costs taxpayers more in interest payments.

Please learn more about the lid lift at www.wwfire4.org.

Lt. Jim Nagle, Walla Walla County Fire District 4

An apology

On April 12, I was playing poker at Jokers Casino and had accidentally said a racist comment to an African American man. It was an accident, I did not mean it and (it was) horrible mistake. I am not racist and I am not that kind of man. I have humiliated myself. I would like to deeply (apologize) to the poker staff and to the young man in question. I pray to God that this man will find it in his heart to forgive me.

Bob Petty, Benton City

Keep this story in the stone age

What a pile of sanctimonious drivel. Micah Smiths Faith piece was on April 17. Smith related a story from the biblical Book of Daniel. The Book of Daniel is a known forgery in the minds of all but the most desperate and insecure theologians. Its at best, a book of fables.

The story described several people standing up to the pressure to conform and refusing to compromise their beliefs. In this case, their Christian beliefs.

Smith is preaching to the choir with this dog whistle of a tale. He references force from the government and global geopolitical fires, and warns the temptation to compromise will be breathtaking. At the end of it all, though, We can all proclaim, Jesus is our King.

When I think of people standing for their beliefs, fictional characters from books written by 2000-year-old goat herders dont come to mind.

Smith ignores countless real heroes we can reference today, standing for their well supported beliefs, fighting for their rights, their lives and causes dear to them on behalf of all Americans.

The Bible also recommends that parents stone to death their rebellious sons.(Deut:21). Lets leave this book where it belongs, the stone age.

John Fisher, Richland
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a plethora of tornado warnings for parts of the Kansas City metro viewing area on Saturday.

Tornado warning were issued throughout the entire day in multiple counties in northern Missouri and southern Kansas

Severe weather reared its head throughout the entire Midwest over the weekend. The Kansas City metro dealt with thunderstorms throughout the evening and was placed under a tornado watch until midnight. That was later lifted.

View the latest Weather Alerts in the Kansas City region on FOX4

If you are near a tornado or your city has been placed under a tornado warning, please head to the basement or seek shelter immediately and avoid windows. If you are in a mobile home or a vehicle or are outdoors, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.

Tornado watch issued for parts of the Kansas City metro

FOX4 and the FOX4 Weather Team will update you on the latest national and local weather coverage. For timely updates, download the FOX4 News app on the Apple and Google stores, and tune in at 4, 5 and 6 p.m. for the live broadcasts at FOX4 News.

For live updates from the NWS, click here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Inside Creative House / iStock.com

When you set out to buy a car, its just common sense to look for one that will keep its value over time. Finding a reliable and affordable car should be a top priority  you want a car that wont cost a lot upfront or hit you with expensive repairs down the road.

Look for vehicles that get great MPG, serve a purpose or a rare vehicle will retain the most value, said Chris Pyle, auto expert at JustAnswer. Research a used car on KBB.com to see how much value the car loses for each year of age.

Learn More: These 10 Used Cars Will Last Longer Than an Average New Vehicle

Find Out: How To Get $340 Per Year in Cash Back on Gas and Other Things You Already Buy

The good news is that with the right research and guidance, you can find a car that ticks all the boxes. You want to choose an affordable brand that wont lose its worth too quickly. GOBankingRates spoke to automotive experts to find out which brands are best for 2024.

Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief.

Toyota

Toyota was at the top of the experts list for affordable, dependable cars that keep their value.

Overall, Toyota always emerges as the top choice for buyers seeking inexpensive cars, said Evaldas Zabitis, automotive expert at carVertical. Firstly, it offers the broadest range of affordable cars on the market, and some even come equipped with very fuel-efficient hybrid powertrains, all without exceeding $30,000. A second advantage is Toyotas consistent reliability record across several generations of different models, which minimizes maintenance costs Finally, when it comes to purchasing an affordable Toyota, its very rare to encounter dealers who overcharge above the MSRP.

Jamie Mitri, manager at Cumberland Hill Auto Sales and Service, agreed that Toyotas are great cars that will last. You may be making a bit of an investment at first, but their parts and maintenance is top notch and affordable, and you wont regret the purchase, she said. They are the best value car that we can think of.

Brian Moody, executive editor at Kelley Blue Book, recommended the Toyota Corolla, a longtime favorite among budget-conscious buyers. Its still a top choice for its impressive fuel efficiency and reliable performance.

Discover More: 6 American Cars Worth Buying

Ford

Ford has been known as an affordable and iconic American brand for decades, thanks to its rugged trucks and practical family vehicles. In 2024, Ford continues to be a trusted choice for budget-conscious buyers.

While Ford vehicles can get quite expensive, they offer a surprising amount of high-quality and affordable vehicles on the lower end, said Nigel Tunnacliffe, co-founder and CEO of Coastline Academy. For example, the Ford Maverick  one of the brands smaller trucks  offers impressive carrying capacity and torque, while also featuring a hybrid engine option for improved fuel economy. As far as trucks go, it offers some of the best consistent value for your money.

Story continues

With the Maverick, you get the hauling power and performance of a truck without spending as much on gas, thanks to the hybrid option.

Moody also recommended the Maverick, as well as the Bronco, as great, budget-friendly options.

Honda

Honda has long been synonymous with reliability and affordability, and the brands 2024 lineup will save you money over the long haul.

Honda offers a versatile lineup of vehicles within a competitive price range, said Tunnacliffe. Their vehicles have a strong safety performance and good fuel efficiency, driving down long-term costs. The brand also offers a range of electric and hybrid vehicles, which, despite a higher upfront cost, allow for exceptional savings on fuel throughout their lifespan.

Moody recommended Honda as a brand that keeps a high resale value. He said that, generally speaking, they retain more of their original price over a five-year term than others. He specifically recommended the Accord, a perennial favorite among compact car enthusiasts.

Mazda

While often overshadowed by larger automotive giants, Mazda has carved out a niche for itself as a brand that delivers affordable driving.

Mazda has always been in the shadow of the bigger Japanese manufacturers, said Zabitis.

He added that even Mazdas most affordable models still feel luxurious.

Whats truly remarkable is that even the most affordable Mazdas are far from basic transportation, he said. For about $25,000 to $27,000, Mazda offers a choice of refined, well-built vehicles with luxury car-like features, making them a very good value.

On top of that upscale feel, Mazdas are also low-cost to maintain over the long-term.

Furthermore, the affordable price also offers affordable maintenance, said Zabitis. Like Toyota and its luxury division, Lexus, Mazdas proved to be among the most cost-effective car brands to maintain.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 4 Affordable Car Brands You Wont Regret Buying in 2024
Long Island man who spent the night at local precinct dies in police custody: officials

LONG ISLAND (PIX11)  A Long Island man who died in police custody on Friday morning has led to an investigation by homicide detectives and Internal Affairs Bureau, according to the Suffolk County Police Department.

On Thursday at 5:30 p.m., Joseph Leonard, a 58-year-old man from West Islip, was driving a 2016 Jeep Wrangler when he rear-ended another car while stopped at a red light. When police arrived at the scene at Pine Aire Drive and Fifth Avenue in Brentwood, they found Leonard unconscious behind the wheel of his vehicle, police said.

MTA sets date for congestion pricing to begin in Manhattan

Officers performed first aid and administered Narcan. Leonard was then arrested and transported to South Shore University via EMS, where he was treated and released into police custody, officials said.

Leonard was charged with driving while impaired by drugs and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, arrest records show.

Leonard was also issued a summons for driving with a revoked license and held overnight at the third precinct in Bay Shore, N.Y. On Friday morning, when officers were preparing to transport Leonard to court, he was observed not breathing in his cell, police said.

First aid was administered, but Leonard was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officials stated that the New York State Attorney Generals office and the State Department of Correction were notified and responded to the scene.

Leonards cause of death will be determined by an autopsy from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner.

It is unclear how long Leonard was not breathing or how long he was left unsupervised.

Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Lord David Cameron has wrapped up a five-day diplomatic blitz across Central Asia with a flurry of camera-friendly visits in Mongolia.

The Foreign Secretary, a keen equestrian, posed for pictures as he petted horses at prime minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrains Ikh Tenger residence on Friday.

Earlier in the day Lord Cameron was welcomed by head of state Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh at a meeting in a traditional Ger tent in the presidential palace in Ulaanbaatar.

He touted the benefits of learning English as he took part in a language lesson with young pupils at a school in the capital.

Asked by students what he does in his spare time, the Foreign Secretary joked: Not a lot of free time but when I do have some I like cooking, walking and riding.

The minister was later given a traditional saddle as a gift after his visit to Ikh Tenger.

He was in Central Asia as part of a bid to bolster trade, security and environmental ties in the region.

The Foreign Secretary said he hoped the trip was the start of something very serious.

He told leaders he wanted to give countries in Central Asia the choice between partnering with Britain as well as Russia and China, which vie for influence in the region.

Friday saw him sign a joint co-operation road map between the UK and Mongolia, which aims to set out a path towards closer diplomatic relations.

He has announced 50 million in funding across the region over three years, which includes a doubling in the amount of funding for Chevening scholarships, which allow overseas students to come to British universities.

It is understood Lord Cameron believes the Foreign Office needs to do more to back Mongolia in particular after the country decided to make English, rather than Russian, its second language.

He is pledging another 10 million for Ulaanbaatar following that choice, but is said to be planning to push for more support for the country.

On the trip Lord Cameron also raised concerns about Russia using its Central Asian neighbours to side-step UK sanctions by exporting goods to former Soviet states before moving them on to Moscow.

In part the visit is an effort to forge closer links with leaders who have a direct line to President Vladimir Putin, in order to learn more about his thinking on the war and make Britains position clear.

Foreign Office sources said Russia was the key issue at the heart of most talks, but other threats, including a major Islamic State (IS) recruitment drive in Tajikistan, were also discussed.

Sources said he told leaders in Dushanbe that he recognised they were at the frontline of our fight against IS.

The Foreign Office hopes the roadmap agreements signed with a number of countries serving as an initial step towards a strengthened economic and cultural relationship.

But sources in the Kazakh foreign affairs ministry highlighted the challenges posed to the country by the need to balance its ties with Russia and the west, likening its position to a three-legged stool.

Despite maintaining a neutral stance on the war in Ukraine, many former Soviet states in the region including Kazakhstan have long been dependent on Moscow for their economy and security.

At the end of the trip, Lord Cameron said: What weve got to do is recognise we may not be the greatest power in the world but we should be offering people, like people here in Mongolia, like across central Asia, offering them the choice to work with us.
Man arrested after driving around Southern California neighborhood, setting trash bins on fire

A San Pedro man was arrested after he drove around an Orange County community setting trash bins on fire, authorities confirmed.

According to a release from the Costa Mesa Police Department, multiple reports of trash can fires came in to authorities around 1:45 a.m. Thursday.

The fires seemed to be set at random in the 3200 block of Iowa Street, the 3100 block of Country Club Drive and the 3200 block of Minnesota Avenue, police said.

Armed home invasion suspect killed by police after standoff in Long Beach

After the fires were extinguished, Costa Mesa Fire and Rescue determined the fires were arson, the Costa Mesa Police Department release said.

Hours later, around 6:50 a.m., officers were called to investigate another trash bin fire that had occurred 40 minutes earlier in the 3100 block of College Avenue.

This fire was extinguished by nearby residents, authorities said, adding that neighbors had begun circulating posts on social media regarding the garbage fires.

Detectives launched an investigation and identified the suspect and his vehicle by using an automated license plate reader.

Detectives in Orange County asking for publics help in solving 32-year-old murder case

The following day, the mans vehicle was found in San Pedro, and after conducting surveillance, officers arrested 45-year-old Shaun Michael Cloonan.

Cloonan was booked on five counts of felony arson to property and two misdemeanor drug charges, law enforcement officials said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Costa Mesa Police Department Detective Thomas Scott by calling 714-754-5120 or emailing tscott@costamesa.gov

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A Town of Niagara man was arrested Saturday morning following a stolen vehicle pursuit around Niagara Falls that ended in a standoff with authorities, the Niagara County Sheriffs Office announced.

Deputies said around 5:20 a.m., a woman called to report that a man wearing a mask, later identified as 33-year-old Robert C. Ashcroft, had allegedly stolen her idling vehicle out of her driveway on Sunnyside Drive. A second call later came in reporting a vehicle operated by a male was driving erratically on Niagara Falls Boulevard in the Town of Wheatfield.

Authorities eventually located the vehicle and attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the vehicle allegedly failed to yield and a pursuit ensued, according to deputies.

Deputies said the alleged pursuit led authorities down both directions of Niagara Falls Boulevard, into the area of Cayuga Drive as well as the surrounding LaSalle neighborhood. After tire deflation devices were utilized, the vehicle eventually crashed into the carport of a residence on the 1200 block of Dogwood Place, at which time Ashcroft allegedly fled into the home and locked himself inside.

Authorities established a perimeter and were eventually able to breach the back door and take Ashcroft into custody without incident, deputies said.

Ashcroft was remanded to the Niagara County Correctional Facility and is slated to be arraigned on the following charges:

Third-degree grand larceny

Fourth-degree criminal mischief

Third-degree fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle

Resisting arrest

Second-degree obstruction of governmental administration

Reckless driving

Second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation

Numerous vehicle and traffic violations

Latest Local News

Adam Gorski is a Buffalo native who joined the News 4 team in 2022. You can find more of his work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
PARIS, Tenn. (WKRN)  A Henry County man has been arrested and charged after allegedly sharing child sexual abuse material on Facebook.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) said agents began an investigation after receiving information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about a man, identified as 45-year-old Ernest Brown, who had and distributed multiple files of child sexual abuse material through Facebook. Agents later determined Brown was in possession of over 5,000 files of child sexual abuse material.

Man released from jail on bond arrested again for attempted kidnapping

On Friday, April 26, authorities searched Browns home and seized 10 electronic devices. Brown was arrested and charged with 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and two counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor. He was booked into the Henry County Jail on a $500,000 bond.

Ernest Brown (Source: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation)

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND or email TipsToTBI@tbi.tn.gov.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
A 22-year-old Massachusetts man who repeatedly dunked his fathers head underwater in what he described to authorities as a baptism-style exorcism was found guilty Thursday of involuntary manslaughter in his death.

Jack Callahan had pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the 2021 drowning death of Scott Callahan, 57, in a pond in Duxbury, about 35 miles southeast of Boston. After an eight-day trial, the jury twice told the judge it was deadlocked, The Patriot Ledger reported, but it ultimately reached a verdict on the lesser charge.

On the night of June 27, 2021, Jack Callahan picked up his father at a Boston bar after Scott Callahan, who had a history of substance abuse, checked himself out of an alcohol treatment facility.

Scott Callahan, pictured here in an undated photo, drowned in 2021. McNamara-Sparrell Funeral Home

The pair took an Uber ride at around midnight to Island Creek Pond, where they got in a fight, prosecutors said at Jack Callahans arraignment on June 29, 2021.

Callahan, who was then 19, told police that after his father hit him several times at the pond, he decided to try baptizing his father to exorcise the demon that the teen saw in his eyes, prosecutors said.

He believed he was baptizing his father, then-Assistant District Attorney Shanan Buckingham said at the arraignment, Boston ABC affiliate WCVB reported. He described holding him on his back like a baby, that he continually dunked the fathers head in the water four to eight times, until he stopped struggling, Buckingham said.

Callahans mother called the police when the teen returned home in soaking wet clothes at around 2 a.m. He was acting erratically and said his father was missing near the pond, prosecutors said. Police officers found the teen distraught and hyperventilating when they arrived, authorities said.

At about the same time, Scott Callahan was discovered floating in the pond along with his luggage, The Patriot Ledger reported. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Jack Callahans belief that his father was possessed and needed to be baptized and exorcised of his demons was not shared with the jury in the trial, The Patriot Ledger reported, and he did not testify in his own defense.

Callahan could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison, the Boston Globe reported. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 3.

Related...
(KRON)  An Oakland resident was charged with several gun charges after shooting at a neighbor after a dispute, according to the Berkeley Police Department.

Berkeley officers responded to a report of gunfire in front of an apartment complex on the 900 block of Channing Way at 12:57 p.m. on April 11.

3 women arrested for grand theft, strong armed-robbery in multiple cities

Officers learned the suspected shooter was involved in a dispute with a neighbor over parking from residents in the neighborhood. Many people were outside to witness the dispute. According to police, the suspect fired a single shot while driving away from the victim. The victim was unharmed. The bullet was later found in the apartment building.

Police identified the suspect as a 52-year-old Oakland resident. Berkeley Special Response Team located and arrested the suspect on April 22.

The Alameda County District Attorneys Office charged the suspect with shooting from a motor vehicle, assault with a firearm, shooting at an occupied dwelling and several criminal enhancements on April 24.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
OAK GROVE, Ky. (WKRN)  A man was reportedly flown to a Middle Tennessee hospital following a shooting in Southern Kentucky Friday night.

According to WKDZ Radio, the Oak Grove Police Department said officers responded to a report of shots fired with an unresponsive person around 11 p.m. on Friday, April 26 near Gail Street, but despite finding shell casings and blood in the area, they couldnt track down anyone who was injured.

Alleged sexual assault victim confesses to murder in South Nashville

The radio station said the man who had been shot was later discovered in Clarksville and flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, where he is in critical but stable condition.

If you have any information that could help authorities investigate this shooting, you are asked to call the Oak Grove Police Department at 270-439-4602.

No additional details have been released about this incident.

 Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go.

 Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox.

 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.
The tobacco industry is obviously still around, but there's no denying it's on the defensive. The smoking cessation movement has been whittling away at the number of worldwide smokers for decades, and there's no real growth in store for the traditional cigarette business.

And yet, tobacco giant Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM) is still a compelling investment prospect that's about to get even better. On Wednesday, May 1, the company will be able to launch a proven product in a proven market, setting the stage for growth few investors thought was still possible for the company.

If you were on the fence about this major dividend stock, you may not want to wait any longer to dive in.

The complicated IQOS journey

What's happening at the start of May? That's when Altria's (NYSE: MO) exclusive rights to sell the tobacco-heating IQOS device within the U.S. will officially expire. From that point on, those rights will belong to Philip Morris International, which is preparing to introduce IQOS to select U.S. markets next month.

Investors keeping tabs on the industry's shift away from combustibles and toward noncombustible alternatives (like vaping) might be a bit confused.

Although the IQOS device was briefly sold in the U.S., rival British American Tobacco convinced the U.S. International Trade Commission in 2021 that the product violated a handful of patents held by its R.J. Reynolds subsidiary.

While Philip Morris has continued to sell IQOS in several other countries, it's not been sold by anyone in the U.S. since then. The upcoming rollout is only possible thanks to two major developments. First, Altria sold its rights as the exclusive U.S. distributor of IQOS devices to Philip Morris in 2022, at a cost of $2.7 billion. However, those rights don't kick in until next week. And second, British American Tobacco and Philip Morris settled their various patent disputes earlier this year, paving the way for U.S. regulators to lift their IQOS ban.

Philip Morris should hit the fertile ground running

And the opportunity for Philip Morris is significant.

Most tobacco companies are expanding their nonsmoking product lineups these days. Altria, for instance, wholly owns pod-based vaping brand NJOY. It's also participating in a joint venture with JT Group to offer a heated-tobacco stick product as a competitor to IQOS. R.J. Reynolds is taking a slightly different tack, prioritizing the reduction of the potential harm tobacco can cause.

Philip Morris International, however, is arguably doing more -- and finding more success -- on the noncombustible front than any other player.

Story continues

Led by IQOS, smoke-free products accounted for nearly 40% of Philip Morris's first-quarter revenue of $8.8 billion. The category's organic sales improved 25% year over year, making IQOS the heated-tobacco market leader in 11 different markets. Indeed, while shipments of combustible cigarettes continue to wane, Philip Morris is more than offsetting this dwindling business with 21% growth in shipments of heated-tobacco units during the quarter.

Given this proven marketability, the impending reentry of IQOS in the U.S. market is promising. There are about 28 million U.S. smokers, according to the CDC, and roughly as many regular users of e-cigarettes and vaping devices. Stifel analysts suggest the U.S. market's heated-tobacco business could generate as much as $2.2 billion of annual earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) for the company by 2030. For perspective, Philip Morris produced $13.4 billion of EBITDA in the past year.

Keeping Philip Morris stock a compelling buy

That's just one estimate, of course. The tobacco business remains in flux, whether you're talking about combustibles, heated tobacco, or vaping something other than tobacco. None are healthy, and regulators aren't shy about making that reality clear, challenging the industry's top and bottom lines.

Yet it's also becoming clear that heated tobacco is a palatable, sustainable alternative to traditional cigarettes.

It's not a growth business by any stretch of the imagination. And even if Philip Morris can make IQOS a viable product in the U.S., it could take years to see it measurably benefit the bottom line. But heated tobacco is a business that can drive reliable cash flow for Philip Morris. This supports the company's dividend, which is one of the top reasons to own its stock in the first place.

Its current dividend yield stands at 5.3%, which is far better than the broad market average.

Should you invest $1,000 in Philip Morris International right now?

Before you buy stock in Philip Morris International, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Philip Morris International wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $537,557!*

Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*.

See the 10 stocks 

*Stock Advisor returns as of April 22, 2024

James Brumley has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends British American Tobacco P.l.c. and Philip Morris International and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $40 calls on British American Tobacco and short January 2026 $40 puts on British American Tobacco. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

In 4 Days, Philip Morris Stock Becomes an Even Better Investment was originally published by The Motley Fool
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A man was hospitalized with serious injuries Friday evening after a water rescue in Clearwater Beach, according to a spokesperson for the Clearwater Police Department.

The person was rescued at about 7 p.m. in the area of a jetty near Opal Sands, officials said.

The man and his son were struggling in the water. The man was pulled from the water and hospitalized. His son was also hospitalized but is expected to be OK.

No other details were immediately available.

This is a developing story. Stay up to date on the latest from News Channel 8 on-air and on the go with the free WFLA News Channel 8 mobile app.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Man killed in shooting involving officers near metro hospital shot himself, ME confirms

A man killed last month in a shooting involving Snellville police officers died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, not one fired by police.

According to the Gwinnett County Medical Examiners Office, Rashawn Johnson, 36 of Tucker, shot and killed himself during a confrontation with police in late March.

Officers did fire at Johnson, but its unclear if any of their shots struck him. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation initially said that officers shot Johnson in the head.

The shooting happened at 4:30 a.m. on Main Street W and Fountain Drive near Piedmont Eastside South Campus.

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

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says that Johnson was pulled over for driving a Hyundai Tucson without his headlights on. Throughout the stop, he had a phone in his hand, rolled down his window slightly and told the officer he wanted to call his mom several times.

The officer got Johnsons ID and went back to his patrol car to request backup.

When he returned to the car, Johnson wouldnt roll down the window or get out of the car, so the officer opened the door after telling him he was going to be arrested for obstruction.

TRENDING STORIES:

Johnson had a gun in his hand and refused to put it down when officers told him to.

Police told Channel 2s Veronica Griffin that he pointed the gun at himself after he was pulled over.

At some point, the GBI says, Johnson fired a shot and officers returned fire.

Investigators say three officers fired shots and were not injured.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:
Man Learns Fate After Stabbing and Burying Wife Alive  Leading to Her Miraculous Escape

Chae Kyong An, 54, pleaded guilty in March to attempting to kill his estranged wife in October 2022, per authorities

Lacey Police Department Chae Kyong An

Chae Kyong An pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted murder in March for the October 2022 attack, per authorities

His estranged wife escaped after being stuck in the makeshift grave for 12 hours, she said in a statement

The woman said during the court hearing that she still lives with the trauma of the attack

A Washington State man who buried his estranged wife alive before she miraculously escaped will spend more than 13 years in prison for the 2022 crime, a judge has ruled.

Chae Kyong An, 54, was sentenced on Monday to 165 months in prison and three years of community custody, Thurston County, Wash., authorities told FOX 13 Seattle.

The sentencing comes a month after he pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted murder, KING 5 and The Olympian reported.

In October 2022, Ans estranged wife was reportedly brutally beaten, stabbed and bound her with duct tape before An buried her alive in a wooded area, The Olympian reported, citing unspecified court documents. At one point during the attack, she called 911 through her Apple Watch, the outlet reported.

After he buried her, the woman was stuck in the makeshift grave for 12 hours, she said in a statement in court on Monday.

After she was able to get out of the bindings, she ran through the woods to a home in Olympia a little after midnight and began pounding on their door asking for help, Lacey police stated at the time.

She told residents that An had attempted to kill her after abducting her from her home and taking her into the woods, per authorities. On Monday, at his sentencing hearing, the woman recounted more details of the harrowing incident.

At the time of the attack, she pleaded with An to let her go and to think of their children, which he reportedly ignored, she said in her statement, according to KING 5.

I dont need anything. Today, Im going to kill, she stated An told her.

Related: Washington Woman Escapes Shallow Grave After Being Buried Alive Allegedly by Her Husband

An was initially charged with attempted murder, domestic violence, kidnapping, assault and felony harassment, per The Olympian and FOX 13 Seattle.



In a statement during his plea agreement, An said on October 16, 2022, he took a substantial step to intentionally harm his wife and, after kidnapping her and taking her into the woods, he placed her bound in a hole and covered her with branches, The Olympian reported.

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.

During Monday's hearing, An said he regrets the attack.

"I wish that I could go back and never enter that house that day and walk away," An said, according to KING 5.

The victim says her life has been forever altered as a result of the attack.

"After that day, I and my children's life was crushed," she said in her statement, per KING 5. "I have to live my life with emotional trauma and health issues for the rest of my life."



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.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
Man who punched San Jose mayors guard during KRON4 interview to be released from jail

Man who punched San Jose mayors guard during KRON4 interview to be released from jail

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON)  A defense attorney for Wesley David Pollard, the man who punched San Jose Mayor Matt Mahans security guard in the middle of an on-camera interview with KRON4, said his client has no violent criminal history. The security guard was a plainclothes on-duty San Jose Police Department officer who was assigned to protect the mayor.

The attorney defended Pollards record during his first court appearance in the Santa Clara County Hall of Justice on Friday.

A judge requested to view KRON4s video of Tuesdays incident before making any rulings. After the judge watched the video, he granted Pollards release from jail late Friday afternoon.

Conditions of Pollards pre-trial release include: He must stay at least 300 yards away from the mayor and the SJPD officer; he cannot possess any weapons; and he is subject to random searches by police.

Santa Clara County prosecutors charged Pollard with felony resisting or deterring an officer by means of threat or violence, misdemeanor battery, and disturbing the peace.

Mayor Matt Mahan speaks on camera while a man approaches in the background on April 23, 2024. (KRON4 Photo)

The incident happened on April 23 while Mahan was speaking on camera to a KRON4 reporter outside a restaurant on South 1st Street downtown. Pollard, 35, was talking on his cellphone and walking down the sidewalk when he apparently interrupted the mayor speaking.

Sorry, were doing an interview, sir, Mahan tells Pollard.

Mayor Matt Mahan tells the man that he is in the middle of a news interview. (KRON4 photo)

Oh, youre doing an interview? Pollard replies. The mans agitation toward the mayors bodyguard increases. Pollard told the guard, Ok yeah, Im moving on, I work right there. Im talking on the phone, you got a problem? You walked up.

I will smack you right now. I will (vulgarity) smack you, Pollard tells the officer. As the mayor, his staff members, and KRON4s reporter take a few steps back, a fist fight ensues between Pollard and the officer.

The mayor of San Jose, far right, watches his security guard, far left, fight a man on April 23, 2024. (KRON4 Photo)

Police Chief Paul Joseph described the mans behavior as aggressive and threatening. The officer had asked the man to step back so that the mayor could continue his interview, according to the chief. This person refused, advanced on the officer, and violently assaulted the officer by punching him repeatedly in the face, Joseph wrote.

With KRON4s news camera still rolling, the man can be seen on video punching the officer in the head and jumping around with a boxers stance. The two men grab onto each other and maintain their grips until backup arrived.

A man punches an SJPD officer who was guarding the mayor on April 23, 2024. (KRON4 Photo)

Police officers arrested Pollard and booked him into jail. The injured officer was treated in a hospital overnight.

Pollard did not enter a plea on Friday. A judge ordered him to return to court in July for an arraignment.

Mayor Mahan told KRON4, Im grateful to my security officer who worked incredibly hard and at risk to himself to ensure everyone was kept safe in what was a very tense situation. He did his job, used his de-escalation training and remained level-headed even while being physically assaulted. Cases like this deserve a comprehensive and transparent review in order to maintain trust between our law enforcement officers and the community they protect.

Police Chief Joseph said the video only recorded part of the incident. Off-camera, the officer identified himself as an officer, and made many attempts to deescalate, while also protecting the mayor, Joseph wrote.

According to SJPD, Pollard has an outstanding warrant for his arrest in Georgia for resisting arrest with violence. His home address is listed as a homeless shelter in downtown San Jose that serves recently released inmates, court records show.

San Jose Silicon Valley NAACP President Jethroe Moore sent a letter to the police chief expressing concerns over how his officer handled the incident.

Moores letter states in-part: I am writing to you with deep concern regarding an incident that took place (Tuesday) involving a physical altercation between the San Jose mayors security detail and a pedestrian. Upon viewing the video of the incident, I was troubled by the rapid escalation of the situation into a physical altercation. The officer involved in the altercation did not clearly identify himself as a law enforcement officer, and it appears that there was no legal basis for instructing the pedestrian to move from his location in a public space. The pedestrians reaction, although stating a warning, should have been met with a more measured response from the officer, considering the circumstances.

Moore said reactions from bystanders were also troubling. The letter continues, Instead of intervening or seeking help, many individuals appeared passive, choosing to record the incident on their cell phones instead. This lack of active involvement from bystanders highlights the need for community education on how to safely and effectively intervene in such situations to prevent further escalation or harm. As the head of the San Jose Police Department, I urge you to conduct a comprehensive review of the incident, including the actions of all parties involved, to ensure accountability and transparency.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
At mass graves in southern Gazas Nasser Hospital, Palestinian authorities say they are uncovering bodies that bear signs of having been shot in the head, their hands bound by zip ties, stripped of their clothes, or buried in hospital gowns with tubes or needles still in their skin. Among the dead are women and children.

The remains found in the mass graves have raised questions about the circumstances surrounding their deaths during the months of intense fighting in and around Nasser Hospital. Israel denies wrongdoing but acknowledges exhuming bodies that had already been buried, then reburying them, in its search for hostages taken captive into Gaza during Hamas Oct. 7 attacks.

John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council, on Thursday called the reports from Nasser Hospital deeply disturbing, adding that wed like to see this investigated. Kirby said the White House was in dialogue with Israeli counterparts.

We want answers, national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters during a news briefing Wednesday. We want to see this thoroughly and transparently investigated.

In a statement on Tuesday, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights echoed calls for an investigation, saying the reports from Nasser Hospital prompted renewed concerns about possible war crimes.

The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip from ongoing Israeli attacks has risen to 34,183, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said on Tuesday. (Rizek Abdeljawad / Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images)

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 is a war crime, said Volker Turk, the U.N.s human rights chief, using a term that refers to injured combatants no longer taking part in hostilities.

According to Gazas Civil Defense, the government agency that manages emergency services and rescue in the Hamas-run enclave, more than 390 bodies have been found at three mass grave sites at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis as of Friday, following a seven-day search and recovery operation. At least 165 have been identified, with about 10 of them with their hands bound, said Dr. Muhammad Al-Mughair, head of evidence at Civil Defense, though he did not specify how many of the dead had bullet wounds to the head. He later told NBC News that the bodies of 78 children have been found in the graves.

On Thursday, the Israeli military issued a statement denying it had buried any bodies on the hospitals grounds. However, it said its troops inspected remains buried at the facility to ensure that hostages taken captive into Gaza were not among the dead. It said the remains were returned to their place after they were examined.

Khan Younis Grave Site (Planet Labs PBC)

The IDF did not say exactly when remains were examined at the site, but noted that some 200 people at the facility were apprehended during its raid of the hospital in February. It said medicines intended for Israeli hostages were also found at the site during the raid, which it previously said had ended by Feb. 25. NBC News was not able to independently verify its claims.

Turk underlined that investigations into any deaths at the hospitals should be independent and international, rather than Israeli, given the prevailing climate of impunity.

There had been intense fighting around Nasser Hospital since January, when thousands of people were trapped inside, including hundreds of patients. Israeli forces conducted a sweeping raid of the hospital in February and withdrew ground forces from Khan Younis in early April, allowing Palestinian recovery teams to begin searching through the destruction.

It is unclear when the people buried in the graves died, but photos provided by Civil Defense show bodies in different states of decomposition, suggesting that burials took place at different times. An NBC News camera crew filmed families burying loved ones on the grounds of Nasser Hospital as far back as late January.

Palestinian authorities say the Israeli military exhumed existing graves at Nasser Hospital and dug new ones, adding that some of the bodies found in the newer graves were buried in black or blue nylon bags used by the IDF, rather than the customary white bags and shrouds used in Gaza. Palestinian families returning to the site say they are struggling to find their loved ones remains.

In a news conference at Nasser Hospital on Thursday attended by NBC News crew, Al-Mughair said the bodies found with bound hands and bullet wounds indicate field executions carried out at the hospital, which he attributed to the IDF.

He further detailed findings from their preliminary assessment of the corpses, including finding cannulas, the tubes inserted into the veins of hospital patients, saying it suggested they were patients killed by Israeli forces, because in Gaza, medical implements are removed before burial.

He also noted that they identified the body of a girl, Hala Fares, who had two amputated legs. Her family said she had been alive prior to the IDFs raid on Nasser Hospital. Her body and those of other children, Al-Mughair said, raised questions about why there were so many in the graves, and suggested that Israeli forces were committing crimes against children.

Al-Mughair listed several other suspicions of mistreatment but noted that the forensic laboratories in Gaza have been destroyed, preventing more detailed analysis. He called for an international specialist in forensic medicine to conduct the necessary examinations on the bodies.

NBC News reached out to the Israel Defense Forces on Thursday and Friday seeking comment on the specific allegations made by Gazas Civil Defense that have been included in this article. It responded first by highlighting a tweet from IDF spokesperson Nadav Shoshani that doesnt directly address the allegation that the IDF carried out field executions on the grounds of Nasser hospital, but said that 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. On Saturday, the IDF repeated the response it issued on Thursday.

Destruction in Khan Younis, southern Gaza (AFP via Getty Images)

The bodies of at least 30 people were also separately reported to have been found buried in two mass graves at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, told reporters in Geneva on Tuesday.

There are reports that the hands of some of these bodies were also tied, she said.

Gazas hospitals, including Nasser, Al-Shifa, Al-Amal and others have been repeatedly besieged by Israeli forces during the war, and in some cases, as with the first siege of Al-Shifa in November, hospital staff buried patients in a mass grave.

Among those confronting distressing evidence of what they saw as mistreatment of their dead was Abdullah Mustafa, who returned to the grounds of Nasser Hospital on the last day of Ramadan. Speaking to NBC News journalists, he said he had buried his own children in the hospital compound in late January after they were killed in Israels offensive.

With the danger still high as bombs continued to be dropped across Khan Younis, Mustafa said, it was impossible to get them to the cemetery and bury them in it.

When the bombardment abated weeks later, he returned to the site, hoping to give his children a proper burial, so their mother, brothers and sisters could read the Fatiha over them, he said, referring to the Muslim prayer. When he went back to where he had dug their graves, they were not there.

Instead, he said, he and dozens of others searching for buried loved ones were shocked to find that their bodies appeared to have been exhumed, and most of them were unidentifiable save for a few whose families recognized their clothing. Others who have lost loved ones searched through the corpses late into the night, looking for their children so they can bury them in an adequate place, Mustafa said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Tornadoes aren't an uncommon occurrence in Nebraska, but a string of twisters on April 26 showed just how terrifying they can become.

Multiple tornadoes have been reported across the Cornhusker State, but one in the suburbs northwest of Omaha has been circulating on social media. In the video, the storm quickly moves from one side of the road to the other while destroying nearly everything in its path.

One of the craziest tornado videos ever out of Nebraska pic.twitter.com/pq0CVf9qrv  Old Row (@OldRowOfficial) April 26, 2024

The storm left a path of destruction in its wake. Everything from torn-up homes to mangled trees has littered streets across the greater Omaha area. Twisters were seen across the state in areas like Lincoln as well.

BREAKING: Tornado on the ground down in Lincoln, Nebraska.



pic.twitter.com/YDHV9kikDE  Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) April 26, 2024

It's the tip of the iceberg for what's set to be a stormy few days in the region. According to the National Weather Service, thunderstorms with possible hail are expected to cross the Missouri Valley, Midwest, and central and southern Plains over the weekend, potentially putting millions at risk.

Less than a mile from my house. #Omaha and #Elkhorn going to need a lot of help with rebuilding. #Nebraska #Tornado pic.twitter.com/T3CMXYXb6p  Michael J Schwabe, MD, MS (@michael22joseph) April 26, 2024

Meanwhile, flyers at Omaha's Eppley Airfield were moved to storm shelters, according to an X post from the airport. A tornado touched down at the airport and shut down operations for nearly an hour before reopening at approximately 6 p.m. local time.

"While the passenger terminal was not impacted by the storm, expect flight delays," another post warned customers. "Damage assessments in other portions of the airport continue."

Passengers in the OMA terminal are being moved to the storm shelters. Expect flight delays. Please contact your airline for flight information. https://t.co/MBwb53qOwu  Eppley Airfield (@OMAairport) April 26, 2024

Eppley Airfield (OMA) has reopened for aircraft operations. While the passenger terminal was not impacted by the storm, expect flight delays. Damage assessments in other portions of the airport continue.  Eppley Airfield (@OMAairport) April 26, 2024

: Video of tornado at Eppley Airport. pic.twitter.com/32c3apUIoe  Omaha + Sarpy WX (@Omaha_SarpyWX) April 26, 2024

In a statement to CBS News, Nebraska Emergency Management said it was hard at work investigating what the storm left behind. "We are currently deploying resources to assess damage from the recent severe weather impacting Lancaster County," the agency said.

If you're in the area this weekend, exercise extra caution and evacuate to a shelter if necessary.
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.
You may be driving your colleagues nuts with a seemingly harmless Slack practice known as 'hey hanging'

If you've ever sent a message that said "hi" and nothing else, you may be guilty of "hey hanging."

Some workers say the practice can cause anxiety and disrupt productivity.

"Please don't say just hello in chat," a website on the issue reads. "Just ask the question!"

Have you ever been deep in the zone, finally making quality progress on a challenging project that had stumped you for weeks, when the audible, abrupt, triple-ping alert of a new Slack message pulled you out of your concentrated state, only to read a simple message of:

"Hey."

And nothing else.

You may be a victim of so-called "hey hanging," in which a coworker sends a brief greeting in an instant message but does not actually tell you what they want  leading you to, naturally, enter an anxiety spiral of speculation about whether you've done something horribly wrong or if you're about to get pulled off task into another project.

Or maybe you've been the one to send a "hi hi" or "heya" or "hello" and then forgotten to follow up.

The practice of "hey hanging," as it was called in The Wall Street Journal, is a small way in which coworkers can find themselves out of step with each other, especially in the age of remote work, which studies suggest has negatively impacted communication in the workplace.

Workers who engage in "hey hanging" may not see the harm in it, or they might intend to send a quick follow-up but get distracted or pulled into another task themselves. Regardless of why they do it, some people on the receiving end are begging them to stop.

There's even a website dedicated to condemning the practice: nohello.net.

"Please don't say just hello in chat," the website says, "Imagine calling someone on the phone, going hello! then putting them on hold..."

"Just ask the question!" the website reads, along with a whining emoji.

The Journal talked to pairs of coworkers who had different views on the subject. One brand strategist in Chicago told the outlet when her colleague "hey hangs" her via text, she simply doesn't respond until they send a follow up with the actual question.

But the "hey-hanging" colleague told the Journal she thought starting with a simple greeting was just being polite.

"It's kind of rude to jump into someone's texts and word-vomit whatever I want," she said. "But now I'm seeing it's a thing that people don't necessarily love."

Ultimately, if a colleague regularly "hey hangs" you and you find it disruptive, it's best to communicate to them openly and honestly that you'd prefer more information in the initial reach out, Constance Hadley, a professor of management and organizations at Boston University, told the Journal.

In part, because I could relate to having my editor "hey hang" me, I hesitated a moment before bringing this story up to her via Slack.

But she responded very quickly.

"ugh i do this to ppl all the time," she wrote. "and i feel terrible."

Read the original article on Business Insider
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  As tragedy continues to plague the city of Memphis, some community members got the opportunity to express their concerns with the mayor.

On Saturday, the Beta Epsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated hosted a Mayoral 100th-day forum.

It was an opportunity for community members to converse with Mayor Paul Young as he passes his 100 days in office.

Whats really important is the opportunity for the mayor to hear their voice, thoughts, and concerns. and for them to also hear from him, President of Beta Epsilon Omega Chapter of AKA, Dr. Judy Martin said.

Commissioner calls for Shelby Co. judge to resign over release of defendants

Blight, education, mental health and youth investment were among the topics discussed.

Another big topic was crime.

Weve been in office for four months. Crime didnt start when I got here, Young said. Crime has been here for many years, and its not going to be an overnight fix.

The event fell on the heels of a triple shooting on Beale Street, the Orange Mound Park mass shooting and two deadly officer-involved shootings  one involving Memphis police and the other involving the Shelby County Sheriffs office.

All of those incidents happened within the month of April.

Were thinking holistically. We know we have an urgency around getting those committing the immediate crime off the streets, Young said. But were also thinking about how we are going to prevent the next generation of young people from going into a life of crime.

Deputies fatally shoot suspect, TBI investigating

The Mayor says his office is committed to making the community safer, but those solutions will start at city hall.

Over the next couple of weeks, youll hear a lot of deliberations between the administration and the council around what investments are going to work to make our community safer, Young said. We are going to make sure that we apply that budget to make sure we get different results in our city.

Mayor Young introduced his budget proposal earlier this week.

It includes $2.5 million for crime tech and cameras. He also proposed a 75-cent increase in city property taxes.

Mayor proposes city budget with 75-cent tax hike

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Yahoo Sports

In their first marquee Big Ten matchup, the Ducks are showed they belong among the elite in the conference and in all of college football.
Charday Penn / Getty Images

The workplace landscape has significantly changed over the past few years. For instance, remote or hybrid work has become more prevalent and the rise of artificial intelligence is impacting the day-to-day job duties in many industries. But what else is going on?

Learn more: How To Earn $4,000 a Month in Passive Income

Read next: One Smart Way To Grow Your Retirement Savings in 2024

Here are some trends that are shaping your career right now.

Sponsored: Protect Your Wealth With A Gold IRA. Take advantage of the timeless appeal of gold in a Gold IRA recommended by Sean Hannity.

Four-day workweeks might become standard

We might soon find that the five-day workweek is a thing of the past.

Employee workload, stress, and burnout continue to register as key employer concerns, said Alix McCabe, Chief Human Resources and Communications Officer  Americas Region at Allianz Trade. To combat this, companies will become increasingly proactive in 2024, offering solutions like meeting-free Fridays, dedicated wellness days, and additional PTO and flexible working hours surrounding high volume work periods.

Companies will offer creative benefits

Attracting and retaining talent requires some creativity in perks and benefits. Rather than mandating a one-size-fits-all solution, companies will focus more on employee preference, according to McCabe.

By enabling employees to share their preferred ways of engaging with colleagues, employers will more effectively provide the support that they desire. In short, in 2024 companies will broaden their approach from forced pizza parties to an array of structured and unstructured offerings designed together with employees.

Skills requirements will supersede degrees

Another workplace shift is that academic qualifications and credentials will continue to decline in importance for hiring managers. McCabe argued that companies will continue the shift toward skill-based hiring, prioritizing experience, behavioral attributes and cultural fit when evaluating candidates.

In many cases, this is an intentional shift on behalf of employers to increase speed-to-hire and remove barriers to entry for a more diverse talent pool, she added. At Allianz Trade, weve completed a deliberate review of our job descriptions to remove education requirements where they are not absolutely required. This has helped us to broaden our talent pool.

The integration of AI

One transformative trend making waves globally is the integration of AI. As we move forward, AI is set to reshape the future of work, becoming a key tool rather than a replacement, said Luck Dookchitra, VP, People & Culture at Leapsome.

Story continues

According to Dookchitra, HR must lead by example when it comes to rethinking how they work to become more agile and create leaner processes that enhance productivity and engagement. Embracing this technological evolution is crucial, as AI can enhance productivity and efficiency in ways that will redefine how we approach our professional careers, she said, adding that this is particularly true in the chronically under-resourced and overworked HR function.

Hustle culture out, work-life balance in

While the hustle mentality persists among U.S. employers, a recent study from job search engine Adzuna found that work-life balance is becoming the new power player, according to James Neave, Adzunas head of data science.

Many employers are waking up to the fact that todays workforce, especially Gen Z, can see right through the once-glorified hustle culture facade, said Neave. They are no longer falling for the productivity trap. Viral TikTok trends such as 5-9 before the 9-5 highlight that even if workers are embracing the rise and grind mentality, they are hustling for their wellbeing, not for work.

In addition, Neave noted that Adzunas data showed that sectors that are desperate for talent such as healthcare and nursing, hospitality and catering, IT, and retail are now featuring keywords associated with better work-life balance in their job ads to attract talent.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Work Trends in 2024 That Are Shaping Your Career Right Now
Well, we finally know who to blame.

President Joe Biden unexpectedly (for the White House press pool, at least) showed up on the Howard Stern Sirius XM radio show Friday. It was a mutual love fest that surprisingly provided some insight  but you had to be a subscriber to listen.

Stern, who dressed up in a suit a little too small for his expanding girth (according to him) fawned over Biden for a bit before asking him a few noteworthy questions. Biden confirmed hed be willing to debate Donald Trump. That was the big news. But at one point the president turned the tables and asked Stern in essence, why does the media suck today?

Stern blamed social media and Biden said he hasnt figured it out yet, but that the free press isnt speaking up as much as it used to.

Everyone is scared, Stern argued. Biden agreed.

Excuse me?

As Samuel L. Jackson said in Pulp Fiction: Allow me to retort.

Yes, the press sucks. If you need to understand how badly we blow, I point you to David Pecker and his testimony in Manhattan this week during the first of potentially four Donald Trump felony trials. Pecker, the former publisher of The National Enquirer, is/was an independent journalist (or the colorectal cancerous example thereof) who is a slave to the money. His brand of toiletry involves writing stories for the absolutely lowest common denominator of homo sapiens.

As H.L. Mencken once noted, homo sapiens are hopeless. Go back through the history of the past thousand years and you will find that nine-tenths of the popular idols of the world  have been hawkers of palpable nonsense. Thats why most stories in The National Enquirer were about things like giving birth to Big Foots baby, engaging in a threesome with space aliens and why Donald Trump is a great guy. Naturally, Trump loved Pecker. Read that any way you want.

And while everyone this week is taking a deep dive on what the Trump trial means for the future of the presidency and politics, few reporters are examining what it shows about the bigger picture of the press: Its all about the Benjamins.

Fewer and fewer companies own more and more of the media outlets, independence is waning and as a result, the news business is just a cash grab built around knee-jerk reactions and preconceived notions. David Peckers stewardship of The National Enquirer exposes the worst problems in todays press. He is the bottom of the barrel and some politicians absolutely love it.

Trump took advantage of him while calling us all Fake News. Its a cry that has stuck because the American public knows theres something wrong with us  they just dont know what it is. And that cry was taken up by Biden on Sterns show.

I havent figured it out yet. Uh-huh. I think he has.

In short, the press is the big problem everyone says it is. And while everyone feigns ignorance about the cause of our demise, there are those who should know better  and that includes the president of the United States.

David Pecker courted Donald Trump because Trump had something Pecker wanted: influence, money and an audience. Trump courted Pecker because he wanted cover and Peckers easily influenced and entertained audience. Biden courted Stern because he wanted Stern's audience and Stern courted Biden because he wanted what Pecker wanted.

Who got screwed? In Trumps case, its anyone who came into contact with him  including Pecker and scores of others who worked with Trump during the last five decades and had to kiss the acidic ring of fire held by Trump. By extension, weve all suffered, especially those who love him the most. However, as Mencken pointed out, theyre too stupid to realize that.

In Bidens case on the Stern show, its anyone who didnt listen to Stern on subscription satellite radio. The size of his audience is debatable  but it is believed to consist of 35-44-year-old upscale listeners who make more than $100K a year. I guess they remain attracted to Stern because of his Fartman bit or the fact that he once had a female guest ride a Sybian for masturbatory pleasure on his show. Hey, thats a good demographic, and there are other reasons Biden went on Sterns show. One of those reasons is to stick it to Donald Trump. But, again, unless you subscribe to Stern, you didnt get to hear it.

Trump used to be a frequent guest on Sterns show  but the two had a falling out over Trumps politics after he became president, and last fall, Trump blasted Stern in a post on Truth Social, calling Stern a broken weirdo, unattractive both inside and out, trying like hell to be relevant!

That came after Stern criticized Trump and the MAGA party for the revocation of Roe V. Wade and assorted other questionable policies supported by the former president. No doubt, Biden loved going on the show to get in a few digs. Who could blame him? Still, having the president sit down in primetime with Dan Rather would be more appealing.

So, to continue to retort to Stern and the President, what gives anyone the idea that we are scared? There are plenty of us unafraid of either Trump or Biden, or any other president. On the contrary, I think both Trump and Biden are afraid to sit down with members of the press who arent afraid of them.

Trump would never sit down and do a one-on-one with a member of the press pool who publicly challenged him. How many times did I, Jim Acosta, April Ryan, Jeff Mason, or anyone else who pushed back against Trump sit down across from him and have the opportunity to extensively question him?

Zero times.

And how often has Biden done the same? He hasnt even shown up in the Brady briefing room once and has had fewer encounters with the press than Trump. Its a bit disingenuous for this president to say he hasnt figured it out yet. I think he has. The key is to stay away from people who might ask you questions you dont want to answer  or more importantly questions your inner circle dont want you to answer. Its far easier to go on a national show with an audience that suits your demographic needs  even if the host of the show is not known for interviewing presidents; or particularly because he isnt known for that.

When I told a Biden staffer I should have more access to the president because he always answers my questions when Im in front of him I was told thats precisely why they dont want you in front of him.

That being said, while you can fault politicians for the de-construction and consolidation in our industry  points Ive often covered in depth  and even wrote a book about (Free the Press of which I also gave a copy to Biden), it is unfair to totally blame the politicians for the day-to-day stupidity theyve helped make possible.

Media managers could demand better. They do not. They populate the press corps with young, inexpensive, ignorant and arrogant reporters because it serves their bottom line better. The reporters, enamored and, to Sterns point, fearful, dont aspire to anything greater than access. They think theyre important just because theyre in the room, yet they are often more politically naive than Howard Stern. As we gather for the Nerd Prom the White House Correspondents Dinner in D.C. this evening, what exactly are we celebrating? Our mediocrity?

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Briefings are jokes, with reporters asking questions the average American often laughs at with aplomb. We are everything everyone says we are  venal, shallow, incredibly ignorant, self-effacing, smug, arrogant and often wrong.

But every politician knows why. Its not a mystery. We have the politicians to blame for it. Our media managers make money off of it and reporters are too stupid to see they have the power to make effective and important changes in the delivery of news because we are in the same room with the decisionmakers.

Just once, why doesnt the entire press corps simply ask the same question in the Brady briefing room: When can we see the president show up to take some questions? In the last few months I, and only a handful of others have asked this  though most want to see it. They are afraid to ask it, fearful of having their access diminished and never understanding of the fact that the politicians need us.

The best presidential press secretary I ever encountered was Mike McCurry, who once told me that the Clinton administration learned as much from us as we learned from them during briefings and press conferences. Sometimes it even led to policy changes, he said candidly.

Today, as H.L. Mencken once noted, the press has become filled with ignorance and cowardice. The presidency suffers because the administration doesnt interact enough to learn from us, and their limited interactions are with virtual neophytes.

If Biden really is still searching for an answer to the press problem, and gets a second term, I encourage him to sit down with me and I can give it to him chapter and verse. And, if hes really courageous, he could take some questions from me for a half hour or so.

If hes got the stones to do it.
NEW YORK  The backdrop of the 2024 presidential election has shifted to unexpected territory.

New York and Arizona have suddenly become the focus of Americas media-soaked political culture as former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden find themselves enmeshed in both states in ways that no one could have predicted and will likely reverberate for the rest of the year.

Deep-blue New York is home to the Trump trial, campus protests drawing national attention and five Congressional races that could tip control of the House. Closely divided Arizona is in an uproar over an 1864 abortion law, immigration and the indictment of 18 people accused of interference in the 2020 election.

Just when we think weve reached the apex of crazy in Arizona, theres another loop on the roller coaster, said Stacy Pearson, a Democratic political consultant based in the state.

The dynamic underscores how little control Biden and Trump have over the circumstances shaping the election.

Yet even as circumstances overtake the candidates, their parties and campaigns are sprinting to capitalize on both Arizona and New York  with Democrats attacking the southwest states abortion law and Trumps campaign pushing his ad hoc campaign-style stops in Harlem and midtown on social media.

Trump is in New York City fighting off charges he paid hush money to a porn star while ducking out to campaign when he gets the chance.

Biden traveled to New York on Thursday and Friday to campaign in a purple part of the state, attend a fundraiser at the home of actor Michael Douglas, and make an appearance on Howard Sterns radio show  while hes forced to contend with an uproar over pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University.



Even GOP Speaker Mike Johnson went to the Manhattan campus this week to call on the president to deploy the national guard to protect Jewish students.

Unlike Arizona, New York is accustomed to being the center of attention.

New York can absorb big events and big things because New York is unique, Chris Coffey, CEO of Tusk Strategies and a Democratic political consultant, said. Any one of these other things would prob be one of the biggest things that happens on its own in any other city in this country and meanwhile New York is able to absorb all three of them at once, and I think most New Yorkers are probably paying more attention to the Knicks and the Rangers than they are to Columbia, Trump, Biden.

The dueling candidates are trying to make the most of the circumstances.

Trapped in a state he is almost certain to lose, Trump has used his trial to hold de facto campaign events that capitalize on New York Citys mass media appeal, while Democrats are rushing to use Arizona as the new state in which to highlight their opponents proposed abortion limits.

Trump-world legal troubles intensified this week when an Arizona grand jury released an indictment late Wednesday. The defendants, facing charges of conspiracy, fraud and forgery, include former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, attorneys Rudy Giuliani and Boris Epshteyn and a number of Arizona Republican Party leaders. The former president was listed as an unindicted co-conspirator.

Just hours before the indictment was announced, Arizona state House lawmakers repealed the near-total abortion ban enacted in 1864. Democrats successfully convinced three Republicans in the House to join them, putting on display the complicated political calculations for the GOP in in the aftermath of Roe. Democrats in the state Senate are working to convince more Republicans to cross party lines when it comes under consideration next week.

The scramble in the state legislature underscores how the abortion issue will define elections this fall from the top of the ticket to down-ballot state races. Arizona Democrats are hammering on abortion rights as a central issue in their quest to flip the legislature, where Republicans hold just a one-seat advantage in both chambers. There are also efforts afoot to put an abortion ballot in front of Arizonans in November, which Democrats view as another avenue to motivate voters to turn out.



The trajectory of Arizona has been steadily trending bluer on a statewide level, said state Sen. Priya Sundareshan, who is leading the abortion push. Its not because Arizona is necessarily a blue state but its because Arizona has rejected extremism and the Republican party has become extreme in the age of Trumpism.

Republicans, meanwhile, are trying to turn voters' attention to other issues like border security. Arizona, which shares nearly 400 miles of border with Mexico, sees more border encounters than anywhere in the southeast. Immigration has come to dominate the states U.S. Senate race in a matchup that may very well determine control of the chamber.

Republican front-runner Kari Lake has criticized Bidens handling of the migrant crisis, calling it an invasion and tried to tie her likely opponent, Rep. Ruben Gallego, to the administrations approach to immigration.

Gallego, for his part, has blasted Republicans in Congress for blocking a bipartisan deal that would send billions to overhaul access to asylum at the border.

We speak openly about being more and more important on the national scene and indeed we get what we deserve, said Stan Barnes, an Arizona-based Republican political consultant. Now it feels like Arizona is a microcosm of the entire country.
Russia could seize assets and property of U.S. individuals held in Russia if Washington confiscates Russian sovereign assets, Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, claimed on April 27.

The U.S. Congress recently approved the REPO Act that would allow President Joe Biden's administration to seize Russian assets held at American banks and funnel them to Ukraine.

Western countries and Kyiv's other partners have immobilized around $300 billion of Russian assets in response to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with around $5 billion held in the U.S.

"It is obvious that we won't be able to respond symmetrically to the U.S.'s shameless theft of our assets," Medvedev wrote on his Telegram channel.

"The reason is clear  we do not have a significant amount of U.S. government property," he said.

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Ukraine Business Roundup

Subscribe

Russia's former president instead threatened that the country's authorities could target money, real estate, and movable property owned by private U.S. individuals but located within Russian jurisdiction.

Medvedev claimed that there is a legal basis for this in the Russian civil code, which posits that Russia may retaliate against the property rights of individuals and entities that imposed certain restrictions on the property of Russian citizens or entities.

While Congress passed the bill setting legal grounds for confiscating Russian assets, it remains unclear how and if Biden plans to take such a step.

Washington has long been one of those allies pushing to funnel Russian funds directly to Kyiv. In turn, European countries have been more hesitant, fearing economic and legal pitfalls. The EU has instead been working on a plan to use the profits generated by the frozen assets to fund defense assistance for Ukraine.

Moscow said it could lower the level of diplomatic relations with the U.S. if Washington seizes Russian assets. Relations between the two countries have already deteriorated significantly since the start of the full-scale invasion.

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.
Peter Meijer in Grand Rapids | Nick Manes

Fridays withdrawal deadline has slimmed down some of the fields for Michigans Aug. 6 primary election, with the biggest change coming in the race for the U.S. Senate seat up for grabs.

According to the Michigan Secretary of State listing updated just after Fridays 4 p.m. deadline, former U. S. Rep. Peter Meijer (R-Grand Rapids) has exited from the GOP primary to fill the seat that will open up with the planned retirement of Democrat Debbie Stabenow. That leaves former U.S. Reps. Mike Rogers (R-White Lake) and Justin Amash (I-Cascade Twp.), physician Sherry ODonnell and businessman Sandy Pensler in the race on the Republican side.

In a statement, Meijer said he withdrew due to the hard reality [that] the fundamentals of the race have changed significantly since he launched his campaign.

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, said Meijer..

Meijer was one of a handful of Republicans to vote for the second impeachment of former President Donald Trump for inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot after losing the 2020 election to President Joe Biden. Most analysts point to that as the reason Meijer lost his 2022 GOP congressional primary. It appears that the harsh criticism he garnered from Republicans for not being sufficiently loyal to Trump during the U.S. Senate race may have taken its toll.

On the Democratic side, U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly), actor Hill Harper and businessman Nasser Beydoun all remain filed for the Aug. 6 primary.

There are three changes in Michigans congressional races.

Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley at the State of the State address, Jan. 29, 2020 | Andrew Roth

In the 8th District that includes Flint, Bay City and Midland, Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley has withdrawn from the Democratic primary race. That seat will also be open after U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Flint) announced that he would not seek reelection. State Sen. Kristen McDonald-Rivet (D-Bay City), State Board of Education President Pamela Pugh, and former Flint Mayor Matt Collier will face off in the August primary.

Republican Paul Junge, who unsuccessfully challenged Kildee in 2022, will compete for the GOP nomination in the 8th against Mary Draves, Anthony J. Hudson, and Republican Board of Education member Nikki Snyder, who previously campaigned for the U.S. Senate before seeking the Republican nomination in the 8th District.

Meanwhile, in Michigans 4th Congressional District in West Michigan, Democrat Joseph Alfonso has withdrawn, leaving Jessica Swartz as the sole Democrat to seek the nomination, while incumbent U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland) is being challenged by Brendan Muir on the GOP side.

And U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Detroit) still faces a crowd of primary challengers in Michigans 13th Congressional District that includes Detroit and western Wayne County, although Mohammad Rabbi Alam has been disqualified. Thanadar will still battle Shakira Lynn Hawkins, former state Sen. Adam Hollier (D-Detroit) and former state Rep. Mary Waters (D-Detroit). Martell Bivings, who lost to Thanedar in the 2022 general election, has filed as a Republican.

State House races in 2024  and 2026 state Senate battles

With all 110 seats in the Michigan House of Representatives on the ballot this November, all eyes remain on whether Democrats can retain, or even expand, their 56-54 advantage in the House. Or will Republicans be able to win back the chamber this fall and put the brakes on some of Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmers agenda?

By far, the biggest change is the withdrawal of House Majority Floor Leader Abraham Aiyash (D-Hamtramck) from the race for the 7th District, leaving Ernest T. Little, Tonya Myers Phillips and Abraham D. Shaw seeking the Democratic nod, with Barry Altman and Shelby Wininger running for the Republican nomination.

Gongwer is reporting Aiyash withdrew so that he can maintain eligibility to serve up to eight full years in the Michigan Senate following alterations to the states term limits. Proposal 1 approved by voters in 2022 modified term limits for Michigans Legislature so that legislators could only serve a combined 12 years in both the House and Senate.

State Rep. Abraham Aiyash (D-Hamtramck), Feb. 15, 2023 | Laina G. Stebbins

Meanwhile, Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit) is now only up against two other candidates in August in the 9th District after Bobby Christian withdrew, R.M. Nelson and Lory Renea Parks. On the Republican side of the ballot is Michele Lundgren, one of the 15 individuals charged for submitting a false slate of electoral votes for Trump following the 2020 election.

In the race for the 33rd House District, Republican Jason Rogers has the GOP primary to himself after Alan Dettling withdrew. The district is currently represented by state Rep. Felicia Brabec (D-Pittsfield Twp.) who previously said she will not seek reelection in the House but plans to run for the 15th District Senate Seat in 2026. The seat is currently held by Sen. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) who will be ineligible to run in 2026 due to term limits. Democrats Morgan Foreman and Rima Mohammad have each filed in the Democratic primary to succeed Brabec.

There were no withdrawals in the 50th House District, leaving a four-way contest for the GOP nomination. Incumbent state Rep. Bob Bezotte (R-Howell) initially said he would not seek another term, but then changed course and filed for reelection despite endorsing two other Republicans before jumping back in, Jason Woolford and Kristina Lyke. They both remain in the race, along with fellow Republican Dominic Restuccia. Austin Breuer is the lone Democrat seeking the seat.

While two other Republicans filed to challenge Trump ally state Rep. Matt Maddock (R-Milford) in the 51st House District: Laura Vogel and Kevin Siegler, only Siegler remains after Vogel withdrew. Democrat Sarah May-Seward  who opposed Maddock in the 2022 election  has filed to appear in the primary against Debbie Llewellyn.

Another incumbent with one less primary challenger is Rep. Josh Schriver (R-Oxford), who now faces just Randy LeVasseur for Michigans 66th House District GOP race after Jeffrey M. Omtvedt withdrew. Schriver was previously sanctioned by Tate for a sustained campaign of racist rhetoric and hate speech posted to social media about the Great Replacement theory, with Tate stripping Schriver of his office staff, funding and his committee assignment. Meanwhile, Shawn Almeranti-Crosby has filed to run as a Democrat.

Also withdrawing was right-wing radio host Trucker Randy Bishop, who had filed to run as a Democrat for the 104th House District in the northern Lower Peninsula. That seat is currently held by state Rep. John Roth (R-Interlochen) who faces a challenge from Republican Owen Suhy, while Larry Knight is now the lone Democrat in the primary.

Bishop, a former Antrim County chair who has spread pro-Trump conspiracies about the 2020 election, also filed to run as a Democrat in a 2022 state Senate election.

Right-wing talk show host Randy Bishop, a.k.a. Trucker Randy speaks at a right-wing rally calling for a so-called audit of the 2020 election at the Michigan Capitol, Oct. 12, 2021 | Laina G. Stebbins

The post Meijer withdraws from Senate race, Aiyash wont seek another state House term appeared first on Michigan Advance.
MEP says support for Ukraine may falter if "Kremlin voices" succeed in European Parliament elections

Viola von Cramon, MEP and Deputy Chair of the European Parliament's delegation to the EU-Ukraine Association Committee, has expressed concern about the possible weakening of support for Ukraine if radical parties strengthen their presence in the European Parliament following the European elections.

Source: von Cramon in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine news agency, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Von Cramon praised the work of the present European Parliament in supporting Ukraine. "Each time the Parliament was at the forefront of supporting Ukraine, with military, financial, legal, and humanitarian support," she said.

"I'm very afraid of the future, if many of us are not re-elected, if the right is stronger, support for Ukraine may decrease," she said.

The MEP explained that whenever someone from the far-right Alternative fur Deutschland (AFD, or Alternative for Germany) or other right-wing parties speaks at the plenary, it is the "voice of the Kremlin".

"The more of those voices you have, the more difficult in general it becomes to have strong support. You still will have support here [after elections]. But then if you have more voices pro-Putin, pro-Kremlin, and pro-Russia I think it will become more difficult and it will be more scattered.

I'm still optimistic, but I'm also a little bit worried," von Cramon said.

For reference: The European Parliament elections are scheduled for 6-9 June 2024.

Support UP or become our patron!
The County of Merced and the Merced County Deputy Sheriffs Association have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract that will be in place for one year.

According to Deputy Sheriffs Association President Roberto Torres, the county and the DSA have agreed on a one-year contract that includes a 10% base pay increase as well as a 10% increase to the medical cap and increases to law enrichment credential certification. The agreement comes after the DSA rejected the countys offer of an 8% wage increase and 10% increase to healthcare caps in September of 2023.

The new contract for the deputy sheriffs, dispatches and coroners will be in place from July 1, 2024 through June 31, 2025.

Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke has been critical of the county and the CEOs office over its handling of the county budget.

For months, Warnke attended board of supervisors meetings and took to social media to sound the alarm about challenges the sheriffs office faces in terms of retaining and recruiting deputies who can earn greater pay working for surrounding agencies.

Last fall, Warnke warned the board last fall that the sheriffs office was down 18 deputies, and that 18 other deputies had applied to other agencies.

In March, the Merced County Sheriffs Office launched an online reporting system for non-violent crimes as decreasing staffing levels has made it difficult for deputies to respond to calls. Warnke said he believes the county should have taken action when he previously brought his concerns to the county.

I applaud the county at this particular point doing what theyre doing to try and do what they can with the resources theyve got, but they still have some tough choices to make, said Warnke.

Warnke said the contract is something deputies deserve, especially after having to work through the pandemic as well as putting their lives on the line every day.

I believe all county employees deserve better in the way of the pension and benefit package  thats a given  but for them to put the same priority on building a park as to pay for a deputy, that doesnt make sense to me.

Warnke said he is unsure if the new one year contract will be enough to convince deputies to stay in the county or to attract additional deputies.

I do know that the county, the CEOs office, theyre going to have to make cuts in other places I know that to make sure we get pay for the deputies,  Warnke said. So I do know that thats something theyre going to face and for that I applaud them to do this, Im just hoping and praying that its not too late.

Concerns remain over contract

The medical continues to be an issue not only for the DSA but for other labor unions that will negotiate with the county, according to Torres.

The medical is still a big issue and we continue to work with the county to address that and correct that for our members, said Torres.

Torres said the terms were presented to DSA members and the decision was made based off of a majority vote.

The majority who voted in favor of the contract are happy, but still they feel that theres still a lot of work that needs to be done as far as it comes to the medical, said Torres.

Torres said the median pay is comparable to surrounding counties and he believes Merced County and the DSA working together and coming to a tentative agreement will hopefully help to move forward over the next year and address other issues such as the healthcare cap.

According to Torres, the agreement doesnt solve the associations concerns over recruitment and retention of employees but it is a step in the right direction. When a surrounding agency hires a deputy from Merced County, that agency is getting a peace officer who is essentially plug-and-play, after the the County of Merced invests time and money into that individual, according to Torres.

I think that the agreement that was reached between the county and the DSA is a step in the right direction to address the retention which would also address the recruitment part of that equation, Torres said.

According to Torres, the DSA will continue to work with the county as there are still steps that need to be taken to address issues such as the medical and other compensation packages.
The Holocaust Memorial in Hyde Park had to be covered and guarded on Saturday as thousands of pro-Palestine protesters marched through central London.

The rock-shaped monument  the first public memorial to the atrocity in the UK  was obscured by a blue tarpaulin, with a police car stationed nearby.

Lord Mann, government adviser on anti-Semitism, described the precaution as sad but necessary to avoid further offence to the Jewish community.

It came as central London was once again dominated by a demonstration organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, with police under heightened scrutiny for their response following a controversy earlier in the month when a man described by an officer as openly Jewish was threatened with arrest.

Demonstrators waved anti-Semitic slogans, including one accusing the Israeli army of stealing organs from Palestinians, and accusing Zionists of controlling the UK Government and media.

One young female demonstrator was seen carrying a sign defending Sir Mark Rowley, the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.

The sign read: Thank you Rowley for standing up to scum politicians being blackmailed by Jeffrey Epstein Mossad Pedo Ring! Protect Mark Rowley.

Police stand guard between Palestine activists and the pro-Israel counter-protest - Guy Bell/Shutterstock

Mitch Winehouse leads the counter-protest - Elliott Franks

The thousands of pro-Palestine demonstrators were met by a counter-protest near Piccadilly in central London organised by the Enough is Enough group, which is critical of the Mets approach.

Two men from the main demonstration were arrested.

One man was detained in Parliament Square with a placard bearing a swastika, police said.

The second was arrested as he passed the counter-demonstration for shouting a racist remark towards those in the Enough is Enough protest, according to the Met.

A pro-Israel protester said that the man had told her to go back to Poland by the masked protester, who was wearing a kaffiyeh and a Palestinian flag, before his arrest.

Reverend Hayley Ace, 43, who is not Jewish, said she was targeted because she was wearing a baseball cap that featured the Star of David.

The man must think I am Jewish because of my hat. We all know Poland is a particularly evil reference because of the Holocaust.

She added: Comments like those that I received are common on these marches. How can anyone pretend they are peaceful?

Palestine signs are placed at the Sir Winston Churchill statue in Parliament Square - Amer Ghazzal / Alamy Live News

A heavy police presence marked the march along the route to Hyde Park - JAMIE LORRIMAN/JAMIE LORRIMAN

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: We are told by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign that these are peaceful marches where Jews are given a warm welcome, but the reality is that these marches are rife with hatred, exactly as we keep saying.

He added: Instead of being effectively policed, much of the incitement and hatred is given a free pass by the Met.

The chant from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free could be heard across Parliament Square and into Hyde Park

Critics have frequently interpreted the controversial slogan as calling for the eradication of the state of Israel, although others defend it as a rallying cry for Palestinian rights.

Placards being held by protesters contained anti-Semitic tropes, such as: Wake up, our media, TV, radio and government are controlled by Zionists.

Numerous police wearing riot gear were standing ready nearby.

Mark Bibeck, a pro-Israel demonstrator, was removed by police from the pro-Palestine march because he was carrying a sign saying Hamas are terrorists.

A senior Metropolitan Police commander said the impact of nearly seven months of protest had been felt widely, promising to keep the rival demonstrators apart.

Demonstrators carry placards bearing the controversial slogan 'From the river to the sea' - Amer Ghazzal/Shutterstock/SHUTTERSTOCK

Lord Mann said he had advised police and the parks authority that the Holocaust Memorial be protected.

No other monuments in Hyde Park were covered up on Saturday.

He said: We could take the risk that it would get defaced with the likes of placards and cause additional offence to the Jewish and other communities.

It would have been nice if the organisers [of the rally] stopped to pay their own respects at the memorial.

A Royal Parks spokesman said: The Hyde Park Holocaust Memorial is routinely covered with tarpaulin during various events as a precautionary measure. We are working closely with the police to ensure the safety of park visitors.

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.
Donald Trumps ex-lawyer Michael Cohen once tried to organize a photoshoot with Mark Cuban to make his boss jealous.

Magazine mogul David Pecker finished giving evidence at Donald Trumps hush money trial in Manhattan Friday where he revealed the anecdote about Cohen, who had been his point of contact at Trump Tower since 2007.

He said the now-disgraced and disbarred lawyer  expected to be one of the star witnesses against Trump at the trial  asked the former National Enquirer boss to send paparazzi to a summer 2016 meeting with the Shark Tank star.

Trump attorney Emil Bove asked if the photo op was designed to put pressure on President Trump to treat Cohen differently during cross-examination.

Pecker said Cohen never said that to him  but ultimately admitted such photos would do that. However it doesnt appear photos of Cohen and Dallas Mavericks owner Cuban were ever published.

Pecker, who has testified he engineered deals and bought up stories damaging to Trump costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, also admitted on the stand he felt Cohen was prone to exaggeration.

Cohen left the Trump Organization on Trump in 2018 and became one of the then-presidents biggest detractors.

He was later sentenced to three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to breaching campaign finance law with the Daniels payoff, lying to US congressional committees, and tax evasion.

Donald Trumps ex-lawyer Michael Cohen once tried to organize a photoshoot with Mark Cuban to make his boss jealous. Getty Images

Elsewhere under cross-examination Pecker insisted hed been truthful to the best of my recollection.

He also stuck to his story about paying off and silencing Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal despite Boves attempts to poke holes in his testimony.

Meanwhile Trump, 77, griped Friday before court he was spending his wife Melanias birthday in the at the trial.

After Pecker two more witnesses were called.

Former Trump assistant Rhona Graff testified she once seen porn star Stormy Daniels at Trump Tower, and office chatter was she was being considered for a spot on Celebrity Apprentice which Trump used to host.

However, as the court previously heard from Pecker, Daniels had other dealings with Trump after Cohen had bought her story of an alleged 2007 one night stand with him for $130,000 in a bid to keep it from being published.

Graff left the stand after 30 minutes and was followed by banker Gary Farro, who testified he helped set up a shell company, Essential Consultants LLC, for Cohen.

Magazine mogul David Pecker finished giving evidence at Donald Trumps hush money trial in Manhattan Friday. William Farrington for NY Post

That company was later used in a failed bid to cover up the $130,000 payment Cohen made to Daniels.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, and faces up to four years in prison.

Farro will resume his testimony when the trial resumes on Tuesday.
Michigan man caught after attempting to flee US to Hong Kong after fatal building explosion, fire: police

Michigan man caught after attempting to flee US to Hong Kong after fatal building explosion, fire: police

The owner of a Michigan company that exploded in March, killing a 19-year-old and injuring a firefighter, was charged with involuntary manslaughter on Thursday, after authorities received an alert that he attempted to leave the country with a one-way ticket to Hong Kong.

The Clinton Township Police Department said during a press conference Friday morning that Noor Noel Kestou, 31, attempted to flee the U.S. after the fatal explosion at his vape and smoke business, Goo Smoke Shop/Select Distributors, on March 4.

Authorities said that Kestou illegally possessed and improperly stored nitrous oxide and butane cans.

"They shouldn't have had this in there, period," Clinton Police Chief Tim Duncan said. "It wasn't allowed in this district."

MASSIVE MICHIGAN INDUSTRIAL FIRE SPARKS HUNDREDS OF EXPLOSION, SENDING DEBRIS FLYING AND KILLING 1

Noor Noel Kestou, 31, was charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the explosion that killed a 19-year-old.

At the time of the explosion, the illegal material rained down on civilians in a one-mile radius.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"There were some businesses that told us they had 30 holes in their ceiling from these rockets that were coming down on top of them," Clinton Township Supervisor Bob Cannon said.

One of the canisters killed 19-year-old Turner Lee Salter, who was a quarter-mile away from the building.

Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido said that involuntary manslaughter was the highest charge that could be given at this point in the investigation.

Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido said that involuntary manslaughter was the highest charge that could be presented based on current evidence, but the ongoing investigation may yield future charges.

WATCH: MASSIVE FIRE BREAKS OUT ON HISTORIC SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PIER

Kestou's bond was set for $500,000  cash only  with other conditions upon his release: he must wear a GPS tether, surrender his passport and any weapons, and not leave the state.

Lucido said that he did not know what Kestou's "ultimate goal" was in attempting to leave the U.S.

"We don't know what his ultimate goal was, to stay out of the country with a wife and a child here, but we do know that he is in custody, and I think he maybe made bond last night," Lucido said.

Chief Duncan said that the cause of the fire and subsequent explosion is still being investigated.

He noted the intensity of the explosion is proving to be difficult for authorities to determine a direct cause immediately.

Township Fire Chief Tim Duncan said that authorities are still investigating the fire and explosion.

"At this stage, theyre still at the undetermined aspect of it  but they cannot exclude human involvement in this fire at this time," Duncan said. "They would still like to have more investigation, more information come from some of the witnesses. Some of that is still coming out.

"Our hope is that in the future, when they actually get on the site and start pulling everything away, were trying to maintain that southwest corner of the building, which is where we believe the fire started, based upon the information weve seen."

Fox News has reached out to Kestou's attorney for comment.





Original article source: Michigan man caught after attempting to flee US to Hong Kong after fatal building explosion, fire: police
We Might Be 4 Years Away From A Historic May Day

When the United Auto Workers successfully concluded their strike against the Big Three auto manufacturers last fall, the unions president, Shawn Fain, invited other unions to lay the groundwork for an even more powerful strike on May 1, 2028. Now local labor activists are answering Fains call.

Theyre doing so by encouraging unionized workers to move the expiration dates for their contracts to April 30, 2028, just before International Workers Day, or May Day, as its commonly known. By aligning their contracts to end at the same time, unions could threaten to strike simultaneously, perhaps across industries, giving them greater economic and political leverage as they bargain with employers.

As Fain put it, Its important that we not only strike, but that we strike together.

To that end, several local labor councils around the country have recently passed resolutions endorsing Fains proposal, recommending their affiliates try to shift the dates on which their contracts come up. Collective bargaining agreements typically include a no-strike clause that forbids work stoppages while the contract is in effect, making the expiration date the most likely time for a walkout.

I think its really a bold call for organized labor to set our aims higher than managing decline.Connor Lewis, president, Seven Mountains Central Labor Council

Eight councils affiliated with the AFL-CIO labor federation have endorsed the concept so far, said Connor Lewis, a union member, writer and president of the Seven Mountains Central Labor Council in central Pennsylvania. The councils span six states; the most recent to sign on was the council for Louisville, Kentucky, where Ford workers went on strike last year.

Unions have really been handcuffed in what we can do to effectively organize to get significant gains for working people, whether theyre union members or not, Lewis told HuffPost. I think its really a bold call for organized labor to set our aims higher than managing decline and to actually, like so many unions are doing now, fight for raising standards.

A website Lewis and others built called Bargain Together calls on workers to prepare for mass strikes on May 1, 2028.

UAW issued the call. Were answering, it proclaims.

The maneuvers backers see it as one way to work around U.S. legal restrictions on striking.

The Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 weakened organized labor in part by banning secondary or sympathy strikes, in which workers would strike one employer in order to pressure another, such as a business partner or supplier. Congress passed the law following a historic wave of disruptive work stoppages in 1945 and 1946 that involved millions of workers in the auto, energy, food, film and other industries.

Auto workers on strike outside Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich., last September. The union has shifted its contracts so that they expire just before May Day. via Associated Press

Large-scale, simultaneous strikes tied to contract expirations could achieve by legal means the sort of cross-industry troublemaking that was outlawed decades ago. They could also maximize unions clout at a time when just one in ten U.S. workers belongs to a union, down from roughly one in three at organized labors peak in the 1950s.

This is a really innovative way to work within the law to actually achieve the kinds of gains and fight the kinds of fights we havent really seen since the days of the CIO, Lewis said, referring to the Congress of Industrial Organizations, which organized industrial workers en masse in the 1930s and 40s, before merging with the American Federation of Labor.

Collective bargaining agreements typically last a certain number of years; many last about three to five. Shifting the calendar date on which contracts typically end requires the employers cooperation in bargaining. Some companies may be resistant to either shortening or lengthening their contracts to coincide with a potential general strike  especially if the idea is to give unions more leverage in the future.

Jake Morrison, a union member and president of the North Alabama Area Labor Council, said aligning contracts to end on May Day will require buy-in from rank-and-file union members. After all, it is a demand like any other, like higher wages, more vacation time or increased retirement contributions.

Morrisons council was the first to pass a resolution endorsing Fains idea, doing so unanimously. He said one union in his area is already working on moving its contracts expiration date.

It does seem like in North Alabama people are excited to try to prioritize it and be a part of something bigger, said Morrison, who hosts an Alabama radio show called The Valley Labor Report.

Morrison said the strike against Ford, General Motors and Jeep parent company Stellantis was a strong example of how aligned contracts can give unions more power.

People are excited to try to prioritize it and be a part of something bigger.Jake Morrison, president, North Alabama Area Labor Council

By walking out at the Big Three simultaneously  something the UAW had never done before in its history  union negotiators were able to play the automakers off one another during bargaining, pressuring them to match each others offers. The UAW also struck only certain facilities as a matter of strategy, leaving room for escalation and keeping its game plan unpredictable.

It was an illustration of what coordinated bargaining can do, Morrison said. You can see this even in industries where union density is high but they dont have contracts aligned  it makes it really easy [for employers] to whipsaw one local or one department or one region against another.

The UAW lengthened its four-year contracts at Ford, GM and Stellantis by several months in order to move their expirations to April 30. The switch, Fain said, was partly in recognition of May Day, an international holiday with radical roots in the United States.

Workers seeking an 8-hour workday waged mass strikes on May 1, 1886, leading to a police crackdown. Three days later, someone tossed a bomb into a crowd at Chicagos Haymarket Square, setting off a deadly riot. Eight labor activists were later convicted in what was denounced as a sham trial.

Fain said that the fight for a standard workday is a struggle just as relevant today as it was in 1889, the year a federation of unions designated May Day a holiday.

But he also acknowledged there was a logistical reason to push the contract expiration back at the Big Three. The union has an ambitious goal  organizing several historically non-union automakers, such as Mercedes, Toyota and Hyundai  and the longer contracts could give them additional time to align new agreements at those companies. Fain said the negotiations in 2028 wont be with just the Big Three, but the Big Five or Big Six.

The union succeeded in the first major test of its organizing plan, winning a historic election at the Volkswagen plant in Tennessee last week by a landslide. The UAW had previously lost two votes at the same facility and struggled for years to gain a toehold at foreign-owned plants in the South.

Morrison said the victory was a sign that unions are ready to break out of a defensive posture.

What you can see from Volkswagen in Chattanooga, its inspiring to people to see that we can win and we can win together, he said. This is a really important call.
(Bloomberg) -- Apollo Global Management Inc., KKR & Co. and Stonepeak may inject billions of dollars into a joint venture that will help fund Intel Corp.s semiconductor fabrication facility in Ireland, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The alternative asset managers are considering investing in a joint venture that could raise several billion dollars, including debt, the people said. The chip-making giant, which is working with an adviser, had begun soliciting interest from potential investors, Bloomberg News reported in February.

Terms, including the size and structure of the potential joint venture, have not been finalized and could still change, the people said.

Representatives for Apollo, KKR, Stonepeak and Intel declined to comment.

In December 2020, an Apollo-led consortium agreed to acquire a 49.9% stake in Anheuser-Busch InBevs US-based metal container plants, in a deal that enabled AB InBev to repay debt while retaining control of the unit.

Any pact with Apollo would follow a 2022 transaction in which Brookfield Infrastructure Partners agreed to invest as much as $15 billion for a 49% stake in Intels manufacturing expansion at its Ocotillo campus in Chandler, Arizona.

--With assistance from Ian King.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Migration must be capped at tens of thousands to restore trust, says Jenrick

Mr Jenrick said the myth immigration is an unalloyed economic good and public services would collapse without it 'needs debunking'

Robert Jenrick has called for a cap on net migration of less than 100,000 a year, arguing that it is the only way to restore voters trust.

In an exclusive article for The Telegraph, the former immigration minister called for the Government to commit to reducing net migration from its record high of 745,000 in 2022 to tens of thousands enforced by an annual cap set by votes in Parliament.

Mr Jenrick, who will detail his proposals in a report this week with fellow former minister Neil OBrien, accused the post-Brexit Tory Government of sticking two fingers up to the British public by liberalising the immigration system and breaking their promises on leaving the EU to take control of Britains borders.

He accused politicians in the SW1 bubble of being out of touch with voters by clinging to the economic orthodoxy that immigration is an unalloyed economic good and that our public services would collapse without it. He added: This myth needs debunking.

In his report with Mr OBrien, a former health minister, published by the think tank Centre for Policy Studies, Mr Jenrick argues that it is undeniable that mass migration has diluted the UKs capital stock.

Far too many of the migrants that have come to the UK have been net burdens on the Exchequer over the course of their lifetime, he said.

It stands to reason that if all this migration is rocket fuel for our economy, growth would be booming and wages rising. But since 1998, the first year net migration passed 100,000, GDP per capita growth has averaged 1.2 per cent a year, barely half the rate in the four decades before that.

Recommended

It's a dangerous myth that mass migration is good for the economy

Read more

Policymakers have pointed to the economic contribution of the average migrant but Mr Jenrick said this masked wide variations in earnings, employment rates and their fiscal impact.

He cited data showing that a migrant from Poland, the Philippines, or New Zealand was 50 per cent more likely to be in work than a migrant from Somalia or Bangladesh.

This is cause for concern, not least because since leaving the EU weve seen migration from Europe radically decrease and an enormous increase in non-EU migration, said Mr Jenrick.

He called for the UK to create a far more restrictive immigration system that established the UK as the grammar school of the Western world where only high-skilled, high-wage migrants who are net contributors to the economy were allowed entry.

Before Mr Jenrick quit the Government over his demands for tougher action on illegal migration, he persuaded Rishi Sunak to introduce measures to reduce legal migration by 300,000, including raising the salary threshold for skilled workers to 38,700 a year and restrictions on migrants rights to bring in spouses or family.

However, he warned that well-meaning policy was not enough and the discipline of a centrally-fixed cap, citing how officials forecasts of only 6,000 foreign social care workers coming to the UK had turned into nearly 250,000 migrants with their families.

He said: Since we took back control of the levers of migration, these were promises that politicians deliberately broke by liberalising our system even further by lowering salary thresholds and creating new routes with lax rules.

Frankly, those decisions were two fingers up to the public who havent forgotten or forgiven.

The only way politicians can look voters in the eye and actually guarantee they can meet their promises to reduce net migration is to introduce a migration cap which would serve as a democratic lock on numbers.

We propose that this cap should be voted on by all MPs in parliament in a migration budget debate, alongside forecasted impacts of immigration on housing, infrastructure and public services.

Jaw-dropping unprecedented numbers

He warned that without such action, Britain faced a migration crisis that would drain public services and threaten integration. Already, said Mr Jenrick, the housing crisis had become a migration crisis requiring an impossible 515,000 new homes every year to cope with the current levels of immigration.

For nearly three decades politicians of all stripes have promised to control and reduce legal migration, only to allow it to balloon to extreme levels. The historically unprecedented numbers we have experienced are jaw-dropping, said Mr Jenrick.

In the 25 years up to Tony Blairs election, cumulative net migration was 68,000; in the next 25 years to 2022 it was 5.9 million  almost 100 times the previous 25 years.

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.
Lincoln Montero eats outside a motel designated for migrants after helping his aunt Yesenia sell home-cooked Venezuelan-style food to fellow Venezuelan migrants sheltering here in Denver, Colorado, Thursday, April 18, 2024. Montero said he traveled to Denver the week before, to unite with his aunt who has been here four months. (AP Photo/Thomas Peipert)

BRIGHTON, Colo. (AP)  Republican activists gathered in a school lunchroom last month to hear political pitches from candidates and agreed on the top issue in the Denver suburbs these days: immigration.

The area has been disrupted by the arrival of largely Venezuelan migrants coming north through Mexico, they said. Virtually everyone in the meeting said they were uncomfortable with the new population, which has overwhelmed public services and become a flashpoint in local and national elections.

Weve lived here our whole lives, and now we have to pay for hotels and debit cards and health care for the migrants, through government spending, said Toni Starner, a marketing consultant. My daughters 22 and she cant even afford to buy a house.

Some 1,200 miles to the south, migrants are also transforming the prosperous industrial city of Monterrey, Mexico. Haitian migrants speak Creole on downtown streets and Central American migrants ask motorists for help at intersections.

But the new arrivals arent even part of Mexicos political conversation as the country gears up for its presidential vote on June 2.

If it were a problem, the politicians would already be mentioning it in their campaigns, said Ingrid Morales, a 66-year-old retired academic who lives on Monterreys south side.

Every 12 years, the coincidence of presidential elections in the U.S. and Mexico provides a valuable comparative snapshot. The different ways migration is resonating in the two countries elections this year reflects the neighbors' very different styles of democracy.

Mexican politics are still dominated by institutional political parties, while Donald Trump disrupted the United States two-party system with his more populist approach, and moved anti-immigration sentiment to center stage in U.S. politics.

Mexican politics also revolve more around bread-and-butter issues like the economy than in the wealthier United States, which is increasingly consumed with questions of national identity, said Andrew Selee, president of the Migration Policy Institute.

Whats more, just about every Mexican family has an immediate experience with migration, with many still having relatives living in other countries. While migrants must travel through Mexico to enter the U.S., they are more dispersed as they travel and have not generated similar scenes of an overwhelmed Mexican side of the border.

In Mexico, there isnt that same perception of chaos, Selee said.

Trump is making that perception of chaos his campaigns main theme as he tries to return to the White House. AP VoteCast, a survey of the national electorate, found immigration was a top issue among voters in the Republican presidential primarys initial states. An AP-NORC poll conducted last month found that 58% of Americans say immigration is an extremely or very important issue for them personally.

In contrast, Mexicos presidential frontrunner, Claudia Sheinbaum, didnt even include a mention of immigration when she announced 100 campaign commitments last month. When she came to the state where Monterrey sits  Nuevo Leon  in February she talked about security and the water supply. Her main opponent, Xochitl Galvez, visited the city last month and talked about her proposals to raise police salaries and combat gender violence.

But Monterrey, a three-hour drive from the Texas border, has increasingly become a critical waystation, even destination, for tens of thousands of migrants. Local authorities and international organizations have scrambled to find a place for the new arrivals.

Femsa, the owner of the ubiquitous convenience store chain Oxxo, has hired hundreds of migrants to work in its stores through a program with the United Nations refugee agency.

An annual survey of Nuevo Leon found last year that nearly nine in 10 residents noticed an increase in migrants and about seven in 10 felt that they should be provided work. Its not as if Mexicans arent divided over the issue: Those surveyed in Nuevo Leon were split over whether Mexico should admit more migrants or stop the flow.

The lack of clear political advantage could explain why politicians have stayed away from talking about immigration, said Luis Mendoza Ovando, a political analyst and columnist with the main local newspaper, El Norte.

Ultimately, society says if there are more migrants, give them work and everything is good, he said.

Ricardo Cobian, 30, runs a beauty salon in downtown Monterrey. The next administration will have to deal with immigration but it is not a top priority for the nation, he said.

The main issues for the candidates must be resolving security and ensuring economic stability, said Cobian, adding that he has sympathy for migrants because he knows of his own relatives recent struggles to reach the United States.

Colorado became a stop on the migrant trail even more recently than Monterrey. In late 2022, Venezuelans crossing into Texas from Mexico found that it costs less to take a bus from the border city of El Paso to Denver than many of the United States better-known metropolises. And Denver  a liberal, fast-growing city  offered migrants food and shelter.

Now, Denvers mayor, Mike Johnston, reports that his city of 710,000 has received nearly 40,000 migrants, what he calls the highest number of new migrants per capita of any city in the United States. The largely Venezuelan population is mainly confined to Denver but has started to trickle into surrounding suburbs like Brighton, often selling flowers or window-washes at streetcorners.

Unlike in Monterrey, where many migrants found jobs with established employers, paperwork hassles and federal regulations have prevented most migrants in Denver from receiving authorization to work. Irregular labor like yard work or housecleaning is their only way of making a living.

Thats led to a heavy burden on Denvers coffers, and other cities in Colorado have watched in alarm. The two next largest after Denver, Aurora and Colorado Springs, both passed resolutions saying they dont want large numbers of migrants sent to their cities.

The migrants in Denver say they feel increased pressure in the form of fewer city benefits and stepped up warnings from local police that they can't sell windshield washes, flowers or home-cooked food from streetcorners without a permit. The wary feelings towards them extend to the heavily Hispanic suburbs just north of Denver that comprise the states 8th congressional district, likely to be one of the most heated fights in this years battle for control of the House of Representatives.

State Rep. Gabe Evans, one of the Republicans competing for the partys nomination against Democratic Rep. Yadira Caraveo, said that the districts residents are fed up.

Evans grandfather immigrated from Mexico and earned his U.S. citizenship by serving in World War 2.

The citizenship for the Chavez family was paid for in blood, Evans said. Then you have people crossing the border and just getting handed things.

Cynthia Moreno, a Democrat, said her father came from Mexico legally in the 1920s. Though she has personal sympathy for the migrants plight, shes aghast theyre allowed to stay.

If I lived in Denver, Id be pissed right now, Moreno said, calling immigration the nations top priority.

Far from everyone in the area says its overwhelmed.

Alex Marvin lives in the 8th Congressional District but works in personnel for the city of Denver and watches buses drop off new arrivals outside his municipal office building. He thinks the federal government needs to compensate the city for the influx, but is proud the city is welcoming the new arrivals.

We need to support people and help people the most we can, said Marvin, a 35-year-old Democrat.

Rep. Caraveo was born in Colorado, but her parents were Mexican immigrants living in the U.S. illegally who obtained legal status under the 1986 immigration bill signed by then-President Ronald Reagan. Caraveo became a pediatrician and state legislator before running for Congress in 2022 and winning by only 1,600 votes.

That 1986 immigration bill was the last significant one passed by Congress, which has deadlocked for decades over whether to legalize additional generations of people living in the country illegally. In a sign of how the politics of immigration have shifted, that issue didnt even come up in the bipartisan immigration bill that Trump killed earlier this year. Instead, the proposal focused on border enforcement.

The legislation never made it to the floor of the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. But Caraveo, who introduced her own package of immigration measures last month that included a proposal to legalize those brought to the country illegally as children, said she would have supported the bipartisan immigration bill anyway.

The process is broken. Were seeing the brokenness of it in front of our faces, she said.

__

Martinez reported from Monterrey, Mexico.

___

https://apnews.com/hub/global-elections/

___
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  A car donated by a person who wished to remain anonymous is now being driven by a new owner after local auto repair and maintenance shop, Mikeys Total Car Care, announced the winner of its free car giveaway.

Courtesy: FOX21 Chief Photojournalist Mike Duran

Back in March we first brought to you this story after the shops Owner Michael Chavez told FOX21 that submissions were open on its website, giving people in need the chance to win a free car. We had some responses but then FOX21 News got ahold of it and it kind of blew up from there, so we got over 300 responses.

Chavez said it took two weeks to review all the submissions to ensure they met the criteria.

Reading stories was heartbreaking, it was really emotional, said Chavez, who added that submissions were separated into two piles; one for people with no car, and another for people who needed their cars fixed.

Once they had a pile of 200 submissions for people with no car, a random drawing was made, and the winner was picked. We wanted it to be 100% random because there were so many people and we wanted to try and make it as fair as possible, Chavez said.

Kim, who didnt want her last name released, said she was shocked when she got the call. It was almost surreal, I almost didnt believe it and I started crying because I was excited but I didnt realize that my sister she nominated us for this and honestly, it was just surreal.

Courtesy: FOX21 Chief Photojournalist Mike Duran, photo is of Kim, who won the free car giveaway with her daughter, Leaunna.

Courtesy: FOX21 Chief Photojournalist Mike Duran, Kim stands next to Michael Chavez, owner of Mikeys Total Car Care.

The vehicle that was donated is a 2004 Honda Civic EX, which Chavez said the shop worked on, to ensure it was safe to drive including: fixing the power windows, door locks, and rear breaks, along with adding new spark plugs and replacing the drivers front wheel bearing, among other repairs.

We feel blessed, Kim said, thanking Mikeys Total Car Care for fixing up the car and her sister for nominating her family. I have three kids, single parent, so its definitely been a blessing for us because now we can get around, get to jobs, appointments, all the things that we need.

Chavez said the need in Southern Colorado is evident, based on all of the other submissions that couldnt be included for this giveaway, for people who need car repairs.

One car out of 300 people is pretty overwhelming and we wanted to do more, Chavez said.

Now, he just hopes to continue paying it forward. Especially if customers want to donate some cars, its 100% out of pocket for me so I would be putting some money into the vehicle, we are not profiting anything on this.

Chavez said he hopes to do something similar to the car giveaway at least four times a year. As for people who donate their cars, Chavez said, the repairs need to be in his budget and gave an example of repair costs to the Honda.

I dont want to put $10,000 into a car, but this car, again, I wont put a monetary value on it, but it was well into the thousands that we put into the car and I can do that once a quarter, Chavez explained. And if we feel that its a vehicle, enough to where we can get it running and its safe, I dont have the problem putting the money into it.

As for the repairs made to the Honda, Chavez had this to say: There is a warranty even two years on the work we did perform, so anything that happens, whatever we did, we are going to cover.

If youd like to learn more about Mikeys Total Car Care, click on the link above. The shop has been around since 2017 and is located at 6180 Lake Shore Court, just south of the North Powers Boulevard and Constitution Avenue intersection.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
Ukraine's 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade dismissed on April 27 a news story by the Associated Press (AP), which said that Ukrainian forces withdrew U.S.-supplied Abrams tanks from the front.

"The tanks are doing a great job on the battlefield, and we are definitely not going to hide from the enemy what makes them hide. Furthermore, we will not leave our infantry without powerful fire support," the unit that operates the American tanks said on Telegram.

The AP wrote on April 25 that, according to two U.S. military officials, Ukrainian forces had pulled Abrams tanks from the front lines due to the high risk of detection by Russian drones.

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 M1A1 tanks that Ukraine received in the fall of 2023 have already been lost on the battlefield, they said.

Commenting on the claims, the 47th Brigade urged their readers to trust only verified information.

"However, we will not publicly comment on for what purpose, where, or what is being transferred by the Armed Forces of Ukraine," the unit said.

The New York Times wrote back on April 20 that five Abrams tanks had been disabled over the past two months by Russian forces, while three more were moderately damaged.

The Ukrainian military has not confirmed these numbers, as it rarely comments on its own losses in the war.

Read also: What will it take for Ukraine to maintain and operate the M1 Abrams?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL)  The American Red Cross of Northeast Tennessee is hosting an event on Saturday through 2 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kingsport called Military Kids Serve Too.

Red Cross leaders said the event is free and open to the public, and features knockerball inflatables, bounce houses, arts and crafts, Eastman E-Vets and more community partners; all aiming to honor and support local military children.

Lunch is provided by Chefs Pizza, Red Cross leaders said. The event lasts until 2 p.m. on Saturday and the public is encouraged to stop by.







For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL)  Milligan University President Dr. Bill Greer was honored at Saturdays commencement ceremonies after announcing his retirement.

After years of dedication to the university, Dr. Greer and his wife Edwina were presented with a Fide et Amore award, Milligans highest honor.

News Channel 11 spoke with Dr. Greer about his time with the university.

It has been the honor of my life to serve as president of Milligan University. And as I wrap up that tenure here and move into the role of Chancellor, its just a really bittersweet moment because this is my favorite day.

Dr. Greer also talked about his legacy as president.

Commencement is really the culmination of our mission at Milligan University. Its a highlight of the year for our faculty and staff and certainly is for me in my time as president. Ive now given away and distributed over 4000 diplomas, which means 4000 Milligan alumni out in the world, impacting the world for good.

Dr. Greer was named the 15th Milligan University President in 2011. He holds degrees from Milligan University, East Tennessee State University, and the University of Tennessee. A lifelong resident of East Tennessee, he has a wife, two sons and three grandchildren. Dr. Greer has served on numerous corporate and community boards. He also has a book called Ethics and Uncertainty.

A total of 250 degrees were awarded at Saturdays commencement.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
Steve Baker in the YouTube video he posted of his encounter with the activist

A minister has revealed he triggered his MPs security device after being followed and filmed by a pro-Palestinian activist.

Steve Baker, the Northern Ireland minister, said he felt he needed to alert police because as an MP who has received death threats, I have to assume the situation will escalate.

Mr Baker posted a video on YouTube on Saturday of an exchange he had on the streets of his High Wycombe constituency with a male activist apparently from a group called Partners for Palestine.

The MP said the man had been following and filming him, criticising him about Gaza, as he knocked on doors to speak to constituents about Thursdays Police and Crime Commissioner election.

In response, the MP began filming the encounter too. The video posted by Mr Baker shows the activist keeping his distance but hurling invective at the MP over the fact he had not voted for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Protester hurled invective at MP

Youre a genocidal supporting MP, youre an extremist, youre a racist, the man says. High Wycombe wont be tainted by the blood of the murder of the Palestinian people, and this is what youre promoting literally.

Later in the video, the man asks Mr Baker if he has been doing his duty in Parliament for Israel.

Mr Baker replies: My duty in Parliament is to represent the people of Wycombe and for you to suggest that in some way Im serving Israel when I go to Parliament will be seen by the vast majority of people who watch this video for what it is, which is a ridiculous state of bias.

With the man continuing to follow him, Mr Baker activates a device around his neck which appears to connect him with a police control centre.

Sir David Amess was killed by an Islamic extremist who targeted him at his constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea - DOMINIC LIPINSKI/PA WIRE

Floral tributes were laid outside Westminster to Jo Cox, who was shot and stabbed by a neo-Nazi in her Yorkshire constituency - NICK EDWARDS

The MP says: Hello control centre, I dont think the young man whos with me is necessarily a threat to my physical security, he is keeping his distance.

But weve got a situation arising on the street so Id like you to stay where you are on the line please until the gentleman departs.

Mr Baker tells the man that he is stopping him from knocking on his constituents doors, explaining: I dont think I can reasonably ask people to open their doors and talk to me when you are continuing as you are.

I know how strongly you feel, but just again Id appeal to you and just so the public know, the reason Ive pressed the button on this device is because we do routinely get death threats and thats why Im wandering around and Ive got the control centre on the line.

The reason I need to walk around town with this button is that while you plainly are just following me around with this, I have to assume the situation will escalate.

First time MP had used his SOS device

After about 15 minutes, the man stops following and Mr Baker is able to walk away.

On Saturday, the MP posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that it was the first time he had used his SOS device.

The incident comes amid heightened concern for MPs safety, with the Government announcing a 31 million drive in February to protect politicians amid increased threats following the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Two MPs have been murdered in the last eight years, with the Labour MP Jo Cox killed by a neo-Nazi in 2016 and the Tory MP Sir David Amess killed by an Islamist extremist in 2021.

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.
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  Mint Butterfield, 16, has been missing in the San Francisco Bay Area for five days and deputies are asking for the publics help to find the teen.

Mint is considered a voluntary missing person who is at-risk, the Marin County Sheriffs Office said. Mints father is Stewart Butterfield, a billionaire businessman and former CEO of Slack.

The teenager was last seen at 10 p.m. on April 21 inside a house in Bolinas where the teen lives with their mother. Around 9 a.m. on April 22, Caterina Fake discovered that her child was missing and called 911.

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, the Sheriffs Office wrote.

Fake told investigators that Mint may have gone to the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco.

At this time, we have no information to believe that Mint was taken against their will, the Sheriffs Office wrote.

The Sheriffs Office wrote, Unfortunately, there has been misinformation disseminated through social media and other outlets regarding potential associates or persons who may know of Mints whereabouts. In collaboration with San Francisco Police Department, detectives from both agencies have attempted to find Mint, but have been unable to locate them.

Family searches for answers after girl, 15, dies in San Francisco driveway

Deputies entered Mints information into the Missing and Unidentified Persons System (MUPS) and sent out a bulletin to surrounding law enforcement agencies.

Anyone with information related to Mints whereabouts is asked to call the Marin County Sheriffs Office at 415-479-2311, or email tips@marinsheriff.org

Mint has reddish-brown curly hair and eyebrow piercings. The teen was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt, flannel pajama pants, and black boots, the Sheriffs Office said. Mint is five-feet-tall and weighs 100 pounds.

Stewart Butterfield and his ex-wife, Fake, co-founded Flickr. They sold the photography and image sharing website to Yahoo for $25 million in 2005, according to Yahoo News. Mints father later co-founded Slack, an office workplace messaging app.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
Arthur J. Gallagher (NYSE:AJG) First Quarter 2024 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: US$3.12b (up 20% from 1Q 2023).

Net income: US$608.4m (up 25% from 1Q 2023).

Profit margin: 20% (in line with 1Q 2023).

EPS: US$2.80 (up from US$2.29 in 1Q 2023).

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

Arthur J. Gallagher Meets Expectations

Revenue was in line with analyst estimates. Earnings per share (EPS) was also in line with analyst expectations.

Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 12% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 6.0% growth forecast for the Insurance industry in the US.

Performance of the American Insurance industry.

The company's shares are down 1.0% from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

You should learn about the 4 warning signs we've spotted with Arthur J. Gallagher.

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 firefighter putting out the fire. Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko has reported that the Russians had attacked the country's energy infrastructure in three oblasts on the night of 26-27 April. A shift supervisor has been injured and one energy worker has suffered concussion at one of the facilities.

Source: Ukrainian Energy Ministry

Details: Halushchenko noted that equipment has been damaged.

In particular, facilities were attacked in Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv oblasts.

The aftermath of the attacks is being ascertained, and work is ongoing to deal with it.

Support UP or become our patron!
UPDATE 9:17 p.m.  Columbus Police have located Robert Johnson.

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  The Columbus Police Department is asking for the publics help with finding a critically missing man.

Robert Jordan, 66, was last seen Thursday, April 25 at about 3:30 p.m. in the 1100 block of Lawyers Lane. According to CPD, Jordan has dementia with memory loss.

Jordan was wearing beige pants with a jacket and hat of unknown color. His shoes were black, white and rust colored.

Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or Sgt. Moore at 706-570-4300.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
(FOX40.COM)  The mother of a 9-year-old boy who was reported missing was arrested, according to the Sacramento Police Department.

On Thursday, SPD sent out an alert to the public for assistance with locating the child. Police said he was a victim of parental abduction.

Sacramento Police searching for 9-year-old boy who was abducted

The missing child was found safe on Friday and returned to the care of his father. The mother, who police say is a non-custodial parent, was arrested in connection to kidnapping.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
A felon is now facing second-degree kidnapping charges days after a woman made a whispered call from the restroom of the Circle K on Highway 12 between Pasco and Wallula Junction.

The woman called 911 at 10 p.m. Monday, describing a domestic problem with her boyfriend Stephan Lee Cleveland, 26, of Walla Walla. He had a Washington state Department of Corrections warrant for escaping from community custody.

When a Walla Walla County Sheriffs deputy and Washington State Patrol trooper arrived, the woman got out of a Honda CRV she was driving and said Cleveland was hiding in the back.

Deputies ordered him to get out, but instead he climbed into the drivers seat and drove off with the womans 3-year-old son in the car, according to the sheriffs office.

WSP troopers chased him on the grounds of the suspected kidnapping. Cleveland drove south on Highway 730 from the Wallula Junction but after he crossed into Oregon, the Oregon State Police were able to stop him with a spike strip east of Umatilla.

The boy was rescued unharmed, but Cleveland ran into a Umatilla neighborhood and officers were unable to find him, even with the help of a police dog.

On Friday, the Walla Walla Police Department learned that Cleveland might be staying in a trailer that a detective had under surveillance on Stateline Road in Walla Walla County.

When Cleveland came outside, the SWAT team were called. But Cleveland sped off in a car, driving through a fence to avoid the arriving officers.

He drove at high speeds into Oregon and then back into Washington before he crashed on Peppers Bridge Road south of Walla Walla and ran. Hours later law enforcement found him barricaded inside a trailer, said officials.

Cleveland and another man in the trailer, Clarence George Gunter, 42, of Walla Walla, were taken to the Walla Walla County Jail.

Gunter is being held on felony fugitive charges, and Cleveland is being held on suspicion on second-degree kidnapping charges and taking a car without permission, in addition to his Washington warrant.
More Gen Zers could ditch college this fall  and some schools are worried they might never fully recover

More Gen Zers could ditch college this fall  and some schools are worried they might never fully recover

A college enrollment crisis is likely coming this fall.

It's a result of complications with the FAFSA form, along with a lower supply of high school seniors.

The impact of the enrollment decline could be long-lasting for both students and colleges.

High school graduates aren't going to college like they used to.

Katharine Meyer, a fellow at the Brown Center on Education Policy at the nonprofit Brookings Institution, told Business Insider that colleges are "very worried."

Over the past decade, a range of challenges have hit higher education: More jobs have become available in the past few years that don't require college degrees, Gen Zers have started to rethink whether the degree is worth the student debt, and, of course, the pandemic prompted some students to press pause on college or even drop out.

Overall enrollment for 18- to 24-year-olds declined from 41% in 2010 to 38% in 2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. While enrollment saw a resurgence following the pandemic, per the National Student Clearinghouse  undergraduate enrollment grew 1.2% in fall 2023, and freshman enrollment grew 0.8%  trouble could again be on the horizon.

The immediate concern for colleges and students is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, form. The Education Department announced last year that it was overhauling the form to make it easier for parents and students to access, but at the outset, the form's rollout was delayed. There were errors with some aid calculations, forcing some schools to push back their commitment deadlines to allow for more time for students to evaluate their award packages.

The delays and errors have meant fewer students are completing their FAFSA forms. According to the National College Attainment Network, 32.9% of high school seniors have completed the FAFSA through April 19, down 29% from the last academic year.

Based on how a drop in FAFSA submissions during Covid impacted enrollment in the fall of 2020, that's a pretty good indicator that college enrollment will be much lower this fall, MorraLee Keller, senior director of strategic programming at NCAN, told BI.

"At the rate that FAFSAs are being submitted this year, we can project out, unless something major happens, maybe a 10 to 15% drop in FAFSAs," Keller said, though she emphasized that there's still time for students to apply for financial aid if they haven't yet.

But it's not just the FAFSA. There's also a limited supply of high school seniors right now due to lower birth rates during the Great Recession. With a growing number of young people questioning the value of a college degree, enrollment-dependent institutions could suffer financial setbacks  or even shut down.

"I think all colleges are worried," Meyer said. "They're worried on different margins. Even the large institutions, the well-resourced institutions that have large endowments, they're still worried about getting their students through the door."

Students could face lasting setbacks

Most of the FAFSA issues will likely be resolved by this time next year. But some of the delays in early 2024 could have lasting implications. For example, enrollment is still down from pre-pandemic levels, which indicates that if students do not enroll this year due to issues accessing financial aid, they might choose never to enroll down the road.

That would mean that not only will colleges miss out on some graduating high school seniors  but they could also lose currently enrolled students who are forced to drop out because they could not navigate the financial aid system.

Meyer said this especially applies to "students at community colleges or less well-resourced four-year institutions where they're not able to get in touch with somebody to process financial aid."

"The institution doesn't have the ability to do some of the workarounds that other institutions are doing, and we'll see that retention rate go down as well," Meyer said.

FAFSA issues hit low-income families the hardest because they don't have the resources to assist them with the process, and they could lose out on higher education altogether because of it.

"We have across-the-board impact this year," Keller said. "There's so many less FAFSAs in that it's obviously affecting everybody. But the families that need the aid absolutely to pay for school have to be the largely impacted group."

Colleges will be forced to adjust  or shut down

It doesn't help matters that there's also a lower supply of 18-year-olds. The national birth rate declined by nearly 23% from 2007 to 2022, falling at a quicker rate right after the Great Recession.

Meyer said that colleges have been aware of this enrollment dip for a while, and said colleges have two options: convince more high school graduates to enroll or entice older adults back to school.

"Universities are thinking about this as more of a business model and thinking about how do they sustain enrollment so they could stay open," Meyer said. "And so those are sort of the numbers games of enrollment efforts."

However, enrollment declines have already stunted financial growth at some schools. Hodges University  a private Florida school  announced in August 2023 that it would be shutting down in 2024 due to enrollment declines "despite continuous efforts to adapt to changing educational landscapes and provide innovative programs."

Cazenovia College, a private school in New York, shut down in fall 2023, citing financial challenges from the pandemic and that "the population of college-aged individuals had been shrinking."

Meyer said she expects "there will be more closures than usual this year, particularly among these small, private liberal arts colleges."

Beyond that, as BI previously reported, 46% of Gen Zers don't think college is worth the cost, according to a July BI/YouGov survey  meaning colleges will have to put in the work to show that degrees from their institution will pay off. Some schools, like the Texas community college system, are already doing this by working to implement a school structure with funding based on student outcomes.

But the immediate enrollment shock will likely come this fall  and both students and colleges will feel the impact.

Are you a recent high school graduate not going to college? Share your story with this reporter at asheffey@businessinsider.com.

Read the original article on Business Insider
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Crime Stoppers of El Paso, Inc. distributes pictures of fugitives wanted by the El Paso Police Department and the El Paso County Sheriffs Office weekly through the Most Wanted feature. The following fugitives are individuals, which attempts to locate have been unsuccessful.

Vailolo, Donavan Savaii B/M

Vizcaya, Edmundo Justyn H/M

Montiel, Jose Everado H/M

Aguaro, George William H/M

Ocampo, Jose H/M

Macias, Brianna Nicole

Marquez-Rincon, Ivan Alfredo

Billingslea, Max

Rubio, Mario Alberto

Barraza, Cutberto Jacob

El Paso Police Department

Donovan Savaii Vailolo: Age 26; 60; 212 lbs.; black hair and brown eyes; wanted for abandon endanger of a child with intent to return, continuous violence against the family and unauthorized use of vehicle; $110,000 bond.

Edmundo Justyn Vizcaya: Age 17; 602; 260 lbs.; brown hair and brown eyes; wanted for aggravated robbery; $30,000 bond.

Jose Everado Montiel: Age 33; 510; 150 lbs.; brown hair and brown eyes; wanted for sale/distribution/display of harmful material to a minor; $20,000 bond.

George William Aguero: Age 26; 60; 342 lbs.; brown hair and brown eyes; wanted for burglary of habitation intend of other felony; $10,000 bond.

Jose Ocampo: Age 45; 510; 200 lbs.; black hair and brown eyes; wanted for two counts of burglary of vehicles.

El Paso County Sheriffs Office

Brianna Nicole Macias: Age 20; 54; 135 lbs.; brown hair and brown eyes; wanted for aggravated robbery and possession of marijuana; $100,000 bond.

Ivan Alfredo Marquez-Rincon: Age 30; 60; 130 lbs.; brown hair and black eyes; wanted for indecency with a child sexual contact; $75,000 bond.

Max Billingslea: Age 33; 60; 160 lbs.; brown hair and brown eyes; wanted for escape while arrested/confined felony, aggravated assault against a security officer, robbery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; no bond.

Mario Alberto Rubio: Age 37; wanted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; $50,000 bond; no other information was provided.

Cutberto Jacob Barraza: Age 27; 510; 187 lbs.; brown hair and hazel eyes; wanted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and assault with intent/reck breathing/circulation of a family member with previous IAT; $50,000 bond.

Anyone with information on the location of any of these fugitives should call Crime Stoppers of El Paso immediately at (915) 566-8477 (TIPS), or submit the information on-line at www.crimestoppersofelpaso.org.

You will remain anonymous, and if your tip leads to an arrest, you can qualify for a cash reward.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Motorcyclist killed in crash near Broadway Bridge in downtown Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A motorcyclist has died following a Friday evening crash in downtown Nashville.

According to the officials, the crash happened at approximately 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 26 in the 1100 block of Broadway.

Convicted felon with 100+ past offenses arrested for raping, kidnapping Amazon delivery worker

The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) said a preliminary investigation indicates that 21-year-old James White, of Lebanon, was traveling in the inbound lanes of Broadway on a BMW motorcycle at a high rate of speed.

White reportedly collided with the front corner of a Jeep Waggoneer, which was pulling out of a parking lot at 1101 Broadway. He was taken to a Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he died from his injuries, officials said.

According to MNPD, there were no signs of impairment on White or the driver of the Jeep.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Broadway was closed between Union Station and 12th Avenue South Friday evening as police continued to investigate. The roadway has since reopened.

No other information was released.

 Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go.

 Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox.

 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.
With only nine days left in the legislative session, Mississippi Senate and House lawmakers voted Friday to move forward revived legislation dealing with K-12 education funding, and a bill to reform contribution rates within the state retirement system.

On Thursday, the Senate introduced a suspension resolution that allowed the chamber to consider legislation that had previously been killed by legislative deadlines. The also passed that resolution Friday morning, allowing members of each chamber to work together on previously divisive legislation.

Earlier this year, the House and Senate both killed and revived legislation to rewrite the Mississippi Adequate Education Program with a new funding formula for K-12 education. The Senate also reintroduced efforts to change how the Public Employment Retirement System of Mississippi board makes changes to employer contribution rates into the state retirement system.

Here is what lawmakers did Friday, and what they will likely continue working on through the next few days as the session comes to a close.

House passes third attempt to K-12 education rewrite

House members took a third swipe at passing a new funding model for K-12 education by passing House Bill 4130, dubbed the Mississippi Student Funding Formula, or MSFF.

House Education Chair Rob Roberson, R-Starkville, speaks with House Speaker Jason White, R-West, following a vote to scrap the Mississippi Adequate Education Program at the Mississippi Capitol building in Jackson. On Friday, the House and Senate voted on revitalized versions of K-12 education funding and the state retirement system.

House Education Chairman Rob Roberson, R-Starkville, told the Clarion Ledger that he and his colleagues had been hammering out a final agreement on how to fund education with Senate leadership for the last two week.

"Hopefully it's the third time's the charm," Roberson said. "I think that that every time we've gone back and revisited, it's gotten a little better, it's gotten a little tighter in terms of what we're trying to accomplish. I certainly wouldn't want to throw shade on anything with the Senate, they brought out some good points, and honestly, in the long run, it makes the bill better."

Previously, the House and Senate had passed competing versions of education funding, with the Senate funding $2.94 billion through MAEP and the House passing the INSPIRE Act, which funded $3.001 billion, added weights to school district funding for specific needs and replaced MAEP's objective funding formula with a committee of education professionals to recommend funding changes in the future.

However, neither side could agree to fund the other's proposal, and House lawmakers were even prepared to hold off funding schools until the Senate agreed to negotiate the House proposal.

Read more about education struggle MS lawmakers still can't agree how to fund K-12 education. House reintroduces its own plan

The new bill includes an objective formula that is based around a base student cost of $6,695, which is $45 more per student than the INSPIRE Act. The SBC is factored from student enrollment and average teacher salaries.

However, the bill does account for funding shortfalls in districts that have declining populations. To address that concern and give school districts an opportunity to grow, for the first three years of the new program, no district will receive less funding than it did in FY 2024, which ends June 30.

The bill now heads over to the Senate, where it is likely to receive a warm welcome from both Senate leadership that helped draft HB 4130 and others.

"In the past several years, we have seen our schools and students achieve so much," Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann said after the bill passed through the House. "The Legislature has significantly raised teacher pay, addressed teacher workforce shortages, and increased funding for early education. The Senates past work on school funding and the compromise proposal we will hopefully pass this year is the next logical step."

Senate passes PERS legislation

Before the House dealt with K-12 education funding, the Senate passed Senate Bill 3231, which made changes to an employer contribution rate within PERS that is set to begin in July.

After more than an hour of debate, Senate lawmakers voted to approve freezing a 2% employer contribution rate increase, taking it from 17.7% to 19.7%.

Instead, the rate will increase by 0.5% every year for four years beginning in July. The bill would also require the PERS board to make contribution rate recommendations to the legislature accompanied by two financial reports backing up why the increase might be necessary. The legislature would then vote on any rate increases.

Before the vote, Sen. David Parker, R-Olive Branch, who also presented the bill, mentioned that shortfalls in funding that the rate increase would have addressed could be solved by a $100 million cash infusion from the legislature within the coming days.

There were previously two other attempts to change the contribution increase on public employers and also to replace elected board members with state appointees. Those bills both died by legislative deadlines.

What comes next?

Lawmakers have until Saturday night to file revenue bill conference reports detailing key funding measures and until Monday for general bills. Key pieces of legislation still to be decided include the education formula, changes to the state retirement system and Medicaid expansion.

There are nine days left in the 2024 session.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: MS Senate, House vote on separate bills to fund education, revise PERS
Pundits, including conservative media, trolled "Moscow Marjorie" Taylor Greene for the GOP Georgia congresswoman's opposition to aid for Ukraine, but Florida's Republican congressional delegation also solidly voted against the foreign aid package that contained billions for Israel and Taiwan as well.

On Tuesday night, GOP U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott voted no on the $95 billion aid bill of which roughly two-thirds of the dollars are earmarked for the beleaguered country trying to beat back a Russian invasion launched more than two years ago. On April 20, 14 of Florida's 20 Republican House members voted to reject the measure and its $61 billion for Ukraine.

The legislation passed Congress despite former President Donald Trump's complaint that America's allies in Europe should be shouldering more of the conflict's financial burden. "Why cant Europe equalize or match the money put in by the United States of America in order to help a Country in desperate need?" Trump asked rhetorically on social media as the House prepared to vote over the weekend.

Most Florida Republican lawmakers get F grades, a handful earn As for helping Ukraine

The advocacy group Republicans for Ukraine castigated Pensacola Congressman Matt Gaetz, who has demanded the end of assistance to Ukraine to force a peace deal, saying he is "parroting Russian propaganda" and Rubio for being "hypocritical" in claiming that stemming the flow of immigrants into the United States is a more serious priority given the senator voted against the border security package two months ago.

"It really is a representation of how the Republican Party has transformed with a new wave of isolationism," said John Conway, Republicans for Ukraine strategy director. "The Republican Party has fundamentally changed under the leadership of Donald Trump. It is unimaginable to think about a Republican Party not supporting our democratic allies abroad against a Russian invasion by a dictator. This is where the party is. It is now split."

The group, started by conservative commentator Bill Kristol and others, did give five Florida House Republicans A grades for their votes. Conway said their support helped push the aid package "across the finish line" demonstrated "it's more important to be supporting our democratic allies in Ukraine than fighting this battle at home between" Taylor Greene and Gaetz on one side "and pro-democracy Republicans at the other."

President Joe Biden signed the measure on Wednesday afternoon, and fired a salvo at the Trump-led Make America Great Again faction within the GOP.

"For months, while MAGA Republicans were blocking aid, Ukraine has been running out of artillery shells and ammunition," Biden said. "Meanwhile, [Russian leader Vladimir] Putins friends keep giving him  are keeping him well supplied. Iran sent him drones. North Korea has sent him ballistic missiles and artillery shells. China is providing components and know-how to boost Russia's defense production."

Florida GOP lawmakers cited border, Hamas, U.S. debt among reasons for no votes

Rubio, in remarks on the U.S. Senate floor, said he supported the assistance to Ukraine, as well as Israel and Taiwan, but called the measure "blackmail" to purportedly clear the way for legislation on the U.S. southern border. Rubio, said to be on Trump's running mate list, voted no on a border bill in February that was negotiated by conservative Republican U.S. Sen. James Lankford.

Scott said he is a "steadfast" supporter of Israel but argued the legislation lacked "safeguards, like my Stop Taxpayer Funding of Hamas Act" he insisted is necessary to prevent the Biden administration from appeasing "radical pro-Hamas extremists."

In the House, Florida's lawmakers joined scores of House Republicans in voting no, with Gainesville area U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack complaining that some members waved Ukrainian flags in the chamber after the vote.

Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene waves to guests while arriving at an event at Mar-a-Lago in April 2023.

But it was Greene who was most outspoken, even threatening to seek House Speaker Mike Johnson's ouster. That sparked the derision, with the New York Post headlining a cover Nyet, Moscow Marjorie and other media reporting that Russian state television lauded Greene as "a beauty" and "demonstrably heterosexual."

The six Florida Republicans who voted for the foreign assistance included U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami.

"The strategic alliance between our most dangerous adversaries, such as communist China, Russia and the terrorist State of Iran, poses a direct threat to our national security," Diaz-Balart said in a statement last week. "There is nothing our adversaries would love more than for the United States to fail to stand with our friends in their time of greatest need. We have no time to spare. Passage of this aid package is critical."

The lone Florida House Democrat to oppose the measure was U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost of Orlando.

Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: 'Moscow Florida'? GOP lawmakers also opposed foreign assistance measure
Theres still life in the old dog yet. At the age of 93, Rupert Murdoch is about to marry for the fifth time. And theres no doubt what the best, and by far the most expensive, wedding present from his family would be: To shut down Prince Harrys litigation against Murdochs British tabloids over their industrial-scale hacking.

This decades-old saga has already cost News Group Newspapers at least 1 billion ($1.25 billion) in settlements and legal costs. The next group of 45 cases, including Prince Harrys, are due to go to court next January.

Until now the Duke of Sussex has shown no sign of settling out of court. On the back of a huge settlement with the Daily Mirrors owners, he still wanted to take the adversary he most despises all the way to a trial that would very likely have required Murdoch himself to face cross-examination alongside other top NGN executives.

The case against Murdoch took a significantand, for the Murdochs, ominousturn last month. During a three-day hearing in a London court Harrys lawyers sought to update their lawsuit to include a tranche of new evidence that they claimed will prove that Murdoch himself and his closest executives knew far more about the hacking operations than they admitted.

Prince Harry May Deliver the Next Huge Blow to Murdochs Empire

More worrying for them was that the attempt to cover up the criminalization of their tabloid newsrooms had superseded in gravity the original crime, as the litigants most dangerous new evidence raises the possibility of criminal charges, including obstruction of justice and perjury.

The presiding judge, Mr. Justice Fancourt, said, If true, these allegations would establish very serious, deliberate wrongdoing at NGN, conducted on an institutional basis on a large scale. They would also, he said, establish a concerted effort to conceal wrongdoing.

This development was telegraphed a year ago when I reported that during the course of discovery, the litigants lawyers had found evidence that in 2011, when the breathtaking scale of the hacking by Murdochs Sunday tabloid, the News of the World, was first revealed, executives had wiped a trail of emails, destroyed hard drives and removed many boxes full of documents.

The full impact of this revelation became clear earlier this month, when Hugh Grant, represented by the same lawyers as Prince Harry, announced that he had settled with NGN for an enormous sum. Grant said he had done so because the amount was far larger than anything he would have won if successful in the court case.

He explained, I would love to see all the allegations they deny tested in court, but the rules around civil litigation mean that if I proceed to trial and the court awards me damages that are even a penny less than the settlement offer I would have to pay the legal costs of both sides. Rupert Murdochs lawyers are very expensive. So even if every allegation is proven in court, I would still be liable for something approaching 10 million in costs. Im afraid I am shying at that fence.

Its clear, therefore, that Murdoch was prepared to push the settlement sum so high that it safely exceeded anything likely to be awarded in court. This strategy is in keeping with what happened when Dominion Voting Systems sued Fox News for defamation, following frequent claims on Fox that the companys vote-counting machines had been rigged to favor Biden over Trump.

Days before that case was due to open in court, Fox settled for the jaw-dropping sum of $787.5 million. Dominions lawyers had unearthed multiple records showing that Fox executives knew the claims were false. It was likely that Murdoch himself would have been called to give evidence in court and, although he had no direct day-to-day oversight of Fox News, it was known he thought the claims were bizarre.

There seems no limit to what it costs to keep Murdoch from being exposed to cross-examination in court, aimed at making it clear that very little of any substance that occurs in his businesses escapes his notice. At the very least, from the onset of the hacking scandal, hes got away with the blind eye defense, leaving no direct fingerprints and, in the tabloid wars, incurious about how it was that his papers had so many scoops.

The one time he was called to public account was in London in 2011 before a House of Commons inquiry into the hacking at the News of the World.

At 80 years old he was still a forceful presence, and under pressure he denied that he was personally responsible for the criminalization of his newsroom. Who was responsible? The people I trusted to run it and maybe the people they trusted. And, with a masterfully thespian effort, he said, this is the most humble day of my life.

But that level of questioning by politicians was a lot less challenging than he would face in either a British or American court now. And at 93, Murdoch would not relish a public interrogation by lawyers armed with evidence exposing a lot more than was apparent in 2011 about who signed off on the hacking and who was involved in the subsequent cover-up.

For one thing, since 2011 Murdoch and his executives had, through their lawyers, maintained that only the News of the World was involved in hacking, not their best-selling daily, The Sun. That was never very convincing, and became less so in 2021 when the actress Sienna Miller settled a case with NGN that was specific to The Sun. It has now been rendered absurd because Hugh Grants epic settlement also involved The Sun (he made an earlier settlement involving the News of the World).

The part played by The Sun has become highly significant because the editor of The Sun from 2003 to 2009 was, in Murdochs eyes, his most valued newspaper executive, Rebekah Brooks, now the CEO of News UK, Murdochs remaining newspaper business there. The operation to shield Murdoch from ever appearing in court involves protecting her as much as it does him.

In fact, apart from Murdoch, Brooks is the most inscrutable player in the whole hacking saga. She rose to power in one of the most brutally misogynistic tabloid newsrooms. Once she achieved power her political shrewdness as she courted top politicians was regarded patronizingly by those who could not accept qualities in a woman that were common among male executives. Murdoch, however, was very happy to see the results of her ruthless ascent.

And Brooks proved to have a grasp of something Murdoch was never able to embrace, the need to move journalism from print to digital as advertising drained away to new platforms. The two most valuable titles in London, the daily The Times and the Sunday Times, have successfully made that transition under Brooks, and her hand is also visible in New York at the Wall Street Journal, whose editor-in-chief Emma Tucker was recruited from London, where she was editor of the Sunday Times and a deputy editor of The Times.

It must be a nightmare for Brooks that the stench of the hacking scandal has returned in full force. Hacking is a general term that covers a multitude of malevolent practices: not only the tapping of phones but blagging, the impersonation of people in order to gain access to private records, like medical history; the widespread deployment of unscrupulous private investigators; attaching bugs to cars to trace journeys. In the last year, to retrace this web, the lawyers for litigants have cast a wide net, interviewing more than 200 journalists, executives and private investigators.

Will Prince Harry press on in his declared mission to expose those who commissioned, directed and executed the darkest tabloid artsor will he receive an offer that even he cant refuse?

How Rupert Murdochs Final Grasp for Power Failed So Spectacularly

His lawyer, David Sherborne, sounded suddenly equivocal after the Hugh Grant settlement, The Duke of Sussex is subject to the same issues as Sienna Miller and Hugh Grant have been subject to, which is that offers are made that make it impossible for them to go ahead.

Rupert Murdoch, no longer involved in running his empire, usually enjoys a level of privacy that his papers rarely allow any celebrity. Last year he started dating Elena Zhukova, a 67-year-old retired molecular biologist, who is the mother of Dasha Zhukova, the former wife of Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich. Their marriage appears to be imminent. Such are the circles in which Murdoch moves.

The Murdoch family is one of the wealthiest media dynasties, on a par in wealth with the barons of the Gilded Age. In 2019 the patriarch pulled off the deal of his life, selling 21st Century Fox and major television assets to Disney for $71.3 billionthats $10 billion more than the aid package just assigned to Ukraine, or roughly equal to the GDP of Luxembourg.

All that money has coursed through the bank accounts of the Murdoch clan, enriching them to an extent nobody could have imagined when Murdoch launched his career from a small provincial paper in Adelaide, Australia. The businesses can well absorb the costs of making sure that the secrets of the hacking scandal go to the grave with Murdoch.

That is, unless they feel a little touch of Harry in the night.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
As you might know, AstraZeneca PLC (LON:AZN) just kicked off its latest quarterly results with some very strong numbers. The company beat expectations with revenues of US$13b arriving 7.2% ahead of forecasts. Statutory earnings per share (EPS) were US$1.41, 6.3% ahead of estimates. The analysts typically update their forecasts at each earnings report, and we can judge from their estimates whether their view of the company has changed or if there are any new concerns to be aware of. 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 AstraZeneca

Taking into account the latest results, the current consensus from AstraZeneca's 27 analysts is for revenues of US$51.1b in 2024. This would reflect a satisfactory 7.4% increase on its revenue over the past 12 months. Per-share earnings are expected to leap 34% to US$5.49. In the lead-up to this report, the analysts had been modelling revenues of US$50.8b and earnings per share (EPS) of US$5.53 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.

It will come as no surprise then, to learn that the consensus price target is largely unchanged at UK132. It could also be instructive to look at the range of analyst estimates, to evaluate how different the outlier opinions are from the mean. There are some variant perceptions on AstraZeneca, with the most bullish analyst valuing it at UK176 and the most bearish at UK105 per share. 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.

Looking at the bigger picture now, one of the ways we can make sense of these forecasts is to see how they measure up against both past performance and industry growth estimates. We would highlight that AstraZeneca's revenue growth is expected to slow, with the forecast 10% annualised growth rate until the end of 2024 being well below the historical 17% p.a. growth over the last five years. By way of comparison, the other companies in this industry with analyst coverage are forecast to grow their revenue at 5.6% annually. So it's pretty clear that, while AstraZeneca's revenue growth is expected to slow, it's still expected to grow faster than the industry itself.

The Bottom Line

The most obvious conclusion is that there's been no major change in the business' prospects in recent times, with the analysts holding their earnings forecasts steady, in line with previous estimates. Fortunately, they also reconfirmed their revenue numbers, suggesting that it's tracking in line with expectations. Additionally, our data suggests that revenue is expected to grow faster 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.

Story continues

With that in mind, we wouldn't be too quick to come to a conclusion on AstraZeneca. Long-term earnings power is much more important than next year's profits. We have forecasts for AstraZeneca going out to 2026, and you can see them free on our platform here.

Plus, you should also learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with AstraZeneca .

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.
Eyewitness News took a tour of the new Veterans Clinic in Volusia County.

 WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS

The Daytona Beach facility is located on north Williamson Boulevard and is just over 130,000 square feet.

Its a one stop shop for former service members that allows them to be seen by multiple doctors ranging from regular check-ups to dental and eye care.

Read: Leesburg pulls off Bikefest that almost didnt happen

Theres also in-house physical therapy, a lab and imaging center and mental health and homeless services.

Florida Sen. Tom Wright said it is the fifth largest VA clinic in the world, and there is room for expansion.

Read: First lady DeSantis, daughter assist in rescued manatee release

If they dont have it, we dont need it. Meaning its going to have every possible service we know of in 2024, if you will, said Wright.

Commissioner Stacy Cantu called the project one the city was proud to approve.

We have a large veteran population in Volusia County, explained Cantu.

Read: Some Dr. Phillips Center expansion plans indefinitely on hold

Veterans told WFTV that they often had issues accessing care at the previous clinic and sometimes could not find parking, which led to missed appointments.

The facility is open to all veterans, not just those from Volusia County.

Patients will be accepted beginning May 13.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
The first woman slated to launch to the moon has delivered one of the first trees grown from seeds recently flown there.



NASA astronaut Christina Koch presented a loblolly pine "Moon Tree" sapling to her home state of North Carolina on Wednesday (April 24). The tree began as one of more than 1,000 seeds that were flown around the moon on NASA's uncrewed Artemis 1 mission in 2022.



"With the planting of an Artemis Moon Tree today at the governor's mansion, North Carolina is firmly planting the roots of exploration for generations to come," said Koch, who is targeted to launch in late 2025 as a member of the Artemis 2 crew.



Koch's presentation marked one of the first deliveries to a new generation of Moon Tree stewards, whom NASA has selected from across the country. Koch's alma mater, White Oak High School in Jacksonville, North Carolina, is another of the chosen recipients.



"I used to dream about going to space by looking up through the pine trees, and so, it was just a really great symbol of our commitment to North Carolina, North Carolina's commitment back to NASA, and all the amazing universities here that produce people for the aerospace industry," said Koch according to The Daily News, the local newspaper in Jacksonville. "That whole Artemis generation that's coming up here and that we can't wait to see exploring space."

Related: NASA's Artemis program: Everything you need to know

a woman in a blue flight suit stands at a podium with two smiling people and the american flag behind her.

In addition to the loblolly pines, which are native to North Carolina, the Orion spacecraft that flew on Artemis 1 also carried sycamore, sweetgum, Douglas-fir and giant sequoia seeds on its 270,000-mile (435,000 kilometers), 25-day journey. Back on Earth, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service oversaw that the seeds germinated and grew into seedlings for their distribution as Artemis Moon Trees.



In August 2023, NASA put out a call for interested educational and community organizations to apply to grow a Moon Tree. The space agency chose recipients based on their ability to care for the various tree species and their position to use the tree's growth as an outreach tool in their neighborhoods, cities or states.



"Together, NASA and the Forest Service will deliver a piece of science history to communities across our nation," said Mike Kincaid, associate administrator of NASA's Office of STEM (science, engineering technology and math) engagement. "Through this partnership, future explorers, scientists and environmentalists will have the opportunity to nurture and be inspired by these Artemis artifacts in the community where they live, work and learn."



NASA is notifying the selected institutions in waves, with the first now underway, followed by groups in the fall of this year, spring 2025 and fall 2025. The agency plans to keep a record of the recipients on its website, noting the species of tree they received and their planting cycle.



Moon Tree hosts will also be invited to engage with the public at quarterly virtual gatherings beginning this summer.



A full list of the first, almost 50 recipients has yet to be made public, but according to a social media post, Mary Chapa Academy in Greenfield, California received a sapling on Thursday (April 25).

RELATED STORIES:

 Moon mission's living monuments: Apollo 14's 'Moon Trees' 45 years later

 The 10 greatest images from NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission

 The moon: Everything you need to know about Earth's companion

The idea for the Artemis 1 Moon Trees was grown out of a similar project carried out by Apollo 14 command module pilot Stuart Roosa, who as a former Forest Service smoke jumper launched with hundreds of tree seeds in his personal preference kit on the 1971 moon mission.

The Apollo Moon Tree seedlings were planted across the U.S., with many becoming part of the country's bicentennial celebration in 1976.

"A new era of Moon trees will one day stand tall in communities across America," said Bill Nelson, NASA's administrator. "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."

Follow collectSPACE.com on Facebook and on Twitter at @collectSPACE. Copyright 2024 collectSPACE.com. All rights reserved.
With LSD finally gaining mainstream acceptance  just last month, the FDA granted breakthrough status to an LSD formula to treat anxiety  author Norman Ohler investigates how it took so long for the drugs therapeutic benefits to be taken seriously.

His conclusion: Blame the Nazis.

Not only was the US government introduced to LSD through Nazi research, the Third Reich shaped much of the federal governments early attitudes around it and other psychedelics, Ohler writes in Tripped: Nazi Germany, the CIA, and the Dawn of the Psychedelic Age (Mariner Books), out now.

When the Nazis elicited a potential weaponized use for LSD, the drug was never able to shake that taint.

The Germans had access to LSD as early as 1943, thanks to the close relationship between Nazi biochemist Richard Kuhn, who was developing biochemical weapons for Hitler, and Werner Stoll, a Swiss psychiatrist who conducted the first scientific studies on LSD effects.

Tripped: Nazi Germany, the CIA, and the Dawn of the Psychedelic Age tells the story of the Third Reichs research on psychedelics influenced on the U.S. government.

But its unclear if LSD was part of the experiments at Dachau, where Nazi scientist Kurt Plotner used Jewish prisoners as test subjects in his search for a truth serum.

Dr. Plotners notes mysteriously disappeared just before the Nuremberg trials in 1945, likely by agents working for the US military-funded Alsos Mission, who wanted the subject kept secret, Ohler writes.

The US military was detemined to, in their words, exploit German science and technology for the benefit of America. With the help of Harvard researcher Henry K. Beecher  who realized Nazis likely used LSD because its easier than mescaline to dose patients without their knowledge  the top secret MKUltra program was launched in 1953 to investigate if psychedelics could be weaponized just as the Nazis intended.

When they discovered that LSD couldnt turn people into living puppets, the US government followed the other Nazi protocol when it came to drugs: Strict prohibition. Drug-users in Nazi Gemany were often sent to concentration camps.

When people think of LSD, they dont think of the Nazis, writes Ohler. And yet that unseen hand played a role in framing our laws. Time will tell if that Nazi thinking about LSD will become a thing of the past.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  A Raleigh firefighter is joining a group of volunteers called the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which seeks to bring aid into Gaza through the Mediterranean Sea.

Brian McGinnis told sister station CBS 17 that it was unbearable for him to watch the Israel-Hamas War unfold from the comfort of his home in Wendell, N.C. The Marine veteran says he believes hes meant to play a hands-on role in helping Palestinians in Gaza.

Video captures high-powered cars doing donuts before fleeing from Gastonia police

We are boarding the ship tomorrow. Thats great news. One step closer to departing, said McGinnis.

After multiple delays, the group is set to board the ships on April 26, but its still unclear when, or if, the Turkish government will allow the flotilla to embark. The mission includes delivering 5,000 tons of aid via the Mediterranean Sea, drawing attention to the backup of aid through land routes.

McGinnis said that he received a warm welcome in Turkey, where locals resonated with the groups solidarity with the Palestinians. He also said the days leading up to embarking include specific training on how to navigate any complications at sea.

Its really taken shape in my mind and all of our minds. We collectively comfort each other, and we feel stronger as a group, said McGinnis.

Meanwhile, McGinniss wife, Hanadee Ali, waits at their home in Wendell for her husband to return. Ali, who is a Palestinian herself, said that shes proud of McGinnis. She also told CBS 17 that her more relaxed demeanor is helping her stay positive while she waits for McGinnis to return home to her and their four kids.

Im relying on him and his team to get back safely, said Ali.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KRQE)  New Mexico State University (NMSU) is teaming up with an Oklahoma police department to encourage students to consider a career in law enforcement. Tulsa Police will offer paid internships for NMSU students, giving them hands-on experience while earning the last 15 credit hours of their degree.

KRQE asked the head of NMSUs Criminal Justice Department why they partnered with an out-of-state department when so many New Mexico agencies are trying to fill their ranks. They have a formal agreement with Tulsa because it is one of the last remaining cities in the country that require officers to hold a bachelors degree.

NMSU Extension launches food safety video game for kids

However, they do lend a hand in New Mexico recruitment on an informal level. They know the importance of education, and so they work with us as well. But its not something we have to formalize because the student can just sign up for an internship and it doesnt even have to be at the end of the class, officials say.

NMSU has also served as a pipeline for Tulsa PD for some time with around 60 Aggie alums currently on the force.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
No fire inspections for years at Cleveland high-rise before fire: I-Team

No fire inspections for years at Cleveland high-rise before fire: I-Team

CLEVELAND (WJW)  The FOX 8 I-Team found no records of regular fire safety inspections for years before flames broke out this month at a downtown high-rise apartment building.

We investigated since weve recently exposed many gaps in city fire safety checks.

Records show the last inspections at the Luckman Building had been done about four years ago. Two weeks ago, a fire at the Luckman exposed safety hazards.

Cleveland firefighters were called to the building at 12th and Chester.

The pipes burst and the water was just pelting us. Smoke started filling the hallways and everybody started sprinting down, said resident Andi Wilson. I ran from the 18th floor stairwell, all the way down.

Sex offender arrested after encounter at local park

We shared findings showing the most recent inspection records we could find were from 2020.

Disappointed, but not surprised, Wilson said. Everybody deserves to live in a healthy and safe environment.

Firefighters say the incident this month involved flames in a trash chute, but records show firefighters found blocked and locked emergency exits.

They also found the sprinkler system not working, the fire alarm system not working properly and building pipes bursting when needed by firefighters.

So, we did some digging to find the last time fire inspectors had been done in that building. We asked about sprinklers, alarms and pipes. The most recent inspection records show dates in 2020. Those records are signed by a private company and Cleveland Fire.

The fire chief recently told city council that inspectors get into every high-rise every year.

In the course of an entire year, we have covered all buildings. All these systems are covered, said Chief Anthony Luke at a public safety committee meeting.

Man charged with stabbing Maple Heights clinic worker multiple times

On that same day, he said the same thing to the I-Team.

So, youre in all those high-rise buildings every year? we asked.

All high-rise buildings, every year, the chief answered.

Yet, we recently found records showing alarm and sprinkler inspections in 2023 done in only about a third of the citys high-rises.

And now, the gap at the Luckman Building.

By phone, a man speaking for the ownership told the I-Team, It comes as a surprise to me to hear that. There have been three reputable property management companies maintaining the building.

Andi expects all fire regulations to be followed and enforced.

Yeah, those rules are in place for a very good reason, she said.

Cleveland Fire tells us the most serious problems found after that high-rise fire this month have been corrected.

However, the fire department would not make anyone available to answer questions on camera for the I-Team.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Norway to allocate $13.7 million for Ukrainian Leopard tank maintenance in Poland

The Norwegian Ministry of Defense revealed plans to provide up to $13.7 million for maintaining Leopard 2A4 tanks at a Polish maintenance center.

The funds will cover support, repair, and maintenance for the provided equipment, with technical assistance to be administered in Poland.

Additionally, Norway has recently donated military supplies worth approximately $91.3 million (1 billion NOK) to Ukraine, including artillery shells, anti-tank weapons, and minesweepers.

As part of a joint effort among the Nordic nations, Norway has assisted in the training of Ukrainian de-mining personnel, in Lithuania.

The Ministry of Defense reiterated its commitment to providing essential assistance to Ukraine.

We and our allies are clear about our long-term support for Ukraine. Ukraine can count on Norways steadfast support, Defense Minister Bjrn Arild Gram said.

Previously, Norway delivered eight German-made Leopard tanks as well as four support vehicles to Ukraine.

Read also: Norway to provide Ukraine with new contributions for air defense

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), along with other federal authorities, is investigating Fridays freight train derailment on the Arizona-New Mexico border.

The BNSF freight train was carrying gasoline and odorless propane when it derailed near Manuelito, New Mexico, according to the NTSB.

The derailed train caught fire, causing black smoke to come out of the cars, and resulted in the closure of the nearby interstate. No injuries were reported from the incident.

I-40 EB remains closed at US 191. Expect delays & seek an alternate route. There is no estimated time to reopen the highway, the Arizona Department of Transportation said on social media platform X.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is in charge of the investigation. NTSB personnel are traveling to the scene, according to NTSB.

FRA safety personnel arrived on the scene Friday night and will be working with state, Tribal and local agencies.

The Apache County Sheriffs Office, which was one of the law enforcement units that responded to the incident, said in an update the derailment is being treated as a hazardous materials incident.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) expressed concern regarding the incident.

I am deeply concerned about the train derailment along the Arizona-New Mexico border and am monitoring the situation closely, Hobbs said.  My administration is in contact with Secretary [Pete] Buttigieg and the New Mexican government. As we learn more about the situation on the ground, the State of Arizona stands ready to deploy the resources necessary to keep our communities safe.

Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said his administration was concerned about the safety and well-being of our citizens and those directly affected by this incident.

Nygren said he spoke with Buttigieg regarding the derailment.



My administration is working with the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Railroad Administration and BNSF to carry out precise evaluations of the incident, Nygren said in a statement. These specialists will join the resources from the Navajo Department of Health, Navajo Police Department and other tribal resources that are currently on the ground securing the impacted zone.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
NY AG Letitia James condemns Columbia encampment  even as she makes tens of thousands from university

State Attorney General Letitia James offered sharp criticism of Columbia Universitys anti-Israel student encampment this week  even as she pockets tens of thousands of dollars as a member of the university faculty.

The events that have occurred at Columbia University have been deeply concerning and painful for many, James said in a statement. When peaceful protest devolves into hate and antisemitic violence, the line is crossed and will not be tolerated. My office is monitoring the situation closely.

James has served as the William S. Beinecke Visiting Professor of Public Policy in the Faculty of International and Public Affairs since 2021, according to her faculty bio.

New York Attorney General Letitia James says she plans to continue teaching her course at Columbia. AP

Her class, Public Management Innovation, is part of the Executive MPA program for graduate students.

James co-teaches with William Eimicke, a veteran of Gov. Mario Cuomo and Mayor Bloombergs administrations.

Her office noted the New York Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government had given her the green light to teach the class.

She earned $15,000 from the part-time gig in 2023, and plans to teach again in 2024, with an expected $20,000 paycheck, according to a spokesperson.

Despite the widespread antisemitism plaguing the Ivy League campus  and criticism of the administrations lax response to it  James will not drop her gig.

Critics said she should as a moral imperative  and also because her office could potentially be in a position to prosecute hate crimes happening on the campus.

Columbia has been engulfed by anti-Israel student protests for more than a week. Getty Images

This is unacceptable for a public servant who must represent all constituents without bias. I am calling on Attorney General James to prioritize the interests of New Yorkers. I call on her to immediately resign from any faculty position she holds at Columbia University, return the funds, and reaffirm her commitment to serving the people of New York State with undivided loyalty and integrity, said Michael Henry, who ran against James in 2022 and is considering another stab at the AG office.

As State Attorney General, James has wide authority to take action against potential hate crimes happening at Columbia. This week, Khymani James, a leader of the Columbia protests, was busted in a video saying that Zionists dont deserve to live.

So far James office has taken no action.

James plans to recuse herself from any AG investigation of Columbia, her office said.

Columbia President Nemat Shafik has taken heat from students for an initial decision to use the NYPD to clear the encampment. AP

As AG, James has wide authority to take action against potential hate crimes happening at Columbia, according to reports. Getty Images

Columbia University has been engulfed by scandal since students erected an anti-Israel tent encampment on the university grounds.

After initially calling in the NYPD to clear out the mob, Columbia President Nemat Shafik has taken to negotiating with students, facing calls to resign both from progressives and most recently from House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Attorney General James has spent her career fighting against discrimination and protecting all our communities. Through her modest teaching role, she believes that she can have a positive impact on students at Columbia, especially at a time when its needed most, her office told The Post.
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.

Stay informed with The Christian Daily Newsletter Sign up

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.
Two congressional lawmakers from different sides of the aisle, both of whom represent New York, are introducing legislation in response to antisemitic protests that have created a hostile environment for Jewish students at Columbia University, putting their safety and well-being at risk.

Reps. Mike Lawler, a Republican, and Ritchie Torres, a Democrat, announced the College Oversight and Legal Updates Mandating Bias Investigations and Accountability (COLUMBIA) Act on Friday, which, if passed, would give the U.S. Department of Education the power to impose a third-party antisemitism monitor to colleges receiving federal funding.

"Rising antisemitism on our college campuses is a major concern, and we must act to ensure the safety of students," Lawler said. "If colleges will not step up to protect their students, Congress must act."

Under the proposed law, the Secretary of Education would appoint the monitor and set the terms and conditions of their work, while the college or university selected to be monitored would be responsible for paying the monitorship expenses.

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY MOVES TO HYBRID LEARNING ON MAIN CAMPUS AMID ANTISEMITIC PROTESTS

If passed, colleges and universities that fail to comply with the monitorship would face losing federal funding.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The appointed monitor will be responsible for creating and publishing an online quarterly report that evaluates progress on combating antisemitism at the college or university.

The report will also include recommendations for Congress, the Secretary of Education and others as needed.

COLUMBIA SETS DEADLINE FOR AGREEMENT WITH PROTESTERS, THREATENS ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS FOR CLEARING PROTESTERS

Anti-Israel supporters rally outside Columbia University on Tuesday in New York City.

"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," Torres said. "This past weeks crisis at Columbia is not an isolated incident  it is the straw that has broken the camels back  and I am prepared to do something about it. Thats why I am introducing the COLUMBIA Act today, and I urge all of my colleagues in the House, from both parties, to join me in this crucial action."

Students at Columbia and its sister school, Barnard College, have been camped out on campus while holding demonstrations in protest of Columbia's investments in companies with ties to Israel.

COLUMBIA SETS DEADLINE FOR AGREEMENT WITH PROTESTERS, THREATENS ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS FOR CLEARING PROTESTERS

An anti-Israel agitator encampment at Columbia University in New York City.

The protests are part of a wider progressive backlash against Israel's response to Hamas' Oct. 7 terror attacks against the Jewish state.

The protest at Columbia, and similar ones cropping up at colleges around the country, are now facing bipartisan backlash and accusations of having waded into antisemitic territory.

Videos popping up on social media show activists cheering on the deaths of Israeli soldiers and showing support for Hamas at Columbia University. Jewish students have also reported feeling unsafe on campus and shared stories of being verbally and physically assaulted.

Fox News Digital's Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.





Original article source: NY congressional reps introduce law forcing colleges to address antisemitism or face losing federal funds
Oak Hills High School Principal Michael Capps and Hesperia Unified School District Police Chief Steve Hinojos reached out to students and parents after a student with a loaded firearm was apprehended on campus on Tuesday.

In a letter, both Capps and Hinojos emphasized that there was only one suspect, no shots were ever fired, and no injuries were reported. Additionally, there is no evidence of any link between the firearm incident and the graffiti vandalism threats earlier this month, and there are no credible threats against the school at this time.

Capp started the letter by voicing his appreciation to school police and the Bulldog staff for following safety protocols, quickly apprehending the student and keeping everyone safe.

School officials reached out to Oak Hills High School students and parents on Thursday after a student with a loaded firearm was apprehended on campus on Tuesday.

I also appreciate you, our Bulldog families and our students, Capps said. You helped let our law enforcement and administrative teams handle the situation and I sincerely appreciate the overwhelming support and thanks we have received from you all on social media, the phone, and in person.

If you see something

Capp detailed the incident that took place at around 11 a.m. Tuesday when a student noticed what they thought looked like a gun in another students waistband.

Following the Bulldog policy of If you see something, say something the student reported what they saw to a teacher.

The teacher and student then reported it to an Oak Hills administrator who immediately notified the police officer on site, Capps said.

Hinojos said the school officer spoke with the student witness and identified the situation as possible credible information. The student then identified the suspect, who was possibly in possession of the weapon.

Loaded handgun recovered

The officer, along with several Oak Hills administrators, spoke with the suspect in a classroom, the chief said.

The officer made contact with the suspect and removed him from the classroom as per our protocol in this type of situation, Hinojos said. Once outside of the classroom, the suspect acted in a suspicious manner, attempting to remove something from his waistband and resisted being detained.

Hinojos said the suspect ran from the school police officer through the campus. After a short foot pursuit, the suspect was arrested.

A loaded handgun was recovered at the scene. There were never any shots fired and no one was injured, the chief said.

More: Oak Hills High School student arrested after bringing loaded gun to campus

Code Red Lockdown

Capps said simultaneously, the Oak Hills front office staff called for a Code Red Lockdown to keep students and staff in class and safe.

The officers questioned the suspect and investigated the situation to ascertain if there were any other threats or additional suspects at the school, Hinojos said.

Capps explained that the on-campus investigation included other students being brought to the office for questioning while the school remained in lockdown as is the protocol.

However, rumors of multiple students being involved are not true as there is only one suspect, Capps added.

Hinojos said with the help of Oak Hills High School administrators, the California Highway Patrol, and San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputies, the investigation was completed and Oak Hills administrators were authorized to lift the campus lockdown.

The office was able to help the several hundred families that picked their child up early and sent the call out to parents shortly before dismissal," Capps said.

The arrest, rumors quelled

According to Hinojos, the 15-year-old boy was arrested and booked on suspicion of possessing a firearm on school grounds, possession of a stolen firearm and resisting arrest.

The firearm was confiscated by school police officers and will remain in their custody until this case is resolved, the chief stated.

Hinojos emphasized that there was only one suspect in the incident and that there is absolutely no evidence that the acts of this single subject are in any way linked to the graffiti vandalism threats against Oak Hills earlier this month.

We are aware of social media rumors being spread regarding further threats against Oak Hills High School, Hinojos stated. As of right now we can find no validity to these rumors.

A "threatening video" circulating online caught the attention of police and school administrators on Thursday. The video, which did not mention Oak Hills High School by name, depicted "several males in a home, wearing hoodies and cursing several individuals by first name while covering their faces," school officials said in a written statement. "One of the individuals appears to be holding a weapon."

A heightened law enforcement presence was brought to the campus on Friday "out of an abundance of caution," the statement said.

More: 'Threatening video' posted online prompts law enforcement response at Oak Hills High School

Despite no credible threats against Oak Hills High School or any district schools, out of an abundance of caution, school police will maintain an elevated law enforcement presence at Oak Hills High School, Hinojos said.

We are also offering counseling services to students and staff to help with the impact of this incident, Capps said. Although this is a situation that we all wished we would never have to deal with, I am thankful that my team and law enforcement followed protocol and took immediate action with the safety of students and staff as priority #1.

Capps stated that parents and students should contact the Oak Hills front office with questions or if they need counseling support. Oak Hills High School can be reached at 760-244-2283.

Anyone with information on the firearm on-campus incident can reach Hesperia School Police at 760- 244-1091. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can contact the We-Tip Hotline at 800-78-CRIME (27463) or wetip.com.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Oak Hills High principal, police discuss firearm on campus incident
Officials in Namibia criticize tourists who took nude photos atop the Big Daddy dune at national park

Namibian officials have criticized tourists who took nude photos at one of its national parks.

One government official called the behavior "disgusting."

Another said he was "shocked at the extent to which people could go."

Officials in Namibia have threatened to blacklist a group of tourists who posed for nude photos atop the Big Daddy dune at one of the country's national parks.

Local outlets first reported that incident on Wednesday, writing that visitors were surprised when they discovered the group of tourists. Big Daddy is one of the dunes found at the Namib-Naukluft National Park, according to the Global Alliance of National Parks.

Photos of the tourists in question have been shared on social media.

Kenneth Nependa, a vice-chairperson for the Federation of Namibian Tourism Association, told the Namibian Sun he was "beyond shocked" when he saw the images. Nependa added that he did not have details about the incident.

The Big Daddy dune. Wolfgang Kaehler/Getty Images

"I was like, 'What the hell is going on right now?' I read a little bit of the information that was shared, but as to where it happened and how it happened, I do not know," he said.

Nependa told the outlet that the behavior was "disgusting."

"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," he said.

Nepanda added that he's concerned other tourists might emulate the behavior.

"This happened during broad daylight, and visitors saw them. The ministry should really speak up and warn tourists that if this were to happen, the law will take its course," he said.

Romeo Muyunda, a spokesperson for Namibia's Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, echoed Nepanda's sentiment in a statement to The Namibian.

"We condemn this action strongly. We can look into the possibility of blacklisting them from entering any of our parks," Muyunda told the outlet.

Both Muyunda and Nepanda said the behavior is public indecency, which violates the national park's rules and local laws.

Tourist at the base of a dune at Namib-Naukluft National Park. VW Pics/Getty Images

"We condemn this type of action as it does not only go against our morals but also violates the country's laws," Muyunda told The Namibian.

Nepanda told the Namibian Sun: "It is public indecency. It is really something that is not supposed to be allowed in our parks. It is not supposed to be allowed anywhere in Namibia, because this is just a disgrace. It is very sickening and it really [creates] a bad image for Namibia."

Representatives for the Federation of Namibian Tourism Association and The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Police are describing the fatal shootings Monday of the Candy family in Yukon as a murder-suicide and a "massacre." But Jonathon Candys actions also carry a different name: "family annihilation," a violent phenomenon that each year takes hundreds of lives across the United States  and one that has shocked Oklahoma communities more than a dozen times since 2020.

Family annihilation, or familicide, occurs when an individual kills multiple family members  typically children, spouses or partners, and parents  in rapid succession. A majority of cases also end in suicide after the killer takes their own life.

According to data examined during a 2023 investigation by the Indianapolis Star  which, along with The Oklahoman, is part of the USA TODAY Network  there were at least six cases of family annihilation in Oklahoma between 2020 and 2023. Further research by The Oklahoman showed at least eight additional cases have been reported during and after the data analysis period.

In contrast, Texas has had at least 33 family annihilation incidents since 2020, while California has had at least eight, according to the database.

More: Candy family: What we know about the Yukon-area family whose 'souls radiated brightness'

From 2020 to 2022, the nation averaged 65 cases, with the highest being 73 in 2022, according to the Indianapolis Star. Texas, meanwhile, averaged 10 a year, while an examination from The Oklahoman showed Oklahoma is seeing an average of four a year.

Across the United States, the overall victim count from family annihilation averages 223 deaths a year.

The Oklahoma City Police Department, the lead investigative agency on the Candy familicide, said Tuesday the reason behind the murders "remains a mystery." As of Friday, police said the investigation had been closed.

What are the different types of family violence?

Julie Kafka, a postdoctoral scholar in the Firearm Injury & Policy Research Program at the University of Washington, is also an expert in intimate partner and family violence. She said people attempting to study family annihilation cases typically separate them into two psychological approaches: "murder by proxy" and "suicide by proxy."

For the "murder by proxy" theory, the killer sees the children as an extension of the victim and kills them as a final act of control. In the "suicide by proxy" theory, the annihilator kills their family because they feel they can no longer provide for them, deciding they want to take their own life but can't bear to leave the pain behind. This theory also draws from literature describing what sociologists call "anomic suicides."

"It's coming from this more suicidal place and that person just feeling possession and responsibility for the family  a kind of misguided altruism that theyre sparing the familys suffering by taking them with them, Kafka said.

Kafka further explained that "family annihilation" cases, compared with other crimes, are rare, but are difficult to study due to victims and perpetrators so often not living to tell about them. The criteria for what counts as a "family annihilation" also varies state by state and agency to agency, with some uncertain if a familicide should be defined by the deaths of a spouse and a family member or by two or three family members.

"But I think overall, what we can tell is, most often, these are tied to domestic violence histories," Kafka said. "These events dont just come out of the blue, theres usually some kind of violence history, warning patterns, psychological instability  but its not always clear to outsiders. Its not necessarily like theres something diagnosed. Unfortunately, the people who would see these warning signs most apparently are the ones who are no longer around."

What are the likely scenarios leading up to 'family annihilation'?

The Indianapolis Star examined 227 known "family annihilation" cases that occurred from Jan. 1, 2020, to April 30, 2023, and found several common threads in the tragedies that killed more than 750 people.

In a majority of cases, neither the police nor surviving family publicly disclosed a motive or other key stressors preceding the killings. As a result, contributing factors are likely underrepresented, but the cases still show a number of revelatory patterns.

Three scenarios frequently showed up in the "family annihilator" case data: Men who killed their wives, girlfriends and children; young men who killed their parents and siblings; and couples who killed their children together and then themselves.

Other findings included:

The killer was a male in 94% of the cases.

Primary risk factors include histories of domestic violence, substance abuse and access to guns.

A gun was used in about 86% of cases. Other methods include stabbing, strangulation, blunt force trauma, asphyxiation and arson.

More than three-quarters of the cases occurred in the South and the Midwest. Texas had the most  at least 33  followed by Florida, Arizona and Ohio. Only 10 states and the District of Columbia had none.

More: What's behind the growing trend of a person, most often a man, killing their own family?

How many instances of 'family annihilation' have happened?

Recent cases in Oklahoma

Notable incidents of "family annihilation" have occurred in Oklahoma since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

More: Texas leads the nation in 'family annihilation' cases, study finds

Can cases of family annihilation be prevented?

The most extreme of those affected by domestic violence, "family annihilation" victims represent a fraction of the more than 15,000 men, women and children who die each year by the hand of a loved one or relative.

Domestic violence and abuse in Oklahoma is an epidemic of its own. Nearly half of all women in Oklahoma experience intimate partner violence at some point in their lives  the highest rate in the United States, according to data from the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey.

Oklahoma consistently has been ranked among the top 10 states for women killed by men in single-victim/single-offender incidents over the past three decades.

But because of the various problems in studying familicide across the country, Kafka said it is difficult to draw a direct correlation between Oklahomas high domestic violence rates and the number of family annihilation cases.

She has admitted, however, that it wouldnt surprise her. For decades, the state has long lagged behind in mental health services, providers and professionals.

Justin and Haydon Webster, the father and brother of Ivy Webster who was found dead in May 2023, visit the site where Ivys body was found in Henryetta.

"Its hard to draw a cause and effect, but I would also say its very likely that if we could increase funding and access to mental health services, domestic violence services, I would imagine we would have a better time of preventing these kinds of events," Kafka said. "And I think part of that also comes from trying to decrease the stigma around people saying they need help or getting their family members help that is needed."

But the stigma around both mental health care and domestic violence support programs is persistent and thorny, Kafka said, and it's often led to a misconception that the majority of people dealing with mental health struggles are violent threats to society. At the same time, however, experts agree that the best predictor of domestic violence is past behavior.

"I think that addressing domestic violence in a holistic way would tailor supports for children who might be exposed in the home, the victim survivor themselves, and the person whos perpetrating harm," Kafka said. "Were seeing now for the first time some really convincing evidence that there are ways we can help people stop being abusive, but theres just not a lot of infrastructure yet to have those programs up and running. I think thats a really big piece of the puzzle that we need to be thinking about as far as solutions, and I think mental health access and supports is also a piece of that."

Editor's note: If you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts, addictive tendencies, stress and other mental health issues, you can call or text 988, Oklahoma's Mental Health Hotline, or call 911.

Former Indianapolis Star reporter Mary Claire Molloy contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Family annihilation: Oklahoma grapples with American phenomenon
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is "playing along with Russian aggression," Ukraine's Chief Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said on April 27.

Earlier this year, a media investigation found that Russia's national branch, the Russian Red Cross (RRC), violated its core principles of neutrality and independence by expanding operations into occupied territories of Ukraine while also using Russian government funds to mold it into a propaganda tool.

Only the International Committee of the Red Cross is allowed to operate in war zones. National branches of the Red Cross can work in other countries only with the permission of the hosting state, and Ukraine has not extended such permission to the RRC.

Lubinets said that the ICRC claims that the RRC does not have a presence in the occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions, but "not a single word has been said that the Red Cross operates on the territory of Crimea."

The Russian branch also "stole the property of the national Red Cross Society of Ukraine in Crimea," Lubinets added.

He also criticized alleged associations between the RRC and the Russian government-owned "summer camp" Artek. Artek has received Ukrainian children placed in "patriotic" re-education programs and prevented from returning to their families, while the camp's director has organized Russian military and patriotic camps for Ukrainian children in Crimea.

Last month, Lubinets called on the ICRC to launch an investigation into the activities of the RRC for violating principles of neutrality.

"Previously, the media reported that the Russian Red Cross cooperated with the Artek camp in occupied Crimea. It was also said that the director of this camp was sanctioned for his involvement in the deportation of Ukrainian children. At the same time, the federation's conclusions currently state only that 'partnership with the Artek camp requires a serious review.' These words are pitiful because when there are facts, action is needed, not consideration of the situation from different sides," Lubinets said.

Lubinets stated that the ICRC's response seems like an attempt to save the reputation of the RRC while also exposing the powerlessness and obsolescence of the system.

According to the Ukrainian Ombudsman, the ICRC promised to "introduce courses on international humanitarian law" to the staff of the RRC to "better hide their [RRC's] crimes."

"At the same time, it is said that in the future, the group of the federation, which was created to check the actions of the RRC, will provide its conclusions within the next four months. I consider such actions on the part of the ICRC to be a direct abetment of the aggression of the Russian Federation," he added.

Previous investigations into the RRC revealed that supposed RRC employees insulted and abused Ukrainian prisoners of war. Additionally, under the leadership of Pavel Savchuk, a Kremlin loyalist who held a position in the pro-Vladimir Putin All-Russia People's Front (ONF) political group, the RRC has reportedly cooperated with sanctioned organizations involved in raising funds for the Russian military.

The RRC has also handed out awards for "humanitarian contributions" to companies creating weapons used against Ukraine. For example, the Avangard factory, which produces S-300 and S-400 missiles, was reportedly awarded by the RRC for increasing blood donations from its workers.

The RRC's staff have made public statements in support of Russia's war, promoting Russian propaganda narratives.

Lubinets said that the new ICRC chief, Kate Forbes, is ready to hold a meeting with him, during which he plans to raise these issues.

Read also: Ombudsman asks UN, Red Cross to investigate execution of Ukrainian POWs in Avdiivka

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A person is in critical condition after a shooting in northeast Columbus Friday night.

According to Columbus Police dispatchers, police were called to the 1800 block of Schrock Road around 8:12 p.m. on reports of a shooting. At the scene, officers found the victim lying in the road.

One person was transported to Riverside Methodist Hospital in critical condition and is expected to survive their injuries.

Police say there is no suspect information at this time.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  One person was shot in Northeast Oklahoma City.

Authorities confirmed that they located the victim who had been shot near Northeast 47th St. and North Prospect Ave. The victim has been transported to a local hospital with their condition currently unknown.

No current information on the suspect.

One person shot in NE Oklahoma City

No further details are available at this time.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., no doubt hoped that House Republicans efforts to impeach President Joe Biden would end in a glorious victory. As chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, Comer has poured everything into his crusade to take Biden down, with no witness too sketchy to rely on, no theory too preposterous to consider, and no allegation too absurd to shout. In the end, he and his compatriots were sure, the full horror of the presidents misdeeds would be exposed, the public would recoil in disgust and Republicans would get a Biden scandal to balance the mountain of scandals around the Trump administration. Even if a conviction in the Senate was out of reach, it would be impossible for a humiliated Biden to be re-elected.

Things have not worked out the way Comer and his colleagues wished. The only ones humiliated were the bush-league Javerts of the GOP. CNN has reported that Comer recently approached one of his Republican colleagues and made a blunt admission: He was ready to be done with the impeachment inquiry into Biden. And Republicans  and their media allies  are hoping you forget all about it.

The Oversight Committee has long been a key forum for the opposition to bedevil the president; it can issue subpoenas, hold hearings and release reports, all in service of its mission to keep tabs on the government. Instead of stocking the committee with the caucus best and brightest, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy granted committee seats to the House GOPs most ridiculous blowhards, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Green, Lauren Boebert and Paul Gosar.

At the first official impeachment hearing last September, the Republicans own star expert witness admitted that there was no evidence Biden had committed impeachable crimes. One Republican aide called the hearing an unmitigated disaster. And it got no better from there.

In between hearings, Comer and other members would go on TV and toss out words like bribery and money laundering. They alleged that various interests directed millions of dollars into the presidents pocket, without ever being able to back up their claims. This is one of the biggest crimes that Ive ever studied, with respect to American history, said Comer. The exact details were less clear: We know [the Biden family] got tens of millions of dollars from bad people in bad countries. We dont know what exactly they did, Comer explained at one point. But that just proved what a masterful criminal Biden was.

Again and again, theyd find some new piece of information, rush to the cameras to proclaim that they had located the smoking gun, then watch as their claims collapsed when the mundane truth came out. The presidents brother James Biden gave his brother $200,000 in 2018, Comer breathlessly revealed. Surely there was something fishy going on! But it turned out to be the repayment of a loan the future president gave James two months before. The fact that the check had loan repayment written on it might have been a clue.

As the months wore on, the investigation grew more farcical. One key witness whom Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, had touted as a highly credible confidential human source turned out to be under indictment for lying to the FBI and falsifying records, and may have been working with Russian intelligence. Each hearing was more absurd than the last, with witnesses shredding the case against Biden and Democrats mocking their Republican colleagues mercilessly.

The Republican case has always revolved around the presidents pitiable son Hunter, whose struggles with addiction and sometimes dissolute lifestyle are well known. In between displaying his nude selfies, Republicans professed outrage that Hunter traded on his family name  a timeless habit of the well-connected that never aroused Republicans ire when, say, Donald Trumps family did it. Their obsession with Hunter was so intense that even when the presidents son was indicted on tax and gun charges by the Justice Department, Comer spun it as a cover-up.

But as the serial pratfalls of the committee continued, Comer and others realized this was a lost cause. So has the conservative media: In 2023 there were an astonishing 325 segments about Hunter Biden on Sean Hannitys program alone. Once it became clear that impeachment was fizzling out, Fox News stopped talking about the subject.

That silence only drives home that these hearings werent designed to root out corruption, but to score political points. You might recall that Trump was first impeached for pressuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to open a sham investigation of Biden in order to discredit him ahead of the 2020 election. Comer and House Republicans delivered what Zelenskyy refused to.

And yet, despite the best efforts of the House GOPs worst people, the investigation did not find any corruption. Thats not to say Biden is a paragon of ethical purity; hes done a few questionable things, like taking a position at the University of Pennsylvania after his vice presidency that involved a healthy salary and few responsibilities. That kind of sweetheart deal may be a little unseemly, but its neither illegal nor particularly uncommon for someone in his position.

Corruption, however, is something very different  and theres never been any credible evidence that Biden is corrupt at all. The fruitless quest to find something criminal Biden did is particularly ironic given that Republicans are working so hard to return possibly the most corrupt president in history to the White House. Even now, they support him as he argues to the Supreme Court that presidents must be immune from prosecution for any crimes they might commit while in office. So if they want to find corruption, they know where they can look.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Chuka Umunna served in the shadow Cabinet under Ed Miliband and is now a senior banker at JP Morgan - Heathcliff O'Malley

The former shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna is lobbying Labour on behalf of a Czech billionaire in a bid to push through his takeover of Royal Mail.

Mr Umunna, who served in the shadow Cabinet under Ed Miliband and is now a senior banker at JP Morgan, is advising Daniel Kretinsky on his swoop for the 500-year-old postal service.

The former politician, who resigned from Labour in 2019, is believed to have played a role in brokering relationships between the party and Mr Kretinsky.

His involvement sparked a furious backlash from the union representing postal workers, which took aim at corporate sleaze.

A spokesman for the Communications Workers Unions (CWU) said: That a failed politician turned investment banker like Chuka Umunna is in a position to influence decisions about Britains vital institutions is bad for the country as a whole.

The question of Britains crumbling infrastructure will be a burning topic in this years general election, and none have been more mismanaged in recent years than Royal Mail.

Labour should be steadfast in rejecting such corporate sleaze and support a stable model for Royal Mail that works for communities and the employees that serve them.

JP Morgan and Labour declined to comment. Mr Umunna was contacted for comment.

Earlier this month it emerged that Royal Mail had rebuffed a 3.1bn takeover bid from Mr Kretinsky, dubbed the Czech sphinx, sparking concerns among some politicians that a critical British asset could fall into the hands of a foreign buyer.

Mr Kretinsky's EP Group is expected to make a fresh offer for Royal Mail ahead of a May 15 deadline - David W Cerny/Reuters

The swoop is also facing opposition from the CWU, which is instead calling for a new ownership and governance model for Royal Mail.

Mr Kretinskys EP Group, which is expected to make a fresh offer ahead of a deadline of May 15 set under City takeover rules, has held meetings with union bosses in a bid to ease workers concerns.

One potential option being explored is an equity compensation scheme for employees, though sources cautioned that discussions were at an early stage and no firm plan had been made.

Labour, which expressed support for the compensation proposals, is thought to be open to a takeover of Royal Mail as it pushes for greater investment in the postal services creaking network.

The approach risks igniting tensions with the CWU, which has called for Royal Mail to be brought back into ownership. However, the union admitted that the current political climate makes delivering this very difficult.

Labour officials held discussions with union bosses on Friday to discuss the potential takeover.

Mr Umunna, who was one of the founding members of the short-lived Change UK party following his resignation from Labour, is now managing director and head of ESG across Europe, the Middle East and Africa at JP Morgan.

Story continues

He is part of a wider deal team at the US investment bank, led by Dwayne Lysaght, that is advising EP Group.

Mr Kretinskys company is also working with bankers at BNP Paribas and Citigroup. Royal Mail has hired Goldman Sachs Mark Sorrell, son of advertising tycoon Sir Martin Sorrell, to work on its defence alongside bankers at Barclays and Bank of America.

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.
Editors Note: Ian Berlin is a member of the Yale class of 2024 majoring in ethics, politics and economics. The views expressed in this commentary are his own. Read more opinion at CNN.

Last week, I sat in Yale Universitys Beinecke Plaza leading around 50 classmates in nigunim  wordless melodies from the Jewish Hasidic tradition  and other Jewish songs and prayers. As is typical when I sing nigunim, I went home that day feeling spiritually rejuvenated, but, unlike usual, most of those singing with me that day were not Jewish.

Ian Berlin - Ben Weiss

Thats because both Jewish and non-Jewish students, inspired by anti-Apartheid protests in Beinecke Plaza decades earlier, had gathered for a week-long sit-in to demand that Yale divest the portion of its endowment invested in the stocks of military contractors, which make the weapons Israel is currently using in its war with Hamas in Gaza. The students were protesting under the Occupy Beinecke coalition, which includes Yale Jews for Ceasefire, a group of Jewish students dedicated to fighting for a ceasefire in Gaza as well as sustainable peace and equality within the region.

In light of student arrests Monday morning  along with similar arrests at Columbia last week  campus clashes and concerns around antisemitism are once again in the news.

I do not deny that there has been a shocking and upsetting rise in antisemitism over the last few months, including several instances of antisemitism right at Yale and in New Haven. Last fall, one professors post on X (formerly Twitter) appearing to praise Hamas October 7th attack sparked a petition for her to be fired.

I have had countless painful conversations with close friends trying to explain to them how their rhetoric has at times minimized the killing and hostage-taking of Israeli Jews and how that language hurts their Jewish classmates, myself included.

But when people see pro-Palestinian protesters arrested at the same time as President Joe Biden and others are warning about a surge of antisemitism on college campuses, they apply the same tired framework  supposedly antisemitic pro-Palestine activists pitted against Jewish pro-Israel activists  to Yale. As a fourth-year Yale student, I find this characterization to be deeply frustrating, as it could not be further from the truth. At every turn, I have encountered a community of activists and organizers that is eager to listen, ready to learn and committed to including Jewish voices and perspectives.

For example, as part of the difficult work of building a pluralistic protest environment, the coalition has listened to Jewish voices in the collective decision-making on what language to use, ultimately agreeing to not lead chants such as, There is only one solution: Intifada revolution, that made some Jewish students feel unsafe. Although this chant has been heard on Yales campus, it was not approved or started by protest organizers as a result of this ongoing dialogue.

Last semester, I lit Chanukah candles outside Yale President Peter Saloveys house each night of the holiday, followed by communal singing and praying until the candles finished burning. We were demanding that Yale call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and commit to protecting campus free speech after Columbia University banned pro-Palestinian student groups. This semester, students have gathered weekly on Friday afternoons in Beinecke Plaza as Jewish classmates led even more singing and prayer in protest of the war in Gaza.

Throughout this past week, large student groups of many faiths frequently joined in singing Mi Shebeirach, the Jewish prayer for healing, and Olam Chesed Yibaneh, which calls for building a world where compassion leads. Last Saturday evening, fellow students led those assembled in havdalah, marking the end of Shabbat. And Monday night, students and New Haven residents collaborated to lead the community in a Passover seder  all on Yales campus.

These experiences have been deeply meaningful for me, not just on a political level, but also on a fundamentally spiritual one. To see Yale protests once again swept up in accusations of antisemitism denies this experience and invalidates the Jewishness of those calling for an end to the violence in Gaza.

Indeed, Yale Jews for Ceasefire exists because of  not in spite of  our Jewish values. On the issue of divestment, for example, the Talmud teaches us that we may not sell weapons to those we suspect of using them criminally. Therefore, we have a duty to disrupt the manufacture and sale of military weapons that kill others, including those killing Palestinians.

More than 1 million people in Gaza are on the brink of starvation, according to a recent UN report, and aid workers are still reeling after seven World Central Kitchen workers were killed in an Israeli airstrike earlier this month.

On Passover of all holidays, Jews are compelled to feel the suffering of oppressed people. We eat bitter herbs to remind ourselves of the bitterness of slavery in Egypt, and we dip parsley in salt water to symbolize the tears of our ancestors. The story of oppression is all too familiar to the Jewish people  and it is our duty to combat oppression in all its forms, for Jews and non-Jews alike.

We also teach the story of Nachshon, who took the first brave steps into the stormy Red Sea as the Jewish people fled Egypt. He did not know what would happen, but he had faith that he would make it to the other side. By stepping up in a precarious moment, he became a leader of his people, convincing them to follow in his footsteps  literally  into the unknown.

Our present moment is a precarious one for the Jewish people, fraught with disagreement about what our Jewish values mean to us. But Nachshon teaches us that when we have the courage to lead, we can encourage others to move forward with us, toward a world free of oppression and violence. At Yale, organizers of all faiths continue to build a community that is dedicated to moving forward in collaboration with, not opposition to, Jewish students.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
House Speaker Mike Johnson visited Columbia Universitys campus on Wednesday afternoon and said he would demand that President Joe Biden intervene in pro-Palestinian protests that have taken place on campus for over a week  including by potentially calling in the National Guard to dismantle encampments. His statement echoed calls from his Republican colleagues Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Josh Hawley, R-Mo., who have already asked for the National Guard to be sent in to clear out the protesters. (Cotton has also, in a now-deleted social media post, suggested that people should violently confront pro-Palestinian protesters on the streets.)

These Republicans calls for troops to be sent in to repress peaceful student protests are incredibly chilling. They also reflect the GOPs generally extreme attitudes on the Israel-Hamas war and intolerance of rhetoric remotely critical of Israel. For Johnson, trying to seize control of a wedge issue for Democrats using aggressive law-and-order rhetoric also provides a convenient opportunity for political stagecraft as he faces internal dissent in the House.

On-campus protests escalated last week when a group of Columbia University students pitched tents on one of the lawns on campus in the middle of the night to create what they called a Gaza Solidarity Encampment. As a Columbia University student and journalist explained in The Nation, the occupation was organized by the Columbia University Apartheid Divest coalition, Students for Justice in Palestine and the anti-Zionist Jewish group, Jewish Voice for Peace. They described themselves as operating within a long tradition of anti-racist and anti-war dissent at the university. Columbia University has a rich legacy of student activism, from Vietnam War protests in 1968 to being the first Ivy League school to divest from Apartheid South Africa in 1985, CUAD said in a statement. The Gaza Solidarity Encampment will remain until Columbia University divests all finances, including the endowment, from corporations that profit from Israeli apartheid, genocide, and occupation in Palestine.

In his remarks at Columbia, Johnson painted the campus as a violent hellscape overrun by lawless agitators who attack our innocent Jewish students. But Johnsons portrayal of a violent environment doesnt match the reality documented by NBC News reporter Antonia Hylton, who wrote about her time on campus last week: Our team spent long hours reporting on and around Columbias campus on Thursday & Friday.  I didnt see a single instance of violence or aggression on the lawn or at the student encampment. The student-led protest was peaceful and often very quiet. Hylton added that the only moments of conflict or aggression I witnessed took place beyond the gates, where nonstudent demonstrators gathered. Hyltons account of a generally peaceful environment on campus tracks with other news accounts, as well as descriptions of peaceful protest from Columbia University faculty and the Columbia Law School Human Rights Institute.

Despite the prevalence of calm, Columbia University last week called in the NYPD to disperse the protesters, and over 100 were arrested. The NYPD reported no violence at the encampments, and NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said, The students that were arrested were peaceful, offered no resistance whatsoever, and were saying what they wanted to say in a peaceful manner.

A reasonable person would take stock of this situation and realize that the protests are a university matter. Moreover, a reasonable person would note that Columbia  as well as many other colleges around the country where similar encampments have sprung up in recent weeks  has already deployed extreme and excessive force by calling in police to arrest peaceful protesters. These police raids at various campuses have resulted in the tasing of protesters, mass arrests of students and brutal detainment of faculty. The administrators of the ostensibly liberal bastion of academia have revealed their own illiberal and domineering tendencies when it comes to protests on this issue.

But Johnson and his colleagues sense opportunity in trying to make this a federal matter and calling for even more extreme escalation. Manufacturing the spectacle of college campuses overrun by unhinged leftist thugs allows the GOP to distract the public from Israels brutal and indiscriminate operation in Gaza, support for which has declined significantly among Americans. In a depraved appraisal of who deserves freedom to act as they wish and who doesnt, many Israel hawks (who exist in both parties, just in greater numbers in the GOP) peddle the idea that Israel has the right to total impunity for its violence, while advocating for aggressive repression of peaceful objections to that violence at home. Historically, college campuses have hosted and produced some of the most salient and well-organized anti-war dissent in America. Calling in the National Guard is an attempt to definitively crush these movements and temper their ability to sway public opinion.

Johnson also stands to raise his status within his own party from the absurd grandstanding. A huge part of the Republican caucus has been furious with him for his support for Ukraine aid, and MAGA firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has been threatening to attempt to topple him from the speakership. But Johnson can count on the party to unite behind him on Israel; he knows he will get full-throated support both from the more traditional parts of the party and the MAGA wing for expressing unyielding support for Israels military operation  and for painting its critics as madmen and terrorists.

Israels brutal operation in Gaza is a wedge issue for Democrats  and Republicans are hoping to capitalize on it. While Biden and much of the Democratic party establishment have defended Israels conduct, progressives, young people and an increasing number of moderates see Israels behavior as indefensible, and sometimes as genocidal. By taking the most aggressive conceivable position on the student protests, Republicans can try to woo Israel hawks in the Democratic Party.

Lost in all this obscene politicking is the core matter that the protests seek to draw attention to: Israels attacks on Gaza are killing tens of thousands of innocents and have ruined the lives of far more. Johnsons outrageous calls for repression not only distract us from something the U.S. has a responsibility to stop backing, but threaten to silence efforts to seek an end to the violence Israels government continues to carry out.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Hosted by Colin Jost of Saturday Night Live, the 2024 White House Correspondents Association Dinner will take place Saturday night. The show will be staged at that shrine to comedy, the Washington, D.C., Hilton. The event, which lets comedians mock powerful people (and lets powerful people, like President Joe Biden, live-action role-play being comedians) is usually a flaming hot mess atop a dumpster floating, languidly, in a lake of chunky sludge.

Let it remain so, always and forever! I mean, how often in history could this even happen? How often could a jester even dare and try to land one satiric drop kick to the maw of people holding the nuclear codes? How often do class clowns re-emerge decades later and exact vengeance on their obviously more intelligent and cunning high school classmates: the members of the nations news industry?

The WHCA Dinner is the Media Train Wreck Waiting to Happen that America Wants. And needs. The annual event rarely goes off without a hitch. In fact, the hitches are the whole reason for enduring its pomp and pretension (and Connecticut Avenue traffic).

Depending on whom you speak to, comedian Michelle Wolf either bombed or spoke truth to power in 2018. Her lacerating performance earned a rebuke from the usually demurring President Donald Trump himself. Event organizers vowed to no longer feature comedians at the event.

George W. Bush and his inner monologue, played by Steve Bridges. (Roger L. Wollenberg - Pool / Getty Images file)

In 2016, Larry Wilmore used the N-word in reference to President Barack Obama. The slur, Wilmore insisted, was used endearingly. Chaos ensued, as did a national conversation in which some Americans were first introduced to the concept of the hard r. Seth Meyers famously lit up Trump in 2011 for his birtherism. Later, Meyers would suggest (as did Republican operative Roger Stone) that his barbs spurred Trump to run for office.

Hasan Minhaj certainly got a few off in 2017, and alleged that he was told to cut it out by the president of the WHCA. Was it this joke that set off alarm bells? Is Steve Bannon here? I do not see Steve Bannon. I do NOT see Steve Bannon. Not see Steve Bannon. Nazi Steve Bannon.

NBC reports that pro-Palestinian activists, as with environmentalists last year, will protest the event. They have every right to demonstrate. I believe their goal of shutting it down, however, is misguided. Suppressing art and/or political speech, especially when the speech is neither an incitement to violence nor targeting any one group, is a terrible idea.

The aforementioned hitches suggest to me that many groups will be offended by evenings end. From the Israel Defense Forces to Columbias tent dwellers to the Democratic Party to Donald Trump to mainstream media outlets  everyone had better duck. Comedy almost never achieves its noble ends, but when it does, lots of people get punched in the face. And being victimized by a punchline is preferable to an actual punch. In some cases, it might be the best way to foster self-reflection.

And besides, the WHCA Dinner may have a socially redeeming function. The anthropologist Victor Turner observed that among the Ndembu people of Zambia it was customary for the king-elect to be subjected to a period of ritualistic humiliation. The purpose of the insults they absorbed  and rumor has it these monarchs got roasted hard by their soon-to-be subjects  was to instill humility. The initiation served to remind the anointed one of his sacred duty to rule judiciously.

So let the show go on. Let Biden, that lyrical criminal, rock the mic, and slay with his rapier wit. Let Jost gain even greater fame among his growing (and unique) fan base. And let all the celebrities, journos and pols who come to the Washington Hilton on Saturday visit the surrounding neighborhood after the show. As anyone familiar with the area knows, it boasts a colorful selection of local commerce in the form of cannabis boutiques, alcohol shops and a strip club. That and the irreverent comedy provide a fitting display of the indulgent freedoms many Americans hold dear.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek holds up a ceremonially signed copy of Senate Bill 1567 while members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Board of Trustees and elected state officials applaud on Thursday, April 25, outside of the Nixyaawii Governance Center in Mission. SB 1567 or the Walla Wall 2050 Strategic Plan calls for cooperative water management between Oregon and Washington in the Walla Walla Basin to help restore salmon. Standing from left to right are Board Member at Large Lisa Ganuelas, Rep. Bobbie Levy, Sen. Bill Hansell, Board Members at Large Steven Hart and Corinne Sams, Chairman Gary I. Burke, General Council Chairman Alan Crawford and Board Vice Chairman Aaron Ashley. (Photo/Lee Gavin - CTUIR)

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) on Thursday, April 25, welcomed Oregon Governor Tina Kotek for a visit that included a ceremonial signing of a bill calling for Oregon and Washington states to collaboratively resolve water issues facing the Walla Walla River.

Kotek began the day at the Nixyaawii Governance Center for an invocation and welcome reception from the Board of Trustees (Board) and CTUIR staff.

Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning.

We are honored by Gov. Tina Koteks visit to the Umatilla Indian Reservation, CTUIR Chairman Gary I. Burke said. Gov. Kotek has shown us that she is fulfilling her promise to learn in-depth about each of the nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon such that she and her administration can more effectively work with us as distinct, individual sovereign governments. We thank Gov. Kotek and her staff for taking the time to learn more about the Confederated Tribes, our tribal sovereignty, our treaty rights and the work we are doing here in Eastern Oregon and throughout our traditional use areas.

Koteks visit was part of her commitment to meet with Oregons nine federally recognized sovereign tribal nations in 2024.

Todays visit with CTUIR was about strengthening our knowledge of the tribes unique history, she said. The tribe is working on some exciting, innovative initiatives and the state of Oregon is ready to support the good work of CTUIR however we can. Id like to thank Chairman Burke, the Board of Trustees and all members of CTUIR for the hospitality theyve shown us as weve listened and learned in their community.

The welcome was followed by a private meeting with the Board to discuss CTUIR priorities and issues such as housing, energy, broadband expansion, health, water rights, treaty rights and regenerative agriculture, as well as fostering cooperation between the CTUIR and state.

Following the Yellowhawk tour, the governor and First Lady traveled to Thorn Hollow Bridge, which collapsed and was rendered inoperable during record-breaking floods on the Umatilla Indian Reservation in 2020. The bridge served as a connection between communities, residents and emergency services.

With funding to fix the county bridge available, Kotek told CTUIR officials that her office would inquire about the bridge projects status. So we should probably check to see where it sits in the queue for sure, she said. We will definitely look into it.

About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
Oregon man arrested in Illinois after alleged sex abuse of 3-year-old girl at Salem store

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  An Oregon man was arrested in a small suburb of Illinois after a mother accused him of sexually abusing her daughter in Salem.

Jason Patrick Mikel, 28, faces child sex abuse charges after a mom found her daughter in his arms at a store near 2700 Lancaster Drive NE on April 1, according to police.

Oregon Public Utilities Commission denies request to reject PGEs 7.3% rate increase

The childs mother reported that while shopping, she lost sight of her daughter and found the 3-year-old in Mikels arms, police said. The mother confronted the unknown suspect, who put the child down and fled the store.

Investigators said forensic evidence showed that the girl had been harmed in the encounter.

Drug crisis devastates small-town Oregon

On April 19, a grand jury in Marion County indicted Mikal for first-degree attempted unlawful sexual penetration, first-degree sex abuse and first-degree attempted kidnapping.

During the investigation, however, Mikel fled to Minooka, Ill. where he was arrested by the FBI, officials said. His extradition to Oregon is currently in progress.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Parents-to-be from Haiti stand at a gap in the U.S.-Mexico border wall after having traveled from South America to the United States on Dec. 10, 2021 in Yuma, Arizona. A group of Oregon Republicans plan to visit the border in Yuma next week. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

Sixteen Republican lawmakers and legislative candidates from Oregon plan to visit the Arizona-Mexico border on Monday, arguing that lax security around the southern border exacerbates the drug crisis in Oregon, 1,000 miles north.

The group, which includes about one-third of the Republican lawmakers in the Oregon Legislature and three candidates, plans to visit Yuma, Arizona, and meet with Arizona lawmakers in Phoenix. Theyll pay for the trip with personal or campaign funds, and a spokeswoman for Senate Republicans who will join the trip plans to use vacation time to attend.

Whos going to the border?

Sen. Tim Knopp, R-Bend

Sen. Fred Girod, R-Silverton

Rep. Vikki Breese-Iverson, R-Prineville

Sen. David Brock Smith, R-Port Orford

Sen. Kim Thatcher, R-Keizer

Rep. Greg Smith, R-Heppner

Rep. Court Boice, R-Gold Beach

Rep. Virgle Osborne, R-Roseburg

Rep. Boomer Wright, R-Coos Bay

Rep. Lucetta Elmer, R-McMinnville

Rep. Christine Goodwin, R-Canyonville

Rep. Dwayne Yunker, R-Grants Pass

Bruce Starr, Senate candidate from Dundee

Michael Summers, Senate candidate from Redmond

Keri Lopez, House candidate from Redmond

Many of the lawmakers attending the border tour signed a letter to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this year praising his standoff with the Biden administration over border issues. Abbott has put up razor wire on the border, bused tens of thousands of undocumented migrants to Democratic cities far from the border and blocked U.S. Border Patrol agents from accessing some land.

Sen. Tim Knopp, R-Bend, said the Oregon lawmakers letter to Abbott led to more connections with their colleagues in Arizona and Texas, resulting in an invitation to visit the border in Arizona. Despite Oregons distance from the southern border, he said Oregonians should be concerned about illegal immigration and drug smuggling.

We know that there are drugs coming over the border, and those end up in probably all states, but certainly in the western states, he said. Weve obviously seen some crime impact from people who have come in illegally. I think all of us want legal immigration, and recognize the need, but we also want to know whos in the country and right now, we dont, and that theres significant danger there.



Crime and immigration have been increasingly linked in Republican rhetoric, but researchers say immigrants of all sorts are less likely to commit crimes than American-born residents. Federal law enforcement reports that, while the southern border is a significant drug smuggling route, most of the drugs are brought by highly organized and compartmentalized Mexican organized crime groups, not immigrants and asylum seekers.

Knopp, who led Senate Republicans six-week 2023 walkout over abortion and transgender health care legislation, cant return to the Legislature next year because voters approved a constitutional amendment barring lawmakers who miss 10 or more days of floor sessions from reelection. He said he expects Oregon Republicans to introduce bills related to border security, immigration and crime  though what effect they could have when the federal government controls immigration policy and Democrats control Oregons legislative and executive branches remains to be seen.

The Oregon Republicans will participate in a tour of the border in Yuma led by Jonathan Lines, a Yuma County supervisor and former chairman of the Arizona Republican Party.

His itinerary for the Oregon Republicans includes walking along the border itself and seeing the different barriers erected on the orders of past administrations. Hell also take the visitors to meet with nongovernmental organizations and groups in Yuma, including visiting a local hospital and food bank. Theyll meet with leaders from Amberlys Place, a local child welfare center and hear from former Arizona Democratic state Sen. Amanda Aguirre, who leads the Regional Center for Border Health.

For many people, this is not real, he said. They see images.

Lines told the Capital Chronicle he has fielded many requests from elected officials and candidates  most of them Republicans, though Democrat-turned-independent candidate for president Robert F. Kennedy Jr. participated in one  to tour the border. Some come just to get campaign photos and videos and others are there to learn, he said, but he shares the same information with both groups.

Rep. Greg Smith, R-Heppner, said hes joining the trip because he wants to hear from Arizonans about how Oregon can help try and keep the bad guys out while allowing legal immigration to occur. He hears frequently from voters about border concerns, and hes trying to figure out the connection between the southern border and the limited authority held by lawmakers in Salem.

What I do know is weve heard testimony at the Capitol about drug cartels, he said. In my small little town of Milton-Freewater, Ive got Highway 11, and four months ago in December, I had over 200 people in a room, asking me,the state police and ODOT to create a safety corridor because they were concerned about drug cartels driving through and human trafficking cartels coming through.

Smith said he also hopes to meet with Arizona lawmakers, both Republicans and Democrats, to deliver an Oregon flag and discuss issues that matter to them. Sen. David Brock Smith, R-Port Orford and no relation, also hopes to double-dip on the trip by connecting with Arizona lawmakers: He wants to build a coalition of western legislators who can work together on fire policy and exert pressure on Congress to provide resources to prevent and respond to the infernos that blaze across the Western U.S. each year.

He said illegal drugs, many of which law enforcement suspects make it across the southern border, are a top concern in his southern Oregon district.

Theres basically three ways to get drugs to Portland and two of them, two of those highways come through my district, Brock Smith said.

Earlier this month, for instance Oregon State Police reported that they stopped a Phoenix man driving north of Roseburg with 62 pounds of methamphetamine and 22,000 fentanyl-laced pills that police said the man was taking to Portland.

Democrats panned the visit as a campaign stunt. Hannah Howell, executive director of the House Democrats campaign arm, FuturePAC, said Democrats are staying in Oregon to fix Oregons problems and Republicans are welcome to join them.

Its honestly baffling, Howell said. While Oregonians are worried about rising prices and safety and homelessness, Republicans are inventing a reason to bring divisive national problems  that they dont even know how to solve  to our state.

Howells counterpart at the Senate Democratic Leadership Fund, Oliver Muggli, added Oregonians expect their elected officials to be focused on our people in our state, not playing MAGA politics a thousand miles away. This is a cheap election-year stunt that does nothing except show how deeply out-of-touch Republican politicians are with Oregon priorities.

The post Oregon Republicans to visit Arizona-Mexico border to learn about security issues appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The Oregon Zoo announced Thursday that they have welcomed a trio of critically endangered kingfishers to their aviary.

The birds, an ultra-rare species of kingfisher called a sihek (SEE-heck), were once native to the island of Guam, but have been extinct in the wild since the 1988 after being wiped out by an invasive brown tree snake.

New food carts featuring ice cream, Philly cheesesteaks open in Tigards Universal Plaza

According to the zoo, there are only 110 left in the world and they are all in captivity at various U.S. zoos and the Guam Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources.

Travis Koons, who oversees the zoos birds, said bringing the three male birds to the Vollum Aviary from the Smithsonians National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute and having them live in the same habitat is great news for the populations recovery efforts.

Were trying out a new way to care for them, and its going really well so far, he said. If male siheks can live together, that opens up a lot more options for zoos that can help care for these critically endangered birds, he said.

Kotek announces proposal to build national semiconductor center in Oregon

While the siheks might be hard to spot in the aviary at first, Koons added its worth the wait just to get a glimpse.

You can often find these birds sitting in the large tree above the entrance as you walk into the aviary, he said. Its a unique opportunity to see them because there are so few anywhere in the world.

Although these specific birds will not be released into the wild, the zoo says conservationists eventually plan to reintroduce other siheks to a different location where brown tree snakes are not a threat, in order to increase the global population.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Owner of Michigan warehouse in deadly blast is arrested at airport with one-way ticket

The owner of a Michigan business that exploded in March has been charged with involuntary manslaughter after a flying canister from the blast hit and killed a 19-year-old standing outside a quarter-mile away.

Noor Kestou, the owner of Select Distributors, was arrested this week at the John F. Kennedy Airport in New York after police in Michigan were alerted that he was attempting to leave the country on a one-way ticket to Hong Kong, officials said.

We dont know what his ultimate goal was," Macomb County prosecutor Peter Lucido said. "Was it to stay out of the country with a wife and a child here?

Kestous lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The warehouse that exploded March 4 in Clinton Township, just outstide Detroit, was a distributor for vape pens and smoke shop items and filled with illegally stored butane and nitrous oxide canisters, officials have said.

Investigators have not determined the cause of the fire, which spewed debris up to a mile away and took more than 24 hours to put out. The investigation, which is being led by the ATF, is ongoing, and the local fire chief says officials cannot exclude human involvement in this fire at this time.

Michigan Warehouse Fire (via WDIV)

Clinton Township Police said Kestou had been cooperative during the investigation. Officials did not move to press charges until they found out his passport was scanned on April 20. Detectives met with the prosecutors and quickly authorized a warrant for his arrest that day.

Kestou was escorted back to Michigan by police on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty at an arraignment hearing Thursday. He is out of jail on a $500,000 cash bond. The conditions of his release include being on a tether, surrendering his passport, no weapons, and he cannot leave the state.

If convicted of involuntary manslaughter, Kestou faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

Turner Lee Salter, 19, was at a nearby car wash the day of the blast and was killed as canisters rained on the community, officials said.

The local fire department spent more than a week monitoring and extinguishing the sporadic explosions, pop-up fires and smoke at the warehouse.

That ball of fire, the intensity of this fire, essentially damaged a lot of what they would normally look to try to conclude or whats going to happen on the scene, Clinton Township Fire Chief Tim Duncan said.

The EPA has started clean-up, putting more than 3,100 canisters of nitrous in secured containers that have strict requirements for transportation.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Baron Capital Chairman and CEO Ron Baron recently saw first hand how Tesla's self-driving technology is progressing with a ride near the company's campus in California.

The billionaire investor told CNBC on Thursday that he was visiting Elon Musk's SpaceX near Los Angeles on Monday morning, meeting with engineers and finance staff. Then in the afternoon, he traveled up the coast to Tesla to see employees working on autonomous-driving technology and "the compute people."

Baron said the 12th iteration of the technology has benefitted from enormous amount of data collected by Tesla cars and by more AI-driven computing power. That's after earlier versions required more manual coding, which slowed progress.

"Humans can't do it. Now they have compute to figure everything out. So now you're on the verge with autonomous driving in your car," he explained. "So I said, 'OK, show me.'"

For a couple hours, Tesla staff went over the technology with him. After that, Baron told them he wanted to see how it works before he had to head back to New York.

So they got into a car in the parking lot, accompanied by an analyst and two Tesla employees, he recalled.

"We're sitting in the car, and so, 'Where do you want to go?'" Baron continued. "I said, 'I want to see Steve Jobs' house.' And they say, 'OK,' and they punch in the address."

The car departed on its own, driving through the Tesla parking lot and waiting for traffic to pass before turning onto the road.

It turned again and drove behind other cars. When it got to a stop sign at an intersection, the car waited for other drivers before taking its turn while also checking in both directions.

Then a pedestrian started crossing the street, and the car stopped, Baron said. The pedestrian waved at the waiting car, which resumed its trip afterward.

"Then it pulls up and makes a left hand turn and then goes in front of Steve Jobs' house," he added. "It's a nice house, just a house though."

After that, the car went back: "It drove all by itself." When pressed by CNBC on the timing of Tesla's autonomous-driving capabilities, Baron simply answered, "now."

Tesla did not immediately respond to Fortune's request for comment.

The first-hand demonstration of Tesla's self-driving technology came at a critical time for Musk's electric vehicle company. On Tuesday, Tesla reported a steep dive in first-quarter profit as falling sales and price cuts hit margins.

Story continues

But Wall Street breathed a sigh of relief as Musk also said Tesla is moving ahead with a lower-cost EV model, after some analysts had earlier worried that he would prioritize his robo-taxi ambitions instead. Meanwhile, Tesla has also announced job cuts, while a string of top executives are heading out the door.

For his part, Baron remains bullish on Tesla stock, which represents the largest position in his portfolio. Citing the low-cost car and robo-taxis, he predicted shares are "going to go up huge. Now is the bottom.

Still, he also voiced some frustration with the earlier performance of the stock, up only 1% since this time last year and down overall since the start of 2021.

Its not so exciting to be up 1% in a year when the market is so strong, he told CNBC. I do look around all the time and see everyone getting richand Im not poor, but I havent made a lot of progress over the last three years, so therefore I think its like a rubber bandIm going to catch up again.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
BRIGHTON, Colo. (AP)  A former paramedic who injected Elijah McClain with ketamine avoided prison and was sentenced to probation Friday after his homicide conviction in the Black mans death, which helped fuel the 2020 racial injustice protests.

Jeremy Cooper faced up to three years in prison. He administered a dose of the sedative ketamine to McClain, 23, who had been forcibly restrained after police stopped him as he was walking home in a Denver suburb in 2019.

The sentencing caps 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.

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.

McClains mother, Sheneen McClain, said justice has not yet been served. She said the two acquitted Aurora police officers, as well as other firefighters and police on the scene, were complicit in her sons killing and that they escaped justice.

Im waiting on heaven to hand down everybodys judgment. Because I know heaven aint gonna miss the mark, she told The Associated Press.

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.

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 the two officers acquittals of the two officers following weekslong trials were unsurprising, since juries are often reluctant to second guess the actions of police and other first responders.

Its still very hard to convict, he said.

The judge who presided over the hearing Friday sentenced ex-paramedic Peter Cichuniec in March to five years in prison for criminally negligent homicide and second-degree assault, the most serious of the charges faced by any of the responders. It was the shortest sentence allowed under the law.

Previously, Judge Mark Warner sentenced officer Randy Roedema to 14 months in jail for criminally negligent homicide and misdemeanor assault.

Prosecutors initially declined to pursue charges related to McClains death when an autopsy did not determine how he died. Democratic Gov. Jared Polis ordered the investigation reopened following the 2020 protests against police brutality.

The second autopsy said McClain died because he was injected with ketamine after being forcibly restrained.

To Sheneen McClain, it doesnt make sense that officer Nathan Woodyard, who stopped her son and put him in a neck hold, was acquitted, while officer Roedema received a lighter sentence than the paramedic Cichuniec. She thinks the paramedics role was to cover up what the police had done to her son.

I raised him by myself and I will continue to stand there for my son, regardless of whether anybody listens to me, she said.

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. It could take years though to collect enough evidence to show if those efforts are working, said Candace McCoy, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York.

Cooper injected McClain with ketamine after police stopped him as he was walking home. Officers later referenced a suspicious person report. McClain was not armed, nor accused of breaking any laws.

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.

He went into cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital and died three days later.

Coopers attorneys did not immediately respond to telephone messages and emails seeking comment on the sentencing.

Since McClains death, the Colorado health department has told paramedics not to give ketamine to people suspected of having excited delirium, which had been 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 known as carotid restraints, which cut off circulation, and chokeholds, which cut off breathing. At least 27 states including Colorado have passed some limit on the practices. Only two had bans in place before Floyd was killed.

To MiDian Holmes, a racial justice advocate who attended the trials against the first responders, change isnt coming fast enough.

Its the message that the life of Elijah mattered but it didnt matter enough, Holmes said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
A photo of Elijah McClain as part of the "Say Their Names" memorial in Boston on Nov. 16, 2020. - Credit: Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Twenty-three year old Elijah McClain was stopped by police while walking home from a convenience store in Aurora, Colorado, on Aug. 24, 2019. Someone had called 911 and said he was wearing a ski mask and looked sketchy. When officers arrived, they pulled him to the ground and placed McClain in a carotid hold, which restricts blood flow to the brain to render an individual unconscious. When paramedics arrived, McClain was injected with 500 milligrams of ketamine to sedate him. On the ambulance ride, he suffered a heart attack, and died a few days later.

On Friday, former paramedic Jeremy Cooper avoided prison and was sentenced to four year of probation after being found guilty of criminally negligent homicide for his role in the killing of McClain, per NBC. Cooper faced up to three years in prison following his conviction in December.

More from Rolling Stone

Per the outlet, paramedic Peter Cichuniec was sentenced to five years in prison in March after being found guilty of criminally negligent homicide and second-degree assault through the unlawful administration of drugs.

Former police officer Randy Roedema was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide and assault in the third degree, and sentenced to 14 months in county jail in January.

Two other former officers, Jason Rosenblatt and Nathan Woodyard, were acquitted by a Colorado jury and found not guilty on charges of reckless manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in connection with McClains death. Both resigned from the department.

Best of Rolling Stone
(The Hill)  A Colorado paramedic has been sentenced to four years of probation for his role in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain.

Jeremy Cooper, a former Aurora Fire Rescue paramedic, was convicted on Dec. 22 of criminally negligent homicide. He was the last of first responders to be sentenced for their roles in McClains death.

McClain, a 23-year-old Black man, was walking home on Aug. 24, 2019, when he was stopped by police officers answering a call of a suspicious individual in the area.

DeSantis: Florida will not comply with new Biden Title IX rules

First responders placed him in a chokehold and administered 500 milligrams of ketamine. McClain went into cardiac arrest as a result of the drug, used as a local anesthetic, and later died at a hospital. His death sparked nationwide protests.

On Sept. 1, 2021, a grand jury returned indictments against three police officers and two paramedics.

Paramedic Peter Cichuniec, was sentenced to five years in prison on March 1 after being found guilty of criminally negligent homicide.

Earlier this year, officer Randy Roedema was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide and sentenced to 14 months in jail. At the same trial, police officer Jason Rosenblatt was acquitted on charges of reckless manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and second-degree assault.

Rosenblatt later resigned from the force.

In 2023, officer Nathan Woodyard was found not guilty of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide, but he resigned from the department on Jan. 12 after reaching a back pay settlement.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Paramedic sentenced to 4 years of probation for role in Elijah McClain's death

Paramedic sentenced to 4 years of probation for role in Elijah McClain's death

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.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The presence of Nelson Mandela still hangs powerfully over Soweto, more than 10 years after the death of South Africas unifying father figure.

Bus loads of visiting tourists park outside the fenced home he shared with his wife, Winnie, and shop at stalls selling souvenirs and memorabilia.

The sprawling 77-square-mile settlement, an acronym for South-Western Townships, was not only once Mr Mandelas home, but also a stronghold of the struggle he led against apartheid.

It was here that a 1976 student-led protest called the Soweto Uprising opened the first serious cracks in White rule.

Then, 30 years ago this weekend, as democracy swept away apartheid, people queued for hundreds of yards to vote for Mr Mandelas African National Congress (ANC) party as it promised a bright new era.

Yet now, as the ANC again faces elections, the disillusionment felt towards the party in Soweto is palpable.

On a visit last week, few of the black residents The Telegraph spoke to would admit intending to put their cross next to Mr Mandelas former party.

Fed up with unemployment, corruption, entrenched poverty and years of broken promises, they would either vote for the opposition, or had given up on politics completely, they said.

Itumuleng Moloi, a fashionably dressed 43-year-old unemployed woman who previously voted ANC, said this year she would be making a change.

We have now lost hope so I am going to vote for one of the opposition parties, she said.

Thabo Mbatha, a 48-year-old tall, lean man, says in this years election he will opt for the opposition, the Democratic Alliance, because they will give us a better life.

Meanwhile, when asked who he would vote for, Thembikosi Ziqubu, who ekes out a living selling mobile phone accessories, glances up to an election poster for the disgraced former president Jacob Zuma.

Mr Zuma, who led the country with the ANC from 2009 to 2018 and was then ousted as corruption allegations built against him, has quit the party and started his own.

Asked if he was concerned about the allegations against Mr Zuma, Mr Ziqubu shrugged and said: All [the politicians] did the same.

Unemployed men line a street in Cape Town, hoping for some casual work - NIC BOTHMA/REUTERS

On May 29 this year, South Africa will vote in what are widely heralded as the countrys most important elections for 30 years.

The ANC has governed alone since 1994, but is expected to lose its absolute grip on power and be forced into coalition, as its vote share dips below half for the first time.

With roots dating back to 1912, it is Africas oldest political movement and has dominated politics in the country for longer than most of its young population can remember.

But patience is increasingly running out in a country battling some of the worst unemployment in the world, rolling power blackouts, collapsing infrastructure, an anaemic economy and endemic crime and corruption.

Pearl Mncube, a political analyst, says this weekends celebrations of the anniversary of democracy will not deflect from the governments current failings.

She said: We cannot use the past, and any nostalgia attached to it, to avoid accounting for the present.

More and more South Africans have grown sceptical of pronouncements from government, due to its history of continuously announcing grand plans without prioritising the swift execution of said plans.

The ANC enjoyed a lengthy honeymoon after it came to power in 1994. Indeed, its share of the vote increased in its early terms, nudging 70 per cent in 2004.

During its first 15 years in office, the party oversaw the longest period of economic growth on record and increased access to free housing, clean water and electricity.

The tide turned with the election of Mr Zuma in 2008. The global financial crisis slowed growth, while Mr Zuma presided over a systematic looting of the country, which came to be called state capture.

His allies and colleagues took control of ministries and state enterprises so budgets and assets could be plundered with impunity. Some 21bn was pilfered, according to government estimates.

Mr Zuma denied wrongdoing, but the ANC moved to remove him in 2018. He was later jailed for contempt for refusing to testify about the looting.

His successor, the current president Cyril Ramaphosa, has tried to reform and clean house, but has appeared hesitant and ineffectual in the face of the challenge.

Cyril Ramaphosa is struggling to arrest the decline in support for the ANC - LEON SADIKI/BLOOMBERG

The ANCs vote share fell to 66 per cent in 2009, 62 per cent in 2014 and 58 per cent in 2019.

A lack of impartial opinion polling clouds forecasts of this years result, however consensus among analysts is that the ANC will continue its slide to below 50 per cent. Predictions range anywhere from the high forties right down to the high thirties.

Barney Mthombothi, one of the countrys most read political columnists, says: For many people the ANC became part of their DNA, but the disappointment is severe.

Our hopes were very high, and for the first years the ANC didnt do badly. I hope this election will be a turning point because I hope the ANC will get less than 40 per cent, so it will be on notice to behave itself.

Unemployment is for many at the top of the charge sheet against the ANC, with some 32 per cent of adults out of work.

The figures are badly racially skewed; 36 per cent of the black population are jobless, compared with nine per cent of whites. Youth unemployment is worse, at a staggering three-in-five. The lack of jobs helps make the country the most unequal in the world.

Launching its economic manifesto on Friday, the Democratic Alliance, the biggest opposition party, said the unemployment crisis was the ANCs original sin and a crime against the people of South Africa.

The signs are all over Soweto. The streets are clean and tidy, but there are many people hanging around without jobs.

Mr Ziqubu cannot make ends meet selling his phone accessories and relies on loan sharks.

He said: I had to give up my work some time ago, because I didnt earn enough to cover the cost of transport. So life is hard.

Mr Mbatha said: I will do anything to earn, clean a car, wash shoes, paint a wall, anything. We have friends. We support each other. I am so hungry.

The economy had been struggling to recover from Covid-19 lockdowns, when two years ago, heavy rolling electricity blackouts landed another blow. A failure to maintain or replace the countrys decrepit coal-fired power stations led to 10 or 12 hours of power rationing each day.

The cuts have eased and then disappeared in recent weeks, but there is widespread suspicion this is an electoral ploy by the ANC, something the government strongly denies.

Democratic Alliance supporters in Johannesburg protesting against power rationing - GALLO IMAGES

Meanwhile, crime figures are sky high, with 84 murders per day, while basic state provision of health, water, education and transport is often crumbling.

Despair over the ANC, particularly among those who feel life has not improved post-apartheid and too much money and power still reside in white hands, has driven many poor, young black voters to radical populists.

The Marxist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), an ANC splinter group, champions the nationalisation of mines and banks, and the redistribution of wealth. Its scarlet-beret wearing members sing Kill the Boer at rallies. The party denies anti-white rhetoric.

Mr Zumas new uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, in effect another ANC splinter, is an unknown quantity in elections, but appears to be staking out similar territory.

Nobody can stop us now, he told supporters this week. We are the black children of this nation. We are taking back our country. We will change things.

The party is seen as likely to take key votes away from the ANC in Mr Zumas KwaZulu-Natal heartland.

The ANC meanwhile is trying to remind supporters of the partys achievements.

At a walkabout in Soweto this week, Thabo Mbeki, who was president for much of the partys honeymoon period, tried to rally voters. However, as a former critic of the corruption engulfing the ANC, he was also unable to hide his misgivings.

He said: I have not put aside my concerns. The concerns that are expressed by the people, when the people say, We are unhappy about this, about the other, about the ANC, those concerns are genuine.

We must attend to them. Thats why when I say vote for ANC we are also making a commitment to the people that we will attend to these problems within the ANC itself.

Mr Mbeki says he shares voters' concerns about his party - SIPHIWE SIBEKO/REUTERS

If the predictions are correct and the ANC takes less than 50 per cent of the vote, it will kick off two weeks of frantic horse-trading to find a coalition.

The shape of that power-sharing will depend on how many votes the ANC gets. If it slips just below the threshold, it will probably be able to make up the difference with electoral minnows.

While the Democratic Alliance is leading a grand coalition of smaller parties that it hopes can oust the ruling party, the ANC may be able to split them off with promises of power-sharing.

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), which has most of its base in KwaZulu-Natal and got 3.5 per cent in 2019, is seen as a likely kingmaker in such a scenario.

If the deficit is larger, the ANC will be forced to make much more difficult decisions about teaming up with bigger parties.

Joining the radical EFF would alarm some of the ANCs more sober elements and could sow panic among investors and financial markets.

Aligning with Mr Zuma, who feels betrayed by the party that ousted him, could prove to be impossible.

Many in the ANC feel that the Democratic Alliance is too right wing and too white to join forces with.

Whatever the result the ANC seems set to remain by far the largest force in South African politics. But that is unlikely to be enough for party leaders, who will still see the loss of complete power as a failure. In such circumstances, Mr Ramaphosas days could be numbered.

I think you may see a split in the ANC if it doesnt get more than 50 per cent, over the whole idea of a coalition partner  who to go with, Mr Mthombothi said.

Power is the only glue that holds them together, once they are out of power they will splinter.

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.
Students march outside the administration building on Emory University's campus Thursday. Photo contributed by Nora Xu

This story was updated at 1:40 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, 2024.

The tensions on Emory Universitys campus remained high Friday as protesters returned the day after an intense clash between police and demonstrators who supported Palestine and Atlantas Stop Cop City movement.

Emory University officials reported that 20 of the 28 people arrested Thursday had connections with the university, one of a dozen colleges across the country where demonstrations including encampments and students staging walkouts have taken place.

The recent spat of protests began last week at Columbia University where more than 100 students were suspended after erecting an encampment in solidarity with the war-ravaged Gaza, the focal point of the deadly conflict between Israel and militant group Hamas.

More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed since hostilities increased following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. Those deaths include 9,500 women and 14,500 children, according to the United Nations, citing Gazan officials. The UN reports that 75% of Gazans have been made homeless, and nearly half are projected to face catastrophic levels of food insecurity.

On Friday, hundreds of demonstrators held a rally on Emorys campus under a high police presence, and organizers promised to keep returning until the university stops aligning itself with Israeli interests and until they are able to stop the construction of an Atlanta public safety training facility.

The college campus demonstrations have sparked a contentious debate over the constitutional right to peacefully protest, and school officials claim the demonstrators disrupt the academic environment.

Emory Free Speech Forum president Matthew Eggiman said the protests were peaceful and mostly comprised of Emory students and professors. The counter protesters waved Israeli flags and played music among the crowd of pro-Palestinian protesters without being harassed, the Emory law student said.

Eggiman said the forum supports protesters right to peacefully express their opinions.

I think this is very, very concerning because if there was ever a place to exercise your First Amendment right to peaceful assembly, it would be at a university, said Eggiman, who attended the protests Thursday.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia criticized the show of force by law enforcement at Thursdays protest at Emory.

Atlanta has historically been a place where citizens could freely exercise their rights to protest, but we have unfortunately seen a series of unconstitutional crackdowns on speech and protest across Georgia in recent years, the ACLU said in a statement. The ACLU of Georgia is closely watching the current protests on college campuses across the state. Colleges and universities should be places where viewpoints, expression, debate, and free speech are encouraged, not suppressed.

Republican Gov. Brian Kemp praised law enforcement for swiftly intervening on Emorys campus.

Across the country, Americans have watched with horror as radicals have terrorized Jewish students and forced them to evacuate from their dormitories and classrooms, Kemp said in a statement Thursday. College campuses are designed to be places of learning and often civil discourse, but in Georgia, they will never be a safe haven for those who promote terrorism and extremism that threatens the safety of students.

Signs outside liberation zone at Candler Theology School on Emory University. Photo courtesy of Chaya Tong

Emory students expressed dismay and anger Friday at the universitys handling of the demonstration that turned violent as Atlanta police and state patrol troopers dismantled the protestors encampment.

In a mass email sent Thursday, Emory University President Greg Fenves said the university would not tolerate vandalism and violence that runs counter to universitys values and interferes with its educational and research responsibilities.

As Emory community members continue to express themselves and protest, we are committed to working with students and faculty, open expression observers, and the EPD to facilitate their peaceful expression, Fenves wrote.

After an emergency faculty meeting Friday afternoon, Emory college faculty voted to hold a no confidence vote in Fenves. Students and faculty also marched on the quad Friday evening in protest of the arrests and in support of Palestine before moving to Cox Hall, where protesters barricaded themselves inside the building.

Sabrina Schoenborn, a senior at Emory, said the protestors were mostly Emory community members and that the universitys initial emails categorizing the protestors as outsiders were factually incorrect.

During Thursday mornings protest, Schoenborn handed out books to a crowd of about 30 people, most of whom she recognized as Emory students.

I remember hearing someone saying you need to clear out and then immediately all of the police officers rushed. It felt like there was a police for every protester at that point, Schoenborn said. All that I could hear was screaming and the sound of pepper spray bullets.

I dont think people expected it to be so violent so quickly against the majority Emory community population, she added. Its some type of betrayal.

Maddie Lampert, an Emory junior, said the escalation with state troopers was not an effective solution if administrators wanted to prevent protests from disrupting final exams and graduation ceremonies.

As a Jewish student, I feel, in this moment of time, much less at risk of violence from being Jewish than just from being a student standing up for free speech, Lampert said.

The protests have also spread to other schools in Georgia this week. Students also had a walkout at Kennesaw State University and another rally was held at Georgia Techs campus.

A number of Morehouse students and alumni have expressed anger in response to the schools administration inviting President Joe Biden to speak at the historically Black colleges graduation ceremony on May 19.

Edward Ahmed Mitchell, national deputy director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, has condemned the Morehouse administration for inviting Biden, who has demonstrated unconditional support for Israel.

On Wednesday, Biden signed a bipartisan military funding package that provides billions of dollars more in federal aid to Israel.

As a graduate of Morehouse College and a civil rights attorney whose work has been inspired by the values of our historic institution, I am deeply disappointed to learn that President Biden plans to speak at the 2024 commencement while his administration funds the Israeli governments genocide in Gaza, Mitchell said.

State Rep. Ruwa Romman, a Duluth Democrat, Palestinian-American and Georgias first Muslim woman state legislator, said she was alarmed by the tactics used by Georgia State Patrol, including deploying tasers and gas.

Attacking students is a red line, she said. At the end of the day, in a university setting, students are meant to learn. That includes learning on how to engage with issues.

If you go from seeing students attempting to engage on an issue in a way that they see to be an effective way to make change, and you immediately use police violence against them, we are teaching them the wrong lessons, she added.

Gazans use of social media to document life amid the crisis has helped convince young people to support their cause, Romman said.

It seems to me that this has been because of the increase of social media, because of the fact that Palestinians are now speaking in English to their audiences and trying to spread awareness, the younger generation that is more exposed to those resources of information are way more likely to kind of see the situation for what it is, she said.

With the November election fast approaching, Biden and his surrogates are stepping up their visits to battleground Georgia, but reaction to the ongoing war could sour the spirits of the young Georgians who helped Biden win the state in 2020.

Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to come to Atlanta Monday to kick off a multi-state tour highlighting the administrations efforts toward increasing economic opportunity for Americans ahead of Bidens scheduled visit next month. Bidens last visit to Georgia was briefly disrupted when a protester called him genocide Joe.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was one of several high-ranking Biden administration officials to visit the 10th annual conference of the African American Mayors Association in Atlanta Friday, where he met with mayors from around the country whose cities have benefited from federal spending on transportation projects.

The Recorder asked Buttigieg whether Biden was concerned about arrests at colleges around the country.

What I will say is the president believes in the safe expression of peoples First Amendment rights and in safety on campus for everyone, he said, declining to comment further because he said he had not been briefed on the situation at Emory and had not discussed the issue with the White House in the past 12 hours.

Biden told reporters in Virginia Monday that he condemns the antisemitic protests as well as those who dont understand whats going on with the Palestinians

Romman said she is worried about Bidens reception at Morehouse and elsewhere, including the Democratic National Convention set for August in Chicago.

As long as the administration does not show serious policy changes, I dont know how were going to see a stop to the disruptions, she said.

Im worried about November, but Im also worried for the convention, she said. Illinois has one of the largest concentrations of Palestinians in the country, more than Michigan, literally more than anywhere else. And so I dont know how you can go to a state like Illinois with one of the largest Palestinian populations and expect everything to go dandy. And similarly with Georgia, the people who are incredibly motivated on this are understandably motivated because either theyve been personally impacted or they know that someone whos been personally impacted or they are watching our government fail to hold a client state, for lack of a better word, accountable.

This story was updated to correct information about a vote taken by the Emory college faculty.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

The post Peaceful protests continue at Emory as tensions over Gaza embroil college campuses appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Pedestrian killed in crash with Broward Sheriffs deputy in Pompano Beach, officials say

A pedestrian was killed after being hit by a Broward Sheriffs Office deputy in Pompano Beach Saturday morning, officials say. Detectives with the Sheriffs Office are now investigating the crash.

About 5:30 a.m., BSO Pompano Beach District deputies and Pompano Beach Fire Rescue responded to the crash near the 1500 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard, according to a media release. There, they found the deputy who had been driving and the pedestrian, who paramedics pronounced dead at the scene.

The release did not identify the pedestrian or the deputy.

BSO Traffic Homicide Unit detectives are investigating the crash.

This is a developing story, so check back for updates. Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday unveiled a new $6 billion military aid package for Ukraine, which he said "highlights the strong and unwavering U.S. commitment to meet Ukraine's most pressing immediate and longer-term capability needs" to counter Russia's ongoing invasion. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

April 27 (UPI) -- The Pentagon has released details a $6 billion package of military assistance to Ukraine including Patriot missiles and other munitions and support systems to counter Russia's ongoing invasion.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the aid package Friday on the second anniversary of the Ukraine Defense Contract Group led by the Department of Defense.

"This is the largest security assistance package that we've committed to date," Austin told reporters Friday. "It will includes critical interceptors for Ukraine's ... air defense systems, more counter-drone systems and support equipment, significant amounts of artillery ammunition and air-to-ground munitions."

The aid package also includes maintenance and support for the munitions and equipment to integrate air defense launchers, missiles and radar systems with Ukraine's air defense systems.

"This USAI package highlights the strong and unwavering U.S. commitment to meet Ukraine's most pressing immediate and longer-term capability needs to fight Russian aggression as part of the global coalition we have built with some 50 allies and partners," the Department of Defense said in a news release Friday.

Munitions for laser-guided rocket systems, artillery shells, precision aerial munitions, unmanned aerial systems and tactical vehicles to tow weapons and equipment are among the many munitions and support equipment included in the $6 billion aid package, according to the DOD.

The military assistance is in addition to a $61 billion aid package approved by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden Wednesday.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Gresham police are investigating after two people were reportedly injured by a person with a machete Friday evening.

The Gresham Police Department said that officers responded following calls that came in shortly after 5 p.m. about a disturbance with a weapon at a motel in the 1500 block of Northeast Burnside Road.

Newly released emails shed light on Gov. Kotek staff concerns about First Spouse

Jarom Sweazey, a Gresham PD spokesperson, told KOIN 6 News via email that two people sustained minor cuts after they were reportedly attacked by a person with a machete, with the suspect fleeing the scene before polices arrival.

This is a developing story. KOIN 6 News will update this story if more information becomes available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
The city of Sanger has allowed its largest private employer, Pitman Family Farms, a years-long delay in settling $1 million in payments after the city failed for years to collect money tied to the companys increased water use.

Pitman Family Farms poultry processor, known for its line of high-end chickens sold under the brand Marys Chicken, has steadily grown in recent years. The family-owned company established its plant in Sanger in 2002 and is today the second largest employer in the city behind the public school district.

As the company has grown its business  including several plant expansions over the years from a one-story to a four-story processing plant  its use of city water has increased. This growth has had an impact on the citys infrastructure, but the city wasnt properly charging the company for its water use, city records show.

Despite the still-unpaid bills, the city planning commission approved a new Pitman-owned poultry hatchery last month near its processing plant.

A February Fresno Bee investigation found that dangerous workplace conditions at the Pitman poultry plant have resulted in a high rate of injuries compared to similarly-size poultry plants. There have been two workplace deaths at the Sanger plant in less than a year, which are under investigation by state workplace safety authorities.

City staff first identified the water usage oversight in 2017, according to its settlement agreement with the company. But it took until 2020 for the city to reach an agreement with Pitman Farms about the uncharged water use, city staff said, and it will take another year before the city collects the unpaid water and sewage money.

On Oct. 1, 2020, Sanger City Council approved a $999,999.99 settlement agreement with the company to make up for impact fees that also should have been charged as a result of Pitman Farms higher water usage from 2016 to 2020, city staff said during the meeting. In 2023, the city also raised its water rates after realizing industrial users, in general, werent paying their fair share.

This one is a long time coming, Tim Chapa, former Sanger city manager, told city council in the Oct. 2020 meeting. (Chapa did not respond to multiple requests from The Bee for comment.)

But a key condition for Pitman Family Farms was to delay payment until Oct. 1, 2025  which raised questions among some council members who said the city needed the money sooner to address its water capacity and wastewater treatment needs. Chapa told the city council that the company asked for the delayed payment date due to uncertain economic factors, such as competition, the coronavirus pandemic and changes in market demand.

I will say that my impression is that five-year deferment is critical and would be a deal breaker, Chapa said at the time.

David Pitman, owner of Pitman Farms, did not respond to The Bees requests for comment on the settlement agreement.

Sanger City Manager Nathan Olson said in an email to The Bee that no payment has been received to date, but payment is expected next October.

The City and Pitman Family Farms continue to work together to address the opportunities in front of us, Olson said, adding that they talk on a weekly basis.

Once the city is paid, money will be deposited into the Water and Wastewater Impact Fee account and will go towards future growth projects within the city, he said.

Sanger city records indicate that the citys capacity to process industrial wastewater from companies like Pitman Farms is a challenge. In recent years, residents and city elected officials alike have complained about the smell emanating from the wastewater treatment plant. The unpaid water funds are a needed source of funding for deferred maintenance projects such as upgrades to the citys wastewater treatment plant.

Why does Pitman Farms owe Sanger money?

Pitman Farms 2017 expansion resulted in wastewater production of 1.2 million gallons of water per day at peak times of the year, a city report states, an increase beyond what was approved in the 2014 conditional use permit.

A former 2014 operational statement submitted to the city indicated the average water consumption was 700,000 gallons per day.

The difference in water usage has triggered an increase in the amount of impact fees, the agreement states.

Its not immediately clear why the city didnt account for the companys increased water usage when it approved the plants expansion in 2017.

Based on the settlement agreement, it appears Pitman Farms reported its increased water usage to the city in 2017. Later in 2017, city staff recognized issues with the capacity of the existing industrial waste line, the agreement says. These concerns prompted discussions with the company, which led to 12-18 months of good faith negotiations to reach the agreement.

But when asked by city council why the company wasnt properly charged for the impact fees, Chapa explained that the company didnt initially anticipate any increased water usage until later during construction on the plants expansion. City staff, he said, didnt quite have an opportunity to really be able to discuss with (Pitman Family Farms).

It became evident once they were in operation, Chapa said.

In response to further questions by the council about whos responsible for the uncollected fees, Chapa said the settlement wasnt assigning blame, but said the city could have asked more questions during the plants expansion.

Another condition of the settlement is that Pitman Farms must comply with wastewater pretreatment requirements from a 2012 permit. Pretreatment is the process of removing pollutants from industrial waste waters before they are sent to a municipal sewage treatment system, according to the California Water Board. Olson said this is in process and design is underway.

Pitman Farms water use has garnered attention from city officials and community members in recent years.

After the citys work to correct the Pitman water rate errors, the city conducted further studies that in 2023 resulted in increased water rates for all users for the first time in 15 years.

An April 2023 water and sewer rate study prepared for the city found that Sanger businesses, schools and residents were subsidizing water use for industrial water users like Pitman Family Farms.

The increased rates, which were approved in a June 15 council meeting, included a 172% increase on industrial users like Pitman Farms, according to a meeting presentation.

With two wells down and high temperatures, Sanger residents face low water pressure

Pitman expands footprint in Sanger with hatchery

Last month, the Sanger Planning Commission voted to approve the operations of a Pitman-owned poultry hatchery.

Bels Poultry, which lists David Pitman as its manager in Secretary of State business filings, will build a poultry hatchery and cold storage facility. The hatchery will be located across the street from the processing plant at the corners of North and Academy Avenues, which is the site of the former Del Monte Fresh Produce packing house.

The hatchery is estimated to produce 3.6 million eggs per week, according to a study prepared for the city. The chicks will then be shipped to ranches from the hatchery, resulting in an estimated 40 delivery trucks per week. The hatchery is expected to bring about 50 jobs to the community.

Commissioners asked questions about how the hatchery would impact odors, traffic and water issues. But Pitman assured commissioners that the hatchery would be an enclosed space and wouldnt cause too much waste or smell. These chicks are kept in chick baskets inside of hatcher machines, the report says. Chicks are not allowed outdoors until they reach the ranch that they will be raised at for biosecurity reasons.

Concerns about the hatcherys water use were also raised. If the project doesnt comply with its allowed water allotment, the city could rescind its occupancy permits.

Olson said the city will monitor the plant and hatcherys water usage with water meters. He said that Public Works is also requesting a compliance officer for the water and wastewater treatment systems to ensure compliance.

The Sanger hatchery is expected to be operational in the fall.
UPDATE: Pittsburgh police say Vaughn Malone Jr. has been found safe.

Pittsburgh Police are asking for the publics help in finding a missing teen boy.

Officers say Vaughn Malone Jr., 15, was reported missing after he did not return home on Thursday.

He is 5 feet and 7 inches tall and about 130 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair.

Malone is known to spend time in Beltzhoover, Knoxville and Arlington. Police say he could be on Kingsboro Street or Cologne Street.

He was last seen wearing a black hoodie, black pants and black and silver shoes.

Anyone who knows where he might be is asked to call 412-323-7141 or 911.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

TRENDING NOW:

Box truck crashes into northern Armstrong grocery store Allegheny County library card holders can get free admission to over a dozen attractions this summer Teen murdered by 2 girls she thought were her friends. Now, one of them is up for parole VIDEO: Formerly condemned motel in Banksville will no longer house state parolees DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  April 27 is the Drug Enforcement Agencys Drug Takeback Day in an effort to address the drug overdose epidemic in the United States.

The DEAs law enforcement partners will host their next takeback from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to a news release from DEAs New Orleans Division, which covers Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

To encourage the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes as a measure of preventing medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting, many agencies and organizations help out by offering locations where people can drop off unneeded medication.

Here are the places in WKRG News 5s coverage area where you can dispose of medication:

Fairhope: Homestead V village (924 Plantation Boulevard)

Mobile County Sheriffs Office

Costco (1450 Tingle Circle East)

CVS (1401 Hillcrest Road)

CVS Pharmacy (#4888 4453 Old Shell Road)

Walgreens (5530 Three Notch Road)

Walgreens Pharmacy (#15151 5705 Cottage Hill Road)

Mobile Police Department (2460 Government Street)

Monroeville police department (49 South Mount Pleasant Avenue)

Orange Beach Police Department (4480 Orange Beach Blvd)

Thomasville Police Department (137 Adams Avenue)

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
By Brad Brooks

(Reuters) - Pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested on a handful of U.S. university campuses on Saturday, as activists vowed to keep up the movement seeking a ceasefire in Israel's war with Hamas among other demands.

The Indiana University police department in Bloomington said in an emailed statement that 23 protesters were arrested there.

Indiana State Police along with Indiana University police told demonstrators they could not pitch tents and camp on campus. When the tents were not removed, police arrested and transported protesters to the Monroe County Justice Center on charges of criminal trespass and resisting arrest.

"The Indiana University Police Department continues to support peaceful protests on campus that follow university policy," the police statement read.

Pro-Palestinian protests have spread to college campuses across the U.S., stoked by the mass arrest of over 100 people on Columbia University's campus last week.

In addition to a ceasefire, protesters are demanding that their schools divest from companies involved with Israel's military and seeking an end to U.S. military assistance for Israel along with amnesty for students and faculty members who have been disciplined or fired for protesting.

School leaders at several universities have responded in the past week by asking police to clear out camps and arrest those who refuse to leave. While saying they defend free speech rights to protest, the leaders say they will not abide activists infringing on campus policies against hate speech or camping out on university grounds.

Massachusetts State Police said in statement that they helped cleared out a protest encampment at Northeastern University in Boston and that 102 protesters who refused to leave were arrested and will be charged with trespassing.

Northeastern University said in a statement on social media that it decided to call in police as "what began as a student demonstration two days ago was infiltrated by professional organizers with no affiliation to Northeastern."

At Arizona State University, campus police arrested 69 protesters early Saturday, the school said in a statement.

The university said "a group of people  most of whom were not ASU students, faculty or staff  created an encampment and demonstration" and were arrested and charged with criminal trespass after refusing to disperse.

(Reporting by Brad Brooks in Longmont, Colorado; Additional reporting by Andrew Hay in Taos, New Mexico; Editing by David Gregorio)
Protests over the war in the Middle East are continuing in schools across the country.

More than 100 people were arrested at a pro-Palestinian protest on the Northeastern University campus early Saturday morning. Massachusetts State Police, Boston Police, and campus police surrounded the encampment before moving in and zip-tying protestors hands behind their backs.

With arms locked and chanting one by one State Police detained the mix of students and outsiders who stood around tents and chairs chanting their demands of the school

We want them to denounce what is happening in Israel and Gaza, we want them to divest all of their funds we want them to divest our money that we are paying for tuition from their endowment, and we want them to disclose everything theyre funding, said Alina Caudle, Sophomore.

The University says the students here on the quad are breaking their code of conduct.

Students hands are being zip tied behind their backs as theyre being told to sit down on the curb @boston25 pic.twitter.com/8SDZsp32Uz  Joanna Bouras (@JoannaBouras) April 27, 2024

The encampment at Northeastern is on Centennial Common and was created last week by a group calling on the university to divest from Israeli companies and denounce the ongoing war in Gaza.

Students forced to stay away from the encampment by a metal barricade shouted tell me your name as the detainees were escorted into a campus building. On the other side, more students chanted at law enforcement officials as the protestors were loaded into sheriff SUVs.

The University issued a statement on Saturday morning:

Earlier this morning the Northeastern University Police Department (NUPD)  in cooperation with local law enforcement partners  began clearing an unauthorized encampment on the universitys Boston campus. What began as a student demonstration two days ago, was infiltrated by professional organizers with no affiliation to Northeastern. Last night, the use of virulent antisemitic slurs, including Kill the Jews, crossed the line. We cannot tolerate this kind of hate on our campus.

Students are now being arrested one by one @boston25 pic.twitter.com/SAHwXJH6e3  Joanna Bouras (@JoannaBouras) April 27, 2024

Some student protestors said the majority of the people involved were students and they dont think they should have been removed.

They acted in a way as if this was not a completely civil and peaceful protest and were detaining students as if they were creating a riot and in riot gear as if we were in a riot during a civil protest in camps and tents sitting peacefully for days, said Jermaiah Sawageb, Graduate Student.

The State Police are committed to protecting the lawful exercise of peoples rights of assembly and free speech in a safe and secure manner, as well as to protecting safety and property all involved parties, State police said in a statement.

Protestors at Northeastern University have locked arms to protect their encampment and are chanting through a megaphone, Boston Police and Mass State Police have surrounded the area @boston25 pic.twitter.com/AQaWgFPdOz  Joanna Bouras (@JoannaBouras) April 27, 2024

Northeastern said students who showed a valid ID were released and will be disciplined by the university, those who refused to disclose their affiliation were arrested.

State Police said around 102 people were detained for refusing to disperse and will be charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct by NUPD.

By 11:30 am, the quad in Centennial Common was fully secured and all campus operations have returned to normal, Northeaster said. We want to thank NUPD, our Student Life staff, and the universitys external partners for their flawless execution this morning.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
DENVER (KDVR)  The Greenwood Village Police Department began an investigation into the death of a young man early Saturday morning.

Police said officers responded to the area of East Union Avenue east of South Yosemite Street at 5:07 a.m.

Download the FOX31 App: Breaking news alerts & Pinpoint Weather

According to police, while the area is adjacent to Cherry Creek High School, the incident does not appear to be related and the victim has no apparent connection to the school district.

Police said the initial investigation suggested it was a homicide.

East Union Avenue was closed while the investigation was ongoing.

No further information was immediately available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Police say an abducted woman has been found but they are still looking for her alleged captor.

Shannon Scott was found, police said over the weekend. They are looking for suspect Joseph Brown.

On Saturday at 2 a.m., officers responded to the 3400 block of Grey Bark Drive regarding an abduction. Officers say that a witness who was on the phone with Scott, heard her shouting in distress before the phone was disconnected.

Officers went to the victims residence and she was not located. Officers obtained doorbell camera footage of the abduction.

During the investigation, Joseph Brown, 32, was developed as a suspect and as the person responsible for the abduction of Shannon Scott.

The vehicle used in the abduction has been recovered.

Brown has known ties in Desoto County, Mississippi.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
A lengthy police pursuit early Saturday morning that came to an end near Los Angeles International Airport resulted in four arrests, authorities confirmed.

According to Beverly Hills police Lieutenant Andrew Myers, officers attempted to pull over a SUV around 2 a.m. when plate-reader technology revealed that the vehicle, which was carrying four passengers, was involved in numerous crimes. The driver refused to pull over and took the on-ramp onto the southbound lanes of the 405 Freeway.

3 hospitalized in Long Beach pursuit crash

Police eventually lost the vehicle before officers with the California Highway Patrol found it. The driver of the suspect vehicle exited the freeway on the Howard Hughes Parkway exit near LAX, according to authorities.

The pursuit came to an end near the In-N-Out Burger in the area of Sepulveda Boulevard and West 92nd Street when the suspect vehicle lost a tire.

Myers said four arrests were made. One was arrested on suspicion of evading officers, while a second was arrested for a no-bail warrant.

Stolen vehicle suspect leads officers on reckless pursuit through L.A. County

The reasons for the other two arrests were not immediately made available. Myers said the crimes that the suspects were wanted for were under jurisdiction of the Los Angeles Police Department.

No other details were immediately made available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
On the night of 26-27 April, Poland scrambled its fighter aircraft twice because of Russia's attack on Ukraines west.

Source: Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces on X

Quote: "Be advised that Polish aircraft are flying in Polish airspace, which may lead to increased noise levels, especially in the southeastern part of the country.

Intense activity of the Russians has been observed this evening, related to the launch of missile strikes on facilities located on the territory of Ukraine."

Updated: After Russian strategic bombers took off and launched missiles, Poland scrambled both its own and allied aircraft for the second time.

Background:

On 26 April, an air-raid warning was issued in all Ukrainian oblasts. There was a threat of Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles launches. Explosions were heard in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast.

Support UP or become our patron!
Politico: Zelensky told Johnson Ukraine could only hold on until 'March or April' without US aid

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky told U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson last December that without American support, Kyiv could fend off Russian attacks only until March or April, Politico reported on April 26, citing its undisclosed sources.

The U.S. assistance for Ukraine had been blocked in the U.S. Congress since October 2023 until April, when Johnson called a vote on a foreign aid package that included $61 billion for Ukraine.

The Ukraine aid bill was promptly approved by both chambers and signed by U.S. President Joe Biden, restoring the flow of American military assistance.

Johnson's refusal to hold a vote on previous iterations of the aid bill has led many to blame the speaker for the delays that put a heavy strain on Ukrainian defenders.

Politico wrote that when Zelensky met Johnson in the speaker's office last December, he provided him with a "deadline" for how long Ukraine could hold on without Washington's backing.

Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support us

This meeting and the pessimistic prognosis "contributed greatly to Johnson's decision" to hold a vote despite the opposition of hardline members of the Republican Party, Politico reported.

Soon after, Johnson's team was reportedly tasked with drafting a workable aid package by that deadline "just in case."

This was a notable shift compared to previous months when the speaker insisted on tying the foreign aid components with border security measures, which were seen as too draconic by the Democratic Party.

Another influence that pushed Johnson toward putting forward the Ukraine bill was his national security adviser, Josh Hodges, Politico said.

Hodges reportedly told Johnson that aiding Kyiv was a "cost-effective" way of countering the growing axis between Russia, China, and Iran.

There has been much debate on the real motivations behind Johnson's shift, and it is far from certain that there had been one decisive factor.

Despite Politico's story, after meeting Zelensky in December, the speaker said that the two officials had a "good" meeting but said that it had not affected the conditions for passing the bill.

Read also: How Johnson came to allow a vote on Ukraine aid after months of delays

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
United Way of the Ozarks announces new board of directors, executive committee members

Four new members have joined the United Way of the Ozarks Board of Directors. Now serving three-year terms, which started April 1, are:

Matt Aug

Matt Aug, president of Cox HealthPlans. Aug has served as president of Cox HealthPlans for nine years after joining the organization in 2005. He has been active in the community for more than 20 years and has served on several nonprofit boards. He holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Missouri State University.

Tyler Hesser

Tyler Hesser, chief financial officer at Springfield ReManufacturing Corp. (SRC). Hesser has held a variety of financial roles at SRC since joining the company in 2009. Hesser holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Drury University.

Dee King

Dee King, chief of staff at Burrell Behavioral Health. King has interacted with key internal and external stakeholders as Burrell chief of staff since 2021. Before that, she spent 13 years in relationship- and sales-driven roles in the financial and hospitality industries. King has served on several nonprofit boards and holds a bachelor's degree in general business from Missouri State University.

Stephanie Matthews

Stephanie Matthews, vice president business development officer at Simmons Bank. Prior to her career in banking, Matthews spent 20 years working in higher education. Involved with community nonprofits and organizations, she is a graduate of Leadership Springfield. Matthews holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Southwest Baptist University and a master's degree in administrative studies with applied communications from Missouri State University.

Also beginning officer service at United Way of the Ozarks are:

Chair: David Agee , partner, Husch Blackwell, LLP;

Vice Chair and Chair-Elect: Rachel Anderson , director, efactory at Missouri State University;

Secretary: Shawn Calhoun , senior vice president/chief human resources officer, Associated ElectricCooperative, Inc.;

Treasurer: Jason England , president, Arvest Bank;

Past Chair: Joan Barrett , vice chancellor for student affairs, Ozarks Technical Community College;

Community Investment Committee Co-Chair: Matt Aug

At Large: Stephen Hall , chief communications officer, Springfield Public Schools; and

At Large: Ryan Sivill, partner, FORVIS.

Arvest Bank ranks 18th on Forbes best U.S. banks list

Arvest Bank has been named to Forbes 2024 Worlds Best Banks list for the sixth year in a row. The bank ranked 18th among banks in the United States, moving up from 20th last year.

Rankings are based on consumer feedback collected by Forbes in collaboration with research partner Statista. Participants were asked to evaluate all financial institutions where they currently or previously had a checking or savings account. Research criteria included trust, terms and conditions, customer service, digital services and financial advice.

This recognition is a testament to our commitment to delivering financial solutions and services that meet the needs of our customers wherever they are in life," said Matt Machen, president and COO of Arvest Bank.

Hiland Dairy president inducted into Dairy Products Institute of Texas Hall of Fame

Rick Beaman

Hiland Dairy has announced that its president, Rick Beaman, will be inducted into the Dairy Products Institute of Texas Hall of Fame. The honor will be presented to Beaman during the annual convention taking place in Lubbock, Texas, from April 26 to April 28. During his tenure as president of Hiland Dairy, Beaman has driven innovation and growth, focusing on sustainable business practices.

This year's induction is particularly noteworthy, a press release says, as Beaman's father was selected for the honor in 2018.

"This recognition underlines the Beaman familys significant contributions to the dairy sector and their longstanding commitment to quality, innovation, and community engagement in the State of Texas and the entire industry," the release says.

Interim CEO selected for Ozarks Regional YMCA

Tricia Meinhold

The Ozarks Regional YMCA has announced the appointment of Tricia Meinhold as interim CEO. Meinhold will oversee operations of six regional YMCAs, School Age Services, and Camp Wakonda, effective April 15. She has more than two decades of experience in leadership within the YMCA, most recently as vice president of operations for the West District of Gateway Region YMCA.

A management agreement has been signed between the Gateway Region YMCA and the Ozarks Regional YMCA. In her role, Meinhold will aid in the search for a permanent CEO.

Tricia's tenure at YMCA began as aquatics director for the Pat Jones YMCA. She took a short break from this career to serve as Vice President for Institutional Advancement for Coker College in South Carolina, but Meinhold's roots are in Springfield.

FORVIS announces senior staff promotions

FORVIS of Springfield, Branson and Joplin has announced its senior staff promotions for April. The associates being promoted to senior associate II are:

Danielle Pierce

Danielle Pierce, a member of the Home Care & Hospice team providing reimbursement consulting and accounting outsourcing services for clients. Pierce holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from College of the Ozarks.

Christopher Taylor

Christopher Taylor, who assists clients with Medicare reimbursement and cost reporting needs as a member of the Home Care & Hospice team. Taylor holds a bachelor's degree in accounting and a master's degree in business administration from Missouri State University.

Ashley Warmack

Ashley Warmack, a member of the Community Health Center team preparing Medicare and Medicaid cost reports for clients across the country. Warmack holds bachelor's degrees in business administration and finance from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Promoted to senior consultant is:

Czarina Glor

Czarina Glor, a member of the Healthcare Revenue Cycle Assessment team providing an array of services for clients. Glor holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Missouri State University.

Promoted to firm support services people leader is:

Emily Mahoney, who supports her team and the regions client-facing personnel to ensure that document processing request deadlines are met in a timely manner. Mahoney holds an associate's degree from Missouri State University, West Plains.

Emily Mahoney

CoxHealth celebrates completion of Branson Hills clinic

CoxHealth hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 19 to mark the opening of its newest clinic in Branson.

The clinic, known as CoxHealth Branson Hills, is a 30,000-square-foot building at 1601 Branson Hills Parkway, west of the Branson RecPlex. The clinic will house services and more than a dozen urgent care, primary care, occupational medicine, internal medicine, diabetes and endocrinology providers.

Primary care services from CoxHealth Center Branson and CoxHealth Family Medicine Branson Highway 248 will merge into one at the Branson Hills location. Primary care from Highway 248, diabetes and endocrinology, and occupational medicine services will begin at the new facility in April. Primary care from CoxHealth Center Branson and internal medicine are set to open in May, and urgent care is set to open in the summer of 2024.

Patients in Branson and surrounding areas will have two options for CoxHealth urgent care: Branson Hills and the original location at Cox Medical Center Branson. Primary care, occupational medicine, and specialty care for diabetes and endocrinology will take place at CoxHealth Branson Hills.

Arvest Bank announces private banking promotions

Arvest Bank has announced the promotions of two private banking associates in Springfield.

Catherine Luikart

Catherine Luikart has been promoted to private banking advisor for the Springfield region. Luikart has seven years of banking industry experience and was previously an executive assistant at Arvest. In the new role, she will manage consumer and commercial loan portfolios and assess other services to serve private banking clients needs. Luikart holds a bachelors degree in business management from Missouri State University.

Rhonda Sorenson

Rhonda Sorensen has been promoted to private banking manager, SVP for the Springfield region. Sorensen brings 27 years of banking industry experience to her role and was previously a private banking advisor, SVP. In the new role, she will be accountable for developing and administering strategies to grow private banking across the region. Sorensen earned her bachelors degree in business administration and management from Columbia College.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: United Way Ozarks announces new board; CoxHealth opens Branson clinic
President Biden says he would be happy to debate Donald Trump ahead of 2024 election

President Joe Biden said he would be happy to debate former President Donald Trump ahead of the November election.

In an interview with radio host Howard Stern, the president made the statement when asked if he had plans to debate his 2024 rival. I am, somewhere, Biden responded, per ABC News. I dont know when. Im happy to debate him.

According to Fox News, this answer is a shift from a remark last month suggesting he would debate Trump depending on his behavior.

Chris LaCivita, Trumps campaign adviser, posted to X (formerly Twitter) in response to the interview: Ok lets set it up!

Ok lets set it up ! https://t.co/wPMBiGi0IU  Chris LaCivita (@LaCivitaC) April 26, 2024

The former president welcomed the idea in a post to 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.

He added in the post that Biden could debate him in Michigan  where Trump is hosting a rally  or New York City, where they both are on Friday.

Salt Lake City debate in October

Kingsley Hall at the University of Utah was announced as the location for the third and final debate, set to be held on Oct. 9, 2024, according to the Commission on Presidential Debates.

If it is held, it would be almost exactly four years after the vice presidential debate was held in Utah in 2020, between Mike Pence and Kamala Harris.

Trump has publicly called on Biden to debate him. Fox News earlier this month reported that Trumps campaign has said they want to add additional debates to the 2024 election calendar, and that they want them to take place much earlier than what was initially proposed by the debate commission.

Biden and Trump debated each other twice, via broadcast, during the 2020 election, per Reuters.
On Friday, April 26, President Joe Biden went on The Howard Stern Show where he claimed he once got arrested trying to defend the civil rights of Black Americans.

This is not the first time the President has spoken about this so-called arrest, but it should be noted that there has been no evidence of the incident happening.

Joe Biden Claims He Was Arrested

MEGA

On The Howard Stern Show, Biden told Stern that, before his mother's passing, they recalled when Biden was supposedly arrested.

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," he recalled. "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.

It should be noted that when The Washington Post and PolitiFact looked into Bidens possible arrest during a civil rights protest, they found no evidence of this claim.

President Joe Biden References Arrest After His Mom Passed Away

MEGA

According to The Washington Post, in 2017, Biden referenced the alleged arrest when speaking about his late mother. My mom, God love her, she sat there the whole time, and my mom, after my dad passed away, we convinced her to move in with us, and she was reluctant to do," he said.

"Anyway she was sitting there, and I turned to her and said, Honey you havent said anything and she said, Joey  its a true story," he added. "She said, Let me get this straight, remember when you were 14 years old, and the real estate guys sold the house to a Black couple in an area  in a neighboring development called Graylyn Crest, I mean Carrcroft, and I said, Yeah mom. Remember when I told you not to go down there, honey, because everybody is protesting, and you got arrested standing with the family on the porch,' and I said, Yeah, mom. True story."

President Joe Biden's Mom Allegedly Knew About The Arrest

MEGA

In 2018, he once again brought up the situation, claiming that his mom said, "Joey, remember at 15 years old, and that real estate agent sold a house to the Black couple in Lynnfield."

"The neighboring, this was in suburban sprawl, the neighboring neighborhood," Biden recalled. His mom then supposedly said, "I told you not to go down there because of the protests, and you went down, and you got arrested because you were standing on the porch with the Black couple?"

"I said, Yeah, mom. I remember that,  Biden added of the incident at the time.

Joe Biden's Stories Have Subtle Changes

MEGA

While all of these stories have similarities, there are subtle changes. For example, in some of the stories, Biden says the protest took place in Lynnfield, Delaware, but in another story, he says the protest took place in Carrcroft.

Another inconsistency is regarding the arrest itself. In some stories, Biden claims he was arrested for standing on the porch with the Black couple. In others, he says the police brought him home after standing on the porch.

Joe Biden Says He Was Arrested As A U.S. Senator

MEGA

Plus, when Biden was running for President in 2020, he claimed he was arrested as a U.S. senator when he tried to visit Nelson Mandela when he was imprisoned.

In February 2020, Biden said, This day, 30 years ago, Nelson Mandela walked out of prison and entered into discussions about apartheid. I had the great honor of meeting him. I had the great honor of being arrested with our U.N. ambassador on the streets of Soweto trying to get to see him on Robbens Island.

He added, After [Mandela] got free and became president, he came to Washington and came to my office. He threw his arms around me and said, I want to say thank you. I said, What are you thanking me for, Mr. President? He said: You tried to see me. You got arrested trying to see me.

According to CNN, no evidence of this arrest was ever found. Biden later told CNN that he had been stopped in South Africa, and he did not mean to say arrested.
SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  Two months ago, Sumner County teen Sebastian Rogers was reported missing.

There is still no sign of him, but a private investigator told News 2 she is working hard to find the teen.

Private investigator Heather Cohen said she was hired by Sebastians biological father, Seth Rogers, a couple of weeks ago.

PREVIOUS: Sebastian Rogers father hires private investigators

Its definitely the biggest and the hardest case Ive been on, Cohen explained.

Cohens day starts with answering calls from a tip line before going through the nearby neighborhoods to door knock. She said even though it has been two months since Sebastian was reportedly last seen, new information is still coming in.

Its got us jumping, so I mean its we literally from the moment we wake up to the moment weand there are nights that we dont get to bed until two or three in the morning because we are talking to people, Cohen explained.

Theres a lot of tips that people believe they have seen him everywhere, from Florida to Illinois, Cohen added. Some people believe that they saw him that morning, and so we are just trying to follow up on everything we can.

We have not forgotten about Sebastian: TBI releases Q&A on Sebastian Rogers investigation

Cohen explained she is working independently of the Sumner County Sheriffs Office.

Sumner County hasnt said a whole lot, Cohen said. We did have an initial meeting, myself and the other private investigator. We both went down and sat down with him. I attempted to get the missing persons report, which we werent able to do, and so we did have a conversation with him, and really all that we got out of that conversation was that they have nothing.

People are still praying; they are still holding out hope, said Don Schmit, Sumner County Commissioner of District 18. They are not thinking negatively. They are worried, of course, you know, and they are worried of the worst-case scenario, but they revert back to prayer and just hope that you know someone or something comes up.

Signs and images of Sebastian are still visible along Long Hollow Pike, where he was allegedly last seen at his home.

Friday, April 26 marks 2 months since Sebastian Rogers disappearance

Schmit told News 2 that the public needs to keep posting to social media, praying, and doing what they can in the search for Sebastian.

Those posts are being shared because I watch them, Schmit said. I mean citizens, I got to thank them because they are sharing these posts and they are keeping it in everyones minds.

The last update from the Sumner County Sheriffs Office was a Facebook post on Thursday, April 4. The post announced the end of the most recent search effort and said in part: There are no significant events to report from the search efforts. We, along with the many other agencies involved, remain committed to investigating this case.

Cohen said if you have a tip on Sebastians whereabouts, first call the lead investigators with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-FIND or the Sumner County Sheriffs Office at (615) 451-3838. If you are still waiting for an answer, call her at (615) 395-5480.

 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.
Northeastern University had around 100 peaceful protesters arrested on Saturday at its Boston campus pro-Palestine encampment, claiming that there had been reports of protesters using antisemitic slurs; but according to witnesses, the protester who spewed hate speech was a pro-Israel counter protester.

On Saturday morning, Northeastern Vice President for Communications Renata Nyul released a statement, announcing that the protest on Centennial Common would be cleared by campus police and local law enforcement. In the statement, she explained that the reason they were clearing the encampment was because of the presence of hate speech at the site.

What began as a student demonstration two days ago, was infiltrated by professional organizers with no affiliation to Northeastern. Last night, the use of virulent antisemitic slurs, including Kill the Jews, crossed the line, she said. We cannot tolerate this kind of hate on our campus."

Across the country, university administrators and politicians alike have publicized reports of antisemitic speech at student-led protests, as part of their justification for arresting students, and disbanding protests urging them to divest from Israel. These accounts often vary from eye-witness accounts of the peaceful protests.

GBHs Tori Bedford quickly confirmed that she had heard someone say Kill the Jews, but it wasnt the peaceful pro-Palestine protesters. The chant came from a pro-Israel agitator who joined the crowd late Friday night.

I did hear "kill the Jews," said by a counter-protester holding an Israeli flag, seemingly as a provocative joke in response to the group's pro-Palestine chants. Not sure if that's the specific incident @Northeastern leadership is referring to https://t.co/taGU6PMrVu pic.twitter.com/of22n8a4MK  Tori Bedford (@Tori_Bedford) April 27, 2024

In a video of the appalling incident, provided by an organizer from Huskies for a Free Palestine, and posted to X by Bedford, a protest leader prepared to lead a chant. You repeat to me what I say to you. Got it? they shout.

Kill the Jews, yelled one person, holding an Israeli flag. Anybody on board? Anybody on board? He was one of two counter-demonstrators who had affixed themselves at the center of the crowd, standing on lawn chairs as they berated the protesters around them.

The crowd of protesters immediately booed the young man. The protesters began chanting, Were gonna let them leave, drowning out the shouts of the two counter-protesters.

this is a video of the incident I mentioned, provided by an organizer with Huskies For A Free Palestine/HFP.NEU



The student in the greenish blue sweatshirt holding the Israeli flag is a counter-protester pic.twitter.com/2KnUuFAkam  Tori Bedford (@Tori_Bedford) April 27, 2024

After midnight, the two counter protesters had disengaged, according to reports.

The next morning, dozens of NUPD and Boston police arrested around 100 demonstrators, but not the one whose hate speech got everything shut down. After they loaded the arrested students into vans, students linked arms to prevent the vehicles from leaving campus for hours, according to The Huntington News.

Professor Matthew Noah Smith who took part in Northeasterns protest on Thursday, observed a very different protest to the one the administration described. I hope Northeastern is not weaponizing anti-semitism to justify arresting the protesting students, he wrote in a post on X. I spent all day Thursday with the students there and they were clear in standing against all forms of hate and violence.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
Two days after rallying in front of Old Main on the Penn State campus, about 200 pro-Palestine protesters marched through downtown State College on Saturday afternoon, blocking traffic as a few police trailed closely behind.

Protesters chanted many of the same demands they made Thursday  including for Penn State to divest from Israel and to free Palestine. The protest was held in recognition of the upcoming International Workers Day because, organizers said on Instagram, workers struggles against oppressors arent unlike those facing the people of Palestine.

The march was also held on a day the university expected plenty of visitors, with its first outdoor concert at Beaver Stadium in seven years scheduled for 5:45 p.m. Saturday.

The protest began at the Allen Street gates at 2 p.m. Saturday, before marching through parts of Beaver and College avenues, along with Burrowes Street, Fraser Street, and others. Protesters also made stops at Old Main and Penn States Applied Research Laboratory, which is affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense.

Pro-Palestine protesters march through downtown State College and the Penn State campus on Saturday afternoon for many of the same demands they made during a Thursday protest  including for Penn State to divest from Israel and to free Palestine. Halie Kines/hkines@centredaily.com

A handful of police officers stood in front of the ARLs door, and the march appeared to remain peaceful.

We are here today as part of a movement, said Roua Daas, of Penn State Students for Justice in Palestine, as part of a movement of students, of community members, of Palestinians, of Black and Brown people everywhere that are saying, We will not do this anymore. ...

We will not stop. We will not stop until Penn State has divested. We will not stop until there is a ceasefire.

Saturdays march ended shortly after 5 p.m. Saturday, after protesters returned to campus and spent some time in front of Old Main.

The State College Police patrol officer in charge Saturday, Ken Shaffer, told the CDT that police were aware of the possibility of a march.

It is a criminal violation to block a roadway like that, but we do give some leeway at times as long as no one is being hurt, Shaffer added. Im not sure if thatll be the case moving forward here, and thats a decision thats made every time by our administration.

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.

State College Police did not arrest anyone in connection with Saturdays protest, as of late Saturday afternoon, and no damage had been reported, Shaffer said.

Pro-Palestine protesters march through downtown State College and the Penn State campus on Saturday afternoon for many of the same demands they made during a Thursday protest  including for Penn State to divest from Israel and to free Palestine. Halie Kines/hkines@centredaily.com
BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR)  As the current war in GAZA between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups enters its seventh month, tensions at several universities here in the U.S. have steadily increased. Early morning on Friday, April 26, a group of protestors was reported to have gathered with signs and tents on the campus of Virginia Tech.

The universitys website states the event is currently being held by a small group of the university community and others not affiliated with Virginia Tech at the Graduate Life Center.

There are currently no reports of violence or any injuries. In a release online, the university said the gathering was not preregistered and not compliant with Facilities Usage and Events Policy (5000), which states the following:

University facilities are to be used in a manner consistent with their intended purpose. Priority of use must be given to those activities related to the mission of the university. The facilities must be used in a safe, professional manner so as not to endanger the university community or the public. The university may restrict access to land and buildings to protect individuals, property, and equipment. The facilities of the university are intended for the use of its students, faculty, staff, and guests participating in university-approved programs or activities, sponsored by or under the direction of the university or one of its related agencies or approved organizations.

Photo Credit: Emaryi Williams

Photo Credit: Emaryi Williams

Photo Credit: Emaryi Williams

Virginia Tech says they have told the protestors that all members of the community are expected to follow university policy and temporary structures are prohibited without approval.

However, the university is currently allowing the protest to continue peacefully. Student organizers tell WFXR that Virginia Tech police say they are allowed to stay. However, they are told that all tents must come down at 8:30 p.m.

Despite this, organizers say they hope to have a sit-in for three or four days.

Virginia Tech Police would like to remind all community members of the following:

Call Virginia Tech Police at 540-382-4343, or 911 if an emergency, to report all suspicious people and circumstances.

For additional safety and security resources, visit www.emergency.vt.edu for a wide range of resources.

Members of the university community who seek support or assistance are encouraged to contact these resources:

TimelyCare

Cook Counseling Center at 540-231-6557

Dean of Students Office at 540-231-3787. Referral to a campus cleric may be made through this office.

Employee Assistance Program Anthem at 855-223-9277 Aetna at 888-238-6232 Kaiser Permanente at 866-517-7042 Optima Health Vantage HMO at 866-846-2682

Hokie Wellness at 540-231-2233 (students) or 540-231-8878 (employees)

Housing Services at 540-231-6205

Residential Well-being at 540-231-1139

Equity and Accessibility at 540-231-2010

Womens Center at Virginia Tech at 540-231-7806

University Ombuds Office at 540-231-3125

Graduate Office of the Ombudsperson at 540-231-9573

WFXR News will continue to update you with more information as it becomes available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
BOSTON  Police cleared pro-Palestinian protesters from an encampment at Northeastern University in Boston on Saturday.

Dozens of protesters have been at the tent encampment on Centennial Common since Thursday.

Pro-Palestinian protesters detained by police

On Saturday, there was a heavy police beginning around 6 a.m. while students were standing with linked arms.

Around 7 a.m., police moved in and began detaining students with zip ties. They were sat on the ground, then walked away from the area one at a time.

A spokesperson for Northeastern said about 100 people were detained by police.

"With hundreds of police officers in full riot gear, and destroyed the encampment, arrested students and intimidate everybody," Northeastern University sophomore Alina Caudle said.

Any students who produced a university ID were released. Students will face potential discipline from Northeastern, but not legal action.

"Those who refused to disclose their affiliation were arrested," the university said.

"What the university said is "If you show your ID you will not be arrested, but you will face university disciplinary action,' which could include suspension, expulsion, loss of a scholarship," Caudle said.

Massachusetts State Police said 102 who refused to disperse were arrested and will be charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct. The protesters were cleared by police from Northeastern, state police, Boston Police, and the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department.

"The State Police are committed to protecting the lawful exercise of people's rights of assembly and free speech in a safe and secure manner, as well as to protecting safety and property all involved parties," Massachusetts State Police said in a statement.

Northeastern says protesters used "virulent antisemitic slurs"

Renata Nyul, vice president for communications at Northeastern, issued a statement saying the protests have included "virulent antisemitic slurs."

Nyul said the protest began as a student demonstration, but has been "infiltrated by professional organizers" who are not affiliated with the school.

"Earlier this morning the Northeastern University Police Department (NUPD)  in cooperation with local law enforcement partners  began clearing an unauthorized encampment on the university's Boston campus," Nyul said. "What began as a student demonstration two days ago, was infiltrated by professional organizers with no affiliation to Northeastern. Last night, the use of virulent antisemitic slurs, including 'Kill the Jews,' crossed the line. We cannot tolerate this kind of hate on our campus."

The protesters who were part of the encampment disagree with Northeastern's recollection of the event.

"Individuals in the encampment were making hate speech claims such as 'Kill the Jews,' and there is literally video evidence of pro-Israeli anti-protesters holding their flags and saying 'Kill the Jews' to incite this violence," Northeastern University senior Sarah Barber said.

But Jewish students say the last few days have been challenging with the encampment.

"I am usually all for free speech, but when that free speech violates the university code of conduct, when you are calling for things that are outright antisemitic, that really have nothing to do with Palestine at all, that's when it loses a place on campus. I'm glad Northeastern University took action," Jake Friedman said.

The school said that by 11:30 a.m., the quad in Centennial Common was "fully secured" and all campus operations returned to normal.

College protests in Massachusetts

Other student protests inspired by Columbia University this week have been formed on Massachusetts college campuses. They include Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University and Tufts University.

Boston police broke up an Emerson College encampment on Thursday, arresting 108 people.

College students have been protesting against Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza around the country as well. The groups say they are demanding schools cut financial ties to Israel and divest from companies they say are enabling the conflict.

Rhona Graff, former Trump assistant, takes the stand at his New York trial

Another American arrested in Turks and Caicos after bullets found in luggage

Emergency exit slide falls off Delta flight
Newly promoted Francesca Mosomillo, Newly promoted Conor McDonald and Police Commissioner Edward Caban, NYPD promotions ceremony today, pictured here is Diller's brother-in-law, NYPD Officer Jonathan McAuley at right, next to late Jonathan Diller's wife Stephanie Diller

A group of New Yorks finest got promotions Friday  including some who are continuing the legacies of department heroes, like their own parents.

Among the those getting raised in rank at the ceremony was now-Detective Francesca Mosomillo, 28, the daughter of Anthony Mosomillo, who was killed in 1998 while attempting to bust a drug dealer who had skipped out on a court date.

In 1998, Anthony was killed by a career criminal who refused to go back to jail, NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban told the assembly gathered at the police academy in Queens.

Detective Francesca Mosomillos father, Anthony, was killed in the line of duty in 1998. Provided to the New York Post

Mortally wounded, Anthony was able to return fire and protect his partner. And today, his daughter turns in her white shields and becomes Detective Francesca Mosomillo.

Mosomillo was issued her fathers old police officer shield number, 20316, on her badge.

Francescas mother and Mosomillos widow, Margaret, told The Post Thursday she is so excited over the promotion that she is drawn to tears.

Francesca worked very hard for this, she said.

I have cried so many times in the last 26 years but today these are not sad tears, they are happy tears.

Anthony would be extremely proud of her, Margaret added.

Also promoted was Lt. Conor McDonald, whose father Steven McDonald was paralyzed after being shot by a teen in the line of duty in 1986.

A group of New Yorks finest got promotions Friday  including some who are continuing the legacies of department heroes, like their own parents. Paul Martinka

The one thing that always represented hope for Steven was his son Conor, Caban said.

By the time Steven passed away from his injuries in 2017, he had watched with pride as his son rose through the ranks of the department they both cared so much about and today, we are honored to promote Conor to the rank of captain.

Conor beamed as he posed alongside Caban with his certificate of promotion  a reaction that his mother, Patti Ann McDonald, said Thursday that his father would have definitely shared.

Lt. Conor McDonalds father was paralyzed after being shot by a teen in 1986, but continued to live until 2017. David McGlynn for NY Post

Had such a big smile when he was sworn in, and again when he was promoted to sergeant. He was so glad he became a cop, she said.

I know he wouldve been beaming when Conor gets his Captains shield.

Conor is a fourth generation NYPD officer.

Lt. Conor McDonald was promoted, whose father Steven McDonald was paralyzed after being shot by a teen in the line of duty in 1986. Paul Martinka

His father lived for more than 30 years with the help of a ventilator after his injury, and died at 59 after having forgiven his shooter.

Patti Ann was pregnant with Conor when his father was shot.

I am extremely proud of Conor, I know how hard he worked for this, she said.

Conor McDonalds mother had been pregnant with him when his father was shot. Paul Martinka

Those promoted also included a relative of Det. First Grade Jonathan Diller, who was recently killed in the line of duty.

Dillers brother-in-law Jonathan McAuley was promoted from Police Officer to Detective Specialist, alongside Dillers partner, Veckash Khedna, who was granted the same rise in rank, Caban said.

There are so many stories of bravery among you this morning and some of you are continuing to build on the legacy of heroes who died in their service to our city, like police officer Jonathan McAuley, the brother-in-law of Det. First Grade Jonathan Diller, Caban said.

Those promoted also included a relative of Det. First Grade Jonathan Diller, who was recently killed in the line of duty as Dillers brother-in-law Jonathan McAuley was promoted from Police Officer to Detective Specialist. DCPI

He is being designated Detective Specialist this morning along with Jonathans partner on that fateful day, Veckash Khedna. Congratulations to both of you.

In the wake of Dillers death, McAuley had posted a tribute on Facebook to his slain relative  and brother in blue.

Jon, there are no words to describe how devastated we are that you are gone, he wrote, according to WABC.

You were a good man and a great father whose shoes can never be filled. I swear to you that I will look after your son as if he were my own. For the rest of my life.

Diller, a 3-year-veteran of the department and father of a 1-year-old boy, was fatally shot and killed during a traffic stop in the Far Rockaway section of Queens.

Khedna returned fire, wounding the gunman.

177 members of the NYPD were promoted. Paul Martinka

Officer Rosa Rodriguez, whose partner, Det. Dennis Guerra, 38, was killed in a treacherous 2014 blaze in Coney Island, was promoted to Detective Second Grade, Caban said.

The two cops were overcome by smoke as they got off an elevator on the 13th floor of a housing project  with Guerra succumbing to his injuries three days later.

Rodriguez was hospitalized for weeks, and has since been awarded the departments highest recognition, the NYPD Medal of Honor.

Rosas toughness and determination is an inspiration to all, Caban said.

And its my humble honor to promote her today to detective second grade.

Its moments like this that I couldnt be prouder to serve as your police commissioner, the top cop said of all those promoted.

And its moments like this that Im reminded that the NYPD is the greatest police department in the world. And all of you are the reason why. So congratulations again on this well deserved recognition.
Proposed Pride march could be alternative for fed up lesbians this summer

Pride in London is set to happen on Jun 29 this year, celebrating diversity and inclusivity - ZEFROG/ALAMY

Womens rights campaigners are planning to hold an alternative march for lesbians this summer because they no longer feel represented at Londons official Pride celebrations.

Jenny Watson, the organiser of the event, claimed the capitals Pride parade has become dominated by the transgender movement and men indulging in sexual fetishes.

She claimed that those in charge of London Pride have made it clear that gender-critical women who disagree with the idea of men identifying as female being classed as lesbian are unwelcomed.

Ms Watson, a lesbian herself, also claimed women now feel uncomfortable at Pride marches due to the growing presence of men wearing hypersexualised outfits such as bondage gear.

The 32-year-old said: Ive been going to London Pride since I was 18 years old and it used to be a family day out, but I wouldnt bring my children there now its become so hypersexualised.

One of the things that convinced me to stop going is the year before last when one of the floats was basically a bus full of men wearing leather straps with balls in their mouths.

Women are not happy with these sorts of displays, but they know if they complain theyll be told theyre being prudes.

The Pride committee are also of the view that heterosexual men who identify as women can fall under the definition of lesbian and therefore, gender-critical lesbians are not welcomed.

Ms Watson said a growing number of lesbians had now become so fed up with modern-day Pride celebrations that they decided to hold their own alternative event on the same day this year, June 29.

They hope to begin their parade at the statue of Millicent Fawcett, the suffragette leader in Londons Parliament Square.

We just want our march to be a positive celebration for lesbians, Ms Watson added. We dont want it to be an event like Pride has become full of straight men with sexual fetishes.

Plans amid rising protests

The plans come amid rising protests among lesbians against trans women, who were born male, claiming to be the same as gay women and demanding access to their spaces.

Ms Watson has made previous attempts to counter this trend with speed dating events and plans to open a lesbian bar that only admits biological women.

She told how her lesbian dating nights often had men who said they were female turning up and on one occasion there was an individual who arrived sporting a purple latex outfit and an erection.

Ms Watson said she has been subject to an onslaught of transphobia accusations for her female-only stance, but says she is merely trying to protect womens spaces and rights.

Proposals to hold the lesbian parade have already begun gathering support.

Last night, Professor Kathleen Stock, who resigned from Sussex University after being targeted by trans activists over her gender-critical views, was among the supporters.

Prof Stock, who co-founded The Lesbian Project, an organisation focused on same-sex attracted females, said: Its a great idea to do something different.

Its been obvious for a long time that official Pride marches are unfriendly places for lesbians who reject trans activist dogma, and some lesbians are also uncomfortable with the constant emphasis on male sexual interests.

Reclaiming womens rights

Prof Jo Phoenix, a lesbian academic who similarly has been vilified for her gender-critical views, said: Back in the 80s, I went on Lesbian Strength marches to show we existed.

Now, we need to march to reclaim womens right to define our own sexuality as exclusively same-sex attracted.

There has been support for the alternative event on the social media site X, formerly Twitter, with one user commenting: Yes, stand up against the erasure of sex and sexual orientation. I dont want my sexuality erased from society either.

Another supporter wrote: This sounds great. Havent been to Pride for many years, but will definitely be up for this.

However, others tweeted criticism of the event, with one detractor labelling it as a transphobe parade.

A second critic suggested: Why not all get-together and call it LGBB Pride? The Bigot tacked on the end will help the right people identify which march to join.

Pride in London have been contacted for comment.

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.
Key Insights

The projected fair value for Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation Berhad is RM0.62 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Current share price of RM0.50 suggests Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation Berhad is potentially trading close to its fair value

Peers of Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation Berhad are currently trading on average at a 83% premium

How far off is Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation Berhad (KLSE:BHIC) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. One way to achieve this is by employing the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex.

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. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model.

See our latest analysis for Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation Berhad

The Model

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM17.2m RM19.9m RM22.3m RM24.4m RM26.3m RM28.0m RM29.6m RM31.0m RM32.4m RM33.8m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ 20.79% Est @ 15.62% Est @ 11.99% Est @ 9.46% Est @ 7.68% Est @ 6.44% Est @ 5.57% Est @ 4.96% Est @ 4.53% Est @ 4.24% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 10% RM15.6 RM16.4 RM16.6 RM16.5 RM16.1 RM15.6 RM14.9 RM14.2 RM13.4 RM12.7

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM152m

Story continues

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 (3.5%) 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 10%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = RM34m (1 + 3.5%)  (10% 3.5%) = RM519m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM519m ( 1 + 10%)10= RM195m

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 RM347m. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of RM0.5, the company appears about fair value at a 19% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

dcf

Important Assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation Berhad 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 10%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.062. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

SWOT Analysis for Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation Berhad

Strength

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Weakness

Shareholders have been diluted in the past year.

Opportunity

Has sufficient cash runway for more than 3 years based on current free cash flows.

Current share price is below our estimate of fair value.

Lack of analyst coverage makes it difficult to determine BHIC's earnings prospects.

Threat

No apparent threats visible for BHIC.

Looking Ahead:

Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. 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 Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation Berhad, there are three further elements you should explore:

Risks: Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation Berhad (of which 1 is concerning!) you should know about. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! Other Environmentally-Friendly Companies: Concerned about the environment and think consumers will buy eco-friendly products more and more? Browse through our interactive list of companies that are thinking about a greener future to discover some stocks you may not have thought of!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Malaysian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Calling her an inherent danger to the community, prosecutors on Friday asked a Miami judge to throw a 51-year-old mother back into jail for posting news articles on Facebook recounting her arrest on charges of stalking a Miami-Dade police officer who had shot and killed her mentally ill son.

Prosecutors say Gamaly Hollis violated a judges order against using social media by sharing several stories this week about the June 2022 death of her son. Richard Hollis, who suffered from severe mental illness, was shot six times by Officer Jaime Pino in the familys apartment.

After her sons death, the grieving mother took to the streets and the internet, calling officer Pino a killer and once confronting him at a crime scene. Miami-Dade Police arrested her on charges of aggravated stalking, resisting arrest and trespassing. After a year in jail, she was released on bond just a week ago.

Now, she faces jail again  this time for sharing news stories, without comment, on Facebook.

Hollis attorneys with the Miami-Dade Public Defenders Office argue no such restriction was imposed by Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Cristina Rivera Correa when she released Hollis on a $1,000 bond on April 19. They also say Hollis has a constitutional right to share published accounts of her sons death and her resulting legal battle online.

She has every right, under the Constitution, to post a news story. It is her First Amendment right, Natahly Soler, one of Gamaly Hollis attorneys, told the Miami Herald. You cant restrict a persons First Amendment right to post something that is public.

The Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office did not respond to a request from the Herald to comment about the offices motion to revoke Hollis bail.

Read More: Grieving mom jailed, accused of stalking Miami-Dade cop who killed her mentally ill son

Richard Hollis was shot during a chaotic encounter on the evening of June 15, 2022  one of a number of police calls to the familys Peppermill Apartments home in Kendale Lakes. Responding to a call about a disturbance from a neighbor, officers tried to convince him to open the door and leave the unit. When he failed to do so, Pino kicked in the apartment door, fired his taser, and then shot Richard Hollis, who was yelling about his food being poisoned and wielding two kitchen knives.

Gamaly Hollis was within feet of her son when he was killed.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office  both of which routinely investigate police-involved shootings  cleared Pino of any wrongdoing, concluding Hollis refusal to drop his knives left both his mother and police in harms way.

Though it is standard procedure for officers to be benched during a use-of-force investigation, Pino, instead, continued to patrol the same neighborhood where Hollis was killed. While the shooting was being reviewed, the department also designated him a field training officer, and assigned a junior officer to learn from him.

Miami-Dade prosecutors are asking Judge Cristina Rivera Correa to revoke the bond for Gamaly Hollis, who was released from jail a week ago after being held in jail after being accused of stalking a Miami-Dade officer who killed her mentally ill son. The judge is seen here in court talking to Hollis public defenders Robert Keilson , left, and Chandra Sim

In the ensuing weeks, Gamaly Hollis visited the Miami-Dade Polices Hammocks division several times. She said she was seeking the departments report on her sons death, but also wanted to speak with the man who shot him. On Aug. 22, 2022, Hollis confronted Pino at a crime scene, and accused him of murdering her son.

You killed my son, Hollis said to Pino repeatedly in Spanish, according to body camera footage.

Maybe if you did a better job, there wouldnt be a problem, Pino is captured saying in response.

After that encounter, she was charged with aggravated stalking, resisting arrest and trespassing. She then shifted to social media, sharing photos she obtained from Pinos accounts of him and his family. On Nov. 7, 2022, Pino was granted a one-year injunction, ordering Hollis to stay away from him and cease posting his pictures on social media

The stalking charge was reduced to a misdemeanor, and the trespass charge was dropped. But Hollis still faces a maximum of nearly two years imprisonment on the remaining charges.

Read More: Judge set to free mom accused of stalking cop who shot her son. Police union objects

At the April 19 bond hearing, Assistant State Attorney Alecsander Kohn and defense attorneys sparred over who was the victim in the tragedy surrounding Richard Hollis death and his mothers subsequent arrest.

Kohn said prosecutors and police were strongly opposed to releasing Hollis on her promise to appear in court for trial  the option most favored by her attorneys. I reached out to all respective parties being the victim in this case  Officer Pino, as well as the [Police Benevolent Association] who is the voice of law enforcement.

After conversations with both of them, there are grave concerns with respect to releasing Ms. Hollis on her own recognizance, he said. The PBA is a union that represents Miami-Dade officers.

Soler responded that Hollis was the real victim in the case, telling the judge that Pino had perjured himself when he testified about the Aug. 22, 2022 confrontation  an encounter that stands as the basis for the stalking charge. Soler said her office had asked prosecutors over and over and over again  to no avail  to review body-worn camera footage of the encounter to determine for themselves who was telling the truth about the threat the grieving mother posed.

It is unjust for Ms. Hollis to be spending one more second in jail for somethingthat was her every single right to do.

Steadman Stahl, the PBAs president, said Friday night it was unfortunate that a life was taken, and no officer relishes that or wants that to happen. But, he added, the shooting was investigated and [Pino] was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Stahl defended Pino against claims that he misrepresented what happened the night Hollis was arrested. That may be an allegation that the mother is alleging but I do not believe that he did perjure himself.

At some point, the mother has to stop showing up on scenes and causing disruptions, Stahl added. If she feels that theres a issue that needs to be reinvestigated through multiple agencies, well be glad to look at it. But the officer was acting within the scope of duty.

Following the April 19 hearing, Hollis was released on $1,000 bond  $500 for each of two charges  after spending nearly a year in jail for violating the order to stay away from Pino, and to cease posting pictures of him, his family or his house on social media. Because Hollis has lost a job and apartment since being jailed, her attorneys say she has been forced to live in her car.

The new motion filed by the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office seeks to revoke that bond. In his pleading, Kohn argued that Rivera Correa imposed conditions upon Hollis release, including that she is not to use the internet [unless] its for paying bills online, ordering groceries or other necessities.

Despite the courts order, Kohn wrote, Hollis has taken numerous opportunities throughout the past 24 hours to post to social media, namely, Facebook, regarding various aspects of the case.

This behavior is in direct violation of a court order and condition of her release.

The motion included several versions of the story first reported by the Miami Herald, including versions from Yahoo.com, MSN.com and NBCMiami.com. Court filings dont show Hollis making any comments about the news stories.

One of the purposes of bail, Kohn wrote, was to protect the community against unreasonable danger from those accused of committing a crime. He added: It is clear [Hollis] is an inherent danger to the community and should therefore have her bond or pretrial release revoked.

Soler, who is the public defenders county court chief, argued prosecutors are misreading the terms of Hollis release. Abstaining from social media was a restriction only for an option of house arrest  not if she was able to post bail, which she did. Rivera Correa left Hollis both options as alternatives for release, Soler said.

But, Soler said, even if such a condition were imposed, it could not withstand the scrutiny of First Amendment protection. The prosecution motion is scheduled to be heard on Monday.

This is not a murder case, Soler told the Miami Herald. Even if [Hollis] had been prohibited from making any type of Internet posting, posting articles already published to warn the community is purely protected by the First Amendment.
The sinkhole from a Russian missile hit. Last night, Russian troops hit the territory of the Regional Clinical Psychiatric Hospital No. 3 with two missiles in the city of Kharkiv, Ukraine on April 27, 2024. - Anadolu

US intelligence agencies have reportedly determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin probably did not order the killing of opposition politician Alexei Navalny at an Arctic prison camp in February.

The finding is broadly accepted within the intelligence community and shared by several agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the State Departments intelligence unit, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing people familiar with the matter.

It said Washington had not absolved the Russian leader of overall responsibility for Navalnys death however, given the opposition politician had been targeted by Russian authorities for years, jailed on charges the West said were politically motivated, and had been poisoned in 2020 with a nerve agent.

Those who assert that Putin wasnt aware clearly do not understand anything about how modern day Russia runs, Leonid Volkov, a longtime Navalny ally, said in a statement. The idea of Putin being not informed and not approving killing Navalny is ridiculous.

05:00 PM BST

Todays live blog is now closed

That is all from us today. Here is a recap of the most significant developments of the day:

The Russian Defence Ministry said today that over the past week its forces had carried out 35 strikes against Ukrainian energy facilities, defence factories, railway infrastructure, air defences, and ammunition stocks. The strikes, which happened between April 20-27, were in response to attempts by the Kyiv regime to damage Russian energy and industrial facilities, it said in a statement.

The British defence ministry estimates that Russia has suffered around 450,000 casualties since its invasion of Ukraine.

Russia has sent more troops to Ocheretyne in eastern Ukraine to reinforce an offensive there, but Kyivs forces largely hold the village and expect U.S. arms deliveries to turn the tide in their favour, the Ukrainian military said on Saturday.

Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian President, appealed for air defences and fast weapons deliveries after Russian missiles struck four Ukrainian power plants. Mr Zelensky said Ukraine needed sufficient quantities of air defence and other weapons to protect its cities and prevail on the frontline.

The Kremlin shrugged off a trip to China by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during which he raised concerns about Chinese support for Russias military, saying Moscow and Beijing would continue to develop their own ties.

Ukrainian drones hit two Russian oil refineries early on Saturday, as the warring countries again exchanged fire on energy facilities. The Ilsky and Slavyansk oil refineries in Russias Krasnodar region were targeted by Ukrainian drones, causing fires at both and partially rendering the Slavyansk plant unoperational. Meanwhile Russia launched its own barrage of missiles at Ukrainian power facilities in the early hours of Saturday, hitting locations in the centre and west of the country, damaging equipment and injuring at least one energy worker.

04:53 PM BST

Surveying the damage in Donetsk

Local resident Tatyana, 64, approaches her neighbours' house destroyed by recent shelling, which local Russian-installed authorities called a Ukrainian military strike, in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine, April 26, 2024. - REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko

04:17 PM BST

No grounds for peace with Ukraine, Kremlin says

There are currently no grounds for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine due to Kyivs formal refusal to negotiate with Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed a decree in 2022 formally declaring the prospect of any Ukrainian talks with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin impossible, while leaving the door open to talks with what he called another president of Russia.

03:57 PM BST

Russia says it struck Ukrainian energy plants in response to Kyiv targeting its own energy sector

The Russian Defence Ministry said today that over the past week its forces had carried out 35 strikes against Ukrainian energy facilities, defence factories, railway infrastructure, air defences, and ammunition stocks.

The strikes, which happened between April 20-27, were in response to attempts by the Kyiv regime to damage Russian energy and industrial facilities, it said in a statement.

Ukraine has systematically targeted Russian oil refineries and other facilities in drone attacks in recent weeks, ignoring US requests not to do so.

Ukrainian officials said Russian missiles had pounded power facilities in central and western Ukraine on Saturday, increasing pressure on the ailing energy system as the country faces a shortage of air defences despite a breakthrough in US military aid.

The campaign had been conducted using sea- and air-launched long-range precision weapons, including Kinzhal hypersonic missiles and drones, the Russian defence ministry said.

It said it had also targeted and hit Ukrainian troop formations as well as what it described as foreign mercenaries.

03:22 PM BST

UK estimates 450,000 Russian casualties in Ukraine war

The British defence ministry estimates that Russia has suffered around 450,000 casualties since its invasion of Ukraine.

Responding to a parliamentary question by Labour, armed forces minister Leo Dochery said:

We estimate that approximately 450,000 Russian military personnel have been killed or wounded, and tens of thousands more have already deserted since the start of the conflict. The number of personnel killed serving in Russian private military companies (PMCs) is not clear. We also estimate that over 10,000 Russian armoured vehicles, including nearly 3,000 main battle tanks, 109 fixed wing aircraft, 136 helicopters, 346 unmanned aerial vehicles, 23 naval vessels of all classes, and over 1,500 artillery systems of all types have been destroyed, abandoned, or captured by Ukraine since the start of the conflict.

02:54 PM BST

Watch: Ukrainian Air Force use iPads in Soviet-era jets to control modern Western weaponry

02:28 PM BST

Russia steps up offensive on east Ukraine village, Kyiv says its forces holding out

Russia has sent more troops to Ocheretyne in eastern Ukraine to reinforce an offensive there, but Kyivs forces largely hold the village and expect U.S. arms deliveries to turn the tide in their favour, the Ukrainian military said on Saturday.

Russian troops have slowly advanced through at least half a dozen villages on the eastern front since capturing the bastion town of Avdiivka in February as exhausted Ukrainian forces rationed dwindling artillery supplies.

Fierce fighting raged in Ocheretyne on Saturday but Nazar Voloshyn, spokesman for the eastern command, told Reuters that Ukrainian forces had the situation under control and controlled two-thirds of the village.

Ukrainian troops, he said, were able to shell the part of the village seized by Russian forces and that the enemy is blocked and measures are being taken to kick them out.

To the north on the eastern front, Russian forces were trying to capture the strategic town of Chasiv Yar at all costs, though they had not entered the town, he said.

Chasiv Yar, which lies on high ground, is seen as a gateway to the remaining important cities controlled by Ukraine in the Donbas, which Russia seeks to capture in full folllwing its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

02:11 PM BST

Twelfth person arrested over Moscow concert hall shooting

A 12th person has been arrested in connection with the Moscow concert hall massacre last month, according to a Moscow court ruling.

Dzhumakhon Kurbonov, reported to be from Tajikistan, is suspected of providing others involved in the attack with money and telecommunications means.

The court ruled that he should remain in custody until at least 22 May.

At the end of last month 11 people, including four gunmen, had been arrested in connection to the incident in which at least 133 people were killed. A branch of ISIS took responsibility for the attack.

01:42 PM BST

Footage claims to show aftermath of Ukrainian strike on Russian airfield

The Telegraph could not immediately verify the footage.

01:33 PM BST

Zelensky issues fresh plea for air defences and weapons

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy issued a new appeal for air defences and fast weapons deliveries following the latest Russian strike on the Ukrainian energy infrastructure early this morning.

Zelenskiy said Ukraine needed sufficient quantities of air defence and other weapons to protect its cities and prevail on the frontline.

Terror should always lose, and anyone who helps us stand against Russian terror is a true defender of life, he said.

Pointing to the 34 missiles the Ukrainian army said Moscow fired today, Zelesnky said: we managed to intercept a portion of them... However, the world has all of the resources to assist us in intercepting every missile and drone.

Ukraine also fired on Russian energy infrastructure overnight, causing fires at two oil refineries and leaving one partially inoperational, despite American requests to avoid such attacks.

This night, 34 Russian missiles targeted Ukraine. We managed to intercept a portion of them. However, the world has all of the resources to assist us in intercepting every missile and drone fired by Russian terrorists. This is completely doable. All that is required is for the pic.twitter.com/BLaKaed656  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) April 27, 2024

12:42 PM BST

Kremlin says Russia will seek to overcome any EU sanctions on its natural gas operations

Russia will look for ways to overcome what it regards as any illegal sanctions the European Union imposes on its liquified natural gas (LNG) operations, the Kremlin said on Saturday, saying any measures would backfire on European industry.

The European Commissions next sanctions package is expected to propose restrictions on Russian liquefied natural gas for the first time, including a ban on trans-shipments in the EU and measures on three Russian LNG projects, three EU sources said on Thursday.

Attempts to squeeze Russia out of energy markets and switch to more expensive markets are continuing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

According to him, any new EU restrictions would benefit the United States and would mean European industry pays more for its gas.

Of course, in any case, we will look for ways to overcome these illegal obstacles, unfair competition and illegal actions, said Peskov.

12:15 PM BST

MoD points to PTSD in 900% rise in Russian military murder convictions

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine  27 April 2024.



Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/scUbq0JRWK #StandWithUkraine  pic.twitter.com/zJHgf0C9wS  Ministry of Defence  (@DefenceHQ) April 27, 2024

12:05 PM BST

US intelligence reportedly concludes Putin probably did not order Navalny death

US intelligence agencies have determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin probably didnt order opposition politician Alexei Navalny killed at an Arctic prison camp in February, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.

The finding is broadly accepted within the intelligence community and shared by several agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the State Departments intelligence unit, the Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

It said Washington had not absolved the Russian leader of overall responsibility for Navalnys death however, given the opposition politician had been targeted by Russian authorities for years, jailed on charges the West said were politically motivated, and had been poisoned in 2020 with a nerve agent.

Those who assert that Putin wasnt aware clearly do not understand anything about how modern day Russia runs, Leonid Volkov, a longtime Navalny ally, said in a statement. The idea of Putin being not informed and not approving killing Navalny is ridiculous.

11:01 AM BST

Energy rationing in Ukraine following massive Russian infrastructure attack overnight

Ukraines largest private energy company, DTEK, said equipment at four of its thermal power plants was severely damaged in the overnight strikes.

State electricity operator Ukrenergo said it had disconnected its main overhead power line in the west of the country as a preventative measure.

We ask all consumers to consume electricity sparingly. Industry is asked to maximise electricity imports and use alternative power sources, Ukrenergo said in a statement.

The head of the western Lviv region called on residents not to use kettles, irons, washing machines and microwaves between 7:00pm and 10:00pm to preserve limited energy supplies.

Moscow has launched some of its largest ever strikes on Ukraines energy facilities in recent months, knocking out a significant chunk of production, and triggering blackouts and energy rationing across the country.

10:51 AM BST

Moscow and Beijing ties to continue, Kremlin says

The Kremlin shrugged off a trip to China by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during which he raised concerns about Chinese support for Russias military, saying Moscow and Beijing would continue to develop their own ties.

Blinken raised concerns on Friday about Chinas support for Russias military, one of the many issues threatening to sour the recent improvement in relations between the worlds biggest economies.

China is an absolutely sovereign state, a powerful state that is able to defend and protect its interests, press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked about Blinkens trip and the US pressure on China.

At the same time, it (China) is our close partner. We will further develop our co-operation.

10:47 AM BST

US announced $6bn in new military aid for Ukraine overnight

US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, overnight announced $6bn in new military aid for Ukraine as Washington rushes to fill gaps left by months of stalled American assistance.

The new funding - the highest amount of Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) aid sent to date - is set to include an array of munitions for air defence.

The package is the second this week, following another valued at $1bn that was announced just after the US president, Joe Biden, signed a much-delayed bill to provide new funding for Ukraine as it struggles to hold back Russian advances.

10:34 AM BST

Social media footage purports to show Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries

Ukraine keeps targeting Russian refineries with drone attacks. Massive overnight raid on the Krasnodar region in the northern Caucasus, with the Slavyansk and Ilsk refineries hit among other targets. Footage from local social media channels. pic.twitter.com/J7P5y1s7vM  Yaroslav Trofimov (@yarotrof) April 27, 2024

The Telegraph could not immediately verify the footage.

09:49 AM BST

Pictured: patients take cover during Russian attack on a Kharkiv hospital

Patients take cover after a Russian attack on a hospital in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 27, 2024. - AP Photo/Andrii Marienko

A nurse cleans the bed linen of a patient which was injured after a Russian attack on a mental hospital in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 27, 2024. - AP Photo/Andrii Marienko

09:47 AM BST

Forbes journalist placed under house arrest by Russian court

A Russian court has ordered a journalist for the Russian edition of Forbes, Sergei Mingazov, to be placed under house arrest, Russias state-owned RIA news agency reported on Saturday.

Mingazov was detained on Friday on suspicion of spreading false information about the Russian army, his magazine said at the time.

09:45 AM BST

Two wounded in massive Russian attack on Ukraines energy infrastructure

Two people were wounded after Russia launched a massive attack on energy infrastructure in Ukraine overnight from Friday to Saturday, Kyivs armed forces and local authorities said.

An 82-year-old woman and a 39-year-old man were wounded, Oleksandr Vilkul, president of the defence council of the central city of Kryvyi Rih, said on Telegram.

Russian armed forces staged another massive missile attack on Ukraine, the Ukrainian army said in its regular morning update.

The enemy has once again attacked the countrys energy infrastructure. In particular, facilities in Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Lviv regions were attacked. There is damage to equipment, Energy Minister German Galushchenko said in a Facebook post.

09:34 AM BST

Russian and Ukrainian air defences at work overnight with both reporting major attacks

The commander of the Ukrainian air force said Russia had launched combined overnight strikes using a total of 34 cruise and ballistic missiles of which Ukrainian air defence shot down 21.

Moscow said that its own air defences destroyed 66 Ukrainian drones over the territory of the Krasnodar region, and two more drones were destroyed over the Crimean peninsula.

09:31 AM BST

Good morning

Hello and welcome to the Telegraphs daily live blog of the war in Ukraine. Follow along as we bring you the latest updates and join in the conversation in the comments section.

First up this morning:

Ukrainian drones strike oil refineries and airfield in major overnight attack

A large-scale Ukrainian drone attack hit two Russian oil refineries and a military airfield overnight, causing a large fire at one of the refineries that put it out of operation.

The strikes hit key technological facilities at two refineries in the southern Krasnodar region, a Ukrainian defence source told AFP.

The work of the plant has been partially suspended. Exactly 10 UAVs (drones) flew exactly into the plant, there was a strong fire. There may be hidden damage, Eduard Trudnev, the security director at Slavyansk ECO Group, which operates the Slavyansk plant, was quoted as saying in Russian state media.

Ukrainian drones also targeted the Kushchevsk military airfield, although it was not immediately clear what damage was caused.

Meanwhile Russia launched its own barrage of missiles at Ukrainian power facilities in the early hours of this morning, hitting locations in the centre and west of the country, damaging equipment and injuring at least one energy worker.

Ukraines largest private energy company, DTEK, said its four thermal power stations were hit and serious damage was caused.

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.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a video message to the participants of the 12th international meeting of high representatives in charge of security issues. -/Kremlin/dpa

Germany will continue its support for Ukraine as a bulwark against the ambitions of Russian President Vladimir Putin, but huge increases in spending lie ahead, Finance Minister Christian Lindner told a party conference in Berlin on Saturday.

"We are supporting Ukraine because it is our first line of defence against Putin," said Lindner, who is from the pro-business Free Democrats(FDP) - a junior partner in Germany's ruling coalition led by Social Democrat Olaf Scholz.

Although the Russian leader had attacked Ukraine, "he means all of us and our way of life," according to Lindner.

Putin wants not only to erase Ukraine from the map, but to divide Europe and NATO and ensure that the United States withdraws from Europe, warned the minister.

"Putin's goal is not Ukraine. Putin's goal is to be able to exert power over us. And he must never succeed in that."

To this end, Germany must improve its ability to defend itself and its allies, he continued.

The 100 billion ($107 billion) special fund created to update Germany's military after Russia invaded its neighbour in 2022 will be used up in a few years, Lindner said.

The armed forces will then have to be upgraded from regular funds. But this won't be possible with a limited budget and ever-growing debt, the finance minister went on.

"The task before us of defending peace and freedom in Germany, Europe and the world is not limited to a few quarters or years. It is potentially a task for decades and generations," said Lindner.

"And that's why it can't be done on credit. We need our economic strength for this."
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  An agreement announced Thursday starts the clock ticking toward Endangered Species Act protection for a Nevada fish that could become a household name  the Fish Lake Valley tui chub.

The fish lives only in a single spring in a remote area near the Nevada-California border. Developers of the Rhyolite Ridge lithium mine plan to pipe water from the area. But conservationists say that poses a new threat.

The Fish Lake Valley tui chub is staring down the barrel of extinction due to a variety of threats to the water it needs to survive, including unsustainable alfalfa growing, lithium mining and geothermal energy, Patrick Donnelly, Great Basin director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said Friday.

If the Bureau of Land Management approves the Rhyolite Ridge Mine, it will only hasten this fishs slide toward extinction and increase the likelihood that it gets listed as endangered, Donnelly said.

Its the latest salvo in the conservation organizations fight against Australias Ioneer Ltd., the company that has been planning what could become the third lithium mine in the U.S., set to begin production as early as 2027.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

A draft environmental impact statement released earlier this month included modifications for the 7,000-acre mining site for Tiehms buckwheat, a wildflower that is unique to the area. The tui chub could be the next barrier.

Ioneer understood that concerns were being raised about Fish Lake Valley Tui Chub some time ago, an Ioneer spokesperson said Friday. That gave Ioneer an opportunity to consider the potential impact of the project on Fish Lake Valley Tui Chub habitat. We are confident our project will have no impact.

The agreement between the Center for Biological Diversity and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) would put the Fish Lake Valley tui chub on track to be listed by May 17, 2025. Thats the deadline established to make a decision on whether the fish should be protected under the Endangered Species Act.

Once found at several locations in Fish Lake Valley in Esmeralda County, Nevada, the tui chub now survives only in a single isolated spring at a privately owned ranch. Groundwater overpumping threatens to dry up their last stronghold, according to Thursdays announcement from the center.

The agreement covers other species and establishes USFWS deadlines for decisions:

Humboldt Marten  ferocious mammals devastated by widespread trapping and logging (will receive designation of protected critical habitat)

Alligator Snapping Turtle and Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle  freshwater turtles known for their spiked shells, large claws and strong, beaked jaws (will receive final Endangered Species Act protections by the end of 2024)

Mt. Rainier white-tailed ptarmigan  one of the few animals that live on alpine mountaintops throughout their entire life (will receive final Endangered Species Act protections by the end of 2024)

Penasco least chipmunk  found only in the Sacramento and White mountains of southwestern New Mexico (will receive final Endangered Species Act protections by the end of 2024)

Barrens Topminnow  small Tennessee fish only found in a couple streams (will receive designation of protected critical habitat)

Pearl River Map Turtle  often called sawbacks for the ridges along their backs that can form small spikes (will receive designation of protected critical habitat)

Texas fatmucket, Guadalupe fatmucket, Texas fawnsfoot, Texas pimpleback, False spike and Guadalupe orb  six species of freshwater mussels found in the Brazos, Colorado, Trinity and Guadalupe river basins (will receive final Endangered Species Act protections by the end of 2024)

Tall Western Penstemon  a wildflower with five known populations from southwestern Washington to northwestern Oregon (decision by Sept. 1, 2026)

A 2021 petition to consider Endangered Species Act protections for the tui chub says only five states have more endemic species than the 173 found in Nevada.

A recent Nevada Supreme Court ruling supports the State Water Engineers authority to manage water decisions that take into account how actions in one part of a groundwater basin can affect water available at other locations.

The Rhyolite Ridge mine water pipeline will go right by the spring where the tui chub lives, Donnelly said, adding that Ioneer plans to pump groundwater from the same aquifer several miles up the valley.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Its been one month since a malfunctioning cargo ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore causing it to collapse.

It was just surreal, said Sue Monaghan as she described watching the images of the collapse. My daughter brought me her phone and I thought, why are you asking me to look at a movie? And she said, mom its the Key Bridge, and I just couldnt wrap my head around that.

Monaghan is the president of a warehousing and trucking company in Baltimore named Baltimore International Warehousing & Transportation Inc.

Read: Leesburg pulls off Bikefest that almost didnt happen

We pull containers from the Port of Baltimore and either deliver them within a 1,500-mile radius or we bring them to the warehouse for distribution, said Monaghan. We handle a lot of canned goods that go to distribution facilities.

Monaghan said the business had to temporarily lay off ten of their 30 truck drivers following the bridge collapse.

But there has been progress over the last week. The workers are now back on the job thanks to assistance from a state grant.

Read: First lady DeSantis, daughter assist in rescued manatee release

And on Thursday, the first cargo ship since the collapse passed through Baltimore Harbor.

It went through a temporary channel that was made around the wreckage. There are four temporary channels as crews work to remove steel and debris from the water.

We have to, and we will open the full federal channel, said Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD) during a press conference on Tuesday.

But that process will take time --- and so will rebuilding the bridge.

Read: Watch the Florida Puerto Rican Parade on Channel 9

It could take anywhere from 18 months to several years with a price tag potentially reaching hundreds of millions of dollars.

The wait also comes at a cost for many businesses.

Were looking at other grants for lost revenue because that will impact us down the line, said Monaghan. Were used to revenue coming in and it just wont be there.

Both the FBI and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the bridge collapse.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
The red flags that will tell us when China's actually ready to invade Taiwan

A host of warning signs point to China preparing for military action against Taiwan.

Experts say China could be readying for a showdown over the island.

US involvement, and Chinese leader Xi's goals, also factor into the timeline.

Tensions between China and Taiwan are reaching a boiling point, and many signs point to Chinese military action to seize the island by force, possibly in just a few years.

While a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would be an incredibly complex and dangerous operation, influential China watchers are sounding the alarms over preparations almost certainly needed to seize the island  a buildup of China's naval forces, energy and food stockpiles, and large-scale military drills just off its coast.

"I don't think they lack for anything that they need," Lyle Goldstein, director of Asia engagement at Defense Priorities, said of China's forces. "You could always ask the question, 'Could they be more ready?' and I suppose there are some certain areas, but I, for a long time, maintained they have what they need to undertake the campaign."

What China needs for an all-out attack

The aircraft carrier Liaoning other Chinese navy ships during a drill in the Western Pacific Ocean on April 18, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer

China has pushed a rapid modernization of its armed forces over the past two decades that has alarmed US military officials and opened China leader Xi Jinping's options for how to reunify Taiwan, the democratic island of 24 million that Beijing views as a breakaway. China's navy, for example, has surpassed the size of the US fleet and its shipbuilding capacity is easily the largest in the world.

But there are questions around the quality of China's warships despite the sheer numbers, and whether it has the capacity for an amphibious assault against Taiwan's advanced weapons.

Taiwan's Ministry of Defense assessed in 2021 that China "lacks the landing vehicles and logistics required to launch an incursion into Taiwan." The US Department of Defense largely concurred, and the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission wrote something similar in its 2020 report, noting that while China had a "shortage of amphibious lift, or ships and aircraft capable of transporting troops the [Chinese military] needs to successfully subjugate the island," the PLA was looking into using civilian vessels to supplement that.

Chinese ships and aircraft that try to invade or blockade the island into submission would be highly vulnerable to Taiwan's arsenal of advanced weapons like F-16 fighter jets, Patriot missile batteries, and Harpoon anti-ship missiles. The question is whether China has built an invasion force that can sustain the damage from these weapons in what would be the first amphibious invasion in seven decades.

Others have seen signs that China is corralling the civilian shipping needed to meet the heavy material needs of an amphibious invasion armada.

Thomas Shugart, a former US Navy submarine commander who's now an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security think tank, wrote for War on the Rocks in August 2021 that "Chinese leaders have already begun organizing civilian shipping into auxiliary units of the military," highlighting examples of large roll-on/roll-off ferries being employed in amphibious assault exercises, something Chinese media later confirmed, and adding that the civilian vessels were carrying both Marine Corps and ground force units.

While these ferries aren't necessarily designed for landing assault troops, Shugart noted, they are built to carry a large number of people, load ground forces quickly and with little warning, disembark their troops, and return for more; the US military also has fast-transport vessels and cargo ships to support operations.

"The evidence shows that these fleets are all ready to mobilize, really at a moment's notice," Goldstein said. "China has the biggest ports in the world and they're full of these ships, so putting them together into fleets to make this attack would be very quick, within days."

This photo taken on February 15, 2024, shows an aerial view of a China Coast Guard vessel and China Coast Guard personnel on a rubber boat over Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea. JAM STA ROSA / AFP

Xi is a year-and-a-half into his third term as China's leader, and many of his recent moves suggest China is preparing for war. Xi successfully consolidated control over Hong Kong in 2020, and may have his eyes on a bigger prize.

In March, China dropped "peaceful reunification" when referring to Taiwan and announced a 7.2% increase in defense spending. Food and energy security, like petroleum reserves, have been stockpiled for years. New laws around civilian mobilization and economic self-reliance indicate Xi is preparing his people and the Chinese economy for the possibility of war. Military forces are being deployed nearer to Taiwan than ever, effectively shortening Taiwan's reaction time. Stockpiling of China's rocket force, too, suggests it would have more than enough missiles and rockets to target Taiwan.

Earlier this month, Mike Studeman, former commander of the Office of Naval Intelligence and director for intelligence for US Indo-Pacific Command, wrote in War on the Rocks: "There is no apparent countdown to D-day for initiating a blockade or invasion, but major strategic indicators clearly show that General Secretary Xi Jinping is still preparing his country for a showdown. Developments under way suggest Taiwan will face an existential crisis in single-digit years, most likely in the back half of the 2020s or front half of the 2030s."

Some experts assess China would lean into the element of surprise, a core facet in their military doctrine. One common concern is that as China's military exercises around Taiwan have grown in frequency and size, the line between exercise and potential attack is becoming blurred. "The bad news" with such a scenario, Dean Cheng, a senior advisor to the China program at the US Institute of Peace, said, "is they go to war with what they have on hand, because they probably haven't had a chance to deploy more forces forward, stock up munitions, get everything loaded and ready to go. How important is surprise versus how important is being able to sustain the operation?"

That ploy resembles the massive Russian build-up on Ukraine's borders prior to the 2022 invasion that officials had claimed was for field exercises.

Goldstein's estimate is that while it's still risky, "they have what they need, and they're ready to undertake" an attack. "I don't think we'll have a lot of warning," he added, noting a sudden set of actions that only unfolds over a period of hours would be more likely than many other clearer, long-term signs.

US involvement also factors in. "There is a possibility of American intervention which then goes to the question of how well can China conceal its preparations for an invasion?" Cheng said.

A Chinese ring of steel

Xi Jinping makes a public pledge of allegiance to the Constitution at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 10, 2023. Xie Huanchi/Xinhua via Getty Images

Experts, as well as US and Taiwan lawmakers and military officials, have long debated about the readiness of the People's Liberation Army as China's military is known.

"The PLA's modernization plan, we think, is still on track, and is aimed at a 2027 period," Cheng explained, with goals of being a fully modernized fighting force by then.

Before then, there's a higher risk that an assault attempt would fail or shatter Beijing's forces. "The PLA isn't going to make the call, however, about whether to invade Taiwan, that's going to be up to Chinese leadership, Xi in particular, and the rest of the Politburo Standing Committee," top leadership in the CCP, Cheng said.

China has indicated it will use force if necessary, but a full-scale invasion likely has dire consequences for China. Other actions  such as an air and maritime blockade, as noted in DoD's China report, limited force campaigns, air and missile campaigns, and seizure of Taiwan's smaller occupied islands  could be preferable, and China boats much of those capabilities already.

A blockade, for example, would give the US and its allies more time to respond than a sudden, bolt-from-the-blue surprise attack. "It's less risky in the sense that you're not going to have necessarily thousands killed, but you're giving Taiwan and the Americans time to organize a response," Cheng said.

There's also precedent at play: The US blockaded Cuba after it detected a deployment of Soviet nuclear missiles to the island in 1962 in what would become the Cold War's most dangerous crisis.

US involvement in defending Taiwan from China is a major unknown. A war game analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies from January 2023 reported that in most of the 24 runs, the US, Taiwan, and Japan defeated a conventional amphibious invasion by China, but suffered heavy and severe losses.

But with all of this comes the consideration that Xi's biggest priority is to reunify with Taiwan. As US Army Maj. Kyle Amonson and retired US Coast Guard Capt. Dane Egli wrote in 2023, much of when Xi decides to invade Taiwan comes down to how he wants to maintain his legacy in the Chinese Communist Party and Chinese society, as well as what accomplishing such a feat would do for him.

Scene for a showdown

A supporter of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) holds up a placard at an election campaign on January 12, 2024, in Tainan, Taiwan. Annabelle Chih/Getty Images

Cross-Strait relations have soured in recent years, especially with the Democratic Progressive Party in power since 2016, raising worries that military action for reunification is more likely and other options, such as diplomacy, aren't. The worst case scenario is a full-scale invasion, which would unleash all-out war and potentially trigger responses from the US, Japan, the Philippines, and others.

In the late 2000s and early 2010s, Beijing's economy was booming, Taiwanese students were traveling to the mainland for school work, and Chinese leadership likely believed Taiwan would eventually accept reunification.

"But the state of the economy and society, and the Chinese crackdown on Hong Kong, as well as other elements such as American actions, led Beijing to think time is no longer on their side," Cheng said. "Tensions are definitely higher now, but where I would draw the line is that it doesn't necessarily mean Beijing is about to launch an invasion."

Taiwan's military holds a large-scale exercise in the southern part of the island simulating an attempted amphibious landing by Chinese forces, May 30, 2019. Kyodo News Stills via Getty Images

Goldstein said that in tracking Chinese media closely, calls for reunification are more frequent and heated. "I am concerned that China may see some reason to go earlier rather than later," he explained.

Xi himself told US President Joe Biden in late 2023, "Look, peace is all well and good, but at some point we need to move towards resolution."

Read the original article on Business Insider
HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY)  The Board of Education has approved six new lab schools, three of which have ties to either Hampton Roads or Western Tidewater. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has been a champion of lab schools as a way to help students prepare for careers after high school.

Old Dominion University is the college partner for two of the lab schools  Newport News proposed lab school, the Maritime Engineering and Environmental Studies Academy developed by ODU in collaboration with Newport News Public Schools, as well as Chesapeakes Computer Science Lab School, developed by ODU in collaboration with Chesapeake Public Schools.

The Newport News lab school will focus heavily on student-guided learning through STEM, experiential learning, guided inquiry, design thinking, career and technical education, as well as internships and job shadowing opportunities. The school will aide in helping the regions maritime workforce.

It will receive start-up funds and up to $2.205 million in per-pupil funding from the states College Partnership Laboratory School Fund over a four-year period. It would serve students in grades 11 and 12. It, like the other lab schools approved, are expected to be financially self-sufficient within several years.

ODU Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Brian K. Payne said that the proposal would serve about 100 students yearly, and would begin with 50 juniors in fall 2025. Operating costs are estimated at $4.8 million over the next six years.

The report from the College Partnership Laboratory Schools Standing Committee notes that the funding amount would go down each year as the school secures other funding sources and it becomes self-sustaining.

Maritime industries are one of the key economic drivers in our region, said Dr. Karen Sanzo, director of the Institute for Design Thinking and Leadership Development at ODU in a statement. In order to best prepare the future maritime workforce and enhance economic and workforce development in Hampton Roads, it is critical that high school students are introduced to the subject matter. Just as critical is the use of evidence-based strategies to teach those students.

Working with the Newport News Public Schools district, the Maritime Engineering and Environmental Studies Academy will build on the collaborative strengths in our region and address both student and teacher development.

The Chesapeake lab school, collaborating with Oscar Smith Middle School, has the aim to empower underrepresented middle school students through transformative opportunities and experiences in combination with an innovative focus on computer science principles. The program is designed to prepare students for the technology talent pipeline, and to increase the number of K-12 teachers who can teach computer science.

The Chesapeake lab school will get start-up funds and up to $5.9 million in per-pupil funding from the lab school fund, and it would focus on students in grades 6 through 8, with an annual enrollment of 300 students, including about 200 in its first year in the 2025-2026 school year.

School operating costs are estimated at about $7.8 million over six years through the 2029-2030 school year.

ODU is committed to building the next generation of computing professionals, Sanzo said. We are excited to work with Chesapeake Public Schools and the amazing professionals at Oscar Smith Middle to create the Computer Science Lab School. Collectively we will identify, design, and implement the most effective teaching strategies to ensure that middle school students receive the foundation they need to embark on future computing pipelines.

Paul D. Camp Community College is also collaborating with Isle of Wight County Public Schools on the proposed Isle of Maritime Trades Academy lab school, which is designed to be a high school to college work pipeline between Paul D. Camp and the Isle of Wight County school division. It will have an initial primary corporate sponsor, Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News Shipbuilding.

It estimates that it would have 40 students  juniors and seniors in high school  in its first year of operation in the 2025-2026 school year, and 80 students per year after that. Of those 80, they would be split up in two career pathways  marine welding and marine electrical, and at its capacity, it will serve 20 students per pathway, per grade level.

This programs operating costs are estimated at about $5.3 million over six years. It will receive start-up funds and up to $1.728 million in per-pupil funding from the lab school fund.

The Isle Maritime Trades Academy is not just an avenue to a career pathway for lab school students from Isle of Wight and the surrounding school districts, it will also allow them to be a part of something bigger than themselves  national security, said Dr. Corey L. McCray, Paul D. Camp Community College president. Lab school students will ultimately have the opportunity to help build Navy Ships that will ensure the nations defense and security. In addition, the IMTA will help our partners at Newport News Shipyard fill the projected 20,000 employees needed over the next five years.

Other college partners for lab schools in other parts of Virginia include Emory & Henry College, George Mason University and Roanoke College.

Emory & Henrys proposed lab school is a partnership between the college, along with four southwest Virginia school divisions, the city of Bristol, Va., Virginia Highlands and Wytheville community colleges, the A. Linwood Holton Governors School and the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center.

That partnership would create the Southwest Virginia Healthcare Excellence Academy Lab School, which would put in place a high school career academy for students in grades 10 through 12 and would serve to prepare future healthcare professionals to help deal with worker shortages in the region.

George Masons lab school, would partner the university with Northern Virginia Community College and Fairfax County Public Schools to create the Accelerated College and Employability Skills Academy Lab School, or ACCESS Academy. Its mission is to give traditionally underserved students new paths toward high-demand, and high-paying careers while helping them toward two- and four-year degrees.

The Roanoke College lab school, Explore@RC, partners the college with Salem City Schools in the southwestern part of the state and features what it says are three, career-oriented pathways  education/global studies, STEM/healthcare and communications/civic engagement. Students work would relate to their selected career pathway, and would tie directly into workforce needs in the Roanoke area.

With the addition of these six lab schools, the Board has created enriching, future-focused opportunities that reach students across Virginia, Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a statement. These schools are establishing innovative pathways for students to explore potential careers and be better prepared for the future, with a specific focus on addressing the needs and demands of their regions. These lab schools are not just shaping the future of our students, theyre also shaping the future of Virginia.

State Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera said the programs will prep students for post-secondary education and meaningful career options.

Board of Education President Grace Turner Creasey said she is inspired to see how the schools have progressed, and we are looking forward to seeing the impact they make in the years to come.

In the current budget, Virginia has a statutory requirement, along with dedicated funding, to move forward and develop lab schools, which are designed to stimulate the development of innovative education programs for Virginia students from preschool through grade 12, and they partner with local employers and community organizations, helping highlight how academic success is key for life after school.

It is unclear if the new, two-year budget will include funding for lab schools, since the governor and the General Assembly have not yet reached a budget deal.

Two years ago, the General Assembly approved $100 million to launch new lab schools  partnerships between public school divisions and institutions of higher education with innovative lesson plans. That money includes $5 million for planning grants to support eligible entities in designing a new college lab school, $20 million for initial start-up grants to make one-time purchases to launch the school (no more than $200,000 per lab school), and $75 million for per-pupil operating grants for ongoing operating and maintenance of the lab school.

The six schools approved  are a direct result of the innovative mindset of the representatives from the higher education institutions and school divisions who transformed their vision and, with the support of their communities, made these Lab Schools a reality, said Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons. I am grateful for every person who worked to create the foundation for these powerful programs, as well as the people who worked behind the scenes to make these Lab Schools a reality for Virginia students. These Lab Schools are poised to help students across the Commonwealth meet the industry demands and standards for the in-demand careers of the future.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Jackson, son of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, told theGrio he stands firm on not supporting Israels offensive campaign in destroying Gaza.

Rep. Jonathan Jackson, D-Ill., and other members of Congress are criticizing President Joe Biden for backing a foreign aid bill that will provide more military aid to Israel, despite the rising death toll in Gaza.

Jackson, son of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, told theGrio that he disagrees with Bidens handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict and believes the presidents approach to the crisis is not resonating with Black voters who would like to see the Democratic president do more for Palestinians.

Jackson told theGrio that Palestinians in Gaza are on the brink of starvation, yet Biden is not putting enough pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to follow through on his promise to ramp up humanitarian aid in the region.

Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, told theGrio she gets the frustration some voters may have with Bidens handling of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Hirono added that members of Congress are waiting for an analysis of whether or not Israel is doing all that it can to comport with international law while pursuing Hamas in Gaza.

President Joe Biden is being criticized by some for his support of a bill to increase military aid to Israel. (Photo by Alex Brandon, AP, File)

I understand why people feel frustrated, said Hirono. I am too.

On the contrary, Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., told theGrio that he supports Bidens guidance on the Israel-Hamas conflict and that there is no substitute for American leadership in the world.

Warnock argued that under the Biden-Harris administration humanitarian aid is being sent to Gaza.

Biden held a 30-minute phone conversation with Netanyahu this month stating that there would be policy changes if the Israeli prime minister failed to address civilian harm caused by Israels conflict with Hamas.

Since the conflict began on Oct. 7, more than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed, most of them women and children, 2.3 million people have been displaced, and many more are on the brink of starvation.

Recently, Jackson and 36 other House Democrats voted against sending more military aid to Israel in their bid to protect Palestinian lives. The aid bill, which included help for Gaza, passed both chambers of Congress and Biden signed the measure on Wednesday.

Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., said he supports the Biden administrations guidance on the Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza. (Photo by Tom Williams-Pool/Getty Images)

He told theGrio, that although he is not averse to sending missiles to Israel for self-defense purposes, he stands firm on not supporting Israels offensive campaign in destroying Gaza, as a result displacing, killing and injuring Palestinians [and] preventing the flow of food and medicine.

This is wrong, said Jackson.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., also voted against sending military aid to Israel and shared a post on X, formerly Twitter, stating that the U.S. should refrain from sending more offensive weapons to an Israeli government that has operated with callous disregard for human life.

Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., also joined the short list of no votes and took to X to write that he was inspired that other House members opposed sending military aid to Israel.

Bowman wrote that his colleagues joined the movement for peace by refusing to send billions more in weapons to support Netanyahus killing of innocent civilians.

The lawmaker said he believes the Biden-Harris administration should push for an immediate and permanent ceasefire to deescalate the crisis in Gaza.

Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., said House members can either prioritize humanity or prioritize our base. (Photo credit: Getty)

Last week, Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., held a press conference at the Capitol with fellow Reps. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and Greg Casar, D-Texas, urging the Biden-Harris administration to prevent a regional war by calling on Netanyahu to enact a lasting ceasefire.

Bush told theGrio that she and other House members have a choice, to either prioritize humanity or prioritize our base.

She believes some congressional members who voted in favor of sending military aid to Israel are appealing to the views of their constituents, however, she told theGrio that she will continue to call for peace in Gaza to prevent further bloodshed.

Bush added that no amount of money or death threats would stop her from advocating for the lives of Palestinians.

Recommended Stories

The post Rep. Jonathan Jackson blasts President Joe Biden for sending more military aid to Israel appeared first on TheGrio.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  A man has been arrested in Salt Lake City for the second time this month  most recently with guns, knives, and methamphetamine.

Louie Martinez, 23, was arrested on suspicion of possessing methamphetamine, a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, a weapon by a restricted person, and drug paraphernalia, as well as trespassing, the Salt Lake City Police Department said in a press release.

PREVIOUS ARTICLE: Wanted fugitive arrested in Utah with 2 guns, 3 knives

The investigation started at 9:20 a.m. on Wednesday, April 24, when a security guard waved down an officer with SLCPDs Homeless Resource Center about a person trespassing near 130 S 300 E, the release states.

The officer spoke with the suspect, identified as Martinez, and reportedly found four knives, a throwing star, 22.4 grams of methamphetamine, a scale, a fentanyl pull, and drug paraphernalia.

Martinez was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail.

The previous arrest

Earlier this month, on April 4, Martinez was arrested with two firearms and three knives after a community member reportedly pointed him out to police.

At the time, he was arrested on suspicion of unlawful possession/purchase/transfer of a dangerous weapon, obstruction of justice, use or possession of drug paraphernalia, and criminal trespass.

A community member had reportedly waved down a SLCPD officer because they thought the man may have been involved with a prior violent crime.

The officer contacted Martinez and learned he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. Additionally, they found he was in possession of weapons.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Farmesa by Chipotle healthy bowls - Chipotle Mexican Grill

After testing a secondary concept known as Farmesa Fresh Eatery in 2023, Chipotle Mexican Grill has jumped ship, closing its location in Santa Monica, California. The restaurant chain partnered with the United Kitchen network of ghost kitchens, also referred to as dark kitchens, which thrived as delivery and take-out enterprises during the Covid-19 pandemic years. With United Kitchen announcing multiple location closures, including the Kitchen United MIX on Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, Chipotle has decided not to continue the concept elsewhere.

The name Farmesa reflects a farm-to-table approach, joining the words "farm" and "mesa," which in Spanish refers to a table. The earthy connotation continued to the menu, created by James Beard Award-winning chef Nate Appleman. Offerings centered on customizable bowls containing with proteins, greens or grains, sides, sauces, and toppings, in the price range or roughly $12 to $17. When Chipotle joined Kitchen United MIX in Santa Barbara, it was the ghost-kitchen chain's 24th nationwide location. As a collective of several eateries under the same roof, with no in-house dining, ghost kitchens allowed restaurants to test new brands or menu ideas without major risk factors.

It wasn't Chipotle's first dive into secondary markets, having previously invested in wide-ranging brands such as Shophouse Southeast Asian Kitchen, Pizzeria Locale in Colorado, and the Tasty Made burger concept. Now that Kitchen United MIX has closed, Chipotle has no immediate intentions for the Farmesa brand, telling CNBC it will instead remain part of Chipotle's Innovation Lab for new recipe creation.

Read more: Restaurant Foods That Always Taste Better Than What You Make At Home

Chipotle Foot Traffic And Earnings On Solid Ground Despite Farmesa Closure

Chipotle Mexican Grill sign - Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Despite taking a hit on the Farmesa experiment, Chipotle announced better-than-expected financial results in its earnings report for the first quarter of 2024. Based on factors such as revenue, same-store sales growth, and quarterly earnings, the company exceeded industry analyst projections, fueled partly by a high traffic increase of 5.4%.

Compared to the prior 2023 first-quarter earnings, total revenues increased 14.1% in the same period of 2024, reaching $2.7 billion. Chipotle credits that to new restaurant openings and higher restaurant sales, including digital sales. California's increase in the state minimum wage for fast food workers was offset by an increase in sales prices of about 7% in the state. Chipotle opened 47 new restaurants in 2024's first quarter and expressed intentions to expand further with up to 315 new locations for the entire year. It also received board approval for a 50-for-1 stock split (dividing each stock into 50 smaller units, making them cheaper and potentially more attractive to investors), putting it on target for continued growth.

Story continues

As for Chipotle's foray into ghost kitchens and other secondary concepts, the company now intends to stay focused on its primary brand domestically and internationally. United Kitchen sold its remaining inventory of venues and intellectual property to Sam Nazarian, founder of the sbe hospitality group, which will incorporate it into a culinary enterprise known as Everybody Eats.

Read the original article on Tasting Table
As protest organizers in Milwaukee push to be closer to the downtown Republican National Convention venues, GOP party officials are urging the U.S. Secret Service to move them farther away.

A letter from an attorney for the Republican National Committee states that if the designated protest area were at Pere Marquette Park on the west side of the Milwaukee River, convention attendees would have to walk right by the park on State Street or Kilbourn Avenue to reach the venues.

"The effect of this selected Park location for the demonstrators, when coupled with the USSSs creation of the pedestrian traffic flow necessitated by the location of the Security Perimeter and the associated selection of the two primary pedestrian access points, is that the USSS will be creating, in effect, a mandated confrontational area, where the pedestrians will be funneling into the direct (planned) vicinity of the demonstrators," attorney Todd R. Steggerda wrote.

"The RNC is deeply concerned that these logistical proposals by the City and the USSSas they currently standconstitute a significant and unacceptable safety risk to the attending public," Steggerda wrote.

"Packing demonstrators into a Park essentially boxed in by the two streets that thousands of attendees will be using to enter the Convention site will only serve to heighten  rather than prevent and diffuse  any tension," he added.

The stage is set for the Republican National Convention fall media walkthrough at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. The convention will be held July 15-18.

The letter, addressed to Secret Service Director Kimberly A. Cheatle, was first reported by the Washington Post.

A Secret Service spokesperson said in a statement that the agency had not officially received the letter and that security plans for national special security events like the RNC are "based on a variety of thorough security assessments established in coordination with our partners, with the express mission being to ensure the highest level of safety and security for the convention."

Pere Marquette Park, the designated protest area is quiet so far during the Democratic National Convention at the Wisconsin Center on August 17, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wis., U.S.A.

The city has not released the route demonstrators will be allowed to march or the location of a speaker's platform, though in the early March meeting, Mayor Cavalier Johnson's Chief of Staff Nick DeSiato said Pere Marquette Park would be a "likely candidate" for the speaker's platform.

No location has been formally identified, DeSiato told the Journal Sentinel on Friday.

He said the city is responsible for providing the speaker's podium and march route that is within "sight and sound" of the RNC under the U.S. Constitution and the RNC framework agreement to which city leaders signed on in 2022.

The Secret Service has the exclusive responsibility to create the security zone and, based on the federal agency's analysis, the city must then find a location that is within sight and sound of the convention, he said.

"In many ways, it's a very simple analysis: Find fence line and then identify closest area that we could have our demonstration areas," DeSiato said.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and the U.S. Secret Service released the map of the security zone for RNC venues of Fiserv Forum, the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena and the Baird Center.

The "security footprint" downtown is expected to extend from Cherry Street to the north to West Clybourn Street on the south and from North Water Street on the east to North 9th Street on the west.

Within that footprint will be a fenced-in area around the main convention venues that will not be accessible to anyone but credentialed attendees. The July 15-18 event will take place at Fiserv Forum, the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena and the Baird Center.

The letter comes as protest organizers have sought to be closer to the inner, secure perimeter that will surround the convention venues and have argued that Pere Marquette Park at 900 N. Plankinton Ave. would not be close enough.

The Coalition to March on the RNC 2024 is also pushing for a demonstration march route that would travel up Sixth Street right next to the three convention venues. That route would also take them up Vel. R. Phillips Avenue from West Wisconsin and through the tunnel where the Baird Center spans West Wells Street.

Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@jrn.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: RNC urges moving protest area farther from Milwaukee convention venues
NEWBERRY, S.C. (AP)  Emerging cicadas are so loud in one South Carolina county that residents are calling the sheriffs office asking why they can hear sirens or a loud roar.

The Newberry County Sheriffs Office sent out a message on Facebook on Tuesday letting people know that the whining sound is just the male cicadas singing to attract mates after more than a decade of being dormant.

Some people have even flagged down deputies to ask what the noise is all about, Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster said.

The nosiest cicadas were moving around the county of about 38,000 people, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) northwest of Columbia, prompting calls from different locations as Tuesday wore on, Foster said.

Trillions of red-eyed periodical cicadas are emerging from underground in the eastern U.S. this month. The broods emerging are on 13 or 17 year cycles.

Their collective songs can be as loud as jet engines and scientists who study them often wear earmuffs to protect their hearing.

After Tuesday, Foster understands why.

Although to some, the noise is annoying, they pose no danger to humans or pets, Foster wrote in his statement to county residents. Unfortunately, it is the sounds of nature.
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. threatened to challenge a potential TikTok ban Friday, as efforts to block the video app in the U.S. came closer to reality earlier this week.

Im going to file a lawsuit challenging the TikTok ban on Constitutional grounds, Kennedy wrote on social media platform X. Dont be fooled  the TikTok ban is not about China harvesting your data. Thats a smoke screen.

Intelligence agencies from lots of countries, especially ours, are harvesting your data from everywhere all the time, he added.

His comments come just days after President Biden signed a $95 billion national security package that includes language to ban TikTok in the U.S. if the apps Chinese parent company ByteDance, does not sell the app. ByteDance officials said they have no intention of selling the app, despite a potential ban.

Foreign media reports that ByteDance is exploring the sale of TikTok are untrue, the company said in a statement, adding that it doesnt have any plan to sell TikTok.

A spokesperson for TikTok also said in a statement that the law is unconstitutional and that they will challenge it in court.

Kennedy echoed the sentiment, arguing that China doesnt own the majority of TikTok. He added that the company has already agreed to put its data behind a U.S. firewall, but the Biden administration rejected that deal.

Congress and the administration dont understand that TikTok is an entrepreneurial platform for thousands of American young people, he wrote. They want to screw them over just so they can pretend to be tough on China.

The TikTok ban is yet another example of how neither political party has any compunctions about sacrificing your freedoms, rights, and choices, when it serves their political interests, Kennedy said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) has reportedly sent a letter to the Secret Service asking them to keep protesters further away from the Milwaukee convention venue in July.

The three-page letter, reported first by The New York Times, objected to a plan that had a specific area where protesters would be able to demonstrate.

Todd R. Steggerda, the letters author and counsel to the RNC, said people who are attending the convention would have to pass by the protesters on their way into Fiserv Forum, where the event is being held.

The Hill has reached out to the RNC for a copy of the letter, but the Times reported that Steggerda referenced the ongoing pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses. He said that forced proximity between the groups that have differing ideologies will increase the risk of verbal or physical altercations.

The security plan proposed by the Secret Service would place protesters at Pere Marquette Park, a small public park thats a quarter of a mile from the convention center, according to the letter.

Packing demonstrators into a park essentially boxed in by the two streets that thousands of attendees will be using to enter the convention site will only serve to heighten  rather than prevent and diffuse  any tension, Steggerda wrote.

The Hill has reached out to the Secret Service for comment, but the Times reported that Alexi Worley, a spokesperson for the Secret Service said the agency is not formally in receipt of the letter and said if the agency does receive the letter it will respond through appropriate channels.

The Times said it received the letter, addressed to Secret Service Director Kimberly A. Cheatle, via hand delivery.

The RNC did not propose a different location for protesters to gather, but said the Secret Service should expand its security perimeter to have protesters further away from the arena.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The article analyzes the involvement of high-ranking Russian officials in the funding of war crimes, namely, the processes of mass deportation of Ukrainian children to the territory of the Russian Federation, their further detention on the territory of the aggressor country, as well as the assistance of Russian governors in the allocation of funds from the budgets of their regions, to conduct the forced Russification and militarization of deported Ukrainian children.

Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Russian-installed occupation authorities have been systematically deporting the Ukrainian population of the seized territories to the Russian Federation. The war crimes of forced removal equally target adults and children. According to the U.N. estimates, more than 2.8 million Ukrainians were deported to the territory of the Russian Federation, several hundred thousand of which are children. In one of the interviews, the Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for Children's Rights and Child Rehabilitation, Darya Gerasymchuk, emphasized that the number of deported Ukrainian children may reach 200-300 thousand people. At the same time, the "Children of War" website identified 19,546 children, only 388 of whom were returned.

As a vulnerable group of the population, children make up one of the critical targets for deportation, owing to their vulnerability to "re-education," as well as propaganda and disinformation. For many abducted Ukrainian children, deportation to the territory of the Russian Federation was followed by forcible adoption into Russian families and acquiring Russian citizenship, despite having parents or legal guardians, making their repatriation from Russia even more complicated. Meanwhile, Ukrainian children who are forced to stay in Russian territory are subject to militarization and Russification, which aim to destroy their Ukrainian identity - this deliberate policy that Russian authorities have pursued throughout a decade of military aggression against Ukraine and two years of genocidal full-scale invasion.

The Russian authorities perpetuate various ways of retaining deported Ukrainian citizens in the Russian territory, paying particular attention to this of children. In order to settle deportees, Russia systematically develops and finances the network of so-called "temporary accommodation points" designed for accommodating deportees. A report by the Yale Humanities Research Laboratory identifies 43 locations used for the retention of Ukrainian children, while at least 32 institutions are supposedly involved in their systematic re-education. This process displays a clear orientation towards Russian-centric education and the elements of militarization of the educational process. This involves the active engagement of Russian paramilitary organizations for youth, namely "Youth Army," "Movement of the First," and "Young Guard."

The research by the "Where are our people?" project reveals the vast re-education network created on the basis of summer camps, hostels, orphanages, and even monasteries of the Russian Orthodox Church. Distinguished by extensive geography, the facilities system extends from the Russian regions bordering Ukraine (Rostov, Bilhorod, Kursk regions) to Siberia and the Russian Far East.

High-profile Russian politicians are actively involved in the retention and resettlement of Ukrainian children from the occupied territories throughout the Russian Federation. Notably, the list of engaged authorities includes the Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights Maria Lvova-Belova, for whose unlawful activities the Russian government has allocated 420,000 euros from the 2024 federal budget, and regional governors like the Governor of the Moscow region, Andrey Vorobyov, known for deporting a family from the occupied Donetsk region to the Moscow region.

The efforts of high-ranking Russian officials facilitate organizing tenders covering the retention of Ukrainian children on the territory of the Russian Federation. Specific instances of Russian officials assuming control over occupied territories are known. For example, the Governor of the Murmansk region, Andrey Chibis, has taken charge of the occupied Primorsky district of the Zaporizhzhya region.

Governor of the Murmansk Oblast, Andrey Chibis, meets with children in the occupied Ukrainian Primorsk

Source of the photo: The Barents Observer

The Russian Governor has repeatedly arrived in the occupied Zaporizhzhya region, visited children in educational institutions and congratulated them with "the incorporation of part of the region into the Russian Federation, inviting them to visit the Murmansk Oblast". The outcomes of Chibis's visits to this Russian-occupied part of Ukraine are deeply concerning; directly involved in the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children, the Governor of Murmansk was subject to international sanctions. For instance, in September 2022, Andrey Chibis arrived at the Murmansk airport to welcome 11 deported children from Ukraine. In the summer of 2023, Andrey Chibis allocated funds from the budget of the Murmansk region to cover the de-facto deportation of Ukrainian children from the occupied Zaporizhzhya region to summer camps in the Krasnodar region of Russia. At the same time, before dispatching to summer camps in Russia, the children were collected by the Minister of Education of the Murmansk region, Diana Kuznetsova, who visited preschools, schools, and colleges in Primorsk, as well as in occupied Mariupol, Berdyansk, and surrounding villages.

Source of the photo: VK page of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Murmansk Oblast.

It should be noted that the Russian authorities have additionally started funding the training of new "officials'' in the occupied territories of Ukraine. A document issued in January 2023 mentions the allocation of 6.6 billion rubles (57 million pounds sterling) for a range of projects in the occupied territories related to the training of new government officials, development of "educational programs among youth," and deployment of infrastructure for the Russian internet censor, which blocks "undesirable" websites. This process goes hand in hand with expanding the capabilities of several new propaganda media resources in the occupied Zaporizhzhya region, including websites, Telegram channels, and state-funded influencers. An investigation by The Guardian found that the Kremlin allocated 144 million rubles (1.2 million pounds) to the region for 2023 and proposed to double this figure in 2024.

It is worth noting that the Murmansk Oblast is not the only remote region of Russia where deported Ukrainian children are being found. Since 2014, Putin's regime has been practicing forced relocation of Ukrainians to the Russian Far East, including the Primorsky Krai. According to Russian sources data, as early as the fall of 2014, the region already contained 53 so-called "temporary accommodation points" that hosted 1,500 Ukrainians, including children. The available information about living conditions in such "points," such as the Lipovtsy settlement in the Oktyabrsky district, reveals that Ukrainians lived without proper food and in the cold of the harsh region.

The deliberate policy of displacing Ukrainians, perpetuated by the Russian government, is closely related to the demographic crisis in remote regions of Russia. Yuri Avdeev, the candidate of economic sciences, the director of the Asian-Pacific Institute of Migration Processes, and a leading research fellow at the Pacific Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences directly points out at the resettlement of Ukrainians in these regions as a "solution" to the acute shortage of local population.

The deportations of Ukrainian children to Russia have significantly intensified after the outbreak of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. The official Telegram channel of the occupational "Ministry of Labor and Social Protection" in the Russia-occupied part of the Kherson region covered negotiations between a delegation of this "ministry" and the management of the "Ocean" children's summer camp in the Primorye. The meeting was dedicated to the issue of allocating funds from the local budget of the Russian-occupied Kherson region to fund 'rehabilitation' trips for Ukrainian children in the mentioned camp, located on the coast of the Sea of Japan, thousands of kilometers away from Ukraine. The significant distance between places of retention from Ukraine poses a substantial obstacle for returning deported Ukrainian children to their homeland.

Photo of the "Ocean" children's camp in Primorye, Russia

Source of the photo: Telegram channel page of the "Ministry of Labor and Social Protection" of the occupied part of the Kherson Oblast

According to Russian sources, since April 2022, the Primorsky Krai has become one of the "leaders" in the Russian Far East region in terms of "reception" and "adaptation" programs for Ukrainian deported children. Therefore, the regional leadership actively "facilitates" the arrival of children from the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, annexed by Russia.

The Governor of the Primorsky Krai, Oleg Kozhemyako, who actively supports Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, allocates funds from the regional budget to arrange accommodation for Russian orphaned children who are now adults and are fighting in the Russian army in Ukraine, as well as for children who have lost parents serving in the Russian occupying army in the war against Ukraine. The Telegram channel of the head of the legislative assembly of the Primorsky Krai, Alexander Rolik, mentions a bill providing funding for housing for "participants of special operations" who had orphan status and were involved in combat against Ukraine. Specifically, it contains information about the purchase of residential premises from a developer of a multi-apartment building in the villages of Yakovlevka and Mikhaylovka in the Primorsky Krai.

Governor of Primorsky Krai, Oleg Kozhemyako, during a training session of the Russian volunteer unit "Tigr" at the Gornostay Marine Infantry Range

PHOTO BY YURI SMITIUK / TASS

Based on the facts provided, we can conclude that the financing of the deportation of Ukrainian children, as well as their subsequent Russification and militarization, is a consistent criminal policy of the Russian government aimed at eradicating Ukrainian identity in deported children and "solving" the demographic crisis in remote regions of Russia.

At the same time, Russian officials are financing vulnerable categories of their population, manipulating housing "preferences" for economically disadvantaged citizens and individuals who have orphan status, and cynically using them as a mobilization resource in the criminal war against Ukraine. These processes demonstrate that unpunished evil will persist and grow if not stopped. Therefore, the international community urgently needs to intensify the pressure of sanctions on Russia and hold the aforementioned officials accountable.

Vladyslav Havrylov, Researcher at "Where are our people?" public organization, invited researcher at the Collaboration on Global Children's Issues at Georgetown University (USA).
Firefighters put out the fire. Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Lviv Oblast has been attacked with various types of cruise missiles as well as Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles while an air-raid warning was in effect from 03:58 to 06:02 on 27 April. Strikes have been recorded.

Source: Lviv Oblast Military Administration

Details: Despite three cruise missiles being downed, there are confirmed hits.

The authorities reported that Russia attacked two critical energy infrastructure facilities in the Stryi and Chervonohrad districts. Fires have broken out at the scene. Significant damage was recorded.

There are no casualties or damage to residential infrastructure in Lviv Oblast.

As of now, there are no plans to implement any power outage schedules.

However, people are asked not to use energy-consuming appliances from 19:00 to 22:00 to avoid resorting to power outages.

Support UP or become our patron!
Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Russian forces hit energy facilities in Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Lviv oblasts in a mass missile attack against Ukraine overnight on April 27, causing damage and casualties, Ukrainian authorities reported.

Russia launched 34 missiles at Ukraine, 21 of which were destroyed by the countrys military, according to the Air Force.

"Equipment was damaged. At one of the facilities, an energy engineer received a concussion," Energy Minister German Galushchenko said on Telegram, adding that the consequences of the attack are still being established.

Ukraine's largest private energy company, DTEK, reported that four of its thermal power plants were significantly damaged in the attack.

The company didnt specify where the affected facilities are located, likely not to disclose sensitive information about Ukraines critical infrastructure.

"According to preliminary information, unfortunately, there are victims At the moment, energy workers are trying to eliminate the consequences of the attack," DTEK wrote.

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, where air defenses shot down 13 of the 34 missiles, energy facilities near Dnipro and Kryvyi Rih were damaged, according to Governor Serhii Lysak.

A 39-year-old man was injured and hospitalized in stable condition, Lysak said on Telegram. The attack reportedly caused interruptions in the water supply in the Kryvyi Rih district.

Later the same day, Lysak reported that another man aged 45 sought medical assistance after the attack and was hospitalized in stable condition.

In the evening, the governor reported a 59-year-old woman injured in Dnipro as a result of the attack.

Read also: Opinion: Russias energy infrastructure attacks are depopulating Ukraine

Russian cruise and hypersonic missiles hit two energy facilities near Stryi and Chervonohrad in Lviv Oblast, causing fires and destruction, Governor Maksym Kozytskyi wrote.

According to preliminary data, there were no casualties or damage to residential buildings, according to Kozytskyi.

Another energy facility was targeted in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, causing a fire that was extinguished by first responders, said Governor Svitlana Onyshchuk. There were no casualties, she added.

Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk oblasts are located in the west of Ukraine, hundreds of kilometers from the front lines.

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.

In March, attacks reportedly damaged or completely destroyed 80% of the thermal generating capacity of DTEK.

President Volodymyr Zelensky previously said that the Trypillia Thermal Power Plant was destroyed because Ukraine had run out of missiles to defend it during an attack.

According to Zelensky, Ukraine needs 25 Patriot air defense systems to protect the entire country from Russian attacks.

Read also: Explainer: 38 years after Chornobyl, Ukraine relies on nuclear for more than half its energy production





Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Key Insights

Significant control over City Developments by private companies implies that the general public has more power to influence management and governance-related decisions

Hong Leong Investment Holdings Pte. Ltd. owns 54% of the company

Institutions own 16% of City Developments

Every investor in City Developments Limited (SGX:C09) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are private companies with 59% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

Clearly, private companies benefitted the most after the company's market cap rose by S$284m last week.

In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of City Developments.

View our latest analysis for City Developments

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About City Developments?

Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index.

As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in City Developments. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see City Developments' historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

City Developments is not owned by hedge funds. The company's largest shareholder is Hong Leong Investment Holdings Pte. Ltd., with ownership of 54%. This essentially means that they have extensive influence, if not outright control, over the future of the corporation. BlackRock, Inc. is the second largest shareholder owning 5.1% of common stock, and The Vanguard Group, Inc. holds about 2.2% of the company stock.

While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too.

Insider Ownership Of City Developments

The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO.

Story continues

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our most recent data indicates that insiders own less than 1% of City Developments Limited. We do note, however, it is possible insiders have an indirect interest through a private company or other corporate structure. It's a big company, so even a small proportional interest can create alignment between the board and shareholders. In this case insiders own S$2.4m worth of shares. It is good to see board members owning shares, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying.

General Public Ownership

The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 25% stake in City Developments. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Private Company Ownership

We can see that Private Companies own 59%, of the shares on issue. It might be worth looking deeper into this. If related parties, such as insiders, have an interest in one of these private companies, that should be disclosed in the annual report. Private companies may also have a strategic interest in the company.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand City Developments better, we need to consider many other factors. For example, we've discovered 3 warning signs for City Developments (1 is significant!) that you should be aware of before investing here.

If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
By Olena Harmash and Tom Balmforth

KYIV (Reuters) -Russian missiles pounded power facilities in central and western Ukraine on Saturday, increasing pressure on the ailing energy system as the country faces a shortage of air defences despite a breakthrough in U.S. military aid.

The air strike, carried out with long-range missiles, including cruise missiles fired by Russian strategic bombers based in the Arctic Circle, was the fourth large-scale aerial assault targeting the power system since March 22.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy repeated a plea to partners for defensive missiles, notably the Patriot system. He said the targets included electricity and gas transit facilities, in particular those important for gas supply to the European Union, though he did not say whether any such facilities were damaged.

Russia continues to supply gas to the EU via Ukraine under a transit deal with Russia's Gazprom that is set to expire in December and which Ukraine says it does not plan to extend.

"The enemy again massively shelled Ukrainian energy facilities," said DTEK, Ukraine's largest private electricity company, adding that four of its six thermal power plants had suffered damage overnight.

Rescuers battled to put out fires at several energy facilities in the western regions of Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk, which border NATO members Poland and Romania, officials said.

After strikes on energy facilities in the central Dnipropetrovsk region, running water supplies were disrupted in President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's hometown of Kryvyi Rih, officials said.

Ukrainian air defences brought down 21 of the 34 incoming missiles, the commander of the air force said in a statement.

None of the facilities hit was identified by name, a security measure intended to prevent Russia quickly assessing the impact of its strikes.

Zelenskiy said the trajectories and nature of the attack had been calculated to make preventing it as hard as possible. "Each downed rocket today is a significant result," he said.

Ukraine's state-run oil and gas firm Naftogaz said Russia had attacked its facilities but that no-one was hurt and supplies to Ukrainian consumers and clients were unaffected.

Russia, which began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, denies targeting civilians but says the Ukrainian energy system is a legitimate military target. Ukrainian authorities said one energy worker was hurt overnight.

In the northeastern city of Kharkiv, which has been heavily bombed in recent weeks, a missile struck a hospital holding 60 patients overnight, injuring a woman and damaging the building, nearby water pipes and power lines, the regional governor said.

Ukraine, which has tried to take the fight back to Russia in recent months using long-range drones, attacked the Ilsky and Slavyansk oil refineries in Russia's Krasnodar region overnight, a Ukrainian intelligence source told Reuters.

The drone strike conducted by the SBU security service caused fires at the facilities, the source said. Russia's Kushchevsk military airfield was also attacked in the southern region, the source added.

The Slavyansk oil refinery was forced to suspend some operations after being damaged in the attack, Russian state news agency TASS cited an executive overseeing the plant as saying.

ROLLING BLACKOUTS

Ukraine has lost 80% of its thermal power generation and 35% of its hydroelectric capacity during Russian attacks, officials say.

Though the core of the energy system comes from nuclear power, that lost capacity serves a balancing function in the grid and its loss could be a big problem when consumption rises later this year, officials say.

Rolling blackouts have been introduced in several regions, but the full impact of the attacks has not been felt as consumption, which peaks in winter and the height of summer, is low because of mild weather.

There were no planned blackouts for now in Lviv region, but the governor urged residents to economise on electricity use, especially during the evening hours of peak consumption. He said the two critical energy infrastructure objects in Stryi and Chervonohrad districts were damaged in Saturday's attack.

Zelenskiy called for more air defence supplies, faster deliveries and decisive actions from Kyiv's allies.

The United States approved a major aid package for Ukraine this week, overcoming a congressional deadlock that dragged on for six months as Kyiv's weapon stocks became depleted.

The Pentagon said on Friday it would buy $6 billion worth of new weapons for Ukraine including interceptors for the Patriot air defence system.

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles, who visited Lviv on Saturday, announced a $100 million military aid package including short-range air defence and drones with air-to-ground precision munitions coming separately.

(Reporting by Olena Harmash and Tom Balmforth in Kyiv and Elaine Monaghan in Washington; Editing by Hugh Lawson, Frances Kerry, Timothy Heritage and David Evans)
Destruction as a result of the attacks in 2023. Stock photo: DTEK

Russia attacked four thermal power plants (TPPs) owned by the company DTEK on the night of 26-27 April, injuring civilians.

Source: DTEK, the largest private energy company in Ukraine

Quote: "The enemy once again attacked energy facilities in Ukraine. Four DTEK TPPs were affected as a result of the night attack.

Early reports indicate that there are casualties. We are providing all necessary assistance."

Details: DTEK specified that equipment had been seriously damaged.

As of now, energy workers are trying to deal with the aftermath of the attack.

Support UP or become our patron!
Russia steps up offensive on east Ukraine village, Kyiv says its forces holding out

KYIV (Reuters) - Russia has sent more troops to Ocheretyne in eastern Ukraine to reinforce an offensive there, but Kyiv's forces largely hold the village and expect U.S. arms deliveries to turn the tide in their favour, the Ukrainian military said on Saturday.

Russian troops have slowly advanced through at least half a dozen villages on the eastern front since capturing the bastion town of Avdiivka in February as exhausted Ukrainian forces rationed dwindling artillery supplies.

Fierce fighting raged in Ocheretyne on Saturday but Nazar Voloshyn, spokesman for the eastern command, said Ukrainian forces had the situation "under control" and controlled two-thirds of the village.

Ukrainian troops, he said, were able to shell the part of the village seized by Russian forces and that "the enemy is blocked and measures are being taken to kick them out."

To the north on the eastern front, Russian forces were trying to capture the strategic town of Chasiv Yar at all costs, though they had not entered the town, he said.

Chasiv Yar, which lies on high ground, is seen as a gateway to the remaining important cities controlled by Ukraine in the Donbas, which Russia seeks to capture in full folllwing its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Ukrainian troops are outgunned and outnumbered, but received a huge morale boost when the United States finally signed off on a major aid package this week that contains military assistance.

Voloshyn said Ukraine expected foreign military aid, including ammunition, shells and weapons, to help turn around the situation on the Bakhmut and Avdiivka fronts and in other areas.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said Russia may be preparing an offensive in late May or in June.

Reuters could not independently verify Voloshyn's battlefield assertions.

(Reporting by Olena Harmash, Writing by Tom Balmforth, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
Russia has launched missiles toward Ukraine in attacks that appear to be targeting the countrys energy sector, officials said.

Ukraines air force said Saturday that Russia launched 34 missiles and they were able to intercede and shoot down 21 of them, The Associated Press reported.

Herman Halushchenko, the minister of energy, said energy facilities in Dnipropetrovsk in the south and Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv in the west had been hit. An engineer was injured.

DTEK, a private energy operator, said four of its six thermal power plants were seriously damaged. One employee was hospitalized, and the company is assessing the level of damage.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, #DTEK thermal power plants have been attacked over 170 times, the company said on social media platform X. The enemy had already attacked our thermal power plants in massive attacks on March 22, March 29, and April 11 as it seeks to cripple supplies of #energy to millions of ordinary Ukranian homes and businesses.

Russia had already destroyed one of Ukraines largest power plants earlier this month in a massive barrage of missile strikes.

The news comes just days after President Biden signed foreign aid legislation that will provide Ukraine with $61 billion in aid, as the war in Eastern Europe continues. The State Department also recently approved $138 million in sales to Ukraine for repairs to its HAWK missile defense systems to keep up with Russias attacks, over two years after the invasion began.

Russia also struck in and near Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine, injuring one person and killing another, per the AP.

Ukraine was striking back at the same time, however.

The Defense Ministry said Russian air defense systems intercepted 66 drones over the southern Krasnodar region. There were no casualties or serious damage, according to the governor of the region.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Russias recent attacks against Ukraines Kherson, Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts killed one person and wounded another 14, regional authorities reported early on April 27.

Russia attacked the southern city of Kherson and 13 other settlements in the region overnight and on April 26, killing one person and wounding another eight, according to Kherson Oblast Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.

The strikes against Kherson Oblast reportedly damaged two houses, critical infrastructure facilities, and civilian cars.

Russian forces struck a psychiatric hospital in Kharkiv overnight, injuring a 53-year-old female patient, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.

At the time of the attack, 60 patients and five employees were in the medical building, he said.

Read also: Missiles hit Kyiv seconds after air raid alert, leaving people no time to shelter

Another person, a 67-year-old man, was injured when Russian forces shelled the city of Vovchansk at around 10 p.m. local time, according to Syniehubov.

Three civilians were injured in Ukraines eastern Donetsk Oblast, Vadym Filashkin, the regional governor, said on Facebook.

Russian troops launched a total of 16 attacks against Donetsk Oblast settlements, destroying or damaging 12 houses and five other unnamed buildings, added Filashkin.

Russia hit the Nikopol district in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast several times late on April 27, wounding an 82-year-old woman, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.

According to Lysak, seven apartment buildings, a market, over 10 shops, an administrative building, and a beauty salon were damaged.

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.
Russian attacks against the Nikopol district of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on April 27 injured two women aged 88 and 40, Governor Serhii Lysak said.

Throughout the day, Russian forces launched 13 drone strikes and five artillery attacks against the Nikopol, Myrove, and Pokrovske communities.

Two five-story buildings, nine houses, six outbuildings, and several cars were damaged. One of the outbuildings caught fire, which was later put out by emergency services.

An agricultural company and power lines were also affected by the attack, leaving 300 people without power.

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.

Wider Dnipropetrovsk Oblast was targeted by a large-scale missile attack in the early hours of April 27, with energy facilities damaged near Dnipro and Kryvyi Rih. Three people were reportedly injured.

Read also: Russia attacks Ukraines energy infrastructure overnight, casualties reported

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Another Tajik citizen has been taken into custody due to his alleged connection with the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall on March 22, according to a Moscow court ruling on April 27.

The court claimed that the man, Dzhumakhon Kurbonov, is suspected of providing others involved in the attack with money and "telecommunications means" and ruled that he should remain in detention until at least May 22.

Russian state-run media outlet RIA Novosti claimed that Kurbonov was living in a hostel in Moscow while working unofficially in Russia.

The court hearing was held behind closed doors, Russian independent media outlet Meduza said.

According to Meduza, Russian media reported on April 26 that a Tajik citizen born in 2003 had been detained as part of the ongoing investigation into the terrorist attack.

Several gunmen opened fire at the Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, a Moscow suburb, on the evening of March 22, killing at least 145 people and injuring over 500 others. A branch of the Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attack shortly thereafter.

More than half of the suspects who have been detained are from Tajikistan, four of whom are accused of personally carrying out the attack. They appeared in court showing clear signs of abuse at the hands of the Russian authorities.

Xenophobic incidents were reported en masse after the attack, as were cases of Central Asians leaving Russia over fears of potential reprisals and increased racism.

Millions of Tajiks and other Central Asians either live permanently in Russia or work there seasonally. The World Bank estimated in 2022 that remittances from migrant workers comprised as much as 50% of Tajikistan's GDP.

Read also: Tajik foreign minister criticizes treatment of Moscow attack suspects, crackdown on Tajiks in Russia

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A Russian drone attack on a truck in Kharkiv Oblast injured a 52-year-old truck driver, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported on April 27.

Russian forces used an FPV drone to hit the truck at around 1 p.m. local time near Vovchansk, a city located less than 10 kilometers from the Russian border.

The driver was hospitalized and is in a serious condition, Synhiehubov said.

Settlements like Vovchansk in Ukraines northeastern Kharkiv Oblast are subjected to regular Russian attacks due to their proximity to the front line and the border with Russia.

A Russian attack on Vovchansk on April 20 killed two men and injured two other civilians.

Read also: Russia throws thousands of troops to capture Chasiv Yar. Why is it so important?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The lettering of the truck manufacturer Daimler Truck stands in front of the headquarters in Leinfelden-Echterdingen. Bernd Weibrod/dpa

Workers at Daimler Truck in North Carolina will receive a 25% pay hike after their union secured a last-minute agreement with the German commercial vehicle maker late Friday.

The wage increase will be spread over four years, said Shawn Fain, the president of the United Automobile Workers (UAW).

Last year, the UAW achieved increases of similar magnitude at the auto giants General Motors, Ford and Stellantis after weeks of strike action.

A strike at Daimler Truck plants in North Carolina was due to begin on Saturday without the deal.

The German company builds Freightliner lorries in the south-eastern US state as well as the well-known yellow Thomas Built school buses.

Union members still must vote to ratify the agreement, which provides for a 16% increase in the first year. More job security and profit-sharing have also been agreed, Fain said.

For the UAW, the deal marks another success in the southern United States, where labour movements have traditionally been weak. Last week, workers at Volkswagen's US plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, decided to unionize with the UAW.
A Russian oil refinery in Slavyansk-on-Kuban in Krasnodar Krai partially suspended operations following a purported Ukrainian drone attack, Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported on April 27.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) launched a drone strike against Krasnodar Krai overnight on April 27, targeting the Ilsky and Slavyansk oil refineries and a military airfield, a source in Ukraine's security and defense forces told the Kyiv Independent earlier today.

"The plant's work was partially suspended. Exactly 10 drones flew into the plant, causing a strong fire. There may be hidden damage," Eduard Trudnev, the security director of the Slavyansk ECO Group, told TASS regarding the Slavyansk refinery.

Relevant agencies are working on the scene of the incident, he added. Trudnev did not specify what exact operations have been suspended or for how long.

The security source told the Kyiv Independent that the drones hit "key technological objects" at the refinery, causing fire and evacuations of personnel.

Krasnodar Krai Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said on Telegram that Ukraine "attempted" to attack local oil refineries and infrastructure but claimed there were no serious damages.

According to Kondratyev, over 10 drones were intercepted over the Slavyansk, Kushchyovsky, and Seversky districts, where the said facilities are located.

In recent weeks, Ukrainian forces have launched a series of drone strikes aimed at damaging Russia's oil industry. A large-scale attack against Russian energy infrastructure on April 20 reportedly started a fire at a fuel storage tank in Smolensk Oblast.

Strikes against Russian energy targets have prompted criticism from U.S. officials, who have made it clear that Washington does not support Ukraine's attacks on oil refineries, citing fears that it could threaten the global energy market.

In response, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kyiv has the right to use its own weapons with retaliatory strikes on Russian oil refineries.

Read also: Source: SBU hits oil refineries, military airfield in Russias Krasnodar region

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Russian mercenaries are chasing one of the worlds most notorious fugitives: the warlord Joseph Kony, who abducted tens of thousands of children from across central Africa, brutalizing and brainwashing them as child soldiers and sex slaves in a decadeslong maelstrom of terror.

Multiple sources independently describe to Rolling Stone a bloody near-capture of Kony by Russian mercenaries working for the Wagner Group, in a remote corner of the Central African Republic in early April. A social media post affiliated with Wagner also confirms some aspects of the groups interest in the warlord.

This amounts to hot pursuit [in] the African bush, says a U.S. source familiar with efforts to capture the warlord. The U.S. military got within 72 hours of Kony. Wagner may be even closer.

The operation demonstrates Russias ever-expanding reach across Africa, and also illustrates the shortcomings of more than two decades of U.S. military strategy on the continent. Despite spending billions on counterterror operations, training, and infrastructure in Africa since the beginning of the Global War on Terror, extremist violence is at an all-time high, according to researchers at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, a U.S.-funded research institute. Even as fatalities from terror attacks have spiked with a near doubling in deaths since 2021, a string of coups and civil wars has unraveled Washingtons partnerships and created chaotic power vacuums.

American adversaries like Wagner are stepping into the breach.

The mercenary group is the de facto armed expeditionary branch of Kremlin foreign policy, and is a key player on the African continent and in places like Syria and Ukraine, directly supporting Russias military operations. What separates Wagner from other private military companies is that it is funded and backed by Russian state security apparatuses.

Founded by Yevgeny Prigozhin, an ultranationalist entrepreneur with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Wagner forces conducted a high-profile mutiny against the Kremlin last June. The central complaint of the mutineers, led by Prigozhin, was that the war in Ukraine was being mismanaged  leading to the deaths of tens of thousands of Wagner mercenaries.

The Wagner uprising, the first military challenge to Putins rule, ultimately proved futile. Prigozhin agreed to end the mutiny in exchange for guarantees of safety and revisions to Wagners role in Ukraine. Those guarantees didnt amount to much. Prigozhin died when the business jet in which he was flying crashed in a field northwest of Moscow  only two months after the public falling out with his boss.

But Wagner itself was too valuable to cast aside. After Prigozhins death, the company has been placed under the direct control of the Russian defense ministry and its military intelligence branch, the GRU. Parts of its operations have been rebranded as Africa Corps, but the Wagner name remains in common use.

The group is especially active in Mali, Niger, Sudan, and the Central African Republic, where Wagner is adept at shoring up autocratic regimes, suppressing rebel militias, and terrorizing civilians.

But Wagners pursuit of the warlord Kony exemplifies a new assertiveness in Russian strategy in Africa.

Kony is a self-proclaimed Christian prophet accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, rape, kidnapping, and torture by the International Criminal Court. The warlord rose to power in the late 1980s as a rebel leader among the Acholi people, an ethnic group dominant in northern Uganda.

To understand the Wagner operation in pursuit of Kony, Rolling Stone connected with a rebel group whose members witnessed portions of the April 7 attack and its aftermath near a village in eastern Central African Republic called Yemen (like the country). As the rebel group  UPC, or Union for Peace in Central Africa  was on the move in the hinterlands, a rebel commander named Ousmane relayed the account from fighters on the ground in a series of voice messages.

At least four people were killed, including two civilians and two Wagner, Ousmane says, adding that Kony was still in the area as of April 8.

The operation began when 14 defectors from Konys Lords Resistance Army, or the LRA, surrendered to a group of men posing as Central African Republic government forces at the end of March. The men were, in fact, a Chadian armed group affiliated with Wagner, which often partners with local militias to support its operations.

The defection occurred in Central African Republics Haute-Kotto Prefecture, a wooded savanna of more than 33,800 square miles  larger than South Carolina  with few roads and numerous isolated villages. Its dense shrublands and intricate network of rivers, streams, and pools is a haven for armed groups, ivory smugglers, and poachers, and it has long been key to Konys survival.

The Chadian group brought the 14 LRA members  a mix of combatants, civilians, and two children  to a town called Sam Ouandjia, where they contacted Wagner, who soon arrived in force.

Wagner forces arrested the defectors and took them to an unknown destination, says a source with expertise in the region and the LRA, who requested anonymity given security risks to individuals in the Central African Republic.

The treatment of these defectors upset local authorities in Sam Ouandja, who have often worked with other key stakeholders to peacefully process and support LRA defectors in the past, the source says, adding that the whereabouts of the defectors  including at least two children  remain unknown, raising grave concerns for their safety and rights.

The source says that only days after taking the defectors into custody, Wagner forces attacked the village of Yemen, where Kony had recently been, and which is the site of a large marijuana plantation that funds an array of regional militant groups. Locals say that Konys camp was within 10 miles of the village, the source says.

Weve been hearing about a mythical arms-and-drugs bazaar hidden in the bush as a haven for poachers and smugglers for years, the source says. It makes sense that Kony would want to stay close to it.

Details of the attack were reported by locals who described a firefight that killed between two to eight people, the source said. Those accounts broadly matched those provided to Rolling Stone separately by both UPC rebels and a U.S. source.

[Wagner] went there with helicopters, two helicopters, and they fired down at [Konys camp], says Ousmane, the UPC commander. The airborne assault was followed by a ground operation, which led to a sustained firefight. As they [Wagner] know the bush well, they did a lot of damage, they burned the entire village of Yemen. There are small villages around it, they burned all those villages. All.

Kony was not among the fallen, the source with expertise in the LRA adds, and is believed to have escaped during or prior to the Wagner attack.

Its possible they werent that close to catching him, that Kony fled beforehand. But they certainly tried, and found a location near one of his camps, says the U.S. source familiar with efforts to capture the warlord, and who independently confirmed details of the attack on the village.

They also arrested a few people including a local chief, says Ousmane, the UPC commander.

Initial reports indicated Kony fled towards Sudan in the company of around 71 fighters not counting women and children, says the source with expertise in the LRA. He likely decided to change locations soon after the defection of the [LRA] group members in late March, consistent with his historic modus operandi.

Indeed, Kony has a long history of disappearing into the bush when his pursuers get too close.

A Ugandan soldier accompanies U.S. Special Forces on foot patrol in Haute-Kotto Prefecture, Central African Republic, on Sept. 15, 2016. The soldiers were part of an operation attempting to find the warlord Joseph Kony.

Kony created the LRA on the heels of civil war that devastated northern Uganda in a witches brew of genocide, rape, and murder, replete with concentration camps, total destruction of villages, and millions of refugees. The current president of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, dispatched his forces in a futile effort to destroy the LRA. The end result was a conflict that spread to the neighboring countries of South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic.

In a simmering, decadeslong conflict in which multiple armed parties with little restraint or regard for international law regularly carried out atrocities against civilians, the LRA stood out as the most brutal of all the warring parties. Abducting children from across northern Uganda and elsewhere and indoctrinating them in Konys messianic personality cult, the LRA filled its ranks with child soldiers. The children were dehumanized through calculated brutality aimed at desensitizing them to violence and bloodshed.

Multiple efforts to negotiate an end to the LRAs campaign of horrors led nowhere, and by the late-2000s, stopping the group had become a global cause celebre, akin to efforts to stop the genocide in nearby Darfur.

By 2008, the U.S. State Department had dubbed Kony a specially designated global terrorist, and the Pentagon was providing intelligence and operational support to Uganda to capture him. When those efforts failed, the U.S. military became directly involved.

On the orders of President Barack Obama in 2011, U.S. Army Special Forces led the American pursuit of Kony in an operation called Observant Compass. Many ongoing U.S. military operations in Africa have a broadly defined counterterror focus that emphasize air strikes, intelligence gathering, and training local partner forces to tamp down on the activities of extremist groups.

Observant Compass had a much simpler directive: Kill or capture Joseph Kony.

This is a unique mission in the sense that  for a soldier thats been in the army for a few years  this is one of the most clearly defined, succinct missions I have been associated with, Lt. Col. Matt Maybouer, the forward commander of a special forces base in Entebbe, Uganda, told this reporter on a visit to the operation in 2016. Because it came directly from the president.

Observant Compass  like the other counterterror operations in Africa  provided the impetus for the U.S. to organize a sprawling network of bases, airfields, and supply networks in some of the worlds most inaccessible terrain. The counter-LRA operation alone was spread across five countries in central Africa, costing an estimated $780 million.

But, despite offering up to $5 million for information leading to Konys capture, and significant success in capturing LRA splinter groups and reducing the militant groups influence, the warlord remained elusive.

A Ugandan soldier accompanies U.S. Special Forces on foot patrol in Haute-Kotto Prefecture, Central African Republic, on Sept. 15, 2016. The soldiers were part of an operation attempting to find the warlord Joseph Kony.

Observant Compass was wound down by former president Donald Trump after he took office in 2017, and Uganda also ended its counter-LRA efforts, reasoning that the group and its offshoots had permanently fled across the borders and werent coming back.

Enter Wagner.

The group has one of its largest operations in the Central African Republic, where more than 1,000 personnel support the government of President Faustin-Archange Touadera in exchange for natural resource concessions  giving Wagner effective control over mines that are a lucrative source of gold, precious metals, and other minerals.

These concessions are key to financing Wagners operations in the [Central African Republic] and beyond, including in Ukraine, according to the U.S. government.

The Wagner Group exploits insecurity around the world, committing atrocities and criminal acts that threaten the safety, good governance, prosperity, and human rights of nations, as well as exploiting their natural resources, the U.S. Treasury Department wrote last year, announcing it had sanctioned numerous individuals and companies assisting Wagner with its operations in Africa.

Afrique Media TV, a Kremlin-linked media outlet that serves as a primary source for information about Wagner activities in Africa, has not discussed the incident or the mercenary groups apparent interest in Kony. But on April 21, a Telegram channel known to be used by Wagner posted a statement saying the mercenary group had conducted an operation freeing 14 children enslaved by the terrorist group LRA for eight years.

During the operation, two generals, a colonel and six LRA militants were killed and weapons and ammunition were captured. Russian specialists transported the children safely to Bangui, where they are currently in the instructors camp awaiting the process of returning home, the statement said.

A Wagner operative named Viktor  a pseudonym  known to be in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, did not respond meaningfully to Rolling Stones requests for comment. Efforts to reach a separate Wagner field operative in the Central African Republic by cellphone were unsuccessful.

The recent experience of an Italian adventurer in the Central African Republic suggests the group may be trying to soften its image in Africa.

Niccolo Monica has a unique perspective on Russian mercenary operations in Africa: Earlier this year, he was detained by Wagner in the Central African Republic, spending several days as their prisoner.

Monica, who was traveling overland from Cameroon to Chad through the Central African Republic as part of his long-term goal to visit every country in the world, was stopped by police at a checkpoint just 30 miles from the Chadian border, after days of travel through a perilous region that is rarely visited by outsiders.

I like to cross borders, Monica tells Rolling Stone. They are always such an interesting geographical component. I cross many borders by land.

Monica told the police he was a tourist. They didnt believe me, he says.

Security forces were dismayed to encounter such an unusual visitor. They took Monica and his motorbike-taxi driver into custody, and called in Wagner.

When I saw this group of giant, heavily armed soldiers coming towards me and saw the Wagner red skull logo on their hats, I thought I was dead, says Monica. For the first few minutes, I was very shaken, and the situation was quite surreal, but after five minutes, everything was much more chill. They didnt handcuff me or use force  they just asked me to follow them. They didnt try to get physical.

The mercenaries took Monica to their operating base, where he was thoroughly questioned, searched, and inspected for tattoos or tell-tale scars that might reveal he was more than the simple tourist he claimed to be. However, the English-speaking mercenary brought in to conduct the interrogation behaved courteously and professionally, Monica says, adding: I really felt that they had direct orders to be kind to me.

Monica had been able to notify an Italian diplomat of his situation by text before being taken into custody, which touched off a storm of frantic high-level inquiries about his location and status from the Italian government. He was eventually released by Wagner to Central African Republic officials, who in turn handed him over to a series of diplomats, before he was flown back to Italy.

Monica says he is aware of Wagners reputation, which includes accusations that they have committed war crimes and were complicit in the assassination of three Russian investigative journalists in the Central African Republic. He thinks the treatment he was afforded was designed to send a message.

One of the guys told me, You see? Wagner is good. We made coffee for you and gave you nice friends to talk to, Monica says.

Such image-burnishing fits with the goal of the Wagner Group  and by extension, the Kremlin  of demonstrating it is a reliable partner in Africa. By backing Wagners security operations, Moscow not only gets a ready source of hard cash used to personally enrich Putins inner circle of siloviki  or security-state oligarchs  it also gains a lever of influence in countries like the Central African Republic and Syria. This is essential for Putins strategy to supplant and diminish Western influence globally.

Overall, U.S. strategic-military partnerships in Africa developed over the years of the Global War in Terror have begun to disintegrate. Key components of the American counterterror strategy have unraveled  including in Niger, where the leaders of a recent military coup are demanding that the U.S. withdraw, and in Mali, where the French military was also forced to withdraw after a military coup. Meanwhile, protesters across multiple African countries can now be seen carrying Russian flags and calling for the deployment of Wagner.

If Wagner were to catch a warlord that an American president personally ordered the Pentagon to kill or capture, to no avail, it would only further humiliate the U.S. It would also bolster Wagners image, demonstrating to governments that there is an alternative to Western intervention.

One former military officer familiar with U.S. operations targeting Kony admits that the Russian operation shows the mercenaries are on the right track: Its not the end of the Kony story, but its a continuation  and Wagner may give us the ending.

The officer wryly notes there may be complications if Wagner accomplishes what American special forces could not. How ironic would it be if the U.S. has to pay Wagner the $5 million bounty for catching Kony? he says.

Legal hurdles would make such a payment unlikely, but U.S. government lawyers may soon have an opportunity to work such details out, he adds.

More from Rolling Stone

Best of Rolling Stone
Russian oil refineries and military airfield targeted in drone attack, as thermal energy plants are damaged in Ukraine

Ukraine launched drone attacks on Russias Kushchevsk military airfield in the southern Krasnodar region, as well as two oil refineries, a source with knowledge of the operation told CNN.

The source dubbed the operation explosive, and said that fires broke out at the three locations.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) continues to effectively hit military and infrastructure facilities in Russia, the source said, in a bid to reduce Moscows potential for warfare.

The governor of Krasnodar region, Veniamin Kondratyev, had earlier said a Russian oil refinery was impacted after Kyiv launched drones in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Russian state media outlet TASS reported that the oil refinery in Slavyansk-on-Kuban had partially suspended operations, citing Eduard Trudnev, security director for the Slavyansk ECO Group, which runs the facility.

Trudnev said work at the plant had been partially suspended after 10 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) flew into the refinery, causing a fire to break out.

The presence of hidden damage is possible, said Trudnev.

Russias Ministry of Defense said on Saturday that Kyiv had launched 66 drones to attack the Krasnodar region, but all were intercepted.

Kondratyev said there were no casualties due to the Slavyansk refinery fire.

Missile strikes

Meanwhile in Ukraine, four thermal energy plants were severely damaged after Russian attacks overnight, according to a statement from DTEK, Ukraines largest private energy company.

The DTEK statement added that at this moment, power engineers are trying to eliminate the consequences of the attack.

Ukraines Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko posted on Facebook that facilities in Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Lviv regions were attacked.

A power engineer at one of the facilities suffered a concussion, Halushchenko said.

Serhii Lysak, head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional military administration, said in an update on Telegram that the region had experienced a massive attack.

Although air defenses intercepted 13 missiles in Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih and Pavlohrad districts, energy facilities were damaged in Dnipro and Kryvyi Rih districts, triggering fires and injuring a 39-year-old man. Lysak also said there were interruptions in the water supply in the Kryvyi Rih district.

Svitlana Onyshchuk, head of the Ivano-Frankivsk regional military administration, said on Telegram on Saturday that a critical infrastructure facility in the Carpathian region was struck, causing a fire that has since been put out.

DTEK said that its thermal power plants have been attacked more than 170 times since the beginning of the war.

Mykola Oleshchuk, Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, said on Saturday that Russia had attacked Ukraine overnight with 34 air-, land-, and sea-launched missiles, with 21 of those missiles intercepted.

Commenting on the barrage of missiles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said we managed to intercept a portion of them but emphasized that the world has all of the resources to assist us in intercepting every missile and drone.

In a post on X, he continued: What Ukraine needs is air defense systems, a sufficient quantity and quality of weapons to ensure our frontline actions, as well as prompt delivery and steadfast action.

Ukraine has repeatedly said it urgently needs vital munitions, including air defense and artillery ammunition. US President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed into law an aid package providing crucial military assistance to Ukraine, capping months of negotiations and debate. Passed by the Senate late Tuesday, the package includes nearly $61 billion in aid to Ukraine.

Hospitals evacuated

On Friday, patients at two Kyiv hospitals were evacuated after Belarus claimed soldiers were sheltering within, prompting fears in Ukraine of a possible attack on the facilities.

A video surfaced online showing the head of the Belarusian KGB security service alleging the two medical facilities were housing soldiers.

Belarusian KGB head Ivan Tertel claimed during a speech on Thursday that Ukrainian fighters were hiding behind the backs of children, and provided the addresses of the two hospitals located in northeast Kyiv. One of them is a childrens hospital.

The enemy has practically announced its strike and even named the addresses, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in response, calling it a provocation used as a pretext for a strike on our social critical infrastructure.

Fears of a potential attack prompted authorities urgently to start moving patients to other medical facilities in the Ukrainian capital.

This is an absolute lie and provocation of the enemy aimed to justify strikes at the social infrastructure of the capital, the Kyiv city administration said in a statement.

Videos shared online showed medical personnel hurrying to move patients and equipment to ambulances that were awaiting to receive them.

By Friday evening, all patients were successfully moved to other medical facilities, Klitschko said, thanking the doctors, technical staff and ambulance workers for their prompt and well-coordinated work.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) also denounced the claim that soldiers were based at the hospitals, calling it a manifestation of information and psychological special operations that play into the hands of Russia.

Ukrainian authorities are yet to say whether the urgent transfer has resulted in complications for any of the patients.

CNNs Radina Gigova, Yulia Kesaieva, Victoria Butenko and Jessie Gretener also contributed reporting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Russian authorities arrested two soldiers who had been on a drunken killing spree in the Moscow-occupied part of Kherson, according to reports.

"They killed residents and burned their houses if they were refused alcohol," Telegram channel VChK-OGPU reported.

Alexander Kaygorodtsev, 36, and Alexander Osipov, 34, were detained on April 24 on suspicion of murder. The pair, members of the 144th Guards Motor Rifle Division, admitted to killing at least five people and told investigators they had hidden the bodies of additional victims, including the head of the village of Abrikosovka, where the killings occurred.

The victims included a 65-year-old and a woman the duo shot in the stomach before burning her house. They proceeded to "disfigure" some victims, including breaking open their skulls. They used grenades and fire to hide the evidence of their crimes by trying to destroy the bodies and the crime scenes.

UKRAINE LAWMAKER, 34, FIGHTS FOR KHARKIV IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE

Their victims included other Russian servicemen, making their motives even more puzzling for investigators. They shot one victim, Lyubov Tymchak, because she told them they could not find an empty house to commandeer.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Russian Telegram channel Astra reported that no charges had been officially opened against the two soldiers, but another report claimed that the pair would face an investigation from the 126th Military Investigation Department of the Russian Investigative Committee, according to East2West.

UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT MEMBER SAYS US MILITARY AID PACKAGE WILL SERVE ITS PURPOSE

Kaygorodtzev was previously convicted of murder and participation in drug trafficking, serving a five-year sentence with another six-month suspended sentence. If convicted of the new murders, he will face life in prison.

A destroyed car stands near a damaged private house after Russian shelling on March 28, 2024, in Kherson, Ukraine. The Russian army shelled Dniprovskyi District of Kherson. As a result of the attack, the building of a higher educational institution and private residential houses were damaged.

Ukrainian outlet The New Voice of Ukraine argued that killings were part of "ongoing violence and turmoil" within the Russian-occupied regions of the country. Reports have covered a number of crimes committed against the Ukrainian residents of the Russian-occupied zones, including alleged attacks on the LGBTQ+ population in the city of Kherson.

RUSSIAN JOURNALIST DETAINED FOR POSTS CRITICIZING THE MILITARY, LAWYER SAYS

A report from human rights NGO watchdog Projector  in partnership with OutRight International  detailed attacks on LGBTQ+ residents of the city between March and September 2023, during which time the group claims some Russian forces deliberately targeted queer residents.

Authorities and neighbors work to restore damaged buildings after the explosion on Mykolaiv Highway 11 in Kherson, Ukraine on March 9, 2024. A seven-year-old child was injured and hospitalized.

Projector claimed that many survivors of these crimes have rarely contacted law enforcement over fears that they would not receive support.

In February, the bruised and possibly executed corpse of a Ukrainian Orthodox priest was found in the streets of Kalanchak, also in the Kherson region. The priest, Father Stepan, was found with what the outlet described as a possible bullet wound to the head.

Russian forces had detained him two days earlier, and the local bishop claimed that the troops had tortured the priest to death, according to Forum 18, a Norwegian news agency.





Original article source: Russian troops went on drunken killing spree in occupied Ukraine: reports
Russia's April oil and gas revenue could double despite Ukraine hammering its oilfields with drones, report says

Russia's oil and gas revenue is set to surge despite Ukraine's attacks on energy infrastructure.

Revenue from oil and gas is a key way Russia funds its war in Ukraine.

Russia says it has successfully rerouted oil supplies and limited the effects of Western sanctions.

Russia's oil and gas revenue for April is expected to soar by roughly double year on year despite increased Ukrainian attacks on energy infrastructure, a Reuters report said.

The news agency projected Russian oil and gas revenue for the month to come in at 1.292 trillion rubles, which is around $14 billion, up from 648 billion rubles, or roughly $7 billion.

Reuters said it made the calculations using "data from industry sources and official statistics on oil and gas production, refining and supplies on domestic and international markets."

The April data is expected to be published by the Russian Finance Ministry in early May, per the report.

Revenue from oil and gas is a key way in which Russia funds its war in Ukraine, and the significant year-on-year rise highlights the difficulty Western countries have had in attempting to impose effective sanctions on its economy.

The West has taken a number of steps to try to limit Russia's income from energy.

Measures have included the US and the UK banning Russian oil and gas, the EU prohibiting the maritime import of Russian crude, and G7 leaders agreeing to set a price cap on Russian crude oil at $60 per barrel.

But Russia says it has largely managed to circumnavigate these moves.

In December last year, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said almost all of Russia's oil exports in 2023 had been shipped to China and India, adding that the European share of crude exports had fallen from around 40-45% to just 4-5%.

"The main partners in the current situation are China, whose share has grown to approximately 45-50%, and, of course, India...Earlier, there basically were no supplies to India; in two years, the total share of supplies to India has come to 40%," Novak said.

"As for those restrictions and embargoes on supplies to Europe and the U.S. that were introduced... this only accelerated the process of reorienting our energy flows," he added.

The news comes despite increasing Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.

Firefighters extinguish oil tanks at a storage facility that local authorities say caught fire after the military brought down a Ukrainian drone, in the town of Klintsy in the Bryansk Region, Russia January 19, 2024. Russian Emergencies Ministry/Reuters

Earlier this week, a Ukrainian intelligence source told Reuters that Ukraine's security service (SBU) had carried out drone strikes on two Rosneft-owned oil depots in Russia's Smolensk region.

The source noted that the SBU was continuing to target "logistics that provide fuel to the Russian army in Ukraine."

"These facilities are and will remain our absolutely legitimate targets," they said.

Despite Russia's strong April revenue projections, it seems Ukraine's strikes are having some success.

Bloomberg reported this week that Russia's oil refining was at an 11-month low because of flooding and Ukraine's drone campaign.

Between April 11-17, Russia processed 5.22 million barrels of crude oil a day, Bloomberg reported, citing a person with knowledge of the industry data.

The report said that that was 10,000 barrels a day below the average of the seven days prior.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Russian forces attacked nine communities in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy Oblast on April 26, killing two and injuring five civilians, the regional administration reported. At least 85 explosions were reported over the past 24 hours.

Russia struck the region at least 24 times, targeting the communities of Khotin, Yunakivka, Bilopillia, Vorozhba, Krasnopillia, Nova Sloboda, Shalyhyne, Seredyna-Buda as well as the regional capital of Sumy.

Throughout the day, Russia assailed the region with mortar, artillery, grenade launcher, and drone attacks. Several unguided rockets targeted the town of Bilopillia and surrounding areas, according to the Sumy Oblast Military Administration.

A two-hour Russian attack on Bilopillia damaged a high-rise building and several private residences. Two women aged 77 and 69 were killed, the Interior Ministry reported earlier.

Bilopillia, with a pre-war population of about 7,700 residents, experienced the bulk of the attacks, with 32 explosions reported in the area. The town is located a mere eight kilometers south of the Ukraine-Russia border.

Sumy Oblast borders Russia's Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod oblasts. Russian attacks against the region have become increasingly destructive in recent weeks, killing and injuring civilians.

Read also: Russia throws thousands of troops to capture Chasiv Yar. Why is it so important?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Slavyansk refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai, which was attacked by Ukrainian drones on 27 April, has been forced to suspend some operations.

Source: Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency TASS

Details: "The plant's operations have been partially suspended. Exactly 10 UAVs flew directly into the territory of the refinery, causing a severe fire. There may be some undetected damage," said Eduard Trudnev, the security director of the company that operates the Slavyansk refinery, as quoted by TASS.

It is not reported which operations have been suspended or whether the plant is operating at all.

Background: On the night of 26-27 April, Security Service of Ukraine, along with other units of the Defence Forces, attacked the Kushchevskaya military airfield and the Ilsky and Slavyansk oil refineries in Russia's Krasnodar Krai

Support UP or become our patron!
Dave Ramsey surprises co-host by defending young Americans who need a therapist to deal with the stress of tax season

When Rachel Cruze recently came across a statistic, she couldnt wait to share it with her dad, Dave Ramsey  on camera for an episode of their radio show.

Famous for his straight-shooting and skeptical approach to financial advice-giving, Cruze seemed confident Ramsey, as a baby boomer, would give her a big reaction to the major findings detailed in the story.

Don't miss

These 5 magic money moves will boost you up America's net worth ladder in 2024  and you can complete each step within minutes. Here's how

Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now use $100 to cash in on prime real estate  without the headache of being a landlord. Here's how

'It's not taxed at all': Warren Buffett shares the 'best investment' you can make when battling rising costs  take advantage today

The statistic in question came from a CNBC article, Cruze explained, where a Cash App Taxes survey reported that 1-in-4 Gen Z tax filers need a therapist to deal with the stress of tax filing. Another 54%, she continued, said theyre been brought to tears from filing their taxes in the past, or expect to cry over them this year.

And while Cruze might have anticipated Ramsey would call these young adults soft, his response seemed to surprise her when he instead said hes calling BS on the survey.

That survey says the entire generations a bunch of wusses, Ramsey says in a clip of his show. Thats just not true. Thats not my experience with Gen Z.

In fact, Ramsey says if theres a generation that needs to brush up on their financial hygiene, its his own  baby boomers. Here are some money lessons he thinks older people can learn from younger generations.

Taxes are universally disliked

Getting back to the matter of tax anxiety, Ramsey admits that hes no fan of filing his taxes either  he just has a different reaction to the experience.

I dont cry, I get angry, he says. Im perpetually angry in April.

Heightened feelings around tax time is something all generations share, with 64% of respondents  of all ages  reporting that tax season introduced a level of stress to their lives.

One thing that Gen Z is doing right is planning to forge ahead through these tax anxiety issues. Sure, going to therapy might seem extreme, but there are other ways to actively manage this stress.

For example, you can educate yourself about the tax process. Most peoples taxes arent overly complicated, so knowing the step-by-step process could help you feel more confident in doing them.

If youre still finding it stressful to do your taxes, ask for help. Accountants are experts in this very area and can do the heavy lifting for you.

Story continues

Read more: Barbara Corcoran predicted mortgage rates will hit a 'a magic number' and send housing prices 'through the roof'  here's how to set yourself up today

Financial transparency

The Ramsey Show is primarily a call-in show, with people calling in for financial advice. Ramsey hears from people of all ages  from Gen Z to the silent generation. And he says that boomers are often the hardest to talk to.

Boomers come in and they lie. They fake it, Ramesy says to Cruze. They care so much what you think that they put on the chameleon. Its a donkey dressed up like a thoroughbred.

Whereas millennials and Gen Z dont put on any airs when they call in.

They are what they are, Ramsey says. He adds that many younger people are very mature, very serious, very focused, very missional.

This may be because younger generations are more open to talking openly about their challenges. In the past year, 35% of Gen Z and millennials had received mental health treatment, whereas only 8% of baby boomers had done the same, according to a 2023 YouGov survey.

Therapy has also crossed over to finances, as many more Americans seek the support of financial therapy address the number-one stressor in their lives: money, according to the recent Stress in America survey from the American Psychological Association.

Ramsey himself is one of the boomers who preaches this kind of financial transparency. He himself has long been open about his bankruptcy and poor financial decisions.

His whole show is based around speaking openly with people about their finances. As Ramsey says on his website: It's time to face the storms of life head on.

What to read next

Car insurance rates have spiked in the US to a stunning $2,150/year  but you can be smarter than that. Here's how you can save yourself as much as $820 annually in minutes (it's 100% free)

Jeff Bezos told his siblings to invest $10K in his startup called Amazon, and now their stake is worth over $1B  3 ways to get rich without having to gamble on risky public stocks

Suze Orman says Americans are poorer than they think  but having a dream retirement is so much easier when you know these 3 simple money moves

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
(FOX40.COM)  The Sacramento Police Department said it has detained the suspect who was armed with a knife near the Oak Park and Tahoe Park neighborhoods.

Great job by our officers on [the] scene. The suspect is in custody. Our officers took their time to ensure a peaceful resolution. [The] roadway will be opening back up shortly.

Around 4:45 p.m. on Friday, police took to social media to announce that a heavy police presence was on Stockton Boulevard and 2nd Avenue, adding that the area between 2nd Avenue and Y Street was closed due to the incident.

Disruptive parent forces temporary lockdown at Citrus Heights school

Police said the area should be avoided as their crisis negotiators attempted to speak with the man, who was refusing to comply.

We have him contained as of right now, police said. Trying to get this person to surrender.

Just before 7 p.m., Sacramento Police tweeted, No change at this time. Officers [are] still on scene attempting to get the armed individual to surrender.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
Pius V's victory was, Elizabeth said, to the 'benefitt of ye universall estate of Christiandome' - www.bridgemanimages.com

The Church of England celebrates the festivals of popes such as Clement, Leo the Great, and Gregory the Great. It does not, that Ive heard, venerate Pope St Pius V, Bishop of Rome 1566-72.

In 1571, with his encouragement, the Turkish fleet was defeated at the battle of Lepanto by a Holy League of Spain, Venice, the Papal States and others. The importance of Lepanto is debated today by historians; at the time, it seemed of the greatest importance.

On October 7 Pope Pius, who suffered from bladder stones and often worked while walking up and down, was despatching business in Rome with Bartolomeo Bussotti, his treasurer, when he opened the window and seemed to listen. He then exclaimed that victory had been won. The Doge of Venice confirmed the victory on October 26.

It was November 8 when news reached Queen Elizabeth I, via the Spanish Duke of Alba, of the greate victorie lately given by Gods goodness of ye Christian Army serving in the Levant Seas against the Turke. The Queen being thankfull and joyfull therefore as for a singular great blessing sent by Almighty God to ye benefitt of ye universall estate of Xpiandome, issued an order of the Privy Council for bonfires to be lit in the City of London and prayers to be said at St Pauls.

This order is all the more striking since the previous year Pius, though feeling regret that we should be forced to turn upon one whose ancestors have so well deserved of the Christian community had excommunicated Elizabeth and declared her to be deprived of her title to the crown. That fitted in with his resolute opposition to Protestantism, although he bravely defended Bartolome Carranza, the Archbishop of Toledo, surprisingly accused of Lutheran teachings.

Not that Pope Pius had ever sought an easy life. Born Antonio Ghislieri in 1504, he joined the Dominican order aged 14, taking the name Michael in religion. Having been made a bishop and in 1557 a cardinal, he offered open opposition to Pope Pius IVs plan to make his own 13-year-old nephew a cardinal.

In 1566, Ghislieri, supported by the reforming Cardinal Charles Borromeo (a nephew on his sisters side), was elected Pope, aged 62. He banned horse races in St Peters Square. He issued a papal bull against bullfights. He abolished the post of papal court jester. He banished Roman prostitutes to distant quarters. (The ethical thinking of the time concluded that to make prostitution illegal would be worse than tolerating it; but it should be relegated to parts of a city of less dignity.)

Naturally, as a Dominican, Pius was happy to promote the theology of the great 13th-century Dominican Thomas Aquinas, and he declared him the fifth Latin Doctor of the Church.

In any case, at the Council of Trent, which had ended in 1563, Thomass Summa Theologiae had been revered by being laid on the altar, alongside Holy Scripture.

In its day, the Council of Trent was an active engine of modernisation and reform. It also had a centralising tendency, imposing on the Latin Church a single form of the liturgy of the Mass (apart from immemorial liturgies such as the Ambrosian rite at Milan or the Mozarabic at Toledo).

Trent had resolved to compile a catechism of Church teaching, for the use of parish priests, and under Pius it was published, with the Council of Trent on the title page.

The remains of Pius V are venerated as relics at the basilica of St Mary Major in Rome and his saints day falls on Tuesday, April 30.

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.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  After an extensive nationwide search, the San Diego Association of Government has chosen its next chief executive officer.

SANDAG appointed Mario Orso, the current chief deputy director of the California Department of Transportation District 11, as the next person to lead the agency, it announced Friday.

Investigation into SR-125 tolling found mischarges, millions in lost revenue

According to SANDAG, Orso has more than 32 years of experience at Caltrans. He started as a junior civil engineer after earning his bachelors degree in civil engineering from San Diego State University.

Before serving as chief deputy director for Caltrans District 11, he was the project director for the South County and Trade corridors, as well as the districts first Native American liaison. He was also chosen as acting director for District 12 in Orange County.

His appointment comes after SANDAGs board of directors chose deputy CEO Coleen Clementson to take over as the new interim CEO. Clementson was chosen to fill the role in the meantime after former CEO Hasan Ikhrata announced his intention to leave SANDAG last year.

These California cities have the worst air quality in the U.S.

In November, a lawsuit was filed alleging that up to 45,000 people were incorrectly charged while driving on the SR-125 toll road in the South Bay. An investigation the following month found SANDAG lost millions in revenue due to inaccurate reporting in a general ledger and other issues.

In addition to leading more than 400 employees, Orso will also be responsible for navigating a $1.2 billion annual budget. His three-year contract begins on June 17.

Mr. Orso is dedicated to the people of this region and has demonstrated his commitment by successfully building teams, delivering major infrastructure projects, and bringing hundreds of millions of dollars to the San Diego region, said Nora Vargas, SANDAG and San Diego County supervisor chairwoman. He embodies the qualities we were searching for in a leader and I am confident we have found a CEO who will be forward thinking, collaborative, and fiscally responsible.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
SC teen weighed 47 pounds when he died. His mother is charged with his murder

The mother of a Spartanburg teen, who weighed only 47 pounds when he died, has been charged with his murder, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

Hope Rae Fish, 38, continually neglected her medically fragile childs needs with a depraved indifference to human life which resulted in his death, one affidavit read.

Robert Blake Fish, 13, died at the Spartanburg Regional Medical Center on Oct. 8, 2022. The teen had been diagnosed earlier in his life with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, a condition characterized by seizures and developmental delays.

Spartanburg County Coroner Rusty Clevenger said the cause of death  ruled as a homicide  was determined to be malnutrition and dehydration, on top of withholding seizure medication.

According to affidavits, the teens medication had not been administered for months before his death and doctors orders were not followed. He was not provided proper nutrition or basic hygiene, and at the time of his death he had lost the ability to walk. Also, the home he lived in was in deplorable condition.

On Wednesday, Hope Fish was charged with murder, inflicting great bodily injury on a child and unlawful conduct toward a child, SLED said.

Two other family members, who were caretakers, were also involved, according to affidavits. The childs uncle, Freddie Lee Fish II, 33, was charged with accessory before the fact to a violent felony and unlawfully placing a child at risk.

The childs grandfather, Freddie Lee Fish, 64, was charged with unlawfully placing a child at risk.

The three were booked at the Spartanburg County Detention Center.

The 7th Circuit Solicitors Office will prosecute the case, SLED said.
For Science's Sake

A scientist is warning against regulatory attempts to ban geoengineering, which seeks to alter the climate as global warming threatens to make the planet less habitable for us humans.

In an editorial for the MIT Tech Review, Cornell's Daniele Visioni wrote that even as researchers and governments begin studying  and sometimes conducting early-stage tests  various geoengineering prospects, which often "seed" the clouds to spur on rain, dry out the stratosphere, or reflect sunlight away from the ground below, some critics are calling to shut these experiments down.

"The growing interest in studying the potential of these tools... has triggered corresponding calls to shut down the research field, or at least to restrict it more tightly," wrote Visioni, an expert in the field. "But such rules would halt or hinder scientific exploration of technologies that could save lives and ease suffering as global warming accelerates."

As Visioni notes, politicians have already begun banning geoengineering experiments. Last year, Mexico banned geoengineering, and more recently, Tennessee's governor signed into law a bill that bars it under the pretense of so-called "chemtrails."

At the United Nations, meanwhile, a bloc of African nations called for a moratorium on geoengineering, though those talks stalled out after the United States pushed back against them.

Sky Against Sky

The researcher acknowledged that his status as an advocate for geoengineering makes him the opposite of a passive observer in this battle. But all the same, he's concerned with the precedent these kinds of bills and proposals set.

"This doesnt mean I support unilateral efforts today, or forging ahead in this space without broader societal engagement and consent," Visioni wrote. "But some of these proposed restrictions on solar geoengineering leave vague what would constitute an acceptable, 'small' test as opposed to an unacceptable 'intervention.'"

"Such vagueness is problematic," he added, "and its potential consequences would have far more reach than the well-intentioned proponents of regulation might wish for."

Consider, for instance, a scholarly submission to amend the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration's rules to require "any group proposing to conduct outdoor research on weather modification anywhere in the world" to notify the agency in advance.

In short, these sorts of proposals feel like an overreach  and regardless of how "well-intentioned" their proponents are, it could nevertheless have a chilling effect on researchers.

While there may be unforeseen risks to solar engineering, climate change is destroying our planet rapidly enough that many scientists are screaming at anyone who will listen to throw anything at the wall and see what sticks.

"If there are possible interventions that could limit that death and destruction," Visioni emphasized, "we have an obligation to evaluate them carefully, and to weigh any trade-offs with open and informed minds. "

More on geoengineering: Government Denies Dubai Flooding Was Due to Cloud-Seeding Experiments
In our top stories this week, reporter Passant Rabie explores potential projects to visit and study asteroid Apophis when it performs a close encounter with Earth in 2029. Consumer Reports reveals that about 20% of fruits and vegetables sold in the U.S. may have unsafe pesticide levels, raising concerns about whether rinsing under the tap effectively removes these residues. NASA confirmed that the Voyager 1 probe, after months of spewing gibberish, is finally making sense again, and researchers pinpoint the source of the famous Hope Diamond. - George Dvorsky

This is radar image of a near-Earth asteroid similar to Apophis. We actually know very little about what Apophis looks like, but its pending flyby in 2029 will provide scientists with an unprecedented look. - Image: NASA/JPL-CalTech

In about five years time, a potentially hazardous asteroid will swing by Earth at an eerily close distance of less than 20,000 miles (32,000 kilometers). During this rare encounter, Apophis will be ten times closer to Earth than the Moon and scientists want to take full advantage of its visit. - Passant Rabie Read More

Strawberries being washed under running water. - Image: Nataly Mayak (Shutterstock)

A recent analysis from advocacy organization Consumer Reports is the latest to highlight the potential threat of pesticides in our produce. It suggests that around 20% of commonly sold fruits and vegetables in the U.S. could contain unsafe levels of pesticides. Given that concerning news, you might be wondering how to lessen your risk of exposure. Rinsing produce under the tap is a common practice, but does it actually remove significant amounts of pesticide residue? Heres what the research suggests. - Ed Cara Read More

An artists concept of NASAs Voyager 1 spacecraft. - Illustration: NASA/JPL-Caltech

The Voyager 1 spacecraft returned usable data for the first time in more than five months, giving hope for the 46-year-old mission to finally be able to resume its normal operations. - Passant Rabie Read More

Image: Hollie Adams (Reuters)

Its not only food CEOs who need to worry about their bottom lines thanks to in-demand weight loss drugs like Ozempic. Big Tobacco and Alcohol have reason to fret, too. - Bruce Gil, Quartz Read More

The Hope Diamond in a pendant of white diamonds. - Photo: Chip Clark / Smithsonian Institution

The Hope and Koh-i-Noor diamondstwo of the most famous Golconda diamondsmay have come from southern Indias Wajrakarur Kimberlite Field, according to a team of researchers that reviewed the possible origin points of the gems. - Isaac Schultz Read More

An artists depiction of the Solar Sail System spacecraft in orbit. - Illustration: NASA/Aero Animation/Ben Schweighart

A new experimental mission by NASA is now flying in low Earth orbit, aiming to use photons from the Sun to propel its way to higher altitudes. - Passant Rabie Read More

A dairy cow. - Photo: Alberto Menendez Cervero (Shutterstock)

Food and Drug Administration officials reported this week that lab tests have found genetic material from strains of H5N1 avian influenza in samples of store-bought pasteurized milk. Officials say these samples do not appear to contain live virus and that the commercial milk supply should still be safe. But the results suggest that the virus has spread further across dairy farms than previously indicated. - Ed Cara Read More

Perseverances view of unsen Peak. - Image: NASA/JPL

Unlike its predecessor Curiosity, NASAs Perseverance rover is explicitly intended to search for potential evidence of past life, according to the official mission objectives. Its now reached a location on the Red Planet where it can truly flex its muscles as a fossil-hunting rover. - Sean McMahon, The Conversation Read More

Photo: George Dvorsky

Robotic telescopes of various shapes and sizes are hitting the market these days, each promising clear views of the cosmos and ease of useattributes not often found paired together in a single telescope. Amateur and backyard astronomers are now fully embracing this ongoing, auto-GOTO revolution, but not every manufacturer delivers on its promises. Unistellar is not one of these companies; the French firm stands out from the crowd with its recently released Odyssey and Odyssey Pro robotic telescopes. They arent perfect, but they come pretty darned close. - George Dvorsky Read More

A Falcon 9 booster stage following its landing atop the SpaceX droneship Of Course I Still Love You. - Photo: NASA

SpaceX, the world leader in rocket launches, is increasingly coming under scrutiny for its workplace practices. A recent safety review performed by Reuters highlights an upsetting trend at the aerospace company. For the second year in a row, injury rates at SpaceX far exceed the industry average. This is according to a Reuters review of 2023 safety data that the company filed to U.S. regulators, specifically the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Discouragingly, the injury rate worsened at SpaceX compared to the previous year. - George Dvorsky Read More

For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
From the beginning, the 2024 U.S. Senate race in Florida was seen as a likely matchup between Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and Democratic former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.

But before that happens, both the incumbent and Democratic favorite are going to have to get through primaries with wealthy opponents who are already taking shots.

Scott, a former Florida governor whos seeking a second term in the Senate after ousting Democratic former Sen. Bill Nelson nearly six years ago, is set to face off against two fellow Republicans in Floridas Aug. 20 primary: John Columbus and Keith Gross. Both are little-known in Florida politics, but that didnt stop them from qualifying for the ballot ahead of a crucial Friday deadline.

Scott opponent has deep pockets

Gross, a lawyer and businessman, has sought to cast Scott as a Republican in name only  or RINO  while billing himself as a political outsider. His campaign has been overwhelmingly self-financed; Gross latest federal filings show that while he raked in nearly $544,000 for his Senate bid in the first quarter, all but $7,800 of it came from his own pocketbook.

Still, he said that he had been rallying voters across the state, arguing that his campaign poses a genuine threat to Scotts reelection odds.

If you think Im being overlooked, Id encourage you to come out to the dozens of small towns across the state where Ive drawn crowds of several hundred patriotic conservatives, Gross wrote in a message to the Miami Herald. Our movement is here to stay, and RINO Rick has been put on notice.

Biden support for Mucarsel-Powell

On the Democratic side, Mucarsel-Powell is the overwhelming favorite to capture her partys nomination in August. Shes raised more money than any of her primary rivals, and already has the backing of some of both Florida and Washingtons most-prominent Democrats, including President Joe Biden, who threw his support behind her this week during a campaign stop in Florida.

Debbies running against Rick Scott, who wants to sunset Social Security. I think that voters are going to sunset Rick Scott, Biden told a crowd in Tampa on Tuesday. At one point, he referred to her as our next U.S. senator.

Standing just feet away from Biden as he heaped praise on Mucarsel-Powell was Stanley Campbell, a Miami native and prominent Florida businessman, who is one of several Democrats also vying for the partys Senate nod.

Wants Washington to stay out of race

In an interview with the Herald on Friday, Campbell slammed party leaders for trying to coronate Mucarsel-Powell as the nominee. He said that he  and several other Democrats who will appear on the August primary ballot  are owed a chance to compete for the nomination on a level playing field.

I dont deserve even just a chance to run? A chance to tell Florida my story? That is absolutely asinine, Campbell said. All I ask Washington to do is to stay out of the race and let us adjudicate it.

Campbell said that his background  as a U.S. Navy pilot, computer programmer and businessman  gave him the gravitas the tackle the countrys most pressing concerns, like a resurgent Russia, the rise of artificial intelligence and inequities in healthcare access.

My expertise would be unique and qualifying and differentiating in the Senate, he said. And theyre big. Theyre huge.

Campbells campaign had nearly $772,000 in the bank at the end of March, according to his most recent federal filings, and has pulled in roughly $1.05 million for his Senate bid since he announced his candidacy last year. Most of that money  $1 million  came from Campbell himself.

Still, neither Scott nor Mucarsel-Powell are treating their primary rivals as much of a threat.

Scott, an incredibly wealthy former businessman who has a propensity for writing large checks to his own campaigns, has spent $700,000 a week for the past month to run ads in Florida courting Hispanic voters. Mucarsel-Powell, meanwhile, raised more than $3.5 million in the first three months of the year, outpacing all of her competitors.

Gearing up for November elections

Despite having primaries awaiting them in August, both Scotts and Mucarsel-Powells campaigns already appear geared toward a general election audience. In a statement, Scotts campaign said that the senator is working hand-in-hand with former President Donald Trump to boost Republicans in the November elections.

Senator Scott is working hard every day to earn the vote of every Floridian, said Will Hampson, a spokesperson for Scotts campaign. He is traveling the state and has already campaigned in more than 70% of counties and will hit all 67 before the primary. Our campaign has rolled out a multi-million-dollar Hispanic ad buy to ensure our message reaches voters across the state. Senator Scott continues to be one of the strongest voices fighting against Washingtons waste and leads the fight against the Democrats socialist agenda every day.

Mucarsel-Powells campaign manager Ben Waldon said that the former congresswoman is working hard to earn the support of Florida voters and isnt taking the Democratic nomination for granted. But he also said that it would be a mistake to wait until after the August primary to begin making the case against Scott.

Debbie takes the opportunity to earn her partys nomination very seriously, and she also knows that we cant wait until August to start holding Rick Scott accountable, Waldon said in a statement. Another 6 years of Rick Scott would be devastating for Florida families  thats why shes focused on traveling the state and building a strong grassroots movement of Floridians ready to defeat him in November.
Second suspect arrested in slaying of teen Jack in the Box employee

Second suspect arrested in slaying of teen Jack in the Box employee

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A second suspect has been arrested in connection to the deadly shooting of a fast-food worker in Charlotte.

According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police, a 16-year-old juvenile was charged Friday, April 26, for their role in this case. On March 29, officers found a 17-year-old Jack in the Box employee dead after being shot multiple times at the restaurant at the intersection of Hoskins Road and Brookshire Boulevard.

6 injured in multi-vehicle crash involving school bus in Mint Hill: Medic

The first suspect, 28-year-old Marcus Dahn, was arrested the next day on murder charges.

On Friday, CMPD detectives were granted a secure custody order for murder. With the assistance of the Rock Hill Police Department, the 16-year-old suspect was located in Rock Hill, and taken into custody. The juvenile is awaiting extradition back to Mecklenburg County.

Surveillance footage shows one of the suspects wanted in connection to the Jack in the Box deadly shooting.

The victims next of kin has been notified of the arrest.

Dahn was denied bond, court records show.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Three Muslims from Tunisia were detained this month in Italy for beating and robbing a Christian convert from Islam because he attended a church, according to a watchdog group.

The Public Prosecutors Office at the Court of Perugia on April 13 issued the pre-trial detention orders based on aggravating circumstance of religious discrimination for the attack that took place on Nov. 12, according to the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe (OIDACE).

The unidentified, 28-year-old victim reportedly told officials that, on an evening walk with a friend in the Ponte San Giovanni District of Perugia, the Muslims accused him of frequenting the church of Christians and then threatened, beat and kicked him. The Christian broke free and escaped after the assailants tore a necklace from him.

The General Investigations and Special Operations Division confirmed the religious motive behind the attack, which noted that he had converted to Christianity in the past few months and attended a local Catholic church. His participation in Christian celebrations angered some Muslim Tunisians in the country, according to the division.

Italian news site ANSA reported a hospital source saying at that time that the injuries would take a month to heal. The victim, a legal immigrant, complained to the police after receiving hospital treatment.

Stay informed with The Christian Daily Newsletter Sign up

The three Muslims were reportedly remanded to custody because of the seriousness of the alleged offenses, previous police records and the risk factor of further attacks.

The suspects remain under investigation for issuing threats, personal injury and robbery committed with the aggravating circumstance of religious discrimination, according to the OIDACE.

Two of the original assailants allegedly approached the Christian in a shop within the same neighborhood just five days later, Nov. 17. They demanded that he withdraw the police complaint and stop attending the Catholic church.

A Wider Problem

Anja Hoffmann, OIDACE executive director, said that apostasy is punishable by death under sharia (Islamic law).

Converts in parts of Muslim communities in Europe face widespread rejection and hostility, she said.



Converts with a Muslim background are, therefore, the group of Christians most likely to experience verbal aggression and even physical violence in Europe, Hoffmann told Christian Daily International. This problem has become particularly visible during the refugee crisis, leading to human rights organizations and politicians across Europe to call for measures, including separate housing, due to reports of discrimination and violent aggressions against Christian converts in asylum shelters.

Countries with high migration rates such as Italy are especially affected by these issues, Hoffmann said.

These incidents call for a firm commitment of politicians and religious leaders to safeguarding the right to freedom of religion for all, including the right to change ones religion, as enshrined in international human rights law, she said.

A Reuters report on Oct. 20 found that sea migrant arrivals to Italy had doubled from 2022 to 2023, with 140,000 migrants arriving. Of these arrivals, some 91 percent of the migrants arriving on Italian shores came from Tunisia.

Tunisia ranked No. 33 on Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. A 2022 report on constitutional changes in the country said Tunisian Christians experience high pressure in every area of life.

This is particularly true for believers whove converted from Islam, because they could face severe levels of community and familial pressure, the report added.

Converts from Islam remain the most vulnerable Christian group in Europe generally, according to OIDACE.

The European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) published a report in July 2022 on the issue. Entitled, The Persecution of Ex-Muslims Christians in France and in Europe, the ECLJ called for counseling assistance to be given to Muslims wanting to change their religion in Europe.

Dedicated hotlines and emergency relocation services are also needed, the ECLJ noted.

For all European countrieswe found that almost all the associations that deal with persecuted Christians on other continents are little or not at all concerned with persecuted Christians in Europe, the report stated. It is certain that the situation for an ex-Muslim who became a Christian is much more difficult in Pakistan or Nigeria. Yet, the situation is becoming really worrying in Europe, and awareness has to be raised in the world of associations for the defense of Christians.

The ECLJ also highlighted difficulties of converts being unwelcome in some Christian communities.

There is a great sadness and incomprehension among converts that they are not better welcomed by the religious communities they join, the report stated. Whether among Catholics or Protestants, the quality of the reception of a convert from Islam varies according to whether the pastor or priest is informed and sensible to the situation of converts from Muslim backgrounds.
Robust revenue growth with a significant increase from $892.6 million to $1,096.5 million year-over-year.

Strong operational performance with operating income more than doubling to $225.2 million.

Net income surge, showcasing a healthy rise from $101.7 million to $192.3 million.

Strategic focus on building envelope solutions aligning with energy efficiency and sustainability trends.

Carlisle Companies Inc (NYSE:CSL), a prominent player in the building industry, recently released its 10-Q filing on April 26, 2024, revealing a robust financial performance. The company's revenues soared to $1,096.5 million, up from $892.6 million in the previous year, indicating a strong market demand for its single-ply roofing products and warranted systems. Operating income more than doubled to $225.2 million, reflecting operational efficiency and effective cost management. Net income also saw a significant uptick, rising from $101.7 million to $192.3 million. These financial highlights underscore CSL's solid market position and its strategic focus on providing energy-efficient and sustainable building envelope solutions.

Decoding Carlisle Companies Inc (CSL): A Strategic SWOT Insight

Strengths

Market Leadership and Brand Reputation: Carlisle Companies Inc (NYSE:CSL) has established itself as a leader in the commercial building industry, particularly in single-ply roofing products and systems. The company's strong brand reputation is built on a history of delivering high-quality, innovative products that meet the evolving needs of the market. This strength is evidenced by the impressive revenue growth reported in the recent 10-Q filing, where revenues increased by over 22% year-over-year. CSL's market leadership is further reinforced by its significant operating income growth, which more than doubled from the previous year, indicating effective cost management and operational excellence.

Financial Health and Profitability: CSL's financial health is a key strength, as demonstrated by its solid balance sheet and profitability metrics. The company's net income surged to $192.3 million, up from $101.7 million in the prior year, showcasing its ability to translate top-line growth into bottom-line results. This financial robustness provides CSL with the flexibility to invest in research and development, as well as strategic acquisitions, to maintain its competitive edge and drive future growth.

Weaknesses

Dependence on U.S. Market: While CSL has a strong presence in the United States, generating more than half of its total revenue domestically, this concentration poses a risk of over-reliance on a single market. Economic downturns, regulatory changes, or shifts in the construction industry within the U.S. could disproportionately impact CSL's financial performance. Diversifying its geographic footprint could mitigate this risk and provide more stable revenue streams.

Story continues

Research and Development Expenditures: The company's investment in research and development, while necessary for innovation and maintaining a competitive advantage, is relatively modest at $9.2 million. This figure represents a small fraction of total revenues and may limit CSL's ability to keep pace with technological advancements and emerging trends in the building materials industry. Increasing R&D investments could be crucial for sustaining long-term growth and product differentiation.

Opportunities

Expansion into New Markets: CSL has the opportunity to expand its global footprint and reduce its dependence on the U.S. market. By entering new geographic regions and diversifying its customer base, CSL can tap into growing construction markets around the world, potentially driving additional revenue streams and spreading operational risk.

Sustainability and Energy Efficiency Trends: The increasing focus on sustainability and energy efficiency in the construction industry presents a significant opportunity for CSL. The company's expertise in producing energy-efficient roofing systems and building envelope solutions positions it well to capitalize on these trends. By continuing to innovate and align its product offerings with these market demands, CSL can strengthen its market position and attract environmentally conscious customers.

Threats

Competitive Pressure: The building materials industry is highly competitive, with numerous players vying for market share. CSL faces the threat of competition from both established companies and new entrants that may offer similar or more advanced products at competitive prices. To maintain its competitive advantage, CSL must continue to invest in product innovation, quality, and customer service.

Economic Cycles and Construction Activity: The construction industry is cyclical and sensitive to economic fluctuations. A downturn in the economy can lead to reduced construction activity, impacting demand for CSL's products. While the company's current financial performance is strong, it must remain vigilant and prepared to navigate potential economic headwinds that could affect its business operations.

In conclusion, Carlisle Companies Inc (NYSE:CSL) exhibits a strong financial and strategic position, with robust revenue growth, market leadership, and a focus on sustainability and energy efficiency. However, the company must address its weaknesses, such as its dependence on the U.S. market and modest R&D investments, to sustain its competitive edge. Opportunities for global expansion and leveraging industry trends can drive future growth, while threats from competition and economic cycles require strategic vigilance. Overall, CSL's SWOT analysis reveals a company well-positioned for continued success in the building industry, with strategic initiatives in place to capitalize on its strengths and address its challenges.

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.


LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Law enforcement agencies across the valley, along with the U.S. Secret Service, seized skimming devices from ATMs and point-of-sale machines across the Las Vegas valley as part of a two-day operation.

The U.S. Secret Service said they have seen a large increase in skimming crimes in the last 18 months across the country. The devices are used to steal a persons financial information, including their money to fund criminal activity or to be sent overseas.

Law enforcement agencies across the valley, along with the U.S. Secret Service, seized skimming devices from ATMs and point-of-sale machines across the Las Vegas valley as part of a two-day operation. (Brian Will)

The skimming devices are inserted into the device where you would insert or swipe your card or glued on top of point-of-sale devices. In addition, these thieves will stick pin-hole cameras onto the plastic coverings of an ATM.

Officers from Las Vegas Metro police and Clark County School District police, and Secret Service agents, visited 1,150 businesses and checked 11,600 ATMs and gas pumps, officials announced Friday. They uncovered 18 skimming devices.

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Law enforcement agencies across the valley, along with the U.S. Secret Service, seized skimming devices from ATMs and point-of-sale machines across the Las Vegas valley as part of a two-day operation. (KLAS)

Debit and EBT cards are the biggest targets of these thieves with EBT information stolen and used to take money from the most vulnerable, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Karon Ransom said.

The coalition worked together to find skimming devices and distribute education materials to help businesses identify skimming devices on their ATMs and point of sale terminals, Ransom said.

No suspects were arrested but an investigation into where the skimmers came from is ongoing.

The best way to protect yourself is to check card readers for any loose pieces or damage and use your ATM card as a credit card if possible.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
See inside Marine One, the soundproof presidential helicopter that can seat 14 people and deploy anti-missile defenses

Marine One departs the South Lawn of the White House. Official White House Photo by Carlos Fyfe

Presidents travel in helicopters that are called Marine One when carrying the president.

The aircraft feature extensive security measures and spacious, soundproof interiors.

Marine One often picks up the president from the South Lawn of the White House for shorter trips.

US presidents travel in style with secure, state-of-the-art vehicles such as Air Force One and the bulletproof presidential limousine known as "The Beast."

Marine One, the presidential helicopter, is another such mode of transportation. With spacious, soundproof interiors, advanced defense systems, and a landing zone on the White House lawn, the white-topped helicopters are often the most convenient way for presidents to get from place to place.

Take a look inside the Marine One models used by modern presidents.

Similar to Air Force One, any Marine Corps aircraft carrying the president of the United States uses the call sign Marine One.

Marine One lands at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz

President Dwight Eisenhower was the first president to fly in a helicopter in an official capacity in 1957, according to the US Naval Institute.

The helicopter is equipped with extensive security measures.

President Joe Biden boards Marine One in Seoul, South Korea. Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz

Marine One features antimissile countermeasures, ballistic armor, secure communication lines, and radar-jamming technology.

In case of a crash, it also has self-sealing fuel tanks and energy-absorbing landing gear to help prevent fires and extensive damage.

The president always flies with at least one other decoy Marine One as additional protection.

Marine One carrying President Joe Biden and a decoy helicopter lift off from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. JULIA NIKHINSON/AFP via Getty Images

There can be up to five Marine One helicopters flying at one time to obscure the president's exact location, according to the George W. Bush Presidential Library. The helicopters also frequently change positions after takeoff to make it harder to determine which one the president is on.

Marine One travels abroad with the president, as well.

President Joe Biden greets the pilots of Marine One. Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz

Military cargo aircraft transport Marine One helicopters abroad and remain on standby at local airports in case of emergency during foreign visits, according to the US Naval Institute.

Marine One can fit between 11 and 14 passengers, depending on the model.

President Barack Obama meets with staffers aboard Marine One. Official White House photo by Pete Souza

A Black Hawk model called the VH-60N White Hawk can fit 11 passengers, and the Sikorsky VH-3D Sea King helicopters can fit 14, according to the George W. Bush Presidential Library. Both are used as presidential transports.

Presidents often meet with staffers aboard Marine One.

President Barack Obama talks with Chief of Staff Bill Daley, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, and National Security Advisor Tom Donilon aboard Marine One. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

The helicopter is so soundproof that passengers can speak at a normal volume.

Marine One also includes perks like 200 square feet of interior space and a bathroom.

It's also used to transport the president for shorter trips to places like Camp David and Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to board Air Force One.

The South Portico of the White House is seen from aboard Marine One as it approaches the South Lawn. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Flying across Washington, DC, in a helicopter is more efficient than snarling traffic in a presidential motorcade.

Marine One picks the president up on the South Lawn of the White House.

Marine One, carrying President Donald J. Trump, lifts off from the South Lawn of the White House. Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian

Two newer Sikorsky VH-92A Patriot models built by Lockheed Martin debuted in 2021 with the goal of eventually replacing the older Marine One helicopters. Each new aircraft cost $218 million, CT Insider reported.

Bloomberg reported that the new Sikorsky helicopters are no longer in regular use because the engines kept burning the White House lawn.

Upon boarding and landing, the president is greeted by Marines wearing the Marine Blue Dress uniform.

President Donald Trump boards Marine One. Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead

President Barack Obama sparked controversy in 2013 when he seemingly forgot to return a Marine's salute and doubled back to shake his hand while boarding Marine One, NPR reported.

However, while Army personnel in uniform are required to salute the president, the president doesn't have to return the gesture. The New York Times reported that President Ronald Reagan was the first president to start returning soldiers' salutes in 1981.

The aircraft is stocked with water bottles and snacks including boxes of presidential M&Ms.

President Barack Obama reads a morning newspaper aboard Marine One. Official White House photo by Pete Souza

The president's seat is the only forward-facing captain's chair on the aircraft aside from the seats occupied by the pilot and copilot, The Points Guy reported.

After his first ride in Marine One in 2009, Obama said that the helicopter was "very smooth" and "very impressive."

"You go right over the Washington Monument and then, you know, kind of curve in by the Capitol," he said. "It was spectacular."

Read the original article on Business Insider
AUSTIN (Nexstar)  Sen. John Cornyn is running to lead his party in the U.S. Senate come November, and hes hoping his new title will be Senate Majority Leader.

Current Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced in February he is stepping down from the job after an 18-year reign. Cornyn, a right-hand man to McConnell, was the first to publicize his bid for the position.

Ive been in the Senate a long time now, and Ive seen the Senate work well, Cornyn said in an interview with KXAN. Id like to see the Senate back working again.

He faces current minority whip John Thune (R-SD) and Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), who has held the No. 3 spot since 2019, but recently opted for party whip.

These leadership races are very unusual, because its all the members, Republican members, in the Senate, Cornyn said. We hope that after this next election, therell be more of us, and well be in the majority.

Cornyn laid out his goals for the Senate in his initial statement. We will improve communication, increase transparency and ensure inclusion of every members expertise and opinion, it reads. There will be no more backroom deals or forced votes on bills without adequate time for review, debate, and amendment.

Cornyn recently led the way in gaining Republican support for a multi-billion dollar aid package to Ukraine, Taiwan, Gaza and Israel. History does have a tendency to repeat itself, the senator said. Its in our national interest to do this. Cornyn also voiced support for the CHIPS act, which brought a $40 billion Samsung investment to Central Texas.

I knew that Texas was the place to do this one, he said. Thats going to create a lot of new jobs and opportunities, but also demands on our educational institutions to produce the educated workforce to be able to fill those good, well paying jobs.

As for his colleague Sen. Ted Cruz, who voted against both CHIPS and the aid package, Cornyn gave his full support for reelection.

I know theres going to be an incredible amount of money coming from out of state to try to defeat him, Cornyn said. Im doing everything I can to be helpful to him and I am pretty confident hes going to be successful.

Cornyn insists his main objective is to bring the Republican party together.

After these primaries are over, lets get unified because the big contest is going to be in November, he said. I think its a truism that when Republicans, or any political party are divided, the main people that benefit from it is your opposition party.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
The Arkansas State Capitol. (Dwain Hebda/Arkansas Advocate)

Arkansas 2024 fiscal session, which was initially projected to end this week, is now expected to end May 2 or possibly the following week, House Speaker Matthew Shepherd said Thursday.

During the final days of the session, the Legislature will pass the fiscal year 2025 budget, also known as the Revenue Stabilization Act. The Joint Budget Committee started considering the legislation Thursday morning.

The documents on lawmakers desks are similar to what Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders proposed in March for the $6.3 billion general revenue budget, with a projected surplus of nearly $377 million. The proposed 1.76% increase of $109 million compared to the current fiscal year would be a significantly smaller increase than previous years budgets.

As of Friday afternoon, Sanders has signed 116 appropriations bills, giving state-funded institutions the authority to spend the money they will receive in the budget.

1) A range of proposed amendments

Lawmakers tried to tack amendments onto several appropriations bills that came before the Joint Budget Committee this week. Some passed and others failed; some generated debate regardless of the outcome.

On April 18, the Joint Budget Committee rejected a proposal to divert $500,000 from the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement to start a midwifery education program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

Rep. Mary Bentley (R-Perryville)

Rep. Mary Bentley, R-Perryville

The committee took up the amendment to UAMS appropriation bill again Tuesday. This time, it passed despite bipartisan opposition; Republican Sen. Jimmy Hickey of Texarkana joined Democratic lawmakers in voting no.

Rep. Mary Bentley, R-Perryville, proposed the amendment and said adding certified nurse midwives to Arkansas healthcare workforce could help improve the states maternal health outcomes.

State agencies and the Bureau of Legislative Research rely on ACHI as a data hub. The organizations data collection has shown that Arkansas has the nations highest maternal and infant mortality rates.

Lawmakers who opposed the amendment said they supported midwifery education and other maternal healthcare initiatives but believed cutting 7% of ACHIs $7 million budget wasnt the right way to achieve this goal.

Rep. Denise Garner, a Fayetteville Democrat and retired nurse, pointed out that the Joint Budget Committee approved another appropriations bill Tuesday that would grant up to $2 million to non-healthcare entities: pregnancy resource centers, which are often religiously affiliated and discourage abortion while encouraging birth.

Garner voted against the bill in committee and again Thursday on the House floor. The bill, which doubles an existing grant fund, is now on Sanders desk.

Bentley insisted the amendment was not retaliatory against ACHI after she and Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro, both said the state Department of Health disputed the organizations research that led it to recommend protective measures against COVID-19.

Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro (John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate)

Sullivan has also been critical of Arkansas PBS, and he presented an amendment Thursday that would have cut the public television networks spending authority for its private funds by 20%. The amendment failed after a bipartisan group of lawmakers voted against it.

Sullivan claimed the appropriations cut was warranted after a 2022 audit found questionable spending practices at Arkansas PBS. Sen. Linda Chesterfield, D-Little Rock, said she did not expect the Legislature to ever consider the same approach to other agencies in light of negative audit findings.

Chesterfield mentioned that state officials have been debating lately which government entities count as agencies. Attorney General Tim Griffins office declared earlier this month that certain state purchasing laws do not consider the governors office a state agency.

Griffins opinion came days before the April 15 release of an audit report that found potential violations of several laws in the $19,000 purchase of a lectern by Sanders office last year. The report asserted the governors office is in fact a state agency.

Rep. Julie Mayberry, R-Hensley, proposed adding language to a Department of Transformation and Shared Services appropriation bill to clarify the issue. The measure failed in committee after no one made a motion to approve it.

Hickey, who requested the audit of the lectern purchase, said he initially supported Mayberrys amendment but had changed his mind.

Mayberry said she hopes the Legislature will take up the issue in the 2025 regular session.

2) Crypto regulations and state employee compensation

Proposed regulations on cryptocurrency mines  the most talked-about non-budgetary topic of the fiscal session  passed the Senate on Wednesday and will be considered by a House committee Tuesday.

Act 851 of 2023, or the Arkansas Data Centers Act, limited local governments ability to regulate crypto mines. Sen. Joshua Bryant, R-Rogers, sponsored Act 851 and is now sponsoring a bill that would place noise limits on crypto mines, prohibit them from being owned by certain foreign entities and allow local governments to pass ordinances regulating the mines.

Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest (Arkansas Legislature)

Crypto mines now operate in Arkansas and Faulkner counties. Sen. Missy Irvin, R-Mountain View, represents part of Faulkner County and is sponsoring another crypto regulations bill that passed with no dissent.

Irvins bill would require crypto mines to be licensed by the state Oil and Gas Commission. Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest, said he had qualms about the bill but supported creating government oversight of crypto mines.

King voted against Bryants bill, along with Democratic Sens. Greg Leding of Fayetteville and Stephanie Flowers of Pine Bluff.

Both King and Flowers said the growth of the crypto industry in Arkansas doesnt smell right and advocated for a special session this year to consider more crypto regulations.

Sen. Stephanie Flowers, D-Pine Bluff

Flowers represents part of Arkansas County and said her constituents have expressed concerns about the local crypto mine. An out-of-state entity has tried to start another mine near Harrison, which is in Kings district.

Besides the crypto bills, the only other piece of non-budgetary legislation in the fiscal session is a proposal to increase all state employees pay by up to 3% and increase the maximum salary of all current pay grades by 10%.

The amended bill would also create special compensation awards for those who complete special projects beyond the scope of their typical responsibilities. It passed the Joint Budget Committee on Tuesday and will be considered by the Senate.

3) Refugees in Arkansas

On Thursday, Joint Budget Committee members started and promised to continue discussing the states involvement in a federal refugee resettlement program.

Canopy Northwest Arkansas is set to receive a $272,846 appropriation within the Department of Human Services Division of County Operations. Lawmakers didnt amend the appropriation, but Rep. Ryan Rose, R-Van Buren, said the Legislature should not send more money to Canopy NWA after its contract with DHS ends.

Rose told the Advocate that Canopy NWAs work to resettle hundreds of refugees has raised questions about potential strains on resources, infrastructure and social services in our state.

Additionally, there are concerns about the ideological alignment of organizations like Canopy NWA with the values and priorities of our communities, he said.

Division of County Operations Director Mary 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.

SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE

The post SESSION SNAPSHOT: Arkansas lawmakers propose amendments as passage of fiscal 2025 budget nears appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Severe spring storms put 21 million under threat of possible tornadoes and hail

Severe spring storms will bring heavy rain and thunder to the Plains and into the Mississippi Valley this weekend  including possible powerful tornadoes, large hail and flooding.

On Friday, 21 million people are at risk for severe storms stretching from northern Iowa to northeast Texas with the main threats including hail up to 4 inches in diameter and a couple of possible strong tornadoes in Kansas City, Missouri, and Omaha, Nebraska.

Tornadoes were reported but unconfirmed in Texas and Nebraska on Friday as the National Weather Service issued a rare "tornado emergency" statement for the area of Blair, Nebraska, a small city about 26 miles north of Omaha.

tornado aftermath damage debris (Lancaster County Sheriff's Department)

The emergency also applied to the city of Missouri Valley, Iowa, and nearby parts of Iowa along the Nebraska border. The service describes tornado emergency statements as "exceedingly rare" and says they're reserved for tornadoes confirmed by reliable sources or manifested via radar data and imagery.

The area covered by the statement faces "a severe threat to human life and catastrophic damage from an imminent or ongoing tornado," the service said on its online glossary.

The National Weather Service office in Valley, Nebraska, was unable to confirm reports of multiple tornadoes that appeared to touch down north of Omaha as it focused on handling a wave of incoming reports. Multiple social media videos verified by NBC News appeared to show tornadoes in the air and near or on the ground in or near Lincoln, Waverly, and Elba.

Nearly 16 million people were also under tornado watches that extended from central Texas to the top of Nebraska, but by late Friday night that number was reduced to about 1.3 million, according to the weather service.

Earlier in the day, Tornado warnings, which alert residents to imminent danger and urge them to take cover, were in effect for parts of eastern Kansas and eastern Nebraska as a line of thunderstorms battered the region.

Police and fire officials in Omaha said two people sustained minor injuries when a tornado touched down in the northwest area of the city.

"It appears that many houses are flattened and many houses also have significant damage," Omaha Fire Department Chief Kathy Bossman said at an early evening news conference.

Crews would starting searching the area for any potential injured residents tonight, she said. However, the area has homes under construction, Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said, and may have been empty.

The city is experiencing power outages, gas leaks, and utility poles and tree limbs down in roadways, the fire chief said. Nearly 7,000 utility customers were without power in Nebraska, according to utility tracker PowerOutage.us. In neighboring Iowa, that figure was more than 15,000.

Schmaderer credited early warnings from the National Weather Service and others for the low number of injured people so far. "Warning systems were highly effective," he said.

In the area of Lincoln, a 115,00-square-foot facility that produces injection-molded parts used in manufacturing, was flattened by a reported tornado, the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office said in statements Friday afternoon.

Three people who were at the Garner Industries facility had non-life-threatening injuries, the office said. Nearly 70 others, some initially trapped, were able to exit the facility unharmed, the sheriff's office said.

The company's listing on Google says it's "temporarily closed." A representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

tornado aftermath damage (Lancaster County Sheriff's Department)

The public school district in Lincoln warned parents planning to pick up their children Friday afternoon that students would be ordered to shelter on campus and unavailable temporarily if the area comes under a tornado warning.

Omaha's Eppley Airfield said would-be travelers were being moved to storm shelters as the storm caused flight delays.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Pottawattamie County, where a tornado reportedly struck the town of Minden, according to NBC affiliate WOWT of Omaha. The proclamation allows affected residents to apply for disaster relief.

Homes were damaged and two people suffered minor injuries when a tornado appeared to strike near Abbott, Texas, on Friday, the city's volunteer fire department chief, Doreen Strickland, said.

The injuries occurred when a semi-truck was blown off Interstate 35, Strickland said.

The tornado did in fact lay it over on its side, and were waiting for equipment to get it back on its wheels," the chief said.

In Oklahoma, Altus Air Force Base prepared overnight by moving aircraft from the 97th Air Mobility Wing to the Sacramento McClellan Airport in McClellan Park, California, according to a statement.

The most intense storms are expected midafternoon to early evening, and some storms may continue overnight, affecting major cities of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Kansas City, Missouri; Omaha; and Des Moines, Iowa.

The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center had already issued an enhanced risk warning of severe thunderstorms for portions of eastern Nebraska, northeastern Kansas, northwestern Missouri and southwestern Iowa on Friday.

Friday night into Saturday, the system will move farther into the Plains, and heavy snow will develop in the Rockies.

Saturday is forecast to be the most volatile day of the outbreak, with 33 million people at risk from the storms across a large area from southern Texas to northern Michigan.

The main threats Saturday again include very large hail and numerous tornadoes, some of which could be strong and travel long distances  from Ames, Iowa, down to Wichita Falls, Texas.

Come Sunday, relentless storms continue over the Plains, and 20 million people from St. Louis to Dallas could see hazardous storms, though less severe than Saturday's weather.

Theres an increased risk for flash flooding especially across eastern Oklahoma, where downpours could produce over 6 inches of rainfall through Sunday.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
WESTLAKE, Ohio (WJW)  An encounter earlier this month between a woman with her toddler and a 61-year-old man at a Westlake park led to a felony arrest warrant for the man, after Westlake police learned he was a formerly registered sex offender, according to a report.

A resident who recognized the man from an online sex offender database called Westlake police at about 10 a.m. on April 13 to report the 61-year-old Westlake man, later identified as Tao Huang, was getting very friendly' with a woman and her toddler at Bradley Woods Reservation along Bradley Road, according to a Westlake police report.

Missing teens body found dismembered, man she met online charged

This embedded content is not available in your region.

The caller spoke with the woman, who then called police herself and said the man had been playing with her toddler. Huang, who she said she only knew as Tao, called himself a teacher in body language, reads the report.

A Westlake police dispatcher dug through old records and databases and identified the suspect as 61-year-old Huang who was previously registered as a Tier I sex offender, but whose requirement to register as a sex offender had just recently expired.

In Ohio, Tier I sex offenders are required to register with local authorities each year for 15 years, and there is no requirement for their neighbors or the community to be notified. By contrast, Tier III sex offenders  who have been convicted of the most serious sex offenses  must register every six months for the rest of their lives.

Workers injured by scaffolding collapse in Rocky River

Cleveland Metroparks Police detectives obtained felony warrants on charges of gross sexual imposition and Westlake officers arrested the Huang at his home, according to the report. He was turned over to Metroparks police.

Police Chief Kevin Bielozer wrote a letter of commendation to the dispatcher:

Your instinct to act in defense of our most vulnerable population was the critical step in identifying the offender and facilitating his arrest, reads the letter. You should take particular pride in knowing that your work has directly led to the removal of the worst type of criminal from our community before he could victimize another child.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Shasta County to use outside counsel in lawsuit filed by supervisor election loser

An outside law firm will represent Shasta County in a lawsuit against its registrar of voters and the winner of the District 2 supervisor race.

Supervisors voted 4-0 Tuesday in closed session to use outside counsel. Supervisor Mary Rickert was not in attendance.

On Thursday, Supervisor Tim Garman told the Record Searchlight that the decision to retain outside counsel in the election lawsuit just needed to be that way with this particular item. He declined to elaborate.

Laura Hobbs, who came in second by a large margin in the District 2 supervisor election, claims in her lawsuit that there were numerous errors in tabulating the votes, with some of them intentional.

Hobbs has repeated those claims at supervisors meetings and Shasta County Election Commission meetings.

District 2 supervisor candidate Laura Hobbs addresses the board at the Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, meeting.

She is just a sore loser. Theres been no proven fraud that they have tried to find, but this is a way to keep it going, Garman said to the Record Searchlight.

In the lawsuit, which was filed in Shasta County Superior Court in early April  a month after the March 5 primary  Hobbs asks a judge to find moot the nomination of Allen Long as winner of the election.

Shasta County Clerk and Registrar of Voters Cathy Darling Allen prepares to speak before the Shasta County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022.

She names Long and Registrar of Voters Cathy Darling Allen as defendants.

Hobbs has at least one outspoken ally on the board.

District 4 Supervisor Patrick Jones during Tuesdays meeting echoed Hobbs skepticism about the election results. Jones lost his bid for re-election on March 5 to challenger Matt Plummer by 20 percentage points.

Allen Long

Hobbs lawsuit also was brought up at the April 22 Shasta County Elections Commission meeting as she was allowed to give a presentation over her findings in the March 5 primary.

On Tuesday, Jones called Hobbs presentation eye-opening and an example of why he appreciates having the elections advisory group. Jones attended the elections commission meeting.

He said that Hobbs found the same discrepancies that we saw in (the) 2022 (election).

There has been no verifiable evidence of massive fraud in the 2022 June primary or November general election.

District 4 Supervisor Patrick Jones addresses the Shasta County Citizens Election Advisory Committee on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023.

Given his endorsement of Hobbs findings, Jones was asked by the Record Searchlight if he would recuse himself before supervisors went into closed session on Tuesday to discuss the lawsuit. He said he does not have a financial stake in the matter, so he would not.

More: KQMS radio says Secretary of State investigating election ad that ran days before primary

Jones also is appointing Patty Plumb to replace Bev Gray  who he originally appointed  on the election commission. Gray has resigned. Plumbs recommended appointment is on the April 30 supervisors meeting agenda.

Both Plumb and Gray are advocates of Hobbs.

Plum has acted as Hobbs spokeswoman for the lawsuit.

As a declarant in the lawsuit, Gray supports Hobbs litigation against the county.

Meanwhile, Dawn Duckett  who also resigned from the Shasta County Election Commission  told Jones during public comment at Tuesdays board meeting that the voters have spoken loud and clear and they are tired of the false claims of fraudulent or rigged elections.

We are tired of the elections commission, we are tired of Laura Hobbs and we are tired of you, Supervisor Jones, Duckett said.

David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. Hes part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on X, formerly Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Shasta County will use outside law firm in March 5 election lawsuit
CASTLEWOOD, Va. (WJHL)  A man is dead following a shooting in Castlewood, Virginia on Friday night, Russell County Sheriff Bill Watson said.

According to Watson, the alleged shooting took place on North Mill Hollow Road in the Castlewood area following an altercation.

Watson said the male victim has died and a shooter was located, but no charges have yet been filed. Watson said the shooting is under investigation and the Virginia State Police is assisting.

This is a developing story.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
Ships with an aim to sail from Turkey to Gaza with humanitarian aid have been denied the right to sail, according to The Associated Press.

On Thursday afternoon, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition was contacted by the Guinea Bissau International Ships Registry (GBISR), requesting an inspection of our lead ship  Akdenez, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the group behind the ships, said in a Saturday press release.

This was a highly unusual request as our ship had already passed all required inspections; nevertheless, we agreed, the release continues. The inspector arrived on Thursday evening. On Friday afternoon, before the inspection was completed, the GBISR, in a blatantly political move, informed the Freedom Flotilla Coalition that it had withdrawn the Guinea Bissau flag from two of the Freedom Flotillas ships, one of which is our cargo ship, already loaded with over 5000 tons of life-saving aid for the Palestinians of Gaza.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition also said in the release that without a flag, we cannot sail and accused Guinea-Bissau of being complicit in Israels deliberate starvation, illegal siege and genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.

Last week, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) confirmed to The Hill that it will work with the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) to get humanitarian aid to Gaza by way of the sea.

This is a complex operation that requires coordination between many partners, and our conversations are ongoing. Throughout Gaza, the safety and security of humanitarian actors is critical to the delivery of assistance, and we continue to advocate for measures that will give humanitarians greater assurances, a USAID spokesperson said in a statement.

U.S. and WFP officials are working on how they can deliver aid to Palestinian civilians in an independent, neutral, and impartial manner, they added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Im profoundly disturbed about the apparent direction of the court, J. Michael Luttig told me. I now believe that it is unlikely Trump will ever be tried for the crimes he committed in attempting to overturn the 2020 election.

I called Luttig, a former federal judge with extensive conservative credentials, to solicit his reaction to this weeks Supreme Court hearing over Donald Trumps demand for absolute immunity from prosecution for any crimes related to his insurrection attempt. On Thursday, Luttig posted a thread critiquing the right-wing justices for their apparent openness to Trumps argumentsbut that thread was legalistic and formal, so I figured Luttig had a lot more to say.

And did he ever. Luttig lacerated the right-wing justices for harboring a radical vision of the American presidency, and pronounced himself gravely worried that Trump will never face accountability for alleged crimes committed in attempting to destroy U.S. democracy through extensive procedural corruption and the naked incitement of mob violence.

Luttigs fear that Trump may very well skate centers on the lines of questioning from the courts right-wing majority about special counsel Jack Smiths ongoing prosecution of Trump. As many observers noted, those justices appeared largely uninterested in the question before themwhether Trumps alleged crimes related to the insurrection constituted official presidential acts that are immune from prosecution after leaving office.

Instead, the justices dwelled on the supposed future consequences of prosecuting presidents for crimes, and seemed to want to place some limits on that eventuality. That suggests the justices will kick the case back to lower courts to determine whether some definition of official presidential acts must be protected (and whether Trumps specific acts qualify).

Such a move would almost certainly push Trumps trial until after the election, and if he wins, he can simply cancel prosecutions of himself. Luttig fears that outcome. But he also worries that even if Trump loses the election, there may well be five Supreme Court votes for siding with Trumps demand for immunity. Both outcomes would functionally end his prosecution.

I believe it is now likely either that Trump will get elected and instruct his attorney general to drop the charges, or that the Supreme Court will grant him immunity from prosecution, Luttig told me.

To be sure, some observers think that in the end, five justices will not grant Trump that immunity. In this scenario, a conservative majority could remand the case to lower courts to define official presidential acts that cannot be prosecuted, even as some combination of five or more justices later rules that Trumps specific actions are still subject to prosecution.

But Luttig fears that this may be overly optimistic.

Luttig pointed out that even Chief Justice John Roberts seemed to express some sympathy for the general idea that official presidential acts should be immune from prosecution. He also noted that Justice Brett Kavanaugh praised the pardon of Richard Nixon and that Justice Neil Gorsuch said that if presidents can be prosecuted, they might pardon themselves before leaving office to protect themselves, which Gorsuch suggested might be legitimate.

Take all that together, Luttig said, and its not hard to see how five right-wing justices could let Trump off. Some could declare that Trumps actions related to January 6 (the pressure on his vice president to subvert the electoral count and on the Justice Department to create a fake pretext for that) constitute official acts immune from prosecution. Others might hold that the statutes Trump allegedly violated dont offer a clear statement that they apply to presidents, Luttig said.

Either way, Trump has already gotten much of what he wants with the all-but-certain delay. And the lines of questioning from the right-wing justices are already deeply alarming, Luttig argued. Justice Samuel Alito, for instance, declared that if presidents must fear prosecution after leaving office, they might prove more prone to resisting the transfer of power, destabilizing the country.

Thats preposterous, as The New Republics Michael Tomasky noted, since theres never been a bar on postpresidential prosecution throughout U.S. history, yet the only president to aggressively resist that transfer is Donald Trump himself. Whats more, as Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern point out at Slate, the notion also seems to suggest, absurdly, that giving presidents free rein to commit crimes in office, including attempting to destroy democracy at its very foundations, is essential to maintaining democratic stability.

One might add that when the justices ruled that Trumps insurrection does not disqualify him from the ballot, they told us that this, too, was necessary to avoid national destabilization. Mysteriously enough, a key ingredient for achieving political stability always seems to involve not holding Trump accountable.

The conservative justices argument for immunity assumes that Jack Smiths prosecution of Trump is politically corrupt and seeks a rule that would prevent future presidents from corruptly prosecuting their predecessors, Luttig said.

But such a rule would license all future presidents to commit crimes against the United States while in office with impunity, Luttig concluded. Which is exactly what Trump is arguing hes entitled to do.
Juniper Networks Inc faces a challenging market environment with a decline in product revenues.

Despite a decrease in net income, the company maintains a strong service revenue stream.

Juniper Networks Inc's commitment to innovation and customer service remains a key strategic focus.

Recent restructuring and merger-related charges indicate a period of significant transition for the company.

Juniper Networks Inc (NYSE:JNPR), a leader in high-performance network solutions, has recently filed its 10-Q report on April 26, 2024. The filing reveals a mixed financial performance, with total net revenues decreasing from $1,371.8 million in Q1 2023 to $1,148.9 million in Q1 2024. This decline is primarily due to a significant drop in product revenues from $912.6 million to $651.9 million. However, service revenues have seen a slight increase, indicating a resilient demand for Juniper's customer services. The company's gross margin has also experienced a dip, from $771.2 million to $680.9 million. Operating expenses have risen, leading to an operating loss of $14.2 million, a stark contrast to the operating income of $115.7 million in the previous year. The net loss for the quarter stands at $0.8 million, compared to a net income of $85.4 million in Q1 2023. These figures set the stage for a detailed SWOT analysis, providing investors with a comprehensive understanding of Juniper Networks Inc's current market position and future prospects.

Decoding Juniper Networks Inc (JNPR): A Strategic SWOT Insight

Strengths

Robust Service Revenue Stream: Despite the overall decline in net revenues, Juniper Networks Inc's service segment has demonstrated resilience, increasing from $459.2 million in Q1 2023 to $497.0 million in Q1 2024. This strength indicates a reliable and growing demand for the company's maintenance, support, and professional services. The consistent service revenue underscores Juniper's ability to foster long-term customer relationships and recurring revenue streams, which are crucial for stability in the volatile tech industry.

Commitment to Innovation: Juniper Networks Inc continues to invest heavily in research and development, with expenses rising from $284.8 million to $296.6 million year-over-year. This commitment to innovation is a testament to the company's dedication to staying at the forefront of network technology, including AI and SDN. By prioritizing R&D, Juniper is well-positioned to maintain its competitive edge and offer cutting-edge solutions that meet evolving customer needs.

Story continues

Weaknesses

Declining Product Revenue: The significant drop in product revenue, from $912.6 million to $651.9 million, is a concerning weakness for Juniper Networks Inc. This decline reflects challenges in the market or potential shifts in customer preferences. It may also indicate increased competition or pricing pressures that could impact the company's market share and profitability if not addressed promptly.

Operating Losses and Restructuring: The recent operating loss and restructuring charges, including merger-related expenses totaling $28.3 million, suggest that Juniper Networks Inc is undergoing a period of transition and realignment. While these changes may position the company for future growth, they currently represent a weakness by impacting short-term financial performance and potentially causing internal disruptions.

Opportunities

Expansion of Service Offerings: The growth in service revenues presents an opportunity for Juniper Networks Inc to further expand its service offerings, including SaaS and AIOps. By capitalizing on the demand for these services, Juniper can diversify its revenue streams and reduce reliance on product sales, which have shown volatility.

Strategic Mergers and Acquisitions: The filing indicates merger-related charges, which could signal strategic moves to acquire new technologies or enter new markets. These initiatives could provide Juniper Networks Inc with opportunities to enhance its product portfolio, enter new verticals, and gain a competitive advantage in the high-performance networking space.

Threats

Intense Market Competition: Juniper Networks Inc operates in a highly competitive industry where rapid technological advancements and aggressive pricing strategies are common. The decline in product revenues could be exacerbated by competitors' actions, making it imperative for Juniper to continuously innovate and adapt its strategies to maintain its market position.

Economic and Market Uncertainties: The global economic landscape poses a threat to Juniper Networks Inc, as fluctuations in demand for networking solutions can be influenced by broader economic conditions. Additionally, supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions can impact operational efficiency and cost structures, posing risks to the company's performance.

In conclusion, Juniper Networks Inc (NYSE:JNPR) faces a challenging period marked by declining product revenues and operating losses. However, the company's strengths in service revenue and commitment to innovation provide a solid foundation for future growth. Opportunities in expanding service offerings and strategic mergers could propel Juniper forward, but it must navigate threats from intense competition and market uncertainties. As Juniper Networks Inc continues to adapt and evolve, its ability to leverage its strengths and seize opportunities while mitigating weaknesses and threats will be critical to its long-term success.

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.


Slovaks raise nearly 4 million for ammunition for Ukraine without government support

Citizens of Slovakia, dissatisfied with the government of Robert Fico for not supporting Ukraine with arms, have already raised nearly 4 million for purchasing artillery shells for Ukraine.

Source: European Pravda, citing the website of the citizens' initiative for fundraising

Details: In 12 days, the initiative raised 3,873,032, with contributions from over 60,000 donors. The fundraising description states that the initial goal is 250,000, and fundraisers hoped to reach 1 million gradually.

Quote: "The Czech government recently launched a global initiative to purchase necessary ammunition for Ukraine, with over twenty countries already joining. Unfortunately, Slovakia is not among them. The government of the Slovak Republic and Prime Minister Fico have refused to join the initiative.

It would be regrettable if it stayed his way. We refuse to accept a refusal to aid our neighbour affected by war," states the initiative's description, titled Ammunition for Ukraine  If the government doesn't send it, then we are.

Zuzana Izsakova, the campaign's co-organiser, said the fundraising will be ongoing. The funds raised will go towards the Czech program for purchasing ammunition, with the first deliveries to Ukraine expected to take place in June.

Background: Leading Ukrainian figures have expressed gratitude to the residents of Slovakia, who have raised millions of euros to purchase ammunition for Ukraine.

Support UP or become our patron!
As solar capacity grows, some of America's most productive farmland is at risk

By P.J. Huffstutter and Christopher Walljasper

JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA (Reuters) -Dave Duttlinger's first thought when he saw a dense band of yellowish-brown dust smearing the sky above his Indiana farm was: I warned them this would happen.

About 445 acres of his fields near Wheatfield, Indiana, are covered in solar panels and related machinery  land that in April 2019 Duttlinger leased to Dunns Bridge Solar LLC, for one of the largest solar developments in the Midwest.

On that blustery spring afternoon in 2022, Duttlinger said, his phone rang with questions from frustrated neighbors: Why is dust from your farm inside my truck? Inside my house? Who should I call to clean it up?

According to Duttlinger's solar lease, reviewed by Reuters, Dunns Bridge said it would use "commercially reasonable efforts to minimize any damage to and disturbance of growing crops and crop land caused by its construction activities" outside the project site and "not remove topsoil" from the property itself. Still, sub-contractors graded Duttlinger's fields to assist the building of roads and installation of posts and panels, he said, despite his warnings that it could make the land more vulnerable to erosion.

Crews reshaped the landscape, spreading fine sand across large stretches of rich topsoil, Duttlinger said. When Reuters visited his farm last year and this spring, much of the land beneath the panels was covered in yellow-brown sand, where no plants grew.

"I'll never be able to grow anything on that field again," the farmer said. About one-third of his approximately 1,200-acre farm  where his family grows corn, soybeans and alfalfa for cattle  has been leased.

The Dunns Bridge Solar project is a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources LLC, the world's largest generator of renewable energy from wind and solar. Duttlinger said when he approached NextEra about the damage to his land, the company said it would review any remedial work needed at the end of its contract in 2073, as per the terms of the agreement.

NextEra declined to comment on the matter or on what future commitments it made to Duttlinger, and Reuters could not independently confirm them. Project developer Orion Renewable Energy Group LLC directed questions to NextEra.

The solar industry is pushing into the U.S. Midwest, drawn by cheaper land rents, access to electric transmission, and a wealth of federal and state incentives. The region also has what solar needs: wide-open fields.

A renewable energy boom risks damaging some of America's richest soils in key farming states like Indiana, according to a Reuters analysis of federal, state and local data; hundreds of pages of court records; and interviews with more than 100 energy and soil scientists, agricultural economists, farmers and farmland owners, and local, state and federal lawmakers.

Some of Duttlinger's farm, including parts now covered in solar panels, is on land classified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as the most productive for growing crops, according to a Reuters analysis.

For landowners like Duttlinger, the promise of profits is appealing. Solar leases in Indiana and surrounding states can offer $900 to $1,500 an acre per year in land rents, with annual rate increases, according to a Reuters review of solar leases and interviews with four solar project developers. In comparison, farmland rent in top corn and soybean producers Indiana, Illinois and Iowa averaged about $251 per acre in 2023, USDA data shows.

Farmland Partners Inc, a publicly traded farmland real estate investment trust (REIT) has leased about 9,000 acres nationwide to solar firms. Much of that ground is highly productive, said Executive Chairman Paul Pittman.

"Do I think it's the best use of that land? Probably not. But our investors would kill us if we didn't pursue this," he said.

Some renewable energy developers said not all leases become solar projects. Some are designing their sites to make it possible to grow crops between panels, while others, like Doral Renewables LLC, said they use livestock to graze around the panels as part of their land management. Developers also argue that in the Midwest, where more than one-third of the U.S. corn crop is used for ethanol production, solar energy is key for powering future electric vehicles.

Some agricultural economists and agronomists counter that taking even small amounts of the best cropland out of production for solar development and damaging valuable topsoil impacts future crop potential in the United States.

Common solar farm construction practices, including clearing and grading large sections of land, also can lead to significant erosion and major runoff of sediment into waterways without proper remediation, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Justice Department.

Solar development comes amid increasing competition for land: In 2023, there were 76.2 million - or nearly 8% - fewer acres in farms than in 1997, USDA data shows, as farmland is converted for residential, commercial and industrial use.

In response to Reuters' findings, USDA said that urban sprawl and development are currently bigger contributors to farmland loss than solar, citing reports from the Department of Energy and agency-funded research.

BUILDING ON PRIME CROPLAND

No one knows how much cropland nationwide is currently under solar panels or leased for possible future development. Land deals are typically private transactions.

Scientists at the United States Geological Survey and the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have been compiling a database of existing solar facilities across the country. Work on the U.S. Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Database began in 2020 and includes data on 3,699 facilities in 47 states and the District of Columbia.

While that project is incomplete and ongoing, Reuters found that around 0.02% of all cropland in the continental U.S. intersected in some way with large-scale, ground-based solar panel sites they had identified as of 2021.

The total power capacity of the solar operations tracked in the data set represents over 60 gigawatts of electric power capacity. In the following two years, solar capacity has nearly tripled, according to a Dec. 2023 report from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie.

To better understand future land-use patterns, Reuters analyzed federal government data to identify cropland that USDA classified as prime, unique, or of local or statewide importance. Reuters also reviewed more than 2,000 pages of solar-related documents filed at local county recorders' offices in a small sample of four Midwestern counties  Pulaski, Starke and Jasper counties in Indiana, and Columbia County in Wisconsin.

The counties, representing an area of land slightly bigger than the state of Delaware, are where some of the nation's largest projects are being developed or built. The sample is not necessarily representative of the broader United States but gives an idea of the potential impact of solar projects in farm-heavy counties.

Reuters found the percentage of these counties' most productive cropland secured by solar and energy companies as of end of 2022 was as follows: 12% in Pulaski, 9% in Starke, 4% in Jasper and 5% in Columbia.

Jerry Hatfield, former director of USDA Agricultural Research Service's National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, said Reuters' findings in the four counties are "concerning."

"It's not the number of acres converting to solar," he said. "It's the quality of the land coming out of production, and what that means for local economies, state economies and the country's future abilities for crop production."

More than a dozen agronomists, as well as renewable energy researchers and other experts consulted by Reuters, said the approach to measuring solar's impact was fair. The news agency also shared its findings with six solar developers and energy firms working in these counties. Three said Reuters' sample size was too small, and the range of findings too wide, to be a fair portrayal of industry siting and construction practices.

By 2050, to meet the Biden Administration's decarbonization targets, the U.S. will need up to 1,570 gigawatts of electric energy capacity from solar.

While the land needed for ground-based solar development to achieve this goal won't be even by state, it is not expected to exceed 5% of any state's land area, except the smallest state of Rhode Island, where it could reach 6.5%, by 2050, according to the Energy Department's Solar Futures Study, published in 2021.

Researchers at American Farmland Trust, a non-profit farmland protection organization which champions what it calls Smart Solar, forecast last year that 83% of new solar energy development in the U.S. will be on farm and ranchland, unless current government policies changed. Nearly half would be on the nation's best land for producing food, fiber, and other crops, they warned.

FUEL DEBATE

Five renewable developers and solar energy firms interviewed by Reuters counter that the industry's use of farmland is too small to impact domestic food production overall and should be balanced with the need to decarbonize the U.S. energy market in the face of climate change.

Doral Renewables, the developer behind the $1.5 billion Mammoth Solar project in Pulaski and Starke counties, does not consider corn or soybean yields in its siting decisions.

Instead, the company looks at the land's topography, zoning and closeness to an electrical grid or substation  and tries to avoid wooded areas, ditches and environmentally sensitive areas, said Nick Cohen, Doral's president and CEO.

Shifting corn acres for solar? "I don't see it as replacing something that is vital to our society," Cohen said. Solar can make farmland "more productive from an economic perspective," he added.

Indiana farmer Norm Welker says he got a better deal leasing 60% of his farmland to Mammoth than he would have growing corn, with prices dipping to three-year lows this year.

"We've got mounds of corn, we're below the cost of production, and right now, if you're renting land to grow corn  you're losing money," Welker said. "This way, my economic circumstances are very good."

(Reporting by P.J. Huffstutter in Chicago, Columbia County, Wisconsin, and Jasper, Starke and Pulaski Counties, Indiana. Reporting by Christopher Walljasper in Chicago; Editing by Caroline Stauffer and Claudia Parsons)
By Kirsty Needham

(Reuters) - The two major opposition parties in the Solomon Islands struck a coalition deal on Saturday as they vie with former Prime Minister Manesseh Sogavare's party to form a government after an election delivered no clear winner.

Last week's election was the first since Sogavare struck a security pact with China in 2022, inviting Chinese police into the Pacific Islands archipelago and drawing the nation closer to Beijing.

The election is being watched by China, the U.S. and neighbouring Australia because of the potential impact on regional security.

Election results on Wednesday showed Sogavare's OUR party won 15 of the 50 seats in parliament, two more than the opposition CARE coalition. Independents and micro parties won 15 seats, and courting the independents will be the key to reaching the 26 seats needed to form a government.

On Saturday, the CARE coalition of Matthew Wales' Solomon Islands Democratic Party, U4C and former Prime Pinister Rick Houenipwela's Democratic Alliance Party struck an agreement with the second-largest opposition party, Peter Kenilorea Jr's United, to form a coalition with 20 seats.

Houenipwela told Reuters the groups had not decided which party leader to nominate as the bloc's candidate for prime minister.

"Our Group is responding to the cries and wishes of our people to take back Solomon Islands and to bring back confidence in the leadership and the governing of our country," the coalition said in a statement.

Sogavare said last week his party had the support of two micro parties and would woo independents.

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney; Editing by William Mallard)
Souls to the Polls on Thursday called for the removal of the Republican Party of Wisconsin's new executive director over Election Day 2020 text messages in which he asked about getting supporters of then-President Donald Trump to flood the Milwaukee voting rights group with requests to be taken to the polls.

The group's call came after the Journal Sentinel reported on the text messages from new GOP executive director Andrew Iverson when he was Wisconsin head of Trump Victory, a joint operation of the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee in 2020.

Greg Lewis, Wisconsin executive director of Souls to the Polls, speaks at a news conference calling for the removal of Andrew Iverson, the executive director of the Republican Party of Wisconsin. Lewis spoke on Thursday, after the disclosure of text messages Iverson sent in 2020 appearing to call for steps to disrupt get out the vote efforts conducted by Souls to the Polls.

"Today's news is the latest in the pattern of voter suppression and racism," Souls to the Polls Wisconsin Executive Director Greg Lewis said at a press conference Thursday outside a new early voting site on Milwaukee's north side.

He and representatives of other groups said the text messages showed an attempt to interfere with legitimate efforts to help Black and brown people vote and are part of a larger context that includes email communication from an appointed member of the Wisconsin Elections Commission praising GOP campaign efforts that he said discouraged Black voter turnout in Milwaukee.

The speakers called for the state and federal departments of justice to investigate what they called in a statement "a potential conspiracy to suppress Black voters" in the text message exchange.

Souls to the Polls volunteers offer free rides to the polls on Election Day and during early voting. Lewis said the organization will take people to the polls no matter their partisan affiliation.

On the day of the 2020 presidential election, Iverson sent two text messages to Carlton Huffman, then Trump Victory's state strategic initiative director.

"Can Mario (Herrera, head of Hispanic outreach for Trump Victory) help get some Trump supporters to participate in Souls to the Polls?" Iverson told Huffman at 9:45 a.m. on Nov. 3, 2020. "'Can't wait to go vote for President Trump!' Wesring (sic) MAGA hat or something."

"I'm excited about this. Wreak havoc," Iverson then told Huffman. "For the afternoon and they'll make it clear they're excited to vote for Trump?"

Text messages sent from Andrew Iverson, a 2020 Trump campaign staffer, to former Republican operative Carlton Huffman describe an attempt to disrupt Black get-out-the-vote efforts by the Milwaukee group Souls to the Polls. Iverson is now the executive director of the Republican Party of Wisconsin.

Text messages sent from Andrew Iverson, a 2020 Trump campaign staffer, to former Republican operative Carlton Huffman describe an attempt to disrupt Black get-out-the-vote efforts by the Milwaukee group Souls to the Polls. Iverson is now the executive director of the Republican Party of Wisconsin.

In a statement, Iverson said this week that the text messages were jokes and weren't supposed to be taken seriously.

Huffman, however, told the Journal Sentinel he did not take it as a joke and contended Iverson was clearly trying to overwhelm and discourage Souls to the Polls by forcing the group to spend valuable resources taking Trump supporters to various Milwaukee polling locations, where they may or may not have voted. Souls to the Polls is focused on increasing turnout among Black voters, who make up an important voting bloc for Democrats.

Carlton Huffman

He said Iverson called him twice to check on the status of the effort called "Operation Rat (Expletive)."

Huffman, who was fired from his North Carolina job after his old white supremacist views came to light, said the effort could have suppressed the Black vote in the state. He is now an anti-Trump independent.

However, text messages between Huffman and Herrera on Election Day 2020 show Huffman appeared to be complicit in the effort to inundate the organization.

A spokesman for the Republican Party of Wisconsin pointed the finger at Huffman.

The real story here is Carlton Huffman, a known white supremacist, was caught lying to the press by spreading falsehoods about former colleagues," said Matt Fisher, communications director for the party. "Andrew Iverson is a man of integrity who is committed to electing Republicans by earning the trust and votes of Wisconsinites.

But speakers slammed Iverson for the text messages and for his contention that he was jokingly offering the scenario. Some people gathered behind them held signs with the image of a rat crossed out and the words "'NO' to GOP Voter Suppression!"  a reference to the name of the "operation."

"This blatant tactic to 'wreak havoc' not only undermines democracy but it also directly targets minority communities and perpetuates our cycle of voter suppression," said Samuel Liebert, Wisconsin state director of All Voting is Local.

He said such an effort would have taken away a vital resource from voters who need help getting to their voting locations. The news of the text messages underscored the need for the groups to safeguard the election process and defend the rights of marginalized communities, he said.

Angela Lang, executive director of Black Leaders Organizing Communities, known as BLOC, criticized Iverson's argument that he was joking.

"If communities of color said this is a harm and a painful part of my ancestral history, again, politics aside, why would you joke about something like that?" Lang asked. "And then, obviously, you add in the politics, you add in the other dynamics, the current political climate that we're in  all of that, it's disgusting to hear that he thought it was a joke, and I felt like it was a poor excuse at him trying to walk it back a little bit."

Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@jrn.com.

Contact Daniel Bice at (414) 313-6684 or dbice@jrn.com. Follow him on X at @DanielBice or on Facebook at fb.me/daniel.bice.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Souls to the Polls seeks firing of Wisconsin GOP executive director
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) launched drone strikes against two oil refineries and a military airfield in Russias Krasnodar region overnight on April 27, a source in the security and defense forces told the Kyiv Independent.

In recent weeks, Ukrainian forces have launched a series of drone strikes aimed at damaging Russia's oil industry, which is crucial to sustain Moscow's war efforts. In one of the latest attacks, the SBU hit two oil depots in Russia's Smolensk Oblast on April 24, destroying 26,000 cubic meters of fuel.

Kyiv usually does not officially comment on strikes on Russian soil.

Drones hit "key technological objects" at the Ilsky and Slavyansk oil refineries overnight on April 27, causing fires and evacuation of personnel, the source said.

The SBU and Ukraine's Defense Forces also struck the Kushchyovskaya military airbase, "where dozens of military aircraft, radars, and electronic warfare devices were stationed," according to the source.

"The SBU continues to effectively target military and infrastructure facilities behind enemy lines, reducing Russia's potential for waging war."

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed its forces shot down 66 Ukrainian drones over the Krasnodar region and two more drones over occupied Crimea.

Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support Us

Veniamin Kondratyev, the governor of Russia's Krasnodar region, said on Telegram that Ukraine "attempted" to attack local oil refineries and infrastructure but claimed there were no serious damages. According to Kondratyev, over 10 drones were intercepted over the Slavyansk, Kushchyovsky, and Seversky districts, where the said facilities are located.

Roman Sinyagovsky, the head of the Slavyansk district, said that drones targeted "a factory" in the city of Slavyansk-on-Kuban, where the Slavyansk refinery is located. Sinyagovsky did not specify which facility was hit but said that the plant's distillation column was damaged.

The regional department of Russia's emergency services reported a fire at the Sloviansk refinery, adding that they had already extinguished it.

The Kyiv Independent is unable to verify claims made by Russian authorities.

According to Ukraine's Energy Ministry, a bitumen factory and "a number of other facilities" were also targeted in the Krasnodar region overnight. The Kyiv Independent's source did not provide information on the additional targets.

Russian Telegram channels also reported on the drone attack on the Krasnodar region, publishing videos showing large explosions. Baza Telegram channel said the attack lasted 1.5 hours.

Strikes against Russian energy targets have prompted criticism from U.S. officials, who have made it clear that Washington does not support Ukraine's attacks on oil refineries, citing fears that it could threaten the global energy market.

In response, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kyiv has the right to use its own weapons with retaliatory strikes on Russian oil refineries.

Read also: Ukrainian drones hit one Russian oil refinery after another

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  Rabbi David Weissman for Temple Shalom and Charleston Jewish Federation on Friday spoke out about pushing state lawmakers to vote and enforce a hate crime law.

South Carolina and Wyoming are the only states without a hate crime law.

Now, nearly a dozen SC communities have either approved or are considering a local hate crimes ordinance including Myrtle Beach and Florence.

Weissman said hes grateful to live within city limits of Myrtle Beach. He says he has never experienced any antisemitism in Horry County but those who express it should be punished severely.

We have increased security, thats what we have, he said. We have surveillance of our property and for some occasions we have security protection outside the building so were being precautionary, nothing has happened, and we feel safe.

Brandon Fish, the director of community relations for the Charleston Jewish Federation, said according to a yearly antidefamation audit, South Carolina has experienced a 93% increase in anti-Semitic incidents.

Weissman said its important to set the tone to not tolerate hate crimes against anyone or any group. He said its sad to see how college campus are unfolding across the country due to the war between Israel and the terrorist group of Hamas.

Fish agreed. He said recent assaults and harassments are concerning and not an example of freedom of speech. He added that 75% of hate crimes are violent.

We have seen the effects of a Nazi group distributing antisemitic flyers to thousands of South Carolinians homes in the middle of the night, you know, putting it on their property in the middle of the night and theyre waking up in the morning to get the paper and finding it on their doorstep, Fish said.

Fish said theres been an overwhelming amount of support from law enforcement officials and city leaders as well as other religions, increasing responses to hate crimes.

* * *

Jackie LiBrizzi is a multimedia journalist at News13. Jackie is originally from Hamilton, New Jersey, and was raised in Piedmont, South Carolina. Jackie joined the News13 team in June 2023 after she graduated as a student-athlete from the University of South Carolina in May 2023. Follow Jackie on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and read more of her work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
Space Wrecks

Working in manufacturing always comes with occupational hazards, but according to a new review, those who work at SpaceX's facilities experience injuries at rates far higher than industry averages.

Per a Reuters analysis, SpaceX's launch-and-manufacturing facilities had between five and nine times as many injuries as would be typical last year.

The news wire's analysis came from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's 2023 newly released records from SpaceX, the most comprehensive yet from the Elon Musk-owned company that builds rockets for NASA. In 2022, Reuters notes, the company only gave injury reports from five facilities, and before that, it didn't provide any records of the kind at all, which makes it hard to parse just how longstanding the issue is.

At SpaceX's facility in Brownsville, Texas, for instance, the company reported 5.9 injuries per 100 workers in 2023, up from 4.8 in 2022. A unit that retrieves its spent rocket boosters from the Pacific Ocean, meanwhile, had 7.6 injuries per 100 employees, which is more than nine times the industry average of 0.8.

Quality Control

Building off Reuters' prior reporting on more than 600 previously undisclosed SpaceX worker injuries from last year, these figures are troubling enough on their own. But they also, as former OSHA administrator David Michaels told the outlet, could be "an indicator of poor production quality."

Now an occupational health professor at the George Washington University, Michaels told Reuters that "NASA should be concerned about the quality of the work" if SpaceX's injury rates are this high.

In its breakdown, the outlet found huge differentails in safety between its facilities. Even its East Coast rocket recovery team, which serves the same purpose as its West Coast counterpart by retrieving rocket boosters from the Atlantic, had significantly fewer injuries per 100 workers than both that team and the Brownsville factory's, while its Redmond, Washington factory came in with just 1.5 injuries per 100 workers, the lowest of the bunch.

https://twitter.com/ReutersScience/status/1782521874867531822

Curiously, it appears, per an automated X-formerly-Twitter bot that posts space jobs, that the company has also just opened a new position for an environmental health and safety engineer in Texas  so maybe the company is looking to fix its safety problems after all.

When asked about these figures, SpaceX, naturally, did not respond to Reuters' request for comment.

More on SpaceX: NASA Launches Astronauts After Finding Crack in Spacecraft During Countdown
At a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (also known as the Ramstein group), Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles confirmed Madrids decision to send missiles for Patriot anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine.

Source: a communique from Spains Defence Ministry dated 26 April cited by European Pravda

Details: Robles announced at the Ramstein-format meeting that Spain would be sending a new batch of large-calibre artillery ammunition to Ukraine. Spain also plans to provide additional 155-mm and 120-mm calibre ammunition in the coming months.

Regarding Spains contribution to Ukraines air defence, Robles announced that a batch of long-range interceptor missiles for Patriot systems is being sent and will arrive at a logistics base "in four days".

Within the next two months, Spain also plans to send Ukraine machine guns, protected wheeled logistics transport, armoured infantry fighting vehicles, anti-tank weapons and field artillery howitzers, as well as anti-drone systems and Leopard tanks.

There were media reports earlier on 26 April that Spain had refused to supply Patriot missiles to Ukraine, but under pressure from NATO and the EU, Spain agreed to send Kyiv missiles for the systems already in use in the combat zone.

The Financial Times has reported that Greece and Spain are under intense pressure from their EU and NATO allies to provide Ukraine with additional air defence systems.

Support UP or become our patron!
Strengths: Robust brand presence and strategic acquisitions bolstering North American market.

Weaknesses: Elevated channel inventories impacting sales of boilers and water treatment products.

Opportunities: Expansion into high-growth regions and introduction of new products.

Threats: Market volatility and competitive pressures in the global water heating and treatment industry.

On April 26, 2024, A.O. Smith Corp (NYSE:AOS) filed its 10-Q report, revealing the company's financial performance and strategic positioning. A.O. Smith Corp, a leading manufacturer of water heating and treatment products, has shown resilience and adaptability in a dynamic market. The financial tables from the filing indicate a solid financial foundation, with net sales in the North America segment showing robust growth due to increased water heater demand and proactive replacement trends. The Rest of the World segment, primarily driven by China, also reported increased sales, although impacted by foreign currency translation. The company's strategic acquisitions, such as the California-based water treatment company, underscore its commitment to expanding its product portfolio and geographic footprint. This SWOT analysis delves into the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats as presented in the latest SEC filing, providing investors with a comprehensive view of A.O. Smith Corp's current market position.

Decoding A.O. Smith Corp (AOS): A Strategic SWOT Insight

Strengths

Market Leadership and Brand Recognition: A.O. Smith Corp's strong brand recognition and market leadership, particularly in North America, stand as a testament to its robust business model. The company's water heaters are synonymous with quality and reliability, which has translated into a loyal customer base. This brand strength is further reinforced by strategic acquisitions, such as the recent purchase of a water treatment company, which expands A.O. Smith's footprint and complements its existing product lines. The company's dominance in the replacement market, supported by a vast wholesale distribution network, ensures a steady revenue stream and positions it well for future growth.

Financial Stability and Strategic Acquisitions: A.O. Smith Corp's financial health is a cornerstone of its strength. With a disciplined approach to capital allocation and a strong balance sheet, the company is well-positioned to pursue strategic acquisitions and invest in growth initiatives. The acquisition of Impact Water Products, for example, not only enhances A.O. Smith's product offerings but also extends its reach in the lucrative West Coast market. This financial prudence and strategic foresight enable A.O. Smith to maintain its competitive edge and navigate market fluctuations effectively.

Story continues

Weaknesses

Inventory Management Challenges: A.O. Smith Corp faced challenges with elevated channel inventories in 2023, particularly in its boilers and water treatment products. This has led to a temporary dampening of sales in these categories. While the company expects inventories to normalize and sales to rebound, the situation highlights the need for improved inventory management and forecasting to prevent such occurrences and ensure a more stable revenue flow.

Dependency on North American Market: Despite its global presence, A.O. Smith Corp's financial performance is heavily reliant on the North American market, which contributes the majority of its revenue. This dependency exposes the company to regional economic fluctuations and could limit growth potential if the North American market faces downturns. Diversifying revenue streams and reducing reliance on a single market could mitigate this risk and provide a more balanced portfolio.

Opportunities

Geographic and Product Expansion: A.O. Smith Corp has significant opportunities to expand its geographic reach and product lines. The company's foray into high-growth regions, such as China and India, and the introduction of new products, like gas tankless water heaters in North America, are strategic moves that can drive future growth. The company's focus on innovation and market trends, such as energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, positions it well to capitalize on evolving consumer preferences and regulatory changes.

Acquisition Synergies: The recent acquisitions provide A.O. Smith Corp with opportunities to realize synergies and enhance its competitive position. Integrating the acquired companies' technologies and distribution networks can lead to cost savings, increased market share, and improved product offerings. The company's ability to successfully leverage these synergies will be critical in maximizing the value of its acquisitions and driving long-term growth.

Threats

Market Volatility and Competitive Pressures: The water heating and treatment industry is subject to intense competition and market volatility. A.O. Smith Corp must navigate these challenges while maintaining its market share and profitability. Competitive pressures from both established players and new entrants, coupled with potential economic downturns, could impact the company's performance. Staying ahead of industry trends and continuously innovating will be essential for A.O. Smith to maintain its leadership position.

Global Supply Chain Risks: A.O. Smith Corp's global operations expose it to supply chain risks, including disruptions due to geopolitical tensions, trade policies, and other macroeconomic factors. The company's reliance on a stable supply chain for key components is critical to its ability to meet customer demand. Proactive risk management and diversification of supply sources can help mitigate these threats and ensure business continuity.

In conclusion, A.O. Smith Corp (NYSE:AOS) exhibits a strong market presence and financial stability, which are counterbalanced by challenges in inventory management and regional market dependency. The company's opportunities for geographic and product expansion, along with the potential synergies from recent acquisitions, position it for future growth. However, it must remain vigilant against competitive pressures and supply chain risks. By leveraging its strengths and addressing its weaknesses, A.O. Smith Corp can capitalize on its opportunities and defend against threats, ensuring its continued success in the water heating and treatment industry.

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.


Spanish President Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon received the vocal backing of his ruling Socialist Party colleagues Saturday while pondering resignation amid political attacks against his wife. File photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI

April 27 (UPI) -- Spain's Socialist Party convened in Madrid Saturday to rally behind Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez as he considers resigning amid attacks against his wife.

First Deputy Prime Minister Maria Jesus Montero, in a video posted to X Saturday, was seen rallying Socialist supporters to send the message to Sanchez, "There are millions of us who are by your side and who say in unison that yes, it is worth continuing."

Montero also said Sanchez and his family have suffered "verbal violence" in a "dirty campaign against them."

Sanchez has pondered resignation after a judge's decision to open corruption investigation proceedings into his wife, Begona Gomez.

Gomez is accused of abusing her position to endorse certain business leaders for public tenders.

The complaint against Gomez was filed Wednesday by the political group Manos Limpias, or "Clean Hands," a purported far-right group that has a habit of filing complaints against leftist leaders.

Sanchez, regardless, was upset by the allegations and announced Wednesday he would suspend his public duties until Monday, when he is expected to announce whether or not he will stay in office.

In a public letter, the prime minister said he must "answer the question of whether it is worth it, whether I should continue at the head of the government or resign from this honor."

Spanish prosecutors on Thursday called for the corruption inquiry into Gomez to be thrown out, arguing there is no evidence that justifies criminal proceedings.

Manos Limpias founder Miguel Bernard denied Sanchez's labeling of the group as a "far-right-wing organization" and insisted he was exercising "a right and a duty as a citizen" and that the judge can verify whether or not the allegations against Gomez are true.

Bernard was recently acquitted by the Spanish Supreme Court after being convicted by the country's National High Court for extorting money from banks and businesses.

Sanchez, who has been the head of the Socialist Party for 10 years and has three years left in office should he remain, has endured far-right attacks against his office before.

Conservative and far-right groups have accused him of undermining the rule of law by pardoning Catalan separatists charged with sedition over an independence referendum in 2017 in exchange for their support.

While members of the ruling Socialists and other leftist political groups have rallied around Sanchez, the conservative opposition People's Party and the far-right Vox have accused him of "playing the victim" and demanded explanations on the accusations against his wife.

Sanchez also received support from international leaders such as President Gustavo Petro of Colombia and President Lula da Silva of Brazil.
NEW YORK  Its often said that Donald Trump gets what he wants by wearing people down: through obfuscation, delay, bluster, muddying the waters  whatever tires people out.

His attorney Emil Bove channeled that approach during cross-examination of former tabloid executive David Pecker on Thursday and Friday. Through rapid-fire questions, Bove tried to exhaust, muddy, and poke holes in Peckers testimony for the jury.

But most of all, Bove emphasized one thing: all of the sleaze, muck, mutually interested self-dealing, and assorted seaminess were simply examples of standard operating procedure in the seedy, backscratching, New York City milieu Pecker had detailed  the way Pecker did things with an assorted coterie of celebrity associates, none of whom have faced prosecution save for Donald Trump.

That approach picked up on a theme that defense attorney Todd Blanche leaned heavily on during his opening statements: the alleged crimes in this case are all normal, if not somewhat sordid, features of high-level politics and business. Its the crude facts of life for many New Yorkers, he suggests: sometimes its dirty, but that doesnt mean its a crime.

And, listen, use your common sense, Blanche told a panel of jurors that includes corporate attorneys and finance professionals. Were New Yorkers. Thats why were here.

Peckers testimony began on Monday and lasted all week, with Bove cross-examining him for several hours on Thursday and Friday. After his testimony concluded, prosecutors called Rhona Graff, a longtime Trump executive assistant and former Trump Org executive vice president, to the stand.

Graff testified that Trump had contact information for two women who said they had affairs with him, Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels (listed simply as Stormy) in a contact book exhibit shown to jurors, firming up the link between the former president and the women his fixer, Michael Cohen, had worked to silence.

It built off the broad impression which Pecker conveyed in direct questioning before prosecutor Joshua Steinglass. Pecker painted a picture of a broad conspiracy whose details were exceptional even for the seamy world of National Enquirer, the magazine he published, and checkbook journalism, his editors practice of paying sources for salacious stories. For Trump, Pecker testified, his company chose not to publish stories that he thought were quite good  a better scoop than the death of Elvis Presley  for the publication, gave McDougal work she was ill-suited for, and put itself at legal risk to benefit Trump in a scheme that began in August 2015 and extended through his inauguration.

Bove used the phrase standard operating procedure several times during the hours of cross-examination, bringing it up over and over again as he introduced new, previously unknown stories which Pecker had supposedly killed via hush-money agreements reminiscent of the ones he arranged with Cohen. These included lurid affair allegations against Tiger Woods and Rahm Emanuel, as well as a story about an argument Mark Wahlberg purportedly had with his wife.

Pecker also, under questioning from Bove, explained his work with former California governor and movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger (R). Pecker, via his publishing company AMI, performed a similar function with Schwarzeneggers gubernatorial run as it did with Trumps bid for the White House: buying and sitting on stories about the stars interactions with women.

The upshot of all this was to muddy the waters through a cascade of titillating anecdotes. Why was what Trump did so bad if, as Bove asked Pecker, AMI had signed hundreds of thousands of non-disclosure agreements with people offering stories?

The other component of the alleged conspiracy that Trump formed with AMI focused on the companys properties publishing positive stories about him and negative stories about his opponents.

Bove took a similar tack on this prong of the alleged conspiracy: he tried to create the impression that this was standard operating procedure for the National Enquirer, just another way of wheeling and dealing for publishers in a grubby business.

It was standard operating procedure for the National Enquirer to recycle content from other publications and reframe it, correct? Bove asked Pecker.

The question went to a broader point: the National Enquirer was in the business of aggregating others content and repackaging it to interest readers. It was an especially standard feature of the news business at the time of the scandal, in 2016, and formed part of Boves argument that there were many reasons why the National Enquirer may have published articles that helped Trump such as, for example, one suggesting that Ben Carson left a sponge in a patients brain.

Was it good for business? Bove asked Pecker.

Yes, it was, he agreed.

The point here was partly to create doubt in jurors minds that the prosecutors were completely leveling with their audience. From Boves questioning, it could seem that there was no conspiracy at all: that Pecker was simply running elements of his business in a way which happened to coincide with Trumps interests.

Nowhere did this appear more clearly  or appear to spook prosecutors more  than in Boves discussion of the hush money contract arranged for Karen McDougal. In addition to a monetary payment, McDougal agreed to receive other benefits from AMI in exchange for her silence: appearances on two magazine covers, and a role writing fitness columns for AMI properties.

Prosecutors dismissed this as a sham contract, saying that its only true purpose was to ensure that McDougal remained silent. But Bove worked to have Pecker testify to something different: that McDougal never really wanted to tell her story, and that she was simply playing hardball. She wanted to use AMI to advance her career, and using the Trump allegation as a means to have AMI publish her work and feature her likeness was a means to a very straightforward end.

At one point, Bove asked Pecker whether he told Trump that McDougal wanted her story published. Pecker replied that he had told Trump that she did not.

It emphasizes the defenses point: these are all separate, self-interested actors. Theyre all confined in their own self-interest. McDougal is trying to advance her career, Pecker is trying to keep his magazines afloat through titillating content. Trump is running for president, and needs to stay above it all. Its all separate, and theres no big conspiracy  just a lot of sleaze. Standard operating procedure. Business as usual.

That approach muddies the waters for the jury. But also, it overwhelms them.

With scandals around Trump stretching on for years, the effect of this line of questioning is to sully everyone else who might stand as a relative point of comparison. McDougal, Pecker  theyre all as self-interested as Trump.

Prosecutors managed during redirect to have Pecker reaffirm that the McDougal contracts sole purpose was to keep her silent  not to advance her career in a meaningful way.

Bove tried to salvage it on Friday by asking Pecker if McDougal was a legitimate celebrity at the time, apparently hoping that he would validate the idea that she had a career to advance.

But Pecker began to stutter. Would she meet the celebrity category at that time? he asked, repeating the question back to himself.

No, he concluded.
State lawmakers  most of them women  are establishing new committees to study and assess maternal health outcomes and strengthening existing review panels. (Getty Images)

As efforts to address the countrys maternal mortality crisis have stalled at the federal level, advocates and lawmakers are increasingly turning to statewide maternal mortality review committees to make progress  and try to save lives.

Guttmacher Institute, one of the nations largest reproductive health research organizations, reports that almost all states have a maternal mortality review committee thats tasked with investigating pregnancy-related deaths and their causes and making prevention recommendations.

This report was originally published by The 19th. The Illuminator is a member of the 19th News Network.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 1,205 maternal deaths in 2021, up from 861 in 2020 and 754 in 2019. The average maternal mortality rate that year was 32.9 per 100,000 live births. Black birthing peoples maternal mortality rate was 69.9 per 100,000 live births, compared to White birthing peoples rate of 26.6.

Guttmacher marks 2016 as a year of resurgence of interest in these review committees as attention on maternal mortality rose. Jennifer Driver, the senior director of reproductive rights at the advocacy group State Innovation Exchange, believes that the acknowledgement of maternal mortality as an issue  and one that disproportionately impacts Black women  has resulted in an uptick in legislation to study or address the matter. She also believes state legislators are better equipped to address maternal health than their federal counterparts because of the rate at which legislation moves at the state level.

State legislators play a critical role in advancing and protecting reproductive rights. While often, folks look at Congress or the administration or the courts, what we know, especially in 2024, that all of those are really kind of stalled, Driver said. Because of the makeup of the Congress, and the way that politics has just been so polarized, very little legislation passes. And so theres only so much that Congress can do, whereas on the contrast, state legislators are on the front lines of this work. So much legislation moves faster.

Democratic U.S. Reps. Lauren Underwood of Illinois and Alma Adams of North Carolina sponsored the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021, which included bills to improve maternal health through several avenues, including researching and collecting data on maternal mortality and morbidity among minority groups. It did not pass, but there are efforts to pass state-level Momnibus bills.

While the American Journal of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AJOG) recently reported that maternal mortality rates may be overstated, Maternal mortality rates among non-Hispanic Black women  remained disproportionately high compared with other race and ethnicity groups. A recent study found stable rates of maternal mortality in the United States between the 19992002 and 20182021 periods, decreases in maternal deaths due to direct obstetrical causes, increases in maternal deaths due to indirect obstetrical causes, and large increases in the misclassification of nonmaternal and incidental deaths due to the use of the pregnancy checkbox.

Despite the conflicting methods of tracking maternal mortality, state lawmakers  most of them women  are establishing new committees to study and assess maternal health outcomes and strengthening existing review panels.

Heres a look at whats happening across the states:

In Georgia, Republican Rep. Lauren Daniel sponsored legislation to establish the Commission on Maternal and Infant Health to be made up of 14 members appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor and state Speaker of the House. The commission would spend two years assessing perinatal care in the state, making policy recommendations and determining how to measure effectiveness and quality of perinatal care. Perinatal care is parents and babies health before, through and after birth, according to the World Health Organization, which notes that, Ensuring access to affordable and good quality of care throughout pregnancy and the perinatal period is essential to reducing the rates of complications and deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth.

The bill was passed by the House and is being read by the Senate. The states maternal mortality review committee reported that there were 35.6 pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births in the state between 2019 and 2021.

Idaho became the only state without a maternal mortality review committee after the previous ended due to legislation it was tied to expiring last year. House Majority Leader Megan Blanksma, a Republican, sponsored legislation to reestablish the states committee to investigate and report on maternal deaths to the legislature annually. This time around, the committee would be a part of the Idaho Department of Medicine instead of the state Department of Health and Welfare and would not rely on federal funds.

The bill was passed in a 52-17 vote in the state House, 25-10 vote in the state Senate, signed into law on March 19 and will take effect on July 1. Idahos most recent maternal mortality data collected by the former committee in 2021 showed 17 women died while pregnant or within a year of being pregnant  15 of which were deemed preventable and nine of which were pregnancy related.

In Tennessee, Democratic Sen. London Lamar put forth legislation to establish the Maternal Health Equity Advisory Committee to review maternal health data and make improvement recommendations to the state Department of Health. The 11-member committee would include representatives from East, Middle and West Tennessee and people from community-based organizations, such as doulas or midwives. Lamar said the organizations are a valuable addition to the already-established maternal mortality review committee, which consists of experts in pediatrics, OB-GYN, domestic violence, neonatology, maternal and infant health and other public health arenas.

Lamar told The 19th that while the expertise of medical professionals is valued, Theyre not on the ground in a way many of our community birthing organizations are, our doula organizations, our lactation specialist organizations. A lot of those organizations are built to do direct services to pregnant women on the ground on an everyday basis.

The bill passed 31-0 in the state Senate as amended on March 14, passed 78-6 in the state House on April 18 and sent to the governor.

Tennessees maternal mortality rates have increased since 2020, with reportedly 53 women dying from pregnancy-related causes  79 percent of which were deemed preventable.

This past February, Republican Rep. Kim Moser of Taylor Mill, Kentucky, sponsored state Momnibus legislation to establish the Kentucky maternal and infant health collaborative to address perinatal mental health disorders, provide lactation consultation and equipment and teach mothers about breastfeeding. The legislation also expands a state program to permit at-home visitations from trained service providers up to three years after the babys birth. Momnibus passed 90-0 in Kentuckys House and now sits with the state Senate who has proposed amendments. In 2021, Kentuckys maternal mortality review committee reported that there were 61 maternal deaths from 2013-19.

Last year, North Carolina state Sen. Natalie Murdock, a Democrat, sponsored the states Momnibus legislation that would establish a grant for community-based birthing organizations and implement implicit bias training programs for maternal health professionals. This was Mudocks second attempt to pass Momnibus legislation after being inspired by the effort at the federal level. She has also sponsored and supported other maternal health legislation.

It is tied to reproductive justice and a birthing persons ability to have freedom over their own body. We have found that maternal care has decreased as a result of OB-GYNs leaving our state because of our abortion ban, Murdock said. As the Supreme Court has said, abortion is a state-level issue, but its intricately connected to maternal health. If you dont have enough OB-GYNs, youre not getting that prenatal care. Its making it more difficult for women to have children. Its so much more than abortion. Its about overall reproductive justice and freedom.

North Carolinas maternal mortality review committee reported that there were 76 pregnancy-related deaths between 2018-19  85 percent of which were preventable, and it was noted that discrimination due to factors including race, weight and incarceration history was a factor in 69.7 percent of the deaths.

While statewide committees signify that there is an actual concerted effort to come together to deal with the issue, Lamar said, establishing and strengthening them is only half the battle. Its still up to the legislature and the departments to implement what they recommend and use the data that they produce to actually put forth legislation  or support legislation  that aligns with whats being said.

SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE

The post State legislators are taking the maternal mortality crisis into their own hands appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
STILWELL, Okla. (KNWA/KFTA)  A Stilwell man was sentenced to 35 years on Friday for sexually assaulting a minor, according to a news release from the United States Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

Daniel Wayne Bayless, 27, was sentenced to 420 months four counts of aggravated sexual abuse in Indian Country. The Eastern District says the terms of imprisonment will be served concurrently and Bayless will be required to register as a sex offender.

Former Oklahoma teacher pleads guilty to sexually abusing child

The release says Bayless was found guilty by a federal grand jury on July 18, 2023. The U.S. presented evidence during the trial that in 2020, Bayless sexually assaulted a minor under 12 on numerous occasions.

Evidence was also presented that showed Bayless victimized another child 10 years earlier.

The charges arose from the Adair County Sheriffs Office and the FBI. The release says the crimes took place in Adair County within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation.

Bayless will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshals pending transportation to a United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence, according to the release.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
Gov. Kevin Stitt at his weekly news conference in the Blue Room at the Oklahoma Capitol in March

Republican Governor Kevin Stitt defended his veto of a bill to address domestic violence, said he was still reviewing controversial legislation about immigration and downplayed the conflict between himself and Senate Pro Tempore Greg Treat during a press briefing Friday.

The governor also defended Shelly Zumwalt, his nominee for Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, and said the recently-released audit of how federal pandemic funds were spent here was politically motivated, adding that the attorney general's office and the auditor's office even coordinated their media statements.

The audit, released by State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd, raised numerous questions about how the state spent millions in federal COVID-19 funds and said new purchasing rules established by the Office of Management and Enterprise Solutions were not in the best interest of Oklahoma.

The audit also harshly criticized the management of Oklahoma Employment Security Commission and the agency's then-Executive Director Shelly Zumwalt, questioning how Zumwalt approved $8.5 million in contract payments to Phase 2, a firm where her husband is employed.

Phil Bacharach, spokesman for the attorney general's office said that governor's statement about coordination was incorrect. Bacharach said there was no coordination between the attorney general and the auditor's offices. Attorney General Drummond stands by his statement about the audit findings and will continue to work for accountability on behalf of Oklahoma taxpayers," Bacharach said.

Byrd pushed back against the governor's claim, too. In a statement to The Oklahoman, she said the audit covered federal expenditures for 2022, not 2020 as referenced by the Governor.

"The findings were very similar to those reported last year, 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. "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."

Gov. Stitt explains why he vetoed Oklahoma Survivors' Act

Speaking to reporters in the Capitol Blue Room, Stitt said he vetoed Senate Bill 1470, known as the Oklahoma Survivors Act. The measure was written to help survivors of domestic violence, its author Senate Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, said.

Under the bill, a defendant must provide to the court evidence corroborating that the defendant was, at the time of the offense, a victim of domestic violence and at least one piece of documentary evidence that is a court record, presentence report, social services record, hospital record, sworn statement from a witness to the domestic violence, law enforcement record, domestic incident report or protective order.

About 24 hours after the governors veto, the measure was overridden in the Senate by a vote of 46-1.

Friday, Stitt said he would challenge anyone to explain House Bill 1470. "You know, people are really confused they think that's just a victim's protection, domestic violence and we are absolutely for protecting domestic violence victims but that's not what this bill said."

More: Gov. Stitt praises Hispanic community, says he's 'still reviewing' new immigration bill

The measure, Stitt said, was an anti-law enforcement bill that drew opposition from the state's district attorneys and the sheriff's assocation.

"Basically (the bill) would have said that any crime, somebody that's in prison for bad stuff: rape, murder whatever, could go back and say that there was some type of psychological issue that happened 20 years ago in their past and so they should have a different sentence today," he said. "It wasn't limited to domestic violence, it had everybody. So that was the reason I've vetoed that."

Stitt said he was working with House Majority Leader, Rep. Jon Echols, to amend companion legislation to the measure to address his concerns.

Fate of immigration bill on Gov. Kevin Stitt's desk remains unclear

Stitt said his office was still deciding whether or not to sign or veto House Bill 4156, a controversial immigration measure, supported by legislative leaders and requested by the attorney general's office. The measure would allow state law enforcement officials to arrest those they determine are in the country without proper legal authority.

Drummond said the legislation allows "state law enforcement officers to arrest and incarcerate illegal immigrants as a means of helping combat Oklahoma's numerous illegal marijuana grow operations."

Stitt stopped short of saying whether or not he would sign the bill. "We are still reviewing that," Stitt said. "I think we have until next Tuesday."

Asked about his on-going feud with Senate Pro Tempore Greg Treat, Stitt said he had no personal animosity toward the Senate leader. "There may be a philosophical difference between myself and Senator Treat but I hope it's not personal. It's certainly not personal with me and I'm going to keep advocating for all four million Oklahomans."

On Thursday, Treat told reporters he was concerned that the difficult relationship between the governor's office and the Senate had become personal. "I think it's (the difficult relationship) is a personal hatred of me," Treat said. "I think the governor and I are more philosophically aligned that the speaker and I are. It all kind of devolved last April or May."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on immigration, Shelly Zumwalt audit
Stubborn fire at iconic Oceanside, Calif., pier now under control, officials say

The fire that damaged the iconic Oceanside Municipal Pier in California is now under control, local officials confirmed Friday. Photo courtesy of Oceanside Fire Department

April 27 (UPI) -- A fire that damaged the iconic Oceanside Municipal Pier in California is now under control, while the probe into what caused the stubborn blaze is still ongoing, officials have confirmed.

It took more than 100 firefighters working on land and in the ocean to eventually get the flames under control by Friday, officials announced at a news conference.

A helicopter provided to the collective effort by San Diego Gas & Electric was a "game changer" in the fight, Oceanside Fire Chief David Parsons told reporters.

The landmark in northern San Diego County is the longest wooden pier on the western United States coastline, measuring 1,954 feet.

Crews were having difficulty reaching certain hotspots that occasionally flared up at the end of the pier.

It took more than 100 firefighters working on land and in the ocean to eventually get the flames under control by Friday, officials announced. Photo courtesy of Oceanside Fire Department

On Saturday, the city's water department helped obtain and deliver plywood to lay over a plank firebreak made to halt the fire's progression on the pier, city officials said in an update.

"Now, firefighters can safely access and pull apart smoldering areas and fully extinguish them," they said.

Nobody was injured and officials believe 90% of the Oceanside, Calif.. pier was largely saved from the fire. Firefighters initially had to let part of the area burn as the flames were in hard-to-reach spaces. Photo courtesy of Oceanside Fire Department

The beach surrounding the pier remains closed but officials hope to re-open it for recreation as soon as the water quality improves.

The fire started Thursday in a vacant restaurant near the far west end of the wooden pier that first opened in 1888 and bills itself as "an iconic photo backdrop, a stage for artists and performers, a deep-water access point for amateur anglers, and an ideal perch for catching the elusive green flash at sunset."

The landmark in northern San Diego County is the longest wooden pier on the western United States coastline, measuring 1,954 feet. Photo courtesy of Oceanside Fire Department

Nobody was injured and officials believe 90% of the pier was largely saved from the fire. Firefighters initially had to let part of the area burn as the flames were in hard-to-reach spaces.

Crews will continue spraying water to cool smoldering areas for some time to come.
The Florida high-school student with autism accused of violently attacking a teacher's aide over a Nintendo game has filed a stunning lawsuit against the school district, accusing it of failing to make interventions to address his bad behavior even though he was said to be a "ticking time bomb."

Brendan Depa, 18, has filed a lawsuit against Flagler County Public Schools, accusing the district of failing to meet his needs in the lead-up to the shocking February 21 incident that was caught on video and went viral.

Depa was 17 when he allegedly attacked teacher's aide Joan Naydich at Matanzas High School in Palm Coast. Surveillance video released by the Flagler County Sheriff's Office allegedly shows the 6-foot-6, 270-pound student running up to the teacher's aide, pushing her to the ground, and then continuing to punch and kick her.

FLORIDA TEACHER'S AIDE ATTACKED IN VIRAL VIDEO SPEAKS OUT AHEAD OF STUDENT'S SENTENCING

A teacher runs to help Joan Naydich, who is lying on the floor and being beaten by Brendan Depa.

The teacher's aide is seen on the ground for several minutes before getting up with the help of others.

Naydich told FOX 35 Orlando she had suffered five broken ribs, a severe concussion, loss of hearing in one of her ears and other issues as a result of the beating.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The incident was sparked after Depa was refused permission to use a Nintendo Switch console.

The complaint alleges that the district failed to address Depa's disabilities through a proper behavioral plan on multiple occasions, ultimately leading to the attack.

"The district should be held to account for its failures which have forever changed the trajectory of this young mans life," a portion of the lawsuit reads.

It says that he has a history of trauma and mental health issues, along with several disabilities that impact him in school settings.

"[Depa] is smart, but he has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and has communication deficits that were not properly addressed. His explosive nature was also ignored and his need for social and pragmatic language interventions were not sufficiently addressed," the lawsuit reads.

The complaint alleges that the school ignored Depas need for social and "pragmatic language interventions" and should have provided him with direct instructions on how to problem-solve and express himself.

For instance, he spat at a student and verbally threatened another by saying that the student should die. He also said he should have shot a student. The lawsuit argues that the school had not properly dealt with those incidents.

FLORIDA STUDENT ENTERS PLEA IN CASE OF VIRAL VIDEO ATTACK ON TEACHER

Joan Naydich is seen in court as Brendan Depa is escorted back to holding cells on March 9, 2023. In the court hearing, Naydich sought a permanent injunction against Depa.

"Had these issues been addressed in real-time, [Depa] would not have harmed the paraprofessional and would not have been arrested and facing significant time incarcerated," the complaint reads.

The suit alleges that a teachers aide and Depa exchanged words and that the student was then reprimanded in front of his peers, eventually being punished by being denied the Nintendo though other students were allowed theirs.

The school, staff and district knew that the Nintendo, and its use on the school campus was a "trigger for escalating behaviors," prompting Depa to spit on Naydich, according to the filing.

When Naydic stormed out of the classroom to report him for assault, Depa followed her and launched his vicious attack.

The teen has filed a request for a due process hearing under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. It asks for a determination that Flagler County Public Schools actions before and after February 2023 led to the violent incident.

A spokesperson for Flagler Schools tells Fox 35 Orlando that the district is not commenting on the complaint.

Depa, who is being charged as an adult, pleaded no contest late last year to a first-degree felony aggravated battery on an elected official or education employee charge that could be punishable by up to 30 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for May 1, Fox 35 reports.

Brendan Depa with his attorneys in court last year. Depa has filed a stunning lawsuit against the school district, accusing it of failing to make interventions to address his bad behavior since he was a "ticking time bomb."

Naydich has denied taking the Nintendo Switch away from Depa and that he was actually angry because another staff member would not allow him to play it.

As well as physical injuries, Naydich says she has faced financial and emotional hurdles since the attack.

"Unfortunately, a lot of my injuries that are not visible I'm going to have for the rest of my life," Naydich previously told FOX 35 Orlando, referring to slowed speech, issues with patience and "difficulty with what she considers routine cognitive functions."

"Everybody that knows me or knew me [before the attack] knows that I'm a totally different person now. My whole life was just turned upside down."

Naydich was granted a permanent injunction for protection against repeated violence against Depa in March 2023.

Court documents obtained by Fox News Digital show that Depa has had three prior misdemeanor battery charges, in March 2019, April 2019 and June 2019. All the misdemeanor charges stem from the 13th Judicial Circuit, which is located in Hillsborough County.

For those charges, court records show that Depa completed a program within the Department of Juvenile Justice.

Fox News Pilar Aris and Adam Sabes contributed to this report.





Original article source: Student accused of viciously beating aide in viral video blames school in new lawsuit: 'Ticking time bomb'
Pro-Palestinian protesters camp out in tents at Columbia University on Saturday, April 27, 2024 in New York.(AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

NEW YORK (AP)  As students protesting the Israel-Hamas war at college campuses across U.S. dug in Saturday and dozens of demonstrators were arrested, some universities moved to shut down encampments after reports of antisemitic activity.

With the death toll mounting in the war in Gaza, protesters nationwide are demanding that 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.

Early Saturday, police in riot gear cleared an encampment on the campus of Northeastern University in Boston. Massachusetts State Police said about 102 protesters were arrested and will be charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct. Protesters said they were given about 15 minutes to disperse before being arrested.

As workers pulled down tents and bagged up the debris from the encampment, several dozen people across from the encampment chanted, Let the Kids Go," and slogans against the war in Gaza. They also booed as police cars passed and taunted the officers who stood guard over the encampment.

The school said in a statement that the demonstration, which began two days ago, had become infiltrated by professional organizers with no affiliation to the school and antisemitic slurs, including kill the Jews, had been used.

We cannot tolerate this kind of hate on our campus, the statement posted on the social media platform X said.

The Huskies for a Free Palestine student group disputed the universitys account, saying in a statement that counterprotesters were to blame for the slurs and no student protesters repeated the disgusting hate speech.

Students at the protest said a counterprotester attempted to instigate hate speech but insisted their event was peaceful and, like many across the country, was aimed at drawing attention to what they described as the genocide in Gaza and their universitys complicity in the war.

The president of nearby Massachusetts Institute of Technology put out a statement Saturday saying the encampment there had become a potential magnet for disruptive outside protesters and was taking hundreds of staff hours to keep safe.

We have a responsibility to the entire MIT community  and it is not possible to safely sustain this level of effort, MIT President Sally Kornbluth said. We are open to further discussion about the means of ending the encampment. But this particular form of expression needs to end soon.

Indiana University campus officers and state police arrested 23 people Saturday at an encampment on the schools Bloomington campus. Tents and canopies had been erected Friday night at Dunn Meadow in violation of school policy, university police said in a release. Members of the group were detained after refusing to remove the structures, police said. Charges ranged from criminal trespass to resisting law enforcement.

At the University of Pennsylvania on Friday, interim President J. Larry Jameson called for an encampment of protesters on the west Philadelphia campus to be disbanded, saying it violates the universitys facilities policies, though about 40 tents remained in place Saturday morning.

The "harassing and intimidating comments and actions by some protesters violate the schools open expression guidelines as well as state and federal law, Jameson said, and vandalism of a statue with antisemitic graffiti was especially reprehensible and will be investigated as a hate crime.

A faculty group said Saturday that it was deeply disturbed by the university presidents email, saying it included unsubstantiated allegations that have been disputed to us by faculty and students who have attended and observed the demonstration.

The universitys chapter of the American Association of University Professors said Jameson's statement mischaracterizes the overall nature of an antiwar protest that necessarily involves strong emotions on both sides but has not, to our knowledge, involved any actual violence or threats of violence to individuals on our campus."

Campus protests began after Hamas deadly 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.

Israel and its supporters have branded the protests as antisemitic, while critics of Israel say it uses such allegations to silence opponents. Although 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.

At Columbia University, where protesters have inspired pro-Palestinian demonstrations across the country, students representing the encampment said Friday that they reached an impasse with administrators and intended to continue their protest.

Though the university has repeatedly set and then pushed back deadlines for the removal of the encampment, the school sent an email to students Friday night saying that bringing back police at this time would be counterproductive.

Decisions to call in law enforcement, leading to hundreds of arrests nationwide, have prompted school faculty members at universities in California, Georgia and Texas to initiate or pass votes of no confidence in their leadership. They are largely symbolic rebukes, without the power to remove their presidents.

But the tensions pile pressure on school officials, who are already scrambling to resolve the protests as May graduation ceremonies near.

The University of Southern California drew criticism after refusing to allow the valedictorian, who has publicly supported Palestinians, to make a commencement speech. Administrators then scrapped the keynote speech by filmmaker Jon M. Chu. The school announced the cancellation of its main graduation event Thursday, a day after more than 90 protesters were arrested by police in riot gear.

USC President Carol Folt made her first public statement late Friday addressing the controversies as incredibly difficult for all of us.

No one wants to have people arrested on their campus. Ever. But, when long-standing safety policies are flagrantly violated, buildings vandalized, Department of Public Safety directives repeatedly ignored, threatening language shouted, people assaulted, and access to critical academic buildings blocked, we must act immediately to protect our community, Folt said.

Arizona State University said 69 people were arrested early Saturday on suspicion of criminal trespassing for setting up an unauthorized encampment on a lawn on its Tempe campus. The protesters were given chances to leave, and those who refused were arrested.

While the university will continue to be an environment that embraces freedom of speech, ASUs first priority is to create a safe and secure environment that supports teaching and learning, the university said in a statement.

___

Perry reported from Meredith, New Hampshire. Associated Press journalists in various locations contributed, including Jacques Billeaud, Aaron Morrison, Stefanie Dazio, Kathy McCormack, Jim Vertuno, Acacia Coronado, Sudhin Thanawala, Jeff Amy, Jeff Martin, Mike Stewart, Collin Binkley, Carolyn Thompson, Jake Offenhartz, Jesse Bedayn and Sophia Tareen.
Philip Morris International Inc (NYSE:PM) showcases robust brand power and a diversified product portfolio in its latest SEC filings.

The company's strategic acquisitions signal a transformative shift towards reduced-risk products and a foray into wellness and healthcare.

PM's financials reflect a resilient performance amidst industry challenges, with a focus on innovation and market expansion.

Despite strengths, PM faces regulatory pressures and market volatility that could impact future performance.

Philip Morris International Inc (NYSE:PM), an international tobacco giant, has released its 10-Q filing on April 26, 2024, offering a window into its financial health and strategic positioning. PM's portfolio, primarily comprising cigarettes and reduced-risk products, has been further diversified with the strategic acquisitions of Swedish Match and Vectura. The company's financial tables reveal a steadfast performance, with net revenues (excluding excise taxes) marking an increase from the previous year, demonstrating PM's ability to maintain revenue streams despite industry headwinds. This SWOT analysis delves into the intricacies of PM's operations, highlighting the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats as gleaned from the latest SEC filings.

Decoding Philip Morris International Inc (PM): A Strategic SWOT Insight

Strengths

Brand Power and Market Presence: PM's brand equity, particularly with its flagship Marlboro, remains a formidable asset. The brand's global recognition and consumer loyalty provide PM with pricing power and a competitive edge in the tobacco industry. The acquisition of Swedish Match has further bolstered PM's portfolio, adding the popular ZYN nicotine pouches to its offerings. This expansion into smoke-free products aligns with consumer trends and regulatory shifts towards reduced-risk alternatives, positioning PM favorably in the evolving market landscape.

Financial Resilience and Diversification: PM's financials exhibit resilience, with a reported increase in net revenues and a strong balance sheet. The company's strategic diversification into wellness and healthcare through the acquisition of Vectura showcases a forward-thinking approach to growth. This move not only mitigates the risks associated with the tobacco industry but also opens up new revenue streams in the burgeoning healthcare sector, tapping into the potential of inhaled therapeutics and other medical applications.

Weaknesses

Regulatory and Litigation Risks: PM operates in a highly regulated industry, facing stringent laws and policies that can impact its operations and profitability. The company's SEC filings highlight ongoing legal proceedings and the potential for adverse developments. Regulatory pressures, particularly in the form of excise taxes and smoking bans, can erode PM's market share and compress margins. Additionally, litigation risks pose a constant threat to the company's reputation and financial standing.

Story continues

Dependency on Traditional Tobacco Products: Despite strides in diversifying its product range, PM remains heavily reliant on its combustible tobacco segment. This dependence exposes the company to the declining smoking rates globally and the associated long-term risks. As the industry shifts towards reduced-risk alternatives, PM must accelerate its transformation to mitigate the impact of shrinking demand for traditional tobacco products.

Opportunities

Expansion into Reduced-Risk Products: PM's focus on smoke-free products presents significant growth opportunities. The company's investment in research and development of reduced-risk alternatives, such as its IQOS heat-not-burn technology, positions it to capitalize on the growing demand for safer nicotine delivery systems. The upcoming reacquisition of IQOS commercialization rights in the U.S. from Altria Group, Inc. could further enhance PM's market presence and drive revenue growth in a key market.

Global Market Penetration: PM's international footprint allows it to tap into emerging markets with high growth potential. The company's strategic acquisitions and partnerships can facilitate entry into new regions, leveraging its strong brand portfolio to capture market share. Additionally, PM's expansion into wellness and healthcare products could unlock new consumer segments and drive cross-selling opportunities.

Threats

Health Concerns and Consumer Shifts: Increasing health awareness and changing consumer preferences pose significant threats to PM's traditional tobacco business. The rise of anti-smoking campaigns and the growing popularity of alternative nicotine delivery systems can lead to a decline in cigarette consumption, impacting PM's core revenue source. The company must navigate these challenges by innovating and adapting to consumer demands for healthier options.

Competitive Landscape and Counterfeiting: PM operates in a fiercely competitive industry, with rivals continuously innovating and introducing new products. The threat of counterfeit products, particularly in the smoke-free category, can undermine PM's brand integrity and revenue. The company must invest in anti-counterfeiting measures and maintain a strong product pipeline to stay ahead of competitors and protect its market position.

In conclusion, Philip Morris International Inc (NYSE:PM) exhibits a strong brand presence and financial resilience, underpinned by strategic diversification efforts. However, regulatory challenges, dependence on traditional tobacco products, and evolving consumer preferences present ongoing risks. PM's focus on reduced-risk products and international expansion offers promising opportunities, but the company must remain vigilant against competitive pressures and the threat of counterfeiting to sustain its market leadership.

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.


The rise of pro-Palestinian protests that have sprung up at college campuses across the nation will likely be the focus of this weeks Sunday news shows.

The protests, focused on aversion to Israels war against Hamas in Gaza and abating the humanitarian crisis in the region, have highlighted major divisions in American politics and drawn the ire and support of politicians themselves. One of the most notable of the ongoing protests has taken place at Columbia University.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), who will appear on NewsNations The Hill Sunday this week, has called on Columbias president to do her job or resign as alongside the protests, there have been concerns raised about the safety of Jewish students on campus. In a post on social media platform X last week, he compared the protests to the deadly rally in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017.

I fully agree with the White House  these protests are antisemitic, unconscionable, and dangerous. Add some tiki torches and its Charlottesville for these Jewish students, Fetterman wrote in a statement Sunday night.

To @Columbia President Minouche Shafik: do your job or resign so Columbia can find someone who will, he added on

Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance (R), who will appear on Fox News Sunday this week, has also weighed in on the student demonstrations.

My view on the campus protests is very simple: I dont care what your cause is, whether youre pro or anti Israel or anything else, Vance said Friday in a thread on X. You dont get to turn our public places into a garbage dump. No civilization should tolerate these encampments. Get rid of them.

If you want to protest peacefully fine. Its your right. But go home and take a shower at the end of the day, he continued. These encampments are just gross. Wanting to participate in this is a mental illness.

Vance was also a critic of sending more aid to Ukraine, but his opposition to the extra assistance did not matter in the end. Earlier this week, President Biden signed a $95 billion foreign aid package that includes aid for Ukraine and Israel.

Its a good day for America, its a good day for Europe, and its a good day for world peace, Biden said as he announced he signed the legislation. Its going to make America safer, its going to make the world safer, and it continues Americas leadership in the world and everyone knows it.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who will appear on NBCs Meet the Press and CBS Face the Nation this week, said Tuesday the long delay in giving more aid to Ukraine has resulted in a lowering of the possibility it could defeat Russia on the battlefield.

So much of the hesitation and shortsightedness that has delayed this moment is premised on sheer fiction. And I take no pleasure in rebutting misguided fantasies, McConnell said in a floor speech in response to lawmakers in both the upper and lower chambers who have protracted consideration of military aid for the Eastern European country.

Make no mistake: Delay in providing Ukraine the weapons to defend itself has strained the prospects of defeating Russian aggression. Dithering and hesitation have compounded the challenges we face, he said.

Below is the full list of guests scheduled to appear on this weeks Sunday talk shows:

NewsNations The Hill Sunday  Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.).

ABCs This Week  White House national security spokesperson John Kirby.

NBCs Meet the Press  Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.).

CBS Face the Nation  McConnell; Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.); UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

CNNs State of the Union  Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.); Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R); Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D).

Fox News Sunday  Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). Fox News Sunday Morning Futures  Trump Organization Executive Vice President Eric Trump; Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.); law professor Alan Dershowitz.

NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Supreme Courts conservatives often accuse liberals of inventing provisions nowhere to be found in the Constitution. Now, the fingers are pointed in the other direction.

At the attention-grabbing arguments this week over Donald Trumps claim of sweeping presidential immunity from criminal prosecution, the six-member conservative bloc seemed largely unconcerned by a key flaw in Trumps theory: Nothing in the Constitution explicitly mentions the concept of presidential immunity.

Trumps lawyer told the justices that the founders had in a sense written immunity into the Constitution because its a logical outgrowth of a broadly worded clause about presidential power. But thats the sort of argument conservative justices have often scoffed at  most notably in the context of abortion rights.

Two years ago, conservatives relied on a strict interpretation of the Constitutions text and original meaning to overturn the federal right to abortion. But on Thursday, as they debated whether Trump can be prosecuted for his bid to subvert the 2020 election, they seemed content to engage in a free-form balancing exercise where they weighed competing interests and practical consequences.

Some critics said the conservative justices  all of whom purport to adhere to an original understanding of the Constitution  appeared to be on the verge of fashioning a legal protection for former presidents based on the justices subjective assessment of whats best for the country and not derived from the nations founding document.



The legal approach they seemed to be gravitating toward has no basis in the Constitution, in precedent, or logic, said Michael Waldman, president and CEO of New York Universitys Brennan Center for Justice. It sure ain't originalism.

The two-hour, 40-minute argument session featured a boatload of scary hypotheticals about coups and assassinations, along with predictions about serial, tit-for-tat prosecutions of future presidents, but there was little discussion of the Constitutions text.

That could come as a surprise to some. Justice Elena Kagan, one of the three liberals now on the court, famously declared in 2015 that conservatives had essentially won the decadeslong battle between those who favored a close fealty to text and original meaning and those who emphasized pragmatism or saw the Constitution as an evolving document.

I think we are all textualists now, Kagan told an audience at Harvard Law School then, as she delivered a lecture named for her then-colleague Justice Anontin Scalia, arguably the lead crusader for the text-based approach.

Kagan was perhaps the most insistent Thursday in highlighting the absence of any explicit immunity for presidents in the Constitution.

The framers did not put an immunity clause into the Constitution. They knew how to. There were immunity clauses in some state constitutions. They knew how to give legislative immunity. They didn't provide immunity to the president, said Kagan, an appointee of President Barack Obama. And, you know, not so surprising. They were reacting against a monarch who claimed to be above the law.



Arguing for the Justice Department and special counsel Jack Smith, attorney Michael Dreeben emphasized that the court would effectively be announcing judge-made law if it says presidents are entitled to criminal immunity.

There is no immunity that is in the Constitution, unless this Court creates it, Dreeben declared. There certainly is no textual immunity.  I think it would be a sea change to announce a sweeping rule of immunity that no president has had or has needed.

Of course, the court isnt writing on a blank slate. The current justices arent the ones who essentially made up executive privilege in a 1974 ruling related to the Watergate probe or the presidents immunity from civil suits in a 1983 case brought by an Air Force analyst pushed out of his job. Those cases were mentioned numerous times in Thursdays arguments.

Whoever is a textualist is a textualist leavened by precedent, University of Virginia law professor Saikrishna Prakash said. To say that everybodys a textualist  I think suggests to some people the false hope that we all agree about what something means. I mean, were all speaking English, but we all disagree on the margins about what to make of someones communications.

Dreeben told the court that the Justice Department supports those earlier rulings on presidential privilege and immunity, even though the Constitution contains no explicit provision addressing either topic.

A prominent Supreme Court critic, Georgia State University law professor Eric Segall, said theres nothing intrinsically wrong with the justices reaching a legal conclusion that lacks direct support in the Constitution. But he said the members of the nations highest court should not pretend that, in doing so, they are simply engaged in a mechanistic application of legal text.

Do I think there should be some kind of constitutional privilege for the President? Yes, I do. But we have to recognize how atextual that is, Segall said.

Calling someone a purposivist or a consequentialist might set off a brawl at a Federalist Society gathering, but the raft of hypotheticals offered by both liberal and conservative justices suggested they were intensely focused on both the founders purposes in laying out three separate branches of government and the possible consequences of giving or denying Trump his requested immunity.

The conservative justices did not completely ignore textualism in the Trump arguments Thursday. Indeed, the first question asked  from Justice Clarence Thomas  urged Trump lawyer D. John Sauer to be more precise as to the source of this immunity.

In response, Sauer pointed to the extraordinarily broad words of the first sentence of Article II of the Constitution. The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America, it reads. Sauer didnt read it aloud, perhaps because one cant find any discussion of immunity there.

Sometimes, the court has found the absence of such language to be of great import.

Writing for five conservative justices in the earth-shaking abortion case two years ago, Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, Justice Samuel Alito referred to the notion of guaranteed access to abortion as an asserted right that is nowhere mentioned in the Constitution.

On Thursday, Sauer did offer one argument for presidential immunity drawn relatively directly from the text of the Constitution: The assertion that the language allowing for criminal conviction of a federal officer after impeachment by the House and conviction by the Senate implies that a current or former president cant be criminally charged until and unless he or she is convicted by the Senate.

No justice of any stripe seemed particularly interested in that contention, although a couple did poke holes in it.

What if the criminal conduct isn't discovered until after the president is out of office, so there was no opportunity for impeachment? Justice Amy Coney Barrett asked.

Sauer appeared to concede that adopting Trumps approach would mean some presidential misconduct could never be punished.

We say the framers assumed the risk of under-enforcement by adopting these very structural checks, the Trump lawyer said.
A 24-year-old Davenport man arrested earlier this week in connection with a bar burglary was in custody Saturday after police allege he broke into and stole items from a Davenport church, court records show.

Trenton Stewart, whose address is listed as both Davenport and Moline, faces a felony charge of third-degree burglary, an aggravated misdemeanor charge of third-degree theft and a serious misdemeanor charge of fourth-degree criminal mischief, according to arrest affidavits.

Trenton Stewart (Scott County Jail)

On Friday, detectives were notified of Stewart being at Walmart, 5811 Elmore Ave, Davenport, trying to buy cell phones. Stewart already had warrants out for his arrest for theft 3rd degree for (allegedly) stealing a laptop belonging to Double Tree, 111 E. 2nd St., say affidavits, which show officers took him into custody without incident.

Incidents at a church

In affidavits, police say that, during a search incident to arrest police found items belonging to Zion Lutheran Church, 1216 W. 8th St., including a business VISA card, a check, and keys belonging to the business.

Shortly after 11:45 p.m. Thursday, officers responded to the church for a burglary alarm. They saw an open door and broken glass valued at approximately $500 at the church on the northeast side, but were unable to locate the suspect who had gained access to the church at that time.

Police allege Stewart took numerous items belonging to Zion Lutheran Church and at times staged these stolen items behind a residence in the area.

After he was read his Miranda Rights, officers allege in affidavits, Stewart admitted to doing this and also led (police) to the location where the stolen items were then recovered. Police found a computer monitor, surveillance DVR system, and other property belonging to Zion Lutheran Church valued at over $800, but under $1,500.

Shortly after 5 a.m. Friday, Davenport Police officers responded back to Zion Lutheran Church for another burglary alarm. According to affidavits, Upon officers arrival they located items being staged within Zion Lutheran Church in preparation of being stolen, but again were not able to locate the suspect.

After he was read his Miranda Rights, Stewart admitted to being inside Zion Lutheran Church again after the first time with the intention of committing another theft upon the property, affidavits show.

Stewart, who was being held Saturday on a total $12,000 bond in Scott County Jail, is set for a preliminary hearing May 7 in Scott County Court.

Burglary at the Probstei Inn

Court records say Davenport Police arrested Stewart early Tuesday in connection with a burglary at the Probstein Inn.

Court records say police responded to a call about 10:30 a.m. Monday in reference to a commercial burglary. Arrest affidavits say Stewart with no right, license, or privilege forced entry into the 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 the 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 the Probstei Inn.

Court records say Stewart did this twice at different times, and was captured on surveillance footage.

(Surveillance footage provided by Probstei Inn)

In surveillance video tavern workers provided Our Quad Cities News, a 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 with it. Police found it in a field.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  The Austin Police Department said it began responding to a shooting that involved officers late Friday in northwest Austin.

According to police, multiple callers reported hearing gunshots at an apartment in the 7900 block of San Felipe Boulevard shortly after midnight Saturday.

APD said no officers were injured during the incident, but the suspect was injured. According to police, APD officers provided first aid and CPR to the suspect at the scene, but the suspect later died at the hospital.

APD responds to officer-involved shooting on April 27 on San Felipe Boulevard in northwest Austin. (KXAN Photo/Todd Bynum)

APD responds to officer-involved shooting on April 27 on San Felipe Boulevard in northwest Austin. (KXAN Photo/Todd Bynum)

APD responds to officer-involved shooting on April 27 on San Felipe Boulevard in northwest Austin. (KXAN Photo/Todd Bynum)

During a briefing Saturday morning, APD Interim Chief Robin Henderson provided more information about the shooting.

Henderson said initial calls in the area came in at approximately 11:35 p.m. Friday for loud noise and music from cars at an apartment complex.

At approximately 12:15 a.m., another caller said a person was walking around with a gun.

According to APD, officers were sent to the scene after callers reported hearing gunshots and that a suspect had four to five people at gunpoint.

At the scene, APD said officers searched the area and found a suspect matching the description given by callers and holding a gun.

The officers identified themselves as APD and told the suspect to put their hands up. The suspect did not comply, according to police, and officers fired.

The officers then provided first aid to the suspect until Austin-Travis County EMS arrived. The suspect was taken to the hospital and later pronounced dead at approximately 1:40 a.m.

Because APD did not know if there were more armed suspects in the apartment, SWAT was called, but no other people were found.

Henderson said the two officers who discharged their guns will be placed on administrative duty. One officer had four years of service, and the other had two years of service.

The shooting was captured on officer-worn body cameras, Henderson said. The footage will be released to the public within 10 business days.

APD will conduct two concurrent investigations into the officer-involved shooting. One is a criminal investigation with APDs special investigations unit and the Travis County DAs office. The second is an administrative investigation with the internal affairs unit of the Office of Police Oversight.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
A protest in Tacoma against a 150-acre warehouse project that is stirring up controversy turned violent after a manager intervened.

PROTEST:

Climate Alliance of the South Sound, a south-Tacoma based grassroots organization that aims to empower people in the community to improve their living conditions through environmental actions, held a press conference on Friday to talk about last Sundays protest against Bridge Industrial Projects 150-acre warehouse project on Burlington Way.

The project, which officials said is aimed to create jobs, is located in one of Tacomas low-income communities.

The project will create 2.5 million square feet of light industrial and warehouse space in four large buildings, according to the City of Tacomas website. The developer first applied for permits in 2021 and was later granted approval in 2023.

The group said it was peacefully protesting against the developers project last Sunday afternoon, claiming it would negatively increase commercial traffic and pollute the communitys air and water.

We do not need another mega warehouse in this area. We do not need more pollution. We do not need more danger. We do not need more trucks. We do not need our aquifer harmed. We do not need our air polluted, said Gemini Null, coordinating director of the organization.

Null said the group was cleaning up litter near the construction site last Sunday, where they had previously adopted to clean through a program held by the City of Tacoma.

KIRO 7 News reached out to the City of Tacoma to get further details on this program and the groups involvement. We are still waiting for details.

Null said many families near the construction site are in need of critical resources.

We need a grocery store. South Tacoma does not have a normal grocery store. We need more parks, she said.

During the protest, members of the organization told KIRO 7 News a vehicle was spotted speeding towards the protest.

Paul Zuber-Fantulin, who was working as security for the event, witnessed the incident, he said.

The vehicle came at an extremely high speed, he said. Then you can hear the driver completely flooring it. High RPMs. The engine is revving as loud as it possibly can.

The vehicle quickly slowed down and changed speeds, he added.

Theres no honking during this. No warning that shes coming through, he explained.

The vehicle passed through the protest, he said, and later parked on the other side of Burlington Way, near the construction site.

A woman and a girl got out of the vehicle, he said, and approached them.

She said, Im a manager of this company. Im here to check on the employees, he described what the woman said. Coming in that day, I had no expectations something like this could happen.

Protestors said the woman became physical and grabbed Andromeda Robinsons phone, which captured the incident.

Robinson was taking part in the protest.

I saw it as an attack immediately, she said. This woman said she was the manager.

I was shocked. I dont understand why anyone would be upset that were out here other than the people who stand to profit off of it, she shared. I have been really anxious since this happened.

We were not threatening in any manner. There was nothing that we did to provoke this act, said Zuber-Fantulin.

Leaders of the organization said they believe the woman is a manager of the sites developer.

KIRO 7 News reached out to Bridge Industrial to verify the accusation. Were still waiting to hear back.

Several members of the organization told KIRO 7 News that the project would create a significant amount of commercial traffic and would pollute the air and water, which would harm the health of nearby families.

I didnt have breathing issues before this and Im worried its going to get a lot worse, said Robinson. This is blatant environmental destruction.

When the traffic increases substantially, which it will, this harms the community, said Kit Burns, who lives near the site.

Burns told KIRO 7 News that he has more than 40 years of experience as an architect and has led a number of large projects across the Puget Sound.

As an architect and a project manager, I was responsible for bringing together all of the consultants. I had up to 50 consultants to deal with soils, water, wetlands, department of natural resources, he said.

The fact that so many could be harmed and we just look the other way, its wrong. Its the 21st century. We have a chance to keep things clean, but it costs money and it needs to be done right. Were not doing that. Even now, even when we know better. We know better than to pollute our air and this wont help, he added.

KIRO 7 News reached out to Bridge Industrial to get more details about the project, Sundays incident, if the woman involved works for the company and its response about the protestors accusations.

We are still waiting to hear back.

Zuber-Fantulin said he has filed a report with the police department.

Tacoma police confirmed there were no arrests or charges have not been filed. No other details were shared.

CITY OF TACOMA:

KIRO 7 News reached out to the City of Tacoma to get more details about the project.

A spokesperson for the city said Bridge Industrial fulfilled a number of required conditions to develop the land, as required by state and local laws.

Officials said the developer was required to complete the associated environmental review that is required by the State Environmental Policy Act and complete a Critical Areas Permit related to the wetland and forested area on the western portion of the site.

The city said the conditions included the following:

 Completing restoration, enlargement, and enhancement of the wetlands and stream

 Protecting the Garry Oak trees on site and providing excess plantings to compensate for the one being removed

 Preserving and enhancing the steep slope and treed areas on the western portion of the site

 Recording these protections permanently on the title to the property

 Providing monitoring of all plantings until they are well established

According to the citys website, the developer will be required to monitor traffic generated by each tenant and to ensure it does not exceed the required thresholds. The stormwater system is also in place to collect any water that will seep into the soil, the website said, which will filter the water and disperse it back into the stream or into the ground. However, there were no details on how much water collected would be filtered.

A spokesperson told KIRO 7 News that the city could not perform its own environmental impact assessment of the project at this point in time. The city said it had completed an environmental review before it issued the development permits, as required by state and local laws.

KIRO 7 News asked if the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department assessed the impact of the project.

The spokesperson referred us to the agency.

A spokesperson for the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department said they are working to get more information, and referred us back to the City of Tacoma and its website.

The City of Tacoma said it recently entered into a $150,000 pilot agreement with the health department to conduct comprehensive Health Impact Assessments on key zoning changes and land-use ordinances. The health department will assess the targeted land and inform city council members on the potential health implications of future land use and choices.

The current 150-acre project will not be affected by this new effort, the spokesperson said.

Its not clear what the property taxes of the warehouse will be, officials said, since there are no details on the potential tenants.

The City of Tacoma said the publics input was included and considered leading up to the project.




Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of murder. Reader discretion is advised.

Tara Grinstead taught history at the Irwin County High School in Ocilla, Georgia, and was reported missing on October 24, 2005. Her friends turned suspicious after the 30-year-old teacher failed to show up at school on that day. Grinstead, who lived alone, was a one-time beauty pageant contestant and helped younger contestants prepare for a local pageant on Saturday, October 22, before she went to a barbecue and returned home at around 11 p.m.

After her disappearance was reported, authorities searched her home. Grinsteads car was still in the driveway. Apart from a broken bedside lamp, missing wallet, and keys, barely anything in the house suggested struggle, CBS News reported. With no solid leads in the case, Tara Grinsteads murder case went cold for over a decade until 2017, when Brooke Sheridan claimed she had details about the murder.

Sheridan had been dating Bo Dukes at that time. The latter reportedly told Sheridan that he helped his then-roommate, Ryan Duke, conceal Grinsteads murder. According to Bo Dukes, over a decade ago, Ryan woke him up one morning and told him he had killed the history teacher. Grinstead was Bos former teacher at the Irwin County High School. He also allegedly told him that he moved her body in Dukes truck and dumped her in a pecan orchard owned by Dukes family.

Per CBS News, Bo Dukes confessed that he helped Ryan Duke burn Tara Grinsteads body. Duke was arrested and confessed to killing the Irwin County High School teacher when she caught him stealing from her purse. He was subsequently charged with murder, while Bo Dukes was charged with covering up the crime. However, the case took a dramatic turn in 2022 when Ryan Duke claimed that he gave a false confession about killing the victim.

Who killed Tara Grinstead?

In May 2022, during Ryan Dukes ongoing trial, he reportedly claimed that it was Bo Dukes who killed Tara Grinstead. He also said that he feared his friend and lied in his confession. He testified over seven days and claimed that he helped Bo transport the body. Duke also watched him light it on fire but was not the one to kill Tara Grinstead. By then, Bo Dukes was convicted of concealing Grinsteads death and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

The court found Ryan Duke guilty on six counts, which included hindering apprehension of a criminal, concealing a death, and concealing facts and evidence tampering in the murder of Tara Grinstead, Fox 5 reported. Moreover, the court acquitted him of the previous murder charges. Duke claimed that he was afraid of what Bo Dukes would do to him because he had already killed one person.

Ryan Duke reportedly led investigators to the pecan orchard in Ben Hill County, where they burned Tara Grinsteads body. Per Fox 5, bone fragments were found and were consistent with one adult. However, DNA analysis showed inconclusive results. They also found a latex glove near the site. DNA of Ryan Duke and Tara Grinstead were identified on the glove. There was DNA of another adult, but it couldnt successfully be identified.

A 48 Hours episode delves into the disappearance and murder of Tara Grinstead. It first aired on December 30, 2020. The episode titled The Tara Grinstead Mystery re-aired on ID on March 2, 2024.

The post Tara Grinstead: What Happened to the Beauty Queen-turned-Teacher? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
(KRON)  The Mountain View Police Department is searching for a missing 16-year-old.

Maria, who also goes by Percy, was last seen at about 1:15 p.m. Friday near Los Altos High School, located at 201 Almond Ave.

Maria is a Filipino girl who is 50 and 130 pounds. She has medium-length brown hair with blonde highlights and brown eyes.

She is believed to be wearing a black sweatshirt, blue jeans, black shoes and a black backpack. Police did not provide her last name.

Anyone who sees Maria is asked to call (650) 903-6344.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
Teens stole over $7,700 in liquor from Pasco, Hernando County stores, deputies say

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  The Hernando County Sheriffs Office arrested four teenagers after they were caught stealing over $7,000 worth of liquor from several stores Monday, according to a release.

The sheriffs office said the New Port Richey Police Department asked for help finding a white Jeep Grand Cherokee that was connected to a felony retail theft at about 5:33 p.m. Monday.

Grady Judd announces largest seizure of fentanyl in Polk County history

Minutes later, the sheriffs office got a call from someone reporting another burglary at a liquor store on Spring Hill Drive. According to investigators, the store employee said four female burglars entered the store, grabbed numerous bottles of liquor, and drove off in a white SUV.

Deputies spotted the vehicle on Lindsay Drive in Spring Hill. The sheriffs office said after stopping the SUV, deputies found four female suspects in the car, including more than $7,700 worth of unopened liquor bottles recently stolen from several liquors located in both Pasco and Hernando counties.

One of the suspects was identified as Babionia Washington, 19. The other suspects were said to be minors: a 15-year-old, a 16-year-old, and a 17-year-old.

All of the suspects were arrested on charges of felony retail theft and possession of alcohol by a minor.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Iran and its proxies have actively lauded the anti-Israel protests at American universities, claiming the movement represents organic grassroots "changes in the attitudes" of the public, according to experts.

"These are the mainstream, most important news agencies or websites inside Iran that are covering this," Dr. Saeed Ghasseminejad, a senior advisor on Iran at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital.

"They are covering it very religiously, and as you can guess, they definitely back that," he said, referring to the widespread protests on American college campuses.

Several Ivy League universities, including Columbia University, Harvard University and Yale University, have faced growing anti-Israel protests that have intensified over the past week. Columbia adopted hybrid learning on its main campus over fears of safety due to the protests.

POLICE AT PRINCETON POP-UP ENCAMPMENT ARREST TWO AS ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTS SWEEP UNIVERSITIES

The unrest has spread to other universities, such as the University of Texas at Austin, where an anti-Israel demonstration devolved into arrests as the Austin Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety tried to maintain order. These protests have received considerable attention in Iran, with officials and news outlets intensely covering them and using them as supposed evidence of growing anti-Israel sentiment in the U.S.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators at an encampment at Columbia University in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of New York, US, on Monday, April 22, 2024. Columbia University took its classes online after days of anti-Israel protests roiled its New York City campus and prompted condemnation from the White House and City Hall.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian expressed support for those speaking ill of Israel and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He also said the law enforcement response to the ongoing protests, and subsequent mass arrests, has them "deeply worried and disgusted."

In translated articles that Ghasseminejad posted in a thread on social media platform X, Iranian media has highlighted the Ivy League demonstrations, claiming that they have inspired "other students across the country to stage sit-ins in support of the residents of Gaza, chanting slogans."

"According to images and reports from universities like 'Yale' and 'Harvard,' students have gathered on these campuses to condemn the genocide committed by the Israeli regime in Gaza and demand that academic associations sever ties with the Zionist regime," an article by Iranian newspaper Kayhan stated.

COLUMBIA STUDENT DESCRIBES CAMPUS FEAR, ANTI-ISRAEL SIGNS SUPPORTING TERRORISTS WHO PUT BABIES IN AN OVEN

"Harvard students carried a large banner stating: 'Stop the genocide in Gaza," the article continued. "Interestingly, while carrying the Palestinian flag around the campuses and wearing keffiyehs around their necks, students chanted against the crimes of the Zionist regime and the U.S. government's support for these crimes."

A broadcast from Iranian news network Al-Alam glorified the protests as evidence of "the emergence of broad changes in the attitudes of the American public and, particularly, the youth towards the policies of their government and its unconditional support for the Zionist regime."

"These changes are gradually having an impact on the approaches of these universities  which for years have been a source of power for this regime through promoting its lobbying in America," the report claimed.

Ghasseminejad was born in Iran but left the country in 2008 after he was abducted and confined  with a suspended sentence  for his student activism. He noted that some Middle Eastern outlets cover the unrest several times a day, every day, and are "closely following it."

HAMAS WOULD LAY DOWN ARMS IF AN INDEPENDENT PALESTINIAN STATE IS ESTABLISHED, MILITANT GROUP SAYS

Some leaders of Iranian proxies, such as Hezbollahs Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, have stressed in recent speeches how important the anti-Israel demonstrations have been in the U.S., according to Steven Stalinsky, the executive director of the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) in Washington.

In an op-ed published by the Wall Street Journal, Stalinsky wrote that Nasrallah on March 13 had lauded the "very influential" protests and argued that "we should salute them" for their campaign of "uncommitted" protest votes against President Biden.

Hundreds of anti-Israel protesters stage a demonstration in front of Sather Gate on the UC Berkeley campus on April 22, where they set up a tent encampment in solidarity with protesters at Columbia University who are demanding a permanent cease-fire in the war between Israel and Gaza.

Nasrallah called the protest votes "the most important means of pressure on the Biden administration" to affect a change in U.S. policy.

"It is no coincidence that official statements by Hamas and major jihadist groups about the protests are nearly identical," Stalinsky wrote. "The statements seem like talking points for pressuring U.S. and Western decision makers. They appear to be working."

USC CLOSES CAMPUS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE FOLLOWING ANTI-ISRAEL PROTEST, 93 ARRESTED FOR TRESPASSING

Stalinsky particularly raised concerns over the way student groups have organized to create a deliberate campaign to appear to be grassroots but have taken cues from the likes of Khaled Barakat, a former Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine member, who hosted a "Resistance 101" course with the Columbia University Apartheid Divest student group.

During a video call with the student group, Barakat discussed his "friends in Islamic Jihad" and invoked the "strategic vision" of Iran while his wife urged students to explicitly endorse the actions of armed groups, according to The Jerusalem Post.

This file handout picture provided by Hezbollah's media office on September 2, 2023, shows the Lebanese Shiite group's Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah during a meeting with the deputy chief of the Palestinian Hamas movement, Saleh al-Aruri, at an undisclosed location in Lebanon.

"He speaks to, frequently, Hezbollah, Al-Manar TV, which is  its illegal for it to air in the U.S., it used to be available on satellite, but its now blocked," Stalinsky told Fox News Digital. The Hezbollah leader did an interview on March 30 to talk about western support for Palestinians against Israel, and said "the vast majority of young Americans and Canadians  support armed resistance," Stalinsky added.

Stalinsky also noted that Barakat discussed the way that curriculum has influenced student thought, with professors pushing specific views that highlight more sympathetic angles that push students toward activism.

"I have a masters in Middle East studies, but  its not learning about the Middle East" that causes the problem, he argued. "Its about whos teaching about the Middle East."

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

He pointed to the prevalence of Students for Justice in Palestine, which preys on the notion that university students should engage in activism. But the agitators also show "a lot of ignorance," with some having admitted over the past six months that they sometimes dont know what theyre protesting.

"They are part of instigating [the protests]," Stalinsky said. "It wasnt just like some students were watching the news on Columbia, and they decided to [do] this."





Original article source: Tehran 'religiously' broadcasting anti-Israel unrest at US schools for propaganda, expert says
Donald Trump knows how to play to an audience, whether its the deluded millions of his MAGA base or the jurors in the first criminal trial of a former president.

That was clear on Friday when Trump seized a moment in his criminal trial to seemingly comfort a witnesshis still-loyal ex-assistant Rhona Graff.

The jury had just finished listening to supermarket tabloid sleaze David Pecker testify about what prosecutors say was a criminal conspiracy to influence the 2016 election by paying hush money to kill potentially damaging stories about Trump.

The prosecution then called Graff, who worked as Trumps executive assistant for 34 years. She worked in an office next to his in Trump Tower and, among other things, maintained his contacts. One was Karen McDougal, to whom Pecker paid $120,000 in hush money. Another was listed only as Stormysaid to be porn star Stormy Danielswhom Trump allegedly paid $130,000 to keep quiet about a sexual encounter. Graff told the jury she has a vague recollection of seeing Daniels in the waiting area outside Trumps 26th floor office.

Graff also kept Trumps appointment schedule, which included two entries for a TelePrompTer Practice Session in the lead-up to the 2017 inauguration. The prosecution was apparently using the entries to establish that Trump had been in New York on those particular days.

During cross examination, a defense attorney asked Graff, How was it like working for President Trump? She replied that it was very stimulating, exciting and described Trumps ascent to becoming a celebrity with rock star status.

She added that Trump was a fair boss who treated her with respect. I wouldnt have been there for 34 years if he hadnt, she said.

She recalled that when she worked late, he would sometimes stick his head in and say, Go home to your family. She said she was only testifying because she had been subpoenaed and the Trump Organization is paying her legal bills.

Trump Lawyers Hammer Pecker During Cross-Examination

You dont want to be here, do you? the defense attorney asked.

However despicable Trump had been to others, however much he has proven to be a bully and a liar, however dire a danger he poses to our democracy, Graff knew him as a boss who had been decent to her.

Correct, Graff said.

Graff seemed to be near tears as she stepped down from the witness stand. The judge chose this moment to summon the lawyers to the bench. Trump had always remained seated during the trials many previous sidebars, but he recognized a perfect opportunity as Graff neared him on her way out. He rose with the lawyers, stepped toward her, reached out and touched her hand and said something quietly reassuring.

And it was all right in front of the jury. He had presented them with Tender Trump, who surfaces when the moment serves him best.

The judge either did not see it or simply chose not to say anything. The sidebar continued and then a New Jersey banker named Gary Farro took the stand as the next witness. He began to describe his financial dealings with Michael Cohen, the former Trump fixer who set up the payments for Stormy Daniels.

Cohen ended up in federal prison for perjury, tax evasion, and campaign finance violations. He turned bitter when Trump stopped paying his legal bills, and has vowed to get even with a boss he once joined Graff in idolizing. He now says he wants to see Trump in an orange jumpsuit and cannot wait to take the witness stand in the days ahead.

The banker had not finished testifying when the judge called a recess late Friday afternoon. The jury filed out, the image of Tender Trump fresh in their memory. He only needs one of them to hold out against a guilty verdict and he will be declaring a great victory. A hung jury could put him in the White House.

We cannot expect to see much of Tender Trump if he returns to the White House. He has already pledged to exact vengeance on his many enemies.

A more recognizable Trump emerged after the last juror exited and it came time for him to depart with his Secret Service detail. He had an angry scowl as he strode past the rows of reporters who pack in every day to watch the big trial.

There is no court on Wednesday, and Trump plans to hold rallies in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and Freeland, Michigan. He will no doubt play to the audiences there, just as he did to the jury in a Manhattan courtroom.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
Revenue growth showcases resilience amidst challenging market conditions.

Operating losses persist, highlighting the need for strategic cost management.

Research and development expenses remain a priority, reflecting commitment to innovation.

North America continues to be a key revenue driver, despite global user base expansion.

On April 26, 2024, Snap Inc (NYSE:SNAP) filed its 10-Q report, revealing a company at the intersection of growth and challenge. Snap Inc, the parent company of the widely-used social networking app Snapchat, reported a revenue increase to $1.19 million thousand in the first quarter of 2024, up from $988,608 thousand in the same period the previous year. Despite this growth, the company faced an operating loss of $333,232 thousand, albeit a slight improvement from the previous year's loss of $365,264 thousand. The financial tables indicate a company investing heavily in its future, with substantial costs allocated to research and development, sales and marketing, and general administrative expenses. These investments are critical as Snap Inc strives to maintain its competitive edge and capitalize on its more than 400 million daily active users, primarily driven by the North American market which accounts for a significant portion of sales.

Decoding Snap Inc (SNAP): A Strategic SWOT Insight

Strengths

Robust User Engagement: Snap Inc's primary strength lies in its impressive user base, with over 400 million daily active users. This level of engagement is a testament to the app's popularity and the company's ability to innovate and keep its offerings fresh. The high user engagement not only attracts advertisers but also provides a rich data pool for targeted advertising, which is a key revenue source for the company.

Revenue Growth: Despite the competitive landscape, Snap Inc has managed to grow its revenue, as evidenced by the latest SEC filing. The increase from $988,608 thousand to $1.19 million thousand in quarterly revenue year-over-year highlights the company's ability to monetize its user base effectively. This growth is particularly noteworthy given that it has been achieved in a period marked by economic uncertainty and increased competition in the social media space.

Innovation and Brand Strength: Snap Inc continues to invest heavily in research and development, which is crucial for the introduction of new features and maintaining the app's appeal. The company's brand is synonymous with innovation in the social media industry, particularly with younger demographics, which is a valuable asset in attracting new users and retaining existing ones.

Story continues

Weaknesses

Operating Losses: Despite revenue growth, Snap Inc reported an operating loss in its latest quarter. This persistent inability to achieve profitability is a significant weakness, as it raises concerns about the company's long-term financial sustainability. The high costs associated with research and development, sales and marketing, and general administrative expenses are contributing factors to these losses.

Heavy Reliance on Advertising Revenue: Snap Inc's revenue stream is highly dependent on advertising, which accounted for approximately 96% of total revenue in the previous year. This dependence makes the company vulnerable to fluctuations in advertising spend, which can be influenced by economic downturns or changes in advertiser preferences.

Geographic Concentration of Revenue: Although Snap Inc has a global user base, a disproportionate amount of its revenue comes from North America. This geographic concentration poses a risk, as it leaves the company exposed to market-specific issues such as regulatory changes or economic downturns in that region.

Opportunities

Global Market Expansion: Snap Inc has the opportunity to further expand its user base internationally. With only a quarter of its users in North America, there is significant potential for growth in other regions, which could lead to a more diversified and resilient revenue stream.

Product Diversification: The company's strong brand and large user base provide a platform for diversification into new products and services. This could include hardware like Spectacles, original content production, or further development of augmented reality technologies, which could open up additional revenue streams.

Advertising Technology Innovations: Snap Inc can leverage its expertise in augmented reality and user engagement to develop new advertising technologies. By offering advertisers more sophisticated and effective tools for reaching their target audience, Snap Inc can increase the value of its advertising inventory and attract a larger share of advertising budgets.

Threats

Competitive Pressure: The social media landscape is highly competitive, with several large players vying for user attention and advertising dollars. Snap Inc must continuously innovate to maintain its user base and advertising revenue in the face of competition from other platforms that are also investing heavily in new features and user growth.

Regulatory Challenges: As a company that relies heavily on user data for targeted advertising, Snap Inc is susceptible to regulatory changes related to privacy and data protection. Such changes could restrict the company's ability to collect and use data, potentially impacting its advertising revenue and operational costs.

Economic Uncertainty: Economic downturns can lead to reduced advertising spend, which would directly affect Snap Inc's primary revenue source. The company's financial performance is therefore sensitive to broader economic conditions, which can be unpredictable and outside of its control.

In conclusion, Snap Inc (NYSE:SNAP) presents a mixed picture of strengths and challenges. The company's robust user engagement and revenue growth are counterbalanced by operating losses and a heavy reliance on advertising revenue. Opportunities for global expansion and product diversification exist, but these are tempered by competitive pressures and regulatory challenges. As Snap Inc navigates these dynamics, its ability to innovate and adapt will be critical to its success.

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.


The bridge over Old Hickory Lake at Memorial Park in Hendersonville.

The Sumner County community is planning to come together Friday to Light The Path for 15-year-old Sebastian Wayne Drake Rogers, who went missing from his Hendersonville home two months ago.

Light The Path for Sebastian, a community led event offering prayer and support, is set for 7:30 p.m. on the Memorial Park bridge, 151 E Main St in Hendersonville.

More: Tennessee Amber Alert: Sumner officials, others re-canvassing for Sebastian Rogers

Two months to the day, we are coming together to bring light to the darkness, illuminate Sebastians safe path home and show our unwavering support for his family, event organizers said on Facebook. The bridge will be lit up in Sebastians favorite color green.

The Sumner County teen with autism was reported missing from his home on Feb. 26.

More: Tennessee Amber Alert: Glasses found as case of missing Sumner teen passes month mark

In the two months that have followed, numerous law enforcement agencies and hundreds of volunteers from across the U.S. have worked countless hours to find him.

Sumner County officials say they have had little to go on with no sightings to point to the teenager's whereabouts.

More: Tennessee Amber Alert: No trace of missing Sumner County teen found at Kentucky landfill

Earlier this month, crews re-canvassed for the missing boy one day after Sumner County authorities held a news conference sharing few new details about the search.

Law enforcement and first responder agencies gathered to walk in teams near the Long Hollow Pike area as the search effort continued.

More: Tennessee Amber Alert: Sumner officials scale back search for missing boy as parents speak

Anyone with information on Sebastian's whereabouts is encouraged to contact officials with the Sumner County Sheriff's Office and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Tips can be provided to Sumner County Emergency Communications at (615) 451-3838 or 1-800-TBI-FIND.

Katie Nixon can be reached at knixon@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Amber Alert: Bridge lighting planned for Sebastian Rogers
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.

Woman wins $1M after nearly forgetting lottery ticket in Tupperware container

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.

Cicada emergence brings trillions of insects above ground across US

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 Queen City News.
People take part in a rally in Ferraz street in support of the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, at the headquarters of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE). Jesus Hellin/EUROPA PRESS/dpa

Over 10,000 people demonstrated in Madrid on Saturday in favour of keeping left-wing Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in his job, after he said he would decide on Monday on whether to resign after a right-wing group made allegations against his wife.

At the rally outside the headquarters of Sanchez's socialist PSOE party, people shouted slogans such as "Pedro, don't surrender," "Of course it's worth it" and "Stay" while waving red party flags and banners with the words "Sanchez, yes, keep going," as seen on the state TV station RTVE.

Others shouted "Democracy yes, fascism no" or "You are not alone."

The public prosecutor's office in Madrid has requested that a preliminary investigation into a corruption allegation against First Lady Begona Gomez be dropped, the TV station RTVE, the newspaper El Pais and other media reported on Thursday, citing the judiciary.

Meanwhile, the PSOE presidium met at the party headquarters, with the meeting being broadcast publicly for the first time. Leading party members called on Sanchez not to resign.

"Democracies become regressive when election results are denied legitimacy," warned Sanchez deputy Maria Jesus Montero. This is precisely what the right and the far right are trying to achieve with a "strategy of mud-slinging," she warned.

"Pedro, stay," Montero demanded.

Last Wednesday, Sanchez had surprisingly announced that he was considering resigning, citing the corruption charge against his wife. He cancelled all public appointments said he would announce his decision on Monday.

Until then, he wanted to think about whether it was still "worth it, despite the swamp in which the right and right-wing extremists are trying to play politics."

Sanchez said he was pondering whether he "should continue to head the government or step down from this high honour."

The complaint against the prime minister's wife was filed by Manos Limpias, or Clean Hands, an organization which is classified as very right-wing. The organization has attracted attention in recent years with numerous complaints in the area of public administration and accuses Gomez, who holds no public office, of exerting influence and corruption in the economy.

Manos Limpias later admitted that the charges were based on media reports that could well be false.

First Vice-President and Finance Minister Maria Jesus Montero (C) takes part in a rally in support of the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, in front of the headquarters of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) in Ferraz street. A. Perez Meca/EUROPA PRESS/dpa

People take part in a rally in Ferraz street in support of the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, at the headquarters of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE). Jesus Hellin/EUROPA PRESS/dpa
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Violence against women is an "epidemic" in Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Saturday, as thousands attended rallies in Sydney and other major Australian cities urging tougher laws on gendered violence.

The rallies were spurred by a wave of violence against women that the government says has seen a woman killed every four days this year. The rallies also followed a mass stabbing in Sydney this month that killed six people, including five women.

Protesters demanding stronger criminal laws gathered in Sydney, capital of New South Wales state, for a rally and then a march that closed city streets. Some protesters carried signs that read "Respect" and "No More Violence".

In South Australia's capital Adelaide, it was estimated around 3,000 people rallied at the city's parliament building.

Prime Minister Albanese said he would be part of a rally in the national capital Canberra on Sunday.

"I will walk with women across Australia to say enough is enough," Albanese said on social media platform X.

"Violence against women is an epidemic. We must do better."

In Adelaide, Greens Party Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said "a national emergency response" was needed to tackle the issue.

"Women are sick and tired of being told 'yes it's bad but there's not much we can do,'" Hanson-Young said, according to a spokesperson.

Similar protests were scheduled across the weekend in state capitals Perth, Western Australia; Melbourne, Victoria; Hobart, Tasmania; and Brisbane, Queensland.

Gender-based violence is an ongoing issue in Australia, a nation of 26 million. In 2021, tens of thousands rallied over allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct in some of the nation's highest political offices.

(Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney; Editing by Tom Hogue)
Three civilians injured, one seriously, in Russian attack on Kozatske, Kherson Oblast

Three men have been injured in a Russian attack on the village of Kozatske (Kherson Oblast) on Saturday, 27 April. One of them is in serious condition.

Source: Kherson Oblast Military Administration

Quote: "Kozatske is under enemy fire again. Russian troops fired mortars on the village around 14:30 today.

Three people have been injured in the bombardment. They are men aged 41, 47 and 53.

The casualties have been hospitalised to receive medical care. One of them is in a serious condition."

Support UP or become our patron!
Welcome, folks, to Week in Review (WiR), TechCrunch's regular newsletter covering this week's noteworthy happenings in tech.

TikTok's fate in the U.S. looks uncertain after President Joe Biden signed a bill that included a deadline for ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, to divest itself of TikTok within nine months or face a ban on distributing it in the U.S. Ivan writes about how the impact of TikTok bans in other countries could signal whats to come stateside.

Meanwhile, fallout from the Change Healthcare hack continues. Change, a subsidiary of health insurance giant UnitedHealth, confirmed this week that the ransomware attack targeting it earlier this year resulted in a huge theft of Americans private health info, possibly covering "a substantial proportion" of Americans.

And Tesla profits dropped 55% as the EV company contends with increased pressure from hybrid carmakers. The automaker's growth plan is centered around mysterious cheaper EVs scheduled to launch next year -- as well as perhaps a robotaxi. But a recall on the Cybertruck for faulty accelerator pedals certainly won't help in the interim.

Lots else happened. We recap it all in this edition of WiR  but first, a reminder to sign up to receive the WiR newsletter in your inbox every Saturday.

News

Amazon grocery plan: Amazon launched a new unlimited grocery delivery subscription in the U.S. The plan, which costs $9.99 per month for Amazon Prime users, comes with free deliveries for grocery orders over $35 across Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and other local grocery retailers.

California drones grounded: In more Amazon news, the tech giant confirmed that it's ending Prime Air drone delivery operations in Lockeford, California. The Central California town of 3,500 was the companys second U.S. drone delivery site after College Station, Texas; Amazon didn't offer any details around the setback.

Fisker plans layoffs: Fisker says its planning more layoffs less than two months after cutting 15% of its workforce, as the EV startup scrambles to raise cash to stay alive. Fisker expects to seek bankruptcy protection within the next 30 days if it cant come up with the money.

Stripe expansion: Among a slew of other announcements at its Sessions conference in San Francisco, Stripe said that it'll be de-coupling payments from the rest of its financial services stack. Given that Stripe previously required businesses to be payments customers in order to use any of its other products, that's a big change.

Analysis

Rabbit hands on: Brian writes about the R1, the first gizmo from AI startup R1. The $199 price point, touchscreen and funky aesthetic from storied design firm Teenage Engineering make the R1 far more accessible than Humane's Ai Pin, he concludes.

Lab-grown diamonds: Pascal, an Andreessen Horowitz-backed startup, claims it can make high-end jewelry accessible by using lab-grown diamonds chemically and physically akin to natural diamonds but that cost one-twentieth of the price.

AI poetry: An experiment called the Poetry Camera -- an actual, physical camera -- combines open source technology with playful design and artistic vision. Instead of merely capturing images, the Poetry Camera arranges thought-provoking, AI-generated stanzas based on the visuals it encounters.

Rippling deep dive: Connie interviewed Parker Conrad, the CEO of workforce management startup Rippling, on the companys new $200 million funding round, new San Francisco lease (the second biggest to be signed in the city this year) and more.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Harmony Public Schools, which bills itself as the largest STEM-focused charter public school network in Texas, is hosting a job fair Saturday, April 27.

The job fair will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Harmony School of Science-El Paso, 1730 Joe Battle Blvd.

Applicants are encouraged to bring copies of their resume. Prescreening/interviews will take place on-site.

Participants may also pre-register in advance at https://www.harmonytx.org/jobfair.

Candidates can also preview current openings at https://harmonytx.org/Jobs.

Harmony says is average teacher salary is $67,000 with some teachers earning up to $100,000 with additional bonuses for experience, hard-to-teach subjects, club sponsorship and other incentives.

Harmony also offers early release at 1 p.m. on Fridays each week.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Christina Bobb, right, speaking with then Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, left, at a "Save America" rally in 2022 in Florence, Arizona. (Photo by Gage Skidmore / 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. Mayes has since confirmed Eastman, Ellis, Roman and Epshteyn, who is still a Trump adviser.

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 Jan. 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.

The post Top GOP election integrity lawyer charged in Arizona fake elector scheme appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE:LUV) maintains a robust brand presence and customer loyalty despite market challenges.

Operational disruptions and delivery delays pose significant threats to LUV's service efficiency and growth plans.

Strategic investments in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and cabin enhancements present new opportunities for differentiation.

Recent labor agreements and investments in customer experience signal proactive steps to leverage strengths and mitigate weaknesses.

On April 26, 2024, Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE:LUV), the largest domestic air carrier in the United States by passengers boarded, filed its 10-Q report with the SEC. This SWOT analysis delves into the financials and strategic positioning of LUV, as revealed in the filing. The company reported a notable increase in total operating revenues by $623 million, or 10.9 percent, year-over-year, indicating a resilient performance despite operational challenges. With a fleet of over 700 Boeing 737 aircraft, LUV continues to focus on operational excellence and reliability. However, the company faces headwinds from Boeing's delivery delays and the aftermath of a wide-scale operational disruption in late 2022, which impacted bookings and increased expenses by approximately $55 million in the first quarter of 2023.

Decoding Southwest Airlines Co (LUV): A Strategic SWOT Insight

Strengths

Brand Loyalty and Customer Base: Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE:LUV) has cultivated a strong brand image synonymous with affordable travel and customer-centric policies. The company's "Transfarency" philosophy, which emphasizes low fares with no hidden fees, has earned it a loyal customer base. This brand equity is a critical asset that allows LUV to maintain a competitive edge in the low-cost carrier market.

Financial Resilience: Despite the operational challenges, LUV's financial resilience is evident in its revenue growth. The company's ability to increase operating revenues amidst industry-wide adversities showcases its robust business model and effective cost management strategies. This financial stability provides LUV with the flexibility to navigate market fluctuations and invest in growth initiatives.

Operational Efficiency: LUV operates with a point-to-point network, which reduces the complexities associated with hub-and-spoke models used by many competitors. This operational strategy enhances flight frequency, minimizes aircraft turnaround time, and improves overall efficiency, contributing to LUV's strength in the industry.

Weaknesses

Operational Disruptions: The operational disruption in late 2022, caused by extreme winter weather, led to over 16,700 flight cancellations and a deceleration in bookings. These events not only resulted in immediate financial losses but also damaged LUV's reputation for reliability, which could have long-term implications on customer trust and preference.

Story continues

Dependence on Single Aircraft Type: LUV's all-Boeing 737 fleet, while beneficial for maintenance and training efficiencies, also poses a risk. The reliance on a single aircraft type makes LUV vulnerable to issues specific to the Boeing 737, such as the recent delivery delays and the grounding of the 737 MAX in the past.

Labor Costs: The recent ratification of labor contracts, while ensuring employee satisfaction, has led to significant payouts. The $1.35 billion paid as a ratification bonus to Pilots in the first quarter of 2024 is indicative of the rising labor costs that could impact LUV's profitability and pricing competitiveness.

Opportunities

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Investments: LUV's establishment of Southwest Airlines Renewable Ventures, LLC (SARV) and investments in SAF technology providers like LanzaJet, Inc., and SAFFiRE Renewables, LLC, position the company at the forefront of sustainability in aviation. These initiatives align with LUV's goal to replace 10 percent of its total jet fuel consumption with SAF by 2030, offering a competitive advantage in an increasingly eco-conscious market.

Customer Experience Enhancements: LUV's plans to redesign aircraft cabins and introduce new seats, along with enhanced WiFi and onboard power ports, signal a commitment to improving the customer experience. These enhancements could attract more passengers and potentially generate additional revenue streams.

Network Optimization: LUV's strategic decision to cease operations in underperforming markets and restructure others, such as Atlanta and Chicago, demonstrates a proactive approach to optimizing its network. This could lead to improved operational efficiency and profitability.

Threats

Boeing Delivery Delays: The ongoing delays in aircraft deliveries from Boeing pose a significant threat to LUV's growth and fleet modernization plans. These delays could restrict LUV's capacity to expand its network and meet market demand, potentially leading to lost revenue opportunities.

Regulatory and Legal Challenges: LUV is subject to various legal proceedings and claims, such as the class action litigation under the USERRA, which could result in financial penalties and damage the company's reputation. Additionally, the outcome of governmental inquiries and investigations following the December 2022 operational disruption remains uncertain and could have adverse effects.

Competitive Landscape: The airline industry is highly competitive, with carriers constantly vying for market share. LUV must continuously innovate and adapt to maintain its position, especially as competitors introduce new services, pricing strategies, and technological advancements.

In conclusion, Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE:LUV) exhibits strong brand loyalty, financial resilience, and operational efficiency, which are crucial for sustaining its leadership in the low-cost carrier segment. However, the company must address weaknesses such as operational disruptions, dependence on a single aircraft type, and rising labor costs. Opportunities in sustainable aviation and customer experience enhancements present avenues for growth, while threats from Boeing delivery delays, regulatory challenges, and intense competition require vigilant management. LUV's strategic investments and network optimization efforts are commendable steps toward leveraging its strengths and mitigating its weaknesses, positioning the company for continued success in a dynamic industry

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.


Christina Bobb, right, speaking with then Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, left, at a "Save America" rally in 2022 in Florence, Arizona. (Photo by Gage Skidmore / 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.

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.

The post Top GOP election integrity lawyer charged in Arizona fake elector scheme appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
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. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

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.

SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE

The post Top GOP election integrity lawyer charged in Arizona fake elector scheme appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
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.

The post Top GOP election integrity lawyer charged in Arizona fake elector scheme appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Topeka firefighters rescued one person from a house fire early Saturday morning.

The Topeka Fire Department (TFD) was called around 4 a.m. on April 27 for a house fire in the 2600 block of SW Belle Avenue. Crews arriving at the scene found a home on fire and managed to rescue one person from the burning structure.

Rosie Nichols, a spokeswoman for the City of Topeka, says no injures were reported during this incident. The TFD put the fire out, keeping it contained to the first home.

New Billard Airport terminal restaurant on the horizon

Investigators determined an electrical issue started the fire. TFD said the fire caused $100,000 in damage, with $80,000 attributed to structural damage and $20,000 to contents.

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.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  A tornado plowed through suburban Omaha, Nebraska, on Friday afternoon, destroying homes and other structures as the twister tore for miles along farmland and into subdivisions. Injuries were reported but it wasnt yet clear if anyone was killed in the storm.

Multiple tornadoes were reported in Nebraska but the most destructive storm moved from a largely rural area into suburbs northwest of Omaha, a city of 485,000 people.

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.

Another tornado hit an area on the western edge of Omaha, passing directly through parts of Eppley Airfield, the citys airport. Officials closed the airport to aircraft operations and were assessing any damage in the area, Omaha Airport Authority Chief Strategy Officer Steve McCoy said.

We have folks in the terminal that are in shelters right now, but the airport is currently closed, he said, adding that he wasnt aware of any injuries. Flight delays are likely, he said.

After passing through the airport, the tornado crossed the Missouri River and into Iowa, north of Council Bluffs.

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.

Before the tornado hit the Omaha area, three workers in an industrial plant were injured 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.

Sheriffs officials say they also had reports of a tipped-over train near Waverly, also in Lancaster County.

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. And forecasters warned that large hail and damaging wind gusts were possible.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a tornado watch for several parts in and around the Kansas City metro viewing area until 9 p.m. Saturday.

The parts of Missouri under the tornado watch include Caldwell, Clay, Clinton, Daviess, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Linn, Livingston, Nodaway, Platte and Worth counties.

Other Missouri counties include:

Adaire, Andrew, Buchanan, Dekalb, Holt, Mercer, Putnam, Schuyler and Sullivan

On the Kansas side, the tornado watch includes Atchison, Brown, Douglas, Leavenworth, Jefferson and Wyandotte counties.

View the latest Weather Alerts in the Kansas City region on FOX4

Other counties in Kansas that are also under the tornado watch include:

Barbara, Barton, Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Clay, Cloud, Coffey, Comanche, Cowley, Dickinson, Doniphan, Edwards, Elk, Ellsworth, Greary, Greenwood, Harper, Harvey, Jackson, Kingman, Kiowa, Lincoln, Lyon, Marion, Marshall, McPherson, Morris, Nemaha, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Pottawatomie, Pratt, Reno, Rice, Riley, Russell, Saline, Sedgwick, Shawnee, Stafford, Sumner, Wabaunsee and Washington.

During a tornado watch, conditions are favorable for a tornado to develop, but a tornado has not yet been sighted or indicated by weather radar.

A tornado watch may also include severe thunderstorms with the potential for winds of 58 mph or higher and/or hail 1 inch in diameter or larger, according to the NWS.

Joes Blog: Flooding rains + additional severe weather chances (SAT-4/27)

The FOX4 Weather Team has reported chances of strong/severe storms with wind and hail threats, risks of possible tornadoes and the potential for some areas to experience heavy flooding rains.

FOX4 and the FOX4 Weather Team will update you on the latest national and local weather coverage. For timely updates, download the FOX4 News app on the Apple and Google stores, and tune in at 4, 5 and 6 p.m. for the live broadcasts at FOX4 News.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Tornadoes flatten homes in Nebraska as storms threaten parts of the Midwest

Destructive tornadoes ripped through parts of Nebraska, levelling homes and businesses in the suburbs of Omaha  while millions of people in the central United States warned that more severe weather could be in store.

No less than 25 tornado reports were made in and around Omaha and Lincoln throughout Friday, the National Weather Service (NWS) said in a preliminary report. The city of Omaha issued at least 42 tornado warnings.

Videos and photos showed massive spirals of dark clouds making their way across fields, highways, neighbourhoods and more, causing extensive destruction.

Elkhorn, a town less than 10 miles from Omaha, sustained some of the most severe damage with many homes flattened. Two people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Other areas like Waterloo and Bennington similarly faced severe and expansive destruction.

Three people were injured in Lancaster County after a tornado hit an industrial building causing it to collapse. Authorities told The Associated Press injuries were not life-threatening.

The powerful storms stretched across Iowa too. The town of Minden, which is about 25 miles from Omaha, sustained heavy damage.

A terrifying sight to see.



Watch as this multi-vortex tornado crosses the highway in Harlan, IA! A tornado watch remains in effect until late this evening. #iawx pic.twitter.com/DslF89GYWL  WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) April 26, 2024

One resident of Elkhorn described the fast-moving tornado as a freight train.

We saw it coming from the southwest, and when it got too close for comfort, we headed downstairs quickly. We were in the downstairs bathtub, and it was just like the movie said, it was like a freight train, Jason Sunday told KETV.

And you knew the roof was coming off because that was a loud pop and sucking motion. It was pretty scary.

People are pick through the rubble of a house that was leveled in Elkhorn, Neb., on Saturday, April 27, 2024. (AP)

In a press conference on Friday, Omaha Fire Department chief Kathy Bossman said that crews would be conducting searches of neighbourhoods.

"We have power outages, we have power lines down, we have gas leaks, we have unstable structures, we have trees that are down," Ms Bossman said.

The fire department also warned people to expect severe weather again on Saturday with the possibility of tornadoes, flooding, damaging winds and hail.

The NWS Weather Prediction Center said current weather patterns in the central US will support a very active weekend of severe storms from the Southern Plains to the Mississippi River. They have issued an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms with possible tornadoes for the Southern and Central Plains.

Tornadoes are the result of unstable weather conditions. When warm humid air near the ground mixes with cooler air above and strong winds push the conditions in different directions, it causes the air current to spin.

A tornado can happen anywhere but are most commonly seen in the Midwest where those weather conditions occur most often. May is the most popular month for tornadoes.
On May 27, 1997, an F5 tornado half a mile wide ripped through the small Texas town of Jarrell, killing 27 people, including a family of five. File Photo courtesy of the National Weather Service

April 26 (UPI) -- Clean-up efforts and assessments of the devastation wrought by an outbreak of more than two dozen tornadoes are underway Saturday in Omaha, Neb., as forecasters warned of more trouble ahead.

More than 100 homes were destroyed by the storms and some people were injured when the twisters struck late Friday afternoon, Omaha-area Congressman Don Bacon told reporters, but there were no reported fatalities as of early Saturday.

Emergency teams conducted door-to-door checks for storm victims, Bacon said after touring the devastation caused by tornadoes ripping through eastern Nebraska and Texas.

A federal disaster declaration is likely from the White House in the coming days, he added.

A total of 70 tornadoes, including 28 in Nebraska, were recorded across the affected areas of the United States on Friday, according to the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen and his wife Suzanne on Saturday extended "our deepest prayers to all those impacted by today's storms.

"I have ordered that state resources be made available to assist with the emergency response and to support local first responders as they assess the damage," Pillen posted on X.

State authorities urged residents to avoid downed power lines and abide law enforcement directives in impacted areas throughout the state.

Additional severe weather is likely to hamper efforts to clean up after the tornadoes.

The National Weather Service in Omaha said large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes and flooding are possible as severe weather continues Saturday.

"Those cleaning up from storms on Friday will want to have a plan for sheltering before storms develop," the NWS posted on X. "Even if the storms are not severe, lightning would be a danger."

Several other cities, including, Dallas, Kansas City, Mo., and Des Moines, Iowa, can also expect multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms through Sunday. More than 55 million Americans from Texas to Michigan could feel the effects, including Austin, Oklahoma City, Chicago and Milwaukee.

The first indication of trouble came early Friday afternoon when the NWS issued a tornado watch for all of central and eastern Nebraska including Omaha, Lincoln and Grand Island. Within a few hours, tornado warnings extended to nearly 50,000 people in the eastern half of the state.

One tornado churning through Lincoln flipped a semi-trailer onto Interstate 80 northeast of the city, slowing traffic to a crawl.

By around 4:30 p.m. on Friday, first responders reported major damage, with several houses destroyed and multiple people trapped in their basements outside of Omaha and in Washington County.

The first of several tornadoes hit the Omaha metro area at about 5:15 p.m.

Eppley Airfield shut down after a tornado damaged the east side of the airfield where the general aviation area is, according to Omaha Airport Authority Chief Information Officer Steve McCoy.

"We're still doing damage assessment," McCoy said. "The terminal is relatively unaffected. But the airport is closed while we do damage assessment. We hope to reopen soon."

At least two tornadoes touched down in Texas Friday afternoon after severe thunderstorms that morning.

Video of the cyclone posted to X showed it cutting through a large field east of Waco.

Officials in Iowa's Pottawattamie County said four people were injured Friday, and about 120 structures were damaged by severe weather.

There have not been any confirmed deaths.

"A complex but potentially significant severe weather episode is expected on Saturday," the the Storm Prediction Center said Friday.

A Level 3 of 4 risk of excessive rainfall is in place for Oklahoma City and Tulsa, as well as parts of Texas and Kansas.

Heavy rainfall and flooding is possible Sunday, especially in the Lower Mississippi Valley.

Springtime often means tornado season for the Plains and parts of the Midwest, as moist air from the Gulf of Mexico flows into the central United States and heats up the region, priming the atmosphere for severe storms.

There is still a chance of tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds on Sunday from Austin to Davenport, Iowa. It is predicted to affect areas including Shreveport, La.; Little Rock, Ark.; Kansas City and St. Louis, Mo.
I traveled between Canada and Seattle on a $64 car ferry and a $124 passenger ferry, and I wouldn't do the cheap option again

I traveled between Canada and Seattle on a $64 car ferry and a $124 passenger ferry, and I wouldn't do the cheap option again

I live in Victoria, Canada, and I think ferries are the best way to get to Seattle, Washington.

There are passenger ferries and car ferries, so I tried both to see which is more worth it.

Although it's nice to have a car if you want to do some shopping, I prefer the passenger ferry.

As a long-time resident of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, I love to take weekend trips to Seattle.

Flying anywhere has been an absolute pain these last few years, and I'm not sure the delays and price jacks will get better anytime soon. But luckily, one of the easiest ways to get between Canada and the US is by ferry.

The Victoria Clipper is a popular, high-speed passenger ferry that goes from harbor to harbor. But many people from Victoria will also take their car on BC Ferries to Vancouver and drive two or three hours to Seattle.

I haven't been to Seattle since 2020, so I recently tried both options to see which I like better right now. If you're considering either ferry, here's what I liked and disliked about each one.

The Victoria Clipper passenger ferry boards along the scenic inner harbor downtown.

I live right by the ferry terminal in Victoria. Simone Paget

I love how conveniently located the Victoria Clipper terminals are  right in the heart of downtown Victoria.

It's only an eight-minute drive from my house, and I arrived an hour before my 5 p.m. sailing. I quickly went through customs before moving to the boarding lounge.

With taxes and fees, my one-way economy ticket cost $124.

Dont let the bare-bones boarding area worry you.

I didn't have to wait long to board the ferry. Simone Paget

The actual ferry vessel is much nicer than the folding chairs in its waiting area.

I only had to wait about 10 minutes before it was time to board the ferry.

Boarding was easy, stress-free, and super scenic.

You get a nice view of Victoria as you're leaving the terminal. Simone Paget

Passengers board the ferry using an outdoor walkway.

While boarding, I looked over my shoulder and got a stunning view of the inner harbor, including the iconic Fairmont Empress Hotel.

Theres a variety of different seating options.

I bought a standard economy ticket for this ride. Simone Paget

Standard economy seating is on the lower deck of the boat.

As a local who's taken the trip before, I know some of the seats in the section are better than others. I chose a front-facing seat near the snack bar (I know my priorities).

It might be worth it to upgrade to a window seat.

You can pay a little more to sit along the windows in economy. Simone Paget

If I were a tourist traveling on the Clipper for the first time, I'd consider upgrading to the economy panorama fare. Those seats are located along the window of the lower deck and cost $140.

Even though they're pricier, you get an incredible view of the Pacific Ocean, snow-capped mountains, and city skylines.

If you're looking for an even more luxurious trip, you can upgrade to the vista or comfort classes on the upper deck. Those one-way tickets range from $140 to $175.

You dont have to worry about your luggage on the Victoria Clipper.

I placed my carry-on on the luggage rack for the duration of the ferry. Simone Paget

Checked luggage is available for $20 an item, but I decided to go with just a carry-on, which was free with my ticket.

I was worried about where I'd put it once I was aboard because the ferry doesn't have overhead bins like an airplane. Luckily, there were several large luggage racks throughout the boat, which made storing and accessing my bag a breeze.

Theres a small onboard snack bar.

There were some fun Seattle-based chocolates at the snack bar. Simone Paget

The economy snack bar served coffee, prepackaged sandwiches, treats, beer, and wine.

The selection of sandwiches was quite limited, but I liked that you could get local snacks and treats from Seattle Chocolate Company.

I brought some takeout with me, so I just ordered a glass of wine for about $9. The service was prompt and the staff was super friendly.

I spent the rest of the ride reading a book and drinking my wine.

It was a pretty peaceful evening sailing. Simone Paget

In between sips, I'd look out the closest window and catch a stunning glimpse of the Cascade Mountains.

The ferry was only half full, so I was able to stretch out and relax. Before I knew it, the two-hour-and-45-minute trip was over.

I arrived in downtown Seattle at 8 p.m.

I could see the edge of the sign for my hotel from the dock. Simone Paget

Since I only had carry-on luggage, I went through customs quickly after we docked in Seattle.

To make the trip worth it, I booked a hotel room  otherwise, I'd basically have to turn right around because of the ferry schedules.

Within half an hour of our arrival, I checked into my hotel and was relaxing by the fireplace in my room.

I spent the night at The Edgewater Hotel.

The Edgewater has a lot of music-themed decor. Simone Paget

The Edgewater Hotel is my favorite place to stay in Seattle. The historic building is famous for hosting musicians like The Beatles and Kurt Cobain

The location couldn't have been more ideal  it was a five-minute walk from the ferry terminal and close to the downtown Seattle attractions.

My friend met me there with her car so we could hop on the car ferry back the next day, and she said it was also easy to access the hotel from the freeway.

We spent our short time in Seattle eating good food and soaking up all the cozy vibes.

Six Seven is one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle. Simone Paget

If you're visiting Seattle, I highly recommend treating yourself to dinner at Six Seven (the late Anthony Bourdain praised its cedar-planked salmon).

I'm still thinking of the miso black cod on a bed of crispy coconut rice that I had for dinner and the Dungeness crab frittata I enjoyed the next day before hitting the road.

Leaving Seattle was unexpectedly easy and traffic-free.

We didn't run into any traffic leaving the US city. Simone Paget

To get back to Canada, the plan was to drive across the border to Vancouver and take our car on BC Ferries to Victoria.

I was dreading the two-and-a-half-hour drive because the traffic between Seattle and Vancouver can be excruciating.

Luckily, we didn't encounter any issues leaving the city, but we passed by a gridlock of cars trying to go the other direction.

Having a car meant we could make a stop at Trader Joes to pick up our favorite snacks.

I'm fond of the snack options at Trader Joe's, which I can't find in Canada. Simone Paget

We don't have Trader Joe's in Canada, so I knew I couldn't leave the US without grabbing some of my favorite snacks. We made a pit stop at a mall in Everett, Washington, and stocked up.

If you're in the mood for bargain hunting, there are also a couple of outlet malls between Seattle and the Canadian border.

We stopped for gas and made it to the Canadian border in just under three hours.

Our wait at the border wasn't too bad. Simone Paget

Hours-long waits at the US-Canada border are common on weekends, but we made it through in about 20 minutes.

From there, it was a 40-minute drive to the Tsawwassen car-ferry dock.

We made a reservation for the 8 p.m. sailing on BC Ferries.

Our ferry to Victoria was canceled, so we had to wait for the next one. Simone Paget

We thought we were being smart by planning ahead. But when we arrived at the terminal, we learned that our 8 p.m. ferry had been canceled due to poor weather conditions.

We left Seattle at 3 p.m. and didn't end up boarding the next ferry with our car until 9 p.m.

This was the point in the trip that I started to miss the ease of taking the passenger ferry. By the time our boat left the dock, it was 9:30.

But my one-way ticket cost around $14, plus $50 for the car, which was significantly cheaper.

BC Ferries has way better food options.

There's a full cafeteria on BC Ferries ships. Simone Paget

You can get everything from burgers and poutine to snacks and salads at the BC Ferries cafeteria. The line is usually long, so I typically spend the first 20 or 30 minutes of the ride waiting to order.

The evening we sailed, the ferry was full of kids and teens returning from sporting events  the cafeteria had the feeling of a crowded school lunchroom.

Since we were already tired and a little drained, we ended up grabbing some food at the smaller snack bar on a different deck and sitting in one of the lounge areas.

It took eight and a half hours to make it home.

We didn't leave the ferry until around 11 p.m. Simone Paget

We finally drove off the ferry at almost 11 p.m.

BC Ferries docks in Swartz Bay, which is 20 miles outside of Victoria. By the time I made it home, it was 11:35 p.m., and I was exhausted.

We didnt use our car once in Seattle.

I wish we didn't have a car with us. Simone Paget

I'm grateful I was able to get my Trader Joe's fix on this trip, but everything else we wanted to see and do  visit Pike Place Market, do some shopping, and explore Capitol Hill  was within walking distance of our hotel or accessible by public transit.

Unless you're traveling with a big group or have plans that will take you outside of the city, I don't see any advantage to bringing your car on the ferry to Seattle.

If I could do it all over again, Id take the passenger ferry both ways.

The ease and speed of the passenger ferry outweigh the added cost. Simone Paget

The Victoria Clipper is more expensive, but it's a much more relaxing travel experience than the car ferry.

I loved that I was able to go from downtown Victoria to downtown Seattle without the hassle of dealing with a car.

Next time I travel to Seattle, I'm happy to pay a bit more for a roundtrip ticket on the passenger ferry. I look forward to relaxing with my favorite beverage while enjoying the gorgeous view.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Former President Donald Trump, in a rebuke of California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) over the continued battle on how to approach in vitro fertilization (IVF), said Republicans are the leader[s] on the issue.

Gavin Newscum, the failed Governor of California, who is allowing his once beautiful State to go to Hell, refuses to recognize that Republicans are the Leader on I.V.F (Fertilization), Trumps Truth Social post said.

IVF has been a topic of concern for lawmakers and voters alike in the past year, after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled frozen embryos and fertilized eggs are considered people under law, resulting in the temporary pause of IVF treatment in the state.

Newsom called out the Alabama high court in February over the ruling and said it is part of a war on women. Trump also voiced support for protecting IVF treatments, and many Republicans followed.

The U.S. Supreme Court brought reproductive rights and access to the forefront of the national conversation again when it struck down Roe v. Wade in 2022.

The former president has often claimed responsibility for overturning Roe and handing abortion back to individual states to regulate. He said states were working brilliantly, as many GOP-led legislatures restrict access to abortion across the country.

We are the ones taking care of Women, and now, after 53 years, where both Parties and all Legal Scholars and Experts wanted the always difficult and contentious subject of Abortion to go back to the States, we got it done, and now the States are setting their own Rules and Regulations  and its really working! Trumps post continued.

He said he has given the issue of abortion back to voters and its taken the Radicalization by Democrats, the killing of a Child in the 8th Month, 9th Month, or even after Birth, off the table. Advocates for abortion say abortions rarely happen that late in the pregnancy and are performed if its to save the life of the mother.

Trump continued, saying it now seems probable that our Country can start to pull together on the always difficult and controversial Issue of Abortion.

ITS UP TO THE STATES NOW, WHERE EVERYBODY WANTS IT, AND WHERE IT ALWAYS SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Vertiv Holdings Co faces a challenging financial landscape with a net loss and comprehensive income loss in Q1 2024.

The company's strategic acquisitions and capacity expansions signal growth opportunities amidst market volatility.

Vertiv's commitment to innovation and service excellence remains a cornerstone of its competitive advantage.

Legal proceedings and market risks pose potential threats to Vertiv's operational and financial stability.

Vertiv Holdings Co (NYSE:VRT), a global leader in critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, has recently released its 10-Q filing dated April 26, 2024. The company, known for its comprehensive suite of services and products for data centers, communication networks, and commercial and industrial facilities, reported a net loss of $(5.9) million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, a stark contrast to the $50.3 million net income for the same period in the previous year. Additionally, Vertiv faced a comprehensive income loss of $(40.2) million, influenced by foreign currency translation losses and other factors. Despite these financial setbacks, Vertiv continues to innovate and expand its capabilities, as evidenced by its recent acquisition of CoolTera Ltd. and the opening of a new manufacturing facility in Pune, India. This SWOT analysis delves into the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats as revealed by the latest SEC filings and market trends.

Decoding Vertiv Holdings Co (VRT): A Strategic SWOT Insight

Strengths

Brand and Market Position: Vertiv Holdings Co (NYSE:VRT) has established itself as a formidable player in the critical digital infrastructure space. The company's brand is synonymous with reliability and innovation, catering to the ever-growing demand for data center and communication network solutions. Vertiv's comprehensive product and service offerings, ranging from power management to thermal management, position it well to capitalize on the increasing reliance on digital technologies. The strategic acquisition of CoolTera Ltd. in December 2023 underscores Vertiv's commitment to expanding its thermal management portfolio and enhancing its capabilities in high-density compute cooling, a critical area as AI and other advanced technologies gain traction.

Global Presence and Capacity Expansion: Vertiv's global footprint and ongoing investments in capacity expansion are significant strengths. The company's recent doubling of manufacturing capacity for switchgear, busbar, and integrated solutions, along with the addition of a new facility in Pune, India, demonstrate its proactive approach to meeting customer demand. This global presence not only provides Vertiv with the ability to rapidly scale and ensure resiliency but also offers a competitive edge in delivering geographically diverse solutions to its customers.

Story continues

Weaknesses

Financial Performance: The recent financial performance of Vertiv Holdings Co (NYSE:VRT) indicates areas of concern. The reported net loss of $(5.9) million for Q1 2024 and a comprehensive income loss of $(40.2) million, primarily due to foreign currency translation losses and other factors, reflect the volatility and challenges in the global market. These financial setbacks highlight the need for Vertiv to strengthen its financial resilience and adapt to currency fluctuations more effectively. The company's ability to navigate these financial challenges will be critical in maintaining investor confidence and ensuring long-term stability.

Legal and Regulatory Challenges: Vertiv is currently involved in legal proceedings that could potentially impact its financial and operational stability. The ongoing securities class action and derivative lawsuit, along with government inquiries, underscore the risks associated with compliance and regulatory scrutiny. While the company believes it has meritorious defenses, the uncertainty and potential costs associated with these legal matters could divert resources and attention from core business activities.

Opportunities

Market Trends and Demand: Vertiv Holdings Co (NYSE:VRT) is well-positioned to benefit from the increasing maturity and adoption of AI and high-performance computing. The data center industry is experiencing significant growth, driven by technology innovation and the need for advanced infrastructure. Vertiv's investments in new products, services, and solutions tailored to this trend present opportunities for increased demand and revenue growth. The company's focus on AI infrastructure and its capacity to support additional demand align with market trends, offering a pathway for expansion.

Innovation and Product Development: Vertiv's strategic focus on innovation and product development presents opportunities for differentiation and market leadership. The acquisition of CoolTera Ltd. and the expansion of its thermal management portfolio are steps toward addressing the cooling requirements of AI and other high-density compute applications. By continuing to invest in cutting-edge technologies and solutions, Vertiv can maintain its competitive advantage and capture a larger market share in the evolving digital infrastructure landscape.

Threats

Market Volatility and Currency Risks: Vertiv Holdings Co (NYSE:VRT) operates in a highly competitive and volatile market, where fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates can significantly impact financial results. The comprehensive income loss reported in Q1 2024, partly due to foreign currency translation losses, highlights the vulnerability of Vertiv's financial performance to market volatility. Managing these currency risks effectively will be crucial for Vertiv to protect its profit margins and ensure predictable financial outcomes.

Competitive Landscape: The digital infrastructure industry is characterized by rapid technological advancements and intense competition. Vertiv must continuously innovate and adapt to maintain its market position against competitors who are also investing in new technologies and expanding their service offerings. The company's ability to stay ahead of industry trends and meet evolving customer needs will be a determining factor in its long-term success and market share retention.

In conclusion, Vertiv Holdings Co (NYSE:VRT) exhibits a robust strategic position with a strong brand, global presence, and a commitment to innovation. However, financial challenges, legal proceedings, and market risks pose significant threats to its operational and financial stability. The company's ability to leverage its strengths, address its weaknesses, capitalize on opportunities, and mitigate threats will be pivotal in navigating the dynamic digital infrastructure market and achieving sustainable growth.

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.


On the docket: Pecker, wrapped

Weve now finished our first week of testimony in former president Donald Trumps criminal trial  and have one major witness in the books.

David Pecker, the former CEO of American Media Inc (AMI), and CEO and publisher of the National Enquirer, wrapped up his testimony on Friday afternoon after cross-examination by Trumps legal team and a quick second round of questioning from the prosecution and defense.

Prosecutors had a few main goals with Pecker:

 Show that Pecker and Trump engaged in an illegal conspiracy to influence the 2016 election

 Establish AMIs catch-and-kill pattern of purchasing negative stories about Trump to keep them under wraps

 Show how close the former Trump attorney Michael Cohen was with Trump

 Tee things up for future testimony about the falsified payments scheme that Trump allegedly used to pay back Cohen after he paid to keep adult film star Stormy Daniels from telling the public about her alleged affair with Trump before the 2016 election

They seemed to achieve all of them, to varying degrees.

Pecker said he had agreed to help Trump keep bad stories out of the news, saying on multiple occasions that he had promised to be the Trump campaigns eyes and ears for problematic stories  a contention he repeated while being grilled by Trumps attorney on Friday.

He said explicitly, and repeatedly, that he had been doing so to help Trumps election chances. When asked why hed paid $150,000 to buy the former Playboy model Karen McDougals story to keep it quiet, he said he and Cohen didnt want this story to embarrass Mr Trump or embarrass or hurt the campaign.

He talked about specific meetings he had had with both Cohen and Trump, and made clear that Cohen had regularly checked in with him on behalf of the boss.

And Peckers testimony established a pattern of Trump looking to get others to buy womens silence to help his campaign, setting up Trumps post-election payments to Cohen.

How Trumps attorneys went after Pecker

While Trump attorney Emil Bove poked holes in some specific points Pecker raised during cross-examination on Thursday and Friday, he didnt seem to accomplish much in undercutting the credibility of Peckers overall testimony.

Here are some highlights from the cross-examination:

 Bove got Pecker to confirm that hed run negative stories about Hillary Clinton long before Trump asked him to target his political opponents, and agree that it made good business sense to run those stories.

 He got Pecker to admit that hed caught and killed stories for other celebrities.

 Bove also questioned Peckers memory, saying that he had listed two different time periods for when he first met with 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.

 The Guardian made a cameo! Bove got Pecker to say the Enquirer often repackaged other outlets negative stories about Trumps political opponents  and spent a few minutes talking about The Guardians reporting on Ben Carson as an example.

Some of Boves cross-examination seemed nitpicky  and a bit desperate. Bove, at one point, pushed hard on Peckers federal non-prosecution agreement, asking Pecker whether, during a meeting with the Manhattan district attorney, his lawyers had taken issue with the accuracy of the language of the agreement. Pecker pushed back, saying it had been a disagreement over verbiage, with one side saying purchase and the other saying sell.

When prosecutors got their chance to question Pecker again, they got him to say that the non-prosecution agreement was accurate  including the part where he attested the principle purpose of the deal between Peckers company and McDougal had been to prevent her account from surfacing as he ran for president. Other perks in the agreement his company had made with her, Pecker said, were included in the contract basically as a disguise to hide their true intent.

After Pecker wrapped for the day, prosecutors moved on to the next witnesses  a group of lesser names who are testifying to confirm specific details of others stories.

First up was Rhona Graff, Trumps longtime executive assistant.

Graff said her attorneys were being paid by Trump and that she was there under subpoena. She testified that both McDougal and Stormy were in Trumps email contacts, and that she had a vague recollection of seeing Daniels at Trump Tower at one point, though on cross-examination Trumps attorneys got her to say she thought Daniels had been there as a possible cast member for The Apprentice. Graff said Trump was a fair and a respectful boss. Trump said something to her as she left the courtroom, seeming to thank her.

Next on the stand was Gary Farro, a Flagstar Bank employee who had had Cohen as a client and whose testimony was used to verify a paper trail of banking information from Cohen around the time of the 2016 election.
At one campaign rally after another, former President Donald Trump whips his supporters into raucous cheers with a promise of whats to come if hes given another term in office: We will demolish the deep state.

In essence, its a declaration of war on the federal governmenta vow to transform its size and scope and make it more beholden to Trumps whims and worldview.

The former presidents statements, policy blueprints laid out by top officials in his first administration and interviews with allies show that Trump is poised to double down in a second term on executive orders that faltered, or those he was blocked from carrying out the first time around.

Trump seeks to sweep away civil service protections that have been in place for more than 140 years. He has said hed make every executive branch employee fireable by the president of the United States at will. Even though more than 85 percent of federal employees already work outside the DC area, Trump says he would drain the swamp and move as many as 100,000 positions out of Washington. His plans would eliminate or dismantle entire departments.

A close look at his prior, fitful efforts shows how, in another term, Trumps initiatives could debilitate large swaths of the federal government.

While Trumps plans are embraced by his supporters, policy experts warn that they would hollow out and politicize the federal workforce, force out many of the most experienced and knowledgeable employees, and open the door to corruption and a spoils system of political patronage.

Take Trumps statement on his campaign website: I will immediately reissue my 2020 executive order restoring the presidents authority to remove rogue bureaucrats. And I will wield that power very aggressively.

That executive order reclassified many civil service workers, whose jobs are nonpartisan and protected, as political appointees who could be fired at will. At the time, more than four dozen officials from ten Republican and Democratic presidential administrations, including some who served under Trump, condemned the order. In a joint letter, they warned it would cause long-term damage to one of the key institutions of our government.

In the end, Trumps order had little impact because he issued it in the final months of his term, and President Joe Biden rescinded it as soon as he took office.

But if, as promised, Trump were to change thousands of civil service jobs into politically appointed positions at the start of a second term, huge numbers of federal workers could face being fired unless they put loyalty to Trump ahead of serving the public interest, warn policy experts.

Donald Moynihan, a professor and the McCourt Chair at Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public policy, focuses his research on ways to improve how government works. - CNN

An army of suck-ups

Its a real threat to democracy, Donald Moynihan, a professor of public policy at Georgetown University, told CNN. This is something every citizen should be deeply aware of and worried about because it threatens their fundamental rights.

Moynihan said making vast numbers of jobs subject to appointment based on political affiliation would amount to absolutely the biggest change in the American public sector since a merit-based civil service was created in 1883.

One of the architects of that plan for a Trump second term said as much in a video last year for the Heritage Foundation. Its going to be groundbreaking, said Russell Vought, who served as the director of the Office of Management and Budget under Trump. He declined interview requests from CNN. But in the video, he spoke at length about the plan to crush what he called the woke and the weaponized bureaucracy. Vought discussed dismantling or remaking the Department of Justice, the FBI and the Environmental Protection Agency, among others.

Vought focused on a plan he drafted to reissue Trumps 2020 executive order, known as Schedule F. It would reclassify as political appointees any federal workers deemed to have influence on policy. Reissuing Schedule F is part of a roadmap, known as Project 2025, drafted for a second Trump term by scores of conservative groups and published by the Heritage Foundation.

Vought argues the civil service change is necessary because the federal government makes every decision on the basis of climate change extremism and on the basis of woke militancy where youre effectively trying to divide the country into oppressors and the oppressed.

A Trump campaign spokesperson pointed CNN to a pair of campaign statements from late last year in part responding to reporters questions about the 900-plus-page Project 2025 document. The campaign said, None of these groups or individuals speak for President Trump or his campaign Policy recommendations from external allies are just that  recommendations. However, the Project 2025 recommendations largely follow what Trump has outlined in broad strokes in his campaign speeches  for example, his plans to reissue his 2020 executive order on Day One.

Ostensibly, a reissued Schedule F would affect only policy-making positions. But documents obtained by the National Treasury Employees Union and shared with CNN show that when Vought ran OMB under Trump, his list of positions to be reclassified under Schedule F included administrative assistants, office managers, IT workers and many other less senior positions.

NTEU President Doreen Greenwald told reporters at the unions annual legislative conference that it estimated more than 50,000 workers would have been affected across all federal agencies. She said the OMB documents stretched the definition of confidential or policy positions to the point of absurdity.

Trumps comments about wanting to be able to fire at will all executive-branch employees suggest the numbers in a second term would be far greater.

Moynihan, at Georgetown, said US policies already grant the president many more political appointees than most other rich countries allow  about 4,000 positions.

Almost all Western democracies have a professional civil service that does not answer to whatever political party happens to be in power, but is immune from those sorts of partisan wranglings, said Kenneth Baer, who served as a senior OMB official under President Barack Obama. They bring a technical expertise, a sense of long history and perspective to the work that the government needs to do. Making thousands of additional positions subject to political change risks losing that expertise, while bringing in people who are getting jobs just because they did some favor to the party, or the president was elected. And so, theres a risk of corruption.

Kenneth Baer (second from right), a senior advisor at the Office of Management and Budget, meets in the Oval Office with President Barack Obama, OMB Director Peter Orszag and others on Dec. 21, 2009. - Pete Souza/The White House

Robert Shea (left), then associate director of the Office of Management and Budget, and his wife Eva Shea (right), meet with President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush at the White House on Dec. 21, 2009. - Tina Hager/The White House

Such concerns cross the political aisle. Robert Shea, a senior OMB official under George W. Bush, called himself a hugely conservative, loyal Republican. But hiring people based on personal political loyalties would produce an army of suck-ups, he said.

It would change the nature of the federal bureaucracy, to remove protections from senior civil servants, he said. This would mean that if you told your boss that what he or she was proposing was illegal, impractical, [or] unwise that they could brand you disloyal and terminate you.

Biden has moved to block such a move. On April 4, the Office of Personnel Management, which in effect is the human resources department for the federal government, adopted new rules meant to bar career civil service workers from being reclassified as political appointees or other types of at-will workers.

The new rules would not fully block reclassifying workers in a second Trump term. But they would create speed bumps, said Baer. To repeal the regulation, there would have to be a lengthy period of proposed rulemaking, 90 days of comment, and other steps that would have to be followed. And then probably the litigation, after that.

In Grand Junction, Colorado, supporters of then-candidate Donald Trump wave at his plane after a 2016 campaign rally. In 2019, President Trump moved the headquarters of the Bureau of Land Management to that city, leading 87 percent of affected employees to resign or retire rather than move from Washington, DC. - George Frey/Getty Images

Places filled with patriots

While assailing faceless bureaucrats, Trump also has said he would move federal agencies from the Washington Swamp to places filled with patriots who love America.

But when he tried such moves before, the effect was to drain know-how, talent and experience from those agencies. Thats what happened in 2019 when Trump moved the headquarters of the Bureau of Land Management to Grand Junction, Colorado, and two agencies within the Department of Agriculture to Kansas City.

The vast bulk of (headquarters) employees left the agencies, said Max Stier, president and chief executive of the Partnership for Public Service, a nonpartisan group that promotes serving in government. It led to the loss of expertise that had been built up over decades, he said. It destroyed the agencies.

A 2021 investigation by the Government Accountability Office found that the BLM move pushed out hundreds of the bureaus most experienced employees, and sharply reduced diversity, with more than half of black employees in DC opting to quit or retire rather than move to Colorado. The GAO also concluded that the USDAs decision to move its Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to Kansas City was not fully consistent with an evidence-based approach.

The two USDA agencies do statistical research and analysis. The ERS focuses on areas including the well-being of farms, the effects of federal farm policies, food security and safety issues, the impacts of trade policies and global competition. NIFA funds programs to help American agriculture compete globally, protect food safety and promote nutrition, among other areas.

Verna Daniels had worked for the USDA for 32 years, most of them as an information specialist at the Economic Research Service, when she and her colleagues found out their agency was being relocated in October 2019.

I really enjoyed my job. I worked extremely hard. I never missed a deadline, Daniels said. She said the announcement left her in shock. Everybody was afraid, and it was happening so fast We were given three months to relocate to wherever it was or vacate the premises. She quit rather than uproot her whole family. It was heart-wrenching.

The Trump administration said moving the USDA agencies would bring researchers closer to stakeholders that is, farmers. Catherine Greene, an agricultural economist with 35 years at the USDAs Economic Research Service, called the idea ridiculous. Every state that surrounds Washington, DC, has farming I grew up on a hundred-year-old farm in southwestern Virginia.

Weve all dedicated our lives to looking at farming in America, to looking at food systems in America, Greene said. I think the goal was to uproot the agency in such a way that most people would have to move on, and most people did. It was highly predictable.

The other relocated research agency, the National Institute for Food and Agriculture, had 394 employees at the beginning of the Trump administration, said Tom Bewick, acting vice president of the union local for NIFA. Trump imposed a hiring moratorium that left positions unfilled as people moved or retired. By the time the relocation to Kansas City was announced, NIFA was down to 270 employees. Once it was announced they would move us, we were losing 10 to 20 people a week, Bewick explained. We had less than 70 people make the move. Five years on, he said, We still are not the same agency, and well never be the same agency we were.

The USDA said the move to Kansas City would save taxpayers $300 million over 15 years. But the GAO said that analysis didnt account for the loss of experience and institutional knowledge, the cost of training new workers, reduced productivity and the disruption caused by the move. Including such costs, the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association estimated the move actually cost taxpayers between $83 million and $182 million.

Greene, at the Economic Research Service, retired rather than move. After Biden took office, the BLM and the two USDA agencies moved their headquarters back to Washington, but also kept open their offices in Grand Junction and Kansas City, respectively. Greene said she worries for federal workers who might face the same choice in a second Trump term. They mean business, she said. They spent four years practicing, and they are ready to rock and roll.

To Stier, at the Partnership for Public Service, there is a huge gap between the perception and the reality of the role that the civil service plays across the country. Weve been doing polling on trust in government, and when you tag on the words, government in Washington, DC, the trust numbers crater, he said.

Former President Donald Trump, seen here on April 25, 2024, at his criminal trial in New York City, has said in a second term he wants to get rid of civil service protections and make more federal employee "fireable by the President of the United States." - Jeenah Moon/Pool/AFP/Getty Images

Using the government to go after enemies

On the campaign trail, Trump has regularly claimed, without evidence, that Biden and the Department of Justice are stage-managing various prosecutions of him  including state-level indictments in New York over falsifying business records and in Georgia, on charges of election subversion. Trump has used that false claim to say it would justify him using the Justice Department to target his political enemies. Hes said that in a second term hed appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Biden. He told Univision last year he could have others indicted if they challenged him politically.

Trump tried to use the Department of Justice in this fashion during his previous term, repeatedly telling aides he wanted prosecutors to indict political foes such as Hillary Clinton or former appointees hed fired, such as former FBI Director James Comey. He also pushed then-Attorney General Bill Barr to falsely claim the 2020 election was corrupt, which Barr refused to do.

In that term, some senior officials at the White House and the Justice Department pushed back against pursuing baseless prosecutions. Their resistance followed a tradition holding that the Justice Department should largely operate independently, with the president setting broad policies but not intervening in specific criminal prosecutions.

But in a second term, Trump could upend that tradition with the help of acolytes such as Jeffrey Clark, a former Justice official who faces disbarment in DC and criminal charges in Georgia for trying to help overturn the 2020 election results. As Trump tried to hang onto the White House in his final weeks in office, he pushed to make Clark his acting attorney general, stopping only after senior Justice Department leaders threatened to resign en masse if he did so.

Last year, Clark published an essay titled The U.S. Justice Department Is Not Independent for the Center for Renewing America, a conservative nonprofit founded by Russell Vought. Clark also helped draft portions of the Project 2025 blueprint for a second Trump term, including outlining the use of the Insurrection Act of 1807 to deploy the military for domestic law enforcement, as first reported by the Washington Post.

Trump also has talked about bringing to heel other parts of the federal government.

We will clean out all of the corrupt actors in our National Security and Intelligence apparatus, and there are plenty of them, Trump said in a video last year. The departments and agencies that have been weaponized will be completely overhauled so that faceless bureaucrats will never again be able to target and persecute conservatives, Christians, or the lefts political enemies.

Project 2025s blueprint envisions dismantling the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI; disarming the Environmental Protection Agency by loosening or eliminating emissions and climate-change regulations; eliminating the Departments of Education and Commerce in their entirety; and eliminating the independence of various commissions, including the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission.

The project includes a personnel database for potential hires in a second Trump administration. Trumps campaign managers have not committed the former president to following the Project 2025 plans, should he win the White House. But given the active involvement of Trump officials in the project, from Vought and Clark to former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, senior adviser Stephen Miller, Peter Navarro and many others, critics say it offers a worrisome roadmap to a second Trump term.

Now they really understand how to use power, and want to use it to serve, not just Republican partisans, but Donald Trump, said Baer.

On the campaign trail, Trump leaves little doubt about what hell try to do.

We will put unelected bureaucrats back in their place, Trump told his supporters at one rally last fall. The threat from outside forces is far less sinister, dangerous and grave than the threat from within.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Two charged, two sought after Rowan County pursuit leads to recovery of stolen firearm

ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Two people including a juvenile have been arrested and two others are wanted after a pursuit led to the recovery of a stolen firearm, according to the Rowan County Sheriffs Office.

Around 3:15 a.m. on Friday, a deputy initiated a traffic stop at exit 68 on I-85 north for a white Dodge Charger without a registration plate.

Once the deputy began to approach the vehicle, the driver sped off at a high rate of speed and a pursuit began, officials said.

Queen City News is tracking CRIME in your area  >> Latest stories here

At some point, the deputy lost sight of the Dodge Charger and other deputies in the area began looking for the suspect. It was eventually found on Jake Alexander Blvd near Stokes Ferry Road.

Authorities say another persuit began and stop sticks were used at Faith Road and East Innes, but the vehicle kept driving after hitting them.

The vehicle then turned left onto South Shaver Street where it crashed into a utility pole and all four passengers ram from the vehicle.

Video captures high-powered cars doing donuts before fleeing from Gastonia police

Joshua Marcques Byrd was arrested and charged with resist, delay and obstructing an officer and carrying a conceleaed weapon, which turned out to be stolen. He was then charged with possession of a stolen firearm.

A juvenile male was also arrested and taken to a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries after he ran into the street in front of a Salisbury Police Department car. He was also found with a firearm.

Deputies say the other two passengers are still outstanding, which includes the driver of the vehicle.

This is a Developing Story . Check back for updates

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Two Israeli hostages seen in latest video issued by Hamas

A picture of Hamas hostage Keith Siegel is worn by his wife Aviva at the UN in Geneva

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Hamas released a new video on Saturday that appeared to show two Israeli hostages who have been held in the Gaza Strip since the Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel.

The video is similarly filmed to previous hostage videos made public by the Islamist group, which Israel has condemned as psychological terrorism.

The two men, identified as Keith Siegel, 64, and Omri Miran, 47, speak individually in front of an empty background. They send their love to their families and ask to be released.

Miran was taken hostage from his home in the community of Nahal Oz in front of his wife and two young daughters during the Hamas killing spree that sparked the war in Gaza.

Siegel, who is a dual U.S. citizen, was taken captive with his wife from another border town. She was later released during a brief November truce.

The video was published during the Passover holiday, when Jews traditionally celebrate the biblical story of gaining freedom from slavery in Egypt.

At one point Siegel breaks down crying as he recounts celebrating the holiday with his family last year and expressing his hope that they will be reunited.

Around 250 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage during the Hamas assault, which killed some 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies, in the deadliest single attack in Israel's history.

In response, Israel launched an assault on Gaza, pledging to destroy Hamas and bring the hostages home. The assault has so far killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in Hamas-ruled Gaza.

(Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Clelia Oziel)
Two workers who lost their lives on the job to be honored at Champaign park memorial

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA)  The Champaign community is coming together this Sunday to honor two local workers who lost their lives while on the job.

Both Brandon Hardway, aged 45, and Kevin Pellum, aged 40, will be recognized in the ceremony, taking place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 28 at Dodds Park in Champaign. Their names will be added to the parks memorial.

Hardway was the General Manager at Pour Bros. Craft Taproom in downtown Champaign. In February earlier this year while on a break outside the bar, he was shot and killed.

Friends, family honor Brandon Hardway with celebration of life

Pellum was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 51. in 2000, he was driving between job sites in Macon County when he was killed.

These two young men were taken from their friends and families far too soon, said Kevin Sage, President of the East Central Illinois Building and Construction Trades Council. It is important that we honor their memories, as we remember all of those who have lost their lives while on the job.

Pellums brother, George Pellum, played an important role in establishing the memorial at Dodds Park during its construction in 2002.

It means so much for someone to say we remember him and we recognize this tragedy, George Pellum said.

2 years later: Booker family, Tatmans Towing honoring tow-truck driver killed on the job

Friends and family of both Hardway and Pellum will be at the ceremony, as well as elected officials and local union leaders who will give presentations.

The ceremony is part of a larger celebration taking place across the country called Workers Memorial Day as a remembrance for workers who have passed away from work-related injuries or illnesses.

The memorial day has been observed for more than 50 years since the Occupational Safety and Health Act went into effect.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
The white supremacist group Patriot Front unboxed their U-Hauls and marched through the streets of Charleston, West Virginia, on Saturday in a demonstration timed to coincide with an anti-racism 5k race.

The neo-Nazis reportedly unloaded banners and other organization propaganda before a statue of Confederate General Thomas Stonewall Jackson in the citys downtown area. Wearing matching khakis, navy blue polos, white hats and face coverings, they chanted and paraded through Charlestons main streets, flying a banner with the slogan America is not for sale. Some of them carried shields and many of them flew upside-down American flags. At least one Confederate flag could be seen in the parade.

Patriot Front is demonstrating in downtown Charleston West Virginia flying confederate and upside down flags. pic.twitter.com/AtfjmHvJVI  Freyja (@FreyjaTarte) April 27, 2024

The neo-Nazi romp happened at the same time a planned 5k race, the YWCAs Race to End Racism, was underway on the citys West Side. According to the organizations website, the race was a fundraiser for community engagement and racial equity & inclusion programming designed to bring corporate partners, congregations, police, non-profits and community groups together.

There were no reports of violent incidents or clashes at either of the events. Amy Godwin, the Charleston mayor, said city officials acted quickly to keep the community safe and warned against platforming the white supremacists.

They want us to share their propaganda - and repost their photos on social media - I will not. We cannot let voices that want to spread hate be louder than the voices of those of us who want to celebrate our community, Godwin said in a statement.

Observers on social media quickly noted the absence of a police presence around the neo-Nazis flash demonstration. While some video showed police vehicles trailing the parade from a distance, that appeared to be the extent of officers interaction with thema stark contrast to the heavy presence on college campuses, where university protesters and faculty have been subject to violent arrests over the past week and a half.

Not Just Columbia: Pro-Palestine Protests Roil Campuses Nationwide

The neo-Nazi march came just days after Donald Trump attempted to downplay the 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, which killed a counter protester, calling it a peanut compared to the campus protests.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
LONDON (Reuters) -U.S. intelligence agencies have determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin probably didn't order opposition politician Alexei Navalny killed at an Arctic prison camp in February, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.

Navalny, 47 when he died, was Putin's fiercest domestic critic. His allies, branded extremists by the authorities, accused Putin of having him murdered and have said they will provide proof to back their allegation.

The Kremlin has denied any state involvement. Last month, Putin called Navalny's demise "sad" and said he had been ready to hand the jailed politician over to the West in a prisoner exchange provided Navalny never return to Russia. Navalny's allies said such talks had been under way.

The Journal, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter, said on Saturday that U.S. intelligence agencies had concluded that Putin probably didn't order Navalny to be killed in February.

It said Washington had not absolved the Russian leader of overall responsibility for Navalny's death however, given the opposition politician had been targeted by Russian authorities for years, jailed on charges the West said were politically motivated, and had been poisoned in 2020 with a nerve agent.

The Kremlin denies state involvement in the 2020 poisoning.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday he had seen the Journal's report, which he said contained "empty speculation".

"I've seen the material, I wouldn't say it's high quality material that deserves attention," Peskov told reporters when asked about the matter.

Reuters could not independently verify the Journal report, which cited sources as saying the finding had been "broadly accepted within the intelligence community and shared by several agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the State Departments intelligence unit."

The U.S. assessment was based on a range of information, including some classified intelligence, and an analysis of public facts, including the timing of Navalny's death and how it overshadowed Putins re-election in March, the paper cited some of its sources as saying.

It cited Leonid Volkov, a senior Navalny aide, as calling the U.S. findings naive and ridiculous.

(Reporting by Andrew OsbornEditing by Frances Kerry)
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  The University of Illinois administration has issued two statements on Fridays pro-Palestinian protest.

The first, sent out around 8 p.m., asked community members to stay away from the protest site and warned of consequences for the protestors who continued to demonstrate.

And at 11:31 p.m. as protestors started to leave after a 17-hour long demonstration, administration sent out a second Massmail, this time, saying that a peaceful resolution was reached.

In the first Massmail, Chancellor Robert Jones and Vice Chancellor John Coleman explained that the protest had included unlawful and impermissible conduct by some. For that reason, students, staff and faculty were asked to avoid the area near Wright and Green Streets until further notice.

Illinois Marathon update: Saturday events are on

This afternoon, when university police officers attempted to escort university staff into the area to remove the encampment structures violating university policy, members of the demonstrating group prevented their entry and physically resisted, Jones and Coleman said. This included use of pieces of lumber as well as other physical tools and objects to push the officers back. Our officers made the decision to deescalate the situation and stepped back to reduce the risk of injury to themselves or the demonstrators.

The university administrators said the situation escalated beyond a peaceful expression of opinion and warned that those who did not comply with orders to leave the area would be subject to consequences like arrest. Students may also be given an interim suspension from the university.

We will continue to work to convince the demonstrators to end their activities and disperse voluntarily, and we hope they make that choice, Jones and Coleman added.

In the second Massmail, signed only by Chancellor Jones this time, he said after a resolution was reached in a meeting with organizers that was already scheduled for Monday, the demonstrators were to dismantle their encampment and leave, allowing them to temporarily relocate to the public access green space west of Gregory Avenue and north of Oregon street.

Friday Illinois 5K cancelled due to UIUC protest

We reached this compromise to avoid a physical confrontation that would endanger demonstrators and our police officers alike, Jones said.

He added the new location would be less disruptive in a strictly defined area, allowing for more of a separation between the demonstration and academic operations on Monday.

We are trusting the participants to honor their agreement with us in the interest of public safety. We have reached a very clear understanding with the participants that we will take immediate action to disperse the group if their activities present any new safety risks or violations of state or local law. I understand that this resolution will likely frustrate members of our community who have strong opinions on both sides of this issue. I made this decision after careful and lengthy consultation with our police department, the university administration and local authorities. I believe this path offered us the safest way forward for all involved with the least continuing disruption to our students, faculty and staff as they prepare for their final week of the semester. Chancellor Robert J. Jones, UIUC

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
(Bloomberg Markets) -- On a sweltering late-summer evening last year in southern Egypt, the countrys most storied hotel was bustling once again, hosting personalities with ambitions of shaping the world. In the more than a century since it opened, Aswans Old Cataract, perched on a rocky outcrop on the Nile Rivers eastern bank, has welcomed the likes of Winston Churchill, Jimmy Carter and Tsar Nicholas II. For Agatha Christie, in whose former suite you can now stay for upwards of $8,000 a night, it was the inspiration for one of her most famous works of detective fiction, Death on the Nile.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The guests were more circumspect. More than a dozen high-level officials from the United Arab Emirates wearing flowing white robes arrived for a private dinner, led by a security detail that cordoned off the restaurant, according to four people who were there and requested anonymity to discuss a private gathering. Outdoor air-conditioning units were set up on the terrace so the elite diners could take in the nighttime Nile views in comfort as they sampled grilled meats and sipped tea. After about two hours, they left.

Months later, in January, the purpose of the visit became clear: Abu Dhabi wealth fund ADQ bought a 40.5% interest, valued at $882.5 million, in an Egyptian firm that in turn purchased stakes from the cash-strapped government in seven hotelsincluding Aswans Old Cataract, the Winter Palace in Luxor, Mena House in Cairo and the Cecil Hotel in Alexandriaseen as the crown jewels of the North African nations hospitality sector. The UAE had indirectly become part-owners of a slice of Egypts touristic legacy.

Digging out of its worst economic crisis in decades, Egypt is putting prized assets up for sale, and the rising powers of the Gulf region are taking out their checkbooks. Over the past nine months, high-profile visitors from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, as well as the UAE, have been sighted up and down the Nile and on the Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts. Their coffers flush with oil and gas revenue, the delegations have been scoping out the investment deals of a century.

On Feb. 23, ADQ also announced a $35 billion investment in Egypt that includes development rights for Ras El-Hekma, a Mediterranean coastal headland about three times the size of Manhattan. It was the biggest deal in Egypts history, and Cairo began receiving the cash within days, likely saving the economy. The financing gave Egypt enough firepower to enact a long-awaitedbut painful and politically sensitivecurrency devaluation, seen as key to restoring investor confidence and drawing more funds. An $8 billion International Monetary Fund loan and World Bank and European Union financing followed.

In the short term, the UAEs goal was to shore up the economy of a country seen as too big to fail. The fear: a return of the mass unrest and empowered political Islam that roiled the Middle East during the Arab Spring revolts more than a decade ago, threatening established regimes, according to people involved in the decision who were granted anonymity to discuss private and sensitive discussions. In that sense, the logic was similar to earlier UAE pledges such as the one that followed the overthrow of Egypts Muslim Brotherhood government in 2013 by Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, then the army chief, now the president.

The Ras El-Hekma pact represents a whole other order of magnitude. The UAE is pumping in funds equivalent to 7% of the UAEs gross domestic product. That commitment shows a new attitude that looks at the return from such economic interventions and tries to reach a win-win formula, says Ziad Bahaa-Eldin, a former Egyptian deputy prime minister and ex-chief of its investment authority.

Gulf nations promised hefty financial support for Egypt just weeks after Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine helped tip its debt-ridden economy into a crisis long in the making. To avert disaster, wealthy nations on the Arabian Peninsula made a flurry of multibillion-dollar deposits into Egypts central bank. ADQ also snapped up $2 billion of shares in Egypts biggest listed lender and fertilizer and logistics companies; Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund invested $1.3 billion in some of the same companies. A new Gulf consensus had emerged: The days of handouts were over. Riyadh and Abu Dhabi would need a return on whatever theyd pumped in. That switched the focus of Egypts broader plan to offloading a swath of government-owned assets, a legacy of the states long-running overarching role in economic life.

In February 2023 authorities listed more than 30 companies in which investors could bid for stakes, in sectors including finance, oil, real estate and ports. The list of companies proved by no means exhaustive, with local media frequently reporting possible additions. As of March, the UAE had been the only fellow Arab state to step up consistently. It was the biggest shareholder in two of Egypts top three listed companies, Commercial International Bank and Eastern Co. SAE. And the UAE has a close working relationship with the third, real estate developer Talaat Moustafa Group, which will help develop Ras El-Hekma and whose hospitality unitflush with ADQ fundsnow owns those hotel stakes.

Saudi Arabia is jostling with the UAE to be the regions trendsetter, but its been holding back. Concerns over the valuation of Cairo-based United Bank, rooted in the uncertain trajectory of Egypts beleaguered pound, led the nation to withdraw from acquisition talks last year. But after the UAEs Ras El-Hekma deal, Saudi Arabia is looking afresh at its own plan to develop a premium stretch of beachfront near Sharm El-Sheikh on Egypts Sinai Peninsula, Bloomberg reported in March.

For its own part, Qatars sovereign wealth fund has been in on-again, off-again talks to acquire the Egyptian governments stake in mobile operator Vodafone Egypt Telecommunications SAEa prize asset in a nation thats home to the Middle Easts biggest population, with some 105 million people.

Tourism is an obvious focus of investment, given Egypts vast cultural heritage, according to Monica Malik, chief economist at Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank. The government announced plans to boost visitor numbers to 30 million annually by the end of the decade, up from a record 14.9 million last year. Egypts tourism assets really need a significant capital injection to bring them back up to luxury travelers standards, she says. The Gulf can provide the huge investment alongside an excellent record for project implementation.

Luxury certainly defines Egypts northern coast, a stretch of golden beachfront running west of Alexandria toward the Libyan border. Long a favorite with wealthier Egyptians who summer in villas or apartments in exclusive gated compounds, the area is little visited by Western tourists, despite azure waters that are a match for almost anywhere else on the Mediterranean.

A chain of glitzy seafront residential towers here has caught the eye of Gulf investors. Among those interested is Mohamed Alabbar, founder of Emaar Properties PJSC, according to three people familiar with the matter who requested anonymity to discuss private matters. A proposed sale of a small number of the government-owned towers could bring in as much as $2 billion for Egypt, one person says. About 100 miles to the west, work on the Ras El-Hekma megaproject begins in 2025. The goal: a year-round community such as El-Gouna, a city on Egypts Red Sea coast known for its cultural festivals and nightlife. ADQs February announcement calls for a $150 billion investment in the area.

Along with the Nile, one strand that connects all those disparate Egyptian locations is a network of roads and Wataniya Petroleum gas stations. That brand, too, is partly up for sale in what would be a watershedthe first privatization of a company owned by Egypts powerful military. At various stages, Petromin Corp. of Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. both showed interest in this asset, which would extend their fuel distribution empires. Authorities have suggested stakes in other military-owned companies may also be up for grabs, a step that would fulfill IMF and World Bank demands to lessen state ownership of businesses. Much of that control dates to the 1960s policies of Gamal Abdel-Nasser, under whose authoritarian rule Egypt became the vanguard of the Arab world. Now the Gulf states have the upper hand, at least financially.

In tightly controlled Egypt, where El-Sisis government brooks little dissent, its difficult to gauge a genuine public reaction to the sales. Analysts such as Mirette Mabrouk, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Middle East Institute, are doubtful the Gulfs largess will translate into much influence on Cairos decision-making, including on key issues such as the wars in Gaza and Sudan.

On a recent Friday at the Old Cataract (now a Sofitel property), foreign visitors order English afternoon tea for the equivalent of $50. A framed portrait on the wall features a handwritten Arabic note from 1990. The UAEs founder, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, thanked the hotels management for a pleasant stay. Today the government of his son, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAEs current ruler, owns a piece of the place.

Magdy and Gunn report from Bloombergs Cairo bureau.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
West Pharmaceutical Services Inc (NYSE:WST) showcases robust proprietary product offerings, driving its competitive edge.

Despite a strong balance sheet, WST faces challenges from currency fluctuations and a shifting tax landscape.

Opportunities for WST lie in expanding global demand for injectable pharmaceuticals and advanced drug delivery systems.

WST must navigate potential threats from geopolitical instability and intensifying competition in the pharmaceutical supply industry.

On April 25, 2024, West Pharmaceutical Services Inc (NYSE:WST) filed its 10-Q report, revealing a comprehensive view of its financial performance in the first quarter of the year. Despite a decrease in net income from $140.0 million in Q1 2023 to $115.3 million in Q1 2024, the company maintains a strong financial position. However, WST experienced a significant other comprehensive loss, primarily due to foreign currency translation adjustments, which may indicate exposure to currency risk. With a focus on proprietary products and contract-manufactured products, WST continues to be a key player in the pharmaceutical and healthcare product supply chain.

Decoding West Pharmaceutical Services Inc (WST): A Strategic SWOT Insight

Strengths

Robust Proprietary Product Portfolio: West Pharmaceutical Services Inc's strength lies in its proprietary products, which account for approximately 80% of its total revenue. The company's focus on high-value proprietary packaging and containment solutions, along with drug delivery systems, positions it as a leader in the market. Its commitment to quality and technological advancement has resulted in strong brand recognition and customer loyalty, which are critical in the competitive pharmaceutical supply industry.

Financial Resilience: WST's financial health is underscored by its solid balance sheet. Despite a dip in net income, the company's financial tables indicate a capacity to generate cash flow and maintain liquidity. This financial resilience enables WST to invest in research and development, expand its product offerings, and navigate market volatility with confidence.

Weaknesses

Exposure to Currency Risk: The company's significant other comprehensive loss of $48.5 million, largely due to foreign currency translation adjustments, points to a vulnerability to currency fluctuations. As WST generates approximately 55% of its revenue from international markets, adverse currency movements could impact profitability and financial stability.

Regulatory and Tax Challenges: WST operates in a highly regulated industry, which requires continuous compliance with evolving standards. The company's recent focus on assessing the impact of new tax laws, such as the OECD's 15% global minimum tax initiative, indicates potential challenges in adapting to a shifting tax landscape, which could affect its effective tax rate and overall financial performance.

Story continues

Opportunities

Global Demand for Injectable Pharmaceuticals: The rising global demand for injectable drugs presents a significant opportunity for WST. With its expertise in elastomer-based packaging components and advanced drug delivery systems, the company is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend. The expansion of biotechnology and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases are likely to drive further growth in this sector.

Innovation and Expansion: WST's commitment to innovation, as evidenced by its investment in research and development, opens doors to new product categories and markets. The company's ability to offer integrated services and solutions, including analytical lab services, positions it to expand its customer base and enter new geographic markets, leveraging its existing international presence.

Threats

Geopolitical Instability: WST's operations in regions such as Israel expose it to geopolitical risks. The ongoing conflict in the area could disrupt its research and development activities and manufacturing processes, potentially impacting supply chains and the company's ability to meet customer demand.

Intensifying Competition: The pharmaceutical supply industry is highly competitive, with the presence of both established players and emerging markets offering lower-cost alternatives. WST must continuously innovate and maintain its competitive edge to fend off competition, particularly from companies that may offer similar products at a lower price point.

In conclusion, West Pharmaceutical Services Inc (NYSE:WST) presents a strong competitive position with a robust portfolio of proprietary products and a solid financial foundation. However, the company must address its exposure to currency risk and adapt to regulatory and tax changes. Opportunities for growth are abundant in the rising demand for injectable pharmaceuticals and potential market expansions. WST must remain vigilant against geopolitical instability and intensifying competition to maintain its market leadership. The company's strategic focus on leveraging its strengths and opportunities while mitigating its weaknesses and threats will be crucial for its continued success.

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.


A pro-Palestinian protest involving dozens, if not hundreds, of students and non-student participants continued to grow on the campus of UCLA on Friday, with university officials keeping security guards at a distance.

The encampment first emerged Thursday morning, the day after a similar protest at crosstown University of Southern California was raided by campus security with assistance from Los Angeles police officers, resulting in dozens of arrests.

Protesters are demanding a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas and for universities to divest all interests in Israel over what they call a genocide in Gaza.

Photos: Pro-Palestinian demonstrators, counterprotesters at UCLA

UCLAs approach to the encampment is guided by several equally important principles: the need to support the safety and well-being of Bruins, the need to support the free expression rights of our community, and the need to minimize disruption to our teaching and learning mission, the university said in a statement Friday.

Officials said they are following University of California systemwide guidance and would request law enforcement only if absolutely necessary to protect the physical safety of the campus community, and not preemptively.

Protests over the Israel-Hamas conflict have erupted on an increasing number of U.S. college campuses following last weeks arrest of more than 100 demonstrators at Columbia University.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators surround an unwelcomed man inside their encampment on the campus of UCLA on April 26, 2024. (KTLA)

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators surround an unwelcomed man inside their encampment on the campus of UCLA on April 26, 2024. (KTLA)

The pro-Palestinian encampment on the campus of UCLA in Westwood, Calif. April 26, 2024.

Pro-Israel counterprotesters are seen on the campus of UCLA on April 26, 2024. (KTLA)

In Southern California, USCs decision to cancel a speech by valedictorian Asna Tabassum, a Muslim student who supported anti-Israel views on social media, was the flashpoint.

Due to the backlash, USC announced Thursday that it was canceling its main commencement ceremony.

In Westwood, demonstrators set up tents and surrounded themselves with makeshift fencing outside UCLAs historic Royce Hall and controlled who was allowed inside, according to KTLA 5 News reporter Chip Yost

As of Friday afternoon, only isolated conflicts between pro-Palestinian activists and pro-Israel counterprotesters had been reported.

A tense moment occurred when a man wearing pink clothing and pink-dyed hair entered the encampment without permission from organizers. The individual, whose motive was unclear, was surrounded as the group tried to force him to leave the area. He was eventually allowed to stay.

What does From the river to the sea really mean?

Demonstrators say they will remain on the campus until their demands are met.

The war started on Oct. 7 when Hamas militants crossed the Gaza border into southern Israel, killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took around 250 hostages.

Israel says the militants are still holding around 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others. The conflict has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, around two-thirds of them children and women.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
UK intelligence reports 900% surge in murders committed by military in Russia

UK Defence Intelligence has analysed data on a spike in the number of murders committed by the Russian military in Russia last year.

Source: UK Defence Intelligence review on Twitter dated 27 April, as reported by European Pravda

Details: On 18 April 2024, Russian news website Mediazone reported that 116 Russian servicemen had been convicted of murder in Russia in 2023. This is almost 900% more than last year. There were 13 such convictions in 2022 and 11 in 2021.

The New York Times reported on 8 April 2024, citing Olga Romanova, Head of Russia Behind Bars Charitable Foundation, that 15,000 pardoned convicts had come back to Russia from the war zone.

Russian media outlet Verstka reported that 190 criminal cases had been opened against former convicts, including 20 cases of murder or attempted murder in 2023.

It was reported on 24 April 2024 that a Kirov court sentenced a former convict from the Wagner Private Military Company to 22 years in prison for murdering and raping an elderly woman after his discharge.

"The high numbers of homicides by serving and veteran Russian soldiers are likely in part due to enduring war-related chronic poor mental health issues. These include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and battlefield desensitisation to violence," UK Defence Intelligence noted.

The fact that former convicts use alcohol and drugs "because of low morale and boredom" is likely contributing to violence.

This makes it difficult to reintegrate former convicts with a history of crime and extreme violence.

Background:

In the previous review, the intelligence analysed the detention of Timur Ivanov, Deputy Minister of Defence of Russia, on bribery charges.

Before that, UK Defence Intelligence analysed reports of a record number of desertion cases being considered by military courts.

Support UP or become our patron!
This satellite picture taken by Planet Labs PBC show the construction of a new aid port near Gaza City, Gaza Strip, on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. A new port is being built in the Gaza Strip ahead of a U.S. military-led operation to surge needed food and other aid into the besieged enclave as Israel's war on Hamas there grinds on, according to satellite images analyzed by Thursday, April 25, 2024, by The Associated Press. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

LONDON (AP)  British troops may be tasked with delivering aid to Gaza from an offshore pier now under construction by the U.S. military, the BBC reported Saturday. U.K. government officials declined to comment on the report.

According to the BBC, the British government is considering deploying troops to drive the trucks that will carry aid from the pier along a floating causeway to the shore. No decision has been made and the proposal hasnt yet reached Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the BBC reported, citing unidentified government sources.

The report comes after a senior U.S. military official said on Thursday that there would be no American boots on the ground and another nation would provide the personnel to drive the delivery trucks to the shore. The official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet made public, declined to identify the third party.

Britain is already providing logistical support for construction of the pier, including a Royal Navy ship that will house hundreds of U.S. soldiers and sailors working on the project.

In addition, British military planners have been embedded at U.S. Central Command in Florida and in Cyprus, where aid will be screened before shipment to Gaza, for several weeks, the U.K. Ministry of Defense said on Friday.

The U.K. Hydrographic Office has also shared analysis of the Gaza shoreline with the U.S. to aid in construction of the pier.

It is critical we establish more routes for vital humanitarian aid to reach the people of Gaza, and the U.K. continues to take a leading role in the delivery of support in coordination with the U.S. and our international allies and partners, Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said in a statement.

Development of the port and pier in Gaza comes as Israel faces widespread international criticism over the slow trickle of aid into the Palestinian territory, where the United Nations says at least a quarter of the population sits on the brink of starvation.

The Israel-Hamas began with a Hamas-led attack into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 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. Since then, more than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israels air and ground offensive, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, around two-thirds of them children and women.

___

Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
(Bloomberg) -- Concerns that asylum seekers are relocating from the UK to the Republic of Ireland show that the British governments plan for deportations to Rwanda is already acting as a deterrent to illegal immigration, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said.

Most Read from Bloomberg

In an interview with Skys Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips program, Sunak said that the legislation is having an impact because people are worried about coming here. The measure, passed by Parliament this week after months of heated debate, is viewed by the government as critical to stemming an influx of immigrants on small boats crossing the English Channel.

Sunak was commenting in response to concerns voiced by Irish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Micheal Martin that immigrants desperate to avoid being sent to Rwanda are traveling from Britain and seeking refuge in Ireland.

If people come to our country illegally, but know that they wont be able to stay, theyre much less likely to come, and thats why the Rawanda scheme is so important, said Sunak.

The prime minister said earlier this week that flights to Rwanda will begin in 10 to 12 weeks, though the plan may yet face a fresh round of last-minute legal challenges.

Read More: Why the UKs Plan to Stop Migrants Depends on Rwanda: QuickTake

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
UK and US aid for Ukraine should inspire others to do more, Estonias Iron Lady says

Ms Kallas says countries must raise their defence spending in the face of 'the new security reality' - NURPHOTO

British and American defence pledges for Ukraine should inspire other countries to follow suit, Kaja Kallas, the prime minister of Estonia, has said.

If we fail to help Ukraine, what does it say about us?, said Ms Kallas, who has been dubbed Europes Iron Lady for her fierce criticism of Putins illegal invasion and is on a Kremlin wanted list.

Ms Kallas was speaking after the UK this week pledged a 500 million boost for Ukraine and its largest-ever provision of vital supplies, including some 400 vehicles, 1,600 munitions and four million rounds of ammunition.

The package came as Rishi Sunak also announced plans to boost British defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030, and after the US finally approved a long-delayed $60 billion (48.5 billion) aid package for Ukraine.

And on Friday night, the US announced its largest ever military aid donation for Kyiv, pledging to send much-needed air defence munitions and artillery rounds.

Security at stake

Speaking exclusively to The Telegraph, Ms Kallas said: The free world must demonstrate the will to defeat Russian aggression in Ukraine  this is the best and cheapest way to ensure all of our security.

Ukraine needs both our swift military aid and long-term support. Russias goals have not changed, it has always played on the card of one day our help diminishing and our unity crumbling.

She added: In this regard, every arms and ammunition package, including the latest by the UK and also by the US, are highly welcome.

It should also inspire others to deliver to Ukraine what it urgently needs. We should not forget that we have the resources and expertise  our strength outweighs Russias.

More is required

British troops are stationed in Estonia, which was occupied by the Soviet Union, neighbours Russia and was one of the first European countries to send military aid to Ukraine.

To meet the demands of the new security reality, more is required from everyone, not only those countries who share a border with Russia, Ms Kallas said.

In Nato, two per cent is the agreed minimum, but not everyone has been doing this. Some allies, including Estonia, are now spending more than three per cent or even four per cent [of GDP on defence].

The UKs steps to raise its defence spending in the face of the changed security situation are on the right track, she said.

Threat to all of Europe

Ms Kallas added: We have been slow learners, but its important that European governments are picking it up. Europes defence-spending trajectory has had a sharp upturn. It reached a total of 360 billion last year  a level not seen since the Cold War.

But we all still have a long way to go, and we do not have the luxury of time. Russian imperialism is a threat to all of Europe and it is important that our allies see it that way, too.

Jan Lipavsky, the Czech foreign minister, told the Telegraph that he also welcomed the British support.

He said: Czechia has been, along with the UK, at the forefront of Ukraine support, as we know from our history that the further Russia is from our borders, the better.

Defending the skies

Ukraine has in recent months pleaded for more air defences from its allies as it struggles to fend off a surge in deadly attacks on civilian infrastructure.

The $6 billion support package from Washington announced on Friday includes interceptors for both Patriot and Nasams air defence systems.

This is the largest security assistance package that weve committed to date, Lloyd Austin, the US Defence Secretary, told journalists following the conclusion of a virtual meeting of dozens of Kyivs international supporters.

They need air defence interceptors, they need artillery systems and munitions. They need... armoured vehicles, they need maintenance and sustainment. So all of those kinds of things are included in the package.

It follows another package valued at $1 billion, which was announced just after President Joe Biden signed the much-delayed bill to provide new funding for Ukraine.

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.
Devon Energy (NYSE: DVN) is an acquired taste -- only appropriate for a certain kind of investor. That's true despite a generous 4.6% dividend yield and a shareholder-friendly dividend and stock buyback policy. Here's why this oil and natural gas company could be a buy or hold for some investors, but many more will likely want to avoid it.

Buy Devon Energy

Devon Energy is an upstream player in the U.S. energy sector. That means it produces oil and natural gas in the United States that it then sells to generate revenue. While the day-to-day operation of the company is probably very complex, the big picture here is fairly simple to understand. If U.S. oil and natural gas prices are on the rise, so, too, are Devon's financial results. If oil and natural gas prices are declining, the company's results reflect that accordingly.

DVN Chart

If you are looking for exposure to the energy sector, Devon Energy is a fairly direct way to get that exposure. You just have to go in knowing that its financial performance -- and stock price -- are likely to be just as volatile as energy prices. For example, with West Texas Intermediate crude prices up so far in 2024, Devon's stock has advanced around 15% year to date. That's more than twice the gain of the S&P 500 index.

But that's not the end of the story. Devon's dividend and share buybacks are directly tied to its financial results. In short, the dividend goes up and the company can buy back more stock when it is doing well financially. It will likely be performing well when oil and natural gas prices are high and/or rising. In this way, the stock offers some extra leverage to rising energy prices. If that's something you'd like in your portfolio, Devon Energy is an option you should be strongly considering.

Sell Devon Energy

That said, there's a downside to the oil and natural gas focus. When energy prices are falling, Devon's stock will probably follow suit. And when its performance drops off, along with declining energy prices, the company will return less cash to investors via dividends and stock buybacks. That's not going to be an attractive proposition for investors that are looking for an energy investment that can provide a reliable income stream.

DVN Chart

This variability is simply part of the story here, and there's nothing that can be done about it. Devon Energy is an upstream producer and its revenue and earnings are directly tied to the ups and downs of the energy sector. Unless you can handle the often dramatic and swift price changes of oil and natural gas, you won't want to own Devon Energy. There are other companies in the energy sector that have historically provided more consistent dividends.

Story continues

Hold Devon Energy

If you step back from assessing Devon Energy as a company and consider the implications owning the stock might have for your broader life, meanwhile, there could be a place for it in a long-term investment plan. If you aren't trying to time the ups and downs of energy commodity prices (which is not something most people should be trying to do), then you could view Devon's variable dividend policy as a hedge against the real-world energy costs you face.

Effectively, just as higher energy prices are forcing you to pay more at the pump and to heat your home, Devon's dividend will likely be going up (with a slight time lag). So, Devon will probably be providing you more dividend income just when you need a bit of extra cash. Of course, you have to understand that the extra cash will dry up when energy prices fall, but presumably you won't need the extra cash anymore at that point. That could be a valuable addition to an income portfolio, but you have to go in understanding why you own Devon and what to expect from it.

A complex investment thesis

If you are a conservative dividend investor that likes consistency, then you will probably hate Devon Energy. It just isn't designed for that, and you'd be better off with a midstream player like Enbridge or Enterprise Products Partners. Integrated energy giants like ExxonMobil or Chevron would also be better choices. However, if you are looking to gain almost direct exposure to energy prices or would like to hedge your real-world energy costs, Devon could be a good fit for your portfolio. The key is to understand what you are buying and why.

Should you invest $1,000 in Devon Energy right now?

Before you buy stock in Devon Energy, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Devon Energy wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $537,557!*

Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*.

See the 10 stocks 

*Stock Advisor returns as of April 22, 2024

Reuben Gregg Brewer has positions in Enbridge. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Chevron and Enbridge. The Motley Fool recommends Enterprise Products Partners. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Devon Energy: Buy, Sell, or Hold? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Ukraines military intelligence agency (HUR) and the 15th Separate Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade struck a Russian Podlet-K1 radar station, HUR reported on April 27.

The Podlet-K1, also known as the 48Ya6-K1, is a modern mobile radar system designed to detect air targets at low and extremely low altitudes, according to the Army Recognition website. The system is reportedly worth around $5 million and can detect up to 200 targets simultaneously.

The attack hit the stations antenna post and diesel generator, according to HUR. The agency did not provide further details on the attack or the damage.

"The Podlet radar station is a relatively new Russian development  they began distributing it to the aggressor states army in 2015," HUR said on Telegram.

"This system was used by the enemy to detect and transmit target coordinates to Russian S-300/S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems."

Ukrainian drones on April 17 attacked a military unit in the city of Kovylkino in Russia's Mordovia Republic, some 800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, hitting a Container radar station, an intelligence source told the Kyiv Independent.

Read also: Source: SBU hits oil refineries, military airfield in Russias Krasnodar region

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ukraine has not asked Poland to help get military-age men back, ambassador says

Ukraines ambassador to Poland, Vasyl Zvarych, says the Ukrainian government has not asked Poland for help in getting Ukrainian men of conscription age to return.

Source: European Pravda, citing Zvarych in an interview with TVN 24

The ambassador was speaking about how the updated mobilisation law, which comes into effect on 18 May, will impact Ukrainian citizens abroad.

Asked whether Ukraine would need assistance transporting citizens whose documents have expired, the ambassador replied that Kyiv has not yet approached the Polish side with such a request.

"Let's wait and see. I think everything will go smoothly, without panic," the ambassador said.

With regard to Berlin's decision to allow military-age Ukrainian men to remain in Germany with expired passports, the diplomat noted that "it is the sovereign decision of each country on how to treat citizens of other countries".

"We cannot force anything. Our main priority is to implement the mobilisation law so that it is effective and transparent, so that everyone knows what it entails. So we are working to explain to our citizens what it involves," Zvarych said, adding that people "have nothing to fear".

He emphasised that current estimates of the number of draft-age Ukrainian men in Poland are "very approximate".

"According to our estimates, there are tens of thousands of conscription-age men in Poland alone. But we will be sure when this law is implemented and when everyone can confirm their personal data at collection points," the ambassador said.

Asked whether men would need to return to Ukraine to join the military registry, the ambassador replied that it would not be necessary.

"We have temporarily suspended the acceptance of new applications from conscription-age men in order to do technical preparations. When the new law comes into effect, everyone will know how to update their data. The idea is that this can be done remotely," Zvarych said.

Background:

Dariusz Wieczorek, Polands Minister of Science and Higher Education, has said he wants to consult with Ukraines Ministry of Education and Science and the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding how changes in the mobilisation law would affect Ukrainian students in Poland.

Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said the Polish government will consider Ukraine's decision to suspend consular services for men aged 18-60 in its general decision to extend temporary protection for Ukrainian citizens, which is currently at the preparation stage.

Support UP or become our patron!
Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has attended the 21st meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, also known as the Ramstein-format meeting, where he reported on the situation at the front line, which is "tending to escalate".

Source: Syrskyi on Telegram, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Syrskyi said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Defence Minister Rustem Umierov and Defence Intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov had addressed the coalition members.

"I briefed the coalition members on the challenging operational and strategic situation, which is tending to escalate; the specifics of the enemy airstrikes on energy infrastructure; our urgent needs for missiles, ammunition, weapons and military equipment, and the key role of their timely delivery," the commander-in-chief stressed.

Syrskyi said he had thanked the attendees, and Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin personally, for their unwavering support of Ukraine and its Armed Forces, and for the military assistance provided by the United States and all allies and partners.

Background:

Following the 21st Ramstein meeting, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed that the US would allocate US$6 billion for military aid for Ukraine within the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) mechanism.

Belgium will allocate 200 million to Germany's initiative to find air defence systems for Ukraine, and Spain has confirmed its intention to send interceptor missiles for Patriot air defence systems.

Support UP or become our patron!
Soldiers of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) have successfully hit the Russian 48Y6 K-1 Podlyot radar system.

Source: DIU

Details: The radar system was successfully hit by a DIU group together with the servicemen of the 15th Separate Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade Black Forest.

The antenna feed piece and the petrol station that powered the system were successfully struck.

The reconnaissance unit noted that the Russians used this system to detect and transmit target coordinates to Russian S-300/S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems.

For reference: The Podlyot radar system is a new Russian development, which began to be supplied to Russian forces in 2015.

The cost of this system is over 700 million roubles, or over US$5 million.

Support UP or become our patron!
Flames rise from one of the targeted Russian refineries

A large-scale Ukrainian drone attack hit two Russian oil refineries and a military airfield overnight, causing a major fire at one of the refineries that put it out of operation.

The Ilsky and Slavyansk oil refineries in Russias Krasnodar region were targeted by Ukrainian drones, causing fires at both of them.

The strikes hit key technological facilities at the two refineries, a Ukrainian defence source told AFP. A separate intelligence source told Reuters that Kyivs SBU security service conducted the attacks.

The work of the plant has been partially suspended, Eduard Trudnev, a representative of the Slavyansk refinery, was quoted as saying in Russian state media.

Attacks cause friction with US

Exactly 10 UAVs (drones) flew exactly into the plant, there was a strong fire. There may be hidden damage.

The Slavyansk refinery is capable of processing 4 million tons of oil a year. The continuing strikes against Russias oil refineries came despite growing friction between the US and Ukraine over the tactic, with US worries concerned it could raise global energy prices.

Ukrainian drones also targeted the Kushchevsk military airfield, although it was not immediately clear what damage was caused.

A firefighter tackles the aftermath of the strike on the military airfield - X

Ukraine fired more than 60 drones at southern Russia overnight, Moscow said, in one of its largest ever overnight drone attacks.

Meanwhile Russia launched its own barrage of missiles at Ukrainian power facilities in the early hours of Saturday, hitting locations in the centre and west of the country, damaging equipment and injuring at least one energy worker.

Ukraines air force said Moscow fired 34 missiles, of which 21 were shot down, as the army described it as a massive attack.

Ukraines largest private energy company, DTEK, said its four thermal power stations were hit and serious damage was caused.

Ukrainians told to cut energy use

Ukrenergo, the state electricity operator, said it disconnected its main overhead power line in the west of the country as a preventative measure.

We ask all consumers to consume electricity sparingly. Industry is asked to maximise electricity imports and use alternative power sources, Ukrenergo said in a statement.

The head of the western Lviv region called on residents not to use kettles, irons, washing machines and microwaves between 7:00pm and 10:00pm to preserve limited energy supplies.

State-run Naftogaz said gas infrastructure facilities came under attack but that service to consumers was not interrupted.

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.
Ukrainian forces dismiss as fake information about withdrawal of Abrams tanks from battlefield due to drones

The 47th Separate Mechanised Brigade of Ukraine's Armed Forces has dismissed as fake the report by the Associated Press that the Ukrainian Defence Forces have withdrawn US-supplied Abrams tanks from the battlefield due to the threat of Russian drone attacks.

Source: 47th Separate Mechanised Brigade on Telegram

  47 

Screenshot

Details: The brigade posted a screenshot of the story with a link to an Associated Press report, marking it "Fake".

Quote: "Tanks perform well on the battlefield, and we are definitely not going to hide something from the enemy that usually makes them hide themselves. Moreover, we are not going to leave our infantry without such powerful fire support.

However, we will not comment publicly on the purpose, location, and equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

We ask you to trust only verified information and to contact the press service for official comments before releasing any materials."

Background:

On 26 April, the Associated Press reported, citing US military officials, that the Ukrainian Defence Forces had withdrawn the US-supplied Abrams tanks from the battlefield due to the threat of Russian drone attacks.

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.

Support UP or become our patron!
Relatives of Ukrainian military personnel held a rally in support of demobilisation and the introduction of a clear term of military service in central Kyiv on Saturday, 27 April.

Source: Suspilne

    27 , : C/ 

Rally at Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square), Kyiv, 27 April 2024.

Photo: Suspilne/Natalka Tkachuk

Details: Around a hundred people gathered in Kyivs Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) on Saturday morning, among them relatives of Ukrainian military personnel  including many servicemens wives  who came to Kyiv from across Ukraine.

The protesters believe that a lack of a clearly defined term of military service is negatively affecting the mobilisation campaign and the morale of the soldiers defending Ukraine on the front.

The photos from the rally show protesters holding signs that read: "We demand a bill on establishing a reasonable demobilisation term", "My husband is not your slave", "Joined voluntarily, ended up serving indefinitely", and "No clear term of service = demoralised soldiers", among others.

    27 , : / 

Rally at Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square), Kyiv, 27 April 2024.

Photo: Suspilne/Natalka Tkachuk

Inna Sovsun, a peoples deputy in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (the Ukrainian parliament), joined the rally.

    27 , : / 

Rally at Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square), Kyiv, 27 April 2024.

Photo: Suspilne/Natalka Tkachuk

Rally at Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square), Kyiv, 27 April 2024.

Photo: Suspilne/Natalka Tkachuk

Similar rallies were previously held in different Ukrainian cities. Todays protest gathered people from all over Ukraine in order to urge the government to address this issue in the nearest future.

Background:

On 9 April, Ukrainska Pravda reported that the Verkhovna Rada (Parliamentary) Committee on National Security and Defence has removed provisions on demobilisation and the rotation of military personnel from the government's mobilisation bill, which has since passed.

The removal of the demobilisation provisions from the bill was initiated by Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Later on, the Ukrainian Defence Ministry said that a new bill on demobilisation will be ready in eight months, by December 2024.

Support UP or become our patron!
As delegates with the United Methodist Church gather in Charlotte for this years 11-day General Conference, things feel a bit different compared to years past, one member of the churchs LGBTQ caucus said.

The conference has been unusually quiet and lacking the vitriol that usually comes when discussing issues like removing anti-LGBTQ language from church doctrines, said Ophelia Hu Kinney, spokesperson for Reconciling Ministries Network.

That is due to the recent departure of many of the churchs more outspoken anti-LGBTQ members, she said.

And although not a guarantee, Kinney, who will be traveling to Charlotte from Maine for the conference, said she feels good about how its going as church leaders prepare to debate the issue again.

The conference is typically held every four years, but was delayed in 2020 due to the pandemic. This is the first time delegates have gathered since that delay, and since the denomination experienced a rupture over LGBTQ inclusion in the church.

Some of the biggest topics at the conference, known as the Three Rs have a good chance of passing, Kinney said, ushering the church into a new, perhaps more LGBTQ-accepting era.

The Three Rs

Delegates at the conference voted 586-164 to pass one of the three Rs, known as regionalization, on Thursday, the third day of the conference uptown at the Charlotte Convention Center, the Associated Press reported.

The proposed amendment will now go to annual conferences, or local governing bodies in the church, for a vote. It will need a two-thirds vote from them to become official.

Currently, the church is very U.S.-focused, Kinney said, but the proposal that passed would allow the creation of regional conferences throughout Europe, Africa and the Philippines, where the church has seen significant growth.

It would enable the U.S. church to make its own decisions around issues like LGBTQ inclusion that other branches of the church, in more conservative places and countries, may not agree with, the Associated Press reported.

The other two Rs, which are removal of anti-LGBTQ language from the Methodists Book of Discipline and revision of new social principles, are expected to pass, Kinney said.

Those two proposals relate to a longstanding issue within the church  how accepting it should be of LGBTQ people and ministers.

The Book of Discipline, which establishes laws and doctrine in the church, currently states that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Ministers are also prohibited from performing same-sex marriages and ordaining openly LGBTQ people. That language was adopted in 1972 and could be removed at the conference.

These are pretty deep fissures in the denomination that have been around for a long time, and the question of queer and trans inclusion has just kind of brought everything to a head in the last 12 to 16 years in particular, Kinney said. At this point, a lot of churches have disaffiliated.

Denomination splinters

In recent years, many churches began withdrawing from the denomination over the issue, splintering into the more conservative Global Methodist Church (GMC). Some joined another denomination entirely, while others chose to become independent.

Many expected the progressive churches to be the ones to splinter, Kinney said, because a legal door allowed churches who disaffiliate to take church property, that is typically on loan, with them upon exit.

Instead, more conservative churches bowed out. And since 2019, a quarter of Methodist congregations in the U.S. have disaffiliated, including hundreds in North Carolina alone.

Broad Street United Methodist Church in Mooresville is one of the churches that split off, becoming a member of the Global Methodist Church denomination.

Members voted overwhelmingly to depart last year, with 1,593 voting in favor of leaving, 84 voting to stay, and 44 abstaining. The church could not be reached for comment Friday.

The majority of churches who left the United Methodist Church denomination in western North Carolina are from smaller, rural communities and suburbs that are more conservative. Iredell County saw more than a dozen congregations leave, including seven from Statesville.

Two churches from Charlotte also voted to leave, according to the Western North Carolina Conference  including Oak Grove Church of Charlotte.

NBC News reported the mass disaffiliation hampered the churchs budget due to a loss of revenue. It shrank from $604 million in 2016 to $347 million this year, leading to a reduction in pastors salaries, the report said.

In 2023, Oak Grove United Methodist lay leader Karen Reynolds said the continued practice of ordination of gays and lesbians to ministerial positions, including bishops, was contrary to denominational rules.

The 75 active members of the church, which is located on Old Statesville Road in Charlotte, voted by a margin of 9-to-1 to depart from the denomination last January.

But Kinney said she feels those anti-LGBTQ stances are counter to what the church preaches.

I personally think that the church has an enormous responsibility to be as much of a leader as possible in the realm of advancing justice, especially for people on the margins and for our common good, she said.

Fewer opposing voices at conference

So far, Kinney said, shes pleased the discussions are moving smoothly.

Because so many of the GMC folks have left, some of the louder voices against these things are no longer here, Kinney said. That doesnt mean theyre not operating  their presence is not as strongly felt.

The conference, which is being livestreamed, will run through Friday, May 3.
A tram crashed at Universal Studios Hollywood and left more than a dozen people injured, including an 11-year-old girl. That familys attorney is now speaking on their behalf.

The backlot tour at the California theme park is one of the most popular attractions on the property. Guests who go on the tour will experience behind-the-scenes elements, such as animatronics, sound stages, special effects, and more.

On Saturday, April 20, one of the backlot trams crashed into a metal guardrail, ejecting multiple people from the vehicle. Fifteen passengers were taken to a hospital for treatment.

Universal Studios Backlot Tram Crashes Into Metal Guardrail

Canva Stock Images

The Murrieta family was aboard the tram that crashed last weekend, and they claim park officials are not being honest about how bad the crash was.

There was a tram incident at the theme park tonight that resulted in multiple minor injuries, confirmed by the LA County Fire Dept, a Universal Studios spokesperson told KTLA at the time of the crash. We are working to support our guests and understand the circumstances that led to the accident.

The cause of the crash is currently under investigation, but authorities have ruled out the involvement of alcohol and drugs.

Our thoughts continue to be with the guests who were involved, and we are thankful that based on agency reports, the injuries sustained were minor," Universal Hollywood said in another statement, per AP News. "We are working closely with public agencies, including the California Highway Patrol, as we continue our review of the incident and safety remains a top priority."

11-Year-Old Girl Propelled From Universal Studios Backlot Tram

Canva Stock Images

The Murrieta familys attorney is speaking on their behalf.

He indicated it was incredibly dark at the scene, Steven Dhillon, the familys attorney, said. Many victims were holding up their flashlights, trying to locate other victims, everybody was screaming. It was mass hysteria.

According to KTLA, the California Highway Patrol, the backlot tram was passing the Jurassic Park exhibit when the last tram car hit a metal guardrail. Several people were injured as they fell out and onto the road. 15 people were transported to the hospital with minor to moderate injuries.

One of those injured in the accident was 11-year-old Sophia, who was ejected from the tram. She was propelled so violently into the plexiglass wall in front of her, Dhillon said. It impacted her brain so much that it started to bleed. Shes been experiencing headaches, nausea, vomiting, disorientation. The list goes on and on.

Sophias father also sustained injuries to his leg, back and shoulder. Her mom was also severely injured.

Universal Studios Hollywood Releases Statement

Canva Stock Images

While Universal Studios claims they are thankful that, based on agency reports, the injuries sustained were minor, the Murrieta familys attorney says otherwise.

The guard walls that come down on the tram were so weak that they gave out and allowed the individuals to be hurled outside of the tram, Dhillon said. This was by no means a minor accident with minor injuries. You dont transport a dozen individuals to the hospital for minor injuries.

The family does not plan to sue Universal Studios, but they hope officials will step up and do the right thing.

Universal Studios Hollywoods Iconic Backlot Tour

Canva Stock Images

The backlot tour takes Guests behind the scenes and see where some of your favorite films and television shows were  and are  filmed. Now you can see the original Jupiters Claim set from Jordan Peeles latest horror epic, NOPE, per the Universal Studios website.

This legit journey through the actual sets of some of your favorite movies and television shows is mixed with exhilarating attractions and entertaining insights, making it an educational thrill ride unlike anything you can experience anywhere else, Universal Studios Hollywood added.

Celebrate 60 Years Of Universal Studios Hollywoods Tour

Canva Stock Images

When the backlot tour crash occurred, the park was prepping for its 60th anniversary celebration of the Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood, which kicked off Friday, April 26.

Dont miss the all-new experience that lets you step off the classic tram and onto the studio backlot for a limited time, Universal Hollywood said. Explore an iconic film set, take part in immersive photo-ops, experience tour enhancements, and enjoy new themed food with collectible merchandise.

Anyone with information on the incident can call CHP Investigating Officer L. Hawkins at 213-744-2331.
ORLANDO, Fla.  As protests roil college campuses nationwide, University of Central Florida students and local activists rallied Friday afternoon in solidarity with Palestinians and against the war in Gaza.

More than 200 gathered in front of the John C. Hitt Library, many carrying Palestinian flags and wearing keffiyehs as they called for an end to hostilities in the Gaza Strip and liberation of what are considered occupied territories. The protests were largely orderly and no arrests were reported.

Reem Elkhaldi, a Palestinian American attorney who runs Gaza-based nonprofit Healing Our Homeland, remembered losing loved ones in the latest escalation to the conflict.

The status quo is disgusting, Elkhaldi said. The people of Gaza are more than just numbers. They are my family.

Protesters marched from the library and twice circled the Student Union, their numbers growing as it continued. The chant, From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, echoed through the crowd along with calls for UCF to divest from what organizers say are companies that benefit Israel. The chant is regarded by some as antisemitic.

Marchers were escorted by police on bicycles  who at one point kept a small group of counterprotesters at bay. But the march ended without incident.

Were not fighting among ourselves, said Lamia Moukaddam, a Lebanese American activist. We are fighting for the people of Gaza.

The protest is among the latest on college campuses across the nation since a Hamas terror attack on Israel, killing an estimated 1,200, led to Israels attack on the Gaza Strip, where Hamas is headquartered. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have died, prompting many in the international community to accuse Israel of war crimes.

Student demonstrators have called on universities across the country to divest from companies and investments that they say profit off Israeli violence in Palestinian territories. The effort aims to pressure the Israeli government similar to actions taken against apartheid-era South Africa.

We dont have a fully fleshed-out campaign yet, but we are fully planning to do more research and building a divest campaign coalition, said Liam Gundy, an organizer with the Young Democratic Socialists of America designated as a point person for reporters at the UCF rally.

Its not clear if UCF has such investments but organizers said they plan to look into it. A UCF spokesperson did not answer questions about divestment demands.

Elsewhere in the state, University of Florida officials late Thursday cracked down on pro-Palestinian student demonstrators as protests entered a third day. They faced up to a three-year suspension and banishment from the Gainesville campus if they broke certain rules  such as using bullhorns or rallying inside campus buildings. Employees or professors caught breaking the rules would be fired.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis backed the UF policy in a Friday tweet. UCF administrators have issued no similar declaration.

The nationwide protests, many led by Jewish organizers, spread from New York to California to Texas and now Florida after New York City police broke up a student-established encampment at Columbia University. Scores of protesters have been arrested, with many since released without charge. But encampments have popped up at universities across the country.

Public opinion has shifted drastically since the Israel-Hamas war began. While young people tend to be more critical of Israel, a Gallup poll in March found 55% of Americans disapprove of Israeli actions in Gaza compared to 50% approval toward the beginning of the war.

The recent wave of public support for Palestinians has not been the case for a long time, Gundy said. Its deeply moving to us here that its becoming very explicit the solidarity that people have.

UCF President Alexander Cartwright was one of many university leaders who spoke out against the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas. In a universitywide email sent Oct. 10, he condemned the attacks along with hate, violence, and antisemitism in all forms.

In response to Fridays protests, UCF spokeswoman Courtney Gilmartin said the university values the free exchange of ideas and the expression of different viewpoints.

All members of the UCF community and campus visitors alike have the right to express their beliefs without violence or disruption, subject to the rules and regulations of the university and state and federal laws, Gilmartin said.

At least 7,800 undergraduate and graduate Jewish students attend UCF, making up about 11% of its population, according to Hillel International. The Jewish campus organization says that figure puts UCF as having the third-largest Jewish student population in the world outside of Israel.

Since Oct. 7, Palestinian students and their campus allies have staged numerous peaceful rallies and marches. But recent escalation of the conflict  the result of decades of Israeli occupation and creeping settlement onto Palestinian land  have increased tensions on campus.

In January, a Palestinian American student was arrested on charges of voicing death threats to Jewish students. According to an affidavit, Seif Asi, 21, told police his emotions got the better of him after he grew tired of seeing students on campus defending the killing of Palestinian people.

UCF police Chief Carl Metzger called the students comments a direct antisemitic threat.

At UCF, we all have the right to free expression  but violence, threats of violence, and unlawful harassment will not be tolerated, Metzger said.

Court records indicate Asis charges have since been dropped.

_____
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A woman accused of performing dental procedures in Las Vegas without a license faces new charges out of Illinois, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned.

The 8 News Now Investigators first reported about Monica Davis arrest in February. She faces a charge of illegal practice of dentistry, a felony, for running the business on Sahara Avenue near Rainbow Boulevard in the west valley, documents said.

State investigators said Davis ran a company called The Veneer Experts, but the business had no license. The company also lists Chicago as a location on its website. Officials said Davis moved to the Las Vegas area from Illinois, though there was no indication she had a license in either state, state officials said.

On Thursday, police in Schaumburg, Illinois, arrested Davis on a felony charge of practicing medicine without a license, they said.

Officials with the Nevada Department of Public Safety arrested Davis on Jan. 30, records said. She posted bond and was due in court in May.

A woman who filed a complaint told state investigators she saw an advertisement for the business on Facebook and scheduled an appointment, documents said. The person who performed the procedure, later identified as Davis, shaved the womans tooth, and applied a composite to it, documents said.

[The patient] stated during the process, red flags started to come up, investigators wrote in court documents. [The patient] did not observe a dental tray or an autoclave, a device used to clean and sterilize dental equipment.

The procedure left the woman with a larger tooth and fused several surrounding teeth, documents said.

[The woman] asked Davis about being able to floss because the teeth look fused together. Davis told [the woman] they do not fix that, documents said.

The woman later contacted The Veneer Experts again. The woman on the phone told the patient she owed $50 and needed to call a number to schedule another appointment, documents said. The person on the phone also asked the patient to bring cash.

Two weeks after the womans appointment, the veneer broke off. The woman went to a dentist who told her it was not real dentist-grade material, documents said.

The Nevada Board of Dental Examiners denied the 8 News Now Investigators public records request, citing their ongoing investigation.

Investigative reporter David Charns can be reached at dcharns@8newsnow.com.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  Police are asking for the publics help in contributing to the arrest of an armed robber who stole money from an Urbana business Friday afternoon.

Around 2:37 p.m., a man entered an unnamed business wearing dark clothes and a mask. He revealed he had a gun and demanded the cashier give him money. After the cashier handed money over to the suspect, the suspect fled on foot to a nearby apartment complex.

He was then seen getting into a red 4-door sedan.

Man charged with arson from Mattoon fire

Police say they stopped a vehicle that matched the description of the one the suspect took off in; however, no arrests have been made yet and the investigation is ongoing.

Urbana Police ask that anyone with additional information calls 217-384-2320. Anonymous tips can also be shared with Crime Stoppers by phone at 217-373-8477, online at 373tips.com or through the P3 Tips app.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
President Biden is sending billions of dollars to back Israels war against Hamas, even as the destruction of Gaza and deaths of Palestinians fuels growing protest on college campuses.

The $26 billion in new aid to Israel, passed overwhelmingly in Congress and signed into law by Biden this week, also comes amid a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and a looming Israeli invasion of the southern city of Rafah, where more than a million Palestinian civilians are sheltering.

While Democrats have expressed growing concerns about how Israel is carrying out its war in Gaza, they largely rallied around sending more weapons when the bill moved through the House and Senate in the past week.

Khaled Elgindy, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, said weapons to Israel remains sacrosanct in Washington, and the latest package was helped by a rallying around Israel after Irans April 13 barrage of some 300 missiles and drones toward the nation.

But Elgindy said the aid package highlights a huge gap between Democrats in Congress and rank-and-file voters, including those currently protesting at colleges nationwide.

Eventually that gap will have to narrow unless the party wants to remain permanently at odds with its voters, which I cant imagine they want to do, he said. Public opinion has shifted very, very dramatically, especially among the left and among people who identify as Democrats.

The overarching trends in this case are the Democrats are moving gradually more and more toward aid conditionality, he added, even if this particular vote doesnt reflect that.

The debate comes as college campuses across the U.S. are roiled by pro-Palestinian students rallying against the war in Gaza and calling for universities to divest from Israeli companies or defense companies supplying weapons to Israel.

But Julie Rayman, managing director of policy and political affairs at the American Jewish Committee, said the protests are emotionally driven and problematic because some have chanted to free Palestine from the river to the sea, which can be interpreted as a call to eliminate Israel as a state.

She said there is a disconnect between what some of these students are chanting for and what lawmakers in Congress are calling for, such as alleviating suffering in Gaza.

What were seeing now [on] college campuses is, frankly, and I think indisputably, not productive, she said. I dont worry necessarily that these protests are massive signals on how society is viewing this war.

Rayman sees support for Israel as overwhelmingly strong in Washington, a consensus she says must be maintained.

Theres all sorts of issues that need to be considered on U.S. engagement with Israel and how it prioritizes humanitarian aid, she said. But none of that can come at the expense of ensuring the defense of our most strategic ally.

The $26 billion package is almost entirely earmarked for defensive and offensive weapons for Israel, with some funds for U.S. forces in the Middle East.

Critics of prevailing U.S. policy toward Israel have urged Biden to use Israels desire for U.S. weapons as leverage to lessen the suffering in Gaza, where more than 34,000 Palestinians have died in nearly seven months of war.

The war is in retaliation for the Hamas invasion of southern Israel on Oct. 7, when militant fighters killed more than 1,100 people and kidnapped another roughly 250. Somewhere around 100 hostages are believed to still be alive in Gaza, and ongoing negotiations to release them in exchange for a cease-fire have so far failed.

While Biden has pushed for a hostage release and temporary cease-fire deal and has expressed frustration with the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, he has continued to unconditionally send more weapons to Israel, which is committed to fighting until Hamas is destroyed. That aim has placed a target on Rafah, a final Hamas holdout. The U.S. has said it wont back an invasion of the city unless there is a safe civilian evacuation plan, but Israel has vowed to press ahead regardless of outside pressure.

My commitment to Israel, I want to make clear again, is ironclad, Biden said after signing the $95 billion national security supplemental into law on Wednesday, which also includes aid for Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific.

The security of Israel is critical. I will always make sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself against Iran and terrorists it supports.

Biden also underlined how the bill contains $1 billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza, where the U.S. military is airdropping in food and water and nearing the finish line on construction of a port off the coast of the territory to get more assistance in. That effort comes as Israel faces accusations it is still restricting aid trucks through land crossings.

Trita Parsi, the executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, said Biden maintains a disconnect between what he is saying and how he is acting, with the president expressing concern about Israels actions in Gaza but still greenlighting new weapons.

The picture is actually quite clear: what Biden is doing is increasing his rhetorical criticism of Israel and when it comes to practical policy, all of the movement is towards continuing to support what Biden himself criticizes, he said.

Supporters of Israel say the passage of the U.S. aid by the White House and Congress signals relatively steady support to ensure the Israeli people are safe against Iran, Hamas and other regional threats.

Yaakov Lappin, a military and strategic affairs analyst at the MirYam Institute, an Israeli-led forum, said the aid package was a critical development for Israel security, even if the White House is sounding a more critical note at times.

The White House has got very stringent conditions for its support, he said, but the congressional support for Israel remains very strong on the whole, and we saw that just now with the votes.

On Capitol Hill, Democrats willing to oppose aid for Israel remain a small minority, even as concern about the humanitarian crisis mounts. In the House, which voted on separate aid packages for each nation, the final tally was 366-58, with only 37 Democrats against.

Our votes against [Israel aid] are votes against supplying more offensive weapons that could result in more killings of civilians in Rafah and elsewhere, said a joint statement from 19 Democrats who voted against the package.

When faced with the question of whether to provide offensive aid to further this conflict, we believe there is a moral imperative to find another path.

A growing number of Democrats have called to condition weapons to Israel after an Israeli strike killed seven aid workers with the charity World Central Kitchen, which Israel attributed to a mistake but still led to severe backlash in Washington.

Some of those critical Democratic lawmakers voted for the package last weekend.

Among them was Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), who said she still wants to restrict offensive weapons to Israel but supported the aid package because it contained humanitarian assistance for Gaza and other conflict-stricken places.

While Im deeply concerned about further military assistance to Israel, I couldnt in good conscience vote against this lifesaving humanitarian assistance when millions of people around the world are suffering, Jacobs said in a statement after the vote.

In the Senate, only a small group of Democrats are actively calling to condition aid to Israel, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who tried and failed to pass an amendment to the bill that would restrict offensive military assistance.

That amendment could not even get a vote, Sanders said on the floor this week. We cant even discuss the issue.

However, college students are forcing the issue, with growing protest encampments and pressure on university leadership.

Republican House leaders were jeered during a press conference this week at Columbia University, where the wave of demonstrations started. Some universities have cracked down on the protesters and arrested dozens of them.

Biden has also condemned the student protesters as antisemitic.

This has been a massive disaster for Biden, said Parsi from the Quincy Institute, referring to the college campus protests. This is a key voting group.

Parsi added the protests could lead to more pressure on Democrats to act on Gaza, as they are bringing a new level of energy and a completely new level of skepticism on U.S. policy toward Israel.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State, has said the United States has found evidence of China's attempts to "influence and arguably interfere" in the upcoming US election.

Source: Blinken in an interview with CNN on Friday, 27 April, at the end of a three-day trip to China, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Blinken said he echoed US President Joe Biden's message to Chinese leader Xi Jinping during their summit in San Francisco last November that China should not interfere in the 2024 US presidential election. At the time, Xi Jinping vowed that China would not do so.

"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," Blinken said when asked if China was breaking Xi's commitment to Biden.

"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," Blinken said, adding that there are concerns not only about China but also about other nations.

Beijing has repeatedly stated that it does not interfere in the US elections based on its principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs.

Background:

During his visit to China, Blinken reportedly confirmed the White House's readiness to impose new sanctions on Beijing if it continues to support Russia in its full-scale war against Ukraine.

In addition, he urged the Chinese authorities to ensure a level playing field for American businesses.

Support UP or become our patron!
US intelligence agencies believe Putin did not order Navalny's killing  WSJ

The US intelligence services believe that Russian leader Vladimir Putin likely did not order the murder of opposition politician Alexei Navalny.

Source: Wall Street Journal, citing sources, as reported by European Pravda

The publication states that US intelligence services have concluded that Putin likely did not order Navalny's assassination in Russian prison in February.

The story quotes sources claiming this position was "broadly accepted within the intelligence community and shared by several agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the State Departments intelligence unit."

The US assessment was based on various information, including some classified intelligence and analysis of public facts, such as Navalny's time of death and how his death overshadowed Putin's "elections" in March.

However, the publication claims that Washington did not absolve the Russian leader of overall responsibility for Navalny's death, considering that the opposition politician had been a target of the Russian government for many years; he was imprisoned on politically motivated charges and poisoned in 2020.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Saturday that he had seen the WSJ report, which he said contained "empty speculation."

"I've seen the material, I wouldn't say it's high-quality material that deserves attention," Peskov told reporters.

Leonid Volkov, senior aide to Navalny, who was recently attacked in Vilnius, called the US conclusions naive and laughable.

Background:

On the afternoon of 16 February, Russias Federal Penitentiary Service reported the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny at Correctional Facility No 3. in the town of Kharp in Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, northwestern Siberia.

Support UP or become our patron!
The US is rushing to get new Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine before Russia can destroy more targets

The US is rushing to get new Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine before Russia can destroy more targets

The Pentagon said it would "rush" Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine.

The announcement comes as Russia targets Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that Patriot missiles would not be a "silver bullet."

The US will "rush" Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine as part of a military aid package, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has said.

Speaking on Friday, Austin said that the US would send "critical interceptors" to Ukraine for its Patriot systems as part of a $6 billion deal.

Austin's comments come as Russia hit parts of Ukraine with a large missile strike on Friday, targeting energy facilities and power plants in several regions.

Russia launched a total of 34 missiles at Ukraine by air, ground, and sea, Mykola Oleshchuk, the head of Ukraine's air force, wrote on Telegram.

The barrage included Iskander ballistic missiles, Kh-59 cruise missiles, and ship-launched Kalibr missiles, among others, he added.

Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko wrote on Facebook that Russia had targeted facilities in the regions of Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Lviv, adding that there had been "damage to equipment."

DTEK, a power operator, said equipment at four of its thermal power plants was "severely damaged" in the attacks.

Austin warned against thinking of Patriot missiles as a "silver bullet" against such strikes, however.

"It's not just Patriots that they [the Ukrainians] need, they need other types of systems and interceptors as well," Austin said. "I would caution us all in terms of making Patriot the silver bullet."

The think tank the Institute for the Study of War said in an update on the conflict that while no single weapon could be thought of as a "silver bullet," the Patriot was "one of the very few air defense systems able to engage Russian ballistic missiles and also to hit Russian fighter-bombers outside the range of Russian glide bombs."

It comes after the Spanish newspaper El Pais reported that Spain would also send Patriot missiles to Ukraine amid increasing pressure from its EU and NATO allies.

The report said Spain would deliver "a very limited number" of the missiles due to their high cost and because the country's war reserve was about only around 50 units.

Both the US and Spain decided not to send launchers for the Patriot system, however.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly called for allies to send more Patriot systems to Ukraine.

He said earlier this month that Ukraine needed "seven more Patriots or similar air defense systems" to defend its cities from Russian strikes.

"'Patriots' can only be called air defense systems if they work and save lives rather than standing immobile somewhere in storage bases," Zelenskyy added on X.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Otar Shamugia, the Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, and Raimund Jehle, the representative of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation in the country, on Friday signed an agreement for a new four-year, $4 million project to enhance competitiveness in the agricultural sector, elevate food production, introduce new technologies, increase the knowledge of farmers, reduce poverty in rural areas and promote gender and social balance in the sector, Azernews reports, citing Agenda.

The target groups of the Inclusive Rural Development and Sustainable Agriculture project are farmers, cooperatives, rural households, educational institutions, private sector representatives and owners of family farms.

Shamugia thanked the FAO and the Austrian Government for support and partnership over the years and emphasised the importance of the FAO's involvement in Georgia's cooperation with the European Union, particularly in implementing the recommendations issued in relation for the countrys membership candidate status.

With joint efforts we have implemented a number of important projects. As you know, Georgia is at a new stage of cooperation with the European Union, and [...] the involvement of the FAO and partner organisations in this process is particularly important, he said.

Shamugia said the new project would significantly contribute to strengthening the agricultural sector and effectively implementing the recommendations.

In his turn, Jehle noted the signing of the new project was proof of support for the country and future cooperation. He also highlighted the FAO supported Georgia's rapprochement with the EU and the signing of the new project marked a new stage of development in agriculture.




Support Us

Your Support will ensure EPWs financial viability and sustainability.

The EPW produces independent and public-spirited scholarship and analyses of contemporary affairs every week. EPW is one of the few publications that keep alive the spirit of intellectual inquiry in the Indian media.

Often described as a publication with a social conscience, EPW has never shied away from taking strong editorial positions. Our publication is free from political pressure, or commercial interests. Our editorial independence is our pride.

We rely on your support to continue the endeavour of highlighting the challenges faced by the disadvantaged, writings from the margins, and scholarship on the most pertinent issues that concern contemporary Indian society.

Every contribution is valuable for our future.
At USC, arrests. At UCLA, hands off. Why pro-Palestinian protests have not blown up on UC campuses

So far, the demonstrations by pro-Palestinian demonstrators have been peaceful at UCLA, while across town, the LAPD arrested 93 protesters at USC. (Ringo Chiu; Wally Skalij / For The Times; Los Angeles Times)

At USC, Los Angeles police officers in riot gear swarmed the campus, arresting 93 pro-Palestinian protesters and clearing their tent encampment.

Across town at UCLA, scores of Palestinian supporters set up about 20 tents, created a perimeter around their "Palestine Solidarity Encampment" and peacefully protested day and night  all without arrests, suspensions or intervention by campus staff, who watched from the sidelines. Private security guards with bikes separated the pro-Palestinian group from Israel supporters, and UCLA eventually added metal barricades after counter-protesters repeatedly tried to breach the encampment and in at least one case witnessed by The Times entered and shoved a woman to the ground.

The scenes this week illustrate starkly different responses to campus protests, which are sweeping the country as students at more than 20 colleges and universities have launched encampments, demonstrations and other actions to express solidarity with Palestinians, urge an end to Israel's military operations in Gaza and demand divestment from firms that do business with Israel.

USC  along with other private institutions such as Columbia and Pomona  cracked down on violations of campus rules and called in police, who arrested students.

In the public University of California system, by contrast, UCLA, UC Berkeley and UC Santa Barbara have used a far lighter hand, tolerating students who flouted bans on overnight camping and other rules as long as they remained peaceful and did not impede campus operations or interfere with teaching and learning.

Part of the difference is rooted in the legal requirement for public universities to honor the 1st Amendment, which does not directly apply to private institutions. But not all public campuses have refrained from an aggressive response. The University of Texas at Austin, for instance, sent in armed state troopers who arrested more than 50 people this week for staging what witnesses said was a peaceful protest. The university president, defending his response as a legitimate action to maintain campus order, is facing a faculty vote of no confidence.

The more permissive UC response has been shaped by decades of experience with high-profile protests and in particular the 2011 uproar at UC Davis, where campus police pepper-sprayed students who were peacefully protesting economic and social inequality during the Occupy movement. Video of the incident went viral, and the widely condemned police actions resulted in the firing of at least one officer, a $1-million legal settlement with the student demonstrators and a UC systemwide review and report on how best to handle campus protests.

The report, noting the need to balance 1st Amendment rights with campus safety and security, made 49 recommendations, placing communication and dialogue as a "cornerstone" of responses, with police force used as the very last resort. In a key underlying principle, the report called for "a substantial shift away from a mindset that has been focused primarily on the maintenance of order and adherence to rules and regulations to a more open and communicative attitude."

"What's so bad about students pitching tents on a green? That doesn't threaten the core teaching and research mission," said Christopher Edley Jr., a UC Berkeley law professor who co-authored the report. "It's messy and appears to create turmoil, but ... you're dealing with a large community of 20-year-olds who we expect to be passionate and who we know are collecting experiences as well as knowledge. It's incumbent on us to be as tolerant as possible without compromising fundamentals."

Even some sharp critics of pro-Palestinian protests, which they see as antisemitic, have refrained from calling for an end to the encampments. Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Los Angeles), whose district includes the UCLA campus, said he was appalled and disgusted by calls to destroy Israel and praise for the Hamas militant group and believes UC officials are not doing enough to safeguard Jewish students. But he said he supports the rights to free speech, to peacefully assemble and to protest, and would continue to fight for their protection "no matter how strongly I may disagree."

UC Davis Police Chief Joseph Farrow, who chairs the UC Council of Police Chiefs, said campuses generally favor a lenient approach to protests, including encampments, within reason.

"If people are gathering peacefully and in an area not doing harm or disrupting operations, universities will probably let that go," he said.

By contrast, USC senior administrators directed their campus security officers to clamp down on violations of its rules against overnight camping, said Assistant Chief David Carlisle of the Department of Public Safety, or DPS. He said his team, which numbered about 25 officers, warned students against camping and moved in to remove tents and sleeping bags when their orders to do so were ignored. He said the crowd became "hostile," so campus authorities decided to call in the LAPD, which deployed nearly 100 officers and made the arrests.

USC is now allowing students to stay outside overnight as they continue their protests  but not in tents. Carlisle said the difference is that they are not violating bans on overnight camping.

"When it becomes clear that they are intending to set up a tent city, that would violate university policies," he said.

USC President Carol Folt defended her decision in a message to the USC community Friday.

"This week, Alumni Park became unsafe. No one wants to have people arrested on their campus. Ever," she wrote. "But, when long-standing safety policies are flagrantly violated, buildings vandalized, DPS directives repeatedly ignored, threatening language shouted, people assaulted, and access to critical academic buildings blocked, we must act immediately to protect our community."

But many USC students and faculty members condemned the universitys decision to call in LAPD officers, saying their presence escalated tensions. One Palestinian American student, who did not want to be named due to safety concerns, said the aggressive actions of police and campus security were unexpected and unwelcome but "nothing compared to a genocide, to occupation, to apartheid that she said Palestinians are suffering.

Former UC Santa Cruz Chancellor George Blumenthal said that decisions over how to respond to campus protests aren't easy. At least a few times a year, he said, he tussled with the tricky issue of what to do when student protests blocked the only two entries to campus. He generally allowed them to shut down the campus for a day, despite backlash from some "furious" faculty who wanted him to more quickly restore access. Then he got more criticism when he did call in police to reopen the campus.

"It's easy to overreact too quickly," he said. "When you bring in police and start arresting students, there is definitely an aftermath."

In a newly issued open letter, nearly 600 faculty and staff members across all nine UC undergraduate campuses expressed support for students who nonviolently demonstrate, saying the right to do so needed "active protection" after Columbia University leaders called in New York police to arrest more than 100 peaceful student protesters, suspended them from courses and evicted them from campus housing. The letter called out UC's own controversial history involving protests, including the pepper-spray incident, the 2015 arrest of UC Santa Cruz students protesting tuition hikes and the 2020 firing of graduate student workers involved in a wildcat strike.

"Arresting or punishing students who protest peacefully and nonviolently on our campuses is antithetical to our universitys highest ideals of learning and scholarship and violates our universitys fundamental values of decency and respect," the letter said. "Especially during difficult moments of intense political contestation, it is essential that all members of our university community respect each other and not engage in authoritarian power plays."

UC's more tolerant approach played out at the three campuses where students staged protests this week.

At UC Berkeley, nearly 100 tents remained up in the "Free Palestine Camp" by Sproul Hall, the historic home of the campus free speech movement. With the last day of instruction Friday and finals starting after that, the campus is prioritizing the academic interests of students, said Dan Mogulof, assistant vice chancellor for executive communications.

He said the campus has refused demands to shut down the encampment, along with a two-month protest at Sather Gate. Students have complied with campus directives to take down signs hanging on the gate but have needed repeated reminders against using amplified sounds. Last month, Chancellor Carol Christ decided to post monitors at the gate to reduce conflict after receiving complaints about the activities there.

"We're dealing with these protests in the exact same way we have dealt with nonviolent political protests in the past and that is in line with the UC systemwide standard that instructs us not to request law enforcement involvement preemptively and only when there is a direct threat to the physical safety of the campus community," Mogulof said. "We've seen at our own campus and others that calling in law enforcement can have unintended consequences."

Berkeley's measured response, while criticized by some, has been praised by others on both sides. In a social media post, the Jewish Community Relations Council Bay Area affirmed the protesters' right to free speech even though their words were "abhorrent" and said UC Berkeley administrators were "committed to ensuring Jewish safety and participation in campus life."

Hundreds of UC Santa Barbara students completed a daylong occupation of the student resources building without mishap this week. The event featured workshops, art projects and other actions to express solidarity with Palestinians, call for a cease-fire and demand an end to Israel-related investments. No encampment was set up.

Bishnupriya Ghosh, a professor of English and global studies and member of Academics for Justice in Palestine, credited collaboration and communication for the peaceful outcome, including regular discussions with Chancellor Henry Yang and other senior leaders.

The campus response "has not been draconian at all because of open channels of communication to administration, which have been very productive," Ghosh said.

UCLA's response to the protest activities also drew mostly favorable reviews. Saree Makdisi, an English professor of Palestinian heritage, said he appreciated the respectful tone of the Bruin Alert that went out Thursday, announcing that the school would "support a safe and peaceful campus environment that respects our communitys right to free expression while minimizing disruption to our teaching and learning mission." He said he only wished UCLA had acted earlier to set up barricades around the encampment to protect those inside from what he said was physical and verbal aggression from Israel supporters who appeared not to be students but outsiders.

Edley, the UC Berkeley law professor, said his biggest critique of the overall campus response was a failure to more creatively use the moment to help deepen understanding of the fraught, complex and contested history of the conflict. Faculty might have bought space in student newspapers, for instance, to publish essays from all perspectives "in a vigorous search for shared truth."

"This is a great university, and the opportunity to deeply inform students about this problem is profoundly important," he said. "So I hate to see it reduced to a problem of law and order."

Times staff writers Jaclyn Cosgrove and Angie Orellana Hernandez contributed to this report.

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A Pro-Palestinian student group at the University of Texas at Austin shared on Friday that it was placed on interim suspension following the arrest of several students earlier this week.

The Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) shared on their Instagram Friday that the university had suspended the organization, alleging the school "has repeatedly changed protest policies and been deliberately vague about these changes" since the on-campus protests began.

"UTs suspension of the Palestine Solidarity Committee is an attack on free speech to distract from and enable israels genocidal campaign against the Palestinian people!," the organization wrote on Instagram. "While Jay Hartzell and Greg Abbot authorized Texas State Troopers, Austin Police, and UT police to violently attack and arrest protesters on campus, Palestinians continue to live in a state of emergency that UT refuses to recognize."

UT-AUSTIN PRESIDENT DEFENDS SHUTTING DOWN ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTS: 'OUR RULES MATTER AND THEY WILL BE ENFORCED'

PSC was reportedly notified of the suspension Thursday, according to CBS Austin.

The Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) shared on their Instagram Friday that the university had suspended the organization, alleging the school "has repeatedly changed protest policies and been deliberately vague about these changes" since the on-campus protests began.

A university spokesperson told CBS Austin the interim suspension came as a result of PSC allegedly violating institutional rules based on student conduct and integrity. The suspension means the organization will not be able to host any on-campus events, reserve rooms, and work with faculty, the outlet reported.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Fox News Digital reached out to PSC and the university for additional comment.

UT AUSTIN PROTESTS DESCEND INTO CHAOS, ANTI-ISRAEL STUDENTS YELL AT POLICE: 'PIGS GO HOME!'

The suspension comes several days after more than 30 people were arrested on UT Austin's campus during an anti-Israel protest on Wednesday.

The Austin Police Department (APD) and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) were observed making arrests while some officers monitored the protests on horseback.

DPS told Fox News Digital the arrests were made "in order to prevent any unlawful assembly and to support UT Police in maintaining the peace by arresting anyone engaging in any sort of criminal activity, including criminal trespass."

The group was heard chanting "APD, KKK, IDF / they're all the same" and "Pigs go home!" to officers at the scene. DPS told Fox News Digital the arrests were made "in order to prevent any unlawful assembly and to support UT Police in maintaining the peace by arresting anyone engaging in any sort of criminal activity, including criminal trespass."

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY MOVES TO HYBRID LEARNING ON MAIN CAMPUS AMID ANTISEMITIC PROTESTS

UT Austin President Jay Hartzell released a statement that same day defending the university's decision to shut down the protest.

"Our rules matter and they will be enforced," he said in a lengthy statement that recognized that there was "a lot of emotion surrounding these events."

UT Austin President Jay Hartzell released a statement that same day defending the university's decision to shut down the protest.

"This has been a challenging day for many," Hartzell wrote in a statement addressed to the UT-Austin community. "We have witnessed much activity we normally do not experience on our campus, and there is understandably a lot of emotion surrounding these events."

Fox News' Andrea Vacchiano, Bryan Preston, and Lawrence Richard contributed to this report.





Original article source: UT Austin suspends Pro-Palestinian student group after anti-Israel protest
BOUNTIFUL, Utah (ABC4)  A second grade class from Holbrook Elementary School set out to break a world record on the morning of Saturday, April 27, 2024  a record that was originally set in 1999.

The students ended up connecting more than 92,000 Unifix cubes  which the school said is equivalent to one mile  in 55 minutes, beating the previous record of roughly 91,000 cubes in 90 minutes.

READ NEXT: Beware of scam tickets for PGA TOUR in Utah, resort says

The students gathered early in the morning on Saturday, getting started around 6 a.m.

Several students were seen wearing shirts from the manufacturer of the cubes, Didax. The manufacturer donated the cubes used to break the record after learning about the students goal, the school district said.

The school said the project had been in the works since January. A spokesperson for the Davis School District said second-grade students were playing with Unifix cubes on the playground and thought they set a record.

The district said the students were way off but were encouraged by their teacher, Marilee Hullinger, to follow their dreams and break the world record.

This project excited kids  one student said about a week after we started, This is way better than a math journal, Hullinger said.

The school district also said the students learned new math skills to prepare for breaking the record.

They are doing math beyond their standards and making it fit this project and beyond, Hullinger said.

Despite the early-morning weekend activity, the students were full of energy and excitement as they jumped around after completing the task.

The district said Didax also donated $2,700 to help pay off some students lunch debts at the elementary school. Bountiful Police Department helped by shutting down Bountiful Boulevard while the students connected a miles worth of cubes.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  A Utah man was sentenced Friday on charges pertaining to his participation in the January 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol, according to the U.S. Dept. of Justice.

John Earle Sullivan, 29, of Salt Lake City, was sentenced to 72 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution.

On Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, Sullivan was convicted of felony offenses of obstructing an official proceeding, obstructing officers during a civil disorder, entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a dangerous weapon, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a dangerous weapon, and unlawful possession of a dangerous weapon on Capitol grounds or buildings.

Utah actor fondly remembers park that brought magic to life

Additionally, Sullivan was found guilty of misdemeanor offenses of disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

According to the evidence presented, Sullivan joined rioters in storming the U.S. Capitol while wearing a ballistic vest and gas mask. As Sullivan approached the Capitol, he could reportedly be heard on video saying, There are so many people. Lets go. This s is ours! F yeah. We accomplished this s. We did this s together. F yeah! We are all a part of this fing history, and Lets burn this s down.

Officials said that Sullivan filmed the crowds trying to break down the doors to the House Chamber and then at the Speakers Lobby. He had reportedly entered the Capitol through a smashed window next to the broken Senate Wing door.

Sullivan reportedly roamed inside the building and ignored law enforcements commands to leave, instead telling officers to stand down so they wouldnt get hurt. He reportedly encouraged other rioters, saying he was ready because he had been in so many riots.

Sullivan also told others that he had a knife, officials said, even offering up the weapon to rioters at the entrance of the House Chamber. Other rioters reportedly encouraged peace, and to not be violent, but Sullivan replied, They dont listen without that s, F that s, telling the crowd to pull that motherfer out this b, according to the Dept. of Justice.

Officials said Sullivan positioned himself at the front of the Speakers Lobby crowd as they began to break the doors glass windows. Shortly after, a woman was shot climbing through one of the broken windows.

Sullivan reportedly later said that he was in favor of anyone wanting to tear the system down, according to a release. Additionally, in the winter of 2020, prior to the U.S. Capitol breach, Sullivan began advocating for a violent government dismantling, according to the DOJ.

In an Instagram post, Sullivan reportedly wrote, We will have live updates on the location for tonights purge. Spread the message. Let the electoral purge commence. On Jan. 2, 2021, Sullivan posted on X, F The System-Time To Burn It All Down, with an image from a TikTok video of him burning an American flag, according to the DOJ.

Sullivan was arrested on Jan. 14, 2021, in Salt Lake City by the FBI.

In the 34 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,385 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 500 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  Thomas Cervantes was sentenced on Friday to 35 years in prison after pleading guilty to producing child sexual abuse material, a release states.

Previous Coverage: Virginia Beach man guilty of producing child sexual abuse material; coercing minors

Cervantes, of Virginia Beach, used social media platforms to manipulate victims into sending sexually explicit content. Cervantes was found to have shared a video on social media of himself assaulting a minor. In another instance, he offered money to a minor to try and convince her to send a sexually explicit video of herself. When she was reluctant, he threatened to send the images of her to her family members if she refused. Cervantes enticed and coerced a number of additional minors.

He pleaded guilty to his charges on Nov. 29, 2023.

Check with WAVY.com for more updates.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Vermont's Abenaki tribes are once again called out as frauds at UVM symposium

The authenticity of Vermont's Abenaki tribes was once again rejected by a Canadian sociologist on Thursday evening at the University of Vermont.

Professor Darryl Leroux said his research using an extensive Canadian genealogy database has shown the families in Vermont originally claiming to be Abenaki were "clearly French-Canadian."

"There's such obvious and compelling evidence these groups do not represent Abenaki people in any way and have no Abenaki ancestry," Leroux said. "How did the state of Vermont recognize them as such and why did they recognize them after writing a report saying they were not Abenaki? That's something I still don't understand."

Leroux said he has met with "a couple of" Vermont legislators about the issue but couldn't get answers to his questions.

Pretendians threaten sovereignty of Native American nations in the U.S. and Canada

An audience filled the Livak Ballroom at the University of Vermont's Davis Center Thursday evening for the third in a series of three presentations contending Vermont's four Abenaki tribes are fake.

There were similar presentations in 2022 and 2023 at UVM.

Professor David Massell of UVM's Department of History introduced the speakers for the event, which included Gordon Henry, professor emeritus at the University of Michigan's English and American Indian and Indigenous Studies departments; Pam Palmater, a podcaster and documentary filmmaker who advocates for indigenous issues; and Leroux, an associate professor at the School of Political Studies at the University of Ottawa.

An audience filled the University of Vermont's Livak Ballroom for Thursday evening's presentation on Vermont Abenakis. As seen on April 25, 2024.

Palmater is citizen of the Mikmaw Nation and member of Eel River Bar First Nation in Canada. Henry is an enrolled member of the White Earth Anishinaabe Nation in Minnesota.

Palmater and Henry kicked off the symposium by discussing how widespread the problem posed by so-called "pretendians"  non-native people who claim to be Native Americans  is in both the United States and Canada.

"It's literally a threat to our sovereignty, our nationhood/citizenship, our culture and political standing in the future, so I feel passionately about the topic," Palmater said of Native American imposters.

Vermont Abenakis can't show they actually descend from Abenakis, according to Canadian professor

Leroux, speaking last, addressed the issue of Vermont's four Abenaki tribes, which have received state recognition, but failed to achieve federal recognition, a decision that was initially backed by the state of Vermont.

Professor Darryl Leroux presented the case against Vermont's Abenakis at Thursday night's presentation at the University of Vermont, as seen on April 25, 2024.

"One of the primary reasons that really stands out in both the federal decision and state's research is that the group wasn't able to demonstrate they actually descend from Abenaki people," Leroux said. "That's the key. You have to demonstrate that at some point in time you actually had Abenaki people in your lineage. They have not been able to demonstrate that."

Three of the four Abenaki chiefs in Vermont held a press conference earlier this week to denounce Thursday's event at UVM and the ongoing effort by the Abenakis of Odanak in Canada to convince the state of Vermont to rescind its recognition of the Vermont tribes.

Protestors objecting to the event at the University of Vermont denouncing Vermont Abenakis as frauds were outside the Davis Center on April 25, 2024.

Canadian Abenaki chief says Vermont is ancestral territory

Rick O'Bomsawin, chief of the Abenakis of Odanak in Canada, was not scheduled to speak, but he stood up at the end of the event to say his tribe is willing to work with anyone to "bring the truth out about our real history and the important history of Vermont."

Members of the United Nations delegation (left to right): Isaak Lachapelle-Gill, youth representative; Jacques Watso, councillor, Abenaki Council of Odanak; Martin Gill, councillor, Abenaki Council of Odanak; Rick O'Bomsawin, chief of the Abenakis of Odanak; Sigwanis Lia Lachapelle, W8banaki youth representative; Daniel Nolett, executive director at the Abenaki Council of Odanak; and Ghislain Picard, chief of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador.

"Vermont is our ancestral territory," O'Bomsawin said. "We left this land in the hands of the good people of Vermont to take care of, to watch over, not to become us, not to take over our history."

O'Bomsawin and a delegation from Odanak recently made their case against Vermont's Abenakis at the 23rd session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

Contact Dan DAmbrosio at 660-1841 or ddambrosi@gannett.com. Follow him on X @DanDambrosioVT.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont's Abenaki are actually French-Canadian according to expert
A 30-year-old U.S. man was arrested in Turks and Caicos last weekend after ammunition was allegedly found in his luggage, CBS News has learned, making him the latest of several Americans in recent months who found themselves in a similar predicament in the British territory.

Tyler Wenrich was taken into custody after officials allegedly found two bullets in his backpack April 20 as he was about to board a cruise ship.

Possessing a gun or ammunition is prohibited in Turks and Caicos, but tourists were previously often able to just pay a fine. In February, however, a court order mandated that even tourists in the process of leaving the country are subject to prison time.

The Virginia EMT and father now faces the potential of a mandatory minimum prison sentence of up to 12 years.



"I feel like, as a very honest mistake, that 12 years is absurd," his wife, Jeriann Wenrich, told CBS News Friday.

Wenrich says her husband had been on the island for less than a day when the arrest occurred.

"My son's only 18 months old, and I just don't want to him to grow up without a dad," Wenrich said.

There are now at least four American tourists facing the possibility of lengthy prison sentences for similar charges, including a 72-year-old man, Michael Lee Evans, who was arrested in December and pled guilty to possession of seven rounds of ammo. He appeared before the court on Wednesday via a video conference link. Currently on bail in the U.S. for medical reasons, Evans has a sentencing hearing in June. A fifth person, Michael Grim of Indiana, served nearly six months in prison after he pleaded guilty to mistakenly bringing ammo in his checked luggage for a vacation.

Ryan Watson, a 40-year-old father of two from Oklahoma, was released from a Turks and Caicos jail on $15,000 bond Wednesday. Following a birthday vacation with his wife, he was arrested April 12 when airport security allegedly found four rounds of hunting ammo in his carry-on bag earlier this month.

His wife, Valerie Watson, flew home to Oklahoma Tuesday after learning she would not be charged. However, as part of his bond agreement, her husband must remain on the island and check in every Tuesday and Thursday at the Grace Bay Police Station while his case moves forward.

In an interview Friday from the island, Ryan Watson told CBS News that he checked the bag before he packed it.

"I opened it up and kind of give it a little shimmy, didn't see anything, didn't hear anything," he said.



TSA also acknowledged that officers missed the ammo when Watson's bag was screened at the checkpoint on April 7 at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City.

In a statement provided to CBS News Friday, a TSA spokesperson said that "four rounds of ammunition were not detected" in Watson's bag "during the security screening."

The spokesperson said that "an oversight occurred that the agency is addressing internally."

"It was my mistake," Ryan Watson said. "It was very innocent. And I just pray that, compassion and consideration, because there was zero criminal intent."

In a statement Friday, the Turks and Caicos government said that it "reserves the right to enforce its legislation and all visitors must follow its law enforcement procedures."

Following the CBS News report on Ryan Watson earlier this week, the State Department reissued a warning to American tourists traveling to Turks and Caicos to "carefully check their luggage for stray ammunition or forgotten weapons."

John Dickerson: What's the point of a Biden-Trump debate?

The Internet Archive's Wayback Machine

When Social Security mistakenly overpays benefits, you might get a bill | 60 Minutes
UPDATE 4/27 BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR)  Saturday, March 27, was day two of protests on the Virginia Tech campus. Students there joined dozens of other universities across the country protesting the war in Gaza. Students and allies spent the night on the lawn of the Graduate Life Center.

We tried to personally invite Tim Sands, but he actually rejected, saying that he spoke with us. But the last time we actually have spoken with him was in November, said Layan, a student organizer who wished to remain anonymous. We have constantly felt like our voices, our cause have not been listened to, which is why we keep coming out and keep protesting.

The students had another rally at 6 p.m. on Saturday and plan on posting all future events on their Instagram. While student organizers initially told WFXR that they only planned to hold the encampment for three to four days, student organizers said Saturday that they would be there indefinitely until something is done.



BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR)  Unrest continues at colleges and universities across the country. Demonstrators from New Yorks Colombia University to Californias Cal State are addressing the war in Gaza.

On Friday, April 26, protests began much closer to home, though it was a much more peaceful scene at Virginia Tech than in many other places. Hokie students demonstrated for over 10 hours on Friday.

Early in the day, student organizers erected tents and provided food throughout the day for protestors, as they plan to demonstrate for the next few days or until the university meets their demands.

One of the things that we have been deriving from other universities like Columbia University and this massive struggle for Free Palestine is that there is a level of inspiration and hope, said Emon Green, a fourth-year student and media spokesperson for the group.

Early morning on Friday, April 26, a group of protestors was reported to have gathered with signs and tents on the campus of Virginia Tech.

Early morning on Friday, April 26, a group of protestors was reported to have gathered with signs and tents on the campus of Virginia Tech.(Photo Credit: Emaryi Williams)

ORIGNAL COVERAGE: Pro-Palestine protestors gather on Virginia Tech campus

Students are demanding Virginia Tech divest from Israel, become more transparent about their endowments, issue an official statement condemning Israels violence, define anti-Palestinian racism, and acknowledge suppression they believe Palestinian and allied students have faced on campus.

VT along with a lot of other institutions are complicit in the ongoing genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza and their continuing to fund people that are contributing to this genocide like a state like Israel. Its good that the students are all coming out to go against that and I wanted to be a part of that, said Cassidy Mieses, a second-year grad student.

Students have been passing out flyers saying tech funds drone research and is a part of the Virginia Israel advisory board. In a statement from the university, Virginia Tech said the gathering was not registered with them and officials and officials and police have responded to let protesters know.

However, not everyone was supporting Palestine, on Friday. One man came onto the campus with his daughter in pro-Israeli support.

Im not out here to say everything the Israeli government does is right, Im here to say that this is wrong. If youre going to have a protest for peace, you cant include Hamas, said Jonathan Silverman, a Jewish Protestor, I want peace as bad as they do. I dont want to see bombs dropped on anybody, but theres no pressure on the people starting this.

Organizers tell WFXR that police have told them they can stay as long as they take down the tents they had up earlier. Protestors say they plan to be here for the next three to four days.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) Virginia State Police reports a man was killed in a vehicle accident on Rt. 679 in Franklin County on Friday, April 26.

According to state police, a 1999 Dodge 3500 driven by 66-year-old Gary Lynn Chisom of Goodview was traveling south on Rt. 679 at around 4:10 p.m. when his vehicle ran off the left side of the road and struck a tree.

Alleghany Chief Deputy resigns after failing to report a crash on I-64

VSP reports Chisom died at the scene. He was not wearing his seatbelt.

This crash remains under investigation. WFXR News will update this story as further information is released.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
city of london

Lets start with the more positive news.

A Boston Consulting Group survey published last week found that London still tops the global rankings of cities that the professional class worldwide would most like to work in, and that the UK as a whole is the most favoured European country.

If Brexit was supposed to spark a mass exodus, it hasnt yet done so. In terms of greenfield direct foreign investment, moreover, we are beaten only by the US and China, and are streets ahead of any other European country.

Microsoft recently committed 2.5bn of investment over the next three years to expand its next-generation AI data centre infrastructure in the UK.

This is not the decision of a company that has begun to think of Britain as a declining, no-hope nation.

And yet much of the data  and certainly the perception of a land of milk and honey, overflowing with business opportunities  is quite backwards-looking. It better reflects the past than the future. Sadly, real life perceptions are far less flattering.

Anecdotal evidence is of a steady stream of departures to the Middle East, America and Europe, with growing fears in the City and beyond that it may soon become a flood.

It may still be too soon to think in terms of tipping points, says one seasoned City practitioner. But we may not be far off. For some, the crackdown on non-doms is the final straw.

Take the following portents, all with their very different reasons for leaving.

Last week it was reported that Goldman Sachs, a one-time trend setter among investment banks in concentrating its European operations in London, is relocating one of its top corporate financiers to Paris to be closer to European clients.

Hes only the latest example. Since Brexit, Goldman Sachs has transferred a significant number of high-earning dealmaking teams to the Continent. There is little sign of the outflow ending.

For the City as a whole, the loss is admittedly not nearly as bad as some of the more alarmist predictions made by Remain campaigners at the time of the referendum.

But it is also true that new hires in finance are now strongly focused on rival European financial centres.

Critical mass in backup infrastructure and legal expertise guarantees London a degree of resilience, but its amazing how quickly this can change.

Once-abundant liquidity has been steadily drained from London markets in recent years. Our increasingly sickly stock market is just the most obvious manifestation of it.

The FTSE 100 last week hit a new all-time high, but in dollar and euro terms it still languishes close to where it was at the turn of the century, a dismal rate of return which reflects widespread lack of enthusiasm for low-growth Britain.

Story continues

In any case, the forces now pulling London apart as a financial centre are proving as powerful as the gravitational ones that once acted so strongly in its favour.

Brexit certainly hasnt helped, but it is not the primary cause. Rather it is a culture of risk aversion which has spread like a virus through the tax and regulatory system, poisoning Britains position as a magnet for international capital, talent and wealth.

Curiously, the problem has grown worse since Brexit, not better. New-found freedoms have been used to further tighten the noose, rather than to loosen it as promised. The City is drowning in regulation.

The turning point was the financial crisis 15 years ago. It was, I suppose, inevitable that this should have invited a fierce regulatory response; the quid pro quo for the taxpayer pounds spent rescuing the banking system was a stultifying straitjacket of state control.

It also sparked a steady ratcheting up of the tax burden as the Treasury sought to repair the damage done to the public finances. Both these responses, though understandable, have proved ruinously counter productive.

Britain has never recovered from the destruction of the financial crisis, with the economy still more than 20pc smaller than it would have been had its pre-crisis growth trajectory been maintained.

The difference with the US, which is where the crisis began, could hardly be greater. The US quickly clawed back all the economic losses of the crisis, and has done the same again with the pandemic.

While Europe faffed around with measures to cap banker bonuses and generally hem the financiers in, the US rebooted the system and moved quickly on.

We went even further than the Europeans here in Britain; we imposed special levies on the banks, we dug deep into their lending practices, and we quite unnecessarily forced them, at great expense, to ring fence their retail operations.

Today they can barely move for enforcement measures, know your client box-ticking and unexplained wealth orders.

The real power in the City has shifted wholesale away from wealth creation to compliance.

Regulators are so terrified of mishaps that they are afraid of their own shadow. Their default position is simply to say no to almost everything. I exaggerate, obviously, but only a little.

One fund manager Ive been talking to has had enough, and will shortly be shifting the bulk of his operations to the Gulf.

The Financial Conduct Authority only wants the larger players, because its easier and cheaper to keep an eye on them, he complains. Theyd rather close us down than allow us to compete.

No kind of carve-out for finance was sought during the Brexit trade negotiations; the City can look after itself, was the attitude taken.

This might have been true. There is no reason the City shouldnt thrive outside the European Union. But it will wither and die if denied access to alternative pools of international capital as compensation for loss of its European markets.

As things stand, these are heading for Dubai, Abu Dhabi, New York and the Far East, not to London.

So too is Sameer Lilani, who has closed his three, once-thriving Amrapali high-end jewellery and precious stones retail outlets, and is relocating with his family to Dubai.

The Governments decision to end VAT-free shopping for overseas clients has killed his industry, with the business shifting wholesale to the Continent and the Gulf.

Ive never seen so many empty boutiques on Bond Street, where only the big luxury brands now maintain a presence, says Lilani.

London is fast becoming a place for temporary import under bond (TIB) viewings only, with the transaction, and therefore the economic benefit, taking place overseas.

The three examples I cite here of business flight are just the tip of the iceberg. The Government has of late taken some small, tentative steps in the right direction, including lifting the restrictions on banker bonuses.

But I fear its already too late. Once the ball starts rolling, its difficult to stop.

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.
"I want to be useful": mother of military pilot and Hero of Ukraine to become military chaplain

Nataliia Tarabalka previously founded a health centre and has now decided to become a chaplain. Photo: BOONCHAI WEDMAKAWAND/GETTY IMAGES

Nataliia Tarabalka, the mother of deceased military pilot and Hero of Ukraine Stepan Tarabalka, has joined the ranks of military chaplains of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Source: The woman has announced the decision in a video posted on Facebook.

"After the death of my son, God touched my heart in a special way, helping me to endure such a heavy loss. I realised that the key support at these times is the presence of God in your life," Nataliia explained the reasons for her decision.

The woman explained that she had already had spiritual experience and had acquired the necessary knowledge to serve as a chaplain.

"I want to be useful not only for my family but also for the military and veterans," said the Hero's mother.

In November 2022, Nataliia Tarabalka founded the Warmth of a Winged Soul health centre in the village of Tseniava in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast for the military and relatives of fallen soldiers.

Nataliias son, Stepan Tarabalka, whom Ukrainians considered the Ghost of Kyiv [a mythical ace-pilot protecting Kyiv from Russian air attacks  ed.] for some time, died on 13 March 2022 in an air battle with superior Russian forces in Zhytomyr Oblast. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy honoured the pilot posthumously with the title of Hero of Ukraine and the Golden Star Order.

For reference: The spokesperson for Ukraine's Air Force noted earlier that the Ghost of Kyiv is a personified image of the pilots of the Vasylkiv 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade who guard the skies of the capital and neighbouring oblasts. In fact, they are all "Ghosts".

Support UP or become our patron!
April 27 (UPI) -- The owner of a Michigan warehouse that went up in flames last month leaving one man dead has been arrested at a New York City airport with a one-way ticket to leave the country, police say.

Noor Kestou was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport this week before boarding a flight to Hong Kong, Clinton Township, Mich., Police Department officials announced at a news conference Friday.

Members of the Environmental Protection Agency, Michigan State Police, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were involved in Kestou's arrest, along with "many others," Clinton Township Supervisor Bob Cannon added.

"I never thought we would get it done this quickly," Cannon said, praising the cooperation between agencies.

Kestou is suspected of being involved in the March 4 fire at an industrial building in Clinton Township, a suburb of Detroit in Macomb County, Mich. Officials did not say exactly what role he may have played in starting the fire. The 31-year-old owned the Goo Smoke Shop as well as a distribution company.

The blaze caused thousands of canisters containing nitrous oxide to explode, sending debris as far as a mile. A 19-year-old man who was about a quarter-mile from the scene died after being hit by flying debris while a firefighter responding to the blaze was injured.

Officials haven't yet determined the cause of the fire, which took firefighters over 24 hours to extinguish.

The ATF is leading the criminal aspect of the investigation while the EPA is coordinating the cleanup of over 3,100 nitrous oxide canisters. Private insurance investigators are also involved.

Kestou was formally charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter, officials said Friday.

"The charge in the case, is the highest charge that we could bring at this time," Macomb County prosecutor Peter Lucido told reporters. "We don't know what his ultimate goal was. Was it to stay out of the country with a wife and a child here?"

Kestou reportedly posted a $500,000 bail Friday night but was required to surrender his passport and wear a monitoring device.
Saturday brings our warm front north through the region, which will provide the risk for a few showers. However, despite the showers being around, its a warm day on the way, with high temperatures in the low to mid 70s as a southwest breeze continues, which will be breezy at times. There will be plenty of dry time on Saturday, with the best chance for showers during the first half of the day.

Sunday is when we really see the heat begin to crank, as we see a warm and more humid air flow develop with our cold front to our north. As a result, its a breezy day with temperatures spiking to around 80 degrees under partly sunny skies. It will be a taste of summer for sure to wrap up the weekend.

Monday will be even warmer than Sunday! We will have a cold front approaching from our west, which will increase clouds late in the day, but with a southwest breeze at the surface under a continued ridge of high pressure over the Atlantic down to our southeast, high temperatures will crank into the low to mid 80s. For context, Beckleys record high temperature for Monday is 85 degrees and Bluefields record high temperature is 86 degrees  we wont quite get to those levels, but we sure will be awfully close!

Tuesday sees our cold front cross  at this point during the morning hours  which makes for more of a day of rain shower activity than thunderstorms. Showers will be likely at times, especially before noon and itll be a cooler day with clouds around. Despite the clouds and occasional showers, we will still be above normal for this time of year with highs in the mid 70s.

Wednesday keeps the chances for showers and perhaps a rumble or two of thunder around with a secondary front pushing through. This front will usher in cooler air for the end of the work week, with highs in the upper 70s.

Invasive tick found in 19 states likely to be long-term problem, researchers warn

Thursday continues our shower risk with an area of low pressure scooting through down to our south. Its close proximity will kick a few showers into the region. We should still see sunshine with high temperatures in the 70s.

Friday features decreasing shower activity as high pressure begins to build and a northerly breeze kicks in. This will begin to nudge our high temperatures downward, as we see highs in the low 70s.

10 must-haves to prevent heat exhaustion this summer

Looking ahead, its been a warm pattern and it continues to be mild, though slightly cooler than what well be seeing this weekend. A northerly wind flow will continue from the end of the work week into the weekend, with high temperatures Saturday into Sunday in the 60s with plenty of sunshine with high pressure in control. Monday sees temperatures warming back up to near 70 degrees with plenty of sun.

Help us with our growing community of weather photos with #weathertogether. Head to our website and search for the Weather together tab and upload your photos of weather going on around our region.

We are in spring forest fire season in West Virginia  this means dont burn between 7 AM and 5 PM through May 31st. Low humidity values during the daytime, along with breezier and warmer conditions will at times increase the fire threat, hence the burn ban during most of the daytime. Follow all regulations or be faced with potential consequences, such as fines! In Virginia, the spring fire season continues through April 30th  dont burn before 4 PM.

TONIGHT

Few scattered showers, mainly after midnight. Lows around 50.

SATURDAY

Few showers, especially early. Highs in the low 70s.

SUNDAY

Partly sunny. Warm! Highs near 80.

MONDAY

Partly sunny  near record warmth! Highs in the low to mid 80s.

TUESDAY

Showers likely. Highs in the mid 70s.

WEDNESDAY

Few showers. Highs in the upper 70s.

THURSDAY

Few showers. Highs in the upper 70s.

FRIDAY

Few showers continue. Highs in the low 70s.

SATURDAY

Mostly sunny. Highs in the 60s.

SUNDAY

Mostly sunny. Highs in the 60s.

MONDAY

Mostly sunny. Highs in the 60s.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Attorneys who filed a lawsuit claiming violations of the Freedom of Information Act by the Washington Water Authority filed a motion to dismiss Washington County from the lawsuit, according to court documents.

The lawsuit was filed in Washington County Circuit Court by attorneys Joey McCutchen and Stephen Napurano from Fort Smith, along with their client Mickey Wayne Wagner.

Washington County was accused of violating FOIA in 2023 by failing to record all of the board meetings, according to the lawsuit.

Man hopes wifes death in Farmington crash brings others to God

The lawsuit says Wagner sent a FOIA request to the custodian of records at the Washington Water Authority on February 29, 2024, seeking, among other things, digital recordings of all board meetings dating back to January 1, 2023.

The motion filed on Friday seeks to dismiss Washington County but not the Washington Water Authority. The lawsuit contends the Water Authority is a governing body bound by the opening meeting provisions of FOIA and required to record meetings and retain them for at least one year by law.

The county argued in court filings seeking the dismissal of the case that the water authority is not under the control of the county government and is an independent entity created by the Rural Development Authority of Washington County.

To see the original story on the lawsuit, click here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
Dozens of tornadoes swept across America's heartland, impacting millions of residents and leaving a trail of destruction.

Twenty million Americans, from Texas to Iowa, are on alert for twisters, large hail and up to 70 mph winds.

There were at least 59 reported tornadoes across Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa as of 7 p.m. ET, according to the National Weather Service.

Photos on social media showed heavily damaged homes and shredded trees.

TORNADO TEARS THROUGH SUBURBAN OMAHA

Extensive tornado damage to homes in Elkhorn, Nebraska.

The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center said an enhanced risk for severe weather was placed over Kansas City, Missouri, Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska, and areas of Iowa with a slight to marginal risk over many areas of Texas, and around Shreveport, Louisiana.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"Tornadoes, including a couple of strong tornadoes, very large hail (some greater than 2 inches in diameter), and wind damage remains possible this afternoon/evening from eastern Kansas/Nebraska into Iowa, western Missouri, eastern Oklahoma, western Arkansas, and northeast Texas," the agency said.

WATCH:

The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office reported that parts of a large manufacturing facility collapsed, trapping at least 70 workers.

PARTS OF CENTRAL US HIT BY SEVERE STORMS, WHILE TORNADOES STRIKE IN KANSAS AND IOWA

All workers were evacuated by first responders, and three employees were being treated for injuries, FOX Weather reported.

WATCH:

Hundreds of houses sustained damage in Omaha, Nebraska  mostly in the Elkhorn area in the western part of the city, Omaha Police Lt. Neal Bonacci said.

"We are getting 911 calls of people in debris in their basement," Bonacci told the Associated Press. "We are just working as quickly as we can to help everyone who needs it.





Original article source: WATCH: Tornadoes tear across America's heartland, leaving catastrophic destruction in multiple states
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo), Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland (Bay Mills Indian Community), and Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton on Friday traveled to the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) community to commemorate a historic water rights agreement between the Department, CRIT and the state of Arizona.

The agreement will  for the first time  give the tribes the ability to lease, exchange or store a portion of its Arizona Colorado River water entitlement. The community includes almost 300,000 acres of land, with the river serving as the focal point and lifeblood of the area.

Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning.

The Colorado River Indian Tribes Water Resiliency Act of 2022  which paved the way for this agreement  is the product of many years of diligent negotiations among the tribes, the state, and non-Indian water users and reflects the federal governments commitment to tribal self-determination and tribal sovereignty.

The visit underscored the Departments commitment to strengthening Indian Country with significant resources through President Bidens Investing in America agenda, which provides $2.5 billion to implement the Indian Water Rights Settlement Completion Fund, which is delivering long-promised water resources to tribes, certainty to their non-Indian neighbors, and a solid foundation for future economic development for entire communities dependent on common water resources.

About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
This is Totally Normal Quote of the Day, a feature highlighting a statement from the news that exemplifies just how extremely normal everything has become.

Some colleges are banning free speech on college campuses. Well, no more. Because Im about to sign a law that protects free speech on college campuses in Texas. Shouldnt have to do it. First Amendment guarantees it. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, in a 2019 video and tweet

On Wednesday, the University of Texas at Austin added its name to the top of a lengthy and ignominious list when university president Jay Hartzell called in a mounted, multi-agency show of force to crack down on a student and facultyled protest on campus. The programming of the protest day included guest speakers, study breaks, and an art workshop. Right around the time of the scheduled (and very menacing-sounding!) 6 p.m. pizza break, Hartzell unleashed not just the Austin Police Department but also Texas state troopers on his own studentsone-upping Columbia University president Nemat Shafik in a standard-setting display of excessive retaliation against student demonstrations in a week chock full of it.

The raid at UT resulted in 57 arrests, including of a photojournalist for the local Fox affiliate who spent the night in jail.

The aggressive retribution of university administrationsunleashing police forces on their students, faculty, and department chairs gathering peacefullyhas made for a low moment in the history of American education. And while Texas sweep was no more petty, tyrannical, dubious, or unnecessary than ones at Emory, Columbia, or USC, it takes the cake because of how annoying Texas politicians have been over the past few years, bleating about a commitment to free speech that they disposed of the instant a few kids voiced discomfort with the ongoing war in Gaza.

So, lets quickly run down some of the most hypocritical actors in this whole display, and check out their pitiable explanations.

First up is Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, whose shamelessness requires no editorializing. Heres a famous Greg Abbott tweet from 2019, replete with front-facing video dispatch: I just signed a law protecting free speech on college campuses, he brags. Now, heres Abbott on this weeks particular display of free speech on a Texas campus: Student protesters belong in jail and should be expelled.

I just signed a law protecting free speech on college campuses. #txlege pic.twitter.com/jHIh8431SH  Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) June 10, 2019

Heres UT president Jay Hartzell, stating that the justification for the military-infused crackdown on college kids and faculty this week was not the breaking of rules by the student protesters but the expectation that rules would be broken: The group that led this protest stated it was going to violate Institutional Rules. Our rules matter, and they will be enforced, Hartzell said.

Usually you have to commit a crime before getting arrested; here, per Hartzell, the crime was the possibility! Suffice to say, this must be a lesser coda to the common refrain of the free speech warrior. I left my travel-sized Constitution at home, but perhaps someone could point me to this famed caveat of the First Amendment.

Finally, heres a university statement claiming that protests were overrun by outsiders, who made up half of the arrests: 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. All of the charges have already been dropped, a good indicator of just how criminal these actions were; UT has since reverted to another constitutional doozy of a solution: The administration has circulated guidance claiming that anyone arrested for trespassing is now barred from campus, even if those charges have been dropped.

Set aside, for a moment, the fact that part of the reason there were outsiders arrested on campus was because the police decided to arrest members of another constitutionally protected class, the media. UT itself hosts an annual Free Speech Week in which outside influence is encouraged on campusand is specifically outlined as protected, provisioned for, and celebrated.

State law in Texas actually allows members of the public just like our university community to come onto campus and use our common outdoor areas for speech activity, Amanda Cochran-McCall, the schools vice president for legal affairs and general counsel, said on a Free Speech Week panel just last year, in 2023. I think that surprises a lot of students, they show up here and think, who is this random stranger setting up a table talking about this thing I find upsetting? But thats protected by state law.

The University of Texas, which mass arrested protesters, has a video promoting free speech saying that anybody from the public can come to campus and engage in protest.



They delisted the video from YouTube and turned off the comments but I'm posting the whole thing here. pic.twitter.com/hc1z2CqaVD  Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) April 25, 2024

Its been obvious that conservative free speech warriors dont delight in the exercise of all free speech on campus. But what this quote and the events of this week make crystal clear is that there is a very specific sort of free speech on campus they do delight in.

Its not the free speech of students that the governor and his jackboots wants to protect, but the free speech of outsiders that offend the pious sensibility of left-wing students. This only works for conservatives as a one-way street, and the Cheshire grin of Cochran-McCall as she says outsiders free speech on campus is protected by state lawperhaps picturing horrified undergrads having to contend with some real off-putting shit (not off-putting like a protest over the U.S. helping to fund a war that has killed 15,000 children and is starving untold thousands more but  the good kind of off-putting, like, uh, racist stuff)says it all.

At least some of the other universities that unleashed force on their students have the humility not to host a weeklong parade celebrating a principle they have little interest in abiding by!

Of course, in Texas, as in New York, California, and Georgia, the big guns only get you so far. The very next day, there were more protesters.
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 & 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 Dr. 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

A group of people seated around a table

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)

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

A woman doing a Powerpoint presentation

University of Wisconsin-Madison obstetrics and gynecology professor Jenny Higgins presents U.S. reproductive health data to the Wisconsin 14 on day one of the Wisconsin Citizen Solutions on Abortion & Family Well-Being, December 8, 2023. (Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner)

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.

Monday: A doctor gets heartburn.

SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE

The post Where is the common ground for abortion-rights opponents and supporters? appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
First Hawaiian (NASDAQ:FHB) First Quarter 2024 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: US$199.5m (down 3.8% from 1Q 2023).

Net income: US$54.2m (down 19% from 1Q 2023).

Profit margin: 27% (down from 32% in 1Q 2023). The decrease in margin was primarily driven by lower revenue.

EPS: US$0.42 (down from US$0.52 in 1Q 2023).

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

First Hawaiian Revenues Disappoint

Revenue missed analyst estimates by 24%. Earnings per share (EPS) was mostly in line with analyst estimates.

Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 3.6% 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 4.2% from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

You should learn about the 1 warning sign we've spotted with First Hawaiian.

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.
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)

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

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 & 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 Dr. 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.

People protest in response to the Dobbs v Jackson Womens Health Organization ruling in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on June 24, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

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.

The Guardian or Authority of Law, created by sculptor James Earle Fraser, rests on the side of the U.S. Supreme Court on September 28, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Al Drago/Getty Images)

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 Florida Phoenix.
The White House criticized a Columbia University student's remarks about "murdering Zionists," with the student later being banned from the university campus.

Columbia junior Khymani James expressed "regret" early Friday after a video of him previously suggesting people should be "grateful" he wasn't "murdering Zionists" went viral online.

Without explicitly mentioning what they were, James made the inflammatory comments that were first reported by The Daily Wire , during a livestream of an official Columbia inquiry in January.

COLUMBIA STUDENT BANNED FROM CAMPUS AFTER REMARKS ABOUT 'MURDERING ZIONISTS'

"These dangerous, appalling statements turn the stomach and should serve as a wakeup call," White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "It is hideous to advocate for the murder of Jews. President Biden has been clear that violent rhetoric, hate speech, and Antisemitic remarks have no place in America whatsoever, and he will always stand against them."

Columbia junior Khymani James expressed "regret" early Friday after a video of him previously suggesting people should be "grateful" he wasn't "murdering Zionists" went viral online.

When asked by Axios if a White House employee would be fired if they made such statements, Bates said, "they would be fired immediately."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

A Columbia University spokesperson said on Friday James had been banned from the campus, with university sources telling Fox News Digital disciplinary proceedings are now underway.

The University had previously put out a campus update calling the video "extremely alarming and upsetting."

COLUMBIA PROTEST LEADER EXPRESSES 'REGRET' FOR DISCUSSING 'MURDERING ZIONISTS,' SAYING THEY SHOULDN'T EXIST

"Calls of violence and statements targeted at individuals based on their religious, ethnic, or national identity are unacceptable and violate university policy," the statement said. "When there are violations of student conduct policies, they are reviewed and disciplinary measures are applied."

"We know that many of you feel threatened by the atmosphere and the language being used and have had to leave campus," Columbia said in a statement released by the President's Office on Friday. "That is unacceptable. Many of you also are concerned about being able to speak out for a cause you feel passionately about. That also is unacceptable. Fundamental to the research and teaching mission of our university is academic freedom and an environment free from discrimination and harassment for every member of our community."

"What is a Zionist? A White supremacist," James said in the resurfaced video.

A Columbia University spokesperson said on Friday James had been banned from the campus, with university sources telling Fox News Digital disciplinary proceedings are now underway.

"Be grateful that I'm not just going out and murdering Zionists," he said at another point. "I've never hurt anyone in my life, and I hope to keep it that way."

PRESSURE BUILDS FOR COLLEGES TO CLOSE OR SHUT DOWN ANTI-ISRAEL ENCAMPMENTS AMID DEATH THREATS TOWARD JEWS

James was recently quoted by outlets such as CBS News and The New York Times as a spokesman for the anti-Israel protests at Columbia. In 2021, he was profiled in the Boston Globe at age 17 about his "confrontational" approach to fighting "injustice."

President Joe Biden has not yet traveled to Columbia University but recently came under fire for his statement in response to whether he condemns anti-Israel protests on college campuses.

Following the presidents Earth Day comments at Prince William Forest Park in Virginia, reporters caught up with Biden and asked, "Do you condemn the antisemitic protests on college campuses?"

"I condemn the antisemitic protests. Thats why I have set up a program to deal with that. I also condemn those who don't understand what's going on with the Palestinians," he responded.

Fox News' Alexa Moutevelis and Lindsay Kornick contributed to this report.





Original article source: White House condemns Columbia student remarks about 'murdering Zionists': 'A wakeup call'
The White House heavily criticized comments that resurfaced this week from a student leader of the pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University.

These dangerous, appalling statements turn the stomach and should serve as a wakeup call. It is hideous to advocate for the murder of Jews, White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said in a statement Friday.

President Biden has been clear that violent rhetoric, hate speech, and Antisemitic remarks have no place in America whatsoever, and he will always stand against them, he added.

In a video from January, student Khymani James said Zionists dont deserve to live, and could also be heard saying people should be grateful that Im not just going out and murdering Zionists.

James comments came around the same time he had a meeting with school officials over a social media post about fighting a Zionist.

I dont fight to injure or for there to be a winner or a loser, I fight to kill, he said at the time.

The student apologized Friday in a post on social media, acknowledging that his comments were wrong.

A spokesperson for Columbia declined to comment on Jamess case.

Calls of violence and statements targeted at individuals based on their religious, ethnic, or national identity are unacceptable and violate university policy, the spokersperson said.

The White House also condemned calls for violence and physical intimidation targeting Jewish students last week, as protests by students focused on the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas have risen on college campuses across the nation.

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  they have absolutely no place on any college campus, or anywhere in the United States of America, Bates said Sunday.

Columbia officials said in a statement Friday that the student has been banned from campus.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Former President Trump has many enemies  or so he says.

But it seems that David Pecker, the ex-National Enquirer publisher and lead witness in the Manhattan district attorneys case against Trump who has an immunity agreement with the very prosecutors targeting him, is not among them.

Davids been very nice, the former president said Thursday morning, hours before the publisher would retake the witness stand for a third day, where he would reveal even more details of the backroom deals at the heart of the case. Hes a nice guy.

Across four total days of testimony in Trumps first-ever criminal trial, Pecker gave a damning account of the tabloids role in helping stifle negative stories about Trump and elevating bad press  often untrue  about his political opponents.

His testimony  which Trump has called breathtaking  largely bolstered the states overarching theory of the case: that Trump and his allies attempted to influence the outcome of the 2016 election with Peckers help.

Despite his damaging attestations, Pecker shared similar sentiments about Trump.

Do you have any bad feelings or ill will about the defendant? prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asked the publisher as the last question of his direct examination.

On the contrary, Pecker said. I felt that Donald Trump was my mentor.

A former Trump White House official suggested that Trump and Peckers long-standing relationship, dating back to their time together in New York circles, has likely kept things from getting combative.

Theyve known each other for decades, the ex-White House official said. And its not like anyone thinks David Pecker came into this trial with any sort of vendetta against Trump.

Pecker was not the only longtime ally of Trumps to elicit a positive reaction from the stand as the former president observed.

On Friday afternoon, when his longtime executive assistant Rhona Graff began her testimony, the former president was smiling and chuckling at Graff as she spoke positively of her former boss, calling him fair and respectful.

Trumps relationship with Graff also dates back decades, as she began working for the Trump Organization in 1987.

Graff was in Trumps close orbit during his 2016 campaign, when the hush money deals were arranged, and after he entered the White House, she still reportedly served as a go-between for Trumps friends and associates.

Pecker and Trump were first introduced in the late 1980s at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort, which Pecker pinpointed as the start of their great, mutually beneficial relationship.

Early on, Pecker pitched to the then-business mogul  and later launched  a magazine called Trump Style, which focused on Trumps flashiest properties like hotels and casinos. A decade later, when Pecker had acquired the National Enquirer, Trump was a celebrity in his own right, the publisher said.

Trump would introduce Pecker to other New York executives and tip him off about news from his show, The Apprentice, which Peckers magazine readers would religiously follow.

He helped me throughout my career, Pecker testified.

The publisher scratched Trumps back, too. For 17 years he gave Trump a heads-up about potential negative publicity, beginning in the 1990s with an unflattering story about his second wife, Marla Maples. Trump was dubbed a F.O.P. by Enquirer staffers, according to The New York Times  a Friend of Pecker.

Decades later, after Trump in June 2015 announced he would run for president, the then-candidate summoned Pecker and his fixer and personal attorney, Michael Cohen, to Trump Tower.

Its there that prosecutors say the alleged conspiracy to clear Trumps path to the White House was hatched, after Trump asked Pecker what his magazines could do to help the campaign and the publisher promised to be the campaigns eyes and ears.

Pecker testified that, at the behest of Cohen, and therefore Trump, he helped kill a Trump Tower doormans story that Trump purportedly had an illegitimate child and helped silence ex-Playboy model Karen McDougal, who claimed she had a yearlong affair with Trump.

Despite the doormans story being proven untrue, Pecker said he bought it for $30,000 anyways, knowing it would be very embarrassing to Trumps campaign if it got out. He paid $150,000 to McDougal  and provided her with opportunities within his company  for the rights to her story.

But when it came to paying Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about her allegations of an affair with Trump, Pecker refused, at one point recalling to the court he told Cohen: I am not a bank.

Cohen at the time told him the boss  Trump  would be furious.

Did you suppress the stories to help a presidential candidate? prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asked bluntly on his redirect examination of Pecker, the presidential candidate in question being Trump.

Yes I did, Pecker replied.

Pecker is on a very short list of people Trump has opted not to lash out at, despite reaching an immunity deal in late 2019 with the Manhattan district attorneys office, protecting him from prosecution in Trumps New York hush money case.

Other people once considered allies to Trump are also poised to take the stand, including former White House and campaign aides and Trump Organization employees. They include Hope Hicks, his former confidant and spokeswoman, and Jeffrey McConney, the Trump Organizations former comptroller. Other than Cohen, Trump has mostly kept silent about other witnesses poised to testify.

Some loyalists to Trump  despite his many controversies, particularly since Jan. 6  have been swept up in their own legal troubles due to their work on behalf of the former commander in chief, the most notable being Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor and Trump legal adviser, and Mark Meadows, a former White House chief of staff.

Giuliani and Meadows are each fighting two separate election-related indictments, one in Georgia, alongside Trump as a defendant, and now one in Arizona, for their alleged efforts in trying to illegally overturn the 2020 election in Trumps favor. Giuliani still fiercely defends Trump, but Meadows has almost entirely fallen out of the public eye.

Peckers apparent relationship with Trump stands in stark contrast to other onetime allies fates  perhaps none clearer than that of Cohen, who transformed from one of Trumps most loyal aides to his most vocal detractor.

When the federal probe into the alleged plot picked up in 2018, Cohens office, Park Avenue hotel room and home were raided. Federal agents seized millions of electronic files, including emails and bank records, plus eight boxes of documents.

Though Trump initially told Cohen to stay strong and paid for his lawyer, the then-president began to distance himself from his onetime lawyer as the investigation continued. After Trump stopped paying for Cohens legal representation, hed had enough.

Cohen pleaded guilty to federal campaign finance violations and other charges soon after and was sentenced to three years in prison for his role in the deal.

Time and time again, I felt it was my duty to cover up his dirty deeds, Cohen said of Trump at his 2018 sentencing hearing.

Cohen and Trump have since become sworn enemies, taking verbal shots at the other whenever the opportunity arises.

Pecker and Trump have not spoken since early 2019, when the investigation into their alleged scheme began to ramp up, he said Thursday.

And yet, his fondness for Trump remains.

Even though we havent spoken, I still consider him a friend, Pecker testified.

Brett Samuels contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A surprise motion to censure Winnetka Park District Commissioner Colleen Root passed Thursday night despite residents praising her work representing them amid the Elder/Centennial beach project controversy.

The 5-2 vote saw Commissioner Cynthia Rapp joining Root against the censure. The measure limits Roots scope as a commissioner, only allowing her to attend meetings and vote on items presented at meetings. She will not be permitted to speak with Winnetka Park District staff outside of meetings and outgoing emails from her official account will be monitored.

Root will also not be permitted to speak on behalf of the board at public events.

The censure came with a list of nearly two dozen incidents other commissioners claimed violated the board member code of ethics clauses to respect and support board decisions and represent all who are served by the Park District, among others.

The most substantial violations in the censure resolution alleged Root violated the ethics code by not respecting and supporting majority decisions of the board. These violations include her push in June 2022 to have initial permits for the project withdrawn from consideration by state and federal agencies at a meeting which two commissioners were absent; her walkout with Rapp during the July 5, 2023 meeting that led to a lack of a quorum that prevented the board from doing its work; and letters she wrote to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and United States Army Corps of Engineers in June 2022 opposing the project. Those letters were not disclosed to the board, according to the resolution, and were only discovered through a Freedom of Information Act request.

Under the violation claiming Root doesnt adequately represent all those served by the Park District, the resolution points to the fact that she lives within 1,500 feet of the beach project.

The resolution also contains reports that state four senior staff members named Roots behavior as the top reason for quitting, saying you repeatedly contacted them directly for revisions to minutes, wanted additional information, or requested personal education time or showed little respect for their existing workloads.

Root was also admonished at the March 7 meeting by Park Board President Christina Codo for requesting historical information and documents from staff in her effort to write a book about the Park District.

Commissioner James Hemmings explained the most recent incident came when Root sent an email on April 16 from her official account to Winnetka Village Trustee Kirk Albinson referencing an earlier conversation had with Village Trustee Rob Apatoff on her opposition to the permit application for Centennial that is currently working its way through village committees.

Commissioner Root is a spirited advocate. Her perspective has helped me clarify lots of issues that weve dealt with here, Hemmings said. Vigorous dissent and debate of matters is important but efforts to undermine board resolutions are contrary to both our code of ethics and a productive dialogue of important issues within our community.

Root responded to the censure, saying she will abide by the boards decision. She also noted she was uncertain, that an item on the agenda calling for a censure resolution pertained to her until the meeting was underway. She also stated she retains the right to have her attorneys assess the situation to see if any of her rights had been violated.

As a Park Commissioner, my foremost duty is to our residents and not, most respectfully, to you fellow commissioners, Root said in a statement prepared under her assumption the censure was directed at her due to her continued dissent on the project.

She continued saying she believes the work being done at Elder and Centennial strays beyond the initial desire for one contiguous beach and instead caters to Justin Ishbia, who owns property separating the two beaches along with 3.7 acres south of Centennial.

Our Park Code of Ethics states that we must represent all our agency serves and not just a particular special interest. Whom do you represent? she asked.

A land swap between Ishbia and the Park District has caused issue in the village for years. In its terms, the Park District would swap the land at 261 Sheridan Road, between the two beaches, with a similar sized chunk of land at Centennials southern edge. The swap and Ishbias resulting mansion construction have resulted in an ongoing lawsuit from resident Robert Schriesheim, multiple changes to village code regarding lakefront development and continued distrust by some residents in the Park Districts ability to represent the village as a whole.

Land has not been swapped despite the contract being signed in October 2020 and both parties have deemed it as dormant.

Commissioner and former Board President Warren James said during his time as president he reached out to several officials at the Illinois Association of Park Districts for advice on how to maintain civil discourse. He went on to call the censure a sad day for the Park District.

There have been some very difficult votes taken, James said. This isnt taken lightly.

Rapp stated she was speechless and believes she and Root were kept in the dark about the censure, saying she saw the resolution for the first time as it was handed out at the meeting. She claimed this has happened with multiple issues on the board where it was evident to her that other board members had access to materials she did not.

I feel like Commissioner Root has been a dissenting voice but she has through that dissent improved our transparency in a way that we as a community appreciate and should recognize, Rapp said. Sometime the approach has been a little bit unconventional but sometimes when there are things that are entrenched, it takes that.

Residents called the vote shameful, disgraceful and terrible as they left the meeting following the vote.

Board members expressed hope to move forward in a positive and productive manner.

For the remaining members of the board, most of you who voted in favor of this, I hope that this proves to be a big cathartic moment to have vented on all the issues youve had with Commissioner Root, Rapp said.
Woman who called out NYC Mayor Eric Adams on flight would do it again: Call him out whenever we can

The pro-Palestinian flyer who recorded herself brazenly confronting Mayor Eric Adams moments after boarding a New York-bound airplane last weekend said she had no qualms about giving Hizzoner several pieces of her mind  and would do it again in a heartbeat.

I only wish it had come out more eloquently, explained Alexis, who opened her verbal salvo against Adams with a Fk you.

In her first interview since video of the encounter went viral, Alexis  who refused to give her last name  recalled boarding her flight home Sunday after spending the weekend with friends in Miami.

The flyer told Adams doesnt actually care about the citizens of New York. . X / @gaijingirl2004

Just as I was walking down the aisle, I noticed a shiny, bald head and I was like, Thats Eric Adams,' Alexis said. I obviously didnt know he was going to be on my plane, so I had no time at all to think about what I was going to say. I just immediately took my phone out and started to film.

In the 30-second footage, Alexis  who describes herself as a politically-inclined, lifelong New Yorker in her mid-30s  scolded Adams, saying he doesnt actually care about the citizens of New York.

As she continued down the aisle toward her seat, Alexis blasted the mayor for being in Florida at a time when NYPD officers were detaining student protestors at Columbia University.

People are homeless in New York, she continued. People cannot afford food. You keep cutting the education budget so that you can fund the police. Thats all you care about  funding the police. Everything is underfunded because of you.

Adams, who was in Miami for the 2024 Concordia Americas Summit, motioned to the woman and muttered, She cant fly.

Alexis was allowed to take her seat after briefly holding up the boarding passengers, and wasnt ticketed or arrested for her outburst, she said.

Our flight had already been delayed an hour, so I took my seat, but the rest of the flight was fine, Alexis said. I was trying to tell [the other passengers] This is our mayor, you are suffering, and he had a hand in that. I was talking to the person next to me, who was from New Jersey, and didnt even know who Eric Adams was. The flight attendants didnt talk to me.

People rally and camp inside the Columbia University, which is occupied by anti-Israel protesters in New York on April 22. AFP via Getty Images

NYPD officials work to clear a street amidst a demonstration in support of Israel outside the Columbia University campus. REUTERS

We need to call him out whenever we can, Alexis said.

We have college students and faculty at Columbia being brutally arrested  getting maced and beat up, she said. Hes cut funding for teachers, and the libraries cant open on Sundays because theyre underfunded. So many people are homeless, and so many people dont get the mental healthcare they need. If none of these people can face peace, why in the hell does he deserve a single ounce of peace when he could do something to change it?

She also criticized Adams for supporting Israel.

Speaking to Good Day New York Thursday, Adams suggested Alexis may have been intoxicated or mentally unfit.

Refugees newly arrived, and those that have been in New York City for some time, are now taking up shelter in the subways. G.N.Miller/NYPost

I am sober, Alexis said.

He resorted to calling me mentally ill because he cant actually challenge me on anything I said, she said.

Alexis said shes withholding her last name, fearing for her personal safety. But also, I dont need the attention, she said. What needs attention are the issues I am speaking about. We have the money to solve these problems, but hes just giving it all to the NYPD to create a military state.
Woman injured when car runs off the road, flips in Cahokia Heights

An 18-year-old East St. Louis woman was injured Friday in a single-vehicle accident in Cahokia Heights, according to police Detective DeMarius Thomas.

The driver, whose identity was not released, sustained a leg injury and was taken to an area hospital by ambulance, Thomas said.

Police received a call about the accident on Lake Drive at 11:23 a.m. Thomas said when officers arrived in the 8000 block, firefighters were already down an embankment trying to free the woman from the vehicle.

The driver lost control of her car, which flipped off the road and flipping off the road and into the embankment, Thomas said.
A woman is suing a Massage Envy parlor in Fort Worth, alleging she was sexually assaulted by a therapist during a full-body massage.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday in a Tarrant County district court by Houston-based law firm Blizzard Greenberg, PLLC.

Defendants named in the lawsuit include Massage Envy, its parent company Knead for Health Alliance, and the massage therapist who allegedly sexually assaulted the woman, referred to as John Doe.

On Feb. 3, the woman, referred to as A.C. in the suit, went to the Massage Envy located at 3100 Texas Sage Trail in Alliance Town Center, where she was escorted to a therapy room and was left to undress.

When she lay down on her stomach on the massage table, the therapist came back into the room, turned A.C. over onto her back and made an obscene comment, the lawsuit alleges.

The woman was confused by the comment but tried to brush it off, the suit states.

The therapist began massaging the woman and she fell asleep, she said. She woke up to the employee touching her breasts and told him to stop, saying she did not like that, according to the suit. The therapist stopped and turned the woman back over to her stomach, she said.

The suit alleges that while massaging her arms, neck and back, the therapist told the woman that he does at-home appointments with clients to show significant others how to correctly massage each other. The woman said she felt uncomfortable and did not know what to say or do in response.

The therapist then began massaging her buttocks with the sheet taken off and she again told him to stop, stating she was not comfortable, the lawsuit states.

He allegedly continued to massage her, touched her upper thighs and attempted to pull her legs apart. At that point, the woman told him to stop and ended the appointment, she said.

Two days later, the woman contacted the Massage Envy and police to report the assault, according to the suit. As a result of the assault, she has suffered severe mental anguish, emotional distress and trauma, the suit says.

Massage Envy has not responded to the Star-Telegrams request for comment.

Today's top stories:

 What we know about Arlington Bowie High School shooting: Victim, suspect ID'ed

 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.

According to the law firm representing the woman, Massage Envy is part of a national problem and it has a history of its employees committing sexual assault.

The suit cites an investigative report by Buzzfeed in 2017, which found that 180 people had filed sexual assault lawsuits, police reports and complaints against Massage Envy spas, employees and the national company.

This number is likely the tip of the iceberg, as only a fraction of sexual assault victims report being assaulted, the suit says.

In multiple cases, victims learned that other women had previously reported a massage therapist to the company for sexual misconduct, but Massage Envy continued to employ the predatory massage therapists, ignored allegations, or transferred employees to other locations, according to the suit.

Massage Envy conducts training on how to comply with policies and procedures including the prevention, investigation, reporting and handling of sexual assault allegations, the suit states. The company also supervises franchises through inspections to ensure employees are complying with policies, the plaintiffs attorneys said.

The suit alleges the franchises have no discretion in how they operate the business. It further states that Massage Envy fosters an environment of secrecy that puts the companys image ahead of the needs of victims and the safety of future clients.

Specifically, Massage Envy does not require franchises to report allegations of sexual assault to law enforcement or state regulatory boards, the attorneys said. Instead, according to the suit, the company initiates its own internal investigations of sexual misconduct.

An operations director who oversaw more than a dozen Massage Envy spas from 2010 to 2016 says the internal investigation is not in place to protect the client, according to the suit.

Its in place to protect the company. Its centered around defusing the situation, so the client doesnt call the police. You dont want cop cars showing up at your location the next day, the former operations director said.

This was also seen in at least one risk management training, when Massage Envy told its franchises that the goal is to avoid police and keep membership when sexual assault claims are investigated, the suit alleges.

Massage Envy formulated policies and trained its franchisees to deter women from reporting their assaults to law enforcement and/or state massage therapy boards in order to protect the brand and help ensure profits were not adversely affected, the suit says. The companys internal investigation process, which includes a credibility assessment of the victim by untrained franchise managers, often leads to continued employment of predators who go on to assault multiple women.

The suit adds that Massage Envy failed to formulate adequate policies for hiring, training, supervising, disciplining, investigating and retaining massage therapists. The company also failed to create a safe environment for clients and enforce a zero-tolerance policy related to inappropriate behavior, the suit alleges.

The woman is seeking monetary damages including past and future mental anguish, loss of earning capacity and medical expenses.
Swiss Steel Holding AG (VTX:STLN) shareholders should be happy to see the share price up 12% in the last month. But will that repair the damage for the weary investors who have owned this stock as it declined over half a decade? Probably not. In fact, the share price has tumbled down a mountain to land 83% lower after that period. While the recent increase might be a green shoot, we're certainly hesitant to rejoice. The fundamental business performance will ultimately determine if the turnaround can be sustained. We really hope anyone holding through that price crash has a diversified portfolio. Even when you lose money, you don't have to lose the lesson.

Since Swiss Steel Holding has shed CHF33m from its value in the past 7 days, let's see if the longer term decline has been driven by the business' economics.

See our latest analysis for Swiss Steel Holding

Because Swiss Steel Holding made a loss in the last twelve months, we think the market is probably more focussed on revenue and revenue growth, at least for now. When a company doesn't make profits, we'd generally hope to see good revenue growth. Some companies are willing to postpone profitability to grow revenue faster, but in that case one would hope for good top-line growth to make up for the lack of earnings.

Over five years, Swiss Steel Holding grew its revenue at 5.4% per year. That's far from impressive given all the money it is losing. It's not so sure that share price crash of 13% per year is completely deserved, but the market is doubtless disappointed. While we're definitely wary of the stock, after that kind of performance, it could be an over-reaction. A company like this generally needs to produce profits before it can find favour with new investors.

You can see below how earnings and revenue have changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

You can see how its balance sheet has strengthened (or weakened) over time in this free interactive graphic.

A Different Perspective

Swiss Steel Holding shareholders are down 43% for the year, but the market itself is up 0.4%. 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, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 13% over the last half decade. Generally speaking long term share price weakness can be a bad sign, though contrarian investors might want to research the stock in hope of a turnaround. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Swiss Steel Holding better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with Swiss Steel Holding , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

Story continues

We will like Swiss Steel Holding better if we see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Swiss exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Faisal F. Alibrahim (L), Minister of Economy and Planning of Saudi Arabia, and Borge Brende, President of the World Economic Forum (WEF), attend the World Economic Forum Business Conference in Riyadh. -/Saudi Press Agency/dpa

The president of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Saturday reported some movement in the arduous Middle East negotiations over releasing the hostages kidnapped from Israel on October 7 by the Palestinian Islamist Hamas group in Gaza.

"There is some movement in the talks about the hostages and a possible way out of the impasse we are in," Brge Brende said in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh on Saturday.

Saudi Arabia is hosting a WEF business conference in Riyadh on Sunday and Monday. Parallel to this, foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan will meet on Monday in Riyadh with their US, German, British, French and Italian counterparts, the diplomatic sources said.

Brende said Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan had assembled a "good group."

The "main players" include US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who would visit Riyadh on his way from China and before a return visit to Israel.

Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, whose country is mediating between the Islamist Hamas and Israel together with Egypt and the United States. Israel will not be attending, Brende said.

On Saturday, Arab foreign ministers wanted to find a "united Arab position" in advance of the meeting and also consult with a representative of the Palestinian Authority - presumably Abbas.

However, it was reported that Abbas would not be attending the ministerial meeting with the Western countries, though a Palestinian Authority representative will meet on Saturday to formulate a "unified Arab stance" ahead of the Monday meeting, the sources told dpa on condition of anonymity.

The Palestinian official will not attend the talks with the top Western diplomats, the sources added.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry travelled on Saturday to Riyadh, sources at Cairo airport said.

Brende's comments came as a top Hamas official said on Saturday that the Islamist militant group is studying an Israeli counterproposal regarding a potential ceasefire in Gaza, as a ground assault on the city of Rafah looms.

"Hamas will examine this proposal and submit a response," Khalil al-Hayya, the deputy head of the group's political arm in Gaza, said in a statement posted on Telegram.

Khalil said the Israeli side was responding to a proposal Hamas had presented to Egyptian and Qatari mediators on April 13. The talks have been deadlocked for months.

The talks come as Israel's preparations for a large-scale ground offensive on Rafah - the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip and the territory's last Hamas stronghold - is reportedly putting pressure on the group.

US media outlet Axios reported, citing two senior Israeli officials, that Israel had warned Egypt that this would be the "last chance" to strike a deal before its Rafah operations begin.

Axios and Israeli media reported that Hamas and Israel are at loggerheads over the scope of the deal, including how many hostages could be released and how long the ceasefire would last. Hamas is demanding a permanent ceasefire, which Israel rejects.

Israel's allies and critics have for months implored Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to call off the invasion of Rafah, fearing mass civilian casualties. More than a million displaced Palestinians from other parts of the Gaza Strip have taken shelter there.

The Hamas-controlled health authority put the number of people killed in Gaza at 34,388 on Saturday, 32 more than the previous day. More than 77,400 people have been injured. The authority does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

The Israeli army said on Saturday that it had carried out more airstrikes overnight against Hamas targets, including a launch pad for rockets in Khan Younis and a vehicle carrying eight Hamas fighters.

The Gaza war was triggered by the unprecedented massacre of more than 1,200 people by militants from Hamas and other groups in Israel on October 7.
Faisal F. Alibrahim (L), Minister of Economy and Planning of Saudi Arabia, and Borge Brende, President of the World Economic Forum (WEF), attend the World Economic Forum Business Conference in Riyadh. -/Saudi Press Agency/dpa

The president of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Saturday reported some movement in the arduous Middle East negotiations over releasing the hostages kidnapped from Israel on October 7 by the Palestinian Islamist Hamas group in Gaza.

"There is some movement in the talks about the hostages and a possible way out of the impasse we are in," Brge Brende said in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia is hosting a WEF business conference in Riyadh on Sunday and Monday. Parallel to this, foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan will meet on Monday in Riyadh with their US, German, British, French and Italian counterparts, the diplomatic sources said.

Brende said Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan had assembled a "good group," for the talks including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who will visit Riyadh on his way from China and before visiting Israel. Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, whose country is mediating between Hamas and Israel will also be there as will Egypt. Israel will not be attending, Brende said.

On Saturday, Arab foreign ministers wanted to find a "united Arab position" in advance of the meeting and also consult with a representative of the Palestinian Authority.

Brende's comments came as a top Hamas official said on Saturday that the group is studying an Israeli counterproposal regarding a potential ceasefire in Gaza, as a ground assault on the city of Rafah looms.

Khalil al-Hayya, the deputy head of the group's political arm in Gaza, said in a statement posted on Telegram that the Israeli side was responding to a proposal Hamas had presented to Egyptian and Qatari mediators on April 13. The talks have been deadlocked for months.

Israeli preparations for a major ground offensive on Rafah - the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip and the territory's last Hamas stronghold - are reportedly putting pressure on the group.

US media outlet Axios reported, citing two senior Israeli officials, that Israel had warned Egypt that this would be the "last chance" to strike a deal before its Rafah operations begin.

Axios and Israeli media reported that Hamas and Israel are at loggerheads over the scope of the deal, including how many hostages could be released and how long the ceasefire would last. Hamas is demanding a permanent ceasefire, which Israel rejects.

Israel's allies and critics have for months implored Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to call off the invasion of Rafah, fearing mass civilian casualties. More than a million displaced Palestinians from other parts of the Gaza Strip have taken shelter there.

The Gaza war was triggered by the unprecedented massacre of more than 1,200 people by militants from Hamas and other groups in Israel on October 7.

The Hamas-controlled health authority on Saturday put the number of people killed in Gaza at 34,388, 32 more than the previous day. More than 77,400 people have been injured. The authority does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

In one further example of the tragedy in Gaza, a baby girl who the United Nations said was removed from her dying mother's womb by caesarean section, has died due to the deterioration of her condition, health officials in the coastal strip said on Saturday.

According to the UN, the baby's mother was fatally injured in an Israeli attack on a residential building in Rafah.

Meanwhile, Hamas released another hostage video in which two men support a deal between the group and Israel's government to release the remaining people who were kidnapped in October.

In the undated recording, one of the men said in Hebrew that he had been in captivity for 202 days. Saturday marked 204 days since the mass kidnappings.

The second hostage - a man who, according to Israeli media, also holds US citizenship - called in the video for demonstrations to continue in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem for the release of the hostages. Further demonstrations were planned for the evening in Israel.

Israel says Hamas uses these videos to psychologically terrorize the hostages' families.
WSJ: Putin likely did not directly order Navalny's death, US intelligence says

Russian President Vladimir Putin likely did not give a direct order for the murder of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a prison colony in February, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on April 27, citing sources familiar with U.S. intelligence assessments.

The finding does not indicate that Putin is not guilty of Navalny's death, only that he did not order it at that moment, the WSJ noted.

Navalny, Russia's leading opposition figure, died on Feb. 16 in a Russian penal colony behind the Artic Circle.

The news was followed by a new wave of Western sanctions and speculations about whether Navalny's death was a result of harsh prison conditions or an intentional murder.

The conclusion that the Kremlin did not directly order Navalny's death is accepted within the U.S. intelligence community and shared by several agencies, including the CIA, the State Department's intelligence unit, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), the WSJ reported.

KI Insights

Visit KI Insights to learn more and subscribe to the insider weekly newsletter

visit ki insights

The assessment was reportedly based on classified intelligence and certain circumstances, such as that Navalny's death supposedly overshadowed Putin's re-election in March.

Although European intelligence agencies have been told about this position, some countries remain skeptical that Putin was not directly involved in Navalny's death, according to the outlet.

"In a system as tightly controlled as Putin's Russia, it is doubtful that harm could have come to Navalny without the presidents prior awareness," European officials reportedly said.

Leonid Volkov, Navalny's close associate, told the WSJ that the U.S. intelligence community's assessment is naive, saying: "The idea of Putin being not informed and not approving killing Navalny is ridiculous."

Navalny's death was followed by a further crackdown by the Russian regime, as even those who came to lay flowers to honor the opposition leader were detained, and some were reportedly called up for military service.

Read also: Alexei Navalnys life and death as main opponent to Putin regime

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
KANSAS CITY, Kan.  Something on the menu is less than appetizing for city leaders in Kansas City, Kansas.

Wyandotte County officials said theyre receiving complaints about food trucks, and how theyre doing business. Owners of the mobile kitchens tell FOX4 the accusations are unfounded and unfair.

The aromas rising from popular food truck setup spots, like 18th and Central, are captivating, but drivers complain something stinks.

Code enforcement officers with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County are making frequent visits there, helping operators understand restrictions and requirements.

When Kansas City Scout systems will be restored following cyberattack

Unified Government officials said their list of complaints from the public concerning food trucks is growing.

Unlicensed trucks

Grease being poured directly into sewers

Messes from trash and litter

Late night noise from trucks operating past designated hours

Food trucks setting up too close to brick and mortar restaurants

Juan Sanchez, whose family operates the Taste of Potosi taco truck, often sets up at 18th and Parallel. Sanchez said theyre especially concerned about strict rules about operating past 8 p.m. most weeknights. A number of food truck operators complained about that to county commissioners at an April 4 meeting.

Im not saying we dont want to cooperate with the UG. We will cooperate, but it has to come from them also where they build that road, that pathway or something fair for all of us, Sanchez said.

The Unified Government changed local rules during the pandemic, allowing businesses to setup and sell food to keep commerce alive. Greg Talkin, who leads enforcement of these regulations for the UG, said cooperation is expected.

These are the rules that are currently on the books, Talkin said on Friday. We want the revenue and the sales tax from those. We want to support businesses no matter the shape or form as long as theyre safe and they insert themselves into our community in the right way.

See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri

A spokesperson for the Unified Government points out these restrictions have been lightened, and before the pandemic, parking a food truck on the street wasnt permitted. Mobile kitchen owners FOX4 spoke with on Friday complained the UGs conversations with them have been too rigid at times.

Talkin says so far, no citations have been issued to food truck operators.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Xi shakes up Chinas military in rethink of how to fight and win future wars

Editors Note: Sign up for CNNs Meanwhile in China newsletter which explores what you need to know about the countrys rise and how it impacts the world.

China has rolled out the largest restructuring of its military in almost a decade, focusing on technology-driven strategic forces equipped for modern warfare, as Beijing vies with Washington for military primacy in a region rife with geopolitical tensions.

In a surprise move last week, Chinese leader Xi Jinping scrapped the Strategic Support Force (SSF), a military branch he created in 2015 to integrate the Peoples Liberation Armys space, cyber, electronic and psychological warfare capabilities as part of a sweeping overhaul of the armed forces.

In its place, Xi inaugurated the Information Support Force, which he said was a brand-new strategic arm of the PLA and a key underpinning of coordinated development and application of the network information system.

The new force would play an important role in helping the Chinese military fight and win in modern warfare, he said at a ceremony last Friday.

At a news conference on the same day, a spokesperson for Chinas Defense Ministry appeared to suggest the SSF was effectively broken into three units  the Information Support Force, the Aerospace Force and the Cyberspace Force  which will answer directly to the Central Military Commission, the body at the top of the military chain of command headed by Xi.

Under the new structure, the PLA now consists of four services  the army, navy, air force and the rocket force  plus four arms: the three units spun off from the SSF and the Joint Logistic Support Force, according to ministry spokesperson Wu Qian.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping oversees the inauguration of the Information Support Force of the People's Liberation Army at a ceremony in Beijing on April 19, 2024. - Xinhua News Agency

Experts on the Chinese military say the reorganization enhances Xis direct control over the PLAs strategic capabilities and underscores Chinas ambitions in better mastering AI and other new technologies to prepare for what it calls the intelligentized warfare of the future.

The restructuring follows Xis sweeping corruption purge of the PLA last year, which ensnared powerful generals and shook up the rocket force, an elite branch overseeing Chinas fast-expanding arsenal of nuclear and ballistic missiles.

The Information Support Force will be led by top generals from the now-defunct SSF.

SSF deputy commander Bi Yi was appointed commander of the new unit, while Li Wei, the SSFs political commissar, will take the same role in the Information Support Force, according to state-run news agency Xinhua.

There was no mention of any new appointment for SSF commander Ju Qiansheng, who last year spurred speculation when he disappeared from public view amid a flurry of military purges before eventually resurfacing at a conference in late January.

Better visibility

Longtime PLA watchers say the latest reorganization is unlikely the result of the recent corruption purges, but rather a reflection that the SSF wasnt an ideal organizational format for the Chinese military.

It shows that the SSF was not a satisfactory arrangement. It reduced Xis visibility of important functions and did not really improve coordination between space, cyber, and network defense forces, said Joel Wuthnow, a senior research fellow at the Pentagon-funded National Defense University.

Before its disbandment, the SSF had two principal units  the Aerospace Systems Department overseeing the PLAs space operations and reconnaissance, and the Network System Department tasked with cyber, electronic and psychological warfare capabilities.

I think the new structure will give Xi better visibility into what is happening in space, cyberspace, and network management. These functions will now be supervised at his level and not through the Strategic Support Force, which served as a middleman, Wuthnow said.

The lack of such visibility could bear high risks, especially during times of heightened tension and deep distrust between Beijing and Washington.

Last year, the US shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon after it traversed the continental United States. The incident caused a fresh crisis between the two powers and plunged bilateral relations into a deep freeze for months.

Though US intelligence officials said the balloon was part of an extensive surveillance program run by the Chinese military, Xi may not have been aware of the mission.

US President Joe Biden said last June that the Chinese leader didnt know about the balloon and was very embarrassed when it was shot down after it floated off course into American airspace.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has scrapped the People's Liberation Army's Strategic Support Force, a branch he founded in 2015. - Xinhua News Agency

James Char, a research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said the conduct of strategic reconnaissance during the spy balloon incident would have been under the purview of the SSFs Aerospace Systems Department.

That was one of the roles and responsibilities of the PLASSF, he said.

It is unclear if the balloon incident contributed to Xis decision to disband the SSF.

Wuthnow, of the National Defense University, said the newly created Information Support Force will likely take charge of communications and network defense for the PLA.

Getting these things right is of huge importance for the PLA in any future conflict, and they have been paying close attention to these functions and probably drawing lessons for their own organization from the war in Ukraine, he said, referring to Russias ongoing invasion of its neighbor.

So it makes sense that the [Central Military Commission] chairman would want to play a more direct role in that area.

Intelligentized warfare

The latest shake-up is likely the result of an ongoing review of how the military can better meet the strategic objectives of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, according to Char.

I suppose the reorganization better reflects the importance the PLA has placed on speeding up the development of intelligentized warfare brought by a new round of technological and industrial advancement, he said.

The concept of intelligentized warfare drew attention in a 2019 Chinese defense white paper that highlighted the military application of cutting-edge tech such as AI, quantum information, big data and cloud computing.

The landscape of international military competition is undergoing historic changes. New and high-tech military technologies with information technology as the core is advancing with each passing day, and theres a prevailing trend to develop long-range precision, intelligent, stealthy or unmanned weaponry and equipment, the white paper said.

War is accelerating its evolution in form towards informationized warfare, and intelligentized warfare is on the horizon.

The creation of the Information Support Force as a new branch directly under the Central Military Commission also underscores the importance of information dominance in modern warfare.

A commentary in the PLA Daily, the Chinese militarys official mouthpiece, described network information technology as the biggest variable in enhancing combat capability.

Modern wars are competitions between systems and structures, where control over information equates to control over the initiative in war, it said.

The emphasis on information dominance and intelligentized warfare also has significant implications for any potential future conflict in the Taiwan Strait.

Chinas Communist Party views Taiwan as part of its territory, despite never having controlled it, and has vowed to take control of the island  by force if necessary.

Char said in the event of a Taiwan conflict, the Information Support Force would likely take over as the tip of the spear in supporting the PLAs attempts to dominate the information space before Beijings adversaries can do so.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
The YMCA of Central Texas faces a lawsuit claiming that one of its day care workers injured a 2-year-old boy.

The day care worker named in the lawsuit, 45-year-old Geraline Browning, was charged this month with four counts of injury to a child and one count of assault in connection to hurting at least three children at a day care in North Austin, according to arrest affidavits.

All of the charges are third-degree felonies punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

The day care is operated by the YMCA for full-time staff members of the Pflugerville school district, according to a district website. It said child care is provided for children from age 8 weeks up to 4 years old.

One of the criminal charges against Browning includes the abuse against the 2-year-old in the lawsuit, said Joe Caputo, the lawyer representing the boy's mother. The lawsuit was filed Friday and seeks more than $1 million in damages.

More: Austin woman charged with injury to child after 3-month-old's death

The YMCA does not comment on pending litigation, said Dana Driver, a spokeswoman for the organization.

Browning has been fired, said Laura Arredondo, the chief marketing officer for the YMCA.

We have terminated an employee after reviewing evidence of physical aggression directed at several of our students," Arredondo said. "We immediately alerted the parents, CPS and the local authorities. The well-being of our students is our utmost priority and fortunately, these children are safe. We follow the state's guidelines on safety and run extensive background checks before hiring employees. The YMCA of Central Texas is committed to ensuring the safest possible environment for our families and will work tirelessly to that end."

More: Texas fined $100k per day for failure to investigate foster care abuse

Caputo said Browning chased the 2-year-old boy around the day care and placed hands around his neck in a "choking fashion." Police began investigating Browning after a Pflugerville school district employee began watching surveillance video of the day care in February because she was looking for a missing pair of shoes, one of the affidavits said.

She saw Browning on a video on Feb. 21 choking a child, the affidavit said. The day care is at Northwest Elementary School, at 14014 Thermal Drive in North Austin, which is in the Pflugerville school district.

The video also showed Browning grabbing a girl by the arm and shaking her, according to the affidavit. Browning later told a Pflugerville police detective she was anxious and "overreacted," the affidavit said.

Other video surveillance from the day care showed Browning grabbing another child from behind by the neck and spinning the child around before forcing the child to the floor on Feb. 12, an affidavit said. Browning also was seen on Feb. 7 in a video grabbing a child around the neck and chest, according to an affidavit.

More videos in February showed Browning grabbing a 2-year-old girl by the neck and the collarbone and putting her on the floor, and also walking into the same girl causing the child to hit her forehead on a cabinet, an affidavit said. Another video from the day care in January showed Browning yanking the same girl off a stool by her arm, according to an affidavit.

Caputo called the facts in the Browning case "troubling."

"Families in this community trust that the YMCA will care for their children," Caputo said. "The YMCA facility betrayed that trust. We intend to get to the bottom of what happened so that this never happens again.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: YMCA Central Texas sued after police say day care worker injured kids
New York D.A. Fails to Stop for Speeding Ticket, Swears at Police Officer: 'I Understand the Law Better Than You'

In bodycam footage of the exchange, District Attorney Sandra Doorley admitted to going 20 miles per hour over the speed limit and said, I dont really care"

USATNSYNDICATION Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley

A New York district attorney was caught speeding and subsequently failed to stop for authorities before having a heated interaction with the officer who attempted to pull her over.

Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley returned home on April 22 following the attempted traffic stop in Webster, N.Y., and then repeatedly refused to comply with the officers commands when he arrived at her house, bodycam footage of the exchange showed.

In the footage, which the Webster Police Department provided to local outlet WHAM-TV, she mentioned her position as district attorney several times, swore at the officer and called Webster Police Chief Dennis Kohlmeier on her cellphone, telling him: Can you please tell him [the officer at her home] to leave me alone?

After arriving at her home and exiting her car, Doorley, who could be seen standing inside of her garage, told the officer, Im sorry. Im the D.A. I was going 55 coming from work.

Pointing out the reason for the traffic stop, the officer, who was standing outside of the garage, told Doorley, 55 in a 35, and she responded, I dont really care.

Webster Police Department Sandra Doorley during her April 22 traffic stop

The officer then asked her to come over here, telling her, This is on a traffic stop, maam.

Visibly irritated, Doorley refused to comply, instead telling the officer to call Chief Kohlmeier right now.

"Im telling you why I stopped you. You didnt stop at all. Did you not hear my lights or sirens or anything? the officer asked, and Doorley claimed she did not.

She then seemingly reached Chief Kohlmeier on her phone, asking him to tell the officer to leave me alone," and continued to refuse the officers requests to comply with procedure, including providing her identification.

Elsewhere in the tense exchange, Doorley also called the officer an a------ and told him, I understand the law better than you, and Get out of my f------ house.

Later, after more officers arrived on the scene, she apologized for her behavior, telling them, Ive had a really bad day."

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In a statement shared with local outlets WHAM-TV, WHEC-TV and WIVB-TV, Doorley said she called Chief Kohlmeier to inform him that I was not a threat and that I would speak to the officer at my house down the street.

In the same statement, she also acknowledged that she was speeding and pleaded guilty to the ticket the following day, April 23, because I believe in accepting responsibility for my actions and had no intention of using my position to receive a benefit.

Nobody, including your District Attorney, is above the rule of law, even traffic laws, she said in the statement. Anybody who knows me understands without a doubt that I have dedicated my entire 33-year career to the safety of this community. My work to ensure the safety and respect of law enforcement is well proven time and time again. I stand by my work and stand by my commitment to the public safety of Monroe County.

Doorleys office did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment.

On Saturday, April 27, the Rochester City Council asked Letitia James, the attorney general for the state of New York, to investigate Doorleys conduct during the traffic stop, WHEC-TV reported.

In a letter obtained by the outlet, all nine members of council state that her behavior warrants a thorough investigation, noting that an investigation will help ensure accountability and demonstrate that no one, regardless of their position, is above the law.

Recent body camera footage, shared by the Webster Police Department, has raised significant concerns regarding Ms. Doorleys behavior during a traffic stop in Webster, New York, the letter says, per WHEC-TV. This incident has led us to question her fitness to serve as District Attorney, and we believe an investigation by your office is warranted.



For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
Volodymyr Maibozhenko, the head of the Brovary District Military Administration in Kyiv Oblast, was dismissed from his post, according to a presidential decree issued on April 27.

Maibozhenko is suspected of causing a car accident on April 26 while intoxicated, injuring four people, including a child. The official has been detained and could face between three to eight years in prison if convicted.

The suspect allegedly drove into an intersection in Brovary on the red light. He then drove onto the side of the road and hit pedestrians, the Prosecutor General's Office said.

The subsequent alcohol test revealed that Maibozhenko was driving under the influence.

All four victims have been hospitalized, two of them suffering serious injuries.

Read also: Zelensky outlines Security Council priorities after Danilovs dismissal

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
GrafTech International (NYSE:EAF) First Quarter 2024 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: US$136.6m (down 1.6% from 1Q 2023).

Net loss: US$30.9m (loss widened by 319% from 1Q 2023).

US$0.12 loss per share (further deteriorated from US$0.029 loss in 1Q 2023).

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

GrafTech International Revenues and Earnings Beat Expectations

Revenue exceeded analyst estimates by 8.7%. Earnings per share (EPS) also surpassed analyst estimates by 19%.

Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 15% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 7.6% growth forecast for the Electrical industry in the US.

Performance of the American Electrical industry.

The company's shares are up 4.6% from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

What about risks? Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for GrafTech International (of which 1 is a bit unpleasant!) 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.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine needs at least seven Patriot air defence systems and has urged the countrys allies not to waste time in order to signal their determination to stand with Ukraine to Russia.

Source: President Zelenskyys video address on 27 April

Quote from Zelenskyy: "Of course, Im grateful to all of our partners who have helped us with air defence: each air defence system and each air defence missile is literally saving lives. Its important that everything works out as quickly as possible: every new agreement with our partners to strengthen our air defence, every initiative from Ukraines friends to help us, particularly with finding and supplying Patriot [anti-aircraft missile systems]. Ukraine needs at least seven [Patriot] systems. Our partners have these Patriots.

Russian terrorists can see that unfortunately our partners arent as determined to protect Europe from terror as they are to do so in the Middle East. But [our partners] can give us the air defence systems that we need. We mustnt waste time: we need to signal determination."

Details: Zelenskyy also said that during the most recent Russian large-scale missile strike on Ukraine, on the morning of 27 April, "Russian terrorists missiles trajectories and the nature of the attack were intended to make our air defences work as difficult as possible".

The 34 missiles Russia fired this morning targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure facilities, both electricity and gas transit facilities. "Those were the gas facilities that the security of European gas supply depends on."

Support UP or become our patron!
A Cincinnati woman is helping to shape tourism in the city for visitors by providing the ultimate guide to local Black businesses.

In July 2023, Azizah Nubia launched Cincy Black Travel Guide to make it easier for people to get a pure experience of Black culture, FOX19 reported. When she participated in Black Tech Week during its run in the Tri-State area (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut), she noticed other people of color werent familiar with the annual events and activities hosted by Cincinnatis Black community. This sparked the idea to create a platform that makes it easy for travelers to find and enjoy what her people have to offer in the city, especially since its the new home for the annual event since 2022.

Through the Cincy Black Travel Guides website, people can find amazing deals for events happening in Cincinnati. She offers affordable packages so visitors can have a high-quality experience that gives you the best bang for your buck. An app was developed for the company, and since it hit the marketplace it has been the second most downloaded app in the country, according to the entrepreneur per the news station.

We have thousands of people who come to Cincinnati during that week in July and like its a big tourist destination for black travelers, Nubia told FOX19, And so I said we need a map to guide people so they can know to go to Nostalgia, go to Soul Secrets or you know if you want a restaurant where you can sit down and bring the family we have a lot of restaurants in Forest Park. I just wanted it to be an inclusive app where black people go to places where they feel comfortable and can enjoy.

In addition, she recently secured a partnership with Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport to help her clients get the cheapest flight deals.

Shes also created the Natural Woman, which debuted as a media outlet and has since expanded into a personal brand that hosts events and set in motion a podcast. In addition, the self-made businesswoman is the CEO of AZ Media, an advertising agency she launched to continue making her dreams a reality.

Im living my dreams, and every day I wake up to come into this and see AZ media suite 315 to know that my office started in my bedroom with a laptop on the bed and into where it is now, where it supports me and my family. Its amazing, she said.

Watch Nubias full interview with FOX19 below!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cincy Black Travel Guide (@cincyblacktravel)
Whats happening inside Area 51? The website creator who was raided by federal agents believes he has an idea

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The creator of a website collecting information on all things Area 51 believes the future of military tech is still being tested in the Nevada desert, with the most enigmatic activities occurring inside a secret base tucked inside the secret base.

The more secrecy surrounding Area 51, the more insatiable the publics appetite for information on the secret Nevada base becomes. Take, for example, the dual raids on homes owned by an Area 51 watchdog 16 months ago, which has since roused the publics curiosity and has many asking what is flying around out there.

Questions remain 16 months after dual raids on Area 51 website creator

[If] they dont want you to see it, youre not going to see it, said Joerg Arnu, creator of dreamlandresort.com, a digital gathering place for aerospace enthusiasts, aviation watchers, and some who have worked at the best-known secret base in the world. They have years and years and decades of experience hiding things.

Arnu, a naturalized US citizen, caught Area 51 fever over two and a half decades ago, and his website has been a place for users to swap stories, post photos, and make educated guesses about whats happening in the Nevada desert for 20 years.

The world knows about the past projects born at the Groom Lake facility, including the U2 spy plane, early versions of the Blackbirds, the F-117 Nighthawks, and stealth helicopters. However, readers of dreamlandresort.com often get hints about objects currently zipping through the skies. Users believe there are big secrets that can and are being kept.

Look at some of the exotic planes, like the Tacit Blue that was developed in total secrecy, was flown in secrecy, then all of a sudden, they put it in a museum and said, yeah, we had this for a while, Arnu said.

Too much secrecy, however, can sometimes backfire. Area 51 was obscure and largely unknown in the 1980s when the Air Force illegally seized 89,000 acres of public land around the base to hide something. In 1989, 8 News Now put the base on the map with allegations that alien technology was stashed in the Nevada desert base. The designation for Area 51 suddenly disappeared from maps, and the government stopped acknowledging that it existed. That secrecy only fueled more public interest. Since then, tens of thousands of people have made the trek to the desert to check it out.

In the early 2000s, Chuck Clark, an Area 51 watchdog, revealed that the US military had hidden sensors on public land, miles outside the bases boundaries, meant to warn of anyone approaching. The Joint Terrorism Task Force then raided Clarks home in Rachel.

It was a harbinger of events to come decades later when federal agents targeted Joerg Arnus homes in Rachel and Las Vegas. That 2022 raid saw Arnu and his girlfriend Linda Hellow held at gunpoint, presumably for something that appeared on dreamlandresort.com. However, no one has told Arnu what content crossed that line. He said agents treated him like a hardened criminal or a terrorist, even suspecting, apparently, that Arnu may have had his own security.

When they came in here, they asked me, Are there booby traps in my homes, Arnu said.

For his part, Arnu said he agreed that the US military needs a location to test secret technology. When 2 million people committed to storming Area 51 in 2019, he opposed the event. However, he said when he sees things from publicly accessible lands, he takes note, adding that the recently unveiled B-21 Raider had some of its systems tested in Nevada skies long before the public knew it existed. Arnu said he believes rumors of an SR-71 spy place successor are likely true, though he is unsure if the new version is called SR-72.

Drones, unmanned warplanes, and jamming technologies are the future of warfare being tested at Area 51 in 2024, Arnu suspects.

They are flying drones, obviously, Arnu said. The Russians and Chinese work on stuff to jam our drones, we work on stuff to jam their drones. The next step is how do we make drone communications more secure.

According to Arnu, the public is unlikely to see much of the upcoming tech as Area 51 has established an Area 51 of its own in a secluded area, situated to the north of Groom Lake, which is only visible to those with their own satellite.

The really secret stuff [] they have a whole empty valley just north of Groom Lake, and they have the mountain range where they can pretty much play with anything they want, Arnu said. Its booming out there. Area 51 is not going anywhere.

The creator of a website collecting information on all things Area 51 believes the most enigmatic activities taking place there occur inside a secret base tucked inside the secret base.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Work continues on Hyundai Motor Group's electric-vehicle manufacturing complex in Bryan County, where production is expected to begin in 2025.

Hyundai Motor Group plans to support sustainable manufacturing at its $7.6 billion Georgia electric-vehicle plant and related manufacturing facilities in the state by buying enough solar power annually to electrify 31,000 typical American homes for a year.

The South Korean automakers announcement of a deal with a Spanish energy developer also illustrates the shell game some companies play to meet climate-related goals, and the roadblocks they face from monopoly utilities that supply their power.

In this case, the 378 gigawatt hours of electricity the Hyundai committed to buy annually wont actually flow the more than 1,000 miles between the Stillhouse Solar Project in Bell County, Texas, to automakers EV factory in Bryan County.

Thats because Texas has a self-contained energy grid while Georgia is part of what is known as the Eastern Interconnection, which covers most of the Southeast, explained Maggie Shober, research director at the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.

It would be a pretty big and expensive undertaking to pay for the transmission path to get that solar to Georgia, she added.

Instead, Hyundai will accumulate renewable energy credits for its share of the electricity produced over the course of the 15-year agreement through a so-called virtual power purchase agreement, company spokeswoman Dain Kang confirmed this week.

So, while it cant use the power, Hyundai will sell the electricity to a utility or other provider on the Texas grid. According to Shober, that arrangement illustrates a hierarchy in the corporate pursuit of energy goals.

The best (scenario) would be projects on-site, or at least in the same service territory and state, if applicable, she explained. Those are going to most directly offset the company's load.

In Hyundais case, Shober added, the company must ensure its outside purchase of energy doesnt make Georgia Powers generation mix dirtier.

It doesn't appear to me that Hyundai is considering any increases in emissions in Georgia Power due to its load when announcing that this project will decrease emissions, she noted.

'Fast and furious': Savannah-area job seekers vie for 3,500 openings with Hyundai

However, Georgia Power is responding to projected increased electricity demand from a flood of new manufacturing facilities, including Hyundai, and energy-intensive data centers with three new gas-fired power plants recently approved by the state Public Services Commission.

The combined capacity of the units will be as much as 1,400 megawatts.

New federal emissions guidelines finalized this week will require new gas-fired power plants to capture 90% of carbon emissions. But utilities arent required to fully employ the still-evolving technology until 2032.

Meanwhile, Hyundais share of the Stillhouse Solar Project will prevent an estimated 140 tons of heat-trapping carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere in Texas annually, the company said. Thats the equivalent of what 84,000 typical American cars release into the atmosphere in one year.

The fact that Hyundai is buying clean energy from the other side of the country shows how backward and inequitable the process is, said Codi Norred, executive director of Georgia Interfaith Power and Light. Georgia Power gets to burn more fossil fuels, Hyundai gets to call their energy clean, and Georgians get filthier air and potentially higher bills.

'The volitivity of fossil fuels'

Without impacting Hyundais actual energy mix, the Texas solar deal will allow the automaker  which has pledged to reach net-zero in climate-impacting pollution by 2045  to shrink its emissions footprint by purchasing the virtual credits.

Thats particularly significant in Georgia, where 60% of the states energy is still produced by burning fossil fuels. The imbalance makes limiting energy-related emissions a challenge for companies like Hyundai, which buys electricity from Georgia Power.

But critics of Hyundais recruitment suggest the state should have demanded large-scale in-state solar investment in exchange for Georgias largest-ever incentive package.

Georgia gave Hyundai $2 billion in tax abatements rather than asking them to invest in our community infrastructure, said Jen Hilburn, north coast advocate for the organization One Hundred Miles. Now, Georgias lack of investment in renewable energy has Hyundai spending money elsewhere to meet their commitment to clean energy.

Where will they live? SEDA, Georgia Tech team up for housing study amid population growth

Hyundai is installing a solar array on a rooftop over a covered parking lot on its campus, but the panels will supply just a fraction of the plant's electricity.

Norred noted that heavy energy users including Walmart and Google asked the Public Service Commission to reject Georgia Powers request for more natural gas capacity, as did the U.S. Department of Defense.

He added that of the utilitys four rate hikes since the beginning of last year, the largest  leading to a nearly $16 spike in the average Georgia Power residential customers monthly bill  was tied to soaring fuel prices in 2022.

That speaks to the volatility of fossil fuels like gas and coal, Norred said.

Two more rate increases have been approved for the next eight months. Combined, the hikes will add $44 a month to the average residential bill.

The sun, meanwhile, is not a commodity subject to market whims. Rather, the cost of solar is borne primarily up front with the purchase and installation of systems.

In this case, Spain-based Matrix Renewables bought the Texas project from developer OCI Solar Power. Hyundai will purchase 70% of the facilitys capacity, the company said.

John Deem covers climate change and the environment in coastal Georgia. He can be reached at jdeem@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Hyundai taps Texas for solar power 'credit' at Georgia EV facility
Late last year, NASA scientists pressed start on a highly anticipated space mission. Basically, they launched a spacecraft toward an asteroid that could very well be made entirely of metal, a composition that appears to be a rarity  at least, in our solar system's vicinity. The robotic adventurer is called Psyche, and its namesake is the giant rock that guides its journey: 16 Psyche.

However, Psyche has a side quest, too: Laser communications.

Aboard Psyche, among its asteroid-studying equipment, there is a technology demonstration called the Deep Space Optical Communications, or DSOC . DSOC aims to show that it's possible for laser communications to be conducted across cosmic distances, allowing for high-bandwidth, much faster connection between humans and the probes they send to the final frontier. To be precise, the communication rates are meant to be between 10 and 100 times faster than what we're working with now. And strikingly, on April 8, it would appear that DSOC hit some milestones.

Not only did it transmit data to Earth from Psyche's location at the time, about 140 million miles (225 million kilometers) away  a record-breaking distance larger than the gap between our planet and the sun  but it also managed to beam back information gleaned straight from the spacecraft. This means that the DSOC transceiver actually interfaced with Psyche's radio transmitter and sent back concrete engineering data contained within the craft.

Related: NASA's Psyche metal asteroid mission will have a big impact on astronomy. Here's how

"We downlinked about 10 minutes of duplicated spacecraft data during a pass on April 8," Meera Srinivasan, the project's operations lead at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California, said in a statement . It was "duplicated" data that got downlinked, because the "original" Psyche data, if you will, went to ground control through standard radio-frequency communications channels on NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN). Scientists only wished to see if laser comms could work just as well, if not better.

Still, this duplicated-data achievement, in itself, is a big deal for the experiment; though DSOC has been making headlines lately for various other milestones, there's been a caveat. For instance, in November of last year when it fired data back to Earth from 10 million miles (16 million km) away, and recently during a "turnaround test" in which scientists pinged the experiment with content, then got that content to be pinged back, DSOC wasn't beaming back any "real" information. It was pre-loaded test data that could be pulled out on command.

"We'd been sending test and diagnostic data in our downlinks from Psyche," Srinivasan said. "This represents a significant milestone for the project by showing how optical communications can interface with a spacecrafts radio frequency comms system."

And now, if you're wondering about how the rate tests are going for DSOC, we'll have to get into the cat video.

a cat chases a red dot on a couch in a video being played on a computer screen

The cat video

Recall how all previous DSOC data was test information created by the team's scientists. Well, scientists are only human, after all.

In December of last year, DSOC hit a couple of other checkpoints while getting flung toward Psyche's destination. First of all, it beamed data back from 19 million miles (31 million km) away (which I suppose doesn't sound like much against today's 140-million-mile journey, but it was huge at the time). Second, the info it beamed back traveled at the system's maximum rate of 267 megabits per second (Mbps) and thus took something like 101 seconds to each Earth. This, NASA explains, is equivalent to broadband internet download speeds.

And third, one part of the data was a stunning video of Taters . Who is Taters, you ask? Well, a sweet little orange Tabby cat, of course. (It would be an orange cat, wouldn't it?) This is also probably a good time to mention some of that recent "turnaround test" data involved pet pics as well.

During the April 8 test, however, DSOC didn't max out its data transmission rates like it did for Taters' video. The message arrived at DSOC's primary downlink ground station at Caltechs Palomar Observatory in San Diego County, traveling at a maximum rate of 25 Mbps, NASA writes in the statement  though emphasizing how even that level far surpasses the project's goal of at least 1 Mbps at this kind of distance.

One issue that seems to have arisen for the team is the fact that, to work well, DSOC requires that Mother Nature cooperates. DSN communication, on the other hand, isn't quite dependent on the weather. "We've learned a great deal about how far we can push the system when we do have clear skies, although storms have interrupted operations at both Table Mountain and Palomar on occasion," Ryan Rogalin, the project's receiver electronics lead at JPL, said in the statement.

JPL's Table Mountain Facility is where DSOC's Ground Laser Transmitter instrument is located , and fascinatingly, NASA explains that the laboratory recently attempted to combine that instrument with DSN's optical antenna as well as Palomar's equipment to see if the same signal can be coordinated simultaneously. The goal was to see whether it's possible to toggle between stations if one area is experiencing particularly bad weather, thus forcing some instruments to shut down.

A satellite sits in a clean room.

Related Stories:

 NASA's Psyche asteroid mission will test next-gen laser communications in space

 NASA's Psyche spacecraft just fired a laser 10 million miles away in deep space

 Metal asteroid Psyche has a ridiculously high 'value.' But what does that even mean?

It will be interesting to see how everything shakes out with deep space laser communications in the future, and DSOC does seem to be pointing toward an optimistic outcome. High-speed connection between space explorers and the rest of humanity on Earth would mean clearer cosmic images, a smoother transition for our species as engineers look toward making moves on Mars and just generally more advanced science.

As Ken Andrews, project flight operations lead at JPL, put it: "It was a small amount of data downlinked over a short time frame, but the fact we're doing this now has surpassed all of our expectations."

I mean, at the very least, maybe laser comms will lead us toward getting cute alien pet pics someday?
Rishi Sunak is under pressure to rethink a radical crackdown on smartphone and social media use by children after a backlash from the technology industry.

Senior telecoms executives have hit out at plans to block under-16s from buying smartphones, which they claim are not practical or logical in any way.

Technology companies have already engaged in preliminary talks with Government officials about their plans, which revolve around restrictions on mobile use.

This is in response to concerns that they are distracting children in schools and fuelling a mental health crisis.

Downing Street and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology are currently crafting a consultation to ask parents and businesses what restrictions they would like to see on phone use.

The consultation is expected to include questions about a potential ban on the sale of phones to under-16s and the need for parental approval when teenagers download social media apps such as Facebook and Instagram.

However, other more stringent proposals that were expected to feature in the consultation are now expected to be removed following pushback from the tech sector.

One suggestion by government officials was a possible digital alert for parents if their children searched for dangerous or disturbing content on their phones.

This policy idea had been supported by Esther Ghey, whose teenage daughter Brianna was murdered by two other teens who had watched illegal and violent videos online.

She previously said such an alert system would make parents aware of any concerning things that children are looking at.

However, US tech giants are understood to have baulked at the privacy implications for children.

This is due to issues around who could set relevant search terms, as well as potential concerns over how the measure could be used to discriminate against children who may not want parents to know about their sexuality.

One industry source said: It was seen as a massive invasion of privacy.

Many in the tech sector believe the proposal will almost certainly be dropped from the consultation but a Government source warned that no final decision had been made on the contents of the paper.

A Whitehall insider said: It is important that we take the time to get this right but it is complete nonsense to suggest we will shy away from ruffling the feathers of Big Tech when it comes to keeping our kids safe.

Despite the pushback, figures published by technology regulator Ofcom earlier this month reveal the widespread use of social media and phones by teenagers and young children.

In a report, Ofcom said: Given the 13+ minimum age requirement on most of these social media platforms, it is notable that half (51pc) of children under 13 use them.

While some reports had suggested the consultation could come as soon as this month, The Telegraph understands it is still several weeks away from being finalised.

Separately, the telecoms industry is concerned about the logistical hurdles that a ban on phone sales for under-16s could impose on them, particularly regarding extra checks at the point of sale.

A technology industry executive attacked the crackdown plans, claiming it is a knee-jerk reaction that raises countless questions.

A Government spokesman said: We do not comment on speculation. Our commitment to making the UK the safest place to be a child online is unwavering, as evidenced by our landmark online safety act.

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.
A blue and white glowing view of the Crab Nebula. It looks like there's a ring of gassy material around a dot that's giving off a stream of gas itself.

When we picture what's in deep space, we often think of static images  colorful composites of distant objects like nebulas and galaxies , frozen in time. The reality is that everything is moving, and it's moving fast. But given the vast distances involved, it's hard for us to see that motion.

NASA's Chandra X-Ray Observatory , however, has been taking images for decades  long enough to compile timelapses that show the movement of deep space objects. And the team has just released two such "movies," one of the iconic Crab Nebula and one of Cassiopeia A (Cas A).

The Crab Nebula, located some 6,500 light-years away from Earth , formed after a supernova explosion occurred long (long) ago. Astronomers originally witnessed the event in 1054 A.D. Using Chandra images taken over 22 years, the timelapse shows the ring-shaped shockwaves emanating from the superdense, rapidly rotating neutron star at the nebula's core, creating ripples through the surrounding environment. Because of this rotation, the neutron star is also considered a pulsar , and jets of matter shoot out from its poles.

Related: The Chandra X-ray spacecraft may soon go dark, threatening a great deal of astronomy

A blue and white glowing view of the Crab Nebula. It looks like there's a ring of gassy material around a dot that's giving off a stream of gas itself.

Cas A is another supernova remnant; it's located about 11,000 light years away. Its explosion was witnessed on Earth around 340 years ago. In the new Chandra timelapse, its expanding outer region shows the initial blast wave making its way out into space. Multiple shock waves (akin to sonic booms from airplanes flying faster than sound) move in opposite directions while rippling through the remnant, which you can see in the video. For this timelapse, 19 years of Chandra observations were strung together to capture the motion.

Related Stories:

 Why astronomers are worried about 2 major telescopes right now

 Major X-ray sky survey could relieve crisis surrounding the universe's 'lumpiness'

 X-ray telescope catches 'spider pulsars' devouring stars like cosmic black widows (image)

While Chandra is scheduled to take new images of the Crab Nebula this year, the future of the observatory is bleak. Given NASA's proposed budget for upcoming years, Chandra faces an early demise , its operating budget shrinking tremendously in the near future. But the budget is simply a proposal for now, and perhaps the outcry over Chandra in the astronomical community will change the tides before it's set in stone.
vm / iStock.com

In 2021, the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was passed, which earmarked $550 billion for transportation, clean water, energy and communications projects. Nearly 37,000 projects have already been funded, and the law is expected to create millions of jobs.

Read next: 6 Industries That Wont Exist by 2040

Discover more: 7 Unusual Ways To Make Extra Money (That Actually Work)

Filling those construction jobs will require workers, and right now thats a challenge. But theres one untapped sector the labor market can use to get those projects off the ground sector-women.

Sponsored: Protect Your Wealth With A Gold IRA. Take advantage of the timeless appeal of gold in a Gold IRA recommended by Sean Hannity.

Women in Construction

Women are traditionally underrepresented in construction jobs, but companies are trying to change that. The federal government is working with the private sector to develop strategies to help women enter and remain in these well-paying jobs. Some of the initiatives include support for childcare and addressing gender-based harassment and violence in the workplace.

According to the National Partnership for Women & Families, women comprise just 10% of workers in the construction industry and less than a third of those workers in manufacturing and wholesale trade jobs.

Infrastructure Jobs for Women

Women are estimated to account for 25% of jobs created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Minority women will fare even worse, with Latinas expected to account for less than 5%; Black women for less than 4%; Asian American and Pacific Islander women for less than 2%; multiracial women for less than 1%; and Native women just 0.1% of new jobs.

This means that, of the 800,000 new jobs expected to be created annually, women will account for about 220,000 workers hired. However, if they were hired at the same rate they are across the overall economy, this would account for an additional 145,000 jobs.

Employers can create pathways for women to enter construction, manufacturing and other industries where they are currently underrepresented, and the unions that represent these workers can help expand access. This will help ensure there are enough qualified workers to produce the projects that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will fund.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Hiring Women Can Help Americas Infrastructure
James Stavridis is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist, a retired U.S. Navy admiral, former supreme allied commander of NATO, and dean emeritus of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Hes also vice chairman of global affairs at the Carlyle Group, is on the boards of Fortinet, NFP, Ankura Consulting Group and Neuberger Berman, and has advised Shield Capital, a firm that invests in the cybersecurity sector.
If you are sending a Letter To the Editor, please be sure to follow these rules:

Letters have a firm 200-word limit and will be edited for grammar, clarity and accuracy.

The person who signs the letter must be the author. Anonymous letters will not be considered. Letters must address the editor, not a third party.

We will not print form letters, libelous letters, business promotions or personal disputes, poetry, open letters, letters espousing religious views without reference to a current issue, or letters considered in poor taste.

Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Yakima Herald-Republic cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters.

Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month.
Today is shaping up negative for Idorsia Ltd (VTX:IDIA) shareholders, with the analysts delivering a substantial negative revision to next year's forecasts. Revenue and earnings per share (EPS) forecasts were both revised downwards, with analysts seeing grey clouds on the horizon.

Following the downgrade, the most recent consensus for Idorsia from its eight analysts is for revenues of CHF226m in 2024 which, if met, would be a substantial 23% increase on its sales over the past 12 months. Losses are presumed to reduce, shrinking 17% per share from last year to CHF1.74. Yet before this consensus update, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of CHF272m and losses of CHF1.43 per share in 2024. Ergo, there's been a clear change in sentiment, with the analysts administering a notable cut to next year's revenue estimates, while at the same time increasing their loss per share forecasts.

View our latest analysis for Idorsia

Looking at the bigger picture now, one of the ways we can make sense of these forecasts is to see how they measure up against both past performance and industry growth estimates. It's clear from the latest estimates that Idorsia's rate of growth is expected to accelerate meaningfully, with the forecast 18% annualised revenue growth to the end of 2024 noticeably faster than its historical growth of 6.2% p.a. over the past five years. Other similar companies in the industry (with analyst coverage) are also forecast to grow their revenue at 18% per year. Factoring in the forecast acceleration in revenue, it's pretty clear that Idorsia is expected to grow at about the same rate as the wider industry.

The Bottom Line

The most important thing to take away is that analysts increased their loss per share estimates for next year. Lamentably, they also downgraded their sales forecasts, but the business is still expected to grow at roughly the same rate as the market itself. After a cut like that, investors could be forgiven for thinking analysts are a lot more bearish on Idorsia, and a few readers might choose to steer clear of the stock.

As you can see, the analysts clearly aren't bullish, and there might be good reason for that. We've identified some potential issues with Idorsia's financials, such as a short cash runway. Learn more, and discover the 1 other flag we've identified, for free on our platform here.

Another way to search for interesting companies that could be reaching an inflection point is to track whether management are buying or selling, with our free list of growing companies 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.
New Delhi: Adhyayan Suman is currently on the meteoric rise with all the appreciation for his next release 'Heeramandi.' His latest post strikes a chord, evoking deep emotions as he shares a poignant moment alongside Sanjay Leela Bhansali and his father, Shekhar Suman, at the premiere of the Netflix show.

In a heartfelt caption, he bares his soul, "Under the guidance of Sanjay Leela Bhansali sir, I am living the dream I always prayed for. With every heartbeat and every tear shed, my portrayal of Zoravar resonates the power of manifestation. I am forever indebted to this journey and forever inspired by the man who believed in me. Beside me, my dad, @shekhusuman, as Zulfikar, has added beautiful layers of emotion to this surreal journey. Cant wait for you all to watch Zoravar and Zulfikar on 1st May only on Netflix."

The success of "Aashram" paved the way for Adhyayan's triumphant return, this time in a double role, showcasing his versatility as an actor. Through his words, he acknowledges Sanjay Leela Bhansali's unwavering belief in him, a beacon of hope when all seemed uncertain. As anticipation mounts for the premiere on May 1st, emotions run high!
JEE Advanced 2024: IIT Madras will begin JEE Advanced 2024 registrations today April 27, 2024 at the official website. The URL for JEE registration will be updated on the official website, jeeadv.ac.in. The JEE Advanced online registration is now available for foreign national candidates, including OCI and PIO applicants, who obtained an OCI or PIO card on or after March 4, 2021. The registration page will remain accessible until May 7. The deadline for fee payment is May 10, up until 5 p.m. A fee of Rs 3,200 will apply. The application cost for female candidates and those from reserved categories is Rs 1,600.

Meanwhile, practice exams for JEE Advanced 2024 are available at jeeadv.ac.in. The JEE Advanced 2024 practice tests for papers 1 and 2 have been released. This year, IIT Madras will hold the JEE Advanced 2024 test on May 26. According to IIT Madras, JEE Advanced Paper 1 would be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and Paper 2 from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the same day.

JEE Advanced 2024: Steps to apply here

Visit the official website for JEE Advanced 2024: jeeadv.ac.in.

Click the registration link.

A new window will open; enter your information in the provided forms.

Pay the registration costs, as required.

Review the application before clicking the submit button.

Submit the form.

Download the form and print a hardcopy for later reference.

IIT Madras will release admit cards from May 17 to May 26. After the exam, a copy of the candidate responses will be available on the JEE Advanced 2024 website on May 31. The provincial answer key will be available online on June 2.

JEE Advanced 2024: Last year applicants

Last year, 43773 individuals qualified for the JEE Advanced 2023 tests, with 36264 male and 7509 female students. The Hyderabad zone produced the majority of the year's qualifying candidates.
NEW DELHI: Blue and yellow flags and banners of the Aam Aadmi Party painted Delhi's Kalyanpuri area on Saturday as hundreds of women donning caps and scarfs with the party's logo attended Sunita Kejriwal's maiden roadshow amid "Jail ke tale tutengey, Kejriwal chhutengey" slogans. Standing through the sunroof of a vehicle, Sunita Kejriwal, whose husband and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's arrest pushed her to the forefront of the AAP's Lok Sabha poll campaign, greeted locals in the Kondli area of East Delhi constituency with folded hands. She was campaigning for AAP's East Delhi candidate Kuldeep Kumar.

As the carcade snaked through the narrow lanes with a sea of AAP supporters carrying the Delhi chief minister's cut-outs, she shook hands with several women and targeted the ruling BJP at the Centre, saying her husband was jailed because he built schools, provided free electricity and opened Mohalla Clinics in the national capital.

Arvind Kejriwal, AAP's national convenor, is behind bars in a money laundering case, linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy, currently being investigated by federal agencies. Flanked by leaders of the Congress, the AAP's partner in the opposition INDIA bloc and ally for the Lok Sabha polls in Delhi, Sunita Kejriwal asserted that their alliance will sweep all seats in the national capital as loudspeakers blared patriotic songs. Folk artists from Uttarakhand were seen performing in the roadshow and raising slogans of 'Jail ka jawab vote se' amid beats of Nashik dhols.

As the roadshow passed through the area, locals lined up the streets to greet the chief minister's wife. Vimla Devi, one of the residents of the area, claimed the arrest of the chief minister just before the elections was not right. "We feel that the INDIA alliance will sweep the Lok Sabha polls since the chief minister is seeking votes on (the plank of) development. He has given citizens of the national capital a lot of facilities. People will surely vote in his favour," she added.

A resident of the Khichadipur area, Sonu Kumar claimed that voting for the ongoing election seems to have been "fixed". "The chief minister of Delhi was focusing on development and also asking people to vote for him to further the development of the national capital. The arrest of the sitting CM just before the elections seems to be a political move," he said.

Rajkumar, a resident, said although he supported the arrest of Kejriwal, the timing could have been better. "It should have happened earlier if he has done something wrong," he added. His brother Rajesh Kumar claimed that the step would surely affect the BJP in the elections. Kishan Lal, who is a first-time voter, said he wanted AAP to win in Delhi even though he was against the opposition alliance. "I am not in favour of this alliance, but want AAP to win all seven seats (in Delhi) in this election," he added.

Another local, Shriprakash Prasad, who runs a shop in the locality, said that the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal would surely affect the elections as it seems like people will vote in his favour. "Everyone is happy with Kejriwal and since his wife is campaigning for him, he will also get a good amount of sympathy votes," Prasad said.

Anwari, who shook hands with Sunita Kejriwal, said, "I am very happy that the wife of the chief minister greeted me and also shook hands with me. The crowd at the roadshow was large and this shows that people will also go in large numbers to support them on May 25." Voting in all seven Lok Sabha constituencies in Delhi will be held in the sixth phase of the general election on May 25.
Ankiti Bose is one of the co-founders of Zilingo, a multinational tech and e-commerce startup based in Singapore. Zilingo experienced rapid growth, reaching a valuation close to $1 billion by 2019. Ankiti pursued her education in Mumbai, attending Podar School and Cambridge School, before studying Economics at St. Xavier's College. Her early professional experiences in Asia's tech industry introduced her to e-commerce and fashion, influencing her journey as an entrepreneur, reported DNA.

How Zilingo Came To Existence?

According to the report, Bose noticed a significant gap in the market for sellers in Southeast Asia, a major hub for fashion manufacturing. This realisation came during a visit to Bangkok's Chatuchak Weekend Market, where she saw the potential for digital expansion in the regions fashion markets.

In 2015, Bose left her job and relocated from India to Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore to develop technology and distribution solutions. This led to the launch of Zilingo when she was just twenty-three. The company began as a fashion marketplace that connected small merchants from Bangkok and Jakarta to the e-commerce world, enhancing their reach with services in distribution, cataloguing, and financing. By 2016, the startup had developed a notable seller management platform that helped small retailers and brands organise their operations through online tools and logistics APIs.

As per the report, Bose initiated a garment-making program for Indonesian women to empower them. Indonesian women mostly exit the workforce post-marriage and thus this helped them to earn livelihood.

Boses achievements earned her spots on influential "under" lists and invitations to speak on global platforms. Her venture was poised to make her the first Indian woman to co-found a startup close to a billion-dollar valuation, with over 800 employees across 8 countries, reported DNA. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Zilingo faced severe financial and legal challenges, reportedly linked to Bose's leadership. After her departure, without appointing a new CEO, the company experienced significant losses, leading to the closure of offices and layoffs, and culminating in a distress sale of assets in 2023.

Bose disputed the blame, suggesting it was unreasonable to attribute all company issues to her. She claimed she was targeted by a certain investor and her business partners, leading to a media and legal battle. While Bose continues to fight her cases legally which includes defamation cases, her next professional move is being watched closely.
Any soon-to-be college grads looking to land a job at JPMorgan Chase need not worry about what they major in.

Those instructions come directly from the companys CEO Jamie Dimon. In an interview earlier this week, Wall Street Journal editor-in-chief Emma Tucker asked Dimon what a young person who wanted to work at the $556 billion financial firm should study.

It almost doesnt matter to tell you the truth because youre looking for smart, ethical, decent people, Dimon replied.

Although JPMorgan takes a more holistic approach in hiring campus recruits, it does still have a preference for those with backgrounds related to finance.

I do think in business you should learn the language of business which is accountinga little basic business, Dimon said. I think it would help to do accounting, finance, [or] markets. Something like that.

The comments might come as a surprise to some who expected that one of the most successful CEOs on Wall Street would say it's imperative for aspiring bankers to study only finance or math. But a focus on hiring well-rounded, albeit still experienced, candidates for open jobs is a growing trend. No longer are companies only looking for a select group of prospective employees. Being open to candidates from different majors can help employers sustain a broader pool of candidates.

We value and recognize that talent is not limited to any particular group and that diverse experiences, perspectives and backgrounds enrich our workforce and contribute to our collective success, a JPM spokesperson said in an email. They also explained that the bank hires candidates with various college degrees because it fills roles outside of banking such as data science, marketing, HR, and tech.

Instead of only looking at a candidate's major, JPMorgan prefers to look at cultural fit, according to the companys chief human resource officer Robin Leopold. The questions JPMorgan recruiters use to evaluate candidates are: Will they fit into the team?, Leopold said on LinkedIns Get Hired podcast. How did they show up for the interview? Were they prepared? Were they curious? Do they represent our values?

Although, even something as intangible as cultural fit is being scrutinized to ensure its as equitable as possible. In some corporate circles theres a move away from simply asking whether a person is a cultural fit because doing so can reinforce unconscious bias by only hiring people who are similar to one another. Instead there is a movement to evaluate whether a candidate can be additive to a companys culture. Critics of hiring for cultural fit alone believe it offers a static view of someones talent that doesnt take into account whether or not they might thrive in a different work environment.

Story continues

Hiring people from different educational backgrounds can also help increase an organizations diversity. [We] definitely think about it from not just a race and gender perspective, we think about it as diversity of thought, Leopold said.

To try and increase diversity, some companies have gone a step further than what Dimon suggested and gotten rid of college degree requirements altogether. Last year, Linkedin found that job listings that didnt require a college degree increased by 90%. Some experts expect that trend to proliferate further and eventually become the norm. In the U.S., 61% of high school graduates enroll in college, according to October data from the Labor Department. But lately, a degree hasnt been the same surefire way to land a job. In 2023, 70% of bachelors degree holders between 20 and 29 years old had jobs, down from 76.4% the year before.

The growing tendency to remove degree requirements from job criteria kicked into high gear during the labor market crunch of the pandemic. As companies were desperate to fill their open roles, they started looking in unusual places and changing their requirements. Some JPMorgan includeddid away with the need for a bachelors degree when they realized that more than 60% of Americans dont have a college degree. A company spokesperson said that 80% of the banks current roles for experienced hires dont require a college degree.

Of course we go to campuses, but that is not the vast majority of where we hire from, Leopold said during her podcast appearance. We really have been able to identify talent in all spaces and places, and I think it actually is making our company stronger.

When speaking about education in the past Dimon has implored colleges and educational institutions to prioritize getting students good jobs over graduation rates. If you look at kids, they gotta be educated to get jobs, Dimon said during an interview last month. I think the schools should be measured on, did the kids get out and get a good job?

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Amid the high-decibel Lok Sabha poll campaign, the Congress has faced yet another jolt from one of its party leaders who levelled some serious accusations against the grand old party. Former Cabinet Minister in Maharashtra Government and party's working president Mohd Arif Naseem Khan quit the party over 'unfair' treatment meted out to the Muslim community by the party.

In his letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Khan expressed his inability to campaign for the party in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections."

Khan said that he won't campaign in the third, fourth and fifth phases as the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance did not field even a single Muslim candidate in Maharashtra which has a total of 48 seats.

"Many Muslim organisations, leaders and also party workers from all over Maharashtra were expecting Congress to at least nominate one candidate but unfortunately, Congress has also not nominated a single Muslim candidate," said Khan, adding that they are now asking, "Congress ko Muslim vote chahiye....candidate kyun nahi?"

Khan said that he is upset with the 'party's unfair decision'.

The Congress is contesting the polls in alliance with the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar). The Congress has got 17 out of the 48 Lok Sabha seats. Khan was reportedly upset with not getting the Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha ticket from where the party fielded city unit president Varsha Gaikwad.

His remarks are likely to make the contest tough for the party which is already facing appeasement allegations from the BJP-led NDA. During the ongoing election campaign, BJP leaders like Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Yogi Adityanath have accused the Congress of working to appease minorities, especially Muslims. The Congress has denied the allegations saying its manifesto is aimed at welfare of all sections of the society.
Lok Sabha Elections 2024: BJP leader and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today claimed that either Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah or Deputy CM DK Shivakumar sabotaged the Lok Sabha elections that will result in the Congress party's defeat. Sarma said that these leaders raised issues which harmed the Congress party's prospects in the Lok Sabha polls.

"I believe, either Mr Siddaramaiah or DK Shivakumar, any one of them has sabotaged the election and scored a self-goal. Otherwise, why else they would talk about Muslim reservations when the people of Karnataka were already angry due to the Neha murder case, angry with the atmosphere of love jihad and the Rameshwaram cafe bomb blast?" asked Sarma during a TV interview. He further said that Congress was very casual about the unfortunate murder of Neha Hiremath and they will pay a price for this.

The former Congress leader, who joined the BJP in 2015, went on to warn Congress against implementing 'Sharia Law' in the country. Sarma said that Congress will neither be able to implement Sharia in India nor snatch people's property. "In Indian culture, we work hard not for ourselves but for the coming generations; they have no right to snatch our property," said Sarma.

Sarma also claimed that due to his decision to conduct a caste census among Muslims, now backward Muslim classes are supporting the BJP. "Due to the demand for caste census, the Muslim vote in Assam got divided 50-50. The backward Muslims are supporting our government because we will conduct a caste census in the Muslim community," said Sarma.

Himanta Biswa Sarma has actively been campaigning across the state and has exuded confidence that Assam will vote for the Narendra Modi government once again. The state has a total of 14 seats out of which 10 have already gone to the polls in the first and second phases while the remaining four seats will go to the polls in the third phase on May 7.
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: Amid intense speculations about Rahul Gandhi also contesting the ongoing Lok Sabha elections from traditional Congress bastion Amethi, Union Minister and BJP leader Piyush Goyal on Saturday challenged him to contest from 4-5 other seats as he is set to lose badly in Kerala's Wayanad. The senior BJP leader asserted that Rahul Gandhi has no chance before Union Minister Smriti Irani, who defeated him badly in Amethi in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Giving a piece of advice to the Gandhi scion, Goyal said that he should consider contesting from 4-5 other seats, including the North Mumbai seat because he is set to face defeat in Wayanad this time.

The BJP leader even dared him to contest from Varanasi - PM Modi's Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh - if he has courage. "I welcome Rahul Gandhi with an open heart if he wants to contest from the Mumbai North seat. If he wants to contest he can contest from Amethi and if he is courageous enough, he should contest from Varanasi. He should contest from 4-5 seats as he is losing in Wayanad and Smriti Irani will defeat him badly in Amethi. If he wants to go to Ayodhya, he should, it's a different thing that they have denied the existence of Shri Ram and have planned to destroy Ramsetu... He should go there and seek an apology for whatever has been said by the leaders of his party and other alliance partners, '' Goyal said.

#WATCH | Maharashtra | Union Minister and BJP candidate from Mumbai North Lok Sabha constituency, Piyush Goyal says, "I welcome Rahul Gandhi with an open heart if he wants to contest from the Mumbai North seat. If he wants to contest he can contest from Amethi and if he is pic.twitter.com/dQ3WRqfRHt  ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2024

Goyal's remarks come at a time when Congress' Central Election Committee (CEC) is set to meet today to consider candidates for the highly awaited Uttar Pradesh seats of Raebareli and Amethi. According to the reports, leaders of the UP Congress and Avinash Pandey, chairman of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in UP, have been invited to a meeting today.

The UP Congress had previously proposed to the CEC that the Gandhi family should contest the Amethi and Raibareli seats, with the choice left to the CEC and high leadership. A senior party official tolf ANI that the environment is extremely good, and they are optimistic that the proposal would be taken in good faith.

The Congress is likely to nominate Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi as candidates for the Amethi and Rae Bareli seats, respectively. In 2019, Smriti Irani beat Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha election from Amethi. The Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded Irani again for the seat.

Notably, the businessman-husband of Congress politician Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Robert Vadra who previously indicated a desire to run for the Amethi parliamentary seat, has stated that the whole country aspires for him to enter active politics. He further said that Smriti Irani, the current MP from Amethi, has not kept her pledges and has not worked properly in the constituency.

The two constituencies, Amethi and Rae Bareli will be going for polls in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 20.
New Delhi: Tamil Nadu has always been dominated by regional political parties including DMK or AIDMK. In the ongoing 18th Lok Sabha Election, the BJP is eying to make its support base-wide in the state and hopefully win a few Lok Sabha seats driven by the popularity of the party's state chief K Annamalai and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP, which failed to seal a seat-sharing deal with the AIADMK this election, is not only betting on its leaders like Modi, Amit Shah, JP Nadda and Annamalai, but it's also relying on social media platforms like X (Twitter) and YouTube.

There are multiple right-wing YouTube handles that upload content aligned with the ideology of the BJP. These videos are gathered with no positive or negative responses.

The fire started after Prime Minister Narendra Modi dropped a post on the Katchatheevu issue. PM Modi alleged that the Congress party gave up approximately 258 acres of land to Sri Lanka at the time of Indira Gandhi's government. This poll plank indicated the intention of the BJP senior leaders who are seeking support from the Tamil Nadu people for the 39 parliamentary constituencies of the state against the ruling DMK and Congress. A few days prior the PM Modi's post, YouTuber Keerthika Govindara raised the same issue on her channel, which carries a 21.1 lakh audience. This is not the first time, earlier, Govindara uploaded multiple videos targeting the Tamil Nadu audience with her channel named Keerthi History and most of the videos indicate the ideology of the saffron party.

Keerthika Govindara, a young girl, guarantees to claim about real history to the people. In the first edition of the National Creators Award, Keerthika Govindara was honoured with 'Best Book Storytellers' by Prime Minister Modi. The award was created to promote the social media influencers for their work by the central government.

Except for 'Keerthi History', there are many other channels on YouTube that somehow promote the ideology of rightwing through their content. Tamil Nadu has already polled in phase 1 on April 19 and it is time to wait for the counting days and check out who is going to lead the state. However, the role of these YouTube handles cannot be ignored when it comes to the BJP's growing popularity in the state.
New Delhi: In Uttarakhand's Nainital district, relentless wildfires persist, with the flames edging closer to the High Court Colony. Responding to the emergency, the Indian armed forces have been mobilized to combat the inferno.

With Mi-17 helicopter, the Indian Air Force is actively engaged in extinguishing the wildfires by drawing water from Bhimtal Lake and dousing the blaze from above.

Along with the Forest Department, both the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army are working tirelessly to contain the fire, which has raged for over 36 hours, scorching hectares of forest land in Nainital.

#WATCH | Nainital: The Uttarakhand government is working to extinguish forest fires in Nainital with the help of the Army's MI 17 helicopters. https://t.co/AKbCmU9jMB pic.twitter.com/dL7EzGBcZC  ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) April 27, 2024

In the last 24 hours, 31 new incidents of forest fire were reported from various parts of the state, destroying 33.34 hectares of forest land.

Meanwhile Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has asked the officials to remain on alert and take measures to prevent the fires by coordinating with all departments.

Speaking to ANI Dhami said, "The forest fires are a challenge for us. This is a big fire. We are working for all the essential needs. We have asked for help from the Army... I am going to conduct a meeting in Haldwani today. We have conducted a meeting in Dehradun also regarding this. We will try to control the fire as soon as possible."

Meanwhile, three men were arrested and sent to jail for allegedly starting forest fires in two different areas of Jakholi and Rudraprayag. Rudraprayag's Divisional Forest Officer Abhimanyu in a press release said that the action was taken by a team formed to prevent forest fire.
Noida: A German worker, Abhik Arya, successfully reached Noida in time to cast his vote in the Lok Sabha election on Friday. Abhik joined the thousands of other voters in Gautam Buddh Nagar.

Arya works in the hotel industry and has lived in Munich for the past seven years. He said he purposefully scheduled his trip to coincide with the election, returning home after nearly eighteen months away.

On Friday afternoon, Arya, a resident of Sector 31 in Noida, together with his sisters Abhisha (33) and Ankita (35) went to the Saraswati Balika Vidya Mandir to cast their ballots. I have been living in Germany for work for the last seven years. I landed in Delhi around 7 am. When I was planning my vacation and travel home in India, I knew the elections were also around the corner so I had planned my schedule accordingly, Arya told PTI.

I came home today and coordinated with my sisters so that we do not miss out on voting as a responsible citizen and to keep up the positive trend and to do our bit, Arya said.

He said he hoped that his story would encourage others to participate in the electoral process. Abhisha, who works in the financial sector, said she was a first-time voter and the overall development of the country was among the key issues for her.

Ankita, who is self-employed, said the lack of employment opportunities in the country concerned her. 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 the Gautam Buddh Nagar constituency.

He expressed his hope that by sharing his experience, others might be inspired to take part in the democratic process. Working in the banking industry, Abhisha stated that she was a first-time voter and that one of her main concerns was the nation's general development. Ankita, a self-employed woman, expressed concern about the dearth of job prospects in the nation.

According to the data, the constituency's voting turnout has continuously been below the national average, which was 67.40% in 2019, 66% in 2014, and 58% in 2009. As to the official data, the constituency's voter turnout stood at 51.60 percent until 5 pm, whereas the Noida segment recorded 45.69 percent.
The Congress party is today holding a crucial meet to finalise candidates some crucial Lok Sabha seats including Amethi and Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh. The party is likely to field Rahul Gandhi from Amethi while Priyanka Gandhi from Rae Bareli. While the BJP has renominated Smriti Irani from Amethi, it's yet to announce its candidate from Rae Bareli. Sonia Gandhi, who won from the Rae Bareli in 2009, 2014 and 2019, vacated the seat this time as she went to Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan. If Congress fields Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, it will be her first political contest ever. While she has been handling campaigning for the party for more than 10 years, she has not been fielded by the party so far. The Congress Election Committee today discussed the proposal to nominate these two leaders from the UP seats and a formal decision is likely soon. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is likely to make the formal announcement in a day or two.

This will set the stage for a high-voltage battle in Amethi where giant killer Smriti Irani will once again take on Rahul Gandhi. All eyes are also now on the BJP to see whom the party fields from Rae Bareli. Both the seats will go to the polls on May 20 in the fifth phase.

Rae Bareli Seat History

Rae Bareli has been the stronghold of the Congress party. In 1952 and 1957, Feroz Gandhi won the seat. After his death, Indira Gandhi contested the seat in 1967, 1971, 1977 and 1980 winning on three occasions except for the 1977 polls after the emergency.

After Indira Gandhi's murder, the seat remained with Nehru-Gandhi family members. In 1996 and 1998, the BJP bagged the seat. However, the Congress snatched the seat back in 1999. In 2004, Sonia Gandhi shifted to Rae Bareli from Amethi and retained the seat in 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2019. However, the Congress party's vote percentage slipped to around 55 per cent in 2019 from around 72 per cent in 2009. On the other hand, the BJP's vote share increased to 38 per cent in 2019 from just around 3 per cent in 2009.

Amethi Seat History

The Gandhi family first contested from Amethi in 1977 but Sanjay Gandhi lost the seat. However, he bagged the seat in 1980. After he died in a plane crash, Rajiv Gandhi bagged the seat in 1981. Rajiv retained the seat in 1984, 1989 and 1991. After his murder, the 1991 by-poll, 1996 and 1998 Amethi elections were won by the family's close confidants. Sonia Gandhi first contested from the Amethi seat in 1999 and won the poll. Rahul Gandhi bagged the seat in 2004, 2009 and 2014. He lost to Smriti Irani in 2019 but won from Kerala's Wayanad. Just like Rae Bareli, the Congress vote share has also decreased at the Amethi seat from 71.8 per cent in 2009 to 43.9 per cent in 2019. On the other hand, the BJP which got 5.8% votes in 2009, increased its vote share to 49% in 2019.

Why Rahul And Priyanka?

The Congress party has been facing a leadership crisis in Uttar Pradesh. After Rahul Gandhi's 2019 defeat and Sonia Gandhi's exit from Rae Bareli, the Congress cadre has been feeling demoralised. Even the BJP was targeting the Congress party over these issues. The nomination of Rahul and Priyanka from these two seats will not only boost the morale of the cadre but will also send out a message that they are taking the BJP head-on. This will give the Congress party a much-needed boost to the party in Uttar Pradesh, which is often considered key to power in Delhi as the state has 80 Lok Sabha seats.
New Delhi: After Uttarakhand's Joshimath, it's Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban which is facing the land subsidence crisis. Due to the sinking land in the area, more than 50 houses have been damaged besides four electricity towers, a receiving station, and a main road. The road has developed cracks due to sinking land leading to connectivity disruption. As per reports, continuous land subsidence is taking place in Pernote Village of Ramban District which damaged roads, houses, and power lines.

The affected villagers have been shifted to Panchayat Ghar and the administration is taking care of them. The proper medical facilities and food are being provided to the affected families. The administration is on high alert and is monitoring the situation to prevent the loss of lives.

"More than 50 houses are damaged due to the land sink.... and almost 1 Km to 1.5 Km of have been elected till now and more than 300 people have been impacted..," Rajat Vohra, Zee News Reporter said.

On Friday morning, Ramban Deputy Commissioner Baseer-ul-Haq Choudhary visited the Pernote village, five km from the district headquarters. He assured the proper assistance to the affected families and restoration of essential services, including electricity.

Houses in Ramban districts started developing cracks and the road connectivity between Gool and Ramban snapped on Thursday evening due to the sudden 'sinking of land'. This caused panic among the villages who rushed to safety leaving their valuables behind.
New Delhi: Known for his part in 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah', actor Gurucharan Singh has been missing for the past four days. The actor's father has lodged a complaint with the Delhi police.

The 50-year-old actor disappeared on April 22 after leaving his Delhi home for Mumbai, according to his father's statement to the Delhi Police. He did not land where he was meant to, in Mumbai. He didn't even return home, either. His family then called the police because he was unable to reach his phone.

Gurucharan's father told the police, "He is mentally stable, and we had been searching for him, but he has been missing." Delhi Police have begun looking into the actor's disappearance after receiving a complaint. "We're investigating it," according to the representative. In 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah,' Gurucharan performed as Sodhi. Although, he left the show a few years back.
New Delhi: Except for the first three elections, the politicians bearing the surnames Ray, Chauhan, or Rajbhar have been elected as MPs in Ghosi over again. Arvind Rajbhar, son of OP Rajbhar, has been nominated by the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) for the Lok Sabha Elections of 2024. SBSP is a member of the NDA alliance. Balakrishna Chauhan of the BSP and Rajiv Rai of the SP have been fielded as well. It's interesting to note that Ray, Rajbhar, and Chauhanwho will compete against each other againhave won 14 of the previous 17 matches.

Ghosi Seat in Lok Sabha

Ghosi is the name of the parliamentary seat for Mau. The Ghosi Lok Sabha seat has five assembly seats. The BSP, BJP, and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) each hold one of these, while the SP holds two. It is the BJP that rules Madhuban. The Ghosi and Mohammadabad-Gohana seats are held by SP. The Rasda seat is held by BSP, whereas the Mau Sadar seat is held by SBSP. The BSP won Rasda, the solitary seat in the entire Uttar Pradesh, in assembly elections. Mau controls four of the five seats, and the one Rasda seat is located in the Ballia district.

Ghosi's Caste Composition

When it comes to Ghosi's caste dynamics, Dalit voters predominate. An estimate states that there are around 500,000 scheduled caste voters here. Following them are Muslims with 350,000 voters, Yadavs with 250,000, Rajbhars with approximately 200,000, and so on. Brahmins, Nishads, and Bhumihars each have around 100,000 voters.

Lok Sabha Elections 2014, 2019

This seat saw the impact of the Modi wave in 2014, when the BJP's Hari Narayan Rajbhar became victorious. As a member of the SP-BSP alliance, BSP candidate Atul Ray won this seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections by defeating Hari Narayan Rajbhar.

Ghosi Seat's Historical and Mythological Background

There is mythological and historical significance to the Ghosi Lok Sabha seat. Mau is also known as the 'city of looms' since it is a center for weavers. In addition to being a vital part of India's freedom movement, they had served multiple jail terms.
Judge Says Jurors Will Be Made Aware That Nevada Officials Deleted Text Messages In Contentious Nevada Land Case

A district court judge has said that jurors will be informed of Nevada officials intentionally deleting text messages about a controversial housing project during an upcoming trial.



The ruling handed down by Judge Joanna Kishner last Wednesday introduces a turn in the protracted legal dispute over the Blue Diamond Hill development in Clark County, where developer Jim Rhodes has faced repeated roadblocks in his efforts to build thousands of homes. The civil trial, which involves figures such as Clark County District F Commissioner Justin Jones, aims to resolve long standing conflicts over land development and public accountability.



The decision by Judge Kishner follows a previous sanction in April of last year when U.S. Magistrate Judge Elayna J. Youchah criticized Commissioner Jones for the mysterious disappearance of his texts just three hours after a 2019 vote that halted the Red Rock project. The texts, lawyers for Gypsum Resources argued, likely contained important communications regarding the project.



While Judge Youchah ruled that the deletion of the texts, a violation of Nevada Supreme Court precedent for preserving public records, was intentional, the legal battle intensified last week when Judge Kishner announced that jurors in the civil trial set for July 8 will be briefed on the deletion of the texts by the Nevada officials.



Judge Youchah previously described the deletion as indicative of bad faith, according to a report issued by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.



The issue first came to light during a routine discovery process, where it was found that Commissioner Jones, and possibly other officials, had erased those text messages shortly after the unanimous vote in 2019. During the evidentiary hearings, lawyers representing Rhodes and Gypsum Resources pressed on the value of the missing texts, arguing that their absence obstructed the ability to fully present their case.



The dispute dates back to 2003 when Rhodes, a developer known for projects across the Las Vegas Valley, set out to construct a sprawling residential community on Blue Diamond Hill, just west of Las Vegas near Red Rock Canyon.



Despite environmental concerns and vocal opposition from local residents and conservationists, Rhodes and his company, Gypsum Resources, pressed forward, purchasing the land and announcing plans to build up to 5,500 homes. The endeavor quickly became tangled in legal and regulatory challenges, culminating in a state law designed to block the developmenta law that was later deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Nevada.

Story continues

Plans for the project faced repeated setbacks over the years, influenced by shifting political winds within Clark Countys governance. After initial approval and subsequent legal reversals, the project hit a roadblock in 2019 under the stewardship of the Clark County Commissioner, who had previously worked as an attorney for Save Red Rock, a group opposing the development.



The countys unanimous decision to deny a right of way' waiver effectively stalled the project indefinitely, prompting Rhodes to file a lawsuit against the county, accusing it of obstructive practices.



The jurys awareness of the destruction of evidence could influence their understanding of the motivations behind the countys decisions regarding the Blue Diamond Hill project.

Read Next:

"ACTIVE INVESTORS' SECRET WEAPON" Supercharge Your Stock Market Game with the #1 "news & everything else" trading tool: Benzinga Pro - Click here to start Your 14-Day Trial Now!

Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga?

This article Judge Says Jurors Will Be Made Aware That Nevada Officials Deleted Text Messages In Contentious Nevada Land Case originally appeared on Benzinga.com

 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees party Trinamool Congress has lodged a formal complaint with the states chief electoral officer alleging that the Central Bureau of Investigation raids during the second phase of Lok Sabha Election was a BJP conspiracy to tarnish her partys image. Mamata Banerjee's party also accused the West Bengal Election Commission of turning a blind eye on the actions of the central agencies and how they were influencing the state's voters.

"In this regard, it is stated that though 'law and order' is a domain falling completely within the ambit of the State Government, the CBI did not issue an actionable notice to the State Government and/or the police authorities before carrying out such a raid. Further, the State Police has a fully functional bomb disposal squad which could have assisted the entire operation, if the CBI indeed felt that a bomb squad was required during such a raid," TMC wrote in its letter to West Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer.

TMC writes to the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer complaining against the CBI for conducting a raid in Sandeshkhali on election day. pic.twitter.com/e4xLeBpC9j  ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2024

It may be recalled that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted raids on Friday during which it recovered arms and ammunition in Sandeshkhali.

The central agency conducted searches and raids at many places and reportedly seized foreign-made pistols. The CBI is probing a mob attack on the team of Enforcement Directorate, which was reportedly organised by a local Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader.

The ED officials were heckled and attacked when they attempted to raid TMC strongman Shahjahan Sheikh's premises in connection with a ration fraud on anuary 5.

That attack, which is thought to have been carried out by Shahjahan's supporters who were on the run for almost two months prior to his arrest, resulted in a series of complaints against him and set off an intense political battle between the opposition, which included the INDIA bloc, of which the Trinamool is a member, and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's government.
New Delhi: As India battles with scorching temperatures and a heatwave, iconic actor and philanthropist Jackie Shroff has stepped forward to advocate for the welfare of stray animals. Taking to social media, Shroff shared a heartfelt video urging the public to provide bowls of water for birds and animals enduring the heatwave.

In his Instagram post, Shroff delivered a poignant message, stating, "Aaj ki special advice - paani peena nahi bhoolna, aur paani rakhna mat bhoolna! Together, let's make a splash of compassion." Collaborating with his NGO 'Ped Lagao Bhidu,' Shroff amplified the message across his social media platforms, emphasizing the importance of collective action in caring for the voiceless.

Ped Lagao Bhidu,' is Shroff's initiative dedicated to spreading positivity and environmental consciousness, while inspiring individuals to make a positive impact on the planet.

Jackie Shroff is set to grace the screen once again in his upcoming film, 'Baby John.' Fans eagerly await his next on-screen portrayal, knowing that his endeavors off-screen are equally commendable
New Delhi: The controversy surrounding Mehul Prajapati who openly mentioned using food banks offered by Canadian educational institutions, emphasizes not just the misinterpretation of his action but also the larger issues experienced by Indian students studying abroad, notably in Canada.

Food banks which are particularly linked with universities such as Wilfrid Laurier University provide crucial support to their communities, including students like Prajapati. These students often face financial challenges while also managing tuition and living costs in a new environment. The program Prajapati used is specifically tailored to help such students by giving critical support to allow them to focus on their studies without the burden of financial stress.

The criticism directed at Prajapati arises from various misunderstandings. Firstly, the accusation of him 'stealing' food implies he was taking resources intended for the destitute or the public. However, he was actually using a service designed for students in need, regardless of their backgrounds. This distinction is important as it highlights the purpose and reach of university-operated food banks which aims to support all students facing economic challenges.

Furthermore, the response to Prajapati's video sheds light on a concerning aspect of the Indian diaspora's experience in Canada. Many Indian students encounter cultural and financial obstacles from adjusting to a new educational system and finding accommodation to handling daily expenses in a relatively expensive living environment. Expecting these students to manage without support only because they enrolled in a foreign university is unrealistic.

Critics have unfairly targeted Prajapati based on an alleged income and his supposed position at TD Bank, both of which were misreported. TD Bank clarified that Prajapati was not an employee. This underscores how swiftly misinformation can spread and impact someone's life. This scenario is especially concerning for Indian students who often depend on their community and social networks for support. They may face exclusion due to misjudgments and the rapid dissemination of social media controversies.

The harsh social media threats and accusations directed at Prajapati are excessive and they highlight a deeper yet common problem within digital platforms. Rather than being understanding and supportive there is a tendency to spread misinformation and unjust condemnation. This affects the individual's mental well-being and establishes a troubling precedent that might discourage other international students facing genuine difficulties from seeking assistance. They might not ask for assistance out of fear of facing similar public backlash.

The narrative surrounding Prajapati's actions creates a false impression of someone exploiting the system.In reality, he was simply using available support to further his education and welfare. These narratives are harmful and demonstrate a larger societal failure to comprehend the obstacles encountered by international students, especially those from India.

In conclusion, Mehul Prajapati did nothing unethical by using the food bank services available to him as a student. His actions were within the ethical guidelines and operational structures established by educational institutions which ensures that all students receive the support they need. It's essential to address societal misinterpretations and stigmatization of such support systems. This is important not only for individuals like Prajapati but also for the larger community of international students who encounter similar challenges regularly.
Three Gujarati women lost their lives in a horrifying fatal vehicle crash in the United States, according to reports. The deceased were inhabitants of Gujarat's Anand area. Namely, Rekhaben, Sangitaben, and Manishaben Patel, died after their SUV veered off the road and over a bridge in Greenville County, South Carolina, USA.

The SUV was heading north on I-85 when it veered across both lanes, climbed an embankment, and shot upwards of at least 20 feet before slamming into trees on the other side of the bridge, according to reports from the Greenville County Coroner's Office. "It is obvious they were traveling above the posted speed limit," Chief Deputy Coroner Mike Ellis told news channel WSPA.

"Very seldom do you see a vehicle that leaves the roadway at such a high rate of speed that it jumps 4-6 lanes of traffic and lands in the trees approximately 20 feet," said Mr Ellis. "Right now, it appears the vehicle is on its wheels, but when the vehicle jumped all four lanes of traffic, it probably struck trees at least 20 feet above the ground," he told local media.

The car was discovered wedged between two trees, broken into several pieces, which attested to the speed at which it struck the surrounding terrain. The accident's lone survivor was apparently hurt and taken to the hospital, but it's unclear how they fared. The car's sensor system informed some family members about the collision, and those family members notified South Carolina's local police.
Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD) has announced that it will be increasing its dividend from last year's comparable payment on the 24th of May to $0.53. This takes the annual payment to 0.8% of the current stock price, which unfortunately is below what the industry is paying.

Check out our latest analysis for Lithia Motors

Lithia Motors' Payment Has Solid Earnings Coverage

While yield is important, another factor to consider about a company's dividend is whether the current payout levels are feasible. Prior to this announcement, Lithia Motors' earnings easily covered the dividend, but free cash flows were negative. With the company not bringing in any cash, paying out to shareholders is bound to become difficult at some point.

Looking forward, earnings per share is forecast to rise by 37.3% over the next year. If the dividend continues on this path, the payout ratio could be 4.8% by next year, which we think can be pretty sustainable going forward.

Lithia Motors Has A Solid Track Record

Even over a long history of paying dividends, the company's distributions have been remarkably stable. The dividend has gone from an annual total of $0.52 in 2014 to the most recent total annual payment of $2.12. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 15% over that duration. So, dividends have been growing pretty quickly, and even more impressively, they haven't experienced any notable falls during this period.

The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow

The company's investors will be pleased to have been receiving dividend income for some time. Lithia Motors has impressed us by growing EPS at 25% per year over the past five years. Earnings have been growing rapidly, and with a low payout ratio we think that the company could turn out to be a great dividend stock.

In Summary

Overall, this is probably not a great income stock, even though the dividend is being raised at the moment. While the low payout ratio is a redeeming feature, this is offset by the minimal cash to cover the payments. We would probably look elsewhere for an income investment.

It's important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. For example, we've picked out 1 warning sign for Lithia Motors that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. 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.
Key Insights

The projected fair value for Key ASIC Berhad is RM0.052 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Key ASIC Berhad's RM0.05 share price indicates it is trading at similar levels as its fair value estimate

Peers of Key ASIC Berhad are currently trading on average at a 297% premium

Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Key ASIC Berhad (KLSE:KEYASIC) by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow.

We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model.

Check out our latest analysis for Key ASIC Berhad

The Method

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. 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.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, 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 (MYR, Millions) RM5.37m RM5.86m RM6.28m RM6.67m RM7.03m RM7.38m RM7.70m RM8.03m RM8.35m RM8.67m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ 11.30% Est @ 8.97% Est @ 7.34% Est @ 6.20% Est @ 5.40% Est @ 4.84% Est @ 4.45% Est @ 4.18% Est @ 3.99% Est @ 3.85% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 12% RM4.8 RM4.7 RM4.5 RM4.2 RM4.0 RM3.7 RM3.5 RM3.2 RM3.0 RM2.8

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM38m

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 3.5%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 12%.

Story continues

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = RM8.7m (1 + 3.5%)  (12% 3.5%) = RM106m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM106m ( 1 + 12%)10= RM34m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is RM72m. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of RM0.05, the company appears about fair value at a 3.3% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent.

dcf

Important Assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Key ASIC Berhad 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 12%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.338. 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.

Moving On:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. 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 Key ASIC Berhad, we've put together three further factors you should consider:

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Malaysian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Key Insights

Institutions' substantial holdings in Lument Finance Trust implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price

51% of the business is held by the top 5 shareholders

Using data from analyst forecasts alongside ownership research, one can better assess the future performance of a company

Every investor in Lument Finance Trust, Inc. (NYSE:LFT) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 41% to be precise, is institutions. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

Given the vast amount of money and research capacities at their disposal, institutional ownership tends to carry a lot of weight, especially with individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Lument Finance Trust, beginning with the chart below.

View our latest analysis for Lument Finance Trust

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Lument Finance Trust?

Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index.

Lument Finance Trust already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Lument Finance Trust's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

Lument Finance Trust is not owned by hedge funds. Boston Partners Global Investors, Inc. is currently the largest shareholder, with 27% of shares outstanding. Hunt Companies, Inc. is the second largest shareholder owning 11% of common stock, and AXA SA holds about 6.4% of the company stock. Furthermore, CEO James Flynn is the owner of 0.6% of the company's shares.

Our research also brought to light the fact that roughly 51% of the company is controlled by the top 5 shareholders suggesting that these owners wield significant influence on the business.

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too.

Story continues

Insider Ownership Of Lument Finance Trust

While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves.

Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances.

We can report that insiders do own shares in Lument Finance Trust, Inc.. As individuals, the insiders collectively own US$3.3m worth of the US$124m company. This shows at least some alignment, but we usually like to see larger insider holdings. You can click here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 39% stake in Lument Finance Trust. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Private Company Ownership

We can see that Private Companies own 11%, of the shares on issue. It might be worth looking deeper into this. If related parties, such as insiders, have an interest in one of these private companies, that should be disclosed in the annual report. Private companies may also have a strategic interest in the company.

Public Company Ownership

We can see that public companies hold 6.4% of the Lument Finance Trust shares on issue. It's hard to say for sure but this suggests they have entwined business interests. This might be a strategic stake, so it's worth watching this space for changes in ownership.

Next Steps:

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. To that end, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Lument Finance Trust (including 1 which is a bit unpleasant) .

Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Andrii Iemelyanenko / iStock.com

Winning the lottery seems like it would be a financial dream. A windfall of money to come and fix all your problems and buy the luxury vacation youve always dreamed of. Youve probably daydreamed at least once about all the splurges youd make if you were to win the big prize, which can range from thousands to millions if youre really lucky.

Read: 9 Bills Frugal People Dont Pay

See: 6 Unusual Ways To Make Extra Money (That Actually Work)

Not to put the kibosh on your dreams, but there are a few sage pieces of advice for what you should do with the winnings if you were to win the lottery. GOBankingRates spoke to Stephen Kates, a principal financial analyst for Annuity and former wealth advisor, to get the best tips on what to do if you win the lottery.

Sponsored: Protect Your Wealth With A Gold IRA. Take advantage of the timeless appeal of gold in a Gold IRA recommended by Sean Hannity.

Keep the Ticket Safe

First things first: make sure your lottery ticket is a winning one, and keep it protected at all times. Secure the ticket. You dont want to lose it to a hole in your pocket while youre taking a walk, Kates said. You also want to make sure that its definitely a winning ticket, so double check the numbers and know the amount of money you should have coming to you.

Find Out: 30 Best Games That Pay Real Money in 2024

Get an Attorney

Receiving a large windfall of money can be a blessing, but its a lot to take on at once. Kates recommended getting a professional that can help allocate your money in the ways that will most benefit you. An attorney can offer guidance and advice on the laws in your state such as whether you can accept the prize anonymously, Kates said, pointing out that, for example, in Oregon, you cannot accept lottery money anonymously.

Kates said that an attorney can also discuss the necessary steps for creating structures to protect your privacy and shield your wealth from liability such as trusts or LLCs.

Assemble a Team

Now that youve come into a large sum of money, youll need a group of pros to help you manage it. After speaking with an attorney, a financial advisor and accountant should be on the short list of your next calls. People in these professions can help determine how to spend your money and how to stay on top of the taxes associated with it so you can hopefully profit off it for a long time.

The internet is littered with tragic stories of mismanaged windfalls that ruined people, Kates said. You can avoid that fate by taking things slow and being deliberate about how you allocate your winnings. Your new financial advisor can help you define a rules-based approach to your investments.

Story continues

Set Aside Accessible Cash

Your extra cash enables you to have money on hand at all times. Kates referred to this as accessible cash. This will be essentially your checking account and should be limited to 2-3 months of expenses. You should not exceed FDIC-insurance limits ($250,000) and may need to spread this out to multiple banks.

Create an Emergency Fund

In addition to your accessible cash, Kates said you should have money stashed in case something drastic happens. He recommended having 24 months worth of essential expenses in a safe, semi-liquid portfolio of cash, money markets, and treasury or municipal bonds. You may also need to spread this out to avoid exceeding FDIC-insurance limits on any bank-held assets.

Invest

Having extra cash allows you to make investments that can continue to grow over time and even benefit future generations. [Winnings] may be invested in illiquid investments or simply meant to grow untouched for decades. Some of this money may be a legacy for your heirs or charitable endeavors, Kates said.

Talk to your financial advisor about how much of your winnings should be put in this bucket to best support your needs. There are thousands of investments to choose from and choices like which hedge fund to own should not have to be on your radar, Kates said.

Find a Therapist

Your new team wont just be financial professionals. Kates recommended getting a therapist if you dont already have one to navigate this huge lifestyle change. It is not always rainbows and butterflies to feel your life turned upside down. People will treat you differently, and many people can feel guilt or shame about their situation after a large windfall. A therapist can help you cope with some of the changes that are going to come with your new cash that you might not have even thought about. Its good to have some guidance during this time so youre not doing anything with the money you might regret later due to emotional decision making.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Im a Financial Planner: Heres What Id Do with My Money if I Won the Lottery
Have you ever wondered who protects investors -- and how? If you invest, it can pay to know about FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. FINRA is a not-for-profit organization authorized under the federal securities laws and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Alongside the SEC, FINRA oversees U.S. member broker-dealers and their personnel, including individuals who recommend or sell securities products to the public. FINRA's mission is protecting you, the investor, and ensuring the integrity of our country's securities markets.

A broker-dealer firm is in the business of buying and selling securities -- stocks, bonds, mutual funds and certain other investment products -- on behalf of its customers (as broker), for its own account (as dealer) or both. All broker-dealers that sell securities to the public in the U.S. must be registered with the SEC and be members of a registered securities association (currently, FINRA). FINRA members must meet extensive conduct, operational and financial requirements. FINRA, under the close supervision of the SEC, oversees its member firms' compliance with these requirements. In addition, individuals who are associated with member firms and who are engaged in the investment banking or securities business must be qualified and registered with FINRA. Other types of financial firms and individuals are not subject to FINRA oversight.

Membership in FINRA requires a significant commitment, including compliance with numerous safeguards designed to protect investors and the integrity of the securities markets. Here are a few aspects of what it means to be regulated by FINRA.

Comprehensive Admissions Process for Member Firms

Before a broker-dealer can do business with the public in the U.S., it must apply to become a FINRA member and undergo a substantive review and approval of its proposed business and supervisory and operational systems. This review process assesses whether the prospective member firm has demonstrated its ability to adhere to SEC and FINRA requirements (including acting in a customer's best interests when making recommendations) and that its personnel don't have a history of misconduct that could pose a threat to investors like you. Member firms must follow a similar review process if they seek to make significant changes to their business operations, including an ownership change or the introduction of a new business line.

Financial Soundness, Reporting and Oversight Requirements for Member Firms

Member firms must satisfy specific capital (e.g., money and other assets) requirements, disclose changes in their financial condition, provide periodic financial reports to FINRA and have an annual independent audit. This important framework helps ensure that member firms have sufficient liquid assets at all times to protect customers and creditors in the event of the member firm's failure and that investor funds and securities are properly safeguarded. In addition, broker-dealers are required to be members of SIPC, the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, which helps customers if the firm fails.

Regular Examinations and Enforcement of Member Firm Compliance with Rules and Laws

FINRA members are subject to frequent inspections. FINRA staff regularly examine member firms to determine compliance with FINRA's and the SEC's rules and the federal securities laws -- at least every four years and as often as annually, depending on the risk profile of each individual firm. These examinations can cover a range of issues, from a member firm's understanding of the securities it sells, to how it treats its customers (including whether its recommendations are in its customers' best interests), to its financial stability. Frequent and thorough examinations are critical to maintaining strong investor protection and often uncover and remedy problems before they can harm investors. FINRA also has an enforcement program that disciplines member firms and their associated persons for violating rules or laws and can order them to pay restitution to investors, suspend them or even ban them from FINRA membership.

Registration, Disclosure and Other Requirements for Registered Persons

For a person associated with a member firm to register with FINRA, the member firm must provide FINRA with extensive background information to help FINRA determine whether the person might present a regulatory risk to investors and the firm. Most of this information is available to individual investors and the public through FINRA BrokerCheck, a free and quick way to access information about a broker-dealer and its registered persons. In addition, registered persons must disclose to their firms their outside business activities, private securities transactions and personal investment account holdings.

Testing, Qualifications and Continuing Education for Registered Persons

To become registered, individuals must pass qualifying exams administered by FINRA and comply with mandatory annual continuing education requirements. These exams help ensure that registered persons have the appropriate knowledge to competently handle the particular securities-related activities they perform.

Dispute Resolution

FINRA operates the largest securities dispute resolution forum in the United States to assist in the resolution of disputes involving customers, associated persons and member firms. FINRA's arbitration forum provides a fair, efficient and economical alternative to litigation, particularly for customers with small claims: cases can be resolved more quickly; the overall costs can be less; and customers may appear without counsel. All FINRA awards are publicly available in a searchable online database. In addition, FINRA actively suspends member firms and associated persons that fail to pay arbitration awards or agreed-upon settlements, which incents payment of awards.

Story continues

What Matters When Choosing a Financial Professional?

There has been -- and continues to be -- a great deal of discussion about the various standards of care that govern different kinds of financial firms. The recommendations that a broker-dealer and its registered persons make to retail customers must be in the customers' best interests. In addition to this important point, you, as an investor, should consider asking a few key questions of any financial professional you're deciding whether to work with:

What licenses and registrations do you have? With what regulators are you and your firm registered? What's your experience in the securities industry? What are your other qualifications? Do you or your firm have a legal or disciplinary history? What investments and services can you provide me? Are there any limits on what you can recommend? How much will the products and services cost me, both at the outset and over time? How will I pay for these products and services, and how are you compensated? Do your fees go up if the value of my investments increases or if I add more money to my account? How will your recommendations align with my goals? How often is your firm examined by a regulator? When was the last examination?

You can use FINRA's BrokerCheck tool to research the background and experience of individuals and firms. BrokerCheck tells you instantly whether a person or firm is registered, as required by law, to sell securities (stocks, bonds, mutual funds and more), offer investment advice or both. It also gives you a snapshot of the person's employment history, regulatory actions and investment-related licensing information, arbitrations and complaints.

When you look up an individual on BrokerCheck, be sure to scroll down to the "Current Registration(s)" section and click through to see the BrokerCheck profile of their brokerage firm. From there, you can access the firm's "Relationship Summary" (a required disclosure document also known as SEC Form CRS), which will help you independently research some of the questions listed above.

Additional Resources

Most business in the securities industry is conducted fairly, efficiently and in a manner that satisfies everyone involved. But problems can arise. If you believe that an individual or member firm has treated you unfairly, contact the firm to see if you can resolve the issue. If you're still unsatisfied with the firm's response, you can file a complaint with FINRA.

For information on investing, visit FINRA.org/investors, and be sure to check out our Investor Insights.

The $ 22,924 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook

If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $22,924 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies.

View the "Social Security secrets"

The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

What It Means to Be Regulated by FINRA was originally published by The Motley Fool
BERLIN (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice has closed its probe into the Mercedes-Benz diesel emissions scandal and the car manufacturer is no longer facing charges, the company said on Saturday.

Mercedes-Benz cooperated fully with the DOJ, Renata Jungo Bruengger, board member for integrity, governance and sustainability at Mercedes, said in an emailed statement.

"With the DOJ's decision, we are taking another important step towards legal certainty in connection with various diesel proceedings," she said, confirming an earlier report in the German newspaper Handelsblatt about the DOJ decision.

In 2016, the U.S. DOJ called on Mercedes-Benz to conduct an internal investigation into possible manipulated emissions values in diesel vehicles.

The car maker was accused of deceiving consumers with false representations of its BlueTEC vehicles, which it marketed as "the world's cleanest and most advanced diesel."

(Reporting by Ilona Wissenbach and Kerstin Dorr, writing by Maria Martinez, editing by Clelia Oziel)
Microsoft has reduced its footprint in the Triangle area after the tech giant ended its lease for roughly 39,000 square feet at the Perimeter Park campus in Morrisville, a source familiar with the move told The News & Observer.

The company also seeks to sublease about 20,000 additional square feet in the same building, called Perimeter Four, while retaining approximately 190,000 square feet at its separate location in the same office complex.

Microsofts decision to vacate a floor of Perimeter Four on Carrington Mill Boulevard was permitted under its lease agreement. While the company did not respond to the N&Os questions about this choice, Microsoft stated in its latest annual financial filing it has sought to consolidate our office leases to create higher density across our workspaces.

The Redmond, Washington-based company moved its North Carolina team to Perimeter Park in 2016. Located off Interstate 40 near Raleigh-Durham International Airport, the complex is managed by Trinity Capital Partners, which is also developing the Spark Life Science complex in Morrisville.

In December 2019, North Carolina awarded Microsoft an economic incentive to create 500 new jobs in Morrisville, most in software development, two months after the company received another state incentive to add more than 400 jobs in Charlotte. But in March 2022, Microsoft said it would cancel both of these jobs deals, citing North Carolinas demand for hiring information.

The amount of employee data requested to validate job creation metrics is more than Microsoft is willing to share, Michael Shelton, the companys director of real estate, wrote in a letter to North Carolina Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders.

At the time, Shelton said Microsoft had more than 2,500 full-time employees in the state. The company declined to share its current North Carolina workforce figures. It continues to lease out a larger office space at 1009 Think Place in Morrisville. The Triangle Business Journal first reported on Microsofts terminated lease earlier this week.

Since the pandemic, major technology companies like Meta, Google and Salesforce have joined Microsoft in reducing space. Locally, office vacancy rates remain high compared to previous years; in a report released Wednesday, the commercial real estate investment firm CBRE found total vacancy in the Raleigh-Durham area is at 19.3%, up from around 12% in 2020.

It shows in a post-COVID economy, more companies arent having employees come back, said Morrisville council member Steve Rao. Were going to have to think outside the box on how to use these spaces.

In December, IBM sold a four-building office complex near Research Triangle Park to the real estate firm Hines Global Income Trust, which has built the mixed-use projects Fenton In Cary and Durhams Market District at American Tobacco. For now, IBM remains the tenant of the entire space.
Mohawk Industries (NYSE:MHK) First Quarter 2024 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: US$2.68b (down 4.5% from 1Q 2023).

Net income: US$105.0m (up 31% from 1Q 2023).

Profit margin: 3.9% (up from 2.9% in 1Q 2023).

EPS: US$1.65 (up from US$1.26 in 1Q 2023).

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

Mohawk Industries Revenues Beat Expectations, EPS Falls Short

Revenue exceeded analyst estimates by 1.4%. Earnings per share (EPS) missed analyst estimates by 2.4%.

Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 2.4% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 5.1% growth forecast for the Consumer Durables industry in the US.

Performance of the American Consumer Durables industry.

The company's shares are up 6.0% from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

You should learn about the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Mohawk Industries.

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.
Proteome Sciences (LON:PRM) Full Year 2023 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: UK5.03m (down 35% from FY 2022).

Net loss: UK2.44m (down by 284% from UK1.33m profit in FY 2022).

UK0.008 loss per share (down from UK0.004 profit in FY 2022).

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

The primary driver behind last 12 months revenue was the United States segment contributing a total revenue of UK3.84m (76% of total revenue). Notably, cost of sales worth UK3.38m amounted to 67% of total revenue thereby underscoring the impact on earnings. The largest operating expense was General & Administrative costs, amounting to UK2.78m (68% of total expenses). Explore how PRM's revenue and expenses shape its earnings.

Proteome Sciences shares are up 26% from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

It's necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with Proteome Sciences (at least 2 which don't sit too well with us), and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

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.
Net Income: Reported $30.6 million for Q1 2024, a 9% increase from $28.1 million in Q1 2023, surpassing the estimated $21.5 million.

Diluted EPS: Achieved $1.58, an 11% rise from $1.42 in the previous year, exceeding the estimate of $1.12.

Revenue: Details on total revenue not provided, but net interest income for the Core Bank was $50.5 million, down 3% from $52.3 million in Q1 2023.

Return on Average Assets (ROA): Decreased to 1.70% in Q1 2024 from 1.81% in Q1 2023.

Return on Average Equity (ROE): Improved slightly to 13.12% in Q1 2024 from 12.78% in Q1 2023.

Loan Portfolio: Traditional Banking segment saw an 18% increase in average loan balances year-over-year.

Provision for Credit Losses: Core Bank's provision was a net charge of $667,000 in Q1 2024, significantly reduced from $3.1 million in Q1 2023.

On April 25, 2024, Republic Bancorp Inc (NASDAQ:RBCAA) released its quarterly earnings report, showcasing a robust financial performance that exceeded analyst expectations. The company reported a net income of $30.6 million and diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.58, surpassing the estimated earnings per share of $1.12 and estimated net income of $21.50 million for the quarter. The detailed financial results can be accessed through the company's 8-K filing.

Republic Bancorp Inc (RBCAA) Surpasses Analyst Earnings Estimates in Q1 2024

Republic Bancorp Inc operates as a financial institution providing a mix of traditional and non-traditional banking products across six segments, with traditional banking being the primary revenue driver. The company's diversified business model has been a significant factor in its ability to navigate the current economic landscape, particularly the challenges posed by the longest inverted yield curve in U.S. history.

Financial Performance and Strategic Operations

The first quarter of 2024 saw Republic Bancorp achieving a 9% increase in net income and an 11% increase in diluted EPS compared to the first quarter of 2023. This growth was attributed to the effective diversification of revenue streams among its business segments, three of which reported increases in net income. Despite the economic pressures, including high costs of interest-bearing deposits and overnight borrowings, the company maintained strong pricing discipline, which helped improve yields across its loan portfolio.

Republic Bancorp's President and CEO, Logan Pichel, emphasized the strategic focus on long-term gains over short-term profitability, a decision that supports sustainable growth. The company also demonstrated effective cost management, with core bank noninterest expenses remaining flat year-over-year when excluding merger-related expenses from the previous year.

Story continues

Challenges and Operational Highlights

The inverted yield curve has continued to squeeze net interest margins (NIM), which declined from 3.98% in the first quarter of 2023 to 3.30% in the same period in 2024. This reduction primarily resulted from a shift in funding mix and an increase in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities. However, the company's strategic adjustments in its nontraditional divisions, such as the Republic Processing Group (RPG), have mitigated some of the negative impacts from higher funding costs.

Despite a decrease in payments from the U.S. Treasury affecting the Tax Refund Solutions (TRS) segment, Republic Bancorp has implemented revenue enhancements that are expected to stabilize its financial position through the remainder of the year. The company remains optimistic about recovering from these temporary setbacks.

Looking Ahead

With industry-leading credit quality, capital levels, and client satisfaction ratings, Republic Bancorp is well-positioned for the remainder of 2024. The company's focus on maintaining a diversified and efficient operational model continues to play a crucial role in its success. Republic Bancorp's strategic decisions, aimed at long-term profitability and stability, reflect its commitment to shareholder value and customer service excellence.

Republic Bancorp Inc's performance in the first quarter of 2024 not only demonstrates resilience in a challenging economic environment but also highlights the effectiveness of its diversified business approach. As the company continues to navigate through economic uncertainties, its strong foundation and strategic initiatives are expected to drive sustained growth and profitability.

For detailed financial figures and segment-level performance, readers are encouraged to review the full earnings report and accompanying financial supplement available through the provided SEC filing link.

Explore the complete 8-K earnings release (here) from Republic Bancorp Inc for further details.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


Many Americans are on the job hunt.

There are job seekers who lost a job in the rash of tech layoffs in the past few months, those eager to ramp up pay with a job switch, and retirees who have decided to unretire.

One thing they should all have in common: a new resume.

Over the last five years, the employment landscape has changed, and so has the way job seekers write resumes, Eric Ciechanowski, a career expert at LiveCareer, an online resume and job search consulting service, told Yahoo Finance.

Job hunting takes pluck, but writing a resume  particularly if you havent done one in a number of years can be, in a word, paralyzing. Theres no way around it, though, as your resume is your calling card and your sizzle reel.

I reached out to a handful of experts for their insights on constructing a resume for todays hiring landscape and have included some of my own as well.

The challenge is to grab attention straight away.

Once your resume reaches a human resource manager, more than a third of them spend less than a minute initially looking at it, according to a survey from CareerBuilder. Nearly 1 in 5 spend less than 30 seconds.

Nearly 1 in 5 human resource specialists say they spend less than 30 seconds reviewing a resume. (Getty Creative) (Xavier Lorenzo via Getty Images)

A two-page resume is the norm

Your resume is an advertisement, not an obituary. In other words, it should hit the highlights, not list all your life accomplishments.

Resumes have expanded in recent years. The average resume has nearly doubled from one page to two, and the average word count has increased from 312 words in 2018 to 503 in 2023, according to a recent report from LiveCareer.

That said, cherry-pick your professional experience. What employers want to see is your most recent 10 to 15 years of experience. No one wants to read every one of your job entries, for instance, if they run over a two-decade or longer career.

Bundle your earlier experiences into one tidy paragraph and skip dates. Use only the work history thats germane to the job youre applying for now.

The automated-hiring technology known as Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) carves out the throngs of applications and resumes employers typically receive for a single open position, so grease the wheels.

Eliminate college or high school graduation dates. Remove jobs that lasted less than six months. Avoid quirky job titles, which could jettison you from a recruiters search criteria. Wordsmith, for instance, is unlikely to show up in an ATS search for the specific keyword editor.

Where to add value

The core sections of a resume are your contact information, professional summary, work experience, and skills and education. But the number of job seekers who tack on extra sections has doubled, per the LiveCareer report.

Story continues

I recommend highlighting your specific skills before you launch into your experience. More than a third of human resource managers said they preferred having skills listed first on a resume, according to CareerBuilder.

Focusing on the skills relevant to the job youre applying for up high delivers the why you should hire me message before you start cataloging previous jobs.

After all, what you can do for them today is what an employer really wants to know. And if youre looking to change careers or have a gap in your work history, its even more critical to focus on your skills, not your prior positions.

The top three or four skill categories mandatory for the job youre targeting should guide what you list. These include hard and soft skills, certifications, and key accomplishments. Coding languages now dominate hard skills sections, while time management tops the list of soft skills, followed by customer service and critical thinking.

Theres greater emphasis on soft skills, Amanda Augustine, a career expert for resume-writing service TopResume, told Yahoo Finance. Although companies appear more willing to upskill  or reskill  employees to fill the technical skill gaps at their organizations, their recent hiring efforts often focus on finding candidates who can bring the right combination of soft skills to a role, which are considered more challenging to teach.

Its important to show employers that youre able to thrive onsite or from home by highlighting previous telecommuting experience, the accomplishments you achieved while working remotely," according to Amanda Augustine, career expert (pictured). (Photo/Amanda Augustine) (Amanda Augustine)

What that means is your resume needs to include skills such as adaptability, effective communication, and conflict resolution, and an ability to collaborate with colleagues to solve problems, meet goals, and add value to an employer or client, Augustine said.

Focus on numbers

Its no longer enough to simply list your current job duties. Its vital that you focus on quantifying your accomplishments, Marc Cenedella, founder of the career site Ladders, told Yahoo Finance.

Instead of writing, Oversaw the accounting team, you should write something like, Developed and implemented a new accounting department training program that increased productivity by 19% in six months.

I call this section your CAR story, which stands for challenge, action, and result. Numbers, statistics, and percentages get attention. These are quantifiable results that no one can quibble with when youre touting why youre a good hire.

Learning is hot

Add recent training, education, and certifications to emphasize your professional development and willingness to learn. Staying on top of trends and technologies can ramp up your odds of successfully landing a job.

Create an Education and Continued Learning section on your resume to highlight any courses or training programs youve completed, as well as certifications, advanced degrees, or other credentials youve earned, Augustine said.

Create a small section toward the bottom that lists your technical proficiencies in your field.

Ability to work remotely

On the surface, employers seem to be pressing hard to get workers back to the office, but the reality is that hybrid work is the workplace sweet spot these days.

Its important to show employers that youre able to thrive onsite or from home by highlighting previous telecommuting experience, the accomplishments you achieved while working remotely, Augustine said.

The soft skills to tout are self-discipline, tech-savvy, and time management, plus your ease with using various digital tools to communicate and collaborate with coworkers.

Keep it simple and customize

Stick to a simple layout with consistent formatting and a clear hierarchy of information. Avoid the use of images, unusual fonts, or custom bullet points. Carefully proofread your resume for typos or grammatical errors that could confuse the system, Augustine said.

Use a font size between 10 and 12 for the body of your resume and 14 to 16 for the headers throughout your document. You want to make sure your document is easily skimmable with enough white space between its content, she said.

Theres no such thing as a one-and-done generic resume anymore. Your resume needs to be bespoke for each position youre applying for. That means incorporating keywords from the job posting and highlighting the skills and experience the employer is seeking.

Consider your pronouns

Its more commonplace nowadays for job seekers to add their preferred pronouns to the top of their resume. If you have a unisex name or identify using nongendered or nonbinary pronouns and want to make this clear to employers, you can choose to add your preferred pronouns to the top of your resume, typically under your full name with your contact details, Augustine added.

The top three or four skill categories mandatory for the job youre targeting should guide what you list on your resume. These include hard and soft skills, certifications, and key accomplishments. (Getty Creative) (Monty Rakusen via Getty Images)

Recent experience is the ticket for job seekers over 50

The further along you are in your career, the less relevant your earlier work experience becomes. Focus on elaborating on the positions youve held in the past 10 to 15 years that are related to your current job search.

Avoid the jack-of-all-trades approach, Augustine said. Although you may have held multiple roles throughout your career, your resume should be tailored to support your current career objective  rather than providing a generalized summary of your entire work history.

Parting thoughts

Spelling and grammar are the biggest mistakes on resumes and can cost you a job interview. So proofread it once or twice, and then have a friend read it.

Skip References available upon request. Of course they are.

Kerry Hannon is a Senior Columnist at Yahoo Finance. She is a career and retirement strategist, and the author of 14 books, including "In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in The New World of Work" and "Never Too Old To Get Rich." Follow her on X @kerryhannon.

Click here for the latest personal finance news to help you with investing, paying off debt, buying a home, retirement, and more

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
Is the deliberative exercise of elections in a functioning democracy meant to acquire legitimacy for an agenda of foregrounding the values of equality and fraternity or to strengthen the sanction for existing inequalities and social strife? From a normative lens, posing such a question itself is redundant as the answer is self-evidently former, but the actually existing electoral discourse forces one to pose the question as the answer to the question emanating from certain quarters is increasingly veering towards the latter. One would surely be distressed even if such a view was emanating from supposedly fringe quarters, but what raises alarm is its perpetuation by those very authorities who are duty-bound to uphold constitutional values.

The Election Commission of India as an independent body exists to ensure that such transgressionswhoever be the guilty partydo not occur and the Model Code of Conduct is upheld to ensure free and fair elections. While the Election Commission has issued a notice to the president of the ruling party for the remarks made by their star campaignerthe Prime Ministerit came only after widespread consternation over the reprehensible remarks. Why the notice was served to the party president and not to the person who made the remarks is also an open question. As the remarks appear to be violative of the Model Code of Conduct, the logical expectation from the Election Commission is to take appropriate action to set a deterrent to at least ensure that such statements are not repeated. Independent authorities such as the Election Commission should not operate in a deferential mode if the trust in the free and fairness of the electoral process is not to suffer erosion. Nevertheless, irrespective of the course adopted by the Election Commission, remarks insinuating against a particular community that can promote enmity and polarisation with the purported aim of achieving electoral gains are antithetical to the idea of deliberative democracy.

Even though the elections are increasingly fought on emotive issues and perceptions, the deliberative ideal demands that the electoral campaigns are a cognitive exercise. Policies, promises and programmes of the contending parties should appeal to the reason of the voters whose voting decision is an outcome of their reflexivity. Polarising statements or hate speech to garner votes seeks to bring the electoral exercise to a non-cognitive realm where passions are sought to be aroused instead of awakening the reason. In doing so, it actually betrays a rather feeble view of the electorates/citizens as the ones who lack the cognitive reflective capacities and can be swayed by passions. In other words, masses are perceived as nasty, brutish and short. Perhaps, it is the tendency to see the masses in ones own image. It may seem that arousing passions yields electoral dividends, but more often than not, the innate reason possessed by every human individual forces a reflection on the material realities and sees through the attempts at polarisation. Thus, the polarising rhetoric can run out of its shelf life and even turn counterproductive.

The polarising rhetoric enfeebles the masses in another way. More often than not, the imaginary polarisations conjured by the rhetoricians are meant to steer the terms of debate away from the actually existing social contradictions and their possible resolutions. These contradictions pertaining to socio-economic inequalities require a comprehensive egalitarian policy response. Such a response can be articulated in the language of rights and entitlements and/or redistribution of resources and/or programmes of affirmative action/positive discrimination. This language is deeply unsettling for the forces that seek to maintain the hierarchical/unequal status quo and perpetuate the vested interests. Hence, this language is sought to be portrayed as the language of favouritism, appeasement or divisiveness. Implicit in this distortion is the repudiation of the conception of rights-bearing claim-making citizens with equal dignity, as such a conception is sought to be equated with divisiveness and troublemaking. However, if the collective yearnings for equality are strong enough and are able to consolidate politically, then they can in fact provide the cement for fraternity and foil the attempts of sowing enmity and strife. To that extent, the general elections are at once a barometer of the intensity of demands for equality and an available channel for the politics that seeks to promote it in the face of conservative backlash. If the intensity of these demands is high and their channelisation is efficacious, then it can surmount the institutional obstacles, power asymmetries and rhetorical traps.

Nevertheless, the relationship between yearnings for equality and strengthening fraternity is reciprocal or, in fact, intertwined. Politics of equality cannot stand on firm footing in the conditions of generalised erosion of fraternity. The frequency with which the divisive appeals and polarising rhetoric are employed in the elections indicates the extent of strain on the value of fraternity. Therefore, the proponents of egalitarianism must articulate an agenda of countering hate and disharmony that goes beyond empty shibboleths. While the path towards realising a commonly fashioned (not to be confused with uniform) civiccultural identity is a protracted one, sidestepping this task for pragmatic calculations would cede the ground for divisive rhetoric to rear its head recurrently. The ongoing general election campaign, despite the relentless efforts of arousing passions, also provides an opportunity to present an outline of the politics of compassion.
If we want to find a stock that could multiply over the long term, what are the underlying trends we should look for? Firstly, we'd want to identify a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and then alongside that, an ever-increasing base of capital employed. Basically this means that a company has profitable initiatives that it can continue to reinvest in, which is a trait of a compounding machine. However, after briefly looking over the numbers, we don't think Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) has the makings of a multi-bagger going forward, but let's have a look at why that may be.

Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It?

For those that aren't sure what ROCE is, it measures the amount of pre-tax profits a company can generate from the capital employed in its business. To calculate this metric for Walt Disney, this is the formula:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.062 = US$10b  (US$198b - US$31b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2023).

So, Walt Disney has an ROCE of 6.2%. In absolute terms, that's a low return and it also under-performs the Entertainment industry average of 11%.

See our latest analysis for Walt Disney

roce

Above you can see how the current ROCE for Walt Disney compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you'd like, you can check out the forecasts from the analysts covering Walt Disney for free.

What Does the ROCE Trend For Walt Disney Tell Us?

In terms of Walt Disney's historical ROCE movements, the trend isn't fantastic. To be more specific, ROCE has fallen from 17% over the last five years. Meanwhile, the business is utilizing more capital but this hasn't moved the needle much in terms of sales in the past 12 months, so this could reflect longer term investments. It's worth keeping an eye on the company's earnings from here on to see if these investments do end up contributing to the bottom line.

In Conclusion...

Bringing it all together, while we're somewhat encouraged by Walt Disney's reinvestment in its own business, we're aware that returns are shrinking. And in the last five years, the stock has given away 15% so the market doesn't look too hopeful on these trends strengthening any time soon. On the whole, we aren't too inspired by the underlying trends and we think there may be better chances of finding a multi-bagger elsewhere.

One more thing, we've spotted 1 warning sign facing Walt Disney that you might find interesting.

Story continues

For those who like to invest in solid companies, check out this free list of companies with solid balance sheets and high returns on equity.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Richmond Mutual Bancorporation (NASDAQ:RMBI) First Quarter 2024 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: US$10.8m (flat on 1Q 2023).

Net income: US$2.37m (down 18% from 1Q 2023).

Profit margin: 22% (down from 27% in 1Q 2023).

EPS: US$0.23 (down from US$0.27 in 1Q 2023).

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

Richmond Mutual Bancorporation shares are down 7.9% from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

What about risks? Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Richmond Mutual Bancorporation 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.
Robust recovery in passenger ticket revenues showcasing a strong market comeback.

Significant increase in net income indicating improved operational efficiency.

Strategic capital management reflected in successful debt restructuring.

Challenges in operating expenses and potential legal proceedings remain a concern.

On April 25, 2024, Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE:RCL), the world's second-largest cruise company, filed its 10-Q with the SEC, revealing a significant recovery from the previous year's financial turbulence. The company, which operates a fleet of 65 ships across various brands, including Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea, reported a substantial increase in passenger ticket revenues from $1,897 million in Q1 2023 to $2,542 million in Q1 2024. Onboard and other revenues also saw a healthy rise, contributing to a total revenue jump to $3,728 million, up from $2,886 million in the prior year. This financial rebound is further underscored by a swing from a net loss of $(48) million in Q1 2023 to a net income of $360 million in Q1 2024, reflecting Royal Caribbean's resilience and strategic agility in navigating the post-pandemic market landscape.

Royal Caribbean Group (RCL): Navigating Through Financial Seas - A SWOT Analysis

Strengths

Revenue Growth and Brand Equity: Royal Caribbean Group's impressive revenue growth is a testament to its strong brand equity and successful marketing strategies. The company's ability to increase ticket prices and onboard spending indicates a loyal customer base willing to pay a premium for the Royal Caribbean experience. This brand strength is further supported by the company's diversified portfolio, which caters to a wide range of demographics and preferences, allowing it to capture a significant share of the cruise market.

Operational Efficiency: The notable increase in net income from a loss in the previous year to a substantial gain demonstrates Royal Caribbean's operational efficiency. Cost management and improved operational practices have likely contributed to this turnaround, positioning the company for sustainable profitability. The strategic deployment of ships to capitalize on seasonal demand also reflects the company's adeptness in maximizing revenue opportunities.

Weaknesses

Rising Operating Costs: Despite the revenue growth, Royal Caribbean faces rising operating costs, with total cruise operating expenses increasing by $263 million year-over-year. This uptick is attributed to higher capacity and occupancy, as well as additional drydock days. The company must continue to innovate in cost management to maintain its profitability margins in the face of these escalating expenses.

Debt Management: While the company has successfully restructured its debt, as evidenced by the redemption of high-interest senior notes, it still faces the challenge of managing a significant debt load. The interest expense, although reduced, remains a considerable financial obligation that requires careful capital management and strategic financial planning.

Opportunities

Market Expansion: With the cruise industry's expected growth and the gradual return of international travel, Royal Caribbean has the opportunity to expand its market reach. The introduction of new ships and itineraries can attract new customers and drive further revenue growth. Additionally, the company's investment in joint ventures, such as TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, allows for expansion into new markets and segments.

Technological Advancements: Investing in technology can enhance the customer experience and operational efficiency. Royal Caribbean can leverage data analytics for personalized marketing, implement advanced safety protocols, and explore sustainable technologies to reduce its environmental footprint, which can also serve as a unique selling proposition.

Threats

Competitive Landscape: The cruise industry is highly competitive, with several major players vying for market share. Royal Caribbean must continuously innovate and offer exceptional value to maintain its competitive edge. This includes keeping up with trends such as sustainable cruising and experiential travel, which are becoming increasingly important to consumers.

Regulatory and Legal Risks: The company faces potential legal proceedings, such as the Havana Docks lawsuit, which could result in significant financial liabilities. Additionally, the cruise industry is subject to stringent regulations that can impact operations and costs. Royal Caribbean must navigate these legal and regulatory waters carefully to avoid adverse effects on its financial health.

In conclusion, Royal Caribbean Group's latest SEC filing paints a picture of a company on the rebound, with strong revenue growth and a solidified market position. However, challenges such as rising operating costs and debt management, as well as external threats from a competitive landscape and regulatory risks, require vigilant attention. The company's ability to capitalize on market expansion opportunities and technological advancements will be crucial in steering Royal Caribbean towards continued success in the dynamic cruise 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.


Shares of small-cap stock Sterling Infrastructure (NASDAQ: STRL) are on a tear as investors gobble up anything that could seemingly have something to do with artificial intelligence (AI). That apparently includes this specialty infrastructure contractor. Sterling stock is up some 180% in the last year (as of this writing on April 24, 2024).

Sterling certainly is a unique way to play AI. Its largest and most profitable segment is called "E-Infrastructure Solutions," which handles construction services for large companies (think big tech) in need of data centers, e-commerce warehouses, power generation facilities, and the like. In fact, Sterling seems to be leaning into this important segment, as data centers are high priority these days. Is the stock still a good buy?

A secret bet on data center development?

Since 2017 (when current CEO Joseph Cutillo took the reins of the business), Sterling has embarked on a growth mission. It started with strengthening its traditional heavy highway and civil business (the "Transportation Solutions" segment) by being more disciplined in bidding on jobs. The goal was to boost profit margins, which has been a successful strategy (more on that in a moment).

Since then, Sterling has made multiple acquisitions to get into large residential projects in Texas and Arizona (now the segment called "Building Solutions"), and multiple acquisitions to form its "E-Infrastructure" segment.

It's this last segment that may have Wall Street interested. E-Infrastructure revenue was $937 million in 2023, 48% of Sterling's total last year. However, E-Infrastructure operating income was $141 million, 62% of the total. This fast-growing segment thus also happens to be far and away the most profitable part of this construction business. Growth and higher profit margins over time can equate to big stock gains.

E-Infrastructure from data centers isn't all Sterling has going for it, though. The company did notch a big 66% increase in RPO (remaining performance obligation, current and future amounts to be invoiced to customers) in the Transportation segment last year. Big civil projects like highways and freeways can take years to complete, so any new project entering the pipeline can take years to turn into revenue, and accumulate on balance as RPO.

However, the shorter-to-fill RPO of E-Infrastructure also notched a healthy 35% increase in 2023 to reach $814 million. That could be an indicator that data center and related project construction is heating up for Sterling.

Story continues

A cheap small-cap stock, or cyclical AI-fueled peak?

Sterling Infrastructure was a great story in 2023. However, construction -- even specialty construction -- is a highly competitive industry. That's reflected in Sterling's historical single-digit-percentage operating margin profile. Thanks to its bidding discipline in the Transportation segment and the big additions to E-Infrastructure, margins have improved dramatically in the last couple of years, over 11% for the business overall exiting 2023.

STRL Operating Margin (Quarterly) Chart

Clearly, this contractor is riding a strong growth trend, with further growth in the works as data center and AI buildout heat up. Shares trade for about 20 times Wall Street analysts' expectations for 2024. It isn't exactly a bargain, but compared to the AI and data center hype brewing elsewhere in the stock market, Sterling looks like a relative value.

My personal hesitation at buying is because construction is an inherently cyclical business. Since it's reliant on big tech businesses continuing to ramp up data center and other specialty property development, Sterling could be just one bad year away from losing its high-flying construction stock status. Such is life for highly cyclical companies.

As an alternative for investors who are upbeat on infrastructure development, an index fund like the Invesco Building & Construction ETF (NYSEMKT: PKB) might be worthy of consideration. It includes Sterling Infrastructure in its portfolio of stock holdings.

For now, it's interesting to see Sterling's E-Infrastructure acquisition efforts start to pay off. But the stock price rocketing higher in the last year isn't a reason to buy. Investing in small-cap stocks requires discipline, so tread lightly with this one.

Should you invest $1,000 in Sterling Infrastructure right now?

Before you buy stock in Sterling Infrastructure, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Sterling Infrastructure wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $537,557!*

Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*.

See the 10 stocks 

*Stock Advisor returns as of April 22, 2024

Nicholas Rossolillo and his clients have no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

This Secret Data Center Stock Is Up 180% in a Year. Is It Too Late to Buy? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Usually, when one insider buys stock, it might not be a monumental event. But when multiple insiders are buying like they did in the case of Virginia National Bankshares Corporation (NASDAQ:VABK), that sends out a positive message to the company's shareholders.

While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing.

See our latest analysis for Virginia National Bankshares

Virginia National Bankshares Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by Chairman of the Board William Dittmar for US$93k worth of shares, at about US$30.94 per share. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price of US$25.50. It's very possible they regret the purchase, but it's more likely they are bullish about the company. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. As a general rule, we feel more positive about a stock if insiders have bought shares at above current prices, because that suggests they viewed the stock as good value, even at a higher price.

In the last twelve months Virginia National Bankshares insiders were buying shares, but not selling. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

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).

Virginia National Bankshares Insiders Bought Stock Recently

Over the last three months, we've seen significant insider buying at Virginia National Bankshares. Overall, three insiders shelled out US$61k for shares in the company -- and none sold. This could be interpreted as suggesting a positive outlook.

Insider Ownership

Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Virginia National Bankshares insiders own about US$17m worth of shares. That equates to 12% of the company. This level of insider ownership is good but just short of being particularly stand-out. It certainly does suggest a reasonable degree of alignment.

So What Do The Virginia National Bankshares Insider Transactions Indicate?

It's certainly positive to see the recent insider purchases. We also take confidence from the longer term picture of insider transactions. When combined with notable insider ownership, these factors suggest Virginia National Bankshares insiders are well aligned, and that they may think the share price is too low. Along with insider transactions, I recommend checking if Virginia National Bankshares is growing revenue. This free chart of historic revenue and earnings should make that easy.

Story continues

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.
The Social Development Commission main office in March 2022.

In a surprise move, the financially strapped Social Development Commission, an anti-poverty agency, closed its doors Friday afternoon without clear plans to reopen.

The 85 remaining employees were sent a terse three-paragraph email on Friday informing them that they were laid off.

"This letter is to inform you that your employment with SDC is ending due to temporary closure of the agency effective today," interim CEO Pamela Johnson wrote in a memo to "all SDC staff" on Friday. "A reopen date has not been determined at this time."

The rest of the email is spent providing information on how to apply for unemployment and withdraw from the retirement plan.

In an email sent to "all SDC staff," Pamela Johnson, SDC interim CEO, announced on Friday that the 85 employees were laid off and SDC is shutdown indefinitely.

The 61-year-old agency has fallen apart in just a month and a half. The trouble began in mid-March when the agency revealed in a public letter it "misallocated" more than $100,000 in taxpayer funds resulting in the closure of the weatherization program.

Within a matter of weeks, the agency terminated its finance director, ousted its CEO, laid off a third of its workforce, and failed to make payroll for 19 employees. To top it off, the agency is undergoing a state-ordered forensic audit and owes thousands of dollars to contractors.

Johnson made the decision to temporarily close the agency following the board's special closed-door meeting Thursday night. She wasn't available for comment Friday, according to SDC's attorney William Sulton.

"SDC has lost funding and is under an incredible amount of financial stress due to the finance department not doing its job," Sulton said. "SDC has made the very painful decision to suspend its operations so that it can right the ship."

SDC is a quasi-governmental community action program that oversees about 30 programs and had 85 employees. It has a $30.5 million operating budget.

The anti-poverty agency isn't a stranger to controversies. About a decade ago, it lost its two largest programs, Head Start and Wisconsin Works, also commonly known as W-2.

SDC's four office locations have closed their doors, Sulton said. Details about how the suspension will impact SDC's programs remains unclear and will unfold soon.

The agency still hasn't paid 19 employees from its April 15 payday. Sulton made no promises as to when those employees would be paid. He was unsure if all employees will be paid on April 30, which is the next scheduled payday.

Vendors have also complained that they have been owed large sums of money for months. Sulton made no promises as to when vendors and employees will see the money they are owed.

"I can't confirm that folks are going to get paid on the 30th," Sulton said.

Story continues

The SDC board unanimously agreed to oust George Hinton, its CEO of 11 years, last week.

Sulton cast the blame for the agency's downward spiral on Patrick Kirsenlohr, the now former finance director, who was terminated by Hinton earlier this month. Kirsenlohr didn't respond to voicemails and text messages seeking comment on Friday.

"What has happened is a finance department that failed, and frankly, misrepresented things to the board and to the executive team," Sulton said.

"Those misrepresentations were just really outrageous and have caused the current state of affairs," Sulton added. "This isn't a mistake that was made. These were lies."

Sulton said it's still unclear why Kirsenlohr made these decisions. He said SDC doesn't suspect the misallocated funds were pocketed by any employees.

The SDC board is scheduled to have another meeting next week.

Gina Lee Castro can be reached at gcastro@gannett.com. Cary Spivak can be reached at 414-550-0070 or cspivak@jrn.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Social Development Commission suspends operations, no reopening date set
Sonia Wood, a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, treats a patient at Carousel Pediatrics in Austin, Texas on Nov. 8th, 2012. Credit: Spencer Selvidge for the Texas Tribune

Aetna, which is set to win a multibillion Texas Medicaid contract, got a peek at sensitive information submitted by 17 rival health plans during the bidding process after the state Health and Human Services agency erred and sent competitors proposals to the health insurance giant too early, according to emails and documents obtained by The Texas Tribune.

The agency confirmed the error in emails it sent to Aetna and others earlier this year, according to a court filing in Travis County this week.

Officials with Aetnas Medicaid division  Aetna Better Health Texas  would not discuss the matter with Tribune. HHS officials initially declined to comment on the procurement or the release of the records.

On Monday, three days after this story originally published, the agency sent a statement to the Tribune saying that no laws were broken and that the release did not affect the outcome of the procurement  which has been heavily criticized by some for proposing to shuffle the health plans of some 1.8 million low-income Texans.

The agency "has no reason to believe that the release of the redacted proposals via the [Public Information Act] process had an impact on the procurement results," the statement said.

But the court documents include the state agencys own admission to the insurance bidders that the release of the information to Aetna was in error.

The PIA copies were sent to you in error as this procurement is still in the open stage, reads a Jan. 12 email to Aetna from a legal assistant for the agency, referring to redacted copies of the bids required by the Texas Public Information Act. As a courtesy, would you please destroy the copies? Once the Notices of Award are issued, we will provide the PIA copies to you.

HHS officials still have not commented on why those emails were sent in January.

"HHSC practice has been to release procurement records after awards have been determined," the Monday statement said. "However, the release of records prior to oral presentations is allowable under state law."

The early release of documents throws into doubt the legitimacy of a procurement worth about $116 billion over the next 12 years because it gave a single competitor a look at the other bidders playbooks while the procurement game was still on, several bidders argue.

One of the basic tenets of procurement law is that a procuring government entity must ensure a level playing field for all respondents, attorneys for Superior Healthplan wrote in an April 19 protest letter to HHS. This procurement utterly failed in that regard, among others.

Story continues

Superior Healthplan stands to lose its $900 million contract if the new Medicaid bids are finalized, a move expected later this year.

The competing bidders who are complaining about Aetnas potential unfair advantage say the responsibility for that imbalance lies with the state, not with Aetna, which made a legal and publicly available request for the documents through the proper channels.

But at present, Aetna Better Health Texas is set to win seven new Medicaid contracts once the state finalizes its awards, which were announced March 7. Because records related to the bid evaluations are largely being withheld by the state, it is unclear whether or how any of that information might have been used during the decision-making process.

So far, eight insurance plans have filed protests in response to the states intent to award the new six-year contracts to Aetna and other winners, one of which is brand new to Texas Medicaid. Each of those contracts can be extended up to a total of 12 years.

The list of winning bids shocked many in the health care community because it dropped three Texas childrens hospital-affiliated plans  in Fort Worth, Houston and the Rio Grande Valley  in favor of competitors new to either the region or the state Medicaid programs. It also gutted the coverage areas of some long-standing for profit plans, including WellPoint and Superior.

On Wednesday, Superior Healthplan asked a Travis County district court to compel Texas HHS to release scoring, evaluation notes, audio and video and other records related to the procurement, signaling a contentious battle ahead.

The error

Medicaid in Texas provides health insurance for more than 4 million people, mostly mothers and children. HHS manages the program but pays contractors to handle individual billing and payments to medical providers.

Each time the state has to reassess and collect new bids from companies that will actually issue insurance coverage to these residents, it can bring a cutthroat battle between companies and the state over who will win those multibillion contracts.

As part of any contract process, companies routinely look for advantage. And one way is by filing open records requests to a state agency to get a handle on what competitors are proposing.

Its a perfectly legal move to request the documents through public information channels, and the onus is on the state to determine if its appropriate to release them.

But during this STAR/CHIP contracting round, those documents were released before the bid winners were announced  and indeed before the competitors had even been interviewed by the states evaluation teams  and that has resulted in the losing companies crying foul.

The Aetna request was made in August, long before the awards were announced last month, emails between Aetna representatives and Texas Health and Human Services show.

One other Medicaid contract bidder received the same records in October, but Aetna was the only bidder to receive them while the companies were still presenting their cases to the evaluation team. Another requestor, a research clearinghouse with no affiliations to any bidders, received the records in August as well.

By the time the records were released, scoring on the written questions  the answers to which were in the proposals  had already been completed. Oral presentations  hours-long interviews before a panel of evaluators that were part of the scoring process  did not conclude, however, until mid-October.

In January, HHS notified all three companies to destroy the documents because they were sent to you in error as this procurement is still in the open stage. The email said that once the state announced who they intended to award the contracts to the following month, they would re-release those documents.

Curiously, the error was made despite two Texas attorney general rulings that stated the agency had grounds to hold records private until after the procurement process because releasing them could unfairly affect the outcome.

The agencys misconduct created an unlevel playing field that advantaged one competitor to the detriment of all others in this procurement for the largest state contracts in Texas, Superior attorneys wrote in the April letter. The only appropriate remedy is to cancel  and start over. Any other response would simply be a waste of taxpayer dollars and government resources in a misguided attempt to defend HHSCs indefensible actions.

Agency officials said Monday that the records contained no confidential information and that it would be difficult to use the proposals effectively in the oral arguments because they are based on what the competitor had already asserted in their application packets.

"HHSC uses oral presentations in its procurement process to determine whether an MCOs ability to quickly strategize and convey information in real-time aligns with the written proposal the MCO submitted to HHSC," officials said in the statement. "Access to the information contained in the redacted proposals has no impact on an MCOs ability to describe its own services and operations in its oral presentation."

Aetna declined to comment specifically on the release of the records or the procurement.

While we defer to the state of Texas to comment on its procurement process, we remain confident in Aetnas ability to deliver excellent service and value across these Medicaid contracts, according to a statement emailed to the Tribune by an Aetna spokesperson.

New contracts, new battles

In March, Texas HHS announced its intentions to drop childrens health plans that are run by three legacy childrens hospitals and award the majority of Medicaid STAR and Childrens Health Insurance Program contracts to national for-profit health chains.

More than a week ago, two major childrens hospitals that had previously held Medicaid insurance plan contracts but lost them this round, announced they would likely have to shut down those programs if the deals are signed.

Some 1.8 million Texans who receive Medicaid coverage from six managed care organizations  the health insurance providers that actually issue the coverage  across the state would lose their current health plans and be shifted to new insurers next year if the decision is finalized.

Lawmakers, angered at the plight of the childrens Medicaid plans, have called on HHS to delay the procurement so that they could strengthen laws governing the process and better protect high-quality legacy plans.

Officials with managed care organizations, or MCOs, who lost contracts said they were troubled by the possibility that information they had assumed would be kept private until the end of the procurement process could have been used to compete against them.

We are aware of this situation and are deeply concerned about the questions this raises about the process," officials from Cook Children's Health Plan said in a written statement.

Officials at Driscoll Health Plan, which is likely to shut down if it loses its long-standing Texas Medicaid contracts, said they were stunned to learn that one of its competitors had gotten a look at their bid proposals while the plans were all still being evaluated.

They have already filed a protest saying that the new scoring system used in the evaluation phase was unfair, arbitrary, and did not take into account legally required quality measures, among other failures.

For this procurement attempt to be riddled with so many substantive failures  including the failure to meaningfully evaluate the actual, historic performance of health plans and the failure to involve local community and stakeholder feedback in the selection process  that we believe the process is already fundamentally flawed, said Craig Smith, Driscoll Health Plans president and CEO, in an emailed statement. To now add such serious questions as to the procedural integrity of the procurement attempt, we believe unequivocally that it is due time to set this attempt aside.

If the procurement is negated, it would be the third failed attempt in six years by Texas HHS to award contracts for the Medicaid programs that encompass the vast majority of state health insurances low-income Texas recipients.

If it stands, it would mean a reduction in the number of MCOs that administer STAR and CHIP, a shift toward for-profit companies in most areas of the state, a smaller number of top-rated plans administering care, and the introduction of new national plans to regions historically served by local MCOs.

Among those who would be affected are a collective 700,000 families, pregnant women and children covered by Cook Childrens Health Plan in the states Tarrant service area, Texas Childrens Health Plan in the Harris region, and Driscoll Health Plan in South Texas, all which formed when the CHIP program was created two decades ago.

Why so many contractors

Texas Medicaid STAR and CHIP programs cover the cost of routine, acute and emergency medical visits. STAR is primarily for pregnant women, low-income children and their caretakers. CHIP provides health care to low-income children whose familys income is too high for Medicaid, which has some of the lowest income limits in the country. Their members compose the vast majority of Texans on state Medicaid programs.

HHS contracts with health plans to provide, arrange, and coordinate preventive, primary, acute care, behavioral health, non-emergency medical transportation, and pharmacy covered services for pregnant women, newborns, children, and parents with limited income.

The states privatized Medicaid program divides the state into 13 service areas, and multiple contracts are awarded for each service area so enrollees can have a choice of plans, as required by federal law.

Texas law allows three two-year renewals on the six-year Medicaid STAR and CHIP contracts, which are combined into a single service contract so that every MCO that gets a STAR contract also gets a CHIP contract. After the contracts have been in place 12 years, HHS must run a new procurement.

The last completed STAR/CHIP procurement was in 2012.

When the health plan companies submitted bids beginning in 2022, they included redacted Public Information Act versions, or PIA copies, of their proposals in their application packets. The PIA copies are required per state law that mandates such information be made available to the public.

Companies were advised from the start that they should not include information in the PIA copies that they do not want released to the public.

But the states request for proposals did not specify when that information might be released. Texas law does not say explicitly that the state may not release the proposals while the competitors are still being actively evaluated or before the awards are announced.

Attorney General Ken Paxton's office gave HHS the authority to withhold procurement documents in two rulings last year specifically on the STAR/CHIP procurement  once in June and once in October.

Paxton said the state has the right to withhold procurement-related documents while it was still open if a governmental body demonstrates that release of the information would harm its interests by providing an advantage to a competitor or bidder in a particular ongoing competitive situation.

Two months after the first ruling, in late August, HHS released thousands of pages of redacted bid proposals by the 18 health plans to Aetna, according to emails contained in this weeks court filing.The companies oral presentations  hours-long, in-person interviews and presentations that were scored alongside the proposals as part of the overall evaluations  werent scheduled to end until Oct. 13.

The redacted copies that were released to Aetna contained answers to a list of technical questions posed to bidders as well as written arguments for why each company believed they should get or keep a contract.

The bids include sensitive information including company business and marketing strategies or what innovations the bidder has made in dealing with provider shortages  any and all of which can be discussed during the oral presentations.

Shortly before the orals came to a close in October, Paxtons office issued the same ruling in response to a new inquiry by HHS. But a few days after the companies oral presentations were done, the agency released the redacted proposals to an attorney for the Houston-based Texas Childrens Health Plan.

Then in January, HHS attempted to claw them back from Aetna, TCHP and Health Management Associates, a health care consultancy and clearinghouse that routinely requests procurement records and also had received them in August.

Even without a state law regarding the timing of public information releases, the Texas Administrative Code instructs the state to provide for consistent and uniform management and procurement and contracting processes, in a fair consideration of proposals.

Scorned health plans argue that sending the competing bids, even the redacted ones, to a single competitor halfway through the procurement process runs counter to both of those ideas.

HHSCs disclosure to Aetna of its competitors proposals before the oral presentations and while the evaluation of proposals was ongoing destroyed any semblance of a level playing field and gave Aetna an unfair competitive advantage, Superior attorneys wrote in the companys protest.

Superior is taking HHS to court over the agencys refusal to release dozens of additional records Superior officials requested in March and April after the contracts were announced  including audio and video of the oral presentations, scoring notes and meeting minutes, the identity of the people on the scoring teams who made the decisions, internal communications regarding the evaluation process, and similar information.

Superior argues that because the state already announced who would win the contracts, the competition was over and the records could no longer affect the outcome.

HHS, meanwhile, has asked Paxton for yet another opinion, this time regarding Superiors request, arguing that the additional records would interfere with the negotiations, with potential litigation, or with the evaluation process should the procurement be canceled and the competitors forced to go through it again.

The current fight over public records in government contracts is not a new one to HHS. The agencys record of refusing or delaying release of public information related to Medicaid contracts triggered a lawsuit in November of last year.

Wellpoint, a long-standing contractor of HHS, sued the agency over the $10 billion STAR+PLUS program and what the company, formerly known as Amerigroup, described its lack of effective due process in procurement and barriers to information that is legally public.

Wellpoints lawsuit also claims that the agency has withheld documents even after the Texas Attorney General directed HHS to produce them.

The agency uses the states open records law as both a sword and shield - delaying bidders access to critical information and evidence, and then summarily dismissing protests without proper consideration or justification because the protester failed to provide the very evidence that HHSC itself is withholding, the lawsuit stated.

Disclosure: Amerigroup has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

Tickets are on sale now for the 2024 Texas Tribune Festival, happening in downtown Austin Sept. 5-7. Get your TribFest tickets before May 1 and save big!
tesco clubcard

In the final weeks of the year, social media becomes awash with posts from Spotify subscribers sharing their most listened-to songs, artists and music genres.

The streaming services marketing tool, Spotify Wrapped, has become a popular way for users to brag about their listening habits or mourn over how their account has been hijacked by their young children.

It has also proved to be a goldmine for data, allowing Spotify to connect advertisers with the right listeners.

The campaign has become so successful that it has spawned a slew of copycat versions, with Britains biggest supermarkets among those jumping on the bandwagon.

The trend, based on data from loyalty programmes such as Tescos Clubcard and Sainsburys Nectar, highlights efforts by supermarkets to tap into the cultural zeitgeist.

Yet it also exposes a deeper trend gripping retail. As supermarkets hunt for new sources of revenues in an age of rising costs and ever-narrowing margins, they have stumbled on one of their most valuable assets: data.

With ecommerce on the ascendance and ad spend moving ever further online, retailers are cashing in on a treasure trove of detailed customer information linked to loyalty cards. Now, a new form of advertisers has sprung up, and turned supermarkets into the new media behemoths in the process.

It is a very, very personalised, targeted method through which suppliers can market towards their shoppers, says David Sables, chief executive of Sentinel Management Consultants.

Not just that, but they can also find out the results of what their money achieved. Its an unbelievably useful, game-changing marketing tool.

Supermarkets have a long history of squeezing more money out of their suppliers through marketing.

Since the 1980s, many stores have charged so-called slotting fees that guarantee prominence on the shelves, while brands frequently pay for promotional displays that help their products stand out to shoppers.

Analysts say this commercial activity can make up as much as 10pc of profits for major supermarkets. In recent years, many retailers have looked to expand their footprint in media.

In November last year, Tesco revealed it had installed its 1,800th advertising screen across its store estate, up from just 400 last March. It has also become the first supermarket to introduce advertising on its handheld scanners.

Tesco has 1,800 advertising screens across 420 shops - Tesco

Sainsburys, meanwhile, is planning to double its in-store screens from 320 to more than 800, while Morrisons last week rolled out a new trolley advertising network across its stores.

In-store advertising has the benefit of promoting new product launches and deals to shoppers right at the point of sale. Yet it is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the opportunities lying in data-driven marketing.

Story continues

The concept is simple  with millions of regular customers, supermarkets are uniquely positioned to tap into a vast trove of data by tracking what shoppers buy and when they buy it.

This helps not only by building up a detailed picture of customer habits, but also allows supermarkets to offer this data up to third-party brands for advertising in-store or online.

Many observers point to Amazon as the pioneer of this media format. The US tech giant held a 54pc share of the digital retail media market last year, according to GoWit Technology.

More recently, the pandemic helped to accelerate the shift to ecommerce, while the looming death of web cookies, which help to track users across the internet and are crucial to online marketers, has placed a far greater importance on first-party data such as that held by retailers.

Over the last few years, UK supermarkets have begun to catch on.

Many retailers are battling increased logistics costs, excess inventory and a myriad of other cost pressures post-Covid, says Alex Walker, managing director of Havas Market UK. Retail media will be seen as a potential quick win.

At the heart of this are loyalty cards, which effectively push customers into handing over data in exchange for discounts. Other innovations, such as emailed receipts, also help to link shoppers to their purchases.

With more than 21 million customers on its Clubcard programme, Tesco is often seen as the trailblazer in this area.

Were brilliantly placed to give our customers a tailored shopping experience, meaning they can get the products they want, whenever and wherever they need them, says Nick Ashley, Tescos director of media and insight.

For our advertiser partners, it provides them with a powerful way to reach their customers more effectively in store, online and with our growing range of media partners.

In 2020, Sainsburys merged its loyalty programme with in-house marketing agency i2C to create Nectar 360. It expects incremental profits of 100m from this business in the three years to March 2027.

Meanwhile, the attraction for brands is clear. Unlike in other media formats, advertisers are able to target exactly who they want to speak to and then see what impact their campaign has had on their spending habits.

Sam Knights, chief executive of Shopper Media Group, which specialises in retail media, describes the format as the holy grail for brands.

They can see exactly who they want to talk to, they can reach them at all parts of their customer journey really efficiently, and then they can see what they went on to do, he says. This means they can understand the real return on investment.

Simon Roberts, Sainsburys chief executive, this week said brands could benefit from a much higher return on investment compared to traditional advertising because what youre doing is able to talk to a much more targeted group of customers.

Industry observers believe there is big money to be made. Goldman Sachs expects the UK retail media market to be worth 2bn this year, while industry body WARC says the format is already outpacing growth in social media ad spend.

Analysts also point out that retail media is currently largely restricted to consumer brands trying to target customers at the point of sale, leaving a huge untapped potential for other sectors.

For example, someones shopping habits may give an indication of when they are about to move house  information that could be valuable to an estate agent or mortgage broker.

Retail media is not without its drawbacks, though. First, the shifting media spend is likely to come at the expense of other forms of advertising, especially those that are less targeted.

Digital marketing group IAB predicts that retail media spend will overtake traditional TV spend across Europe by 2026.

Certainly I think you will see people moving money out of the sort of broader reach campaigns, where they couldnt tie the data together and understand the effectiveness, says Dan Larden, head of media at ad industry body ISBA.

Meanwhile, the rise of supermarkets as new data giants could pose a further threat to traditional advertising groups, which are already contending with the rise of social media behemoths such as Facebook and Google.

WPP chief executive Mark Read insists that retail media is a very strong growth opportunity as the ad group can advise its clients on how to make use of the data.

Analysts also warn that supermarkets risk alienating customers if they pursue media tactics too aggressively, especially when it comes to loyalty cards.

A lot of retail businesses have moved to a situation where youve got no choice but to opt in, says retail analyst Jonathan de Mello. Theres a danger that consumers will get bombarded by too much media on the back of providing their data.

Sables adds: Not everything that you see is being done smartly right now, but it is being done in a way that forces the shopper you literally cannot afford not to have those cards now.

This, in turn, could pose an issue for trust if customers feel supermarkets are simply pushing them products from the highest-bidding supplier.

Ad executives point out that this is no different from what shoppers have been doing for decades with in-store promotions, while they argue that retail brands are far more trusted by consumers than many other data-hungry advertisers.

After years of gathering data from their customers, supermarkets have opened the floodgates to a wave of retail advertising, and the new generation of Mad Men is ready to cash in.

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.
Telecom giant AT&T (NYSE: T) slightly missed expectations for revenue and earnings when it reported its first-quarter results on Wednesday, but those headline figures don't tell the whole story. AT&T continued to win new wireless subscribers while keeping churn at record-low levels, and its broadband business impressed.

AT&T produced $3.1 billion in free cash flow during Q1, and it maintained its guidance calling for between $17 billion and $18 billion in free cash flow for the full year. With the stock trading for less than 7 times the midpoint of that range, investors are getting an incredible bargain.

Wireless momentum

While overall mobility revenue was flat in the first quarter, a drop in equipment revenue was entirely to blame. Mobility services revenue jumped 3.3% year over year, driven by AT&T's solid subscriber gains and rising revenue per user.

AT&T reported 349,000 net postpaid phone additions in the first quarter, while postpaid churn dropped to a record-low 0.72%. The company now has 71.6 million postpaid phone subscribers, and each of them on average spends $55.57 per month. Average revenue per user edged up 0.9% year over year in Q1.

AT&T's results are in stark contrast to those of Verizon. Verizon reported a net decline of 158,000 consumer postpaid phone subscribers in Q1. Verizon has lost subscribers in four of the past five quarters.

For the full year, AT&T expects to grow wireless service revenue by about 3%.

A two-pronged approach to broadband

AT&T's legacy wireline business is in perpetual decline. While AT&T is struggling to offset this declining revenue among business customers, the company is having much more success on the consumer side.

Consumer wireline revenue was $3.4 billion in Q1, up from $3.2 billion in the prior-year period. Within that total, broadband services generated $2.7 billion in revenue, up 7.7% year over year.

Demand for AT&T's legacy broadband services is shrinking, but the company's fiber internet service is picking up the slack. Fiber revenue grew by 19.5% in Q1 as AT&T added 252,000 net subscribers. Fiber now accounts for the majority of AT&T's consumer broadband revenue.

AT&T is also having no trouble boosting prices. The average revenue per user for the consumer fiber business rose 4.1% to $68.61, and the intake ARPU is now above $70.

Beyond fiber, AT&T has been dipping its toes into the fixed wireless business with its Internet Air service. Other telecom giants are betting more heavily on using their 5G networks to deliver home internet, while AT&T is using the service as a way to fill in gaps in its fiber network. Internet Air added 110,000 subscribers in Q1, a solid result for a business that was launched in select areas in August of last year.

Story continues

Way too much pessimism

AT&T's results in both its wireless and broadband businesses will ebb and flow along with the economy. The company also has a debt-heavy balance sheet, which may be giving some investors pause. However, the stock appears priced for catastrophe, which doesn't make much sense to me.

AT&T's dividend is also appealing, in addition to being sustainable. The stock currently yields about 6.6%, and the dividend will consume just 46% of free cash flow this year based on the midpoint of the company's guidance. That leaves plenty left over for debt reduction.

AT&T stock has jumped 25% from its 52-week low,but there's plenty of additional upside if the company can keep putting up solid results.

Should you invest $1,000 in AT&T right now?

Before you buy stock in AT&T, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and AT&T wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $506,291!*

Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*.

See the 10 stocks 

*Stock Advisor returns as of April 22, 2024

Timothy Green has positions in AT&T. The Motley Fool recommends Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

It's Time to Buy AT&T Stock Hand Over Fist was originally published by The Motley Fool
The Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject for 2024 were released earlier in April. Partnering with the global academic publishing giant, Elsevier, the QS rankings feature 55 individual subjects across five broad subject areas, namely (i) arts and humanities; (ii) engineering and technology; (iii) life sciences and medicine; (iv) natural sciences; and (v) social sciences and management. Their ranking criteria include scores out of 100 on the following parametersacademic reputation, employer reputation, facultystudent ratio, citations per faculty, international faculty ratio, international students ratio, three newly introduced metrics of the international research network, employment outcomes, and sustainability.

Needless to say, universities from the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) dominated the top spots in the 2024 QS rankings, with notable exceptions of ETH Zurich, the National University of Singapore, and the University of Melbourne finding a place in the top 15 universities. However, the performance of Indian universities has considerably improved in these rankings, with 69 Indian universities featuring in the QS rankings by subject with 424 entries, an improvement of 19.4% from 2023. India has also become the fourth-largest contributor to global research output. This positions India just after China, followed by the US and the UK. Moreover, the eight public and four private Institutes of Eminence (IoE) accounted for a significant 40% of Indias total contributions to these rankings, totalling 180 entries.

There are several key takeaways from the 2024 QS world university rankings, particularly for assessing the state of Indian higher education in particular and global higher education in general. India secured a place among 44 out of the 55 subjects mentioned in the rankings, with the majority of its top institutions being public universities. For example, Jawaharlal Nehru University, incidentally the highest-ranked Indian institution in the subject-wise QS rankings, was placed 20th in the subject of development studies, while the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad secured the 22nd rank in the subject of business and management studies, the Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences ranking 24th in the subject of dentistry, and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras ranking 29th in the subject of petroleum engineering. Moreover, the University of Delhi (30), IIT Bombay (28), and IIT Kharagpur (27) contributed the highest number of entries in the QS subject-wise rankings.

These rankings vindicate the unique position held by public universities in India, which have attempted to excel in research output and excellence apart from serving the social purpose of inclusivity and justice. Although private universities are increasingly mushrooming in India over the last three decades, it is notable that it is Indias public universities that yield better results in the global rankings than their private counterparts in most subject areas. This is in contrast to the trajectory of higher education in the global North countries like the US and the UK, whose highest-ranked universities in the QS rankings are private institutions.

While this shows that private universities tend to perform better in terms of securing the top spots in the global (and especially, global North) context, in India, the top spots have been consistently held by public universities across the majority of the subjects. This is true even for the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), which is coordinated by the Ministry of Education. The top 10 spots in the 2023 NIRF rankings only consist of public universities, with IIT Madras at the top. Both the QS and NIRF rankings demonstrate that the union government and policymakers alike must keep Indias public universities at the centre of their higher education infrastructure to achieve the harmonious aims of research excellence and social inclusivity.

It is in this context that one may compare the parameters of the QS and the NIRF rankings as well. The NIRF rankings consider five parameters to calculate the overall score of a university, namely (i) teaching, learning, and resources; (ii) research and professional practice; (iii) graduation outcomes; (iv) outreach and inclusivity; and (v) peer perception, which includes academic peers and potential employers. What is noteworthy in this comparison is that the QS rankings do not pay adequate attention to the concern of inclusivity and diversity as part of their assessment parameters. However, the NIRF rankings hold the concern of inclusivity to be one of the main pillars of institutional performance, where the percentage of students from other states/countries, percentage of women, economically and socially challenged students, and physically challenged students are assessed to measure the extent of inclusivity maintained by a particular university. However, it is also worth pointing out that the NIRFs parameter of inclusivity does not explicitly consider exclusion based on caste and religion, which continues to be a persistent problem for a large majority of Indian students aspiring for decent opportunities in the higher education sector.

Thus, while there may be much to celebrate in Indias rising performance in the global university rankings, it is important to highlight that these rankings are not indicative of the unique problems and struggles faced by a country like India and other global South nations in terms of developing their higher education sector. The global university rankings are more inclined to place tremendously resource-rich universities in the global North at the top with little regard for the concerns of social inclusion and justice. However, Indian universities cannot and ought not unthinkingly imitate top-ranked universities in the global North in giving up their commitments towards social inclusion and justice, as highlighted in the NIRF rankings as well. For instance, the nature, extent, and implications of the affirmative action policy followed in Indian higher educational institutions might not be assessed or reflected in the results of the global rankings. However, they are an essential mode of ensuring social inclusion and equal opportunities to a large population of students and teachers in India, which is as important as ensuring research excellence and output.

Moreover, the National Education Policy 2020 recommended that the union government ought to spend at least 6% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on education. However, the 2024 interim budget saw a 16% cut in the allocation for the higher education sector. Without a conducive environment for Indian students and teachers in higher educational institutions in terms of certain material guarantees like adequate and timely stipends and scholarships, research and travel grants, world-class library and hostel facilities, and appropriate social justice policies and institutional protections in the form of equal opportunity and anti-sexual harassment cells, Indian higher educational institutions cannot yield the kind of research excellence that is expected of them. Thus, our main takeaway from the annual global and Indian university rankings should be that we need an unyielding commitment towards matching the recommended 6% allocation of the GDP to education and strengthening the public university infrastructure in India.
The United Auto Workers union announced it reached a last-minute tentative agreement with truck and bus manufacturer Daimler Truck, averting a potential strike of more than 7,000 workers.

The union struck a four-year agreement with the German company on Friday evening, just before the expiration of the previous contract, which was enacted six years ago. It covers workers at various plants in North Carolina  where Daimler makes Thomas Built Buses, Freightliner and Western Star trucks  as well as distribution centers in Atlanta and Memphis, Tennessee.

In an online speech, UAW President Shawn Fain said the new contract includes wage increases of more than 25% over the next four years, including a 10% raise after the deal is ratified. Fain said the deal also includes the end of wage tiers at the company, as well as cost-of-living adjustments and profit sharing for the first time in Daimler history.

When that deadline came closer, the company was suddenly ready to talk, Fain said. So tonight, we celebrate.

Union members still need to approve the agreement.

The UAW members at these locations will now be asked to vote on the new contracts, and we hope to finalize them soon, for the mutual benefit of all parties, Daimler said in a statement. The heavy-duty manufacturer was once the same company as Mercedes-Benz before it split off in 2021.

The Daimler deal comes amid a broad campaign by the UAW to organize southern auto assembly plants following lucrative new contracts in a confrontation with Detroits automakers. Last week, 73% of those voting at a Volkswagen AG plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, chose to join the UAW. It was the unions first in a southern assembly plant owned by a foreign automaker.

Workers at Mercedes factories in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, will vote on UAW representation in May. However, UAWs efforts have sparked pushback from Republican governors and business leaders in the South.
April has not been kind to the broader stock market this year, with the S&P 500 down 5.5% between April 1 and April 19. Granted, the index is still up on the year, but with many stocks still trading at high multiples, some investors may be concerned about further downward pressure.

If you're worried about a stock market sell-off, you may not exactly be looking at what stocks to buy. After all, isn't that counterintuitive?

However, stock market corrections, and especially bear markets, have historically been phenomenal buying opportunities for patient investors. Here's why Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) is an excellent blue chip stock to buy now, even if the market continues selling off.

Image source: Getty Images.

A not-so-magnificent year for Apple stock

Apple is part of the "Magnificent Seven," a term coined by Bank of America analyst Michael Hartnett to describe Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and Tesla.

While most of the Magnificent Seven (especially Nvidia and Meta) have done well so far this year, Apple is within just a couple of percentage points of its 52-week low and is down over 14% year to date. Apple has underperformed for a long period, especially relative to the rest of the tech sector.

Apple is the perfect value play

Apple's underperformance hasn't been ideal for investors, but it does look good if the broader market continues selling off.

During periods of market expansion, investors tend to be more forward-looking and reward companies with an attractive growth trajectory. But during a correction, investors can get defensive and look for companies that can put up solid earnings right now, pay dividends, and have a reasonable valuation.

Apple's growth has slowed, and it has yet to make a splash in artificial intelligence (AI) -- although future iPhones may increasingly rely on AI chips. But what Apple has going for it is a reasonable valuation -- with a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.7 compared to 27 for the S&P 500.

The quality of Apple's earnings is also relatively high. There's no denying that Apple relies on healthy consumer spending for product upgrades and increased service sales. However, its business has a high floor in that economic growth could slow or there could even be a recession, and Apple would probably not face nearly as severe of a downturn in its performance as more cyclical companies like Nvidia or Tesla.

So it's not just Apple's valuation based on its trailing earnings that makes it a good value, but the nature of the business model and Apple's ability to deliver results throughout the economic cycle.

Story continues

Apple also has a massive capital return program. Over the past five fiscal years, it has spent a staggering $391.5 billion on buybacks and $72.5 billion on dividends.

Metric Fiscal 2019 Fiscal 2020 Fiscal 2021 Fiscal 2022 Fiscal 2023 Stock Buybacks $66.1 billion $72.4 billion $86 billion $89.4 billion $77.6 billion Total Dividends Paid $14.1 billion $14.1 billion $14.5 billion $14.8 billion $15 billion

Data Source: YCharts.

Apple's buyback program provides a nice cushion if the stock falls. Apple has the cash to step in and buy its stock, thereby reducing the share count and giving existing shareholders greater ownership of the company.

The dividend is an additional incentive to hold the stock through volatile periods. Granted, it only yields 0.6%, but it's still a massive capital commitment for Apple to its shareholders.

Apple is sitting on a stockpile of cash

Another attribute that gives Apple an extra layer of insulation from unforeseen challenges is its financial health.

AAPL Net Total Long Term Debt (Quarterly) Chart

Apple doesn't rely on leverage to operate its business. It also has a massive stash of cash, equivalents, and current and non-current marketable securities.

As of the first quarter of fiscal 2024, Apple's trove of these assets was $172.6 billion, while its term debt was $106 billion. Therefore, Apple's true "cash position" is even better than its leverage ratios would indicate.

Investing through periods of volatility

Apple has the brand, industry-leading position, valuation, capital return program, and balance sheet to provide the fundamentals needed to cushion the stock during a downturn. That's not to say that Apple is impervious to downturns, but it does have more of a value bent than other Magnificent Seven stocks.

Now would be a good time to take a moment to make sure you are confident in your portfolio to endure volatility, as well as make a list of companies that you like and could confidently buy even when asset prices are falling all around you.

The ability to not just hold stocks but continue to put new capital into the market opens the door to compound wealth over time. Apple's rock-solid fundamentals make it the perfect stock to buy now, especially if the market continues to sell off.

Should you invest $1,000 in Apple right now?

Before you buy stock in Apple, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Apple wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $506,291!*

Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*.

See the 10 stocks 

*Stock Advisor returns as of April 22, 2024

Bank of America is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. 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. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Daniel Foelber has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Bank of America, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla. 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.

Worried About a Stock Market Sell-Off? Buy This "Magnificent Seven" Stock was originally published by The Motley Fool
Key Insights

YTL Corporation Berhad's estimated fair value is RM6.06 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Current share price of RM3.03 suggests YTL Corporation Berhad is potentially 50% undervalued

Our fair value estimate is 111% higher than YTL Corporation Berhad's analyst price target of RM2.87

Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of YTL Corporation Berhad (KLSE:YTL) as an investment opportunity by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow.

We 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.

Check out our latest analysis for YTL Corporation Berhad

Crunching The Numbers

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we 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 (MYR, Millions) RM3.97b RM6.00b RM5.02b RM4.50b RM4.22b RM4.08b RM4.03b RM4.04b RM4.09b RM4.17b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x1 Analyst x2 Est @ -10.39% Est @ -6.21% Est @ -3.29% Est @ -1.24% Est @ 0.19% Est @ 1.20% Est @ 1.90% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 8.6% RM3.7k RM5.1k RM3.9k RM3.2k RM2.8k RM2.5k RM2.3k RM2.1k RM1.9k RM1.8k

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM29b

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 3.5%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 8.6%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = RM4.2b (1 + 3.5%)  (8.6% 3.5%) = RM85b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM85b ( 1 + 8.6%)10= RM37b

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 RM66b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of RM3.0, the company appears quite undervalued at a 50% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

dcf

Important Assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at YTL Corporation Berhad as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 8.6%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.800. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

SWOT Analysis for YTL Corporation Berhad

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Interest payments on debt are not well covered.

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Integrated Utilities market.

Opportunity

Annual revenue is forecast to grow faster than the Malaysian market.

Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value.

Threat

Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow.

Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the Malaysian market.

Looking Ahead:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. 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. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For YTL Corporation Berhad, we've put together three relevant items you should look at:

Risks: For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for YTL Corporation Berhad that you should be aware of before investing here. Future Earnings: How does YTL's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!

PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the KLSE 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.
About a year and a half ago, Fredericksburg police responded to an accident at one of the citys apartment complexes in which an 8-year-old boy ran in front of a car and was struck.

City police chief Brian Layton said the first responding officer spoke Spanish and was able to communicate with the boy. But he couldnt save the child, who died in the officers arms.

It was a horrific scene, Layton said. Thats the kind of thing that stays with you for a lifetime.

In previous times, the responding officers would have had to simply suck it up and move on to the next assignment. But thanks in part to a $174,000 federal grant the city and other members of the Rappahannock Regional Justice Academy received in 2022, that officer and about 800 others have been able to receive mental health training and counseling, Layton said.

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, who was instrumental in securing the grant, was at the academy Friday for a visit that lasted a little over an hour and featured a roundtable discussion regarding mental health for first responders. Warner was joined by representatives of multiple law enforcement agencies, local supervisors and City Council members, state Dels. Joshua Cole and Paul Milde and state Sen. Tara Durant.

Warner heard a couple of success stories, vowed to continue his support for mental health resources and sought ideas about how to improve on the current progress. The challenges facing law enforcement officers, especially over the last three or four years, have been extraordinarily challenging, Warner said. These are the people who see some of the most traumatic situations in peoples lives, and we cant overlook the impact that can have on their mental well-being.

Layton said first responders who receive training at the academy now receive trauma and resilience workshops aimed at preparing them to better deal with some of the things theyll see on the job. But the roundtable attendees agreed that it is a little more difficult to get some of the more seasoned responders to buy in.

The struggle is with the veterans, said Capt. Chad McKnight of the Culpeper Sheriffs Office, who said he is nearing the end of his career. We were taught just to suck it up, but (mental health awareness) is something I should have paid more attention to early on.

Maj. Jason Dembowski of the Stafford Sheriffs Office agreed that it is especially difficult for older law enforcement personnel to seek mental health help for fear of being stigmatized. He said the grant that is currently being utilized gives us a way to change the culture.

The discussion also touched upon such issues as recruiting and retaining first responders, especially when it comes to pay. Maj. Timothy Moore, who lives in Spotsylvania but works for the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority, said I cant afford to work where I live and I cant afford to live where I work.

The $174,000 grant expires in October. Warner said he will do all he can to make sure another grant is available by then.
One year and one day after he resigned from the Fremont Police Department, former Fremont police officer Payton L. Boston was sentenced to 18 months of probation after he was found guilty of third degree assault by a Dodge County judge following a plea deal.

Boston, 32, who now resides in Council Bluffs, Iowa, was sentenced on Thursday, April 25, by Dodge County Judge Thomas J. Klein to the 18 months of probation, which Klein ruled could be served in the state of Iowa.

Klein ordered Boston to undergo drug testing as well as to undertake a domestic violence offender screening assessment. He was also ordered to pay $450 in fees.

According to records maintained by the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Centers Crime Commission, Boston has not had his law enforcement license or certifications revoked as of April 26 and he is still able to be employed as a law enforcement officer.

The Thursday sentencing ends the more than year-long legal troubles Boston has been embroiled in after he resigned from the FPD on April 24, 2023, following his arrest for DUI in Iowa on April 2, 2023, near his Iowa hometown of Missouri Valley, which is about 20 miles east of Blair.

Boston plead no contest to a misdemeanor charge of third degree assault on Monday, Jan. 22, in Dodge County Court, and was found guilty by County Judge Thomas J. Klein. He could have been sentenced to up to one year in county jail, fined up to $1,000, or a combination of both punishments.

In August, Boston pleaded not guilty to the three charges he originally faced following an investigation by the Nebraska State Patrol. He was officially charged on July 11, 2023, with three Class I misdemeanor charges: suspicion of third degree domestic assault, and two separate counts of suspicion of child abuse.

As part of a plea deal with state prosecutors, the two separate counts of suspicion of child abuse were dismissed and the third degree domestic assault was dismissed in exchange for Boston pleading no contest to third degree assault, also a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Bostons original charges stemmed from an alleged incident that Nebraska State Patrol investigators claim happened at 2 p.m., June 16, 2023, inside a private residence in Fremont. He was accused of allegedly threatening an intimate partner in a menacing manner, with the alleged victim a 33-year-old woman.

The other charges against Boston that were dismissed as part of the plea deal were related to the same alleged incident. NSP officials claimed Boston had allegedly negligently caused or permitted two different minor children to be placed in a situation that endangered their lives or physical or mental health and did not result in serious bodily injury. The alleged victims were a 7-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl.

The Tribune does not name victims of domestic violence or child abuse.

Because Boston is a former Fremont officer, who at times possibly dealt with prosecutors from the Dodge County Attorney Office, a Lincoln-based State of Nebraska prosecutor was appointed to the case.

Bostons legal woes began the night of April 2, 2023, when he was arrested in Missouri Valley on suspicion of DUI and booked into the Harrison County, Iowa, jail. On April 24, he tendered his resignation to the Fremont Police Chief Jeff Elliott.

On July 12, 2023, Boston pleaded guilty to the DUI, first offense, charge  a serious misdemeanor in Iowa  and was sentenced by Iowa District 4 Court Judge Amy Zacharias to a suspended two-day county jail sentence on the condition of participation in the Iowa Second Chances program.

As part of his sentence, Boston was required to complete the Second Chances program, which requires a total of 48 hours of in-house substance abuse treatment on weekends. The substance abuse counseling is done in 12-hour increments over four weekend visits normally. He was ordered by Zacharias to complete the program no later than Aug. 25, 2023.
NEW YORK  Even by Donald Trump's standards, this past week was a dizzying one.

The first criminal prosecution of a former president began in earnest with opening statements and testimony in a lower Manhattan courtroom. The action quickly spread to involve more than half a dozen cases in four states and the nation's capital.

Twice during the week, lawyers for Trump simultaneously appeared in different courtrooms.

The collision of so many cases within a five-day span underscores the challenges Trump will face as he campaigns again for the White House while his legal matters intensify. While the presumptive Republican nominee sought to talk about the economy and other issues, court developments across the country repeatedly overshadowed his intended message.

Here's how the week broke down and what's ahead:

Monday

The week began with a moment for the history books, with prosecutors for the first time presenting a jury with a criminal case against a former American president.

In opening statements, prosecutors told jurors that hush money payments made to an adult film actor were "a criminal scheme to corrupt the 2016 presidential election" while Trump's lawyers argued the case is baseless. Testimony then began with former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker giving the public the most tangible look yet at the allegations.

It also gave the clearest picture yet of Trump's defense and how he is blending his roles as candidate and criminal defendant. Trump started and ended the day appearing before reporters at the courthouse, complaining he is required to be there and commenting on how cold it is in the courtroom or remarks on unrelated national news.

In a separate but nearby courthouse, one of Trump's lawyers struck a deal with New York state lawyers over a $175 million bond that Trump posted to pause a large civil fraud judgment he's appealing in a separate case.

Tuesday

Trump returned to court where prosecutors urged the judge to hold Trump in contempt for social media posts they said violated a gag order that bars him from attacking witnesses, jurors and others involved.

The judge did not immediately rule on the request but seemed skeptical of defense arguments that Trump was just responding to others' attacks.

Pecker, a longtime Trump friend, testified the rest of the day and said he pledged to help suppress harmful stories about Trump during the 2016 election.

Wednesday

Trial proceedings were not scheduled for Wednesday, so Trump didn't trek to the Manhattan courthouse.

More court documents were unsealed in Florida in another criminal case in which federal prosecutors charged Trump and two of his employees with mishandling classified documents after he left the White House. Though the case seems unlikely to reach trial this year, the documents show, among other things, the warnings that Trump received from associates to return the sensitive files he later was charged with possessing.

In Arizona, the state's attorney general indicted 18 of Trump's associates for their roles in an effort to overturn Trump's loss in that state to Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 election. The Arizona case referred to Trump as an unindicted co-conspirator.

In a similar case in Michigan, a state investigator testified that he considers Trump to be an uncharged co-conspirator in that state's case against fake electors.

Thursday

Trump's hush money case in New York state court resumed Thursday. Prosecutors began the day by arguing before the judge that Trump again violated the gag order with social media posts and comments he made at a campaign stop in the city.

New York state Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan did not yet rule on whether to hold Trump in contempt.

Pecker later resumed testimony. Boris Epshteyn, a longtime Trump aide who was among the 18 charged in Arizona the prior day, listened in the courtroom.

At the same time in Washington, the U.S. Supreme Court weighed whether Trump can be prosecuted over his efforts to undo his loss to Biden. The justices in their questions seemed skeptical of Trump's claims of absolute immunity from prosecution, but a few seemed to signal they had reservations about the charges, and that could result in a delay in that trial beyond November's election.

In New York federal court, a judge rejected Trump's request for a new trial in a defamation case in which he was ordered to pay $83.3 million to an advice columnist for his social media attacks over her claims that he sexually assaulted her.

Friday

The hush money trial continued in New York on Friday, with Pecker wrapping up testimony and Trump's lawyers seeking to discredit him.

Two other witnesses, Trump's longtime executive assistant Rhona Graff and Gary Farro, a banker for former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, testified. Epshteyn again was in the courtroom.

This coming week

The New York hush money case is not expected to resume until Tuesday because of a long-scheduled day off Monday. Testimony is expected to continue Thursday and Friday, giving Trump a chance to make campaign stops in Michigan and Wisconsin on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the judge scheduled a morning hearing on prosecutors' most recent push to punish Trump over the gag order.

In the Arizona case, details could emerge about the charges against Trump's chief of staff Mark Meadows and former lawyer Rudy Giuliani.

Sixteen of the 18 people indicted by a grand jury there were charged with conspiracy, fraud and forgery for their role in submitting a false slate of electors to Congress. The state attorney general had yet to confirm charges against the two remaining defendants. The indictment makes clear, based on their statements and positions, that they are Giuliani and Meadows, but the charges against them are still redacted.

Where each Trump case stands Classified documents case Election interference Hush-money scheme Georgia election indictment Arizona election indictment Civil cases
You have permission to edit this article.

Edit Close
Twenty Years Ago This Week: In a twist of fate that surprised political pundits, U.S. Senate candidate Mike Miles defeated state Attorney General Ken Salazar at the Colorado Democratic Assembly to gain the coveted top-line ballot position in the primary election. Even the candidates themselves seamed stunned as the results were announced.
Muck & Fuss has been ranked among the best restaurants in New Braunfels. Mike Sutter /Staff

Two acres of vacant land facing Loop 1604 near Rogers Ranch are now under the control of the restaurateur behind the popular Muck & Fuss gourmet burger joint and biergarten in New Braunfels.

A newly created company named M&F#2, managed by Muck & Fuss owner Terry Muckenfuss, bought the property in late February, Bexar County deed records show. It is beside a location of the Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union just east of the crossing of Loop 1604 and Bitters Road.

The companys name hints that the site might be intended as a second location for Muck & Fuss. The restaurant didnt respond to a phone call or Facebook messages seeking comment.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

ALSO READ: Global investment firm hooks Bass Pro Shops property at The Rim shopping center

Muck & Fuss has gained a strong following since opening in 2018 beside the Prince Solms Inn, which is also owned by Muckenfuss. Also that year, he opened the Sidecar cocktail bar in the inns basement.

In 2022 and last year, Express-News food critic Mike Sutter ranked Muck & Fuss eighth among the 10 best restaurants in New Braunfels, praising it for its high-quality ingredients, creative appetizers and wide selection of craft beer.

On Muckenfuss LinkedIn page, he also identifies himself as the owner of Golden Corral restaurants in New Braunfels and San Antonio. He and his wife, Celina, bought the Prince Solms in 2017; in a 2019 interview with VoyageDallas, he described it as the oldest continuously operating inn in Texas.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
Colorado lawmakers will hold a conference committee  a panel composed of House and Senate members  to try and resolve differences over a bill that seeks to penalize gun owners who leave their firearms unattended in a vehicle unless it is securely stored in a container and out of view.

The matter of disagreement between House and Senate members is an amendment  proposed by Sen. Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco  that would add language to House Bill 1348 to classify the theft of firearms valued at less than $2,000 as a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Class 1 misdemeanors entail a penalty of up to 364 days in jail or a fine of up to $1,000.

The language in the amendment closely mirrors that of House Bill 1162, which earlier died in the House Judiciary Committee. That bill aimed to classify the theft of a firearm valued at less than $1,000 as a Class 2 misdemeanor.

Under the underlying bill, the "unsafe storage" of a handgun is a civil infraction that carries a maximum fine of $500.

In the Senate, Roberts acknowledged that the policy proposed in HB 1348 "makes sense at the theoretical level," but he expressed worries that it would potentially punish crime victims.

"I have a conceptual issue with this bill in that the bill seeks to impose a civil infraction on those who are the victims of crime," he said. "We have a situation in Colorado, if this bill is passed, where somebody who has their car broken into and has an item of personal property taken from them could be punished more severely than the person who breaks into the car and steals the firearm."

The Senate's bill's sponsors support the amendment and forwarded the amended measure to other chamber for concurrence. However, House sponsors are less receptive, accusing the Senate of seeking "revenge" for the legislation that died in committee by incorporating its language into HB 1348.

sponsor Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Denver, argued that the amendment did not fit under HB 1348's title because the bill is about the storage of firearms in vehicles  not theft. She suggested that the amendment's introduction was an attempt at "revenge" on the Senate's behalf, a statement that drew a reprimand from House Speaker Julie McCluskie. Garcia contended that she was quoting a newspaper in her insinuation, though it is not unclear which specific article she was referencing.

Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, who chairs the Judiciary Committee, where the bill was initially heard, said firearm theft was never a topic of discussion during the bill's committee hearing and agreed that it did not align with the bill's title.

"I am calling foul on what happened in the Senate," Weissman said. "What the Senate did was essentially engraft another bill into this bill in a way that is way broader than the title, way broader than the conversation ever was in Judiciary Committee."

House Bill 1162 and the amendment in question do nothing to get guns off the streets and would would not make communities safer, argued Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver.

"All this would have done is get young people more entangled in the criminal justice system. After 50 years of the United States locking up more people than any other country on Earth, I believe we should know better. Our voters understand that what we're doing  over-criminalizing people  is not working," he said.

Featured Local Savings

Assistant Majority Leader Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver, voiced worries about the potential precedent of incorporating a dead bill into another measure.

"If that's something that we're gonna approve here, are we gonna do that all the time?" she asked. "If there's a bill that I have that didn't pass, can I just put it in yours? Because that's kind of what happened here. If we're opening that door, I've got a lot of amendments for a lot of peoples' bills."

Republicans and moderate Democrats argued that the amendment is relevant to the bill's title, as a significant number of of stolen firearms are stolen from vehicles.

Rep. Ryan Armagost, R-Berthoud, who sponsored HB 1162 and emphasized that he was not "in cahoots" with Roberts in bringing forth the amendment, maintained that it is, in fact, relevant to HB 1348.

"When you have a safe or secure storage of a firearm in a vehicle in a box, that box is still able to be stolen with the firearm inside," he argued.

The amendment passed through the Senate without any objections that it didn't fit under the bill's title, noted Rep. Matt Soper, R-Delta.

Armagost's co-sponsor on HB 1162, Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Colorado Springs, argued that advocacy groups, such as Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety, have stated that the No. 1 way to curb firearm-related crime is by eliminating the theft of illegal firearms.

He contended that bolstering the penalty for such theft would act as a deterrent for potential criminals.

"We have an opportunity to make some positive changes here in reducing gun violence in Colorado," he said.

His colleague, Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, agreed and argued for concurrence with the Senate amendment.

"Anything that we can do to prevent additional commission of violent crimes is a good thing, and the laws that we pass regulating guns should be laws that are effective to keeping us safer and making sure that we are doing everything we can to prevent those precedents to violent crimes is a good thing for public safety," she said.

The House ultimately voted not to concur with the Senate Amendment on a vote of 34-27. All Republicans and 11 Democrats voted in favor of concurrence.

It's unclear when the conference committee will occur. It will be chaired by the bill's sponsors and Rep. Armagost in the House. The committee chairs from the Senate are uncertain, as two Democrats and one Republican are required to sit on the committee, but the bill's sponsors and the amendment sponsor are all Democrats.
Editor's note: This article has been updated with additional statements from the plaintiff regarding his experience in the jail.

A Colorado Springs man is suing his public defender and the El Paso County sheriff, claiming he was falsely imprisoned for a crime he did not commit, though he ultimately pleaded guilty.

Tyrin Gill filed a lawsuit in 4th District Court on Feb. 21, claiming false imprisonment, first-degree kidnapping, first-degree official misconduct, and human trafficking and slavery. El Paso County Sheriff Joe Roybal and Jackson Strain, Gills former public defender who, according to his LinkedIn webpage, works for the Colorado State Public Defenders Office, are named as defendants.

In an interview with The Gazette on Thursday, Gill claimed local law enforcement officials kidnapped him when they arrested him at his apartment building on Oct. 13 and then falsely imprisoned him at the El Paso County jail until Feb. 20.

Gill said on Oct. 13 he left his apartment off Stetson Hills Boulevard on Colorado Springs east side, intending to walk to a nearby grocery store, when several law enforcement officials ambushed and arrested him in the stairwell of the apartment building.

The officials told him they were arresting him because he failed to register as a sexual offender, Gill said.

I said, You have the wrong guy. Ive never been accused of such a thing, nor is it in my record, he said.

As they placed him in the back of a patrol car, Gill said when he asked to see a warrant for his arrest one of the law enforcement officials pulled up a computer screen I could barely see and suggested I consider that a warrant.

Gill said he was charged with invasion of privacy, a misdemeanor, and held at the El Paso County jail until mid-February.

Court documents he shared with The Gazette show he was accused of, and later pleaded guilty to, unlawfully and knowingly observing or photographing the intimate parts of J.C., without the victims consent, in a situation where the victim had a reasonable expectation of privacy on or around April 1, 2023.

Featured Local Savings

He said while jailed he repeatedly told his attorney, Strain, he was innocent of the crime and should be released from the jail. Gill could not post his $15,000 bond.

His public defender, Strain, eventually came to him with a guilty plea and said if Gill signed it, he would receive 120 days of time served, Gill said.

My public defender wasnt giving me advice, Gill said.

He also felt his life was in danger at the jail, due to the nature of the crime he was charged with, Gill said.

Neither El Paso County nor the El Paso County Sheriffs Office provided comment, citing the pending litigation. The Colorado State Public Defenders Office did not immediately return a call seeking comment Friday.

As of 3:15 p.m. Friday, neither Roybal nor Strain had filed any answers to Gills Feb. 21 complaint, court records show.

Gill said he pleaded guilty to invasion of privacy so he could leave the jail, though he maintains his innocence.

He said he lost his apartment during the time he was jailed and was not able to continue online college courses he was taking before his arrest. He is now homeless, he said.

They cost me time; they cost me property and freedom; and reputational, psychological, vocational and financial stress, Gill said.

He seeks $25,000 in restitution.
The arrest affidavit of the man facing charges for the death of Jason Bales details a history of violent interactions and domestic disputes leading up to the deadly shooting.

According to arrest records obtained by The Gazette, Michael Darby, 29, was arrested on April 23 for his alleged part in shooting and killing 55-year-old Bales the week prior.

On the evening of April 18, officers with the Colorado Springs Police Department received multiple reports of shots fired in the 4200 block of Sinton Road in Colorado Springs.

Police on the scene observed a green Dodge Magnum crashed into a concrete jersey barrier along the roadway and discovered Bales who had received multiple gunshot wounds to his torso and his arm. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he later died of his injuries, officials said.

Detectives with CSPDs homicide unit arrived and assumed the lead in the investigation. Investigators discovered 10 bullet casings surrounding the scene, and one inside the jacket of Bales. Additionally, multiple bullet defects, were observed on the exterior of the vehicle surrounding the driver's side window and door.

Court records state detectives obtained a witness statement from a man who heard the shooting, observed the alleged suspect fleeing the scene, and contacted the police dispatch center.

The eyewitness said he was sleeping inside the cab of a semitrailer on the property awaiting an early morning shipment when he was wakened by several gunshots.

The witness told police following the gunshots, he observed a black SUV backing up along Sinton Road, and a man jogging along a dirt path on the east side of the jersey barrier, adjacent to the roadway.

(The witness) stated that the male party then jumped over the jersey barrier and got into the passenger side of the black SUV that had been backing along Sinton Road, arrest records state.

According to arrest records, investigators soon discovered the victims vehicle to have been registered to Kathleen Murphy of Colorado Springs. Further investigative efforts unveiled Murphy and Bales to both be involved in two open CSPD domestic violence cases in the months leading up the Bales death.

Domestic violence reports

On Feb. 3, police received reports of a domestic disturbance at a hotel room at 3402 Sinton Road. Murphy told police and fire personnel on the scene she believed the man she was staying with, identified as Bales, had been intentionally administering her too much medication in an attempt to kill her, records state.

Murphy told authorities she and Bales had started dating in September 2023, and had gotten married in December. She told police she did not want to marry Bales but he had convinced her, due to his status as a registered sex offender in need of a permanent address.

Murphy told authorities she had researched getting their marriage annulled, however, Bales said, he would never sign the paperwork for that, records state.

Murphy was sent to the hospital following the incident, and Bales denied all accusations. A friend staying with the couple at the hotel told police Murphy had relayed to her that she was afraid of Bales.

On April 13, officers were dispatched to a second domestic disturbance involving Bales and Murphy along 3410 N. El Paso St. in Colorado Springs. Murphy told 911 dispatchers that her ex, later identified as Bales was on the scene and was refusing to leave.

Murphy later told officers on the scene that Bales had come to her property looking for his missing truck, and she had given Bales the keys to her green Dodge Magnum so he would, leave her alone, approximately five minutes before police arrived on the scene. She also disclosed to police that Bales had previously been violent with her, recounting a strangulation incident that occurred at the Sinton Road hotel the couple was staying at two weeks prior.

Darby's connection

In conducting surveillance at the motel Murphy was residing at in the days following the April 18 shooting, detectives confirmed a man later identified as Michael Darby had been staying with her during that time period.

Featured Local Savings

Police also confirmed Murphy was the registered owner of a GMC Acadia matching the witness description of the suspect vehicle on April 18, arrest records state.

According to officials, on April 23, detectives alongside the departments Tactical Enforcement Unit obtained and executed a search warrant at Murphys residence. Both Murphy and Darby were present at the time.

The two were advised that the search warrant was in connection with the deadly shooting of Bales. While Darby declined to be interviewed, Murphy agreed and was transported to the Police Operations Center to meet with detectives.

Murphy told detectives she, Darby, and her friend Sarah Marsaw were driving in her GMC Acadia to return, some property, of Bales on April 18 when she observed the Green Dodge Magnum parked on the west shoulder of Sinton Road.

Ms. Murphy said she observed a shirt covering the rear window of the vehicle and presumed Mr. Bales was in the company of another person and may be engaged in some sort of sexual activity which she did not wish to see, arrest records state.

Murphy then told detectives she reversed into the parking lot of the nearby Division of Wildlife building, where Darby and Marsaw began to argue. She told detectives the argument erupted between the two because Darby was upset that she (Murphy) was still involved with Bales despite his past treatment of her, officials said.

Records state Darby then exited the vehicle and proceeded to walk toward the area where Bales vehicle was parked.

Murphy told detectives that after Darby had exited the vehicle, she pulled out of the parking lot and began to leave the area heading southbound on Sinton Road when she heard Darby yelling followed by at least one gunshot.

Ms. Murphy said she began to panic and nearly came to a stop when Marsaw yelled to her to stop and pick up Mr. Darby who was running back toward the vehicle, records state.

The affidavit states that when Murphy asked Darby what had happened, he claimed Bales had grabbed him and Darby had shot him once in the stomach as an act of self-defense.

Murphy told detectives she was unaware Bales had died as a result of his injuries until an employee at the motel told her days after the shooting.

Murphy repeatedly told detectives she was unaware Darby had a gun that night, and said she had not spoken to Darby since the night of the shooting.

The gun used in the incident has not been found by investigators, according to arrest records.

When asked about any history between the three, Murphy described a disturbance between Bales and Darby that had occurred days before the shooting at Murphys residence along North El Paso Street.

Murphy told detectives Darby and Bales had engaged in a verbal altercation in which Darby called Bales a b---h.

Additionally, video surveillance provided by Murphys neighbor presented a second altercation between the two in which Darby pointed a gun at Bales and threatened to kill him, records state.

Following Murphys interview with police, CSPDs fugitive task force arrested Darby on the charges of first-degree murder, a Class 1 felony, without further incident, police said.

Darby is scheduled for a first appearance in court on May 6.
Kendall County has filed a lawsuit against the developer of the Heartland at Tapatio Springs. seng kui Lim / 500px/Getty Images/500px

Kendall County is suing the developer of a Hill Country subdivision claiming the project is violating fire codes and the developer isnt following agreements it made with the county.

The project, called Heartland at Tapatio Springs, is west of Boerne, near Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort. The developer is Vaqueros Del Mar LLC, a company that previously owned Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort and has ties to country music star George Strait.

The lawsuit alleges Kendall County and its residents will suffer clear, immediate and irreparable injury if the developer moves forward with the project as planned, and asks the court for a declaratory judgment and a temporary injunction.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

David Brock, a lawyer representing Vaqueros Del Mar, disputed the claims in the countys lawsuit, and said the developer has violated no laws or regulations.

Throughout the entire process, my client has been committed to complying with all applicable rules and regulations and will continue to do so, Brock said in a written statement.

The lawsuit contends that portions of the Heartland at Tapatio Springs fail to meet the countys regulations for proper access by emergency equipment, such as fire trucks.

The lawsuit alleges that county officials approved the construction of concrete culverts for water crossings in some parts of the subdivision, but the developer instead built wooden bridges. The lawsuit also alleges that the developer deviated from county-approved plans that called for each home to have a driveway that connected to the subdivisions main road, as is required by fire code. Instead, some of the properties have shared driveways, the lawsuit alleges.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The development of the subdivision without compliance to the fire apparatus access rules and regulations will endanger the residents of each of the lots within the subdivision, putting them at risk that emergency vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances will not be able to reach their homes in the event of a fire, the county said in its petition. The development as proposed  also threatens the surrounding community, since wildfires are a constant threat and an outbreak of fire can quickly spread to the adjacent neighborhoods and beyond.

The county is asking the court to force the developer to bring the project into compliance.

Kendall County Judge Shane Stolarczyk declined to comment on the litigation.

Brock, the attorney for Vaqueros Del Mar, disputed the claims made in the countys lawsuit. He said the developer believed Kendall County gave its approval for allowing the wooden bridges to be built instead of concrete culverts.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

My client sent engineered specifications for the bridge to the Kendall County engineer and received an email which my client interpreted that the specifications on the bridge were approved, Brock said in a written statement. One month after construction of the bridges, the county then took the position that the bridges were not wide enough to accommodate a fire truck even though other subdivisions  have entrances narrower than the 20 feet as required by Kendall County.

Brock declined to provide a copy of the email his client received from Kendall County.

Shared driveways were proposed because of topographical issues and the desire to save significant terrain and trees, Brock said.

Homesite owners in the development are waiting for the developer and Kendall County to resolve the issue and are unable to request 911 addresses until the matter is resolved, Brock said.

It is very disappointing that there are factual inaccuracies throughout the petition especially coming from our own county government, he said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Brock said he could not comment on which parts of the petition were inaccurate due to the ongoing litigation, but called the lawsuit unnecessary and premature.

It is further disappointing that Kendall County felt the need to initiate a lawsuit while VDM was actively requesting face-to-face meetings and answers to their inquiries both of which were ignored and rebuffed by the county. Instead of getting their questions answered, my client received a lawsuit that had been filed but not served, he said.

The website for the Heartland at Tapatio Springs describes the development as a Vaqueros Del Mar project by Tom Cusick and George Strait. Cusick, a Kendall County-based home builder and developer, is the projects manager. Brock said Strait is passively involved in Vaqueros Del Mar because an entity owned or controlled by him is a member of VDM.

Strait is not involved in the day-to-day management or decision making, he said.
Jacob Beltran covers crime, breaking news and general assignments for the Express-News. He can be reached at jbeltran@express-news.net.

A San Antonio native, Jacob began his journalism career in 2010. He's worked for the student-run newspaper for San Antonio College, The Ranger, and for Texas A&M University-San Antonio, The Mesquite.

He enjoys video games, photography and exploring during his free time.
GREENSBORO  Gov. Roy Cooper and NASA astronaut Christina Koch visited a classroom full of science majors at N.C. A&T on Tuesday to speak about the importance of funding public education.

With legislators returning to the General Assembly on Wednesday for their short session, Cooper promised the budget he unveils would make funding for public education and public universities like A&T a priority.

Im going to roll out a budget tomorrow, Cooper said. Do we want to do more tax giveaways to the wealthy or do we want to invest in our early childhood education and public schools and public education?

Cooper said one of his biggest worries about the upcoming legislative session is that GOP leaders will push for more funding for the Hope Scholarship voucher program.

Clearly that money will go to wealthy parents who already have their children in private school, and it will take money out of the public school, the Democrat said. Thats a real problem. I think thats not the kind of choices people would want here in North Carolina.

To better make his case, Cooper brought along Koch to talk about how her experiences in the North Carolina public education system helped prepare her for a career at NASA.

In some ways, it has been everything thats prepared me, Koch said.

Koch, who grew up in Jacksonville, said shes always wanted to be an astronaut.

I actually dont remember a time when I didnt want to be an astronaut, Koch said. All I know is from the time I was little, I was telling my teachers and my mom that I wanted to be an astronaut and I just never grew out of it.

Koch also credits teachers throughout her life for supporting her dream.

I think all the time how lucky I was that no one discouraged me, Koch said. People all encouraged me to follow that dream and that in and of itself has been life-changing for me.

After attending White Oak High School in Jacksonville and the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham, Koch would head to N.C. State and pursue degrees in electrical engineering and physics.

I remember sitting in front of the blank pages of my physics problem sets and being like, Theres no way Im going to get to the end of this, Koch recalled.

But she did get to the end.

And that led to a new beginning: In 2013, Koch would be selected as a NASA astronaut. She holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman with a total of 328 days in space.

She said her favorite thing about working at the International Space Station, where she was a flight engineer, was conducting experiments. In particular, she highlighted helping to grow protein crystals in space that cant form naturally on Earth.

We helped researchers on Earth see protein crystals grow for the first time that may have implications in pharmaceuticals to combat cancer, Parkinsons, Alzheimers  all these different things, Koch explained. I got to watch at the same time as the people on the ground these crystals forming. It was really a special part of the science I did.

The next step in Kochs cosmic career is serving as a crew member for NASAs Artemis II mission set to launch in 2025 at the earliest.

The plan for Artemis II is to go around the moon and come back and not necessarily land because were testing out all the new systems, Koch said. The whole idea is that were leading up to going back to the surface of the moon.

Koch said the one of the biggest reasons to explore space isnt to learn about the places were going, but to learn about ourselves.

No one who goes to space brings a bag of gold with them. They bring pictures of their family, Koch said. We learn through leaving our home planet that were more alike than we are different.

Koch also implored A&T students in the audience to keep working hard because the opportunities for space exploration are almost as endless as the cosmos.

Its not a question of if we go; its when we go, Koch said.

Cooper added that the success of A&Ts STEM programs all but guaranteed opportunities for science and engineering majors in the room  and not just those interested in aerospace.

When I can say that North Carolina A&T University graduates more Black engineers than any other university in the country every year, peoples eyes light up, Cooper said. Businesses say (they) want a well-trained, dedicated and diverse workforce, and this is a place for us to come.
A 60-year-old man has been arrested after crashing into an SAPD patrol car while intoxicated early Saturday. mbbirdy/Getty Images

A 60-year-old man was charged with driving while intoxicated after crashing into a police car early Saturday on the Northeast Side.

San Antonio police said an officer was on routine patrol shortly before 1:30 a.m. Saturday in the 12300 block of Nacogdoches Road when a man pulled out of a driveway and crashed into the passenger side of the patrol car.

ALSO READ: Possible smuggler tried deflating boat carrying eight children after the Coast Guard spotted them

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

According to a police preliminary report, the officer sustained a minor injury. The driver had no apparent injuries.

Police said that after further evaluation, they determined the 60-year-old was under the influence. The officer also found that the man had a firearm.
()

On Guam a BBQ isnt a BBQ without hot pepper. It is a must-have condiment. There are many different types of finadenne and one of those is finadenne denanche (hot pepper paste).

Guams finadenne denanche is a blend of freshly ground hot peppers and seasoning. Other optional ingredients such as garlic, vinegar, lemon, eggplant, and a whole array of other items can also be added. Everyone has their own special blend and the varieties of finadenne denanche blends are countless as their creators.

Here is how I make mine....

First go to your hot pepper trees and pick all the semi and ripe hot peppers.

Once you have picked the hot peppers, you need to remove all the stems.

I use hot peppers, garlic, apple cider vinegar, sea salt and a little garlic powder just in case I want it a little more garlicky.

Blend up the hot peppers with the 2 bulbs of garlic diced and 3/4 cup of apple cider vinegar.

Remove when pepper and garlic is blended into a paste.

You may have to blend the mixture in stages in order to complete the blending process as the mixture can be a little too thick for the blender to blend everything at one time.

Once you have completed the blending process, you can season it with 3 to 4 teaspoons of sea salt.

Taste the mixture to make sure the seasoning is suitable and adjust if needed. This is the fun part. Can you handle the taste test????

You should be left with about a quart of finadenne denanche.

You can use this to spice up just about anything. Even coat your favorite steak with it for a real peppered steak.

Hope you give this a try. I think you will get the hang of it and have this as an addition to your table fare. That is if it isnt too hot for you.
Thank you for your service.

Necessary reaction, or awkward sentiment? To some, its a little of both but most would agree that gratitude is appropriate, even needed. Thank you for putting your life on the line. Thank you for your protection. In the new memoir, The Wives by Simone Gorrindo, thank you for remaining behind.

She told him shed leave him.

When her partner, Andrew, said he was thinking of joining the military, Simone Gorrindo couldnt imagine it. Shed grown up being taught that guns were bad; shed even protested a war once and then gotten drinks at an East Village bar. She had a dream job in New York. Theyd just moved in together. An enlistment was unthinkable.

But Andrew never stopped dreaming. Two years later, Gorrindo noticed an Army recruitment pamphlet on our nightstand. The couple sought counseling; he told her that if he had to choose between the Army and her, hed choose the Army.

Still, she chose him. They married hastily and moved near Ft. Benning, Georgia, where Andrew would be stationed with a Special Operations contract in-hand. Hed become a member of the Unit if he could pass a rigorous selection process.

Hed have a lot to learn, but so would Gorrindo.

They had off-base housing but she couldnt muster the strength to make it a home. She knew nobody in Georgia, and the wives hierarchy on-base was baffling; so were the unknowns and the things nobody  her husband, his team, other wives  could or would tell her. She constantly feared that a key caller might notify her of an injury or death in The Unit. She struggled with a marriage, a pregnancy, and a husband who was gone, deployed, way more than he was home, and she missed her old life in New York.

People told us, from time to time, she says, that we knew what we were signing up for. But who really knows what she is signing up for?

Thank you for your service. You hear it often, or you say it often and you mean it every time. Those who protect and defend our country should be lauded but, as youll see in The Wives, we cant forget the other half of this sacrifice.

In a big way, its painful to read about. Author Simone Gorrindo writes about weeks of trying to fit in and figure out how to live as a married woman with aspects of singlehood, in a place thats unfamiliar, and sometimes uncomfortable and unfriendly. On that note, when the storys anger and loneliness have eased, Gorrindo flips it around to write urgently about the necessity of new friends and support  even though that, too, can be fraught with playground-like worries. Its a struggle that, even if youve never been a dependent, feels familiar.

Reading this story is to immerse yourself into a balancing act that millions of military spouses master, making this a book for them, for civilians, and for the appreciative. Enjoy The Wives. It will serve you well.
BRISTOL, Tenn.  The Bristol, Tennessee City Council entertained a hotel proposal by developers for the 714 Shelby Street property owned by the city.

Representatives from Devi Capital, a Morristown, Tennessee-based hospitality and development company, attended the City Council work session on Tuesday, where they presented their development plans for a 98-room hotel.

Our goal is to be down here in the heart of downtown, said Angel Wine, the Devi Capital director of operations. Wed like to obtain the 2.65 acres to start that project for a hotel. It will be an internationally recognized brand, and were looking at about 98 rooms total.

Devi Capitals portfolio includes a Fairfield Inn & Suites in Kingsport and Morristown, a Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express in Newport, Tennessee., a Best Western in Monticello, Kentucky, and an EconoLodge in Marion, Virginia.

Sandip Patel, the CEO of Devi Capital, explained that in order to proceed, they would need a memorandum of understanding [MoU] from the city, which would then allow them to secure a hotel franchise before starting construction.

We would like to get some kind of MoU bond and then site control, Patel said. Once we have the site control, then we can acquire a franchise from nationally recognized brands Hilton, Marriott or, Hyatt, or any of the others thats well known.

The concept design for the hotel includes a rooftop bar, a meeting center and a fitness center, but it does not currently include retail or restaurant space.

The now-vacant parcel was to be the site of a mixed use development project but the council voted last year to end its relationship with that projects developers after certain benchmarks werent met.

On Tuesday, council member Margaret Feierabend explained that before the City Council moves forward with an MoU, she would like to have more information about the project.

Im gonna need some more information, Feierabend said. It certainly is very interesting and very potential, but Im not ready to say, lets go ahead and do our MoU.

Council agreed and asked the development group to keep in touch and continue working with the feedback they received from the council.

During the work session the City Council also discussed their 2025 Capital Improvement Plan, as well as the citys animal shelter needs.
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.
For Concord native Phyllis Meaders, April 24, 2024, will be a day she will never forget. After years of dreaming, she finally achieved her long-awaited goal of becoming a homeowner, thanks to Habitat for Humanity Cabarrus County.

Meaders was officially handed the keys during a Wednesday afternoon ceremony at the home, located at 291 Academy Ave., surrounded by her family, friends, Habitat Cabarrus officials and several volunteers, otherwise know as the Weekday Warriors, who helped build the home.

This means so much to me because this has been one of my dreams, Meaders told the Independent Tribune in a brief interview before the ceremony. Its just a wonderful feeling being able to say, This is going to be my forever home.

The many hardships Meaders has had to overcome, including losing her mother at a young age and losing her youngest son a few years ago, makes this moment all the more meaningful.

This is really emotional, she said, noting her mother and son have been with her throughout the entire process.

Meaders will be living in the home, which is 1,030 square feet and includes three bedrooms and two bathrooms, with her great-niece Amiyah, though she has several children and grandchildren who will make frequent visits.

She first applied to become a Habitat homeowner in the summer of 2022; she was notified her application was approved in March 2023. Meaders completed the required 250 volunteer hours of sweat equity on her home and those of other homebuyers.

Nick Lovelace, president of the Habitat Cabarrus Board of Directors, attested to the Meaders determination, noting it is not easy to become a Habitat homeowner.

When I think of endurance, I think of perseverance, and I know the perseverance that Phyllis has gone through in order to get to this point, Lovelace said.

Meaders hard work to finally realize her new home gives hope to everyone that this is the American Dream and youre about to realize that today, he added.

Vicki Gaston, one of Meaders co-workers and good friends, told the crowd that Meaders has always been a blessing to anyone she comes into contact with.

She goes above and beyond sometimes  a lot of times, said Gaston, who handed the keys to the home over to Meaders. If anybody deserves this today, it is Phyllis. She has worked hard, shes been through a lot and God has brought her a long way.

During brief remarks, Meaders acknowledged the struggles she has experienced throughout her life.

But I made it through, she said. Its nobody but God, he gave me the strength to keep going.

Habitat Cabarrus has built 173 homes for those in the community, who are cost-burdened, since its inception in 1986, according to a Habitat Cabarrus press release. The organization will celebrate three additional new home dedications within the coming weeks.
A Vance County man was sentenced to prison Thursday after he pleaded guilty to killing a Winston-Salem man in October 2017, authorities said.

Daquan L. Cates, 26, formerly of Henderson, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with the Oct. 18, 2017 death of Dontrell Michael Warren, the Forsyth County District Attorneys Office said.

A judge in Forsyth Superior Court sentenced Cates to serve 22 years to 27 years in prison, the district attorneys office said.

Cates was accused of killing Warren, 25, in the 2100 block of East 23rd Street, prosecutors said.

Cates approached Warren and Warrens friend near 2113 E. 23rd St. as Warren and his friend were walking back to Warrens home after picking up snacks at a nearby convenience store, the district attorneys office said.

Armed with a rifle, Cates intended to rob Warren and his companion, the district attorneys office said. A witness told investigators that after Cates demanded that Warren give Cates what Warren had, then the witness heard multiple gunshots and screaming.

Cates shot Warren in his torso and leg and immediately left the scene, the district attorneys office said. Cates wore a mask during the incident.

Since 2017, police detectives continued to investigate Warrens death, Winston-Salem police said.

Cates later admitted to investigators that he approached Warren and his companion to rob them and that he fired a gun during the encounter, the district attorneys office said.

Warren died of his injuries at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Warrens cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds to his chest, pelvis, and leg, the district attorneys office said.

Cates was arrested March 21, 2023 in Granville County and charged with murder, police said.

District Attorney Jim ONeill praised the detectives for their tenacious pursuit of justice for the killer of an innocent man, he said.

Cates guilty plea and prison sentence closes one chapter of Warrens family members journey as they face life without Warren, ONeill said, while sparing them the trauma and pain of a jury trial while holding Cates accountable for his actions.
A 75-year-old woman died after crashing into a car in a West Side intersection late Friday. Dave Thompson - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images

A 75-year-old woman died after crashing into a car at a West Side intersection.

According to San Antonio police, the woman was driving in a Toyota Corolla shortly before midnight on Friday in the 10500 block of Culebra Road when the crash occurred.

The woman attempted to make a left turn onto Rodgers Road when she crashed into a Honda Accord. The driver in the Honda had the right of way, police said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The 75-year-old sustained life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead. Bexar Countys medical examiner will conduct a death investigation to determine the cause of death.

The driver of the Honda sustained minor injuries but was also taken to a hospital as a precaution, police said.

At the time of this report, the deceased womans identity has not been released.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
My wife of 28 years remembers things a lot better than I. Birthdays, anniversaries, names. She knows what she was wearing at events I don't even recall attending.

But my memory is crystal clear  OK, I had to ask Allison a couple of clarifying questions  about this precise day 20 years ago.

April 28, 2004, was a Wednesday. We lived in Bismarck, North Dakota, where I was the editor of the newspaper. A few weeks earlier, I'd had surgery to remove cancer in my colon and all the optional, neighboring body parts they could reach.

That day, I had an appointment to implant a port in my chest so I could start chemotherapy. Because it involved sedation, my wife was my ride. Conveniently, she had an appointment with her OB/GYN at the same time in the same building. Allison was eight months pregnant with our twin boys.

I was visiting with a nurse when my wife found me. Allison was headed to labor and delivery. Today was the day. My ride home was giving birth.

In a matter of moments, medical folk mobilized. It was clear Aquaman and Gerald (the names our two older kids gave them in utero as working titles) wouldn't arrive for a few hours, so they moved me to the front of the line in the operating room, knocked me out, did their thing, woke me up and swapped my hospital gown for scrubs.

Somebody wheeled me up to my wife's room, and a couple of hours later  at 6:26 p.m. and 6:32 p.m. respectively  Jacob Richard and Samuel Merritt Bundy were born.

Amid all the excitement, at some point, we all forgot I'd been under sedation, and I drove myself home to see Dalton and Genevieve. He was 6. She was 3. We had such nice spacing until two kids came out 6 minutes apart.

My in-laws, who had been watching them, retired to their nearby hotel, and I ordered a pizza at 10 p.m., wildly late for two little kids and a dad accustomed to much earlier bedtimes.

Dalton and Genevieve were very young, but they understood cancer was kind of scary. But, I told them, if it seemed like cancer was a big deal, it was nothing compared to having twin baby brothers.

The next day, a photographer from the newspaper barged past the "No visitors" sign to take our first baby photos. In the moment, it was a little annoying, but those images of mom and kids are among our most precious.

This was the same photographer, eight years before, who showed up at dawn at the Bismarck airport to take our picture as Allison and I left for our wedding. The plane was boarding, but he wanted us to go outside, where the light was better. We convinced him to pose us in front of the window and do his best.

The weeks after Jacob and Sam were born were a blur  actually, with little kids and all the accompanying messes, maybe "smudge" is a more apt term. Allison and the kids were all healthy, but my prognosis kept getting worse. Chemo was postponed for a consultation at the Mayo Clinic after scans showed the cancer spread wider than imagined, and my oncologist painted a grim picture.

But amid the craziness, family and friends trekked to North Dakota to help us. Coworkers and neighbors showered us with kindness and love. And strangers popped into our lives with beautiful gestures.

One day we came home from some errands, and my mother-in-law showed us a delicious Texas sheet cake someone had dropped off. It was so gooey, dense and moist it was just this side of fudge. My mother-in-law said the woman who dropped it off was pretty, well-dressed, had dark hair and obvious baking skills.

We racked our brains for who it could have been before we found the card. It was signed by the Hoevens. John was governor of North Dakota (now a U.S. senator). Mikey, who baked and delivered the cake, was the first lady.

Governors aren't always fans of newspaper editors, but some things matter more than press or politics. Chocolate, for example.

By the twins' first birthday, the chemotherapy had done its job, and I was declared cured. Life was as normal as it was ever going to be with our four kids.

A dozen years later, in 2016, four years after becoming editor of the Journal Star, I was diagnosed with bile duct cancer. News like that is always stressful, but it felt like I'd been playing with house money since 2004. How upset could I be with any outcome? I dug in for the fight with a smile on my face.

I knew that if I kept my eyes open, I would see goodness all around and create a new batch of memories that I could eventually ask my wife to remind me about.

For whatever reason, and it's almost certainly not good nutrition or strenuous exercise, I've outlived medical expectations again, and I find myself grateful to all the friends, neighbors, coworkers and readers who have cared for me and my family.

So, April 28 is our twins' birthday, with double the parties and double the cakes, but the day always reminds me of all the gifts I've received and the wild ride that started the day they were born.
The world needs another paradigm shift bringing together new types of inclusive economics, Abdallah Al Dardari, UNDP Resident Representative in Afghanistan, said during the panel discussions on Pathway to Prosperity, Azernews reports.

Multidimensional Poverty in Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Member Countries held as part of the IsDB annual meetings.

When we were working on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), we had a very good tool that could be linked to the MDGs progress and achievements. So that was a considerable paradigm shift in our thinking about economics in general. But then, when we started facing further challenges, which are inequality, unease amongst societies and within societies, leading to fragility and to conflict, it was difficult to say what's the reason, how come we have a good GDP growth and there is fragility in the society, he said.

Al-Dardari believes that neoclassical economics has reached the limits.

Therefore we need to think about another paradigm shift that brings together new types of inclusive economics. We are happy to be partnering with this and take humanity one step further in understanding the relationships between economics, human welfare, wealth, distribution, and sustainability, he added.

The Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB) is holding its 2024 Annual Meetings and Golden Jubilee in Riyadh from April 27-30, under the Royal Patronage of the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.

The 2024 Annual Meetings are being held under the theme of Cherishing our Past, Charting our Future: Originality, Solidarity and Prosperity, which marks IsDBs 50 years of fostering socio-economic development in its member countries.

Among other topics, the meetings will also feature a roundtable on COP29 with the participation of Azerbaijani government representatives.

As the premier South-South multilateral development Bank, the 2024 IsDB Group Annual Meetings and Golden Jubilee are expected to attract international and regional attention. The Annual Meetings will feature a series of side events with top-level panelists from government, international and regional organizations, the private sector, academia, and civil society.

Ministers of Economy, Planning, and Finance from IsDB's 57 member countries will participate in the event, along with representatives of international and regional financial institutions, Islamic banks, private sector companies, national and international development finance institutions, international and regional organizations, NGOs, chambers of commerce & Industry, and business councils.
A woman is arrested at a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Texas, Wednesday April 24, 2024, in Austin. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP) Jay Janner/Associated Press Oceane Maher, a UT Law student, stands with other Jewish students at a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Texas, Thursday April 25, 2024, in Austin. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP) Jay Janner/Associated Press UT students put a sign on the George Washington statue on the South Mall after a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Texas, Thursday April 25, 2024, in Austin. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP) Jay Janner/Associated Press State troopers try to break up a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Texas, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Austin. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP) Jay Janner/Associated Press AUSTIN, TEXAS - APRIL 25: Students relax and make signs together on campus after protesting the war in Gaza at the University of Texas at Austin on April 25, 2024 in Austin, Texas. Students and faculty came out to protest for the second consecutive day after law enforcement personnel used a strong show of force during demonstrations yesterday. Protests against the war in Gaza continue sweeping across college campuses around the country. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Brandon Bell/Getty Images AUSTIN, TEXAS - APRIL 24: A student is arrested during a pro-Palestine demonstration at the The University of Texas at Austin on April 24, 2024 in Austin, Texas. Students walked out of class and gathered in protest during a pro-Palenstine demonstation. Protests continue to sweep college campuses around the country. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Brandon Bell/Getty Images AUSTIN, TEXAS - APRIL 25: Students protest the war in Gaza at the University of Texas at Austin on April 25, 2024 in Austin, Texas. Students and faculty came out to protest for the second consecutive day after law enforcement personnel used a strong show of force during demonstrations yesterday. Protests against the war in Gaza continue sweeping across college campuses around the country. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Brandon Bell/Getty Images AUSTIN, TEXAS - APRIL 25: Students protest the war in Gaza at the University of Texas at Austin on April 25, 2024 in Austin, Texas. Students and faculty came out to protest for the second consecutive day after law enforcement personnel used a strong show of force during demonstrations yesterday. Protests against the war in Gaza continue sweeping across college campuses around the country. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Brandon Bell/Getty Images

People who received criminal trespass notices during a pro-Palestine rally Wednesday at the University of Texas at Austin and who were not affiliated with the school are prohibited from returning to campus, regardless of whether their charges were dropped, a university spokesperson said Friday.

Students who received criminal trespass notices are not currently affected by the stipulation, a distinction that was not originally clear on a list of protest rules distributed on campus earlier in the week and first obtained by the Austin American-Statesman. Those rules existed prior to the rally, UT spokesperson Mike Rosen told the outlet. Earlier on Friday, the university had indicated that students would be included in the ban.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

For the last two days, The University of Texas provided an abbreviated list of rules related to conduct during protests, including typical consequences as a result of being arrested for criminal trespassing, the university said in a statement. This notice was provided as a courtesy to all protesters  students and non-University affiliated persons  to help them understand potential consequences for decisions to violate University rules.

No students have received notices of interim disciplinary action stemming from the Wednesday protest, Rosen said. In any event where a student does receive an interim disciplinary action  such as for an alleged criminal trespass  they would still be allowed on campus to fulfill academic responsibilities and access university resources upon approval, a UT spokesman told the Houston Chronicle. A student can appeal the resulting action per the student code of conduct.

It was not immediately clear how many people would be banned from campus. The Travis County Sheriffs Office reported that 57 people were booked into jail for protest-related arrests, and attorneys said 46 were arrested on charges of criminal trespass, a misdemeanor that alleges the protesters failed to heed warnings to disperse.

A magistrate judge rejected the criminal trespass charges for lack of probable cause, Travis County Attorney Delia Garza said Thursday. A UT spokesperson has said about half of the people who broke university rules on Wednesday were not affiliated with the school.

The Office of the Dean of Students at UT-Austin on Tuesday called for protest organizers to cancel the rally, saying it appeared intent to violate our policies and rules, and disrupt our campus operations, according to a letter it sent.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The university pointed to the organizers mention of other campus protests of the war in Gaza, in which students have erected encampments on campus. It also noted that organizers had urged attendees to bring face masks in violation of a university rule that forbids students from concealing their identity to obstruct law enforcement.

UT-Austin President Jay Hartzell said Wednesday that the university had stepped in to prevent students from similar attempts to occupy campus.

The Department of Public Safety said it sent state troopers to campus at the request of the university and at Abbotts direction. Austin police and the universitys own police force also responded to the demonstration and made arrests.

UT-Austin has since placed the Palestine Solidarity Committee, the group that organized the protest, on an interim suspension. The Office of the Dean of Students handles disciplinary issues at UT.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
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
KEARNEY  Dr. Pete Simi has wavering faith in the future of democracy in this nation. Not unwavering. Wavering.

Simi is a foremost U.S. expert and an author on white supremacists and groups such as the Neo-Nazis, Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys. He spoke at the University of Nebraska at Kearney Tuesday evening.

He believes democratic principles are under attack. America is moving toward less reproductive health freedom, less education equity and fewer books in libraries. In short, less democracy, he said.

He is worried about the 2024 presidential election. He urged every person in the audience to vote in November.

No matter what you think of our political system, not voting is not an option for anyone who cares even a sliver about democracy. This is the most important presidential election in our lifetime, he said.

Telling the truth

Simi, a professor of sociology at Chapman University, was invited to speak by eight UNK departments. He is a member of the National Counterterrorism, Innovation and Technology Educational Center at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Funded by the Department of Homeland Security, the NCITE is committed to the scientific study of the causes and consequences of terrorism here and abroad.

Simi approaches sociological research with empathetic understanding. To understand a group you have to talk to its members, hear what they have to say and understand why they do what they do, he said.

My work exemplifies the best of what sociology offers to alleviate the worst tendencies in human beings, he said.

Much of his talk focused  regretfully, he said  on former President Donald Trump and his affiliation with radical right-wing groups.

I wish I had evidence to support one of the most powerful leaders in the political world, but I dont, he said. My objective is to tell the truth.

The road to Jan. 6

Since the 1980s, he said, the centerpieces of right-wing extremism have been anger, frustration and betrayal, all qualities depicted in the wildly popular Sylvester Stallone film Rambo.

Some people today imagine themselves as present-day American colonists fighting against the tyranny of climate change, immigration issues and more, he said.

Although the Jan. 6 uprising at the U.S. Capitol was broadcast live, has been painstakingly researched and has led to federal convictions, theres a fair amount of skepticism across the country about what happened, he said.

Even though more than 100 police were assaulted, some people claim the event wasnt violent. Theres no complete agreement on what happened, so there is no understanding of what happened, he said.

He said that presidential involvement in an attack on the U.S. Capitol is so shocking that If youd have said 25 years ago that Id testify in court about such an uprising, Id be skeptical.

Yet he noted that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the state of Colorado could not keep Trump off the 2024 ballot despite his part in those events, and several similar cases are still being played out.

Trumps right-wing activities

Simi linked Trump with radical right wing activities. No other leader has established a relationship with extremists like Trump has, he said.

Trump became a favorite of right-wing groups when he described Mexicans a rapists when he announced his candidacy for President in the 2016 election, Simi said.

Simi noted that Trump repeatedly said, falsely, that President Barack Obama was not born in the U.S.

Trump figured prominently in the deadly white supremacist Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in August 2017 and solidified that image when he said, afterward, that there were fine people on both sides, Simi said.

White supremacists were enthralled with that statement. They felt like they were receiving an endorsement from the White House, Simi said.

Simi noted Trumps reference to shithole countries, a term Simi heard often as he monitored white supremacists. No president has established a relationship with extremists like Trump has, he said.

He also noted that Trump hosted Nick Fuentes, a far-right political commentator, Holocaust denier and white supremacist, at Mar-A-Lago in 2022.

Thats like hosting (neo-Nazi, former Klan grand wizard) David Duke for dinner. Republicans such as John McCain, Ronald Reagan and both George Bushes would never have hosted Nick Fuentes for dinner, he said.

Donald Trump understood and respected the willingness to use violence. He is now calling Jan. 6 rioters patriots. He loves them. He is offering pardons. I have never seen anything like it in 27 years of studying extremism, Simi said.

What is extremism?

Unfortunately, Simi said, Hatred is part of our national story. It doesnt help us if we dont acknowledge the truth.

He noted that a century ago, KKK members were part of the mainstream. The KKK had five million members in 1925 and marched in a parade in Washington, D.C.

The Civil Rights legislation of the early 1960s quieted that, and by the 1980s, white supremacists decided to bide their time. They appeared to join the mainstream but worked from the inside until changes occurred that provided them with opportunities, he said.

He came to understand white supremacists and their kind of violence by studying the 1996 bombing in Oklahoma City. First, he focused on their websites.

Then, starting in 1997, I immersed myself in their world. I slept on their couches and attended cross-burnings, he said. He interviewed some of those on death row.

White supremacists are not necessarily people with shaved heads or tattoos. Its a constellation of practices, beliefs and emotions, No one is immune, including non-whites, he said.

In recent decades, Simi said, The mainstream has gone extreme. Its ironic that we focused on 9/11 and the 2005 London bus bombings (carried out by Islamic extremists, they left 52 people dead and 700 injured) but were blind to the realization that radicalism can happen in America, too.

He talked about Alex Jones, who claimed that the Sandy Hook school shooting was fake and that grieving relatives were all actors. He noted that Trump had appeared on Joness far-right radio show.

Today, some far-right-wing groups blame the Baltimore bridge collapse and the hole in a Southwest Airlines plane on sinister underground forces, he said.

Simi also said studies have suggested that the military and law enforcement officials may be more susceptible to right-wing extremism.

The Klan originated with former Confederate officers. Thirty percent of those arrested on terrorism charges in the 80s and 90s had military experience, he said.

In one Mississippi shooting in the 80s, the Klan acted with the help of the police department. In Mississippi at that time, two-thirds of police were affiliated with the Klan, he said. He has seen similar tendencies all over the country.

The internet

Simi described technology as one of the most powerful tools of white supremacists.

The internet gave white supremacists a way to communicate and a way to saturate the airwaves with narratives shifting and shaping things in their direction, he said. The stuff circulating on these sites is frightening.

He said the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol would not have been possible without social media.

In mass shootings, One common denominator is that single actors go on shooting rampages, often against Hispanic or black populations. In these attacks, online radicalization is a common denominator, he said.

He called for federal regulation of technology. Start treating those responsible for circulating poison on these sites, he said.

Coming together?

To stem these trends, Simi called on more resources for mental health, and for more coalitions that can find common ground.

Were in a time when its hard not to be judgmental or to be empathetic. Its easier to just write people off, but we need to stop demonizing and over-generalizing each other. There has to be a way for us to come together, he said.

We have a lot to celebrate in our history, but we also have to acknowledge the tragic parts of that history. Peoples lives have been lost, brutally, in large numbers, he said.

He urged getting a handle on technology. Its unregulated, mostly, and its causing more anxiety, depression and declining interaction.

He also recommended listening to radical thinkers who believe lies being told, and then, subtly chipping away at their thinking.

You cant hit them over the head. Get them talking. Get them to think. Its a long process, but chipping away is really important and may generate a change, he said.

Simi also urged everyone to vote this fall. We need to build coalitions. Form bridges. Look for themes that can build more unity, he said.

None of it is easy. If it were, we wouldnt be in this position. Were in a frightening position. I am not super optimistic, he said.
Ive got news this week about the new Poke World restaurant and DaaBIN Store at Valley View Mall; plans for two new 7 Brew Coffee drive-thrus, a clinic and a car wash; and a new wellness center.

Linda Shen and her husband, Chen, opened their new franchised Poke World restaurant on Sunday in the former Black Forest Bistro space in Valley View Malls food court area.

Poke World, a small restaurant chain based in the Memphis, Tennessee, area, offers poke bowls, ramen, mochi doughnuts and bubble tea. Poke bowls are a dish traditionally made with fresh raw fish served over rice and topped with vegetables and sauces. Besides fish, Poke Worlds protein options for poke bowls also include cooked shrimp and cooked chicken breast.

Shen and her husband are natives of China and owned the China Max restaurant in the malls food court from 2012 to 2023. After I took a break (after selling the China Max business in March 2023), I thought this would be a nice way to start a new life, Shen said of opening a Poke World restaurant in the mall. Its a new challenge.

Shen said she hopes Poke Worlds presence will help draw more stores to the mall.

The restaurants hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

For more information and for online ordering, visit www.pokeworlds.com. The restaurants telephone number is 608-782-2330 and it also has a Facebook page.

A new DaaBIN Store will open April 27 next to the J.C. Penney Co. department store, inside Valley View Mall.

Games with prizes will begin at 8 a.m. outside the store entrance during Saturdays grand opening, and the store will open at 9 a.m. There will be drawings for prizes during the day.

DaaBIN Store is a chain with headquarters in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where its first store opened. Its stores offer a wide variety of merchandise in bins that customers go through. The bins are filled with overstock and return items, commonly from major online retailers, according to its website.

Each week starts on Saturdays with a new load of inventory; the stores are closed on Thursday and Friday to restock. Prices decrease each day.

Store hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Monday and Tuesday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday. On Wednesday, the store could close earlier than noon if almost all of that weeks merchandise has been sold.

The new La Crosse store is owned by Willa MacKenzie and Alice Mensendike, sisters who bought the local franchise. Mensendike manages the store. For more information, call the store at 608-779-0500 or visit www.daabinstore.com/la-crosse or the stores Facebook page.

Look for two new 7 Brew Coffee drive-thru locations to be built in La Crosse this year, one on the citys North Side and the other on the South Side.

Plans for one at 3800 State Road 16, between the J.C. Penney Co. department store at Valley View Mall and Highway 16; and another at 3960 Mormon Coulee Road, across the road from a Starbucks coffee store, were reviewed Friday, April 26, by the citys Commercial/Multi-Family Design Review Committee.

The fast-growing chain is based in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and has 220 locations in 26 states. Its menu includes a variety of coffee beverages, tea, energy drinks, smoothies and shakes.

Franchisees Jonathan and Kayla Lippincott, who own the 7 Brew Coffee in Eau Claire, will own the two La Crosse locations. We are aiming for both locations to be open by the end of the year, Jonathan told me.

Both La Crosse locations will have a double drive-thru and a walk-up option, he said. For more information about the 7 Brew Coffee chain, visit www.7brew.com.

The city committee also reviewed plans for a Mister Carwash at 3900 State Road 16. Thats also the address of the former Macys department store thats slated to be demolished soon to make way for redevelopment of that site and nearby parking areas.

The Mister Carwash is planned for the same site where a Club Car Wash was expected to be built. The city committee reviewed plans for the Club Car Wash last July, but plans now are for the car wash to instead be a Mister Carwash, which is a different chain.

Matt Boshcka and Mitchel Pfaff plan to open a Gameday Mens Health clinic this summer in the La Crosse area, and another one later this year or early next year in the Eau Claire area.

Gameday, which is headquartered in Carlsbad, California, says its clinics specialize in testosterone replacement therapy, erectile dysfunction therapy, weight loss management and vitamin therapy to restore mens vigor and confidence.

We bought the franchise rights for La Crosse and Eau Claire, Boshcka said. He added that the local clinic will be on Highway 16 between La Crosse and Onalaska, and he hopes to have the lease signed soon.

Our no. 1 goal is to help men improve their health and wellness, enhance their quality of life, and reclaim their vitality, Boshcka said. The clinics will offer same-day blood draw, lab results, consultation and administration of treatment plans. Other services we offer are erectile dysfunction treatment (GAINSwave and injections), vitamin/peptide therapy, weight-loss injections and hair loss prevention, Boshcka said.

For more information about Gameday, visit www.GameDayMensHealth.com.

A number of free classes will be offered at the May 3 to 6 grand opening of Living Simply Well, LLC, a new wellness center owned by Angie Finch, in Suite 201 in the new Holmen Plaza building at 103 State St. in downtown Holmen.

There also will be refreshments, appetizers and an open house to introduce the teachers and staff. Information about the free classes and how to register for them is on Living Simply Wells website and Facebook page. The classes include such things as yoga, tai chi and sound bath.

Living Simply Wells services include mindfulness, yoga, tai chi, infrared sauna, nutritional guidance, Styku Body scanner, sound bath and vibration therapy, and a wellness and weight management program, as well as an organic beverage bar.

Living Simply Well seeks to make space and sanctuary for those who are needing peace, restoration and wellness of body, mind and spirit, Finch said. We aspire to unite a community of people who come together to encourage and share life with one another. Our classes and services are intended for all, no matter if new to practice or experienced.

For more information, call 608-871-2884 or visit www.livingsimplywell-lax.com, Facebook, Instagram, Mindbody or Living Simply Wells apps.
"Most survivors never see accountability. Most survivors never see jus-tice. Most survivors never get restitution."

 Rachael Denhollander, a victim of Larry Nassar, a doctor who was convicted of abusing female athletes at Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics. The U.S. Justice Department announced a $138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of mishandling the Nassar case.
District 3 Council Member Phyllis Viagran speaks during a budget workshop in 2022. A cancer diagnosis and emergency surgery earlier this year led to absences from City Hall, but Viagran has emerged healthy and more motivated than ever to advocate for health care access. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News San Antonio District 3 Council Member Phyllis Viagran hugs District 2 Member Jalen McKee-Rodriguez after a swearing-in ceremony in 2021. Viagran underwent emergency surgery for a rare form of cancer earlier this year. She has emerged healthy and motivated to speak out about health care equity. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News

In February 2023, District 3 City Council Member Phyllis Viagran began feeling a constant pain in her stomach.

Having just turned 50, she thought, Is this what menopause is like?

But as 2023 progressed, so did her pain, and she knew something was wrong. She had an endoscopy and a colonoscopy, but doctors could not find the issue, she said during a recent interview.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

By Thanksgiving, the pain had worsened. By the end of January, the pain was so unbearable her primary physician ordered a scan that would reveal neuroendocrine tumors in her small intestine, ovaries and appendix.

This is the same cancer U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro had surgery for in February 2023. But unlike Castro, Viagran had little time to prepare or plan for the procedure, which led to absences at City Hall earlier this year.

On Feb. 4, a Sunday, Viagran was at the St. Anthony hotel for the Gurwitz International Piano Competitions awards brunch. She had yet to receive the scan results. It was a busy time. The next day she was scheduled to fly to Washington, D.C., as part of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerces SA to DC lobbying delegation.

But during the brunch, Viagran grew pale and passed out for a short time. People sitting with her called for an ambulance, and she was taken to a local hospital.

They started doing tests, and the scan from my primary care came in at that time, and they confirmed there were growths, and then the surgeon at the hospital came in and said, Yeah, its a case of carcinoid and were going to need to take you in for surgery,  she said. I had no time to prepare.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

She had the surgery on Feb. 6. Tumors were removed from her small intestine, ovaries and appendix. Two of the tumors on her ovaries were 9 and 10 centimeters long.

Neuroendocrine tumors, known as NETs, are small, slow-growing malignant cancers that can develop anywhere endocrine cells are present. About 12,000 people are diagnosed each year with NETs. But because they are often asymptomatic, NETs can be present for years in the body before being diagnosed.

Like Castro, Viagrans neuroendocrine tumors were Grade 1, which are the slowest-growing.



Like Castro, she now receives a monthly injection of Lanreotide, which slows the growth of tumors. The surgery in February removed about 90% of the tumors, and she will have a second operation later this year to remove the remaining 10%.

Viagran was hospitalized for two weeks. After her absence from City Council and committee meetings, her office issued a press release Feb. 29 saying that shed undergone an unspecified emergency surgery and would be working remotely and participating in all San Antonio City Council business virtually.

In March, she returned to City Hall. Her absence in February, and the absence of specifics about her surgery, fed speculation about the illness and potential impacts on her political career.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Viagran, now 51, was elected to the council in 2021, succeeding her younger sister, Rebecca Viagran, in representing the Southeast Side district.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg, City Manager Erik Walsh and some close council colleagues knew about Viagrans cancer diagnosis, but this is the first time she has shared it with the public. She said the news was so shocking, the surgery so sudden, she struggled with how to share such personal health news.

You just had emergency surgery and youre trying to recover from this surgery, Viagran said. Then you find out that you have cancer. Then you find out you have this really rare cancer that nobodys heard of, and then youre like, how do I tell people? Whats the next step?

Wearing black and white Chuck Taylor sneakers, sitting in the office of her campaign manager and consultant, Laura Barberena, last week, Viagran looked relaxed and healthy. She has lost weight and cut her hair, and she says she feels good.

Olivia Flores Ortiz, her campaign treasurer, an artist and a two-time breast cancer survivor, also was with Viagran for the interview.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Im so proud of her because of where she is mentally, Ortiz said. It took me a while to get there. Shes been so positive. Just that mental barrier is a huge hurdle.

Viagran has long spoken out about the health inequities on the South Side and how challenging it can be for women to be listened to when they raise concerns about their health. Now she has a heightened sense of urgency.

I want to use my voice for women in advocacy, she said.

Castro texted Viagran after learning she had been hospitalized. When she learned she had the same type of cancer, she called Castro and they exchanged stories.

Hes been super encouraging, she said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Castro said, Those of us that have neuroendocrine cancer have a chance to live long lives. Theres a lot of good treatments out there, and theres a lot of research thats being done to advance treatment. And so Im hopeful for both of us in the coming years.

So is Viagran, who has no plans to leave politics.
A new study suggests that nearly half of major cities in China show signs of sinking.

The study is based on recent satellite data. It estimated that 45 percent of land in Chinas biggest cities currently suffers moderate to severe levels of sinking.

Researchers say the situation puts millions of people at risk of flooding, especially as sea levels continue to rise.

Writers of the study estimated nearly half of areas around Chinese cities were sinking at a rate of at least 3 millimeters per year. And about 16 percent of land around cities was found to be sinking at a rate of 10 millimeters per year, the researchers say.

The team noted the sinking is linked largely to groundwater extraction and the weight of buildings.

Researcher Ao Zurui and others at China's South China Normal University in Guangzhou led the study. Results of the research recently appeared in the publication Science.

Ao told Reuters news agency that more than 900 million people live in Chinese cities. The sinking problems, he said, represent a growing threat to people in those areas.

The study notes that sinking already costs China more than $1 billion in yearly losses. And within the next century, nearly 25 percent of coastal land could drop below sea levels. That would leave hundreds of millions of people at high risk of flooding.

Chinas northern city of Tianjin has a population of 15 million people. It was identified as one of the worst-hit areas. Last year, 3,000 people had to leave the city after a "sudden geological disaster" linked to sinking. Investigators blamed the problem on water loss as well as the building of geothermal energy systems.

"It really brings home that this is for China a national problem and not a problem in just one or two places," said Robert Nicholls. He is with the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at Britains University of East Anglia. "And it is a microcosm of what is happening around the rest of the world," Nicholls added. A microcosm is an event or situation that is seen as a small version of something much larger.

Another study published in February found that around 6.3 million square kilometers of land worldwide was at risk of continued sinking. One of the most affected nations is Indonesia. Large parts of the capital Jakarta are now below sea level.

Nicholls said at-risk cities could learn lessons from Tokyo. The Japanese capital city sank by about 5 meters until officials banned groundwater extraction in the 1970s.

Nicholls added that in some places, city officials will have to fight the problem by building systems to prevent flood damage. Of the 44 major coastal cities currently suffering from the problem, 30 were in Asia. That information comes from a 2022 study.

Matt Wei is a geophysics expert at the University of Rhode Island. He told Reuters the problem is directly related to continued development and population growth in cities. It is also related to increased water extraction for human uses.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Reuters reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English.

_____________________________________________

Words in This Story

extract  v. to take something out of something else, especially by using force

geothermal  adj. of or connected to the heat inside the Earth

bring home  phr v. to make clear or emphasize something
New York City police recently arrested students at Columbia University who were protesting the war between Israel and Hamas.

The University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles canceled a graduation speech by the schools valedictorian, who is Muslim.

And demonstrators set up camps on the grounds of the University of Michigan, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Yale University in Connecticut. Harvard University near Boston closed Harvard Yard to outsiders.

University leaders are worried the unrest will disrupt the usual celebrations surrounding graduation.

Freedom of speech concerns

Since the war between Israel and Hamas started after Hamas attack on Israel last October 7, college leaders have struggled. They are unsure how to protect students and their freedom of speech.

Recently, Columbias president, Minouche Shafik, said the conflict in the Middle East is causing pain to both Jewish students and those who support Palestinians.

But we cannot have one group dictate terms and attempt to disrupt important milestones like graduation to advance their point of view, she wrote in a message to the community.

History of protests

College graduation ceremonies, known as commencements, have been marked by protests in the past. Last year, students at Boston University turned their backs on speaker David Zaslav in a show of support for Hollywood writers who were on strike. In 1990, students at the all-womens Wellesley College in Massachusetts protested then-First Lady Barbara Bush. They said the school should have invited a speaker known for her accomplishments, not those of her husband.

While those protests were peaceful, some university leaders are concerned about possible violence this year. Some Jewish students say they feel unsafe at their schools.

The University of Chicago Project on Security and Threats published a report in March about fear at U.S. colleges. The report said that more than half of Muslim and Jewish students felt personal danger in the past year.

The Anti-Defamation League is a nonprofit organization that fights hatred of Jews. The group recently sent a letter to college and university presidents asking them to take clear and decisive action to make sure graduation ceremonies succeed.

One of the commencement speakers who might face protesters is President Joe Biden. He is expected to speak at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in New York state.

Protests likely to continue

Statements from university leaders, policy changes to prevent student protests and even arrests have not made a difference. One expert believes that students are correct to be upset about the actions of their university leaders. Edward Ahmed Mitchell is a lawyer and an official with the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Mitchell spoke about the cancellation of the student speech at USC. He said he was concerned that the school would not choose a qualified visibly Muslim student who advocates for Palestine, to avoid what happened at USC.

At USC, the news that Asna Tabassum, a South Asian American Muslim, would not be permitted to give her commencement speech on May 10 led to days of protests.

Then, on April 25, USC said it would cancel the main part of its graduation ceremony, where Tabassum would have spoken and other well-known people would have appeared. The rest of the graduation activities will happen as planned, the school said.

Schools are going to do more harm than good if they try to censor and silence commencement speakers, Mitchell added.

More than ceasefire

Other protests are demanding that schools cut ties to Israel or companies that support Israels war effort. This includes companies that manufacture weapons sold to Israel. Students also want professors to stop taking money from the Israeli government if their research could be used for military technology.

Mahmoud Khalil is a student protest leader at Columbia University. He said students have been asking the university to sell its investments related to Israel since 2002.

Some pro-Palestine protesters at MIT said the university has received $11 million from Israels defense ministry in the last 10 years.

Quinn Perian is a second-year student at MIT and the leader of a Jewish student group calling for a ceasefire. Perian called MIT complicit, adding that colleges should be held responsible for the part they play in the war.

At the University of Michigan, students said the university invests with companies that then invest in Israeli businesses. The university said only a small percentage of the money it invests goes to Israeli businesses and most of it is done indirectly.

Students at Yale, Harvard and Emerson College in Boston are all asking that their schools make their investments public. They want to know where the schools money goes and whether it supports Israels military.

Owen Buxton studies movies at Emerson College. Buxton was one of about 80 people present at a protest on school grounds. He recently spoke to the Associated Press, saying he did not plan to leave the protest.

I would love to go home and have a shower, Buxton said. But I will not leave until we reach our demands, or I am dragged out by police.

Im Dan Friedell. And Im Anna Matteo.

Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on reports by the Associated Press.

Quiz - US Universities Concerned about Protests During Graduation Ceremonies Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

______________________________________________

Words in This Story

graduation n. the ceremony marking the successful completion of studies at a school or college

valedictorian n. a student who is among the best in a class, who is chosen to give a speech at the classs graduation ceremony

disrupt v. to interfere with normal activities

accomplishment n. something that is done for which people earn praise

decisive adj. effective

advocate v. to openly be in support of some cause, person or group

censor v. to remove objectionable words and statements from writing, or other media

complicit adj. involved in something

drag v. to be pulled across the ground without care or exactness

We want to hear from you. Do you think the upcoming graduation events across the U.S. will go on as planned?
Spring is a time of romance and blossoming feelings. Astrologers warn that some zodiac signs should be careful. Passion can seize them so suddenly that they won't think about the consequences.

ADVERTISIMENT

Love will unexpectedly knock on the door of Taurus, Cancer, Leo, Sagittarius, and Capricorn. According to the forecast, they will have a very busy month.

Taurus

Taurus will be very lucky in love in May. Representatives of this sign are primarily looking for stability. They quickly get bored with short flings, so from a young age, they start looking for a chosen one.

People often flirt with them, ask for their phone number, and try to ask them out, but Taurus is hard to please. A partner must meet all the criteria. Taurus always remembers to pay attention to the smallest details to determine compatibility. A minor mistake can lead to Taurus instantly losing interest in a potential partner. Astrologers say that in May they have a chance to meet someone who will pass this difficult selection.

Cancer

ADVERTISIMENT

In May, Cancers will be lucky in love. They will meet someone they will immediately like and want to spend the rest of their lives with.

Cancers have a gentle and sensitive nature. Traumatic experiences have made them very cautious in expressing their feelings. The May meeting will finally reveal their best features in love.

Leo

Leos will have numerous opportunities to communicate with the opposite sex  and it's not just about participating in social events. Fateful encounters will lurk at every turn: in the store around the corner, on a walk, or even in the elevator.

Casual acquaintances will be immediately attracted by their appearance and excellent manners. Leos are always confident in their attractiveness  but the stars predict that they may have rivals on their way to winning love.

Sagittarius

ADVERTISIMENT

Sagittarius are active people who love to have fun. In May, they will have many opportunities to break out of their routine and change their boring lifestyle.

While traveling or partying, they are sure to make many new friends, including someone who will capture their heart. Despite their desire for freedom and adventure, Sagittarians believe in eternal love. If they take the risk to learn more about a new acquaintance, they have a chance to create a harmonious couple.

Capricorn

Capricorns are very demanding in matters of love. In their opinion, finding the right person is a lifelong process, so Capricorns are never in a hurry and believe that they deserve the best.

Representatives of this sign know how to show their feelings with practical actions. In May, they will meet someone very special, and it will be love at first sight. By the end of spring, Capricorns will have decided on their own goals. There is a good chance that the chosen one will take the initiative.

ADVERTISIMENT

Subscribe to the OBOZ.UA channels in Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.
The online HeatRisk tool provides a 24-hour forecast for the public that warns of potentially dangerous temperatures and the likelihood of heat-related illnesses. NOAA/National Weather Service

As San Antonio braces for another hot summer, a free online tool was recently expanded by federal agencies to help the public identify the risks and consequences of severe heat.

The National Weather Service collaborated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to expand the HeatRisk tool, an experimental index that looks at how unusual an areas heat is for that time of year, the expected daytime and nighttime duration of the heat, and whether the heat poses an elevated risk of heat-related illnesses.

HeatRisk forecasts the potential heat-related challenges over the next 24 hours and uses a color-based and numeric index: Green means little to no risk from expected heat; yellow suggests a risk to individuals sensitive to heat; orange is for moderate heat impact; red indicates heat that poses risks to anyone without effective cooling and hydration; and magenta signifies extreme heat with little to no overnight relief.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Heat can impact our health, but heat-related illness and death are preventable, CDC Director Mandy Cohen said. We are releasing new heat and health tools and guidance to help people take simple steps to stay safe in the heat.

San Antonios weather history shows dangerous, severe heat is happening sooner and more often as the effects of climate change become more apparent. Last summer, many cities in Texas experienced a record or near-record number of days with triple-digit temperatures. San Antonio experienced 75 days of triple-digit temperatures in 2023, besting the previous record of 59 set in 2009.

Texas saw a record number of people die due to heat in 2023, as heat has become a leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States, according to the National Weather Service.

WORK WEATHER: After Texas heat deaths hit record, San Antonio workers bracing for another dangerous summer

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Although its too early to tell if Texas will be in for another near-record-breaking summer, the National Weather Services three-month seasonal outlook showed the state is in store for above-average temperatures for June, July and August.

The HeatRisk tool was first developed for California in 2012 and expanded in 2017 to cover the Western United States. Now HeatRisk is available across the contiguous lower 48 states.

HeatRisk does not account for humidity, which plays a significant role in how warm temperatures feel. According to the weather service, not enough weather stations across the country report humidity values for a long enough period to be used by the HeatRisk tool.

Climate change is causing more frequent and intense heat waves that are longer in duration, resulting in nearly 1,220 deaths each year in the U.S. alone, NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad said. Last year was the warmest year on record for the globe, and we just experienced the warmest winter on record. HeatRisk is arriving just in time to help everyone, including heat-sensitive populations, prepare and plan for the dangers of extreme heat.
Soup is an extremely diverse and versatile dish. It can be made from almost any ingredient. Moreover, soup can be either cold or hot, warming.

ADVERTISIMENT

It is the latter type of soup that we propose to cook today according to the recipe of food blogger Eduard Nasyrov. On his Instagram, he provided a detailed description of how to make a warming Italian soup with savoy cabbage.

Ingredients

savoy cabbage - 300 gr

potatoes - 3 pcs

onion - 1 pc

garlic - 2 cloves

oil - 3 tbsp

green olives - 1/3 cup

rosemary - 1 sprig

orzo paste -  cup

water - 1.5 liters

salt

pepper

pesto for serving

Method of preparation

1. Chop the cabbage, dice the potatoes and onions, and chop the garlic.

ADVERTISIMENT

2. Heat oil in a frying pan and saute the onion until soft. Then add the garlic and cabbage. Simmer for 5-6 minutes.

3. Add water, and after it boils, add the rest of the ingredients and cook until the potatoes are ready.

4. Pour the finished soup into bowls. Add a teaspoon of pesto to each of them. You can add chili if you like.
Hundreds of people packed the outdoor courtyard of the new Centro Hispano building on Madisons South Side Friday morning for a bilingual dedication ceremony and tours of the $18 million structure, designed to serve Dane Countys growing Latino population and the larger community.

Today you are welcome to this space of sanctuary, Centros Executive Director Karen Menendez Coller said. This is not only a building: This is energy, this is space. Every time you walk in here, youre going to be bringing your energy into Centro.

The new structure at 2403 Cypress Way is just a block away from Centro Hispanos former longtime home in an aging building at 810 W. Badger Road, where the nonprofit has recently served more than 2,500 Latino families a year.

With an overflow crowd centered around a bubbling courtyard fountain, Friday mornings dedication held in both Spanish and English started with a blessing for the building. Dignitaries, including Gov. Tony Evers, held symbolic objects such as a wild turkey feather, a plate of fruit and an earthen bowl filled with sacred water. The objects were held up toward each cardinal direction  first east, then south, west and north  as well as to the sky, the Earth and the heart. A trumpeting sound followed with the blowing of a shell called the Atecocolli in the Nahuatl language.

The 25,000-square-foot new building has a striking facade in earthy coppers and terracotta shades, a color scheme that is carried indoors. Arched doorways lead the visitor into a bright, airy lobby with a high wood ceiling, slate tile floors and a large reception desk made with black volcanic stone meant to symbolize fire and resilience, communications coordinator Sara Sanchez Santana said.

Everything has meaning, she said, pointing to a large couch in the lobby shaped like a C to signify Centro.

A geothermal heating and cooling system, rainwater harvesting system, solar panels, bird-proof windows, special landscaping and more make the building one of the most environmentally sustainable in the region, Centro staff said. The building has both interior and exterior plazas  the latter to host outdoor events, including a regular farmers market.

Other features include a community kitchen designed for accessibility, with countertops that easily accommodate small children or users in chairs or wheelchairs. The building overall is filled with natural light in conference rooms and office spaces and has five classrooms, including one flex room that also is used for Centros popular Zumba dance classes.

A Play and Learn facility in the building serves very young children and a podcast studio is open to those in the community who want to make their voices heard, Sanchez Santana said. Two panels on the north side of the building with murals by artist Carina Vargas Nunez depict a healthy stalk of corn growing from a carefully planted seed. A third panel will be available to artists to paint on a rotating basis.

Centro also announced a new logo for the nonprofit, featuring a geometric sunburst design. A two-year fundraising campaign for the new building was completed earlier this spring, after Centro received a $2 million gift from Yield Giving, a foundation created by Amazon co-founder MacKenzie Scott. Centros total $20 million fundraising effort included $2 million in startup operational funds.

Centro Hispano was founded in 1983 to respond to the needs of Dane Countys growing Cuban refugee population. It has since evolved to support the countys entire Latino community and in 2017 opened another office space in Sun Prairie.

Centros initiatives are some of the only  the only  bilingual, bicultural programs focused on serving a segment of the population that is the fastest-growing group in the city, the county and the state, Menendez Coller said during a fundraising announcement in March.

More information on the new building is at www.micentro.org/about-the-new-building.html.
A Mount Horeb man was charged Friday with making terrorist threats after police said he sent a voice message by email earlier this month to the U.S. Senate campaign office of Eric Hovde advising that their building might blow up.

Joseph B. Quade, 72, told police he sometimes gets a little political but did not remember making a threat to Hovdes campaign. But told what he said by police, according to a criminal complaint, he said he might have gotten a little carried away and said something like that.

Hovde is not named specifically in the complaint as the candidate, but it identifies the candidate as EH, who is running for Senate on the Republican ticket.

Quade is scheduled to appear in court on May 2 in Dane County Circuit Court.

According to the complaint, police were called on April 4 to the campaign, in the 100 block of West Washington Ave., and learned a threat was made in a voicemail message attached to an email. The email stated it was from Quade.

Hey (EH), you think your building might blow up tomorrow? I dont think you should have any of your people come to work, the message stated.

When he was contacted by police, Quade admitted he sometimes gets carried away in his feelings about politics and will do things like this, but he is trying not to do it anymore. He also said he sometimes has too much to drink and gets carried away, the complaint states.

The charge is a felony that carries up to 3 years of combined prison and extended supervision.
South Central Public Health District (SCPHD) is partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and community partners in Health District 5 to host a local Drug Take Back Day collection event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27, in the following locations:

Twin Falls: Fred Meyer Parking Lot (705 Blue Lakes Blvd N)

Community Partners: Treatment and Recovery Center (TARC) and the Twin Falls County Sheriffs Office

Twin Falls: Blue Cross of Idaho (428 Cheney Dr. W)

Community Partners: Blue Cross of Idaho and the Twin Falls County Sheriffs Office

Gooding: Ridleys Family Market (1427 Main St.)

Community Partners: The Walker Center and the Gooding County Sheriffs Office

Jerome: Walmart Parking Lot (2680 S. Lincoln Ave.)

Community Partners: The Jerome County Sheriffs Office

Hailey: Albertsons Parking Lot (911 N Main St.)

Community Partners: Mens Second Chance Living and the Hailey Police Department

Heyburn: Heyburn Police Department (1800 J St.)

Community Partners: The Heyburn Police Department and the Community Coalitions of Idaho

Shoshone: Lincoln County Sheriffs Office (115 W A St.)

Community Partners: The Lincoln County Sheriffs Office

All prescription drugs will be accepted, as well as over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and veterinary medications, according to the press release. Take Back drop-off locations will also accept vape pens, cartridges, or other e-cigarette devices (without the batteries in the device). Needles will not be accepted.
Magic Valley residents had the chance to meet the state candidates for the upcoming primary elections during the 2024 Candidate Forum hosted by the CSI Political Science Program in the Herrett Center for Arts & Science on Tuesday night.

Weve had an excellent night, associate professor Perri Gardner told the Times-News. We got to talk with the candidates about very specific issues on how they voted and see how they differed and how they were the same... Hopefully, this will be a great resource for the community.

Political science students helped Gardner and the other program professors organize the event and chose the issues that the candidates discussed.

Candidates from districts 24, 25 and 26 attended the event, explained their platforms, and shared their thoughts about recent legislation.

District 24

From District 24, which covers the cities of Twin Falls and Kimberly, Clint Hostetler-R (House Seat A), Chenele Dixon-R (House Seat A, incumbent), Steve Miller-R (House Seat B, incumbent), Jeff Faulkner-R (House Seat B), Edward Easterling-D (Senate), Glenneda Zuiderveld-R (Senate, incumbent), and Alex Caval-R (Senate) were present.

As for House Bill 24, which entered the Idaho House floor last year, the legislation outlined the Idaho LAUNCH program in hopes to support Idaho students who are interested in in-demand careers.

Dixon, Faulkner and Caval were in support of the bill. Hostetler, Easterling and Zuiderveld were against the bill, with Hostetler claiming that the bill doesnt align with the states GOP values. Originally, Miller was against House Bill 24, he said, but after giving it more thought, he supported the bill.

House Bill 710 adds more restraint in public and school libraries on what is considered harmful material and requires libraries to move what are deemed inappropriate books to an adults-only section. Gov. Brad Little signed the bill on April 10, and the bill goes into effect on July 1.

Hostetler and Zuiderveld supported the bill, while Dixon, Caval, Miller and Easterling were against it with a primary concern for local control. Faulkner shared that he wasnt sure whether hed support the bill or not.

Senate Bill 1445 was an appropriations bill that would have allocated money toward providing summer EBT cards for students that receive free or reduced lunch during the school year. The state would have partnered with the USDA to provide summer lunches for 136,000 Idaho children. The bill failed on March 28 with a 10-25 vote in the Senate.

Easterling, Caval, Dixon and Faulkner supported the bill, with Hostetler and Zuiderveld being against. Miller stated that he wasnt sure, considering that he wasnt able to hear the debate during the legislative session.

District 25

District 25 covers Filer, Buhl, Hansen, Murtaugh and Jerome. Lance Clow-R (House Seat A, incumbent), Greg Lanting-R (House Seat B, incumbent), David Leavitt-R (House Seat B), Josh Kohl-R (Senate) and Linda Wright Hartgen-R (Senate, incumbent) were present. W. Lane Startin-D (House Seat A) was unable to attend, but a student read Startins written responses.

Leavitt and Kohl were against House Bill 24, while Hartgen, Startin, Clow and Lanting were in support.

As for House Bill 710, Kohl, Clow and Leavitt supported the bill, with Leavitt stating that it is our duty to protect the virtues and sanctity of our families. Lanting, Hartgen and Startin were against the bill.

Clow, Leavitt and Kohl were against Senate Bill 1445. Kohl shared that the bill would impact taxpayers. Startin, Lanting and Hartgen supported the bill. Startin called the proposed summer lunch program necessary and vital.

District 26

District 26 covers Blaine, Lincoln, Gooding and Camas counties. Ned Burns-D (House Seat A, incumbent), Mike Pohanka-R (House Seat A), Chris Hansen-D (House Seat B), Jack Nelsen-R (House Seat B, incumbent), Lyle Johnstone-R (House Seat B) and Laurie Lickley-R (Senate) were in attendance. A student read Ron Taylors (D-Senate, incumbent) written responses.

Lickley, Pohanka, Hansen, Nelsen, Taylor and Burns were all in support of House Bill 24. Johnstone was against the bill, sharing that the bill allowed the government to decide who wins and who loses.

As for House Bill 710, Hansen, Pohanka, Nelsen, Taylor, Lickley and Burns were against the bill. Hansen stated that the bill supersedes local control and that it isnt the Idaho way to do something. Johnstone supported the bill.

Taylor, Nelsen, Burns, Pohanka, Lickley and Nelsen supported Senate Bill 1445. Pohanka shared his own experiences with students who were food insecure, demonstrating that the bill wouldve helped Idaho families. Johnstone was against the bill.

Idaho residents can vote for the candidates in their district during the primary elections on May 21.

To watch the recorded coverage of the forum, visit https://www.youtube.com/live/Al96lixTnLk?si=zyvrCV3m9TlSKZ3j.

Close Joshua Kohl-R, running for District 25 Idaho Senate, speaks April 23 during the CSI candidate forum at the Herrett Center in Twin Falls. Rep. Chenele Dixon-R, running for reelection in District 24, listens Tuesday during the CSI candidate forum at the Herrett Center in Twin Falls. The state and local primaries will be held May 21. Sen. Linda Hartgen, running for reelection in District 25, speaks Tuesday, April 23, 2024, during the CSI candidate forum at the Herrett Center in Twin Falls. The state and local primaries will be held May 21, 2024. Rep. Steve Miller-R, running for reelection in District 24, speaks Tuesday, April 23, 2024, during the CSI candidate forum at the Herrett Center in Twin Falls. The state and local primaries will be held May 21, 2024. Attendees listen to candidates from District 24 speak Tuesday, April 23, 2024, during the CSI candidate forum at the Herrett Center in Twin Falls. The state and local primaries will be held May 21, 2024. Rep. Lance Clow-R, running for reelection in District 25, speaks Tuesday, April 23, 2024, during the CSI candidate forum at the Herrett Center in Twin Falls. The state and local primaries will be held May 21, 2024. Clint Hostetler-R, running for Idaho House 24A, speaks April 23 during the CSI candidate forum at the Herrett Center in Twin Falls. Attendees listen to candidates from District 24 speak Tuesday, April 23, 2024, during the CSI candidate forum at the Herrett Center in Twin Falls. The state and local primaries will be held May 21, 2024. Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld-R, running for reelection in District 24, speaks Tuesday, April 23, 2024, during the CSI candidate forum at the Herrett Center in Twin Falls. The state and local primaries will be held May 21, 2024. CSI Candidate Forum Magic Valley residents had the chance to meet the state candidates for the upcoming primary elections during the 2024 Candidate Forum hosted by the CSI Political Science Program. Joshua Kohl-R, running for District 25 Idaho Senate, speaks April 23 during the CSI candidate forum at the Herrett Center in Twin Falls. Rep. Chenele Dixon-R, running for reelection in District 24, listens Tuesday during the CSI candidate forum at the Herrett Center in Twin Falls. The state and local primaries will be held May 21. Sen. Linda Hartgen, running for reelection in District 25, speaks Tuesday, April 23, 2024, during the CSI candidate forum at the Herrett Center in Twin Falls. The state and local primaries will be held May 21, 2024. Rep. Steve Miller-R, running for reelection in District 24, speaks Tuesday, April 23, 2024, during the CSI candidate forum at the Herrett Center in Twin Falls. The state and local primaries will be held May 21, 2024. Attendees listen to candidates from District 24 speak Tuesday, April 23, 2024, during the CSI candidate forum at the Herrett Center in Twin Falls. The state and local primaries will be held May 21, 2024. Rep. Lance Clow-R, running for reelection in District 25, speaks Tuesday, April 23, 2024, during the CSI candidate forum at the Herrett Center in Twin Falls. The state and local primaries will be held May 21, 2024. Clint Hostetler-R, running for Idaho House 24A, speaks April 23 during the CSI candidate forum at the Herrett Center in Twin Falls. Attendees listen to candidates from District 24 speak Tuesday, April 23, 2024, during the CSI candidate forum at the Herrett Center in Twin Falls. The state and local primaries will be held May 21, 2024. Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld-R, running for reelection in District 24, speaks Tuesday, April 23, 2024, during the CSI candidate forum at the Herrett Center in Twin Falls. The state and local primaries will be held May 21, 2024.

Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in the Magic Valley, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you dont miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Times-News app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
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.
The National Security Council (NSC) on Saturday said the new narrative of Beijing about the new model of managing West Philippine Sea (WPS) tensions was only fabricated by the Chinese.

This new model announced by the Chinese Embassy is nothing more than a new invention, the NSC said in a statement.

- Advertisement -

National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano said the alleged gentlemens agreement and internal understanding were spun by a master propagandist to make Filipino actions during Exercise Balikatan appear provocative.

Every now and then, China has a new narrative about alleged arrangements in the West Philippine Sea. First, it was the alleged promise, which then became the gentlemans agreement and now the latest version, the new model or internal understanding,' Ano said.

The propaganda masters are clearly working overtime in Beijing to sow discord and division in our country for one purpose alone: to push their claim that the Philippines is the one causing increased tensions in the WPS and provoking conflict because it has reneged on its promises, he added.

Ano pointed out that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has nullified any existing agreements about the Ayungin made by his predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte, as claimed by the Chinese.

As the President has clearly stated, there is no agreement whatsoever about Ayungin Shoal and that we shall continue to do all activities within the bounds of international law and we shall brook no interference in our lawful actions, he said.

The Chinese Embassy is reminded that any understanding without the authorization of the President has no force and effect. And therefore the Philippines never broke any agreement because there was none to begin with, he added.

The National Security Adviser asserted that Ayungin is part of the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines, meaning it will not agree to enter any agreements that will violate the Philippine Constitution and international law.

Ano likewise said the public and the media should take all Chinese Embassy statements about the WPS with a grain of salt.

These are the same people who said that the entire South China Sea is theirs, who militarized artificial islands, who created military bases in our EEZ, who claim that the videos of blocking, dangerous maneuvers, and water cannons are all fabricated by the media in cahoots with the PH government. It is a trap, nothing more, nothing less, he said.
Taiwans defense ministry said Saturday it had detected 22 Chinese warplanes and drones around the self-ruled island in a window of less than three hours.

The sorties come less than a month before the May 20 inauguration of new Taiwan president Lai Ching-te, who China regards as a dangerous separatist.

- Advertisement -

We detected activities from 22 PLA aircraft since 9:30 am (0130 GMT), it said in a statement released at 12:10 pm on Saturday.

12 aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwans northern and central air defence identification zone, it said, adding that the warplanes and drones joined Chinese naval vessels in joint combat patrol.

The median line bisects the Taiwan Strait, a narrow 180-kilometer (110-mile) waterway separating the island from mainland China.

Beijing, which does not recognize the line, claims democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.

Under the administration of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, tensions between Beijing and Taipei have ramped up, as she and her government reject Chinas claim to the island.

Her deputy, Vice President Lai, won the islands January presidential election despite warnings from Beijing that he would cause war and decline for Taiwan.

Saturdays show of military might comes as the United States and the Philippines are conducting joint military exercises, including near the potential flashpoints of the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

The joint drills involve a simulation of retaking enemy-occupied islands in areas facing Taiwan.
A tiny ray of hope  a premature baby girl rescued from the womb of her dead mother killed in an Israeli strike on Gaza  has died.

Baby Sabreen  named after her mother  was delivered by Caesarean section in a besieged Rafah hospital last Sunday.

But the little girl died Thursday, and has been buried with her family.

Sabreen's mother was just over seven months pregnant when she, her husband and their three-year-old daughter were fatally injured in an explosion as they slept. The unborn baby was still alive in her mother's womb when rescue workers arrived.

Though Sabreen was stabilized in the hospital, she succumbed to severe respiratory distress because her lungs needed a longer period to develop in the womb, doctors told the BBC.

"This child should have been in the mother's womb at this time, but she was deprived of this right," said Dr. Mohammed Salama, head of the emergency neo-natal unit at Emirati Hospital,.

"I and other doctors tried to save her, but she died," he told Reuters. "For me personally it was a very difficult and painful day."

Sabreen Jouda came into the world seconds after her mother left it.



Their home was hit by an Israeli airstrike shortly before midnight Saturday. Until that moment, the family was like so many other Palestinians trying to shelter from the war in Gaza's southernmost city of pic.twitter.com/s1jOciPgqX  Yashar Ali  (@yashar) April 22, 2024

Sabreen's uncle told The Associated Press: "We were attached to this baby in a crazy way."

The baby girl's maternal grandmother, Mirvat al-Sakani, told the BBC that the family had planned to adopt her.

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says that of the more than 34,000 people killed in Gaza since the war began at least two-thirds have been women and children.
Guwahati: With Lok Sabha polls going on in full swing, the Government Railway Police (GRP) apprehended two Bangladeshi nationals from New Bongaigaon station in Assam on Friday.

According to reports, the duo has been identified as Sujan Babu Das and Mohammad Junaid Ahmed.

"Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!"

Both the apprehended individuals illegally entered India from Bangladeshs Jaintapur through Dawki and they were on their way to Delhi from Guwahati.

Following this arrest, both the individuals have confessed that some brokers were involved who helped them in crossing the international borders.

They are now been handed over to the nearest police station and more details are being sought about the brokers who are involved in this act.
21:31

Indians are alive today because Prime Minister Narendra Modi facilitated the manufacture and administration of COVID vaccine during the pandemic, said Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday.





The BJP leader said nearly 100 countries today credit Modi for providing vaccine doses to them and protecting their citizens from the onslaught of the coronavirus, referring to the Centre's 'Vaccine Maitri' initiative.





Recalling the COVID-19 outbreak, Fadnavis said many people lost their loved ones to the virus and the future appeared bleak amid prediction that 40 to 50 crore people in the country would perish as no one would come to India's aid.





"Only a few countries had invented the vaccine. They believed that India would come seeking assistance (from them) in the form of COVID vaccines," Fadnavis said, addressing a rally in Sangli in western Maharashtra in support of BJP's Lok Sabha candidate Sanjay Kaka Patil.





Fadnavis said the world did not know then that a stalwart was at the helm of India's leadership who knew how to protect his people.





"Modiji brought scientists together, provided them with the necessary resources, and facilitated the manufacturing of a COVID vaccine in the country," he said, adding that the vaccine was administered twice to 140 crore people.





"Today, we are alive because Modi gave us the vaccine. Had we not taken the vaccine, we wouldn't be here today to witness this rally. It was Modi who protected our lives," the BJP leader said.





Fadnavis said that during a recent visit to Mauritius, the country's president requested him to convey his gratitude to Modi for providing vaccine doses during the pandemic and saving the lives of the island nation's citizens.





"Today, 100 countries acknowledge that their citizens are alive because of Modi. I would say set aside development because 'jaan hai toh jahan hai' (life is paramount). We are alive because of Modi, and for this reason alone, we can express our gratitude by blessing (voting for) him," he said. -- PTI
Yemisi Anderson, right, adviser at the Illinois Small Business Development Center at SIU, celebrates with program graduate Tena Studer during the fall 2023 Launch That Business reception. (Photo provided)

Celebrate the regions new businesses during SIUs Small Business Spotlight May 2

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill.  During National Small Business Week, the Small Business Spotlight at Southern Illinois University Carbondale will celebrate the launch of new businesses in the region. Everyone is invited to attend the Illinois Small Business Development Center event, set for 4:30-6:30 p.m. May 2 at the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, 1740 Innovation Drive.

The Illinois SBDC at SIU is thrilled to celebrate National Small Business Week alongside our community, said Melissa Ray Roach, SBDC director. This event not only spotlights the creativity and resilience of our local entrepreneurs, but it also highlights the support and resources available through the SBDC to help businesses launch and grow. We are especially excited about the new Accelerator program the center has partnered on with the city of Carbondale. It provides funding to help support businesses during this very important initial phase in their entrepreneurial journey.

Honoring success

The event will be a time of networking and celebrating the many ways local businesses are succeeding. The winners of the Carbondale Accelerator Program (CAP) Business Plan Competition will be announced, and Steve Mitchell, the citys economic development director, will speak about how the grant-funded accelerator program and partnership with SIU began and how it bolsters small businesses.

Also, representatives from area businesses who recently completed the intensive 10-week Launch That Business fast-track training program, offered by the SBDC, will be honored for graduating from the program. Visitors can view exhibits highlighting the products or services offered by those businesses at the showcase, as well.

Launch That Business is designed to assist home-based or small business entities in getting their business concepts on track, offering entrepreneurs practical steps for registering their enterprises as legal entities and providing them with simple tips and tools for maintaining and growing their businesses.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held to celebrate the launch of the new business ventures, too, and a reception with light refreshments will follow.

Media advisory

Reporters, photographers and news crews are invited to cover the Small Business Spotlight from 4:30-6:30 p.m. May 2 at the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, 1740 Innovation Drive, Carbondale. For more information, email sbdc@siu.edu or call 618-536-2424.

Services available for all

The U.S. Small Business Administration has observed National Small Business Week for more than six decades, and this years celebration is set for April 28-May 4. SIUs SBDC is joining to recognize the contributions of Americas entrepreneurs and small business owners.

The SBDC offers a wide variety of services to help the regions small businesses thrive and grow. Business owners can take advantage of no-cost one-on-one professional advising, training and workshops, and more. For additional information, visit the website, email sbdc@siu.edu or call 618-536-2424.
Shocking footage inside a Las Vegas high school shows a substitute teacher and a teenage student engaged in a physical altercation, exchanging punches following a heated classroom dispute over a reported slur witnessed by other students.

Re'Kwon Smith, 27, is accused of brawling with the Valley High School student on Thursday when Smith asked the teen, who reportedly shouted out a racial slur, to leave the classroom, according to media reports.

The confrontation turned physical when the student placed his hands on Smith.

In the recently obtained footage, both parties can be seen swinging at each other before Smith connected several times with the student, eventually knocking him down.

After knocking down the unnamed student, Smith stood over him, yelling, while the student curled up defensively behind his hands. "You're going to jail, [slur]," the laughing student reportedly shouted as he was escorted away. Valley High School principal Kimberly Perry-Carter wrote in a message to parents: "We are aware of an altercation involving a staff member and a student. Please know that CCSDPD is investigating the matter."

Smith, however, was charged with several offenses, including battery resulting in serious bodily harm, assault of a school pupil on school property, interfering with a student from attending school, and threatening to do bodily harm to a public school student.

The student was also arrested on unspecified charges. Thursday's incident is just the latest in a string of violent encounters between students and teachers in classrooms across the country.

Watch the video from Instagram user @Vegas.Bartender below:
PRNewswire New Delhi [India], April 27: Sungrow, a global leading PV inverter and energy storage system provider, has marked a decade of operations in India, achieving remarkable milestones in the country's renewable energy sector. Since its entry in 2013, Sungrow India has been committed to serving local customers with high-quality, reliable, and locally manufactured products. Over the decade, Sungrow has successfully supplied over 24 gigawatts (GW) of PV inverters in India, contributing significantly to the country's clean energy transition. The company's products are widely used in residential, C&I, and utility-scale solar projects across the country, powering millions of homes and businesses with clean and renewable energy. Until now, it has been actively involved in various solar projects, including the 250MW solar project in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, the 380MW solar project in Rajasthan, and the Amplus 300MW project, among others. Sungrow India has significantly contributed to the "Make in India" initiative by scaling up its annual production capacity to 10GW. This upgrade has not only added value to the local manufacturing sector but also created numerous job opportunities for Indians. The company's factory area has expanded to 190,000 Sqft, and the local workforce has grown manifolds. Mr. Sunil Badesra, Country Manager of Sungrow India, said, "With the expanded production facilities, Sungrow India is now able to offer customers a more stable supply of inverters, along with a new digitalized production line for higher efficiency. The company remains committed to understanding customer needs and delivering reliable products and services in the future." The past decade has seen Sungrow India establish itself as a leading player in the Indian solar market, with its commitment to local manufacturing and customer-centric approach. The company is grateful for the support it has received from its customers and partners and looks forward to continuing its contributions to India's clean energy transition. "We remain committed to the 'Make in India' initiative and will continue to invest in local manufacturing capabilities to accelerate India's transition to clean energy," added Mr. Sunil. "We aim to provide clean power for all and contribute to India's sustainable development goals." As Sungrow India enters its second decade of operations in India, the company remains committed to driving innovation and excellence in the solar industry, providing reliable and sustainable solutions to power the future of India. About Sungrow Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd. ("Sungrow") is a global leading PV inverter and ESS provider with over 515 GW of power electronic converters installed worldwide as of December 2023. Founded in 1997 by University Professor Cao Renxian, Sungrow is a leader in the research and development of solar inverters with the largest dedicated R&D team in the industry and a broad product portfolio offering PV inverter solutions and ESS for utility-scale, commercial & industrial, and residential applications, as well as internationally recognized floating PV plant solutions, NEV driving solutions, EV charging solutions and renewable hydrogen production systems. With a strong 27-year track record in the PV space, Sungrow products power over 170 countries worldwide. For more information about Sungrow, visit: www.sungrowpower.com. (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)
NewsVoir Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], April 27: The Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai, introduces the Real-life Investment Decision Experience (RIDE) elective, an experiential program designed specifically for finance majors enrolled in the PGDM program. Spearheaded by Professor Vishwanathan Iyer, Senior Associate Professor, Finance & Accounting, and Director of Accreditation, this unique program aims to provide firsthand experience in equity research and portfolio management to future managers. Hands-on Learning for Future Managers Announcing the program, Professor Vishwanathan Iyer, said, "While traditional investment management courses focus on theoretical knowledge, RIDE offers an unparalleled opportunity for students to manage a real investment fund with real money, with each team of five students handling a corpus of Rupees One Lakh for approximately eight to nine months. The program allocates a total corpus of Ten Lakhs, enabling students to apply academic insights to real-world investment scenarios." He added, "RIDE aims to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. Students learn to manage an actual investment fund professionally, applying financial market principles and procedures. RIDE distinguishes itself from trading-focused electives by fostering a long-term investment mindset. Unlike day-trading courses, RIDE encourages students to think like fund managers, with a horizon of nine months. While technical analysis remains integral, the emphasis is on strategic investment rather than short-term trading." Empowering Students for Market Realities RIDE participants undergo rigorous preparation during their summer term, culminating in the submission of an investment proposal outlining their philosophy, stock selection, and risk management strategy. Teams manage their portfolios throughout the academic year, presenting their strategies to a panel of fund managers at the course's conclusion. Structured as a 3-credit elective, RIDE evaluates students based on research reports, presentations, participation in practitioner sessions, investment diaries, and portfolio performance. The evaluation components ensure comprehensive learning and practical application of financial concepts. Overall, the Real-life Investment Decision Experience (RIDE) elective at the Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai, represents a transformative leap in finance education. This pioneering program equips finance majors with practical skills and strategic insights essential for navigating the complexities of real-world investment management. By bridging the gap between theory and practice, RIDE empowers future managers to make informed decisions, manage risks effectively, and achieve long-term investment success. With its rigorous curriculum, firsthand approach, and focus on market realities, RIDE sets a new standard for experiential learning in finance education, ensuring that students emerge as proficient and confident investment professionals. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
VMPL New Delhi [India], April 27: Travejar, a renowned travel operator has marked a significant milestone by completing its first year in the travel industry, satisfying thousands of travelers worldwide with exceptional international tour packages. To recall this milestone and celebrate our 1st Year Anniversary, we are thrilled to introduce our latest collection of budget-friendly luxury Dubai Tours These packages are designed to give an immersive experience to travelers and are meticulously designed to offer travelers seamless and unforgettable travel experiences. Travejar's Summer Packages Include:- The Dubai Short Trip, spanning 2 nights and 3 days, is perfect for a quick tour filled with city exploration, if you are seeking desert adventure in the UAE, you can go for the Dubai Tour Package with Desert Safari, extending to 3 nights and 4 days. Travelers looking for a longer stay can opt for the Best Of Dubai With Water Park Tour package for 5 nights and 6 days. The Adventure Dubai Package With Abu Dhabi extends the thrill over 6 nights and 7 days, covering both bustling cities. Travejar Tourism LLC founder & CEO Pushpendra Sharma shared, "Our goal is simple, to craft unforgettable travel experiences personalized just for you. With a passion for exploration, we strive to make your travel experience really memorable and joyful. Join us on our summer full of adventures, new connections, unforgettable family vacations and cherished memories". Travejar brings over a decade of expertise in crafting tour packages. The itineraries allow travelers to witness every destination's culture, heritage, and charm. Key Features of Travejar's International Tour Packages * Affordability- Offering excellent value for your money without compromising on quality. Our packages ensure you get the most out of your money. * Flexibility- Offers the ability to customize your package. * Excellent Customer Assistance- Provides seamless 24/7 support throughout your journey. Our team is always available to assist you with any queries, concerns, or emergencies. Why Opt for Travejar's International Tour Packages? Here at Travejar, we understand that every traveler seeks something unique & personalized expectations for their journey- be it adventure, relaxation, cultural exploration or simply a change of space. Our Dubai tour packages are curated to cater diverse preferences. Tailored Experiences for Every Traveler Whether you want to explore the stunning landscapes, stunning beaches, or want a cultural exploration, our range of Dubai tour packages has something for every traveling style. With the flexibility to customizable itineraries designed according to your interests and pace, you can make your travel dreams true. Budget-Friendly Options Without Compromising On Quality We believe that memorable travel should come at a hefty price tag. That's why we are dedicated to offer Dubai tour packages that take you to unforgettable destinations without compromising on comfort and quality of your trip. Support Throughout Your Journey With Travejar, you can rest assured knowing that our dedicated team is here to provide round the clock assistance and support. * Economical packages guarantee an enriching experience * Flexibility to personalize your itinerary according to your travel preferences * Seasoned travel operators design packages * 360 Assistance throughout your trip How To Book Your International Tour Packages With Travejar? Booking your summer 2024 adventure with Travejar is simple and stress-free. Visit our user-friendly website or contact us directly via email or phone to kickstart your journey: * Website: Visit our website at www.travejar.com and go through all the available International tour packages * Email: Drop a mail at info@travejar.com and share your interests; our team will help create a personalized itinerary * Mobile Phone: Connect with Travejar's team and speak directly to them. Our team will assist you in selecting available packages, customizing your trip, and booking seamlessly. Contact Details:- * Website: www.travejar.com * Email: info@travejar.com * Travejar Tourism LLC Address * Dubai Office: 106, Building-4, Al Suq Al Kabeer, Opp. Concorde palace Hotel Bur Dubai, +97 1565016625 * India Office : 112, Mahima Trinity mall, New Sanganer Road Sodala, Jaipur- 302019 + 91 9828340000 * United Kingdom: 169, 321 - 323 High Rd, Chadwell Heath, Dagenham, RM6 6AX, United Kingdom, +44 2080049605 (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Former Hollywood producer, Harvey Weinstein is set to make a public appearance in a New York court on May 1, marking his first time in front of a judge since his 2020 conviction was overturned by the New York Court of Appeals. According to the Manhattan District Attorney's office, Weinstein is expected to appear before Judge Curtis Farber at 2:15 pm on Wednesday, May 1, as per The Hollywood Reporter. This court appearance follows a recent 4-3 ruling by the New York Court of Appeals overturning his 2020 rape conviction. Judge Jenny Rivera, in the majority opinion, highlighted prejudicial rulings during the trial, including allowing testimony on allegations not part of the case. While the purpose of Wednesday's hearing has not been disclosed by the DA's office, they have reaffirmed their commitment to retrying the case, stating, "We will do everything in our power to retry this case." The ruling has elicited mixed reactions, with some of Weinstein's accusers expressing frustration, labelling it as "profoundly unjust." Despite the overturned conviction in New York, Weinstein still faces legal challenges elsewhere, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He has been convicted in California, implying a potential transfer of custody to authorities there. The Manhattan DA's office emphasized their dedication to supporting survivors, stating, "Our mission is to centre survivors' experiences and wellbeing in every decision we make, which we will do as we approach the next steps in this case." Weinstein's impending court appearance has once again thrust his case into the spotlight, reigniting debates surrounding the '#MeToo' movement, the power dynamics in Hollywood, and the legal complexities of high-profile sexual assault cases. (ANI)
Actor Yami Gautam starrer political drama 'Article 370,' which has been making waves since its release, recently caught the attention of international audiences. A Singaporean resident recently watched the film and commended its impactful storytelling. Yami expressed her gratitude by sharing a video of the man, a local tea stall vendor in Singapore, who praised the film. In the video, the man expressed genuine admiration for the movie and admitted that he had limited knowledge about Kashmir before watching it. "I saw the movie, and it really excited me. I don't know much about Kashmir, but this is the first time I saw something that was very enlightening," he said. The man also made a special mention of Yami Gautam and said that he loved her performance. "I loved her acting. She did her best, and I am going to watch more of her movies. Keep it up and all the best," he added. Moved by the unexpected praise from abroad, Yami wrote a heartfelt message along with the video and shared her feelings on Instagram. "A well-wisher of ours sent us a video featuring a very sweet gentleman, a tea vendor from Singapore, who shared his thoughts about our film. Although he couldn't recall my name, he apparently referred to me as "the one with all the guns." Such gestures & genuine reactions are immensely heartwarming...It feels wonderful how our film #Article370 has touched millions of hearts and enlightened them. Forever grateful for the love and support. Thank you," she wrote. https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6Qaz02vI0w/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== 'Article 370', directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Aditya Suhas Jambhale, delves into the pivotal event of the revocation of Article 370 by the Central government on August 5, 2019. The decision, which stripped the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir of its special status, is depicted through the lens of realism and factual storytelling in the film. The movie, set in the scenic valley of Kashmir, captures the essence of the historical event without resorting to melodrama, as commended by Aditya Dhar. Alongside Yami Gautam, the film features an ensemble cast including Priyamani, Arun Govil, and Kiran Karmarkar. Produced by Jyoti Deshpande, Aditya Dhar, and Lokesh Dhar, 'Article 370' hit the cinemas on February 23, offering audiences a thought-provoking glimpse into the complexities of Kashmir's history and the struggles surrounding the revocation of its special status. Yami is next set to grace the screens in the upcoming film 'Dhoom Dhaam'. (ANI)
The production team of directors Anas Khan and Akhil Paul's Malayalam movie, 'Identity,' starring Tovino Thomas and Trisha Krishnan, has wrapped its recent shooting schedule in Erode and is now preparing to commence the next and final shooting schedule. The producers celebrated finishing the schedule by posting several pictures from the set on their Instagram account on Saturday. Alongside the behind-the-scenes photos, one of the directors, Akhil Paul, wrote a caption that read, "Nailed down another schedule @Erode..." https://www.instagram.com/p/C6QmVSdOezX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Apart from this, the director also wrote about how crucial scenes for the movie were filmed during this schedule. The team worked non-stop, shooting around the clock, enduring temperatures reaching 42C in Erode. The director also stated that only a few more shooting schedules are left for the film. "Filmed some core sequences involving fire, dust and vehicles over a beautiful dry landscape. With continuous night shoots and back-to-back day shoots under the blazing sun of Erode at 42 degree celsius, this one was indeed an adventurous schedule! Yes, we're stepping into the final leg of shooting IDENTITY. 99 Days. Another schedule down. Only a few more to go...," he added. The Malayalam film Identity, directed by Anas Khan and Akhil Paul, marks their second collaboration with Tovino Thomas after their previous movie, Forensic, in 2020. Forensic was a psychological thriller where Tovino played a medico-legal advisor to the police, assisting in solving a series of kidnapping mysteries in the city. Identity also featured a talented ensemble cast including Mamta Mohandas, Saiju Kurup, Renji Panicker, Reba Monica John, and others in important roles. The film was a success in cinemas and was later remade into Hindi with the same title, starring Vikrant Massey and Radhika Apte. (ANI)
Pro-Khalistani separatist and Waris Punjab De Chief Amritpal Singh will contest the Lok Sabha polls from the Khadoor Sahib Lok seat as an Independent candidate, said his mother Balwinder Kaur on Saturday. Singh's mother also claimed that pressure was being put on him to contest the polls, adding that he will now begin his political innings from Khadoor Sahib. The Pro-Khalistani leader is currently lodged in Dibrugarh jail in Assam. "Pressure was being put on Amritpal Singh to contest the elections and now he is going to start his political innings from Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha constituency. This election will not be fought by him on the platform of any party. This election will be fought as an independent candidate," Balwinder Kaur told media. Amritpal knows the issues of Punjab very well and these elections will be fought on those issues, she added. The development comes a day after Singh's father Tarsem Singh dismissed the reports of him fighting the Lok Sabha elections saying nothing is confirmed as of now and the decision to contest the polls should be that of the locals and Amritpal Singh would contest if people want him to. "This cannot be our decision. It should be the decision of the locals. He said that he does not have any will to contest but he will if the people want him to...," Singh said adding, "We don't want anything, whatever the people want is fine with us..." said Tarsem Singh while speaking to reporters after a brief meeting with his son at Dibrugarh jail on Thursday. Earlier, Amritpal Singh's legal counsel Rajdev Singh Khalsa had also claimed that he would contest the Lok Sabha polls from the Khadoor Sahib constituency in Punjab. Amritpal Singh was arrested in April last year and the stringent National Security Act was invoked against him. He and nine of his associates are currently lodged in Dibrugarh jail in Assam. Last month, the government extended the NSA against Amritpal and his nine associates.Singh has been on the run since March 18 last year, the day Punjab Police launched a massive manhunt for him.The crackdown came three weeks after Amritpal's supporters stormed Ajnala police station in Amritsar on February 23, demanding the release of one of his aides, Lovepreet Toofan. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak has expressed confidence in his party's victory in the second phase of the polls, stating that the BJP will win with a large majority. "Lotus (BJP) is blooming in the second phase of voting. A large number of voters came out of their homes and reached the booths in all eight seats...BJP will win with a huge majority. Samajwadi Party will prove to be a super flop show," Pathak told ANI on Friday. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Congress in-charge Avinash Pande has asserted that the INDIA alliance will win the Lok Sabha elections. Speaking to ANI, Pande said that this election will be fought very strongly by the INDIA bloc. "This election will be fought very strongly from there by the INDIA alliance and it is not as easy as BJP pretends it to be, this itself shows, from inside, they have accepted the defeat...Smriti Irani's statements shouldn't be given importance anywhere...reacting to it will be like stooping to a very low level of politics. For Smriti Irani also this election is going to be tough and the INDIA alliance will win," Pande told ANI on Friday. Pande claimed that the candidates of the INDIA alliance were winning the first phase of voting by a significant margin. "In all the constituencies I have visited, I could see a lot of excitement in people for change. The way voting happened in the first phase, it is very clear that the candidates of INDIA alliance are winning by a good majority. The reason for that is there is dissatisfaction among people, especially among youth, they're totally disappointed with the present government. They want a change," he said. Uttar Pradesh voted on eight parliamentary constituencies in Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, Aligarh, Mathura, and Bulandshahr in the second phase of the Lok Sabha election yesterday. The third phase of the election will be held on May 7. (ANI)
The victim was determined to be a resident of Rampur in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, the officer added.

Speaking to ANI, Ravindra Singh, the officer-in-charge of Ramganj police station, said the incident took place around 3 am on Saturday in the Kanchan Nagar area of Daurai.

The victim, a maulana (an Islamic cleric), was killed in a mosque located in Kanchan Nagar, Daurai, in the Ajmer area, the officer informed.

Upon receiving word of the incident, a police team arrived at the scene, the officer said, adding that six minor children were believed to be present inside the mosque complex at the time of the incident.

The police are working to ensure the safety of the children, who are believed to be the key witnesses to the incident, and provide them all the necessary support, the officer added.

Singh said the preliminary investigation suggests that three masked individuals were involved in the attack.

The police are going through the CCTV footage from the area for more leads on the assailants and their motive for the killing, the officer added.

This is a developing story and further leads are awaited. (ANI)
Expressing her delight at Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's visit to Bharat Biotech on Friday, the managing director and co-founder of the pharma major, Suchitra Ella said it marked as a "reiteration of the work and journey that we have taken forward over the last 27-28 years" since the firm was founded in Hyderabad. Speakig to ANI on Friday, Ella said, "It has been a very special day at Bharat Biotech because the tradition of having dignitaries such as the Vice President, the second lady and also the Telangana governor is the reiteration of the work and journey that we have taken forward over the last 27-28 years since Bharat Biotech was found in here Hyderabad." The Vice President's visit assumes significance as the company has gained global recognition for its vaccine production and innovation, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, Ella said. "The Vice President's visit has once again reiterated that the nation is headed towards reaching its tallest goals in terms of achieving economic progress. Just not in science and technology but also in all walks of life and all the spheres of areas of influence that we all come under, whether it's economy or farmer," Ella said. "I am truly excited not only for this juncture that we are witnessing, but it's a completely different India and not the one that I grew up in. It's a great feeling rather proud to see what is happening in our nation," she added. Earlier, on Friday, Vice President Dhankhar visited Bharat Biotech's facilities at Genome Valley, Hyderabad, which is focused on innovation, research and development, and large-scale manufacturing of vaccines. Lauding the biotech company's 'dedication and resilience' during challenging times, Dhankhar urged greater collaboration between industry, and academia in research. The Vice-President's visit reaffirmed the vital contribution and role of Bharat Biotech in the nation's ongoing immunisation programs and the fact it was ready to combat the pandemic, the company stated in a press release. The Vice President was accompanied by his wife and Telangana Governor CP Radhakrishnan. "The visit commenced with a welcome from Krishna Ella, executive chairman of Bharat Biotech, and Suchitra Ella, co-founder and managing director of Bharat Biotech, who expressed gratitude for the Vice-President's interest in the company's mission," the official release added. The VP was taken on a virtual tour and given a glimpse into the inner workings of the production facility. From the state-of-the-art equipment to precise quality control measures, the virtual tour provided a fascinating insight into the meticulous process involved in researching and developing each vaccine dose rolled out from the facility, such as the Rotavirus Vaccine, Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine and Hepatitis Vaccine, the release added. (ANI)
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.
Congress will hold a Central Election Committee (CEC) today to discuss candidates for highly anticipated seats in Uttar Pradesh--Raebareli and Amethi. According to party sources, leaders of the UP Congress and the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in charge of UP, Avinash Pandey, have also been called for a meeting today. Earlier, a proposal was given from the UP Congress to the CEC that the Gandhi family should contest the Amethi and Raibareli seats and the decision was left to the CEC and top leadership. A senior party functionary told ANI that the situation is very good and they are very positive for the proposal to be considered in a true spirit. There is a high chance that Congress can announce Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi as their candidates for the Amethi and Rae Bareli seats respectively. Smriti Irani defeated Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Amethi. Irani has again been fielded by the Bharatiya Janata Party from the seat. Notably, the businessman-husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who had earlier expressed his desire to contest from the Amethi parliamentary seat, has said that the entire country wishes for him to get into active politics. He also said that Smriti Irani, the sitting MP from Amethi has not fulfilled her promises. "The voice is coming from the entire country. They want me to get into active politics as I have always been among the people of the country. People always want me to be there in their region. I have campaigned there (Amethi) since 1999. Smriti Irani, the sitting MP from hasn't fulfilled her promises," Vadra said on Friday when asked whether he would contest from Amethi Lok Sabha seat. Rae Bareli has been a Congress bastion since 1960 with both Feroze Gandhi and Indira Gandhi having represented it. Sonia Gandhi has been the MP from the constituency since she won the 2006 by-poll. With Sonia moving to the upper house, the Congress is likely to field Priyanka Gandhi who is the general secretary in the party. Amethi and Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituencies will vote in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 20. (ANI)
Two people have suffered minor injuries, a fire department official said.

The fire was reported at around 6:05 am, the official said.

Five fire tenders reached the spot and doused the fire, the official further said.

Further information is awaited. (ANI)
After the conclusion of the second phase of Lok Sabha elections, Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala has said that the UDF (United Democratic Front) will register a landslide victory in Kerala. Speaking to ANI, Ramesh Chennithala said, "Second phase of election is over. UDF is confident of winning all the seats in Kerala. Last time, we got 19 out of 20 seats. This time, I feel UDF will get a landslide victory in Kerala." Chennithala also said that the people of Kerala are totally against the state and central governments. "They are fed up with Modi and Pinarayi Vijayan and it will result in favour of UDF," he said. Expressing his views on low voting percentage, Chennithala said that the postal votes and other votes of people above 80 years old have not yet been counted. "With the counting of postal votes, the percentage will increase... Most of the places had faulty voting machines that had to be replaced and people had to wait for hours... Temperature was very high, so many people went back without voting. This is one of the reasons for low voting," he added. On Bharatiya Janata Party leader Prakash Javadekar's meeting with ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) convener EP Jayarajan, Chennithala said, "There is a clear understanding between BJP and CPM. They are colluded and are together... Now, it's very clear after the revelations by EP Jayarajan that he met Prakash Javadekar. Real culprit is the chief minister (Pinarayi Vijayan). EP Jayaram will never meet without CM's assent." Meanwhile, the Congress leader also reacted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comment on Supreme Court's order of rejecting all the petitions seeking 100 per cent verification of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) votes with their Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips. Chennithala said, "The Supreme Court is the highest court of India. We have to accept the verdict. It is not a slap on anybody's face. It is their decision and we are fighting for a clear and transparent election in the country and will continue to fight." PM 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 the minds of people about Electronic Voting Machine and "their dreams have been shattered". Meanwhile, on Saturday, Congress leader KC Venugopal also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's target of '400 paar' has faced a setback after the conclusion of two phases of the ongoing Lok Sabha election. Addressing a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram, KC Venugopal said, "PM Narendra Modi's '400 paar' hype has been crushed to the ground after the first and second phase of elections. The INDIA alliance is definitely going to win this time. PM Modi's speech during the campaign has been an attempt to polarise the elections. Congress is very confident about winning with a high majority in Rajasthan, Bihar, and other states." Venugopal also raised the issue of delay in the functioning of EVMs at multiple polling booths in Kerala. He also claimed that "election machinery in the state was hijacked by the ruling CPI government in the state". "90 per cent booths that experienced a delay in voting were of the UDF. The election machinery was hijacked by the left. There were also cases of double votes. Even after so much time in preparation for elections, EVMs were not functioning. The party will analyse all the problems that had to be faced in the booths," he said. Voting for the 20 constituencies in Kerala was held in a single phase on Friday. The voting percentage in the state was recorded at 70.21 per cent. The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) won 19 out of 20 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in Kerala. While the Congress won 15 seats, its allies Indian Union Muslim League, won two seats, the Revolutionary Socialist Party won one, and the Kerala Congress (M) won one seat. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) won only one seat. (ANI)
The ruling Trinamool Congress lodged a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer of the state on Saturday over the raids in Sandeshkhali by a joint team of the CBI and bomb squads of the elite National Security Guard (NSG). During Phase 2 of polling for the Lok Sabha in the state on Friday, the CBI and the NSG bomb squads carried out raids in Sandeshkhali and the North 24 Parganas district, recovering a huge cache of arms and ammunition from the house of Abu Taleb, a relative of local TMC leader Hafzul Khan, who is alleged to be a close aide of now-expelled ruling party strongman Sheikh Shahjahan. In its complaint with the CEO, the TMC alleged that despite repeated representations, the state poll panel chief failed to stop central probe agencies from "throttling the campaign efforts" of various political parties. "While elections were going on, the CBI deliberately carried out an unscrupulous raid at an empty location in Sandeshkhali. Media reports suggest that the CBI called in additional forces, including the bomb squad of the National Security Guard (NSG). It has also been reported that arms and ammunition were recovered from a house during such a raid," the TMC stated in its complaint. The ruling party in the state alleged further that the CBI did not issue 'actionable notice' to the state government or the police administration before carrying out the raids. "Further, the State Police has a fully functional bomb disposal squad, which could have assisted the entire operation if the CBI indeed felt that a bomb squad was required during such a raid. However, no such assistance was sought by the CBI. It is further astonishing to notice that media personnel were already present during the raid even before the State administration arrived at the spot. At this point in time, it was already nationwide news that weapons had been recovered during the raid. There is no way of knowing with certainty whether these weapons were indeed recovered during the search and seizure procedure or whether they were surreptitiously planted by the CBI/NSG," the ruling party in the state alleged further. Further, according to the complaint, in the absence of any representative of the state government, the "purported recovery of arms and ammunition" was a ploy by the BJP, which is in cahoots with the CBI and the NSG to "plant such weapons at the site". The TMC demanded that the CEO issue "immediate guidelines/framework, whereby, political parties and their functionaries are not taken steps against by any central investigating agency, including the CBI, during the period of elections". "Issue immediate directions to the agencies and the media to remove all references to AITC in their reporting and issue such other orders as may be deemed fit and proper," the complaint added. (ANI)
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of selling Public Sector Undertakings to industrialists Ambani and Adani adding that the BJP-led government is unfavourable for the development of the country. While addressing a public meeting in Barpeta, the Congress president said that PM Modi looted the money of the poor and gave it to the rich. "They are selling government-owned enterprises i.e. railways, roads, ports, airports. Modi and Shah both are sellers and who are the buyers? Adani and Ambani are the two buyers. This is how the country develops. They are not for the development of the country. PM Modi looted the money of the country, of the poor and gave it to the rich. They have waived off Rs 16 lakh crore of the rich but haven't given anything to the poor or the farmers," Kharge said. He further praised Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru and Indira Gandhi for bringing the Green Revolution and White Revolution to the country. The Green Revolution brought food security to India and generated a surplus for export. Former PM Indira Gandhi inaugurated the White Revolution at Motihari in Bihar. "These people (BJP) advertise that PM Modi is the only one who was born to help the poor. In a country where rice and wheat weren't enough produced and we had to import from America, today we are producing the amount of wheat, rice and pulses that are sufficient for the people of the country to have their meals. This is all because of Congress, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, and Indira Gandhi who brought the Green Revolution and White Revolution to the country," he added. "In a country where not even a needle used to be manufactured, if someone dared to launch rockets, it was Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru and Indira Gandhi," he said. He further asserted that PM Modi is afraid of Congress and that is the biggest reason he keeps abusing the party. "Modiji keeps abusing us all day long because he is afraid of Congress. He is afraid of Rahul Gandhi. Modi ji talks about bullet trains, but he did not even provide a train here (Assam). We promise you that as soon as the INDIA coalition government comes... - We will complete the railway line here, strengthen the health sector of Barpeta, double the income of Anganwadi and Asha workers and in villages with a population of more than 2,500, one more ASHA sister will be appointed," he assured the people of Assam. Assam recorded 77.35 per cent voter turnout in the second phase of polls, which was held in five parliamentary constituencies in the state on April 26. 80.56 per cent voter turnout was recorded in Nagaon parliamentary constituency, while 78.41 per cent voter turnout was recorded in Darrang-Udalguri, 75.97 per cent in Silchar, 75.63 per cent in Karimganj and 73.11 per cent in Diphu seat. Assam recorded a 78.25 per cent polling percentage in the first phase of polls in five parliamentary constituencies - Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, Kaziranga, and Sonitpur on April 19. The third phase of polls in four Lok Sabha seats in Assam - Guwahati, Barpeta, Kokrajhar, and Dhubri will be held on May 7. Forty-seven candidates are in the fray in the third phase of polls and more than 81 lakh voters will exercise their franchise. Voting for the second phase took place on Friday across 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. The first phase of voting for the seven-phased Lok Sabha election was held on April 19 in 102 constituencies across 21 states and UTs, with over 62 per cent voter turnout. The counting of votes for all seven phases of Lok Sabha polls will be held on June 4, 2024. (ANI)
A former MLA of the Congress Party Kunal Choudhary on Saturday came down heavily on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and called it a Farzi (fake) party. Addressing the reporters at the state Congress office in Bhopal, Choudhary said, "I would say that the Bharatiya Janata Party is a fake party. As in 2014, they (BJP) made fake promises like two crore jobs, bringing black money, depositing Rs 15 lakh in people's bank account, reducing LPG cylinder to Rs 200, reducing petrol and diesel prices at Rs a litre and doubling the income of farmers. These were the fake promises of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Fake promises of a fake party." Fake promises and secondly their (BJP) fake guarantees. In the recent 2023 assembly elections, they (BJP) gave fake guarantees of proving MSP of Rs 2700 per quintal on wheat, increasing amount to Rs 3000 a month of Ladli Bahan Yojana, proving LPG cylinder at the rate of Rs 450, a house under awas yojana was talked about and employment for the youth. Every section was deceived, the Congress leader said. He added, "Today the result of it (fake promises) is that the feelings of women towards them (BJP) have ended. In Madhya Pradesh, More than 11 per cent women reduced their votes to make the fake party sit at home." Besides, he further slammed the saffron party over its new joining committee and calling it a fake joining team. "They (BJP) have also formed a fake joining team. If 200 people join the saffron party, then it will announce that 5000 people have taken the membership," Choudhary said. Meanwhile, Choudhary also took a jibe at Union Minister Amit Shah about the latter's claim of changing minister from the area which records less voting saying will the home minister change deputy CM and state health minister Rajendra Shukla as Rewa recorded 11 per cent less voter turnout in comparison to that of previous 2019 LS polls. "Yesterday I was watching Amit Shah's statement, he said that where the voting percentage is less, the minister of that area will be changed. So then I calculated, first Rajendra Shukla will be removed. Yesterday, voting took place in Rewa and about 49 per cent recorded which was 60 percent during the previous poll. I challenge Amit Shah if you have made this promise, then remove ministers Rajendra Shukla, Prahlad Patel, Rakesh Singh, Uday Pratap Singh, Sampatiya Uikey, Dharmendra Singh Lodhi, Dilip Jaiswal, Lakhan Patel, Narendra Shivaji Patel, Pratima Bagri, Dilip Ahirwar, and Radha Singh. The list of these ministers has arrived that there is downfall in voter turnout reported in their areas. What I said is that it is a fake party, fake members, fake joining committee and fake promises." (ANI)
The party was founded as Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) by K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) on April 27, 2001. Later in 2022, it was renamed as Bharatiya Rashtra Samiti (BRS).

BRS Working President Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao (KTR) hoisted the flag at the party headquarters alongside other leaders and a large number of cadres.

KTR extended his heartfelt congratulations and expressed gratitude to all party members for their dedication and sacrifices towards achieving and developing the state of Telangana.

"I extend my wishes to all the party members of BRS. We are celebrating the 24th anniversary of the party. In 24 years, those who struggled a lot and made many sacrifices for Telangana's statehood and then for Telangana's development, on behalf of KCR sir and the entire party leadership, I thank all of you," he said.

"Your contribution and efforts have made us what we are today. We hope that again we will get the opportunity to serve the people of Telangana," he added.

Polling for 17 parliamentary constituencies in Telangana is scheduled to be held on May 13.

During the 2014 Lok Sabha elections in Telangana, the TRS was the leading party, securing 11 seats. The BJP, Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) secured one seat each. The Indian National Congress (INC) party was able to secure two seats.

In the 2019 general election, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) won 9 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 4 seats. The Indian National Congress (INC) obtained 3 seats. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) won 1 seat.

The counting for all seven phases of the Lok Sabha polls will be held on June 4, 2024. (ANI)
Ahead of the third phase of polling, Congress leader Sachin Pilot said that the language being used by the top leadership of the BJP showed that they are rattled and it indicated that the BJP and NDA are not doing as per their expectations. He expressed confidence that on June 4 INDIA bloc government will be formed. Congress leader Sachin Pilot said, "The language that is being used by the top leadership of the BJP shows that they are rattled and it indicates that the BJP and NDA are not doing as per their expectations and the INDIA bloc candidates are ahead with comfortable margins be it North or South. I think on June 4, the INDIA bloc govt will be formed." He said that the Congress is focused on Chhattisgarh. "Rahul Gandhi will visit on April 29, and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge will visit the state on April 30. Priyanka Gandhi will visit on May 2. We talk about MSP, MGNREGA, women empowerment, and the BJP talks on controversial topics." He took a jibe at the BJP on the Agneepath scheme and said that while the BJP has given only four years to Army personnel, for themselves they are asking further 5 years. He said, "It is strange that the BJP was in power for 10 years and it is asking further 5 years. And the youth who want to join the Army are getting just four years through the Agneepath scheme. And they are also talking about 2047. We focus on issues of the public and the farmers." He said that the Election Commission should take cognisance of any controversial statement aimed at polarising the voters. He further said, "All agencies should work impartially, we are all with investigations to be done on facts but it shouldn't be with an intention of revenge, officers and agencies shouldn't work under any pressure. History is evident, that all agencies be it CBI, I-T or ED, opposition leaders are being targeted, and by putting pressure on them, either they are made to surrender or be neutralised. It's not good to suppress the voice of the opposition in a democracy." As per the Election Commission, Chhattisgarh recorded a voter turnout of 76.24 per cent in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections. Voting in the remaining seats of Chhattisgarh will be held on May 7 in the third phase. (ANI)
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah informed that the state government has decided to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in connection with Prajwal Revanna's alleged obscene video case in Hassan district. "The government has decided to form a special investigation team in connection with Prajwal Revanna's obscene video case. Obscene video clips are circulating in Hassan district, where it appears that women have been sexually assaulted," Siddaramaiah posted on X on Saturday. The Chief Minister said that the decision to conduct an SIT investigation has been taken in response to the request of the Women's Commission. "In this background, the Chairperson of the Women's Commission had written a letter to the government to conduct an SIT investigation. This decision has been taken in response to their request," he wrote on X. Earlier on April 25, the Women's Commission Chairperson requested Siddaramaiah to initiate an SIT probe after objectionable videos began circulating on social media. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that the women's commission has written to the Chief Minister as well as the Home Minister in this regard. "The allegations of sexual assault are not just on some random Hassan leader. The Prime minister, Vijayendra, Shobakka, Ashok, Kumaranna, and Ashwath Narayan must answer to the people. I read reports of them saying that the Women's Commission is trying to tarnish their image. The Commission has written a letter to the CM and the Home Minister. The media has to throw light on this and tell the people what is happening in Hassan without keeping mum on it," Shivakumar said while addressing a press conference at the KPCC office in Bengaluru earlier today. The Deputy CM further said that the government will "look at next steps." "Let the media throw light on the issue. Women's Commission will do its job. The government will look at the next steps," he said. On Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former CM HD Kumaraswamy's indirect accusation of his involvement in the case, Shivakumar said, "Let him bring up my name. I will expose him. Is he justifying sexual assault against women by talking like this?" "I did not know what was there in the pen drive displayed by Kumaraswamy then. I now know what is in that. Now it is clear. Media should ask Kumaraswamy what is there in the pen drive now that there are allegations of sexual assault on Hassan leaders," he added. (ANI)
At a time when varsities in the United States are rocked by pro-Palestinian protests, the White House has come in for strong criticism of the "appaling and dangerous" comments made by a student leader of the pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University. according to The Hill. "These dangerous, appalling statements turn the stomach and should serve as a wakeup call. It is hideous to advocate for the murder of Jews," White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said in a statement on Friday. "President Biden has been clear that violent rhetoric, hate speech, and antisemitic remarks have no place in America whatsoever, and he will always stand against them," he said. "Calls of violence and statements targeted at individuals based on their religious, ethnic, or national identity are unacceptable and violate university policy," the spokersperson said. Student leader Khymani James was heard saying in a video in January this year that "Zionists don't deserve to live" and that people should "be grateful that I'm not just going out and murdering Zionists," according to The Hill. James' remarks coincided with a meeting he had with school administrators on a social media post he had made about battling a Zionist. "I don't fight to injure or for there to be a winner or a loser, I fight to kill," James said at that time. In a social media post on Friday, the student expressed regret and said that his remarks were "wrong." 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, reported CNN. However, 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. (ANI)
The world's most famous portrait could soon have a room of her own.

The president of the Louvre museum in Paris recently announced that Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa may soon enjoy extra space, thanks to her fans.

Laurence des Cars said such a move would provide a better experience for musuem visitors, many of whom visit the Louvre just to see fthe iconic painting, reported France24.

"It's always frustrating when you don't give visitors the best possible reception, and that is the case for the Mona Lisa," she said.

The Louvre welcomed close to 9 million visitors in 2023. Some 80% of them braved crowds to grab a a view the Mona Lisa and take selfies with the famous portrait, said Des Cars.

Currently, the Mona Lisa is housed in the museum's largest room, Salle des Etats, behind a protective glass case.

Da Vinci's masterpiece is in good company, surrounded by the works of 16th-century Venetian masters, while just across the room hangs the Louvre's biggest painting, The Wedding at Cana, by Paolo Veronese.
United States has announced an additional aid of USD 6 billion to Ukraine, which will enable for procurement of weapons, including critical interceptors Patriot and NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) air defence systems, the US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Saturday. The additional commitment of USD 6 billion through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) will allow for the procurement of new capabilities for Ukraine from US industry, Austin said. "This is the largest security assistance package that we've committed to date," Austin told a news conference at the Pentagon, adding that the US would "move immediately" to get the supplies to Ukraine. The USAI aid package also includes counter-drone systems and support equipment; significant amounts of artillery ammunition and air-to-ground munitions; and maintenance and sustainment support. The USD 6 billion is part of a USD 60 billion aid package signed into law by US President Joe Biden on Wednesday, which also includes USD1 billion in more immediate aid, Austin said. The Department of Defence (DoD) announced that the "historic new security assistance package" will address Ukraine's ongoing battlefield needs and demonstrate unwavering US support for Ukraine. Austin and Air Force General Charles Q Brown Jr, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, addressed the press conference following a virtual meeting of the 21st Ukraine Defence Contact Group which saw the participation of Ukranian Minister of Defence Umerov and General Syrskyi. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the start of the virtual meeting and sought more air defence systems to be sent to Kyiv to help protest against Russian strikes. Austin said that he had convened the Ukraine Defence Contact Group for the first time at Ramstein Air Base exactly two years ago. The group comprising some 50 members of allies and partners from around the world, marshals military assistance for Ukraine. Contact group members have committed more than USD 95 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, the US Defence Secretary said. "Over the past two years, the members of this Contact Group have committed more than 70 mid- to long range air-defense systems, along with thousands of missiles. We've provided more than 3,000 armoured vehicles, including more than 800 main battle tanks. We've given Ukraine tens of thousands of anti-tank missiles. This year, more than a squadron of donated F-16s will start to arrive in Ukraine, along with pilots and maintainers trained by members of this Contact Group," Austin said as per a Pentagon readout of the remarks made by Austin at the opening of the 21st Ukraine Defence Contact Group. The US Defence Secretary noted Czech Republic's "extraordinary initiative" to procure thousands of artillery shells from third countries for Ukraine. "And the UK has announced its largest single package of equipment ever, worth approximately USD 620 million. Or consider Germany's bold announcement that it will donate another Patriot system to Ukraine," he said. "Ukraine is in dire need of more air-defence systems. And it urgently needs more interceptors. That's going to be a huge priority for us all today. Ukraine also needs more artillery and armour to defend its citizens and reclaim its stolen territory," Austin said. Responding to a reporter's query Austin said, "I would point out that it's not just Patriot, that you know, they need. They need other types of systems and interceptors, as well. And so I would caution us all in terms of making Patriot the silver bullet. I would say that it's going to be the integrated air and missile defence, as we've said so many times before, that really turns the tide. And so there are other capabilities that they need that -- that we really pushed hard to get, and we may be able to the Ukrainians a bit faster." Urging allies to deter Russia from further aggression, the US Defence Secretary said, "If Ukraine fell under Putin's boot, Europe would fall under Putin's shadow." USAI is an authority under which the United States procures capabilities from US industry or partners. "So the announcements this week underscore America's enduring commitment to Ukraine's defence. I'm also proud of all the capabilities that our allies and partners have provided to Ukraine. Our contact group partners have contributed most of the counter-UAS systems provided to Ukraine and most of the 155-millimeter artillery systems, most of the tanks, most of the armoured personnel carriers, most of the infantry fighting vehicles and more," Austin said. (ANI)
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi fighters fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles at two vessels in the Red Sea, which resulted in 'minor damage' to the UK-owned vessel. MV Andromeda Star, the vessel which sustained damage, however, is continuing its voyage. "At 5:49 p.m. (Sanna time) on April 26, Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists launched three anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs) from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Red Sea in the vicinity of MV MAISHA, an Antiqua/Barbados flagged, Liberia operated vessel and MV Andromeda Star, a UK owned and Panamanian flagged, Seychelles operated vessel. MV Andromeda Star reports minor damage, but is continuing its voyage," the CENTCOM said in a post on X. "There are no injuries or other damage reported by U.S., coalition, or commercial ships at this time," it added. https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/1784021287553135050 CENTCOM, which is responsible for the US forces operating in the Middle East, said there were no reports of casualties from the Friday evening missile attacks on the MV Maisha, a ship sailing under the flag of Antiqua/Barbados, as per Al Jazeera. In the Red Sea, US Marines are spearheading operations to defend shipping boats against Houthi strikes, which are purportedly directed at ships that use Israeli ports or have ties to Israel. The Houthi attacks on commercial vessels on Red Sea trade routes started in mid-November, with the group linking the disruptions to its demand for an end to Israel's offensive in Gaza and the delivery of aid to Palestinians 'under siege'. The Houthi rebels, who are an Iran-aligned group, have said that they will not stop attacking until Israel ends the hostilities in Gaza. The US and UK had launched air and surface strikes, which also included fighter jets, against Houthi sites in Yemen. (ANI)
The Egyptian delegates are 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, CNN reported.

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, CNN reported.

"The movement will study this proposal, and upon completion of its study, it will submit its response," it said in a statement. (ANI)
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Omar Ayub Khan has said that he will remain loyal to his party and the PTI founder, Imran Khan, come what may, Dunya News reported. In the proceedings presided over by anti-terrorism court judge Tahir Abbas Sipra on Saturday, the court heard the pre-arrest bail pleas of PTI leaders involved in the violence and vandalism at the Judicial Complex. According to Dunya News, PTI leaders including Omar Ayub Khan, Omer Sultan, Amir Mughal, Faisal Javed, Shibli Faraz, and Ali Nawaz Awan were present in the court. However, Ali Amin Gandapur was noted to be absent; on inquiry, lawyer Naeem Panjotha said he was busy in other courts. Judge Abbas Sipra said both Gandapur and his lawyer were not there in court to plead the case and advance arguments. The PTI lawyer assured the court that all of them were representing him (Gandapur) and would argue on Gandapur's behalf, as per Dunya News. Additionally, Omar Ayub mentioned that Babar Awan (the lawyer), who was not feeling well, would argue on his behalf in court. Judge Sipra said while speaking to Omar Ayub, "To me, you are looking more ill than Awan." Ayub reacted to Judge Sipra's remarks, saying he would remain loyal to his party and the PTI founder, come what may. The court postponed the hearing of the bail pleas of PTI leaders until May 6. Later on, while speaking to the media, Ayub stated that fake and bogus cases were framed against PTI leaders across Pakistan. He said it was the same Judicial Complex where PTI founder wanted to come and face courts, but hurdles were created so that he could not reach the Complex. It was a planned conspiracy. The CCTV footage was removed, he said, adding that the footage could make everything crystal clear. (ANI)
Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza expressed disappointment with the talks held between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, calling them a mistake on the former's part, Dawn reported. Following the February elections, the JUI-F and the PTI reached a consensus and announced that the elections were rigged. The parties have since touched base on protesting against the government but the JUI-F was not included in a six-party opposition alliance against the incumbent government. The Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan umbrella includes the PTI, Balochistan National Party-Mengal, Jamaat-i-Islami, Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party, Majlis Wahdat Muslimeen and SIC, according to Dawn. The coalition held a rally in Pishin, where they raised slogans against Fazl. Following the rally, the PTI had made an attempt last week to pacify the JUI-F chief's anger. Senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser held a telephonic conversation with the Maulana, expressing regrets over the episode. In an interview, Raza was questioned about the talks between the two and his thoughts on them. He said, "In my view, it was a mistake but Asad Qaiser is considerably senior to me in parliamentary experience so maybe his decision was right." He added that there was no change in the SIC's relations with Fazl. "It is mine and my party's stance that Maulana Fazl should not be a part of this alliance," he said, alleging that the JUI-F would reap the benefits of the alliance by securing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's governorship and leaving the coalition hanging, reported Dawn. Raza added, however, that if the coalition decided otherwise with the consensus of the majority, then he would accept it. The SIC chief said that he had nothing to apologise to the JUI-F for and instead called on the party to apologise for being part of the Pakistan Democratic Movement and ousting the PTI government through the no-confidence vote. Earlier, he lamented how, despite overtures by the PPP and PML-N urging political actors to move forward, PTI members were still in jail, Dawn reported. "On the one hand, they say we should move forward, but on the other hand, our sitting parliamentarians from Faisalabad are in custody at the police station," he said. "If you are serious about moving forward, then let's come to the negotiating table," he added. Responding to whether the PTI-SIC alliance was willing to negotiate with a committee, including representatives from the PPP and the PML-N, he said, "Yes, we are open to talking, but only if our demands are on the agenda and the government is ready to discuss them." (ANI)
Blinken, on his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, will discuss ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza that secures the release of hostages and "how it is Hamas that is standing between the Palestinian people and a ceasefire," the US State Department said in a release.

Moreover, the State Secretary will also discuss the recent increase in humanitarian assistance being delivered to Gaza and note the importance of ensuring that increase is sustained.

During the visit, the Secretary will emphasise the importance of preventing the conflict from spreading and discuss ongoing efforts to achieve lasting peace and security in the region, including through a pathway to an independent Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel.

Further, the Secretary will participate in a ministerial meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council to advance coordination on regional security, the release read.

At the World Economic Forum's special meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth, and Energy for Development, Blinken will coordinate with the partners to ensure continued progress on climate change mitigation and the global energy transition.

At the two-day Special Meeting, Riyadh will convene more than 1,000 global leaders, including heads of state, government, and thought leaders from across the public and private sectors, as well as international organisations, academic institutions, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), to address today's most pressing global development challenges.

Last week, after months of delay, the Senate successfully passed a USD 95 billion package aimed at providing aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, CNN reported. (ANI)
Title icon

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.

Title icon

Know More

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.

Title icon

Notable

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.

Semafor Logo
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.
CRANSTON  Facing allegations of mismanaging the nonprofit she started, Aniece Germain roiled the City Council in mid-April when she suddenly resigned from her seat as representative of Ward 2.

Germain alleged that the councils president, fellow Democrat Jessica Marino, blackmailed her. She said Marino gave her an ultimatum: resign or be subject to public hearings on the allegedly unethical activities of a nonprofit agency that Germain presides over as executive director.

Marino has called the accusations sensational, false and malicious, but on Tuesday Rhode Island State Police confirmed the agency will investigate the circumstances surrounding Germains resignation.

Questions also linger about Germains organization, Hope and Change for Haiti. The IRS revoked the nonprofits tax-exempt status on May 15, 2022, for failing to file its annual tax return. Rhode Islands secretary of state also revoked the organizations nonprofit incorporation on Sept. 13, 2023, for failing to submit an annual report.

Then-Cranston Councilwoman Aniece Germain, left, hugs Kappy Bois during a Peace Memorial Vigil at Cranston City Hall in 2021 following the assasination of Haiti's president, Jovenel Moise.

In her initial statement announcing her resignation Germain said it was due to a consequential filing error.

Until now, the [certified public accountant] cannot give us an explanation as to what happened to the filing, she told The Providence Journal via email.

In an interview with WPRI she also said the organization had stopped all fundraising, though it went ahead with a pre-planned gala. Campaign finance filings and social media posts indicate the organization received donations and continued calling for them after losing its tax-exempt status. At least in some cases, donors were not aware of it.

A glitzy gala that people had paid to attend

On Aug. 25, 2022, Hope and Change for Haiti hosted its third annual gala, a fundraising event at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet in Cranston. According to an archived screenshot of the events page, tickets began at $60 but attendees could choose to contribute more.

In an interview with WPRI, Germain explained the event had been planned a year in advance and that the organization was informed its status had been revoked after people had paid to attend.

In an email to The Providence Journal, Germain clarified that a letter from the IRS arrived in August informing her that the agency had revoked the organizations tax-exempt status for failing to file taxes that year.

Among the guests at the gala was U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner, then state treasurer, who spoke at the event, according to a Facebook post.

Thank you to Hope and Change For Haiti for your incredible work advocating for immigrants rights in the U.S. and increasing access to education in Haiti. It was a pleasure to attend your 3rd Annual Engage for Change Gala Fundraiser this evening, Magaziner wrote.

Magaziner was unaware of the organizations tax status at the time, according to his head of communications, James Kwon.

Photos posted on Facebook also show that pamphlets were laid on the tables at the dinner that claimed Hope and Change for Haiti was a 501(c)3 organization, after it had lost its tax-exempt status. The pamphlets invited readers to join the organization as members or as donors.

It is unclear whether attendees were notified that their contributions were not tax deductible. It is also unclear how much money Hope and Change for Haiti raised or whether the organization returned donations.

In attendance, too, that night was Melissa Jenkins, who leads Collective Action Network RI. Jenkins email to Cranston City Council members prompted Cranston solicitor Christopher Millea to call on state police to investigate Germains resignation.

When asked if he would have reconsidered asking state police to investigate if he had known Jenkins supported Germains organization, Millea said no.

I feel absolutely duty-bound in my job as solicitor to take that complaint seriously, Millea said.

Political donations

According to campaign finance filings, Hope and Change for Haiti received at least $1,050 in donations from political candidates after the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status. Donors included the campaigns of Magaziner, state Rep. Brandon Potter and state Sen. Joshua Miller, each contributing $350. The donations were made between June and August of 2022.

Magaziner was unaware of the organizations tax status when his campaign donated to Hope and Change for Haiti. In an email following the publication of this story, Miller said he was not notified that the organization had lost its tax-exempt status nor was he reimbursed for the donation. Potter, too, did not know about it until it was reported in the press and said he did not ask for a reimbursement.

Campaign finance records also show that Hope and Change for Haiti was paid for advertising by Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos and also by Nirva LaFortune, who at the time was running for Providence mayor. Matos paid the organization $200 and LaFortune $350, both in August, ahead of the organizations gala.

Matos contribution was for a post on Hope and Change for Haitis Facebook page, according to spokesperson David Folcarelli.

Lieutenant Governor Matos has been a proud supporter of Hope and Change for Haiti since the groups founding and feels that Councilwoman Aniece Germains work has had a positive impact in Haiti and for Rhode Island's refugee community, Folcarelli said, who added that Matos has not discussed the organizations 501(c)3 status with her staff.

Facebook posts indicate others, too, including Sen. Jack Reed, Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore and David Cicilline, then a congressman, may have paid for campaign posts endorsing the upcoming gala.

Rhode Islands campaign finance law allows candidates to provide a monetary gift to any charitable organization, provided the donor does not personally benefit from the donation or receive compensation from the recipient organization. It does not specify whether the charitable organization is required to be registered as a 501(c)3.

Calls for donations on social media

Germain said Hope and Change for Haiti suspended all fundraising after she learned the organizations tax status had changed. But the organization kept asking for donations through social media, where it still identified as a 501(c)3 organization.

On March 30, 2023, a post asked for donations ahead of 401Gives, an annual statewide fundraising campaign that disburses funds to participating organizations.

Dont forget to donate to our organization starting tomorrow till April 3rd. Thank you in advance for your support, the post read.

401Gives website states only organizations that are verified 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofits can participate in the campaign. In an email following the initial publication of this story, 401Gives virtual chief marketing officer, Ray Nunez, clarified that Hope and Change for Haiti had not been approved to participate in the campaign that year.

They paid the registration fee in 2023 but were not approved to accept donations as they couldnt/didnt submit the correct paperwork, said Nunez.

He added the organization did not register in 2022 or 2024 and was not publicly listed on 401Gives website.

The most recent solicitation for donations came on March 19 this year. The organization wrote a post celebrating an award that Germain received. Please sign up today to join as a member, the post said next to a link that directs to a membership form on the organizations website. Memberships cost $50 to $2,500 a year.

The website this week still identified Hope and Change for Haiti as a 501(c)3 organization. A landing page for donations claims all contributions are tax-deductible and will be acknowledged.

In an email to The Providence Journal, Germain stated the organization did not shut down its website and social media page because they were inactive.

We did not think about [shutting] down the website or the Facebook page of the organization because we are not operational, she said.

A potential facelift?

It is unclear whether Hope and Change for Haiti has regained its tax-exempt status from the IRS or its articles of incorporation from the Rhode Island Secretary of State's Office.

The organization is on the IRSs auto-revocation list, which automatically kicks out organizations that have not filed Form 990, a nonprofits tax return, for three consecutive years. Germain, however, provided photos to several news outlets of the first page of the tax returns Hope and Change apparently filed between 2016 and 2021.

We are working to figure out what happened, said Germain when asked about the organizations IRS status.

Germain has not stayed idle. According to the secretary of state's records, she incorporated a new organization on Jan. 20, 2024, called Hope and Change Partnership. Its list of directors includes names also listed on Hope and Change for Haitis last annual filing to the Secretary of State's Office, though it has a different address, at 63 Dale Ave. in Cranston. According to its article of incorporation, its purpose is similar to Hope and Change for Haiti.

Germain declined to answer questions by phone for this story.

As of now I am advised to not talk to the media until further notice, she told The Providence Journal.

Did the council president have authority to investigate?

A question remains about whether the Cranston City Council president had the authority to investigate Germains nonprofit activities.

The citys municipal code states that the council has the power to investigate the official conduct of any department, board, commission, office or agency, or officer or employee of the city.

Critics of the events that led to Germains resignation have pointed out that the code only specifies that official conduct  that is, business in office  is under the purview of the councils investigative powers.

Millea declined to comment on the limits of the councils investigative powers, saying he did not want to influence the state police investigation one way or another. But he added that such investigations seem to be rare.

In my three years, weve never had ... a request for an investigation, nor have we conducted an investigation, Millea said.

This story has been updated with responses from state Sen. Joshua Miller and state Rep. Brandon Potter. An earlier version also stated Hope and Change for Haiti participated in 401Gives 2023 fundraiser, but the organization was not approved as a participating organization that year.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Germains nonprofit took donations after losing tax-exempt status
A Sabine Parish man was found guilty as charged of second-degree murder by a seven-woman, five-man jury Thursday, April 25 for murdering a romantic rival.

According to the Caddo Parish District Attorney's Office, Joshua Cornell Palmer, 36, shot and killed Dominique Roland, 32, in the 5000 block of Westwood Park Drive early May 31, 2021.

The shooting happened after Roland left Palmer's ex-girlfriend's apartment.

Through witness testimony, as well as cell phone data and surveillance footage it was determined that Palmer saw Roland enter the apartment, he began sending threatening messages to his ex-girlfriend counting down the time Roland had to leave the apartment.

Once Roland left the apartment Palmer approached him and walked with him down the street, shooting him three times, once in the face and twice in the chest.

Surveillance footage from local motels in the area showed Palmer prior to the shooting, running immediately after the shooting, and a few hours later in a motel lobby wearing similar clothing.

Palmer will be return to Caddo Parish Courthouse on May 9, 2024, for sentencing, he faces a mandatory life sentence for the murder conviction and from five to 20 years in prison without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

More: 21 people in Louisiana charged with stealing over $7 million from military members

Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Louisiana man faces life in prison after killing a romantic rival
U.S. intelligence agencies don't believe Russian President Vladimir Putin directly ordered Alexei Navalny's death in an Arctic penal colony, prompting pushback from supporters of the late opposition leader, according to a report Saturday.

The American assessment was based in part on classified information and an analysis of public facts, including the timing of Navalny's February death and how it overshadowed Putin's re-election the following month, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter.

The finding  accepted by U.S. spy agencies including the CIA, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the State Department's intelligence unit  doesn't completely absolve Putin, the Journal said.

But American officials reportedly believe that Putin didn't order Navalny, 47, killed at the time he died.

Navalny was serving a 19-year prison sentence for extremism when officials said he fell unconscious after a walk on Feb. 16 and couldn't be revived.

His death certificate said he died of natural causes, and the Kremlin has denied allegations from Navalny's family and his Anti-Corruption Foundation that he was murdered.

Longtime Navalny ally Leonid Volkov  who was attacked with a hammer in Lithuania last month  flatly rejected the U.S. intelligence finding, telling the Journal that it was the work of people who "clearly do not understand how modern day Russia runs."

"The idea of Putin being not informed and not approving killing Navalny is ridiculous," Volkov said.

Slawomir Debski, director of the Polish Institute of International Affairs, a Warsaw think tank close to Poland's presidency, also said that "Navalny was a high-value prisoner, politically, and everybody knew that Putin was personally invested in his fate."

The "chances for this kind of unintended death are low," Debski emphasized.

Some European intelligence agencies have been told of the U.S. assessment and are skeptical of it, the Journal said, citing several security officials from unspecified countries.

Navalny's death came after he was poisoned with in August 2020 with Novichok, a nerve agent developed by the former Soviet Union.

After recovering in Berlin, he returned to Russia, where he was arrested and eventually convicted of extremism during a secret trial.
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.
Milfoil in Willand Pond in Dover to be treated with herbicide. Some counselors dissent.

DOVER  Willand Pond will be treated with herbicide to remove milfoil, an invasive plant species that ruins ecosystems, using a New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services grant that will be matched by the city.

A grassroots effort from Dover residents to clean up the pond ended in a successful vote by the City Council to match and expand the state-designated grant, though not before the members initially voted down the proposal due to concerns about post-treatment water quality.

A New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services-proposed herbicide treatment plan will be used to kill milfoil growth in Willand Pond in Dover.

Citizens group Friends of Willand Pond received a commitment from the state Department of Environmental Services for a $14,140 grant to get rid of milfoil at Willand Pond. However, due to the group not being a registered organization through the Secretary of States office, the Department of Environmental Services suggested the grant go through the city of Dover, which shares the shoreline of the 66-acre freshwater pond with Somersworth.

Under the proposal, Dover would match the Department of Environmental Services contribution, bringing the total amount allocated to the milfoil removal to $28,280. The herbicide that was recommended by the Department of Environmental Services for Willand Pond is PROcellaCOR, deemed a reduced risk management practice.

While the City has two water supply wells near the shores of Willand Pond, these can be deliberately shut off for a period of time following the herbicide treatment, the citys resolution states.

The herbicide came under fire during the meeting, with one city resident sounding the alarm the herbicide may contain elevated levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), manmade forever chemicals that are unsafe for consumption through drinking water.

Cynthia Walter, a retired scientist living in Dover with a Ph.D. in biology, flagged the proposed pond herbicide as a potential risk, suggesting a dive team should be used as the primary means of removing the milfoil.

The Department of Environmental Services proposed plan to use the herbicide had previously been unanimously approved by the citys conservation commission in early March.

A New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services-proposed herbicide treatment plan will be used to kill milfoil growth in Willand Pond in Dover. This graphic shows the level of milfoil growth in the pond.

The amount of this herbicide that would normally be used in this circumstance would be 1,000 times higher than the drinking water limit for PFAS, Walter said Wednesday. So here you are approving of using something in a drinking water pond that would be 1,000 times more PFAS than we ever should have anywhere near a drinking water supply.

We dont need it, added John Atherton, Walters husband. We can get the job done perfectly well by having the divers and volunteers taking it (the milfoil) out by mechanical means.

Other public commenters opposed their point of view, advocating for the herbicides use and pointing to the condition of the pond as needing treatment.

The herbicide, to me, presents more acceptable risk than hoping we can pull enough of it to prevent milfoil from killing Willand Pond, Dover resident Melissa Valego said.

I am not excited about using the herbicide, but I feel from a management standpoint weve hit a tipping point that something needs to happen because I think the milfoil is indicative of overall decaying health of the water quality, and I really worry about cyanobacteria blooms and other water quality problems, said John Storer, the citys director of community services.

Speaking on behalf of the Department of Environmental Services, Peter Beisler, senior aquatic specialist at SOLitude Lake Management, noted six gallons of the herbicide would be used in the affected area of Willand Pond in Dover.

The motion to approve the grant, have the city match it and spend the funds on the herbicide treatment originally did not pass, failing to receive the necessary two-thirds majority vote from the nine-member City Council. Deputy Mayor Dennis Shanahan was not present for the meeting, and three councilors - Debra Hackett, April Richer and Robert Warach - voted against the motion, while the remaining five councilors were in favor.

Some members of the council were unaware that the vote would fail without receiving a two-thirds majority vote, thinking it would pass on only a simple majority, leading to a review of parliamentary procedure by city attorney Joshua Wyatt.

Hackett called for the plan to be taken up in a second, reconsidered motion to change her vote.

I dont want these people who worked so hard to get that kind of failure, she said of the citizens group. I dont know what's going to happen. I still am a little nervous about this but after seeing the outcome, I dont want to appear wishy-washy, because I came into this wishy-washy. I really have mixed feelings about this.

The City Council then approved the herbicide treatment plan on a 6-2 vote, with Richer and Warach again in opposition.

Richer and Warach were steadfast in their stance, stating fears of potential PFAS being willingly put into the Willand Pond water supply.

I appreciate the work that the public put into the project, but I still dont think that makes it right to put forever chemicals into the water supply, Warach said.

I think that the volunteers have done an amazing job, and it does break my heart to want to vote against them because I think that this is what we need in the community, people who are going to step up, Richer said.

A long-term management plan for Willand Pond crafted by the Department of Environmental Services calls for a resident weed watchers group to monitor the pond, with divers possibly being deployed to hand pull more milfoil in 2025.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Dover OKs herbicide use against invasive milfoil in Willand Pond
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
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.
The Los Angeles County Public Health Department has issued a water quality warning for several local beaches.

Officials say tests have shown that the bacteria levels at numerous beaches have tested higher than the safety standard.

The warning has been issued for the following areas:

Santa Monica Canyon Creek at Will Rogers State Beach. The area to avoid is near Tower 18 which extends 100 yards up and down the coast from the creek.

The Santa Monica Pier, 100 yards up and down the coast near the pier.

Pico-Kenter storm drain at Santa Monica Beach near Tower 20, 100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain.

Redondo Beach Pier, 100 yards up and down the coast near the pier.

Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey, the entire swim area.

Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, the entire swim area.

Topanga Canyon Beach in Malibu, 100 yards up and down the coast near the lagoon.

Public health advises beachgoers not to swim, surf or play in the ocean waters.

Recorded information on beach conditions is available 24 hours a day on the Countys beach closure hotline, 1-800- 525-5662. To view the map of impacted locations and for more information, click here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
A Somali man reacts during a march against the Ethiopia-Somaliland port deal along KM4 street in Mogadishu

A Somali man reacts during a march against the Ethiopia-Somaliland port deal along KM4 street in Mogadishu

By Giulia Paravicini

NAIROBI (Reuters) -Somalia will never accept Ethiopia's plan to build a naval base in its breakaway region of Somaliland, but would consider granting Ethiopia commercial port access if discussed bilaterally, a senior Somali official said on Friday.

Landlocked Ethiopia sparked a diplomatic row with Mogadishu in January by signing a deal with Somaliland to lease 20 km (12 miles) of its coastline in return for recognising the region as an independent state.

Somalia called the deal illegal as it considers Somaliland as part of its territory even though it has had effective autonomy since 1991.

To defuse the acrimony, Kenya in consultation with Djibouti and eastern African bloc Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has proposed a maritime treaty to govern how landlocked states in the region can access ports on commercial terms, a senior Kenyan official said on Thursday.

Before discussing port access bilaterally, Ethiopia must annul its agreement with Somaliland, Somalia's state minister for foreign affairs Ali Omar told Reuters.

"Somalia will never accept (a) naval base," Omar said. "Somalia is ready for commercial access in accordance with the international law of the sea."

He added that Somalia was willing to discuss proposals so long as they meet the country's interests which are to "safeguard (our) sovereignty, political independence and unity".

A spokesperson for Ethiopia's foreign ministry declined to comment.

(Reporting by Giulia Paravicini; Additional reporting by Dawit Endeshaw in Addis Ababa; Writing by Hereward Holland; Editing by Alexander Winning and Richard Chang)
Theres a new business in Glenwood and folks are eating it up.

A Runza restaurant, just the third one in Iowa, opened this past week at 710 S. Locust St., which was followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday.

Its a big thing for the area, local officials said.

We are so happy to have another dining option in town, said Jennie Davis, executive director of the Mills County Chamber of Commerce.

Suzanne Tuma, a fellow chamber member, mentioned the convenient drive-thru, especially for those who might prefer to stay in their vehicles.

Its vital, very important, she said. Our community has needed this for a long time.

Sandi Winton, who works for Jim Hughes Real Estate, added: We needed another drive-thru.

Begun in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1949, Runza sandwiches feature freshly baked bread stuffed with ground beef, onions, a secret blend of spices and cabbage. Various cheese Runzas and other varieties are available.

Also on the menu is an assortment of hamburgers and chicken sandwiches, chicken strips, wraps, salads, fries and homemade-style onion rings. Runza's featured side is Frings  a half-and-half combo of fries and onion rings.

For dessert or just by themselves, ice cream shakes, cones and sundaes are available, as well as cookies.

To quench diners' thirst, there are soft drinks, lemonade, tea or water.

Scott Fredericksen and Ethan Hall are the Glenwood owners.

Its been great, Hall said during the ceremony. We appreciate everyone supporting us.

Besides the drive-thru, the indoor seating accommodates 39 patrons, he said.

There has been overwhelming support, Hall said.

Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week.

Glenwood Mayor Angie Winquist said the restaurant is a boost for the communitys economic development, not to mention a new dining option.

It has brought in new jobs, she said. We appreciate their investment in our community. Its nice to have additional choices.

Besides Glenwood, a Runza restaurant can be found at 22nd Street and West Broadway in Council Bluffs and in Clarinda.

Theres more good news for area diners as Runza will soon be joined by a new Pizza Hut next door.
An AT&T fiber installer uses a device to splice two ends of fiber-optic cable. The device uses intense heat to melt the glass filaments, and a small screen shows the whole process. Dwight Silverman

As is the case with too many Houston residents  maybe even you  I didnt have many choices when it came to modern, high-speed internet. In 2018 we moved into a condo community and to get connected, we could either sign up for Comcasts Xfinity service, which is fast, or AT&Ts legacy DSL-based Uverse service, which is not. AT&Ts zippier fiber-optic service just wasnt available.

So, Comcast it was. Ive been a subscriber since cable internet first rolled into town, initially under the Time Warner Road Runner banner in the 1990s, and I stuck with it when Comcast took over the Houston territory. Ive been enjoying gigabit speeds with them in my current swankienda, but only because AT&Ts offering  which maxes out at a paltry 55 megabits per second downloads  was not competitive.

But now, that has changed.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Earlier this year, AT&T began a monthlong process of rewiring the three buildings in our complex for fiber-optic internet. This week, the service was finally turned on and my neighbors and I finally have real high-speed options.

For privacy reasons, Im not naming the complex. But its a trio of big buildings, with well over 200 privately owned units, inside Loop 610. Built in the early 1990s, the property went condo a decade later. There are many such places like it in the Houston area, both condos and apartment buildings, with outdated communications infrastructure that would be expensive and logistically difficult to upgrade.

In some cases, particularly where apartment buildings are involved, theres only one provider of cable TV and/or internet service. The complex owner has contracted with a provider, perhaps the same one since it was built, to provide services and residents dont have a choice. In other instances, such as where I live, there is more than one provider, but the wiring of at least one doesnt support 21st century needs.

Why does that matter? Because if a customer is unhappy with the service they are getting, for whatever reason, they may not have any recourse other than to grin an bear it.

Cable internet providers have an advantage because the use of coaxial cable allows for faster speeds than telecom ISPs whose thinner wires  originally designed to carry voice communications  are limited in the bandwidth they can provide. Thats why phone providers such as AT&T are aggressively moving to fiber optic internet, which has big advantages  for now  over cable.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

AT&T has been installing fiber as fast as it can since it launched in Houston nine years ago. But even today there are big chunks of the area that dont yet have it, and residents there are left with 90s-era Uverse, or even older DSL. AT&T recently launched Internet Air, which follows Verizon and T-Mobile in offering wireless home internet service using its cellular 5G network.

But even that is no match for what fiber-optic internet can do. Unlike cable and DSL, upload and download speeds are the same. In contrast, unless Comcast customers in Houston are using specific equipment and live in areas where the network has been upgraded, most folks here have upload speeds of around 20 Mbps. (Upgrades and newer routers/modems get you 100 Mbps uploads.)

To increase its fiber footprint, AT&T is willing to upgrade some multi-tenant buildings for no cost to residents or building owners, the company said in a statement. Of course, the economics have to make sense: When the upgrade is complete, AT&T has to recover its costs and then some with enough subscribers at the property. And those costs can run well into the tens of thousands of dollars.

I joined the board of our homeowner association in late 2022. Previously Id mentioned to the board and to the company that manages the property that AT&T might be willing to upgrade our buildings for free. I figured I might be able to get the ball rolling by becoming one of the five directors whod make that decision.

I contacted AT&T and learned that, yes, the company would consider rewiring our property. A team paid a visit and did a site inspection, looking at the buildings layout, visiting some units and inspecting at the infrastructure near us. They crunched the numbers and said we were indeed a candidate.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

AT&T reps met with residents during a town hall meeting and explained the process. As youd expect in any community where there are many different viewpoints about home ownership and technology, there were a handful who were opposed  some vehemently so. But even though it would mean a bit of disruption, the board voted unanimously to proceed.

The wiring began in late January, and I learned a lot about how fiber-optic internet is installed and how labor-intensive it is to do in the three-and-a-half weeks it took to complete.

In our case, hundreds of feet of fiber cable were extended throughout the three buildings attics and dropped down through the walls from the top to the bottom floors. This involved drilling holes in locations that allowed the cable to go straight down, but still be in a place that made sense for a Wi-Fi router to be placed. The firewall material in our attics was pierced to run the cables, but it was resealed with fireproof putty.

The contractors AT&T hired used drills with long, flexible bits to pierce wood between floors, and small cameras made sure there were few surprises in those walls. They cut holes in drywall the size of electric outlets where needed for the fiber connection.

I also learned that fiber-optic cable is very, very delicate. The supervising installer said they have to be very careful pulling it through attics, particularly in buildings like ours that have turns. Pull cable too fast through the holes in the firewalls and friction can cause heat that melts the glass filaments. The glass inside the sheathing can easily break, as well.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The best part: Installers use a very cool device that splices the cable from the wall to the connector in each unit using intense heat. The ends of the fiber are placed into the machine, the top closed, and a camera display shows them being aligned and then fused, complete with a dramatic flash of light. I have absolutely no use for this device, but I want one!

All of the cables  one for each individual unit  exited through holes in the roof eaves and run through drainspout-style conduits to junction boxes installed on the exterior walls. Those were connected to AT&Ts network.

I ordered my service on Wednesday, and by the time you read this  if all goes well  Ill have one of AT&Ts combo fiber terminal and router in my unit. Im keeping my Comcast service for at least a month, and will run the two networks side-by-side. Look for a comparative review coming soon.
The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) has commended, before the UN Security Council, the efforts of King Mohammed VI, President of Al-Quds Committee, in favor of the Palestinian cause.

This came in a statement by the Permanent Delegation of Uganda to the United Nations, as Chair of the Coordinating Bureau of NAM, during an open debate organized at the Security Council on Thursday on the situation in the Middle East, and the Palestinian question.

This recognition from the Non-Aligned Movement, which includes 120 UN member states, is an unambiguous appreciation of the leadership of the King, as President of Al-Quds Committee and his tireless efforts on the international scene to support the Palestinian cause, preserve the specific status of the holy city, and extend assistance to the Maqdissis.

In its statement, NAM also reiterated the call for full respect and protection of the historical and legal status of the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Al-Quds, as well as the relevant provisions of international law and the Security Councils resolutions.

The Movement renews its support for a two-state solution in the Middle East, which embodies the independent and sovereign Palestinian state on the lines of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Referring to the situation in the Gaza Strip, the Non-Aligned Movement called for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, while renewing its call for the continued provision of the needed humanitarian and socio-economic assistance to the Palestinian people, including refugees.
Him continuing this legal stuff and going after her so hard only proves to me he's an abusive pos. Because that's what they usually do after you leave them. Try to break you in every way possible. And this ongoing legal attack still is a form of abuse.



Edited at 2024-04-27 01:29 am (UTC)

Reply

Thread

Link

Shades of Keith Raniere.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

he's taken notes from the wife beater deppshit

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Even if he left her alone I wouldnt trust it. Id just assume it was the calm before yet another storm.

Reply

Thread

Link

I am just filled with rage. Leave her alone!

Reply

Thread

Link

So sick of this abusive asshole. He is following the abuser playbook and still there are people defending him. It's gross.

Reply

Thread

Link

Literally what will it take to get him to stop abusing her through the courts? He really is trying to bleed her dry.

Reply

Thread

Link

Just want him and Depp to drop dead already.

Reply

Thread

Link

The Earth's pollution would decrease significantly once theyand those like themdo.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

not even their families would miss them lmaooo

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

For Pitt to equate common NDAs covering confidential information employees learn at work, with him attempting to cover up his history of abuse, is shameful.



Obviously I will never understand the tactics of abusive men and the lawyers that help them get away with and continue the abuse, but like did they not expect this counter? Her lawyers literally mention his abuse in every sentence. Does he just think people will gloss over that??? I mean I know people will so I guess they just take their chances but ugh it makes my blood boil!



Fuck Brad-yes I hit my kid BUT not in the face-Pitt forever.

Reply

Thread

Link

He doesn't care about how bad he looks in the court filings because the wider public doesn't pay attention to the case, and the point of litigation abuse is to exhaust the victim's financial and emotional/psychological resources. Getting the victim to settle for less than they otherwise would be entitled to isn't necessarily the #1 priority. When disputes get nasty, vindictive people with wealth will threaten to drag their opponent through court for years just to hurt them, even when there's no legitimate legal argument. They'll just do frivolous discovery requests, not provide adequate discovery responses, and file motion after motion.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

I doubt they actually think it'll fly, they're just trying to spook her - because it would be expensive, time consuming, and potentially damaging for her to have to dredge all of those contracts up and have them become public knowledge. The media mill would get content for days out of it, particularly re: her financials. I doubt any third parties would take kindly to having their shit everywhere, and that blowback ought to be on him but we know the world's not fair like that

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

I know ONTD sees a lot of things differently than the wider world, but this is one that I'm really surprised more people aren't angry about. I feel like nobody thinks he's trash outside of here.

Reply

Thread

Link

He's a powerful producer and there are many who found him hot in his youth and beyond. Lord, even Jennifer v. Angelina could probably sell a BONKERS number of physical magazines right now. And no one purchases actual magazines, except for people who are bonkers.



It also has not been a MAJOR thing in non-gossip places.



I could probably text my youngest sister right now and ask her about her thoughts on Brad Pitt and she'd mention she recalls seeing him on a rerun of Friends, has a slight awareness of that ~scandal~ - meaning him cheating on that movie she definitely never watched.



I don't understand it either though, at least not completely.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

omg that troll ryan murphys going to do a feud episode isnt he

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuQvdhe8QDo



Obviously more was shared online aside from the ET clip.



As an Atlanta resident, and a white woman who has zero children - never has wanted one - but also gives a shit about the place I love and knows the importance of things that matter ALL community and her daughter. Schools, HBCUs, Spelman in particular...this is great and matters.



She allowed this for her daughter. And had fun with it and understood, as best able. And now she is going to class, I hope.



Brad Pitt would never. Obviously more was shared online aside from the ET clip.As an Atlanta resident, and a white woman who has zero children - never has wanted one - but also gives a shit about the place I love and knows the importance of things that matter ALL community and her daughter. Schools, HBCUs, Spelman in particular...this is great and matters.She allowed this for her daughter. And had fun with it and understood, as best able. And now she is going to class, I hope.Brad Pitt would never.

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

When I worked in retail, we sold Dior Sauvage a lot. Johnny Depp is the face of that fragrance. During the whole trial with him and Amber, I had customers telling me that she was a piece of shit and a liar and immature and that Johnny Depp was innocent or somehow, she was just worse.



It was truly baffling and I made no attempt to hide my facial expressions about how stupid and distasteful I thought these people were.

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

My husband isnt into pop culture at all but I tell him about some stuff like this. I kinda worry sometimes he thinks Im into pop culture conspiracy theories because of how different the mainstream is from what were discussing here.



Its like were living in a different universe from the one People readers are in. Its so insidious how were the tiny minority to even know this stuff.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Ive seen people say hes abusive on Reddit.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

I think most people aren't paying attention to this story, TBH.



The ones who might be aware don't hate Pitt. Despite how shitty he is beyond this, people don't hold him accountable. Remember the houses that were supposed to be built in New Orleans?

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Fucking Christ. If she - a beloved multimillionaire - has to continue to endure his abusive tactics nearly a decade later, imagine the shit survivors who dont have the funds to have lawyers and PR have to deal with when they escape their abusers.



Reply

Thread

Link

His career remains unscathed, women still want to date him, he finally got that (undeserved) Oscar, and yet he still wants to continue abusing her. I seriously wish him nothing but the worst.

Reply

Thread

Link





https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/aug/17/brad-pitt-foundation-settlement-owners-faulty-post-katrina-houses His stupid "Make it Right" foundation made the residents of the shitty houses he built in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans sign non-disclosure agreements and then disappeared without doing any of the repairs. Seems like he makes a habit of weaponizing NDAs to protect his image. Fuck that dude.

Reply

Thread

Link

Honestly the way he left those people after all theyd already been through makes my blood boil. Classic white saviourism attitude Turn up. Look at me Im helping all the poor (mostly black) people Katrina displaced and traumatised! Ive hired a bunch of fancy people with no idea how to build for your local climate. Thanks for the good PR. K never talk to me again, bye 

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

It's genuinely infuriating. Like how the fuck do you build a house without gutters in a state that gets more rain than literally anywhere else in the country. Bullshit vanity project from a morally bankrupt abuser.

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

It was both pitt and William McDonough who were involved with that organization and then then Pitt pulled out eventually after raising awareness for the cause and money. Over 20 million was paid out to people who received defective homes (honestly as someone who studied industrial design and product engineeringmold and rot was bound to happen to any structure immediately built directly after Katrina if they were not created from brick, concrete, etc with heavy duty hvac systems which none of these hadbamboo treated with fungicide just was not going to cut it)

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

He is clearly a monster. Fucking leave the kids and her alone, cut your losses, and move on. He could literally do that, never see each other face to face again and both would be okay.



The desire to destroy her - even though she's clearly in the right and the better person - is ugly and gross and abuse on a level that no one in an abusive marriage, wealth be damned, should have to deal with.



Fuck Brad Pitt and his ugly face and his grip on silly ~culture~ because some (P)eople with poor taste deemed him ~hot~ once upon a time.



Screw this man, but mostly, just screw him as a human. It ain't gendered. Brad Pitt is garbage.

Reply

Thread

Link

this fucking prick

Reply

Thread

Link

i want him to fall in a hole

Reply

Thread

Link
Via Metal Miner

By now, anyone in the metals market will know that the U.S. and UK recently banned the consumption of Russian aluminum, copper, and nickel produced from April 13 onward. While metal already on the London Metal Exchange (LME) and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) are still available for consumption, no metal delivered after this date is acceptable. This holds true whether buyers purchase the metal directly or have it physically delivered to the exchange to settle a contract.

The Metals Market Continues to React to the Russian Ban

Russia produces about 6% of global nickel, 5% of aluminum, and 4% of copper. That said, the biggest impact is arguably for nickel. This is because Russia is the worlds second-largest refined class 1 nickel producer after China, and class 1 nickel is currently the only type deliverable on the LME. Russian Aluminum also dominates the LMEs warehouse system, making up some 90% of available metal. Indeed, many in the metals industry consider Russias position to be a fundamental weakness that the LME has been unable to redress.

Consumers, on the other hand, seem more concerned about what comes next for the metals market. Does banning Russian metals, which average about half of the LMEs inventory but almost none of the CMEs, mean that the two markets will split? Will an arbitrage open up with the CME at a premium and the LME at a discount, thus reflecting the less accessible nature of such a significant portion of the LMEs inventory?

So far, there is no evidence of this. Still, we are only a week into the new regime. Over the last six months, there has been a mass removal of non-Russian aluminum brands from the LME.

Traders Shift Focus to Russian Warrants Amid Ban Fallout

For some time, Indian metal comprised some 50% of inventory levels, but it was diligently sought out and removed by traders. After the Russian ban, those same traders switched to a wholly different game: buying up Russian warrants, taking them off the market, and then delivering them back.

This makes the metal ineligible for Western consumers, and the buyers receive kickbacks on the warehouse rent in the expectation that the metal will sit there indefinitely. That is, the metal will remain there until someone finds a way to economically get it to a market that is not participating in the ban, such as China or India.

China Remains a Massive Consumer of Russian Metal

Other metals market insiders continue to speculate on other issues. Specifically, they want to know whether the predominance of Russian metal in Europe and Asia will depress the physical delivery premiums in those locations or inflate the U.S. Mid-West delivery premium to reflect the greater desirability of the CMEs inventory.

There is already a stark divergence in premiums, with Europe at twice the level and the U.S. at some three times the level of Japans Asian Main Japanese Port price. This reflects the overall tightness of the regions relative to one another.

While Japan does not import Russian aluminum, consumption by its neighbors still depresses the regional price. For instance, China is almost certainly buying the large volumes of Russian aluminum it consumes at a sharp discount to the LME, much as the region buys Russian oil at a sharp discount to global oil prices.

For the time being, Russian metal will likely suffer a discount from the LME/CME price for physical trades. Apart from the unwarranted/re-warrant game underway this month, only those countries not recognizing the U.S./UK ban will accept Russian metal. And, lets face it, currently applies to most of the world.

By Stuart Burns

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Central Asian states are knocking down trade barriers, addressing a prerequisite for the formation of a unified regional market. The recent diplomatic efforts appear to have caught the attention of the Kremlin, which worries that freer trade in Central Asia will facilitate the expansion of commercial networks bypassing Russia.

The creation of a unified Central Asian market enabling the seamless movement of goods and services is a central aim of a regional economic blueprint supported by the United States, known as the B5+1 process. That plan, launched in March, calls for the five Central Asian states  Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan  to take the lead in fostering regional free trade and the diversification of export routes.

Given the flurry of diplomatic activity in mid-April, Central Asian leaders seem intent on exploring the B5+1s potential. The rationale underpinning the B5+1 holds that a Central Asia with simplified customs procedures, along with effective mechanisms to protect property rights and resolve commercial disputes, will be able to attract more Western trade and investment. That, in turn, will make the Middle Corridor trade route the most lucrative option for regional governments and business.

On April 18, a meeting between Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and his Tajik counterpart, Emomali Rahmon, yielded 28 interstate agreements covering a variety of political, economic and social areas. Two agreements aim to specifically facilitate Uzbek-Tajik trade, one to streamline customs procedures at road, rail and air border checkpoints, and another covering industrial property rights.

Prior to Mirziyoyevs visit, roughly 600 officials and business executives from both states attended an investment forum in Dushanbe, the Tajik capital. According to the Uzbek Trade Ministry, participants were most interested in developing joint projects in the mining and green energy sectors. They also focused on expanding trade.

The Tajik news service, Asia-Plus, reported that the two countries are working together to create a free trade zone at the Oybek-Fotekhobod border crossing, as well as construct a logistics hub at Andarkhan, in the Ferghana Valley. In addition, Tajikistans official Khovar news agency reported the two countries were preparing to eliminate the need for filling out time-consuming permit forms at Tajik-Uzbek border points for freight-carrying trucks transiting through the two countries.

According to official Tajik numbers, bilateral trade turnover totaled $505 million in 2023. But officials aim to increase annual turnover to $2 billion in the coming years, according to one Uzbek media report.

The same figure  $2 billion  was the bilateral turnover target mentioned by Kazakhstans president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, after he signed a series of bilateral agreements with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on April 19. Two of those agreements concerned measures to ease cross-border movement. At a news conference following the signing ceremony, Tokayev said a major bilateral goal is boosting the exchange of manufactured goods.

We have come to a common conclusion that there should be no unresolved issues between our countries. Particular attention was paid to strengthening trade and economic ties, Tokayev said. He added that specific measures are being implemented to facilitate trade, including the digitalization of customs operations at numerous Kazakh-Kyrgyz border crossings. The upgrades are expected to be completed by 2028.

Following up on his talks with Japarov, Tokayev held phone discussions with Uzbekistans Mirziyoyev on April 23. Though details were scant on the substance of those talks, regional trade was likely a topic. The dynamic development of bilateral relations and cooperation at the regional level was emphasized, Tokayevs presidential press service noted.

Trade statistics indicate that interstate truck-borne freight traffic increased in Central Asia in early 2024. But not all the news is good for free-trade boosters.

Perhaps Central Asias most fractious bilateral relationship at the moment is Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan; trade turnover between those two states amounted to just $2.2 million during the first quarter of 2024, one-fifth the level during the same period last year. Border disputes have sparked armed clashes in recent years, and roughly 10 percent of the Tajik-Kyrgyz border still hasnt been delimited.

All the movement in Central Asia toward facilitating trade seems to be unsettling to Moscow. A report on the recent diplomatic developments in Central Asia, published April 21 by the moderately pro-Kremlin Nezavisimaya Gazeta, sought to downplay the potential of a functional region-wide market.

The article cited an expert on Central Asia named Serdar Aitakov, who indicated that Turkmenistan would remain a major obstacle for the foreseeable future to efforts to promote connectivity. Among the countrys problems is a catastrophically short supply of qualified personnel to organize international cooperation within the framework of contractual mechanisms. While that may be the case, Ashgabats interest in expanding regional trade seems relatively high, evidenced by the large delegation that the government sent to the inaugural B5+1 conference in Almaty.

Alexander Knyazev, a researcher at MGIMO University, one of Russias most prestigious institutions of higher learning, described talk of regional economic integration as premature, pointing out that no multilateral trade discussions have made progress on forming a common market. An amalgamation of bilateral agreements, not illusory multilateral formats, will shape regional trade, Knyazev contended, taking a swipe at the B5+1 vision.

Even so, bilateral agreements make it easier for regional states to find common ground. The communique issued at the end of the B5+1 conference in Almaty noted that trade and transit costs are 60 percent higher in land-locked Central Asia than in countries with connection to the sea, going on to note that participants agreed that [trade] costs can be reduced by addressing non-geographical barriers that impede the flow of goods and people across borders.

The agreements signed in mid-April show that Central Asian leaders are addressing this key point.

By Eurasianet.org

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Some interesting moments were observed at the welcoming ceremony of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in Berlin. When President Ilham Aliyev arrived at to the German Chancellor's office, Azerbaijanis living in this country started chanting the slogan Long live the Supreme Commander-in-Chief!

The state flag of Azerbaijan was waved during the welcome. The Azerbaijani community held a rally in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin in support of Azerbaijan and the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Participants in the action, which was accompanied by an overture from the opera Koroglu, emphasized that the President of Azerbaijan made consistent efforts to achieve peace with Armenia and any pressure attempts on our country were unacceptable.

President Ilham Aliyev participated in the High Level Segment of the 15th Petersberg Climate Dialogue at the invitation of Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany.
The remains of a former 1900s-era and 1950s-era meatpacking complex seen Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Houston. Radom Capital, a commercial real estate developer, is partnering with Triten Real Estate Partners to transform the warehouse into a mixed-use development, called The Swift Building, in the Houston Heights. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

A Houston development team known for turning run-down, defunct buildings into hip, bustling projects is planning to transform a historic warehouse complex into a 4.47-acre mixed-use project in the Heights.

Radom Capital and Triten Real Estate are planning to launch construction later this year on an ambitious reimagining of the former Swift and Co. refinery complex at 621 Waverly, along the Heights Hike-and-Bike Trail. The development is next to M-K-T, the mixed-use project Triten and Radom redeveloped during the pandemic.

Dubbed the Swift Building, the project will include more than 60,000 square feet of renovated space for retail, small offices and up to six restaurants  all with patios overlooking the popular hike-and-bike trail. As they did at M-K-T, the developers plan to revamp the green space between their property and the trail, adding fresh landscaping and pathways inviting pedestrians into the project.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Swift, M-K-T and Heights Mercantile a half mile away are transforming deteriorating, forgotten spaces near the trail into a corridor of cultural hubs in one of Houston's most popular neighborhoods.

Swift is a natural extension of our shared vision for M-K-T. Rather than tear down an important symbol of Houstons  and the Heights'  past, we instead want to embrace its character and repurpose it into a truly unique community amenity and experience, said Scott Arnoldy, founder of Triten Real Estate Partners.

Radom Capital and Triten Real Estate Partners are planning a nearly 4.5-acre adaptive reuse of the historic Swift meatpacking and cottonseed oil refinery in the Houston Heights. The design by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture embraces the historic character of the buildings while reimagining spaces for modern restaurants, retailers and offices. Landscape architects Edgeland's design enhances green spaces and pedestrian connections from the project to the adjacent hike-and-bike trail. Michael Hsu Office of Architecture

The retail and restaurant spaces at The Swift Building site are intended to interact with the nearby hike-and-bike trail. Embracing green space has become a theme in co-developer Radom Capital's Houston projects, which include Montrose Collective, Heights Mercantile and the former Stages Theater building on Allen Parkway, as well as M-K-T, the latter of which was co-developed with Triten Real Estate Partners. Michael Hsu Office of Architecture

Construction is expected to begin at the end of 2024 and wrap up in 2025, with restaurants likely moving in the next year.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Unlike the formerly drab retro warehouses the team converted into a colorful, contemporary complex at M-K-T, the existing brick buildings at the Swift site offer a historic character that developers want to retain.

We always had a maximalist approach (at M-K-T) because you were dealing with really ugly precast buildings where you almost have to do these (in) really big colors and elements. Here, the beauty lies in preserving what's already interesting and layering in smaller details, said Steve Radom, managing principal at Radom Capital.

The Swift complex started as a cottonseed oil refinery in 1917, but by the early 1950s Swift and Co. announced plans to convert the site into what was said to be the largest meatpacking facility in the South at the time, capable of processing 1 million pounds of meat weekly, according to National Register of Historic Places documents.

In one building where meat factory workers used to render fat, 25-foot-tall ceilings are held up by large concrete columns, creating a grand sense of scale that would otherwise be too costly to replicate today, Radom said. In another building once used for cold storage, thick mustard-colored insulation covers brick that developers intend to expose. Broken windows and graffiti-covered walls will be restored throughout. Discarded pieces of insulation littering a roof will be cleaned, and that space will be converted into a rooftop cocktail lounge.

You have to look past the rust and the current condition at the bones. We think that there's something that is sort of raw and imperfect thats hard to replicate, Radom said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Radom Capital and Triten Real Estate Partners are planning a nearly 4.5-acre adaptive reuse of the historic Swift meatpacking and cottonseed oil refinery in the Houston Heights. The design by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture embraces the historic character of the buildings while reimagining spaces for modern restaurants, retailers and offices. Landscape architects Edgeland's design enhances green spaces and pedestrian connections from the project to the adjacent hike-and-bike trail. Michael Hsu Office of Architecture The rooftop will be cleaned up and turned into a cocktail lounge at the former Swift and Company meatpacking facility in The Heights as part of a new adaptive reuse project. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Every restaurant will have a patio facing the hike-and-bike trail. There is space for about 25,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space at The Swift Building. Michael Hsu Office of Architecture The rooftop will be cleaned up and turned into a potential rooftop cocktail lounge or restaurant within the Swift building complex. In the back of the photo is an area that will turn into additional office space. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Radom Capital and Triten Real Estate Partners are planning a nearly 4.5-acre adaptive reuse of the historic Swift meatpacking and cottonseed oil refinery in the Houston Heights. The design by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture embraces the historic character of the buildings while reimagining spaces for modern restaurants, retailers and offices. Landscape architects Edgeland's design enhances green spaces and pedestrian connections from the project to the adjacent hike-and-bike trail. Michael Hsu Office of Architecture Over the years, the Swift site changed hands and at one point was owned by a produce grocery supplier who used parts of the complex for cold storage, according to Radom. Thick pieces of insulation cover some of the original brick that the developers want to expose and restore as part of The Swift Building adaptive reuse project. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Exposed brick and concrete at The Swift Building lend a sense of authenticity to the redevelopment of the original buildings, which were constructed in the early 1900s and 1950s. Michael Hsu Office of Architecture A view of downtown can be seen from the window of what will become a future office space with tall ceilings and plenty of natural light at the Swift Building redevelopment. Throughout the project, windows will be replaced with energy efficient windows that still match the historic character of the site. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Radom Capital and Triten Real Estate Partners are planning a nearly 4.5-acre adaptive reuse of the historic Swift meatpacking and cottonseed oil refinery in the Houston Heights. The design by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture embraces the historic character of the buildings while reimagining spaces for modern restaurants, retailers and offices. Landscape architects Edgeland's design enhances green spaces and pedestrian connections from the project to the adjacent hike-and-bike trail. Michael Hsu Office of Architecture A wooded ravine between M-K-T and the Swift site. will be cleaned up and walking paths will be added to connect the two projects. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer The Swift Building complex is expected to have about 35,000 square feet of boutique office space in The Heights. Michael Hsu Office of Architecture None of the buildings will be torn down, but they will be extensively restored and cleaned up as part of the adaptive reuse of the Swift warehouse complex in the Heights by co-developers Triten Real Estate and Radom Capital. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Radom Capital and Triten Real Estate Partners are planning a nearly 4.5-acre adaptive reuse of the historic Swift meatpacking and cottonseed oil refinery in the Houston Heights. The design by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture embraces the historic character of the buildings while reimagining spaces for modern restaurants, retailers and offices. Landscape architects Edgeland's design enhances green spaces and pedestrian connections from the project to the adjacent hike-and-bike trail. Michael Hsu Office of Architecture A large cement vat that was part of an area where meatpacking workers used to render fat may be removed, depending on the future tenant, but the rest of the building will be restored and reclaimed as a restaurant space with tall 25-foot-tall ceilings at The Swift Building redevelopment in the Heights. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Existing brick and concrete columns will be maintained and restored at The Swift Building redevelopment. Michael Hsu Office of Architecture The existing brick will be cleaned up and restored at the former Swift warehouse site. Developers are pursuing historic tax credits which will limit what they can and cannot do with the Heights property as part of the Swift Building redevelopment. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Radom Capital and Triten Real Estate Partners are planning a nearly 4.5-acre adaptive reuse of the historic Swift meatpacking and cottonseed oil refinery in the Houston Heights. The design by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture embraces the historic character of the buildings while reimagining spaces for modern restaurants, retailers and offices. Landscape architects Edgeland's design enhances green spaces and pedestrian connections from the project to the adjacent hike-and-bike trail. Michael Hsu Office of Architecture Graffiti covers the abandoned remains of a former Swift warehouse complex seen, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Houston. Radom Capital, a commercial real estate developer, is partnering with Triten Real Estate to transform the warehouse into a mixed-use development. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer The remains of a former historic ndustrial warehouse is seen, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Houston. Radom Capital, a commercial real estate developer, is partnering with Triten Real Estate to transform the warehouse into a mixed-use development. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer To the right of the photo, a relatively new apartment complex in The Heights can be seen near The Swift Building redevelopment. Hundreds of new apartments have opened up in recent years near the former Swift warehouse site, which could provide more activity to the future retail tenants in The Heights-area project, Triten and Radom say. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer The remains of a former historic industrial warehouse is seen, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Houston. Radom Capital, a commercial real estate developer, is partnering with Triten Real Estate to transform the warehouse into a mixed-use development. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Radom Capital and Triten Real Estate Partners are planning a nearly 4.5-acre adaptive reuse of the historic Swift meatpacking and cottonseed oil refinery in the Houston Heights. The design by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture embraces the historic character of the buildings while reimagining spaces for modern restaurants, retailers and offices. Landscape architects Edgeland's design enhances green spaces and pedestrian connections from the project to the adjacent hike-and-bike trail. Michael Hsu Office of Architecture Landscape architects Edgeland's design at The Swift Building enhances green spaces and pedestrian connections from the project to the adjacent hike-and-bike trail. Michael Hsu Office of Architecture Radom Capital and Triten Real Estate Partners are planning a nearly 4.5-acre adaptive reuse of the historic Swift meatpacking and cottonseed oil refinery in the Houston Heights. The design by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture embraces the historic character of the buildings while reimagining spaces for modern restaurants, retailers and offices. Landscape architects Edgeland's design enhances green spaces and pedestrian connections from the project to the adjacent hike-and-bike trail. Michael Hsu Office of Architecture

The developers are pursuing a historic designation for the project, along with federal and state historic tax credits that they expect to be approved this year, said Evan Peterson, principal at Radom.

Those expected tax credits add to equity the team already secured for the project, which has an undisclosed cost, said Barton Kelly, another principal at Radom. Developers plan to raise construction financing soon.

Kelly said negotiations on a lease with a prospective restaurant were ongoing, as were early talks with other potential retail tenants. An undisclosed family office has signed a 4,600-square-foot lease, he said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
For decades, when people discussed space travel they thought of NASA. After all, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration accomplished the first moon landing in 1969 and has achieved many more feats since. However, over the last few years, several billionaires have been investing in space travel in a bid to offer passenger flights to space and enhance satellite technology. But where can these billionaires ventures take us and what does it mean for just a few players to be holding so much power?

In 2021, two world-renowned billionaires - Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson, each took a flight into space on their own spacecraft, as their private-sector companies finally achieved the technological advances required to offer space passenger flight. Elon Musks SpaceX company achieved flight shortly after. Branson and Bezos spent several years developing spacecraft under their respective space companies, to create aircraft capable of transporting passengers on short, supersonic trips.

Musks company SpaceX, founded in 2002, has launched over 4,500 Starlink satellites over the past five years, which contribute more than 50 percent of all active space satellites in orbit. These satellites are capable of delivering internet access around the world, enhancing global communications, and providing Musk with a great deal of power. SpaceX has over 1.5 million users around the globe. It has requested to be allowed to send a total of 42,000 satellites into space.

Meanwhile, Bezos sent up his first two satellites at the end of last year, after failing to launch two satellites the previous year. Despite setbacks, Bezos hopes to launch 3,236 satellites by 2029. While this would be an impressive feat, Blue Origin has been hugely overshadowed by SpaceXs recent success.

There are growing concerns about what having so much power in one mans hands may mean for geopolitical and other issues. In September 2022, Musk refused to activate SpaceX services to support a surprise drone attack on Russian ships by Ukraine. Musk said that he did this to avoid the potential retaliation by Russia. However, this has led to questions about what it means for a billionaire  not a country leader  to have so much power.

Moriba Jah, an associate professor of aerospace engineering and engineering mechanics at the University of Texas at Austin, explained, Elon couldnt just have 53% of all the satellites out there that are working if it werent because the US government allowed him to do that. So, I dont blame Elon for this. Im just saying the US government-backed him and is encouraging this sort of orbital occupation  and this is going to piss other countries off. Jah added. Occupation is not a good thing. Occupation is a sort of behaviour of colonizers, and just because something is legal doesnt mean that its right.

Musk, Bezos and Branson are not the only billionaires looking to claim a stake in the space game. IBXs Kam Ghaffarian has grand ideas for the future of space travel. He hopes to explore alternative homes for Earths inhabitants in the stars. At the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs Ghaffarian stated, Theres this common denominator of combining altruism, to do something purposeful and good, and combine it with capitalism to make a positive impact. He added, The vision for IBX is protecting our home, our planet, and then finding new homes and stars and everything involved to do that. So, on the space side, if we say that the ultimate destiny for humanity is interstellar travel, and going to the stars, then we need to take a lot of intermediary steps to do that.

Ghaffarian is the co-founder of Intuitive Machines, which recently became the first company to land a commercial lander - its Odysseus spacecraft  on the moon. He is also the co-founder and chairman of Axiom Space, a company that sends private astronauts on commercial missions to the International Space Station (ISS). It is the first company to be given permission to connect with the ISS and is doing so to develop its own space station. Ghaffarian is also the executive chairman at Quantum Space and the founder of X-Energy.

Rather than competing on all fronts, Ghaffarian, Musk and Bezos plan to work together to achieve the first low earth orbit (LEO) to be able to go to the moon and Mars, and eventually beyond. Ghaffarian believes the space economy could soon be world trillions of dollars, spurred by technological advances, such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

As several billionaire-funded space companies emerge, so do a vast array of questions. Will private space companies take the lead in space exploration? What does it mean for just a few billionaires to hold so much geopolitical power? How can these companies support international efforts to advance space travel? To ensure the safety of the world, governments must regulate private space missions and establish transparency and security standards. However, where the private advances in space travel will lead, we do not yet know.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
As of Saturday afternoon, approximately 4,100 households were without power in Douglas and Washington Counties, according to the Omaha Public Power Districts outage map.

At 10:30 a.m., OPPD sent an update saying power had been restored to 59% of those who were affected by the storm outages.

As of 4:30 p.m. Friday, OPPD was reporting a total of 9,900 customers without power. That number decreased to 7,600 by 7:30 p.m.

OPPD said it is working as quickly as possible to restore power to those still affected, but the process is complicated by the complexity of the remaining work and challenged created by the storms.

A crew of 22 people from the Nebraska Public Power District was headed to the Omaha area Saturday to help restore power to OPPD customers.

OPPD also issued a reminder that those who come across a downed power line should assume its live and extremely dangerous and stay far back.

Call 911 or OPPD at 1-800-554-6773 to report downed lines.

Photos and videos: Cleanup begins after April 2024 storms, tornadoes hit Omaha metro area, Iowa
Here is where the Red Cross has opened shelters to provide aid:

Common Ground Community Center, 1701 Veterans Dr, Elkhorn, NE 68022

First Lutheran Church, 2146 Wright St, Blair, NE 68008

Local church providing aid

Brookside Church has power, water and food for those that need it.

The address is 11607 M Cir, Omaha.

Reunification center in Elkhorn established

A reunification center is being established at Elkhorn Middle School located at 3200 N 207th street for parents who need to pick up their children after several area schools were in lockdown during the tornado warnings.

Nebraska Humane Society can shelter animals

The Nebraska Humane Society said on X, formerly Twitter, that it can take in any animals that need emergency shelter.

Call Animal Control at 402-444-7800 ext. 1 if you need assistance.

Lost Pets of Omaha Area help reunite families with pets

Lost Pets of Omaha Area is volunteering to help people in the path of the tornadoes round up their pets.

The group said it has experienced volunteers, safe traps and pet supplies.

We will also reach out to trustworthy people if you need a temporary spot for your pets, the group said on Facebook. Anything we help with is at no cost. We are heartbroken for anyone dealing with damage from todays storm. Dont hesitate to contact us.

Felius, a rescue group, is also volunteering to help people who need shelter for their cats.

Temporary boarding up to 72 hours, said board member Eryn Swan. If people need more time after that, its on a case by case basis.

If you find a displaced cat, Felius may also be able to assist. Several foster people have volunteered to help.

Where to submit a damage report

Douglas County has asked residents that have suffered damage to their homes to call 2-1-1 or go online at http://dogis.org/211 to make a report.

Stay tuned for further updates on where to seek aid.
Smoked pork sausage poboy and smoked boudin at The Best Stop in Katy J.C. Reid/Contributor Order counter at The Best Stop in Katy J.C. Reid/Contributor The Best Stop in Katy sells all manner of Cajun goods. J.C. Reid/Contributor Bottled sauce is one offering at The Best Stop in Katy. J.C. Reid/Contributor The Best Stop in Katy sells all many of Cajun goods. J.C. Reid/Contributor The Best Stop opened its first Texas location in Katy in December. Courtesy of the Best Stop

Houston has no shortage of Cajun restaurants. But when many of the famous foods from Southwest Louisiana cross the Sabine River into Texas, they often adopt flavors and characteristics of the Lone Star State.

Take boudin, for example. In Texas, boudin contains more rice than meat and usually features whole grains of rice that are loosely packed in the casing. This reflects the rice-growing tradition of Southeast Texas.

More Information The Best Stop Katy 806 Katy Fort Bend Road, Katy; 346-615-0700 Open daily.





Boudin in Texas is often smoked and featured at barbecue joints. It even has its own spelling  boudain with an a  thats mostly seen around Beaumont.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Louisiana boudin is usually steamed with a filling that features pork shoulder and liver, along with rice thats been finely ground, almost to the consistency of a paste.

Until recently, finding classic Louisiana-style boudin could be a challenge in greater Houston. That changed this past December when an outpost of Scott, La.-based The Best Stop Cajun Market opened in Katy.

Our boudin has more meat and spices, says owner Robbie Abrusley, who partnered with longtime friend John Mendell to bring this franchised location of The Best Stop to Katy.

Abrusley is originally from Oakdale, La., and attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He moved to the Katy area in the late 90s to work in real estate and oil and gas ventures.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

When driving back and forth between Texas and Louisiana, he made regular stops at the original location in Scott, filling up a cooler with boudin, smoked sausages and bottles of Cajun Power garlic sauce. And hed get a bag of pork cracklins to snack on for the rest of the ride home.

When the original owners of The Best Stop, the Cormier family, announced they would franchise the business, Abrusley jumped at the opportunity. He gives credit to the Cormier family for their hands-on assistance in opening the Katy location.

What they have created is a remarkable copy of the original location in Scott, with a selection of the most authentic Cajun products and dishes this side of the Sabine.

There is a dizzying menu of both prepared and packaged foods, following the tradition of the superette markets of Southwest Louisiana. You can get classic Cajun-style smoked boudin by the pound, as well as original and mild versions.

Big piles of pork and chicken-skin cracklins sit under heat lamps, along with fried boudin balls and crawfish pies. There are burger patties slathered with Cajun-style barbecue sauce and infused with boudin. For breakfast, there is a perfectly baked biscuit topped with a slab of boudin, bacon and a fried egg, then drizzled with honey. The crawfish etouffee is some of the best in the city.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

But my favorite dish is the smoked sausage poboy. The sausage, shipped in from Louisiana, is butterflied, crisped on a flat-top grill, stuffed into a Gambinos-brand poboy roll, and served with pickles, onions and a spicy Cajun mayo sauce. Its an addictive taste of Cajun country transplanted to Southeast Texas.

Additionally, this being a fully stocked food market, theres plenty of items to take home with you. All the Cajun brands are here: Tony Cacheres spices, Cajun Power sauces, cans of Steens pure cane syrup and loaves of Evangeline Maid bread.
Jay Larsons co-workers stepped in for his mail route in Rockford earlier this month when Jays final deliveries ended in unspeakable tragedy.

On March 27, Jay was senselessly murdered, the victim of a horrendous attack while on his mail route in which he was stabbed and run over by a vehicle  one of four victims of a 22-year-old man now behind bars and facing charges. But his colleagues refuse to let that day define his career and life.

Members of the National Association of Letter Carriers #245 came together in early April to honor Jay Larson, driving his postal route in his honor and watching as blue balloons rose from mailboxes and candles burned at a memorial for his legacy. They noted he served Rockford residents and businesses for 25 years, never took a sick day, and always pitched in to help others  on his route, and with others routes.

Delivering mail was not just a job for Jay, it was a means by which he used to take care of his fellow citizens through caring smiles, thoughtful conversation, kind gestures, and the occasional giving furry friends a treat. Jay was truly a gentle giant, loved by his family, friends, and so many in the Rockford community, read his obituary.

Lawrence Steward, president of the letter carriers union and a fellow carrier, remembered Larson made everyone feel like you were the most important person in the world at the time that you had him in your life.

On this Workers Memorial Day, stories like Larsons are a sad reminder of the challenges facing working people on the job.

Mail carriers point to the attack on Larson as motivation for legislation in Congress to better protect carriers with more federal prosecutors to send a clear message: Harm a postal worker, and you will pay a heavy price. The National Association of Letter Carriers, in its push for stronger federal legislation, highlighted the more than 2,000 crimes have been committed against letter carriers just since 2020. Robberies of letter carriers topped 643 nationally last year  an increase of nearly 30 percent  with injuries resulting from those robberies doubling.

More than 50 years after the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) made a promise to every worker that they had the right to a safe job, Workers Memorial Day is a time to honor devastating losses of dedicated workers like Jay Larson and recognize their loss as evidence that we have more work to do to achieve those safety goals.

Mother Jones once said, We mourn for the dead and fight like hell for the living. Workers Memorial Day is a time to redouble our efforts to fight for those left behind. Attacks like those on Larson are thankfully rare. Hundreds of others die from work related injuries and the lack of robust mental health support that help to prevent aimless killings like the ones committed in Rockford. Thousands of others are injured each year from workplace dangers that could and should be prevented, often upending a career or resulting in long-term health impacts.

Workplace hazards too often go unregulated or under-regulated. When violations are found, the penalties are too soft. Some employers avoid responsibility by contracting out unsafe work. Workers step up to protest and are met with discipline  punishments that are unfair and sometimes include firing.

Together, workers in unions can negotiate good, safe jobs and working conditions through collective bargaining. While large business interests look for ways to roll back the safety and health protections we fight for and to block new efforts to make work safer, Workers Memorial Day is a reminder that we cannot accept workplace fatalities or injuries as the status quo. Workers go to work to earn a living, not to have their lives upended.

On this Workers Memorial Day, we stand united behind the memory of Jay Larson and all other Illinoisans who have died in our workplaces and recommit to ensuring others lives will not be placed in the same jeopardy. Each workday should end where everyone makes it home safely.
Electricity supplies have been restored to Sierra Leone following weeks of power cuts, after it paid off part of the $48m (38m) bill it owed to a Turkish company.



The $18m payment came as the country's energy minister resigned, saying he took full responsibility for the crisis.



Most electricity supplies to the capital, Freetown, come from a Turkish ship anchored off the countrys coast.



Last week, Karpowership said it had severely cut supplies to the city - from 60 megawatts to 6 megawatts - because of the unpaid bills, but the disruption has been going on for far longer.



Residents of the country's main cities have been going for days on end without any power and hospitals have also been affected.



The Reuters news agency quotes a doctor as saying that at least one infant has died because of a lack of power, while medics have been using mobile phones to provide light as they carry out procedures.



Before supplies were restored, Fatmata Gassim, a second-year engineering student in Freetown, told the BBC's What in the World podcast of her frustration at the lack of power.



"How do you iron your clothes, how do you make your food, how do you go to sleep? We pay our electricity bills so I dont see why we should be forced to live like this, she said.



Following the resignation of Kanja Sesay, the office of President Julius Maada Bio said the energy ministry would now fall under the direct supervision of the president.



Karpowership previously cut supplies to Sierra Leone in September over unpaid bills.



It is one of the world's biggest floating power plant operators, with several African states relying on it for electricity.



In October, it briefly cut power to Guinea-Bissau, saying it had no option "following a protracted period of non-payment".



The power ships work by converting gas into electricity, which is then fed into the national grid.



Although access to electricity has increased in sub-Saharan Africa in recent years, it still remains low, with more than 50% of the region's population having no grid connection, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad).

Source: BBC









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Enhancing its commitment to regional connectivity and deepen community ties, the Senior Management Team of Telecel Ghana, has paid a courtesy visit to the Choggu Naa, Yaa Naa Mahamadu Alhassan II upon delegation of Yaa-Naa Abukari Mahama II, the Overlord of the Dagbon traditional area.



The meeting was a deeply symbolic interaction that underscored the importance of integrating local insights into corporate transitions. Choggu-Naa Mahamadu Alhassan II offered blessings and shared valuable insights, urging Telecel to maintain the innovative and customer-centric ethos it has always held, while leveraging on Telecels technology and resources to create new opportunities.



He emphasized the importance of focusing on customer satisfaction, team collaboration, and innovation, and encouraged deeper engagement with the local communities through job creation and active participation in cultural events. "Change is not an end, but a new beginning. May your transition be smooth and may Telecel flourish under your leadership," Choggu-Naa stated to the Telecel Ghana leadership, underscoring the dual goals of respecting tradition while embracing progressive change.



Expressing the teams gratitude, Ing. Patricia Obo-Nai Telecel Ghanas CEO, reflected on the inspiration derived from the visit. "This visit has been enlightening and inspiring. We are committed to implementing the sage advice of Choggu-Naa and ensuring that our operations contribute to the socio-economic development of the regions we serve," she stated.



The tour is set to continue across other regions, aiming to solidify the relationship between Telecel Ghana and its diverse customer base. This rebranding initiative marks a new chapter for the telecommunications giant, promising growth, innovation, and enhanced service delivery aligned with Ghanaian values and expectations.



As Telecel Ghana redefines its path under a new banner, the company remains committed to being a key player in Ghanas connectivity and technological advancement. The support from traditional leaders like Choggu-Naa Mahamadu Alhassan II not only fortifies this journey but also bridges the gap between tradition and modernization, ensuring that the legacies of the past are respected and built upon.



The visit signifies the beginning of many, as Telecel Ghana aims to strengthen its connections throughout Ghana, ensuring a seamless transition and a steadfast commitment to growth and innovation. With a refreshed identity and renewed vigour, Telecel Ghana is poised to leave a lasting impact on Ghanas telecommunications landscape.







Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
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.







Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
The Electoral Commission (EC) has said that, through their innovations, they have saved the country a whooping ninety million United States Dollars ($90m).



According to the Electoral Commission, the election cost per person from thirteen USD ($13) to seven USD, seventy cents ($7.70)



The Electoral Commission, in a press release dated 17th April, 2024, in an attempt to dismissed allegations by the former President and flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, stated that, the commission has gone through innovative cycle to mitigate the old traditions of electoral processes.



"The history of Ghanas electoral process is one that shows improvements in every election cycle. Indeed, for most voters who have had voting experience 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 seventy cents per person and saved the nation a whooping ninety US$90 million."



The Electoral Commission stated that through its innovative policies, for the first time in the history of Ghana, the Election was fully funded by the Government of Ghana.



The Electoral Commission stated that the commission succeeded in registering 17 million persons in 38 days in a COVID environment and during a rainy season as part of their innovative policies.



Former President, John Mahama, during an interview at the London School of Economics and Political Science, took a swipe at the Electoral commission stating that the commission has recruited NPP members to be returning officers which according to him, is an indictment on the credibility of elections in Ghana especially ahead of the December 7 general elections.



The former President noted that, the commission must be innovative in their operations but the Electoral Commission, in their response, have reiterated that the new administration of the EC officials, have championed an innovative cause that has saved Ghana huge sums of money thereby making the commission a sought after within the African continent.

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.

Featured Video
Ghanaian actor, Omar Sherrif Captan, has added his voice to the call to help make theatre in Ghana more productive.



Although he believes there has been a surge in the interest for theatre in Ghana, he thinks most of the productions lack good sets.



"We still have a long way to go in terms of our sets. We still have to build good sets for our performances. We still have to have good costumes and then bring real props on set. The stage should be available for us to bring real props on set. We bring cars, bikes, horses, animals, so many things on set to make it realistic. We need a lot of realism on set," he noted.



He spoke to Joy FM during the press launch of Latif Abubakars new play titled The Licence.



Omar Sherrif, who features in the new play by Latif, said he was enthused about the challenge in playing in the play which was originally written by Italian novelist Luigi Pirandello.



It explores themes of bureaucracy, absurdity, and an individual's struggle against oppressive systems.



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.

Source: graphic.com.gh









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
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:

Example migrant destination distributions for two municipios. These maps show the distributions of US destinations for migrants from two different municipios located in the state of Guanajuato: Dolores Hidalgo and Jaral del Progreso. Dolores Hidalgo tends to send migrants to US destinations that experienced relatively mild labor demand declines, while Jaral del Progreso tends to send migrants to US destinations that experienced large labor demand declines. Credit: Journal of International Economics (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jinteco.2023.103832

That the job market in Phoenix can affect a child's education in Mexico may strain credulity, but it's nevertheless true, according to a recent paper co-authored by Brian Cadena, a University of Colorado Boulder associate professor of economics.

People from specific regions in Mexico tend to migrate to specific regions in the United States, and when U.S. work dries up in some areas, those migrants tend to return to Mexico, Cadena and his co-authors, Maria Esther Caballero of American University and Brian K. Kovak of Carnegie Mellon, found.

Their paper, published in the Journal of International Economics in November, explores the U.S. labor market's influence on the lives of people in Mexico by comparing how neighboring Mexican counties, or "municipios," fared during the Great Recession.

To perform their analysis, Cadena, Caballero and Kovak drew upon data from the Matricula Consular de Alta Seguridad (MCAS), a governmental organization that issues identity cards to Mexican migrants.

Unlike either the U.S. or Mexican census, MCAS provides in-depth, granular information on migrant workers, specifying the municipios they leave and where in the United States they settle.

MCAS is a treasure trove, says Cadena. But it wasn't long ago that researchers didn't know how to use it. Cadena, Caballero and Kovak changed that with another paper they published in 2018, which validated the MCAS data and thereby opened up a whole range of potential research.

"This identity-card data really allowed us to drill down and make tight comparisons between municipios," says Cadena.

The strength of networks

A key finding that emerged from the MCAS data is that people from the same municipio often move to the same cities and states in the United States. "People follow their networks," says Cadena. And these networks are so strong that migrants from nearby municipios often end up hundreds of miles apart in the States.

Migrants from the municipio of Dolores Hidalgo, for example, tend to move to Texas, while those from nearby Jaral del Progreso generally relocate to Chicago, California and the Southwest. Same region in Mexico, different time zones in the United States.

The close proximity of the municipios is important for the kind of research Cadena, Caballero and Kovak are doing, Cadena explains, because it cuts down on confounding variables. Neighboring municipios experience the same weather, suffer the same droughts, follow the same or similar laws, etc., which means differences in their economic outcomes are likely due to something they don't sharethe job market in the cities and states where their migrants moved.

To unearth these differences, Cadena, Caballero and Kovak measured the job-market losses in the U.S. regions linked to each municipio and then compared the economic outcomes in the municipios connected to harder-hit regions to those connected to softer-hit regions.

As it happens, labor demand in Texas survived the Great Recession relatively unscathed, so the municipios of the migrants who ventured there remained stable. The American Southwest, however, suffered some major blows, and so the municipios connected to that region exhibited several changes.

(Un)expected observations

Some of those changes were unsurprising, says Cadena.

"When work dried up, more immigrants returned to Mexico, and fewer new immigrants came from that source community." This then led to a fall in remittances, or money transfers from migrant workers to their families back in Mexico.

Yet Cadena, Caballero and Kovak also observed some changes they didn't expect. One was that more women joined the Mexican workforce.

"This is called the added worker effect," says Cadena. "When the primary earner of a household"in this case, the migrant laborer"loses their job, it's a common reaction by the household to say, 'Let's send someone else to work.'"

Another unexpected change was a drop in school retention. "We found some suggestive evidence that a loss of jobs in the United States reduced investment in schooling in Mexico. We saw more schooling dropout, especially at transition ages, when kids move from one level of schooling to the next," says Cadena.

Blurred lines and better choices

What do these findings suggest about the perceived separation between these two countries and their economies?

It makes that separation "a little fuzzier," says Cadena.

"One of the things we're finding is how connected these two economies are. On the one hand, the stark differences in what someone can earn and what the labor market looks like in one country as opposed to the other suggests that we have made the separation between those countries real and meaningful. On the other hand, we are certainly not islands."

Realizing this, Cadena believes, could inform policymaking, specifically regarding immigration.

"When we're thinking about immigration policywhen we're thinking about all these things that affect the low-wage labor marketwe are making policy that has a real and noticeable effect on the lives of people who are not even here," he says.

"I'm not a politician, but I think that a more holistic sense of all the impacts of the choices we make as a country could help us make better choices."

More information: Maria Esther Caballero et al, The international transmission of local economic shocks through migrant networks, Journal of International Economics (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jinteco.2023.103832
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:

Sky location of the surveyed area of about four square degrees. Left: full-sky map of the dust emission Middle: a zoom-in of the map toward the surveyed regions, which includes part of the North Celestial Pole Loop on the East of the map. Right: a closer view of the surveyed region. Black segments indicate the polarization orientation from the stars in our survey. Credit: Astronomy & Astrophysics (2024). DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202349015

We are all very familiar with the concept of the Earth's magnetic field. It turns out that most objects in space have magnetic fields but it's quite tricky to measure them. Astronomers have developed an ingenious way to measure the magnetic field of the Milky Way using polarized light from interstellar dust grains that align themselves to the magnetic field lines. A new survey has begun this mapping process and has mapped an area that covers the equivalent of 15 times the full moon.

Many people will remember experiments in school with iron filings and bar magnets to unveil their magnetic field. It's not quite so easy to capture the magnetic field of the Milky Way though. The new method to measure the field relies upon the small dust grains which permeate space between the stars.

The grains of dust are similar in size to smoke particles but they are not spherical. Just like a boat turning itself into the current, the dust particles' long axis tends to align with the local magnetic field. As they do, they emit a glow in the same frequency as the cosmic background radiation and it is this that astronomers have been tuning in to.

Not only do the particles glow but they also absorb starlight that passes through them just like polarizing filters. The polarization of light is familiar to photographers that might use polarizing filters to darken skies and manage reflections. The phenomenon of polarization refers to the propagation of light. As it moves through a medium it carries energy from one place to another but on the way it displays wave like characteristics.

The wave nature is made up of alternating displacements of the medium through which they are traveling (imagine a wave in water). The displacement is not always the same as the direction of travel; sometimes it is parallel and at other times it is perpendicular. In polarization, the displacement is limited to one direction only.

In the particles in interstellar space, the polarizing properties capture the magnetic field and polarize the light that travels through them revealing the details of the magnetic field. Just as they are on Earth, magnetic field lines are of crucial importance to galactic evolution. They regulate star formation, shape the structure of a galaxy and like gigantic galactic rivers, shape and direct the flow of gas around the galaxy.

Researchers from the Inter-University Institute for High Energies in Belgium used the PASIPHAE surveyan international collaboration to explore the magnetic field from the polarization in interstellar dustto start the process. They measured the polarization of more than 1,500 stars which covered an area of the sky no more than 15 times the size of the full moon.

The team then used data from the Gaia astrometry satellite and a new algorithm to map the magnetic fields in the galaxy in that part of the sky. The study is published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.

This is the first time that any large scale project has attempted to map the gravitational field of the Milky Way. It will take some time to complete the full mapping but it when complete it will provide great insight not just into the magnetic field of galaxies but to the evolution of galaxies across the universe.

More information: V. Pelgrims et al, The first degree-scale starlight-polarization-based tomography map of the magnetized interstellar medium, Astronomy & Astrophysics (2024). DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202349015 Journal information: Astronomy & Astrophysics
Claire Goodman is a senior reporter for the Houston Chronicle, covering the Katy area.

She also produces the Katy Insider newsletter, which sends every Monday and Wednesday.

Claire can be reached at claire.goodman@houstonchronicle.com.
MAYS LANDING  The new Democratic chairman of the Atlantic County Board of Elections says hes facing space and manpower shortages that could threaten the security of the presidential election, while a Republican leader claims a hostile work environment is the real problem there.

Were very short staffed. ... We dont have the space available to us in the old jail to properly run the election, new Chair John Mooney said Wednesday. I have requested an audit be done by (the U.S. Department of) Homeland Security. Im concerned about security of the election.

Disagreements over what needs fixing and trouble between the parties is happening as the nation heads into a presidential election, with all the extra attention and higher voter turnout that brings.

The problem with it is, its almost such a hostile work environment over there with the Democrats. Weve had several people quit. Im not talking about board members but employees over there, said Atlantic County Republican Chairman Don Purdy. Republicans have complained over and over about a hostile work environment, theres been multiple HR (human resources complaints), and nothing gets done about it.

The board is bipartisan, with two Democrats and two Republicans appointed by the governor. It is responsible for, among other things, training poll workers and collecting and counting mail-in-ballots, so its workload has increased greatly with the increased use of vote-by-mail ballots.

There are about 200,000 registered voters in Atlantic County, and more than 23,000 vote-by-mail ballots are expected to be sent out in November, County Clerk Joe Giralo estimated.

Mooney, a former Galloway Township elected official, took the helm in February, after Atlantic County Republican Chair Don Purdy did not reappoint longtime chair Lynn Caterson to the board.

Lynn is a very nice woman who has put a lot of time into the organization throughout the years, Purdy said of Caterson. Even the most powerful person in the world gets changed every four years to go in a different direction.

He said new Republican board member Bob Croce, a retired Brigantine firefighter, will be a strong voice for GOP concerns, and for getting ballots counted faster.

Even though I gave up the chairs position, I did whats best, I believe, for my organization, Purdy said. I respect John Mooney. Hes a fair guy.

Caterson said she is still working to educate the public on election issues by writing articles and speaking to groups. She has been made an honorary member of the New Jersey Association of Election Officials, where she has volunteered to advise committees, she said.

I am not exactly out of the loop since many of the organizations I belong to count on me to update them on election processes, Caterson said.

Currently there are only four full-time staff members budgeted for the board  two Democrats and two Republicans  and one Republican staffer recently resigned. Mooney has requested the county administration allow the board to hire two additional workers, for a total of six.

The Democratic and Republican county chairs each appoint two staff members, and Purdy said he is interviewing to fill the open post.

The positions pays just $30,000 a year, although it has great benefits, he said, and requires a great deal of knowledge and responsibility.

The board hired a law firm to investigate Republicans complaints about a hostile work environment, and the investigator was attorney Bill Tambussi, the longtime Camden County Democratic Committees counsel, Purdy said.

No action was taken after the report was filed, and Purdy said it wasnt fair that Republican concerns were investigated by someone with strong ties to the Democratic Party.

County Counsel Jim Ferguson said he gave the names of two law firms that had previously done investigations for the county to the board, and the board felt it was better to hire a firm from out of the county, so Tambussis firm was hired.

The report, which he called thorough, is confidential as it is about personnel. It did not uphold the GOP staff allegations, Ferguson said.

In spite of tensions, the board and staff worked well together during the high-stress pandemic years, when election rules changed quickly and boards of election had to adjust on the fly. Ever increasing numbers of mail-in ballots have been processed and counted, and audits have found the counts have been solid.

The administration has been trying to get more space for the board to operate, and has proposed many office spaces that were rejected by the board, said Republican County Executive Dennis Levinson.

Its not under my purview. I pay them. I dont appoint or direct them, Levinson said. Im not going to get in middle of this.

The county has been negotiating to rent the space across Main Street from the old courthouse, but nothing has been finalized, Levinson said.

For a few years, the board rented a large space on Atlantic Avenue in Mays Landing, but the landlord there ran into financial troubles and the board was threatened with loss of electricity.

Elections board avoids move in middle of poll worker training, as landlord pays electric bill The payment was made just in time to avoid a power shutoff and an emergency move by the Boar

So it moved to another rental space in Egg Harbor City, only to have burst sewer pipes create a health and operational emergency.

Now the board is back in the old court complex in downtown Mays Landing.

They have had a rough time, said County Clerk Joe Giralo. They have been storing stuff upstairs in the clerks office for slightly more than 2 years. Weve been working with them and will continue however we can.

But the clerks office doesnt have a secure area that can be locked down to offer them, he said.

Regardless of the problems there, the board and its staff members have to learn to work together as a team, everyone agrees.

On both sides we want fair and honest elections, Levinson said.
ATLANTIC CITY  City resident Carmen Brown was ready to spend Saturday at home studying for finals and watching movies until she noticed a couple of hundred people trickling in and out of ODonnell Park at about 11 a.m.

It was Stockton Universitys city campus hosting its third annual Community Day Clean Up and Party in the Park.

This definitely brightens the park up. Theres a new light here, it lets you get to know your neighbors. Its honestly super, awesome, said Brown, who decided to walk to the event a couple of blocks from her Chelsea neighborhood home with Zander, her beige and brown spotted Chihuahua mix.

The event was a fun way for the community to work together to make the citys 48 blocks cleaner and then celebrate camaraderie, said Michael Cagno, one of the event organizers with Stockton.

This event was only supposed to happen once. So due to the demand from the community, its become an annual event, said Cagno, who also is the executive director of the Noyes Museum of Art of Stockton University. As an anchor institution, the event really reaffirms Stocktons commitment to the community.

The event focuses can be broken down into two parts, added Brian Jackson, the chief operating officer for Stocktons city campus. The service part, where were working with the community to clean up streets, beaches. And the second part, which is economic development, introducing local organizations to the neighborhood, providing resources.

More than 700 volunteers broke off into groups to clean about a dozen streets, beaches and other designated locations across the citys six wards from 9 a.m. to about 11 a.m.

Sponsors such as the Atlantic County Utilities Authority passed out trash bags and trash grabbers to help the volunteers.

The groups of volunteers ranged from Stockton students and city residents to others with local businesses and organizations. Also forming large groups were students from Atlantic City Public Schools, South Jersey Industries, and the citys casinos, including Ocean Casino Resort, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, and Resorts Casino Hotel.

Joshua Gonzalez, a Stockton freshman, cleaned up in the Chelsea neighborhood with his sister, aunt and friends. He said his group filled a couple of trash bags, with cigarette butts, airplane bottles, candy wrappers, plastic straws and bags the most common items they found.

ACUA will weigh the trash to calculate how much was collected. Last year, more than 700 volunteers collected over 10,000 pounds from the citys streets and beaches.

Its fun. Definitely a little cold, but its nice to meet lot of people in the community who share the same goal to pick up as much trash and plastics we can, said Aysha Ruponte, an Atlantic City High School junior who was there with other high schoolers in South Jersey who are part of the Plastic Free AC group. The groups goal is to have a plastic-free city, and its members go to community events such as the cleanup, where it had a stand, to raise awareness about the harms of single-use plastics.

Most of the volunteers were done cleaning their locations by 11  just in time to enjoy the party at ODonnell Park.

The event had 62 vendors. Organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, C.R.O.P.S. and the citys Multicultural Service department had stands throughout the park to let people know about the programs, resources and services they provide.

Besides food from local truck vendors, such as Hammontons Tacos El Carbon and Egg Harbor Townships Vagabond Kitchen and Tap House, there was activities. Hoola hooping arts by Tina Notaro, cornhole, Connect 4, Jenga, and painting in the park were among the activities people could enjoy.

Cagno said additions to this years event, including a petting zoo and large sculptures by the Newark-based Baret Foundation, could be found throughout the park.

Other additions included organizations participating for the first time. The Red Sand Project is an initiative created by Molly Gochman to bring awareness to human trafficking and modern slavery.

Assemblywoman Carol Murphy, officials with the states Attorney Generals Office, members of the Red Sand Project, along with others in the community sprinkled bags of biodegradable red sand into cracks at the park to to fill in the cracks and raise awareness about the $150 billion global industry that affects this area, Murphy added.

Jackson said eventually Stockton would like to get to a point where it can have so many community partners that it can expand its outreach with more events like the cleanups that can happen more than just once a year.

We used to do graffiti cleanups, tree planting, added Jackson. So partnering with new members of the community while continuing to partner with others to do more for it is our ultimate goal.
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church to Hold Blessing and Unveiling of Historical Sign Rock Island, IL/April 18th, 2024: Father Witold Adamczyk, OFM Conventual, Pastor of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in Rock Island, IL, will lead a blessing and unveiling of the new QC PastPort historical interactive sign recognizing St. Marys Catholic Church as the first Catholic church in Rock Island County and marking the beginning of their celebrations of their 175th anniversary in 2026. The blessing ceremony will take place immediately after 10:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, April 28, outside the entrance to the church. The historical sign and accompanying mobile app features the early history of St. Marys Church including pictures, an imagined audio conversation between the first pastor, Father John George Alleman, and one of the parishs original benefactors, Antoine LeClaire, as well as two musical performances on St. Marys glorious pipe organ, played by church organist, Christopher Versluis. The Development Association of Rock Island provided a majority of the funding though a placemaking grant. St. Marys remains the oldest Catholic Church in Rock Island County. It is considered the cradle of Catholicism in western Illinois and eastern Iowa due to Father Allemans missionary travels throughout the region and his establishment of many Catholic missions. This interactive sign is one of many historical destinations that are part of a unique wayfinding system developed by QC PastPort which includes narratives of the past through self-guided, physical, and digital tours throughout the Quad Cities. Lifelong parishioner Christopher Versluis also assisted in the compilation of the historical narrative for the app and shared his thoughts, As a teacher and student of history, I'm in awe thinking about how truly amazing it is to marry the 173-year history of this great parish and its people with the new technology of the app - bringing the old and new together. This place of worship has served as a 'home away from home for generations of parishioners. I have found it an honor to have been part of this process so that more people can get to know the history behind this great parish and its dedicated parishioners as we embark on our 175th Anniversary in 2026." The blessing ceremony will be simple and short. Everyone is invited to attend. About St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception: St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception is St. Marys the oldest Catholic Church in Rock Island County, founded in 1851 by Rev. George Alleman. It remains as the oldest Catholic Church in Rock Island County.
Rice University as seen looking south from the Warwick Tower, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018, in Houston. Student protests at the University of Houston and Rice University against the war in Gaza largely passed without incident this week. Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle

Student protests at the University of Houston and Rice University against the war in Gaza largely passed without incident this week as higher education institutions around the country grappled with ongoing demonstrations that have led to hundreds of arrests in Texas and around the U.S.

Rice and UH students began taking up spots on the Houston campuses this week to demand the universities divest from companies with ties to Israel. The efforts echo protests taking place across the country, most notably at Columbia University, the University of Southern California and the University of Texas at Austin. More than 500 students have been detained nationwide over the past week, according to the Washington Post.

Protesters, made up of students, faculty and staff working to stand in solidarity with Palestine, arrived each morning since Tuesday to settle on a patch of greenspace at Rice University called the liberated zone, said Anna Rajagopal, an organizer with Students for Justice in Palestine at Rice and a university alum.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Daily itineraries, released on Instagram, have featured designated study hours, live music, speakers and film screenings under tents.

Were trying to access programming and education that isnt readily available at universities, Rajagopal said. Our space is a de-occupation zone on the university to demonstrate that ivory tower is not the end-all-be-all and that the actual power lies with the students.

Rice administrators told students to leave the space, Rajagopal said, though, officials did not respond to questions about its interactions with student protesters. Student occupation of the liberated zone ended Friday as Rice nears the end of its semester.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The Houston Chronicle was not able to visit the liberated zone because a Rice spokesperson said the private institution was barring media on campus. In a written statement, the spokesperson said the assembly did not disrupt campus activities.

While we honor personal expression and academic freedom, we must also maintain a safe campus for all students. Fortunately, the student organizers agreed to modify their original plans related to structures and sound levels to maintain an environment of respectful discourse, according to the statement.

Labels become protest stickers

A few miles away at the University of Houston, dozens of students held space on steps during the day inside the Student Center South, with a host of snacks, literature and posters demanding the university divest money from companies with ties to Israel. The crowd size grew during the week into Thursday evening as a mass of students clapped along to chants. The group has since cleared out of the building.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Students brought markers to turn United States Postal Service address labels into pro-Palestine stickers along with a projector displaying a documentary.

This reclamation of the student center is in response to the growing student movement across the nation, said Frances Bolger, a student organizer at UH.

On Tuesday, University of Houston Police Department officers removed protesters that a spokesperson stated were trying to set up signage on the stairs of the Student Center South building and refused to stop. Bolger gave a different account.

Multiple cops showed up and told the students they could not be holding the signs, Bolger said. Because they wont let us hold posters, we have turned to making shirts. If they will not let us hold posters, we will embody the signs. We will become the message.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The next day, police removed two people not associated with the university who came into the student center and shouted in opposition to the students protesting for Palestine, the university said in a statement.

The university pointed to Texas law limiting government agencies from partnering with companies that boycott Israel.

While we appreciate our students exercising their free speech on issues important to them, like the boycott, some of the demands made by protesting organizations are inconsistent with Texas law. These actions are not under consideration, according to the statement. Texas state agencies, including public universities, are forbidden from engaging in such boycotts or contracting with companies that do.

Protests have emerged globally following the Oct. 7 attack when Hamas militants took more than 240 hostages and killed more than 1,200 people. Israeli Defense Force efforts have killed 34,000 people, mostly women and children, and wounded around 77,000 people since it launched its military offensive, stated the Gaza Health Ministry, an agency in the Hamas-run government, according to the Washington Post.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Local restaurants have donated food and drinks to Rices liberated zone during the course of the four-day effort, Rajagopal said. Rices protesters set their last day for Friday.
An FBI victim specialist gripped the edges of a podium and addressed the courtroom while choking back tears at the Federal Courthouse in Rapid City Friday morning.

"You showed me no mercy," the man said, looking back at the table where his assailant sat motionless. "You had everything of mine already, why did you have to kidnap me?"

The assailant, 29-year-old Deyvin Morales of Guatemala, was convicted in January for the kidnapping and carjacking of the FBI employee near Oglala in May 2022. Morales was convicted alongside Juan Alvarez-Sorto, 25, of El Salvador. Both men pleaded not guilty to the charges, which included kidnapping, carjacking, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

A third co-conspirator, Karla Lopez-Gutierrez, 29, of Colorado, pleaded guilty in August 2023 to aiding and abetting kidnapping and aiding and abetting the use of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.

Morales and Alvarez-Sorto were arrested in Greeley, Colorado on May 12, 2022. Lopez-Gutierrez was arrested in August 2022 in Loveland, Colorado.

Alvarez-Sorto was sentenced to 37 years in prison for his role in the incident. Morales and Lopez-Gutierrez were sentenced Friday in front of U.S. District Judge Karen Schreier. Morales received 47 years and Lopez-Gutierrez 26.5 years.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Jehangiri classified the crime as "crazy."

Testimony from the victim details a harrowing account of survival.

Around 2 a.m. on May 6, 2022, the FBI employee was traveling back from a crime scene near Oglala when he stopped at an overlook near Red Shirt to call his wife. Because he had a flight to catch, he was speeding as he pulled away, so when he crested the hill on BIA Highway 41 and saw a white Ford Expedition come into view, the victim pulled over thinking it was tribal law enforcement.

Instead of a friendly local partner, the man was met by the trio, who had fled to the Pine Ridge Reservation after leading South Dakota Highway Patrol on a high-speed chase. The three had left Greeley, Colorado, to traffic methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl.

The victim was forced from his vehicle at gunpoint and made to hand over his belongings, including his wallet, keys and phone. His captors searched through his phone for information about his family and told him, "We know who you are. We know where you live. We know who your family is.

As he lay face down in the dirt with the barrel of a gun pointed at his head, the victim recalled how his wife  who was waiting for him so they could catch the flight together  would be first angry at his lateness, then worried. He thought about how another victim specialist would be called to the scene of his murder.

"I can't put into words how terrified I was," the victim said during Morales' sentencing.

The trio forced the man into the backseat of his own car and asked for directions to the nearest gas station. On the way, Lopez-Gutierrez acted as a translator. The victim testified to trying to humanize himself by explaining he wasn't a cop but a social worker.

The group eventually pulled into the Corner Pantry on Highway 40 in Hermosa and parked near the building. Lopez-Gutierrez entered the gas station, purchased zip ties, $20 worth of gas and a gas can.

"Your intentions were never to release me or let me go," the victim said to Morales.

After Lopez-Gutierrez pulled the vehicle around to the pumps, the FBI employee took his chance to escape, testifying he crawled over Morales and "clawed" his way out of the car. Morales grabbed his jacket; the victim fell to the ground and then "ran like a chicken with my head cut off," he testified.

Morales was the first to be sentenced Friday. He appeared in jail stripes, listening and speaking through the use of a translator.

His attorney, Jonathan McCoy, asked the court for a 20- to 25-year sentence in light of his immigration status. Morales was granted asylum in 2017 because of a bounty on his head in Guatemala by the Mara-18 gang. According to McCoy, the gang attempted to extort Morales' family to get him and his brother to join. When they refused, Morales' brother was gunned down before he could flee.

"Deportation sentences him to death in Guatemala," McCoy said.

Morales offered blessings to the court, victim and victim's family through his interpreter.

"To the victim, I would say that I am sorry for all that has happened," he said. "I consider myself innocent still. For all that has happened, I'd say I love you with all my heart."

Neither Morales nor Alvarez-Sorto have ever admitted responsibility for the crime. The victim asked Judge Schreier to show them both "no mercy."

Jehangiri asked for a life sentence, highlighting the "chilling statements" made to the victim that will forever traumatize him. The victim also deals with "severe and significant psychological injury," Jehangiri added, including flashbacks, personality changes, mood issues and dissociation.

Both during the trial and sentencing, Morales was identified as the ring-leader, with Alvarez-Sorto operating at his behest. Jehangiri reiterated the disappointment with how Morales squandered "the good will of our country."

"All while under asylum," Jehangiri said. "It's absolutely shameful. Asylum was to escape gang activity, and now you're active in gang activity."

The victim and his wife, who is also an FBI victim specialist, spoke during both sentencings Friday. His wife shamed Morales for the choices he made, calling the incident "100% avoidable and 100% preventable."

The victim told Morales he was also given a life sentence.

"I will serve my own unfair and unjust sentence for the rest of my life," he said to Morales of his lingering nerve pain, tingling and ringing in his ears. "You gave me a life-long sentence. ... You weren't safe in your country, now I'm not safe in my country."

Before handing down the sentence, Schreier told Morales if the victim had not gotten away, it probably would've resulted in a homicide, too. It's one of the most horrendous crimes she's ever seen as a judge, Schreier added.

After a brief recess, court reconvened for Lopez-Gutierrez' sentencing. Her attorney, Mike Wheeler, made several objections regarding language in the presentencing documents.

One involved a sentence enhancement for obstruction and reckless endangerment during a flight from law enforcement. Wheeler said the trio were not actively running from police when they encountered the victim. Schreier agreed.

The other major objection came from Wheeler's belief his client should be granted a sentence reduction because she was a minor and minimal participant. He added this hesitantly and said he didn't want it to seem like she wasn't accepting responsibility.

Jehangiri vehemently disagreed. He argued Lopez-Gutierrez was an active participant who knew exactly what was going to happen. She drove the carjacked vehicle and purchased the gas can and zip ties.

Schreier agreed Lopez-Gutierrez was an active participant, telling her, "Your role ended up being just as culpable as the other two defendants."

Wheeler asked the court to deviate lower on her sentencing guidelines or sentence her at the low end of the range, which together was 22.5 to 26.5 years. He cited her drug addiction  at one time 30 to 40 pills of fentanyl a day  being a mother of three and taking responsibility as grounds for a more lenient sentence.

"I am very sorry," Lopez-Gutierrez said through tears Friday. "I apologize to him and his family for the pain I've caused."

Schreier asked Lopez-Gutierrez a series of questions during the hearing. Lopez-Gutierrez did not know the men before coming to South Dakota, and only went along on the trip with the promise of getting high. She explained to Schreier her life went downhill after the father of her children  who had been with her since she was 15  left her. She lost her grandfather soon after. Within six months, Lopez-Gutierrez said, her life went off the rails because "it was easier than dealing with emotions," and her mother took custody of her children.

The judge also asked Lopez-Gutierrez why she hadn't come forward when her friend was first and falsely arrested for the crime. Lopez-Gutierrez said she would have if the charges hadn't been dismissed.

Schreier highlighted the numerous infractions Lopez-Gutierrez has picked up while in custody in Pennington County, including nine major infractions and 13 minor infractions. Lopez-Gutierrez said they were about sharing food or getting her hair braided. One of the infractions followed after a physical fight with the woman who was first arrested and charged in the crime.

Jehangiri did acknowledge she accepted responsibility, but said her involvement had a "profound impact" on the victim's health and well-being. The state asked for a sentence within the range and agreed with the need for drug treatment while in custody.

Both the victim and his wife slammed Lopez-Gutierrez for how she portrayed herself.

"It's been nauseating to hear the language used to minimize her role in this," the victim's wife told the court. "I see right through her."

His wife also told the court they found out about Lopez-Gutierrez' plea deal from their neighbor while doing yard work, calling it improper and saying he deserved procedural justice.

"I am glad I didn't have to hear your sugar-coated testimony," the victim told Lopez-Gutierrez.

He recalled how he begged for his life through her, because she was the only one in the trio who spoke English. He told the court how she ignored his pleas.

Lopez-Gutierrez was offered a plea deal, something the victim disagreed with.

"I was told her plea deal made it easier on me," he said. "Nonsense."

The victim said he wasn't in favor of any of them getting a plea deal, but especially not Lopez-Gutierrez.

"Why should she serve even a single day less than her accomplices?" he asked.

Schreier asked Lopez-Gutierrez to consider how she would've felt in the victim's position. While Lopez-Gutierrez did apologize, Schreier lamented her lack of action in helping him.

"You had the chance to call for help at the gas station and save the victim's life, and you didn't take it," Schreier said.

Morales has two weeks to file an appeal in his case if he chooses. According to the terms of the plea agreement, Lopez-Gutierrez forfeited her right to appeal since she was sentenced within the federal guidelines. All of the co-conspirators were ordered to pay $4,720.69 in restitution to the victim.
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., expects to have some tough things to say about Richmonds mail service when he sits down soon with U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, he told the Richmond Times Dispatch editorial board on Friday.

Virginia has the worst on-time mail delivery record in the nation, and a recent audit of the Richmond Regional Processing and Distribution Center in Sandston found an egregious lack of attention to detail, ranging from losing mail that falls off conveyor belts, to poor coordination between processing machines and trucks moving mail.

Were going to take the inspector generals report and so I expect to have a frank and candid exchange, Warner said, referring to the audit.

In a wide-ranging conversation with Times-Dispatch reporters and editors, Warner said he hopes the recent breaking of Congressional logjams on aid to Ukraine and Israel, reauthorizing targeted collection of intelligence from non-Americans in foreign countries and trying to force China to sell TikTok means Capitol Hill dysfunction may be ending.

He said he thinks his focus on ways to give a hand to first-generation, first-time home buyers, and to help hard-pressed businesses in distressed communities gain access to capital can build bridges across partisan divides.

But he said America still needs to do more to protect itself against cyber threats.

Mail service

This the second time Ive seen this movie, Warner said of Richmonds mail problems.

The three-term senator and former Virginia governor said he started looking into Charlottesvilles mail problems three years ago and the disruption was not nearly as great as it was in Richmond.

In Richmond, its obviously enormously frustrating, Warner said, noting that members of the Virginia congressional delegation hear from folks all the time about important items sent through the mail  like bill payments  that did not reach their destination in a timely manner.

Warner said the performance numbers have ticked up in recent months, from a trough between November through February, but the Postal Service has farther to go.

A surge effort to deal with Charlottesvilles basic problem  not enough staff  helped there, he said.

A similar surge is needed in Richmond, where the Postal Service rolled out a new approach to processing and moving mail, he said.

He said making Richmond the rollout location for DeJoys Delivering for America system, without fully informing the community ahead of time, was a mistake.

It appears that the success of the program was only being viewed in terms of the routes and the amount of money saved and they didnt even include customer satisfaction as one of the criteria, which is stunning, Warner said.

If you go back, before the rollout of the new system, Richmond already was in the bottom 10 of customer and performance delivery, Warner said.

Why the Postal Service would start with one of the least-performing centers in the country for this rollout and not have customer satisfaction as part of the criteria for success, is beyond me, Warner added.

Israel and Gaza

Warner, chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, spoke amid news that pro-Palestine demonstrations have led to encampments at a number of universities across the country. Jewish students and faculty say some of the protests have led to intimidation and antisemitism.

As for protests at universities: I think were unique in the fact that weve got a First Amendment. Youve got a right to protest, Warner said.

But I also believe, as well, that while you protest, that doesnt mean you can shut down a school or cancel classes. And if you break the law, I think the law needs to be enforced.

Warner said the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel was horrific, but that he worries that realization of how terrible it was has begun to fade.

Warner said he thinks Israel made a mistake in not disseminating videos of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks more widely. The horrificness of that  event faded as the horrificness of Israel bombing  across Gaza took preeminence, he said.

On Wednesday Hamas released a hostage video of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was born in Berkeley, Calif. and spent his childhood years in Richmond before moving with his family to Israel.

Warner said the U.S., Israel, and Sunni Arab states thought that the Israel Defense Forces would be more successful at this stage. More than 200 days into the conflict, Warner said, the latest guesstimates are that Israel has only eliminated 40% to 45% of Hamas fighters and penetrated about 40% to 45% of the tunnel network.

Theyve been much more resistant than expected. And I think for a while there ... the thought that Israel was much militarily more superior  they lost a little of that image, he said.

Warner said that when Iran launched missiles at Israel and Israel repelled them, with U.S., French, British, Jordanian and Saudi help, there was a moment that reestablished Israels military primacy, but also demonstrated that Israel is stronger with allies.

Warner said of the Jordanians, British, French and Saudis: They are not going to continue to help if this war in Gaza continues.

He added: Israel, I think, has been still in somewhat of a shell-shocked position post-October, so Im not sure that all Israelis really appreciate how much loss of support thats happening ... around the world, and frankly, amongst the generation of young Americans.

Foreign aid

Warner said finally getting a vote on aid to Ukraine and Israel felt like a huge victory  and added that he is crossing his fingers about whether it makes change in the usual gridlock.

Gosh, I wish, I hope, its a breakthrough, he said.

In 2023, what kept me motivated a little bit was I kept thinking, you know, 2021 wasnt that long ago when we got the infrastructure bill  we had ARPA (the American Rescue Plan) and we had veterans legislation. We were being viewed as maybe the most bipartisan Congress in 50 years.

Hes encouraged that the votes on aid to Ukraine and Israel, and cracking down on TikTok, were about 80% in favor, while even the more controversial intelligence collection bill passed with a 2-to-1 margin.

So, I will hope for a breakthrough rather than simply a burst of rationality, he said.

Warner sponsored the foreign collection bill  formally the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

National security issues

The Intelligence committee was not where he expected to land when first elected to the Senate in 2008.

It really has opened up for me  this is still a bipartisan committee, he said.

It was our committee to first point out the problems of Huawei and 5g issues, he said, referring to concerns that the Chinese telecommunications firm and its technology facilitated spying.

Cyber still remains one of our greatest vulnerabilities, he said. Protecting data from hacking could get even more challenging with the development of artificial intelligence, he added.

Im up to my eyeballs on AI, he said.

He said trying to find guardrails so that artificial intelligence technology doesnt unleash the kind of fake video, photo and audio that could disrupt financial markets and elections is still a major challenge.

This tech combination with national security, thats kind of my sweet spot, he said.

Taxes

Warner said he expects some of the affordable housing issues hes focused on will be in the mix of tax legislation when Congress decides next year what to do as former President Donald Trumps tax cuts expire.

The senators ideas include tax credits for rehabilitating houses, subsidies so that first-time homebuyers can take out 20-year mortgages with monthly payments closer to the lower levels prevailing for 30-year loans, and tax credits for employers willing to help employees with downpayments.

Like his work on the intelligence committee, Warner said he hopes to win some GOP allies for his initiatives on affordable housing, with their focus on helping moderate-income families build wealth.

He said he has already seen that with efforts to expand funding for Community Development Financial Institutions as a member of a bipartisan caucus trying to promote this way of lending to business in lower-income communities.

His political future

Warner was not yet ready to tip his hand on whether he will seek a fourth term in 2026.

I like my job, Warner said. I feel Im being productive, he added, noting that he is part of every bipartisan gang there is.

Two years into war, thousands of Ukrainians search for missing loved ones
The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority has asked a federal court to dismiss a $1 million whistleblower lawsuit filed by its director of retail operations, Jennifer Burke, whom it had placed on paid administrative leave last year after an investigation of thefts by employees of retail ABC stores that are under her supervision.

The month after Burke was placed on administrative leave last year for a potential disciplinary action, she approached officials in Gov. Glenn Youngkins administration with allegations that ABC had lost liquor inventory valued at $1.7 million during the transition from the authoritys antiquated distribution warehouse in Richmond to a new facility in Hanover County in 2022.

Assigned to assist with the transition between warehouses, she had reported the apparent inventory loss to ABC officials 10 months earlier and later accused them of covering it up.

ABC said in its court filings on Thursday that the decision to place her and several other employees under her on administrative leave in March 2023 had nothing to do with the allegations she shared the next month with Eric Moeller, then chief transformation officer under Youngkin, and Tim Hugo, whom the governor had appointed chairman of the authoritys board of directors.

Burke was one of multiple employees placed on paid administrative leave while the fraud was investigated, Laura Windsor, a Richmond lawyer representing ABC, said in a memorandum in support of the authoritys motion to dismiss the lawsuit. Burke was ultimately reinstated with no loss of pay or job title following completion of the investigation.

The litigation has intensified turmoil at the semi-independent authority. ABC lost three executives to resignation within four months last year and remains in political limbo in a state budget standoff because of a revenue forecast that now is expected to come up short $110 million in profits for the state treasury and a bid by the General Assembly to make ABC fully independent of the governors office.

Burke, who came to ABC from Dollar General in 2018, filed the lawsuit in December against the authority, former CEO Travis Hill and Chief Retail Operations Officer Mark Dunham, both of whom she accused of disparaging her before other employees. Thomas Aruanno, former assistant director of retail operations at ABC, filed a separate federal lawsuit in February with similar allegations of retaliation under the states whistleblower protection statute.

She amended the suit last month to include Tom Kirby, then-interim CEO and now chief of enforcement. The amended suit alleges that ABC had further retaliated by issuing another potential disciplinary action against her for drinking at a bar with co-workers during work hours five days before Christmas.

ABC said it has not taken disciplinary action against her for the incident, which it alleged had occurred at 3 p.m. on a work day, when Burke was driving a state-owned vehicle.

Sarah Robb, a Richmond lawyer representing Burke, said, Commonwealth of Virginia employees deserve to be treated better.

Robb said the ABC motion fails to address the millions of dollars it lost and tried to cover up, as alleged.

In its request to the court to dismiss the case, the authority said the report of alleged inventory losses cannot and should not shield Burke from the ABCs efforts to hold her accountable for pervasive employee thefts occurring in her department, predating her report to the Governors office, or for unrelated potential misconduct by Burke eight months later.

Windsor, on behalf of ABC, said Burke had failed to provide facts to support claims that the authority had violated the Virginia Fraud and Abuse Whistleblower Protection Act or other state law. She asked the court to dismiss all claims against the authority, Kirby and Hill, and all but one of four claims against Dunham.

ABC also asked that the court schedule oral argument to help clarify issues in the case.

PHOTOS: Virginia ABC warehouse
Chetumal police chase ends with arrest of three gang members

Chetumal, Q.R.  Three members of a criminal gang were taken into custody from the streets of Chetumal after a chase early Friday. The arrests were achieved after the driver of the vehicle being chased by police entered a dead-end road.

Several police units involved in the chase intercepted the vehicle and blocked its way. From inside the car, three armed gang members are reported to have been arrested.

Local authorities have not provided details on the operation that lead to the chase and subsequent arrests, however, they have said that State Police, National Guard and the army were involved.

During the arrests, several high-caliber weapons were found inside the vehicle, they noted.

In a statement, the Fiscalia General del Estado (FGE) of Quintana Roo reported that the FGE, in collaboration with the State Police, Mexican Army and the National Guard, continues its fight against crime in Chetumal with the arrest of three armed individuals, allegedly linked to a criminal group.

During a chase, security forces managed to capture the suspects and seize high-caliber weapons.

After a chase through the streets, State Police, Mexican Army and National Guard captured Natividad N, Pedro  N and Marcos N, identified for their probable participation in acts constituting the crime of attempted homicide to the detriment of four investigative police officers of this autonomous body.

The events for which those captured are related occurred on April 26 of this year, when investigation agents were in an operation to locate a Volkswagen brand vehicle unit, which could be related to recent criminal events in the south of the state and which was located circulating on Erik Paolo Martinez Avenue.

When they were told to stop, the subjects ignored the indication and fled, starting a chase through different avenues of the state capital at which time the occupants of the vehicle attacked the agents with long firearms. The ministerial agents activated the red code by armed people and requested support from the security corporations.

Three armed gang members were arrested in the Chetumal chase. Photo: April 26, 2024.

The attacks continued through several streets until they reached Emiliano Zapata, where the occupants of the truck got out to try to escape, however, Natividad N, Pedro N and Marcos N were captured. The latter was taken to a hospital for medical attention after suffering gunshot wounds at shoulder height.

Inside the unit, six long weapons of different calibers were located, five rifle type and one shotgun along with chargers and ammunition, a chainsaw, a bag of clothing, cellular equipment and a plastic bag that contained substances similar to narcotics, among other objects.
Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles speaks during a press conference on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, in Houston. Karen Warren/Staff photographer

Houston ISD plans to notify employees in the weeks to come if their positions will be eliminated or changed during the 2024-25 academic year due to budget cuts.

HISD spokesperson Joe Sam said in a statement that the planned Central Office cuts are occurring as the district is forced to make some very tough budget decisions for the upcoming school year. HISD did not provide the total number of employees who would be let go or the specific departments facing cuts.

State funding for education has not increased, and the time-limited emergency aid provided by the federal government to help districts respond to the pandemic is no longer available, Sam said. This means that  in order to meet our students needs  HISD must right size our central office and find ways to operate more efficiently.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Sam said department chiefs had identified positions and programs that were funded by COVID-19 relief funds that the district can no longer pay for. Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, or ESSER, was a program that provided $190 billion in relief funds to state and local education agencies during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it will expire in September.

THE REPORT CARD: Subscribe to the Houston Chronicles weekly newsletter recapping HISD news

Affected employees will be able to continue in their current roles until June 30, and the district would support people who are interested in pursuing open positions in other departments, Sam said.

The central office staffing decisions being made now are driven by our responsibility to prioritize resources for kids and classrooms and support the long-term fiscal health of our district, he said.

HISD has not released details of the budget, which the appointed Board of Managers are expected to vote on in June. The district held four workshops on the budget last year, including one in February and March, but it has not announced any budget-related workshops this year.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The district has already said some campuses outside the New Education System will see funding cuts of up to 12% next year based on declining student enrollment and attendance. It also announced Thursday that it was rolling back plans to provide up to $2,000 to teachers who continued to work at non-NES schools next year due to budget cuts.

The planned cuts and layoffs are occurring as the number of HISD employees who are making more than $200,000 has tripled since last year. The district is also planning to spend at least $120 million more toward increasing teacher salaries and expanding the controversial New Education System program to 45 more campuses next year.

Sam said several Central Office departments have been undergoing a reduction in force since January due to the districts need to ensure its limited resources support the delivery of excellent instruction at every campus.

CENTRAL OFFICE CUTS: HISD cuts more than 2,300 positions as part of central office reorganization

Superintendent Miles has said the district will keep cuts as far away from students and classrooms as possible, and will continue to invest in our teachers and leaders, Sam said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Sam said schools would be able to pay for programs or positions funded by federal relief money next year at the principals discretion, while other services would need to be delivered in new ways.
Mexico City pair jailed after report of Tulum ATM tampering

Tulum, Q.R.  A man and woman seen tampering with a Tulum ATM have been arrested. The pair were reported by a citizen Friday when they were seen acting suspicious and altering the machines slot plates.

Elements of the Secretariat of Public Security and Citizen Protection of Tulum responded to the report that was made to emergency 9-1-1. At the ATM location, police proceeded to question and inspect the pair.

After running their identification through Plataforma Mexico, the countrys criminal database, police learned the pair have a record in Mexico City. Both have previous charges of ATM tampering in Mexico City.

Luis Alberto N and Martha Patricia N were arrested from the Tulum ATM location. Police did not provide information regarding official charges against the pair.
BLACKSBURG  Following similar encampments on college campuses throughout the country, Virginia Tech students and others set up one to protest for the Palestinian cause on Friday morning.

Tents began to go up at about 4 a.m., at a time when the organizers  about 20 at that point  expected they wouldnt draw a lot of attention, leaving them a few hours to prepare.

Emon Green, a senior studying philosophy, politics and Africana Studies, said a few people noticed them almost immediately.

We actually had one guy come up right as we started, Green said. He didnt ask what we were doing, he already knew. He asked if we needed anything.

Soon after, the police took notice.

In those early morning hours, the police didnt make any moves to stop the encampment.

Bella Gilbert, a Virginia Tech sophomore studying political science, said the protestors had been pleasantly surprised by the police response.

So far, theyve been very open to cooperation, Gilbert said. Especially compared to whats been going on at places like Columbia and UT Austin.

Gilbert, a choice for spokesperson as the protest got underway, said she was proud to be a part of the event and, as a Jewish student, felt that she had a bit more protection from backlash as she spoke. She outlined the demands of the protestors, namely that Virginia Tech fully divest from entities involved in facilitating Israels war effort.

We plan to stay out here as long as it takes, until our demands are met, Gilbert said.

By the early afternoon, the numbers of protesters at the encampment had increased to about 60 or 70 people. Mostly sitting on sleeping bags and blankets. A traditional Islamic prayer was held, and a speech was given by Brandy Faulkner, a professor of Africana Studies at Virginia Tech, regarding street schools.

When they started, during the civil rights movement, they were called street schools because they would literally be held in the street while people were protesting, Faulkner said. As a way to bring people together and strategize about what to do next.

As the numbers grew, police continued to watch from around the Graduate Life Center lawn, where the protest took place, but no moves were made to disband the protesters.

Early in the afternoon, Mark Owczarski, the chief spokesperson for Virginia Tech, released a statement about the encampment.

Earlier today, a small gathering of members of the university community and others not affiliated with Virginia Tech convened at the Graduate Life Center and placed tents on the lawn. This gathering was not a registered event consistent with university policy. University officials and Virginia Tech Police responded on site to explain the universitys facility use and event policy (University Policy 5000) and related public safety policies. The university will continue to act in accordance with its policies.

At around the same time, Del. Chris Obenshain, R-Montgomery, released a statement about the protest.

Even when we disagree about the issues, I support the rights of all citizens to speak freely and peaceably assemble as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution, Obenshain said. Provided that the students at Virginia Tech remain peaceful, they should be free to exercise those rights.

Since the beginning of the semester, activists have been holding weekly protests in Blacksburg. Students have complained that, while the university has put out statements of solidarity with Jewish students, no official statements have been made regarding the universitys Palestinian and Muslim student body.

Nothing Virginia Tech has put out has even mentioned the word Palestine, Gilbert said, adding that from her view, the lack of acknowledgement is tied to the money the university gets from military contracts, and its close ties with companies like Boeing, whose CEO, David Calhoun, is the vice rector of Virginia Techs Board of Visitors.

Green, who was at the protest from the very beginning, said he hoped the number of participants would continue to grow, and that as more people showed up, he felt the chances of the protest lasting for more than a day increased.

Ideally, wed like to be out here until our demands are met, Green said. Were being fully cooperative with the police, so if they make us go, we will.

Green has been attending SPJP protests since November, and said he hoped to continue to see more protestors show up.

This is an incredible thing, Green said. This is a community coming together.

Later Friday night police told the group that they could not continue to camp with tents and tables  so sleeping bags were being used as people planned to stay.

Photos: Gaza liberation encampment at Virginia Tech
Thank you for reading!

Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading.
Peter Warren is a general assignment reporter for the Houston Chronicle. He can be reached at peter.warren@houstonchronicle.com.

Peter previously lived in Dallas, where he covered the sports as a freelancer for the Dallas Morning News and other outlets. He has been published in Texas Highways Magazine, DMagazine.com, the Star Tribune and Bowlers Journal International. Peter graduated from Northwestern University in 2021.
This is Totally Normal Quote of the Day, a feature highlighting a statement from the news that exemplifies just how extremely normal everything has become.

Some colleges are banning free speech on college campuses. Well, no more. Because Im about to sign a law that protects free speech on college campuses in Texas. Shouldnt have to do it. First Amendment guarantees it. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, in a 2019 video and tweet

On Wednesday, the University of Texas at Austin added its name to the top of a lengthy and ignominious list when university president Jay Hartzell called in a mounted, multi-agency show of force to crack down on a student and facultyled protest on campus. The programming of the protest day included guest speakers, study breaks, and an art workshop. Right around the time of the scheduled (and very menacing-sounding!) 6 p.m. pizza break, Hartzell unleashed not just the Austin Police Department but also Texas state troopers on his own studentsone-upping Columbia University president Nemat Shafik in a standard-setting display of excessive retaliation against student demonstrations in a week chock full of it.

The raid at UT resulted in 57 arrests, including of a photojournalist for the local Fox affiliate who spent the night in jail.

The aggressive retribution of university administrationsunleashing police forces on their students, faculty, and department chairs gathering peacefullyhas made for a low moment in the history of American education. And while Texas sweep was no more petty, tyrannical, dubious, or unnecessary than ones at Emory, Columbia, or USC, it takes the cake because of how annoying Texas politicians have been over the past few years, bleating about a commitment to free speech that they disposed of the instant a few kids voiced discomfort with the ongoing war in Gaza.

Advertisement

So, lets quickly run down some of the most hypocritical actors in this whole display, and check out their pitiable explanations.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

First up is Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, whose shamelessness requires no editorializing. Heres a famous Greg Abbott tweet from 2019, replete with front-facing video dispatch: I just signed a law protecting free speech on college campuses, he brags. Now, heres Abbott on this weeks particular display of free speech on a Texas campus: Student protesters belong in jail and should be expelled.

I just signed a law protecting free speech on college campuses. #txlege pic.twitter.com/jHIh8431SH  Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) June 10, 2019

Advertisement

Heres UT president Jay Hartzell, stating that the justification for the military-infused crackdown on college kids and faculty this week was not the breaking of rules by the student protesters but the expectation that rules would be broken: The group that led this protest stated it was going to violate Institutional Rules. Our rules matter, and they will be enforced, Hartzell said.

Advertisement

Usually you have to commit a crime before getting arrested; here, per Hartzell, the crime was the possibility! Suffice to say, this must be a lesser coda to the common refrain of the free speech warrior. I left my travel-sized Constitution at home, but perhaps someone could point me to this famed caveat of the First Amendment.

Advertisement

Finally, heres a university statement claiming that protests were overrun by outsiders, who made up half of the arrests: 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. All of the charges have already been dropped, a good indicator of just how criminal these actions were; UT has since reverted to another constitutional doozy of a solution: The administration has circulated guidance claiming that anyone arrested for trespassing is now barred from campus, even if those charges have been dropped.

Advertisement

Set aside, for a moment, the fact that part of the reason there were outsiders arrested on campus was because the police decided to arrest members of another constitutionally protected class, the media. UT itself hosts an annual Free Speech Week in which outside influence is encouraged on campusand is specifically outlined as protected, provisioned for, and celebrated.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

State law in Texas actually allows members of the public just like our university community to come onto campus and use our common outdoor areas for speech activity, Amanda Cochran-McCall, the schools vice president for legal affairs and general counsel, said on a Free Speech Week panel just last year, in 2023. I think that surprises a lot of students, they show up here and think, who is this random stranger setting up a table talking about this thing I find upsetting? But thats protected by state law.

The University of Texas, which mass arrested protesters, has a video promoting free speech saying that anybody from the public can come to campus and engage in protest.



They delisted the video from YouTube and turned off the comments but I'm posting the whole thing here. pic.twitter.com/hc1z2CqaVD  Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) April 25, 2024

Advertisement

Its been obvious that conservative free speech warriors dont delight in the exercise of all free speech on campus. But what this quote and the events of this week make crystal clear is that there is a very specific sort of free speech on campus they do delight in.

Advertisement

Its not the free speech of students that the governor and his jackboots wants to protect, but the free speech of outsiders that offend the pious sensibility of left-wing students. This only works for conservatives as a one-way street, and the Cheshire grin of Cochran-McCall as she says outsiders free speech on campus is protected by state lawperhaps picturing horrified undergrads having to contend with some real off-putting shit (not off-putting like a protest over the U.S. helping to fund a war that has killed 15,000 children and is starving untold thousands more but  the good kind of off-putting, like, uh, racist stuff)says it all.

At least some of the other universities that unleashed force on their students have the humility not to host a weeklong parade celebrating a principle they have little interest in abiding by!

Of course, in Texas, as in New York, California, and Georgia, the big guns only get you so far. The very next day, there were more protesters.
The Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday in Trump v. United States, a challenge to special counsel Jack Smiths indictment of Donald Trump for election subversion related to Jan. 6. The former president argues that he has absolute presidential immunity for the official acts he undertook while attempting to overturn the election, rendering the prosecution against him largely unconstitutional. Despite the total lack of any known constitutional basis for this theory, the Supreme Courts conservatives received it favorably, suggesting that they will further delay and undermine Trumps eventual federal trial.

On this weeks episode of Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick spoke about the arguments with Slates Mark Joseph Stern and Stanford Law professor Pam Karlan, who previously served as deputy assistant attorney general in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. Below is an excerpt of their conversation, which has been edited for length and clarity. To listen to the full episode , join Slate Plus.

Dahlia Lithwick: Justice Alito trotted out this theme that was kind of bone-chilling: He said we all want a stable democratic society, and nothing could be worse for democracy than holding a president to account, because that will lead us into a cycle that destabilizes the functioning of our country as a democracy. As if democracy requires giving immunity to criminal presidents because otherwise they wont leave office. This was when I went through the looking glassit literally felt like dont make me hit you again democracy.

Advertisement

Pam Karlan: That was the moment where I felt like saying, Thats what just happened! This is not something that might happen in the future. Its what already happened! And if you let people get away with it, what youve said to Donald Trump is, If you win the 2024 election, dont bother leaving office in 2029just stay there. I mean, thats really what the Supreme Court would be saying: Theres not going to be any crime if you try to stay there. It wasnt just through the looking glass. I thought, Did you hear what just came out of your mouth?

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Mark Joseph Stern: This was a great example of Alito being fully brain-poisoned by Fox News. This is been happening for years; he used to ask famously great questions, but these days its just culture war grievances and stuff that falls apart upon even a little bit of scrutiny. Hes losing his edge. And that was clear in this bizarro question saying that actually, a functioning constitutional democracy requires us to let presidents off the hook when they engage in a criminal conspiracy to steal elections.

Advertisement

But it was also clear during his next round of questions with Michael Dreeben, who represented Jack Smith. Alito had Dreeben walk through the layers that protect a president from a frivolous or vindictive prosecution. Then he dismissed each one out of hand. So Dreeben said: First, you need a prosecutor whos willing to bring charges; then you need a grand jury to indict; then theres a criminal proceeding in open court where a jury of his peers decides whether hes been proved guilty. And Alito just laughs it off as though its a big joke. Because we all know Justice Department attorneys are hacks wholl do whatever they want, right? And a grand jury will indict a ham sandwichnobody believes a grand jury will do anything worthwhile. And then, oh, sure a jury of his peers, like thats going to do anything.

Advertisement

Advertisement

This is the justice who is, by far, the most friendly to prosecutors and hostile to criminal defendants in case after case. Who could not for the life of him find a violation of the right to trial by jury or due process. But when the defendant is Trump, he suddenly thinks this entire system of criminal prosecution is such a bad joke that the Supreme Court has to step in and essentially quash this prosecution, because we cant trust the system to work. The system that is incarcerating so many other people whose convictions Sam Alito just rubber-stamps.

Advertisement

I felt like that was the turn for meit was Alito winking to Dreeben, saying, in short, We both worked in the Justice Department; we know what a racket that crap is. This was another one of those moments when I thought, sorry: Did one of the justices of the United States Supreme Court just imply that everything that happens at the Justice Department is hackery and rigged prosecutions?

Advertisement

Karlan: There was shock to it, but notice whats underneath all of that. Which is Alito saying were worried about vindictive prosecutions and we havent seen any of this up until now, that no president has prosecuted the president who came after. For all of what Alito was saying to be true, he has to believe that this prosecution itself is vindictive. Which means he has to have bought Trumps narrative of the case. And when he does this with Dreeben, hes attacking the deep state, which is career-line prosecutors. Remember, Dreebens entire career has been as a nonpartisan civil servant whos gotten up there and argued cases on behalf of the Bush administration, on behalf of the Trump administration, on behalf of the Obama administration.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

I mean, what Alito did is essentially say: Im living in MAGA world. Which views this case as a totally bogus prosecution ginned up by totally bogus people as part of a vindictive prosecution by Joe Biden. And Alito is also implicitly saying that if Donald Trump gets reelected, you just know hes going to prosecute people vindictively too. He really has lost faith in the entire system. Or at least hes prepared to lose faith in the system enough to decide this case in Trumps favor.

Beyond Alito, this was certainly not the Roberts court that I expected to show up at this argument. As a blinkered institutionalist, Im getting blowback along the lines of: I told you so. Theyre a bunch of partisan hacks. I truly believed that at least seven members of the court would take the potential failure of democracy as a proposition seriously enough that the partisan valence of this case went away. That didnt happen.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Karlan: Part of whats shocking about this is juxtaposing the case with Trump v. Anderson, from earlier this term. Anderson involved whether Colorado could keep Trump off the primary ballot for having engaged in insurrection, which under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment disqualifies you from holding an additional office. Coming out of that argument, the court fairly swiftly reached a unanimous bottom line that they were going to keep him on the ballot, because thats what democracy requiresto let the people decide. At the time I kind of thought, well, maybe they have some grand bargain here, which is to keep Trump on the ballot but say hes not immune from prosecution for engaging in crimes that undermine the very democracy that you just said youre so committed to protecting.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Instead we got nothing about protecting democracy. Certainly nothing about letting the people decide, which is the way you prove crimes. You take them to a jury, and the jury decides whether somebodys guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Democracy for me but not for thee is kind of where the Supreme Court seems to be ending up. Maybe theyll surprise us, and they were just letting off some steam. But where the argument seemed to go was that all of the things they said in Trump v. Anderson played no role and had no weight on how theyre going to decide Trump v. United States.

Right. Anderson was screw originalism; democracy demands more. And this was just screw democracy.
Justin Ballard is the Houston Chronicle's first ever newsroom meteorologist. He can be reached at justin.ballard@houstonchronicle.com.

He brings five years of experience forecasting tropical systems, severe weather outbreaks, and blizzards to the Houston Chronicle. His unique experience in forecasting will serve him well in his role at the Chronicle, as Houston has experienced a number of impactful weather events in recent years.

Justin looks forward to his work with the Houston Chronicle, where he'll be responsible for posting daily weather forecasts. On top of daily forecasts, he is excited to tackle more in-depth weather and climate stories that impact the residents of Southeast Texas.

A North Carolina native, Justin joined the Chronicle in July 2023. He graduated with his bachelor's degree in meteorology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in December 2017.
Welcome to this weekends edition of the Surge, the best reading material for when youre bored in your tent on a college encampment.





Weve got a lot of Trump-related material in this newsletter, and yet zero of it is about his ongoing criminal trial. (For coverage of that, do read Slates daily recaps from inside the courtroom.) Elsewhere, we check in on how a freshly liberated Mitch McConnell is putting on his zoot suit and spats and living it up a little. Kristi Noem tells all about the animal graveyard shes put together and stocked over the years. No ones more pleased to see a college student takeover of the news than Mike Johnson.





And do enjoy this current Trump trial! It could be the last.
The Marian Valley near the capital is the oldest Catholic pilgrimage destination in Slovakia.

Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share

You have access to this premium content thanks to ING Hubs Slovakia, the expert hub of global banking.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1xn2JKXFXEj2JRKjU-4fLfkgcRDEEPD8&ehbc=2E312F

This article was published in the latest edition of our Bratislava City Guide, which can be obtained from our online shop with Spectacular Slovakia travel guides.

For some contemporary visitors, Bratislava is merely Party-Slava, home of nightclubs and bars. But that view of the city is only a modern one: for hundreds of years the dominant presence here has been religion, and Bratislava remains a wonderful place in which to sit in the cool shadows of ancient walls and statues of saints, or to contemplate in silence while basking in the sunlight reflected through the majestic coloured windows of its spectacular places of worship.

Since as long as records go back, Bratislava has been the destination for pilgrims who have come to engage with the citys rich spiritual history. There are five sites in Bratislava that are of particular relevance and to which pilgrims continue to come to pay homage.

JOHN THE ALMONER

One of the first places most tourists will visit in Bratislava is St Martins Cathedral, one of the greatest monuments of the city and significant as the coronation church of the Hungarian Kingdom. It is also a specific pilgrimage destination. In the Chapel of St John the Almoner (Kaplnka sv. Jana Almuznika) on the left side of the church, are the mortal remains of John the Merciful.

John was the patriarch of Alexandria, born in Cyprus in the seventh century. His body took a circuitous route to Slovakia, via Istanbul (which was then Constantinople) and Venice, before arriving in Slovakia, probably in the mid 16th century. His remains are now stored in a glazed silver shrine above the altar in the chapel that bears his name.

Sunday services in foreign languages ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH St Martins Cathedral: 9:00 (Latin) (www.dom.fara.sk)

Church of St Ladislaus: 11.00 (ENG) OTHER CHRISTIAN CHURCHES Maly evanjelicky kostol (Small Evangelical Church): Panenska Street (entrance from Lycejna Street), 9:00 (GER), 10:00 (ENG) (www.bratislavainternationalchurch.or)

Citylight Church: Nam. 1.maja 1, 10:00 (ENG); ; (www.citylightbratislava.com)

Bratislava International Fellowship: Sreznevskeho 2, 10:00 (ENG), (www.bif.sk)

International Baptist Church: Sulovska 2; 10:15 (ENG), (www.ibcb.baptist.sk) JEWISH SERVICE Jewish Synagogue: Friday evening (before twilight), Saturday morning (usually at 9:00), and during feasts. Services held in Hebrew. During winter services in building of Zidovska nabozenska obec at Kozia Street. (www.synagogue.sk)

CHATAM SOFER

Bratislava has also always been an important centre of Jewish culture, despite suffering long periods of persecution common across Europe, as well as a series of construction projects that have devastated former Jewish neighbourhoods. Nevertheless, one crucial site in the city has remained intact and is now visited by Jews from across the world.

The old Jewish cemetery, at the bottom of the castle hill, dates from the 17th century and at one time contained around 6,000 graves. Much of it was destroyed in 1942-43 when a tram tunnel was built under the castle, exiting through the cemetery. Latterly, the rest of the former Jewish quarter was razed during construction of the SNP Bridge in 1969.

However, one of the tombs that was saved and is now preserved in a tiny underground room is the final resting place of Chatam Sofer, the orthodox scholar born Moshe Schreiber in 1762 and who died in 1839. Sofer became Chief Rabbi of Pressburg in 1806 and also headed the yeshiva (rabbinical school) in the city. He was a strictly Orthodox rabbi. Somehow his tomb was saved despite the massive societal upheavals and the scarring of the landscape. Most visitors now come in September, on the anniversary of his death, to pay their respects.

This town was always tolerant, said Viera Kamenicka, from the Museum of Jewish Culture in Bratislava, part of the Slovak National Museum.

CALVARY

There was once also a Calvary in the hills of Bratislava, close to the Church of Our Lady of the Snows. But 13 of its 14 stops were destroyed during the previous regime, as well as the tower of the church, leaving only the peaceful Lourdes cave. It contains a statue of the Virgin Mary, surrounded by hundreds of marble plaques offering thanks. Although plans for redevelopment of the whole Calvary are often discussed, priorities tend to be with the reconstruction of existing monuments rather than building from new, and there are no fixed dates for the construction.

REPRESSIONS

Pilgrimage sites St Martins Cathedral

Jewish Cemetery: www.jewishcemetery.sk

Chatam Sofer

Lourdes cave: Pod Kalvariou; The cave is located close to the Church of Our Lady of the Snows an approximate 20-minute walk along Hlboka Street from the bus stop Pod stanicou

Church of the Holy Cross (Kostol povysenia Sv. Kriza): Biskupicka 64, Bratislava (mortal remains of Sister Zdenka)

Calvary: path starts at Za sokolovnou street and leads through the forest; FB: bratislavskakalvaria

Church of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows (Kostol Sedembolestnej Panny Marie): Osloboditelska 27, Bratislava- Vajnory (mortal remains of Titus Zeman)

Marianka (Marian Valley): to visit the pilgrimage site - follow the street Namestie 4. aprila and descend to located The Marian Way and The Way of the Cross sacred journey featured by many landmarks as The Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary

The cruelties of the communist regime are evidenced in the story of the first beatified woman in Slovakia. Sister Zdenka, civilian name Cecilia Scheling, assisted in 1952 several Catholic priests escaping from former Czechoslovakia. The communist secret police imprisoned and tortured her on the grounds of treason. She was released in 1955 but died just months later. Pope John Paul II beatified Sister Zdenka as a martyr during a 2003 visit to Slovakia.

There were worshippers from the Philippines and Vietnam who were curious about her, said Maria Terezia, a nun from the congregation of the Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross.

The mortal remains of Sister Zdenka are placed in the Church of Holy Cross in the eastern part of Bratislava, where pilgrims go to pray.

Another blessed martyr from the communist era is the Slovak Salesian priest Titus Zeman. His mortal remains are placed in the Church of our Lady of Seven Sorrows in the north part of the city.

MARIAN VALLEY

Another of the most visited and most important pilgrimage sites in Slovakia is the Marian Valley and the village of Marianka, the oldest Catholic pilgrimage destination in Slovakia and one of the oldest in the whole of central Europe. As the name suggests, the whole area is devoted to the Virgin Mary and includes numerous holy sites, drawing pilgrims from across the region for several centuries.

The most significant sites are the Pilgrimage Church of the Nativity of Virgin Mary (Kostol Narodenia Panny Marie), a shrine to the Virgin Mary that has come to be known as the Lourdes cave, the Chapel of the Holy Well, and the Way of the Cross, which has 14 stopping points.

Many legends have grown up concerning the healing powers of a visit to the area, and to be gained from praying to a statue of the Virgin Mary believed to date from 1030. In 2011, the Marian Valley also gained the privileges of a basilica minor, which means visitors can obtain indulgence here. The Marian Valley is visited by 200300 pilgrims on the first Saturday of every month, increasing to 500 1,000 during good weather. Regardless of the conditions, the Feast of the Holy Trinity, in spring (May or June), and the Feast of Nativity of Our Lady, in September, usually attract 5,0006,000 pilgrims annually.

Author: Bratislava City Guide
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240427/a-bluff-us-tries-to-cut-ties-between-china--russia-spearhead-economic-decisions-for-china-1118138057.html

A Bluff: US Tries to Cut Ties Between China & Russia, Spearhead Economic Decisions for China

A Bluff: US Tries to Cut Ties Between China & Russia, Spearhead Economic Decisions for China

Sputnik International

Xi said the two countries should be partners rather than adversaries, and recognized this year as the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the US and China. Xi added that the world is big enough to accommodate the simultaneous development and prosperity of both China and the US.

2024-04-27T06:10+0000

2024-04-27T06:10+0000

2024-04-27T06:10+0000

world

china

us-china relations

us

antony blinken

russia

joe biden

linwood tauheed

xi jinping

us hegemony

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/04/1b/1118138408_0:0:3071:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_5ee33b5e433ae47f00ddddc0e70778a4.jpg

On Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The meeting came after a three-day visit to China that was reportedly hijacked by contentious issues between the two countries, with China even warning Blinken of a downward spiral in their relations.Blinken also said that the US did not aim to hold Chinas development or separate the worlds two largest economies, and that the US wants Chinas economy to grow but the way it grows matters. The secretary of state cited what the US has called unfair trade practices by China and the possibility of the US and other markets being flooded with Chinese products.Linwood Tauheed, an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, sat down with Sputniks The Critical Hour to discuss the downward spiral of US-China relations.What's interesting is that the standard economic theory that the West says it adheres to always comes out with an idea that when two countries trade, they can both win. That it's not a win-lose situation, that it's a win-win situation, said Tauheed. However, the US, apparently, and the West in general, is concerned about China winning.Sputniks Garland Nixon suggested that the US is searching for a pretext which they may use to sanction China. During US Secretary of State Antony Blinkens visit to China, Blinken made a groundless accusation against China of being Russias top supplier for their defense industrial base as the US continues its support of Ukraine in a proxy war with Russia.A New York based newspaper recently reported that the US is drafting sanctions that threaten to cut some Chinese banks off from the global financial system which they hope will pressure Beijing to stop its commercial support of Russias military production.So they're not going to separate, they're joined strategically. And because of the things we said before about these sanctions being bad for business, Xi has no reason to think of this as a real plan. There are no real plans that can work. So, Xi can only lose if he believes the threat and doesn't take it as a fake out. I think because Moscow and Beijing are joined strategically, I can't see Xi going for this fake.A recent analysis from Xinhua news claims that Chinas economic recovery has gathered steam in the first quarter of 2024, displaying strength and resilience and bringing much-needed certainty to an otherwise uncertain global economic landscape. The analysis also found that the Chinese economy is shifting from rapid growth to high-quality development.If you just concentrate on growth and just producing more and more products, your production infrastructure becomes old. Bridges start to fall down. You find your workforce is not competitive and eventually that will catch up with you, Tauheed explained.During Blinkens trip to China, the secretary and Xi also discussed next steps regarding a range of commitments that Xi and President Joe Biden made at their summit in California in November. Those include advancing cooperation on counternarcotics, military-to-military communication, talks on artificial intelligence risks and safety, and people to people exchanges, according to a State Department readout.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240427/case-of-frenemies--1118136179.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/us-sows-chaos-in-asia-pacific-foments-serious-problems-in-the-region-1118130411.html

china

russia

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg

Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg

russia china us, us-china relations, russia vs nato, ukraine in nato, no nato for ukraine, ukraine's nato membership bid, us hegemony, us dominance, us arrogance, multipolar world order, new world order, us expansionism, taiwan problem, taiwan issue, taiwanese independence, independent taiwan, multipolar world, polycentric world, russia-china alliance, china-russia alliance
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240427/congress-panics-over-ukraine-as-russian-drones-kill-abrams-battle-tanks---uk-diplomat-1118134927.html

Congress Panics Over Ukraine as Russian Drones Kill Abrams Battle Tanks - Ex-UK Diplomat

Congress Panics Over Ukraine as Russian Drones Kill Abrams Battle Tanks - Ex-UK Diplomat

Sputnik International

The rush to fast-track $6 billion in military aid to Ukraine on Friday reflects the panic felt by the Biden administration and in Congress that the Zelensky regime's forces are collapsing, veteran UK diplomat, former ambassador and political commentator Peter Ford told Sputnik.

2024-04-27T03:12+0000

2024-04-27T03:12+0000

2024-04-27T03:14+0000

abrams tanks

m1 abrams tank

m1a1 abrams tank

m-1 abrams tank

military

ukraine crisis

ukrainian crisis

ukraine

russia

joe biden

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/04/1b/1118134767_0:56:1131:692_1920x0_80_0_0_b524339b46092bdc175dd32e55239160.jpg

Reports that Russia's unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are now proving successful at targeting and destroying US-supplied Abrams Main Battle Tanks causes a lot of concerns among the Biden administration and Congress, according to Ford.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. In addition, the Pentagon announced on Friday its largest-ever $6 billion military aid package that will include interceptors for Ukraine's Patriot and NASAMS systems, more counter-drone systems, significant amounts of artillery ammunition, and air-to-ground munitions. However, the move came amid reports that the Ukrainian armed forces moved Abrams tanks from the frontlines due to threats from Russian drones. Ford observed that the rush to send so many more advanced weapons systems to Ukraine came hard on the heels of these reports. However, the main US defense contractors were oblivious to the multiple failures of their weapons systems on the battlefields of Ukraine and were only interested in further expanding their already enormous profit margins, the ex-diplomat emphasized. The other purpose of the otherwise futile and too late new arms package was to give Biden domestic credibility before his re-election campaign against former President Donald Trump this fall, he explained. The $6 billion arms package was therefore meant "to make Biden look resolute and consistent as he positions himself for the presidential election campaign," the analyst said. The people of Ukraine once again had become the victims of cynical and ruthless US political manipulations and intrigues, Ford stressed.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240228/abrams-destroyer-all-you-need-to-know-about-russias-piranya-drone-1117034935.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240304/ukraines-monkey-model-abrams-has-a-lot-of-weak-points-1117131171.html

ukraine

russia

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

abrams tank, russia destroys abrams, abrams dead, russian drones, withdraw abrams, destroyed abrams, urkaine crisis, ukrainian troops, ukrainian losses, russian forces, russian troops, russia wins, ukraine loses, ukrainian crisis, american battle tank, us arms for ukraine
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240427/facade-of-diplomacy-masks-us-efforts-to-smear-isolate-suppress-china-1118135160.html

Facade of Diplomacy Masks US Efforts to Smear, Isolate, Suppress China

Facade of Diplomacy Masks US Efforts to Smear, Isolate, Suppress China

Sputnik International

Secretary of State Antony Blinkens second visit to China in less than a year this week signifies the importance the Biden administration places on Sino-US relations in addressing various global challenges, according to Chinese commentator Anna Ge.

2024-04-27T03:57+0000

2024-04-27T03:57+0000

2024-04-27T03:57+0000

antony blinken

joe biden

china

russia

shenzhen

tiktok

huawei

fault lines

analysis

us hegemony

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/07/0f/1083388892_0:203:2919:1845_1920x0_80_0_0_cbbd453e25eb1456353dff85d95c7af0.jpg

The United States aims to sustain dialogue with China and collaborate on addressing some of the world's most pressing issues and also domestic issues, said the CGTN Radio host, who frequently discusses China-related issues in mainstream media in South Africa, India, and Central Asia. But the US maintains its own motives in such discussions, according to Ge, frequently using China as a scapegoat for its own geopolitical and economic difficulties.The political commentator joined Sputniks Fault Lines program Friday to discuss the issue.It is interesting to see how China-US relations develop today, said Ge as host Jamarl Thomas noted the often chaotic nature of diplomacy between the two countries in recent years. US President Joe Biden referred to Chinese President Xi Jinping as a dictator the last time the two met in the United States, a gaffe judged to have damaged relations between the two countries.On the other hand we have become accustomed to anticipating negative developments shortly after high level US officials depart, often leading to any positive outreach being subsequently retracted or modified by the American side Washington has been testing China's limits unilaterally, the commentator highlighted.Ge noted that Biden signed a bill likely banning the Chinese-owned social media app TikTok shortly after Blinken arrived in Shanghai this week, an unprecedented measure. TikTok CEO Shou Chew, a Singaporean businessman, has vowed to oppose pressure to sell the social media platform to an American owner, which would result in the application being banned unless the company succeeds in launching a judicial challenge.US politicians have cast TikTok as a threat to US security and Americans privacy, but a raft of concessions won by former US President Donald Trump resulted in all data associated with the platform being hosted in the United States, with periodic auditing from US-based companies. Critics have claimed the strongarm tactic is merely a strategy to undermine competition from a successful Chinese competitor, as when the United States pressured European allies to ban 5G technology from the Shenzhen-based Huawei.These meetings serve more like guard rails, which aren't meant to stabilize or improve relations but to keep them from spiraling out of control while the US continues to implement containment policies, continues to stack military assets in the region, continues to pressure the Chinese government wherever possible, said Ge. And also continues to attack Chinese companies.Discussion then turned towards the United States criticism of Chinas economic relationship with Russia. Beijing has continued to conduct trade with Moscow in defiance of US calls to isolate the country after the launch of its special military operation in the Donbass in 2022. Some have even blamed China for Russias success in the conflict, claiming Beijing provides the country with crucial components for military technology.China has resisted what it views as coercion against the countrys sovereign right to determine its trade relations.Many scholars believe the US has every reason to prolong this war, she added. China is not a party or participant in the Ukraine crisis, and China and Russia have the right to carry out normal economic and trade cooperation, which should not be interfered with by any country or restricted.The Chinese government keeps saying that this is a problem between Russia and Ukraine, it's not a problem between China and the US, and the US should not try to turn it into one, Ge emphasized.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/blinken-promises-to-ensure-transatlantic-security-to-counter-chinese-support-for-russia-1118125099.html

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

china

russia

ukraine

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg

John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg

russia china us, us-china relations, russia vs nato, ukraine in nato, no nato for ukraine, ukraine's nato membership bid, us hegemony, us dominance, us arrogance, multipolar world order, new world order, us expansionism, nato expansion, nato enlargement, multipolar world, polycentric world, russia-china alliance, china-russia alliance
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240427/french-govt-agents-likely-killed-in-russias-january-strike-on-kharkov---ex-intel-officer-1118143270.html

French Gov't Agents Likely Killed in Russia's January Strike on Kharkov - Ex-Intel Officer

French Gov't Agents Likely Killed in Russia's January Strike on Kharkov - Ex-Intel Officer

Sputnik International

French government agents were likely killed during the Russian armed forces' strike on a temporary deployment point of foreign mercenaries in the Ukrainian-controlled city of Kharkiv on January 16, former French counter-terrorism intelligence officer Nicolas Cinquini told Sputnik.

2024-04-27T12:44+0000

2024-04-27T12:44+0000

2024-04-27T12:44+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

dmitry peskov

emmanuel macron

russia

kharkov

ukraine

russian foreign ministry

kremlin

ukraine crisis

french troops

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/05/12/1095597672_0:0:2880:1620_1920x0_80_0_0_5b105a589b367998e795beefd2d0a90d.jpg

On January 16, the Russian armed forces destroyed a temporary deployment point of foreign mercenaries in Kharkov, with about 60 foreign soldiers killed in the strike, Russian defense officials said. Following the developments, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the French ambassador to Moscow, saying that "several dozen French" had been among the mercenaries killed in the strike. Paris, for its part, rejected the information as "manipulation." "On January 16, 2024, Russia struck an abandoned maternity hospital in Kharkov that had been transformed into a base for foreign military personnel. The press release stated that their [military personnel's] 'core' had been French and that a total of about 60 people had been killed. I have concluded that these personnel were classified as agents of the French government," Cinquini said.He explained his belief by the fact that no reports were published after the strike about the deceased French who had gone to the front privately, although such news is usually posted on social media. The second reason Cinquini believes the killed French had been government agents is that the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the French ambassador to Moscow following the strike, which he said suggests the presence of more serious personnel at the site, such as operators appointed by the French government, probably former legionnaires of Ukrainian origin. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia had taken notice of Macron's remarks and that some of the countries that participated in the Paris meeting on Ukraine had quite a "wise assessment" of the potential dangers of being involved in a conflict with Russia.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240409/russian-cossacks-to-macron-your-government-is-still-supporting-nazis-1117832761.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240404/which-western-countries-are-mired-in-ukraine-proxy-conflict-1117737653.html

russia

kharkov

ukraine

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

russias special military op in ukraine, special military operation, special military operational zone, special op zone, russian troops in special op zone, ukraine casualties in conflict, total ukrainian losses, how many people did ukraine loose, how many people did kiev loose, new russian weapons in ukraine, advanced russian weapons, russian defense ministry statements, latest russian military statements, what did shoigu say about ukraine, donetsk peoples republic, nato in ukraine, is nato in ukraine, russian drones, drone warfare, new military drones, uavs in ukraine, ukraine crisis, ukraine conflict
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240427/iraqi-authorities-launch-investigation-into-attack-on-gas-field-1118141176.html

Iraqi Authorities Launch Investigation Into Attack on Gas Field

Iraqi Authorities Launch Investigation Into Attack on Gas Field

Sputnik International

The Iraqi authorities have created a commission to investigate a drone attack on the Khor Mor gas field in Iraqi Kurdistan, which killed two people on Friday evening, according to a statement from the Iraqi security forces obtained by Sputnik.

2024-04-27T09:14+0000

2024-04-27T09:14+0000

2024-04-27T09:14+0000

world

iraq

iraqi kurdistan

middle east

sulaymaniyah

gas fields

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/104958/61/1049586133_0:204:3621:2241_1920x0_80_0_0_ca536a14c8de68d789a0781c4e003b04.jpg

"Based on instructions of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the Joint Operations Command has formed a technical investigation commission to clarify the circumstances of the sabotage attack carried out by a drone on the Khor Mor gas field in Sulaymaniyah province, which resulted in the death of two people," the statement said. The Iraqi authorities threatened "fair punishment for those responsible for the attack, who are trying to harm the national economy." The Iraqi news agency INA reported that the attack on the gas field in northern Iraq did not affect gas production operations.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240202/us-has-overstayed-its-effectiveness-in-middle-east-1116546301.html

iraq

iraqi kurdistan

sulaymaniyah

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

attacks on iraq, iraqi gas fields, iraq under attacks, drone attacks on iraq, military hostilities in the middle east
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240427/jewish-student-protester-shatters-myth-of-antisemitic-campus-demonstrations-1118133061.html

Jewish Student Protester Shatters Myth of Antisemitic Campus Demonstrations

Jewish Student Protester Shatters Myth of Antisemitic Campus Demonstrations

Sputnik International

I don't think students are afraid anymore, said the undergraduate at New York University as demonstrators are defamed in mainstream media and threatened by police and administrators.

2024-04-27T03:16+0000

2024-04-27T03:16+0000

2024-05-02T12:32+0000

john kiriakou

robert kraft

columbia

israel

palestine

hillel

new york university

columbia university

analysis

us

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/04/1a/1118133272_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_ef97e4036c07a4b49a1082203e2581c7.jpg

At least 33 major American universities  and now international ones  have joined in on campus Gaza protests, sparking a mix of reactions by campus administrators from confusion to heavy handedness, noted host John Kiriakou on Sputniks Political Misfits program.Demonstrations began over a week ago at New York Citys Columbia University campus in Upper Manhattan, where students set up an encampment calling for the school to divest funds from financial interests connected to weapons manufacturers and the Israeli occupation. Protests intensified after the schools President Minouche Shafik called in local police to disperse the demonstration.Hundreds of arrests have since taken place across the country, most recently at the University of Ohio, Indiana University, and the University of Minnesota Thursday. Panic spread at encampments in Ohio and Indiana after reports of what appeared to be police snipers set up on rooftops overlooking the protests.The reports remain unconfirmed, but the prospect of National Guard deployments to quell the demonstrations has recalled memories of Ohios 1970 Kent State massacre, in which four students protesting the Vietnam War were gunned down.Throughout the wave of demonstrations, a common media refrain justifying the police crackdown has been that protesters are violent and antisemitic, creating safety concerns for Jewish students. One Jewish protest organizer at New York University joined Political Misfits Friday to challenge such narratives.Since October 7th, students at NYU have been really carrying on the struggle to demand that the university divests and discloses its financial connections with organizations and companies that have really been funding this unrelenting assault on the Palestinian people over the past few months, said Sam, whose full name was withheld to protect his privacy.We are just utterly sick of having our money directly fund the murder of children, the destruction of hospitals, the oppression of an entire people.The protests have brought light to the massive financial holdings of colleges and universities in the United States, whose endowments are often estimated to be worth billions of dollars. Pro-Palestine advocates have long supported a campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctioning of Israeli interests in an echo of tactics successfully employed against apartheid South Africa decades ago.But wealthy donors hold significant sway over decisions made by administrators. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft announced he would withhold support from Columbia University this week after comparing demonstrations on the universitys campus to scenes from Nazi Germany.The university as soon as we set up started to accuse us of things like antisemitism and attempting to incite violence, said Sam, claiming attempts to discredit protesters at NYU resembled narratives from officials at Columbia.Not only did I and other Jewish students feel safe in the encampments, but Jewish students generally played a vital role in the planning of this encampment, as well as the programing, Sam insisted. For example, we held a Passover Seder at the encampment.The student went on to criticize the role of Hillel International, an organization of groups that offer services to religiously observant Jews on college campuses. Hillel has furthered the narrative that college pro-Palestine protests are antisemitic, with representatives from its Columbia chapter most recently meeting with US second gentleman Doug Emhoff over the issue.The role of the group echoes efforts by some other self-avowed Jewish cultural and religious organizations, which are sometimes strongly pro-Zionist. New Yorks 92nd Street Y community center was engulfed in controversy last year after canceling a talk by a Pulitzer Prize-winning author who had signed an open letter calling for an end to Israels use of military force against civilians in Gaza. The organization eventually ended its literary series altogether.Hillel itself claims to be like a Jewish cultural center on campuses all throughout the country, said Sam. This is ridiculous. It's false They're not a Jewish organization, as we say, they're a Zionist organization. What they are designed to do is to indoctrinate Jewish students into supporting the State of Israel and its crimes.They expel us, they ostracize us, they spread lies about us. And when they do that they prevent us from accessing religious spaces that we need for Shabbat, for Passover It's just sickening that Hillel dares to call itself a Jewish organization when it actively harms the Jewish community.Sam insisted that the primary threat to Jewish students and others at the protests emerged not from their fellow demonstrators, but from their schools heavy-handed crackdowns on the encampments.And we are watching constant videos of just major police crackdowns on peaceful protesters, from Emory to Columbia to so many different other universities, and seeing the strength of the students, the strength in us, he added. And it's just creating this basically unbreakable chain of solidarity and resistance.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/threats-against-campus-pro-palestine-demonstrators-echo-deadly-violence-of-kent-state-1118117114.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220207/hypocrisy-is-palatable-abby-martin-condemns-georgias-effort-to-salvage-struck-down-anti-bds-law-1092833238.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240422/sponsor-of-tiktok-ban--iran-palestine-sanctions-gets-1400-bump-in-aipac-donations-1118047522.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240419/leaked-nyt-style-guide-reveals-biased-reporting-on-israel-palestine-conflict-1118005038.html

columbia

israel

palestine

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg

John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg

antisemitic palestine protests, us college pro-palestine protests, us campus gaza protests, us university campus protests, college campus protest movement, police repression of protests in us, us represstion, us college unrest, zionism, american zionism, anti-zionist, anti-zionist movement, anti-zionism, student protests, college protests, pro-palestine protests, israel kills civilians, genocide, genocide in gaza
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240427/land-of-the-free-how-us-lawmakers-restrict-students-right-to-peaceful-protest-1118148426.html

'Land of the Free'? How US Lawmakers Restrict Students' Right to Peaceful Protest

'Land of the Free'? How US Lawmakers Restrict Students' Right to Peaceful Protest

Sputnik International

US lawmakers have once again demonstrated where their sympathies lie in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by cracking down on student protests against the bloodbath in the Gaza Strip.

2024-04-27T16:15+0000

2024-04-27T16:15+0000

2024-05-02T12:27+0000

americas

us

students

protest

laws

restrictions

us college campus protests

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/04/1b/1118148579_0:0:3069:1726_1920x0_80_0_0_f32d460fc4bde3bf4ee0361e559f5318.jpg

A new bill about to be proposed by congress duo Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) and Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) would empower the US Department of Education to deploy a "third-party anti-Semitism monitor" to any college in the United States that receives federal funding, according to Axios. Said monitor would evaluate "the progress that a college or university has made toward combating anti-Semitism," with the results of said evaluations to be released publicly on a quarterly basis. As Rep. Torres reportedly said in a statement, countless Jewish students from campuses across America complained that they feel deeply unsafe, purely as a result of their religious and ethnic identity." "Jewish students have told my office that they feel completely abandoned by their university administrators and they view Congress as the only avenue for accountability and safety," he claimed. The bill is expected to become the first such legislation to be introduced in the US Congress in response to a series of protests against the Gaza War that has rocked colleges and universities across the United States. Cracking down on campus protests is hardly a novelty for the powers that be in the United States, with suppression of protests dating as far back as the Vietnam War. In 2019, a non-governmental organization called the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) also observed that a number of laws threatening disciplinary measures against protesters have been introduced in several US states. For example, a bill introduced in Illinois that year would allow a person whose expressive rights are violated on campus to bring a legal case against the university even if the violation was performed by student protesters and not by faculty. This creates an incentive for university administrators to overzealously police demonstrators to avoid potential liability, the NGO warned. The organization also pointed at the executive order issued by then-US President Donald Trump in 2019 that ties federal funding of universities to these institutions taking appropriate steps to promote free inquiry. According to the ICNL, this order could lead to politicized interference with university governance in the future and government monitoring of the political activity of students and faculty.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/threats-against-campus-pro-palestine-demonstrators-echo-deadly-violence-of-kent-state-1118117114.html

americas

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

us campus protests, us university protests, student protests in united states
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240427/north-african-countries-expel-western-military-presence-1118136389.html

North African Countries Expel Western Military Presence

North African Countries Expel Western Military Presence

Sputnik International

Chad, Niger, and other countries throughout the continent are increasingly questioning and rejecting the influence of Europe and the United States.

2024-04-27T04:59+0000

2024-04-27T04:59+0000

2024-04-27T04:59+0000

africa

joe biden

robert fantina

china

germany

chad

niger

north africa

sahel region

south africa

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/04/1b/1118136648_0:57:1786:1062_1920x0_80_0_0_98d6d6cfd43390802b74f3e2e650f3d0.jpg

A wave of anti-imperialist sentiment is spreading across Africa as countries across the continent reject Western influence.The latest indication of the trend came Thursday when US officials revealed the country would withdraw troops stationed in the northern African country of Chad. The transitional government there had called for the United States to end its military presence in the nation for some time, although US officials attempted to maintain troops there under the pretense of counterterrorism cooperation.The Biden administration finally agreed to comply with the countrys request, hoping to revisit the issue after the countrys upcoming presidential elections early next month.This week also brought news that the United States would be pulling troops out of the neighboring country of Niger, weeks after the government there had made similar requests. The US was thought to be even more reluctant to draw down there given the country has invested significant amounts of resources towards military and surveillance installations in Niger.But the countrys government insisted on the United States exit while also expelling French troops, which historically held Niger as a colony.Its, I think, a very positive move that countries are finally beginning to tell the United States they have to leave, they don't belong there anymore, they're not wanted, they're not needed there, and, to go, said journalist Robert Fantina on Sputniks Political Misfits program Friday.The United States has recently accused China of debt trap diplomacy as the country expands its economic influence across the world and throughout Africa, in particular. Former Vice President Mike Pence and other members of the Trump administration frequently employed the term against China, claiming Beijing locks African countries into unpayable loans.China has rejected the charge, and African countries have increasingly strengthened ties with Beijing, seeing the rising world power as a model nation able to lift itself up from poverty. We are inspired by Chinas common prosperity strategy, and are encouraged that this includes improving the welfare and well-being of all countries of the Global South, said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2023.Several countries have come to view US warnings about China as a case of projection, seeing the countrys influence through institutions such as the IMF and World Bank as a continuation of historical patterns of colonial domination. Ghanas former President Kwame Nkrumah coined the term neocolonialsm to describe the phenomenon, which was also cited by Burkino Faso's revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara.Imperialism is a system of exploitation that occurs not only in the brutal form of those who come with guns to conquer territory, said the former leader. Imperialism often occurs in more subtle forms: a loan, food aid, blackmail. We are fighting this system that allows a handful of men on Earth to rule all of humanity.Sankaras influence has enjoyed a revival recently in both Burkina Faso and throughout the African continent. South Africas Economic Freedom Fighters party has grown in prominence in recent years, citing Sankara as a primary influence.It's hard to talk about counterterrorism in the context of the United States since the United States is the largest terrorist organization in the world due to its constant overthrowing of governments, its bombing of countries and cities, its repression of people everywhere, insisted Fantina.Namibias president underscored the point recently, issuing a scathing statement against Germany for its lockstep support of Israels military operation in the Gaza Strip. The country suggested Germany, and by extension the rest of the Western world, have yet to reflect on their destructive colonial legacy as they continue to exert influence around the globe.Germany cannot morally express commitment to the United Nations Convention against genocide, including atonement for the genocide in Namibia, whilst supporting the equivalent of a holocaust and genocide in Gaza, read the statement. Germany publicly took sides in the ICJ case with Israel on January 12, which marks 120 years of the beginning of what many Namibians call the German-Namibian war, which then resulted in the first genocide of the 20th century, said Henning Melber from Nordic Africa Institute in Sweden.While Germany scored a lot of good points internationally in the way it engaged with the mass destruction of the Holocaust, it was in denial of the genocide committed [with Namibia] until 2015, Melber emphasized.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240319/nigers-break-with-us-shows-african-countries-tired-of-disrespect-from-west-1117416606.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230917/jeffrey-sachs-western-neocolonialism-cannot-stop-africas-rise-1113428229.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20221123/namibia-removes-statue-of-german-colonial-officer-wrongly-considered-windhoek-founder-1104604847.html

africa

china

germany

chad

niger

north africa

sahel region

south africa

namibia

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg

John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg

us troops exit from chad, us troops pulled out of niger, us remove military from chad, france military niger, us europe colonialism africa, western neocolonialism, economic exploitation, western influence, western dominance, american supremacy, us dominance, western dominance, us in africa, western colonies, western domination
A demonstrator is arrested at a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Texas, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman via AP) Ricardo B. Brazziell/Associated Press

Student protesters

Regarding Pro-Palestine protesters at UT Austin arrested by Texas state troopers. School threatens disciplinary action, (April 24): To those who are protesting the war in Gaza: I totally understand your frustration. I cant imagine that anyone is not horrified by the thousands of deaths and injuries of innocent people. I fully support your right to peacefully demonstrate to call attention to your cause. I do not equate wanting a cease-fire with antisemitism and hope that the majority of you will denounce the antisemites among you.

I worry that most of you, in your anger, will act against your self-interest in the coming election. It is true that America is not going to abandon its closest ally in the Middle East, no matter which party wins. However, the election presents a binary choice, and the approach is different in each party. President Joe Biden and many Democrats, such as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, have called for a cease-fire and a two-state solution. Schumer has called for Israelis to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a call I believe is supported by many Americans including most American Jews.

To not vote, or to vote for a third-party candidate, is choosing not to participate. The biggest threat to your cause and to your rights would be a Donald Trump victory.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Marc Freedman, Houston

In choosing to shut down a peaceful protest by students at the University of Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott has taken a step to dismantle the First Amendment rights of all Texans.

Abbotts action seems to be part of a coordinated national effort by Republican leaders to paint Americans who have legitimate concerns about Israels conduct in the war on Gaza, which so far has claimed 34,000 lives, as antisemitic. On the same day as Abbott took action, House Speaker Mike Johnson chose to go to Columbia University to trash protesters and to condescendingly say, Go back to class, and stop the nonsense. Stop wasting your parents money.

There are many reasons to be concerned about Israels conduct in this war. The day before Abbott shut down the UT protest, mass graves were uncovered at two major hospitals in Gaza that were raided by Israeli troops.

Hospitals are entitled to very special protection under international humanitarian law, United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Turk observed. And the intentional killing of civilians, detainees and others who are hors de combat (incapable of engaging in combat) is a war crime. Earlier this week, the U.S. State Department issued its annual human rights report, where it cited credible reports of unlawful killings by both Hamas and the Israeli government.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

We must not allow cynical politicians such as Abbott and Johnson to shut down bedrock American values of freedom of expression simply because young people are expressing opinions with which some people may disagree.

Andrew Edmonson, Houston

The word genocide is being used to characterize Israeli action in Gaza. Genocide describes a movement to kill off members of a racial or ethnic group specifically because of their race or ethnicity. In my opinion, response to an invasion, whether one considers it proportionate or not, does not fall under the definition of genocide. That is warfare, with all its horrors and lack of humanity.

Article 7 of the 1988 Hamas charter states: The Day of Judgment will not come about until Moslems fight the Jews (killing the Jews), when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say 'O Moslems, O Abdulla, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him.' That is genocide.

Daniel Musher, Houston

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Guaranteed income program

Regarding Its not racist to oppose Harris Countys guaranteed income pilot | Opinion, (April 24): Conservatives often use the proverb Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime to oppose programs such as Uplift Harris that are designed to provide immediate help to the poor. They imply these two acts are mutually exclusive, that implementing short-term solutions somehow precludes also implementing long-term solutions.

In using the proverb, conservatives imply they support long-term solutions, when they really oppose both. Their actual mantra is always, No free fish and No free lessons. While Uplift Harris lingers in the courts, county and state officials can at least continue to work on long-term solutions.

Fred Fisher, College Station

In response to Carole Paul Veselys letter, Id like to make a couple of observations.



First, she quotes as a biblical adage the line Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for life. As anyone who has read the Bible knows, this is found nowhere in the Bible. Indeed, the Bible quotes Jesus telling us to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, care for the sick and otherwise help the less fortunate among us. You know, the opposite of what Ms. Vesely suggests constitutes the command of the Bible.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Greg Aydt, Seabrook
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240427/russia-strikes-ukrainian-airfield-intended-for-attacks-inside-russia---reports-1118139139.html

Russia Strikes Ukrainian Airfield Intended for Attacks Inside Russia - Reports

Russia Strikes Ukrainian Airfield Intended for Attacks Inside Russia - Reports

Sputnik International

The Russian army's successes along the front lines of the special operation zone are followed by powerful, high-precision strikes against Ukrainian military infrastructure and weapons depots, further crippling the Ukrainian armed forces.

2024-04-27T08:41+0000

2024-04-27T08:41+0000

2024-04-27T08:43+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

sergei lebedev

dmitry peskov

nikolayev

ukraine

russian army

kremlin

ria novosti

russia

ukraine crisis

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/08/0f/1112619387_0:0:1590:895_1920x0_80_0_0_d0d7faabc958dd9b0f25a887b83b6fec.jpg

On April 26, Russian forces struck a Ukrainian ammunition unit at the Martynovka airfield in the Nikolayev region, Sergei Lebedev, the coordinator of the Nikolayev underground, told RIA Novosti.The underground did not rule out the possibility that Martynovka would become a "pivot" airfield for launching attacks against Russia's new regions and Crimea.In an earlier statement, Lebedev reported powerful Russian strikes on military facilities in Krivoy Rog, Stryi [Lvov region], and a railway station in a Kherson area currently under Ukrainian control. Explosions were reported in the Zhytomyr, Nikolayev, and Ternopol regions. The underground operator said the strikes targeted various power plants across Ukraine.Since then, a daily air alert has been announced in the Ukrainian regions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian troops would not target residential buildings or social infrastructure.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240412/russian-forces-strike-ukrainian-military-energy-facilities-48-times---mod-1117890197.html

nikolayev

ukraine

russia

odessa

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

russias special military op in ukraine, special military operation, special military operational zone, special op zone, russian troops in special op zone, ukraine casualties in conflict, total ukrainian losses, how many people did ukraine loose, how many people did kiev loose, new russian weapons in ukraine, advanced russian weapons, russian defense ministry statements, latest russian military statements, what did shoigu say about ukraine, donetsk peoples republic, nato in ukraine, is nato in ukraine, russian drones, drone warfare, new military drones, uavs in ukraine, ukraine crisis, ukraine conflict
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240427/russian-forces-conduct-35-massive-strikes-on-ukrainian-infrastructure-in-a-week-1118146056.html

Russian Forces Conduct 35 Massive Strikes on Ukrainian Infrastructure in a Week

Russian Forces Conduct 35 Massive Strikes on Ukrainian Infrastructure in a Week

Sputnik International

Over the past week, Russian troops carried out 35 strikes against Ukrainian military and power facilities in response to the Kiev regime's attempts to damage Russia's energy and industrial plants, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) said on Saturday.

2024-04-27T15:06+0000

2024-04-27T15:06+0000

2024-04-27T15:06+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

ukraine

russia

kiev

russian ministry of defense

ukrainian national guard

mig-29

multiple-launch rocket systems (mlrs)

high mobility artillery rocket system (himars)

ukraine crisis

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/0f/1111891697_0:0:3002:1690_1920x0_80_0_0_fdd5334cef2a1870c3a18ec10d2274e3.jpg

"Russian Armed Forces have carried out 35 group strikes by high-precision sea- and air-launched missiles, including Kinzhal hypersonic air-launched ballistic missile, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles to hit Ukrainian power industry, military and railway enterprises, air defence systems, arsenals, fuel bases, manufacturing and repair facilities for uncrewed surface vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles," the MoD said in a statement. Russian Troops Liberate Villages in Donetsk RegionRussian troops have taken control over the villages of Novomikhailovka and Bogdanovka in the Donetsk People's Republic by repulsing 19 Kiev's attacks and destroying over 3,890 Ukrainian servicemen in the area over the past week, the MoD added."Units of the Battlegroup Yug liberated the villages of Novomikhailovka and Bogdanovka in the Donetsk People's Republic and advanced deep into the enemy's defenses. Active actions resulted in the defeat of the troops and equipment of two airmobile, four assault and 10 mechanized Ukrainian brigades in the areas of [the villages of] Andreyevka, Belogorovka, Kleshcheyevka, Kurdyumovka, Maksimilyanovka, Mankovka, Paraskovievka, Spirnoye and Hostre in the Donetsk People's Republic," the ministry said.Russian troops repulsed 19 attacks by Kiev near Bogdanovka, Georgievka, Pobeda, Krasnogorovka, Chasov Yar and west of the village of Ivanovskoye in the Donetsk People's Republic over the past week, the ministry added.Ukraine Loses 2,950 Troops in Clashes With Russia's Battlegroup TsentrThe Ukrainian armed forces lost more than 2,950 military personnel and 33 armored fighting vehicles during the week of clashes with Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr, the ministry said."Battlegroup Tsentr units secured a firmer foothold along the frontline, defeating 12 brigades of the Ukrainian armed forces and repelling 63 enemy counterattacks near the villages of Leninskoye, Novogorodskoye, Novokalynove, Ocheretino, Berdychi, Umanskoye and Netailovoye in the Donetsk People's Republic," the ministry said, adding that in the past week, Ukrainian troops operating in this region "lost more than 2,950 military personnel, 33 armored fighting vehicles, 33 vehicles, 29 artillery guns, including six foreign-made ones, and five electronic warfare systems (Nota and Bukovel-AD)."Ukraine Loses 255 Troops in Clashes With Russia's Battlegroup ZapadUkraine lost up to 255 military personnel in clashes with Russia's Battlegroup Zapad in the past seven days, the MoD reported.Ukraine Loses 360 Troops in Clashes With Russia's Battlegroup DneprRussian units of the Battlegroup Dnepr hit several Ukrainian units over the week in the Kherson area, destroying up to 360 servicemen, an armored combat vehicle, and 30 vehicles, as well as 20 field artillery guns and eight US-made M777 howitzers."The coordinated actions of the Battlegroup Dnepr hit the manpower and equipment of five Ukrainian brigades, a marine infantry brigade, three territorial defense brigades, and a Ukrainian National Guard brigade in the Zaporozhye Region, and [the villages of] Mikhailovka, Ivanovka, Respublikanets and [the city of] Beryslav in the Kherson Region. The enemy lost up to 360 troops, an armored combat vehicle, 30 vehicles and 20 field artillery pieces, including eight US-made M777 howitzers," the ministry said.Russian Air Defense Downs Ukraine's 1,659 Drones, 2 Fighter Jets in Past WeekRussian air defense systems shot down one MiG-29 fighter jet, one Su-25 fighter jet, 1,659 drones, 35 shells of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) of various types, 18 Hammer air bombs and other targets over the past week, the MoD added.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240322/russia-carried-out-49-retaliatory-strikes-in-response-ukraines-shelling---defense-ministry-1117486370.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240427/ukrainian-military-chief-complains-about-difficult-situation-on-battlefield-1118144853.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240427/russian-air-defenses-shot-down-68-ukrainian-drones-at-night---mod-1118140739.html

ukraine

russia

kiev

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

russias special military op in ukraine, special military operation, special military operational zone, special op zone, russian troops in special op zone, ukraine casualties in conflict, total ukrainian losses, how many people did ukraine loose, how many people did kiev loose, new russian weapons in ukraine, advanced russian weapons, russian defense ministry statements, latest russian military statements, what did shoigu say about ukraine, donetsk peoples republic, nato in ukraine, is nato in ukraine, russian drones, drone warfare, new military drones, uavs in ukraine, ukraine crisis, ukraine conflict
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240427/ukraines-deep-manpower-shortage-overshadows-arms-deliveries-1118136925.html

Ukraine's Deep Manpower Shortage Overshadows Arms Deliveries

Ukraine's Deep Manpower Shortage Overshadows Arms Deliveries

Sputnik International

New arms deliveries from the US cannot compensate for Ukraine's deep manpower shortage and exhaustion, Volodymyr Oleynyk, a Ukrainian politician and former member of the Verkhovna Rada, told Sputnik.

2024-04-27T05:37+0000

2024-04-27T05:37+0000

2024-04-27T05:37+0000

volodymyr zelensky

americans

ukraine

verkhovna rada

armed forces of ukraine

opinion

russia's special operation in ukraine

us

europe

vinnytsia

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/04/0d/1117905708_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_c5667a676f6a8f976bc73102ef303ed4.jpg

Although the lack of ammunition has been alleviated to some extent by foreign aid, Ukraine's main weakness is an acute shortage of soldiers, the Western press acknowledges.Since the beginning of the special military operation, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) have lost nearly 500,000 servicemen, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. To make matters worse, Ukraine has been "plagued by draft dodging," with young men evading conscription and failing to register as required, Politico reported in March.In recent months, there has been a significant increase in the number of Ukrainian troops using the special "Volga" 149.200 radio frequency to communicate their desire to disarm, according to Sputnik's sources. The frequency was set up by Russian forces for Ukrainian troops wishing to surrender.Oleynyk quoted the head of the Ivano-Frankovsk regional military commissar as saying last month that some 30,000 potential conscripts were in hiding in the region. By 2020, Frankovshchyna will have a population of only 1.3 million. Doing the math, the former Ukrainian lawmaker estimates that about 1.5 million men of military age are currently on the run across Ukraine.In addition, Ukrainian military personnel are increasingly deserting, Oleynyk added.There's another problem associated with these cases: it's unclear how to house this gargantuan number of convicts, according to the former MP.Given the steady Russian advance, Ukraine needs to immediately mobilize up to 200,000 men, which is impossible, Oleynik said, adding that a series of draconian bills recently signed into law by Volodymyr Zelensky are unlikely to improve the situation. The crux of the matter is that morale is low, with about 90 percent of Ukrainians unwilling to join the military, Sputnik's interlocutor said, citing a March study by the Razumkov Center, a Ukrainian non-governmental think tank founded in 1994."As a result, [the Ukrainian authorities] have tightened illegal methods of recruitment and mobilization," the former lawmaker said. "I've recently read about a case that happened in Tulchin, the Vinnytsia region. A woman told journalists that her son, who is 20 years old, was caught [by recruiters] and beaten. One needs to bear in mind that even under the latest draft law one cannot be mobilized under the age of 25. The military registration and enlistment office told the youngster that in accordance with Zelenskys law he could be executed if he resisted and sent him to the combat zone," he added.Ukrainians see these cases as a worrying trend, with some of those living abroad saying they are ready to renounce their Ukrainian citizenship to avoid the threat of extradition and conscription, Oleynyk stressed.*the Right Sector is an extremist group banned in Russia.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240413/watch-ukrainian-troops-surrender-en-masse-after-accusing-command-of-treating-them-like-livestock-1117917882.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/nato-troops-dont-want-to-die-poland-and-lithuania-to-repatriate-ukrainian-draft-dodgers-1118128005.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/a-bridge-too-far-latest-batch-of-us-weapons-not-reaching-ukraine-anytime-soon-1118125380.html

ukraine

vinnytsia

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Ekaterina Blinova

Ekaterina Blinova

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

Ekaterina Blinova

ukraine has a shortage of manpower, lack of manpower is ukraine's acute problem, biden's ukraine aid package, arms deliveries cannot fix ukraine manpower problem, ukrainian military are deserting, draft dodging on the rise in ukraine
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240427/us-encircling-china-with-military-bases-to-cut-off-ocean-access-in-conflict-scenario---reports-1118142625.html

US Encircling China With Military Bases to Cut Off Ocean Access in Conflict Scenario - Reports

US Encircling China With Military Bases to Cut Off Ocean Access in Conflict Scenario - Reports

Sputnik International

Washington's rhetoric about respecting the One-China principle that negates Taiwanese independence is frequently undermined by anti-China sentiments voiced by the US political establishment, multi-billion dollar aid packages for Taiwan and military efforts destabilizing security in the region.

2024-04-27T12:30+0000

2024-04-27T12:30+0000

2024-04-27T12:30+0000

military

joe biden

joseph wu

us

china

taiwan

philippines

pentagon

us navy

marine corps

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/13/1117427026_0:188:3073:1916_1920x0_80_0_0_40d29ff27e03084556f8fefbd0ae7403.jpg

The US is building military bases near China to squeeze its naval capabilities out of the Pacific if a regional conflict were to break out, the New York Times (NYT) has reported, citing anonymous Chinese military strategists.The existing US-Philippines military agreements play a particular role in the plan. The Pentagon, having gained access to multiple airfields and naval bases in the Philippines, now has less need for aircraft carriers that could be targeted by Chinas long-range missiles and submarines in a time of war.The US Navy has also deployed a new Marine Corps regiment on Okinawa, which is designed to fight from small islands and destroy ships at sea."The Biden administrations military initiative has faced criticism, with some arguing that the country should rather retain its major capabilities for domestic needs.Likewise, critics argue that transferring such major forces hinders the countrys manufacturing as the US is not producing new ships and weapons systems quickly enough to deter China, which is rapidly growing its military.Commenting on the US-China balance of forces, the incoming commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command noted that US lags behind China when it comes to military production.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240422/southeast-asia-on-course-for-ukraine-style-crisis-amid-us-militarization-of-philippines-1118061126.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240422/expansive-us-philippines-war-games-slammed-by-china-as-tension-stoking--muscle-flexing-1118052253.html

china

taiwan

philippines

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

china us military standoff, china us military tensions, conflict in asia pacific, is us attacking china, tensions in south china sea, us philippines military ties
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240427/weekly-news-wrap-up-student-protest-movement-expands-us-hegemony-crashing-in-taiwan-and-ukraine-1118135539.html

Weekly News Wrap-Up: Student Protest Movement Expands: US Hegemony Crashing in Taiwan and Ukraine

Weekly News Wrap-Up: Student Protest Movement Expands: US Hegemony Crashing in Taiwan and Ukraine

Sputnik International

The Biden Administration's failure to acknowledge the collapse of US hegemony is escalating tensions worldwide.

2024-04-27T04:18+0000

2024-04-27T04:18+0000

2024-04-27T15:18+0000

the critical hour

radio

gaza strip

iran

donald trump

niger

ukraine

julian assange

protests

china

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/04/1b/1118135382_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_3e8b06d4f26677c7a866551ae2ac68a1.png

Weekly News Wrap-Up: Student Protest Movement Expands: US Hegemony Crashing in Taiwan and Ukraine Sputnik International The Biden Administration's failure to acknowledge the collapse of US hegemony is escalating tensions worldwide.

Dr. Linwood Tauheed, Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, joins us to discuss Secretary Blinken's meeting with Chinese officials, which widens the economic and political rift between the two nations. Also, the Trump team plans to sanction its way out of de-dollarization.Tom Porter, activist and educator, joins us to discuss the student protests, the Administration's position on Israel, and the status of the North American peace movement.Jon Jeter, journalist and author, joins us to discuss the student protests, the TikTok ban, and the decline of US hegemony.Jim Kavanagh, political and cultural analyst and writer for Jim Kavanagh's substack and thepolemicist.net, and Steve Poikonen, host of AM WakeUp & SlowNewsDay live on Rokfin & Rumble, come together to discuss US war spending, the Biden administration's attacks on free speech, and online censorship.Netfa Freeman, host of Voices With Vision on WPFW 89.3 FM and pan-Africanist and internationalist organizer, discusses US imperialism in Africa and Chinese ties to African nations.The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comCatch us in the US at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM

gaza strip

iran

niger

ukraine

china

missouri

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Wilmer Leon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg

Wilmer Leon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

Wilmer Leon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg

the critical hour, north american peace movement, us aid to israel, us tiktok ban
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240427/withdrawal-from-chad-and-niger-foreshadows-collapse-of-us-hegemony-1118139311.html

Withdrawal From Chad and Niger Foreshadows Collapse of US Hegemony

Withdrawal From Chad and Niger Foreshadows Collapse of US Hegemony

Sputnik International

US Special Operations forces will withdraw from Chad in the coming days in response to the Sahel nation's questioning of the legality of the US military presence in the region. The move comes after US troops were forced out of Niger.

2024-04-27T08:58+0000

2024-04-27T08:58+0000

2024-04-27T08:58+0000

us

chad

larry johnson

russia

niger

cia

state department

white house

opinion

world

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/0b/17/1090955564_0:159:3076:1889_1920x0_80_0_0_db281b34105af349b147c2b6ce43d609.jpg

Dozens of 75 Army Special Forces troops stationed in Ndjamena, Chad's capital, are being withdrawn ahead of the Sahel nation's presidential election scheduled for May 6.In April, Chad's leadership sent a letter to the U.S. defense attache informing him that Ndjamena was terminating the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with Washington. The exact number of US troops in the African nation is unclear, but US officials insist it doesn't exceed 100 soldiers.According to the US press, the Pentagon still hopes to negotiate a new agreement with the Chadian government and return to the country after the elections. But CIA veteran Larry Johnson believes the US military will leave the country for good."They've had some [military] bases in both of those countries that were designed to go find al-Qaeda operatives and try to destroy them. But, clearly the conduct of US policy in this regard is being rejected by the local governments. So it is really a black eye for these United States in terms of its overall loss of influence. And I think its going to be replaced by Russia," he continued.Chad was under French colonial rule from 1900 to 1960. After the Sahelian nation gained independence, the French continued to send troops to the region on several occasions in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s under the pretext of protecting Chad's governments.Between 1986 and 2014, French forces maintained a permanent presence in the African country as part of Operation Epervier (Operation Sparrowhawk), which was launched with the stated goal of protecting Chad from Libyan forces and insurgents. After 2014, Operation Epervier was replaced by Operation Barkhane - Paris's massive counterterrorism effort in the Sahel, which was later denounced as a failure by most governments in the region.In May 2014, the Washington Post reported that the US sent just 80 troops to Chad to support the operation of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft for missions in northern Nigeria to find kidnapped Nigerian girls. The White House said the unit would remain in Chad "until its assistance in resolving the kidnapping is no longer needed."However, a TomDispatch investigation in 2014 found that the US had quietly increased its presence in Chad and elsewhere in Africa after NATO bombed Libya back to the Stone Age and destabilized nearby regions, where Islamist and insurgent violence surged.Following the failure of Operation Barkhane to defeat terrorists in the Sahel, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso successively called for the withdrawal of French troops. Between February 2022 and March 2023, French troops left the three African states, with about 1,000 French soldiers being relocated to Chad, where they remain today.However, the Washington Post believes that Chad's leader, General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, who has ruled since 2021, may soon call for the removal of French troops after the US military withdrawal. The newspaper noted that Chad, along with Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, is turning to Russia to solve its economic and security problems.Chad has been strengthening its ties with Russia for some time. In January, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno paid an official visit to Russia, while the Chadian foreign minister attended the Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg in July."Russia doesn't have a history of enslaving black Africans - number one," Johnson explained. "Russia is not closely tied to the colonial empires: The French, the Brits, the Germans, the Dutch, the Belgians, - who have a long history of exploiting Africa and exploiting the people, exploiting the resources. So I think that, both, both Russia and China are viewed as more honest brokers, to be candid. Much more so than the United States," he added.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/us-to-reposition-some-troops-from-chad-as-part-of-cooperation-review---pentagon-1118117754.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240421/hundreds-of-people-rally-against-us-military-presence-in-niger---reports-1118044994.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240124/putin-holds-talks-with-chads-president--1116348875.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230827/how-us-military-failed-in-africa-1112932032.html

chad

russia

niger

france

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Ekaterina Blinova

Ekaterina Blinova

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

Ekaterina Blinova

us withdraws from chad, us military withdrawal from niger, us and french military leaving sahel, mali, burkina faso, operation barkhane, nato invasion on libya, russia seen as an honest broker by africa, russia is enhancing presence in sahel, russian military replacing the french
The highest-quality distaff pacers at Harrahs Philadelphia took their turns in the spotlight during the Friday, April 26 afternoon card.

The Sweet Lou mare Absolute Power won for the second consecutive time since coming in from The Meadowlands, taking an $18,493 contest for developing distaffs in 1:52.4, just a tick behind her lifetime best. Todd McCarthy sent the filly to the lead approaching a :27.1 quarter, posted mid-race fractions of :56.1 and 1:24.3, then found enough to repulse EA Audit, who had moved up rapidly around the far turn, by 1-1/4 lengths for the brother team of trainer Tom and owner John Cancelliere.

In a $17,808 handicap for fast-class mares, Golden Quest N also became the winner of two straight starts, with the daughter of Bettors Delight overcoming the outside starting spot while taking a new mark of 1:51. Tim Tetrick tucked the mare during a :26.1 opener then was second-over behind contested middle fractions of :54.3 and 1:22.2, swinging wide for the drive and just catching favoured Turn On The Charm, who lasted with tenacity after long first-over duties, by a nose for trainer Ashley Bako and owner Carmen Iannacone.

Corey Callahan guided winners in three consecutive races late on the card, including $108.80 bomber Happy That, to come away with the days honours among drivers.

The week closes out with a Sunday card at 12:40 p.m., headed by a $14,500 USD pace for non-winners of nine races, which has Santana Hanover as the morning line favourite, and a $13,000 USD fast-class handicap pace in which the early choice is 2024 debutant Sport Secret.

Next week, there will be a variation in the basic schedule due to a Thoroughbred event to be held in Kentucky, as Philly will not race on Thursday, then go on Friday at 12:25 p.m., Saturday (Derby Day) at noon and then Sunday at 12:40 p.m.. Free program pages for all Philly races will be available at phha.org.

(PHHA / Harrahs Philadelphia)
In this week's edition of 'Rewind ' Robert Smith offers up a few short stories about people, perhaps places and things, all from the past of harness racing. As usual a few old pictures are included.

Vintage Keith Waples





Keith Waples shakes hands with 28-year-old Herve Filion in this vintage photo taken in the Greenwood paddock in 1968 (Toronto Star archives)

Many years ago when harness racing was at its peak in Montreal, the newspapers carried a lot of racing news. One time a sportswriter was interviewing local kingpins Keith Waples and a much younger Herve Filion at the same time. I can only imagine who might have been doing most of the talking.

Here is how a bit of that conversation went. Herve says when I was young, I learn everything from watching the Keet Waple. Then the interviewer turned to Waples and said "How does that compliment make you feel Keith?" ... Keith's response: OLD.





Keith Waples in the silk hat days

Racetrack Giveaways Were Not All Throwaways

A few months ago a Rewind was devoted to "Racetrack Giveaways" and the role they played in publicizing the sport in days gone by. I don't know how many of these treasures that were given away by the tracks have remained but suspect that many have been discarded as the years pass by. It's pretty hard to keep everything (but some of us still try ).

I recently heard from a Rewind follower who has an "oldie" that has obviously become a "keeper." If you have ever been lucky enough to see well known trainer Jack Darling out on the track in a morning training session on certain rare occasions you may have seen his treasure.

Jack said recently: "Here is a picture of something that might interest you. Somehow I have kept it around since I got it at Windsor Raceway, Im going to guess, 40 or more years ago. I wear it a couple of times a year when training at Classy Lane and always get comments on it. It would be interesting to see if any of your readers remember what year Windsor Raceway was giving them out and what the details were with the promotion."

Does anyone remember this item and perhaps the approximate time it was given out?

On a personal note, there must be something about a toque that makes them a very long term possession. I have one that was given to me as a Christmas present about 60 years ago and I still get it out and wear it when I go out for a winter walk. I recall having one as a very little child and back then we didn't know the word Toque; they were called a stocking cap if I remember correctly.

The Canadian definition of a toque is "a close-fitting knitted hat, often with a tassel or pom-pom on the crown." No mention of them being given away at racetracks.

Remembering Brent Davies





Brent Davies, brush in hand, tends to a member of his stable in this 1967 Photo

The following item is from the October 1967 edition of Harness Horse Happenings. Thanks to Editor Bill Galvin.

"One of the finest success stories in modern day harness racing centres around Brent Davies, a mite-sized sulky sitter from Regina, Sask. Just 21 years of age and a light 123 pounds, Davies arrived at Greenwood Raceway last Jan. 2 with a three horse outfit. He won races with his trio but they soon became sidelined with lameness. In the meantime, veteran trainers noticed Davies hustling style of driving and since then his catch-driving services have been in constant demand. Davies drove his first race in 1963 and the following season won 13 races and $2,151 in purses. This year the amazing young teamster has visited the winners circle 90 times. His drives have netted $ 95,046 in purses."

Brent passed away on February 10, 2022 in his 77th year but stories like this help to keep his memory alive.

1980 - Canadian Horseman Shines At The Meadowlands

By 1980 The Meadowlands Racetrack was starting its second decade of operation. As soon as it opened on Sept. 1, 1976 it became a magnet for all of the top horses and horse people. The "Big M" as it was known attracted the sport's best. A goodly number of them were Canadians.

In 1980 most of the attention was focussed on the large stables of such trainers and drivers as Ray Remmen (winner of the track's first ever race), John Campbell, Bill O'Donnell, Bud Gilmour, Benny Webster and list went on. However, a fairly young Canadian horseman found out that he could compete there, albeit on a much smaller scale.

Hector Clouthier Jr. made some memorable visits to the Big M that year. The newspaper clipping shown below pretty much explains the story I am trying to tell.





Quote For The Week: "The secret to a long life is luck, moderation and fish and chips every Friday." This is a quote from a gentleman named John Alfred Tinniswood, a resident of London, England. He recently became the world's oldest man at the age of 111 and was recognized as such by the Guiness Book of World Records. By the way, the world's oldest woman and oldest living person is 117 year-old Maria Branyas Moera of Spain.

Who Is It?

Can you correctly identify the gentleman shown above? He was a noted trainer and driver with many accomplishments to his credit.

Who Else Is It?

Can you identify this gentleman who has recorded quite a few drives down through the years? Let us know who you think it is.

Who Is In The Driver's Seat?

Can you tell us who the pictured driver is? It was nice of the photographer to include the Yonkers sign.
Google is reportedly adding an AI conversation feature that will allow users to practice the English language with a bot.

The company first launched its speaking practice feature late last year which was focused on providing feedback to spoken sentences.

Google Promotes Language Learning With AI Bot

The speaking practice feature in Search aims to help users improve their English speaking skills by initiating conversations with an AI bot. Google shared that it is currently offered to English learners in India, Indonesia, Columbia, Argentina, Mexico, and Venezuela for Search Labs participants.

Search Labs is a program launched by the company to handle tests and experiments with early-stage Google Search features. The AI conversation feature gives users a practice field to use new words in everyday scenarios.

"The activity can also be found by translating to or from English on Google Search using an Android device," Google wrote.

An X user shared screenshots of the feature's functionality wherein a certain scenario will be given by the AI and users can choose a related word to practice in a conversation.

Google Helps English Learners Improve

Google initially launched the first version of the feature wherein users get feedback on their grammar and clarity by speaking sentences. The new speaking practice feature offers more interaction since learners are encouraged to build rapport using conversations.

Based on the screenshots, Google is focused on helping users gain confidence in creating conversations. Moreover, it will also help users understand how to properly use different words based on a scenario.

The feedback and conversation practice is only available in English. Google's previous blog describes it as a "valuable tool for language learners."

Other features and improvements might also be added before it starts rolling out to more countries and publicly.
The Castle Rock School Board approved a settlement agreement Wednesday with former Superintendent Ryan Greene, who was suing Castle Rock School District over alleged mistakes in his employment contract, and selected former Pendleton School District Superintendent Chris Fritsch as the districts new superintendent.

As part of the agreement, Greene must drop his lawsuit, which claims his contract accidentally shorted his employment by two years.

Castle Rock Middle School Principal Tiffaney Golden will continue to act as interim superintendent for the remainder of the school year and Fritsch is scheduled to take over July 1.

Settlement

The motion to approve the settlement passed 4-1, with board member Ray Teter voting no.

Teter and board member Angelica Velazquez said they did not want to settle, but Velazquez agreed it was the best choice for the district to avoid having to pay more legal expenses.

I cant tell you that I have not lost sleep over this, Velazquez said. If we could afford it, I would say were not giving that man any more money.

Board Chair Vilas Sundberg also said the district has to consider the cost of continuing the suit.

Did I want to win the lawsuit? Yes I did, he said. Did I believe we could win the lawsuit? Yes. But as this carried on, I had to think about what cost it would be to the district to win, to be right.

The board has not explained the reasoning of Greenes March 21 termination for no cause, which was effective immediately, but board members said Wednesday they were angry over the lawsuit, which was filed about a month before he was fired.

Its despicable that he sued us, honestly. Thats my opinion, Velazquez said. But I have to think about the other side. We still have a job to do.

The suit alleges Greenes contract was actually supposed to run through June 30, 2026, and the district attempted to cover up the error after discovering it to avoid its contractual obligations to him.

Greene signed the settlement last week and Sundberg this week.

The agreement changes Greenes termination to instead start on June 30, the original date his employment was slated to end under his contract. He will be placed on administrative leave through that time, and agrees not to contest his separation from employment by any means, the agreement states.

He will be paid the remainder of his salary and benefits for the school year, in exchange for Greene dismissing the lawsuit. His final paycheck will also include payment for 30 vacation days. Because Greene was fired without cause, the district already owed him the remaining salary, according to his contract.

The settlement states Greene will also receive a one-time lump sum of $45,000, 45 days after the agreement is executed.

The agreement states the document is not an admission of wrongdoing or any violation of contract or law by the district or Greene.
Longview City Council voted Thursday to dissolve its local housing program and rejoin Cowlitz Countys efforts, relinquishing the citys direct access to its portion of document recording fee revenue to use on local responses to homelessness and housing scarcity.

Mayor Spencer Boudreau and councilmembers Erik Halvorson, Kalei LaFave and Keith Young voted to have the city rejoin the countys program, which Longview departed from in early 2023.

This decision has been four months in the making. The first Longview City Council meeting on Jan. 11 had the same four members making a motion to reconvene in April to decide whether to dissolve the program and revert the revenue of the fees  added by the state to certain Longview documents like real estate transactions  back to the county.

Members of the community spoke up several times during the meeting to express caution about the decision to give up local control. Jill Johanson, a former Cowlitz County Superior Court judge, urged the council to slow down its decision making.

You dont even know who the next commissioners are going to be in eight months, Johanson said. Why would you give up control of document recording fees now?

Longtime County Commissioners Arne Mortensen and Dennis Weber have not filed for re-election and will likely be handing over the reigns to two new commissioners after Novembers election.

Task force

Despite the document recording fee changes, the nine-member Longview Homeless Housing Task Force will remain.

At first, Halvorson said he felt the citys task force had completed its job when it advocated successfully for the development of HOPE Village, and that having another task force, in addition to the countys, would be a duplication of efforts.

We cant let up, Councilmember Ruth Kendall countered. We have a group of folks who represent this community very well.

Councilmember Keith Young asked if Longviews task force could focus on a new directive, now that HOPE Village is up and running.

Halvorson asked if the citys task force could focus on finding a new location and volunteers for a local severe weather shelter. As chair, Kendall said she could pass that directive along.

The severe weather shelter is an overnight shelter that opens when outdoor temperatures get so severe that sleeping outside becomes a health hazard.

Before Thursdays vote, Kendall said the task force offered recommendations to the city on how it should spend its document recording fee revenue. Earlier this month the council voted unanimously to fund $25,000 to the Emergency Support Shelters operating costs and $23,979 to Community House on Broadways utilities assistance with the money.

Dahl joins workshop

Before the council voted to disband the program they held a joint workshop with Cowlitz County Commissioner Rick Dahl.

The 30-minute workshop focused on the future of Longviews severe weather shelter, not HOPE Village, the emergency pallet home site, like the agenda states.

This year marked the fifth and last year that Longview First Christian Church has hosted the severe weather shelter, noting lack of space and volunteer and congregation burnout as reasons for throwing in the towel.

Halvorson said finding a replacement shelter location and a sustainable way of locating volunteers every year should be a top priority for the city, and if that means having the city submit a request for proposal, and dolling out the money to the highest bidder, so be it.

I think we could find a place, but in order for there to be a sustainable process, I think somebody needs to be paid, Halvorson said. We might need to beg and plead again.

Dahl said he recognizes there are a number of reasons why some locations wouldnt work for hosting the shelter. Particularly, its a big responsibility to host the site, and few are willing to take it on for longer than a year.

Councilmembers Angie Wean and MaryAlice Wallis expressed frustration that this collaborative session with the commissioner was so brief and narrow in scope.

Tonight, for a half hour, thats all the time weve set aside to discuss this, said Wallis.

Boudreau asked Dahl to talk with the other two commissioners to come up with a date for another discussion where both could be present.

Weber told The Daily News that he and Mortensen had agreed it was appropriate to let Dahl go to the workshop without them, as the other two had already made of their minds on where they stand on HOPE Village. Weber said he supports the site, while in the past Mortensen wouldnt bring funding the shelter forward for an official vote.

There is a wealth of knowledge on this commission, Wean said. If were actually going to collaborate with the county, they all need to show up. Right now, I am not convinced they want to work with us.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Google plans to invest $2 billion to build a data center in northeastern Indiana that will help power its artificial intelligence technology and cloud business, company and state officials said Friday.

The data center planned for Fort Wayne was announced in January. But Google disclosed the project's cost Friday and said it is expected to create up to new 200 jobs, including data center technicians and support services, The Journal Gazette reported.

The data center in the city about 120 miles (190 kilometers) northeast of Indianapolis will help power Google's "AI innovations and growing Google Cloud business for customers across the world," Gov. Eric Holcomb's office said in a news release.

Google said the new data center will join a network of Google-owned-and-operated data centers across the globe that "keep the internet humming" and power digital services such as Google Cloud, Gmail, Search and Maps.

"Together, Fort Wayne and Google will help power the digital future, including AI innovation across our enterprise and consumer services," said Joe Kava, Google's vice president of data centers.

Friday's announcement came one day after Amazon's cloud computing unit Amazon Web Services said it plans to invest $11 billion to build a data center in northern Indiana near the town of New Carlisle, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) west of South Bend. That project is expected to create at least 1,000 jobs.

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Drake has quietly pulled his latest diss track against fellow rapper Kendrick Lamar on social media amid threats of a lawsuit for using AI-generated vocals of Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg in the song.

As of writing, his track "Taylor Made Freestyle," which Drake first released on April 19, is currently unavailable on all of the rapper's social media accounts.

The Canadian rapper has yet to make a statement regarding the lawsuit.

The removal of the song follows after Billboard reported that Drake received a cease-and-desist letter from Tupac's estate, telling the rapper to pull down the AI-heavy track within 24 hours or the state would "pursue all of its legal remedies" against him.

Tupac's Estate Blasts Drake for AI-Heavy Track

The estate has earlier called out against Drake's use of AI vocals, asserting that unauthorized use of the late rapper's vocals to the track was a "blatant abuse of the legacy of one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time."

Howard King, the attorney representing Tupac's estate, clarified that they would "never have given its approval for this use."

It remains unclear if both parties have finally reached an agreement regarding both the potential lawsuit and the possibility of having the song back on social media again.

Drake initially released "Taylor Made Freestyle" as a diss towards Lamar, who admitted to being a fan of both Tupac and Snoop Dogg, amid their ongoing online feud.

Generated AI Becomes a Growing Pain in Music Industry

As the technology becomes more accessible with each innovation, many prominent figures in the music industry have started looking into the potential threat of generative AI to artists and musicians.

Ironically, Drake was among the usual targets of these AI impersonations with thousands of digital replicas of his voice used in tracks across most digital platforms.

Many of these AI-powered tracks have since been removed by the platforms following reports of copyright violation, either by users or someone from Drake's management team.

Over 200 major musicians and their estates have already come forward against the use of "predatory" AI to replicate their likenesses, depriving many people of their privacy and livelihood.

The concerted effort was led by digital advocacy group Artist Rights Alliance.

Related Article: Hollywood Musicians Call for Protection from 'Predatory' AI
No myths should be created about countries rich in oil and gas. These countries have made substantial efforts to address climate issues. Currently, the UAE, Azerbaijan, and Brazil are working together as a troika, President Ilham Aliyev said at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on April 26.

The head of state emphasized that these countries are taking steps to channel revenue towards green energy, stating, "COP29 will not be an arena of confrontation. As the host, Azerbaijan will build bridges. Azerbaijan aims to act as a bridge between the West and the Global South, particularly in the context of green energy transition and climate change."

It should be noted that Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, had a working visit to Germany from the city of Fuzuli 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.

During his visit President Ilham Aliyev had meetings with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz, Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and many other officials. Besides, the Azerbaijani President attended the High Level Segment of the 15th Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin, Germany.
A New York District Court has upheld a state law that will require internet service providers to offer $15 broadband plans for low-income households.

In a court ruling on Friday, District Judge Denis Hurley reversed an earlier court decision to block out the Affordable Broadband Act on the grounds that the law is exclusive only to New York.

The trade groups representing the affected telecom companies have already expressed opposition to the ruling, claiming that it " potentially risks the sustainability of broadband operations in many areas."

Telecoms previously argued that only a few internet service providers like Verizon and AT&T can afford huge price discounts due to the higher number of subscribers, easing financial losses in the process.

Many local telecoms asserted that the same rule is applicable to smaller businesses solely operating in New York and nearby states.

As of writing, the trade groups have yet to declare intentions to contest the lower court ruling to a higher judicature.

Then New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo first passed the legislation in 2021 during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic when workers and students rely on internet connection the most.

Also Read : FCC Claims Net Neutrality is Back Following Vote to Regulate ISPs

White House, Regulators Crack Down on ISP's 'Junk Fees'

The broadband bill discount is not the only move state, local, and regulatory governments have been rolling out over the past months to curb rising prices of internet bills.

The Federal Communication Commission has earlier voted to reinstate regulatory power over ISPs to prevent throttling and data prioritization on

This is in addition to the recently implemented "nutrition labels" the administration has touted as a way to remove so-called "junk fees" in internet bills and promote transparency to customers.

Internet Bill Discounts to Help Households Amid Threats of Price Hikes

Despite the clear steps in addressing the issue, many households remain at risk of losing access to affordable high-speed internet as prices for broadband connection are expected to spike.

The FCC has already alerted that millions of Americans could be affected by the price surge as the funding for the internet subsidy program will soon run out.

The White House has already proposed extended funding for the program, although the bill remains under deliberation in Congress while the existing budget continues to dwindle.

The FCC has already reduced subsidies provided to its beneficiaries to prepare people for the closing of the program in the coming months.
(Photo : Unsplash/Jack Cohen )

A CVS Omnicare pharmacy in Las Vegas has become the first to join a new national pharmacy union, marking a significant milestone for organizers aiming to assist thousands of U.S. pharmacy workers in addressing what they consider to be unsafe working conditions.

CVS Omnicare Pharmacy Members Winning Union Election

Almost 30 pharmacy staff members at the Las Vegas branch of CVS's Omnicare who are responsible for filling prescriptions for elderly and other vulnerable patients at long-term care facilities throughout Nevada won their union election on Thursday by an overwhelming margin of 87% to 13%, according to a press release from the guild.

The workers have now become members of the Pharmacy Guild, which will advocate for them in labor negotiations with CVS. Shane Jerominski, a community pharmacist and co-founder of the Pharmacy Guild, expressed determination to secure a top-notch contract for these workers who have placed their trust in the union, describing it as historic and decisive.

The Pharmacy Guild's Initiatives

Jerominski and other organizers who led a nationwide walkout of pharmacy staff collaborated with IAM Healthcare, a union representing numerous healthcare professionals, to establish the Pharmacy Guild in November. The work stoppage, dubbed "Pharmageddon," took place in late October and involved major drugstore chains such as CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid, which garnered significant media coverage, highlighting the extent of workers' concerns.

The Mounting Challenges of Retail Pharmacies

Like the walkout initiative, the Pharmacy Guild seeks to assist pharmacy staff in addressing what many employees perceive as unsafe staffing levels and mounting workloads across the industry, which pose risks to employees and patients. The guild also advocates for legislative and regulatory reforms to establish elevated standards of practice in pharmacies aimed at safeguarding patients.

The unionization represents the culmination of years of mounting dissatisfaction among retail pharmacy staff who frequently contend with understaffed teams and escalating work demands set by corporate management. The challenges intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, with additional responsibilities such as testing and vaccination further straining pharmacists and technicians.

READ ALSO: Twenty-Eight Healthcare Providers Unite as White House "Pulls Every Lever" to Ensure Responsible AI Development

CVS Health Standing for Employees' Right to Unionize

A CVS Health spokesperson acknowledged the decision of Omnicare Las Vegas workers to opt for union representation, emphasizing the company's respect for its employees' right to unionize. The company also pledged to work closely and collaboratively with its employees to address their present and future concerns and foster a positive and rewarding work environment.

Omnicare's Staffing and Compensation Challenges

Omnicare, acquired by CVS in 2015, differs from most of the chain's nearly 10,000 public-facing pharmacies. Despite being less visible, Omnicare operates pharmacies in 49 states, per CVS's website. However, Omnicare, like other pharmacies, faces common issues such as staffing levels and low starting pay for technicians, according to Jerominski.

Jerominski noted that the issues raised by Omnicare employees are not unique to the company, citing similar problems being voiced by pharmacy workers nationwide, spanning across all major chains. Jerominski emphasized that there's a limit to how long employees can rely on company support. The walkouts occurred because workers were determined to obtain the assistance they demanded.

The Pharmacy Guild will now focus on negotiating a union contract with CVS to address the concerns of Omnicare workers in Las Vegas. Jerominski mentioned that these employees seek consistent work schedules that ensure pharmacy technicians receive 40 work hours per week throughout the year.

The Pharmacy Guild is witnessing momentum growing in other regions as well. According to Jerominski, pharmacy staff at two retail stores in Rhode Island have officially filed for unionization with the guild.

RELATED ARTICLE: Companies Compete Over Flexibility, Now Offering Competitive Paychecks to Workers Opting for a Five-Day Workweek

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Unsplash/June Andrei George)

Starbucks and Workers United, representing approximately 400 of its cafes, announced on Friday in a joint release that they have made significant progress, concluding a two-day contract bargaining session.

The two parties engaged in a two-day discussions about the process to resolve grievances, details concerning the union's representation of Starbucks baristas, and other related topics held in Atlanta, which marked the first time in nearly a year that Starbucks and Workers United came to the bargaining table, signaling a significant development in ending their bitter stalemate.

Starbucks Ending The Two-Year Battle with The Union

READ ALSO: Starbucks Engages in Collective Bargaining with Workers United to Settle Long-Standing Fair Organizing Dispute

The coffee giant engaged in a more than two-year-long battle with the union, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) that has been advocating for various priorities, including higher wages and more consistent scheduling, among other concerns.

This week's discussions represent the closest progress toward a collective bargaining agreement that any of the unionized Starbucks locations, comprising a small fraction of the company's total U.S. footprint, have reached. However, there remains a significant journey ahead, "but we are committed to working together," said in a joint statement.

According to the release, Starbucks and the union intend to reconvene in late May to continue developing the framework meant to be the basis of each store contract. After that foundation is built, individual stores will proceed to negotiate and ratify their respective contracts.

Labor laws do not necessitate a collective bargaining agreement despite mandating the employer and the union engage in good-faith bargaining. However, workers who lose confidence in the union after a year can petition for decertification, which imposes a time limit on negotiations.

Starbucks' Unionization Efforts Moving Forward

Since 2021, over 400 Starbucks stores, with over 10,000 employees nationwide, have voted to unionize. Starbucks has consistently opposed unionization efforts since the beginning of the campaign and has been accused of unlawfully harassing, intimidating, and terminating employees involved.

This week, Starbucks presented its case before the Supreme Court to advocate for the application of traditional rules for preliminary injunctions when federal district courts assess National Labor Review Board (NLRB) requests for extraordinary injunctions. These injunctions are legal tools used by courts to compel parties to take specific actions or refrain from certain activities. For instance, the NLRB reinstated seven Starbucks employees who had been terminated during a unionization campaign in 2022.

Starbucks and Workers United agreed to resume talks in February amid ongoing mediation discussions over litigation. Starbucks filed a lawsuit against Workers United in federal court in Iowa in October, seeking to prevent the union from using the name "Starbucks Workers United" and claiming that the union's pro-Palestine social media post following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in Israel harmed its reputation. In response, the union filed a lawsuit in Pennsylvania federal court, seeking approval to continue using the company's name and a similar logo.

Allegations have also arisen regarding Starbucks providing benefits to non-unionized stores while withholding them from organized employees in May 2022. As of March, these benefits were active at more than 200 stores represented by Workers United.

RELATED ARTICLE: Starbucks Gains US Supreme Court Support on Challenging Federal Courts' Injunction Requests

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Indonesia's first thermal power plant stops operating

By Vietnam News Agency Sat, April 27, 2024 | 8:49 pm GMT+7

Indonesia's Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) has held a press conference to inform about the countrys progress in the early decommissioning of the Cirebon-1 thermal power plant.

Smoke and steam billows from the coal-fired power plant owned by Indonesia Power, next to an area for Java 9 and 10 coal-fired steam power plant project in Suralaya, Banten province, Indonesia. Photo courtesy of Reuters/Vietnam News Agency.

Rachmat Kaimuddin, deputy for infrastructure and transportation coordination at the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, said the 660 MW Cirebon-1 plant, located in Kanci, Cirebon, West Java, began construction in May 2008. It is operated by CEP, a multinational corporation.

Earlier, National Power Company and the Indonesia Investment Authority in December 2023 signed an agreement to soon stop the operation of this plant. The agreement was signed to fulfill Indonesia's commitment at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060.

Cirebon-1 will end its power supply obligations in December 2035, instead of July 2042 as originally planned. This is an important development in Indonesia's energy transition, helping to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Since its operation, this first unit has produced 5 TWh of electricity per year, which is transmitted via the Java-Madura-Bali connection system. The power produced by the plant has been supplied to West Java and central Jakarta.
Study: Mental Health, Challenges Outside School Largest Barriers to K12 Student Success

A new report from global education institution McGraw Hill sheds some light on the relationship between challenges outside the classroom, like mental health and behavioral problems, with academic success in K12 schools, according to a news release. The McGraw Hill Global Education Insights Report: Learning Outcomes & the Digital Classroom also explores the positive impact of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) on student success. The survey was conducted among more than 1,000 K12 and higher-education educators across 19 countries.

In the results, 57% of respondents called challenges beyond school (such as family support) as the largest obstacle to student success. Other high-ranked obstacles included behavior struggles, mental health issues, and lack of foundational skills and knowledge. Educators polled also indicated concerns that AI in the classroom would negatively impact student skills like social skills, critical thinking, memory retention, academic integrity, and creativity.

However, 41% of respondents said they believe AIs impact on student outcomes has been mostly positive, in contrast to the 19% who believe it has been mostly negative. The highest-indicated perceived benefits of AI were reported to be reducing time spent on administrative tasks (65%) and the personalization of learning experiences for individual students (63%).

We must do all we can to ensure educators around the world feel supported at every level, so they can help students overcome these obstacles and succeed, said McGraw Hill CEO Simon Allen. It's understandable that educators would feel anxiety and uncertainty about the effects emerging technologies and AI have on their students. So its important that we look for opportunities where it can dispel this anxiety, where technology can save educators time and facilitate student-teacher engagement.

Respondents reported concerns related to the negative effect of AI on facets like academic integrity (32%), critical thinking (31%), memory retention (30%), and relationships and social skills (29%).
North Korea on Saturday lashed out at the recent release of the United States' annual report on human rights situations in the reclusive country, calling it an act of interfering in the country's "internal affairs."

Earlier this week, the U.S. State Department released its 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, pointing out that North Koreans remained exposed to various types of human rights abuses last year, including forced repatriations, extrajudicial killings, forced abortion and the "worst forms" of child labor.

The report also said Pyongyang did not take "credible steps" to identify and punish officials who may have committed such acts.

"The report has no relation at all with sincerely safeguarding human rights and is merely a basic material needed to rationalize its interference in our state affairs and scheme to overthrow our system," a spokesperson for the North's foreign affairs ministry said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "We firmly denounce and disapprove of the report."

The ministry denounced Washington for assessing human rights situations in other countries based on its own unilateral standards, saying the U.S. is "encouraging" civilian massacres by supporting military operations with tens of billions of dollars.

The reclusive regime also criticized remarks by U.S. government officials suggesting North Koreans should have better access to information as a plot to make North Korea collapse from the inside.

"If the U.S. continues to pose military threats and use the human rights issue as a way to invade us, we have to consider making a firm and decisive move to protect our sovereignty and safety," the spokesperson said. (Yonhap)
COLUMBIA -- Renowned Civil Rights photojournalist Cecil Williams, who has dedicated his life to capturing pivotal moments in the states struggle for freedom and justice will be honored at an event from 6 to 8 p.m. on April 30 at the Columbia Museum of Art. The Center for Civil Rights History and Research, Columbia SC 63, and the Columbia Museum of Art will present Unforgettable: Celebrating Legendary Photographer Cecil Williams.

Williams was born and raised in Orangeburg. His extraordinary life and career were shaped by the personal, economic, and political boundaries of segregated life during the Jim Crow Era. The photojournalists lens has chronicled many important events, including the Clarendon County movement that led to Briggs v. Elliott, an important legal precedent for the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision. These photographs, and many others may be seen at the Cecil Williams South Carolina Civil Rights Museum, the first and only civil rights museum in the state.

With Williams vast body of work, he bequeaths a valuable legacy to all those concerned with justice, equality, and a better and brighter future for South Carolina, said Dr. Bobby Donaldson, Executive Director of the Center for Civil Rights History and Research. In honoring Williams, we honor an extraordinary career of professional and artistic excellence. But we also honor the enduring themes of his work: the strength and faith of families, the vibrancy of institutions and neighborhoods, and the collective determination of countless people who maintained a sense of dignity in the face of overwhelming odds. The event will begin with a viewing of excerpts from SCETVs documentary The World of Cecil, followed by a panel featuring Mr. Cecil Williams, moderated by Dr. Frank Martin, visiting associate professor of art history and art theory at South Carolina State University. Other notable panelists, include:

 Beryl Dakes, executive director of Cultural Programming for South Carolina ETV and executive producer of The World of Cecil.

 Claudia Smith Brinson, an award-winning journalist and author of civil rights books, Stories of Struggle: The Clash Over Civil Rights in South Carolina (2020) and Injustice in Focus: The Civil Rights Photography of Cecil Williams (2024)

 Crush Rush, a nationally published photojournalist and Experience Columbia SC Ambassador

A reception and book signing will take place at the close of this event where attendees will have the opportunity to purchase a copy of Mr. Williams publications and Injustice in Focus: The Civil Rights Photography of Cecil Williams.

Registration is requested through the Columbia Museum of Art website. Walk-ins will be accepted if space allows. This event will also be livestreamed on The Center for Civil Rights History and Researchs Facebook page.
DENMARK -- Dr. Benjamin Franklin Chavis Jr., a civil rights leader, will deliver the keynote address at the 127th Commencement of Voorhees University on Saturday, May 4, 2024. The ceremony for a graduating class of 75 will take place at 11 a.m. in the Leonard E. Dawson Health and Human Resources Center.

Chavis, an Oxford, North Carolina native, is a multifaceted figure known for his efforts in civil rights, journalism, environmentalism, and academia. Currently serving as the President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and as a professor at Duke University, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the commencement stage.

Chavis has been an advocate for justice and equality. From his early involvement in the civil rights movement alongside Martin Luther King Jr. to his groundbreaking work in environmental justice, he has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to social change.

Voorhees Presidential Scholars honored Voorhees University honored the accomplishments of its 2024 Class of Presidential Scholars at the annual Presidential Scholarship Gala, held on April 6 at the Leonard Dawson Health and Human Resource Center on the Voorhees Campus.

As a journalist, his weekly commentary, "The Chavis Chronicles," reaches millions of households across the United States, while his "THE GOOD NEWS" radio commentary spreads messages of hope and empowerment.

Voorhees' Center of Excellence for Educator Preparation and Innovation to host conference The Center of Excellence for Educator Preparation and Innovation at Voorhees University, the EPI Center, will hold a spring Professional Development Conference for educators.

Chavis has been instrumental in shaping the cultural landscape through initiatives such as the National Hip-Hop Summit, which he co-founded with Russell Simmons. The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network has empowered countless artists and activists to use their platform for social change.

Voorhees Presidential Scholars honored Voorhees University honored the accomplishments of its 2024 Class of Presidential Scholars at the annual Presidential Scholarship Gala, held on April 6 at the Leonard Dawson Health and Human Resource Center on the Voorhees Campus.

"We are honored to have Dr. Chavis as our commencement speaker," said Dr. Ronnie Hopkins, President of Voorhees University. "His dedication to justice and his commitment to empowering future generations make him an exemplary role model for our graduates."
COLUMBIA -- The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) recently launched an Overdose Biosurveillance Dashboard in an effort to make state- and county-level data on non-fatal opioid overdoses and other drug-related overdose indicators available to the public.

The state has seen a significant increase in opioid-involved overdose deaths over the last several years, with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids the most commonly associated drugs.

The dashboard allows users to view available non-fatal overdose statistics for a variety of opioids, including fentanyl, as well as drugs like cocaine, xylazine, and methamphetamine. The data and analytics are based on samples collected and tested anonymously from 30 participating hospitals across South Carolina.

Get TheTandD.com for $1 for 3 months Support local journalism by becoming a member at www.TheTandD.com. View our latest offer at TheTandD.com/subscribe

We wanted to make this data more publicly accessible because we think it will help a lot of treatment providers and local communities who are trying to respond to the drug crisis we have in our state, said Dr. Edward Simmer, DHEC director. The Overdose Biosurveillance Dashboard has near real-time surveillance along with data analytics to show trends with drug use and trends with drug overdoses in our state, and we think this will benefit those who are planning treatment to save lives and improve health outcomes.

DHEC provides data on cancer, life expectancy, more The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has developed 12 online dashboards providing state- and county-level data on several important environmental and health topics. The S.C. Tracking Dashboards (https://scdhec.gov/sc-environmental-public-health-tracking) provide the public with available data, as well as trends over time.

In 2019, the South Carolina Public Health Laboratory received funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) grant to develop an Overdose Biosurveillance Program (OBP), to test samples for fentanyl and fentanyl analogs from suspected non-fatal drug overdoses.

'Forever chemicals': New federal rule may cost SC water utilities millions Utilities across South Carolina face hundreds of millions of dollars in costs to cleanse drinking water of harmful forever chemicals now that the federal government has finalized a rule to make water safe from the potentially cancer-causing toxins. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule, issued this week, will for the first time restrict the level of certain forever chemicals in ...

The CDC later expanded the scope of OD2A funding to encompass other illicit compounds, which led DHECs Public Health Laboratory to begin testing for additional drugs, including xylazine, stimulants and benzodiazepines, among others.

Since the program began, DHECs Public Health Lab has tested more than 16,400 residual urine specimens from suspected non-fatal overdoses. The data obtained from the analysis of these specimens is now being used to help identify trends in drug use and to help guide prevention efforts.

The data is regularly shared with hospitals, epidemiologists, policy makers and other public health professionals to address opioid and drug misuse in South Carolina communities. The public-facing dashboard will increase the datas reach and allow for additional efforts in addressing the opioid epidemic.

DHEC provides data on cancer, life expectancy, more The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has developed 12 online dashboards providing state- and county-level data on several important environmental and health topics. The S.C. Tracking Dashboards (https://scdhec.gov/sc-environmental-public-health-tracking) provide the public with available data, as well as trends over time.

The purpose of this dashboard is to not only understand the prevalence of substance misuse and incidence of overdoses in South Carolina, but also get better, faster, actionable insights for decision-making at all levels of public health, said Katie O'Shields, Director of DHECs Division of Epidemiology, Analysis & Data Visualization. Public health practitioners, researchers and policy makers can utilize this data to learn more about the overdose epidemic, develop new programs, evaluate existing programs or responses, influence policy, drive decision-making and apply for grants.

Remedy or gateway drug? Doctors, police differ on path forward for medical marijuana Medical marijuana bill debated in SC House, advocates tout benefits for severe conditions while law enforcement warns of dangers and increased crime.

Given the rapidly evolving drug landscape across the state and nationally, DHECs Public Health Laboratory has the capacity to increase its drug screening panel as new drugs emerge.

DHEC plan targeting abandoned coastal boats Abandoned and derelict boats are a chronic problem along South Carolinas coast, negatively impacting marshes and coastal waters and creating hazards. Derelict boats are often old, neglected and in very poor condition. A new program is being piloted by the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) to prevent derelict boats from entering coastal waterways where they may become environmental or safety hazards.

Visit the DHEC website to view the Overdose Biosurveillance Dashboard. For assistance navigating and utilizing the dashboard, visit the Navigating the Overdose Biosurveillance Dashboard webpage.

For more information on DHEC's efforts to combat opioid overdose deaths, visit scdhec.gov/opioid-epidemic. For additional information and resources related to opioids, visit the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services website or justplainkillers.com.
Beset by legal hurdles, politicking, and running counter to Europes move away from coal, Tuzla 7 has gone from flagship project to wreck.

Some 20 years ago, the idea took shape of building a seventh unit at the Tuzla coal-fired power station to replace three dilapidated older units that had already been operational for almost 50 years.

After 16 years of questionable decisions on its financing, an illegal state guarantee, and objections to its environmental risks, the largest energy project in the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina has, in all likelihood, failed.

Critics of the project  ranging from environmentalists to energy analysts, to liberal parties in opposition to the nationalists who hold most of the powerful positions in regional and national politics  blame the absence of a national energy strategy and the consequences of the political management of electricity companies, as well as apparent corruption.

The States Misbegotten Guarantee

Sanela Klaric sits on the energy committee of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity parliament as an elected representative of the liberal opposition party Nasa Stranka (Our Party).

She believes that Bosnian authorities have taken a frivolous approach to Tuzla 7 for years and have disregarded the views of the Energy Community, a treaty organization tasked with extending the European Unions internal energy market to countries in the Balkans and the Black Sea region.

The Tuzla thermal power plant, with the village of Bukinje in the foreground, as seen from a drone camera last winter. Photo by Dado Ruvic via CTK/Reuters.

The original proposal for Tuzla 7 received the support of the Energy Community back in 2007.

In the ensuing years, foreign partners in the project came and went, as did the politically appointed directors of Elektroprivreda BiH (EPBiH), the public power company serving the Federation entity. Meanwhile, the cost kept rising, from 380 million euros, to 750 million, to 880 million, or as much as 1 billion euros according to some estimates.

Tuzla 7 has been embroiled in legal controversy since the Federation extended a state guarantee for a 20-year loan from the Export Import Bank of China (EXIM Bank), a Chinese, state-funded bank, covering 85% of the construction costs. Another Chinese partner, China Gezhouba Group, won the contract to construct the new thermal unit in 2014, with EPBiH putting up 15% of the costs, with the rest to be covered by EXIM Bank.

Eventually, in November 2021, Bosnia lost a dispute initiated against it by the Secretariat of the Energy Community, charging that the guarantee on EXIM Banks 614 million euro loan constituted illegal state aid, and in July 2022 Bosnias State Aid Council changed course, announcing that the government-backed bank guarantee extended in 2018 was illegal.

The project was delayed for years and finally  the Energy Community warned that the state aid in this case was illegal, Klaric said. The Federation government did not react to this.

Elektroprivreda BiH: We Followed the Rules

Elektroprivreda BiH has fulfilled all its obligations on time and within the agreed deadlines, according to Senad Salkic, its executive director for capital investments.

If the Federation government makes further changes to the project, a decision the entity parliament could take soon, the company will seek damages, Salkic said.

One member of the companys supervisory board asserts that it has taken all legal steps regarding the contested guarantee.

No omission was made by Elektroprivreda BiH, so I expect that it will be resolved positively in favor of the project, Izet Zigic said. The company is solvent and there is no risk of failing to service the debt, he added.

At this moment, we are waiting for the Federation parliament, which became involved in this story. Considering that this is an election period, I cannot prejudge when the parliament will be constituted or when it will discuss Tuzla 7, Zigic said, speaking before the 2 October parliamentary elections.

Tuzla 7s Tortuous Road to Nowhere 2006: Federation government awards contract for eight large energy plants, including Block 7 of the Tuzla coal-fired plant, to Austrian Power and Environment Technology (APET). Criticized for awarding the job without holding a tender, government cancels it. 2008: After a tender process, Germanys EnBW selected as a strategic partner for finance and power exports. The company later withdraws, for unclear reasons. 2010: Federation government and EPBiH sign contract with Switzerlands Alpiq to build the new unit. 2011: New upper management of EPBiH appointed following national elections in 2010 cancels the contract with Alpiq. 2012: EPBiH announces a new tender for Tuzla 7. Two offers are accepted, from Japans Hitachi Power System and the Chinese state consortium China Gezhouba Group. 2014: Hitachi Power System withdraws its offer following violent protests against the project, opening the way for Gezhouba Group to be awarded the contract. 2018: Bosnias State Aid Council says its previous decision to approve the state guarantee for the Chinese loan is in line with Bosnian and EU regulations. 2019: Energy Community Secretariat initiates a preliminary procedure that will result in a formal complaint against Bosnias provision of state aid for Tuzla 7. 2021: General Electric withdraws from the project, casting still more doubt on its feasibility. 2022, March: Energy Community says Bosnias decision to extend the lifetimes of two older blocks at the Tuzla and Kakanj coal plants is in breach of its obligations under the organizations founding treaty.

Sanela Klaric sees the lost dispute with the Energy Community and then the state aid bodys reversal of its stance on the loan guarantee, as new problems that could see EPBiH coming out the big loser if Tuzla 7 runs aground. The company is currently out of pocket for 117 million euros, most of it borrowed from Sberbank Sarajevo, paid to Chinese and other companies for preparatory and initial construction work. The electric company is repaying the loan, but no work has begun.

We [meaning the Federation government and EPBiH] had the opportunity to terminate the contract when the Chinese partners declared that they could not deliver the contracted equipment, but that did not happen then. Now that it has been established that even the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina did not act legally in this process, we may be risking the advance paid, she said.

There is also talk of possible arbitration, Klaric noted, adding, Bosnia and Herzegovina and its entities almost always lose in arbitration, a situation many blame on the far from transparent management of the publicly owned power companies.

This year alone, international arbitration courts have ordered EPBiH and fellow state-owned energy company Elektroprivreda RS in the Republika Srpska entity to pay a total of 52 million euros in damages to overseas companies that had been awarded contracts for energy projects that Bosnia failed to see through to completion.

A further, and perhaps fatal, hitch happened last year when General Electric pulled out of the project, probably under pressure from the EU, according to Balkan Green Energy News. GE was to have supplied the units 450-megawatt turbine and generator.

As things stand, EXIM Bank is still prepared to extend the loan required for the funds available. Yet without the vital equipment GE was to supply, amid disputes between EPBiH and the Federation parliament over inviting Chinese subcontractors to take over GEs role, Tuzla 7 is at a standstill.

Even with the state guarantee in jeopardy, and having spent over 100 million euros although no substantial work has been done on unit No. 7, no one from EPBiH appears ready to admit the project  birthed by the Federation authorities and led by a federation-owned company  is dead in the water.

Bosnias heavy reliance on coal for power and heating makes its air some of the dirtiest in Europe. Here, a coal train is parked at a coal washing plant in Oskova. Photo by Herbert Ortner via Flickr under a Creative Commons license.

Is Tuzla 7 Doomed?

The original idea to build a new unit at the Tuzla thermal plant could have resulted in a good and profitable project in the 2000s, when it had support from the Energy Community, according to energy analyst Almir Muhamedbegovic. Since then, the energy landscape has changed completely.

In 16 years, five Federation governments, and soon a sixth, have been replaced, and the entire context has changed dramatically, considering Bosnias decarbonization obligations and the severe penalization of fossil fuels in the EU, through carbon taxes, he said.

Bosnia is obligated to reduce carbon emissions both as a signatory to the Energy Community Treaty and as a contracting party to the EUs Large Combustion Plants Directive.

At the moment, Bosnia exports excess electricity and thus accumulates a significant profit. As Muhamedbegovic points out, at a time of high energy prices and the looming possibility of shortages, this gives an additional motive for continuing with Tuzla 7. However, the obligations that Bosnia assumed by joining the UNs Paris Agreement and the Energy Community have not disappeared.

Signatory countries to the Energy Community treaty must start phasing in carbon taxes from 2026 and fully commit to them in 2030, Muhamedbegovic says.

Old thermal blocks that have practically finished their working life certainly do not guarantee long-term supply stability, and their electricity will be burdened with CO2 taxes. Block 7 is a very questionable project. I would say that for political reasons the Federation government must not say that it has failed, he continued. Its like flogging a dead horse.

Barring two relatively small wind farms, Bosnias state-owned power companies have neglected the opportunity to exploit the countrys enormous potential for solar and wind power, and they urgently need to invest in these areas, Muhamedbegovic argues, as well as in large-scale hydropower.

Parliamentary and presidential elections were held on 2 October in both entities and at the national level.The outcome of the elections will largely determine the fate of the ambitious, but outdated and highly politicized Tuzla 7 project.

It is certainly necessary to invest in new cross-border capacities with neighboring countries, as this also guarantees the security of the power system, Muhamedbegovic said.

We must finally begin the restructuring of the energy sector in accordance with the states decarbonization obligations, which previous governments persistently, mostly for political reasons, openly refused to do.



Investigative journalist Predrag Blagovcanin has been with the Bosnian news site www.tacno.net since 2013, reporting on corruption, politics, the environment, and other stories. He has received two awards for his reporting on corruption.
North Korea reiterated its commitment to launching more reconnaissance satellites this year, Saturday, after putting its first spy satellite into orbit in November.

Pyongyang "will carry out an important mission to enhance its space reconnaissance capabilities as planned to monitor and control the U.S. and other hostile forces' military movements and aggressive attempts," an unnamed spokesperson of the North's National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA) said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

North Korea put its first spy satellite, Malligyong-1, into orbit in November after two failed attempts in May and August and has vowed to launch three more this year. It has yet to disclose any timeline for the launches but has repeatedly reaffirmed the plan through the KCNA.

The North blamed the "U.S. ambitions to militarize space" for its push for space development.

"The U.S. has been building a big space army over the Korean Peninsula and its surrounding area with an ultimate goal to launch a preemptive nuclear attack," the spokesperson said, accusing Washington of escalating the possibility of an actual war breaking out in the region.

The North also denounced recent remarks by Stephen Whiting, the commander of the U.S. Space Command, that North Korea's satellite launch violates U.N. Security Council resolutions, saying the U.S. is acting based on "double standards."

North Korea has the right to develop space and use it as a military means for self-defense, the spokesperson said, reiterating the country's position on space development. (Yonhap)
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.
Over and over Thursday, a crowd of protesters on the UA campus chanted the contested phrase.

Still, the pro-Palestinian protest and march played out without many problems, bringing in 200-300 attendees, resulting in no arrests and leading to just a few arguments between protesters and counter-protesters bearing Israeli flags.

Police were barely visible and ended up being unneeded. In that sense, the event reflected the state of the UA campus during current high tensions over the war in Gaza: Its tense, yes, but overall its been tolerant enough to be tolerable.

Thats of course not been true for campuses around the country. At ASU Friday, police tried to prevent students from setting up a protest camp, something the UA students did not try, and arrested three people, then arrested another 69 overnight.

Across the country, university administrations have been calling in the police to break up pro-Palestinian protests and camps.

The lines are often hard to draw between what is protected speech and what is prohibited by either university codes or criminal laws. That phrase from the river to the sea sits somewhere near the line, representing a genocidal threat to some and a call for liberation to others.

But whats been frighteningly clear this week is the willingness of some administrators and politicians to crack down on the expression of political opinions they oppose or are being pressured to stifle. This was nowhere clearer than at the University of Texas in Austin.

There, police crashed a peaceful protest calling for divestment of the university from companies supplying weapons to Israel and arrested dozens, some of them violently.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott applauded the arrests. Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Texas, he said via X, the former Twitter. Students joining in hate-filled, antisemitic protests at any public college or university in Texas should be expelled.

The heart of the argument

This, of course, is the crux of the claim by those trying to suppress these protests. A sort of groupthink has taken over American leaders, suddenly arguing that these protests are all antisemitic, ignoring the many Jewish participants.

Certainly antisemitism has come out in some demonstrations and on some campuses, but the thrust of this movement has been protesting the actions of the state of Israel in Gaza. Its about a war  yes, responding to the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas that killed 1,200 Israeli civilians  that has killed more than 13,000 Palestinian children, made about half the homes in Gaza unlivable and led to starvation.

Eliding that difference, making it seem that any protest against Israels actions is antisemitic, has been the key to unleashing this crackdown.

It also seems to be part of an opinion campaign being waged internationally, even by the prime minister of Israel himself. In a galling video he put out Wednesday, Benjamin Netanyahu said the protests in the United States are reminiscent of what happened in German universities in the 1930s.

Whats happening in Americas college campuses is horrific, Netanyahu said. Antisemitic mobs have taken over leading universities. They call for the annihilation of Israel. They attack Jewish students. They attack Jewish faculty.

It was an outrageous statement for a variety of reasons, mostly because it was exaggerated at best, untrue at worst, but also because it attempted to redefine protests that are mostly about his governments actions. Beyond the apparent attempt to bend American political opinion to benefit himself, a corrupt aspiring autocrat, Netanyahus statement was particularly egregious coming on the same day President Biden signed into law $26 billion more in U.S. aid for Israel.

We who live in the country that supports Israel generously with our own tax money certainly retain the right to protest its actions. We have that right in any case.

Words viewed differently

But do we have the right to chant From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free on a college campus?

The slogan is viewed differently by different people. I spoke for some time after the protest Thursday with a Jewish UA junior named Edan Levy who gathered with a group of students holding Israeli flags and other identifying regalia.

Our main purpose is to show our presence and to show that Jewish students on campus side with Israel, he said. We want to be available to be a calm, uninflammatory presence on campus that allows students to come and engage with us.

Levys parents are from Israel, he said, and he has many more relatives there. The chant bothers him.

If you really understand what the phrase means, it means the mass displacement or mass genocide of Jewish people in the land of Israel, he said.

Do I believe that everyone in this protest now actually does believe that? No, I think some of them have been pushed by propaganda or are riding the trend of performative activism.

Typically, Americans who use the phrase argue that this is not what it means to them. They view it as a call for the liberation of Palestinians under occupation from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, especially in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza. The intent is open to interpretation.

Naive or sinister

As I watched the protest Thursday from a second-floor bridge at the student union, a woman sidled up to me and said If they did this in Gaza, theyd be shot.

That sort of perspective, I think, is important to remember. I suspect that some pro-Palestinian campus activists are naive or sinister, gliding from protesting Israels war actions to supporting Hamas as resistance to Israel.

If the protesters really want freedom for all, as they said they do Thursday, they cant support totalitarians. They cant support Hamas or their ilk. They cant ignore the way Hamas provoked the Israeli attack and contributed to the deaths of thousands of Palestinians.

If they really want freedom, protesters also cannot attempt to control public space by deciding who enters their camps and who interviews who, a common and illegal practice at these protests.

But those of us who claim to support freedom also shouldnt tolerate totalitarian actions like Netanyahus efforts to undermine Israels judicial branch or the flimsily justified crackdowns on protests in the USA. At Ohio State University, police stationed snipers on the rooftops as they arrested peaceful protesters Thursday night.

This sort of lusty viewpoint discrimination should be impossible on Arizona campuses. In the late 2010s, the Legislature declared the states university campuses to be free-speech zones and stated that It is not the proper role of an institution of higher education to shield individuals from speech protected by the First Amendment, including, without limitation, ideas and opinions that may be unwelcome, disagreeable or deeply offensive.

No laws broken

Whats much cleaner and more constitutional than busting up protests is to respond to clear threats or other behavior that violates laws or campus policies. Someone recently wrote graffiti  the question What side of history will you be on?  on the wall of a Jewish fraternity at the UA. That should be investigated and punished. Setting up overnight protest camps on college greens can be a solid justification to step in, depending on the schools codes.

Chanting an ambiguous chant cannot. Which is why it was a relief to hear Sgt. Andrew Valenzuela of the University of Arizona police explain his departments approach Thursday.

We were monitoring the event closely, he said. Were here to see that everyones rights are protected and that things go peacefully. We didnt effect any arrests, because there werent any laws broken.

Thats the way it ought to be, no matter what opinions powerful people try to restrict or impose.
Reid Park Zoo is enlarging its zebra enclosure and creating safeguards to protect the population after a 6-week-old foal, Takiti Maji, died.

The enclosure, which houses Tikiti Majis parents, Anna and Ben, will include taking out dividing fences to expand the back spaces, putting up secondary visual barriers and adding a new barn.

The moves were made within weeks of the foals death on Feb. 6 after its mother was spooked by a gust of wind and ran towards another part of the enclosure. The foal followed but did not stop and ran into the fence, breaking her neck on impact.

Tikiti Maji was one of three foals at Reid Park Zoo that have died over the past decade due to similar events.

The mortality rate for foals in captivity is fairly high, said Stephanie Norton, Reid Park Zoos animal welfare specialist. They are flight animals, so their first instinct in most cases is to run.

Zebras are sturdy, playful and stubborn animals. In the wild, they have many predators and typically flee when threatened.

Reid Park Zoo Animal Welfare Specialist Stephanie Norton shared that Takiti Maji was a beloved member of the Reid Park Zoo, describing the animal as brave and curious.

Grevys zebras are found primarily in the grasslands of East Africa. The species, which can grow to 4 to 5 feet tall and weigh as much as 900 pounds, are the largest and most endangered zebra species, facing significant threats due to habitat loss and poaching.

The Grevys Zebra Species Survival Plan is a national program that seeks to maintain a genetically diverse population of zebras in captivity by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Tikiti Maji was born through this program as were the other two Reid Park zebras before her.

Captive breeding programs have become crucial for the survival of these zebras, yet the challenges within captive settings warrant careful consideration, zoo officials said.

All equine species vision is concentrated to the side and back.

They mostly see in the green spectrums of color, Norton said. The easiest thing to help them see the barriers is putting light versus dark. They can see high contrast better than color versus not color.

The behind-the-scenes area of the zebra enclosure is a space where the intricate workings of animal care and management take place.

Reid Park Zoo has 24-hour surveillance cameras in multiple enclosures at the zoo, including ones in the behind-the-scenes areas for the new giraffe calf Moyo and elephant calf Meru.

We have a partnership with the U of A College of Veterinary Medicine so those interns help watch as well to alert our veterinary staff when there is a problem in the enclosure, said Nancy Kluge, Reid Park Zoos president and CEO. In the case of Takiti Maji, our veterinary staff was there right away. They went right to work and performed all the measures to resuscitate or do whatever was needed.

It is also an area where keepers work with the animals to facilitate veterinary procedures, enrichment activities and behavioral training.

We work with them to make sure that theyre exposed to new situations that help them feel comfortable and confident in the spaces that theyre in, Norton said of the zebras. There are lots of things that are outside of our control that could happen, but we try to stop them up for the best success that we can through training.

We do a lot of training with the zebras to build up their resilience so that theyre not as likely to be startled by noises and other things happening in their environment, she added. In between, we did have a successful foal. His name was Haroo and he did great with the changes that we had implemented from the foal before him that did pass away. He grew up to be a very smart, confident boy.

Haroo was transferred to another zoo after he reached maturity to continue growing into adulthood and eventually lead his own herd.

Theres a lot to take into consideration, some of it is we look at the natural history and where an animal is from. Whether they need climate control, what kind of space they need, if that space is vertical, or if is it across. What shape works best. What kind of groupings do they need. The habitat that people see and behind the scenes is also important. Were also fortunate in this weather, a lot of our animals are out on habitat, Kluge said.

Reid Park Zoos Pathway to Asia is set to open in 2025 and will include Asian small-clawed otters, a Komodo dragon, red panda and Malaysian tigers.

The zoo has created habitats that fit their natural behaviors and social structures.

The Asian small-clawed otters for instance want streams, shallow streams, as opposed to our African spotted neck otters that are currently at the zoo, who prefer big pools that they can swim in. This is an example of different types of water arrangements for enclosures. Kluge said.

Enclosures at Reid Park Zoo are designed to include features that encourage natural behaviors such as climbing and foraging. Enrichment activities keep animals mentally stimulated to prevent boredom and stereotypic behaviors. Animals can become stressed, bored, or even develop health issues without proper space and features.

The habitats are being designed from scratch, Norton said. The animals are going to have such beautiful spaces to be in and get to show some natural behaviors.
By KTimes

A man has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for murdering his elderly neighbor following a dispute over a tree that blocked sunlight from reaching his solar panels.

The Supreme Court upheld the sentence, which also mandated that the man wear an electronic tracking device for ten years.

The conflict began years ago in Cheorwon County, Gangwon Province, when the victim planted peach trees that later grew and blocked the sunlight from reaching the solar panels of the defendant, identified only as Mr. A.

On the day of the incident in April last year, an argument over the tree led Mr. A to attack his 70-year-old neighbor with a weapon, also injuring the victims wife who tried to intervene. Mr. A was also charged with drunk driving. After committing the murder, he drove his car a distance of about 2.7 kilometers while intoxicated, later exiting his vehicle and repeatedly shouting, "I have killed a person," until a passerby called the police.

In court, Mr. A claimed diminished responsibility due to intoxication and argued for leniency based on his attempt to surrender to the authorities. He contended that by asking bystanders to call the police before he was arrested on a nearby road, he was effectively turning himself in. He also stated that he had not intended to injure the victims wife.

The first trial dismissed Mr. As claims, citing his history of violent crimes and drunk driving, and sentenced him to 26 years in prison. The appellate court later reduced the sentence to 23 years, a reflection of Mr. As eventual confession and remorseful behavior. The Supreme Court found no fault with the appeal court's decision and dismissed the final appeal.

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.
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:

Arizonas tourist destinations attract visitors from across the United States and the world with its beautiful natural landscapes, theme parks, and unique museums. And it is thanks to our vibrant tourism economy that small businesses like mine are able to thrive. I am the proud owner of TUC Shop, a souvenir shop nestled in the heart of Tucson. Because the success of my business depends on Arizonas tourists, I know how important it is to protect Arizonas thriving tourism industry, which is supported by consumers using credit card rewards points.

When consumers use their credit cards for purchases, they are able to earn points that can be redeemed to buy flights and book hotels. According to Airlines for America, nearly 600,000 travelers used their rewards points to visit Arizona in 2022, generating an economic impact of more than $916 million. This is money spent dining in our restaurants, visiting our tourist attractions, and shopping in Arizonas small businesses, including mine.

Unfortunately, lawmakers in Washington are considering a bill that threatens our tourism economy and the success of small businesses that rely on it. Big box retailers are pushing Congress to pass the Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA), which would impose a routing mandate to cap interchange fees, which is the cost of processing a transaction. While the bill might sound like a good idea, it would actually have dire consequences for Arizonas tourism industry and hurt Arizona consumers.

The CCCA would lower the revenue card issuers use to fund perks like cash back and travel rewards programs. This means they will have to make cuts to the rewards programs that hundreds of thousands of visitors rely on to travel to our state every single year. These cuts will directly hurt Arizonas tourism economy and the small businesses, like mine, that rely on a thriving tourism industry. And this is not speculation; after the Australian Reserve Bank capped interchange fees on credit cards, the value of rewards points dropped by nearly 25%. Im concerned that the CCCA would lead to similar outcomes here.

To make matters worse, Arizona consumers would not see any savings if this bill passes. When Congress passed similar legislation to cap debit interchange fees in 2010, large retailers were the only ones who saved money and did not pass those savings on to consumers in the form of lower prices. We have no reason to expect different outcomes this time around, and even the Congressional research service found that It is not clear whether retailers would pass interchange savings on to consumers as a result of this bill.

Like consumers, small businesses like mine are also not expected to see any savings from this bill. Big box retailers with the power and resources to negotiate lower interchange rates were the only ones who benefited from the Durbin Amendment and will be the ones to benefit from the CCCA. According to a University of Miami study, the five largest retailers in the nation are expected to save more than $1 billion, while real small businesses are expected to see little to no savings as a result of this bill.

As a small business owner, I appreciate the convenience of having customers simply tap or swipe their cards at the cash register. And my customers appreciate the speed and efficiency of electronic payments. But this system could become less safe if the CCCA becomes law by opening up credit cards to alternative, less secure payment networks. The use of these new networks could increase our incidences of fraudulent transactions, a risk we cant afford to take.

If this bill becomes law, large retailers that have the negotiating power and resources to take advantage of routing mandates will be the biggest winners. For the sake of Arizona consumers and small businesses, I hope our lawmakers oppose this flawed and risky bill.
Curtis Killman Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Curtis Killman 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

City of Tulsa officials are considering their next steps after a jury awarded $569,000 in damages to a now-retired police major who claimed her free speech rights were infringed when she was demoted almost nine years ago.

At issue is whether the city should appeal the jury verdict or pay up and end nearly nine years of litigation.

The City recognizes the jurys verdict and appreciates the time and attention that was given to this case during the trial, city spokeswoman Michelle Brooks told the Tulsa World in an email. We are still evaluating our options moving forward.

The citys comments come after a jury awarded former Tulsa Police Maj. Tracie Lewis $569,000 in damages following a trial that ended April 12 in Tulsa County District Court.

Lewis was demoted just as she was pursuing a promotion to deputy chief.

In determining a damages amount, the jury could consider how much more Lewis would have made had she been promoted to deputy chief, plus any loss of benefits in retirement pay she lost as a result of the demotion, records show.

The jury was also allowed to consider any mental distress or anguish Lewis may have suffered as a result of the retaliation when considering damages.

One of Lewis attorneys said Friday that as the prevailing party in a civil rights case, he is entitled to seek attorney fees separately from the city.

So we will file for those within 30 days of a judgment being entered, said Christopher Camp.

The case dates back to 2015 when Lewis was demoted four ranks from major to officer.

Former Police Chief Chuck Jordan demoted Lewis four ranks after others told him she was alleged to have punched a civilian police records department employee in the shoulder.

Lewis won back her major rank and back pay after an arbitration officer later ruled the discipline was too harsh.

Camp said Lewis continues to deny she assaulted the employee.

Prior to being demoted, Lewis filed a city ethics complaint, claiming others were altering job qualifications for an open civilian records supervisor position to favor one person.

Lewis first sued the city in 2016, but that case ended with dismissal after a trip to the state Supreme Court.

Lewis, who retired in September 2020, re-filed the lawsuit in 2022, which eventually made it to trial earlier this month.

In her petition, Lewis claimed she was demoted in retaliation after she filed the ethics complaint regarding plans to hire a supervisor for the records department.

Lewis claimed plans by others to lower the requirements for the position in order to permit a candidate to qualify for the position violated city ethics policy, the merit system and the spirit of a consent decree regarding transparency in the hiring process.

The city ended up hiring the person Lewis claimed was not originally qualified for the position.

City officials, meanwhile, claimed Lewis assertions did not qualify for free speech protections, in part, because her speech was not a matter of public importance, as required by law.

But Camp said trial testimony indicated that Lewis speech dealt with making sure that the police department runs itself ethically, which is a matter of public concern.

As a matter of fact, they all acknowledged at trial in their testimony that the matters presented were a matter of public concern, Camp said.

Meanwhile, Camp said Lewis is overjoyed at the trial outcome.

Shes just really glad to be able to tell her story and have somebody listen to it, Camp said. Because she tried through all the channels there ... (at) TPD and then with the city and was just ignored time and time again.

She had an outstanding career since she walked in the door in the late 80s, Camp said.

Theres no doubt that she would have made a great deputy chief, Camp said. I think theres always going to be some regret that she didnt get to do that, but at least she will be made whole financially, so that parts good.

Tulsa World is where your story lives
Steve Metzer Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer Follow Steve Metzer 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

OKLAHOMA CITY  Friction between political leaders in Oklahoma intruded on press conferences and events that unfolded at the Capitol this week.

During his regularly scheduled meeting with reporters on Friday, Gov. Kevin Stitt was asked about comments made the previous day by Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, who speculated that Stitt has a personal hatred for him and perhaps animosity writ large against the Republican-dominated Senate.

Treat suggested that disagreements he has had with Stitt dating back at least a year may have influenced the governors decisions related to vetoes of bills that originated in the Senate. He also said theres been an absolute void for months in communication between himself and the governor.

Friction also became apparent between Stitt and Attorney General Gentner Drummond and State Auditor Cindy Byrd after Byrd issued a blistering report on how taxpayer dollars may have been misspent during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stitt suggested that both Drummond and Byrd have political ambitions and may have coordinated the timing of the report and news releases to advance their own agendas.

In a statement Friday evening, Byrd said the report wasnt motivated by politics but by very real concerns about the misuse of taxpayer dollars.

The audit report is accurate and the concerns are real, Byrd said in an email. 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.

Treat said his failing relationship with Stitt may stem from disagreements he has had with the governor and with House Speaker Charles McCall about state compact negotiations with some Native American Indian tribes in the state concerning such things as tribal gaming operations and car tags. He noted that he and McCall are plaintiffs in three lawsuits against the governor. Other disagreements have flared over education funding, how to implement school choice policies and whether the state can afford to cut taxes more than theyve already been cut, Treat said.

The Senate leader noted that the governor has vetoed at least 14 Senate bills this year, as compared to four that originated in the House, and that he arbitrarily vetoed about 20 Senate bills last year.

There seems to be a pattern emerging.  I may just be paranoid, but I believe where theres paranoia sometimes theres a real reason for it, Treat said. It seems like he may be headed down that same wrong-headed path, but well watch and see and make sure hes doing it on the merits of policy and not just trying to target myself or the Senate writ large. It seems like hes also targeting AG Drummond with some vetoes. So Im just serving notice that were watching.

Treat said he thinks Stitt is a good guy and that they share similar political values, but I dont like the way he has operated in this building. I dont think he has treated me or the Senate fairly or equally.

I really think (McCall) has turned his chamber over to the governor to allow him to run that place right now, the Senate leader added.

Stitt responded on Friday that he certainly has no personal hatred for Treat and that he makes veto decisions strictly on the basis of policy and what he thinks would be in the best interests of Oklahomans.

If weve gotten sideways on policy issues, thats up to him to debate, but I dont have ill feelings toward him or anybody in this building, Stitt said. If Ive vetoed bills,  it really has nothing to do with whether its a Senate bill or a House bill. Thats pretty petty if theyre counting vetoes.

Stitt suggested that news this week related to the auditors report on state contracts issued at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic may have been influenced by politics.

On Tuesday, Byrd released a scathing report on the use of federal pandemic aid and asserted that Oklahoma has become a no bid state with systemic contracting issues under Stitts administration. The same day, Drummond said he had granted a request by Byrd to conduct a deeper probe of the handling of contracting and procurement policies at the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services.

Stitt said Byrds findings relate back to the earliest days of the pandemic, in 2020, when the nation was in the midst of a catastrophe and unemployment benefit claims jumped 1,000 percent almost overnight. In 10 months, he said, the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission delivered $3.8 billion in aid to Oklahomans, more than it had over the previous 10-year period.

In her statement Friday, Byrd said Stitt was off-base in his accusations.

Firstly, this audit covered federal expenditures for 2022, not 2020 as referenced by the Governor. Secondly, the findings were very similar to those reported last year, but the numbers in question are now larger, she said. Two agencies have previously reported these deficiencies, so these findings are no surprise to anyone.

Stitt said the auditors report was both confusing and unfair.

We are for a transparent process, but you really cant pick on this, he said. For the auditor to say that were a no-bid state is really unfair and confusing to Oklahomans.

The governor also questioned the timing of Byrds report, years removed from March of 2020, when the pandemic was just beginning to take hold across the country.

I think what Oklahomans need to understand is: Youve got an AG whos said hes already running for governor. Youve got an auditor whos running for lieutenant governor. Within an hour  we got no notice  but within an hour they had coordinated press statements on this 200-page report.

(So) what Im trying to say is, when you politicize or try to attack other political (figures), it is just very frustrating for Oklahomans. You cant weaponize your offices for political gain, Stitt said. Were going to make sure that people are held accountable,  but when you connect the dots, theres some stuff that looks weird.

Friday evening, a spokesman for Drummond said the attorney general stood by his previous statements related to the audit findings.

Attorney General Drummond stands by his statements about the audit findings and will continue to work for accountability on behalf of Oklahoma taxpayers, Phil Bacharach said in an email.

The Tulsa World is where your story lives.
Oklahoma becoming a 'no bid' state under Stitt, auditor says; Cabinet secretary urged to resign

OKLAHOMA CITY  Shelley Zumwalt  the embattled executive director of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department and the governors choice for tourism secretary  could face a difficult confirmation process in light of a newly released audit, the leader of the Oklahoma Senate said Thursday.
Two forest rangers have lost their lives battling a forest fire in the Tay Con Linh peak area of Ha Giang Province, northern Vietnam.

A leader from the Forest Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development confirmed the deaths of the two forest rangers on Saturday.

The deceased victims were identified as T.V.K., a 41-year-old ranger from the forest ranger division of Ha Giang Provinces Vi Xuyen District, and T.T.L., a 41-year-old ranger from the Quang Phong-Tay Con Linh special use forest ranger division.

According to the Ha Giang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the two rangers lost their lives at around 2:30 pm on Friday while participating in the rescue and firefighting efforts at a 2,000-meter peak in the Tay Con Linh special-use forest, located in Lao Chai Commune, Vi Xuyen District.

The forest fire was first discovered at around 2:00 am on Friday in the area bordering the three communes of Phuong Tien, Lao Chai, and Xin Chai of Vi Xuyen District.

Upon receiving the report on the incident, the local authorities swiftly mobilized 700 personnel and implemented firefighting plans.

They faced the challenging conditions of the dry weather, strong winds, and limited water resources in the area.

Despite that, by 5:00 pm on the same day, the forest fires in Lao Chai and Xin Chai Communes were mostly under control, with only one fire point remaining in Phuong Tien Commune, which presented complications due to high winds and abundant vegetation.

By noon on Saturday, the fire in Phuong Tien Commune had also been contained.

Tay Con Linh, situated on the mountain massif upstream of the Chay River in the west of Ha Giang Province, is a prominent mountain peak spanning across Hoang Su Phi and Vi Xuyen Districts, located 46 kilometers from Ha Giang City.

With an altitude of 2,431 meters, it stands as the highest mountain peak in Vietnams northeast region.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Apart from the menace of pet owners letting their animals defecate in public places or bite, scratch other people, a certain number of customers in Vietnam expressed their dislike of pet owners taking the animals to eateries or coffee shops, citing food safety and health risks.

Several pet owners carry their animals bowls to eateries. Meanwhile, some others hand-feed the animals but do not wash their hands before enjoying their dishes.

Bringing pets to eateries may bother diners who suffer from pet allergies and cause staff to get extra work including having to clean up tables and chairs where the animals sat or lay on.

Those who wish to dine with their four-legged furry friends at eateries should be mindful of the pets hygiene to avoid affecting the environment and public space of the eatery they visit.

Aside from customers who are pet lovers, a number of owners of eateries, coffee shops, and food stores let their own pets roam freely in their premises, resulting in some instances of food and drinks containing animal fur or pet odors, thereby driving affected customers away.

A diner, who declined to be named, said that many of her friends echoed an opinion that they will not opt for eateries that have dogs and allow them to wander around freely, regardless of the owners efforts to keep their pets clean.

This diner affirmed that she neither hates cats nor dogs, but she highly recommended that pet owners should pay much heed to pet hygiene and show responsible behavior especially when they bring their four-legged friends to public places or eateries, in order to make the dining experience positive for the owner, the pet, as well as patrons and staff.

The diner added that pet skin and fur is home to germs and bacteria that pose the risk of zoonotic disease transmission.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
By Kim Myeong-hee

Before I defected from North Korea, I never dreamed of giving a speech at Harvard University, the top university in the world. When I was in North Korea, I thought Kim Il-sung University was the best in the world. I didn't know much about the rest of the world, and I couldn't even imagine giving a speech in English at a world-class university.

This moment and platform were an honor beyond words. Something miraculous happened on August 13th. I was one of the seven North Korean refugees who gave speeches in front of Harvard University students, officials, and people interested in North Korean human rights. I was able to inform them of the human rights violations of North Korean women.

I am an ordinary North Korean defector who has been given opportunities to do things she could have never imagined, to choose anything she wants, and the ability to move freely. I never could have imagined this when I was forcibly repatriated to North Korea twice before I finally made it to freedom after my third escape.

The international community is needed to improve human rights in North Korea. The courage shown by the North Korean defectors who spoke with me at Harvard University inspired an incredible number of people, and this became a small seed planted in the hearts and minds of each Harvard University student who attended. Together, we can put pressure on North Korea to recognize the individual human rights of North Koreans.

More seeds are needed to improve human rights in North Korea. Each North Korean defector is a witness and survivor of human rights violations in North Korea. This opportunity would not be possible without the efforts of organizations like Freedom Speakers International, which supports North Korean refugees in preparing English speeches through mentoring, and above all, makes every effort to create a global stage.

I am thankful to Casey Lartigue, a Harvard graduate, and his FSI co-founder Lee Eun-koo giving us this opportunity. Together, FSI, Harvard officials and students, volunteers and supporters and others who helped us stand on the global stage can make a difference with others who can join us from now. I sincerely hope these efforts will bear fruit and the people of North Korea will live with their basic rights protected and guaranteed.

Kim Myeong-hee was the Grand Prize winner of the 19th I am from North Korea English speech contest, presented by Freedom Speakers International, at Harvard University on April 13, 2024. Her mentor for the contest was FSI Academic Advisor Gregory Gresko.
Police in Hanois Nam Tu Liem District on Saturday said they have launched a probe into a case in which a dried body of a Vietnamese woman was found in an apartment of a high-end residential building in the district.

The condo buildings management board, in conjunction with local concerned agencies, discovered the corpse on Friday afternoon, according to Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper.

They arrived at the apartment following residents report that a person who wanted to rent the apartment had tried to contact its owner, including by knocking at the door, but failed.

The woman was born in 1995, Phap Luat Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh (Ho Chi Minh City Law) newspaper reported, citing a representative of Nam Tu Liem police.

After knowing about the discovery, relatives of the woman contacted concerned agencies to receive her body.

They said they had known nothing about where the woman lived and what she did for more than the past two years, during which they searched for her but failed, according to Tien Phong (Vanguard) news site.

The body likely existed in the apartment for about a year, a leader of the administration of the districts Tay Mo Ward, where the residential building is located, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, citing initial reports.

The building has a closed architecture, so it is hard to discover the corpse, the official added.

Earlier on Friday evening, residents in the area were very shocked to see the images posted in social media showing the dried body of the woman lying on a sofa in the apartment.

Locals said that the apartment had been locked for years and that the woman once lived there for two years but she did not appear later.

Regarding some sources that said that the family of the woman has reported her missing for the past years, the ward authorities said that they have yet received such information, news site Dan Tri reported.

A verification showed that the apartment was rented by a man and a woman in 2022.

According to some conversations between residents of the residential building posted on social media, neighbors heard the sounds of a quarrel from the apartment in around May 2022, according to the news site.

Local police said they will update the media with the latest results of their investigation into the case.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Authorities are verifying two videos of a BMW car drifting, causing chaos in the central area of District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, that were circulated on social media on Friday.

The two videos were shared by two accounts bearing the same T.M. name on social media platforms Facebook and Instagram.

Verification confirms that the drifting incident took place at the intersection of Nguyen Cong Tru and Ho Tung Mau Streets in Nguyen Thai Binh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

The footage captured a red BMW performing drifting maneuvers at the intersection, witnessed by a crowd of onlookers.

A BMW car performs drifting, causing chaos in the central area of District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

One video concludes with a girl wearing a kepi cap resembling that of Vietnamese police officers.

A representative from the District 1 police traffic and public order team said his unit acknowledged the incident and determined the vehicles license plate and the identities of those involved.

Police officers are currently working on procedures to summon these individuals and address the incident.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Ho Chi Minh City has scaled back its planned fireworks displays in observance of the Reunification Day (April 30) celebrations from 16 designated locations as initially announced to just five.

The updated fireworks display plan includes one high-altitude performance at the entrance of the Saigon River Tunnel in Thu Thiem Ward, Thu Duc City.

Four low-altitude shows will be held in the Thao Dien villa area in Thao Dien Ward, Thu Duc City, featuring a shooting point on a barge; the Van Phuc urban area in Hiep Binh Phuoc Ward, Thu Duc City; Tay Bac Industrial Park in Tan An Hoi Commune, Cu Chi District; and Dam Sen Cultural Park in Ward 3, District 11.

The fireworks will last 15 minutes from 9:00 pm to 9:15 pm on April 30.

On April 16, the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee announced fireworks displays at 16 venues for the Reunification Day celebrations, comprising one high-altitude display and 15 low-altitude shows.

Public workers are enjoying five consecutive days off from Saturday to next Wednesday to commemorate Reunification Day and International Workers Day (May 1) in Vietnam.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Da Nang City in central Vietnam was suddenly greeted by rain on Friday evening, much to the delight of its residents amid a prolonged spell of scorching weather.

The first rain appeared in the Nam O area near Hai Van Pass at around 3:30 pm, as reported by a local resident.

The rain brings a refreshing coolness to the air, commented the local.

Shortly thereafter, it ceased, only to resume later in the evening.

Motorcyclists travel in the rain in Da Nang City, April 26, 2024. Photo: Doan Nhan / Tuoi Tre

Around 6:00 pm, a sudden downpour enveloped every corner of Da Nang City, first in Hoa Vang District, Lien Chieu District, and Ngu Hanh Son District, followed by Hai Chau District, Thanh Khe District, and Son Tra District.

This unexpected rainfall coincided with the end of the workday, catching many people off guard and leaving them soaked on their way home.

Rain falls in Da Nang City, April 26, 2024. Photo: Doan Nhan / Tuoi Tre

However, after enduring several scorching days, with the highest temperature soaring to 39 degrees Celsius during daytime on Friday, the people of Da Nang welcomed the rain with joy.

Lasting for over an hour, the gentle rain contributed to a more comfortable atmosphere.

On social media platforms, people eagerly shared photos of the rain in their respective areas, inquiring whether it was raining elsewhere among their friends.

Motorcyclists travel in the rain in Da Nang City, April 26, 2024. Photo: Doan Nhan / Tuoi Tre

The widespread discussion was fueled by the rarity of rain in recent times, particularly timely as it arrived just before the five-day holiday from Saturday to next Wednesday to commemorate Reunification Day (April 30) and International Workers Day (May 1).

Previously, the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting had forecasted that the hot and sweltering weather across the country would persist until around April 30, with a gradual decrease in intensity expected from May 1 to May 2.

Rain falls in the Nam O area near Hai Van Pass in Da Nang City, April 26, 2024. Photo: TV / Tuoi Tre

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The extreme heat wave that has hit Vietnam for more than two months reached over 42 degrees Celsius in the central part on Friday, excessing the highest April temperatures ever recorded so far in the region, the local hydrometeorological agency reported.

The highest heat on April 26 was measured at 42.7 degrees Celsius in Dong Ha City of Quang Tri Province, followed by 42.3 degrees in Dong Hoi City in Quang Binh Province, 41.9 degrees in Ba Don Town also of Quang Binh, and 41.8 degrees in Ba To Town in Quang Ngai Province, the Mid-Central Hydrometeorological Station reported.

These temperatures exceeded the highest April temperatures ever recorded so far in those localities by 0.2 to 0.9 degrees Celsius, the station stated.

This boiling weather may continue in the region for days to come, the agency warned.

The provinces from Quang Binh to Quang Ngai will have the common highest temperatures of 38-41 degrees Celsius, which may rise to above 42 degrees Celsius in some areas.

In Da Nang, the capital city of the central region, the highest temperature will reach over 40 degrees Celsius in some areas, two degrees higher than the overall heat there.

Due to the impacts of the extreme heat, rains with thunderstorms may strike central Vietnam during noon and afternoon in the coming time, accompanied with dangerous weather phenomena such as whirlwind, lightning, hail and powerful winds, especially in mountainous areas, the station warned.

In other parts of the country, the most heats on Saturday may reach over 41 degrees Celsius in the northwestern region, 39 degrees in northeastern localities, 37 degrees in Central Highlands provinces, the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting forecast.

In the southern region, the highest temperature may rise to 40 degrees Celsius in the southeastern province of Binh Phuoc on the same day, the Southern Hydrometeorological Station reported.

The ongoing extreme heat wave across southern Vietnam may be prolonged until the end of next month as this years rainy season is forecast to come later than usual, the Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration, under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, warned recently.

Hydrometeorological agencies advised people to restrain from going out and drink enough water under the extreme hot weather or to protect health.

Last year marked the hottest period in history in Vietnam, with the highest ever temperature amounting to 44.2 degrees Celsius in Tuong Duong District, Nghe An Province on May 7, 2023.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The engineering force of the Military Command in Nghe An Province, north-central Vietnam swiftly removed an unexploded wartime bomb found in the center of Vinh City on Thursday.

Local authorities on Friday afternoon stated that the bomb, which weighed over 200 kilograms and measured approximately two meters in length and one meter in diameter, had been safely transported to a designated detonation area.

On Thursday, a group of workers operating an excavator to construct a drainage ditch system along Dinh Bat Tuy Street in Truong Thi Ward of Vinh City unearthed a metal object, which upon inspection was identified as a bomb.

The military command of Truong Thi Ward promptly cordoned off the area, restricting access to ensure public safety.

The bomb is believed to be a remnant from the war era.

Its discovery site lies in the heart of Vinh City, near numerous offices, schools, and densely populated residential areas within Truong Thi Ward.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Theres a scene at the end of episode one of After the Party that will provoke you and leave you questioning what you have seen.

Its the intent of the producers to do just that, because the incident splinters the family of Penny (Robyn Malcolm), Phil (Peter Mullan) and daughter Grace (Tara Canton). It reverberates for years to come in the New Zealand community where Penny lives and works, yet for her there is no turning back.

The 6 part series, co-created by Malcolm and writer Dianne Taylor takes place over two time periods, being present and past.

When we meet Penny she is a high school teacher at a boys school who takes none of the backchat and miscreant behaviour endemic amongst adolescent teens. She cycles to work through the streets of Wellington and enjoys her free time as a loving grandmother to Graces three year old son. But there is history.

Ex-husband Phil (Mullan) lands back in the city to spend time with Grace and his grandson, which is a rude shock to Penny. While Grace wants her mother to move on, there are also those in the school community who do not support Pennys stance, with one colleague even accusing her of spreading false accusations (which) completely destroying innocent mens lives. Ouch.

Penny cops none of that shit. She is staunch in her hatred of her ex-husband to the point of being incapable of being in the same room.

Through flashback scenes we will soon learn why, with an incident at an unassuming house party completely imploding the family dynamic some years earlier.

Meanwhile Penny is also part of a grass-roots environmental campaign against a local fishing operator, and directs her personal fury into graffiti, an act admire by colleague Simon (Dean OGorman). There is also time spent caring for her ageing mother (Catherine Wilkin).

All these character threads weave together to create a rich, dimensional character in Penny, who is stubborn, hot-tempered, loyal and flawed. She teaches with tough love but is also a born troublemaker. Youre cheering for her while worried sick about the ramifications of her actions.

In Robyn Malcolm Penny is a firebrand central character who performs with searing conviction, superbly matched by Peter Mullan who goes toe-to-toe in rivetting feuds. You could watch it for this alone and be satisfied.

Its no wonder she won a top acting award from Series Mania in France for this role. Penny is up there with Sarah Lancashires Catherine Cawood (Happy Valley) and Suranne Jones Gemma Foster (Doctor Foster) as tour de force performances of recent years.

After the Party also reminds me of The Slap in part -an inciting incident which divides social opinion and the subsequent fallout as drama. Yet in this series, its only part of the context divulged to the viewer, raising the question do you believe Penny or not?

As the series unravels, its an uncomfortable but utterly compelling ride.

After the Party 8:30pm Sunday on ABC (all episodes on iview).
NCIS: Hawaii has been axed after three seasons.

Currently airing its third season in the USA, a season finale to screen in early May will now serve as the series finale.

NCIS: Hawaii was the fourth series in the NCIS franchise following NCIS: New Orleans and NCIS: Los Angeles, both of which have concluded

That leaves the original NCIS and Australias own NCIS: Sydney, renewed for a second season, as ongoing propositions, plus a prequel series about a young Jethro Leroy Gibbs, in the pipeline.

NCIS: Hawaii is still drawing 10 million viewers an episode over 35 days of cross-platform viewing and will likely end up as the most watched show to be cancelled this season in the US.

NCIS: Hawaii focused on Jane Tennant (Vanessa Lachey), and featured NZs Alex Tarrant, Noah Mills, Yasmine Al-Bustami, Jason Antoon, Tori Anderson, and Kian Talan.

It screens in Australia on 10.

Source: Hollywood Reporter
Foreign Office warns 'against all but essential travel to parts of Brazil'

The Foreign Office has updated its advice for Brazil -Credit:Getty





The Foreign Office has issued a warned on its website that people should not travel to certain parts of Brazil, unless it is an essential reason.

It comes as the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) are currently advising against all but essential travel. In their latest update on April 16, which is still valid today (April 27), they said that their travel update was to add another region to their list.

They caution: "FCDO now advises against all but essential travel to river areas towards the west of Amazonas State (Warnings and insurance and Regional risks pages).

Areas FCDO advises against all but essential travel - map

Brazil map -Credit:Foreign Office

Areas FCDO advises against all but essential travel - full list

Amazonas State

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the following river areas towards the west of Amazonas State, where Brazil shares borders with Colombia, Peru and Venezuela:

along the Amazonas (Amazon) River and its tributaries west of the town of Codajas and east of the town of Belem do Solimoes in Amazonas State

along any part of the Itaquai River in Amazonas State

along any part of the Japura River or its tributaries in Amazonas State

along the Rio Negro (Black River) and its tributaries north or west of the town of Barcelos in Amazonas State

You can find out more about why FCDO advises against travel here.
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. (Reuters)
US universities' protests against Israel turning into Global Intifada

Protests first at elite universities, but today spreading to many other higher educational institutions, continue demanding an end the Israeli war on Gaza supported by the United States government.

Saturday April 27, 2024 3:56 PM , Dr Marwan Asmar

Mass pro-Palestinian protests at college campuses across the United States are developing with great intensity. The protests, now in their second week, show no signs of abating despite the bloody violence of the US police.

Protests first at elite universities, but today spreading to many other higher educational institutions, continue demanding an end the Israeli war on Gaza supported by the United States government.

The protests in the form of Gaza encampments that were set up by students in Colombia University and quickly spread to Harvard University, Princeton, MIT, Emerson College in Boston, Tufts, as well as Georgetown University, University of Texas in Austin, University of California and Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia and many more are being destroyed a mass student intifada across the United States.

At Emory University, Economics Professor Dr Caroline Fohlin was set upon by one of the police officers while the Philosophy Department head Dr Noelle Mcafee was seen as being led away by another officer. These uprisings, however, are being seen as a new dawn for the world oppressed as Dr Angela Davis is describing them.

This is while the protests have spread to around 58 universities and is likely to continue in the next weeks to demand that universities take a pro-active Palestinian stance and demand that they stop cooperation and divesting on Israeli companies.

Protests are continuing despite the American police being called to these universities to arrest the protesters. Already 500 students as well as university professors have been arrested for protesting the war on Gaza which is supported by the United States through provision of a mass weapon supply corridor to Israel.

Beth Massey, a veteran of the 1968 protests at Columbia University, urges students not to cower but to make their movement bigger and stronger. pic.twitter.com/P56nT0jllK  PALESTINE ONLINE (@OnlinePalEng) April 27, 2024

Critics, including the police seen inside these universities, beating protestors and lecturers as well as hand cuffing them, have called these demonstrations as antisemitic but this has been totally rejected by the students and professors. They say that Jewish students and professors have been in the forefront of these protests against the Israeli genocide in Gaza, now going onto its eight month.

The nationwide protests and the consequent police action described as brutal are likened to the anti-war protests experienced in America during the 1960s when US universities became pivotal against Washingtons war in Vietnam.

Palestinian activist Mostapha Barghouti is echoing what other leading activists are saying. They are pointing out that the young generations uprising in American universities against the current genocide resembles the protests against the war in Vietnam and the anti-apartheid movement that later spread to other universities in the world.

Barghouti said it is remarkable to see many Jewish faculty members and students participating in the protests proving that anti-Israeli actions are not anti-semitic. It is strange that a section of the mainstream media is ignoring these historic events.

The Biden administration has been caught off guard because of the scale of the protests. Joe Biden is facing a presidential election coming November but many on these campuses have already said they wont be voting for him as he prepares to run for reelection. Many observers say Biden is deeply worried on what is happening at these campuses and the police violence that is being captured and shared on the social media.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been, and as expected, deeply critical of these growing protests which he calls as antisemitic and called on Biden to swiftly end them as if the former worked for him. But in reality, this is what the American president has been doing by serving as the check-book supplier of the American weapons to Israel.

However, if these protests continue, Biden, at least for the rest of his tenure could squeeze the taps on the weapons to Israel. So far he has been unwilling to do this no doubt because of the powerful Israeli lobby.

Further the US protests are having a world domino effect, turning into a global intifada. They are spreading to Britain, France, Italy and Australia and will see many other countries join this global spring wave of protests.

[The writer, Dr Marwan Asmar, is a writer based in Jordan covering Middle East Affairs.







Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic.
Welcome Guest! You are here: Home

Watch: Israeli far-right minister Ben Gvir injured in car crash

Itamar Ben Gvir, Israeli far right minister known for his extremist views against the Palestinians, has been injured in a car accident.

Saturday April 27, 2024 12:08 PM , ummid.com News Network

Tel Aviv: Itamar Ben Gvir, Israeli far right minister known for his extremist views against the Palestinians, has been injured in a car accident.

National Security Minister Ben Gvirs vehicle flipped in a car accident Friday in the central city of Ramle near Tel Aviv, police said. Video from the scene showed his car running a red light, The Times of Israel said.

Ben Gvir hospitalised

According to the reports, Ben Gvir's daughter was also in the car at the time of the accident.

Ben Gvir has sustained neck injuries and has been rushed to a local hospital, reports said.

Ben-Gvir was on his way back from the scene of a stabbing in Ramle when his car met with the accident, the Israeli media reported. A 19-year-old woman was injured in that incident, according emergency services.

Hebrew media reported that Ben Gvir and his daughter were not wearing seatbelts.

The 23-year-old driver of the other car told Ynet that he was suffering from severe pain throughout his body.

I drove through a green light, and Ben Gvirs entourage entered the junction on a red light, he said. I have no history of traffic infractions. My whole body hurts, and most likely I wont be released from the hospital tonight. I still need to get scans done and it seems likely I have fractures in my ribs and my neck.

Police said they were investigating the cause of the crash. Hebrew media said Ben Gvirs driver was being questioned under caution.

Central District Police Chief Avi Biton said a man who reportedly had mental health issues had attacked the woman and had then been shot and "neutralised" by a civilian.

Video

He crossed a red traffic light

The moment the accident occurred and the Zionist Ben Gvir, his daughter, his bodyguard and his driver were injured.. pic.twitter.com/6CetMeByfr  Rami Izhiman (@izhimanrami) April 26, 2024

Ben-Gvir is one of the most controversial members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's emergency government.

He used to call Palestinians 'human animals' and is one of the ministers in the Israeli war cabinet who always called for using extreme force against the Palestinians.

Ben Gvir also called for a full-scale military response against Iran after Tehran's missile and drone attack on Israel , itself prompted by an Israeli attack which killed senior Iranian military figures in the Iranian consulate in Syria, according to BBC.

Ben-Gvir is also a staunch supporter of the forceful evacuation of the Palestinians from Gaza and re-establishment of Jewish settlements in the besieged enclave.





Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic.
Welcome Guest! You are here: Home

WB Uccha Madhyamik 2024 Result Date Officially Confirmed

West Bengal Class 12th Uchcha Madhyamik Pariksha, WBCHSE HS Exam 2024, was held from February 16 to 29, 2024.

Saturday April 27, 2024 2:25 PM , ummid.com News Network

West Bengal Uccha Madhyamik 2024 Result Date: The West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) has officially confirmed the date and time to release the result of the WBCHSE Class 12th Higher Secondary H.S. 2024 examinations, also known as Uccha Madhyamik Pariksha, held in the month of February 2024.

"WBCHSE Class 12th result will be declared on May 08, 2024 at 01:00 PM", the Council said in an official notification.

The 12th result of the West Bengal board will be announced in a press conference. Students should also note that the 12th result will be declared at 01:00 PM but it will be available for download at 03:00 PM.

"Students will be able to view / download their result from the official website at and from 03:00 PM", the Council said.

West Bengal students should also note that their marksheet will be issued from May 10, 2024.

"Hardcopies of the mark sheets and pass certificates will be available from 55 distribution centres, including 04 Regional Offices of the Council in West Bengal, from May 10, 2024 at and from 10:00 am", the Council said.

Students should also note that they will be required to collect their mark sheets from their respective schools and colleges.

"Head of the Institutions / Teacher-incharge are requested to disburse the marksheets and certificates among their respective students on the same day i.e. May 10, 2024 since the PPS/PPR applications portal would also become active from the particular date", the Council said.

West Bengal Class 12th Uchcha Madhyamik Pariksha, WBCHSE HS Exam 2024, was held from February 16 to 29, 2024.

The Class 12 examination in 2023 for the West Bengal Board was started on March 14 and ended on March 27, 2023. The 2023 12th result was annouced on May 24, 2023. The overall pass percentage in 2023 was 89.25%.







Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic.
HA NOI  There is a necessity to persist in the research and implementation of mechanisms, support solutions and measures for intellectual property (IP) rights protection, particularly focusing on business entities and unique local products within the OCOP programme, experts have said.

With the development of the knowledge economy, IP assumes an increasingly pivotal role in fortifying investment climates, sustaining competitive edges and defending national and local interests.

Recent times have seen a surge in policies and initiatives from the Government aimed at nurturing, protecting, and enhancing IP assets. Supported by strong legal frameworks, these efforts aim to foster the creation, management, exploitation, protection, and development of intellectual property assets at all levels.

According to the report from the Intellectual Property Office, as of February 2023, there were 137 geographical indications (GI) protected in Viet Nam, including 13 foreign GIs.

By December 2023, all 63 provinces and cities had evaluated and categorised OCOP products ranging from three to five stars. Statistics reveal there are over 5,720 OCOP entities with 978 products achieving 4-star, with 62 per cent benefiting from IP protection.

However, despite strides made, Viet Nam currently lacks many processed products with protected GI, according to Le Huy Anh, deputy director of the Intellectual Property Office.

Primarily, these include fruits, accounting for 35 per cent of the total protected GI, followed by aquatic products, 14 per cent, medicinal herbs, 10 per cent, industrial crop products, 10 per cent, and rice, 9 per cent.

Production and business scales are small, mainly at the district and commune levels, accounting for approximately 65 per cent of the protected GI.

Dr. ao uc Huan, head of the OCOP and Rural Tourism Management Division at the Central Coordination Office for New Rural Development, emphasised persisting challenges in IP protection for OCOP items.

These hurdles include deficient awareness, attention, and capacity among OCOP entities concerning IP ownership, protracted trademark registration timelines impeding OCOP product enhancements, and the lacuna in integrating OCOP product development with IP advocacy and support initiatives. Additionally, participation in OCOP product rating evaluations by managers falls short of practical requisites, facilitating the certification of 4-star OCOP products.

To address these challenges, Anh underscored the imperative of sustained research and the formulation of mechanisms and solutions to support intellectual property creation, especially for businesses and distinct, local OCOP products. This includes intensifying support for IP protection registration for key export commodities, exploring trading platform establishment, and financial investment in IP asset exploitation and development.

Particularly, emphasis is placed on bolstering domestic IP protection registration for some 3-star OCOP products, serving as a bedrock for provincial-level elevation to 4-star status.

Support for foreign IP registration for 4 and 5-star products, particularly those earmarked for export to key markets like China, Japan, the United States, and Europe, is necessary.

Nguyen Quoc Ha, deputy director of Ha Noi's Department of Science and Technology, highlighted the importance of an efficient state IP management system to foster innovation.

Ha Noi exceeded its target by protecting 198 out of 307 OCOP products.

In 2023, it recorded nearly 17,540 industrial property registrations, earning recognition nationwide for its innovation capability.

He recommended that the Ministry of Science and Technology continue researching IP valuation mechanisms and organising training courses to enhance IP management capabilities.  VNS
CAN THO  Viet Nams rice export saw remarkable growth in terms of volume and turnover in the first quarter of the year, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade will tackle trade difficulties to facilitate rice exports for the rest of 2024.

The ministry organised a conference in Can Tho City on Friday to assess Viet Nams rice exports in 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, and guide the countrys rice exports for the year.

According to the General Department of Viet Nam Customs, in the first quarter of 2024, Viet Nam exported over 2.18 million tonnes of rice at a value of $1.43 billion, a 17.6 per cent and 45.5 per cent year-on-year increase in volume and export turnover, respectively.

Viet Nams rice exports continued to do well in key markets such as the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia, with exports to these markets recording high double digit growth.

The Philippines remains Viet Nams largest rice buyer, accounting for 45.5 per cent of the countrys rice export turnover.

Nguyen Anh Son, head of the ministrys Agency of Foreign Trade, said that while the 2023 global rice market faced many complications, the Government, the ministry and other agencies had quickly carried out solutions to facilitate exports, such as providing market information and strengthening trade co-operation with rice importing countries.

The authorities efforts in managing rice exports had helped ensure sales for commercial rice and the livelihoods of rice farmers, keep rice prices stable, and fulfil Viet Nams international commitments, he said.

Exports of high value rice varieties that are Viet Nams strength are consistently rising, including Jasmine rice, ST rice varieties, premium white rice and japonica rice, according to the official.

Rice exporters have been taking advantage of new generation FTAs to expand their markets, such as to the EU, although export volume is still limited.

This demonstrates that Viet Nams rice quality is rising and capable of satisfying the strict requirements of demanding markets.

Exporters have also taken advantage of global food supply challenges to become alternative suppliers to markets such as the US, Canada and Chile.

However, Viet Nams rice exports still face challenges. Businesses are still struggling with diversifying their export markets and relying on traditional buyers.

They also have not paid enough attention to building or connecting with raw material zones, origin traceability and building databases to meet the export requirements of foreign markets.

Viet Nams rice is also facing tough competition from other suppliers such as Thailand, Myanmar, and Pakistan, while geo-political complications around the world are increasing international shipping costs and production costs, and hindering trade.

Salt intrusion in the Mekong Delta during the 2023  2024 dry season has been more severe than normal, affecting rice farming.

Son said that for 2024, it was crucial to monitor and assess the rice import demands of big markets such as the US and EU, in addition to making use of exporting opportunities to other Asian and African countries.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade would continue to tackle challenges and make use of new generation FTAs to push rice exports.

It would organise online and offline trade facilitation activities to strengthen rice trading with Viet Nams traditional markets and exploit the countrys niche market segments of Jasmine rice and premium rice in the EU, Korea and the US.

The ministry would also monitor and provide market information from trade offices in foreign countries to businesses in order to deal with unexpected market changes and enhance rice trading.

Associations and businesses were instructed to closely follow regulations for rice trading and export, especially on origins and traceability, and pay close attention to food safety (on which foreign markets are increasingly tight).

In 2023, Viet Nam exported 8.1 million tonnes of rice for US$4.67 billion, an increase of 14.4 per cent in volume and 35.3 per cent in value compared to 2022.

The first quarter of 2024 also marked the first time Viet Nam became the biggest rice exporter to Singapore, accounting for 32 per cent of market share for SGD36 million ($26.5 million).  VNS
HA NOI - Hoa Binh Construction Group Joint Stock Company (HBC)'s General Meeting of Shareholders approved a plan to issue 274 million individual shares to increase charter capital and swap debt, with a maximum total additional issuance value of VN3.14 trillion.

Additionally, in 2024, Hoa Binh aims for a total revenue target of VN10.8 trillion.

During the meeting held on Thursday in HCM City, it was revealed that Hoa Binh would issue 200 million shares to increase capital for VN12,000 per share, and 74 million shares would be used to swap debt with suppliers and subcontractors, with a par value of VN10,000 per share.

The funds generated from the private stock offering will be utilised to bolster business capital and settle existing debts. The implementation timeframe is expected to span from 2024 to 2025, with further details to be announced following approval from relevant authorities.

By the 2024 General Meeting of Shareholders, Hoa Binh had secured agreements from 119 suppliers, subcontractors, and manufacturers to swap debt with HBC shares, amounting to VN821 billion. However, in accordance with the approved issuance plan, only a maximum of 100 shareholders can partake in the debt swap, with the total expected value not exceeding VN740 billion.

Considering the challenging period faced by the real estate and construction industries, Hoa Binh deems it crucial to issue private shares for capital expansion and equity. Swapping debt for shares with suppliers and subcontractors helps alleviate debt repayment pressure, enhance financial capacity, ensure uninterrupted operations, and foster a comprehensive ecosystem that aligns with the Group's goals and strategies.

In terms of financial projections, HHoa Binh targets total revenue of VN10.8 trillion in 2024, with the parent company accounting for VN8.6 trillion. The anticipated after-tax profit is VN433 billion, with the parent company's share amounting to VN269 billion.

Hoa Binh anticipates a prosperous real estate and tourism industry in 2024, with reputable investors displaying trust and inviting the company to partake in forthcoming projects. With this positive outlook, Hoa Binh believes it is feasible to achieve bidding project revenues of approximately VN2.8 trillion. Additionally, the company will collaborate with investors on various projects such as Lotus Residence with Anh Tuan Group and Yen Tu Cemetery in Bac Giang.

Although the business results in 2023 fell short of expectations, Hoa Binh recorded positive outcomes through outstanding efforts. In the first quarter of 2024, the company achieved consolidated revenue after tax of nearly VN1.65 trillion, with a consolidated profit after tax of approximately VN56.56 billion. VNS
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken snapped up a Taylor Swift album along with one by classic Chinese rocker Dou Wei during an unexpected detour to a Beijing record store on Friday after talks in China meant to ease superpower tensions.

En route to the airport after a visit that included a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Blinken popped into the LiPi record store in the Chinese capital's arts district where the owner handed him an album by Dou Wei, which he bought along with Swift's 2022 record "Midnights."

One of the aims of Blinken's trip has been to emphasize the importance of what the State Department calls "people-to-people ties" as part of efforts to improve relations.

In the record store, he described mega pop star Swift, whose hits include "Bad Blood" from her fifth album in 2014, as a successful American export.

In 2019, Swift's album "Lover" broke a new record for an international artist in China as it surpassed one million combined total streams, downloads and sales within a week of its release. The combined total made it China's most-consumed full-length international album ever in such a short space of time.

Blinken, an avid musician and guitar player, described music as "the best connector, regardless of geography," and said he loved vinyl records because of the liner notes.

Asked by the shop owner what music he was into, Blinken, who is 62, said he loved everything but added: "Im a bit stuck in the '70s." (Reuters)
HA NOI  Viet Nam exported a total of 414,317 tonnes of rubber, earning over US$607 million in the first quarter of 2024, according to the General Department of Customs.

In March alone, the country shipped 116,100 tonnes of rubber to foreign markets, generating more than $180 million. These figures indicated an increase of 8.5 per cent in volume and 14.3 per cent in value compared to the same period in 2023.

During the three-month period, Vietnamese rubber commanded an average price of $1,466 per tonne in international markets, marking a 5.3 per cent rise from the corresponding period in 2023.

China remained the largest buyer of Vietnamese rubber, accounting for 52.83 per cent of the country's total rubber exports. China imported nearly 61,340 tonnes worth $90.72 million, representing a volume increase of 4.5 per cent and a value increase of 7.9 per cent compared to the previous month. The average export price of rubber to China stood at $1,479 per tonne, reflecting a 3.2 per cent increase from February 2024 and a 7.1 per cent increase from March 2023.

In the first quarter of the year, China imported 287,850 tonnes of rubber valued at more than $407 million, posting a 1.6 per cent decrease in volume but a 2.7 per cent increase in value compared to the same period last year, according to the Agency of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

In March, rubber exports to various markets, including India, Germany, Turkey, Russia, Sri Lanka, Belgium, and the US, experienced significant growth in both volume and value compared to the same period last year. Notably, India recently decided to reduce import duties on electric vehicles manufactured by companies that invest at least $500 million and commence domestic production within three years. This development bodes well for the demand for rubber in India's tire production. VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam must prioritise the research and development of non-traditional energy sources as this strategic move is crucial for the nation to attain its target of net-zero emissions by 2050, Director of the Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources Trinh Hai Son said.

He spoke at a seminar on the potential and direction of developing non-traditional energy in Viet Nam, organised by the Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources in collaboration with SES Vietnam Exhibition Services Co, Ltd in Ha Noi on Friday.

The event is part of the 6th International Mining and Minerals Recovery Exhibition for Viet Nam (Mining Vietnam 2024).

In his opening speech at the seminar, Son emphasised that environmental protection and reducing greenhouse gas emissions are urgent and important issues for human development. One of the causes of environmental pollution and climate change is the excessive use of fossil energy sources such as coal, oil and gas.

In Viet Nam, the energy sector accounts for over 80 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions. As of the end of 2023, new renewable energy sources only accounted for nearly 27 per cent of the total electricity capacity in the entire system.

Achieving the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, which the Government has committed to the international community, is certainly a significant challenge, he said.

"Therefore, developing non-traditional energy sources will be a good solution, contributing to environmental protection and ensuring national energy security," he said.

The seminar focused on two main types of energy: underground coal gasification and geothermal energy, including both traditional and non-traditional energy, to introduce the potential and outline the appropriate roadmap for non-traditional energy exploitation in the context of the emerging trend of sustainable development.

Sharing insights on the potential of brown coal and the underground coal gasification capability in the Red River Delta, Phan uc Le, a specialist from the institutes Journal of Geology and Minerals, noted that the coal basin in the Red River Delta possesses geological conditions, engineering geology, hydrogeology and physical-chemical properties suitable for underground coal gasification at deep levels.

Preliminary calculations indicated that the gas yield could be equivalent to that of a large gas field, with economic and technical feasibility.

"This is a new research direction of high practical significance, contributing to ensuring energy security for Viet Nam in the future as production from conventional oil and coal is declining. If successful, it will enhance the efficiency of energy resource utilisation, especially for deep coal basins located in economically strategic areas that cannot be exploited using traditional methods," he said.

He recommended conducting trial mining to gather additional technical data before proceeding to industrial mining.

The trial mining site should be located outside the sea embankment to ensure environmental safety and evaluate the resource prospects of coal seams from 1,000 to 1,500 metres depth. Additionally, both the trial and industrial mining phases should involve the participation of various organisations and individuals to diversify investment sources.

Discussing the geothermal resources of Hung Ha  Quynh Phu in Thai Binh Province, Tran Trong Thang from the institute suggested further research on geothermal energy development in the Red River Delta region.

Furthermore, the Pleistocene aquifer in the Hung Ha  Quynh Phu geothermal basin holds great potential for supplying hot water for both direct applications and current needs of the local population, necessitating larger-scale development.

Assessing the potential of installing shallow geothermal heat pump systems in the Red River Delta, Thang noted that the groundwater temperature in shallow aquifers is widely distributed in the research area at depths of 10-15 metres or 60-80 metres, indicating feasible potential for installing shallow geothermal heat pump systems.

According to Thang, initial research results indicate energy savings efficiency of up to 45 per cent, and the application of geothermal heat pump technology can be widely deployed in the Red River Delta region. VNS
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Le Minh Hoan, spoke to Viet Nam News Agency about strategies to overcome challenges in fishing vessel management, while also advocating for the establishment of a responsible and sustainable fishing industry to remove Viet Nam from the IUU 'yellow card' status.

Could you provide insights into the progress made in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing so far?

For nearly seven years, Viet Nam has been under the IUU 'yellow card' warning. However, efforts to address this status have seen considerable improvement. Recently, under the steadfast direction of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, local authorities have shown increased proactivity in implementing and enhancing the recommendations provided by the European Commission (EC)'s inspection team.

Notably, the issuance of Directive No. 32-CT/TW by the Central Committee on April 10, 2024, underscores a commitment to bolster the Party's leadership in combating IUU fishing while simultaneously promoting sustainable development in the fisheries sector. This directive aims to mobilise the entire political system in guiding and directing efforts against IUU fishing, ensuring consistent support from both the Party and the State.

The primary challenge currently lies in enforcement at the local level. Despite evaluations by the EC inspection team highlighting improvements at the central level and in enacted institutions, there remains a crucial need for enforcement on the ground, particularly at the local level.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, with other relevant ministries and sectors have collectively engaged at all levels to prepare for the upcoming EC inspection. This collaborative effort is seen as a critical opportunity to showcase Viet Nam's progress in line with the recommendations provided.

The Prime Minister has reiterated that effectively combating IUU fishing is a prerequisite that Viet Nam must overcome. The success in this endeavour will lead to improved market opportunities for Vietnamese seafood products in Europe.

All recommendations and prohibitions related to IUU fishing outlined by the EC are already enshrined in the Fisheries Law of 2017. However, the effectiveness of enforcement at the operational level remains a concern.

Conversations with fishermen reveal shared concerns regarding declining seafood reserves attributed to destructive fishing practices such as the use of small mesh nets and explosives. While livelihood considerations may sometimes hinder strict control, the long-term consequences of neglecting sustainable practices pose a significant threat to seafood resources. Recognising the vital role of the marine environment in nurturing these resources, the government's policy emphasises a shift towards reducing fishing, promoting aquaculture, and prioritising marine conservation efforts.

Could you shed light on the status of enforcement measures following your recent visits aimed at tackling these issues at the grassroots level?

One significant challenge revolves around human resources. It's evident that localities are grappling with restructuring and downsizing, which has resulted in limited manpower across the fisheries sector, including resources for fishing ports.

Despite these hurdles, many localities have taken proactive measures to address the situation. For example, they've established Fishery Inspection Sub-Departments at the local level and bolstered the capacity of fishing ports to enhance control mechanisms. However, given the scale of some fishing fleets and their seasonal movements, the existing manpower remains inadequate.

There's a pressing need for improved coordination among localities. Some regions have demonstrated commendable cooperation by promptly reporting violations committed by fishing vessels in their waters to the relevant authorities. So, regulations and directives have been enacted to ensure stringent penalties for any infractions.

In response to these challenges, I have directed the Fisheries Department and Fishery Inspection Sub-Departments to adopt a management approach based on maritime zones rather than fragmented local oversight. The ministry emphasises the importance of monitoring every vessel's movement from departure to arrival at any location. By doing so, regardless of where a violation occurs, authorities will have comprehensive information to enforce necessary actions, deterring fishermen from attempting to evade accountability.

What are the pivotal issues that Viet Nam must address to remove the 'yellow card' during the forthcoming EC inspection?

There are three critical areas of concern based on the EC's recommendations. Firstly, there persists a problem of fishing vessels violating regulations in foreign waters. Secondly, certain vessels continue to deactivate their tracking devices, posing a challenge to monitoring efforts. Thirdly, owing to historical factors, Viet Nam harbours unregistered, unlicensed and unauthorised fishing vessels.

These persistent issues often lead fishermen to flout regulations, prompting ongoing efforts by local authorities to rectify the situation through the re-registration of these ships.

The matter of vessels disabling their tracking devices is of particular concern to the EC, which questions Viet Nam's inability to address this issue effectively. Despite ship owners attributing these incidents to equipment malfunctions or connectivity issues, the EC remains unsatisfied. It emphasises the importance of transparency, urging ship owners to report such incidents to authorities promptly.

Recent observations indicate a lack of rigour in managing the sector, both at the central and local levels, with enforcement measures proving inadequate in deterring violations.

While previously, one could argue about the adequacy of legal measures for punitive action, a notable case in Kien Giang Province, where criminal proceedings were initiated, underscores that determination can lead to effective legal recourse, supported by central agencies.

This presents an opportunity for localities to not only contribute to lifting the IUU 'yellow card' but also to enhance the nation's reputation.

I believe that this commitment should extend beyond IUU fishing prevention to include broader restructuring initiatives aimed at fostering transparency, accountability, and sustainability within Viet Nam's fishing industry.

Addressing IUU fishing is just the initial step in this larger endeavour. The EC's observations highlight the need for sustained efforts, as some countries have regressed to past practices after the temporary lifting of their 'yellow card'. Therefore, the focus must extend beyond immediate concerns to address long-term sustainability issues.  VNS
SAINT PETERSBURG Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs o Hung Viet, who is also head of the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) delegation of Viet Nam, attended the 20th ASEAN-Russia SOM in St. Petersburg, Russia, on April 26.

Delegates reviewed the current state of cooperation and proposed directions and measures to further develop the ASEAN-Russia relationship in the future. Their discussions also covered pressing global and regional issues.

In his speech, Viet highlighted narrowing the development gap, sub-regional connectivity and development as priorities of ASEAN in its overall effort to build the Community.

He expected that Russia, with its potential and strengths, will pay more attention and contribute more effectively to these regional priority efforts in the future, as well as propose directions and solutions to promoting the bilateral cooperation, including the effective implementation of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) and the Master Plan on ASEAN Community (MPAC) 2025; help less developed countries and regions tackle common challenges such as combating transnational crime, enhancing health capacity; ensuring food, energy, water security; and effectively embracing new growth drivers, especially digital transformation, green and circular economy.

Viet suggested Russia support sub-regional development efforts in ASEAN, including the Mekong sub-region, contributing positively to the inclusive, even and sustainable growth of ASEAN and the region.

The official hoped that relationship among major countries, which are important partners of ASEAN, would be stable and healthy, positively contributing to regional cooperation on the basis of respecting and supporting ASEAN's central role.

He called on Russia to support ASEAN's common stance on the East Sea issue and efforts to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), soon reach an effective and practical Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and head of ASEAN SOM of Russia Andrey Rudenko said in order to mark the 20th anniversary of Russia's accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), Russia will propose holding a number of activities to mark the occasion, reaffirming its commitment to peace, stability and cooperation in the region. VNS
SOS a Nang village nurses orphans and abandoned children

A NANG  SOS a Nang Childrens Village has provided homes, nursery and education for 526 orphans and abandoned children, of which 236 grew up and had their own families since it was founded in 1994.

Director of the village, Le Nguyen Hanh Nguyen said at the 30th anniversary of the village that three programmes had been built in the village in expanding community supports, vocational training and improving livelihood for thousands other children and families living in 17 districts in a Nang and Quang Nam province.

Hanh said the villages Family Support Programme has given assistance for 1,300 children, in which 80 per cent had graduated from school and found jobs, in the community since 2005.

The village had provided free vocational programmes for 114 poor teenagers between 2011-18, while funding scholarships for 57 underprivileged boys and 44 members had completed university education, Nguyen said.

A kindergarten in the village often offers nursery and care for 150 to 200 children in the village and living quarters since 1995, she said.

Nguyen said the village expanded support programmes to provide total loans of 692 million (US$27,700) to help 36 families improve livelihoods since 2018.

The SOS villages Hermann Gmeiner School with its 25 classrooms, laboratories, a library and a canteen often offers classes up to the secondary level. Meanwhile, kindergarten and school in the village are open to children from outside living quarters of My An, Khue My, Hoa Quy in Ngu Hanh Son district, she added.

Its one of the most successful SOS village among 17 villages nationwide as it supplies support programmes for children in the village and community as well.

Its one of non-state owned centres in a Nang operating with donations from domestic and international donors in providing full programme of nursery, accommodation, education, vocational training and poor families livelihood support. VNS
Hamas said Saturday it was reviewing a new Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, as Egypt intensified efforts to broker a deal to end the months-long war and stave off a possible Israeli ground offensive into the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya said the Palestinian militant group was evaluating Israels proposal, and upon completion of its study, it will submit its response.

He gave no details of Israel's offer but said it was in response to a proposal from Hamas two weeks ago. Negotiations earlier this month centered on a six-week cease-fire proposal and the release of 40 civilian and sick hostages in exchange for freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

Hamas statement came hours after a high-level Egyptian delegation wrapped up a visit to Israel where it discussed a new vision for a prolonged cease-fire in Gaza, according to an Egyptian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to freely discuss the developments.

It was not immediately clear whether Israels latest response to Hamas on a ceasefire was directly related to Fridays visit to Tel Aviv by Egyptian mediators.

The discussions between Egyptian and Israeli officials focused on the first stage of a multi-phase plan that would include 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 mediators are working on a compromise that will answer most of both parties main demands, which could pave the way to continued negotiations with the goal of a larger deal to end the war, the official said.

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 and avert a possible Israeli attack on Rafah, where more than half of Gazas 2.3 million people have sought refuge after fleeing fighting elsewhere in the territory.

Israel has been insisting for months it plans a ground offensive into Rafah , on the border with Egypt, where it says many remaining Hamas militants are holed up, despite calls for restraint from the international community including Israels staunchest ally, the United States.

Egypt has cautioned an offensive into Rafah could have catastrophic consequences on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, as well as on regional peace and security.

The Israeli military has massed dozens of tanks and armored vehicles in southern Israel close to Rafah and hit targets in the city in near-daily airstrikes.

Early Saturday, an Israeli airstrike hit a house in Rafahs Tel Sultan neighborhood, killing six people, including four children, according to officials at a local hospital.

The strike killed a man, his wife and their three sons, aged 12, 10 and 8, according to records of the Abu Yousef al-Najjar hospitals morgue. A neighbors four-month-old girl was also killed, the records showed.

Hamas said Friday it is open to any ideas or suggestions that take into consideration the needs of the Palestinian people such as an end to Israels attacks on Gaza, the return of displaced people to their homes and an Israeli withdrawal.

The Palestinian group 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 afterward.

Hamas sparked the war with its attack into southern Israel on Oct. 7 , 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.

Since then, 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's air and ground offensive, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, around two-thirds of them children and women .

Israel has reported at least 260 of its soldiers killed since the start of ground operations in Gaza. (AP)
On April 26, seven automatic weapons of different brands, one machine gun, one pistol, ten grenades, three TNT, 70 cartridge combs, 2,210 cartridges of different sizes and other ammunition were found and confiscated in the territory of Khankandi, Azernews reports, citing the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA).

In addition, police officers took over one grenade, three rifles, 150 cartridges of various calibers and one lighter in the capital and in separate districts of the Azerbaijan. Also, three illegally stored rifles were found and confiscated.

Recall that arms and munitions have been found in undisclosed locations, including the basements of schools, nurseries, and assorted structures, in the liberated regions of Azerbaijan's Garabagh.

Once more, the presence of weaponry linked to Armenian separatists has been affirmed, indicating illicit efforts by Armenians to engage in terrorist activities and provocations within Azerbaijani territories.

It is worth noting that on September 19, 2023, the Azerbaijani Army conducted swift anti-terrorist operations resulting in the disarmament of Armenian separatists in Garabagh. Subsequently, leaders of separatist factions were apprehended and brought to Baku, where they were lawfully detained.
Taiwan reported renewed Chinese military activity near the island, Saturday, with 12 aircraft crossing the sensitive median line of the Taiwan Strait, a day after U.S. Secretary State Antony Blinken ended a visit to China.

The United States is Taiwan's most important international supporter and arms supplier despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties. Blinken said he had stressed the "critical importance" of maintaining peace and stability across the strait while in China.

Democratically governed Taiwan has faced increased military pressure from China, which views the island as its own territory. Taiwan's government rejects those claims.

Taiwan's defence ministry said that from 9:30 a.m. (local time) Saturday it had detected 22 Chinese military aircraft, including Su-30 fighters, of which 12 had crossed the median line to Taiwan's north and centre.

The line once served as an unofficial border between the two sides over which neither sides' military crossed, but China's air force now regularly sends aircraft over it. Beijing says it does not recognize the line's existence.

Taiwan's defence ministry said the aircraft were involved in "joint combat readiness patrols" with Chinese warships, adding that Taiwanese aircraft and ships responded "appropriately." It did not give details.

China's defence ministry did not answer calls seeking comment outside of office hours Saturday.

Taiwan's armed forces are well-equipped and well-trained but dwarfed by those of China's, especially the navy and air force, which respond almost daily to Chinese missions.

China considers Taiwan the most important issue in its relations with the United States, and Beijing has repeatedly demanded Washington end weapons sales to Taiwan.

Taiwan President-elect Lai Ching-te takes office May 20 after winning January's election. Beijing considers him a dangerous separatist and has rebuffed his repeated calls for talks.

Lai said Thursday that China should have the confidence to talk to Taiwan's legally elected government. Like outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen, Lai says only Taiwan's people can decide their future. (Reuters)
City of Waco officials this week denied suggestions that they were trying to push the Humane Society of Central Texas out of the city-owned animal shelter.

In fact, they said it was the nonprofit that in February issued a notice threatening to vacate the shelter if an ongoing contract dispute was not resolved by March 20.

Last week, Humane Society of Central Texas board President Patricia Meadows announced her resignation, citing an ongoing contract dispute between the nonprofit and city of Waco, which partner at the city-owned animal shelter on Circle Road.

Meadows said the city adopted a new contract in 2022 without the Humane Society boards approval and did not negotiate in good faith, including impossible performance incentives.

She also said the city included language in contract proposals which prevented Humane Society employees from speaking publicly about the contract dispute, and said she resigned to bring the two sides back to the table to negotiate a new contract.

Meadows also said the city informed the Humane Society in February it would be removing the Humane Society from the shelter, taking over shelter operations due to the lack of a contract.

However, this week City Manager Bradley Ford and Assistant City Manager Ryan Holt provided a letter Meadows sent to city leadership on Feb. 20 claiming an impasse had been reached over the negotiations.

The letter also said if a resolution was not reached by March 20, the Humane Society would leave the shelter within 90 days, which would be June 18.

Holt said the city and nonprofit are operating under a contract signed by former Humane Society board President Christie Acosta and approved by the city council on Aug. 2, 2022. He said the two sides are still considered under contract, and that negotiations are over proposed amendments to adjust funding for the Humane Society after its donation revenue dropped.

Changes proposed in the contract include the city taking on adoption and placement fees, as well as taking on the cost for spay and neuter operations, a cost the two entities previously split. Also included are financial incentives for reducing the shelter population to 80%, 70%, 60% and 50% capacity.

Meadows said last week the financial-incentive benchmarks would be impossible to meet and that the city was negotiating in bad faith. Holt said the city sent the proposed contract in November and did not hear back until Meadows February letter. Included in the letter Meadows sent was a final proposal for a flat $1.2 million in funding and no financial incentives.

Ford said including financial incentives in vendor contracts is standard for the city, as financial incentives push vendors to perform well, and a flat sum means the vendor will be paid whether or not their operations are satisfactory. Holt said the city rejected the $1.2 million request as too big, and it is preparing for the possibility that the Humane Society will leave the shelter.

Holt said the city is committed to maintaining the shelters no-kill status, which requires a 90% live exit rate.

Ford said he did not feel the Humane Society was representing the situation fairly. He said the city considers the negotiations ongoing.

It appears many out in the community feel like the city is pushing the Humane Society out, Ford said. Rather, my perspective is we were provided notice from the Humane Society in writing of their intent to vacate. So I dont think its been necessarily a fair conversation. I just would like people to understand what an advocate the city is for animal care. And our expectation is that to make animal care work in this region, we need everybody pulling in the same direction.

Meadows said via email Wednesday that the Humane Society expected the city to make a counteroffer representing a fair contract. She did not immediately respond to questions about what a fair contract would mean for the Humane Society.

She also did not answer questions regarding why the previous board president would sign a contract not approved by the board or whether the Humane Society still intends to leave the shelter June 18.
The Birks family, Selma and Roderick, had barely completed repairs and restoration on their China Spring-area home after a hail storm last year when a tornado arrived early Friday afternoon and the weather tore through their lives again.

Roderick Birks, who shaves his head and trims his beard, tries to find the humor in the situation to make it through. He runs his hand through absent hair and makes sure his beard is just so before taking a photo in front of two smashed trees.

When we first moved here 14 years ago those were baby trees, Selma Birks said. I get emotional but now theyre destroyed. Our friends from the mens group at Oak Grove Baptist Church will come out in a few days to help us clean up the downed limbs.

McLennan County emergency management officials received reports of wind damage in the area but no reports of injuries from the storms as of early Friday evening.

Selma Birks said she is grateful Target Restoration got out to her neighborhood quickly to board up smashed windows and put up some fiberboard over holes in her neighbors roof and hers.

A chance of severe weather remains in the Central Texas forecast through the weekend.

We just got my husbands truck back from the body shop a few months ago, and the roof and two front windows had been replaced, too, Selma Birks said. Now well have to go through all of that again with our insurance company for a settlement and finding a roofer to fix it.

Not only were two front trees splintered into kindling by the storm, but it also picked up a bench and smashed the tail light of her youngest daughters first car. The sunroof on Roderick Birks truck appeared caved in.

Their sons room had the edge of the roof ripped up, and fragments of glass and wood peppered his bed.

If he hadnt gone to work today, I think he might need medical treatment, Selma Birks said.

All of her family members were physically uninjured and their neighbors as well.

But emotionally, were shook up, she said.

Around the back of the home, where Roderick Birks had been preparing to barbecue briskets for a baby shower for one of their daughters expecting a new arrival in a few months, half the roof of a patio addition was ripped away, along with two of four sides of their backyard wooden fence.

Fence posts had been ripped out of the ground, concrete and all. Their brick mail box had also been picked up out of the ground and dropped.

Selma and Roderick were grateful that another daughter made the drive from McAllen safely for her sisters baby shower. Soon, they will be calling their insurance adjusters to start the process of rebuilding once again.

Emergency management officials were working to verify damage reports Friday evening, Waco-McLennan County Emergency Management Coordinator Ryan Dirker said.

Were still going through to verify damage at a basic level, but generally the damage were seeing is mostly fences, a couple roofs, all wind damage, Dirker said. I would not call it extreme.

The storm that caused the damage in the Waco area continued to produce tornadic activity as it moved to the northeast. The National Weather Service reported a tornado sighting by a member of the public near Penelope, and another sighting a short time later by emergency management officials near Navarro Mills Lake, 16 miles west of Corsicana.

Hill County Emergency Management Coordinator Tom Hemrick said officials there were working to verify damage reports, but their efforts were slowed by more rounds of rain arriving.

Hemrick said damage reported so far includes two houses with six inches of water inside and couple houses in Bynam that had lost their roofs.

We wont know until the waters subside and then we can go and see, he said early Friday evening.

Damage was also reported along Hill County Road 3102, and it initially appears the damage there was a result of straight-line winds, not a tornado, Hemrick said.

The National Weather Service issued a flood watch in effect through Sunday afternoon covering McLennan County and 26 other counties in the region.

"You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings, according to the warning. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.

The severe-weather threat for the region, including the possibility of large hail, strong winds and a few tornadoes, will increase again late Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning, according to the weather service.
VINTON  A man who received child pornography over the internet while in a residential facility for a prior child pornography charge pled guilty Friday in federal court in Cedar Rapids.

Brady David Salow, age 27, from Vinton, was convicted of one count of receiving child pornography.

In a plea agreement, Salow admitted he was convicted of four counts of possession of a depiction of a minor in a sex act in Dubuque County in 2019. As a condition of his sentence in that case, in 2023 he was residing at a residential facility in Vinton. Per the rules of the facility, Salow was not permitted to have access to a phone or a computer.

Beginning in the summer of 2023, however, Salow repeatedly persuaded an employee at the facility to loan him her cellular phone under the pretense that he was going to use it for either looking up photos of celebrities or to listen to music. By August 2023, Salow began receiving and downloading child pornography to the employees phone without the employees knowledge, saving downloaded images to a hidden folder on the phone.

In October 2023 a fellow resident alerted staff that Salow had been using a phone, and the staff member turned over her phone for examination. A forensic examination of the phone revealed child pornography, and Salow admitted he had downloaded child pornography to the phone.

Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Salow remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Salow faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and lifetime term of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Benton County Sheriffs Office, the Johnson County Sheriffs Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham.
WATERLOO  A Waterloo man has been sentenced to probation for allegedly firing a shot into the air following an argument in 2022.

Steven Craig Shorter, 62, was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison suspended to two to five years of probation on a charge of intimidation with a weapon on Thursday. Charges of assault with a weapon and use of a weapon in a crime were dismissed.

Court records allege Shorter was involved in an argument with Lamont Ryshun Coleman on Conger Street around 4:25 p.m. Nov. 7, 2022. Shorter fired a single shot into the air and then picked up the shell casing and put it in his pickup trucks ashtray.

Officers arriving at the scene stopped Shorters vehicle and found the casing and a 9 mm Beretta handgun.
Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (26 April 2024)

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

The Zapad Group of Forces seized more advantageous lines and inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the 3rd Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Borovoye (Kharkov region). In addition, they repelled a counter-attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 408th Separate Rifle Battalion close to Terny (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 20 Ukrainian troops and two pickup trucks. In counter-battery warfare, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery radar station of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were eliminated.

The Yug Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line and defeated the units of the 5th Assault, 41st Mechanised, 79th Air Assault, 46th Airmobile brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Maksimilyanovka, Katerinovka, Paraskoviyevka, Chasov Yar, Stupochki, Konstantinovka, and Krasnogorovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

One attack launched by assault groups of the AFU 58th Separate Mechanised Infantry Battalion has been repelled near Nevelskoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 430 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, as well as one unmanned aerial vehicle command post.

In counter-battery warfare, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, one 122-mm D-30 gun, one 105-mm U.S.-made M102 howitzer, two Anklav electronic warfare stations, one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery warfare radar station, and four field ammunition depots.

The Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the 59th Motorised Infantry Brigade, 23rd, 115th mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Novoaleksandrovka, Karlovka, Novogorodskoye, and Arkhangelskoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

In addition, eight counter-attacks launched by the assault groups of the 25th Air Assault, the 68th, 71st jaeger, 142nd Infantry, 24th and 100th mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been repelled near Novokalinovo, Shumy, Berdychi, Semyonovka, Ocheretino, and Netaylovo (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 415 Ukrainian troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, eight armoured personnel carriers, 13 armoured fighting vehicles, and three 122-mm D-30 howitzers.

The Vostok Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted fire damage on the units of the 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade of the AFU and 1st Separate National Guard Brigade of Ukraine near Urozhaynoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The AFU losses included up to 105 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, and two U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers.

The Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the 117th Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the 121st and 126th territorial defence brigades near Novodanilovka (Zaporozhye region), Respublikanets, and Chervony Mayak (Kherson region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 35 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, a UK-made 155-mm FH-70 howitzer, three U.S.-made 155-mm M777 guns, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, and one U.S.-made 105-mm M102 towed howitzer.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery hit an echelon with Western weapons and military hardware near Udachnoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic), personnel and equipment of the 67th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU at a railway loading station near Balakleya (Kharkov region), as well as manpower and hardware of the AFU in 112 areas.

Air defence systems shot down 193 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, two Olkha MLRS shells, and three French-made Hammer aerial guided bombs during the day.

In total, 592 airplanes, 270 helicopters, 23,325 unmanned aerial vehicles, 509 anti-aircraft missile systems, 15,856 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,274 MLRS combat vehicles, 9,140 field artillery guns and mortars, and 21,308 special military vehicles have been neutralised since the beginning of the special military operation.

Tags:

WtR
Update, April 26:

Nevada State Police released more details regarding the wrong-way crash that killed two people in Carson City.

On Wednesday, April 24 at 4:48 a.m., the Nevada State Police responded to a crash on southbound I-580 near the Snyder Avenue overpass.

Police determined that a red Telsa was traveling the wrong way, attempting to drive north on southbound I-580.

The Tesla crashed into a white GMC Sierra pickup which was driving south.

After crashing, the Tesla rotated and landed in the center dirt median, and the pickup truck was flipped over.

The driver of the truck was removed by a Carson City Sheriff's Deputy before the truck caught on fire.

The driver of the Tesla, 36-year-old Alejandra Hernandez-Valtierra, and the driver of the pickup, 48-year-old Viola Santoyo, both from Carson City, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Nevada State Police Highway Patrol Northern Command West M.I.R.T is investigating the crash.

---

Original Article, April 25:

The Washoe County coroner has released the names of the two people killed in a wrong-way crash on I-580 in Carson City.

The crash happened on I-580 south near Snyder Avenue and Fairview Blvd. just after 4:45 a.m. on Wednesday.

The medical examiner's office says 36-year-old Alejandra Hernandez Valtierra and 48-year-old Viola Santoyo Huizar both died.

The ME's office says both people were from Carson City.

Nevada State Police previously told us one of the cars was heading the wrong direction when it hit the second one.
AIO Studios has announced September 26, 2024, as the premiere date for Putin, the latest film from Polish director Patryk Vega. The film, which features an AI-rendered Vladimir Putin, will debut simultaneously in 35 countries, including major markets like the USA and India, reaching a potential audience of over three billion.

The recently released 2.5-minute trailer promises a detailed analysis of the Russian leader's life and psyche over 60 years, rendered in ultra-realistic detail through advanced AI technology. Viewers will be able to get up close and personal with the Kremlin leader's story, touching on some of the most intimate moments of his life.

"Inviting Putin to the studio for 20,000 shots wasn't an option," says director Patryk Vega, "and the archival materials available online didn't allow for training a high-resolution deepfake model suitable for cinematic use. As a result, after nearly two years of development, we have created our pioneering AI-driven technology, enabling us to craft the cinematic character without relying on a real human model."

Filmed over three years in locations such as the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Israel, Syria, Jordan, and Poland, the movie's timeliness is one of its most significant aspects. At one point, the narrative shifts to present day, offering viewers insights into the internal mechanisms of Russian politics that influenced the perception of the presidential elections in 2024. To enhance the film's realism, director Vega cooperated with Ukrainian cinematographers who recorded authentic events during city bombardments and soldiers' combat.

"Putin is not just a film," Vega states. "It's a response to a global quest to understand the motives and actions of one of the most controversial figures in contemporary politics. My production's mission is to provide viewers with a 'user manual' for Putin, aiming to alleviate the fear and uncertainty that dominate today's world."

Feature Film: Putin

Genre: Psychological thriller, biopic

Written and directed by: Patryk Vega

Script Consultant: Kevin Bernhardt

Casting Director: Nancy Bishop

Director of Photography: Micha Goscik

Edited by: Tomasz Widarski

Composer: ukasz Targosz

Sound: Maciej Pawowski & Piotr Lasota

Costumes: Magorzata Bednarek-Chumakou

Makeup: Maja ukaszewicz & Justyna Zaranek

Cast: Sawomir Sobala, Thomas Kretschmann, Maksymilian Zielinski, Justyna Karowska, Przemysaw Bluszcz, Tomasz Dedek, Aron Jonczyk, Micha Karmowski, Marek Kasprzyk, Andris Keiss, Jan Monczka, Krzysztof Stawowy

Kinostar is handling international sales

Producer: AIO Studios

World Premiere Date: September 26, 20240
With over 15.8 crore Indians eligible to cast their votes in the ongoing General Elections of the worlds largest democracy, two young creatives of Havas Worldwide India have crafted a groundbreaking campaign, to remind citizens of their democratic rights and responsibilities.

The Power of Print Contest 2024 is run by The Times of India Group in collaboration with the Election Commission of India. Havas Worldwide India's creative talents, Soham Ghosh, Creative Supervisor (Copy), and Ravinder Kumar, Associate Creative Director, have won the coveted award, and will be representing the agency at Cannes Lions 2025.

The winning entry, selected from over 560 entries from across the country on the theme I Vote For Sure, is aimed at inspiring greater voter turnout by highlighting the significance of every individual's vote.

Unveiled in The Economic Times, Bengaluru edition on April 26, 2024, coinciding with the city's voting day for the second phase of the 18th Lok Sabha Elections, the winning concept employs a striking visual metaphor. The entire newspaper page has been rendered in purple ink, symbolizing the unused electoral ink from the 2019 elections. This innovative approach serves as a hard-hitting reminder of the wasted potential inherent in unmarked fingers and uncast votes. To motivate people from across the country to vote, the campaign will be published in most important markets of the publication over the next two weeks.

Sagnik Ghosh, Head Creative Strategy, Innovation, Branded Content and Trade Marketing for BCCL Response, Times of India said, After a tough competition and intense evaluation by the eminent jury, the fifth edition of The Times Power of Print, supported by the Election Commission of India, has its winners. Among the many strong entries, the winning ad stood out for its effective portrayal of the urgency of the issue of low voter turnout and masterful use of print as a versatile medium, open to innovative possibilities. We hope that this ad is inspiring to the readers and motivates them to exercise their right to vote on D-Day.

Speaking about the idea, Anupama Ramaswamy, Chief Creative Officer, Havas Worldwide India said, At Havas Worldwide India, we truly believe in the power of ideas to drive meaningful change. Soham and Ravinders powerful idea exemplifies our commitment to leveraging creativity for social good, empowering citizens to shape the future of our nation.

Soham Ghosh said, Our idea stemmed from the low voter count in the last Lok Sabha Elections. The insight was simple yet powerful  if people are not getting their fingers marked with purple ink, then theyre not just wasting the electoral ink, theyre also wasting the power of democracy. So, we suggested printing an entire page of the newspaper using purple ink for people to take notice of the unused electoral ink.

For Ravinder Kumar, this campaign is much more important than just winning tickets to Cannes Lions next year. He said, Going to Cannes Lions Festival has been a life-long dream but with this newspaper innovation using purple ink, if we can inspire even one person to step out and vote this time, it will be a bigger victory for us.
The BBC World Service, a global news provider reaching 318 million people in 42 languages, faces an uncertain future regarding its funding. Currently funded primarily by the UK Licence Fee with additional support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the service faces a potential cutback in language offerings as a 2025 agreement to maintain them expires.

Inquiry Aims to Secure Long-Term Funding:

To ensure the service's continued operation, the International Development Committee of the UK House of Commons has launched a new inquiry. This inquiry aims to:

Establish the case for increased government support: The committee will assess the World Service's impact on UK development goals and its role in promoting British values internationally. Explore alternative funding models: The inquiry will examine the financial needs of the World Service moving forward and consider potential funding models beyond the current structure.

Public Input Needed:

The committee is inviting written submissions by May 20th to address key questions:

Development Impact: How does the World Service contribute to development goals, particularly in ODA-eligible countries?

Soft Power Advantage: What benefits does the World Service offer the UK's "soft power" and its global image?

International Comparison: How does funding for international broadcasters compare across nations like China, the US, France, and Russia?

Future Financial Needs: What funding is required for the World Service to maintain its operations?

Potential Funding Models: What are the pros and cons of various funding options for the BBC World Service?

By gathering public input, the committee aims to secure a long-term funding solution for the BBC World Service, ensuring its continued role as a global news source.
The fourth edition of Deloittes Women @ Work: A Global Outlook continues to examine some of the critical workplace and societal factors that have a profound impact on womens careers.

Inclusive practices make a concrete difference.

On a scale of 100, women working for Gender Equality Leaders (GELs) scored their loyalty at 76, productivity at 75, and motivation and sense of belongingness at 71. These women professionals are far more likely to recommend their organisations to other women, feel far more satisfied with the mental health support extended to them, and feel more comfortable talking about their mental health in the workplace. They are also much more optimistic about their career prospects and confident that being a woman is not a disadvantage in their organisation. Women working for laggards perform significantly poorly on all these parameters.

Much has been said about the business case for inclusive practices. These findings corroborate that point of view with hard facts. If an organisation truly wants to grow, all its people need to be able to put their best foot forward. When your policies targeted at growing the careers of women professionals translate into action, you will be much better placed to grow, because youre getting the best perspectives and a driven, gender-diverse workforce. Moreover, and importantly, youre nurturing a nourishing and safe workplace, said Saraswathi Kasturirangan, Chief Happiness Officer, Deloitte India.

Priority areas for organisations in India

As organisations gear up to become GELs, the Women @ Work report shines the spotlight on the top priorities:

Return-to-work approaches need to factor in unique situations.

The transition to full-time work has resulted in difficult adjustments for many women professionals. Forty-one per cent have asked for a reduction in their hours, 31 per cent say it has negatively impacted their mental well-being, and 36 per cent think less of their employer. These parameters are better for those who are returning to the office in a hybrid setup.

Organisations need to be more supportive of professionals as they harmonise work with life commitments.

As with their global counterparts, nearly all women in India (96 percent) believe that requesting or taking advantage of flexible working opportunities will affect their career progression. Ninety-one per cent feel they cant talk with their managers about challenges with work/ life balance and 94 percent dont think their workload would be adjusted accordingly if they were to take advantage of flexible working opportunities.

Male professionals need to be encouraged to share the load at home.

Women in India are still shouldering the bulk of the responsibility when it comes to childcare and caregiving for adults. The instances where the partner shoulders these responsibilities or where there is an equal split are higher when the woman is the primary breadwinner. Even in such situations, there is a far higher reliance on paid help in India than with global counterparts (31 per cent in India vis-a-vis 6 per cent globally).

An oft-neglected area with inclusive practices is getting your male professionals to be better allies, at work and home. Policies related to parental care and adult caregiving need to reflect this expectation, opined Saraswathi. Keeping with the higher trust placed in paid help for childcare in India, organisations could amplify their day-care provisions with facilities like nanny reimbursement.

Forty-six per cent of Indian respondents cited personal safety at work or when travelling to/ from work as a top concern.

A little over a quarter of respondents feel that they could be attacked or harassed due to the location or neighbourhood of their workplace. Although to a lesser degree, other concerns are related to harassment or uncomfortable behaviour by clients, harassment while travelling to work, and harassment by a colleague.

Saraswathi emphasised, Furthering the equal participation of women in our workforce goes well beyond the four walls of the office, and some of the priorities would include change in behaviour. It is important for organisations to call out undesirable behaviour such as micro-aggressions and gender-bias. It is also important to focus on areas that may feel like theyre beyond the organisations control, which nevertheless need investment of best possible efforts. For example, extending the zero-tolerance policy for bad behaviour by colleagues to vendors/ customers as well; a night-time travel policy where there are safeguards for women professionals; and sensitisation training that covers allyship in general, instead of just as a rule at the workplace.

Now in its fourth year, Deloittes Women @ Work report examines some of the critical workplace and societal factors that have a profound impact on womens careers. Representing the views of 5,000 women from organisations across 10 countries, including 500 in India, the report seeks to understand the lived experiences of women at work  and the ways in which aspects of their lives outside work can impact these experiences. Past reports were dominated by the negative impacts of the pandemic and the resulting challenges as we emerged from it. This years report continues to explore these issues, while also delving deeper into womens experiences with their health, safety, rights, and household responsibilities.

As part of the research, a group of Gender Equality Leaders (GEL) were identified. These are organisations that, according to the women surveyed, have created genuinely inclusive cultures that support their careers and work/life balance, and foster inclusion. The proportion of women working for GELs is 6 per cent globally and 6 per cent in India. Additionally, the research identified a group of lagging organisations. This year, 21 per cent of the global respondents and 25 per cent of respondents in India work for these lagging organisations.
Zee Media, in partnership with Greenply Industries, is thrilled to announce the second season of the prestigious Hindustan Ki Shaan Awards. This celebration is dedicated to recognizing India's carpenters and contractors for their exceptional contributions to the interior design industry. Following a successful inaugural season, this years on-ground event, scheduled to take place in Mumbai on Saturday, 27th April 2024, aims to highlight and honour the remarkable skills and creativity of these vital artisans in shaping aesthetic and functional living spaces.

Hindustan Ki Shaan Season 2 has been an impactful initiative as it included an active participation from all professional craftsmen within the woodpanel and interior furniture sectors across India, assessing entries based on criteria including design innovation, problem-solving, and the use of environmentally friendly materials. The jury panel included prominent industry figures such as Shri. Rajesh Mittal, Chairman & MD, Greenply Industries; Manoj Tulsian, JMD & CEO of Greenply Industries; Vertica Dvivedi, founder and director of Wade Asia - Surface Reporter; and Rahul Mehta, CEO of the Furniture & Fittings Skill Council who evaluated the entries based on design excellence, innovation in craft, and the use of environmentally sustainable practices and materials. The second season of the Hindustan Ki Shaan Awards will recognize and elevate the appreciation for the craftsmanship that goes into creating bespoke furniture and innovative interior solutions, with a strong emphasis on sustainability.

Yatnesh Pandey, Chief Marketing Officer, Greenply Industries highlighted "Celebrating these craftsmen not only fosters a sense of community among them but also builds loyalty among consumers who recognize Greenply as a brand that values the backbone of its industry. Our partnership with Zee Media magnifies the impact, ensuring that the stories of these talented artisans are appreciated on a national scale. It positions Greenply strategically as a leader committed to uplifting the entire woodworking and interior design ecosystems."

With Zee News as its exclusive telecast partner and Zee Media as its digital partner, the event will be covered extensively across all platforms, ensuring that the achievements of these craftsmen are recognized nationwide. This strategic partnership aims to amplify the voices of India's artisans and connect viewers across the nation to the artistry and innovation within the craftsmanship community.

Mona Jain, Chief Revenue Officer of Zee Media Corporation Limited, expressed her enthusiasm about the collaboration, highlighted "Working with Greenply for the second season of the Hindustan Ki Shaan Awards aligns perfectly with our mission to create social and economic value by spotlighting sectors of our culture that are often overlooked. We are committed to enhancing the visibility of these skilled professionals, improving their career opportunities, and fostering greater appreciation for their work. This initiative is a step towards sustainable development and recognition of these essential industries."

Anindya Khare, Marketing Head, Zee Media Corporation Limited, further added, Anindya Khare, Marketing Head, Zee Media Corporation Limited, further added, We are immensely proud to collaborate with Greenply for the second season of the Hindustan Ki Shaan Awards. This partnership allows us to shine a spotlight on the extraordinary talents of India's carpenters and contractors, who play a pivotal role in enriching our everyday living spaces with their craftsmanship and innovation. Through this initiative, we aim to foster greater recognition and appreciation of their skills, which are crucial in driving the advancement and sustainability of the interior design and construction sectors."

The award ceremony promises not only to be a platform for recognition but also a venue for sharing transformative stories and discussing the ongoing evolution within the sector. It will underscore the critical role these craftsmen play in not just beautifying spaces, but also in making them functionally robust and environmentally sustainable.
Librarians are worried about the chilling effect on speech and reading if Alabama lawmakers follow through and pass a bill that would police librarians if they dont remove supposedly obscene books in schools and public libraries.

The Alabama House has passed HB385, which overrides local libraries book challenge policies and gives librarians seven days to remove material  or potentially face criminal charges and a fine. The bill now heads to the Senate.

This bill is government overreach, robs parents of their rights, and would have a chilling effect on free speech by potentially incarcerating librarians because particular books are available, including even the Bible, Gadsden Public Library director Craig Scott said in a statement from the Alabama Library Association.

Scott told AL.com that legislators dont understand how libraries work. Librarians already have policies to allow people to challenge books, he said. Librarians evaluate books regularly, and if they are provocative or risque, they have procedures in place to catalog them properly.

We dont have smut and porn and purely obscene material, Scott said. Hes been a librarian since 1977 and said he never expected librarians to be targeted for doing their jobs.

We are professionals, Scott said.

Alyx Kim-Yohn, circulation manager at Huntsville-Madison Public Library, said circumventing library reconsideration policies is nothing short of utter erasure of people and content who dont fit a narrow standard.

The writing on the wall couldnt be clearer regarding the chilling effect this law would have on statewide employment, public library and school funding, public education outcomes, quality of life, First Amendment rights, and countless other metrics, Kim-Yohn said. As far as Im concerned, the only good version of HB385 is a dead one.

Claims of inappropriate books for children have gained attention over the last year in Alabama and elsewhere, as the majority of challenged books are primarily by and about the LGBTQ community and other marginalized groups like people of color.

The proposed Alabama law would allow people who object to file a complaint with the school or public library, and the district attorney. The librarian, according to the bill, has seven days to remove the book or face criminal penalties.

Scott said the Republican lawmakers who supported the bill want more government interference.

If this bill is successful on the Senate side and becomes law, you can bet the lawsuits will be coming, Scott said. So what do they want? They want to spend more money?

The bill outlines a first failure to remove material after receiving valid notice as a Class C misdemeanor, a second violation as a Class B, and subsequent violations as Class A. According to Alabama Code Section 13, if convicted of giving obscene books to children, librarians could face three months to a year in prison and a fine of $500 to $6000.

Using an old law that targets adult video stories, lawmakers also expanded the definitions of obscene to ban: Any sexual or gender oriented conduct 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, or activities in K-12 public schools or public libraries where minors are expected and known to be present without parental presence or consent.

They are clearly going after transgender citizens and drag performers, but they dont want to say it out loud, said Susan Stewart, an organizer with the Madison County Chapter of anti-censorship group Read Freely Alabama.

Emily Jones with the Madison County chapter of Moms For Liberty said shes glad to see this legislation moving forward. The organization asked legislators this year to withhold funds for libraries that allow children to check out pornographic materials.

After months of reviewing content throughout libraries across the state it is clear we needed strong parameters to prohibit children from viewing obscene materials without parental knowledge, Jones said.

Foley resident Stephanie Williams, who supports taking inappropriate books out of the childrens section, said theres no need for hair on fire reactions.

I believe strongly in the equitable treatment of offenders under the law, Williams said. I do not believe certain classes of persons should be exempt from prosecution because they have a better lobby. She said theres a notice period and that speculation on the legislations impact is too soon.

Read Freely Alabama said the focus on gender orientation will criminalize non-explicit books, too.

This attempted conflation of LGBTQ-affirming books with obscene material must be the focus of any honest conversation about this blatant government overreach and violation of Alabamians rights, the group said.

The Senate has four more legislative days to consider the bill before the end of the session.
The Alabama Legislature has passed a bill that would make it a felony for clergy to have sexual interactions with anyone younger than 19.

House Bill 125, sponsored by State Rep. Leigh Hulsey, R-Helena, creates the crime of unlawful sex acts committed by clergy, which includes church leaders, staff members and volunteers. The bill is modeled on Alabamas law prohibiting teachers from having sexual relationships with students.

Sen. Roger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, sponsored the Senate version of the bill which received final passage. If Gov. Kay Ivey signs the bill into law, it will take effect immediately.

Its a shame that it has come to this point of evil but sadly it has, Greg Davis, president and CEO of the Alabama Baptist State Convention, told The Alabama Baptist this week. We are confident Gov. Ivey will sign HB 125 into law soon, sending a serious warning to any pastor or youth or childrens minister that would groom a young person under their authority in church settings.

Hulsey said she was inspired to write the bill after hearing from multiple constituents about their experiences in the church.

In the state of Alabama, consent for sexual activity is 16 years of age, Hulsey told AL.com in February. Our law explicitly waives that as a defense for teachers, but it does not anywhere else, such as where people are underneath the trust or authority of someone like you would find yourself in a church Sunday school class.

In a recent interview with AL.com, Hueytown resident Ivey Victoria Laine Jeter said she filed a police report alleging that her former youth pastor had abused his authority with her to engage in sexual activity.

When he started grooming me, I was like 12 to 13 years old, Jeter said. Sexual stuff did not happen till age of consent, which is when I was 16. There was like a 20-year age difference. Hes 40-something now.

But the report didnt go anywhere, she said, because police told her no laws had been broken.

If he was a teacher, he would have been arrested, Jeter said. Age of consent doesnt matter if youre a teacher. If youre abusing your power, thats where you get in trouble, if youre on the staff of a school.

The bill says any clergy who engages in sexual intercourse with an individual younger than 19 would be charged with a Class B felony. Any sexual contact or distribution of obscene material to a child would be a Class C felony.
This is an opinion column.

Dont say this isnt censorship. Dont tell me its not book banning.

Dont claim the criminalization of ideas is liberty.

(I dont think that word means what you think it means.)

Please dont say preventing others from reading things you disagree with is freedom. And in the name of all that is good and literary, dont point a loaded gun at a librarian and call it a peace pipe.

Whats happening in Alabama, and across America, is absurd. Up is down. Wrong is right. Irony is reality, and its getting harder for people to see it.

The Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill  in the bastardized name of liberty and safety for all  that would allow librarians to be charged with crimes if they fail, within a week, to remove books or movies or access to anything a random complainer quibbles about.

This panic-stricken bill, trundled out by Rep. Arnold Mooney, R-Indian Springs, on the back of an old law that was designed to rid the streets of adult bookstores and porn shops, tells people to notify their district attorney if they want something removed from the shelves of their public or school library.

It kowtows to Moms for Liberty  an ironic, Orwellian name for an organized political group formed for the purpose of censorship. It emboldens that groups arguments that sex education is porn and recognizing LGBTQ people sexualizes children. It threatens librarians with arrest for stocking materials that are politically unpopular to some, but not all people and parents.

Mooney argued the party line, that This is an effort to protect childrenIts a people bill to try to protect children.

But what it really is is a bill to try to prevent children from seeing any ideas that one extreme and vocal segment of the population disagrees with.

Which is about as American as apple borscht.

Which should frighten just about anybody with ideas.

The Alabama Library Association said  in an understatement  that politicians are turning libraries into political battlefields.

Public and school librarians could be penalized or even arrested by prosecutors eager to follow the demands of Alabama Republican Chair John Wahl, an Alabama Public Library Service Board member, whos willing to jail librarians for having books he considers unacceptable, the group said in a statement. This bill is government overreach, robs parents of their rights, and would have a chilling effect on free speech by potentially incarcerating librarians because particular books are available, including even the Bible.

Its crazy that public libraries and librarians are being likened to public nuisances for maintaining our access to a range of ideas. They are the opposite.

Its crazy that a library stocking sex education books is taboo. Particularly in a state where teen pregnancy is far above the national average, the rate of STDs is among the worst in the nation, and overall well-being for children is near the bottom. Its nuts that a group of closed-minded people could control what others can see by calling it smut.

Its especially absurd in a world where genuinely violent, offensive and raunchy things can be seen on any website, TV, social media or playground.

This bill, which will likely go to the Senate next week, is disingenuous, dangerous and dumb. It doesnt protect children. Thats not even its real intent. Its intent is to demonize gay people and trans people, to wipe out any discussion of non-binary people in a way that recognizes them as, well, people.

Rep. Danny Garrett, a Republican from Jefferson County, said as much in defending the bill.

We woke up one day and things changed that people didnt understand were changing.

So the choice is not to understand. It is to criminalize those ideas, starting with librarians.

This is not freedom. It is fear. And it is becoming clear that the only thing we really have to fear is the fearful.

John Archibald is a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize.
By David Gambino | The Decatur Daily, Ala. (TNS)

After Steve Perkins widow was handcuffed and three others were arrested during a peaceful demonstration at last weeks 3rd Friday event in Decatur, civil rights attorney Lee Merritt wrote a letter Thursday requesting a meeting with the Northern District of Alabamas U.S. Attorneys Office and called for an investigation into the city police department.

It seems like a department that has gone completely rogue, Merritt said Friday. And so, were asking for the Department of Justice and the Civil Rights Division there in north Alabama to come and take a look.

[Read more: How a police shooting changed a north Alabama city]

In his letter to U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona, Merritt requested she meet with Perkins widow, Catrela Perkins, as soon as possible.

The Decatur Police Department is engaged in a pattern of civil and criminal abuses that require immediate intervention, he wrote.

Reiterating his claims made in a civil lawsuit against DPD last year on behalf of Perkins estate, Merritt wrote that " Decaturs policies and procedures promote the use of excessive and unconstitutional force against citizens.

The letter also claims that the events of 3rd Friday marked a sharp escalation by officers who have agitated the community since (Mac) Marquettes criminal indictment.

Former officer Marquette, accused of shooting and killing Steve Perkins on Sept. 29, was indicted by a Morgan County grand jury for murder on Jan. 5.

The Decatur Police Department referred questions to Mayor Tab Bowling on Friday, who said the city is aware of Merritts comments.

The DPD is reviewing last Fridays events, he said. As a city, were constantly looking to ensure that everything we do is to the highest standard. Law enforcement duties are extremely challenging, and we want to be sure that were doing all we can to help them do their job and to keep our community safe. We are exploring available resources to help us to that end.

The family of Stephen Perkins, on Dec. 12, 2023, filed a federal lawsuit against Decatur police officers. Family attorney Lee Merritt is pictured addressing the media on the day of the filing flanked by Perkin's family and other.Kayode Crown

Bowling declined to comment on the possibility of a DOJ investigation.

From reviewing video recordings, police complaints and social media, Merritt said officers such as Lt. Joe Renshaw have made public statements showing support for Marquette after he was indicted.

An Instagram account appearing to belong to Renshaw includes a picture of him standing next to Marquette, captioned: For those wondering where I stand? I stand for my brother.

The people of Decatur, as expressed through the grand jury comprised of citizens of Decatur, have determined that theres probable cause that Marquette committed a crime  the most serious crime in our jurisprudence, which is murder, Merritt said Friday. The DPD are pretending that this didnt occur.

Merritts firm was involved in the case of Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man murdered in 2020 while jogging in Glynn County, Georgia. Former District Attorney Jackie Johnson was indicted on charges of interfering with the investigation into Arberys murder. Merritt said the case is an important analogy for whats happening in Decatur.

What we discovered was that she (Johnson) and the Glynn County Police Department were engaged in all levels of corruption, he said. That is what I expect to come out of this. I think that, as a result of the murder of Perkins and the light that its putting on the city, were going to find a lot of people who are used to doing the wrong thing and getting away with it.

You just dont do that

Merritt said the way Decatur police officers are responding to peaceful, lawful, and First Amendment-protected protests shows that they believe themselves to be above the law.

Last Friday was a very peaceful demonstration, he said. It was just a peaceful gathering of people. They werent blocking anything; the roads were already shut down. It (DPDs actions) seems reflective of a police department in crisis.

He said the handcuffing of Catrela Perkins last week was constitutionally offensive and showed a high disregard and disrespect for the community.

Ive represented families all over the country, and the one thing that we try to treat sacred  on both sides of the argument  are the victims families, Merritt said. You just dont do that. I dont understand whats going on.

Catrela Perkins.Kayode Crown

Around 26 nonviolent demonstrators have been arrested and charged mostly with disorderly conduct since Perkins was killed. Merritt said this treatment of demonstrators is continually proving his claims against DPD in the lawsuit.

I have lost faith in Chief Todd Pinions ability to lead this particular department that seems out of control, he said. Its a complete lack of leadership. It seems that the officers are not only allowed to disobey his orders but to take independent actions and insist that he ratifies their actions.

In a footnote to Merritts letter, he claims that Marquette avoided the requirements of Aniahs Law  which requires defendants charged with severe crimes to be held without bond pending a hearing  and received an unusually low bond of $30,000.

District Attorney Scott Anderson, who is prosecuting Marquettes case, agreed to the bond amount set by Circuit Judge Jennifer Howell. Anderson did not respond to requests for comment on Friday. A hearing on a temporary gag order in Marquettes case is scheduled for May 17.

In addition to writing a letter to Escalona, Merritt said hes also reaching out to the DOJs assistant attorney general for civil rights, Kristen Clarke.

A pattern or practice investigation is a thorough and independent investigation conducted by civil rights attorneys at the Justice Department to search for any patterns of misconduct within a given police department, according to a DOJ fact sheet.

The DOJ launched a a pattern or practice investigation last year into the Memphis Police Department following the killing of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, by five police officers.

During such an investigation, in addition to interviews with community members and police officers, the DOJ observes officers during shifts, reviews documents and bodycam video and evaluates specific incidents relevant to the investigation.

Escalonas office could not be reached for comment Friday.

 david.gambino@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2438.

(c)2024 The Decatur Daily (Decatur, Ala.)

Visit The Decatur Daily (Decatur, Ala.) at www.decaturdaily.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) continues to rise, so much so that state lawmakers are drafting legislation to get ahead of potential cybercrimes.

One Alabama senator says in a perfect scenario, laws on personal protection from AI would have been created on a federal level first.
A north Alabama man was charged Friday with sexually abusing a boy and girl who were both under 12 years old over a nearly two-year period, according to court records.

Homer Keith Hovis, 33, of Toney in Madison County, was charged with rape, two counts of sexual abuse of a child under 12 and two counts of first-degree sodomy, according to Limestone County court records.

Four of the five counts stemmed from alleged abuse of the girl under 12 years old. One of the sexual abuse counts allegedly involved the boy, who was under 12 years old at the time.

The complaints against Hovis alleged the incidents occurred between January 2022 and November 2023.

Limestone County Circuit Court Judge B. Chadwick Wise ordered Hovis held without bond until a pretrial hearing scheduled for Monday.










English News To view, develop China-Germany bilateral relations from long-term, strategic perspective

Alwihda Info | Par People's Daily - 24 Avril 2024



Both sides should cherish and inherit the valuable experience of the development of bilateral relations, constantly enhance mutual understanding and trust, and deepen practical cooperation, so as to inject new impetus into the all-round strategic partnership between China and Germany, and make greater contributions to world peace, stability, and growth.

By He Yin, People's Daily On the morning of April 16, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Beijing. This is Scholz's second visit to China since he took office, and Scholz is the first leader of a major Western country to visit China this year. The two leaders exchanged views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of mutual interest.



Xi called on the two countries need to view and develop bilateral relations from a long-term and strategic perspective, and work together to inject greater stability and certainty into the world. His remarks have charted the course for the two countries to further advance bilateral relations and to jointly contribute more to world peace and prosperity under new circumstances.



Over the past 50-plus years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China and Germany have enjoyed robust bilateral relations. The two countries have had close exchanges at all levels and in all fields.



China's policy toward Germany is highly stable and consistent. China always views Germany as its important partner of mutually beneficial cooperation and supports Germany in playing a more important role in Europe and the wider world.



The two sides successfully held the intergovernmental consultation and high-level dialogues on strategic and financial issues, and will hold a dialogue on climate change and green transition. As long as the two sides uphold mutual respect, seek common ground while reserving differences, enhance exchanges and mutual learning, and pursue win-win cooperation, China-Germany relations will continue to enjoy solid and sustained progress.



This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the all-round strategic partnership between China and Germany. Over the past 10 years, despite tremendous changes in the international landscape, China-Germany relations have maintained steady growth, and bilateral cooperation has strengthened and deepened across the board, providing impetus for the development of both countries.



Both history and reality have proved that the all-round strategic partnership is an inevitable choice and the optimal solution for China-Germany relations.



The more instability in the world, the greater the need for the two sides to strengthen the resilience and vitality of their relations, Xi said, calling for joint efforts to keep to the overall direction of cooperation and development in growing bilateral ties, and stick to the characterization of all-round strategic partnership.



Scholz said that going forward, the German side will work with the Chinese side to strengthen bilateral ties, deepen dialogue and cooperation in all fields, and promote people-to-people exchanges in such areas as education and culture.



Enhancing mutual understanding and trust, and strengthening dialogue and communication will contribute to the healthy and stable development of the all-round strategic partnership between the two countries.



Both China and Germany have deeply engaged in and benefited from each other's development, with pragmatic cooperation always being the defining feature of China-Germany relations.



China and Germany are important trading partners for each other. Germany has been China's largest trading partner in Europe for 49 consecutive years, while China has been Germany's largest trading partner for eight consecutive years.



According to a report by German Economic Institute (IW), in 2023, German direct investment in China increased by 4.3 percent year on year to a record high of 11.9 billion euros ($12.7 billion).



In the face of weak global economic recovery and rising protectionism, German investment in China has remained strong. Thousands of German companies and institutions are actively engaged in the Chinese market, which once again demonstrates that mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Germany is not a "risk," but the guarantee for a stable bilateral relationship and an opportunity for the future.



There is huge potential to be tapped for pursuing win-win cooperation in both traditional sectors such as machinery and automobile, and new areas such as green transition, digitization and artificial intelligence.



This time, Scholz visited Chongqing and Shanghai together with representatives of the German business community, and witnessed the great economic progress China made over recent years. He said that Germany opposes protectionism and supports free trade.



It is important for the two countries to adopt an objective and dialectical view on the issue of production capacity through a market and global perspective and based on the laws of economics, and devote more efforts to the discussion on cooperation, which will bring bilateral economic and trade cooperation to a new level and inject continuous impetus into global economic recovery.



As China and Germany are respectively the second and third largest economies in the world, the consolidation and development of their relations carries significance that goes beyond the bilateral scope, and has a major impact on the Eurasian continent and the entire world.



China and Germany share a lot in common on the issue of world multipolarity. Both of them support globalization and international cooperation.



Xi pointed out that a multipolar world is, in essence, one where countries with different civilizations, systems and paths respect each other and coexist in peace. China and Germany need to independently carry out collaboration on multilateral fronts, push the international community to take real actions to better address global challenges such as climate change, unbalanced development and regional conflicts, and make greater contribution to the balance and stability of the world.



Xi and Scholz reached consensus on the Ukraine crisis, Palestinian-Israeli conflict and other issues, which will inject greater stability and certainty into a turbulent and intertwined world.



China and Germany do not have clashing fundamental interests between them and pose no security threat to each other. Cooperation between the two countries benefits not just the two sides but also the world at large.



Both sides should cherish and inherit the valuable experience of the development of bilateral relations, constantly enhance mutual understanding and trust, and deepen practical cooperation, so as to inject new impetus into the all-round strategic partnership between China and Germany, and make greater contributions to world peace, stability, and growth.



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)
Trump probably won in 2020, so he should have little difficulty winning in 2024. However, will he be certified, or will the honor go to Joe, Michelle, or Pretty Boy? The problem here is the massive ballot harvesting schemes used by Democrats.

Let me be clear: Most Democrats do not believe they are cheating: They are simply empowering. In their minds, helping people to vote is a public service, even if it requires obtaining, completing, correcting, and transporting the ballots on the voters behalf. Democrats did that openly in Wisconsin during the 2020 election.

In no fewer than 206 Madison City parks, Democrats held Democracy in the Park events, advertised by Joe himself. Hundreds of special ballot drop boxes were strategically placed, and a couple hundred election inspectors helped thousands of fellow Democrats decipher the complexities of voting. Make a mistake? No worry, the inspector will fix it. Need a witness for your signature? The inspector can do that too. No ID? Just say you are afraid of COVID. In a hurry? Hand your ballot to the inspector. She will make sure the ballot is cast -- and for the right candidate!

Basically, Wisconsin election officials operated a massive ballot harvesting operation in plain sight, and strictly in Democrat areas. The Trump team went to court, but in a partisan, 4 to 3 ruling, the Wisconsin Supreme Court dismissed the case on the basis of laches (filed too late). It was a ridiculous ruling, but dont take my word -- I am just an accountant. Instead, consider the angry words of the three dissenting justices:

Justice Annette Kingsland Ziegler:

LACHES DOES NOT AND SHOULD NOT BAR THIS CASE... Once again, the majority imposes its definition of laches, which is tailored to its judicial preferences rather than based on well-established legal principles...The respondents cannot demonstrate that laches bars a single one of these claims... [emphasis as written].

Justice Rebecca Grassl Bradley:

How astonishing that four justices of the Wisconsin Supreme Court must be reminded that it is THE LAW that constitutes the rule book for any election... [emphasis as written].

Justice Patience Drake Roggensack:

Once again, four justices on this court cannot be bothered with addressing what the statutes require...

In other swing states the ballot harvesting was just as real, but much less obvious. Experienced harvesters plied their craft with skill and stealth. A great example of harvesting prowess was reported by Jon Levine in the New York Post. The reporter interviewed a harvester who operated a team of workers for 20 years in three states: New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Levine did not reveal the identity of the man (or woman), but he knows who it is, and Levine said it is a recognizable name in the world of politics.

The harvester told Levine that getting ballots is easier than you think. He and his associates would say they were from the county, and were picking up ballots as a public service. (I dont think that would work in a Republican neighborhood, but there are places where people are accustomed to having the government do everything for them.) After the harvesters collected the ballots, they would steam them open, make sure the right candidates were selected, and distribute the ballots among several mail boxes.

There is only one way for Republicans to fight and win against this, and its called canvassing.

When the Cyber Ninjas started their audit of Maricopa Countys election, they planned to select a sample of voters, knock on doors, and ask a few basic questions: Sir, the county voter rolls show that you were sent a mail-in ballot. Is that true? That is called canvassing, and it would have effectively uncovered any harvesting operation.

Unfortunately, the canvassing never happened because of strong threats made by powerful Democrats, including Merrick Garland, Jaime Raskin, and Carolyn Maloney. They would not allow the Cyber Ninjas to talk with voters because it could -- somehow -- suppress the vote, even though the election had taken place months earlier. If you dont understand how that works, watch the movie, Back to the Future.

It didnt end there, however. A very good and large-scale canvassing operation was conducted by a private group of volunteers, led by a civic-minded resident of Maricopa County. I wont reveal her name because she might not welcome the resultant summer of love.

Although the private canvassing was completed too late to be of use in the 2020 election, we can learn from the methodology employed, and the results that were obtained. Here are the steps followed by the Maricopa resident and her volunteers:

The voter database was obtained from the county. It is a list of all registered voters, and it shows who did and did not cast a mail-in ballot. A large sample of addresses was selected from the population of people shown to have voted by mail. Volunteers were recruited and trained in the procedures to use and the questions to ask. Canvassing locations were assigned. When a resident responded at the door the volunteers identified themselves as private citizens who were conducting voluntary election integrity research. All residents received the same opening pitch: We'd like to quickly go through each registered voter living at this address and identify all potential voters living here. Then, six questions were asked: What method did you use to vote? How many ballots did you receive in the mail for yourself? How many ballots did you receive for person(s) who do not live here? What did you do with any extra ballots received? How many registered voters are there supposed to be at this address? How many registered voters are there who voted in the November 2020 election?

When all data were received, the results were compiled and analyzed.

The Maricopa volunteers knocked on 11,708 doors and received responses from 4570 people. By any standards that is a massive survey. The results? Of those who had voted according to Maricopa, 5.7% said they did not vote. That number, which is just for Maricopa, is eight times Joes winning margin for the entire state. The canvass report stated that the accuracy was plus or minus 1.5% with 95% confidence.

To be useful, the results must qualify as lawsuit evidence:

Even though this sort of survey activity is legal in most areas, Democrats will furiously try to block any canvass activities, so lawyers must be assembled, ready, and familiar with election and solicitation laws for each community. The survey must be completed within days after the election. Memories fade quickly, and people get confused if too much time elapses. For each major county within a swing state, a bipartisan group of leaders should be selected. If possible, these leaders should be retired judges, lawyers, doctors, engineers, and accountants, and they should have unblemished credentials. They will select and supervise the volunteers. The help of a professional statistician must be used, and he must select a sample large enough to achieve high confidence with a small margin of error. For most counties the required sample might range from 500 to 1,000. Accurate records of all responses must be kept. If discrepancies are found, sworn affidavits should be obtained, if possible.

When done properly, the findings will be solid evidence that can be used in an election lawsuit. It wont prove that a particular candidate won, but it can show that a new election must be held.

If you live in a swing state, please consider forwarding this article to any of your elected representatives who believe in election integrity.

Joe Fried is an Ohio-based CPA who has performed and reviewed hundreds of certified financial audits. He is the author of the book, Debunked? and a new book called, How Elections Are Stolen. It outlines 23 problems that must be fixed before the 2024 elections. More information can be found at https://joefriedcpa.substack.com/ (a permanently free subscription).

Image: justgrimes
Once elected, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib famously used a Post-it note to identify the nation of Israel as Palestine on a map in her new office, signaling that she subscribes to the widespread belief that Israel does not have the right to exist, and that an independent Arab-Muslim nation called Palestine, which is every bit as real of a place in our world as Shangri-La, should exist in its place.

The claim that Jews have no right to a sliver of homeland in the Middle East has become a common refrain, particularly for the young progressives who are throwing violent tantrums in cities and on college campuses across the nation. What these young people would know, if our academic institutions in this country were interested in the teaching of history rather than the Marxist reshaping of it, is this  by any measure applied throughout human history, Israel has every right to exist, insofar as any right to a nation and its peoples existence has ever been articulated by either civilized or savage societies.

The Right to Indigenous Ownership

We begin with the most novel and childish of any argument that occurs over the ownership of land, and that is the argument for indigenous ownership.

This often amounts to nothing more substantial than a childs playground claim to a space on the merry-go-round because I was here first. This claim seems morally righteous without any additional context, and this is undoubtedly one reason why so many young people continue to hold this argument in such high regard.

Young progressives routinely argue that modern European settler colonialism was oppressive in all its forms, and that somehow, the establishment of a Jewish nation in the Middle East is just another example of European imperialism akin to the Americans supposed thieving of land from Native Americans.

Arguing that decolonization is the path to peace in the Middle East, Professor Muhannad Ayyash of Mount Royal University in Calgary writes:

[S]ettler colonialism is a type of colonialism that functions through the replacement of an Indigenous population with a settler society that, over time, develops a national identity and claims sovereignty over the colonised [sic] land.

Well, Im afraid I have some bad news for Mr. Ayyash and all others who proclaim Arabic Muslims as the Indigenous population of the region historically known to the Romans, and to the more modern Turkish imperators, as Palestine  Arab-Muslims certainly are not native to that land.

The Arab-Muslim conquerors who supplanted the largely Byzantine-Christian population that lived in the region in the seventh century certainly didnt subscribe to the I was here first notion of land ownership, after all. The city of Jerusalem was besieged and conquered by Islamic armies in 638 A.D., and Arabization and Islamization of the region ensued. It was colonized by Arab-Muslims, if you will.

But this wasnt the first pre-existing population that was purged and supplanted in the region. This is a simple and indisputable fact which American children, not so very long ago, knew as a matter of our cultural inheritance, but which manages to elude todays young adults who are taking on six-figure debts for an education that they now expect to be paid by you, the taxpayer.

Modern-day Israel, in Roman times, was approximately the lands of Judea, Samaria, and Galilee. Those lands had been inhabited by Jews at that time, as they had been in earlier Biblical times. Those Jews were ultimately expelled in 134 A.D. after a revolt against Roman rule. As an insult to the Jews and to efface any traces of their connection to the land, writes Robert Spencer in his book, The Palestinian Delusion, [the Romans] renamed the region as Palestine - a name they plucked from the Bible, as it was the name of Israelites ancient enemies, the Philistines.

In short, a Jewish kingdom existed on that land long before the British Balfour Declaration of 1917 determined that an area of that region should be a national home for the descendants of the anciently displaced Jewish people, long before the Arab-Muslims who now claim indigenous rights ever colonized the region, and even long before the Romans decided to call it Palestine.

And this brings us out of antiquity, away from the nonsensical argument that Arab-Muslims are somehow indigenous to the land, and headlong into the second reason for Israels right to existence, and that is

The Legal Right to Ownership

Only Westerners with no real understanding of history would ever claim that people have a right to ownership of land due to having existed there first. But there is an absolute legal right for a Jewish State in the geographic region known as Palestine.

Before the Balfour Declaration, the Ottoman Turks ruled the region for 400 years. The land remained desolate and sparsely populated until European Jews, particularly after legal migration was encouraged in 1917, populated their ancestral homeland in larger numbers, cultivating the land, and bringing along industry and prosperity.

Once again, there is not now, nor has there ever been, a nation of Arab-Muslims called Palestine. This is a fiction. But upon the British Mandate, there was legal encouragement of migration, and in 1947, after World War II, the British referred the issue of Palestine to the United Nations.

Two main proposals were considered by the UN. The first was a partition of the land into Jewish and Arab states. The Jews agreed, and the Arabs opposed. The second was a binational state, which the Jews opposed due to a severe population disadvantage, and which, interestingly, the Arabs also opposed. This signifies, of course, that Arabs have never entertained the notion of allowing Jewish representative authority in the region at all, and accentuates the ridiculousness of our continued imagining that they might, one day, accept Israels existence.

Of course, in a legal sense, none of that mattered in 1947, because the issue was legally under the jurisdiction of the United Nations, which decided upon the partition plan. Based upon a solid legal premise, Israel declared its independence in 1948.

Upon this exercise of a legal claim to a Jewish nation, the surrounding Arab nations allied themselves militarily to destroy a reconstituted and fledgling Jewish State in the region. The problem, for them, is that the Jews won this war. Which leads to the third, and by far most important reason for Israels right to exist

The Right of Conquest

There is nothing more fundamental to the natural world or the human condition than the certainty that the right to ownership of land is dependent upon the ability to acquire and defend that land through violence.

This is something that the ignorant young charges of Marxist professors at Americas universities fail to understand, even as this right to ownership has shaped our own national history. They imagine, for example, that Native Americans subscribed to some other notion of land ownership than their European conquerors, when that is simply untrue. As Dr. Thomas Sowell writes:

One of the things we take for granted today is that it is wrong to take other peoples land by force. Neither American Indians nor the European invaders believed that. Both took other peoples lands by force  as did Asians, Africans, and others. The Indians no doubt regretted losing so many battles. But that is wholly different from saying that they thought battles were the wrong way to settle ownership of the land. The surrounding Arab nations, believing that the Jews had no right to self-determination in their indigenous homeland, told the Arab denizens of the region to flee their homes in 1948, promising that after the Jews had been driven into the sea, they could return to their homes and claim the Jews land for Allah. Israel repelled its attackers, however, and maintained its sovereignty.

So, you see, the Arabs very much believed in the notion of a right to land ownership by conquest, as much in the twentieth century as in the seventh. Though their Muslim-Arab ancestors undoubtedly regret losing the battle over that land in 1948, they must regret losing the Six Day War in 1967 even more so, in which several Arab nations again attacked Israel.

In just six days, Israels defensive efforts overcame its enemies, and yielded the capture of the strategically-imperative Golan Heights and the Sinai Peninsula, along with the so-called Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank.

Ever since, Israel has committed to the admirable-but-futile quest for acceptance with an approach that we now refer to as land for peace.

But, by the right of conquest, Israel was under no obligation to return any of the spoils of its defensive war, any more than America is obligated to return Arizona to Mexico after the Mexican-American War.

It was an act of goodwill and a matter of political miscalculation to allow elections in Gaza in 2005, where Hamas democratically won a mandate. Interestingly, Vladamir Putin would later chide the West on their blind devotion to a democratic approach in the Palestinian territories. Well done, lads, he said. And it turns out Hamas wins, the same people you are calling a terrorist organization and have started to fight against.

Hamas is an organization that will not accept any circumstances in which Israel exists. After October 7th, its become clearer than ever that Israel can no longer afford to let Hamas continue existing.

Dimwitted Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib and her sometimes-lettered, pro-terrorist acolytes have it precisely backwards when it comes to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Gaza is not a geographic region of Arab-Muslim nation called Palestine. Thats just a fairytale that terrorists and Marxist professors tell their children in order to motivate them to violence against their political opponents.

There is a much more practical and morally defensible argument to be made that the area now understood to be Palestinian should, in fact, belong to the modern Jewish nation called Israel.





Image: Meme, creator unknown.
When Admiral Michael Gilday, chief of U.S. naval operations, gave an interview in 2022, he made a point of saying he believed China could invade Taiwan in 2022 or 2023. As of the last week of April 2024, China has not invaded Taiwan. Does this mean that Taiwan and the international community can breathe a collective sigh of relief? Maybe. A compelling case can be made that if China does intend to take Taiwan, then the period between now and January 2025 is as favorable a time as it is likely to have over the near term.

There is an array of measures China could employ in a runup to an invasion of Taiwan. These include disrupting the U.S. militarys ability to intervene by destroying command and control satellites as well as severing key undersea fiber optics cables. Wouldnt these actions demand a vigorous U.S. response? This is exactly what China must avoid if its to take Taiwan. Experts have been wargaming various scenarios for years and the consensus seems to be that if the U.S. intervenes quickly it will thwart Chinas invasion, but there would be heavy casualties on both sides.

Xi Jing Ping and his regime must be weighing the probabilities of a Biden versus a Trump victory in November because the outcome would be a significant variable in their calculus.

China's best opportunity to invade Taiwan in the short term without meaningful U.S. intervention seems to be between now and January 2025 might be a valid conclusion. However, China likes to play the long game so its timetable might not match up at all with conventional wisdom. China's true intentions remain opaque.

Perhaps Xi has decided that an invasion of Taiwan is too risky -- at least in the short term. It is also possible that the regime has reached the conclusion that invading its island neighbor is simply a bridge too far -- for now. Now can be defined in different ways. In the U.S. were largely thinking in terms of the next eight months because of the November election. Xi might not be in power for life, but he has years to work with instead of months.

Even if Xi and his military advisers are thinking in terms of years instead of months it feels like the longer they wait the less likely it is an invasion will happen. The window of opportunity may be closing because the U.S. commitment to its Pacific Pivot will likely only grow stronger in the next few years. Also, Americans might be starting to wake up to the serious threat posed by China. For example, bipartisan legislation aimed at hamstringing the Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok has slowly been working its way through Congress.

It is an open question whether the Biden administration is prepared to come to Taiwan's defense if China attacks. Like his predecessors, President Biden has maintained a state of strategic ambiguity regarding his administrations intentions. Even a short, limited war between China and the United States in and around the Taiwan Strait would be a nasty, brutal event with the potential for several thousand casualties on both sides. Within this relatively confined waterway there would be at the very least dozens of ships, hundreds of fighter planes and thousands of missiles of all types grinding up this little patch of the Pacific.

A Chinese invasion of Taiwan would almost certainly begin with a combination of cyberattacks, psychological and information operations, disguised troop landings such as civilian car transports carrying Marines and special operations forces, conventional amphibious landings, airborne/air assault operations on key targets such as airports. We would also expect sabotage of critical infrastructure such as bridges, communication nodes, and supply depots by Chinese agents.

The scenario described is no small undertaking and, like any military operation, would be fraught with many difficulties. Xi needs a quick victory so he can present the world with a fait accompli that could not be reversed without an ugly and protracted war that the U.S. certainly does not want.

While no one knows exactly what a Trump administration would do in the event of a Chinese invasion, we do know that Trump regards China as a serious threat to the U.S. This is contrasted with the Biden administration's weakness on China in general and specifically the Biden family's alleged corrupt dealings with Chinese businessmen and government officials. What the rest of 2024 holds for American politics is uncertain and this is why the Chinese have a decision to make. Do they go now with the perceived low possibility of U.S. intervention, or do they wait a year or more and risk a greater chance of intervention with a Trump administration? Do the Chinese really see it this way? Perhaps they fear a flailing Biden administration would react aggressively to an attack on Taiwan in hopes of bolstering its standing in the short term.

It's possible that Communist China has already calculated, despite its bellicose rhetoric and aggressive actions in the Taiwan Strait, that the cost of an invasion of its island neighbor is not worth the benefits of "reunification." Perhaps the regime believes it can sufficiently pressure and isolate Taiwan to the point that a shooting war can be avoided. For example, Taiwan could be weakened by embargoes or blockades to the point that the embattled nation eventually chooses to reunify with the mainland to avoid further damage.

The point is the U.S. intelligence services likely cant agree on what the Chinese are going to do or when they would do it. Like previous administrations, the Biden administration is hoping deterrence will do the trick. In addition to arms sales and Navy patrols the administration has deployed Army Special Forces units to at least two of Taiwan's outer island chains Penghu and Kinmen. The Kinmen Islands are less than six miles off the coast of mainland China. It's debatable if this military assistance registers in China more as an attempt at deterrence or provocation. If Xi has made the decision to move against Taiwan, then the presence of a few hundred U.S. advisors won't change his mind. What happens if some of the U.S. soldiers get killed or captured in the event of an invasion?

The situation boils down to a few key points: Does the Biden administration intend to intervene in the event of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan? If it does, then have the Pentagons planners delivered contingency plans on how it will get it done? Prudence dictates the U.S. assumes China hasnt rethought its invasion of Taiwan and that deterrence has failed. If the U.S. intends to act it must be prepared to go immediately or the whole thing would likely be over before it can prevent a Chinese victory.

Mike is the author of the book A Short History of the Long War: The Global Struggle Against Militant Islamism. He can be reached at mcpthx1138@aol.com

Image: National Archives
The progressive demand that math education be revised to promote the DEI agenda raises fundamental questions about the nature of mathematics, its relationship to society, and its role in education and life.

We already understand that the relationship between math and society is the consequence flowing from the relationship between math and science, on the one hand, and the well-known relationship between science and society, on the other hand. However, those are conclusions. We need to think about how we got there.

What is the relationship between math and science?

In his introduction to Human Diversity: The Biology of Gender, Race, and Class, Charles Murray explains,

The sciences form a hierarchy. Physics rests on mathematics, chemistry on physics, biology on chemistry, and, in principle, the social sciences on biology, wrote evolutionary biologist Robert Trivers.

This places mathematics at the foundation of all the sciences. Galileo Galilei (1564-1642), the father of modern science, was an Italian mathematician, physicist, astronomer, and natural philosopher. Frequently attributed to Galileo is the quip that Mathematics is the language of science.

Image by bimbimkha.

That quip is without question a true assertion, and it raises several follow-up questions, two of which are:

(1) If math is the language of science, then what is the language of mathematics?

(2) Exactly what is mathematics?

Each of these two questions has a simple but, perhaps, surprising answer.

First, The language of mathematics is ordinary modern language; that is, English, Spanish, German, Chinese, etc. This means that all that so many math-phobic people view as mathematical gobbledygook is, in reality, a compact and economical rendition of ordinary language.

For a simple example of this, the English statement Five plus three times some real number x is twenty-three can be rendered in math-talk as 3x+5=23. This compact algebraic symbolism is a great convenience, facilitating the development of simple techniques for solving the equation that are easily within the grasp of the middle schooler.

As a more complicated example of this, consider the mathematical symbolic statement:

This is the agreed symbolism for the following statement in ordinary English:

For every positive real number epsilon there is a positive real number delta such that for every chain C from 3 to 10 with mesh less than delta and every interpolating sequence I of C, the sum formed by f, C and I is within epsilon of 20.

The average reader unfamiliar with calculus is not expected to understand that passage, but the point is that the English passage and the mathematical notation have the same meaningand one could do the same with the mathematical notation and any other language.

And secondly, exactly what is mathematics? The answer is simple, albeit perhaps a bit mysterious: Mathematics is logic applied to a quantitative axiom system.

As mathematics is a branch of logic, it serves as a conduit for applying logic to problems. Approaching a problem mathematically is a technique for bringing logic to bear upon it.

Mathematics thus consists of only three kinds of entities: axioms, definitions, and theorems. Theorems are propositions logically deduced from the axioms and definitions.

An axiom is a proposition taken as true without proof. The axiom systems are usually (but not necessarily) deemed (assumed, believed) to describe nature, and the application of logic to the axiom is, therefore, deemed to reveal information about nature.

The key point here is that mathematics, at its essence, is logic applied to nature.

This point is subtle and not always understood, even by those who ought to understand it. In The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Mathematics in the Natural Sciences, an essay written by Eugene Wigner, a famous physicist, Wigner writes that the enormous usefulness of mathematics in the natural sciences is something bordering on the mysterious and there is no rational explanation for it.

Wow! There is no rational explanation for the enormous usefulness of mathematics in the natural sciences?! Perhaps Wigner is missing something. Might a rational explanation be formulated from the fact that mathematics is logic, logic is wisdom, and By wisdom the Lord laid the earths foundations; by understanding he set the heavens in place. (Proverbs 3:19)

(See also Mario Livio, Is God A Mathematician?)

In this vein, you might also find interesting physicist Sabine Hossenfelders video, which marches nicely alongside her delightful book Lost in Math:

What are the axiom systems to which I refer for purposes of this essay? There are several, but the one that occupies most of college mathematics and the one with which the reader is already familiar from K-12 is the Real Number System (RNS). You have studied properties of the RNS in K-12 school math textbooks without being told that these properties are axioms of the RNS.

The axioms of the RNS fall into three classes: Eight algebraic axioms, four order axioms, and one topological axiom. You are familiar with the algebraic and order axioms of the RNS but probably not with the sole topological axiom, which is the axiom that makes calculus possible.

Sparing you the details of these 13 axioms, the point of all this has been for you to see that the arc of our interest has been from society to science to mathematics to logic.

Logic is the science of correct reasoning. Logic has two major divisions: deduction and induction. Deduction is the science of inference from premises to conclusion, and induction is the art of selecting premises for deduction.

In K-12, there is no course entitled Logic. Students first encounter Intro to Logic in college. But even though logic does not appear in K-12 expressly denominated as such, the fact that math is logic, and both math and logic are mediated by language, means that all math work is replete through and through with logic and solving math problems, whether pure or applied. That is precisely the reason why math itself in K-12 is so critically important for success in college and in lifeand why it is dangerous to America generally, and profoundly damaging to minority children specificallyto degrade mathematics in America.
Those who oppose the pro-Hamas anarchy on Americas college campuses have enjoyed the footage of an Emory University economics professor resisting arrest, something she justified on the grounds that I am a professor of economics. However, that video was a shorter segment of a somewhat longer video generally revealing that civil disobedience, once a principled stand against morally wrong government actions, is now seen as a free pass to lawlessness. And given how Democrat-controlled governments in America have encouraged lawlessness for decades, you cant really blame these foul young Democrats for their attitude.

Well begin with a short history of civil disobedience. In the middle of the 19th century, Henry David Thoreau articulated what constitutes civil disobedience. Thoreau opposed both the Mexican-American war and slavery, so he refused to pay his taxes because he would not financially support a government that engaged in illegal, immoral, and unconstitutional activity. He knew he would beand he wasjailed, although a relative paid his taxes, securing his release the next day. Thoreau then wrote Resistance to Civil Government, which was published in 1849.

The key to Thoreaus thesis is that when a government passes unjust laws, there is a single principled way to challenge them: Under a government which imprisons unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison. In other words, the martyrdom of arrest and imprisonment lies at the heart of principled civil disobedience. Both Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., understood this, using non-violent protest to force the British and Southern governments to be exposed for the evil they were doing.

Image: Caroline Fohlin moving in on an arrest. CNN screen grab (fair use).

(Note: Thoreauean civil disobedience works only against abusive but non-totalitarian governments. In truly totalitarian systems, the penalty for opposing the government isnt imprisonment; its death. Thus, this past week in Iran, rapper Toomaj Salehi was sentenced to death for criticizing the government.)

For a long time, though, Democrats have done away with the principled part of civil disobedience, that is the willingness to go to prison or face other consequences short of torture and death to highlight the problem with the government. Indeed, the opposite has been true.

Those who have violated laws that Democrats dislike were feted. Gavin Newsom, who illegally conducted same-sex marriages in San Francisco in 2004 when he was the mayor, used that civil disobedience as a platform for his gubernatorial run, which has positioned him for a presidential run. Break the law, and youll get fawning interviews, book deals, political power, and Hollywood parties.

Beginning in 2020, Democrats gave up any pretense at all of law and order for political protests. Blocking streets and freeways, looting stores, burning buildings, attacking the police...it was all good. Since October 7, those who pulled down posters of the Israeli hostages whom Hamas had kidnapped, made open threats to kill Jews, or assaulted people on the streets...almost all of them got away without charges or with limp spaghetti slaps on the wrist.

As the pro-Hamas, antisemitic protests took over one Ivy League campus after another, the various administrations bowed down beforeand joined in withthe illegal protests. And they are illegal. Putting aside the violation of campus speech codes, which should require suspension or expulsion, to the extent all these protests have been physically and verbally aggressive toward Jews, they violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Because there were no consequences at the Ivies, its no wonder that students at Emory University in Atlantaa blue city in a purple statethought that they could do the same without repercussions.

As you can see in this video (which I cannot embed), the hysterical students are genuinely bewildered as to why they are being arrested. Theyre also unclear about the mechanics of arrest because they view the limited restraints of zip ties as a fascist attack. (Clearly, they havent been paying attention to Iran, which really does fascism the historically accurate way, with bullets, beatings, and executions.)

The key part of the linked video, of course, is when Caroline Fohlin gets arrested. You can see her come up behind the officer as he is engaged in arresting a screaming protester. Then, when he turns on her for interfering with his official duties, she resists arrest while protesting that shes an economics professor:

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

What the video doesnt show, but a clueless Fohlin later concedes, is that she hit the officer on the head when she went up to him:

Heres that Professor of Economics who was arrested at Emory university and everyone seems to think is some poor victim of police repression. Caroline Fohlin ADMITS she hit a police officer on the head. Even professors are not allowed to assault cops. Yes, even professors. pic.twitter.com/YK5TrZokPD  Heidi Bachram  (@HeidiBachram) April 27, 2024

Fohlin genuinely does not understand that theres a problem when you do not immediately remove yourself from an illegal protest and then compound that with assaulting a police officer, interfering in anothers arrest, and resisting your own arrest. In her world, civil disobedience, especially when youre encased in the armor of the protected class of professorship, means you are free from all consequences of your actions. The students believe the same.

As I said at the start of this essay, theyre all justified in believing as they do. For decades, and with increasing visibility over the years, Democrat-affiliated, violent activists have gotten a pass for criminal behavior that they re-define as the highest form of civil disobedience. The notion that you show that laws are unjust through your own martyrdom is utterly alien to them.

Of course, it remains to be seen whether any of the arrestees will actually be prosecuted, suspended, or fired for their conduct. If not, the Atlanta government will simply reinforce the Democrat idea that civil disobedience is a free pass.
Every good societal intention can be perverted for personal gain.

Those in society who feign disability or frailty are leveraging the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure their lives are easier.

All the while, those with real disabilities long to for a life where it is not necessary.

When the ADA was signed into law in 1990 by George H.W. Bush, there was purposeful intent to create access to buildings, transportation, and even communication for those members of society who were limited in some physical capacity. The law (Title 1) prohibited discrimination against people due to their physical limitation and required reasonable accommodations be made to allow people to pursue and/or execute their jobs. One of these reasonable accommodations is the use of a service animal. Service animals, most of which are dogs, but also miniature horses, go through a rigorous training program to allow them to perform tasks directly related to a persons disability (i.e., that of a seeing eye dog for the blind).

Service animals provide and fill in some of those the physical gaps that a disabled person may not be able to perform on a daily basis; these animals do work. While there is emotional bond between the person and their service animal, that is not primary purpose.

Recently there has been a shift, where the accommodation of a service animal has become corrupted by a narcissistic hypersensitive segment of society that seems to think that a service animal and emotional support animal (ESA) are one in the same. This, of course, is not the case. The American Kennel Club clearly states on their home page the following:

Emotional support dogs are pets and not service dogs

Mental health professionals may prescribe ESAs under the law

Airlines are no longer required to accommodate ESAs

This emotional support culture has birthed a questionable support industry that can provide everything from vests for your ESA to official-looking documents and licenses, all of which convey no authoritative source.

Of course, this trope plays well to the entitled narcissistic segment of society who fail to take the time to understand the law or even try to conform to societal standards.

Instead, because they need support they take their dog, peacock, or emotional support duck into Starbucks or the TSA pre-check line, thereby causing unneeded chaos and collateral damage for unsuspecting patrons who just want to get on with their lives.

The Starbucks manager or TSA agent then has to tell the person that their ESA is not permitted in the facility but will then quickly retreat in an effort to comfort and accommodate the hysterical individual and quell the situation. This happens dozens if not hundreds of times a year and each time it erodes societal norms a little bit more.

To stop this chronic over-accommodation of the hysterical minority, there are a few steps that can be taken.

The first, but maybe the hardest, in a courteous non-confrontational manner, just say no and do not apologize  coffee shops, dormitories, airports, bakeries, and retails stores are not equipped to deal with ESAs that may be undisciplined. These people and their pets need to be removed and/or not permitted entry no matter how hysterical they may become.

The second, which is more litigious, is to have consistent policy and language when dealing with this issue. The Fair Housing Act (FHA) runs counter to the ADA, in that it recognizes and allows ESAs to be brought into rental housing even if the landlord does not permit them. The FHA also does not make a clear distinction between service and emotional support animals, but instead uses the term assistance animal for purposeful ambiguity. The ADA also needs a level of clarity added to allow for owner/operators of businesses and those in positions of authority to directly question the validity of the service animal. Currently under the law you may ask:

 Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?

 What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

You are not allowed to:

 Request any documentation that the dog is registered, licensed, or certified as a service animal

 Require that the dog demonstrate its task, or inquire about the nature of the persons disability.

Because service animals are not required to wear vests, a dog or any other animal that is wearing a vest is not necessarily a service animal. People who operate on the margins and look to exploit these accommodations know this and outfit their pet with a vest and have rage at the ready if anyone should question it.

Dogs at the airport is really a modern metaphor for accommodating those of questionable character who exploit virtue for their own gain or pleasure. The kindness of strangers can only go so far, in that businesses and authorities will reach a point where any/all animals will not be tolerated in any capacity, and the members of society that need to rely on service animals will become the true victims of over-accommodation.
News coverage of the protests at our elite universities is focused mainly on downplaying, even justifying, rallies for terrorists and antisemitism, the DNA of such events. It would appear elitism now consists of academic and financial fraud as schools such as Columbia have canceled in-person classes for the remainder of the semester, relying instead on Zoom classes, the Covid distance learning alternative produces no learning, distance or otherwise. I suffered through that the final semester before I retired. I knew I was defrauding the public. Everyone knew it, but we had no choice. Our elite universities are choosing to defraud their students in favor of Marxist radicals.

Unsurprisingly, many students are demanding tuition refunds, which considering theyre paying around $100,000 a year, seems more than reasonable.

Graphic: X Screenshot

Instapundits Glenn Reynolds suggests students, particularly Jewish students, ought to attend college in the South:

My advice to Jewish students at these institutions: Come on down. At schools like mine, the University of Tennessee, in red states, such intimidation, harassment and lawlessness arent tolerated.

As Jason Aldean noted, try that in a small town.

In the red states, support for Israel isnt controversial. In our allegedly elite northeastern and California universities it can get you mobbed. People are friendly, and many of these schools have a lively Jewish presence and would welcome more. Maybe the degrees arent from Columbia, but the way things are going, is that so bad?

Reynolds oversells Columbia even in its current debased state. Getting a degree elsewhere is not only not so bad, its better.

And amenities aside, most important, you wont be surrounded by people who hate Jews, people who are enabled, if not encouraged, by university administrations dependent on the full-tuition revenues of hate-filled foreign students and their governments. (If foreign money is corrupting our universities to this extent, maybe we should shut it off.)

Students of all backgrounds really need to go to college anywhere but the coasts. States like Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana and othersOK, Minnesota is a lost cause--offer genuine education rather than ephemeral, self-imagined elite, credentials. There is a world of difference between getting an education and attending an ivy league school.

There is little question many faculty, even in non-coastal colleges, are woke or lean that way, but there remain many institutions of higher learning that remain dedicated to just that: learning rather than social, political or sexual indoctrination. Such colleges dont have time or the inclination to indulge protests and similar nonsense. Administrators expect teachers to teach, teachers expect students to be present for every class, and everyone expects students to demonstrate what theyve learned. Most importantly, the public demands that of the colleges their tax dollars support.

When I took my undergraduate degree in English and Music back in the 80s, I spent only about $10,000 in tuition and book expenses at my South Dakota state college. True, I managed the degree in 2.5 years by taking 22 credits per semester and every summer and interim course I could manage, and there were gas, food and other expenses, but even then, my degree cost a small fraction of the degrees granted by socialist hell holes like Columbia. Fast forward to 2024 and I would surely have to spend far more for a degree, but the difference in cost, and experience, would remain stark.

In elite schools, students commonly attend classes with hundreds of students taught by graduate assistants. Full professors, who might drop by on occasion, are occupied elsewhere, and are often so busy professing CRT and DEI lunacy, students are unknowingly grateful theyre not around. In Flyover Country state colleges, its common to have small classes20 or sotaught by full professors, people who know their discipline and know and care about their students.

In the real world, businesses welcome state college graduates because they know things and can do things. That, not an Ivy League credential, matters. Such institutions are so devaluing their own degrees, businesses are increasingly dropping degree requirements and refusing to hire from the Ivy League. Weve had our fling with DEI (Didnt Earn It). Merit matters when performance generates profit and profit prevents bankruptcy.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of avoiding the coasts is avoiding the unearned arrogance of the self-imagined elite, and their hateful prejudices. Flyover Country folks tend to be friendly, kind and helpful. Theyre busy making a living and taking care of their families. They dont have time, nor the inclination, to hate anyone. Leave them alone, and theyre happy to leave you alone, though theyre quick to pitch in if you need help.

Prof. Reynolds is right. Go west, young student. Youll get a degree, an actual education, and find lifelong friends and American values.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
The Supreme Court is deciding Fischer v. United States, a case challenging how the DOJ and the D.C. court have been using 18 U.S.C.  1512(c)(2) against January 6 defendants. Because its obvious that theyve violated the most basic precepts of statutory interpretation, its likely that the Supreme Court will reverse the conviction. However, the D.C. court just issued an order establishing that defendants other than Joseph Fischer who use the decision to appeal their convictions will suffer an even worse fate. This is a reminder that the law in Democrat enclaves is unconcerned with justice. Instead, it exists to further the Democrat partys power.

Section 1512(c)(2) contains a seemingly magical phrase that the DOJ and D.C. court have used to send hundreds of law-abiding citizens to jail or otherwise destroy their lives: Whoever corruptly...obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding...shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. According to the DOJ and the D.C. court, when Americans showed up to protest what they believed was an improper election certification based upon a corrupt election, they were obstructing, influencing, or impeding an official proceeding.

Image: The average D.C. judge (metaphorically, not literally) by AI.

However, if one examines the statute, its obvious, from the title on down (Tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant), that  1512 addresses the crime of destroying or corrupting evidence in a criminal proceeding or investigation. It has nothing to do with exercising free speech in the legislative context. Taking language out of its statutory context to achieve an end the legislature never intended is a big judicial no-no. (See here for a somewhat more in-depth analysis.)

The DOJ and D.C. court know that their interpretation of  1512(c)(2) is likely to be reversed. Even the most ideologically corrupt Supreme Court justice will have a very difficult time pretending that the statute can be extended beyond its manifest purpose of protecting evidence.

Any reversal will apply only to Joseph Fischer, the J6 defendant whose case is before the Supreme Court. However, once the Court overturns his conviction, the way is clear for every other J6 defendant convicted using  1512(c)(2) to challenge the conviction. This has the DOJ and the D.C. court in a panic, but theyve come up with a plan.

For those few J6 defendants convicted only under  1512(c)(2), theres nothing the DOJ and D.C. court can do to stop them from tasting freedom and having their records wiped clean. However, most of the J6 defendants were charged and convicted on myriad grounds. (One of the things prosecutors do is stack as many charges as possible in an indictment. This gives them huge leverage in negotiating plea bargains and means a probable win on somethinganythingif the matter goes to trial.)

With an eye to the charge stacking common in criminal prosecutions, the D.C. court has just issued an order in the case of Larry Brock telling him that, if he dares challenge his  1512(c)(2) conviction, the court has something much worse in store for him: It will change its initial order so that the various penalties originally imposed upon him will no longer be served concurrently but, instead, will be served consecutively.

Here's what that means. Under the concurrent standard, if a defendant was sentenced to two years for Crime A and two years for Crime B, both those sentences will be fulfilled by the same two years in prison. After two years, hes a free man. However, if theyre switched to a consecutive system, the defendant will serve two years for Crime A. Once those two years are completed, the term for Crime B immediately begins. Thus, it will take four years for the prisoner to be freed:

I really hope SCOTUS is paying attention to how DC judges are scheming to keep J6ers in prison on 1512c2 convictions if SCOTUS reverses that charge in J6 cases.



This order is not just a warning to the defendant involvedLarry Brock, a decorated military veteran with no criminal pic.twitter.com/f9CncQUz8W  Julie Kelly  (@julie_kelly2) April 26, 2024

You may have noticed that what youre seeing is an order, meaning it comes from the judges. However, the D.C. judges havent impressed anyone as a particularly intelligent bunch. They are ideologues. Thats all. Thats why I keep throwing in the DOJ when I discuss this issue. Id bet good money that the bright minds in the Democrat party, both in the DOJ and among the Democrat cadre of lawyers who lurk behind the scene, are the ones who came up with this idea.

I practiced law in the San Francisco Bay Area. What became obvious very early was that Democrat party judges held themselves to a very special standard. They saw themselves as above the justice-based principles of due process, the facts of the case, and the applicable law.

Instead, almost all of them believed that their black robes put them in direct contact with the higher power of social justice, allowing them to determine entirely upon ideological rather than constitutional and legal grounds. The only surprise for me now is that Democrat judges have become so open in their corruption and so blatantly partisan in their desired outcomes. This is evil and will stop only if they are held to account for their criminal trespasses. Its to be hoped that when Trump returns to the White House, reforming our broken judicial system is one of his first acts.
For years, leftists have been insisting that theyre not antisemitic. Theyre just anti-Zionist. Their animosity toward the worlds only Jewish state (which exists in a vast sea of Muslim nations) has nothing to do with its being, you know, Jewish. Thats purely coincidental. However, as the Soros-funded campus marches* and occupations heat up, its become extremely clear that the impulse behind the protests is both antisemitic and genocidal.

One of the early signs of the genocidal impulse was this woman asking that the Jews protesting behind her get murdered by Hamas terrorists:

Someone sent me this from Columbia tonight. Some Jewish students were holding Israeli and American flags so this girl stood in front of them with the below sign.



Al-Qasam is the Hamas military wing.



They are openly pro-Hamas and threatening fellow students. pic.twitter.com/Eo5BaA7h70  AG (@AGHamilton29) April 21, 2024

On George Washington Universitys campus, one of the protesters was even more open about his goal, carrying a sign that read Final Solution.

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

There was also a peaceful protester who openly threatened to kill a pro-Israel protester (a threat included throwing in an anti-gay insult, which is a tip-off about Hamas supporters real feelings about the LGBTQ+ crowd):

WATCH: Anti-Israel agitator threatens a pro-Israel protester outside of Columbia University before NYPD steps in.



Ill kill your ass, youre a white f*ggot!



I captured this on the scene for @realDailyWire pic.twitter.com/OSpDkDVoqp  Spencer Lindquist  (@SpencerLndqst) April 26, 2024

However, the most openly Hitler-esque rant came from Khymani James. Hes not just any old protester. Instead, he/she/they is one of the leaders of the Columbia University pro-Hamas protests.**

In the video, James offered several pearls of antisemitic wisdom, all of which are in the short compilation, below. They include his saying, Zionists dont deserve to live, be grateful that Im not just going out and murdering Zionists, and yes, I feel very comfortable, very comfortable, calling for these people to die. Its clear that when he says Zionists, he means Israelis and other Jews:

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

If youre interested, heres the full video:

Here is the full Khymani James live-stream that includes his disciplinary meeting with Columbia University over making threatening social media posts.



I saved you all the first 30 minutes where he rants with a friend and started with the school meeting. pic.twitter.com/DfN6mKdlbm  Kassy Akiva (@KassyDillon) April 26, 2024

Perhaps youve wondered where the everybody is a Nazi rhetoric constantly emanating from the left was going to end up. Well, now you know: If youre a Nazi, he gets to kill you. And do remember that while James is only speaking about Jews right now when youre a leftist, there are other Nazis, namely, MAGA supporters, conservatives, and Republicans. In Jamess world, its always open season on all of us.

Once the video went viral, James felt obligated to issue an apology.

Read my statement below: pic.twitter.com/0u6mwycAYS  Khymani James (@KhymaniJames) April 26, 2024

That is an amazing document. Although James starts by admitting he was wrong, he then explains that he wasnt wrong at all. Instead, he was the victim, targeted because of his sexuality, while Zionism is a genocidal ideology that is killing all the Palestinian people. That is, he pretty much stands by his claim that Israelis and Jews are Nazis. And, as he made plain, Nazis need to die...

Whether or not one likes Gone With The Wind (I happen to consider it an extraordinary novel), theres one line that always stands out. It happens when Scarlet is weeping because her misguided conduct led to a botched raid that killed her first husbands death. Rhett fully understands what the pretty sociopath is really thinking. You are in the exact position of a thief whos been caught red handed and isnt sorry he stole but is terribly, terribly sorry hes going to jail. That is James in a nutshell.

Whats happening now doesnt surprise me. Ive been watching this upswing in antisemitism for almost thirty years. What does surprise me is that the whole movement has finally decided to cast off any pretense.

Were seeing very clearly that this is not about the poor Palestinians, the rights of indigenous people, colonialism, or anything else. Instead, this is the oldest hatred once again revealing itself.

And while its deeply disturbing to see, I hope that there are enough decent Americans to pull back from the abyss and to reject the same madness that drove WWII, led to the deaths of 40,000,000 people, including 6,000,000 Jews, and left much of Europe in ruins. No good can come of antisemitism run amok.

_______________

*Its ironic, of course, that someone of Jewish descent is funding all of this. However, its important to remember that George Soross only tie to Judaism is genetic. This is a man who cares nothing for his Jewish heritage or for the Torah. He is guided by a peculiarly malevolent combination of Marxist atheism and nihilism.

But what can you expect from a man who looks back fondly on his years aiding the Nazis as they persecuted Jews? I dont know whether he was a sociopath before that experience, but he certainly was one after that experience.

**And yes, its another irony that the leader of these protests is, by virtue of his sexual confusion, someone who would be thrown from a rooftop within minutes of setting foot in Gaza. His cognitive dissonance highlights the ignorance that lurks behind most of these protesters beliefs.

Image: X screen grab.
The Bidens Handlers DOJ has done it again. Actually, they did it in 2022, but the Supreme Court has granted cert. The issue is so-called ghost guns, guns without a unique serial number.

This stems from the Gun Control Act of 1968, which required a serial number for every firearm manufactured in America. Not every manufacturer before then used serial numbers. The system established by the GCA works like this: serial numbers are recorded on each ATF Form 4473, which must be filled out at the retail point of sale for each gun. Those forms are kept by every Federal Firearm Licensee (FFL).

It's illegal for the federal government to keep a firearm registry of any kind, but that has not stopped Democrat/socialist/communist (D/s/c) administrations from trying to do just that. Trust in government, particularly relating to gun issues, is at an all-time low.

Graphic: Glock 43. Author

Heres the background of the current case:

That provision of GCA has always been interpreted as referring to finished firearms. However, in 2022 Garland promulgated a rule extending that requirement to firearm components. This would significantly increase the regulatory reach of the Biden administration over the firearms industry and increase the cost of making and selling firearms, rendering them less affordable and accessible to American citizens, and forcing many firearm makers and sellers out of business.

The Biden-Garland regulation was challenged under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). Judge Reed OConnor in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas agreed that Garlands regulation exceeds any lawful authority the federal government has under GCA. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed in relevant part.

In recent years, many Americans have enjoyed building their own rifles and handguns from parts kits, which is entirely legal. Many of those kits do not have serial numbers, and a gun made from raw materials by someone with the necessary skills and machinery likewise has no serial number. These are the ghost guns so commonly demonized by contemporary D/s/cs.

Serial numbers are of little use. Criminals, by nature lazy sorts, rarely if ever obtain guns by building their own. Their guns come largely from thefts and the black market. Ghost guns are made and possessed almost exclusively by Americans who will never commit a crime, and certainly not with the guns they make.

During my police career, I never solved a crime by tracing a serial number, nor am I aware of anyone who did. Anti-gun/liberty cracktivists, and Hollywood would have us believe serial numbers are an essential crime fighting tool. Reality, as usual, is otherwise.

The police find a handgun left at a robbery scene and enter the serial number into their computer. The all-knowing government database tells them it was bought by Joe Normal of 1234 Average Street, Placid, Nebraska, at Placid Guns, on 11-02-2010. Ah-hah! They have their man, and the case is solved in less than an hour, minus commercials.

Not quite. There is no such government database, and even if there were, all it would tell the police is the identity of the original buyer 14 years earlier. They would still have to prove Joe Normal was present at the time and place of the crime, and used that handgun in violation of the law. Whats most likely is Joe traded that gun in for another one in another state sometime in the past, and the ownership trail moves on, indecipherably, from there.

If the robbery happened in Placid, NE, and if the police went to every FFL licensee in the area and checked their records, they might be able to find Joes 4473. If Placid Guns computerized all their 4473s before 2010, that is. If not, theyd have to go through every paper copy on file at Placid Guns to try to find that serial number. Imagine if the robbery happened in another town or state.

A gun might be traced through manufacturer records, to the wholesale buyer, then to the FFL licensee, but again, the problem of finding the 4473 and putting the gun in the original purchasers hand at the crime scene remains.

A serial number, if the victim of a burglary kept a record of it, might help if the burglary was reported and the local police agency entered that serial number into the federal NCIC database. If the burglar was caught with the gun and an officer ran an NCIC check, the gun might show as stolen. Thats less common than one might imagine. But other than that, there is little reason to require serial numbers.

There is, however, every reason to prevent government from assuming powers the Constitution does not grant. Hopefully, the Supreme Court will agree.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
This sounds like a sit-com set-up, but its not: The progressive Democrats at the University of Washington in Seattle, a very white, very affluent public institution, wanted to hold a pro-Hamas, antisemitic rally. However, they had to call it off because there were way too many white kids and way too few actual Muslims to provide cover for these kids anti-American activities!

One of the things many have noticed is that the campus protests were seeing are mostly taking place at rich students colleges and prestigious state institutions, both of which have a combination of rich white kids, affirmative action kids (grants and scholarships), and foreign students (especially beloved at chichi state institutions, where they pay full fare, in cash), many of whom come from Muslim countries. The city and state colleges that normal American kids attend, however, have mostly ignored the whole protest phenomenon.

Image: The University of Washington campus (cropped) by Punctured Bicycle. Public domain.

Fifteen or twenty years ago, I heard a StandWithUs talk at which one of the groups founders explained what was happening at these affluent American campuses when it came to rising antisemitism. She explained that Jewish kids were at a loss when dealing with anti-Israel and antisemitic protests on campus because they were there to have the college experienceclasses and funwhile the antisemitic agitators were professionals.

Thus, these professional students were sponsored by Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries and had no interest in either grades or fun. They were there to work, with the work being to build a strong base of hostility on campus to Israel and Jews.

The money didnt just go to these professional students. Muslim countries have been pouring money into academia, money that pays for the institutions vast faculty and administration infrastructures. This chart (original unknown) helps explain how much money lies behind this approach to foreign-funded campus indoctrination:

As you can see, other than China, Russia, and Venezuela, every one of the countries flooding campuses with money is Muslim. Its noteworthy in this regard that the Palestinian Authority (a) isnt even a country; (b) has no economy of its own; (c) always cries poor; and (d) is using other countries money to fund this indoctrination. Nevertheless, it can still pay indoctrination money into American colleges and universities.

The above cash flow is the bedrock of the increased antisemitism on college campuses. When you in the George Soros money funding the top-line agitators, you can see that whats happening on these campuses isnt an organic outcropping of American values. Its a very Astroturfed phenomenon done with overseas cash and heavily funded anti-Western NGOs.

The thing about Astroturf, though, is that youll never have enough cash or bodies to go around. There are, after all, slightly shy of 4,000 institutions of higher education (a term of dubious descriptive value) in America today. Its impossible for Muslim countries and George Soros to put together all the money or manpower needed to flood every campus in a way that will create a critical mass for Nazi-style rallies across America.

That gets us to the University of Washington in Seattle. Its kind of white (36%) and Asian (26%), with only 15% of its students from foreign countries and only 3% being black. Its also wealthy, with 80% of its students designated as affluent.

But as weve learned since 2020, the students who have most absorbed the Marxist indoctrination inculcated beginning in kindergarten are those white, affluent kids. There the ones who perfectly embody Lenins two sayings, the first about the useful idiots and the second about those capitalists [who] will sell us the rope with which we will hang them.

Naturally enough, these rich, white, useful idiots were all set to have a campus occupation in solidarity with the pro-Hamas, antisemitic moving sweeping the progressive Democrat party. To their chagrin, they discovered that the identity altar before which they pray has let them down:

Activists with the UW Progressive Student Union (UWPSU) announced they are postponing Thursdays UW Palestine encampment because there were too many white students involved. The group received criticism for not including Muslim and Arab students in the organizing. And now you have warring factions of extremists quibbling over who will get credit for demonizing Jews and Israel. The encampment was scheduled for Thursday morning at the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle. UW administration privately told Jewish leaders that the school did not intend to intervene with the direct action unless the event escalates and threatens life safety. Still, the predominantly white UWPSU opted to call off the encampment 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 UWPSU Instagram statement said.

I dont have words of wisdom or quips to offer here. What were seeing is the inevitable collision of Marxism, crazy white people, antisemitism, academia, and identity politics. The only thing thats stopping it from going full 1938 is that, so far, the Muslim immigration to America hasnt got enough warm bodies to go around.
Terrorists and their useful idiot (at best) supporters are shutting down campuses all across the U.S. in approval of Hamass deadly attack on Israeli concert-goers while cowardly campus administrators, afraid of losing all that Muslim oil money, dither  at best.

But Sheryl Sandberg, groundbreaking COO of Meta, is made of stronger stuff. Now retired, so to speak, from Meta, she has released a powerful documentary, Screams before Silence, about Hamas atrocities against Jews in Israel on that evil day, six months ago, in the final days of the fall Jewish holidays, corresponding to October 7, 2023 on the Gregorian calendar.

Never-before-heard eyewitness accounts from released hostages, survivors, and first responders. During the October 7 attacks on Israeli towns and at the Nova Music Festival, women and girls were raped, assaulted, and mutilated. Released hostages have revealed that Israeli captives in Gaza have also been sexually assaulted. Despite the indisputable evidence, these atrocities have received little scrutiny from human rights groups and international organizations. Many leading figures in politics, academia, and media have attempted to minimize or even deny that they occurred.

Lets repeat those last lines, as they are important. Despite the indisputable evidence, these atrocities have received little scrutiny from human rights groups and international organizations. Many leading figures in politics, academia, and media have attempted to minimize or even deny that they occurred.

Minimizing atrocities. Denial. Hmmm, wonder why! Afraid that oil money from Muslim countries underwriting so many civil rights groups and universities might dry up? Not so latent anti-Jewish bigotry in all its ugliness surfacing, disguised as...concern for another so-called minority? A combination of these plus more? Blaming Israel for fighting back and killing hospital patients in the process because Hamas headquartered in hospitals is so much easier. And safer. And approved by all the right people.

Now watch this truthful documentary. WARNING: very graphic! Not for the faint of heart! But necessary!

This behavior has reached Europe, too. Ask the French, the Swedes, and other European countries where Muslims have settled.

Coming soon to an American neighborhood near you? Ask the Jews on college campuses such as Columbia and Harvard for starters.

You have been forewarned! Now watch! And learn!

Thank you, Sheryl Sandberg!

Image via Pexels.
The anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian, and conflated pro-Hamas antisemitism on university campuses in America is astounding. Spitting on, threatening, intimidating, and menacing Jewish fellow students is beyond unacceptable and symptomatic of a malignant antisemitic spiritual plague in America  a scourge that is emerging after festering in the political, social, and collective spiritual marrow of America for many decades. The most shameful aspect of this is that universities are one of the roots.

The other political-social taproot of this American antisemitism is the subliminal and liminal anti-Israel messages of politicians like Barack Obama and the likes of radical leftist politicians of the Squad. It might have helped our country and the world at the time if Barack Obama and the Squad had praised and promoted the Abraham Accords.

It is one thing to vigorously disagree with Israel policies. But after the ghastly, evil attack of Hamas on October 7, 2023, and Israels declaration of war on Hamas, it is a pure expression of evil terrorism for a university student or other American to say, I am Hamas or to threaten more murderous attacks on Israeli citizens or American Jews. American politicians silence or advocacy of moral equivalency on the Hamas issue says volumes.

What Are the Social-Psychological Origins and Dynamics of Student Antisemitism?

As a teenager, I vividly recall my rebellion against my parents rules, their authority, their strict religious beliefs, and the connection to rules about my dress and behavior. I had adolescent heroes and antiheroes. None was ever an antisemite.

As a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, I have had some understanding of adolescent rebellion. I studied Anna Freuds work and admired her observation that adolescents can become enthusiastic about community activities at times and at other times long for solitude. They can be submissive to a chosen leader or defiant to any authority. They can be extremely self-absorbed or materialistic and simultaneously idealistic (Freud, A., The Ego And Mechanisms of Defense, 1936)  but not, in my experience...violently antisemitic in their rebellion!

In my own work, I observed that al-Qaeda, ISIS, and other terror groups exploited adolescents by an appeal to expand and magnify normal adolescent rebelliousness toward a search for independent identity, even an extreme negative identity as a terrorist (Olsson, P., The Making of a Homegrown Terrorist, 2014). I hope Hamas infiltrators are not so using American university students today in America!

I can recall the violent university student rebellion against the Vietnam War, which grew deadly at Kent State and other locations. I agreed with the rebellion and defiance, but never the violence.

I have studied the Holocaust and support the emotionally charged 1948 admission of Israel as an independent state to the United Nations. I understand Natan Sharansky ending his recent essay in the April 26 Wall Street Journal, entitled, The Fight for Freedom, From Exodus to Gaza, with these arresting words:

Let us, then, persist in hope and pray for the freedom of all the enslaved, captured, tyrannized, and oppressed. Let us also not forget that freedom is a precious gift, and that we must rise up to secure it every single day, in every generation.

Israeli warriors are so doing against Hamas, just as Sharansky says.

Until Hamass beyond shameful and evil attack on Israel on October 7, I believed in the Two-State Solution of independent Israel and independent Palestine. At this point in history, however, the only clear reality is that war exists between Israel and Hamas. While there are the laudable Geneva Conventions, and those just war theories, in reality...war is hell, as Hamas surely calculated. The horrors of war always hit innocent or not so innocent civilians and human shields. Remember Hiroshima, Vietnam villagers, Dresdens fire-bombed civilians?

Warriors of democracies at war do their best to spare civilians, but war is hell until it ends in surrender. Then peaceful two-state solutions can be considered. Then true and good students can discover means of preventing war. They might begin their studies today by reading Trumps and Kushners Abraham Accords, which Hamas so clearly despised!

Image via Pxfuel.
The Alba partys Westminster leader has said the party is not saying we are going to save Scotlands First Minister, who faces no confidence votes this week.

Amid the tight parliamentary arithmetic at Holyrood, the vote of the Alba partys sole MSP Ash Regan could be crucial to Humza Yousafs political survival.

The First Minister is attempting to build bridges with the other political leaders at Holyrood, inviting them to talks at his official residence.

However Albas Westminster leader Neale Hanvey told Times Radio that while the party is willing to listen to what Mr Yousaf has to say, it has come to absolutely no firm conclusion about whether to support him.

Alba Party MSP Ash Regan has written to Mr Yousaf (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Mr Hanvey said: Were not saying we are going to save Humza Yousaf. The situation that Humza Yousaf has got himself into is a matter of his own making. And, you know, there is a range of views around whether he will be able to tough it out or whether hes already toast.

He added: Well wait to see what the First Minister comes back with. You know, we have an open position at the moment.

Were willing to listen to what he has to say, but we have come to absolutely no firm conclusion about whether were going to support him or not.

The Alba party leader, Scotlands former first minister Alex Salmond, said a key line of any discussion with Mr Yousaf would be the idea of reviving the Scotland United strategy  which would see a single pro-independence candidate stand in each Scottish constituency.

He told the Sunday Times: If you remember the Scotland United idea from last year which Humza just ignored, which was very popular with the Yes groups and amongst SNP supporters.

It would be difficult to revive it in full now because obviously candidates have been selected [for the general election], but it could be revived in part, or there could be an understanding for the Scottish elections in two years time. So a discussion along these lines, so its a menu of independence options.

He added: We are asking to put independence back as the top priority of the government, which clearly it isnt now.

Mr Yousaf has written to the leaders of Scotlands political parties to seek common ground.

He hopes to hold separate meetings with each group at Bute House in Edinburgh to discuss how they can contribute constructively, while acknowledging that there are strong feelings about the upcoming confidence votes.

Letters were sent to the Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Labour, the Scottish Greens, the Scottish Liberal Democrats and the Alba Party on Friday night.

Mr Yousaf terminated the powersharing deal between the SNP and Scottish Greens on Thursday.

He is now facing a vote of no confidence, tabled by the Scottish Conservatives, while Scottish Labour has tabled one of no confidence in the Scottish Government as a whole.

Mr Yousaf spoke to Sky News on Saturday, where it was put to him that given the lack of support from the Greens, Ms Regan could be crucial to his political survival.

He said: That would be really disappointing if that is the Greens position.

As I say, Ive reached out to them, they are saying publicly that theyre going to support a Conservative motion against  a First Minister, an independence government.

I think that would be, I think, a poor choice to make. So of course I have written to Ash Regan, as well. I look forward to speaking to her too.

The ruling body of the pro-independence Alba Party is holding an emergency meeting over the weekend where Ms Regan, a former SNP MSP, will set out the areas of importance to the people of Scotland that she will seek movement on.

She has written to Mr Yousaf to offer him an early opportunity to discuss three clear priorities  Scottish independence, womens rights and the future of the Grangemouth oil refinery.

In his letters, Mr Yousaf emphasised that the Scottish Parliament has previous experience of minority administrations which had delivered benefits for people, communities and businesses.

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross indicated he is in little mood for compromise (Lesley Martin/PA)

He said: I recognise the strong feelings in relation to the confidence debate our parliament is set to have next week.

Notwithstanding that, I am writing to all Holyrood party groups to ask them to meet me next week, in separate meetings, to discuss their concerns and indeed priorities, in a hopefully constructive spirit.

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, who lodged a motion of no confidence in Mr Yousaf, said: This is a humiliating and embarrassing letter, in which Humza Yousaf is begging to be allowed to keep his job.

His belated abandonment of the Bute House Agreement with the toxic Greens  which he was backing just two days before he finally decided to pull the plug  does nothing to undo the immense damage it has caused.

Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie said it is time for the First Minister to go (Lesley Martin/PA)

The Scottish Greens said they would respond formally to the First Minister in due course, but otherwise their position is unchanged.

Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie has said it is pretty clear Mr Yousaf will not be able to unite Holyrood  urging the SNP to consider finding a replacement for him.

Leaders of the other parties have not yet issued responses to the letters.

Speaking on Friday, Scottish Labours Anas Sarwar said: I am more than happy to engage with people of all parties, but it is clear that Humza Yousaf is out of time.
Chelsea were denied an incredible comeback at Aston Villa as they had an stoppage-time winner ruled out by VAR in a 2-2 draw.

Mauricio Pochettinos men looked to be ending a horror week in style when Axel Disasis header in the fourth minute of time added on crashed in off the crossbar to overturn a 2-0 deficit.

But Benoit Badiashile was ruled to have fouled Diego Carlos in the build-up and the goal was ruled out.

It had seemed like it was going to be another night to forget as Marc Cucurellas own goal and a Morgan Rogers strike put Villa 2-0 up at the break.

But Chelsea, still licking their wounds from their 5-0 hammering at Arsenal in midweek, responded well and drew level through Noni Madueke and Conor Gallagher before the injury-time drama.

Villa will feel they got away with one, despite leading 2-0.

Aiming to qualify for Europes premier club competition for the first time, they were primed to move nine points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham but looked leggy and not at their best.

Referee Craig Pawson consulted the pitchside VAR screen before ruling out Chelseas match-winning goal (David Davies/PA)

The draw has opened the door to Spurs, who have three games in hand, but Villa will still be favourites to finish in fourth as the north London club have Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City still to play.

Pochettino will be pleased with his sides performance and they still have a chance to qualify for Europe if they can finish an inconsistent season strongly.

Just as they did on that horror night at the Emirates on Tuesday, Chelsea conceded after only four minutes as Villa made the dream start.

Pau Torres was given space to advance, he fed Lucas Digne and the full-back pulled back to John McGinn, whose scuffed effort hit Cucurella and went into the net for an unfortunate own goal.

Marc Cucurella scored an own goal to give an early lead to Aston Villa (Nick Potts/PA)

Chelsea had looked vulnerable every time they had to defend, but showed their own threat in the 16th minute when they thought they had levelled.

Moises Caicedos ball over the top set Jackson clear and he coolly finished high into the net, but VAR ruled him to be marginally offside and the goal was chalked off.

That did at least allow Chelsea to assume control and Jackson should have found the back of the net again in the 34th minute as he had more than half the goal to aim a six-yard header at from Cucurellas cross, but instead he hit the far post.

That miss proved costly as Villa doubled their lead four minutes before the break.

Morgan Rogers doubled Villas lead before half-time (Nick Potts/PA)

Matty Cash found Rogers on the edge of the penalty area and he cut inside and fired low into the bottom corner.

Chelsea resumed their territorial advantage after the restart and started the comeback in the 62nd minute when Gallagher robbed Douglas Luiz of possession, with the ball falling kindly to Madueke, who slotted past Robin Olsen.

Villa had barely entered the Chelsea half in the opening 25 minutes of the second half, but showed they could still be a threat on the break when Rogers set Leon Bailey free and his low shot was well saved by Djordje Petrovic.

But they could not stem the wave of Chelsea attacks and the visitors levelled in the 80th minute.

It was a moment of quality, too, as Gallagher curled into the top corner with his left foot.

Watkins fired over a good chance as Villa tried to find a winner, but instead it was they who barely survived.

First a disastrous piece of defending from Diego Carlos allowed Cole Palmer to slalom into the area, but Olsen pulled out a big save.

From the resulting corner, Disasi headed home but it did not count in a dramatic ending.
Four Vietnamese nationals have been arrested following an investigation into alleged people smugglers advertising small boats crossings on Facebook.

The joint UK-French investigation alleges the group shared posts aimed at the Vietnamese community and charged migrants thousands of pounds to make the crossing.

Officers arrested a 23-year-old woman at an address in Heathfield Road in Croydon, south London, a 64-year-old man at an address in Abinger Grove, London and a man, 34, in Grasmere Street, Leicester on Monday, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.

The older man is thought to have acted as a driver, collecting migrants who arrived on small boats and on at least one occasion bringing them back to the Croydon address.

They were held on suspicion of assisting unlawful immigration and questioned by officers.

All three were charged and appeared at Croydon Magistrates Court on Tuesday, the NCA said.

A 25-year-old man was also arrested at the same address in Croydon on Monday on a warrant issued by the French authorities.

A Border Force cutter on patrol, near Dover in Kent (Gareth Fuller/PA)

He will now face extradition proceedings after he was allegedly involved in people smuggling and drug offences.

A further 12 individuals suspected of being linked to the same people smuggling network have also been arrested in Paris, France.

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.

Chris Farrimond, NCA director of threat leadership, said: 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.

Mr Farrimond added: 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.
Former Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein is set to appear in front of a New York judge next week, days after his 2020 rape conviction was overturned.

Weinstein is expected to appear in front of Judge Curtis Farber at the Manhattan Supreme Court on May 1, a spokesperson for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg told the PA news agency.

It comes after a majority decision from the Court of Appeal in New York saw Weinsteins 23-year sentence for rape overturned on Thursday.

Harvey WeinsteinS 23-year sentence for rape was overturned on Thursday (Anthony Devlin/PA)

The decision cited the trial court erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes which was an abuse of judicial discretion.

The ruling sparked outrage among those who testified against him, while Weinsteins lawyer Arthur Aidala described it as a great day for America.

A spokesperson for District Attorney Mr Bragg said: Our Special Victims Division fights each and every day to centre survivors, uplift their voices, and seek justice for these horrific crimes.

Our mission is to centre survivors experiences and wellbeing in every decision we make, which we will do as we approach the next steps in this case.

After the ruling was made, the office of Mr Bragg said it would do everything in our power to retry this case, and remain steadfast in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault.

Weinstein is still in prison after being sentenced to 16 years for rape and sexual assault in Los Angeles last year.

Allegations made against the once powerful and feared studio boss behind Oscar winners including Pulp Fiction and Shakespeare In Love, ushered in a global #MeToo movement in 2017.

It saw women across the world share stories of their own experiences with sexual assault.
ITV News presenter Rageh Omaar has become a familiar face over the years after rising to prominence for his reporting during the Iraq war.

The 56-year-old is currently the ITV News international affairs editor and is the presenter of the broadcasters foreign current affairs programme, ITV On Assignment.

While presenting the ITV News At Ten programme live on Friday, he appeared to struggle to read the news bulletin  sparking concern online.

ITV later said he had become unwell while on the show and that he is receiving medical care.

ITV News presenter Rageh Omaar (Ian West/PA)

In an statement on Saturday, an ITV spokesperson said Omaar is recovering at home with his family after receiving medical treatment in hospital.

We are wishing Rageh a speedy recovery and look forward to him being back on screen when he feels ready, the statement added.

The news presenter added in a statement shared by ITV: I would like to thank everyone for their kindness and good wishes, especially all the medical staff, all my wonderful colleagues at ITV News, and our viewers who expressed concern.

At the time, I was determined to finish presenting the programme. I am grateful for all the support Ive been given.

Born in Somalia and raised in Britain, he studied at Oxford University before going into journalism.

After starting out on The Voice newspaper, he worked as a freelance journalist in Ethiopia and later became a foreign correspondent for the BBC.

In 1998, he was among three British BBC journalists who were arrested in Yemen and charged with breaking the countrys press and publications law by illegally filming information and violating instructions not to visit the area where tribesmen had kidnapped a British family.

Following a short trial, the Foreign Office said they had been found not guilty by a court and were set free.

Rageh Omaar studied at Oxford University (Ian West/PA)

During the Iraq war, he became known in Britain and America as one of the central faces reporting on the conflict when he worked for BBC News.

The New York Post labelled him the Scud Stud within a week of the first American missile hitting Baghdad.

He was praised on his return as an outstanding broadcaster and communicator by the then-BBCs World News Editor, Jonathan Baker.

In 2003, he was named man of the year in an online poll of Radio Times readers, beating former England captain David Beckham to the title.

He also won the best TV news journalist award at the 2003 Ethnic Multicultural Media Academy Awards.

After working for news channel Al Jazeera for a period, he joined ITV News as a special correspondent in 2013 and was later promoted to ITV News international affairs editor.

In the role, he is responsible for covering major news stories across the world.

Omaar was one of the main ITV presenters who reported on the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs wedding in 2018.

He was also stationed with the armed forces at Wellington Barracks to report live for the broadcaster during the Queens funeral.

The news presenter has also featured in a number of TV documentaries and published several books including Revolution Day: The Real Story Of The Battle For Iraq, which provides an account from his days reporting on the conflict.
Lord David Cameron has wrapped up a five-day diplomatic blitz across Central Asia with a flurry of camera-friendly visits in Mongolia.

The Foreign Secretary, a keen equestrian, posed for pictures as he petted horses at prime minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrains Ikh Tenger residence on Friday.

Earlier in the day Lord Cameron was welcomed by head of state Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh at a meeting in a traditional Ger tent in the presidential palace in Ulaanbaatar.

Lord Cameron meets pupils at School No 23 in Ulaanbaatar (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

He touted the benefits of learning English as he took part in a language lesson with young pupils at a school in the capital.

Asked by students what he does in his spare time, the Foreign Secretary joked: Not a lot of free time but when I do have some I like cooking, walking and riding.

The minister was later given a traditional saddle as a gift after his visit to Ikh Tenger.

He was in Central Asia as part of a bid to bolster trade, security and environmental ties in the region.

The Foreign Secretary said he hoped the trip was the start of something very serious.

He told leaders he wanted to give countries in Central Asia the choice between partnering with Britain as well as Russia and China, which vie for influence in the region.

Friday saw him sign a joint co-operation road map between the UK and Mongolia, which aims to set out a path towards closer diplomatic relations.

He has announced 50 million in funding across the region over three years, which includes a doubling in the amount of funding for Chevening scholarships, which allow overseas students to come to British universities.

Lord Cameron at the Ikh Tenger complex in Ulaanbaatar (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

It is understood Lord Cameron believes the Foreign Office needs to do more to back Mongolia in particular after the country decided to make English, rather than Russian, its second language.

He is pledging another 10 million for Ulaanbaatar following that choice, but is said to be planning to push for more support for the country.

On the trip Lord Cameron also raised concerns about Russia using its Central Asian neighbours to side-step UK sanctions by exporting goods to former Soviet states before moving them on to Moscow.

In part the visit is an effort to forge closer links with leaders who have a direct line to President Vladimir Putin, in order to learn more about his thinking on the war and make Britains position clear.

Lord Cameron has tea with Mongolian Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrain (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Foreign Office sources said Russia was the key issue at the heart of most talks, but other threats, including a major Islamic State (IS) recruitment drive in Tajikistan, were also discussed.

Sources said he told leaders in Dushanbe that he recognised they were at the frontline of our fight against IS.

The Foreign Office hopes the roadmap agreements signed with a number of countries serving as an initial step towards a strengthened economic and cultural relationship.

But sources in the Kazakh foreign affairs ministry highlighted the challenges posed to the country by the need to balance its ties with Russia and the west, likening its position to a three-legged stool.

Despite maintaining a neutral stance on the war in Ukraine, many former Soviet states in the region including Kazakhstan have long been dependent on Moscow for their economy and security.

At the end of the trip, Lord Cameron said: What weve got to do is recognise we may not be the greatest power in the world but we should be offering people, like people here in Mongolia, like across central Asia, offering them the choice to work with us.
Doctor

Doctors who treated patients with infected blood products worked for the companies who made them, The Telegraph can disclose.

Leading NHS doctors consulted and did paid research for US pharmaceutical companies who manufactured a miracle treatment for haemophilia that was infected with HIV and hepatitis C.

New documents about the work of doctors in London, Newcastle and Hampshire raise questions of a conflict of interest between specialists and the pharmaceutical industry at a time when there was growing evidence of medication being contaminated with hepatitis and HIV.

In the 1970s and 1980s, 1,250 people with haemophilia contracted HIV after receiving a blood product called Factor VIII. As many as 5,000 more people were infected with hepatitis C from blood products, and up to 28,000 after receiving a blood transfusion.

Most of the HIV infections were caused by Factor VIII imported from the US, where pharmaceutical companies collected plasma from inmates, intravenous drug users, gay men and sex workers as the Aids crisis emerged. The UK didnt make enough of its own Factor VIII, which allowed companies seeking profit to seize a bigger share of the market.

The Infected Blood Inquiry will release its report on May 20 into the biggest treatment disaster in NHS history in which some 3,000 people have died. Survivors and bereaved relatives are seeking compensation from the Government, an apology and answers about how the infections happened.

Admitted he was paid consultant

In the newly revealed meeting minutes from 1977, leading specialist Dr Peter Jones, director of Newcastle Haemophilia Centre, admitted he was a paid consultant for Baxter Healthcares Hyland Laboratories.

Dr Jones, who was too frail to give evidence to the Infected Blood Inquiry, offered to remove himself from a discussion about UK expansion of its own blood products manufacture amid fears that imported US Factor VIII was more likely to contain blood-borne viruses.

Dr Jones declared his interest in this item as he was a paid consultant to Hyland Laboratories, said the memo, shared exclusively with The Telegraph by campaign group Factor 8. It was agreed that he could stay.

Prof Edward Tuddenham, emeritus professor at the Royal Free in London, said the memo raised questions about a conflict of interest. Dr Jones is sort of putting himself on the side of the company, said Prof Tuddenham. To Hyland it would not have been good for the UK to start making its own competitive product. It shows Dr Jones is an adviser to them and their company policy on producing factor concentrates.

Jason Evans, director of the campaign group Factor 8, said: This is years after the risks of hepatitis C have been raised.

It was known in the 1970s that imported US Factor VIII was more likely to transmit hepatitis than the NHS-made version, because the US paid plasma donors, a practice illegal in the UK. When Aids emerged as a threat to people with haemophilia in 1982 it was clear the US was an epicentre.

Downplayed the risks

In 1983, after the first British people with haemophilia developed signs of Aids, Dr Jones downplayed the risks. In May he said: We have absolutely no doubt at all that the benefits are far greater than the risk, if the risk is actually there.

That same month, a letter reveals he still had an interest. Dr Frank Boulton from the NHS Blood and Transplant service wrote about Dr Jones: I felt he was still being somewhat less than cautious in his attitude [towards Aids], but this is not unexpected given his interests etc.

Dr Jones was one of the leading haemophilia advisers along with Prof Arthur Bloom, whose lack of caution over the Aids risk from US Factor VIII was followed by the UK government.

In 1984, Dr Peter Kernoff of the Royal Free Hospital in London told US Factor VIII maker Armour that profound changes to imports of Factor VIII could soon be needed because of the risk of Aids.

Armour offered Dr Kernoff a 12,396 grant (equivalent to 50,000 today) for the salary of a lab technician to research the connection between Aids and blood products, which he accepted.

At the Lord Mayor Treloar College, where 122 pupils were infected with HIV and hepatitis C, 75 of whom have died, the lead doctor Dr Anthony Aronstam wrote a book about haemophilia that Armour generously contributed to the production costs of.

Dr Geoffrey Savidge, director at St Thomas Hospital, was a paid consultant for pharmaceutical companies, who offered him thousands of pounds in rebates for buying their products.

Cosy relationships

Mr Evans said the cosy relationship between doctors and pharmaceutical companies was a national issue, but was more pronounced at some hospitals.

It happened at every centre to differing degrees, said Mr Evans. Peter Jones may have been a paid consultant but others had sponsorship of their research and events. In some of the smaller haemophilia centres like Whitechapel in London, the pharmaceutical companies would pay for nurses to go to international conferences and pay for their travel and accommodation.

Prof Tuddenham recalled lavish hospitality from pharmaceutical companies, including five-star trips to Istanbul and Paris.

Its down to the individual doctors moral judgment on whether or not youre being influenced to do something you wouldnt otherwise do, he said, confirming that he was never swayed by pharmaceutical marketing.

Factor VIII manufacturers, including Baxter, Bayer and Armour, sponsored trips for medical staff and gifted branded goods to patients. One pupil recalls getting a watch branded by Baxter while at Lord Mayor Treloar College. The Infected Blood Inquiry heard from Armour marketeer Christopher Bishop that the company had a branding campaign with Mr Men.

There was clearly a decision at Armour to target their paraphernalia at children, said Mr Evans. Whats more geared towards children than Mr Men? Ive seen photos of Baxter teddy bears. Thats extremely sinister and disturbing. Specifically because these same people must have known the risks that were associated with their products.

Going to crucify doctors

Prof Liakat Parapia, former head of the haemophilia centre in Bradford, is concerned the Infected Blood Inquirys final report will be hostile towards doctors. I think the report is going to crucify doctors, he said. The doctors were acting in the best interest of patients. They were under pressure from all sides.

Doctors have been accused of not warning patients of the dangers of Factor VIII or giving them a choice in treatment; waiting months and in some cases years to tell people about positive HIV and hepatitis C tests; failing to get consent for research trials; and accepting incentives from pharmaceutical companies.

The pressures Prof Parapia cited include underfunding from the NHS, commercial pressure from pharmaceutical companies who marketed voraciously, and the availability of different brands of Factor VIII, including a shortage of the safer UK version.

Prof Parapia added that doctors who have been heavily criticised, including leading haemophilia adviser to the government Prof Arthur Bloom and Dr Anthony Aronstam, head of the centre at Lord Mayor Treloar College, were not bad people.

We didnt have some sort of malevolent intentions against patients, said Prof Parapia. We had a choice of products and we tried to make the best decision at the time.

Prof Tuddenham, echoed the concern. People are on the edge at the Royal Free, he said. Well certainly come under some criticism, quite rightly. Some more than others.

Ultimately, Prof Tuddenham expects the report to be balanced.

Colleagues at the Royal Free have suggested he step down over fears the General Medical Council could go after doctors for misfeasance. No way, bring it on, said Prof Tuddenham. They just say that because I was there at the time and then Ive spoken about what the situation was.

Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals and the Royal Free Hospital were approached for comment.
Harvey Weinstein's conviction for rape in 2020 was overturned on the basis that he did not receive a fair trial - AFP/Etienne Laurent

Harvey Weinstein has been taken to hospital after being moved to a New York jail, according to his lawyer.

Arthur Aidala, the former film producers attorney, said that Weinstein was transferred to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan for tests after his arrival on Friday to the prison system in the city.

It comes days after Weinsteins conviction for rape in 2020 was overturned on the basis that he did not receive a fair trial.

The Silence Breakers, a victims group, described the move as disheartening and profoundly unjust, while lawyers for victims said the decision to retry was a leap backwards and tragic.

Mr Aidala said: They examined him and sent him to Bellevue. It seems like he needs a lot of help, physically. Hes got a lot of problems. Hes getting all kinds of tests. Hes somewhat of a train wreck health-wise.

The hospital is yet to comment.

Range of health issues

Weinstein, 72, has suffered a range of health issues, including diabetes, cardiac issues, along with sleep apnea and eye problems, for some time.

Mr Aidala added that Weinstein was still sharp as a tack mentally, and his health problems are physical.

He was moved to the Rikers Island jail complex from the Mohawk Correctional Facility on Friday where he has been held since 2023.

He was not treated well. They refused to give him even a sip of water, no food, no bathroom break, said Mr Aidala.

Hes a 72-year-old sickly man.

Weinstein had been serving a 23-year sentence following accusations that he assaulted an ex-production assistant Mimi Haley in 2006 and raped former aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013 during the 2020 trial.

He remains in jail as he was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 of another rape, which he is also appealing.
A chance meeting with world-leading expert in evidence-based nutrition was turning point for Lyma founder Lucy Goff. Photo: Lyma

Before Lucy Goff even launched her wellness and skincare company, her premise was for the brand to be a four-letter word. There wasnt much available in the four letter space in 2018, she smiles. Six years on, Lyma (taken from ancient Greek word 'lema') is now an eight-figure business.

Goffs life changed nearly a decade ago when she was introduced to Paul Clayton, a leader in nutritional science as she recovered from septicaemia and six weeks in hospital following the birth of her first child.

Once the infection was gone the pharmaceutical world couldnt help me, as their benchmark of me being well was that I didnt have septicaemia, she recalls, but there was this grey area where I couldnt function.

Read More: Community Clothing founder: 'The UK high street offering is cheap garbage'

Paul led me to this small hidden set of supplements that genuinely worked. My life started to turn and I felt myself again. It proved the impetus in a supplement industry that has been built on hope and marketing that here was something that actually worked.

It spawned the launch of Goff's supplements, launched in 2018 and billed as the first pharmaceutical grade formulation in the industry. Then came the Lyma laser, released in 2020, a product creating new potential for clinic-grade home skin regeneration (no goggles needed). A third product arrived last year, a skincare cream engineered to work alongside the laser as well as a standalone anti-aging protocol.

Lucy Goff says she is passionate about the value of science and importance of clinical research and evidence with her products. Photo: Lyma

Goff says it is the most active skincare on the market, with over 80% of the formulation made up of active ingredients, with 20% made up of the stabilisers and water emulsifiers. Normally, adds Goff, the skincare industry works on the reverse.

Goff, who is dyslexic, started her career as a secretary at the Daily Express fashion department before being asked to be a stylist at the newspaper. Once I learned to type I realised I was more capable than I thought and the creativity came out in writing, she says.

Journalism also taught her to question everything, before she moved into PR for Selfridges and witnessed the attributes needed for different brands to be successful.

Lyma was launched as a product that was light years ahead in efficacy than anything else on the market, says Goff. But thats not enough if you want to launch a brand. Immersion of a brand thats relevant culturally is the true benchmark of whether something will work culturally.

Lyma launched its laser product in 2020, which created a new potential for clinic-grade home skin regeneration. (Xavier Young)

Jo Malone de-commoditised the candle as a luxury statement for the home, repackaged it as a scented candle that was something so obvious that nobody else had done before. Walking into peoples homes and subconsciously smelling the candle you thought this woman has got her life in order.

Thats why I created Lyma, to have this solid, copper vessel you could house a supplement in and show in the home and people will automatically look and think shes done her research, she wants the best. It is these brand reminders in the home that make all the difference.

Read More: Meet Phizz, the UK's fastest growing effervescent brand

Following the success of Lymas flagship supplement, Goff admitted that then selling 100 lasers in the first year would have been marked as a success, given it was an unknown brand launching a 2,000 innocuous laser device.

However, Goff says: What I underestimated was the enormous trust that had been built by the consumer taking the supplement for 18 months. We sold 1.5m of product within the first week of launch. I knew then the power of what we had created.

Further, when Lyma launched its 500 skincare product, that has a one months use, it yielded a waiting list of 30,000 people. Science-backed messaging as well as celebrity backing from the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and Kim Kardashian certainly helped.

Lucy Goff launched wellness brand Lyma in 2018. (Times Newspapers Ltd)

With 40% growth, Lyma, which hit 23.2m in revenue in 2022, was subsequently named 11th fastest-growing company in the UK by the Sunday Times and the first ever Kings Award for Enterprise for International Trade last year.

Its a pinch me moment of the lives we have changed through the products, admits Goff. We have grown virally and organically through the perimenopausal woman whose life has gone a bit downhill. HRT [hormone replacement therapy] is amazing but not the full solution. You really need to rely on supplementation or an effective skincare tool.

You don't realise how debilitating not being able to sleep is or feeling uncontrollably stressed or feeling depressed because you dont want your skin to age. Nobody sees their heart, liver or bones aging on a daily basis.

Lyma launched its supplements in 2018 following Lucy Goff's near-death experience following the birth of her first child.

"The skin is the only benchmark that we have that can really affect the mind to visibly see that things are starting to age in your body. The fact we are offering a solution to anti-aging some might perceive to be fickle but to millions of people its really real."

While the US is currently Lymas biggest market, the company  Goff entered the pandemic with five employees and emerged with nearly 30  is based in London with nearly 50 staff. She adds: Brands are built on a visual playbook, but we are an emotional one. Its hard to globalise that from different offices, it has to come from one hub."

Read More: 'We turned down Dragons' Den offers - our eyecare company is worth 7m now'

Six years since forming the British welltech brand, Goff says she never set out to launch a business and admits that she is continually learning.

Being a mother is one thing but I feel quite maternal to the people in Lyma, she adds.

There are intense challenges, intense elation and this is a journey you have to take everybody on. Its how you come together as a team which means success or not.

Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android.
Dozens of migrants were rescued from a sandbank in the Channel - GB NEWS

Nigel Farage has warned that a major tragedy will come soon after dozens of stranded migrants had to be saved from a sandbank off Kent on Saturday.

Kent Police and HM Coastguard launched the rescue operation after an early-morning alert that a small boat had run aground on Goodwin Sands.

Several RNLI lifeboats and a coastguard helicopter took part. GB News reported that the rescuers faced a race against time to save around 50 migrants, as the tide was turning and the sandbank would soon be underwater again.

A coastguard spokesman confirmed that everyone was rescued safely and added that they will continue to work with partners to respond to those in distress around the seas and coastal areas of the UK.

Former Brexit Party leader Mr Farage tweeted: Busy morning in the Channel. 45 people finished up on the Goodwin Sands.

They were very lucky to be spotted and picked up before the tide came in. A major tragedy will come soon.

Nigel Farage warns that a major small boats tragedy is in the making - Eddie Mulholland

Mark Francois, the former Armed Forces minister, said: The English Channel is the busiest shipping lane in the world, bar none. We have to prevent further unfortunate loss of life in this waterway  which is all the more reason to Stop the Boats.

The maritime emergency service could not confirm the exact number it had rescued.

The migrants were taken to the Port of Dover immigration centre, where they were led up the gangway in orange life jackets. No one is thought to have been injured in the incident.

Goodwin Sands, a 10-mile sandbank off the Deal coast, is widely regarded as one of the most treacherous spots in the English Channel.

The stricken inflatable dinghy is believed to be one of four migrant vessels that made a crossing from France on Saturday.

On Tuesday, five people, including a seven-year-old girl, were killed in a crush on board a boat crossing the Channel.

Border Force vessels intercepted dozens of migrants making the crossing on small boats on Thursday and Friday.

Home Office figures revealed that 6,667 migrants were detected crossing to the UK up to April 23 this year.
On a personal mission, Mick Jagger visits Mission Control at Nasa's Johnson Space Centre in Houston - Instagram

Rolling Stones lead Mick Jagger has taken the tour of Nasas famed Johnson Space Centre Mission Control, a favourite of tourists in Houston.

After visiting the Nasa Space Centre, he posted pictures on Friday of the visit on Instagram with the words: Thanks @nasa for being so welcoming to us and great to be shown around by astronauts Josh Cassada, Bob Hines and Jessica Meir.

The Rolling Stones are back in Houston for another concert there, at the NRG Stadium on Sunday, in one of several visits the group has made to the Texas city since their first concert there in the 1960s.

Thanks @NASA for being so welcoming to us and great to be shown around by astronauts Josh Cassada, Bob Hines and Jessica Meir. pic.twitter.com/KiCBVUT8qJ  Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) April 26, 2024

In the photos, the Mission Control centre has a sign welcoming him. Sir Mick, 80, is seen with a VR headset to explore the moon virtually, with a spacecraft simulator and with the astronauts.

The weekend concert is the first in a 16-city tour of the US and Canada for the Stones Hackney Diamonds album.

The Stones have sold more than 200 million records worldwide, making them the second best-selling artists of all time behind only The Beatles.

Hackney Diamonds, the groups newest album, came out last October.

It was the bands first album of new songs since 2005s A Bigger Bang, leading to Sir Mick joking that they had been lazy, despite being on tour almost every year for the past decade.

Last year, Sir Mick suggested the Stones catalogue may eventually be given to charity instead of being sold.

Speaking to The Wall Street Journal about a sale of the bands post-1971 tracks, he said: The children dont need $500 million to live well, come on, before suggesting that it may go to charity, adding  You maybe do some good in the world.

Jagger is father to eight children, ranging in age from six to 52.
Swine Fever is afflicting the wild boar population in Italy - which threatens domestic ham production - iStockphoto

Italys iconic prosciutto ham is under grave threat from burgeoning numbers of wild boar infected with swine fever, and the army should be drafted in to eradicate them, producers say.

The number of wild boar infected with African swine fever (ASF) is on the rise across Italy and threatens to have a devastating impact on one of the countrys most celebrated gastronomic products, which is worth 1.7 billion euros (1.4bn) in consumer sales.

Theres no time to lose, said Stefano Fanti, the director of the Prosciutto Consortium of Parma, the city famed for its cured ham and other meat products.

We need to step things up  we need to bring in the army against the wild boar, to increase funding for biosecurity, traps and fences and to have more hunters, he told La Repubblica newspaper.

We need to be clear  what is happening needs to be treated as an emergency, otherwise we wont manage to overcome it. People are really worried about swine fever. If it passes from wild boar to our pigs, we will be forced to slaughter thousands of them and that will mean that prices for consumers will go up.

Exports at risk

There have been 150 cases of swine fever found in wild boar so far in Emilia Romagna, the northern region where prosciutto is produced.

Special restrictions have been introduced in some areas which mean that producers can no longer export to countries like Canada, which have strict rules on the import of food products from regions where swine fever has been detected.

There have been efforts to contain contagion from wild boar but they have been insufficient to resolve the problem, said Mr Fanti.

There are around two million wild boar in Italy, according to farmers organisation Coldiretti.

Health authorities in the Lazio region are seeking to contain the possible spread of African swine fever (ASF) among Rome's wild boar population. The measures affect a wide area, known as the 'Red zone', in an attempt to curb the highly contagious viral disease, which is fatal to pigs and wild boar but is not transmitted to humans - Getty Images Europe/Antonio Masiello

Vincenzo Caputo, the head of a national taskforce on swine fever, has said he is ready to ask for the armys help in managing wild boar numbers.

The regional government of Emilia Romagna says the number of wild boar needs to be reduced drastically.

Alessio Mammi, the regional official in charge of agriculture, said there was a national emergency.

He said the virus needed to be eradicated because of the threat it posed to the production of prosciutto and similar products, which are known for their excellence around the world.

African swine fever was first detected in mainland Italy in January 2022, since when at least 1,000 cases have been detected in wild boar.

The fever is deadly to pigs but is not a danger to humans, according to the European Food Safety Authority.

Wild boar act as a reservoir for the virus, for which there is no vaccine.

ASF is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa and first appeared in the European Union in 2014, since when it has spread across the continent.
A man died after being stabbed at Quakers Hill while a 16-year-old is dead after an incident in Dubbo. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP

Two people have died after separate stabbings in New South Wales overnight.

Police are investigating the death of a man found with stab wounds in Sydneys north-west, and the stabbing death of a teenager in the states west.

The 28-year-old man was found in a critical condition at Narcissus Avenue in Quakers Hill about 8.30pm on Friday. Paramedics worked to save the man but he died en route to hospital.

Detectives probing the incident have asked anyone with CCTV footage, dashcam or information about what happened to come forward. A crime scene has been set up at the residential street.

Meanwhile, a 16-year-old boy died after a stabbing in the states west. Emergency services were called to a home in the small town of Narromine, about 40km west of Dubbo, at 9pm on Friday after 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 rushed to Dubbo airport where he later died.

Following inquiries, police arrested a 26-year-old man at a home nearby. He was taken to Dubbo police station where he was assisting police with inquiries.

Police have established a crime scene and detectives have launched an investigation into the incident.
As wars rage in the Red Sea, Ukraine, Gaza  and directly between Iran and Israel  it is vital that the international community also keeps a sharp eye on the Taiwan Strait, and Chinas efforts to claim rights it does not possess across the region. Recent stand-offs in the Strait have reminded the world of the critical importance of sustained, global attention in this area.

Earlier this month, a US Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft flew through the Taiwan Strait, just a day after high-level dialogue had resumed between US and Chinese defence chiefs. Declared by the US 7th Fleet as a routine transit above international waters, the flight reminds us of the ever-changing tensions that define this region and make it difficult to predict. Chinas immediate reaction  scrambling fighter jets to monitor the transit  highlights the ongoing sensitivity around Taiwan, which readers will no doubt be aware is a significant point of contention in US-China relations.

The US Navys transit through the strait came at a particularly critical time, coinciding with the resumption of high-level military-to-military communications between the United States and China. These talks, which had been on hold since September 2021, are part of an effort to re-establish direct dialogue channels and prevent what many would describe as a cold war between the two major powers from turning hot  whether due to mischance, misunderstanding or simple error.

This series of discussions, led for the US by Michael S Chase, deputy assistant secretary of defence for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia, marked the first in-person dialogue since January 2020. The US delegation hosted Chinese army Major General Song Yanchao, deputy director of Chinas Military Commission Office for International Military Cooperation.

The agenda was comprehensive, by all accounts, focusing on operational safety and regional stability. Chase reportedly emphasised the United States dedication to safe and responsible operations in accordance with international law across the Indo-Pacific, affirming ongoing support for allies and partners within the region being bullied by Beijing.

Pleasingly, as all too often the USA is left to deal with China with little assistance from its Western allies, Germany recently announced its participation in the upcoming RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific Exercise), the worlds largest international maritime warfare exercise. This year, RIMPAC will feature approximately 750 personnel from 29 nations, highlighting its status as a military big deal.

Vice Admiral Michael Boyle, commander of the US 3rd Fleet, described the exercise as a platform for building a lasting, combined capability, urging participants to extend their cooperation beyond the biennial event. If diplomacy is the carrot, this is the stick.

The German Navys commitment is particularly significant, marking a rare deployment that involves its newest frigate and a replenishment ship. This operation is one of the longest deployments undertaken by the German Navy in the history of the service, illustrating a profound shift in Germanys focus beyond Europe and towards the Indo-Pacific. Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack of the German Navy publicly discussed the historic deployment, highlighting its role in reinforcing Germanys commitment to the principles of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.

This deployment represents a significant logistical endeavour for Germany. It symbolises a more robust European presence in Pacific waters, usually the playground of Asian and North American naval forces.

Japan will also play a prominent role in RIMPAC 2024, dispatching its two Izumo-class big decks, JS Izumo and JS Kaga. These pocket aircraft carriers will soon be F-35 able to carry air groups including F-35B fifth generation fighters, and this is their largest deployment to date. This substantial presence will be complemented by additional surface ships and submarines, and the whole point of the effort is to learn to fight and work with allies.

On land, the US Armys recent deployment of the Typhon air defence system to the Philippines reflects a significant enhancement of regional missile defence, particularly against advanced emerging threats such as Chinese hypersonics, a threat the United States thankfully is keeping pace with. The Typhon system is essentially a land-based version of the US Navys Mark 41 vertical launch system. As such it is capable of launching the latest SM-6 interceptors. These are considered able not only to defend against ballistic missiles but also hypersonics: this is a serious commitment to reinforcing the security architecture in the region.

As Western nations bolster their presence in the Indo-Pacific, it is crucial to remember the global context in which these moves occur. While so many are, rightfully, concerned about the situation in the Middle East and Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific demands equally vigilant attention. We cannot afford to turn a blind eye to the cause of free and open navigation, or well wake up one day to find China in control of vast swathes of previously international waters. It already claims most of the South China Sea within the so-called Nine Dash Line  a claim rejected by the international courts, but which China stands by nonetheless.

Germanys participation in RIMPAC, alongside ongoing US operations, sends a strong signal of international cooperation and commitment: one which more European nations should seek to emulate. It highlights an essential truth: global security means just that, global. No region can be overlooked. More so, this partnership is a prime example of how Western allies can effectively collaborate in areas of strategic importance, helping to shoulder the military and diplomatic burden from the United States to present a united front. Doing so ensures that our collective security is not compromised by focusing too narrowly on other volatile regions.

The international community must, quite simply, step up and work together to uphold peace and stability across the globe. Otherwise the peace may not be kept, and nations may have no choice but to send their fighting ships to the Pacific to defend the values we all hold dear.
Rishi Sunak said claims the Rwanda plan is causing an influx of migrants into Ireland show its deterrent effect is working.

The deterrent is  already having an impact because people are worried about coming here, the Prime Minister said.

The Irish government is to consider legislative proposals next week on returning asylum seekers who have travelled from the UK.

It comes after deputy Irish premier Micheal Martin said the UKs asylum policy is driving migrants in fear of being deported to Rwanda across the border from Northern Ireland into the Republic.

Mr Sunak said others now recognised a meaningful deterrent is key to curbing illegal migration and celebrated that now even top parties in the EU are following our lead, after EU conservatives backed a policy of forcing people claiming asylum in the EU to settle outside the union.

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 crossing the English Channel on small boats.

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.

In an interview with Sky News Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, which will air in full on Sunday, the Prime Minister was challenged over whether the UK is simply exporting the problem.

Mr Sunak said: My focus is on the United Kingdom and securing our borders.

But what that comment illustrates is a couple of things.

One, that illegal migration is a global challenge, which is why youre seeing multiple countries talk about doing third country partnerships, looking at novel ways to solve this problem, and I believe will follow where the UK has led.

But what it also shows, I think, is that the deterrent is, according to your comment, already having an impact because people are worried about coming here and that demonstrates exactly what Im saying.

If people come to our country illegally, but know that they wont be able to stay, theyre much less likely to come, and thats why the Rwanda scheme is so important.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin said the Rwanda scheme is causing migrants to enter Ireland (Brian Lawless/PA)

Downing Street on Friday rebuffed claims the Rwanda plan was already influencing movements into Ireland, saying it was too early to jump to conclusions on its impact.

Mr Martin, who also serves as Irelands foreign affairs minister, told reporters in Dublin on Friday: Clearly, weve had an increase in the numbers coming 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.

But a No 10 spokeswoman told journalists in Westminster: It is too early to jump to specific conclusions about the impact of the Act and treaty in terms of migrant behaviour.

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.

Rishi Sunak said flights to Rwanda could take 10 to 12 weeks to begin, meaning they will not get off the ground until summer (Toby Melville/PA)

In the Mail on Sunday, the Prime Minister wrote: I said when I first became Prime Minister that others would recognise a meaningful deterrent is the only way to stop the boats and now even top parties in the EU are following our lead.

It comes after European Commission president Ursula von der Leyens centre-right European Peoples Party manifesto for Junes EU elections proposed a UK-style asylum plan under which anyone applying for asylum in the EU could also be transferred to a safe third country and undergo the asylum process there.

Mr Sunak this week acknowledged it could still take 10 to 12 weeks to get flights to Rwanda in the air, in a blow to his earlier target of seeing this take place in the spring of this year.

A spokesman for Irish premier Simon Harris said he is very clear about the importance of protecting the integrity of Irelands migration system.

Ireland has a rules-based system that must always be applied firmly and fairly.

In that context, the Taoiseach has asked the Minister for Justice to bring proposals to Cabinet next week to amend existing law regarding the designation of safe third countries and allowing the return of inadmissible international protection applicants to the UK.

This is one of a number of measures we are taking to strengthen our system and ensure that it is strong, effective and agile. Rules and the integrity of our migration system will be to the fore of our actions.

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.

Emergency laws will be brought to Cabinet on Tuesday to enable the Government to send asylum seekers back to the UK. Minister for Justice Helen McEntee is expected to discuss a new returns policy with her British counterpart in London on Monday | https://t.co/eM6osIJ71X pic.twitter.com/Z9mR2DaBzp  RTE News (@rtenews) April 27, 2024

Justice minister Helen McEntee told a committee of the Irish Parliament the number was now higher than 80% crossing from Northern Ireland.

She said that she would be legislating to respond to a High Court decision on returning people to the UK and would meet Home Secretary James Cleverly next week.

What is clear in the decision that the UK have taken in choosing Brexit, they have actually seen an increase in people seeking asylum in their country. The way that they deal with that, its their policy, she told RTE on Saturday.

My focus as Minister for Justice is making sure that we have an effective immigration structure and system.

Thats why Im introducing fast processing. Thats why Ill have emergency legislation at Cabinet this week to make sure that we can effectively return people to the UK.
Too Hot To Handle star Harry Jowsey has urged others to protect themselves in the sun as he revealed he has been diagnosed with skin cancer.

The Australian TV personality, 26, shared the health update in a TikTok video, saying that he was going to be all good.

In the post, he said: Last week I went to a dermatologist to get my skin checked and they found some skin cancer on me.

Im going to be all good, everythings going to be OK.

I just wanted to make this post to let you know that summer is around the corner, please wear sunscreen.

He also encouraged his followers to get their skin checked by a doctor, saying: If youre a freckly little frog like me, go get a mole map and get your body checked because you never know.

Ive had this on my shoulder for like a year or two and I had no idea.

Jowsey added that he had made the news public as he wanted to save and protect his followers, adding: So go get your skin checked, wear your sunscreen, and be a little bit more responsible  because thats what I got to do now and its very scary.

The 26-year-old starred in the first season of the hit Netflix reality show in 2020, where he had an on-off relationship with fellow contestant Francesca Farago.

The couple got engaged on a reunion episode of the show but later announced they had separated.

He also competed in the dance competition Dancing With The Stars last year with professional Rylee Arnold.
About 100 people were detained from a pro-Palestinian protest at Northeastern Universitys Boston campus Saturday morning, according to university officials.

The university said its police department, with the help of local law enforcement, began clearing "an unauthorized encampment" on the campus early in the morning.

"What began as a student demonstration two days ago, was infiltrated by professional organizers with no affiliation to Northeastern," the university said in its statement on X. "Last night, the use of virulent anti-Semitic slurs, including 'Kill the Jews,' crossed the line. We cannot tolerate this kind of hate on our campus."

Video circulating online appears to show the statement being made by a counterprotester holding an Israeli flag, who was met with boos from other protesters on campus. It's not clear if the person who said the antisemitic phrase was among those detained or disciplined.

The leading student organization behind the protest, Huskies for a Free Palestine, or HFP, called the administrations statement "false narratives," and accused the administration of implying the phrase was said by pro-Palestinian protesters and using it "as justification to arrest over 100 Northeastern faculty, workers, and students."

University spokesperson Renata Nyul said, That language has no place on any university campus no matter the context.

The university said that of the approximately 100 people police detained, students who produced a valid Northeastern ID were released.

They will face disciplinary proceedings within the university, not legal action, the statement said. Those who refused to disclose their affiliation were arrested.

Police watch as pro-Palestinian protesters create a human chain around an encampment set up. (Joseph Prezioso / AFP - Getty Images)

Videos posted on HFP's Instagram showed what the group says were students being arrested. Police officers in riot gear could also be seen in videos on campus.

"Why are you in riot gear? I dont see no riot here," protesters could be heard chanting to the officers, along with, "Who do you serve? Who do you protect?"

In other videos posted to HFP's Instagram, protesters chanted, "Free, free Palestine," and, "Disclose, divest. We will not stop, we will not rest."

In an update shared Saturday afternoon, the university said the quad in Centennial Common, where people were protesting, "was fully secured and all campus operations have returned to normal."

"We want to thank NUPD, our Student Life staff, and the universitys external partners for their flawless execution this morning," the statement read. The university would not clarify who said the antisemitic slur mentioned in their original statement.

HFP shared a message to the administration on Instagram regarding the arrests, which the group says were mostly of nonviolent students.

"We sincerely hope that northeastern university administration is aware. You may arrest peaceful protestors. But you CAN NOT stop the movement," the statement read. "We are students against genocide, and we always will be. Your intimidation will never change that."

The student group said it is participating in the protest because Northeastern "refuses to even address the catastrophic humanitarian crisis that the Genocide against Palestinians had created" and "refuses to cut ties to weapon manufacturers doing business with the Israeli military," according to its Instagram.

HFP demands that the university disclose its current financial investments, divest from all Israeli companies and others that profit from war in Gaza and "denounce Israel's genocide in Palestine and call for an immediate ceasefire" as well as an end to Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories.

Northeastern University is one of dozens of universities in the U.S. and Canada where students are protesting for Palestinian human rights after months of war in Gaza, including Columbia, the University of Southern California and Emory.

Students participating in protests on campuses in North America have similar demands to HFP, including divestment from companies that could be profiting from the war and transparency from university administrations regarding where theyre investing their money.

On Friday, Portland State University President Ann Cudd announced that the institution will put a pause on receiving any further gifts or grants from Boeing, after receiving a letter signed by members of the community. The universitys Students United for Palestinian Equal Rights has accused Boeing of being complicit in the occupation and genocide in Palestine, according to a post on its Instagram account. A spokesperson for Boeing said the company has no comment.

Many universities have said they support freedom of speech and allow protests, but that encampments violate school policy. On Saturday, dozens of people were arrested at other colleges that cracked down on encampments.

At Arizona State University, 69 people were arrested and accused of trespassing related to setting up an encampment, according to a university spokesperson. The school said the encampment was established by people who were not university students, faculty or staff, and that they refused instructions to disperse.

Police arrested 23 people at Indiana University on Saturday after protesters were warned to remove tents or other structures that violated university policy. Those who didnt were detained and removed, the university said. The people arrested face charges ranging from criminal trespass to resisting law enforcement. Its unclear whether they are affiliated with the university.

At Washington University in St. Louis, more than 80 arrests were made after a group of students, employees and others not affiliated with the campus refused to leave after pitching tents and calling on others to join their protest, the university said in a statement. "All will face charges of trespassing and some may also be charged with resisting arrest and assault, including for injuries to police officers," the school said.
Severe weather left a trail of destruction in the Heartland on Friday with 83 reports of tornadoes across five states.

The multi-day tornado outbreak continued Saturday, with powerful storms expected from Texas to the Great Lakes.

Emergency officials in Hughes County, Oklahoma, confirmed one death due to storms in Holdenville.

There is a tornado watch in effect for parts of six states, from Texas to Iowa into the late evening. This watch will likely expand east slightly as the day wears on.

A moderate risk -- level 4 out of 5 -- is in the outlook for parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri Saturday, with storms expected to flare up again in the afternoon and evening across a huge area of the country. There is a chance for strong long-track tornadoes as well as very large hail up to 3 inches in diameter and thunderstorm winds up to 80 mph.

PHOTO: new storm report graphic (ABC News)

In addition to dozens of tornado reports, Friday saw 33 damaging wind reports and 60 large hail reports.

In Iowa, four people were injured Friday and approximately 120 structures were damaged after severe weather hit Pottawattamie County, officials in that county said.

The city of Minden was the hardest hit area in Friday's storms, according to the county. Gas and power have been disrupted, and a 10 p.m. curfew has been issued until further notice.

Gov. Kim Reynolds, Pottawattamie County, and the City of Minden have all declared a state of emergency.

MORE: How to shelter during a tornado if you don't have a basement

Severe damage was also reported across eastern Nebraska, including Douglas County, where hundreds of homes were damaged in the Omaha area Friday.

Preliminary information suggests that two "strong, rare tornadoes" touched down in Douglas County, Chris Franks with the National Weather Service said during a press briefing on Saturday. The National Weather Service found evidence of EF-2 and EF-3 tornado damage there following Friday's storms, Franks said.

No fatalities have been reported so far following the storms, officials said.

"For that big of a storm, to have the property damage that was so extensive, without the loss of life," Douglas County Emergency Management Paul Johnson said at the press briefing. "It's a tremendous attribute to the city of Omaha."

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen urged people to continue to stay safe as the storm threat continues into Saturday evening.

PHOTO: Homeowners assess damage after a tornado caused extensive damage in their neighborhood northwest of Omaha, in Bennington, Neb., on April 26, 2024. (Josh Funk/AP)

PHOTO: Two women help carry a friend's belongings out of their damaged home after a tornado passed through the area in Bennington, Neb., on April 26, 2024. (Josh Funk/AP)

There have been seven tornado reports so far Saturday. One tornado emergency was issued for Knox City, Texas, where a large and damaging tornado was reported near the town. Baseball-sized hail was also reported with this tornadic storm.

A tornado was confirmed Saturday near the intersection of Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri. The confirmed tornado was eight miles north of Robinson, Kansas.

All modes of severe weather are likely on Saturday.

Damaging winds, huge hail, and long-track tornadoes are all in the cards, especially in Kansas, Oklahoma and northeast Texas. Overall, there is a severe weather threat stretching across the central U.S. from Canada to Mexico.

The threat for these dangerous storms continues into the overnight hours.

In addition to the thunderstorm threat, there is also a flash flood risk with this major storm system.

A flood watch is in effect for eight states from Texas to Iowa until Monday afternoon. This is because heavy downpours may dump significant rainfall in a short time and lead to dangerous flash flooding.

PHOTO: major severe threat weather graphic (ABC News)

More than 2 to 5 inches of rain may be falling in a short period of time, prompting the Weather Prediction Center to issue a Moderate Risk for Excessive Rainfall from Texas to Missouri.

"Confidence continues to be high in a major flash flood event unfolding for portions of east-central Oklahoma with higher end rainfall totals Saturday beginning late this evening into Saturday night," the Weather Prediction Center said.

A "high risk" for excessive rainfall is the greatest level threat possible. One-third of all flood-related fatalities occur in high-risk areas. It is a rare and serious life-threatening flood event forecast that leads to a high-risk issuance.

MORE: More than 2 dozen reported tornadoes in 3 states amid outbreak in the Plains

The National Weather Service will be conducting damage surveys this weekend to determine the number of confirmed tornadoes, as well as the intensity ratings and other details.

On Sunday, the threat is reduced, but still there is a chance for damaging wind, large hail and a few tornadoes from Austin, Texas, to Davenport, Iowa, and includes Shreveport, Louisiana; Little Rock, Arkansas; Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri.

ABC News' Victoria Arancio contributed to this report.

Tornadoes leave trail of destruction as 4 injured, hundreds of homes damaged originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Apple is negotiating with both OpenAI and Google to implement AI technology in its next generation of iPhone, Bloomberg reported. Budrul Chukrut/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Apple is in talks with OpenAI and Google to bring AI to the next iPhone, Bloomberg reported.

The iPhone 16 is expected to be released sometime this fall.

Tim Cook in recent months has teased that Apple has big plans for AI coming this year.

Apple is weighing its options for bringing AI to the next-generation iPhone.

The tech giant is in talks with both OpenAI and Google to bring generative AI to iOS 18, the next iPhone operating system, but has not reached a final decision between ChatGPT and Gemini or another third-party provider, Bloomberg reported Friday.

Business Insider previously reported that the iPhone 16 is expected to be released this fall. It is set to be the first of Apple's smartphones to incorporate generative AI, which experts predict will send Apple's stock surging.

While the next iPhone could include AI-driven features based on Apple's in-house large language model, Bloomberg reports that the company plans to partner with a more established AI creator to incorporate a chatbot similar to OpenAI's GPT model.

The outlet reported that Apple had initially discussed a deal with OpenAI earlier this year, though collaboration between the two companies has slowed since then.

In recent months, CEO Tim Cook has been more outspoken about Apple's plans to dive into AI. In February, he said that big announcements would be made later this year about his company incorporating the tech into its existing product lines.

"As we look ahead, we will continue to invest in these and other technologies that will shape the future," BI previously reported he said during the company's fourth-quarter earnings call, "That includes artificial intelligence, where we continue to spend a tremendous amount of time and effort."

Apple previously announced plans to launch a Mac lineup with new M4 processors focused on AI, which led the company's stock to jump 4% despite heavy scrutiny from regulators and an antitrust lawsuit filed against the company by the DOJ in March.

The suit, combined with headwinds from China in the form of diminished sales in that key market, has created "a perfect storm for Cupertino," analyst Dan Ives wrote in an April 9 report on the company's stock. However, he noted he still believes Apple will outperform the current market return.

"Our forest through the trees view on Apple is all about navigating this next 1-2 quarters and getting on to the other side of easier comps, AI announcement at WWDC, stronger upgrade cycle for iPhone 16, and the monetization opportunity of the golden installed base in Cupertino," Ives wrote in his analysis.

Apple, Google, and OpenAI did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The working group for clearing mines and unexploded ordnance, operating under the Interdepartmental Center of the Coordination Headquarters, created in connection with the centralized resolution of issues in Azerbaijan's liberated territories has visited Aghdam, Azernews reports, citing ANAMA.

The trip involved representatives of ANAMA and relevant government agencies represented in the working group.

Members of the working group got acquainted with the activities of mine clearance groups in the Aghdam district, observed the progress of ongoing projects, including the process of neutralizing discovered mines and unexploded ordnance.

As part of the visit, a regular meeting of the working group was held in the Aghdam district.
NEW YORK (AP)  Harvey Weinsteins lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.

Attorney Arthur Aidala said Weinstein was moved to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan after his arrival on Friday to city jails.

They examined him and sent him to Bellevue. It seems like he needs a lot of help, physically. Hes got a lot of problems. Hes getting all kinds of tests. Hes somewhat of a train wreck health wise, Aidala said.

A message left with the hospital was not immediately returned Saturday.

Frank Dwyer, a spokesperson with the New York City Department of Correction, said only that Weinstein remains in custody at Bellevue. Thomas Mailey, a spokesperson for the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, said Weinstein was turned over to the city's Department of Correction pursuant to the appeals ruling. Weinstein had been housed at the Mohawk Correctional Facility, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) northwest of Albany.

On Thursday, the New York Court of Appeals vacated his conviction after concluding that a trial judge permitted jurors to see and hear too much evidence not directly related to the charges he faced. It also erased his 23-year prison sentence and ordered a retrial.

Prosecutors said they intend to retry him on charges that he forcibly performed oral sex on a TV and film production assistant in 2006 and raped an aspiring actor in 2013.

Weinstein remained in custody after the appeals ruling because he was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 of another rape and was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

For some time, Weinstein has been ailing with a variety of afflictions, including cardiac issues, diabetes, sleep apnea and eye problems.

Aidala said he spoke to Weinstein on Friday afternoon after he was in transit to New York City from an upstate jail less than 24 hours after the appeals ruling, which was released Thursday morning.

He said his client's ailments are physical, adding that mentally he is sharp as a tack. Feet are firmly planted on the ground.

The lawyer said it usually takes state corrections and prisons officials a week or two to arrange to transport a prisoner.

He was not treated well. They refused to give him even a sip of water, no food, no bathroom break, Aidala said. Hes a 72-year-old sickly man.

Mailey, the state corrections spokesperson, had no comment when Aidala's remarks about Weinstein's treatment were read to him over the phone.

Aidala said he was told that Bellevue doctors planned to run a lot of tests on Weinstein before he can be returned to the Rikers Island jail complex.

The lawyer said he's scheduled to meet with Weinstein on Monday. He added that he plans to tell a judge when Weinstein goes to court on Wednesday in Manhattan that a retrial should occur after Labor Day.
With the clock ticking on TikTok in the U.S., millions of users, including small business owners, are scrambling to figure out what to do.

One of them is Brandon Hurst, who says TikTok has changed his life through his plant delivery business.

"It allows me to go live, share who I am, but it also makes it easy for people to buy," Hurst said.

Since he started selling plants on TikTok last year, Hurst, better known as "Brandon the Plant Guy," says he has tripled his business.



"In the last year we've been able to sell 57,000 (plants)," Hurst said.

His company is one of seven million small businesses on TikTok, the social media platform alleges. TikTok also claims it supports more than 224,000 American jobs.

"I have friends and family members that work for me and help package plants and orders," Hurst said. "So this goes beyond just me now. This is a team of eight other people that would lose their jobs."

The TikTok ban was signed into law Wednesday by President Biden as part of a $95 billion foreign aid package. Under the new law, ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese-based owner, has nine to 12 months to sell the platform to an American owner, or TikTok faces being banned in the U.S.

A ban would force scores of entrepreneurs to look for a new home. Meanwhile, TikTok plans to file a lawsuit over the ban in federal court.

"One of the reasons that TikTok has become so popular among small businesses is because it has an ability, unlike any other platform, to send products flying off the physical and virtual shelves," Jasmine Enberg, an analyst for the data firm eMarketer, told CBS News.

Enberg believes Meta would be "one of the biggest beneficiaries" of a TikTok ban.

"Instagram Reels is the most natural fit," to replace TikTok, Enberg said. "It isn't exactly the same. You can replicate the technology, but you can't replicate the culture."

So where would Hurst pivot his social media business in the event of a TikTok ban.

"I'm on Instagram, I've been doing business on other platforms," Hurst said. "There's just not that many places you can live sell. So I haven't thought about it yet, to be honest. I'm not sure...what we would do."



Rhona Graff, former Trump assistant, takes the stand at his New York trial

New York's highest court overturns Harvey Weinstein verdict

Another American arrested in Turks and Caicos after bullets found in luggage
The new Netflix series Ripley, based on the first of author Patricia Highsmiths five books about Tom Ripley (1955s The Talented Mr. Ripley), is a riveting watch  even if you might not normally tune into a black-and-white eight-part miniseries that features frequent subtitles.

A big part of that is Andrew Scotts smooth portrayal of the enigmatic, charming con man who finds his purpose in stealing a wealthy heirs identity. But the story of Tom Ripley himself is equally fascinating: Hes a terrible human being, yet its almost impossible to turn away from him  and the wreckage he causes.

But is Tom Ripley based on a real person? Unless Highsmith, who died in 1995, never shared a secret  the answer is no: Ripley is a complete fiction.

But theres more than the words on the page to both Tom Ripley and his creator  and heres what else you should know about both:

'Highsmith was Ripley'

If you had to find a real-life counterpart to Tom Ripley, as author Tom White wrote in The New York Times Magazine in 2021, all you had to do was look at the author.

Patricia Highsmith was Tom Ripley without the charm, he wrote.

American Novelist Patricia Highsmith (Denize Alain / Sygma via Getty Images)

A woman who collected snails, Highsmith was equally bigoted against most minorities, hypersexual (White noted that she claimed to have sex ten times a day with women shed pick up in bars) and a social climber.

She also spoke of Ripleys doings like he was a real person, said White  and even signed some of her letters Tom, as The Independent wrote earlier this year.

Weve seen Ripley's games before

Before Scott and Oscar-winning Ripley writer/producer/director Steven Zaillian brought Ripley to Netflix, hed already found a place in TV and film. Modern movie fans likely immediately think of Matt Damon in the title role of 1999s The Talented Mr. Ripley, a lush, sun-soaked Italian fever dream co-starring Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow.

But Mr. Ripleys first outing was as the 1960 French film Purple Noon, starring Alain Delon. At the time, Delon was considered one of Europes pre-eminent sex symbols, with high cheekbones and a talent for the dead-eyed stare Ripley deploys.

Purple Noon (Fotos International / Getty Images)

Theres also Ripley Under Ground (2005) starring Barry Pepper; and Ripleys Game and Ripley Under Ground, portions of which were turned into The American Friend in 1977 by Wim Wenders, starring Dennis Hopper as a cowboy version of Ripley.

American Friend revealed that post-Talented, Ripley became a successful art forger.

Remade in 2002, Game starred John Malkovich as Ripley  a delightful Easter egg for fans wholl spot Malkovich appearing late in the new Ripleys run.

Ripley has found places in other media, including a 1956 episode of the anthology series Studio One and a BBC radio adaption of all five Ripley novels (aka The Ripliad) in 2009.

And in a 2014 play Switzerland, playwright Joanna Murray Smith has Ripley come to life and visit Highsmith, with plans to kill her.

We're no 'stranger' to other Highsmith works

Ripley adaptations aside, Highsmiths most prominent title was her 1950 thriller Strangers on a Train, which modernized the concept of Ill kill someone for you if you kill someone for me and was adapted by Alfred Hitchcock into a movie by the same name the following year. (In 1987, the dark comedy Throw Momma from the Train also used her story as inspiration.)

In 2014, Highsmiths novel The Two Faces of January became a film starring Viggo Mortensen, Kirsten Dunst and Oscar Isaac; again, the tale dives into the worlds of con artists, strangers, and private detectives.

Then in 2015, Highsmiths The Price of Salt, a romance novel from 1952 that she originally published under the pseudonym Claire Morgan, was released as Carol. Directed by Todd Haynes and starred as Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, it told the story of a glamorous, wealthy, married woman who falls for a young woman working in a department store  in 1952. Both actors earned Academy Award nominations.

Meanwhile, her 1957 novel Deep Water has been filmed more than once; most recently in 2022.

Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas play a couple who dont want to separate  but also dont have much love for each other, and her affairs take a dark turn.

Highsmiths stories have also ended up in various TV series or anthologies. But as she told critic Gerald Peary in 1988, she wasnt a movie buff and never wanted to be very involved with others interpretations of her books.

I started screenplays two or three times, and I can assure you that I failed, she said. I dont think in the way a playwright thinks. So, if people have bought something of mine (to adapt), they know by now that I will decline writing it for the movies. Anyway, I dont want to know movie directors. I dont want to be close to them. I dont want to interfere with their work. I dont want them to interfere with mine.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Bernie Sanders speaks with reporters as the Senate prepares to advance the $95bn aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan at the Capitol, on 23 April. Photograph: J Scott Applewhite/AP

Bernie Sanders has hit back fiercely at Benjamin Netanyahu over the Israeli prime ministers claim that US universities were being overrun by antisemitism on a scale comparable to the rise of Nazism in Germany.

In a video posted on X, the progressive senator from Vermont  who is Jewish  accused Netanyahu of insult[ing] the intelligence of the American people by using antisemitism to distract attention from the policies of his extremist and racist government in the military offensive in Gaza.

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 over 34,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 78,000, 70% of whom are women and children, Sanders said.

The two-and-a-half minute video listed a catalogue of further consequences of the war in the Palestinian coastal territory, including the destruction of infrastructure, hospitals, universities and schools, along with the killing of more than 400 health workers.

Sanders, who sponsored an unsuccessful Senate bill in January to make US aid to Israel conditional on its observance of human rights and international law, said Netanyahus government had unreasonably blocked humanitarian aid from reaching Gaza, causing thousands of children [to] face malnutrition and famine.

In a blistering conclusion, he 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 policies of your extremist and racist government.  It is not antisemitic to hold you accountable for your actions.

Sanders comments were a riposte to a video posted on social media by Netanyahu in which he waded in to protests sweeping American university campuses and claimed not enough was being done to combat a horrific rise in antisemitism.

Antisemitic mobs have taken over leading universities, Netanyahu said. They call for the annihilation of Israel. They attack Jewish students. They attack Jewish faculty. This is reminiscent of what happened in German universities in the 1930s.

It has to be stopped. It has to be condemned and condemned unequivocally, but thats not what happened. The response of several university presidents was shameful. Now fortunately, state, federal and local officials, many of them, have responded differently. But there has to be more.

Netanyahus comments came against the backdrop of police deployments to break up pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University and numerous other US campuses. In some universities, faculty members have been arrested, including the chair of the philosophy department and a professor of English and Indigenous studies at Emory University in Atlanta.

Related: US faculty speak up and stand alongside student Gaza protesters

Jewish students have reported feeling threatened by the protests and heated atmosphere that followed Hamass attack on Israel on 7 October, resulting in the deaths of about 1,200 Israelis and the kidnapping of more than 200 others.

Videos posted on social media have depicted anti-Israel protesters shouting go back to Poland and go back to Belarus, apparently at Jewish students. A congressional hearing earlier in April into a reported upsurge of antisemitism at Columbia heard allegations that Jewish students had been subjected to taunts of F the Jews.

Last Octobers attack triggered an overwhelming and continuing Israeli military response that has so far killed more than 34,000 Palestinians  according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza  and led to a burgeoning humanitarian disaster, accompanied by accusations that Israel is committing genocide.

In his video, Netanyahu said Israel was being falsely accused of genocide and called it part of an antisemitic surge.

Israel tries to defend itself against genocidal terrorists who hide behind civilians, he said. Yet it is Israel that is falsely accused of genocide. Israel that is falsely accused of starvation and sundry war crimes. Its all one big libel.

But thats not new. Weve seen in history that antisemitic attacks were always preceded by vilification and slander.

The Joe Biden White House, while resisting pressure to condition or limit weapon supplies to Israel, has voiced frustration over its resistance to allowing more humanitarian aid freely into Gaza and roundly criticised the recent strikes that killed seven workers from celebrity chef Jose Andress World Central Kitchen charity.

Protests on campuses across the US continued on Saturday, with some protesting student bodies and universities locked in a standoff that saw demonstrators vowing to keep their movements going at the same time as college authorities moved to close down the encampments.

Police in riot gear cleared protest tents on the campus of Northeastern University in Boston, while students shouted and jeered at them, the Associated Press reported. The university said the protest had been infiltrated by professional organisers with no connection to the institution, while some demonstrators had used antisemitic slurs.

The picture of campus antisemitism run amok was lent further credence by Lawrence Summers, a former Harvard president and ex-US treasury secretary, who accused authorities at his former university of failing to act decisively against protesters occupying Harvard Yard.

This is the predictable culmination of the Harvard Corporations failure to effectively address issues of prejudice and breakdowns of order on our campus, he posted on X. There can be no question that Harvard is practicing an ongoing double standard on discrimination between racism, misogyny and antisemitism.

His comments provoked a sharp response from critics of Israel. Your efforts to portray student demonstrators challenging Israels genocidal actions as antisemitic are cheap & disingenuous, wrote Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of Democracy for the Arab World Now (Dawn). These students should be commended for their courage & compassion, risking suspension & smears (like yours), to fight the most heinous crimes underway in Gaza.
Learn how to cook perfectly tender white rice like a pro.

Yuto photographer / Getty Images

Rice is practically in every kitchen  its the primary food staple for more than 50% of the worlds population and the main ingredient in dishes from risottos, biryani, and rice puddings to pilafs and snacks. But almost all of us at one time or another have lifted the lid to a simple pot of cooked white rice only to discover it was too watery, or too mushy or hard  or even worse, burnt. Getting rice right isnt difficult, but you do need to know some basics about how the types of grains vary and the specifics of how to cook each type of rice grain. We worked with the experts in the Food & Wine Test Kitchen to nail down the best methods. They simmered and steamed white rice varieties on the stovetop, zapped them in the microwave, boiled the grains pasta-style, and prepared it in a rice cooker to determine the best way to cook a perfect pot of white rice. Heres a roundup of those tests and tips for making great rice every time.



Related: A Guide to Rice Types Around the World

Is a rice cooker the best way to cook white rice?

The hands-off convenience of using a rice cooker made this method rank among our top favorite cooking approaches, especially for medium-grain rice. (The water-to-rice ratios for rice cookers vary, so follow the manufacturers instructions for your specific rice cooker.) Cooking rice pasta-style (adding the grains to a large pot of boiling water) yielded distinct grains that were great in a rice salad. But our top results came from cooking rice on the stovetop in a heavy-bottomed saucepan.

Why does cooking white rice on the stovetop work best?

Each of the white rice varieties we tested  American long grain, basmati, jasmine, medium grain, and short grains  cooked well with a heavy-bottomed pot or saucepan and tight fitting lid on the stove top. The grains emerged from the pot tender and sticky if they should be (short-grain rice) or fluffy and not sticky at all if they shouldnt (long-grain varieties). Variables like getting the ratio of water right and prepping the grains play into the results. But leaning on the stove as your equipment of choice is an important first step. Washing and or rinsing the rice is the next important step.

Related: 25 Sizzling-Hot Fried Rice Recipes With Pineapple, Prawns, Pork, and More

Should I wash or rinse rice?

If youve cooked rice that clumped together or had an unpleasant, slick mouthfeel, theres a good chance you skipped the vital steps of washing, rinsing or soaking the grains before you began cooking. In a few cases, like risottos and rice puddings, you can skip washing and soaking to take advantage of the creamy properties of the grains natural starches but in all other cases you want to do this. Rinsing and washing rice helps remove excess starch and other unwanted chemicals that can cause the grains to clump together. Soaking (done for short grain rice and long grain basmati) softens the grains and promotes a shorter and more even cook.

How do I wash and cook white rice?

To cook white rice on the stove, follow these techniques from our test-kitchen experts for each type of grain. Long-grain rice includes varieties like Carolina Gold, basmati, and jasmine, will be firm and fluffy when cooked and then will separate into defined grains. Medium-grain rice is plump but somewhat long in shape. It is available in varieties such as Calrose, arborio, and carnaroli, and is often used for soups, and casseroles due to its starchy, creamy nature. Short grains are almost round in shape and are sticky and soft when cooked. Short-grain rice is more absorbent and requires less water for cooking. Its often used for making sushi and paella. You will find Koshihikari and Bomba among these varieties.

American Long-Grain Rice

Wash and rinse the rice: Place 1 cup rice in a medium bowl and add cold water to cover. Swish the rice and water using your hands to agitate for 10 to 15 seconds. Pour off the water and repeat one more time. Pour the rice into a fine mesh strainer and rinse under cold water for 10 to 15 seconds. Let rice drain completely, about 30 seconds.

Cook the rice: Place drained rice, 1 1/4 cups tap water, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium saucepan; gently shake the pan to ensure rice is evenly submerged. Bring to a simmer, uncovered, over medium-high, then cover with a tight-fitting lid, and reduce heat to low. Cook for 18 minutes. Keep covered and remove pan from heat; let rice steam, covered, for 10 minutes. Uncover, and fluff rice using a fork. Add additional salt to taste, if desired. Transfer to a bowl, and serve (if not serving immediately, cover with a clean towel for up to 30 minutes). Makes 3 cups.

Jasmine Rice

Wash and rinse the rice: Place 1 cup rice in a medium bowl. Add cold water to cover. Swish the rice and water using your hands to agitate for 10 to 15 seconds. Pour off the water and repeat 2 to 3 more times until the water is mostly clear. Pour the rice into a fine mesh strainer and rinse under cold water for 10 to 15 seconds. Let rice drain completely, about 30 seconds.

Cook the rice: Place drained rice, 1 1/4 cups tap water and 1/2 salt in a medium saucepan; gently shake the pan to ensure rice is evenly submerged. Bring to a simmer, uncovered, over medium-high, then cover with a tight-fitting lid, and reduce heat to low. Cook for 15 minutes. Keep covered and remove pan from heat; let rice steam, covered, for 10 minutes. Uncover, and fluff rice using a fork. Add additional salt to taste, if desired. Transfer to a bowl, and serve (if not serving immediately, cover with a clean towel for up to 30 minutes). Makes 3 cups.



Related: The Essential Guide to Stainless Steel Cookware, According to Professional Chefs

Basmati Rice

Wash and rinse rice: Place 1 cup rice in a medium bowl and add cold water to cover. Swish the rice and water using your hands to agitate for 10 to 15 seconds. Pour off the water and repeat 4 to 5 more times until the water runs clear. Add cold water to rice to cover by at least 1 inch; let soak, uncovered, at room temperature, for 30 minutes (rice grains should become plumped, opaque, and white). Pour the rice into a fine mesh strainer and rinse under cold water for 10 to 15 seconds. Let rice drain completely, about 30 seconds.

Cook the rice: Place drained rice, 1 1/3 cups tap water, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium saucepan; gently shake the pan to ensure rice is evenly submerged. Bring to a simmer, uncovered, over medium-high, then cover with a tight-fitting lid, and reduce heat to low. Cook for 12 minutes. Keep covered and remove pan from heat; let rice steam, covered, for 5 minutes. Uncover, and fluff rice using a fork. Add additional salt to taste, if desired. Transfer to a bowl, and serve (if not serving immediately, cover with a clean towel for up to 30 minutes). Makes 3 cups.

Medium-Grain Rice

Wash and rinse rice: Place 1 cup rice in a medium bowl and add cold water to cover. Swish the rice and water using your hands to agitate for 10 to 15 seconds. Pour off the water and repeat 2 to 3 more times until the water runs clear. Pour the rice into a fine mesh strainer and rinse under cold water for 10 to 15 seconds. Let the rice drain completely.

Cook the rice: Place drained rice, 1 1/4 cup tap water, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium saucepan; gently shake the pan to ensure rice is evenly submerged. Bring to a simmer, uncovered, over medium-high, then cover with a tight-fitting lid, and reduce heat to low. Cook for 18 minutes. Keep covered and remove pan from heat; let rice steam, covered, for 10 minutes. Uncover, and fluff rice using a fork. Add additional salt to taste, if desired. Transfer to a bowl, and serve (if not serving immediately, cover with a clean towel for up to 30 minutes). Makes 3 cups.

Short-Grain Rice

Wash and rinse rice: Place 1 cup rice in a medium bowl and add cold water to cover. Swish the rice and water using your hands to agitate for 10 to 15 seconds. Pour off the water and repeat 4 to 5 more times until the water runs clear. Pour the rice into a fine mesh strainer and rinse under cold water for 10 to 15 seconds. Let the rice drain completely. Transfer rice to a medium saucepan and add 1 cup tap water, shake to submerge rice and let soak, uncovered at room temperature for 30 minutes. (The rice grains will become plump, opaque, and white.)

Cook the rice: Bring the rice and soaking water to a simmer over medium-high, then cover with a tight-fitting lid, and reduce heat to low. Cook for 13 minutes. Keep covered and remove pan from heat; let rice steam, covered, for 10 minutes. Uncover, and fluff rice using a fork. Add additional salt to taste, if desired. Transfer to a bowl, and serve (if not serving immediately, cover with a clean towel for up to 30 minutes). Makes 2 1/2 cups.



For more Food & Wine news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Food & Wine.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Saudi Arabia on Monday and Tuesday to meet with regional partners and discuss efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages, the State Department said on Saturday.

"He will discuss the recent increase in humanitarian assistance being delivered to Gaza and underscore the importance of ensuring that increase is sustained," the State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in statement.

"The Secretary will also emphasize the importance of preventing the conflict from spreading and discuss ongoing efforts to achieve lasting peace and security in the region, including through a pathway to an independent Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel."

Blinken is not scheduled to visit Israel on this trip. War began in Gaza after Hamas fighters crossed into Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and capturing 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Nearly 32,000 people have been confirmed killed in Israel's retaliatory onslaught, according to Palestinian health officials in Hamas-run Gaza, with thousands more feared lost under the rubble.

During his two-day visit, Blinken will participate in a ministerial meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council, working to advance security coordination in the region, Miller said.

Blinken will also attend the World Economic Forum's special meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development, where he will coordinate with U.S. partners "to ensure continued progress on climate change mitigation and the global energy transition," Miller added.

(Reporting By Lucia Mutikani and Eric Beech; Editing by David Gregorio and Deepa Babington)
A Washington woman has pled not guilty in the fatal stabbing of her 4-year-old son, whose abandoned body was found on March 28 wrapped in a Christmas blanket off Interstate 5.

Janet Garcia, 27, from Everett, Washington, who was arrested March 29, has been charged with first-degree murder, domestic violence with a deadly weapon, and aggravated domestic violence with the circumstance of a vulnerable victim. She is being held on $3 million bond after pleading not guilty in a court appearance April 22, according to Snohomish County Superior court records.

After her 4-year-old son Ariel Garcia was reported missing on March 27, 2024, the Everett Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation began a two-day search for the boy. His body was found March 28 near Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Washington.

Missing 4-year-old, Ariel Garcia, who was found dead on an interstate in Washington.

Prosecutors say the boy had been stabbed "dozens of separate times," while an autopsy revealed "at least 41 sharp-force injuries," according to an affidavit filed April 19.

Woman missing: She called 911 to report abuse then disappeared: 5 months later her family's still searching

Custody battle over 4-year-old boy

Janet Garcia's mother had been attempting to get custody of Ariel Garcia. She already had custody of Janet Garcia's 7-year-old son, court documents show.

On March 27, Maria Garcia, the mother, and her grandson, Janet Garcia's other son, had gone to the apartment where Janet Garcia and Ariel Garcia had been staying, to show guardianship papers granting Maria Garcia custody of both boys and the notice of a hearing, the documents show.

In her petition for guardianship of Ariel Garcia, Maria Garcia "indicated the Defendant was a threat to (Ariel) because her drug and alcohol abuse had recently worsened, and she was not a stable parent  (and) left (the boys without) supervision," according to court documents.

Garcia had blood on her, hid her son's body in trunk: Prosecutors

At the apartment, Maria Garcia told police she saw blood in the apartment but her daughter and grandson were not there. Police also found blood there during the investigation.

When officers with the Clark County Sheriff's Office arrested Janet Garcia, they found blood on her shirt and shoes. Garcia told the officers she had been arguing with her mother about taking her other son.

Prosecutors allege Janet Garcia concealed Ariel Garcia's body "in a blanket and then secreted him away in her trunk. The defendant drove to multiple locations after killing (him) and eventually dumped his body near the freeway in another jurisdiction."

Investigators have not found a murder weapon, according to the affidavit.

Trial date set for Janet Garcia

The court dropped Garcia's bail from $5 million to $3 million after public defenders asked that it be dropped to $500,000. Prosecutors argued there's a "real possibility" Garcia would not appear for court dates.

A trial date is scheduled for June 7.

Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.

What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Washington mom Janet Garcia charged in son's murder pleads not guilty
WASHINGTON  The White House on Friday condemned antisemitic remarks that surfaced this week from one of the leading student organizers of the pro-Palestinian encampment at Columbia University.

"These dangerous, appalling statements turn the stomach and should serve as a wakeup call," Andrew Bates, deputy White House press secretary, said in a statement. "It is hideous to advocate for the murder of Jews."

The student, Khymani James, says in a video taken in January, "Zionists dont deserve to live and Be grateful that Im not just going out and murdering Zionists." James refers to Zionists as "supporters of genocide."

"Zionists, they shouldn't live in this word," James says in the video, comparing Zionists to others "who don't deserve to live" such as Nazis, fascists and racists. "I feel very comfortable  very comfortable  calling for those people to die."

A man walks past Israeli and US flags alongside portraits of Israelis taken hostage by the militant Palestinian group Hamas in front of the pro-Palestinian encampment at Columbia University in New York on April 23, 2024.

The video was taken by James during and after a discipline hearing with Columbia administration that he later posted on Instagram.

"President Biden has been clear that violent rhetoric, hate speech, and antisemitic remarks have no place in America whatsoever, and he will always stand against them," Bates said.

President Joe Biden this week called on Americans to speak out against the "alarming surge of antisemitism" in the U.S. following pro-Palestinian protests that have rocked Columbia University and other colleges and universities. Protests over Israel's war in Gaza continued Friday on major college campuses across the U.S.

James was absent from a press briefing Friday given by student protest organizers at Columbia. Other organizers declined to provide specifics and pointed to a statement James put out Friday on X, formerly Twitter.

In the X posting, James apologized for his remarks: "What I said was wrong. Every member of our community deserves to feel safe without qualification."

Ben Chang, a Columbia University spokesperson, said James had been banned from campus. Chang didnt provide additional information on disciplinary hearings.

President Joe Biden returns to the White House on April 26, 2024 in Washington, DC. Biden is returning from events in New York.

Protests at Columbia raised concerns of antisemitism after Jewish students said they were subjected to acts of hate, intimidation and harassment.

At the same time, Biden has faced increasing pressure from young voters and the left flank of his party over his unwavering support of Israel's war in Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

Reach Joey Garrison on X, formerly Twitter, @joeygarrison.

Contributing: Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: White House condemns Columbia protest leader's remarks about Zionists
Student activists have escalated the Palestine solidarity movement significantly over the past week, establishing encampments at campuses across the country. The goal of the students is to divestthat is, cut all financial tiesfrom companies that are aiding Israels war.

[Originally published at socialistrevolution.org]

This kind of escalation is exactly what the movement needed. Israels savage war on Gaza continues and may soon reach a new crescendo with an assault on Rafah, despite months of pro-Palestine protests across the United States and around the world. In fact, Genocide Joe just signed a new aid package that includes $15 billion in military funding for Israel to help facilitate the Zionist states crimes against humanity.

It is clear to all that Biden and Netanyahu will press on with their genocidal war at all costs and that we need to take matters into our own hands.

The Revolutionary Communists of America wholeheartedly support this movement and seek to help escalate it however possible. We encourage all communists, pro-Palestinian workers, and young people to help build this movement nationwide. Below, we offer our proposals for how we can collectively escalate the movement further.

Divest and disclose

Student activists have escalated the Palestine solidarity movement significantly by establishing encampments at campuses across the country / Image:  , Wikimedia Commons

In addition to Gaza, the general crisis of capitalism and the hypocrisy of the ruling class weigh heavily on the minds of millions. Wide layers of students are correctly looking for a concrete way to make a material dent in Israels war effort. In this context, the call to divest and disclose is filled with progressive content and provides a concrete focal point for the movement. Students naturally understand that they alone dont have the power to shut down the war, but theyre doing everything they can to play their part in the broader Palestine solidarity movement.

The financial assets, investments, and ties of the private universities cracking down on the movement should be immediately disclosed and divested. But who is going to make that happen? Clearly, the school administrators cannot be trusted to do this. Theyre only concerned with expanding their endowments, tuition fees, real estate, and other assets. Even if they temporarily offload their current holdings under pressure from the movement, this amounts to selling those assets to other capitalists, and they may well reinvest in these companies later on.

Thats why students, teachers, and campus workers need control and management over these institutions. The unelected administrations are using tuition fees and other income to invest in companies that profit from the Zionists war in Gaza. These people should not be in charge. They have forfeited their right to govern these centers of learning, research, and cultural enrichment.

The majority should dictate how society is runwhat and how things are produced and distributedand this includes all institutions of higher education.

The need to link up with the working class

Students, teachers, and campus workers need control and management over educational institutions / Image: Mx. Granger, Wikimedia Commons

Achieving divestment through mass collective action would be a step forward for the movement, educating students and pro-Palestine workers on the efficacy of mass struggle. But this alone would not be sufficient to stop the war. The university investments are a drop in the bucket of the billions that are sent and invested in Israel by governments and capitalists worldwide. Students must urgently link up with the broader working class if we are to achieve a serious escalation of the movement. Otherwise, our impact will be limited.

A great way to start this process would be to appeal to teaching staff and campus workers to join the movement. The universities can only run due to the labor of professors and adjuncts, janitors, groundskeepers, maintenance, cafeteria, and other workers. We should appeal to these workers on a class basis to strike in solidarity with this movement.

Faculty and staff and the University of Texas have shown the way forward in this regard, releasing a statement condemning the university presidents outrageous decision to call in state troopers to violently suppress the protests on Wednesday. Faculty members at Columbia and NYU also joined the protests earlier this week. At Emory University in Atlanta, an economics professor and the chair of the Philosophy department were among those arrested amidst a brutal display of police violence.

We must also appeal to the unions to mobilize their membership in support of this fight. UAW Region 9A should be applauded in this regard.

 Join us on Friday in New York to stand with our members who are standing up for Gaza!



 Friday, April 6

 4 PM (after @mfjunions rally!)

 Washington Square Park pic.twitter.com/EYcatdmfyT  UAW Region 9A (@UAWRegion9A) April 25, 2024

Now its up to UAW President Shawn Fain, who has previously called for a ceasefire in Gaza and led his workers on a major strike, to mobilize the entire national membership in support of the movement. The rest of the labor leaders should likewise mobilize their members in international solidarity.

Through the faculty and staff on campus, as well as other workers we can recruit to the movement, we can appeal to the broader working class to join in. The decisive power lies with workers involved in shipping, arms manufacturing, media, and other key industries that are necessary for sustaining the war. These workers have an exceptional role to play in halting the US-Israeli war machine. As we noted in a previous article:

The Biden administration recently approved the transfer of 25 F-35 fighter jets to Israel. Final assembly of the planes takes place at a Lockheed Martin facility in Fort Worth, employing over 18,000 workers. Beyond these 18,000 lies a vast network of workers producing and transporting materials and parts. In total, producing the planes requires the efforts of 240,000 workers across 47 states. Any disruption at any of these or other nodes of production or distribution would gum up the whole works. And an all-out, coordinated strike across the entire sprawling network could shut down huge swathes of the imperialist war machine altogether.

Giving the movement an organized character

Striking a blow here in the heart of imperialism would upend the political landscape / Image: Revolutionary Communists of America

Coordinating these efforts will not be a simple matter. It will require disciplined, orderly, democratic decision-making and thorough planning. The experience of the Columbia encampment, which sparked the national and international movement and was carefully planned well in advance, shows the importance of this. As one article put it:

In hours of planning sessions, [student organizers] discussed communications strategies and their willingness to risk arrest, along with the more prosaic questions of bathroom access and trash removal. Then, after scouring online retailers and Craigslist for the most affordable options, they ordered the tents.

Daily mass assemblies at each encampment should be organized to debate and decide on concrete ways to sustain the movement and draw in ever-wider layers of workers and students. A democratically elected, accountable, and recallable executive leadership should be created to lead the encampment between mass assemblies. After a reasonable time for debate, decisions should be taken on the basis of a simple majority-rules vote, not consensus, which offers individuals veto power over the collective whole. These committees could then be linked up on a city-wide, state-wide, and national level to coordinate a unified national movement to crush Israels genocidal war effort for good.

Meanwhile, we should continue to hold political discussions and teach-ins at the encampments. Committees for things such as security and resistance against police violence, cleanliness, media relations, and labor-movement outreach should be established to sustain and broaden the movement, with regular reports by these committees to the mass assemblies.

The heroism of students across the country has opened up a new chapter for the Palestine solidarity movementand the ruling class is nervous it will spread further. Disgraced UT President Jay Hartzell, who called in state troopers to brutalize student protestors on Wednesday, acknowledged this in leaked texts in which he worried about the 100 ways the movement can reignite. Hes 100% right!

Properly coordinated and expanded, the movement has the potential to surpass the historic 2020 uprising that followed the police murder of George Floyd. With the presidential elections just months away and the DNC in Chicago in August, theres no reason for finals or the end of the semester to take the wind out of our sails. Now is the time to spread it to campuses, cities, streets, and workplaces across the country, link it to the broader working class, and shut down the war machine altogether.

Striking such a blow here in the heart of imperialism would upend the political landscape and qualitatively transform the class struggle in this country and beyond.
YEREVAN, APRIL 27, ARMENPRESS. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan, has congratulated his Netherlands counterpart, Hanke Bruins Slot, on the occasion of National Day, the Kings birthday.

Sending best wishes to my counterpart Hanke Bruins Slot on Kings Day. Following our earlier discussions, looking forward to further enhancing our agenda with joint Armenia-Netherlands and Armenia-EU initiatives, Ararat Mirzoyan said in a post on X.

With another post in X, the Armenian Foreign Ministry has also congratulated the Kingdom of Netherlands on its National Day.

Congratulations and best wishes to government and people of Netherlands on National Day, Kings birthday.

Armenia values strong political dialogue and partnership with the Netherlands, based on shared democratic values and is committed to further deepen relations also through the EU, reads the post.
YEREVAN, APRIL 27, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia has sent a congratulatory message to the Republic of South Africa on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Freedom Day.

Commemorating the 30th anniversary of the South Africas Freedom day, we convey our heartfelt congratulations to the Government and people of South Africa, the foreign ministry said in a post on X, adding that Armenia is keen to deepen its cooperation with South Africa based on shared values of freedom, democracy, human rights and international justice.
26 April 2024 20:30 (UTC+04:00)

Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, held a joint press conference, Azernews reports.

The Chancellor of Germany made the statement first.

Statement by Chancellor Olaf Scholz

- Dear Mr. President, welcome to Berlin.

I would like to thank and welcome you to the Petersberg Climate Dialogue, which we both just participated in.

You have visited Germany four times in the last 14 months. The last time you came to the Munich Security Conference was in February. This shows that we have a lot of topics to discuss, as we are doing today. Of course, we have also talked about the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We both agree that this conflict should be resolved only by peaceful means. There are opportunities to do that. Therefore, it is a very positive factor that you are currently in direct contact with Prime Minister Pashinyan. During our last meeting in Munich, you both assured me that the outstanding questions would be resolved only by peaceful means. This makes me happy.

With your permission, I would like to reiterate that Germany is ready to support you in finding a long-term and lasting solution, if you both want it. I would encourage both sides to show the willingness and courage to make the necessary compromises. I think that 2024 can and should be a year of peace in the region. It brings with it ample opportunities and responsibilities.

Let me also mention that we are pleased with the preliminary agreements regarding demarcation. In other words, we have heard that you have reached an agreement. Now I urge you to maintain this momentum and take courageous steps in this direction. I call on both you and Prime Minister Pashinyan, who is your counterpart.

The next topic of our meeting is Russia's attack on Ukraine and the impact of this war on Azerbaijan and the South Caucasus. We all know that Russia has caused hundreds of thousands of people in Ukraine to suffer through its violation of international law. This merciless carnage must end. Putin must end his war, withdraw his soldiers, and fully recognize and respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

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.

As you may know, Germany makes a significant contribution to this cause. In terms of climate finance, we have allocated 6 billion euros from our budget and mobilized a total of 10 billion euros. Germany thus remains a reliable financier and contributes its fair share.

Now, of course, we must bring the issue of investment demand into the spotlight. We must create opportunities for the private sector to invest in climate protection. At the same time, the parties that have contributed so far should contribute more. But besides this, other countries should also contribute more actively to the issue of climate finance. I would like to make sure that we will be able to reach some agreements on this within the framework of the COP29 event.

Azerbaijan plays a major role in the energy security of Europe and is an important partner. I would like to thank you for this cooperation and for your important contribution to the stability of energy supply.

We have also discussed civil society and free media. I would say that an integral part of democracy in a civilized society is the presence of lively criticism. Freedom of thought and freedom of the media must exist. Mr. President, I would like to express my gratitude to you for our negotiations in various fields during this challenging period. We both agree that we will be able to continue and deepen the existing cooperation. Thank you.

x x x

Then, the President of Azerbaijan made the statement.

Statement of President Ilham Aliyev

- Dear Mr. Chancellor.

Dear ladies and gentlemen.

First of all, I would like to thank you for the invitation. As you mentioned, my visits to Germany have become regular of late. I can say that German-Azerbaijani relations have been going through a period of rapid development. I was here in March last year, and two months ago Mr. Chancellor and I met in Munich. The bilateral agenda is quite broad. The development of German-Azerbaijani relations is of great importance both for our countries and for the development and stability of the South Caucasus as a whole.

This morning, while participating in the Petersberg Climate Dialogue forum, we once again expressed our intentions. I want to thank you for your support of Azerbaijan in relation to COP29. Members of our teams are in close contact with each other. It is both a great honor and responsibility for us to host COP29. We are ready for it, and Azerbaijan's green agenda is already known to the world.

In my speech this morning, I stated that nine solar and wind power plants would be put into operation by the end of 2027. Their energy potential is equal to 2 gigawatts. By 2030, an additional 10 wind and solar power plants will be built, the potential of which is up to a further 5 gigawatts. We are now working hard to export green energy to Europe, and I believe that Azerbaijan, which is currently a supplier of natural gas, will also be a supplier of green energy to Europe.

With regard to natural gas, the Energy Commission of the European Union considers Azerbaijan as a pan-European gas supplier. Our gas supply to Europe is carried out on the basis of strategic partnership. In 2022, the European Union and Azerbaijan adopted a corresponding memorandum. By 2027, we are determined to increase the volume of gas we will export to Europe to 20 billion cubic meters. The demand for natural gas  gas from new sources  is growing in Europe. Whereas in 2021 we supplied 8 billion cubic meters of gas to countries of the European Union, this year the figure has already reached 12 billion. We are making additional investments and allocating more funds to support European countries in this matter. Thus, Azerbaijan, a country rich in both conventional and renewable energy, will be an important partner for Europe for many years to come.

In relation to regional security, we are assessing the ongoing peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia positively. Mr. Chancellor, at your invitation, the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia recently met in Germany. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany, Mrs. Baerbock, also showed her support. The next meeting will be held in Kazakhstan, and thus we are taking further steps towards the signing of the peace agreement.

In 2020, Azerbaijan liberated a large part of its sovereign territory from occupation. We fully restored our sovereignty in September last year. Today, the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan has been fully restored. Of course, this is a historic achievement and shows that the people and the state of Azerbaijan were never going to come to terms with the occupation of our lands. Based on the norms and principles of international law, based on Article 51 of the UN Charter, we secured our territorial integrity through military and political means.

Today, as a result of the ongoing process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the process of border delimitation and even demarcation has begun. Four Azerbaijani villages that were occupied in 1990 and 1992 have been returned to us. I should also inform you that the Russian-Turkish Joint Monitoring Center located in Azerbaijan ceased to operate this morning. It is no longer needed.

In other words, there are very good opportunities for achieving peace. We are ready to cooperate with countries that want to assist us in all this work. We hope that positive steps will be taken in this direction soon. We particularly appreciate Germany's support in this area and are grateful to you for it.

x x x

Then, President Ilham Aliyev and Chancellor Olaf Scholz answered journalists questions.

Question: Mr. President, I would like to know your opinion about human rights and press freedom in Azerbaijan. A journalist named Imran Aliyev, who has a critical approach, has been arrested. Imran Aliyev's family says that his rights are allegedly were violated and he is currently in prison. What can you say about that?

Mr. Chancellor, did you have a detailed talk about human rights with Mr. President?

President Ilham Aliyev: Media freedom is ensured in Azerbaijan. There is no censorship in Azerbaijan, there is free internet, and hundreds of media outlets. This is why it would be unfair to accuse Azerbaijan of taking steps allegedly blocking the development of the media. If there is free internet, what kind of restriction can we talk about?

As for individual issues and incidents, of course, law enforcement agencies investigate all these matters. Some time ago, representatives of certain media organizations illegally financed from abroad were detained by investigative agencies. This was done in full accordance with the legislation of Azerbaijan. Any country must defend its laws.

If a media representative who has received illegal funding from abroad is investigated, it does not mean that our media is not free. Simply put, everyone should act within the law. We, like any country, must protect our media landscape from outside negative influence and everyone must follow the law. In a nutshell, I would like to note that there is a free society in Azerbaijan, people live, build and create completely freely, including media representatives.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz: I will also answer the question. Of course, we also touched upon this issue in our conversation and talked about it in detail. As you know, we are a federal republic, we generally contribute to the protection of human rights around the world. Of course, every country should have a free press and human rights should not be violated. This is common knowledge. Of course, it is no secret that there is potential for improving this situation in various countries.

Question: I am Fatima Karimova, co-founder of Microscope Media. I am an Azerbaijani journalist. My colleague has already asked the bigger part of my question, so I will ask you another. Mr. President, after the war, reconstruction and restoration work started in Karabakh and many projects are being implemented. During this period, billions of manats have been invested there. But details related to those projects are not transparent, i.e. both the public and journalists have insufficient access to this information. Details such as tenders, selection of companies participating in these tenders and so on. I would like to find out the reason, why some issues are closed and why these details are not transparent, not open to us. Thank you.

President Ilham Aliyev: Your question is actually quite surprising, because all restoration and reconstruction work in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur is carried out in the most transparent manner. The public, including representatives of the media, are regularly updated about the funds allocated. This is not a secret. The information disclosed recently shows that the scope of work is truly extensive. Before the end of this year, a total of 12 billion manats, or approximately 7 billion dollars, have been and will be invested in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur since the end of the war. All the work is visible. Tender procedures are strictly followed. I honestly don't know where you got this information from. You are probably getting it from some unverified sources, but media tours to the liberated lands are organized on a regular basis. Foreign media representatives are also familiar with the situation. If you had an opportunity, you could have seen how Armenia has devastated our lands and the feelings of joy experienced by our people who have returned to the liberated lands.

Only three and a half years have passed since the end of the war, but 6,000 former IDPs have already returned to their ancestral lands, and this process continues. By the end of this year, 20,000 formerly displaced persons will return home, and every person returns there with a sense of gratitude to the Azerbaijani Army and the leadership of Azerbaijan and prays for God's mercy on our fallen martyrs. This is a nationwide issue for us. Just as the liberation of our lands was a nationwide issue, so is the restoration of our lands today. I know that the absolute majority of the Azerbaijani media likes, supports and praises our activities.

Question: Dear Mr. Chancellor, I have a question about climate issues. For the second time, the international Climate Conference is to be hosted by a country that produces fossil energy. Why is this so? What is the reason for this? My second question: you made some comments about Mr. Macron's speech yesterday. We would like to know your comments exactly. You made some comments about the European Joint Fund, could you please clarify?

Mr. President, I have a specific question for you. I don't know if you have talked about the developments in the Middle East  in the Gaza Strip. There are opinions that there is an arrest warrant against the prime minister of Israel. Is there such an idea? Would you support such an idea? Thank you.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz: Regarding the first part of the question, I would like to mention that I see it as an opportunity for fossil energy producing countries to host the climate conference. Because there are opportunities here, and we should also take into consideration certain financing issues. Germany has also made a big financial contribution once. I think it is a great chance for such countries to join and organize the conference, and show their support. Why not? In other words, of course, at the same time, reducing the amount of residual energy, so to speak, is one of the topics in the context of climate protection. Energy security issues should also be taken into account, but renewable energy also remains in the spotlight. In other words, I think that this is a symbiosis that gives us certain opportunities. In short, it is a difficult path, a rough path, but a smart one. The last COP was also very good. Therefore, I think that the upcoming conference will be successful. I am also happy for the upcoming event. There should be a broad debate and discussion there.

President Ilham Aliyev: Today, Mr. Chancellor and I discussed German-Azerbaijani bilateral relations and regional security issues more, including preparations for COP29. Other international issues were not discussed.

As for the situation in the Middle East, Azerbaijan's position has always been unequivocal. Azerbaijan has always supported the freedom and independence of the Palestinian people. Azerbaijan has always advocated immediate cessation of hostilities and military operations in the Middle East.

As far as the other part of the question is concerned, I would like to note that countries that are rich in oil and gas should not become an object of criticism. There should be no discrimination on this issue in the world. Oil and gas are a great gift from God, and countries should appreciate this gift accordingly. Azerbaijan is using its oil and gas revenues correctly. Therefore, the percentage of people living in poverty in Azerbaijan has dropped from 50 to 5 percent over the last 20 years. This is why Azerbaijan has been able to unlock its economic potential. Our direct foreign debt accounts for only 7.9 percent of our gross domestic product. Our revenue from oil and gas is fairly distributed in society and today, primarily, they are channeled into the reconstruction of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur.

Therefore, certain myths should not be created about countries rich in oil and gas. These countries, including Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, countries that hosted COP summits before us, have made great efforts to address climate issues, and the United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan and Brazil  as you may know, natural resources in Brazil are also quite large  operate in the format of a Troika. This is our intention. We want to spend the obtained income on green energy, we are taking steps in this direction, and COP29 will not be an arena of confrontation. Azerbaijan will create bridges as the host country. Azerbaijan intends to act as a bridge between the West and the Global South, including the transition to green energy and climate change.

Question: Vugar Seyidov, Azerbaijan State News Agency (AZERTAC). My question is to the Chancellor. Mr. Chancellor, according to the report of the society of experts on Islamophobia released by the Federal Ministry of the Interior of Germany in June 2023, about half of the participants of the survey held in the country expressed Islamophobic views. How can you explain the dangerous trends of xenophobia and racism in German society, and in general, what measures does your government take in this direction? Thank you.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz: As you may know, the government takes this issue very seriously. We act within the framework of law and carry out other political awareness activities. In general, we take the issue of racism against Muslims very seriously and do everything we can to prevent it. If you compare globally, you will see that there is a lot of effort here. Germany is a country where members of many nationalities live in peace with each other and where religious affiliation and religious differences do not play any role.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
26 April 2024 20:14 (UTC+04:00)

Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, held an expanded meeting with Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Azernews reports.

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier highlighted the importance of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue, and hailed President Ilham Aliyev's speech at the event.

The Azerbaijani President expressed gratitude for the invitation to the event.

During the conversation, they underscored the successful cooperation between Germany and Azerbaijan regarding COP29, including meetings between the delegations of both countries. The sides stressed the importance of the Troika mechanism established for COP29. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier affirmed Germanys continued support for Azerbaijan in relation to COP29.

President Ilham Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan had initiated the peace agenda between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The fundamental principles underpinning the peace agenda were formulated and presented by Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani side has also prepared the text of the peace agreement based on these principles.

The head of state noted that during the Munich Security Conference, with the support of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a meeting was held with the Armenian Prime Minister, where positive discussions took place regarding border delimitation and demarcation, as well as the advancement of the peace agenda. President Ilham Aliyev underlined comprehensive discussions on the peace treaty held at the meeting between the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, facilitated by Germany's foreign minister.

During the conversation, President Ilham Aliyev hailed the results achieved in border delimitation and demarcation between the two countries through direct negotiations.

President Ilham Aliyev stated that, following Kazakhstan's proposal, the next meeting to continue peace treaty negotiations between the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan will be held in Kazakhstan.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier noted that Germany closely supports the peace agenda between Armenia and Azerbaijan and will continue to offer its backing in the future.

During their conversation, they also exchanged views on other matters of mutual interest.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
27 April 2024 13:16 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

As part of a significant diplomatic visit, senior parliamentarians from Turkic States embarked on a tour of Azerbaijan, focusing their attention on the historic city of Shusha, Azernews reports.

The delegation's exploration of Shusha's rich cultural and historical heritage.

The visiting dignitaries were given an immersive experience, learning about Shusha's historical significance and the unfortunate vandalism it endured during the three decades of occupation by Armenians. They were briefed on the ongoing efforts by the Azerbaijani government to restore the city's landmarks and cultural sites to their former glory.

Throughout their journey, the parliamentarians had the opportunity to visit key historical sites, including monuments dedicated to prominent Azerbaijani figures such as Khurshidbanu Natavan, Bulbul, and Uzeyir Hajibayli, located in Shusha's Central Square. They also explored the House of Khurshidbanu Natavan, the Khan Gizi spring, and the walls of the Shusha Fortress, all of which suffered damage during the occupation but are now undergoing restoration efforts to reclaim their historical significance.

A notable highlight of the tour was the visit to the Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque, a symbol of Shusha's religious and cultural heritage. Additionally, the delegation had the opportunity to experience the natural beauty of the Jidir Duzu Plain, further enriching their understanding of Shusha's cultural and geographical significance.

Overall, the tour provided the visiting parliamentarians with a comprehensive insight into Shusha's history, culture, and ongoing restoration efforts. It served as a testament to the enduring resilience of the Azerbaijani people and their commitment to preserving and celebrating their cultural heritage.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
27 April 2024 16:54 (UTC+04:00)

Speaker of Azerbaijans Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova, who is on an official visit to the Republic of Montenegro, has met with Deputy Prime Minister of the country Aleksa Becic, Azernews reports.

During the meeting, the pair had a broad exchange of views on cooperation between the two countries, as well as parliaments.

The sides emphasized that the development observed in cooperation between Azerbaijan and Montenegro across various domains contributes to the further expansion of relations in other spheres.

Describing the relations between the two countries as those of strategic partnership, Deputy Prime Minister Aleksa Becic emphasized that Montenegro attaches great importance to these relations.

Touching upon the interparliamentary relations, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova noted that the cooperation between the two countries legislative bodies also positively contributed to the relations between Azerbaijan and Montenegro.

The Speaker briefed the Deputy Prime Minister about the current situation in the region, Azerbaijans peace initiatives, and major ongoing restoration and construction works in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur.

The sides emphasized that the two countries enjoy fruitful economic relations, which constitutes one of the core components of bilateral relations. They also explored opportunities for cooperation across various domains including education, science, culture, youth and sports, underscoring that these areas would further contribute to solidifying relations between the two countries and enhancing people-to-people contacts.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
27 April 2024 22:46 (UTC+04:00)

The next graduation ceremony for the Marine Commando Basic Course was held at the Naval Forces' military unit, Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijans Defense Ministry.

Servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan also participated in the ceremony.

The ceremony was attended by First Deputy Minister of Defense  Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, First Deputy Minister of Defense  Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan Lieutenant General Sultan Kamaletdinov, as well as Turkish and Kazakh servicemen.

First, bouquets of flowers were placed in front of the monument erected in memory of victims within the military unit's territory, demonstrating profound respect.

At the graduation ceremony, the memory of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev and victims, who sacrificed their lives for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan was commemorated with a minute of silence. The national anthems of the Republics of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan were performed.

During the ceremony, the Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army and the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan emphasized the importance of such courses in training skilled and professional military personnel.

At the same time, the participation of marines from Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in joint exercises was commended, highlighting their exemplary professionalism. It was noted that a group of servicemen from all types of troops of the Azerbaijan Army, as well as aviation vehicles and warships will be involved in  (Unity) - 2024 operational-tactical command-staff exercise to be held in Aktau, Kazakhstan this year.

Special training classes conducted by Azerbaijani and Turkish instructors at the naval range and training center were considered commendable.

Colonel General Karim Valiyev expressed gratitude to the professional instructors for their high-level organization and conduct of the course, congratulated the graduates on successfully completing the program, and extended his best wishes for their future service.

Then, the honor student of the course attached the emblem to the symbolic stump, followed by the presentation of certificates to the graduates and the awarding of honors to distinguished servicemen and instructors.

After the completion of the official proceedings, modern weapons, combat techniques, and vehicles used by Marines and special forces were demonstrated.

At the end, tactical and special exercises of the Naval Special Forces along with exemplary performances by divers from underwater assault and underwater defense units were demonstrated, the ministry said.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
27 April 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

"In Europe, there is increasing demand for natural gas from new sources. If in 2021 we supplied 8 billion cubic meters of gas to European Union countries, this year that figure has reached 12 billion cubic meters. We are investing additional capital and allocating additional funds to support European countries in this matter," President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in a joint press conference with Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz in Berlin, Azernews reports, citing Azertag.

"Thus, Azerbaijan, which is rich in both traditional and renewable energy sources, will continue to be an important partner for Europe for many years to come," President Ilham Aliyev pointed out.

Recall that Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, embarked on a working visit to Germany from the city of Fuzuli 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.

During his visit President Ilham Aliyev had meetings with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz, Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and many other officials. Besides, the Azerbaijani President attended the High Level Segment of the 15th Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin, Germany.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
27 April 2024 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

Turkiye will strengthen its cooperation with Kazakhstan in the fields of mining and electricity, said the countrys vice president on Thursday, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

Cevdet Yilmaz attended a signing ceremony of the Intergovernmental Joint Economic Commission meeting with Kazakh Prime Minister Oljas Bektenov at the presidential complex in the Turkish capital Ankara.

We will strengthen our cooperation in the fields of mining and electricity. We will take new steps in logistics and transportation, especially in the Central Corridor. We plan to sign an agreement in the maritime field, Yilmaz said at the meeting.

He expressed hope that the commercial and economic ties between the countries will reach levels that reflect brotherly relations and grow even stronger as soon as possible.

Yilmaz added that they plan to increase cooperation in the field of regional development.

"Our goals include exchanging knowledge and experience, especially in smart cities, and holding business and investment forums in the regions of Kazakhstan, he said.

Stressing that they continue relations with Kazakhstan on the basis of strategic cooperation, Yilmaz said the business forum and bilateral and inter-delegation meetings were completed successfully, extremely productively, befitting brotherhood and friendship.

At the ceremony, Yilmaz and Bektenov signed an Action Plan Protocol between Turkiye and Kazakhstan.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Rev. Mark H. Creech, DHL

Christian Action League

April 26, 2024

A recent article in the Christian Post highlighted a gathering of Christian clergy, theologians, and scholars at the Yale Divinity Schools Center for Public Theology & Policy. Religious Leaders Sign Declaration Denouncing Religious Nationalism, Promoting Progressive Causes, read the headline, capturing the essence of the event. At the heart of their assembly was the signing of the New Haven Declaration of Moral and Spiritual Issues in the 2024 Presidential Election, a document condemning religious nationalism while affirming support for progressive initiatives. [1]

Bishop William J. Barber II, a well-known progressive activist, spearheaded this effort. Hailing from North Carolina, Bishop Barber previously led the Greenleaf Christian Church in Goldsboro and held the presidency of the states NAACP chapter. His advocacy during that time, notably through the Moral Mondays movement, garnered national attention, albeit not without criticism.

Despite purportedly transcending political divisions, Barbers tactics did more to exacerbate societal rifts rather than bridge them. While some lauded his causes, especially the press, his legislative impact remained less than minimal and overshadowed by disruptive protests that not only delayed legislators in the North Carolina General Assembly from doing the peoples business but led to hundreds of unnecessary arrests that congested the states court system.

As a registered lobbyist for the Christian Action League of North Carolina, I had a front-row seat to Barbers conduct in the Tar Heel state. I contend it fell far short of the standards expected of a clergyman or a statesman. Instead, he operated as a political agitator with a religious veneer. His agenda was, and never has been, aligned with advancing the kingdom of God; instead, Barber has sought to supplant the soul-saving Gospel of Jesus Christ with spiritually ruinous progressive Christianity.

The current president and senior lecturer at Repairers of the Breach and co-chair for the Poor Peoples Campaign, Barber denigrates Christians who espouse the belief nations that forsake God and his commandments will be turned into hell. He smears them with derogatory terms such as white evangelicalism and religious nationalism (sometimes referenced in America as Christian nationalism). He contends that their concerns are not only a perversion of Christianity but also a distraction from the real issues such as a living wage, healthcare, ecological justice, criminal justice reform, and voting rights  all focal points of the New Haven Declaration. [2]

What do these issues have in common? What thread ties them together? Its not the Scriptures, regardless of the claims. Many progressives dont take the Bible as fully reliable and reject its inspiration and inerrancy. These issues reflect a commitment to social justice.

While Barber and his co-signatories on the New Haven Declaration interpret social justice differently from the biblical concept of justice, its important to recognize that both perspectives emphasize the importance of righteous living in community. In biblical terms, justice is foundational to Gods requirements. However, progressive Christians prioritize social justice with a theological emphasis on addressing immediate societal needs to the detriment of considerations about the afterlife. Specifically, this shift alters Christianitys message from a proclamation of Christs completed work of salvation and the promise of eternal life for believers to an emphasis purely on ethical imperatives for societal improvement.

Michael J. Kruger, a professor at Reformed Theological Seminary, in Charlotte, provides light here, arguing:

In other words, human problems are defined by progressives in purely horizontal terms (the way humans relate to the world or fellow humans), and not in vertical terms (the way man relates to God). As a result, the highest ideal of progressive Christianity can be nothing other than fixing present, temporal problems. Speaking of eternity is seen as a distraction at best and a waste of time at worst.

Tragically, the progressive position clouds the real message of Christianity  the real message of Jesus. Jesus cared about the suffering of humans, and he called Christians to do the same. We do not address human suffering as an act of moralism but as a response to the grace shown to us at the cross.

Moreover, we dont address temporal human suffering exclusively. For even if we could somehow alleviate all human suffering, it would do exactly nothing to meet humanitys greatest need. As Jesus reminds us, What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? (Matthew 16:26). [3]

In his epistle to young Timothy, the apostle Paul, gave in one short sentence the core message of genuine Christianity:

This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners  and I am the worst of them all. (I Timothy 1:15).

This profound truth articulated by the apostle strongly resonates with every person born of the Spirit of God: that we are profoundly sinful and none can attain eternal life through their own merits. Redemption required the innocent sacrificial blood of Gods Son, Jesus Christ, spilled on Calvarys cross, to atone for our sins, reconcile us to God, and empower us to extend the same kindness and mercy to others that God has lavished upon us.

This is historic Christianity, which is a religion of grace, Gods unmerited favor, and not a religion of merit. As Kruger correctly contends the ethos of progressive Christianity is actively turning away from matters eternal to a focus on matters earthly. We shouldnt worry ourselves about what happens after death.because no one really knows anyway. All that matters is helping the poor, feeding the hungry, and relieving human suffering. [4]

Christian apologist, Alex McFarland, similarly addresses this serious doctrinal error, stressing humanitys bearing of the divine image and underscoring the inherent value and dignity of every individual.

Its incumbent upon Christians to extend assistance to those in need. Nonetheless, this doesnt necessitate compromising foundational Christian doctrines about soteriology, the afterlife, heaven, and hell, says McFarland. The Gospel message shouldnt be diluted, prioritizing physical needs over the desperate need for spiritual salvation, or endorsing political ideologies contrary to the Christian worldview. [5]

This is exactly what progressive Christianity does, demonstrating it is the actual perversion of the Christian faith, grossly feigning its authentic form. It is mostly definitely not the real McCoy, as Barber insists.

Eric Rush, in an editorial for World Net Daily, aptly labeled progressive Christianity as apostasy, highlighting its perilous political ramifications.

Social justice Christians are those who profess Christianity, but who adhere to politically entrenched concepts of equality and redistribution of wealth. These ideas are ostensibly rooted in their faith, but in truth, they have been incrementally and insidiously insinuated into many American churches by Marxists, progressive politicians, and pastors whose religion has been tainted by the aforementioned parties.

How can this be? Well, through the misrepresentation of Gospel messages in the areas of charity and egalitarianism, such Christians have been led to believe that:

 government has a right to enforce religious doctrines (such as those of charity and egalitarianism), and

 Jesus Christ, as a threat to the existing paradigm, was the first radical and essentially commanded this in his teachings.

A preposterous extrapolation, to be sure, but thats what they espouse. And of course, government only has the right to enforce the religious doctrines of which these folks and their leaders happen to approve.

I declare that social justice Christianity is apostasy; its adherents have abandoned their faith for a cause, and their religion has become perfunctory and pretextual. While some are misguided Christians, others. are out-and-out Marxist posers. [6]

If anyone doubts the gravity of the situation, consider Rev. Barbers remarks at the August 2019 Democratic National Committee meeting, advocating for government involvement in healthcare:

If someone calls it socialism, then we must compel them to acknowledge that the Bible must then promote socialism, because Jesus offered free health care to everyone, and he never charged a leper a co-pay. [7]

Allow me to be abundantly direct! Socialism, by every biblical standard, is anti-Christian!

While I typically refrain from critiquing fellow clergy, its worth recalling Jesus caution to his disciples in Matthews Gospel: Watch out! Beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 16:6). This warning, though symbolic, serves as a timeless reminder to remain vigilant against the teachings and influence of spiritually corrupt leaders, just as Jesus advised his followers in his own time. Its relevance endures today as much as it did when Jesus first uttered these words.

The true threats to America do not stem from those who are concerned about sin-related issues such as abortion, LGBTQ rights, and the rejection of traditional family structures. Nor do they arise from those who seek to safeguard God-given rights such as religious freedom and gun rights for self-defense, family protection, and defense against tyranny. The peril to democracy does not come from individuals troubled by the influence of secularism and liberal ideologies in education, particularly in public schools, or those advocating for the inclusion of religious perspectives in curricula. It is not those who prioritize border control who endanger our nations heritage, nor is it the professing Christians who support policies promoting free market principles, limited government intervention, lower taxes, and individual responsibility. Similarly, it is not proponents of tough-on-crime policies, including mandatory sentences and prioritizing law and order, who jeopardize our nations flourishing.

The individuals to be genuinely concerned about are those who profess Christianity, hold religious leadership roles, or serve as civic leaders but reject the foundational principles of historic Christianity. Make no mistake, those who peddle a false promise of cultural salvation can offer nothing more than a bleak existence devoid of vibrancy and hope. Those who espouse socialist political ideologies threaten to diminish our role as stewards of Gods blessings and ultimately relegate us to becoming mere slaves of the state.

This characterization aptly fits Bishop William J. Barber II and his associates who recently endorsed the New Haven Declaration of Moral and Spiritual Issues. Its imperative to be vigilant of their influence. Beware their leaven, for it will drag this nation straight into hell.

Resources:

1. Jon Brown, Religious Leaders Sign Declaration Denouncing Religious Nationalism, Promoting Progressive Causes, Christian Post, (2024), accessed April 25, 2024, https://www.christianpost.com/news/religious-leaders-sign-declaration-against-religious-nationalism.htm

2. Ibid.

3. Michael J. Kruger, The 10 Commandments of Progressive Christianity (CruciformPress, 2019), 52-54.

4. Ibid., pg. 51

5. Alex McFarland, 10 Issues That Divide Christians (Regal, 2014), 69-70.

6. Eric Rush, The Apostasy of Social Justice Christians, World Net Daily, accessed April 25, 2024, https://www.wnd.com/2010/05/155917/

7. Paul Kengor, The Christian Left Just Doesnt Get It: Socialism is Anti-Christian, Crisis Magazine, accessed April 25, 2024, https://crisismagazine.com/opinion/the-christian-left-doesnt-get-it-socialism-is-anti-christian



Contemplative Interbeing
Cast of Stuck In The Middle With You, written by Trevor Gill and Sam Robinson

A former senior-ranking RUC officer says the east Belfast theatre company behind a challenging new play about the police force deserves huge credit for the production.

Judith Gillespie, a now-retired PSNI Deputy Chief Constable who served with the RUC from 1982 until 2001 when policing was reformed, was among the audiences for a sold-out run of Stuck In the Middle With You, written by Trevor Gill and Sam Robinson.
revealed | Belfasts nine most expensive week-long stays on Airbnb

The short-term rental market means landlords can charge thousands in peak season. By Gillian Halliday and Aine Toner

The Obel in Belfast city centre

Gillian Halliday and Aine Toner Fri 3 May 2024 at 09:50

The Holyland in south Belfast has attracted some negative media headlines in recent years, with anti-social behaviour of students prompting calls for the authorities to tackle the issue. But its also the area that is home to the highest listed price for a seven-day Airbnb stay in Belfast  a whopping 8,236 for an apartment.
Police are investigating sickening vandalism to graves at a cemetery in Londonderry.

The incident happened overnight in a section of the City Cemetery.

Wreaths and momentums were also removed and damaged.

Police said they had identified a male suspect and were following a definitive line of enquiry.

SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan said it was a heinous act.

Im absolutely disgusted and depressed to learn that a significant number of graves in the City Cemetery were targeted by vandals last night, he said.

The destruction seems to have been confined to the newer part of the cemetery.

My thoughts are with anyone who has to suffer the shock and trauma of seeing their loved one's place of rest vandalised.

I cannot think what would motivate anyone to carry out such an unspeakable act, but I know that many in our city will be repulsed to hear of this today.

I will raise with council the need to improve security at the cemetery and would appeal to anyone with any information about this heinous act to come forward with it so that those responsible can be brought to justice.

Sinn Feins Padraig Delargy said the incident was sickening and disrespectful.

The Foyle MLA said: I am shocked and dismayed at reports of damage to graves in the City Cemetery this morning.

I have received calls from grieving families who have arrived at the resting place of their loved one to see it damaged and vandalised.

This is a sickening and vile attack and a disgraceful act carried out by people who clearly have absolutely no respect.

Those responsible should stop now.

I would urge anyone with information on these attacks to report it to the police.

A council spokesperson said a serious incident of vandalism had occurred in the Kildrum section of the cemetery.

Several graves have been vandalised, and wreaths and momentums removed and damaged.

While we are currently not aware of any damage to headstones, relatives who identify this on their family grave are asked to bring this to the attention to the cemetery staff.

Council staff have been on site since early this morning carrying out a clean-up and repairs and providing support to families impacted by this very distressing and upsetting incident.

Families affected are being advised to contact cemetery staff with any queries regarding missing or damaged items from graves as ongoing efforts are being made to store items so they can be identified and claimed by their owners.

"This is obviously a very distressing and upsetting incident for the families affected and its the councils understanding that the PSNI have identified a suspect and are following a definitive line of enquiry.

For that reason we cant provide any further information at this time.

The council would encourage anyone with any information in relation to this incident to contact the PSNI directly.

The council would also like to reassure the public that the peace and sanctity of the City Cemetery remains a priority for the council going forward.

The PSNI confirmed officers were investigating criminal damage at the cemetery, which is in the Lone Moor Road area.

Inspector Mailey said: We received a report shortly after 9am this morning, Saturday, that a number of graves had been damaged.

It is believed the damage occurred sometime between 8pm yesterday, Friday, and 8am today. We have identified a male suspect and are following a definitive line of enquiry in relation to the incident.

An investigation has commenced and we would encourage anyone with any information to call us on 101, quoting reference 398 of 27/04/24. You can also report online at https://www.psni.police.uk/report or via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or https://crimestoppers-uk.org/."
Exclusive |

Indefensibly, the Covid Inquiry is hiding key Stormont evidence from public  and that is not just stupid, but dangerous
A DUP MLA has been told to apologise to the Standards and Privileges committee at Stormont for breaching confidentiality rules.

This is a rare case where the Standards Commissioner has found an MLA was guilty of misconduct, as in 2022/23 some 162 complaints were received, with 160 of those deemed inadmissible.
Hamas said on Saturday it was reviewing a new Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, as Egypt intensified efforts to broker a deal to end the months-long war and stave off a possible Israeli ground offensive into the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya said the Palestinian militant group was evaluating Israels proposal, and upon completion of its study, it will submit its response.

He gave no details of Israels offer but said it was in response to a proposal from Hamas two weeks ago.

Negotiations earlier this month centred on a six-week ceasefire proposal and the release of 40 civilian and sick hostages in exchange for freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

Hamass statement came hours after a high-level Egyptian delegation wrapped up a visit to Israel where it discussed a new vision for a prolonged ceasefire in Gaza, according to an Egyptian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya speaking during an interview with The Associated Press, in Istanbul, Turkey, in April (Khalil Hamra/AP)

It was not immediately clear whether Israels latest response to Hamas on a ceasefire was directly related to Fridays visit to Tel Aviv by Egyptian mediators.

The discussions between Egyptian and Israeli officials focused on the first stage of a multi-phase plan that would include 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 mediators are working on a compromise that will answer most of both parties main demands, which could pave the way to continued negotiations with the goal of a larger deal to end the war, the official said.

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 and avert a possible Israeli attack on Rafah, where more than half of Gazas 2.3 million people have sought refuge after fleeing fighting elsewhere in the territory.

Israel has been insisting for months it plans a ground offensive into Rafah, on the border with Egypt, where it says many remaining Hamas militants are holed up, despite calls for restraint from the international community including Israels staunchest ally, the United States.

Egypt has cautioned an offensive into Rafah could have catastrophic consequences on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, as well as on regional peace and security.

The Israeli military has massed dozens of tanks and armoured vehicles in southern Israel close to Rafah and hit targets in the city in near-daily airstrikes.

A tent camp housing Palestinians displaced by the Israeli offensive in Rafah (Hatem Ali/AP)

Early on Saturday, an Israeli airstrike hit a house in Rafahs Tel Sultan neighbourhood, killing six people, including four children, according to officials at a local hospital.

The strike killed a man, his wife and their three sons, aged 12, 10 and eight, according to records of the Abu Yousef al-Najjar hospitals morgue. A neighbours four-month-old girl was also killed, the records showed.

Five people were also killed in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza overnight when an Israeli strike hit a house, according to officials at the al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.

Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and killed two Palestinian men in an exchange of fire at a checkpoint in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the military said.

Violence in the West Bank has flared since the war started. Since then, 491 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the territory according to the Ramallah-based health ministry.

The Israeli army said the two men were killed after they opened fire from a vehicle at Israeli troops stationed at Salem checkpoint near the Palestinian city of Jenin.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected in Israel on Tuesday (Tatan Syuflana/AP)

The US has been critical of Israeli policies in the West Bank and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is expected in Israel on Tuesday, has recently determined an army unit committed human rights abuses there before the Gaza war.

But Mr Blinken said in an undated letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, obtained by The Associated Press on Friday, that he is postponing a decision on blocking aid to the unit to give Israel more time to right the wrongdoing.

Mr Blinken stressed in the letter that overall US military support for Israels defence against Hamas and other threats would not be affected by the State Departments eventual decision on the one unit.

The US has also been building a pier to deliver aid to Gaza through a new port, which an official said last week was on track to start operating by early May.

The Biden administration has stressed there will be no American boots on the ground for the mission.

However, the BBC reported on Saturday that the British government was considering deploying troops to drive the trucks to carry the aid to the shore, citing unidentified government sources. UK government officials declined to comment on the report.

Hamas said on Friday it is open to any ideas or suggestions that take into consideration the needs of the Palestinian people such as an end to Israels attacks on Gaza, the return of displaced people to their homes and an Israeli withdrawal.

The Palestinian group 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.

Israel says it will continue military operations until Hamas is defeated and that it will retain a security presence in Gaza afterwards.

Hamas sparked the war with its attack into southern Israel on October 7, 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.

Since then, 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israels air and ground offensive, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, around two-thirds of them children and women.

Israel has reported at least 260 of its soldiers killed since the start of ground operations in Gaza.
Police offices walk in front of a crater after a Russian rocket attack on a psychiatric hospital in Kharkiv, Ukraine on Saturday (Yakiv Liashenko/AP)

Russia launched a barrage of missiles against Ukraine overnight, in attacks that appeared to target the countrys energy infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Russia said its air defence systems had intercepted more than 60 Ukrainian drones over the southern Krasnodar region.

Ukraines air force said on Saturday that Russia had launched 34 missiles against Ukraine overnight, of which 21 had been shot down by Ukrainian air defences.

In a post on Telegram, energy minister Herman Halushchenko said energy facilities in Dnipropetrovsk in the south of the country and Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv in the west had been attacked and that an engineer was injured.

Private energy operator DTEK said four of its thermal power plants were damaged and that there were casualties, without going into detail.

Patients take cover after a Russian attack on psychiatric hospital in Kharkiv, Ukraine (Andrii Marienko/AP)

Earlier this month Russia destroyed one of Ukraines largest power plants and damaged others in a massive missile and drone attack as it renewed its push to target Ukraines energy facilities.

Ukraine has appealed to its Western allies for more air defence systems to ward off such attacks.

At a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group on Friday, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the US will provide Ukraine with additional munitions and gear for its air defence launchers.

Further east, a psychiatric hospital was damaged and one person was wounded after Russia launched a missile attack overnight on Ukraines second-largest city, Kharkiv.

Photos from the scene showed a huge crater on the grounds of the facility and patients taking shelter in corridors. Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said a 53-year-old woman was hurt.

Also in the Kharkiv region, a man was killed in an overnight attack on the city of Vovchansk, according to Ukraines State Service for Emergency Situations.

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

In Russia, the Defence Ministry said Russian air defence systems had intercepted 66 drones over the countrys southern Krasnodar region. Two more drones were shot down over the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula.

The governor of the Krasnodar region, Veniamin Kondratyev, said Ukrainian forces targeted an oil refinery and infrastructure facilities but that there were no casualties or serious damage.

The regional department of the Emergency Situations Ministry reported that a fire broke out at the Slavyansk oil refinery in Slavyansk-on-Kuban during the attack.

Ukrainian officials normally decline to comment on attacks on Russian soil, but the Ukrainian energy ministry said on Saturday that two oil refineries in the Krasnodar region had been hit by drones.

Meanwhile, five people were wounded in a drone attack in a border village in Russias Belgorod region, said regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.
The pro-Palestinian demonstration encampment at the Columbia University in New York (Yuki Iwamura/AP)

Students protesting against the Israel-Hamas war at universities across the US, some of whom have clashed with police in riot gear, vowed to keep their demonstrations going on Saturday.

Several university faculties condemned university presidents who have called in police to remove protesters.

As Columbia University continues negotiations with those at a pro-Palestinian student encampment on the New York universitys campus, the universitys senate passed a resolution on Friday that created a task force to examine the administrations leadership, which last week called in police in an attempt to clear the protest, resulting in scuffles and more than 100 arrests.

Orange County sheriffs monitor the scene as protesters chant during a demonstration in support of Palestinians at the University of Central Florida, in Orlando (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP)

Though the university has repeatedly set and then pushed back deadlines for the removal of the encampment, the university sent an email to students on Friday night saying that bringing back police at this time would be counterproductive, adding that they hope the negotiations show concrete signs of progress tonight.

As the death toll mounts in the war in Gaza, protesters nationwide are demanding that 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.

Early on Saturday, police in riot gear cleared an encampment on the campus of Northeastern University in Boston. Several dozen students shouted and booed at them from a distance, but the scene was otherwise nonconfrontational.

The university said that the demonstration, which began two days ago, had become infiltrated by professional organisers with no affiliation to the school. It said antisemitic slurs were shouted.

The decisions to call in police, leading to hundreds of arrests nationwide, have prompted faculty members at universities in California, Georgia and Texas to initiate or pass votes of no confidence in their leadership.

They are largely symbolic rebukes, without the power to remove their presidents.

But the tensions pile pressure on university officials, who are already scrambling to resolve the protests as May graduation ceremonies near.

California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, had given protesters who have barricaded themselves inside a building since Monday until 5pm on Friday to leave and not be immediately arrested.

The deadline came and went. Only some of the protesters left. After protesters rebuffed police earlier in the week, the campus was closed for the rest of the term.

Pro-Palestinian supporters hold up a sign and flag inside an encampment on the UCLA campus in Los Angeles (Damian Dovarganes/AP)

In Colorado, police swept through an encampment on Friday at Denvers Auraria Campus, which hosts three universities and colleges, arresting around 40 protesters on trespassing charges.

Students representing the Columbia encampment, which inspired the wave of protests across the country, said on Friday that they reached an impasse with administrators and intend to continue their protest.

After meetings on Thursday and Friday, student negotiators said the university had not met their primary demand for divestment, although there was progress on a push for more transparent financial disclosures.

We will not rest until Columbia divests, said Jonathan Ben-Menachem, a fourth-year doctoral student.

In the letter sent to Columbia students on Friday night, the universitys leadership said we support the conversations that are ongoing with student leaders of the encampment.

Columbias president, Minouche Shafik, faced significant criticism from faculty on Friday, but retained the support of trustees.

A report by the university senates executive committee, which represents the faculty, found Ms Shafik and her administration took many actions and decisions that have harmed Columbia University.

Those included calling in police and allowing students to be arrested without consulting the faculty, misrepresenting and suspending student protest groups and hiring private investigators.

The faculty have completely lost confidence in President Shafiks ability to lead this organisation, said Ege Yumusak, a philosophy lecturer who is part of a the faculty team protecting the encampment.

In response, university spokesperson Ben Chang said in the evening that we are committed to an ongoing dialogue and appreciate the Senates constructive engagement in finding a pathway forward.

Signs are displayed outside a tent encampment at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois (Teresa Crawford/AP)

Also on Friday, Columbia student protester Khymani James retracted comments made in an online video in January that recently re-emerged. Mr James said in the video that Zionists dont deserve to live and people should be grateful Mr James was not killing them.

What I said was wrong, Mr James said in a statement. Every member of our community deserves to feel safe without qualification.

Mr James, who served as a spokesperson for the pro-Palestinian encampment as a member of Columbia University Apartheid Divest, was banned from campus on Friday, according to a Columbia spokesperson.

Protest organisers said Mr James comments did not reflect their values. They declined to describe Mr James level of involvement with the demonstration.

A group of pro-Israel supporters hold arms as they sing and dance outside a pro-Palestinian encampment on the UCLA campus in Los Angeles (Damian Dovarganes/AP)

Police clashed with protesters on Thursday at Indiana University, Bloomington, where 34 were arrested; Ohio State University, where about 36 were arrested; and at the University of Connecticut, where one person was arrested.

The University of Southern California cancelled its May 10 graduation ceremony on Thursday, 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 university ceremonies.

Universities where faculty members have initiated or passed votes of no confidence in their presidents include Cal Poly Humboldt, University of Texas at Austin and Emory University.

Students in Paris inspired by the Gaza solidarity encampments at US campuses peacefully evacuated a campus building at a prestigious French university late on Friday after days of tensions.

The head of the Paris Institute of Political Studies, known as Sciences Po, said an agreement was found with students. Sciences Po counts President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Gabriel Attal among its many famous alumni.

Tensions had break out on the campus as pro-Palestinian students sought to occupy an amphitheatre earlier this week.

On Friday, pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrators faced each other in a tense standoff in the street outside the school. Riot police stepped in to separate the opposing groups.

Students later agreed to leave the site.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us

We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.
BARRE  Bennington state Rep. Jim Carroll entered a not-guilty plea in Washington County Superior Court Criminal Division this week to a charge of driving while under the influence of alcohol, first offense.

The charge stems from a traffic stop near the Vermont Statehouse by police in Montpelier on Feb. 21. The officer stated in an affidavit that Carroll was stopped for having a loud muffler at about 8:24 a.m.

The misdemeanor DUI charge he faces is punishable by a maximum of two years in jail and/or a $750 fine.

An earlier arraignment date in March was postponed because Carroll had entered an in-patient rehabilitation facility in Bradford, before later returning to his legislative position. Carroll represents the two-seat Bennington-5 House district, along with Rep. Mary Morrissey, R-Bennington.

He attended the court session Thursday remotely via a video link after obtaining court permission to do so, because he was scheduled to attend legislative committee hearings at the Statehouse in Montpelier.

Carroll is scheduled to appear again on July 19 in the courthouse in Barre for a status conference in his case. He is represented by attorney Avi Springer.

Reached Friday by phone, Carroll said he reconsidered a statement he issued shortly after his arrest that he did not intend to contest the criminal charges, and now realizes he should have consulted an attorney first.

He declined to discuss details of the case Friday, which include that a roadside breath test he was given during the police stop showed a blood-alcohol level of 0.081 percent. The legal limit for being considered under the influence is 0.08 percent. A police affidavit in the case states that a subsequent test during formal processing at 9:24 a.m. at the Montpelier Police Department showed a blood-alcohol level of 0.066 percent.

The affidavit by MPD Patrol Sgt. Chris Quesnel stated that during the traffic stop for a loud muffler he noticed empty beer cans in Carrolls car while speaking with the driver and an odor of alcoholic beverages.

Carroll, 62, agreed to a roadside breath test after declining to participate in field sobriety tests.

He said later that he declined to participate in field sobriety testing because he has a medical condition that can affect his feet and his balance, but he agreed to a breath test, believing he was below the legal limit.

Carroll, who stays in Montpelier part of the week during legislative sessions, has said he had trouble sleeping the night before and drank a beer between 3 and 4 a.m. to help him sleep.
A person with visual impairments works on a computer featuring Braille display and a screen reader in connection with a Massachusetts Easterseals' assistive technology program. The rise of remote work during and after the pandemic increased job opportunities for some individuals with disabilities.
This 3.5-megawatt solar power installation in North Adams, shown in 2015 when it came online, was reported to produce more energy than the city uses in its municipal buildings. Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Rebecca Tepper says offshore wind, solar, storage "and the many other companies that support renewable energy are helping Massachusetts become energy independent."
NORTH ADAMS  Could a one-month fling with North Adams lead to a longer engagement with the city for Touchy Coffee?

Weve had a lot of people asking that, Touchy co-owner Felicity Jones said Thursday.

The popular Troy, N.Y.-based cafe and coffee roasters is setting up shop in North Adams from May 1-29. The monthlong pop-up will be at 90 Main St., part of Greylock Works sister project 90 Main.

The people behind Greylock Works are looking to activate the old bank building, and while putting together something long term, have offered the space on a short-term basis for willing entities.

Since we moved from Troy [N.Y.] to Petersburg [N.Y.], North Adams has become a second home for us, Touchy co-owner Mike Romig said Thursday. It feels like a community for us already. We have very similar values.

While neither Romig nor Jones committed to anything more permanent in North Adams, they say they are looking forward to serving North Adams in May, and at least temporarily filling a coffee shop/breakfast sandwich-sized hole in the market.

This will be our first time running two shops at once, Romig said. Its exciting to see what thats like in this more limited manner.

Jones explained that Touchy has its roasting facility in Troy, and opens its cafe Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Their pop-up at 90 Main will be open the same hours, but on a daily basis.

Before founding Touchy Coffee in 2018, Jones and Romig started Superior Merchandise Co., a cafe and retail space, in 2015. They found that having it open seven days a week was too taxing.

Were trying to find a system that works in the new economy, Romig said. The cafe is only open on weekends in Troy, it strikes a much better balance for us and our staff. Its more comfortable to have a smaller team that gets paid a little better  trying to do that on a larger scale gets tricky.

Yet theyve challenged themselves again with 90 Main.

Were not very good at saying no, Jones said.

Jones and Romig closed Superior Merchandises brick-and-mortar last April. They called Touchy a natural extension of what they had started in 2015.

Touchy has taken off in terms of its wholesale accounts, which Jones said are more profitable.

Romig and Jones have already felt support from area businesses, including Berkshire Cider and Casita Berkshires.

Asked about Tunnel City Coffee selling its roaster and retail locations to someone willing to step in with their own business, Romig called it intriguing, but neither he nor Jones said that was on their agenda.
The man charged with murder in connection with the death of Christopher Hairston in April has been extradited back to Massachusetts and will be arraigned on Tuesday.
BOSTON  I stand before you as a mother and survivor, a sexual assault survivor named Sue said at the Statehouse's observance of Denim Day on Wednesday. "I can't afford to stay quiet anymore."

Supported by advocates from Saheli as well as Beacon Hill lawmakers, she described her experiences surviving marital rape, facing cultural stigma and escaping from her husband with her son. It highlighted a day dedicated to survivors of domestic assault and sexual violence, as well as the programs designed to help them.

I am always glad that Denim Day falls in the middle of budget week, said state Rep. Natalie Higgins, D-Leominster, who spoke with state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, D-Pittsfield, who is her fellow co-chair of the Caucus of Women Legislators Sexual Violence Task Force, which sponsored the event. Higgins noted that it was a reminder of the importance of funding support services.

It's attention organizations like Pittsfield's Elizbeth Freeman Center need. The organization faces a $168,000 shortfall due to reductions in federal funding.

Higgins, a survivor who previously worked as a rape crisis counselor, said the story that originally prompted Denim Day resonated with her. Recognized for the eight year by the state Legislature, Denim Day was established after a survivor was accused of lying in an Italian court in 1998 because her jeans were deemed too tight to have been taken off without her help. The next day, women came to work at the Italian Parliament in jeans in solidarity with the survivor.

Similar to that survivor in her jeans, one of the things that I remembered vividly, twelve years later, is the really beautiful dress that I had that night, she said.

Farley-Bouvier recounted a Berkshire County community read of "Assume Nothing: A Story of Intimate Violence" last year in which the author, Tanya Selvaratnam, spoke on a webinar and commented on how rare it is for a womans story to be taken seriously.

She gave a statistic that a person has to be accused by four different women before law enforcement will take them seriously, Farley-Bouvier said. So women are considered one quarter of a person.

Gov. Healey praised the work of the statewide program RESPECTfully, which teaches young people about fostering healthy relationships.

"One of the most empowering things that we can do for our survivors is to have stories told," Healey said. Weve been a state dedicated to supporting survivors."

Funding shortfall at the Elizabeth Freeman Center

According to Kimberly Kirchner, the Elizabeth Freeman Center's communications and development coordinator, the shortfall in the center's funding are a result of the fact that the state's federal Victims of Crime Act funding is projected to decrease 40 percent from last years allocation after having already faced cuts since 2018.

The state has supplied bridge funding to alleviate the cuts impact over the past two years, and the center is requesting funding to continue in the next fiscal year.

Executive Director Janis Broderick wrote in a statement that the center relies on the bridge funding to maintain programs that help survivors with court protection orders and help LGBTQ+ and rural communities access services more readily.

Without Bridge funding, we stand to lose around $168,000  thats about 3 staff, and thats after 3 years of level funding, Broderick wrote. State funding for domestic and sexual violence services went down this year! We are hopeful that in FY25 we will be brought back to at least FY23 levels.

The center joined other Massachusetts-based organizations supporting survivors in signing a letter requesting $20 million in bridge funding as the Legislatures Joint Committee on Ways and Means was hearing testimony on the fiscal 2025 budget.

Denim Day in the Berkshires

On Wednesday, the center observed Denim Day locally with employees wearing jeans.

"We're wearing ALL the denim today to spread the message that there is never an excuse for sexual assault, no matter what we wear," reads a Facebook post from the center, which explained the history of the event.

April is also Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which the center recognizes each year, Kirchner said. This year, it held three Stand Out events, the last of which took place Thursday in Great Barrington, with the previous events taking place in North Adams and Pittsfield.
A British TV cosmetic doctor who gave free botox to a patient in return for sex at his clinic has been struck off.

Dr Tijion Esho, who has featured on ITVs This Morning, BBCs Morning Live and E4s Body Fixers, admitted to an improper emotional relationship with the woman, referred to as Patient A, with whom he exchanged inappropriate sexual messages on Instagram.

Advertisement

But the 42-year-old told a UK Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) hearing that he never had any physical sexual contact with Patient A who provided sex services via OnlyFans and webcams.

However, an MPTS panel, sitting in Manchester, England, ruled earlier this month that Dr Esho did have sexual intercourse with Patient A at his clinic in Newcastle upon Tyne in 2021 and administered botox free of charge.

The panel also found that, at a consultation months earlier, he had stroked her hair and rubbed himself against her after he made inappropriate comments on the shape of her bottom.

A year earlier, at another consultation, he made similar remarks to Patient A, again rubbed himself against her, and allowed her to masturbate him, the panel determined.

Advertisement

The tribunal found Dr Eshos fitness to practise was impaired because of his misconduct.

On Saturday, the MPTS announced it had decided at a private hearing to erase Dr Esho from the medical register.

The tribunals reasons for imposing the sanction will be released next week.

Among the inappropriate Instagram messages sent to Patient A between July 2019 and February 2022 was an exchange in September 2019 when he said: What you doing to me lol. Morning Glory. Bloody have me wanting the real thing. Thats like every mans dream.

Advertisement

In November 2019 he posted: Why you making me bulge lol. Send more, dont be sorry lol.

The following month he wrote Lol loving the tongue and Ha free mls Id need the whole booty and more.

Weeks later he told her: My God having you for a night/every night is a dream but if we do it for mls I break the doctors code and Id be a dead man x lol.

The panel ruled the conduct of the doctor, also known as Oluwafemi Esho, was sexually motivated but did not find Patient A to be vulnerable because of her profession.

Advertisement

Dr Esho featured on the ITV morning programme to provide his medical opinion and comment on cosmetic surgery discussions.

He was also regularly consulted on Body Fixers for E4, a channel operated by Channel 4, which aired for two seasons in 2016 and 2017, and made appearances on segments of BBCs Morning Live until the summer of 2022.

Dr Esho is the founder of the Esho Clinic, which also has locations in London, Liverpool and Dubai, and has a host of celebrity clients.

He issued a statement following the tribunals finding of facts in which he admitted his conduct in communications with Patient A was wrong but he continued to deny having sex with her.
India is a week into the world's largest general elections, with nearly a billion people eligible to choose 543 members of the lower house of parliament.

Opinion polls suggest an easy victory for Indian prime minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party when the results are announced on June 4th.

Advertisement

But more than six weeks elapse between the casting of the first votes on April 19th to the time the ballots are counted.

Here's why the exercise takes so long...

Number of day

The election cycle sprawls over 44 days, long even by India's standards, as the 2019 vote lasted 39 days.

This year's elections will be India's second longest after the first exercise following independence in 1947 from Britain, which ran for four months from October 25th, 1951, to February 21st, 1952.

Advertisement

There are seven voting days this year, the first having been on Friday, April 19th, in which voters cast ballots for 102 constituencies nationwide. The last polling date is June 1st, covering 57 seats.

All votes will be counted together on June 4th.

Voter numbers

The size of the country and its electorate is the chief reason why the general election takes so long.

India's eligible voters, at 968.6 million, number more than twice the European Union's population of 448 million. The figure has grown 8 per cent since the 2019 elections.

Advertisement

With an estimated population of more than 1.4 billion, India overtook China last year as the world's most populous country.

Geographical spread

Some of India's 28 states and eight federally governed territories complete voting in just one phase, but in larger states, some constituencies vote on different dates.

For example, the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, with a population of more than 230 million and 80 members of parliament, more than any other state, will vote in parts in every phase.

India's Election Commission manages this massive exercise by carving out smaller voting boroughs, limiting each polling station to no more than 1,500 registered voters.

Advertisement

That requires the watchdog to set up 1.048 million polling stations this year, in locations such as government buildings and schools that are the closest to the majority of voters.

They are sited in terrain ranging from icy Himalayan heights in the north to dense central Indian jungles and remote deserts in the western state of Rajasthan.

Security arrangements

Incidents of violence and vote-rigging have marred India's election history, but there are drastically fewer instances now.

Nevertheless, to ensure the elections are free, fair and held without fear, more than 300,000 federal security personnel back up the police forces controlled by state governments.

The intervals between voting allow these personnel time to move around the country, usually by rail.

They guard election officials taking voting machines to polling stations and then keep the devices secure until counting day to maintain the integrity of the elections.

-Reuters
Aontu wants an international city in another part of the country as Dublin is overheating, party leader Peadar Toibin told delegates.

Mr Toibin, who is the party's only TD, said Ireland is becoming a lop-sided city state, and that a third of the country is living in commuter hell.

Advertisement

Mr Toibin addressed his party Ard Fheis conference in Maynooth, Co Kildare, on Saturday evening.

He said that most university-type jobs are based in the Dublin area, meaning young people are forced to move away from home to get a job, but some cannot afford to live in the capital and have to commute from 30, 40, 50 miles away.

This is fraying at the very fabric of families. Mothers and fathers are getting to see their children for maybe an hour in the evening to put them to bed, he said on Saturday.

He said his party wants a new international city built in another location in Ireland to address the issue, which could come from an existing town or city being developed.

Advertisement

We want to front load investment and infrastructure into that new city so that it grows to a critical mass and starts to draw down international investment in its own right, Mr Toibin said.

We want to see it grow to a critical mass that it comes a counter-balance to Dublin in terms of spatial growth.

Mr Toibin also called for the development of a border innovation zone to pull in infrastructure investment and enterprise funding for border counties.

He said: The root of this problem is, I believe that the Fianna Fail/Fine Gael/Green government is increasingly a south Dublin government that cannot see beyond the M50.

Advertisement

During his leaders address, Mr Toibin referenced the States planned Covid inquiry and the Governments handling of nursing homes, as well as immigration and what he called a lack of information being a petri dish for rumour.

He said the island should be treated as one unit in terms of migration policy and criticised a small number of extremists who are harvesting growing discontent due to government strategies.

This must be opposed. The colour of a person's skin is of no more significance than the colour of their eyes, he said.

Mr Toibin, a former Sinn Fein TD for Meath West, left the party after he voted against legislation to liberalise abortion laws in the wake of the Eighth Amendment referendum.

Advertisement

He founded the Aontu party in 2019, which has four councillors on the island and is polling at around 4 per cent.

Mr Toibin said that the party fought a David and Goliath battle on the two defeated referenda in March on amending Irelands constitutional wording on care and families.

While the Government and opposition parties advocated for Yes in both plebiscites, Aontu pushed for a No-No vote.

He claimed that since then, 400 new members have joined the party, which is just shy of 2,000 members.

Advertisement

Mr Toibin is running in the European elections as a candidate in the Midlands North West constituency.
Tributes have been paid to former Irish Times journalist Ethna Viney following her death.

As reported by The Irish Times, Ms Viney died on Friday, aged 95.

Advertisement

Among her well-known work was a weekly column in The Irish Times, Eye on Nature, which she penned from 1988 to 2021.

On Saturday, President Michael D Higgins released a statement expressing his "great sadness" over news of Ms Viney's death.

"Ethna, a great naturalist, feminist and journalist is a great loss to Irish life," President Higgins wrote.

"Ethna commissioned three articles from me for Technology Ireland, on regional policy in Ireland.

"A brilliant innovator, she was an early writer on the connection between science and technology and their impact on Ireland, but above all, she was a beautiful, warm person that valued nature.

"Her dedication to nature, and great expression of its wonder and kindness, was given exceptional and enduring expression throughout her career, opening new paths which have inspired and sustained so many and which will continue to do so," the president added, offering his condolences to Ms Viney's family and friends.

Born in Co Cavan, Ms Viney, nee McManus, married journalist Michael Viney in 1965, and the couple had one daughter, Michele.

Ms Viney was predeceased by her husband, who died in May 2023.
UK prime minister Rishi Sunak said claims the UK government's Rwanda plan is causing an influx of refugees into Ireland show its deterrent effect is working.

The deterrent is  already having an impact because people are worried about coming here, Mr Sunak said.

Advertisement

It comes after Tanaiste Micheal Martin said the UK policy is driving asylum seekers in fear of being deported to Rwanda across the Border from Northern Ireland to the Republic.

Advertisement

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 crossing the Channel on small boats.

The legislation supporting the controversial policy, the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act, cleared its passage through the UK parliament this week and was signed into law on Thursday.

In an interview with Sky News Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, which will air in full on Sunday, Mr Sunak was challenged over whether the UK is simply exporting the problem.

Mr Sunak said: My focus is on the United Kingdom and securing our borders.

Advertisement

But what that comment illustrates is a couple of things.

One, that illegal migration is a global challenge, which is why youre seeing multiple countries talk about doing third country partnerships, looking at novel ways to solve this problem, and I believe will follow where the UK has led.

But what it also shows, I think, is that the deterrent is, according to your comment, already having an impact because people are worried about coming here and that demonstrates exactly what Im saying.

If people come to our country illegally, but know that they wont be able to stay, theyre much less likely to come, and thats why the Rwanda scheme is so important.

Advertisement

Micheal Martin said the Rwanda scheme is causing asylum seekers to cross the Border (Brian Lawless/PA)

Downing Street on Friday rebuffed claims that the Rwanda plan was already influencing movements into Ireland, saying it was too early to jump to conclusions on its impact.

Mr Martin, who also serves as Minister for Foreign Affairs, told reporters in Dublin on Friday: Clearly, weve had an increase in the numbers coming into Northern Ireland into the Republic.

Advertisement

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.

But a spokesperson for Downing Street told journalists in Westminster: It is too early to jump to specific conclusions about the impact of the Act and treaty in terms of migrant behaviour.

Rishi Sunak said flights to Rwanda could take 10 to 12 weeks to begin, meaning they will not get off the ground until summer (Toby Melville/PA)

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.

Ireland UK's Rwanda policy driving asylum seekers to Irela... Read More

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.

Mr Sunak this week acknowledged it could still take 10 to 12 weeks to get flights in the air, in a blow to his earlier target of seeing this take place in the spring of this year.

Earlier this week, the Oireachtas Justice Committee heard suggestions that there has been a rise in the number of refugees crossing the Border, with Minister for Justice Helen McEntee telling the committee that the number was now higher than 80 per cent.
Hamas said on Saturday it was reviewing a new Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, as Egypt intensified efforts to broker a deal to end the months-long war and stave off a possible Israeli ground offensive into the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya said the Palestinian militant group was evaluating Israels proposal, and upon completion of its study, it will submit its response.

Advertisement

He gave no details of Israels offer but said it was in response to a proposal from Hamas two weeks ago.

Negotiations earlier this month centred on a six-week ceasefire proposal and the release of 40 civilian and sick hostages in exchange for freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

Hamass statement came hours after a high-level Egyptian delegation wrapped up a visit to Israel where it discussed a new vision for a prolonged ceasefire in Gaza, according to an Egyptian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.



Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya speaking during an interview with The Associated Press, in Istanbul, Turkey, in April (Khalil Hamra/AP)

Advertisement

It was not immediately clear whether Israels latest response to Hamas on a ceasefire was directly related to Fridays visit to Tel Aviv by Egyptian mediators.

The discussions between Egyptian and Israeli officials focused on the first stage of a multi-phase plan that would include 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 mediators are working on a compromise that will answer most of both parties main demands, which could pave the way to continued negotiations with the goal of a larger deal to end the war, the official said.

Advertisement

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 and avert a possible Israeli attack on Rafah, where more than half of Gazas 2.3 million people have sought refuge after fleeing fighting elsewhere in the territory.

Israel has been insisting for months it plans a ground offensive into Rafah, on the border with Egypt, where it says many remaining Hamas militants are holed up, despite calls for restraint from the international community including Israels staunchest ally, the United States.

Egypt has cautioned an offensive into Rafah could have catastrophic consequences on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, as well as on regional peace and security.

The Israeli military has massed dozens of tanks and armoured vehicles in southern Israel close to Rafah and hit targets in the city in near-daily airstrikes.

Advertisement



A tent camp housing Palestinians displaced by the Israeli offensive in Rafah (Hatem Ali/AP)

Early on Saturday, an Israeli airstrike hit a house in Rafahs Tel Sultan neighbourhood, killing six people, including four children, according to officials at a local hospital.

The strike killed a man, his wife and their three sons, aged 12, 10 and eight, according to records of the Abu Yousef al-Najjar hospitals morgue. A neighbours four-month-old girl was also killed, the records showed.

Advertisement

Five people were also killed in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza overnight when an Israeli strike hit a house, according to officials at the al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.

Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and killed two Palestinian men in an exchange of fire at a checkpoint in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the military said.

Violence in the West Bank has flared since the war started. Since then, 491 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the territory according to the Ramallah-based health ministry.

The Israeli army said the two men were killed after they opened fire from a vehicle at Israeli troops stationed at Salem checkpoint near the Palestinian city of Jenin.



US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected in Israel on Tuesday (Tatan Syuflana/AP)

The US has been critical of Israeli policies in the West Bank and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is expected in Israel on Tuesday, has recently determined an army unit committed human rights abuses there before the Gaza war.

But Mr Blinken said in an undated letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, obtained by The Associated Press on Friday, that he is postponing a decision on blocking aid to the unit to give Israel more time to right the wrongdoing.

Mr Blinken stressed in the letter that overall US military support for Israels defence against Hamas and other threats would not be affected by the State Departments eventual decision on the one unit.

The US has also been building a pier to deliver aid to Gaza through a new port, which an official said last week was on track to start operating by early May.

The Biden administration has stressed there will be no American boots on the ground for the mission.

However, the BBC reported on Saturday that the British government was considering deploying troops to drive the trucks to carry the aid to the shore, citing unidentified government sources. UK government officials declined to comment on the report.

Hamas said on Friday it is open to any ideas or suggestions that take into consideration the needs of the Palestinian people such as an end to Israels attacks on Gaza, the return of displaced people to their homes and an Israeli withdrawal.

The Palestinian group 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.

Israel says it will continue military operations until Hamas is defeated and that it will retain a security presence in Gaza afterwards.

Hamas sparked the war with its attack into southern Israel on October 7, 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.

Since then, 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israels air and ground offensive, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, around two-thirds of them children and women.

Israel has reported at least 260 of its soldiers killed since the start of ground operations in Gaza.
Students protesting against the Israel-Hamas war at universities across the US, some of whom have clashed with police in riot gear, vowed to keep their demonstrations going on Saturday.

Several university faculties condemned university presidents who have called in police to remove protesters.

Advertisement

As Columbia University continues negotiations with those at a pro-Palestinian student encampment on the New York universitys campus, the universitys senate passed a resolution on Friday that created a task force to examine the administrations leadership, which last week called in police in an attempt to clear the protest, resulting in scuffles and more than 100 arrests.

Orange County sheriffs monitor the scene as protesters chant during a demonstration in support of Palestinians at the University of Central Florida, in Orlando (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP)

Though the university has repeatedly set and then pushed back deadlines for the removal of the encampment, the university sent an email to students on Friday night saying that bringing back police at this time would be counterproductive, adding that they hope the negotiations show concrete signs of progress tonight.

Advertisement

As the death toll mounts in the war in Gaza, protesters nationwide are demanding that 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.

Early on Saturday, police in riot gear cleared an encampment on the campus of Northeastern University in Boston. Several dozen students shouted and booed at them from a distance, but the scene was otherwise nonconfrontational.

The university said that the demonstration, which began two days ago, had become infiltrated by professional organisers with no affiliation to the school. It said antisemitic slurs were shouted.

Advertisement

The decisions to call in police, leading to hundreds of arrests nationwide, have prompted faculty members at universities in California, Georgia and Texas to initiate or pass votes of no confidence in their leadership.

They are largely symbolic rebukes, without the power to remove their presidents.

But the tensions pile pressure on university officials, who are already scrambling to resolve the protests as May graduation ceremonies near.

California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, had given protesters who have barricaded themselves inside a building since Monday until 5pm on Friday to leave and not be immediately arrested.

Advertisement

The deadline came and went. Only some of the protesters left. After protesters rebuffed police earlier in the week, the campus was closed for the rest of the term.

Pro-Palestinian supporters hold up a sign and flag inside an encampment on the UCLA campus in Los Angeles (Damian Dovarganes/AP)

In Colorado, police swept through an encampment on Friday at Denvers Auraria Campus, which hosts three universities and colleges, arresting around 40 protesters on trespassing charges.

Advertisement

Students representing the Columbia encampment, which inspired the wave of protests across the country, said on Friday that they reached an impasse with administrators and intend to continue their protest.

After meetings on Thursday and Friday, student negotiators said the university had not met their primary demand for divestment, although there was progress on a push for more transparent financial disclosures.

We will not rest until Columbia divests, said Jonathan Ben-Menachem, a fourth-year doctoral student.

In the letter sent to Columbia students on Friday night, the universitys leadership said we support the conversations that are ongoing with student leaders of the encampment.

Columbias president, Minouche Shafik, faced significant criticism from faculty on Friday, but retained the support of trustees.

A report by the university senates executive committee, which represents the faculty, found Ms Shafik and her administration took many actions and decisions that have harmed Columbia University.

Those included calling in police and allowing students to be arrested without consulting the faculty, misrepresenting and suspending student protest groups and hiring private investigators.

The faculty have completely lost confidence in President Shafiks ability to lead this organisation, said Ege Yumusak, a philosophy lecturer who is part of a the faculty team protecting the encampment.

In response, university spokesperson Ben Chang said in the evening that we are committed to an ongoing dialogue and appreciate the Senates constructive engagement in finding a pathway forward.

Signs are displayed outside a tent encampment at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois (Teresa Crawford/AP)

Also on Friday, Columbia student protester Khymani James retracted comments made in an online video in January that recently re-emerged. Mr James said in the video that Zionists dont deserve to live and people should be grateful Mr James was not killing them.

What I said was wrong, Mr James said in a statement. Every member of our community deserves to feel safe without qualification.

Mr James, who served as a spokesperson for the pro-Palestinian encampment as a member of Columbia University Apartheid Divest, was banned from campus on Friday, according to a Columbia spokesperson.

Protest organisers said Mr James comments did not reflect their values. They declined to describe Mr James level of involvement with the demonstration.

A group of pro-Israel supporters hold arms as they sing and dance outside a pro-Palestinian encampment on the UCLA campus in Los Angeles (Damian Dovarganes/AP)

Police clashed with protesters on Thursday at Indiana University, Bloomington, where 34 were arrested; Ohio State University, where about 36 were arrested; and at the University of Connecticut, where one person was arrested.

The University of Southern California cancelled its May 10 graduation ceremony on Thursday, 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 university ceremonies.

Universities where faculty members have initiated or passed votes of no confidence in their presidents include Cal Poly Humboldt, University of Texas at Austin and Emory University.

Students in Paris inspired by the Gaza solidarity encampments at US campuses peacefully evacuated a campus building at a prestigious French university late on Friday after days of tensions.

The head of the Paris Institute of Political Studies, known as Sciences Po, said an agreement was found with students. Sciences Po counts French president Emmanuel Macron and prime minister Gabriel Attal among its many famous alumni.

Tensions had broken out on the campus as pro-Palestinian students sought to occupy an amphitheatre earlier this week.

On Friday, pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrators faced each other in a tense standoff in the street outside the school. Riot police stepped in to separate the opposing groups.

Students later agreed to leave the site.
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

This story is part of the April 28 edition of Sunday Life. See all 14 stories .

His and hers. These words once defined how we dressed and shopped, but, in 2024, the phrase feels old-hat. Across the industry, from luxury labels such as Balenciaga and Margiela to the high street, more brands are dissolving (or at least blurring) gender lines, and writing a fashion prescription that is more inclusive, with fewer rules.

Though it may be years before we see department stores merge the mens and womens departments, smaller brands are already showing how they can be more playful when it comes to notions of couple dressing, and what unisex clothing means to their customers.

Take Bassike, whose coordinating denim pieces are beloved by men and women alike, and which feature in this Sunday Life shoot with models  and real-life couple  Dominique Elissa and Tom Bull.

Tom: Commas tank, $455, jacket, $795 and trouser, $555. His own shoes. Dominique: Commas top, $695, jacket, $795 and trousers, $555. Camilla & Marc Rhys pump, $750. Credit: JEDD COONEY

Deb Sams, one half of the Sydney-based brand (which she started with Mary Lou Ryan in 2006), says universal  the pairs preferred term for unisex  has been part of Bassikes DNA since they launched denim in the late noughties.

Ive always been very influenced by menswear, my own personal style can be quite tomboyish, says Sams. I love the idea of wearing a guys jean  oversized, belting it in  with a heel. Mens T-shirts, sweaters  its very intrinsic to our brand.

To celebrate the 15th anniversary of its first unisex style, the Classic Slim Universal jean, Bassike is this month relaunching its most successful genderless styles in a capsule that will include a denim jacket, anoraks and, of course, jeans.
The best places to go in the South Pacific are the places where other visitors dont go. Credit: Getty Image

VANUA LEVU, FIJI

Its barely 60 kilometres north of Viti Levu, Fijis main island, but Vanua Levu is nothing like the Fiji you know. The island is made up of copra and sugar plantations set amid rainforest, beaches and villages connected by dirt roads. Theres only one sealed road and its main tourist town, Savusavu, is one main street with a few bars and restaurants. But youll find some of Fijis best luxury resorts here, including Namale Resort & Spa, set among 200 hectares of wilderness. Thats because Vanua Levu sits beside one of the worlds best dive locations, Somosomo Strait, protected by the 200-kilometre-long Great Sea Reef.

SAVAII, SAMOA

Samoa is Polynesia at its most traditional, and its biggest island, Savaii, is the most traditional of all. Its only an hour by ferry from Upolu, but just 24 per cent of Samoas population live here. Theres one paved road that circumnavigates the island and the speed limit is 40km/h, though no one goes that fast. Theres everything from waterfalls to the largest shield volcano in the South Pacific  where youll find more than 500 species of flowering plants, a quarter of which you wont find anywhere else. While life is endearingly simple (Sunday church services are a bona fide attraction), youll find one of the South Pacifics most charming luxury resorts, Le Legato, and world-class diving and surfing.